Iran 1400 Podcast

We’re proud to offer the audiobook version of  Two Three Words  (Do Se Kalameh | دو سه کلمه)   completely free  for  personal  and  educational  use. This audiobook is a gift from the author  Aram Hessami  and the Iran 1400 Project to  encourage dialogue  on the evolution of ideas in modern Iran.  If you find it valuable, please consider supporting our work. Donate via PayPal Giving Fund to suppor...

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of Iran’s civic , political , and economic societies through the lens of Iranian citizenry —a concept championed by Aram Hessami in his book Two Three Words . Drawing from more than a century of historical transformation, Vafa Mostaghim traces how these spheres have changed inside Iran and how diaspora communities have mirrored, supported, or dive...

Explore how transportation has shaped Iran’s economic and social development in this episode of the Iran 1400 Podcast. From ancient caravan routes to modern railways and aviation, discover the key transitions that connected communities and fueled national progress. It examines the transition from ancient caravan routes and the chapar system to the construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway, the exp...

What role has Persian-language media in exile shaped Iranian public discourse over the past four decades? And what happens when these once-vital platforms face funding cuts, shifting audiences, and a new era of digital activism? This episode explores the evolution, influence, and challenges of Persian exile media—from BBC Persian and VOA to Iran International and beyond. We also ask: what is lost...

How has the idea of the afterlife shaped Iran’s moral and political imagination? This episode dives into the historical evolution of the afterlife in Iranian thought—from ancient Zoroastrian visions and early Islamic doctrines centered on divine judgment to its use as a tool of authority under the Safavid and Qajar states. We then explore how the Baháʼí Faith introduced a radically different view:...

Building on earlier publications by the Iran 1400 Project — including our coverage of  Abbas Amanat’s  insights into the dilemmas of modernity and Hessami’s reflections on civic agency — this essay offers a holistic view of how citizenship in Iran has evolved: from inherited cultural frameworks to modern legal definitions, and ultimately, to an emerging ethos of democratic responsibility.

This article examines how the name “Khalij-e Fars” has been preserved, politicized, and contested over time. Drawing on historical sources, state practices, and reactions from the Iranian diaspora, it reflects the Iran 1400 Project’s commitment to understanding how ideas and institutions evolve—and how symbols like names help nations tell their stories, stake their claims, and respond to external...

This reflection is offered as part of the Iran 1400 Project’s commitment to exploring the evolution of ideas and institutions that have shaped Iranian society. In honor of Mother’s Day, we present this light yet layered examination as a tribute to the enduring strength, complexity, and courage of Iranian mothers across generations.

Looking ahead , the question is not simply which narrative will dominate, but whether a new kind of civic meta-narrative can emerge—inclusive, pluralistic, and historically grounded. Such a framework could offer a path beyond the binaries of revolution and reaction, faith and secularism, resistance and capitulation. This space of imaginative rethinking, rooted in shared dignity and layered memory,...

This podcast reviews Aram Hessami's book,  Do Se Kalameh , describing it as an  intellectual manifesto  on Iran's sociopolitical landscape. The review highlights Hessami's critical perspective on  power, governance, and the complexities of democracy and justice , particularly within the context of authoritarian regimes and the ongoing  struggle for justice . Furthermore, it examines th...

What if the path to a more pluralistic and globally engaged Iran could be found not in imported ideologies or outdated sectarian divides, but in a suppressed native tradition?

In this episode, we talk with political theorist Dr. Reza Parchizadeh about Japanese influence on Iranian society. After exploring how Japan’s victory over Russia and its Constitutional movement inspired Iran, Dr. Parchizadeh analyzes President Rafsanjani’s Japan-inspired development vision, the migration of Iranian workers to Japan, Japan’s cultural impact on Iran, and more. 

This is the second part of a two-part conversation with Dr. Michelle Langford about her book Allegory in Iranian Cinema: The Aesthetics of Poetry and Resistance. In this episode, she delves into the progression of censorship in Iranian cinema, highlighting the distinction between allegory as a reaction to censorship versus its response to broader socio-political influences. She also discusses Iran...

This is the first part of a two part conversation with Dr. Michelle Langford about her book Allegory in Iranian Cinema: The Aesthetics of Poetry and Resistance. In this episode, she discusses the motivations behind writing her book and explores the evolution of Iranian films, spanning from early silent movies to contemporary productions. In doing so, she examines the reflective insights of the fil...

This episode marks the second part of a two-part conversation with Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi delving into the evolving landscape of sexuality in contemporary Iran. Dr. Yaghoobi discusses the Family Protection Law, dispels common misconceptions within Iran, such as the assumption that all women share identical viewpoints, and examines the perceptions of veiling during the Pahlavi era. Furthermore, she a...

This is the first part of a two part conversation with Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi exploring the shifting dynamics of sexuality in Iran across a span of nearly two centuries. Dr. Yaghoobi, a professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, examines the intersectionality of gender and sexuality, discussing how gender rights have fared better than sexual rights. She discusses sexual mores in iran...

This podcast is part five of the Iran 1400 Project's labor series, and it concludes a three-part interview with Dr. Kaveh Ehsani, an associate professor at  DePaul University. Dr. Ehsani sheds light on the present condition of workers in Iran, emphasizing how the Islamic Republic perceives them as a threat to its establishment. He discusses the transition from the glorification of workers duri...

This is the fourth episode of the Iran 1400 Project’s series on labor in Iran and the second of a three-part conversation with Dr. Kaveh Ehsani about the social history of labor and oil. Dr. Ehsani, an associate professor at DePaul University, explores three distinct periods in Iran's social history, which coincided with the establishment of a market economy and capitalist framework. These per...

This is the third episode of the Iran 1400 Project’s series on labor in Iran and the first of a three-part conversation with Dr. Kaveh Ehsani about the social history of labor and oil. Dr. Ehsani, an associate professor at DePaul University, defines social history and highlights its importance for Iran and the broader world. He provides insights into what labor relations and Iran’s economy looked...

This is the second episode of the Iran 1400 Podcast’s series on labor in Iran. It is part two of a two-part conversation between our host Sydney Martin and doctoral student Ida Nikou about the labor movement in Iran since the Islamic revolution. Ida underscores the importance of comprehending labor protests as a prerequisite for understanding any protest movement in Iran and delves into the interc...

This is the first episode of the Iran 1400 Podcast’s series on labor in Iran. It is part one of a two-part conversation between our host Sydney Martin and doctoral student Ida Nikou about the labor movement in Iran since the Islamic revolution. Ida provides insights into the movement's history in each decade following the revolution, highlighting its adaptation to the evolving political landsc...

In the second installment of the Iran 1400 Project's series on nationalism in Iran, researcher Sydney Martin engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Ali Ansari on the intricate interplay between Iranian history, nationalism, and identity. Their wide-ranging discussion covers themes such as the significance of Kaveh the Blacksmith, the fusion of religion and state, and the exploitation o...

This is the first episode of the Iran 1400 Project's series on nationalism in Iran. Researchers Alexandra Braverman and Sydney Martin spoke with Dr. Meir Litvak about the role of religion in Iranian nationalism and Iranian identity. Dr. Litvak explained in detail how the Iranian state uses religion in order to promote a form of nationalism in line with its ideals. Examining the reaction of Iranian...

This episode is the second part of a two-part conversation with Dr. William Figueroa about his article for the Iran 1400 Project entitled “Constitutionalism Across Asia: Iran and China.” Sydney Martin and Dr. Figueroa discuss Iran-China relations today and the geopolitical implications of the Iranian and Chinese constitutional revolutions discussed in the previous episode. Dr. Figueroa analyzes Ir...

This episode is part one of a two-part conversation with Dr. William Figueroa about his article for the Iran 1400 Project entitled “ Constitutionalism Across Asia: Iran and China. ” Sydney Martin and Dr. Figueroa discuss the influence of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution on Chinese elites and the impact of pan-Asian and anti-colonial sentiment on Iran, China, and greater Asia. Dr. Figueroa pro...