A new episode of Roqe including a feature interview with chess prodigy Dorsa Derakhshani, who joins Jian from Missouri. Dorsa discusses her journey of how she quickly rose through the ranks of competitive chess, earning the titles of Women’s Grandmaster and International Master, along with multiple gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships, before being banned from competing with the Iranian national team after defying Iran’s mandatory hijab rule at a tournament. It is a harrowing tale of courage, frustration and perspective having been in the United States in recent years as a medical student while continuing her presence in the chess world.

Plus Jian opens the show with an ode to his French bulldog, Oogie, on his 7th birthday week, with an essay entitled, “Dogs Are Better Than Us.”

A new episode of Roqe examining the role of psychedelics in mental health. What was until recently considered taboo, is now being embraced in some medical circles for innovative treatments, the science of psychedelics, and the promise of ayahuasca or psilocybin. Jian is first joined by Anisa Deghani in Rotterdam - a researcher who has worked at Harvard University Medical Center and has a deep interest in alternative therapies, she brings both scientific insight and a global perspective to discussions on mental health. Then Mohammad Barzegari, psychotherapist based in Toronto who has been working in the mental health field for several years and has recently focused on psychedelic-assisted therapy, joins us in the Roqe Studio. Plus, Jian kicks off the program with an appeal to fellow “humans of Iranian descent” to finally remove the taboo and stigma and embrace therapy and progressive approaches to mental health.

On the day of Nowruz, a Roqe Special with a Roundtable featuring some members of the Roqe Team and Tehranto Times reflecting on the Persian New Year. Jian is joined in the Roqe Hub studio by Pegah, Parissa, Tina, Ghazaleh, Ebi and Bella for a heartfelt conversation about the best and worst of Nowruz, fond family memories, the beauty of new beginnings, the worries about commercialization and the state of the world. Plus Jian opens the show with an essay entitled, “Nowruz: A Gift to the World.”

A new edition of Roqe featuring two inspiring Iranian-Canadian women who have redefined their life journeys and careers. Popular psychotherapist and author Sara Rahimi is the latest prominent guest to do an on-stage talk and interview as part of the “Ideas at the Roqe Hub” series. She performs a monologue about her perspective on age and ambition and then joins Jian in front of a sold out crowd at our Roqe space last Friday night, to discuss her decision, on the cusp of 50 years of age, to enter a bikini competition and competitive fitness path. Then, in the Roqe Studio, Jian is joined by publisher and author, Dr. Katty Bidad, founder of North Star Success. Katty recounts her journey of leaving her career as a medical doctor to pursue her passion for books, and how she is building an independent publishing business that is empowering many Iranians in the diaspora to tell their stories.

A feature conversation with Iranian explorer, adventurer, and social media star, Ben Marco. Ben joins Jian in the Roqe Studio during a brief visit to Toronto to for a riveting conversation about all that he has learned in his explorations around the world, his favourite places, the dangers he has faced, the most attractive people he has encountered, the least, the most fun, the safest travels and the best food. This entertaining and moving conversation is in both English and Persian.

A new episode of Roqe featuring an all-star language panel on the question of Iranian immigrants learning English and whether the journey of language learning is truly bound by age. Jian is joined by popular social media star and English teacher, Shahrzad Sherry Kazemi, in Vancouver, popular YouTuber and creator of Houshang Academy, Houshang Noormohammadi in Oklahoma, and popular language instructor and translator, Mojdeh Razeh in the Roqe Studio. The panel looks at everything from why benefits of embracing the language of a new home are profound, to the challenges and excuses in doing so, to the criticism of Iranian towards other Iranians who do their best and may speak imperfect English.

A new edition of Roqe including a feature hour with Iranian-American comedian and actor Maz Jobrani returning to the show. Maz joins Jian amidst his ongoing tour that brings him to Canada to discuss everything from being Iranian to growing older to evolving as a comedian in the social media and AI era. It’s a dynamic and funny wide-ranging conversation that is not to be missed.

Our latest live edition of the Roqe podcast recorded on Feb 6, 2025, in front of a sold out audience at City Playhouse in Thornhill, Canada, featuring Shohreh Aghdashloo (recipient of the Roqe Media Icon Award), Fardad Farahzad, Dang Show, Siamak Mehr, Ghazal Akhounzadeh, Anahita Nayebi, Mahsa Mortazavi, Pegah Ganji and DJ Blanch Echo. Jian kicks off the show with an essay about Persians and tardiness (“The Science of Being Late”) before being joined by all the special guests for interviews and memorable performances. Full video of the show is available on our YouTube Channel and audio across all of our podcast platforms.

Thanks to the full Roqe team, crew, and volunteers. Makeup by Milad Beauty and lighting by Light Night Design

And our sponsors for Roqe Live 4:

Montrok Group @montrokgroup

Anabel Sharouyan @anabel_sharouyan

Beigi Law Firm @beigilaw

Gta partyplatter @gtapartyplatter

Famluxy @famluxy

Aydin Rahimy @aydin_rahimy_realestate

Twoar.t @twoar.t

TIP Services @tip_services

Dental forest wood @dentalforestwood

Ontario Camera @ontariocamera

Alia pastry @aliapastry

Lazar prop creation @lazar_prop_creation

A special episode of Roqe presenting the inaugural edition of “Ideas at the Roqe Hub”- taped in front of a live audience. Nima Behnoud, founder of the luxury fashion brand, NIMANY, gives a talk and then is joined by Jian for an on-stage interview on the topic, How AI is Changing the Fashion World. It is a fascinating, fun, and at times, philosophical conversation and insight into Nima’s view on tech and the future of fashion. Plus Jian opens the show with an essay entitled, The AI Future: Inevitable Doesn’t Always Mean Good.

A new edition of Roqe featuring two accomplished women who have defied conventions and redefined what it means to be successful, proud, and true to oneself in the Iranian community. First up, Nicole Dayani joins Jian from Los Angeles, to discuss her journey to becoming a beloved Iranian-American chef and the person behind Nicole’s Kitchen LA. It’s a dynamic conversation that ranges from family expectations, to passion and politics, to how to make a special Fessenjoon. Then Jian is joined in studio by Elham Rezaei, who has become one of the most successful financial advisors in North America in a very short time, and has made it her mission to help fellow Iranians and all Canadians and beyond, improve their financial literacy.