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, Manoog takes us on a journey of history, healing, and rediscovery.

Vartanoush Kaprielian (1900–1986) was born in the city of Mush—known as Muş in modern-day eastern Turkey and historically part of Western Armenia. During the Armenian Genocide (1915–1923), 1.5 million Armenians were killed under the Ottoman Empire. In Mush alone, over 140,000 Armenians were targeted.

Vartanoush was one of the few who survived. She had two older half-sisters, Moulan Khatchadourian and Vardouhi Marabian. Shortly before the genocide, she fled with her mother, Gulizar, from Mush to Tbilisi, Georgia. While tending to wounded Armenian fighters there, she met her future husband, Michael Kaprielian—Manoog’s namesake—while caring for his injuries.

They fell in love, married in Tbilisi, and began a remarkable journey eastward across the Trans-Siberian Railway. After passing through Russia and reaching Japan, they eventually arrived in the United States. They settled in Providence, Rhode Island, where they raised seven children—five of whom survived—and helped build what would become a vibrant Armenian-American community of genocide survivors and their descendants. Their family was, and remains, a strong pillar of that community.

Amid the chaos of genocide, Vartanoush’s sisters and uncles were separated and eventually resettled in Yerevan, Gyumri, and the remote village of Dzorashen, Armenia. Decades later, through Manoog’s determination, a missing branch of the family was found—reuniting relatives and honoring the resilience of a grandmother whose quiet strength continues to inspire.

About Today’s Guest – Michael Manoog Kaprielian:

• Member of the Providence Armenian Relief Society
• Life member of Vietnam Veterans of America and the NAACP
• First man elected to the board of the Armenian International Women’s Association
• Recipient of honors from the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia
• Lecturer on PTSD and the psychology of the Armenian woman
• Founding board member of Alzheimer’s Care Armenia

Big thanks to sound designer/musician Aris Buechele!
Follow us on The Medz Mamas Podcast.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @themedzmamas
Story by: Michael Manoog Kaprielian
Photo: Michael Manoog Kaprielian
Sound Design by: Aris Buechele @noiseship

Support the show

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

"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 met Vahan Zolfaghari, a wealthy man from a gold and jewelry business background. They married in a grand Armenian church ceremony. Kenarik had five children, though one son died in infancy. The surviving children were Verjik, Vahram, Hilda, and Frida. She was a dedicated stay-at-home mother who designed clothes for her children and relatives.

Tehran was westernized during Kenarik's life, and Armenians were well-regarded. Her children were educated in England, frequently traveling for vacations and school. My grandmother supported my mother Hilda's marriage to my father, an American named Michael, amidst the Iranian Revolution in 1979. She attended the wedding in England, though her husband couldn't due to health and travel fears.

Post-revolution, Kenarik returned to Iran, focusing on her ailing husband and first grandchild. The revolution isolated her from her children abroad, and she fell ill with shingles. Her husband passed away during this period, leaving her to cope alone with only Verjik nearby.

In 1986, my grandmother immigrated to America after her husband's death, settling with her children in Maryland. Despite language barriers, she adjusted quickly, bringing Persian carpets, gold, and souvenirs. She lived with her children and found renewed purpose in caring for me when I was born in 1992. Kenarik's Armenian and Persian cooking was beloved, and she shared Armenian traditions and stories, becoming a central figure in my life.

I cherish her legacy of love, strength, and resilience, feeling her presence in spirit even after her passing." -Ashley M. David

You can find Ashley, @ashdave17, on Instagram.

Special thanks to sound designer and musician Aris Buechele for creating the beautiful music for Season 2. You can find Aris @noiseship on Instagram.

To stay updated on new episodes, please give us a follow on The Medz Mamas Podcast. And if you know an incredible Medz Mama, you can contact us through Instagram @themedzmamas or go to themedzmamas.com.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas
Story by: Ashley M. David
Photography: Ashley M. David's library
Music by: Aris Buechele @noiseship

Support the show

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 government. Since then, Khtsaberd has been renamed and now bears an Azeri name.

Amalia was always proud of her contribution to the war effort (behind the front lines) in defeating the Nazis in 1945. She often described the day she first heard the announcement of the end of World War 2 on the loudspeaker.

Amalia moved to Baku before the 1950s to find work as a seamstress and to start a family. Amalia married when she was in her mid-20s, an old maid by those standards, and had two children, the younger of whom was my father. Babo worked as a seamstress and made clothes for her children, but her dream was to attend medical school, which never materialized. A lifelong lover of the arts, she was particularly fond of theater and was the first to take me to a live show. Babo was always ahead of her time, which was not embraced in a rigid society that expected women to know their place and not deviate from the norm. Being a trailblazer, she was one of the few women not to take her husband's last name upon marriage and to leave an abusive marriage.

What is most notable about her is how fiercely she fought for me when confronted with bullying classmates or an unkind teacher. I spent many days with her as a child, and I inherited her love of plants and animals. Babo's favorites were stray cats, which she fed and gave shelter to as they passed through her home. To this day, I sing to cats, as she often did when I was a child, which always brought great joy." -Violetta Sagatela

In this episode, we referred to the Armenian Relief Society, an NGO. To learn more about the Armenian Relief Society, please visit arseastusa.org.

Special thanks to sound designer and musician Aris Buechele for creating the beautiful music for Season 2. You can find Aris @noiseship on Instagram.

To stay updated on new episodes, please give us a follow on The Medz Mamas Podcast. And if you know an incredible Medz Mama, you can contact us through Instagram @themedzmamas or go to themedzmamas.com.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas
Story by: Violetta Sagatela
Music by: Aris Buechele @noiseship

Support the show

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 to Glendale, California, with her family in 1977. She was the matriarch of the family and lived with her granddaughter.

Nina Mama significantly impacted Colette's life, passing down heartwarming stories and family traditions, including Nina Mama's amazing recipes. Granddaughter Colette is also known on Instagram as @cocoinkitchen.

Please visit Coco in the Kitchen to find Colette's family recipes connected to her Armenian roots.

Special thanks to sound designer and musician Aris Buechele for creating the beautiful music for Season 2. You can find Aris @noiseship on Instagram.

To stay updated on new episodes, please give us a follow on The Medz Mamas Podcast. And if you know an incredible Medz Mama, you can contact us through Instagram @themedzmamas or go to themedzmamas.com.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas

Story by: Colette Zabo

Photography: Colette Zabo's library

Music by: Aris Buechele @noiseship

Support the Show.

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 understands the impact and importance of this meaningful relationship on her life. This episode offers an extended feature where Berjouhi shares her personal life journey.

Medz Mama Manning was born in Erzincan, historically known as Yerznka (Armenian: Երզնկա), which is the capital of Erzincan Province in eastern Turkey. She lost her husband, Sahag, in 1915 during the *Armenian Genocide and then one of her two daughters at the age of twelve to pneumonia in Erzincan. Her surviving daughter, Zabelle, was born in 1906. Zabelle was a source of hope and comfort for her mother, a precious reminder of the love she shared with her late husband.

Escaping the perils of Genocide was no easy task. Manning managed to leave the village with her daughter, Zabelle, her sister-in-law, and her brother-in-law. The women disguised themselves with veils for their journey from the village of Erzincan to Istanbul. They traveled from Istanbul to Marseille, France, to begin a new life.

Years ago, their neighborhood in Marseille was filled with Armenians and many small shops. The Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Kévork of Marseille, is a few doors from Berjouhi's childhood home. Berjouhi's father, Kachayr, was a mason and built the community's Armenian church, which was consecrated in 1929.

Medz Mama Manning had a special bench in their garden and spent hours looking for items the family could eat, putting food aside from the garden. Even through the difficult times, their home was lively, as Berjouhi's father would come home after work and play the oud. The neighbors noticed how happy they seemed with all nine children singing and dancing to their father's oud playing.

Eventually, granddaughter Berjouhi got married and came to America, settling in Michigan. She shares stories about her loving relationships with her family, her past career as a seamstress, her joy for cooking, and her meaningful volunteer work sewing goods for unwed mothers.

*Turkey denies the 1915 - 1923 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. This crime against humanity must be acknowledged and remembered. To date, to speak or write about the Armenian Genocide in Turkey is a punishable crime.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas
Story by: Berjouhi Tirikian Koukoudian
Photography by: Anoush Bargamian
Music by: Haig Beylerian @haigashod

Support the Show.

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 village of Tegher (Armenian: Տեղեր, means “medicine”). Tegher village is located in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, on the southern slope of Mount Aragats. In this region, a large variety of healing herbs can be found.

Medz Mama Seda often would tell stories about her childhood and village life, to her granddaughter Mariam. Tegher Monastery (Armenian: Տեղեր or Տեղերի Վանք; also Tegheri Vank) was a major religious and cultural hub for villagers and beyond. The 13th-century Armenian monastery and church are located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Aragats near the modern village of Tegher. The complex is near the gorge from the village of Byurakan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.

Medz Mama Seda’s father (Mariam’s great-grandfather), was the drummer of Tegher village and passed down the importance of arts and culture to his family. The continuity of family life has been filled with warm memories, such as the big gathering Mariam shares in Dilijan, at the Dilijan Rest House. Dilijan (Armenian: Դիլիջան) is a spa town and home to notable artists, composers, and filmmakers and known for its traditional Armenian architecture.

Granddaughter Mariam is proud of her Medz Mama’s honesty and love for the Bible. Mariam shares her desire to go back in time and enjoy a walk with her Medz Mama Seda, in the mountains of Ararat. Mount Ararat * historically was located on the territory of the Armenian Highlands, today Eastern Turkey. While located right outside the border of modern Armenia, the mountain remains an iconic national symbol of Armenia.

Medz Mama Seda would be so proud of her gifted granddaughter Mariam. Imagining their walk together in the sacred mountains of Ararat is poetic.

* “Mount Ararat has always been one of the main symbols of Armenia, for historically it was located on the territory of the Armenian Highlands. In 1923, a peace treaty drafted between Turkey and the Soviet Union allotted this land to Turkey.”

Support the Show.

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 the Armenian Genocide.* At such a young age Elmon lost her parents, two brothers, a sister, and extended family. At the orphanage, she meets her future husband and together they have five beautiful daughters. Her journey takes us to Aleppo, Syria where her legacy is passed down to her daughters and grandchildren. Lovingly referred to as “Nene,” Medz Mama Elmon continues to make a huge impact on Talar’s creative life as a writer and community activist.

Medz Mama Elmon’s resilience and strength shine through the voice of her proud granddaughter, Talar.

*For the survivors and their descendants, the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923), is an open wound, because Turkey denies it to this day. One hundred and six years later, Armenians still suffer from this continued genocidal agenda. On September 27, 2020, amid the COVID pandemic, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and mercenaries backed by Turkey shelled and attacked the civilian population in Artsakh. This forced 100,000 Armenians to leave their ancestral homeland of several millenniums.

Support the Show.

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.

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 Anahit recalls joyful childhood adventures with her grandfather Apo, in Jermuk City.

Granddaughter Sona beautifully describes how her grandparents met on New Year’s Day. Medz Mama Anahit recalls the happiest days before 1993 when she worked professionally as a nurse, while her husband worked as a policeman. Side by side they raised three children. She goes on to describe the painful loss of her son Alik, who joined the army when the Karabagh movement began, in 1994. Medz Mama Anahit gracefully shares her wisdom with us and her hopes for the future generation of Armenians.

The strength of Medz Mama Anahit is heard in her love for her family, especially her granddaughter Sona, who carefully prepared the contents for this interview. In granddaughter Sona’s voice you will find love and admiration for her Medz Mama, which is deeply rooted in a strong and loving bond.

Special shout out to gifted musician Haig Ashod Beylerian, for permission to feature the song “Karabakh Im,” from his album “Armenian Folk Music For Guitar,” released in October 2020.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian

Story by: Anahit Melkonyan

Interviewer: Anoush Bargamian and Sona Melkonyan

Music by: Haig Beylerian

Support the Show.

TheMedzMamas™ is a place to honor and celebrate our Armenian grandmothers all across the globe. Subscribe today and share TheMedzMamas™ with friends & family!

TheMedzMamas was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.