Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation

Leyla Shams

Learn conversational Persian in a fun and casual manner

  • 53 minutes 2 seconds
    Interview | Babak Tafreshi on the Magic of the Night Sky

    Babak Tafreshi is an incredibly inspiring Iranian photographer, science journalist and amateur astronomer. He got his start photographing in Iran, but has since moved to the United States. He is the creator and director of The World At Night, an international program in which photographers from around the world capture images of night skies as seen above notable landmarks of the planet.

    20 March 2025, 3:36 am
  • 25 minutes 8 seconds
    Interview | Naz Deravian on how she became the sabzé lady

    In this episode, Leyla sits down with Naz Deravian, the wonderful author of the cookbook Bottom of the Pot, to discuss how she started the tradition of growing sabzé for Nowruz (the Perisan new year) along with her international group of followers. Growing sabzé is an integral part of the Nowruz tradition. It acts as the centerpiece for the table we need to set up for Nowruz. She'll be starting on March 7th, so listen to hear how you can join, and why it's important that you do so, no matter where in the world you are.

    5 March 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 7 seconds
    Inteview | Growing Up Irooni- Anna Eskamani and Doing The Good Work in the Face of Hostilities

    In this episode, Leyla sits down with Florida Representative Anna Eskamani, the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature, to discuss her immigrant Iranian parents and how her mother's values continue to lead her as she's making big waves in Florida politics. Anna is a liberal politician in a sea of hostile Republican colleagues and now faces even more challenges at the federal level. Despite all this, she continues to fight for her values and is currently running for mayor of the city of Orlando.

    20 February 2025, 4:21 am
  • 28 minutes 9 seconds
    Interview | Growing Up Neem-Rooni - Jasmin Mozaffari, Director of Motherland, on Identity in a Problematic Time

    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.

    31 December 2024, 8:52 pm
  • 41 minutes 33 seconds
    Poetry | Ibn Yamin's ān kas ké bedānad va bedānad ké bedānad, Introduction with Alan Eyre

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

    23 December 2024, 6:00 am
  • 12 minutes 47 seconds
    Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 5

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

    28 October 2024, 5:00 am
  • 11 minutes 28 seconds
    Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 4

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

    21 October 2024, 5:00 am
  • 11 minutes 22 seconds
    Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 3

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

    14 October 2024, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 24 minutes
    Interview | Growing Up Neem-Rooni - Kaveh Akbar, author of Martyr! On Martyr, Trauma, and Collateral Damage

    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 webpage
    Kaveh on Instagram

    9 October 2024, 6:31 pm
  • 18 minutes 27 seconds
    Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Part 2

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

    7 October 2024, 5:00 am
  • 40 minutes 10 seconds
    Poetry | Hafez's barafshān, Introduction with Fared Shafinury

    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.

    30 September 2024, 5:00 am
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