Interview | Gissou Nia, Human Rights Lawyer, on Justice, Diaspora Identity, and the Power of Speaking Up
Growing Up Irooni - Gissou Nia, Human Rights Lawyer, on Justice, Diaspora Identity, and the Power of Speaking UpIn 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 zonesFear of speaking out—then and nowDiaspora activism and responsibilityPersonal reflections on power, identity, and justiceFollow Gissou:Twitter/X: @GissouNiaInstagram: @gissounia
30 Apr 1h 14min
Interview | Babak Tafreshi on the Magic of the Night Sky
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.
20 Mars 53min
Interview | Naz Deravian on how she became the sabzé lady
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.
5 Mars 25min
Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani and Doing The Good Work in the Face of Hostilities
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.
20 Feb 27min
Poetry | Ibn Yamin's ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad, Introduction with Alan Eyre
In this lesson, we introduce the poem ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad by Ibn Yamin and discuss it with Alan Eyre.
23 Dec 202441min
Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 5
In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān, we go over the last two lines of the poem.
28 Okt 202412min
Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 4
In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān, we go over the fifth and sixth line of the poem.
21 Okt 202411min
