Roqe

A brand new edition of Roqe featuring a dynamic and compelling powerhouse duo in Iranian popular music. Iranian-American singer Sara Naeini and Iranian-American composer, producer, and pianist Reza Rohani join Jian live in the Roqe studio for an in-depth conversation about their music, the viral videos that have taken the internet by storm, and the unique chemistry that fuels their performances bo...

A new edition of Roqe featuring award-winning photographer and mixed-media luxury artist, Max Jamali. Max joins Jian live in the Roqe Studio for a conversation about his art, his business approach, and his popular events and exhibitions. Later, Iranian-Canadian film expert and CEO of the Cyrus International Film Festival, Dr. Amir Ganjavie, along with Executive Director Dr. Javad Panah, join Jian...

Roqe Live 3 - FULL SHOW AUDIO - recorded live at City Playhouse Theatre in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada - Sept 27th, 2024. Featuring Jian Ghomeshi, Pegah Ganji, Nooshafarin, Anousha, Solmaz Barghir. Performances by Arian and Sara, Golrokh Aminian, Nooshafarin and Ghazal Akhoondzadeh. And a special presentation of the Roqe Media Icon Award to legendary Shahbal Shabpareh with special guest, Babak Amin...

A brand new edition of Roqe featuring a rare interview with popular Iranian-German DJ and music producer, Namito. Namito joins Jian in the new Roqe Studio for a comprehensive chat about everything from the evolving status of DJs (from anonymous record-spinners to the new global rock stars) to his remarkable story of fleeing Iran by himself at the age of 13 and joining a commune in Germany. Also, P...

A new season of Roqe kicks off with Episode 338 in our brand new studio. Iranian-American actor and producer Armin Amiri joins Jian live in the studio, for a chat about everything from his time as a refugee to the delicate dance of nude scenes in the Sex in the City sequel. Then co-founders of Divan Events, popular Iranian-Canadian fashion blogger Bahar Eslami and successful event planner Mona Has...

A summer repeat edition of one of our favourite episodes of Roqe as we prepare to launch our new season. In the early 20th Century, in the midst of widespread discontent with the corruption and inefficacy of the Qajar Dynasty, a powerful movement formed and mobilized in Iran, aimed at changing the structure of the monarchy from despotic to constitutional, and to adopt representative governance by...

A summer repeat edition of one of our favourite episodes of Roqe as we prepare to launch our new season. What was Persian music before the 20th Century? How do we assess the development of sound and musical traditions in Iran during the Safavid and Qajar eras - important influences that may be heard all the way to today? American musician and ethnomusicologist, Dr. Margaret Caton, author of the bo...

On this episode we once again explore the Persian preoccupation with cars and status with a fun-driving edition. 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 "Garage Bekhradi" YouTube/Instagram site (Houston) - to discuss all things auto obsession, from a Mercedes fixation...

With Iran back in the news again for a multitude of negative reasons, we pivot to a special edition focused entirely on pre-Islamic Republic Iranian history and, particularly, arts and culture and the role of Farah Diba, the last Empress of Iran, and the significant role she played in the cultural renaissance of the 1960s and 70s that resonates to the present day. Jian is joined by Dr. Layla Diba,...

A new edition of Roqe (Ep.333) including two feature guests, a very big announcement, and, of course, the Roundup. Iranian-American fitness, nutrition, and wellness guru Sama Ghorbani joins Jian from Los Angeles to talk about her experience in the fitness space, the perils of cardio, questions about Ozempic, and her very popular Instagram account and app, Nutrifitopia. Later, Persian miniature pai...

A new edition of Roqe (Ep.332) featuring Iranian-American software engineer, viral video star and stand-up comedian Arash Rowshan in the Roqe Studio. Arash sits down with Jian for an all-encompassing and laughter filled conversation about his journey from engineer to stand-up comic, the ever changing nature of the Iranian diaspora, and the current state of American politics. But first, Smart Pegah...

A new edition of Roqe featuring high-profile Iranian activist Elahe Tavakolian, who became an international figure after suffering a horrific injury during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Elahe joins Jian from Philadelphia to discuss her harrowing story, the journey it has taken her on, her unwavering efforts to raise awareness about human rights violations in Iran, and the implications of the re...

A new edition of Roqe (Ep.330) featuing the iconic Iranian dancer, choreographer, pop celebrity, activist and cultural pioneer, Mohammad Khordadian, who joins Jian from London for a provocative and no-holds-barred interview about his mixed feelings on his homeland, breaking barriers, finding new love, and giving up on hope for change in Iran. Mr Khordadian makes the case that he hates lies, and he...

A new edition of Roqe, featuring a deep dive into the pre-Islam history of Iran with acclaimed cultural historian Dr. Richard Foltz and an examination of how the common conflation of Iranians and Islam (and Islamism) is actually not historically supported. Dr. Foltz joins Jian to discuss Iran before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, shedding light on the ancient Persian empires, Zoroastrian...

A new edition of Roqe including a feature interview in the Roqe Studio with Iranian-American actor, author, and spiritually-driven social media star, Anousha. Anousha joins Jian to discuss the concept of “unlearning,” her mission to follow her intuition, redefining success, and her journey as an “audacious” teenager from Shiraz to Tehran, to England and then to the US, as well as being recently ca...

A new episode of Roqe including a feature interview with Iranian-British journalist, broadcaster, and activist. Ali Hamedani, who made history as the first Iranian gay journalist to report on the LGBTQI community and underground life in Iran for an international media platform, BBC. Plus a conversation with Iranian-Canadian activist and lawyer Ardeshir Zarehzadeh about the big news of the Canadian...

A brand new episode of Roqe including a feature interview with Iranian-Canadian professional boxer, Salar Gholami - Canada's Cruiserweight Champion. Salar joins Jian live in the Roqe Studio to talk about how boxing became his path to a better life, his sacrifices, his father, and his time as the Captain of the Iranian National Team. Plus, Pegah and Jian convene for the Roqe Roundup to discuss the...

A new episode including a feature interview with superstar British dancer Yasmine Naghdi, Principal Ballerina of The Royal Ballet. Yasmine returns to Roqe and joins Jian from London to discuss her recent international performances and her new book, the first in an upcoming series entitled “Ballet Besties.” Plus, Pegah is in studio for the Roundup to discuss the latest news surrounding the upcoming...

A new episode of Roqe featuring an in-depth and intimate interview with returning guest, Ali Azimi, a leading light in Persian alternative music, who joins Jian, this time in the Roqe studio. Jian and Ali discuss and preview his forthcoming album “Madineye Fazelab,” his personal life and journey, and more - including a special in-studio acoustic performance. Plus, Pegah joins Jian for a Roundup to...

A special edition of Roqe with a roundtable focused on the implications of the the deaths of IR President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian and others. Jian is joined by Kayhan-London Managing Editor, Nazenin Ansari in London, UK, Policy Director for the National Union for Democracy in Iran, Cameron Khansarinia, in Washington DC, YouTuber and regular Roqe panelist Bahador Alast, as well as Roqe...

Part two of the latest live Roqe show recorded in front of a sold-out audience at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario, Canada on May 7th, 2024, featuring the presentation of the inaugural Roqe Media Icon award. Jian is joined by Najmeh Tansaz & her daughter Janan (better known as the new Roqe special correspondent) to discuss everything from boxing, mental health and the women life freedom movement....

Part One of the latest live Roqe show recorded in front of a sold-out audience at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario, Canada on May 7th, 2024. Jian kicks off the show with an updated version of his “Vay Vay” song, and then is joined by Bahador Alast and Kyan Nademi for a Roundtable, a breathtaking performance from Saba Zameni accompanied by virtuoso Babak Amini, and the very popular Dr. Kay, who si...

A new edition of Roqe featuring renowned and beloved Iranian singer and actress. Nooshafarin. Nooshafarin joins Jian in the Roqe Studio for her ever English interview - a comprehensive, revealing and animated conversation about her work, her passion, her sense of identity and her story of resilience from being a teenage star in Pahlavi era Iran, to years in India and the resuscitation of her caree...

A new edition of Roqe, this time with a focus on wellness-based and preventative medicine - including feature interviews with dynamic practitioners, Dr. Afrouz Demeri in California and Dr. Siamak Shirazi in the Roqe Studio. Plus Jian kicks off the show with a rousing audio essay aimed at Western media, declaring “the Islamic Republic is not the same as Iranians,” and Pegah joins Jian to discuss th...

A new edition of Roqe including feature interviews with two highly talented musicians live in the Roqe Studio. First the popular Iranian-French hitmaker, singer, writer and instrumentalist, Kamyar joins Jian to discuss his latest tour, a personal awakening and the loss of Faramarz Aslani. Then British-Iranian guitarist and singer, Siamak Mehr is live in our studio for a conversation about his pass...