Podgap (140) | Persian Literature (B1): Eight famous characters in the Shahnameh

In this episode of Podgap, Mohsen and Hanie explore one of Iran’s most fascinating archaeological treasures: the Hasanlu Golden Bowl. Discovered in 1958 in northwestern Iran, this remarkable artifact dates back more than 3,200 years and is covered with symbolic engravings that reflect ancient myths and beliefs.We talk about the discovery of the bowl, the ancient civilization that lived near Lake Urmia, and the stories behind the figures carved on its surface. In the episode, we explain each character and symbol on the bowl. To make it easier to follow, the images of these figures are included in the Patreon transcript for free. you can just join to the patreon.com/podgap in order to access the transcription of this episode. If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] subscribing to us at www.patreon.com/podgap you will get access to Persian Transcription & Glossary list of all the episodes that were published.

This week on Podgap, we’re going to talk about ride-hailing services.We have a dialogue about how a woman requests an online taxi and the conversations that take place between her and the driver.You’ll also become familiar with the new vocabulary from this dialogue, along with some cultural tips.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

In this episode, you will learn how to talk about losing and finding things in Persian.We will teach you useful words and simple sentences to explain what you lost or where you left something behind.You will also learn the difference between gom kardan (to lose) and jā gozāshtan (to leave something behind), and hear a short conversation about real-life situations.At the end of the episode, you will learn cultural expressions that Iranians use when someone loses something.This episode is perfect for beginner Persian learners who want to speak more naturally in everyday situations.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

The Shahnameh by Ferdowsi is one of the greatest epic poems in Persian literature It tells the story of Iran’s history, myths, and heroes.In this episode, we talk about 8 famous characters from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh.You’ll get to know these characters, and in each section we’ve included a few selected verses from the Shahnameh to give you a feel for the book.Our goal is to introduce you to the world of the Shahnameh and hopefully inspire you to read more of this epic in the future.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

Hello and welcome back to PadGap!In today’s episode, Hanieh and Mohsen dive into a very simple yet incredibly powerful Persian word—one you’ll hear everywhere. It’s a true magic word: short, polite, and surprisingly flexible.Through short, everyday dialogues—from cafés and homes to classrooms, shops, phone calls, and friendly conversations—you’ll learn eight different real-life uses of this essential word and how tone can completely change its meaning. If you want to sound more natural and confident in Persian, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s get started! If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

Welcome to Podgap.In this episode, Hanieh and Mohsen discuss the theme of friendship—what defines a true friend, how friendships change over time, and why maintaining them requires trust, communication, and healthy boundaries. The conversation also highlights cultural aspects of friendship in Iran and introduces useful Persian expressions related to relationships. Designed for Persian learners, this episode offers clear, natural dialogue, thoughtful questions, and practical language input to support listening comprehension and cultural understanding.Let’s begin.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Podgap!Today, we’re talking about a topic that affects millions of people in Iran and in many other countries around the world: air pollution.In this episode, Hanieh and Mohsen discuss why air pollution happens, how it affects daily life, and what factors—like traffic, old vehicles, factories, drought, and dust storms—make the situation worse.They also explain some useful vocabulary related to the environment and talk about how people and the government are trying to deal with this problem. And of course, they invite you to think about your own country: Do you experience air pollution or drought where you live?So, stay with us, listen carefully, and enjoy learning Persian while exploring one of the most important environmental issues in Iran today. Let’s get started!If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

In today’s episode, we’re learning 10 useful Persian verbs that use zadan as an auxiliary verb — and we’ll show you how to use them naturally in a friendly conversation between two friends. Don’t miss this fun and practical lesson!For extra practice, write a short story using all ten verbs and send it to us at: [email protected]. We’d love to read your work!Want to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

In this episode, Bahram and Behnoush team up to teach you how to make a delicious Iranian dish. You’ll pick up new Persian words through a real conversation, and at the end, test yourself with a quiz!If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

In this episode, we’re going to explore a topic that’s a bit different and more emotional than usual. Life is full of happy moments, but also difficult ones—especially when we lose someone we love.In such times, just a few kind and heartfelt words can bring comfort to those who are grieving.That’s why, in this episode, we’ll learn how to offer condolences in Persian.We’ll look at different words used for “death” in various contexts, and we’ll also practice common phrases for expressing sympathy and responding to condolences.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We’d also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at [email protected] to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let’s keep learning and growing together — one word at a time