Persian Girl Podcast
120 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago -Sharing voices from the diaspora and beyond. Originally founded in 2019 by Millie Efraim and Natalie Sanandaji with the intention to create a space for Mizrahi stories to come to life, the podcast has expanded to interviews with psychologists, historians, actors, spiritual workers, and creatives from all over the world.
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Episodes
Finding hope in Queen Esther's story
March 31, 2024 22:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBZoei Cohen, a spiritual guide and teacher, offers her perspective on Esther's transformation from orphan to Queen in the Persian empire by taking a closer look at the original Hebrew text to capture the nuances often lost in translation to other languages. She simultaneously derives a radically positive interpretation of the story and relates it in ways of how we should live today. Intro music: Aramaic Lesson by HULAULA More about Zoei Support the show
Reflections on Esther
March 19, 2024 22:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBIn 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 eventual...
Reflections on Queen Esther
March 19, 2024 22:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBIn 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 eventual...
Reclaiming Motreb: The Dardashti Family Legacy
February 29, 2024 13:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBIn 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...
Zar Amir Ebrahimi: Holy Spider, Life in Exile, and Iran
February 12, 2024 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBArchival 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 controversi...
Ancestral Healing
February 01, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBIn 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, ...
Interview with Debbie Lechtman of Roots Metals
November 30, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBPGP 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, multilayer...
Persian Wedding Etiquette
June 14, 2023 22:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBPGP 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 o...
Persian Mothers of LGBTQ
September 09, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBPGP 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
Interview with Maz Jobrani
March 22, 2022 18:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBIn 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
Interview with Maz Jobrani
March 22, 2022 18:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBIn 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
But He'll Never Gain The Heart and Souls of the Iranian People
March 02, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 51 MBIn this episode, Millie and Natalie bring on their close friend Anna Semenova, Ukrainian-American crypto expert, to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Natalie also shares the story of how she was named. Links related to the subject recommended by Anna: https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine reddit thread of donation links: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/ News sites/articles recommende...
What do Persians think of the Superbowl?
February 15, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBIn 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
Persian Girl Loveline
January 18, 2022 22:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBPGP 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 ...
Gardan Koloft-Neck
January 04, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBPGP sits down with singer/songwriter Nazanin. They discuss her Persian Jewish upbringing in Great Neck, studying pre-med to becoming a singer, living in LA, and navigating the iroonis of both cities. Find Nazanin on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05fn3rtT6R754HUGdior3V?si=AqTHYIZ0S7aDuul8E3TyUQ&nd=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nazaninxmusic/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfk2Ei1HwTExW7qeHPVYftw Support the show
Gardan Koloft-Neck
January 04, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBPGP sits down with singer/songwriter Nazanin. They discuss her Persian Jewish upbringing in Great Neck, studying pre-med to becoming a singer, living in LA, and navigating the iroonis of both cities. Find Nazanin on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05fn3rtT6R754HUGdior3V?si=AqTHYIZ0S7aDuul8E3TyUQ&nd=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nazaninxmusic/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfk2Ei1HwTExW7qeHPVYftw Support the show
Kitchen Persian with Chai & Conversation's Leyla Shams
December 21, 2021 03:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MBIn 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! ht...
Parisian Girl Podcast
December 06, 2021 23:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MBIn 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
The first rule of Cheshm is: You do not talk about Cheshm
November 08, 2021 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBPGP 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 p...
The first rule of Cheshm is: You do not talk about Cheshm
November 08, 2021 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBPGP 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 p...
An outsider's perspective
October 26, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBIn 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
An outsider's perspective
October 26, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBIn 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
Taliban Romantic Philosophy
October 12, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBChekhabareh? 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 wh...
Taliban Romantic Philosophy
October 12, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBChekhabareh? 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 wh...
Emancipation of Khanoom
September 28, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBSalut, 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 yo...
Bidaram kon vakhti keh mehr tamoom shod
September 03, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 48.6 MBNatalie 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 fr...
White Girls of Color
July 22, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBDo 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 s...
Interview with Shaheen Samadi and Arla Fandi
July 08, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBPGP 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
Interview with Shaheen Samadi and Arla Fandi
July 08, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBPGP 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
Marrying outside the Persian culture
June 29, 2021 19:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBPGP 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 ...
What are you doing here?
June 16, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBMillie'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 beh...
Na rumi-ye rum, na zangi-ye zang
June 07, 2021 21:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBNa 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 ...
The "Chos"en Ones
May 27, 2021 06:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBPGP 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 ...
Interview with Mandana Salehi of Zibahub
May 11, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBPGP 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
Dr. Sherry Talks pt. 1
April 26, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBIn this episode Dr Sherry Rostami comes on the podcast to share her life story: how her father making decisions for her changed the track of her life and how she's still picking up the pieces. We also discuss "ahberoo" (reputation/honor), what it was like being the daughter of a famous actor, being forced into marriage for the sake of ahberoo, raising your children in a certain way for the sake of ahberoo, how she's making a difference in raising her children, and her tips for creating a bac...
Yeki Bood Yeki Nabood
April 21, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBPunk Elle Woods//Sahar Shiralian, returns to the podcast (previous episode Performative #Girlboss) to discuss how her outlook has changed since the last time she came on PGP from "man hating girlboss" to lovable lawyer. They talk about the temperament of Persian women, how Persian women are pigeon holed when dating a Persian man, the advantages of dating outside your culture, the advantages of dating "wonderbread", why Persian men worship natural blondes and treat non-Persian girls better. ...
Khanoom Mohandes
April 12, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBIn this episode PGP interviews a 25 year old biomedical engineer based in nyc, who grew up in Tehran. They discuss her experience living in Calabasas and Los Angeles, the culture shock she experienced in America during high school at Calabasas High despite speaking English and visiting annually, her childhood in Tehran and education, and the "life lessons" that were taught to her from a young age that she's been working on unlearning in her adult life. Intro song: Fataneh - Namehraboon ...
Persian Guilt
March 31, 2021 03:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBIn this episode Millie and Natalie discuss the guilt that Persian parents pass on to their children, running errands for the rest of their lives for their parents, absurd Persian grocery shopping habits, difference between brown parents vs. white parents, coddled vs. non coddled children, families who have live-in nannies, and more. They also discuss the results of the polls they conducted on jewelry ceremony at engagement parties and rave style weddings, ft a brief guest appearance by Milli...
"Surprise" Proposals
March 22, 2021 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.2 MBIn this episode Millie and Natalie discuss their experience with covid, why Persians dance/rave down the aisle at weddings, how bridal showers have basically become weddings, how proposal parties have basically become weddings, "suprise" proposals, and the engagement proposal video trend. They also talk about which Persian traditions they would keep for their own wedding and if they would still expect, for example, the whole jewelry on silver trays to be given at their engagement party, if t...
"Surprise" Proposals
March 22, 2021 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.2 MBIn this episode Millie and Natalie discuss their experience with covid, why Persians dance/rave down the aisle at weddings, how bridal showers have basically become weddings, how proposal parties have basically become weddings, "suprise" proposals, and the engagement proposal video trend. They also talk about which Persian traditions they would keep for their own wedding and if they would still expect, for example, the whole jewelry on silver trays to be given at their engagement party, if t...
A look inside the nose job capital of the world...
March 08, 2021 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBIn this episode PGP interview Sarvin Esmaeili a 21 year old Vancouver based/Tehran born actor and writer. They discuss her upbringing in Tehran, what school was like there, dress code and the "nomreyeh enzebat", fashions for women there and the different ways to style the headscarf, the obsession with plastic surgery and how women in Tehran stick out if they don't have a nose job. They also discuss how women's bodies function as another trend in fashion in most societies now and how too mu...
Interview with ***hole of the week Aaron Zarabi
February 22, 2021 23:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MBIn this episode, Millie and Natalie interview Persian Jewish comedian Aaron Zarabi. Aaron is from New York and recently grew to prominence after being featured as the asshole of the week on antisemitism.org....The three discuss censorship in comedy, pushing boundaries with his humor, laughing at the truth, "fluffy" PG Persian comedians, Aaron's two bar mitzvahs, and what it was like living in Iceland. Interview begins at 4 minutes. Follow Aaron Zarabi on TikTok and Instagram @aaronzarabi ...
Persian Queer Podcast
February 16, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBIn this episode, PGP interviews Cyrus Veyssi, an intersectional wellness/beauty advocate and non-binary model. They discuss what it means to be queer and non-binary, cyber bullying, Persian instagram accounts, transphobia and homophobia (within the gay community as well), the need for Iranian queer representation, the spectrum of privilege and being able to speak with others with opposing views. Find Cyrus on instagram @cyrusveyssi https://www.instagram.com/cyrusveyssi/ Support the show
Persian Queer Podcast
February 16, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBIn this episode, PGP interviews Cyrus Veyssi, an intersectional wellness/beauty advocate and non-binary model. They discuss what it means to be queer and non-binary, cyber bullying, Persian instagram accounts, transphobia and homophobia (within the gay community as well), the need for Iranian queer representation, the spectrum of privilege and being able to speak with others with opposing views. Find Cyrus on instagram @cyrusveyssi https://www.instagram.com/cyrusveyssi/ Support the show
Partnering in life and work with Nicole Emrani Green of Givingli
February 08, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBPGP interviews Nicole Emrani Green, the CEO and co-founder of Givingli, a greeting card and gifting app. We discuss how she started Givingli, how she and her husband met, understanding why Persian-Americans are still holding on to certain values, dividing responsibilities equally with her husband at home and at work, and how their different cultural backgrounds compliment each other. Millie and Natalie also share the story of the first time they met... Download the Givingli app: https://a...
Gen Z Persians
February 02, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBPGP interviews sister duo Pardiss and Saba Mehrzad who started the Iranian American Youth Group. They discuss how gen z Iranian Americans differ from the prior generation, what their intentions are for their youth group, what being Iranian means to them, how they're trying to improve the ways in which Iranians support each other and stepping away from competitiveness and toxicity from older generations. They also answer some questions sent in by the listeners such as...can they speak Persian...
Sayé Says
January 26, 2021 00:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBIn this episode, PGP interviews Sayé Yabandeh, an actress, polo player, and humanitarian. Sayé talks about her childhood in Iran and living in both Tehran and Shiraz after the revolution, what her experience of moving to America was like, how she got into acting, the inspiration for her first film and women's rights issues she focuses on, and sex trafficking on facebook. They also discuss her love for Polo and how manifestation worked for meeting her career goals and personal goals. To lea...
Where in the world is the choochooleh?
January 19, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 47.4 MBFor the first episode of season 3, PGP interviews Doris Yadidi Micheletti, a certified sex coach and clinical sexologist. They discuss the emphasis of women's virginity in the Persian Jewish community, vaginal anatomy-like where is the choochooleh (clitoris) and g spot, old school customs of monitoring sex, how Doris educates her children about sex, vaginismus, female ejaculation, consent, and self pleasure. Shoot a DM or email for questions to be answered in the upcoming instagram live wi...
Khoda Hafez to Season 2
January 11, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBIn this short episode, Millie and Natalie bid adieu to the second season. They reminisce on past episodes and memories, discuss potentially becoming divorce lawyers, why they're obsessed with post-breakup/divorce women, and what's to come in season 3. They also address their tiktok which sparked some controversy... Support the show
Khoda Hafez to Season 2
January 11, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBIn this short episode, Millie and Natalie bid adieu to the second season. They reminisce on past episodes and memories, discuss potentially becoming divorce lawyers, why they're obsessed with post-breakup/divorce women, and what's to come in season 3. They also address their tiktok which sparked some controversy... Support the show