Podcasts about Armenian

Israel's government has unanimously approved a foreign‑minister proposal to formally recognize the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, joining dozens of countries that say acknowledging the events of 1915–1918 is a moral and historical obligation.

In Venezuela, rescue teams are searching through collapsed buildings for survivors after last week's devastating earthquakes, with international help now reaching some of the worst-hit areas. The BBC hears from people who have been left with nothing, as thousands sleep outdoors or in makeshift shelters. Also: Israel's recognition of the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide prompts a furious reaction from Turkey. Gazans try to rebuild lives and livelihoods, despite much of the Palestinian territory still lying in ruins. Uganda's biggest independent media group is ordered to close, raising fears over press freedom. Eleven people die in a plane crash in eastern France. A journalist investigates the Nigerian cybercrime network behind a romance scam that targeted his mother. Canada reaches the last 16 of the men's football World Cup after a dramatic win against South Africa. The Large Hadron Collider - the world's most powerful particle accelerator - shuts down for a four-year upgrade. And a vigilante nicknamed Mexico's Batman goes viral after catching alleged motorcycle thieves.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: BBC correspondent Will Grant at a baseball stadium in Venezuela where displaced families have come to shelter after the earthquakes Credit: BBC

What happens when a legendary New Jersey comedian sits down with two completely unfiltered gay hosts over Armenian coffee? Pure comedy chaos. This week we welcomed comedian Mike Marino to Undressed with Pol' and Patrik while we were in New York City, and from the second he walked in, we couldn't stop laughing. Between Mike's quick wit, our nonstop banter, and SnowWhite90210 stealing the spotlight as always, this episode felt like old friends sitting around the kitchen table. We talked about Mike's incredible 35-year career, spending a decade performing sketch comedy on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, touring the world, opening for legendary performers, and why comedians don't make their money from television specials—they make it on the road. Mike also gave us a behind-the-scenes look at his brand-new Amazon Prime comedy special, Back to School with Mike Marino, filmed inside the very high school where his stand-up journey began at just sixteen years old. We loved hearing how the local drama students helped build the set and how every ticket sold benefited the school's drama department. Of course, we couldn't resist talking Hollywood. We swapped stories about Jay Leno, Jon Voight, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Arnold, Frank Stallone, Robert Davi, Dino Martin, Martin Short, Comics Unleashed, the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and even our unforgettable evening sitting next to Jon Voight, Dyan Cannon, and Fran Drescher. Mike also shared hilarious stories about being the "plant" in Jay Leno's audience and how sometimes Jay depended on Mike to rescue jokes live on television. The conversation quickly turned into a comedy masterclass as Mike explained that the funniest material always comes from real life. Family, relationships, getting older, and everyday experiences connect with audiences far more than memorized punchlines. His advice to us? Our timing, chemistry and playful banter could easily become a comedy act of its own! Then it was time for Pol's famous Armenian Coffee Reading. The coffee revealed a beautiful new chapter ahead for Mike. Pol saw a man entering the most authentic and rewarding period of his career, predicting that success would come from embracing who he is today instead of the "New Jersey Bad Boy" persona that first made him famous. The reading also highlighted the deep peace Mike has finally found with his fiancée Heather, along with an unexpected future opportunity that's even bigger than anything he's already accomplished. Naturally, things went completely off the rails as we volunteered to become Mike's "gaybers," debated building an ADU in his backyard, joked about Only Thumbs, and nearly moved ourselves into the house next door in New Jersey. It was heartfelt, hilarious, inspiring and exactly the kind of unfiltered conversation we love sharing with all of you. BEST QUOTE: "I used to be the New Jersey Bad Boy. Now I'm just happy." Subscribe to our audio:linktr.ee/undressedpod Follow Pol Atteu:Instagram: @polatteuTikTok: @polatteuTwitter: @polatteuwww.polatteu.com Follow Patrik Simpson:Instagram: @patriksimpsonTikTok: @patriksimpsonwww.patriksimpson.com Follow SnowWhite90210:Instagram: @snowwhite90210Twitter: @SnowWhite9010www.snowwhite90210.com Watch Gown and Out in Beverly Hills on Prime Video.www.gownandoutinbeverlyhills.com #UndressedPodcast #ArmenianCoffeeReading #SnowWhite90210 Armenian Coffee Reading SnowWhite90210 SnowBubu is a Perfect gift! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Armenia is a hot bed of tech. It is a think tank for AI, NVIDIA is building a plant and IT is taught to elementary aged children. I was looking for certain types of guests for the show; people in unusual circumstances, fighting a social battle or just following thier heart into the unknown. Well, that spells L-U-I-Z-A! A Phd turned passionate wine advocate, hear here story here. It's not every day your podcast guest goes from debugging algorithms to bottling award-winning wine, but that's what makes this episode unforgettable. Our guest, the founder of Musa Wines and a leading tech entrepreneur, shares a story where the digital world collides with the deep roots of Armenian winemaking. She opens up about how crafting wine is her way to stay grounded in a fast-changing world where AI and software reshape daily life, and brings us inside the journey that took her from financial engineering to international wine competitions. What listeners may not expect is how she exposes the unique frictions, and yes—controversy—of entering a market where vodka and beer threaten to drown out an industry striving for cultural rebirth. In Armenia, making wine is more than a business. It's a statement about identity. You'll hear remarkable anecdotes about the breakneck pace of innovation in Armenian tech contrasted with the humbling, unhurried tempo of winemaking. There's the surprising revelation that, despite Armenia's patriarchal reputation, women are not just participating in the wine industry—they're changing it. And as she recounts organizing and participating in global wine spectacles, she lifts the lid on the tough realities and triumphs of launching an artisan winery in a crowded, sometimes indifferent market. Amidst all the excitement, the struggle to win over local consumers (more inclined toward vodka than vino) and to compete internationally brings both humor and frustration—and sparks a conversation about what it truly takes to produce heritage, not just another product. Most intriguingly, this episode doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. You'll hear candid reflections on the business risks of losing access to key export markets like Russia due to political tensions and the pressure to educate both Armenian and global palates used to formulaic, mass-market wine. Our guest's experience shines a light on the intersection of tradition, innovation, and the boldness required to carve a space for something authentic in an often unforgiving industry. What you will learn: How Armenia's tech-savvy talent fuels both innovation and tradition in its burgeoning wine industry The challenges—and controversy—of making artisan wine in a country with low local consumption and stiff foreign competition Why women are rising to prominence in Armenian winemaking and redefining industry norms Practical insights into the gritty logistics, global marketing, and deeply personal motivation behind building a boutique wine brand YouTube: https://youtu.be/ENYgMU8Dus4

Conversations on Groong - June 23, 2026In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Dr. Arman Grigoryan about US-Iran negotiations and Armenia's contested post-election landscape. We discuss the prospects for a US-Iran agreement, its implications for TRIPP and Iran-Russia relations, the aftermath of the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, and how shifting great-power dynamics reshape the South Caucasus.Topics:US-Iran negotiations and regional risksTRIPP and shifting regional powerArmenia's contested post-election landscapeOpposition failures and future strategyRisks of another parliamentary electionGuest: Arman GrigoryanHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 560 | Recorded: June 22, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/560VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SU6w4phqqGk#ArmeniaElections #USIranNegotiations #SouthCaucasus #TRIPP #Iran #ArmanGrigoryanSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Life doesn't always go according to plan. Chef, author, television personality, and Armenian cultural ambassador Ara Zada joins Paisan Kapitan to share his incredible journey—from skateboarding and snowboarding to national television, surviving kidney cancer, and building one of the most recognizable food brands in the Armenian community. Then, Taline Baljian opens up about her family's immigration journey, becoming the first college graduate in her family, raising twin daughters, losing a multi-store family business after COVID, and finding the courage to start over in an entirely new career when life took an unexpected turn. From faith and family to perseverance and reinvention, this is a powerful conversation about what happens when life doesn't follow the script.

Conversations on Groong - June 20, 2026In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Hrant Mikaelian about the disputed aftermath of Armenia's June 7, 2026 parliamentary election. We discuss allegations of electoral fraud, threats against opposition parties, the Anti-Corruption Committee's proposed ban on opposition groups, Armenia-Russia tensions following the vote, and the EU's financial support for Armenian agricultural exports amid Russian sanctions.Topics:Election aftermath and disputed legitimacyThreats against opposition partiesArmenia-Russia tensions after voteEU lifeline for Armenian exportsPolling failures and hidden votesGuest: Hrant MikaelianHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 559 | Recorded: June 18, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/559#Armenia #ArmenianElections #HrantMikaelian #NikolPashinyan #CivilContract #ArmeniaRussia #PollingSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

In this episode of Disorder Latest, Jason is joined by Thomas de Waal, journalist, author, and Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe who has spent decades studying the politics, conflicts, and societies of the Caucasus and wider Eurasian region. His book ‘The Caucasus: An Introduction', is a must read for anyone looking to understand the region—its ethnic diversity, its ties to Russia, its cults of personality, and its geopolitical importance. Jason and Thomas discuss the  June 7 Armenian election—won by pro-EU incumbent Nikol Pashinyan--, the Trump negotiated peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and whether Georgia is moving permanently away from Europe and the West. For ad free listening, early release episodes and more bonus content, join our Mega Orderers Club at ⁠disordershow.com/club⁠ Producer: Sam Cluely Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow Show Notes Links: Get Thomas' book at ⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caucasus-Introduction-Thomas-Waal/dp/0195399773⁠  Listen to our previous episodes with Armen Sarkissian, Armenia's former president ⁠https://pod.link/1706818264/episode/OWJlOTI5YTYtMDBjZC0xMWVmLTg0N2MtMmIzNDcwZTAyMDQx⁠  And for more on the Armenian election: ⁠https://apnews.com/article/armenia-election-result-pashinyan-7168ab86aa0d9f2c967171c91c9611c9⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wrexham are back in Europe and now we know who we are up against. Andy, Liam and special guest Simon Cooke go through the draw and so much more…Wrexham Women draw Armenian champions FC Pyunik - but what do we know about them and the mini tournament set up?New sponsor alert: What do we know about Nex and are there any more on the horizon?Cap-gate… is this a PR disaster or something out of nothing?Transfer Madness: Latest rumours include a huge Welsh international and what does Josh Windass say on a plane?Kop updates, ticket warnings and some HUGE Matty Done news… (yes, really)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Enjoy this Fat Boar-sponsored episode? Then please consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fearlessidzineGet your New York City FiD tour tickets here: https://www.mghall.co.uk/events/new-york-event-fearless-in-devotion-on-tour-28th-julyTo subscribe to our Wrexham is the Game newsletter visit: https://wrexhamisthegame.substack.com/Find us on socials: https://linktr.ee/fearlessidzine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week in Review - June 14, 2026In this episode of Groong Week in Review for June 14, 2026, we analyze the aftermath of Armenia's 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election, shifting Armenia-Georgia relations, and a landmark interim US-Iran agreement that reshapes regional stability. We discuss the ceasefire framework, sanctions relief, and how the Iran war's resolution affects Armenian security, energy markets, and the broader South Caucasus landscape.Topics:Armenian Election AftermathArmenia-Georgia RelationsUS-Iran Interim AgreementHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 558 | Recorded: June 15, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/558VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ioSlOhVsLFo#Armenia #ArmenianNews #ArmenianElections #CivilContract #Pashinyan #ArmenianConstitution #Referendum #ProsperousArmenia #SouthCaucasus #CECSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

Mark Mustian joins The Dark Mind Podcast to discuss his newest novel, Boy With Wings.The book follows Johnny Cruel, a boy born different in a world desperate to call him angel, devil, freak, miracle, or monster.Together, we explore Southern Gothic fiction, literal wings, freak shows, turpentine camps, Jim Crow racism, religious fear, and the brutal cost of being seen as spectacle before being understood as human.Mark also discusses writing across difference, researching sideshow history, the emotional horror of being buried alive, and how faith, doubt, race, and memory shape all three of his novels.We also talk about The Gendarme, Armenian genocide, the publishing gaps between his books, his work as a public finance lawyer, his years as a city commissioner, and his role as founder of the Word of South Festival.Website: https://markmustian.comSocial mediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/markmustianauthor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmustian/X / Twitter: https://x.com/MarkMustianLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mustian-17066776Mark Mustian author page on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3463600.Mark_MustianPlaces to buyBarnes & Noble, Boy With Wings: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boy-with-wings-mark-mustian/1146600022Bookshop.org, Boy With Wings: https://bookshop.org/p/books/boy-with-wings-mark-mustian/143eb36ac6f04f87Audible author page: https://www.audible.com/author/Mark-T-Mustian/B0CSF8JY2YSupport The Dark Mind Podcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/thedarkmindpodcast

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

This Wednesday, 17 June, tune in to listen to listen OC Media editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro, his new co-host OC Media's co-founder Mariam Nikuradze, and Armenian staff writer Arshaluys Barseghyan break down the 7 June Armenian parliamentary elections and their aftermath. Be sure to subscribe to catch the latest episodes as soon as they are out. Support our work by becoming an OC Media member for as little as €5 a month!

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

What does it mean, three decades after the demise of the USSR, to inhabit cities built for a future that has never arrived? In pursuit of the question—what is left of the socialist city?—this book aims not only to trace the material and mnemonic remains of the socialist city,  but to show how the Soviet discourse of the city at times engendered radical ideas that challenged the narrow confines of state socialism itself. These ideas are, for instance, the efforts of Esperanto-speaking internationalists from Czechoslovakia to build the internationalist city from below in the Central Asian steppe, the quest of Armenian Futurists to root the architectural style of Soviet Armenia in the country's Persianate heritage, or a Jewish-Kyrgyz philosopher's vision of turning a science town in the hinterland of Moscow into the first ecopolis of the USSR. In an effort to rethink the life and afterlife of the Soviet city from its geographical South, The Death and Life of Southern Soviet Cities: Urban Futures and Their Afterlives (Routledge, 2026) explores the material and immaterial legacies of socialist-era urbanization in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. To this end, it embarks on a historical and ethnographic journey to urban sites in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In a quest to reconstruct competing visions of urbanity that emerged from within the Soviet South, using varied empirical sources in Armenian, Czech, Kyrgyz, and Russian, the book outlines four urban visions: bottom-up urbanity, rooted urbanity, polycentric urbanity, and ecocentric urbanity. By understanding the social vision of a "socialist city of the future" beyond the political center in its trans-local independence, the book highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Soviet South and its historical embeddedness within the regional dynamics of the Global South. David Leupold is a sociologist, scholar of memory wars and research fellow in the ERC-funded research project REVENANT: Revivals of Empire. He is the author of the prize-winning book Embattled Dreamlands: The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish Memory (2021), the former principal investigator of the DFG-funded research project Future Images of the Past (2021–2025), and a current resource scholar for the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (Middlebury Institute of International Studies). He lives in Berlin.  This interview was conducted by Ernest Lee, PhD student at the University of Chicago. He researches the history of postcolonial energy through the lens of development, infrastructure and environment, with a focus on West Africa and Southeast Asia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when two successful entertainers reach a point where fame, success, and recognition are no longer enough? On this episode of Between the Notes, Paisan Kapitan sits down with two fascinating guests whose journeys couldn't be more different—yet somehow arrive at the same destination. First, Armenian artist Eric Shane opens up about leaving Los Angeles for Las Vegas, finding peace after years of inner turmoil, strengthening his faith, overcoming grief, and discovering a healthier perspective on life, music, and relationships. It's a candid conversation about growth, healing, and learning to let go. Then, joining us from England via "JAMS CAM', world-renowned entertainer Kev Orkian shares stories from an extraordinary career that has taken him from concert halls and West End stages to royal performances and international acclaim. Along the way, Kev discusses comedy, philanthropy, Armenia, mental health, and one behind-the-scenes allegation he volunteered about Britain's Got Talent that you'll have to hear for yourself. This episode isn't about celebrity. It's about perspective. One guest found peace. One guest found purpose. Both discovered that success means very little if you don't know who you are when the spotlight fades. In this episode: • Eric Shane on faith, healing, music, and life in Las Vegas • The personal loss that changed everything • Why peace became more important than fame • Kev Orkian on comedy, music, and performing around the world • The surprising story behind his Britain's Got Talent experience • Mental health, resilience, and life beyond the stage • Philanthropy work in Armenia and building a lasting legacy Subscribe for more conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, creators, and worldchangers! DISCLAIMER The views, opinions, statements, allegations, and personal experiences expressed by guests appearing on Between the Notes are solely those of the individual guest and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions, or beliefs of Chummy Inc., Hye Jams Radio, Between the Notes, its hosts, producers, sponsors, affiliates, employees, contractors, or representatives. Guests are responsible for their own statements and characterizations of events. Any references to individuals, organizations, companies, productions, events, or public figures are presented as the guest's personal recollections, opinions, or experiences. Chummy Inc., Hye Jams Radio, and Between the Notes make no independent representations regarding the accuracy, completeness, or veracity of such statements. This program is intended for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

He was born to wealthy parents in Syracuse of Sicily. He entered monastic life and in time became a priest in the service of Patriarch Nikephoros. Because of his great and well-known zeal for the holy icons, he was cruelly persecuted by a succession of iconoclast emperors. Around 815, he was sent as an ambassador to Rome on behalf of the Patriarch, who had been exiled by the Emperor Leo the Armenian. When he returned to Constantinople upon Leo's death, he was immediately exiled and imprisoned by Leo's successor, Michael the Stutterer. Upon Michael's death he was freed for a short time, but soon the Emperor Theophilus had him exiled to an island where, says the Prologue, "he spent seven years in prison with two common robbers, in damp conditions, without light and without sufficient food, as if in a grave." When the pious Empress Theodora restored the Empire to Orthodoxy, he was freed and elevated to Patriarch of Constantinople. On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we commemorate the restoration of the Holy Icons by Theodora and Methodios. Despite many attacks by heretics while he was Patriarch, he served faithfully and reposed in peace.

Nikol Pashinyan's sweeping re-election in Armenia has raised fresh hopes that the border with Turkey could finally reopen after three decades of closure. The Armenian prime minister campaigned on restoring ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as moving Armenia closer to Europe – but constitutional reform remains a major obstacle. The vote on 7 June gave Nikol Pashinyan a clear victory over the opposition. But his success could prove bittersweet after he fell short of the parliamentary majority needed to change the constitution. Changing the constitution is part of Pashinyan's peace efforts with Azerbaijan, brokered last year by United States President Donald Trump. “This government is committed to passing what the Armenian opposition would refer to as 'the Aliyev referendum',” said Eric Hacopian, a Yerevan-based political consultant. “The problem is, now they have no votes to bring it up because you need to get a two-thirds vote to change the constitution.” Armenia PM Pashinyan wins vote, cementing pro-Western shift Constitutional hurdles On the back of the Washington peace talks, “Armenia and Azerbaijan had an understanding that, after the election in Armenia, there would be certain constitutional amendments”, explained Hikmet Hajiyev, chief foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Baku insists Armenia must remove claims to Nagorno-Karabakh from the preamble to its constitution. The two countries have clashed repeatedly over the contested territory. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the breakaway enclave, causing more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee. “We are looking forward to Armenia completely eliminating elements of its territorial claims,” Hajiyev said. “Then we will not have any stumbling blocks or hurdles on our agenda to move forward.” Constitutional reform is also seen as important for normalising Armenia's ties with Turkey, according to Hajiyev. “It's not directly linked, but indirectly,” he said. “Once the Azerbaijan-Armenia agenda is solved, then Turkey will also act in a synchronised manner, opening the borders and also establishing a closer relationship.” Armenia election: what the vote could mean for Russia, the West and Azerbaijan Border hopes Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993, siding with Azerbaijan after ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence and seized Azerbaijani lands. Efforts to restore ties are now gathering pace, said Zeynep Alemdar, an international relations professor at Dogus University in Istanbul. “They've already declared in May 2026 that the border is going to be opened up, and all the bureaucratic, paperwork-type obstacles are actually being dismantled,” Alemdar said, noting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is believed to get on well with Pashinyan. Pashinyan's Turkey visit signals new chapter as Ankara eyes Caucasus shift But energy-rich Azerbaijan remains crucial to Ankara, Alemdar said. “Economically, comparing Azerbaijan versus Armenia for Ankara, of course Azerbaijan always wins... Of course Azerbaijan is going to be more influential,” Alemdar said. Erdogan congratulated Pashinyan on his re-election, while the Turkish foreign ministry urged Yerevan in a statement to embrace “bold reforms” – seen by many as a call for constitutional change. Cautious steps Pashinyan's lack of decisive parliamentary support and uncertainty over a possible referendum mean Ankara's role could be important in securing lasting peace, said Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center think tank in Yerevan. “For Turkey this is a slow, gradual process of retaking the initiative with Armenia, away from Azerbaijan,” Giragosian said. “Because in many ways, at every round it's been the Azerbaijan factor that's the key determinant. And according to sources in Ankara, they only have a yellow light of caution from Azerbaijan – it's not a red light, but it's not yet a green light to proceed.” Reopening the Turkish-Armenian border would be welcomed by the European Union and Washington, as Ankara seeks to deepen its ties with both. But with Azerbaijan acting as a major investor and economic lifeline, Turkey is moving cautiously to avoid upsetting its powerful neighbour.

SPECIAL EDITION OF BETWEEN THE NOTES This week, Paisan Kapitan sits down with filmmaker Adeh Baghdasarian and special guest Z via "JAMS CAM" to discuss their upcoming film HEEVAND (Imperfect), premiering June 16. More than just a movie, HEEVAND explores the reality that life isn't always perfect—and neither are the people living it. Inspired by a deeply personal story, the film tackles themes of mental health, support systems, compassion, and the importance of standing beside those who may be struggling when life takes an unexpected turn. During this special edition conversation, Adeh shares his journey from a young storyteller inspired by The Godfather to becoming a writer, director, editor, and filmmaker determined to tell meaningful stories. Z opens up about the real-life inspiration behind the film and why its message is especially important for the Armenian community and beyond. We also discuss: The meaning behind the title HEEVAND (Imperfect) The emotional challenges of bringing the film to life The responsibility of telling stories that matter Supporting people through difficult seasons of life What Adeh and Z hope audiences take with them after the credits roll HEEVAND premieres June 16 and will later be available on YouTube. If you enjoy conversations with filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to support independent Armenian media and help us continue bringing these stories to life. Host: Paisan Kapitan Show: Between the Notes Presented by: Hye Jams Radio #BetweenTheNotes #HyeJamsRadio #AdehBaghdasarian #HEEVAND #Imperfect #ArmenianFilm #IndependentFilm #MentalHealthAwareness #ArmenianCommunity #PaisanKapitan #FilmDirector #MoviePremiere #ArmenianCinema  

Joe explains the results of Armenia’s recent election, what it means for their relationship with Russia and the EU, and why the country’s foreign policy is in the headlines as Eve shares the incredible story of the couple who visited every RNLI lifeboat station in the UK, raising thousands of pounds for charity – and why lifeboat heroes matter. Plus, could an art gallery really be displaying paintings by a group of rats? And should there be more public toilets? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Talk Eastern Europe, we unpack major developments shaping the future of the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans.Alexandra returns from Armenia after observing the country's consequential parliamentary elections and shares what international headlines got wrong about the vote. Was this really an "East versus West" contest? How much influence did Russia have? And why did many Armenians feel they were choosing between imperfect options?We also examine Albania's largest protests in recent memory. What began as demonstrations against a controversial tourism project, linked to the Trump family and Jared Kushner, has evolved into a broader challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama, raising difficult questions about corruption, environmental protection, and Albania's EU aspirations.Finally, we turn to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a dispute over the next High Representative highlights growing divisions between the United States and Europe over the region's future.In the second half of the episode, we discuss our latest Deep Dive interview on Montenegro's troubled path toward EU membership and ask whether the country's 2028 accession ambitions remain realistic.Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space. ABOUT THIS PODCASTWe publish twice weekly. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms. Read the New Eastern Europe Magazine Bimonthly publication with exclusive long-formanalysis. https://neweasterneurope.eu/become-a-member-of-new-eastern-europe/ Support us on PatreonJoin our community for bonus content, early access, behind-the-scenes insights, and access to our exclusive WhatsApp group where we discuss the news in real-time. https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope Subscribe to the Brief Eastern Europe NewsletterWeekly briefing sent out every Monday with news updates, expert commentary, and our editorial picks - free to your inbox: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/subscribe FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/neweasterneuropemag/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewEasternEurope/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-eastern-europe/

Agreement between government and parents of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Prime Minister's admission that he is second in command to Ivanishvili, Reactions to Armenian elections, New Strategic Partnership Agreement with China, Arrest of Canadian Student for ADHD medication. Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com Like what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.Report by Georgian Young Lawyers Association - Personalized Lawmaking in Georgia as a means of unjustly restricting rights: https://admin.gyla.ge/uploads_script/publications/pdf/PERSONALIZED%20LAWMAKING%20IN%20GEORGIA%20AS%20A%20MEANS%20OF%20UNJUSTLY%20RESTRICTING%20RIGHTS.pdf Georgia Disenfranchised by Sergi Kapanadze: https://politicsgeo.com/georgia-disenfranchised/ Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate

After a triggering event we're calling Legislativegate, producer Wojciech has a bone to pick with the English language and all of its irregularities. This week, Katy arranges a therapy session for Wojciech with Rob Watts, the Berlin-based host of the wildly popular YouTube channel RobWords, to discuss the peculiarities of the English language and the joys of being a “word nerd”. We're also talking about Nikol Pashinyan's ✨pivotal✨win in Armenia's election, and whether or not we can forgive Dua Lipa for her Sicilian destination wedding.GOT A HOT TAKE ABOUT BREXIT? If you have a personal experience to share for our next episode, or just something (Brexit-related!) to get off your chest, we want to hear from you. Record a voice memo at your earliest convenience and send it to hello@europeanspodcast.com. JOIN OUR FIRST-EVER OFFICE HOUR! Next week, come hang out with Katy and Dominic, have a friendly chat, ask questions, and get to know a few more members of the Europeans family. You don't even have to be a Patreon member to join. The first Office Hour is 18 June at 9pm CET, and you'll find a link to join the call on our website and all our social media channels an hour before the event.This week in the Inspiration Station, listener Federico recommended the Free Refugee Week Film Festival.Contribute to the EUROPEANS SUMMER PLAYLIST! We're rounding up our favorite tracks that keep the summery vibes going in dozens of languages from across the continent. Special credit will go to songs by lesser-known artists that aren't in Europe's most widely spoken languages. Send your picks to hello@europeanspodcast.com or @europeanspodcast on Instagram/Mastodon. Resources for this episode:Macron's recent jam session with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Our inaugural book club podcast (just as good as Dua Lipa's)RobWords on YouTube and his podcast Words UnravelledRobWords Live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival “The Chaos” (poem) by Gerard Nolst TrenitéInvestigation suggesting Karapetyan had ties to Russia's FSBEVN Report – a great news source for anyone who wants to stay up to date with the Armenian election.This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. But it's contributions from listeners that truly make it all possible—we could not continue to make the show without you! If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. You can also donate via our website if you prefer. And finally: we'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Wojciech Oleksiak Produced by Morgan ChildsMixing and mastering by Wojciech OleksiakMusic by Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe's own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

Armenia has long depended on Russia for just about everything, from energy to security, and even broader economic integration. However, the weekend election results in Armenia reflect a rejection of pro-Russian politics and a desire to find a new path forward. This was likely to happen anyway, as Moscow has its hands full with everything else going on, but the big question remains: who can fill Russia's shoes? Not many Armenians will like the answer... Join the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan

In this episode, we sit down with Joel Tenney - founder of Loving Armenia and a dedicated advocate for the Armenian people. Joel shares how a life-changing spiritual calling led him from Iowa to Armenia, where he has spent years supporting widows, families, and communities affected by war.We discuss Armenia's demographic challenges, the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War, Christianity, nationalism, U.S. politics, and the future of Armenia. This is an unfiltered conversation covering faith, identity, geopolitics, and some of today's most controversial topics.Don't forget to Like & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you never miss an episode! Follow us on all Social Media: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WiseNutsInstagram: instagram.com/wisenuts_podcastWisenuts Merchandise: https://wisenutspodcast.com/General Sponsors:Megeredchian Law

Today you will hear my conversation with Nara Avakian of Brooklyn-based indie quartet Nara's Room. We discuss their latest album 'Tearless, thoughtless,' navigating displacement as a fourth-generation Armenian, queer survival, and turning to bubblegum pop music as a form of escape. ✨ MORE ABOUT NARA'S ROOM ✨Nara's Room is an indie quartet from Brooklyn helmed by Nara Avakian, whose childhood ruminations color the shimmery sonic landscape sculpted by bandmembers Ethan Nash (bass), Will Fisher (ambient duty, production), and Brendan Jones (drums). Their brand new album 'Tearless, thoughtless,' is out now via Mtn. Laurel. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH NARA'S ROOM ✨Website: https://www.narasroom.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/narasroom/Bandcamp: https://narasroom.bandcamp.comYouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCrL8AHea12eI81hYM6gMQgAApple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/naras-room/1556457239Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/3HZtXP2NFVOKB6aNLCmpwW✨ CONNECT WITH IZZY ✨Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://agrrrlstwosoundcents.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/channel/UCv6SBgiYCpYbx9BOYNefkIg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/agrrrlstwosoundcents/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/grrrlsoundcents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It's war in our time. After flirting with peace for a few miserable hours, the US and Iran are back to what they know best: taking uneven chunks out of each other amidst the world's prime oil pathway. This week, Iran levelled a terminal of Kuwait's airport, and attacked the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Then there was that mysterious Apache helicopter crash off Hormuz. Now, after the crisp kinetic strikes of the first few weeks – then the tentative tests of strength – the war is entering a new phase.One in which Iran shows that the US will not be able to achieve on the negotiating table what it did not achieve on the battlefield. Meanwhile, it's a thriving Asian tiger, the skyscraper skyline of its capital shows the bustle and optimism of the Rising East. Mobile phones. Electric cars. That's right — North Korea is this year's big economic success story, according to a new piece in the Wall Street Journal. Turns out the Hermit Kingdom is less hermetic these days. North Koreans have made good money providing weapons to Russia in Ukraine, and China has turned on the trade taps. Pyongyang no longer rations electricity to a few hours every day. So what happens when North Korea is no longer a Potemkin village but a Potemkin megalopolis? Meanwhile, lose a war, get voted back in. Three years after the catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh, what inspired the Armenian people to re-elect Nikol Pashinyan? Perhaps it was precisely because of how vulnerable the country feels itself to be. The strategy is to buy off and shore up: peace with Azerbaijan, EU candidacy, and normalisation with old enemy Turkey. But how low can you lie in a region that Russia sees as its backyard?Do check out our Substack if you can - https://multipolaritypod.substack.com/

We expected Vegas stories and Magic Mike secrets. We didn't expect a coffee cup to uncover a decade-old wound and leave the entire room in tears. On this Part 2 episode of Undressed with Pol' & Patrik, we sit down with Las Vegas power couple Mark Romain of Magic Mike Live and Brett Hamby of KA by Cirque du Soleil. Together, the Amazing Race fan-favorites also perform weekly in Temptation Sundays at MGM Resorts, making them one of the most recognizable couples on the Las Vegas entertainment scene. What begins as a lively conversation about Vegas entertainment, Lisa Vanderpump, celebrity residencies, Magic Mike, Cirque du Soleil, reality television, fashion, and LGBTQ+ representation quickly evolves into one of the most emotional Armenian coffee readings we've ever experienced. Along the way, we discuss our recent viral road rage attack, life as a public LGBTQ+ couple, Hollywood's changing landscape, and why authentic representation remains more important than ever. The episode takes an unexpected turn when Brett's Armenian coffee reading uncovers a powerful connection to his late mother, Christine. What follows is a raw, heartfelt, and deeply moving conversation about grief, guilt, healing, and the love we continue to carry for those we've lost. As Pol reveals messages hidden within the coffee grounds, Brett opens up about his mother's passing, creating a moment so emotional that there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Through laughter, tears, and incredible honesty, Mark stands beside Brett with the unwavering support that has made them one of the most beloved couples audiences have come to know and admire. By the end of the episode, everyone leaves feeling lighter, affirmed, and reminded that the people we love never truly leave us. It's a beautiful journey through Vegas glamour, celebrity stories, marriage, resilience, LGBTQ+ visibility, and one extraordinary coffee reading that proves the universe has a way of revealing exactly what we need to hear when we're finally ready to listen. Subscribe to our audio: linktr.ee/undressedpod Follow Pol Atteu:  Instagram: @polatteu  Tiktok: @polatteu  Twitter: @polatteu  www.polatteu.com Follow Patrik Simpson:  Instagram: @patriksimpson  Tiktok: @patriksimpson www.patriksimpson.com Follow SnowWhite90210: Instagram: @snowwhite90210 Twitter: @SnowWhite9010 www.snowwhite90210.com Watch Gown and Out In Beverly Hills on Prime Video.  www.gownandoutinbeverlyhills.com #UndressedPodcast  Armenian Coffee Reading SnowWhite90210 SnowBubu is a Perfect gift! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're bringing back favorite episodes over the summer as encore editions. Since this episode first aired, poet Jen Siraganian won the 2026 Perugia Press Prize for her debut collection "Everything Has Been Moved, Even the Dead," which is forthcoming in September 2026. Congratulations, Jen!  Slushies, we invoke the retelling of a ghostly experience shared by Kathy and Marion at the Hotel Figueroa in California earlier this year partway into this episode. Two poems by Jen Siraganian are at the heart of our discussion, and it's the first of these that puts ghosts into our heads. This poem also causes us to consider at some length the physical form chosen by or for a poem, and how this can utterly enhance the experience of the poem when it's just right. It's also an opportunity for Jason to raise the spectre of the virgule (or slash) once again, and we even pause briefly to recall when WYSIWYG was a useful acronym. We end the episode with an ekphrastic that prompts an on-the-spot tie breaker (thanks to our sound engineer Lillie for saving the day!).   https://whitney.org/collection/works/2171 https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/gorky-the-artist-and-his-mother.html    At the table: Kathleen Volk Miller, Marion Wrenn, Lisa Zerkle, Jason Schneiderman, Dagne Forrest, Jodi Gahn, Derek Grebis (sound engineer)   Jen Siraganian is an Armenian-American writer, educator, and former Poet Laureate of Los Gatos, California. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in AGNI, Barrow Street, Best New Poets, Cortland Review, Poetry Daily, Prairie Schooner, The Rumpus, Smartish Pace, and other journals. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won the 2024 New Ohio Review Poetry Prize. A former managing director of Litquake: San Francisco's Literary Festival, she is a current Lucas Artist Fellow. jensiraganian.com      Social media handles:   Facebook @jen.siraganian, Instagram @jsiraganian, Bluesky @jsiraganian.bsky.social, Website   Walking into St. James Cathedral as If We Were Already Ghosts     My Father and I View Two Versions of Arshile Gorky's The Artist and his Mother   Lip corners sink, an upturned bowl dripping its contents onto the white   of her dress. Her eyes, Armenian saucers of round, outline hollows of darkness.   Sharing color only, no overlap of limbs or space, shades of pink echo his coat,   her lap, a paleness descends. My father nudges my elbow. He seldom mentions   his mothers, the one who raised him, the other who gave him away. I want him   to discuss the lack of daisies in the boy's hands, the mother's face swaddled in a cocoon of scarf.   Instead, he stands, cloud-drifts across the gallery. We bench in front of The Liver is the Cock's Comb.   He points to the ferns feuding with triangles, the thorned stems breathing blossom.  

Iran declares an end to attacks against Israel, a Philippines earthquake kills at least 32, Xi visits North Korea for the first time in seven years, Keir Starmer orders social media companies to add nudity filters for children, Central African Republic agrees to accept third-country deportees from the U.S., Zelenskyy and EU leaders set out five conditions for peace with Russia, Pashinyan claims victory in the Armenian election, Peru's presidential runoff is too close to call, a lawsuit seeks to block a UFC fight at the White House, over 1.2 million people attend Pope Leo XIV's Madrid mass, Trump becomes the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game. Sources: Verity.News

“Family to me is the feeling of safety without even understanding the concept.” In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with Bedouine for a conversation about family, heritage, migration, and belonging. As they begin tracing her family’s history, Bedouine uncovers new details about her Armenian roots, including stories she had only learned days before the interview. They discuss generations of displacement, from the Armenian genocide and the death marches through Syria to the communities her family rebuilt in Aleppo, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and eventually the United States. Along the way, she reflects on growing up between cultures, speaking English at school and Armenian at home, and navigating the complexities of identity within the Armenian diaspora. She discusses the challenge of preserving family stories when previous generations prefer not to revisit the past, and the importance of documenting those histories before they disappear. Bedouine's latest record, Neon Summer Skin, is out now. Guest: Bedouine Host: Nabil Ayers Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Produced by: Palm Tree IslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, River City Hash Mondays is now available on the Spreaker Player!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the New York Knicks watch party outside Madison Square Garden has been cancelled for Trump's staged assassination attempt, but you can watch it at home.Then, on the rest of the menu, the MAGA DOJ has quietly wiped out election security safeguards in a ‘scary' move to steal elections; the CIA employee who was caught with $40 million of gold bars in his house had created a secret intelligence program to funnel millions of dollars from the federal government to himself; and, Trump has been ordered to remove his name from the Kennedy Center and abandon plans to close it for two years, but critics are concerned he may try to sabotage the iconic arts institution in retaliation.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where Armenians voted in a general election Sunday under Russian pressure aimed at preventing a drift toward the West; and, Iran's World Cup players, banned from staying in the US while competing in the World Cup, arrived in Mexico wearing pins honoring the school girls and teachers blown to bits on the first day of Trump's war.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live PlayerKeep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!“I was never a spy. I was with the OSS organization. We had a number of women, but we were all office help.” — Julia ChildBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

The people of Armenia are voting in a parliamentary election- a test of whether the country in the Caucasus moves closer to Europe, or remains within Russia's sphere of influence. We hear from both sides.Also in the programme: How China is clamping down on exam candidates who try to get the answers from the inside of their glass lenses: and the boy who has learnt to sing like a bird.Photo: Armenian people examine voting information during parliamentary elections at a polling station in Yerevan, Armenia, 07 June 2026. Credit: Photo by Vahram Baghdasaryan Photo Lure/ EPA

The Israeli military has carried out deadly airstrikes on the southern districts of Lebanon's capital, claiming it is targeting Hezbollah sites. In response Iran has fired ballistic missiles towards Israel, the first attack of its kind by Tehran since the ceasefire in April.Also on the programme: Armenians vote in a general election that could determine whether the country looks to Brussels or to Moscow. And researchers test a new weight loss drug that not only suppresses appetite, but could help people burn calories faster. (Picture: The site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut,, 07 June 2026 Credit: NNA)

In this powerful episode of Between the Notes, Paisan Kapitan sits down with two remarkable guests whose stories are built on perseverance, reinvention, faith, and the pursuit of opportunity.

The U.S. plans to use Iranian assets to repair damage caused by Iran on Gulf states. The U.S. Supreme Court weighs rulings on gun rights, transgender athletes and immigration. Armenians head to the polls with peace efforts and Russian relations in focus. And Broadway prepares for the 79th Tony Awards. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Star-spangled superfans hope their raucous support might give U.S. soccer a home-field advantage. How long until the US team wins it all? Might be a while. Only eight countries have won the World Cup since it was first held in 1930. “The American bravado,” a former coach in the US told our reporters, “is that we should be good at everything.” Also: today's stories, including how The Stratos Project, a data center near Utah's Great Salt Lake, has scaled back its planned footprint; why Armenian voters are facing a thorny dilemma as they head to polls this Sunday, and our reviewer's take on Author Maggie O'Farrell's new book, “Land.” Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Prime Minister Mark Carney pitches A-I as a massive economic driver, amid mounting concerns over potential job losses.Activists and unions in Mexico City launch intense protests ahead of the World Cup to force government action on local grievances.Armenians head to the polls tomorrow for a high-stakes election that could see the country permanently break away from Russia's orbit.Three Labrador RCMP officers are suspended following allegations an Innu woman had her hair forcibly cut in custody.A Timmins, Ontario couple is celebrating a rare "Oak Anniversary" — marking eighty years of marriage.

In EVN Report's news roundup for the week of June 5: Armenians head to the polls this Sunday in a crucial vote; the European Union responds to Russian trade pressure with €50 million in aid and a new support package for Armenian exports; former high-ranking officials arrested on numerous charges and more.

What does it mean to follow Jesus when governments demand your allegiance, your silence, or your fear? In this episode of The Bad Roman Project, Craig sits down with Ara Torosian, an Iranian-born Armenian pastor who grew up under the Islamic Republic of Iran, served in the underground church, and now pastors Iranian Christians in Los Angeles. Ara shares his journey from reading the Bible in Farsi as a teenager to smuggling Bibles, enduring house arrest, and witnessing the explosive growth of Christianity in Iran. He explains why many Western Christians misunderstand both Iran and the Iranian people, and why the underground church continues to thrive despite decades of persecution. The conversation also turns to the present. Ara discusses Iranian Christian asylum seekers detained by ICE, the challenges facing refugees fleeing persecution, and the responsibility Christians have to speak for those who have no voice. Along the way, Craig and Ara wrestle with difficult questions about war, government power, national loyalty, and what it means to follow Jesus when political solutions seem inadequate. At the heart of the discussion is a reminder that the Christian's ultimate citizenship is not found in America, Iran, or any earthly nation, but in the Kingdom of God. “I'm proud US citizen, but most important, I'm a heaven citizen.” — Ara Torosian Whether discussing persecution abroad or immigration policy at home, this episode calls listeners back to a simple but challenging truth: Jesus is King. Highlights & Takeaways The underground church in Iran continues to grow despite severe persecution. Iranian people should not be confused with the Iranian regime. Following Jesus often comes with a cost that Western Christians rarely consider. Christians are called to show mercy before choosing political sides. The church must resist the temptation to place political leaders above Christ. Refugees and asylum seekers are people, not political talking points. The Kingdom of God transcends every earthly nation and political movement. No King but Christ.

Patrick launches into listeners' heartfelt questions about faith, anger, liturgical customs, and Catholic identity, peppering the conversations with wisdom, humor, and personal stories. One moment Patrick unfolds advice about handling irritation over “organized religion,” while the next, he responds to a Marine’s anxieties about spiritual witness among friends. Quirky banter with Cyrus seeps in between weighty reflections, all while Patrick threads practical suggestions for tithing, grappling with prayer, and recognizing unity even when church customs unexpectedly shift. Carmen (email) - Is it a sin to get angry or upset when people say they don’t like “organized” religion? (00:41) Marcin (email) - Why is everyone always beating up on Catholics? I just don’t get it, why are we so hated. (05:22) Zach - Going into the Marines Corps. with a buddy who isn’t very religious. How can I bring him to the faith? (12:33) Maria (email) - I travel a lot for work/fun, sometimes even up to 4 different dioceses per month for Sunday mass! Which parish do I give my weekly tithe to? When I encounter a situation at a parish in which the Eucharist appears to be treated illicitly (for example leavened bread or missing essential rubrics) should I still receive the communion or hold off? (18:05) Ruben (email) – Were the Armenians the first practicing Christians? (29:44) Rick (email) - If God allowed you to go back in time and be an eyewitness to any one of Jesus' many miracles, which one would you choose and why? (32:37) Paul (email) - I feel like I compartmentalize my prayer: Praying to God at church (Mass, Adoration), formal prayers at home, and my informal conversation with God throughout the day. But it feels like I’m praying to three different Gods. How do you merge these? (39:37) David - What are the differences between the new mass said now vs. the pre-Vatican II mass? (45:42)

He was born in Constantinople around 758, of pious parents: his father had been exiled under Constantine Copronymus for his steadfast veneration of the holy icons. Nikephoros served in the imperial palace as a secretary, but later renounced worldly success to struggle in monastic life near Constantinople. He built and administered a monastery which soon became filled with monks; but he himself never took the monastic habit, feeling himself unworthy. Though a layman, he took part in the Seventh Ecumenical Council at the request of the Emperor and Patriarch because of his remarkable knowledge of Holy Scripture. Much against his will, he was made Patriarch of Constantinople at the death of Patriarch Tarasios. He was made a monk, then elevated through all the priestly orders in a few days, then enthroned at St Sophia in 806.   A few years later, the Emperor Leo the Armenian took the throne. Patriarch Nikephoros, as was customary, sent him a Confession of the Orthodox Faith to sign. Leo put off signing the document until his coronation, then revealed himself to be an Iconoclast heretic. The Patriarch tried quietly to bring him back to the Orthodox faith, but to no avail. When the Emperor, in his turn, tried to make the holy Nikephoros bow to iconoclasm, the Patriarch clearly and publicly upheld the veneration of the holy Icons. For this he was deposed and driven into exile at the Monastery of St Theodore, which he himself had founded. Here he reposed, having served for nine years as Patriarch, and thirteen years in exile and privation.

Week In Review - May 31, 2026In this episode of Groong's Week in Review, hosts Hovik and Asbed examine Armenia's May 28 Independence Day parade as campaign theater, Marco Rubio's push for critical minerals deals, and the strategic risks of TRIPP in Syunik. We discuss how Pashinyan's military parade coincides with Armenian prisoners of war held hostage in Baku, the questionable financing of weapons through $8 billion in external debt, and the broader geopolitical pressures from Russia and Iran as Armenia heads into the 2026 Armenian Parliamentary Election.Topics:May 28 and StatehoodParade as Campaign TheaterRubio's Armenia AgreementsMinerals Without GuaranteesTRIPP Risks in SyunikRussia and Iran PushbackElection Climate and RepressionHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 553 | Recorded: June 1, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/553VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oO5kbg6B_Q8#Armenia #May28 #MarcoRubio #TRIPP #Syunik #CriticalMinerals #ElectionFraud #RussiaArmeniaSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

In this episode, we engage with Reverend Bill Crews, who shares insights about the unveiling and blessing of an Armenian Cross Stone, or Khachkar, at the Rev. Bill Crews Foundation in Ashfield.Discover the significance of this event for the Armenian community and its broader implications for multiculturalism and compassion in Australia. Reverend Crews reflects on his journey from engineering to ministry, the importance of storytelling in bridging cultural divides, and the transformative power of love and kindness in addressing social injustices.

Conversations on Groong - June 1, 2026In this Conversations on Groong episode, Hovik and Asbed speak with Dr. Sergey Markedonov about the sharp decline in Russia-Armenia relations before Armenia's June parliamentary elections. The discussion explores whether the vote is only a domestic contest, or a broader struggle over Armenia's identity, security, and geopolitical direction after Artsakh. Topics include Pashinyan's "Real Armenia" project, TRIPP and regional balance, Russia's warnings over Armenia's EU pivot, pressure on Armenian exports and energy pricing, the role of the Armenian Church, and whether the EU offers Armenia a real strategic alternative or only short-term political support.Topics:TRIPP and Regional BalanceArmenia's Geopolitical ElectionPashinyan's "Real Armenia"Russia's Economic PressureGuest: Sergey MarkedonovHosts:Hovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianEpisode 552 | Recorded: May 31, 2026SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/552VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5K3xqqYouKs#RussiaArmenia #SergeyMarkedonov #ArmeniaElections #Pashinyan #RealArmenia #TRIPP #EAEU #SouthCaucasusSubscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

What does a rising Armenian rapper with a story of redemption have in common with a Belgian-Armenian artist bringing a fresh global sound to Armenian music? One artist turned pain into purpose. Another is blending Armenian heritage with a modern international sound. In this episode of Between the Notes, Paisan Kapitan welcomes two rising artists from opposite sides of the world. Jake Balmain opens up about overcoming a troubled past, 2nd chances, and channeling life's challenges into music. Meanwhile, Monika Ani joins us from Belgium to discuss her unique blend of deep house, pop, R&B, and Armenian influences, along with her mission to introduce Armenian culture to a new generation of listeners around the globe. From faith and second chances to creativity, identity, and the future of Armenian music, this episode delivers two inspiring stories from artists determined to leave their mark.

Georgian wines have been around...well, I suppose over 6000 years. In fact, it is a disputed fact between the Armenians and the Georgians as to which country made wine first. The best analysis I can come up with is that 6100 years ago, when what is now called Areni 1 Cave located in Armenia was established, there was no Georgia and there was no Armenia, but regardless, the disageement lives on. Georgian wines have been in the US since I can remember. At least since the '80's. And back then they carried a pecular, indigenous character; earthy, ozidized and cloudy. That has all changed but the history. A politician turned wine guy is trying to change the perception of Georgian wine...Melory Tsipouria. Listen to him tell his story. When I first sat down with Mallory Zippor, I realized he wasn't just a guest—he was a force of nature. Imagine a man who's fought for his country's democracy, worked in Congress, and now deploys that same relentless spirit to put Georgian wine on the American map. Mallory Zippor doesn't just sell wine; he crafts a movement—one handshake, one tasting, one story at a time. You'll hear him lay out his vision with the same confidence he used to take four congressional delegations to Georgia, making it clear that introducing 8,000 years of winemaking tradition in a land where most people haven't even heard of his homeland is not for the faint of heart. This isn't your average wine conversation. It's a blueprint for making the future, not waiting for it. Over the course of our conversation, I watched as Mallory Zippor demystified not only the process of importing and advocating for a little-known wine region, but the uniquely personal approaches that set him apart. He's rocked 300 in-store tastings in just eight months, recruited family and friends into his passionate crew, and outmaneuvered corporate gatekeepers at every turn. He has a knack for turning an ignorant "I didn't even know Georgia was a country!" into genuine curiosity, using everything from ancient clay amphorae to vivid bottle artwork, all while keeping his wines affordable and intensely personal. As Mallory Zippor tells it, with every taste poured, a new ambassador is born—a theory he's putting to the test every single day. If you join me for this episode, here's what you'll discover, one clay pot at a time:

He entered monastic life in early youth, and in time rose to the rank of Bishop in Chalcedon. As a hierarch, he showed outstanding compassion for the poor, caring for many orphans, widows and beggars. When the Emperor Leo the Armenian attacked the holy icons, Nicetas stood against him, and was driven into exile, where he reposed after much hardship and suffering.