Roqe Ep. 408 - IRAN RISES - Don't Look Away - Bijan Kian

Jian opens Episode 409 of Roqe - Iran Rises with a direct message to members of the Iranian diaspora who have chosen silence during one of the most violent chapters in the Islamic Republic’s history - not out of ignorance or absence, but out of convenience. The episode then turns to a panel discussion with two guests joining from opposite sides of the world: Erfan Paydar, Iranian-American rapper and activist in Los Angeles, and Forouq Canaani, academic and political analyst based in Munich. Together, they examine the current state of the uprising inside Iran, the unprecedented scale of global solidarity rallies, the role of regime-linked lobbying and disinformation efforts, and how Iranians inside the country are navigating repression, fear, and hope in real time. Roqe - Iran Rises is recorded as events continue to move rapidly on the ground, with perspectives shared as close to real time as possible. This episode is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law 🔗 stellarlaw.ca

In this episode of Roqe – as part of the Iran Rises series - Jian reflects on a defining moment in Iran’s ongoing revolution as internet blackouts begin to crack and evidence of mass violence by the Islamic Republic regime against civilians comes into view. In an opening essay entitled “Don’t Look Away,” Jian argues that silence, exhaustion, and narrative distortion are among the most powerful tools authoritarian regimes rely on. Jian is then joined by Iranian-American former U.S. senior official and global business leader Bijan Kian for an in-depth conversation about: What the regime’s actions reveal about its survival strategy Whether recent massacres mark a point of no return The international community’s response – and its limits The role of disinformation and soft-pedalled narratives What sustained attention and support can actually achieve This episode was recorded on January 19, 2026, as events inside Iran continued to evolve This edition of Roqe is supported by Stellar Law – a Toronto-based boutique litigation firm known for disciplined strategy and rigorous advocacy.

What is happening in Iran can no longer be described as a “regime crackdown.” It is a military occupation of civilians by their own state. In this urgent new episode of Roqe, Jian opens with a forceful essay addressing the scale of violence, mass arrests, and civilian deaths unfolding inside Iran - and the growing silence from Western governments and media. This edition features a wide-ranging panel discussion with: Dr. Siamak Aram (Washington DC) – Academic and community organizer focused on Iranian civic mobilization Shayan Samii (Virginia) – U.S. national security analyst specializing in the Near East and strategic communications Later, Jian speaks with Gazelle Sharmahd (Los Angeles), a German-American freedom advocate and the daughter of Jimmy Sharmahd, who was kidnapped and killed by the Islamic Republic in 2024. Recorded on January 15, 2026, this episode asks a painful question many Iranians are now voicing openly: Are we alone again? This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – stellarlaw.ca (http://stellarlaw.ca/) Famluxy – famluxy.com (http://famluxy.com/)

As protests escalate inside Iran and internet access is increasingly restricted, the urgency of this moment continues to sharpen. On this edition of Roqe (Episode 406) - the third installment of the ongoing Iran Rises series - Jian leads a timely panel discussion examining the rapidly unfolding situation inside Iran, the regime’s escalating crackdown, the information blackout, and what meaningful international pressure could realistically look like. This episode was recorded on January 12th, 2026 at 3pm ET, as events were moving quickly on the ground. 🎙️ Guests: Ari Aramesh - Iranian-American lawyer and political commentator (Washington DC) Dr. Kayvan Mirhadi (Dr. Kay) - Chief of Internal Medicine and trusted medical voice to Iranians worldwide (New York) Lisa Daftari - Foreign policy journalist, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of The Foreign Desk (Los Angeles) 🧭 Topics include: Shifting dynamics of the protests inside Iran Global media and policy reactions Internet shutdowns and information warfare Human and medical realities on the ground Possible paths forward and the limits of external intervention 🤝 Sponsors: Stellar Law - stellarlaw.ca iWelcome - iwelcome.ca

Jian continues the Iran Rises series with a timely panel discussion examining the unfolding protest movement inside Iran. Recorded on January 8, 2026, this episode brings together four perspectives - street-level insight, security analysis, economic context, and historical framing - to better understand what is happening now and what may come next. Guests: Picasso Moin – Iranian activist and commentator (Istanbul) Mahdi Ghodsi – Economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies Sepehr Vakil – Associate Professor, Northwestern University; author of Revolutionary Engineers Shayan Samii – U.S. national security analyst and strategic communications expert The conversation explores protest organization, regime power dynamics, economic pressure points, historical parallels, international response, and what may determine whether this moment advances or stalls. The episode opens with Jian’s essay honoring the bravery of Iranians in the streets. This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – stellarlaw.ca Famluxy – famluxy.com

As mass protests continue across Iran, Roqe launches IRAN RISES, a new twice-weekly series dedicated to understanding an uprising that is not simply about economic unrest – but about legitimacy, power, and regime change. This episode opens with Jian's short essay arguing that what is unfolding in Iran is a new revolution. What follows is a focused panel discussion examining the current phase of the uprising, insights coming directly from inside the country, the Islamic Republic’s posture, and what the near future may realistically look like. Panel: Nazanin Ansari – Iranian journalist, editor (London) Kamyar Mahinsa – Police officer, analyst (Vancouver) Ali Fathollah-Nejad – Political scientist, Iran expert (Berlin) This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – a Toronto-based boutique litigation firm Visit stellarlaw.ca iWelcome – premium Iranian-Canadian tour, travel, and limo services Visit iwelcome.ca Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. Meezoon basheen.

In this special New Year’s Day episode of Roqe, Jian convenes eight prominent Iranian voices from around the world to reflect on the year that was and the year ahead. The episode opens with a freshly recorded opening essay responding to the most recent protests inside Iran and the ongoing mischaracterization of Iranian uprisings by parts of the Western media. The interviews themselves were recorded shortly before the latest events, but the themes explored remain strikingly current. Each guest is asked four shared questions: How they characterize the past year for Iranians Their hopes for Iranians in 2026 Their fears for the year ahead And their personal resolutions Guests featured on this episode: Andy Madadian (Los Angeles) Elina Shirazi (Washington DC) Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad (Berlin) Bijan Kian (California) Nazenin Ansari (London) Tehran Von Ghasri (Los Angeles) Shahrzad “Sherry” Kazemi (Vancouver) Pegah Ganji (Toronto) Together, they offer a global portrait of a people navigating protest, trauma, hope, and the enduring belief that meaningful change is still possible.

Nothing says Christmas quite like talking about Iranians and drinking. On this Christmas Day edition of Roqe, we revisit one of our most compelling conversations - an exploration of alcohol’s long, complicated, and often contradictory place in Iranian and Islamic history. While alcohol is officially forbidden under Islam, it has played a persistent and sometimes conspicuous role across centuries of Persian culture - from ancient wine traditions and mystical poetry, to royal courts, revolutions, and the underground drinking culture of modern Iran. Our guest is Dr. Rudi Matthee, professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Delaware and a leading authority on early modern Iran. His new book, Angels Tapping at the Wine Shop's Door, examines the hidden, contested, and enduring history of alcohol across the Islamic world. This wide-ranging conversation looks at: The religious prohibition of alcohol and its interpretations Iran’s ancient wine culture Alcohol in Persian poetry, art, and mysticism Drinking at royal courts and repeated attempts at prohibition Alcohol before and after the 1979 Revolution Smuggling, homemade wine, and modern contradictions Whether the Islamic world’s relationship with alcohol is still evolving A conversation about pleasure and prohibition. Faith and culture. Public rules and private lives. This episode of Roqe is supported by Stellar Law and iWelcome.

In Episode 401, Jian welcomes automotive content creator Vahid Amirimoghaddam into the Roqe Studio. Vahid is the force behind the Instagram page “Cars I Have Driven,” with more than 400,000 followers watching the cars he gets behind the wheel of. Jian speaks with him about his rise on social media, what drives his fascination with cars, how Iranians express identity and status through vehicles, and how car culture is evolving — from luxury flexing to EV adoption. This episode also features: • An update on Roqe Live 6, set for Feb. 19, 2026 at RHCPA in Toronto This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law (@stellarlaw.ca on Instagram). Follow @roqemedia and @JianGhomeshi on Instagram and subscribe for new episodes.

On Episode 400 of Roqe, Jian reunites members of the original team - Groovy Shaya, Captain Reza and Smart Pegah - for a special roundtable reflecting on the five and a half years since the show launched in April 2020. The conversation explores how Roqe evolved from a pandemic-era experiment into a global program streamed over 45 million times; how Toronto has become the epicentre of a rapidly growing Iranian diaspora; and how events such as the Mahsa Amini uprising, mass executions in Iran, worsening economic and environmental crises and the Iran-Israel conflict have reshaped the tone and urgency of diaspora media. The team also discusses the rise of Iranian digital creators, shifting audience expectations and standout moments from 400 episodes of Roqe. Plus: Jian speaks about the upcoming Roqe Live 6. Meezoon basheen.