Roqe

A lively episode of Roqe featuring Iranian-American actor and comedian Peter (Payam) Banifaz. Peter is a familiar face to many from his appearances in dozens of popular TV shows including Veep, Silicon Valley, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as his recurring role on the hit series, Shameless. But recently he’s been getting attention for his very funny online videos where he satirizes Persian dads and the culture of the Persian family at home. Peter joins Jian for a feature interview about his current success, and a life journey from Iran, to the UK, to a new immigrant community in LA where he found his home and his voice. Plus a new edition of It’s All Persian to Us and the Roqe Team gets an update on Shaya’s happy disposition and Jian’s intermittent fasting.

With this year's Nowruz marking a new century in the Iranian calendar (1400), Roqe sets out to explore what Iran was, and who Iranians were, in their pre-Islamic era (pre-650 AD). Dr. Richard Foltz, an author and historian who specializes in the history of Iranian civilization sits down with Jian for a feature interview covering the impact of ancient Iran on global civilization and the common threads of continuity between Iranians before Islam and Iranians of today. Richard Foltz is a Professor of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University in Montréal. He is the author of numerous books including, “Iran in World History” and his most recent book, “A History of the Tajiks: Iranians of the East.” Plus, the Roqe Team convenes with letters of the week, and a discussion on the merits of intermittent fasting.

On the first anniversary of the launch of Roqe, a feature interview with world-renowned television anchor, radio presenter, and senior producer, Pooneh Ghoddoosi. Pooneh has spent over two decades at the BBC as a TV presenter on BBC World in English, a host on BBC Persian TV and radio in Persian, and now a business head of Global Partnerships at the BBC World Service. Pooneh joins Jian for an insider chat about broadcasting, changing media, and the delta between presenting news and reporting on BBC World versus doing so in Persian. She also shares her personal story and observations about the future of communications and the Iranian diaspora. Plus a new edition of “It’s All Persian to Us” with Kyan and the Roqe Team celebrates the first birthday of the program.

An interview with acclaimed author, poet and scholar, Farzaneh Milani. Farzaneh, a professor of Persian literature and women's studies at the University of Virginia, joins Jian to recount her story of emigrating from Iran to America and becoming a foremost authority on Iranian women writers, her passion for female literature and Forough Farrokhzad in particular, and what she has recently termed, a “threshold” perspective among writers in the diaspora. Plus the Roqe Team reads letters about Kambiz Hosseini and more.

On the 100th Episode, a feature interview with Iranian music icon, Faramarz Aslani. The beloved and respected composer, songwriter, instrumentalist and man with a “satin voice” joins Jian for a very rare English in-depth life interview.

A feature interview with groundbreaking Iranian-American political satirist, actor, TV/radio broadcaster, and monologist, Kambiz Hosseini. Kambiz joins Jian for a rollicking, wide-ranging and very personal interview about his life journey, his broadcasting style, his disappointments, and his latest show, Paradox. This is a rare in-depth interview with Kambiz in English and the energy between the two hosts is palpable. Plus, the Roqe Team reveals the big guest for the 100th episode and combs through the latest Letters of the Week.

A diverse Roqe episode featuring interviews with British-Iranian cultural commentator, Kimia Yousefi, and Swedish-Iranian singer, artist and advocate, Arghavan. Kimia joins Jian from London to discuss her very popular (and funny) TikTok and Instagram presence and her observations as an English woman reconnecting with her Persian roots. Arghavan joins from Stockholm to speak about coming to fame in the Googoosh Music Academy TV program, and then following her passion as an advocate for women as an author, speaker, and Swedish UN Ambassador for Women. Plus Kyan with a new edition of “It’s All Persian to Us” and Jian tells the latest tale of misfortune for his dog, Oogie.

A fun Roqe episode including a feature interview with Iranian-Canadian engineer and YouTube sensation, Bahador Alast. Bahador joins Jian in the Roqe Studio to talk about his popular YouTube series that explores commonalities in language. He recounts how an interest in travel and different cultures led to the creation of his platform that has become a fascinating exploration of connection through common words in different languages - and one of the world’s top YouTube sites in the cultural realm. Plus the Roqe Team discusses Clubhouse delinquency and the Letters of the Week.

A diverse episode including an interview with Iranian-American author, Qigong master, and filmmaker, Pedram Shojai, also popularly known as The Urban Monk - which serves as the title of his New York Times Bestseller. Pedram is the the co-founder of whole.tv, a first-of-its-kind health and wellness streaming service with live and original content. He has also built a huge platform around his films, books, podcasts and wellness talks.. Plus another edition of “It’s All Persian to Us” and Jian and the team debate the merits of good handwriting.

A feature interview with celebrated Iranian-American composer, vocalist, and performance artist, Sussan Deyhim. Sussan joins Jian to reflect on her journey from Iran to professional ballet in Europe, working with the likes of Peter Gabriel in America, and creating a unique sonic and vocal language rooted in Persian poetry and mysticism. Plus the Roqe Team jokes about their Nowruz home video, their many insecurities, and the audience feedback and letters.