In this episode, I speak with Jonathan York, attorney and artist, at the Skirball center (apologies for any real life sound) to discuss The Sukkah Project, his exhibition at the Skirball Center in LA, opening October 8-November 3. The exhibition is the latest in a 6 year exploration, The Sukkah Project, where he has explored the Sukkah as an artistic medium. We also discuss his first film, Al Tira , which documents life in Israel post October 7th and the current climate for Jewish filmmakers and...
Oct 15, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this episode, I speak with food writer Tannaz Sassooni who is compiling recipes (one grandmother at a time) to create a cookbook of Jewish food from different cities in Iran. Tannaz sheds light on the history of Jewish-Iranian recipes, unique background behind Kashi dishes from her family's origins, and her family's migration story from Iran to America. Keep up with Tannaz's food journey on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tannazsassooni/ Intro music: Ghormeh Sabzi by Velshodegan Support ...
Sep 17, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 12
In this episode, Danielle and Galeet Dardashti return to discuss the ending of their documentary podcast series the Nightingale of Iran , which explores and uncovers the life of their grandfather, Younes Dardashti, a famous Jewish singer in Iran. We discuss the tapes their family recorded starting from the 1950s that were used throughout the series, the reception of their podcast, their theory on the lasting effects of the "Motreb"/artist stigma in Jewish Persian communities, and why there are s...
Aug 27, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Alan Niku returns to the podcast to discuss another selection of Judeo-Persian writers, including poets, philosophers, and biblical commentators such as Emrānī, Baba'i ben Lotf, and Simantov Melamed. Their exploration of these writers raises questions about how Jews engaged with Sufism as Islamic rulership in Persia intensified, leading to forced conversions and massacres of minorities. They also delve into why poetic writings, such as these, remain undervalued and obscure within Western society...
Jun 21, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Judeo-Persian literature (Modern Persian written in Hebrew characters) is likely the largest untapped group within Jewish and Persian vernacular texts. Manuscripts are scattered worldwide, found in the bottoms of drawers in people's homes and some in libraries, yet they remain untranslated and largely inaccessible. Alan Niku, a filmmaker and writer who began researching Persian Jewish history around ten years ago in hopes of preserving it, joins Millie in discussing his findings on translating J...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode, I speak with Matthew Nouriel (sometimes known as The Empress Mizrahi) an activist, content creator, and drag queen from the Persian Jewish diaspora. Matthew is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Iranians, Jews and the state of Israel. Together we discuss the connections between a free Iran and the fight against Hamas/the Islamic Republic's terrorist proxies, authentic vs. inauthentic activism, what's next for Persian Jews, and Matthew's families unique migration story. Follow Matthe...
Apr 21, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode, Maxine (from episode 3 Ancestral Healing ) returns to reflect on the lessons from the Book of Esther/Purim from the Torah, which revolves around a Jewish woman in Persia named Esther who becomes Queen in the Persian Empire (5th BCE) and hides her Jewishness in order to survive. When Esther's uncle Mordecai, discovers that an official in court, Haman, has a plan to establish a decree to slay all the Jews in the empire, Esther throws a series of feasts for the King and eventually ...
Mar 19, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode, Millie delves into the history of the Dardashti family with sisters Danielle and Galeet, the creators of the podcast documentary series, "The Nightingale of Iran." Unveiling the captivating saga of their grandfather, Younes Dardashti, a revered religious Jewish singer in 1950s Iran, who graced the Shah's Palace and radio with his melodious voice, alongside their father, Farid Dardashti, a teen idol on Persian television. Together, they unravel the complexities surrounding the st...
Feb 29, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Archival episode from November 25, 2022 In an independent interview, Millie Efraim speaks with Zar Amir Ebrahimi, lead actress of Holy Spider (winner, Best Actress, Cannes)— the uncompromising film noir (dir. Ali Abbasi) painting the life of a serial killer targeting prostitutes in Mashhad, about how she built her character, Islamic fanaticism vis-à-vis sexual perversion, life in exile outside of Iran, the current revolution, and the real Spider Killer's family's response to the controversial fi...
Feb 12, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode, Maxine Divon shares her personal journey into the self and spirituality for a discussion about the way our ancestral history impacts us. Maxine shares from her personal experience - as a woman in the Persian Jewish community and in the business world - and from the fields she’s studied including Jungian Psychology, Ancestral Healing, Archetypal Astrology and more recently Kabbalah. Her and Millie unpack various traumas and gifts passed through generations of Persian Jewry, and e...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 3
PGP hosts, Millie Efraim and Natalie Sanandaji, bring on historian Debbie Lechtman to discuss the history of Ancient Judea/the Kingdom of Israel, Jewish presence in the land for the last 3000+ years, the events leading up to 1948, and what is at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Debbie is a Jewish, Israeli, and Latina author, educator, content creator, and artist, specializing in Jewish history and antisemitism. She is well-known in Jewish spaces for condensing complex, multilayered, nu...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 2
PGP returns after a 9 month hiatus (no, we did not have babies-sorry/motasefaneh). We discuss our time off the podcast and get into the unspoken, yet known standards of what is "appropriate" when attending a Persian wedding as someone who isn't yet married (so is technically single). We give our own thoughts and share what is normally expected from the Persian community. As always we encourage listeners who'd like to share their experiences anonymously or not by sending us a direct message or em...
Jun 14, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 1
PGP returns for an episode where they're joined by Orna Simkhai and three other Persian mothers. They share the story of how they formed We Do Care: Iranian-American Parents of LGBTQ, a community formed in 2013. Orna and her friends also share advice and discuss their own experience with their children coming out. More info on We Do Care: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/We-Do-Care-Iranian-American-Parents-of-LGBTQ-943104462412560/ Support the show...
Sep 09, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 31
In this episode, Persian comic legend Maz Jobrani comes on PGP to discuss his path to standup and his early education and career experiences, and the ways in which it conflicted with his families expectations at the time. He also shares how he breaks the caricatures often imposed on Middle Eastern talent in Hollywood and gives insight to his approach of raising his kids. Check out Maz's Podcast: Back To School With Maz Jobrani Tour Dates Support the show...
Mar 22, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 30
In this episode, Millie, Natalie, and Adlee, a PGP favorite [brother of Millie], discuss the end of elitism, the demoralizing superbowl halftime show and the proliferation of mass culture, St. Valentine, and Persian swinger parties. Support the show
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 28
PGP answers listener submissions related to interracial relationships and how to bounce back in a relationship when you've been kept a secret and their family dislikes/disapproves of you. They also answer some questions related to physical attributes Persian women are attracted to, what cars they like to drive, and if they bring their boyfriends to their family dinners&parties. Lastly they give advice to a Black Jew whose type is Persian Jewish girls. Intro song: Mary Jane- Arash Support the...
Jan 18, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 27
In this episode PGP interviews Leyla Shams from Chai & Conversation, a podcast for learning Persian she started in 2011. Together they discuss some prevalent themes and quirks in the Persian language, abolishing the Persian goodbye and adopting the Irish exit, what the proper word for "butt" is, and how Leyla is carrying on the Persian language and culture to her half Amrikayee (American) kids. To learn more about the Chai & Conversation's programs for learning Persian follow this link! ...
Dec 21, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 25
In this episode, Natalie visits Millie in Paris and they discuss their time there together; operating a two women brothel, having no internet, and being stuck at a rave until 6 am. In the second half of the episode they discuss the importance of solitary experiences and cultivating your own life before joining another's. Support the show
Dec 06, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 24
PGP revisits the subject of cheshm (which they first talked about exactly two years prior to this episode, entitled " I don't dood esfand, I dood hookah "). In this new episode they discuss the more nuanced forms of the belief in cheshm (evil eye) and how it is ingrained in Persian society; from the way people deliver news and when they do, how they accept compliments and give compliments, saliva and the third eye, using cheshm as an excuse to create theatrics around their life, and whether posi...
Nov 08, 2021•56 min•Season 3Ep. 23
In this episode PGP features two voice submissions from their listeners regarding their experience dating outside their culture. One submission features a Persian girl's experience with dating someone not Persian and another submission features an Italian girl's experience dating a Persian guy. Intro song: Ahvaz - Makan Ashgvari Support the show
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Chekhabareh? Another episode with an unhinged anonymous Persian girl. Discussing the difference in sexual encounters with men from Iran vs western men, the millennial's frustration with the lack of effort in flirting these days and generally loss of intimacy, how the life of religious taliban members resembles the present day fuccboy, men who think they deserve immediate sex as a reward for being "honest" about not wanting anything serious, being judged for having too many sexual partners when b...
Oct 12, 2021•51 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Salut, salam. Cette semaine, een hafteh, PGP discusses wedding etiquette drama--ENCORE, and answers a listeners question regarding marrying outside of your religion. En particulier, they get into how one can be raised not by their parents values, but the values of the city/town in which they grew up (sounds like a classic case of ahberoo), reclaiming khanoom, what the real reasons are for Persian families being against their daughters marrying outside their religion, and what to do when you are ...
Sep 28, 2021•47 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Natalie and Millie return with a special guest, Naomi Larbi , model and writer + childhood friend of Millie's, to answer some questions sent in by listeners during their hiatus. They discuss what is considered "normal" when dating a Persian girl, specifically when it comes to expectations of money, gifts, chivalry, dowry, etc. In this episode they give not only a Persian take on these topics but also an Eastern European one. Stay tuned to the end to hear Millie and Naomi's history of their frien...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Do beaten horses in fact ever die? Millie and Natalie attempted to discuss their being uninvited from a comedy show for their Jewishness when Al Jazeera asked them to record comments for the news channel's documentary on comedian Noam Shuster (see S1 E13). They then follow how the media orchestrates the never-ending Israeli-Palestinian conflicts on behalf of larger powers financing the proxy war (in the name of each's plights and passions, of course!) and why Recho Omondi felt obliged to somehow...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 19
PGP interviews rapper Shaheen Samadi and singer Arla Fandi to discuss their new music video "Atoosa" and the struggles of beauty standards for Persian women. https://www.instagram.com/shaheen.samadi/ https://www.instagram.com/arla.fandi/ Support the show
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 18
PGP has an anonymous Persian Girl come on to discuss the experience of marrying an Indian man. "Niloofar" talks about how she met her fiance and the way her parents have received the Indian culture, getting complaints that she's "too into" the Indian culture, how it's easier as a Persian American to receive an American into their culture as opposed to another rich culture, the way in which not being surrounded by other Persians influenced her conception and relationship towards it. She also shar...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Millie's brother Adlee, professional gossip and aspirational vh1 commentator, returns on the podcast. They slander Bill and Melinda Gates and give a Persian take on their divorce. Later Adlee and PGP ponder what is contemporary Persian-ness; how each Persian family establishes their own set of laws of what Honor means to them and spill some tea. They dive deep into the meaning of the bizarre question that is often posed to them at parties: "what are you doing here?" and what's behind the behavio...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Na rumi-ye rum, na zangi-ye zang which literally translates to "neither a Roman of Byzantium nor a Black person of the Subsaharan region", means to say that some things cannot be black or white. In this episode, Millie and Natalie discuss the struggles specific to the dual identity of being Persian and Jewish, diving deeper into the nuances of Sephardic Jewry, the stress of living for your ancestors and being the descendants of persecuted people, pressure to marry within your own religion for th...
Jun 07, 2021•52 min•Season 3Ep. 15
PGP hosts discuss behavior and etiquette at Persian weddings, Millie is reinvigorated by recent traumatic interactions with mega doodool tallahs, upper class Persians who define their worth based on how many lavish parties they go to, Persian men who use having a white girlfriend to flex on Persian girls, snobby Persians who think doing drugs makes them in any way bohemian, and other tea is spilled. In this episode PGP features Lavashak (dried fruit candy) from their Lavashak.com monthly subscri...
May 27, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 14
PGP interviews Mandana Salehi, founder of Zibahub, an inclusive beauty services app. They discuss how she got started with her company, beauty standards and how they're changing, how she met her husband and the response she got from the Persian community for marrying a Black man, dealing with being ostracized by your family for marrying outside your culture, and more. To get the app go to https://www.zibahub.com/ Intro song: Hasoodi by Kamran & Hooman Support the show...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 13
