The Medz Mamas Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome, Tatiks Mari Basmadjian and Hasmik Alibalian! In this episode, Mary Basmadjian honors both of her grandmothers — her paternal grandmother, Mari Basmadjian, and her maternal grandmother, Hasmik Alibalian. She calls her Medz Mamas (Western Armenian for "grandmother") her Tatiks (Eastern Armenian), reflecting the cultural threads woven through her family story. Both...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Medz Mama Araxie Astardjian Oshagan! Grandson Ara Oshagan proudly pays homage to his paternal grandmother, Araxie. Araxie (1895–1987) was born into a well-established Armenian family in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where her ancestors had lived for generations. Despite being discouraged from marrying the man she loved, she followed her heart and built a life marked by resilience, lo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome, Medz Mama Vartanoush Krikorian Kaprielian! In this episode, Vietnam veteran and trauma psychologist Michael Manoog Kaprielian shares the story of his bond with his paternal grandmother, Vartanoush—a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. From childhood memories and living by her side to honoring her legacy through global humanitarian work and a life-changing family reunion, M...

Send us Fan Mail  "My grandmother, Kenarik Adamian, was born in Tehran, Iran, likely in 1929, despite a birth certificate stating 1925. She was one of five children and grew up in an Armenian family, passionate about design and sewing. Taught by a French-Armenian family friend, she pursued her interests despite her education being interrupted in her teens. At around 18 or 19, my grandmother m...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, beautiful people! Welcome back to The Medz Mamas! I'm your host, Anoush Bargamian! Today, granddaughter Violetta Sagatela honors her paternal grandmother, Amalia Abramyan. "Amalia was born in 1924 in Khtsaberd, a village which was populated by an Armenian ethnic majority before 1989, before the displacement of Armenians from their ancestral land by the Azeri governm...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, beautiful people! Welcome back to The Medz Mamas! Host Anoush Bargamian is thrilled to kick off Season 2! Today, granddaughter Colette Zabo honors her maternal grandmother, Nina. From growing up in Iran to picking wild cherries in Central Park, Colette shares her grandmother's adventures. Medz Mama Nina, who Colette calls Nina Mama, grew up in Mazandaran, Iran, and moved...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Medz Mama Manning Haladjian! Granddaughter Berjouhi Tirikian Koukoudian is proud to pay homage to her maternal grandmother, Manning Avedikian Haladjian, as our featured Medz Mama!  As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Berjouhi shares stories about her grandmother, Manning, with love and admiration. This year, Berjouhi celebrated her 90th birthday.  She understa...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Medz Mama Seda Ohanyan! Granddaughter Mariam Yeghiarzaryan is proud to pay homage to her paternal grandmother as our featured Medz Mama! In this episode, granddaughter Mariam tenderly describes her first memories of her Medz Mama Seda’s garden.  This included eating mulberries which are a favorite in Armenia, as well as in the Armenian diaspora.   Seda was born in the vill...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome featured Medz Mama, Elmon Piligian Mouradian! Granddaughter Talar Keoseyan is proud to pay homage to her maternal grandmother Elmon Piligian Mouradian. In this episode, Granddaughter Talar beautifully describes her grandmother’s resilient, creative, and humorous nature. Elmon was born in Yenikhan in Sepastia (Sivas, Turkey).  She became an orphan at the age of ten, during...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Medz Mama Anahit Melkonyan! Granddaughter Sona Melkonyan is proud to pay homage to her paternal grandmother as our featured Medz Mama! Our Medz Mama Anahit takes us back to her roots in the village of Khoy, (Iran), then Jermuk City, Vayots Dzor, and Yerevan, Armenia.  Her fondest memories are connected with her family and the mountainous landscape of Armenia.  Medz Mama An...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome featured Medz Mama, Mariam Mikaelian Adajian!  Grandson Mike Adajian is proud to pay homage to his paternal grandmother Mary Adajian. Mary was born in Musa Dagh, Musa Leṛ (Armenian), “Moses Mountain” in the mountainous region near the ancient city of Antioch, which is the Hatay Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.  Her father was a mukhtar or the village leader o...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Medz Mama Esgouhi Hajian! In this episode, we hear about Medz Mama Esgouhi's life journey, through an interview between her granddaughter Anoush and great-grandson Sevan! Meet my great-grandmother Anna (Khimatian) Mahdesian Derderian and my grandmother Esgouhi (Mahdesian) Hajian. Anna married Bedros Mahdesian, and they had four children, with Esgouhi as their second b...