Roqe

Members of the Roqe On-Air Team are joined by Persian hip hop pioneer and star, Erfan, for a discussion about his newly-released song, his recent culinary path, and vaccine mandates. Plus, a feature interview with Iranian-Swedish-American commercial filmmaker, Alec Cartio. Alec joins Jian from Los Angeles to discuss his journey from political refugee to becoming arguably the most important and well-known music video director in Iranian music, and his new venture that involves cars.

The members of the Roqe On-Air Team reconvene for the launch of a new season with stories about how they spent August. Plus a feature interview with Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi, the first female chairperson of the Afghan Film Organization, and the first and only woman in Afghanistan who has a PhD in cinema and filmmaking. Sahraa joins Jian from Kiev where she has found safe haven after escaping from Kabul two weeks ago with the takeover of the Afghan capital by the Taliban.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with two legendary figures in Iranian music. Jian is joined by beloved Iranian-American composer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Faramarz Aslani, for a feature conversation about his life and career. And then, a powerful interview with one of the most prolific and successful contemporary composers and songwriters of our time, Farid Zoland in Los Angeles.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with three acclaimed filmmakers of Iranian descent. Jian is joined by legendary director, screenwriter and producer, Bahman Farmanara in Tehran, award-winning Kurdish writer and filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi in Greece, and celebrated director and screenwriter, Babak Payami in Toronto.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with three impressive social media influencers in the Iranian diaspora. Jian is joined by photographer and popular lifestyle commentator Kusha Alagband in Los Angeles, athlete and instagram star, Picasso Moin in Istanbul, and fashion tastemaker and influential blogger, Bahar Eslami in Vancouver.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with three impressive actors of Iranian descent with stories of resilience and perseverance. Jian is joined by American Assassin and SEAL Team star, Shiva Negar in Los Angeles, Bollywood favourite and model, Mandana Karimi in Mumbai, and acclaimed stage and screen actor and star of NCIS: New Orleans, Necar Zadegan in Santa Fe.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with three very successful media figures of Iranian descent. Jian is joined by popular broadcaster Shally Zomorodi in San Diego, iconic print and radio journalist Homa Sarshar in Los Angeles, and award-winning BBC anchor and producer Pooneh Ghoddoosi in London.

A special themed episode of Roqe featuring interviews with three remarkable sport champions of Iranian descent. Jian is joined by world champion kickboxer Farinaz Lari in Vancouver, longtime karate champ and Team Canada Olympic coach Nassim Varasteh in Toronto, and wrestling star and Team USA Olympic coach Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston in San Diego.

A fun-driving episode exploring the Persian preoccupation with cars and status. Jian is joined by two very popular experts in the field of cars and Iranians - Vahid Amirimoghaddam of the “Cars I Have Driven” channel (Montreal), and Ali Bekhradi of the hit “Garage Bekhradi” YouTube/Instagram site (Houston) - to discuss all things auto obsession, from a Mercedes fixation to the vehicular expectations of a nation. Plus the Roqe Team share their road stories and explore a new edition of “It’s All Persian To Us.”

A feature interview with Iranian-British entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Babylon Health, Dr. Ali Parsa. Ali joins Jian from London for a heartfelt conversation about perseverance, vision, escaping from Iran as a refugee, getting a PhD in engineering physics, his time as a successful investment banker, pivoting to the healthcare space, and getting added to the UK “rich list” as one of the wealthiest people in Britain. Plus the Roqe Team goes through audience feedback and the Letters of the Week.