Roqe

Feature interviews with Iranian-American academic and social activist, Dr. Sharon Nazarian, Senior VP of the Anti-Defamation League, and acclaimed Iranian-French painter, Vanecha Roudbaraki in Paris. Plus the Roqe Team convenes and sifts through the Letters of the Week.

“From Shahyad to Azadi” - The premiere episode of a new Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. How did an iconic monument in Tehran that was a symbol of the Monarchy in the 1970s morph, almost overnight, into a symbol of an Islamic Republic? Author and professor, Dr Talinn Grigor joins Jian Ghomeshi from Davis, California, to discuss the dramatic transformation of the Maydan-e Shahyad (“Shah’s Memorial Tower”) to the Maydan-e Azadi (“Freedom Tower”) after the 1979 revolution in Iran.

A feature interview with Iranian-Canadian YouTube and Instagram personality, Tina Talebi. Tina joins Jian from Kitchener, Canada, to discuss growing up Bahai in Iran, moving to Canada without speaking a word of English, using her own immigrant experience as an ESL teacher today, and becoming an online sensation in videos with her charismatic husband James. Plus the Roqe Team reflect on their trip to the UK to shoot a new series, and their impressions of the Persian community in London, and Kyan’s fancy outfits.

A feature interview with Iranian-French multidisciplinary artist, Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar, an abstract painter who has become one of the preeminent young talents of the global art world. Sassan joins Jian from the south of France to discuss his dramatic visceral style of painting, reflections on his “dark and traumatic” past in Iran, and his recent essay, The Age of Energy, lamenting the idea that we have lost connection to our true selves in an iPhone-driven world. Plus the Roqe team continues to address home birthing and Jian’s revelation from the previous episode.

A feature interview with Afghan actress, choreographer, and advocate, Sitara Attaie. Sitara joins Jian from California to discuss the heartbreak of the current situation in Afghanistan, her journey through many countries and fluency in multiple languages, and her TV roles on Homeland and United States of Al. Plus the Roqe Team is surprised that Captain Reza has a fan, and Jian makes an unplanned admission about his birth in England.

A feature interview with acclaimed Iranian musician, TV host and producer, Arash Sobhani. Arash joins Jian from San Francisco to discuss his politics, his art, his years with the popular rock band, Kiosk, his role as a TV producer (“Persia’s Got Talent”) and host (“Replay”), and his ambitious new musical project that is both album and film, Sweet Destiny. Plus the Roqe On-Air Team contends with animal names, Jian’s NYC trip, the Canadian election, and the Letters of the Week.

A feature interview with santoor master and composer, Hamid Saeidi, a Grammy Award winner with his group, Opium Moon. Plus broadcaster Behzad Bolour and recording artist Azam Ali join the Roqe Roundtable to remember the late Abbas Chamanara and his legendary music stores - Beethoven Music in Tehran and Music Box in Los Angeles.

A feature interview with award-winning Iranian-American author, poet, academic, and journalist Roya Hakakian. Roya joins Jian from Connecticut to discuss the complexities and comedy of being a first generation immigrant, owning her dual identity, growing up in Iran as a Jewish kid, and her latest book, “A Beginner’s Guide to America for the Immigrant and the Curious.” Plus the Roqe Team discusses trips to Niagara Falls, their own immigrant identities, and the Letters of the Week.

A feature interview with Iranian-Australian singer and composer, Tara Tiba. Tara joins Jian from Perth to discuss her musical journey that included a convergence of styles - classical, jazz, pop and latin - culminating in her most recent award-winning album, Omid. She also discusses growing up in Iran, her identity as an immigrant, and physical and mental health struggles. Plus the Roqe Team talks cars, konkours, and caricatures.

A feature interview wtih popular Iranian-British psychologist and author, Dr. Fathali Moghaddam. Fathali joins Jian from Washington DC to explore the psychology of authoritarianism, why humans gravitate towards dictatorship, the current plight of democracy around the world, and the prospect of democratic change for Iran and Iranians. Dr. Moghaddam is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science at Georgetown University, and has most recently been featured on the new Netflix series, “How to Become a Tyrant.” Plus the Roqe On-Air Team read the Letters of the Week.