Immigrant Kids

Proms and Imams

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0700

In this episode, we go from Rooz's broad assumptions about class, to digging deeper into how our parents' ideology has shaped us. Along the way, we talk about learning how to freak dance, and other high school formal stories we'll never live down.

The Band is Back Together

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0700

PB&J, Hall and Oates... Nickon and Roozbeh. Some things are just better together. We dust off the mics and dive into the deep end on the topics of competitive will, therapy and the ties that bind (or don't).

Culture Corner:
Iranians basically invented the concept of CrossFit. Here's a clip of a traditional Zoorkhaneh (Strength House).

[Recorded May 30, 2021]

Welcome to Miami

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0700

Attorney Krystel García gives us a Nicaraguan history lesson, and we talk about her experience with culture shock within her home state of Florida. Also, with an election in full swing, a very timely conversation about the nuances we often ignore when the Latinx community is treated as a homogeneous group.

[Recorded September 27, 2020]

Dispatches from the Afghan Embassy

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 19:00:00 -0700

Madena Ghani grew up like any other kid: hanging out with the President of Bolivia. We chat about being the bar setter in her Afghan family, finding religion and female empowerment.

Ahmad Zahir is a legendary Afghan singer, and one of Madena and her mom’s favorites. Check out one of his psychedelic ballads!

[Recorded September 13, 2020]

Bengali Beats

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0700

NYC to Las Vegas to LA. Cowboy hats to Diplo. Arif Iqbal (DJ ai) talks about his Bengali heritage, thriving through adversity, facing down racism, and making people move.

On Princesses and Golden Pee-Pees

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0700

An amazing, wide-ranging conversation with Nickon's sister, Katayoon! She shares how her experience growing up differed from her brother's, and her point of view on how we internalize messages around beauty and self-worth. We also talk about the narrow definition of success in our culture and... elephant farts.

Here's the Maz Jobrani Census PSA I bring up in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgoLjFJ0rVg

Black Lives Matter

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 20:00:00 -0700

What can or should other communities of color do to help build a more equitable society, and what role has the "model minority" phenomenon played in systemic racism? Real light stuff.

[Recorded June 7, 2020]

Parental Spam Attack

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0700

Nickon and I check back in with each other to discuss how our parents have been getting us critical news throughout the pandemic, and his burgeoning career as a corporate Zoom comic.

[Recorded May 9, 2020]

"Christmas Sucks" with Nickon Hemati

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 21:00:00 -0800

NYC stand-up comic and writer, director, producer, Nickon Hemati, talks growing up Persian in Marin County, CA.

Watch the pilot for his project "Cyrus the Good," which we discuss in this episode, here: https://vimeo.com/239529293

[Recorded February 1, 2020]