Assyrian Podcast

https://podcast.assyrianpodcast.com/feed.xml

Dive deep into the soul of Assyria. Interviews with influential Assyrians from around the globe.

Episodes

Tuesday Sep 14, 2021

Eleanor Thorn

Tuesday Sep 14, 2021

Episode 151 - Eleanor Thorn is a first generation Assyrian-American, born in Chicago and currently residing in the north suburbs of Chicago. Early family tragedies didn’t prevent Eleanor from getting a college education, having a long and well-traveled career in accounting, starting her own family, and creating a legacy as the most recent steward of Lake Forest Bookstore. Tune in to learn more about her journey, her family, her book recommendations, and what she hopes is the future of small business and her own bookstore.

Instagram: @if_bookstore

Facebook: lakeforestbookstore

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Tuesday Sep 07, 2021

Dr. Ashurina Ream

Tuesday Sep 07, 2021

Episode 150 - Dr. Ashurina Ream is a clinical psychologist who began to focus on perinatal psychology and education for women, after the birth of her son turned her world upside down. Feeling alone and experiencing postpartum depression, she began cultivating a community online that validates the experiences of other moms struggling with similar issues and educates them and their partners on how to best cope with struggles related to fertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum. In this episode, we discussed how her page @psychedmommy came to be and discussed lots of topics like boundaries and effective communication that will apply to you, even if you are not a parent.

Tuesday Aug 31, 2021

Ninus Benjamin

Tuesday Aug 31, 2021

Episode 149 - Ninus Benjamin is a first generation Assyrian American. He has a twin sister, Shamiran, and older brother, Danny Benjamin. The twins were born in Santa Clara, California. Being raised in an Assyrian home to hard-working immigrants who had to learn things from scratch set a wonderful example for them. Being bilingual has been an added advantage not only in academics, but also when it comes to learning new skills, talents, and technologies.

He found his entrance into Google in 2013 where he spent a few years learning the ropes and eventually moving towards his passion, "helping people." Recruiting came easy as he began Recruiting for engineering leadership roles at two of the largest tech companies in the world. He would eventually find his home at Facebook for almost 4 years where he has brought in an enumerable number of people into the "company of their dreams." Learning the technical requirements, understanding how to find them using exhaustive searches, closing candidates....

Email: ninusbenjamin@gmail.com

IG: kneeneeb

Tuesday Aug 24, 2021

Afram Yakoub

Tuesday Aug 24, 2021

Episode 148 - Afram Yakoub is an Assyrian born in Qamishli, Syria. He migrated to Sweden in 1989, where he has been living since. Afram has been an Assyrian activist for over 20 years; his activism leading to being President of the Assyrian Federation of Sweden. Since leaving the position, Afram has written about his experiences and learnings, with the book Vägen till Assyrien - en uppmaning till nationell förnyelse published in Sweden last year (Tigris Press ISBN: 978-9198154160), before being published in English late 2020, titled The Path to Assyria - A Call For National Renewal (Tigris Press ISBN: 978-9198154160).

Tuesday Aug 17, 2021

Andrious Mama Jotyar MBE

Tuesday Aug 17, 2021

Episode 147 - Andrious Mama Jotyar, MBE was born in Iraq, grew up in Habbaniya and later moved to London to raise his family. He kept his Assyrian roots alive by establishing the Assyrian Society of Great Britain amongst his peers, starting the longest running magazine called, the Assyrian Observer, and was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which is the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood/damehood) for all of his humanitarian efforts and projects he has done for the Assyrians and ethnic minorities in London, England.

This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners - a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Firas Fawzi Jatou

Tuesday Aug 10, 2021

Episode 146 - Firas Fawzi Jatou was born in Baghdad, Iraq, leaving Iraq as a teenager, eventually emigrating to Toronto, Canada and later to the United States. Firas has been active in Assyrian affairs for over 30 years, and credits Malfono Ninos Aho and Rabi Alfred Duman for igniting his passion for Assyrians. Some of his accomplishments include publishing the first Assyrian website in 1993 Assyria Online, co-founded the Assyrian International News Agency, also known as AINA and most notably, was an early investor in the Assyrian heartland of the Nineveh Plains. Firas currently resides in Los Gatos, California and is married to Susan Nessan. Susan and Firas are the proud parents to an 11 year old boy, Tatian.

Tuesday Aug 03, 2021

A Tribute to the First Assyrian Mass Migration to North America

Tuesday Aug 03, 2021

Episode 145 - Sarah Bennett is the great great granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Isaac Adams - the first Assyrian to lead a mass migration of Assyrians to North America (Saskatchewan, Canada and later California, USA) from Iran in the early 1900s. In this episode, Sarah retells the great story of Dr. Adams and the other Assyrian settlers who helped to build North Battleford, Saskatchewan and later Turlock, California. This episode will help you give a glimpse into our modern Assyrian history and not one to miss!

Rev. Dr. Adams publications:

Persia by a Persian: Personal Experiences, Manners, Customs, Habits, Religious and Social Life in Persia

Darkness and Daybreak

A special thank you to Dr. Arianne Ishaya for her book that served as a reference throughout the interview: Familiar Faces in Unfamiliar Places: ASSYRIANS in the California Heartland 1911 - 2010.

Tuesday May 25, 2021

Atina Alkhas

Tuesday May 25, 2021

Episode 144 - Atina 'Tee' Alkhas is the founder of Tee Koffee Co - a Mesoptomaian inspired women-forward coffee retail company based in San Francisco, CA. Tee Koffee is committed to celebrating ancestral history through coffee and conversation.

Atina was born in Iran and immigrated to the US in the early '80s through Germany. Along the way, she observed her mother honor and bring with her the Assyrian coffee culture we know as Kahve. Coffee and tea were part of her life, as many of us Assyrians experienced the same with our families. Growing up, she quickly learned that coffee, specifically Kahve, was a way to bring people together and create a sense of community. The art of making Kahve and the time-honored tradition of coffee fortune readings has long been part of her family and her Assyrian background.

She founded Tee Koffee in 2017 to bring the Kahve experience home - she created Kahve starter kits and worked with coffee roasters to craft a modern take on the Kahve blend. Four years later, Tee Koffee is relaunching with a new logo design and two new coffee blends in honor of Assyrian Queens and Atina's Assyrian background. The relaunch of Tee Koffee was inspired by Assyrian Queens and women leaders of Mesopotamia.

Atina worked with designer and artist Rabel Betshmuel based in Chicago. They collaborated to create a logo and labels that help bring the story of the brand to life.

To learn more, please visit www.teekoffee.com and follow @teekoffee

Tuesday May 18, 2021

Ronnie Joudo

Tuesday May 18, 2021

Episode 143 - Ronnie Joudo is an award-winning country singer based in Sydney, Australia. With a musical career spanning 20 years, Ronnie released his debut single “Cruisin’ Along” in 2020, and has since become a Top 40 Country Artist in Australia. Ronnie recently won the Country Thunder 2020 New Male Artist of the Year award and has worked with prominent Australian Country singer-songwriters Allan Caswell and Ace Fender.

Instagram: @ronniejoudomusic

Facebook: Ronnie.Joudo

Tuesday May 11, 2021

Narsai David

Tuesday May 11, 2021

Episode 142 - Narsai David was born in South Bend, Indiana (U.S.A) in 1936. He has had a long and successful career in the food and wine industry, from catering to the most famous Rock & Roll bands to opening the renowned Narsai’s Restaurant. He is a published author, radio and T.V. personality, and a humanitarian; raising millions for Assyrian aid through the prestigious “Narsai’s Taste of Mediterranean”event held annually by the Assyrian Aid Society. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing, his career in food and wine, and his love and connection to his Assyrian heritage.

Tuesday Apr 27, 2021

Shoushan Tower (ܫܘܿܫܲܢ ܬܵܒܼܵܪ)

Tuesday Apr 27, 2021

Episode 141: Shoushan Tower

Shoushan Tower was the long-serving Treasurer of the Assyrian Aid Society in Australia. Born in Iraq, Shoushan migrated to Australia as a child in 1969. She grew up in Australia and studied accounting, using her acquired skills and knowledge to support the Australian fundraising arm of the Assyrian Aid Society. She has represented the AAS at high levels in the United Nations, making numerous trips to the homeland in service to recipient communities. She currently advises the Assyrian Australian Association with its financial affairs.

Instagram @aas_au (Australia), @assyrianaid (America)

Tuesday Apr 20, 2021

Lisa Kiorkis

Tuesday Apr 20, 2021

Episode 140 - Lisa Kiorkis, a Chicago Native, is a self-proclaimed “Professional Creative” and wears many, many hats! She is the co-owner of Gemini of Chicago Hair Salon, a self-taught Intimate Dining Chef, blog writer, recipe developer, YouTube Personality for Seven Spice Life, and a Food Network TV Personality. Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about her various experiences, New York Fashion Week, and what it was like to appear on The Food Network.

Blog: www.sevenspicelife.com

Instagram: @sevenspicelife @thehairdresserlisak

Twitter: @lafemmechef

YouTube: Seven Spice Life By Lisa K

Tuesday Apr 13, 2021

Dr. Christine Yalda

Tuesday Apr 13, 2021

Dr. Christine Yalda grew up near Flint, MI with grandparents who immigrated to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. She currently serves as an associate professor at Grand Valley State University, located in West Michigan, where she teaches Criminal Justice and Human Rights courses. In this episode, we spoke about her family’s journey to the United States, her experience growing up Assyrian, her faith, her coming out story, and marriage to her wife. Listen to find out about her grandmother’s incredibly challenging immigration story, her experience as an associate associate professor teaching criminal justice courses, and how her Assyrian identity has influenced everything from her faith to her wedding playlist.

Tuesday Apr 06, 2021

Ramel Nasseri

Tuesday Apr 06, 2021

Episode 138 - Ramel Nasseri was born in Tehran / Iran to his parents Nathan Nasseri and Rabi Bertha Shavel Okhsar. At an early age he learned to love and cherish his Assyrian heritage and his Church by the example of his parents and the benefit of growing up at the feet of his Grandfather Rabi Ammanuel Shavel Okhsar of Urmi and his late Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, two Giants of the Assyrian Community. Like many other families, Ramel and his parents left Iran during the war time for their final destination in the United States of America. He spent 8 years in Germany before settling in Plano TX. Here he finished his High school years and attended the University of Texas in Austin and the University of North Texas in Denton, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and minors in Geology and German. Later he received a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. His work and career spans across multiple fields;

An IT professional specializing in customer support, project management, process improvement, process analysis and program design.
An Educational Technology specialist.
Licensed Family Mediator
International Mediation with a focus on ODR
And his latest venture in the Film industry in Special FX.

As a Texas resident of 28 years, he has been active in the Dallas Fortworth area Assyrian community and the larger Texas Assyrian community, helping establish the Saint Jacob Mission of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East in Dallas TX and serving as the Vice President of the organization. He is also a proud member of the Assyrian American Association of North Texas.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rnasseri1

Instagram: @texaswanderlust

Tuesday Mar 30, 2021

Warren Shabaz

Tuesday Mar 30, 2021

Episode 137 - Warren Shabaz is the inventor of the American food staple the Pizza Puff, and head man in charge of Iltaco Food Company, which was started by his Grandfather in the 1920s. As a second generation Assyrian-American growing up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, Warren eventually expanded his family's food empire, keeping it family owned, with his children next in line to take over the family business. Learn what it was like to be a pioneer in food, running a successful business, and being ingrained into the American identity and culture, while not forgetting your roots, at a time when assimilation was deemed a necessity.

Tuesday Mar 23, 2021

Benjamin Yalda

Tuesday Mar 23, 2021

Episode 136 – Benjamin Christophe Yalda is best known as Mr. Erbil. Born a refugee in Iran in 1985, his family and him moved back to Iraq in 1991, a time when the country was at war. Benjamin’s interest in rap took flight in 2004, and he started writing poems and lyrics. His mission: to become the voice of a silenced nation, provoking an awakening through lyrics and beat. Listen to this episode to learn about his experience as Mr. Erbil, his first song about Seyfo, and the next 11 songs he wrote in Spring 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Tuesday Mar 16, 2021

Sumer Homeh

Tuesday Mar 16, 2021

Episode 135 - Sumer Homeh is the founder of the humanitarian aid organization “Local Aid” in Kenya. After working several years in the fashion industry in Australia, she decided to leave all that behind to dedicate her life for street children in Nairobi. Local Aid rehabilitates those children and provides them access to education and healthcare. Recently Sumer founded “Tribearth”, which is a socially conscious jewelry business that creates a community of empowered women and youth who produce handmade products in a sustainable and ethical environment. In this episode you will learn more about Sumer´s journey from Australia to Kenya and what led to this life changing decision, the world of humanitarian workers and the ups and downs Sumer went through in order to build a sustainable organization, and what it takes to truly follow your heart and not let doubts get into the way of you and your goals.

Facebook: Sumer Homeh

Instagram: @sumersoul

Website: www.localaid.or.ke , www.tribearth.org

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @TonyKalogerakos and the @InjuryLawyersofIllinois and New York.

Tuesday Mar 09, 2021

Dr. Amir Harrak

Tuesday Mar 09, 2021

Episode 134 - Dr. Amir Harrak is a professor of Aramaic and Syriac at the University of Toronto and the President of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies. In this episode, we discuss the importance of Syriac, Syriac Christianity, and the distinctions between Aramaic, Syriac, Neo-Aramaic, and Assyrian. If you’re a lover of language, history, and religion, this episode is for you.

www.nmc.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/amir-harrak

a.harrak@utoronto.ca

Tuesday Mar 02, 2021

Qasha Younan Shiba

Tuesday Mar 02, 2021

Episode 133 -

Qasha (Pastor) Younan Shiba was born and raised in Kirkuk, Iraq in 1964. His humble beginnings in Kirkuk, and a speech impediment at a young age, led Younan to find his own language through art. Younan received Christ as his Savior in 1990 while serving in the Iraqi army.

In 1995, Younan and Layla moved to Amman, Jordan to both obtain their seminary educations at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS). At that time there were approximately 500,000 Iraqi refugees living in Jordan due the Persian Gulf War and the closure of borders by Syria and Turkey. While a student at the seminary, he was asked by the Alliance Mission Christian Church in Amman to consider leading a ministry to Iraqi refugees.

Qasha Younan was ordained through the Assyrian Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Baghdad in 2003. After receiving four death threats in three years, and finally, a voicemail from a member of the jihad demanding money and threatening to kill his family, they were forced to flee to the United States.

He is currently a member of the Chicago (IL) Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He and his wife established the Family Life Development Foundation (FLDF), and through which they minister to over 120,000 Assyrians through a two-hour radio ministry every Saturday evening. They also host a worldwide satellite TV ministry that reaches thousands more. Now he serves with the Navigators Nations Within, reaching out to immigrants from his culture who haven't heard the good news of Christ.

Based out of Chicago, Illinois, Qasha Younan and his wife, Layla, have been married since 1994 and together they have two daughters, Joy and Grace.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday Dec 29, 2020

Dante Rosh

Tuesday Dec 29, 2020

Episode 132 - Dante is a Life Coach who is passionate about helping people who feel stuck in their jobs, master their mindset so they can get clarity about their next career move and go after it.

Her lifelong obsession with all things personal development and her own experience receiving coaching services and the life changing impact it had on her, lead her to create her own coaching business. Dante loves to help people learn new mindset tools and techniques to improve their work and personal lives.

She has her B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University.

Instagram: danterosh

Website: www.dantenoelle.com

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @TonyKalogerakos and the @InjuryLawyersofIllinois and New York.

Tuesday Dec 22, 2020

Petrus Afrem-Barsom

Tuesday Dec 22, 2020

Episode 131 - Petrus Afrem-Barsom is an Assyrian living in Duisburg (Germany). Professionally he works as a tax specialist and devotes his free time for the assyrian causes. Petrus is the chairman of the cultural association “Suryoye Ruhrgebiet” and one of the driving forces in the organization “Save Our Souls - 1915.de (SOS)”. In this episode you will not only hear about his volunteer journey, but also what led to the decision to form an activism group like “SOS”, that later also became an humanitarian aid organization, who caught the attention of many media outlets in Germany. You will also question yourself, how far you would go to bring awareness to your cause?

Facebook: @1915.de

Instagram: sos_1915

Website: www.1915.de

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @TonyKalogerakos and the @InjuryLawyersofIllinois and New York.

Tuesday Dec 15, 2020

Frank Gilbart

Tuesday Dec 15, 2020

Episode 130 - Frank Gilbart was born in Kirkuk, Iraq in the early 80s. From an early age, he realized the importance of language, civic engagement and the cultural arts scene. According to Frank, this mosaic led to a special bond amongst the Assyrian inhabitants of his hometown Kirkuk.

Frank’s life led him to study his true passion, directing, film and screenwriting. Completing studies both in Kirkuk, and continuing for another two years in Baghdad.

Fueled by a love for his nation and his childhood friend Nineb Yousif Toma, Frank began the rigorous process of filming and producing Journey of Eternity. Between gofundme, Assyrian organizations, a handful of amateur funding raising individuals, and organic donations, Frank was able to muster up roughly $300,000 to film and produce Journey of Eternity. This true story is about the three Assyrian heroes; Youbert Benyamin Shlimon, Youkhana Esho Jajo, and Yousip Toma Hermis, who were imprisoned and later hanged without a fair trial on February 3, 1985 by the Iraqi Baath regime.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast programming is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday Dec 08, 2020

George Rasho

Tuesday Dec 08, 2020

Episode 129 – George Rasho

George Rasho, a current Australian, grew up in Chicago, and an early memory of watching the production of Home Alone 3 near his childhood home piqued his curiosity for the creative arts and filmmaking. In this episode we talked to George about Emmanuel, the feature film he’s producing, his involvement with his Church as a deacon, and how he thinks we can move the Assyrian nation forward when it comes to the arts.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognised as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grasho1

Emmanuel The Film: https://www.emmanuelthefilm.com/

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020

Leona "Rubi" Ruben

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020

Episode 128 - Leona Ruben or "Rubi" is a twenty years old female assyrian rapper from Germany. She writes and produces her own rap songs and has gained thousands of followers on social media

and more than two million views on her music videos. She recently released her newest single "Schachmatt,” which means "Checkmate,” where she not only performs in a music video but also created the vision behind it. In this episode you will hear more about Rubi's inspiration, thoughts as a female in a men-dominated rap world, and her connection to the Assyrian community. You can listen to her music on Spotify, Youtube, and Apple Music.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonaRuben

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0VlrorDSkEbLK1D6VvMgd2

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rubi/447828145

Instagram: @dieserubi

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @tonykalogerakos and the @injurylawyersofillinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020

Robin Zirwanda

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020

Episode 127– Robin Zirwanda is the founder and front-man of contemporary Assyrian dance-rock worldbeat band Azadoota. Robin was born in Iraq and migrated to Australia at a young age, performing as a percussionist for many notable artists, before forming Azadoota in 1996. This week, we chat about Robin’s history, why he loves music and also discuss the role of patriotism and why it is important to be Assyrian.

https://www.azadoota.com/

Instagram: @azadoota

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognised as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020

Diana Atureta

Tuesday Nov 17, 2020

Episode 126 - Diana Atureta is a Toronto-based businesswoman, self-taught artist, and the founder of Assyrian Circles; an online initiative where Assyrians can speak our native language together with other Assyrians around the world. Its focus is on helping our community learn and preserve the language, including all of our dialects, while utilizing as many existing tools as possible.

www.dianaatureta.com

IG: @dianaatureta

www.assyriancircles.com

IG: @assyriancircles

Email: assyriancircles@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 10, 2020

Dr. Ohara Aivaz

Tuesday Nov 10, 2020

Episode 125 - Dr. Ohara Aivaz. Ohara Aivaz is a proud Assyrian and a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Beverly Hills, California. She completed a combined Internal Medicine and Dermatology residency program at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, and is now double-board certified in both Dermatology and Internal Medicine. She has lectured nationally, including invitations to speak at the National Institutes of Health, and internationally and has also authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals.

In this interview you’ll learn about her journey through medical school and how she came to study dermatology, her parents encouragement from an early age, the importance of Assyrian connection and community, how dermatology requires her to pay the closest attention to her patients, and that time she pulled a parasite from a skull (if you can stomach it, check out her IG post from July 13).

Insta: @oharaaivaz.md

Tuesday Nov 03, 2020

Laresa "Lala" Golpashen

Tuesday Nov 03, 2020

Episode 124 - Laresa “Lala” Golpashen is a singer and composer from Urmi, Iran. She began singing at age 18, and has begun working with Assyrian poet and activist Nineb Lamassu and has recently released a duet with Assyrian singer Emmanuel Bet-Yonan. In this episode, we talk to Lala about her music and singing, Assyrians in Urmi, and what’s next for her music career.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Dr. Nahren Khoshaba, an independent Health Mart Pharmacist and owner of Bartlett Pharmacy located in Bartlett, IL. Bartlett Pharmacy offers free delivery and in home flu shots. At Bartlett pharmacy we know you by your name, not by your refill number. Call us today and we will take care of all your prescription transfers. They can be reached at 630-855-5178 or visit barlettpharmacy.com

#assyrianpodcast #assyrian #podcast #newepisode #iran #musician #signer

Tuesday Oct 27, 2020

Jeremy Bristow & Eli Melki

Tuesday Oct 27, 2020

Episode 123 - Jeremy Bristow, a director who worked for the BBC for 21 years, and Eli Melki, a reporter for BBC Arabic and a BBC World Service Broadcast Journalist and Producer for more than ten years, are the two guests of today's episode. They made the 2019 documentary Last Christians, a film about the plight of Assyrians in Iraq and Turkey since ISIS invaded and terrorized the populous, which also included the Gishru group visiting the homeland in 2018.

Jeremy Bristow : jeremybristow2@gmail.com jeremy.bristow1@mac.com

jeremy.bristow1@me.com

Eli Melki: eli.melki@bbc.co.uk

@EliMelkiNews

Watch "Last Christians" now on Amazon Prime Video.

https://watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.90b3d72e-5239-211b-fb1a-a087521e1dd2&ref_=atv_dp_share_mv&r=Web

Tuesday Oct 20, 2020

Atour Sargon

Tuesday Oct 20, 2020

Episode 122 - Atour Sargon is a Village of Lincolnwood Trustee. Elected in 2019, Atour is serving her first four year term. We discuss her path to politics, women running for office, and the overall importance of Assyrian involvement in the political process.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Dr. Nahren Khoshaba, an independent Health Mart Pharmacist and owner of Bartlett Pharmacy located in Bartlett, IL. Bartlett Pharmacy offers free delivery and in home flu shots. At Bartlett pharmacy we know you by your name, not by your refill number. Call us today and we will take care of all your prescription transfers.

They can be reached at 630-855-5178 or visit barlettpharmacy.com.

Tuesday Oct 13, 2020

Comrade Hermis Yousif

Tuesday Oct 13, 2020

Episode 121 - Comrade Hermis Yousif was born in Nineweh (Mosul) Iraq, on March 6, 1956. From an early age, he yearned for an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of his nation and was influenced by his Father’s love for nationalism, poetry and the Assyrian language.

Late in the evening on July 19, 1984, Hermis was arrested by the Iraqi Security Service for his work with Zaw’aa. Hermis and seventeen other members of Zaw’aa were eventually taken to Baghdad to be interrogated and jailed. According to Dr. Sargon Donabed’s Ph.D. Thesis, “...for the first seven days, the individuals were placed in tiny cells of dimensions less than 4x4x4 ft. While food was offered twice daily, the various forms of torture included beatings with wooden rods, having wrists tied at the back and being hung by the same rope while beatings occurred, and, electric shock to the genitals and other areas. Following the initial seven-day period, the detained individuals were placed together in Baghdad for six months in a cell that only allowed space for nine to sleep at one time.”

The eighteen were eventually tried in court. After a one-day show trial, the verdict for the comrades was life in jail, and execution for the three commanders; Sahdeh Youbert, Yousip and Youkhana were executed on February 3, 1985. “The Iraqi government itself confirmed these executions and accused the three of ‘having committed the crime of creating a hostile and separatist movement aimed at threatening the independence and unity of Iraq…”

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Dr. Nahren Khoshaba, an independent Health Mart Pharmacist and owner of Bartlett Pharmacy located in Bartlett, IL. Bartlett Pharmacy offers free delivery and in home flu shots. At Bartlett Pharmacy we know you by your name not by your refill number. Call them today and they will take care of all your prescription transfers. They can be reached at 630-855-5178 or visit barlettpharmacy.com.

Tuesday Oct 06, 2020

Dan David

Tuesday Oct 06, 2020

Episode 120 - Dan David

YouTuber and all around creator Dan David brings you laughs, scares, and amazing looking shirts. Find out how Dan went from churning out hilarious YouTube videos, to telling scary stories, to writing scary stories and publishing his own book “The NOPE Collection.” Author of the recently released book “The NOPE Collection: 20 Short Horror Stories” Owner/Founder of Divinity Activewear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zsdKMWa-o8

https://www.instagram.com/itsdandavid

@NopeTooCreepy

@DivinityActivewear

NOPE Book

Tuesday Sep 29, 2020

Odette Y. Esho

Tuesday Sep 29, 2020

Episode 119 - Odette Y. Esho was born in Iraq and fled with her family to the US when she was a child. Following her brother’s footsteps, she joined the United States Air Force in 2009 and currently holds the title of Master Sergeant. In this episode you will get to hear Odette’s family’s story of fleeing to Turkey, coming to the US and joining the Airforce, and how she is defying stereotypes in her male dominated field in Cyber Operations as Operations Flight Chief.

Tuesday Sep 22, 2020

Juliana Jendo

Tuesday Sep 22, 2020

Episode 118 - Juliana Jendo was born in Syria and educated in a French school run by nuns in her city. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Aleppo in French Literature on a full-ride scholarship from Syria’s Department of Education. She later immigrated to the United States with her family, where she continued her French Literature studies, earning a Master’s Degree from University of Illinois, Chicago. She then began her singing career, which flourished quickly and led her to eventually work with George and John Homeh on the feature film, Wardeh Deesheh. In this episode, we talk about her upbringing, her visit to the old Soviet Union, and what it was like to work with the legendary John Homeh.

Tuesday Sep 15, 2020

Ashur Sada

Tuesday Sep 15, 2020

Episode 117 -Ashur Sada

Before there was social media as a way for Assyrians to digitally connect, there was the Assyrian Voice Network (AVN). In 1999, Ashur Sada of Toronto, Canada created the AVN and since then has helped thousands of Assyrians virtually connect with one another from friendships to marriages.

www.assyrianvoice.net

Tuesday Sep 08, 2020

Michael Atniel

Tuesday Sep 08, 2020

Episode # 116 - Michael Atniel

Michael E. "Mike" Atniel grew up in Southern California, and found a way to turn his love for drawing into his dream career. He began his first internship animating when he was only 18 years old and since then he has worked as one of the main animators for major video game creators as well as the hit show The Simpsons. In this episode, you’ll hear about his upbringing, background, love for animation and how he got his start on the Simpsons.

Instagram: @idrawhomer

Twitch: twitch.tv/idrawhomer

Tuesday Sep 01, 2020

Lanah Hadad

Tuesday Sep 01, 2020

Episode 115 - Lanah Haddad is a young Kurdish-Iraqi archaeologist, who grew up in Germany and recently moved back to Erbil, to reconnect with her roots. She studied the ancient history of Mesopotamia and worked in several archaeological projects in Iraq, Germany, Syria, Egypt and Jordan. Moved by her desire to bring back the Iraqi people more in touch with their own heritage, she created a strategy board game called “Urbilum - The Assyrian Empire”, which is based on archaeological background information. Her game got fully sponsored by Spotlight Iraq, which is a support program for cultural creators living in Iraq by the Goethe Institute and German Federal Foreign Office. In this episode, you’ll hear about her background in archaeology, her motivation to create the boardgame, and her thoughts on bringing different communities together and embracing diversity.

Instagram: @_urbilum_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbilum/

Tuesday Aug 25, 2020

Ron Susek

Tuesday Aug 25, 2020

Episode 114 - Ron Susek is best-selling author, evangelist, and television and radio Bible teacher, with fifty years in Christian ministry. A resident of Pennsylvania, he and his wife, a musician and recording artist, have appeared together on TV ministry and spoken at many conferences around the world. His latest book, "The Assyrian Prophecy: A Betrayed and Broken Nation Destined to Rise Anew from the Martyr’s Blood ", explores the often painful history of our people, our current plight, and the Biblical prophecy in Isaiah 19:23-25, which describes a future of unity between the nations of Assyria, Egypt, and Israel. In this episode we discuss Ron’s interest in this cause, what he believes the real world applications of the Isaiah prophecy would look like, and how he thinks His Western readers can be encouraged and challenged to become participants in helping to positively impact the future of the Assyrian people.

https://theassyrianproject.org/

https://www.facebook.com/ron.susek.5

https://seaministries.org/ronsusek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXk8GEbYQLE

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @TonyKalogerakos and the @InjuryLawyersofIllinois and New York.

Tuesday Aug 18, 2020

Peter Esho (ܦܵܛܪܘܿܣ ܝܼܫܘܿܥ)

Tuesday Aug 18, 2020

Episode 113 – Peter Esho was born in Sydney but spent some of his childhood in Kuwait. He is a market commentator and has ventured out on his own to run a real estate investment firm. In this episode he talks about the how and why of investment and business, his religious roots and family’s involvement in the Assyrian community, and his message for young Assyrians in diaspora.

https://www.wealthi.com.au/

Instagram: @peter_esho

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognised as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday Aug 11, 2020

Adnan Rasho

Tuesday Aug 11, 2020

Episode 112 - Adnan Rasho was born in Baghdad, Iraq and came to Chicago, Illinois at the age of thirteen. Growing up, Adnan experienced seasons of low self-esteem and shyness. He began self-medicating by drinking alcohol and experimenting with drugs. Over time, his drug use began to escalate until he found his drug of choice, crack cocaine. According to Adnan, the first time he used crack cocaine, he became hooked. After twenty years of drug addiction, homelessness and hardship, he turned his life around for good by the grace of God.

Currently, Adnan is gainfully employed at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois and is in the early stages of scaling his product, QuaPops, a protein powerball. In his spare time, he plays the flute and shares his testimony with churches and prayer groups.

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by @TonyKalogerakos and the @InjuryLawyersofIllinois and New York.

Facebook: Adnan Rasho

floutiest@gmail.com

www.quapops.com

Drug Addiction Hotline: www.samhsa.gov, 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Tuesday Aug 04, 2020

Dr. Ramina Jajoo-Frindrich

Tuesday Aug 04, 2020

Episode 111 - Dr. Ramina Jajoo-Frindrich is a retired Rheumatologist residing in Phoenix where she has been a partner at Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates, She is currently serving as a strategic consultant and Chairwoman of Seyfo Center, Arizona Chapter where she and her team worked tirelessly to help pass the Assyrian Genocide Rememberence Day Proclamation in the House of Representatives for the state of Arizona. In this episode, you’ll hear about her upbringing in Tehran, her med school experience in Australia, and her involvement with various Assyrian organizations in Boston and her current home state of Arizona.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramina.jajoo

Email: rjajoo@seyfocenteraz.com

Tuesday Jul 28, 2020

Shlimon Betshmuel

Tuesday Jul 28, 2020

Episode 110 - Shlimon Betshmuel is a singer, composer, and songwriter who began his singing career at an early age. He sought refuge in Iran when he was in his early 20’s, after singing a patriotic Assyrian song about Simele caused the Iraqi government to be displeased with his work. In Iran, he recorded his first album and continued to perform until he moved to the United States at the start of the Iranian Revolution. In this episode, we discussed his love for books and literature, took a deep dive into 4 of his most famous songs, and learned about the Mesopotamian origins of the piano. https://shlimonbetshmuel.com

Tuesday Jul 21, 2020

John Badal

Tuesday Jul 21, 2020

Episode 109 - John Badal A third generation Assyrian-Chicagoan, John Badal has never had a full connection with the Assyrian community, but that doesn’t mean he’s never known his roots. Just like his Grandfather before him, John is leaving his culinary footprint @northbranchgourmet in a city that prides itself heavily on their world famous food scene.

IG: @jbadal4 @northbranchgourmet @northbranchfriedchicken

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/10/17/20919053/urbanspace-loop-north-branch-gourmet-barbece-john-badal

Tuesday Jul 14, 2020

Dr. Ashor Sworesho

Tuesday Jul 14, 2020

Episode 108- Dr. Ashor Sworesho is a Chiropractor and business owner in Hamilton, Ontario. Outside of his work, he has dedicated his life to serving and advancing the Assyrian community in Hamilton through a multitude of areas; all with an emphasis on professionalizing efforts. In this episode, you’ll gain a greater awareness of those efforts, as well as his family’s life in Malta before settling in Canada, and finally, his academic journey that has led him to where he is today.

Email: ashor4488@gmail.com

Tuesday Jul 07, 2020

Scott Christian Sava

Tuesday Jul 07, 2020

Episode 107 - Scott Christian Sava is an animator, illustrator, director, writer, producer and an all around awesome Assyrian! Over the last twenty years, Scott Christian Sava's work has brought some of the world's most beloved characters to life in film, television, comics, and games. From Casper the Friendly Ghost to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Star Trek and Spider-Man. Scott's unique talents and vision have been called upon by Disney, Universal Studios, Nickelodeon, and more. In 2000 he founded Blue Dream Studios, which has produced work for Star Wars, X-Files, Aliens vs. Predator, Spider-Man, and other franchises, in addition to creating its own original content. The studio's first feature film, Animal Crackers, is now in full production. Scott is currently "living the dream" in his hometown of Franklin, TN. Scott’s mission, simply put, is to make “the world a kinder, gentler place, one story at a time.” The world needs a lot more filmmakers like Scott.

Instagram: @theanimalcrackersmovie, @ssava32, @ssavaart

Netflix.com/title/81191856

https://ssava.artstation.com/

https://twitter.com/ssava

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1762349/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Tuesday May 26, 2020

Yosip Bet Yosip

Tuesday May 26, 2020

Episode 106 – Yosip Bet Yosip was born in 1942 to Rabi Korush Bet Yosip and Anna Khoshaba Bet
Yosip in the village of Zumalan, a suburb of Urmieh, Iran. Early in his youth Yosip learned about the Assyrian culture through listening to Assyrian folk songs, poetry, and story telling (ܛܲܐܲܠܝܵܬܹ̈ܐ) conducted by the local elders. This is when his love for the Assyrian culture and heritage was originated. In 1968, Yosip, a selected member of the Shooshata Umtanaia; was introduced to the political aspects of the Assyrian history and witnessed the birth of an international political organization to oversee the well- being of his beloved Assyrian nation, the 'Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA).

He joined several Assyrian organizations:
- The Society of Assyrian National Progress (Assyrian youth organization ): Shooshata
Umtanaia
- He assisted Shooshata Umtanaia in assembling the first and largest library of Assyrian books
ever collected in modern Assyrian history.
- Nineveh Choir group (1960- Tehran, Iran)
- Nineveh Choir group conducted by maestro Nebu Issabey in Tahran, Iran.
- Assyrian Youth Cultural Society: Sita Sapreyta

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and
the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident,
please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising
Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can
be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Yosip Bet Yosip on Qeenatha: https://www.qeenatha.com/artists/YousipBetYousip/474/

Tuesday May 19, 2020

Awkar Ruel

Tuesday May 19, 2020

Episode 105 – Awkar arrived in Australia in 2012, as a 16-year old refugee from Iraq via Syria. Not knowing much English, Awkar was subjected to bullying at school, but instead of succumb to the 'haters', Awkar studied intensely and pursued his passion for architecture, inspired by a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House upon his arrival to Australia.

In two years, Awkar graduated from high school as School Captain and went to study architecture at university. He won a Jørn Utzon scholarship in Copenhagen (named after the Danish architect of the Opera House), had work experience in Copenhagen and now works for Grimshaw, a prestigious Architectural firm in Sydney.

https://www.awkarruel.com

Instagram: @awkar.ruel

Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognised as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Tuesday May 12, 2020

Emmanuel Samano

Tuesday May 12, 2020

Episode 104 - Emmanuel Samano is a British Assyrian who moved to London, England, from Iraq, in 1972. Born and raised in Kirkuk, he later moved to Baghdad, where he worked as an actor on the
radio and the screen for the Iraqi Media Corporation. After the Ba’ath regime tried to pressure
him to join their party several times, he fled to London, where he eventually became an
Interpreter for the United Kingdom Home Office, interpreting for many Assyrian refugees upon
their entry and application for residence in the UK.

Facebook: @EmmanuelLSamano
Email: e_samano41@hotmail.com

Tuesday May 05, 2020

Joe Snell

Tuesday May 05, 2020

Episode 103 - Joe Snell is a reporter based in Washington, D.C. On track to work in TV development in Hollywood, Joe left the entertainment industry in 2016 to pursue his passion for reporting on the Middle East. Since then, his reporting has taken him from a local newsroom in Texas to across the world from Germany, Paris, Brussels and Iraq. He eventually founded The Assyrian Journal and Assyrian Stories. This year, he launched the Middle East Minute video series. Currently a master's journalism candidate at Northwestern University specializing in Foreign Affairs coverage, Joe most recently completed a reporting practicum at Al-Monitor in Washington.

Instagram: @assyrianstories, @theassyrianjournal, @joesnell03

Websites: www.theassyrianjournal.com

Tuesday Apr 28, 2020

Zalgai Aho

Tuesday Apr 28, 2020

Episode 102 - Zalgai Aho is a fashion designer, world traveler, and the daughter of a revered oomtanaya, the late Malfono Ninos Aho. In this episode, you’ll learn about the western dialect of Assyrian, a glimpse of life in Södertälje, Sweden, the places Zalgai has lived - including the U.S. Virgin Islands, her life in fashion, loss, and how she has continued her father’s legacy of nationalistic work in her own way.

Instagram: @__zalgai__

Websites: www.zalgai.com, www.ninosaho.com