Roqe

A feature interview with acclaimed Iranian-Canadian sculptor, painter and cartoonist, Ahmad Alan Sakhavarz. Ahmad joins Jian to discuss his remarkable and award-winning career in three acts - from his work as a prominent political cartoonist at famous magazines and newspapers in Iran, to his move to Canada and transition into popular wildlife painter, to - finally - his evolution into world-renowned sculptor. Plus Nowruz-themed new editions of “It’s All Persian to Us” and “Hoss-pitality,” and the Roqe team debates the traditions of ‘chaharshanbe soori.’

A feature interview with popular Iranian-Canadian fashion blogger and journalist, Bahar Eslami - her first ever interview in English. Bahar set out to shine a light on independent fashion designers and stylists in Iran and became one of the first Persian fashion bloggers in the world. Her Fashion Sandwich platform was wildly successful and turned Bahar into a social media influencer and fashion world name. But, as she recounts to Jian - her first time going public with the story - Bahar’s fate took a challenging turn when, in 2018, the Islamic government shut down her page and all her social media access whilst accusing her of corrupting the minds of young Iranians. She was sentenced to ten years in prison but fled Iran for Canada where she has now re-established her social media presence and her impressive influence in the Iranian fashion and beauty world.

A feature interview with leading attorney, professor and author, Mehrangiz Kar. Mehrangiz is a celebrated human rights activist who was one of the first female attorneys to oppose the Islamization of gender relations following the Iranian Revolution of 1979. She became an active public defender in Iran’s civil and criminal courts. She joins Jian in the Roqe Studio for a very intimate and personal interview about her life…from her early years in Ahvaz and her female role models, to becoming a prominent lawyer and her fight for human rights, to her imprisonment, her exile, and dealing with the tragic death of her late husband.

A feature interview with pioneer Iranian-American bodybuilder, Hoda Jarrah. Hoda is an entrepreneur, fitness instructor, motivational speaker and a social media influencer. She joins Jian for her first ever interview in English to discuss growing up in a working-class conservative Muslim family in Iran, making it her mission to find independence, and breaking barriers and taboos for Iranian women. Her road has been paved with adversity - including being sentenced to 20 years in prison by Iranian authorities in 2018 - but she has, against all odds, become a powerful force and brand in fitness and business. Plus, the Roqe Team discuses Clubhouse and reads the latest letters from our inbox.

A feature interview with award-winning French-Iranian composer, Christophe Rezai. Christophe joins joins Jian from Tehran to discuss his emotive and evocative film soundtracks, his years spent in France, his experiences with tragedy and loss, his decision to move to Iran in the mid-1990s to pursue music as his career and primary passion, and his desire to fuse Eastern and Western traditional sounds. Plus, Chef Hoss shares the secrets of sumac, and Kyan brings a new edition of “It’s All Persian To Us.”

Feature interviews with celebrated Iranian-British painter, Hana Shahnavaz, and Iranian-American actor and producer, Armin Amiri. Hana joins Jian from London to discuss growing up in England with a fascination for Iran, and then her journey there where she found the inspiration to begin painting using pigments found in natural earth, sand, plants and insects. Then Armin joins from Los Angeles to recount his wild journey from Iran as a kid dreaming of being in the movies, his fateful encounter with Michael Jackson, and his road to acting success in America including appearing in and co-producing a new film called, The Night, which is the first American-produced film to be released in Iran since 1979. Plus the Roqe Team reads contentious letters and Jian tells the story of getting stuck in Clubhouse.

A feature interview with Iranian-British explorer and documentarian, Reza Pakravan. Reza joins Jian from the UK to discuss his life as an adventurer, motivational speaker and writer who left a lucrative corporate job in London in his late-30s to explore the world and challenge himself. He has since become a two-time World Record holder for crossing the Sahara Desert by bicycle in 13 days, and “Fastest Bicycle Journey” from the Arctic Circle through the length of the planet to Cape Town, South Africa in 102 days. Reza now presents and produces popular TV adventure programs and docs on the world’s top networks such as BBC, Fox, Aljazeera, and a series on Amazon Prime. Plus, the Roqe Team convenes for another edition of “It’s All Persian To Us,” a lesson on the beauty of barberries from Chef Hoss with “Hoss-pitality,” and Jian tells the tale of fixing the broken TV in the Roqe lounge.

A feature interview with acclaimed Iranian-American surgeon, Dr. Abbas Ardehali, Surgical Director of the UCLA Heart-Lung Transplant programs, and Professor of Surgery and Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine. Abbas joins Jian to discuss his journey from Iran as a young man, excelling in engineering and medicine in America, his passion for helping people, and the story of becoming the first surgeon in the United States to perform a “breathing lung” transplant - a procedure he was instrumental in developing. Abbas, who is the winner of numerous awards including being named, “Best Doctor in America,” 2006-2017, discusses his pride in being Iranian and his observations of how the Persian community in the diaspora has evolved in recent years. Plus Mona from Melbourne makes an appearance with the Persian Proverb of the Week, and the Roqe Team reads letters.

A feature interview with pioneering Iranian-American food blogger Azita Houshiar. Azita joins Jian to discuss food as culture and identity, and the growing prominence of Persian cuisine in the online space, as well as her love for Iran, her TEDx talk in Tehran, and her decision to stay in Iran more permanently. Plus, Chef Hoss talks saffron on “Hoss-pitality,” Kyan talks pants on “It’s All Persian to Us,” and Jian introduces the team to a new buzzword that may not be word, or may be a very very old one.

A wide-ranging and hilarious feature interview with renowned Iranian-Dutch photographer, visual artist and video director and filmmaker, Mostafa Heravi. Mostafa joins Jian from Amsterdam to discuss his approach to political art, inspiration and commentary, making videos for the likes of Namjoo and Shahin Najafi, and his wild journey from a religious family in Mashhad to the West, including an attempt to ride camels to China, a stint as a professional footballer in Tajikistan, time in jail and living in a refugee camp, and his current interest in cheesemaking. Plus the Roqe Team remembers Chick Corea, talks Valentine’s Day, and reads the Letters of the Week.