Roqe

A feature exclusive and wide-ranging interview with legendary Iranian pop singers and songwriter, Andy Madadian. Andy joins Jian for a career interview about his path from modest means in Iran, to exile in America, the effective creation of a new genre of Persian music in LA, hit songs, collaborations, and recent participation in Ed Sheeran’s global hit, “Azizam.” Plus Jian kicks of the show with...

On the precipice of a Canadian federal election, a new episode of Roqe features a discussion/debate on the question of how the growing Iranian-Canadian community should vote this time. Jian is joined in the Roqe Studio by Iranian-Canadian lawyer Sadeq Bigdeli advocating for the Conservative Party and Iranian-Canadian academic and author Mehrdad Loghmani speaking in favour of a vote for the Liberal...

A new episode of Roqe examining the role of psychedelics in mental health. What was until recently considered taboo, is now being embraced in some medical circles for innovative treatments, the science of psychedelics, and the promise of ayahuasca or psilocybin. Jian is first joined by Anisa Deghani in Rotterdam - a researcher who has worked at Harvard University Medical Center and has a deep inte...

On the day of Nowruz, a Roqe Special with a Roundtable featuring some members of the Roqe Team and Tehranto Times reflecting on the Persian New Year. Jian is joined in the Roqe Hub studio by Pegah, Parissa, Tina, Ghazaleh, Ebi and Bella for a heartfelt conversation about the best and worst of Nowruz, fond family memories, the beauty of new beginnings, the worries about commercialization and the st...

A new edition of Roqe featuring two inspiring Iranian-Canadian women who have redefined their life journeys and careers. Popular psychotherapist and author Sara Rahimi is the latest prominent guest to do an on-stage talk and interview as part of the “Ideas at the Roqe Hub” series. She performs a monologue about her perspective on age and ambition and then joins Jian in front of a sold out crowd at...

A feature conversation with Iranian explorer, adventurer, and social media star, Ben Marco. Ben joins Jian in the Roqe Studio during a brief visit to Toronto to for a riveting conversation about all that he has learned in his explorations around the world, his favourite places, the dangers he has faced, the most attractive people he has encountered, the least, the most fun, the safest travels and...

A new episode of Roqe featuring an all-star language panel on the question of Iranian immigrants learning English and whether the journey of language learning is truly bound by age. Jian is joined by popular social media star and English teacher, Shahrzad Sherry Kazemi, in Vancouver, popular YouTuber and creator of Houshang Academy, Houshang Noormohammadi in Oklahoma, and popular language instruct...

A new edition of Roqe including a feature hour with Iranian-American comedian and actor Maz Jobrani returning to the show. Maz joins Jian amidst his ongoing tour that brings him to Canada to discuss everything from being Iranian to growing older to evolving as a comedian in the social media and AI era. It’s a dynamic and funny wide-ranging conversation that is not to be missed.

Our latest live edition of the Roqe podcast recorded on Feb 6, 2025, in front of a sold out audience at City Playhouse in Thornhill, Canada, featuring Shohreh Aghdashloo (recipient of the Roqe Media Icon Award), Fardad Farahzad, Dang Show, Siamak Mehr, Ghazal Akhounzadeh, Anahita Nayebi, Mahsa Mortazavi, Pegah Ganji and DJ Blanch Echo. Jian kicks off the show with an essay about Persians and tardi...

A special episode of Roqe presenting the inaugural edition of “Ideas at the Roqe Hub”- taped in front of a live audience. Nima Behnoud, founder of the luxury fashion brand, NIMANY, gives a talk and then is joined by Jian for an on-stage interview on the topic, How AI is Changing the Fashion World. It is a fascinating, fun, and at times, philosophical conversation and insight into Nima’s view on te...

A new edition of Roqe featuring two accomplished women who have defied conventions and redefined what it means to be successful, proud, and true to oneself in the Iranian community. First up, Nicole Dayani joins Jian from Los Angeles, to discuss her journey to becoming a beloved Iranian-American chef and the person behind Nicole’s Kitchen LA. It’s a dynamic conversation that ranges from family exp...

A new edition of Roqe focused on big ideas and entrepreneurial lessons in a feature interview with Iranian-Canadian inventor, businessman and tech star, Martin Basiri. Martin joins Jian in the Roqe Studio to defend is notion that anyone can become a millionaire, and to discuss his journey to creating a multi-billion dollar company while still in his twenties. The conversation is chock full of idea...

A new edition of Roqe featuring Dr. Fathali Moghaddam, the distinguished psychologist and professor at Georgetown University, who joins Jian to discuss his new book and his provocative thesis around the limits of multiculturalism in the West, and his antidote: “omniculturalism.” Dr. Moghaddam, one of our favourite returning guests, and a globally recognized expert on cultural integration, conflict...

On a special episode marking our first show of 2025, we assemble a group of 9 prominent Iranians around the world to get their answer to the question: Will change come to Iran in 2025? Given the immense geo-political shifts we have seen in recent months, from the election of Trump, to the fall of Assad, and the relative neutering of Hezbollah and Hamas...will the coming year be one in which the pr...

With news of the passing of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, we present a special edition of Roqe. While Carter is being lauded for virtues and impressive accomplishments through his storied life, his legacy with Iran during the period of his presidency is more problematic and fraught with questionable decisions. Indeed, a credible case can be made that it was a consequence o...

A new episode of Roqe focused on the psychological concept of narrative identity, how we shape the story of who we are, and the symbolic and behavioural masks we wear as a product of our environment, our past, and our fears. Jian is joined by professional coach and personal branding expert, Dr. Shahab Anari, and certified life coach, Tannaz Nouri, for a conversation that ranges from the theoretica...

A new edition of Roqe featuring an in-studio conversation with Iranian-Canadian tech innovator and entrepreneur, Soheil Alavi, the creator and host of the popular Persian podcast, Tabaghe16 (the 16th Floor). Soheil joins Jian on technology, immigration, podcasting and integration - in a wide-ranging and personal chat. Plus, Pegah makes her return to catch up with Jian on updates for Roqe Live 4, e...

A new episode of Roqe focused on the plight of recent Iranian immigrants in Canada after a decision by the federal government to roll back its immigration policies that invited millions of newcomers in the last three years. Temporary residents, like international students and work permit holders, are now being told there’s no room for them anymore - and this will directly affect many Iranian newco...

A new edition of Roqe featuring a high-energy in-studio interview with comedian, actor and activist, Tehran, as well as a passionate conversation with Iranian-Canadian boxing champion Salar Gholami, who joins Jian in the Roqe Studio in advance of his huge fight for the WBC North American title. Plus, Jian announces the much-anticipated lineup for Roqe Live 4, coming on Feb 6th, 2025.

A new edition of Roqe featuring a very funny and engaging full hour interview with beloved Iranian singer-songwriter, Mazyar Fallahi. Mazyar joins Jian in the Roqe Studio for a conversation about everything from how he met his wife, to Pink Floyd, to coming through his sadness, and learning to use English swear words with aplomb! He also performs a new song in the Roqe Hub space. Plus, Jian opens...

A new edition of Roqe featuring an on-stage interview with award-winning Iranian-American author and musician Sepehr Haddad, live at the Roqe Hub, on the occasion of the release of his new book, The Harmless and Necessary Cat, a novel about a family trying to make ends meet in Allied-Occupied Iran during World War II. Given the theme of the book and conversation, Jian begins with an opening essay...

A new edition of Roqe featuring an in-depth debate about whether a new Trump Administration will create more opportunity for regime change in Iran. Jian is joined by two prominent Iranian-Americans thinkers who are no strangers to the topic, albeit coming from different sides of the political fence. Democratic Party-supporting lawyer and TV commentator, Arash “Ari” Aramesh joins Jian from Washingt...

Is Ozempic a new wonder drug that is changing the world or an epidemic with dangerous consequences? On a new edition of Roqe, we feature an in-depth exploration of the trendy weight-loss “miracle” drug with a compelling trio medical experts. Iranian-American Naturopathic Medical Doctor, fitness instructor, and meditation practitioner, Dr. Afrouz Demeri, Iranian-American Chief of Internal Medicine...

A new episode of Roqe featuring a very entertaining interview with Berlin-based Iranian singer, composer, and instrumentalist, Ardavan Hatami. Ardavan visits the Roqe Studio and joins Jian for a conversation about everything from his viral hit song, “Khodanoor,” to getting arrested over 100 times in Iran as a street performer and finding his path in Turkey in exile. Ardavan also exclusively perfor...

A new edition of Roqe including a feature interview with acclaimed Iranian-Canadian composer, singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Kaveh Yaghmaei. Kaveh joins Jian live in the Roqe Studio to share his distinct approach to blending Western and Persian musical traditions, his take on modern rock, and his thoughts on the ongoing suppression of artists under Iran’s theocratic regim...