Episodes

  • Roqe Ep. 358 - How AI is Changing the Fashion World - Nima Behnoud

    Roqe Ep. 358 - How AI is Changing the Fashion World - Nima Behnoud
    Jan 31 2025
    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 tech and the future of fashion. Plus Jian opens the show with an essay entitled, The AI Future: Inevitable Doesn’t Always Mean Good.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Roqe Ep. 357 - Defying Cultural Expectations - Nicole Dayani, Elham Rezaei

    Roqe Ep. 357 - Defying Cultural Expectations - Nicole Dayani, Elham Rezaei
    Jan 24 2025
    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 expectations, to passion and politics, to how to make a special Fessenjoon. Then Jian is joined in studio by Elham Rezaei, who has become one of the most successful financial advisors in North America in a very short time, and has made it her mission to help fellow Iranians and all Canadians and beyond, improve their financial literacy.
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Roqe Ep.356 - "Everyone Can Be a Millionaire" - Martin Basiri

    Roqe Ep.356 - "Everyone Can Be a Millionaire" - Martin Basiri
    Jan 17 2025
    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 ideas, provocation, information, adoration and debate, and one of the most animated in the studio to date.
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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Roqe Ep. 355 - Is Multiculturalism Broken? - Dr. Fathali Moghaddam

    Roqe Ep. 355 - Is Multiculturalism Broken? - Dr. Fathali Moghaddam
    Jan 10 2025
    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 resolution, and the psychology of globalization, makes the case that our societies should be focusing more on inter-individual similarities rather than differences, a thesis he presents in his latest book entitled, The Psychology of Multiculturalism, Assimilation, and Omniculturalism.
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    56 mins
  • Roqe Ep. 354 - Will Change Come to Iran in 2025?

    Roqe Ep. 354 - Will Change Come to Iran in 2025?
    Jan 3 2025
    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 profound change that so many Iranians around the world have been aching for, comes to fruition? Jian is joined by Hadi Ghaemi in New York, Nazenin Ansari in London, Cameron Khansarinia in Washington DC, Gilda Sahebi in Berlin, Picasso Moin in Istanbul, Nik Kowsar in DC., Ghazaleh Sharmahd in Los Angeles, Ali Hamedani in London, and Fereydoon Rahmani in Toronto, offering a variety of opinions and perspectives and an overall optimism about the immediate future for Iranians.
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    2 hrs and 18 mins
  • Roqe Ep.353 - Special Edition: Jimmy Carter and a Problematic Legacy With Iran

    Roqe Ep.353 - Special Edition: Jimmy Carter and a Problematic Legacy With Iran
    Dec 30 2024
    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 of Carter’s actions - and inactions - that Khomeini and the Islamic Republic of Iran was enabled to take power. Jian is joined by historian and journalist Kai Bird (redux) on his biography - The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter. Plus Jian opens the show with an essay suggesting to non-Iranians: “Don’t be surprised if some of your Iranian friends are less forgiving in remembering Jimmy Carter.”
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    49 mins
  • Roqe Ep. 352 - Narrative Identity and the 'Masks' We Wear - Dr. Shahab Anari, Tannaz Nouri

    Roqe Ep. 352 - Narrative Identity and the 'Masks' We Wear - Dr. Shahab Anari, Tannaz Nouri
    Dec 24 2024
    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 theoretical to the very personal, and specifically how Iranians develop their mask-wearing identities due to culture and history. Plus, Jian kicks the show off with a related essay entitled, “Don’t Judge Iranians for Wearing Masks,” and Pegah joins for a chat about the very Persian experience of fully celebrating Christmas!
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Roqe Ep. 351 - Tech Trailblazing on the 16th Floor - Soheil Alavi

    Roqe Ep. 351 - Tech Trailblazing on the 16th Floor - Soheil Alavi
    Dec 19 2024
    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, explore the concept of Persian Christmas, and more. And Jian kicks off the episode with an essay entitled, Imagine if Iran’s Tech Trailblazers Were Allowed to Soar.
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    1 hr and 39 mins