Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani And Doing The Good Work In The Face Of Hostilities Learn Persian With Chai And Conversation podcast

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1
Encore: Will Poulter, Dave Beran, and The Bear 52:22

16 days ago52:22

52:22

Season 3 of the smash hit FX/Hulu show “The Bear” roared to life just days ago, but Will Poulter (the actor who plays fan-favorite Luca) and 2014 F&W Best New Chef Dave Beran had been prepping for weeks. Poulter — like his co-star Jeremy Allen White — staged with Beran at his Santa Monica restaurant Pasjoli to learn how to accurately portray a professional chef onscreen. The lessons went so well, Beran says he’d hire Poulter as a cook — even despite a messy mishap with a pastry bag. The two dished all about getting kitchen culture right on and offscreen, what it takes to be at the top of your craft, and the pure magic of a great restaurant service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation « »
Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani and Doing The Good Work in the Face of Hostilities

about a year ago 27:07

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Content provided by Chai & Conversation. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Chai & Conversation or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

In this episode, Leyla sits down with Florida Representative Anna Eskamani, the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature, to discuss her immigrant Iranian parents and how her mother's values continue to lead her as she's making big waves in Florida politics. Anna is a liberal politician in a sea of hostile Republican colleagues and now faces even more challenges at the federal level. Despite all this, she continues to fight for her values and is currently running for mayor of the city of Orlando.

… continue reading

181 episodes

#Farsi #Persian #Iran #Higher Education #Podcasting Education #Chai And Conversation #Chai #Conversations

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Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani and Doing The Good Work in the Face of Hostilities

Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation

published about a year ago

Share

MP3•Episode home

Content provided by Chai & Conversation. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Chai & Conversation or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

In this episode, Leyla sits down with Florida Representative Anna Eskamani, the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature, to discuss her immigrant Iranian parents and how her mother's values continue to lead her as she's making big waves in Florida politics. Anna is a liberal politician in a sea of hostile Republican colleagues and now faces even more challenges at the federal level. Despite all this, she continues to fight for her values and is currently running for mayor of the city of Orlando.

… continue reading

181 episodes

#Farsi #Persian #Iran #Higher Education #Podcasting Education #Chai And Conversation #Chai #Conversations

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1
Culture | Attar's Parable of the Moths, Part 4 34:26

3 days ago34:26

34:26

In this episode of Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation , we conclude The Parable of the Moths by Attar, taken from his masterpiece Conference of the Birds . I'm joined by the brilliant Omid Arabian of YOUniversal Center , who walks us through the last 4 lines of the poem—exploring its language, imagery, and deeper meaning. This lesson is perfect for those with some background in Persian who want to experience the richness of mystical poetry and engage with timeless questions of love, longing, and transformation. 📄 Download the accompanying PDF guide: chaiandconversation.com 🎧 Listen to the third episode of our podcast: Spotify link 🔗 Learn more about Omid’s work: YOUniversal Center…

1
Culture | Attar's Parable of the Moths, Part 3 24:14

10 days ago24:14

24:14

In this episode of Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation , we continue to the third part of The Parable of the Moths by Attar, taken from his masterpiece Conference of the Birds . I'm joined by the brilliant Omid Arabian of YOUniversal Center , who walks us through the next 4 lines of the poem—exploring its language, imagery, and deeper meaning. This lesson is perfect for those with some background in Persian who want to experience the richness of mystical poetry and engage with timeless questions of love, longing, and transformation. 📄 Download the accompanying PDF guide: chaiandconversation.com 🎧 Listen to the third episode of our podcast: Spotify link 🔗 Learn more about Omid’s work: YOUniversal Center…

1
Interview | Growing Up Irooni – Yassamin Ansari, Congresswoman from Arizona, on Politics, Protest, and Persian Identity 26:10

10 days ago26:10

26:10

In this episode of Growing Up Neem-Rooni , Leyla talks with Representative Yassamin Ansari , the youngest member of Congress and the first Iranian-American Democrat to be elected. From growing up in a mostly white Arizona suburb to representing her diverse district in Washington, D.C., Yassamin shares her story of identity, community, and public service. We talk about her family's immigration journey, what it was like growing up Persian in Arizona, the political awakenings that shaped her career, and the urgent fights she’s now taking on—climate change, immigration justice, labor rights, and Iranian-American visibility. She also opens up about the personal weight of carrying a diaspora story into the halls of power, and why this moment in American politics requires all of us to show up, speak out, and organize. 🟢 Topics covered include: Her upbringing in Arizona and the influence of her Iranian family Why she got into politics, and how the first Trump presidency galvanized her Her work on Iranian-American Heritage Month and immigration reform The erosion of climate policy and the importance of mass mobilization What gives her hope—and why we need to fight harder than ever…

1
Interview | Money, Iranian-American Identity, and Romance: Chelsea Fagan on Building a Business and Writing a Political Love Story 45:49

15 days ago45:49

45:49

In this episode of Growing Up Irooni , Leyla sits down with Chelsea Fagan—founder of The Financial Diet and author of the new novel High Dive . Known for blending personal finance with cultural critique, Chelsea joins Leyla for a wide-ranging conversation that covers: Why she wrote a romance novel with a Persian American love interest Navigating privilege, assimilation, and identity in immigrant communities Representing Iranian culture through a “cultural reader” and deep research The challenge of launching a joyful project in a dark political moment What it means to speak out as a business owner—and how capitalism shapes silence This is a conversation about complexity: what it means to hold joy and grief at the same time, to create art that is political without being preachy, and to run an ethical business in a deeply unequal world. 📚 High Dive is out May 27th! 👉 Learn more about Chelsea: @faganchelsea on Instagram and @TheFinancialDiet 🎧 Leyla mentions this video by Chelsea: Watch on YouTube…

1
Culture | Attar's Parable of the Moths, Part 2 32:13

16 days ago32:13

32:13

In this episode of Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation , we continue to the second part of The Parable of the Moths by Attar, taken from his masterpiece Conference of the Birds . I'm joined by the brilliant Omid Arabian of YOUniversal Center , who walks us through the next 4 lines of the poem—exploring its language, imagery, and deeper meaning. This lesson is perfect for those with some background in Persian who want to experience the richness of mystical poetry and engage with timeless questions of love, longing, and transformation. 📄 Download the accompanying PDF guide: chaiandconversation.com 🎧 Listen to the second episode of our podcast: Spotify link 🔗 Learn more about Omid’s work: YOUniversal Center…

1
Culture | Attar's Parable of the Moths, Part 1 41:49

23 days ago41:49

41:49

In this episode of Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation , we begin a brand new series on one of the most powerful mystical stories in Persian literature: The Parable of the Moths by Attar, taken from his masterpiece Conference of the Birds . I'm joined by the brilliant Omid Arabian of YOUniversal Center , who walks us through the first 4 lines of the poem—exploring its language, imagery, and deeper meaning. This lesson is perfect for those with some background in Persian who want to experience the richness of mystical poetry and engage with timeless questions of love, longing, and transformation. 📄 Download the accompanying PDF guide: chaiandconversation.com 🎧 Listen to the second episode of our podcast: Spotify link 🔗 Learn more about Omid’s work: YOUniversal Center…

1
Interview | Comedian Neema Naz on Iranian Parents, Comedic Hustle, and Finding His Voice 36:58

28 days ago36:58

36:58

In this episode of Growing Up Irooni , I sit down with Neema Naz—comedian, content creator, and the internet’s favorite Persian son—to talk about his rise from Scarborough’s multicultural neighborhood to international stages. Neema shares how being the “funny kid” at family gatherings led to his career in comedy, why his Iranian identity is core to his storytelling, and how his whole family (especially his mom!) became an essential part of his brand. We talk about: Neema’s evolution as a comedian—from early sketches to working with Drake How his upbringing shaped his inclusive and culturally collaborative humor The pressures of representing the Iranian diaspora and navigating community expectations Why staying grounded in family is key to both his comedy and his sanity 🎫 Follow Neema & get tour dates: neemanaz.com 📱 On Instagram: @neemanaz 🧿 Learn Persian & more interviews: chaiandconversation.com If you’ve ever wondered how to balance being Persian and pursuing a creative career, this one’s for you.…

1
Interview | Gissou Nia, Human Rights Lawyer, on Justice, Diaspora Identity, and the Power of Speaking Up 1:14:54

6 weeks ago1:14:54

1:14:54

Growing Up Irooni - Gissou Nia, Human Rights Lawyer, on Justice, Diaspora Identity, and the Power of Speaking Up In this episode, Leyla talks with Gissou Nia, a leading international human rights lawyer and Director of the Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council. Gissou shares her journey from growing up Iranian-American in New Jersey to taking on some of the world’s most urgent human rights cases. They discuss the tension between diaspora and homeland, how her name connects her to Persian poetry and protest, and why it’s more important than ever for those in the diaspora to speak up. Topics covered: Growing up Iranian in the U.S. What “Gissou” really means (and why it’s more than just “hair”) Legal work on Iran and other crisis zones Fear of speaking out—then and now Diaspora activism and responsibility Personal reflections on power, identity, and justice Follow Gissou: Twitter/X: @GissouNia Instagram: @gissounia…

1
Interview | Babak Tafreshi on the Magic of the Night Sky 53:02

12 weeks ago53:02

53:02

Babak Tafreshi is an incredibly inspiring Iranian photographer, science journalist and amateur astronomer. He got his start photographing in Iran, but has since moved to the United States. He is the creator and director of The World At Night, an international program in which photographers from around the world capture images of night skies as seen above notable landmarks of the planet.…

1
Interview | Naz Deravian on how she became the sabzé lady 25:08

14 weeks ago25:08

25:08

In this episode, Leyla sits down with Naz Deravian, the wonderful author of the cookbook Bottom of the Pot, to discuss how she started the tradition of growing sabzé for Nowruz (the Perisan new year) along with her international group of followers. Growing sabzé is an integral part of the Nowruz tradition. It acts as the centerpiece for the table we need to set up for Nowruz. She'll be starting on March 7th, so listen to hear how you can join, and why it's important that you do so, no matter where in the world you are.…

1
Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani and Doing The Good Work in the Face of Hostilities 27:07

16 weeks ago27:07

27:07

In this episode, Leyla sits down with Florida Representative Anna Eskamani, the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature, to discuss her immigrant Iranian parents and how her mother's values continue to lead her as she's making big waves in Florida politics. Anna is a liberal politician in a sea of hostile Republican colleagues and now faces even more challenges at the federal level. Despite all this, she continues to fight for her values and is currently running for mayor of the city of Orlando.…

1
Interview | Growing Up Neem-Rooni - Jasmin Mozaffari, Director of Motherland, on Identity in a Problematic Time 28:09

23 weeks ago28:09

28:09

In this episode, Leyla sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Jasmin Mozaffari to discuss her short film Motherland , a poignant exploration of cultural identity, family trauma, and resilience. Jasmin reflects on her upbringing as a neem-rooni (half-Iranian, half-Canadian) in post-9/11 North America, the generational trauma of Iranian immigrants, and how her father’s story during the Iran Hostage Crisis shaped her art. Together, they delve into themes of assimilation, cultural pride, and rediscovering one’s roots. Jasmin also shares behind-the-scenes insights into Motherland —a film set in 1979 about an Iranian immigrant navigating love and hostility in America—and how the Woman, Life, Freedom movement has deepened her connection with the Iranian diaspora. Plus, learn about her exciting new projects and how she’s using storytelling to bridge generations and cultures. Watch Motherland on Vimeo (available until mid-January) Follow Motherland on Instagram for updates Connect with Jasmin on Instagram: @jasminmozaffari Visit Jasmin's website: jasminmozaffari.com…

1
Poetry | Ibn Yamin's ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad, Introduction with Alan Eyre 41:33

24 weeks ago41:33

41:33

In this lesson, we introduce the poem ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad by Ibn Yamin and discuss it with Alan Eyre.

1
Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 5 12:47

32 weeks ago12:47

12:47

In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān , we go over the last two lines of the poem.

1
Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 4 11:28

33 weeks ago11:28

11:28

In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān , we go over the fifth and sixth line of the poem.

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