Learn Persian With Chai And Conversation

In this episode, Leyla sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Jasmin Mozaffari to discuss her short film Motherland, a poignant exploration of cultural identity, family trauma, and resilience. Jasmin reflects on her upbringing as a neem-rooni (half-Iranian, half-Canadian) in post-9/11 North America, the generational trauma of Iranian immigrants, and how her father’s story during the Iran Hostage Crisis shaped her art. Together, they delve into themes of assimilation, cultural pride, and rediscovering one’s roots.Jasmin also shares behind-the-scenes insights into Motherland—a film set in 1979 about an Iranian immigrant navigating love and hostility in America—and how the Woman, Life, Freedom movement has deepened her connection with the Iranian diaspora. Plus, learn about her exciting new projects and how she’s using storytelling to bridge generations and cultures.Watch Motherland on Vimeo (available until mid-January)Follow Motherland on Instagram for updatesConnect with Jasmin on Instagram: @jasminmozaffariVisit

In this lesson, we introduce the poem ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad by Ibn Yamin and discuss it with Alan Eyre.

In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān, we go over the last two lines of the poem.

In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān, we go over the fifth and sixth line of the poem.

In this discussion on Hafez's barafshān, we go over the third and fourth line of the poem.

Kaveh Akbar is the Iranian-American author of the critically acclaimed and heavily lauded novel Martyr! In our long-awaited conversation we dive deep into the themes of his powerful book, Martyr, which explores the human cost of so-called “collateral damage” and the real-world trauma often reduced to mere statistics in Western media. I had so much I wanted to ask Kaveh about the deeply personal and timely relevance of his work, especially in light of ongoing global events. Check out the full episode, and let me know what you think!Related Links:Kaveh's webpageKaveh on Instagram

In this second part of the discussion for Hafez's barafshān, we go over the first two lines of the poem in detail.

In this introductory lesson on Hafez's poem barafshān, we're joined by musician Fared Shafinury to go over the overall meaning of the poem. You can hear Fared's version of this poem in this track from his debut album.

In this follow up episode about Khayyam's poem rendee deedam, we go over the poem word by word, line by line, to understand each part individually. We'll also learn how to use the particular words and phrases in current conversation.

In this lesson about clips from the movie A Separation by Asghar Farahadi, we watch a conversation between Nader and Hojjat, Razieh's husband, about potential work Hojjat will be doing for Nader. We're joined in this episode by friend of the show, Yara Elmjouie.

In this special shabé shehr episode, we are joined by Alan Eyre, the first (and last) ever Persian language spokesperson for the U.S. State Department. Alan has a little book with lines of his favorite Persian poetry, and he shares one of those poems with us in this episode.

In this lesson, we watch a clip of the movie A Separation by Asghar Farahadi in which Nader and Razieh have a conversation about the potential for her husband to come work for Nader. We're joined in this episode by friend of the show, Yara Elmjouie.

In this lesson, we go over the last two lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez. The lines are as follows: حافظا روزِ اجل گر به کف آری جامیhāfezā roozé ajal gar bé kaf āree jāmeeOh Hafez, if you have a chalice in your hand when you dieیک سر از کویِ خرابات بَرَندَت به بهشتyek sar az koo-yé kharābāt barandat bé beheshtThey’ll take you directly from the winehouse street to heaven

In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez:نه من از پردهٔ تقوا به درافتادم و بسna man az pardé-yé taghva bā dar oftādam o basپدرم نیز بهشتِ ابد از دست بهشتpedaram neez behishté abad az dast behesht

In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez: همه کس طالبِ یارند چه هشیار و چه مستhamé kas tālebé yārand ché hoshyār o ché mastهمه جا خانهٔ عشق است چه مسجد چه کِنِشتhamé jā khāna-yé ʿeshgh ast ché masjed ché kenest

In this discussion on Hafez's aybé rendān makon, we go over the third and fourth line of the poem.

In this lesson, we go over the individual words and phrases in the first two lines of the poem, aybé rendān makon by Hafez: عیبِ رندان مَکُن ای زاهدِ پاکیزه سرشتʿaybé rendān makon ay zāhedé pākeezé sereshtکه گناهِ دگران بر تو نخواهند نوشتké gonāhé deegarān bar tu nakhāhand nevesht

In this introductory lesson to one of Hafez's most famous poems, aybé rendān makon, we're joined by Muhammad Ali of Persian Poetics to go over the overall meaning of the poem and give a bit of an introduction to Hafez and his significance in Iranian culture. In subsequent lessons, Leyla will be going over the word by word, phrase by phrase, to provide an even deeper understanding to the poem.

In this lesson, we cover the words and phrases learned in the poem, and how to use them in everyday conversation.Related links:khosh bāsh by Khayyam