Chinese double-edged sword
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Jian opens this episode of Roqe with an essay making the case for calling this uprising the Lion and Sun Revolution. He reflects on the Lion and Sun flag being raised in Richmond Hill, Canada, while making one thing unmistakably clear - symbols in the diaspora are never enough. The real revolution is being paid for in blood inside Iran. Still, when a people are fighting to reclaim identity beyond the rulers who define them, symbols matter. Jian is then joined by Salar Gholami - former Iranian national team boxer and key organizer behind the historic Iranian-Canadian demonstrations in Toronto. They discuss how these massive rallies were built, how unity was maintained, what's happening inside Iran, and what comes next as February 14th approaches. This episode of Roqe is supported by: Avoca Chocolates avocachocolates.com Stellar Law stellarlaw.ca
Jian opens Episode 412 of Roqe – Iran Rises with a forceful opening essay on the power of unity - as Iranians around the world shatter old stereotypes of division and rally around shared symbols, identity, and purpose. He's then joined by Homa Sarshar, revered Iranian-American journalist, author, and cultural figure, for a wide-ranging and deeply informed conversation on why this moment feels different, the evolving role of the diaspora, the silence of Western media, and what meaningful international pressure might actually require. Recorded February 2, 2026. This episode is brought to you with the support of Avoca Chocolates avocachocolates.com
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Home: Mei's Journey of Rediscovery at Xihu Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-31-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 西湖冬天的清晨微冷,空气中弥漫着淡淡的桂花香。En: The winter mornings by Xihu are slightly chilly, and the air is filled with a faint osmanthus fragrance.Zh: 梅站在湖边,双手插在口袋里,凝视远方的断桥。En: Mei stands by the lake with her hands in her pockets, gazing at the distant Duanqiao.Zh: 虽然树木光秃秃,但湖边依然热闹,红色的灯笼随风摇曳,人们忙着准备春节。En: Though the trees are bare, the lakeside remains lively with red lanterns swaying in the wind, and people busy preparing for the Spring Festival.Zh: 梅这次回到了故乡,她内心充满疑惑。En: Mei has returned to her hometown, but her heart is full of confusion.Zh: 她羡慕简单的过去,但她的职业生涯却在吸引她走得更远。En: She envies the simplicity of the past, yet her career entices her to venture further.Zh: 梅不知道未来该如何决定。En: Mei does not know how to decide her future.Zh: 就在她冥思苦想的时候,肩上突然被人拍了一下。En: Just as she is deep in thought, someone suddenly taps her on the shoulder.Zh: 转头一看,是简,他依然像以前一样,总是活力四射。En: Turning around, she sees Jian, as energetic as ever.Zh: “梅,好久不见!En: "Mei, long time no see!"Zh: ”他笑着说,“刘也来了。En: he says with a smile.Zh: ”刘从不远处走来,虽然多年未见,他却看起来更加成熟,但仍带着熟悉的微笑。En: "Liu is here too."Zh: “梅,回来真好。En: Liu approaches from a distance.Zh: ”刘说道,眼中充满了温暖。En: Though they haven't seen each other for years, he looks more mature, yet still carries that familiar smile.Zh: 三人一起漫步西湖,面对几年前曾一起走过的小路,梅感到一丝安慰和怀念。En: "Mei, it's good to have you back," Liu says warmly.Zh: 在一盏灯笼的温暖光辉下,梅终于鼓起勇气和他们分享了她的心事。En: The three of them stroll around Xihu, and Mei feels a sense of comfort and nostalgia on the paths they once walked together years ago.Zh: “我不知道该留在这儿还是去别的地方。En: Under the warm glow of a lantern, Mei finally musters the courage to share her thoughts with them.Zh: ”梅说,她的话略显迟疑。En: "I don't know whether to stay here or go somewhere else," Mei says, her words tinged with hesitation.Zh: 简笑着安慰她:“你要相信,不管哪里,只要心有所归,便是你的家。En: Jian smiles and reassures her, "You have to trust that no matter where you are, as long as your heart has a place to call home, it will be your home."Zh: ”刘点头表示同意:“人生总是变化无常,重要的是在变化中找到内心的宁静。En: Liu nods in agreement, saying, "Life is always unpredictable, but what's important is finding inner peace amidst the changes."Zh: ”听着朋友们的建议,梅心中的疑虑开始消散。En: Listening to her friends' advice, Mei's doubts start to dissipate.Zh: 她意识到,家不仅仅是一个地方,而是一种感觉。En: She realizes that home is not just a place, but a feeling.Zh: 带着新的领悟,她决定暂时留在杭州,感受这里的根基。En: With this new understanding, she decides to temporarily stay in Hangzhou and connect with her roots.Zh: 夜色中,梅再次站在湖边,看着湖面上映照的灯光。En: In the evening, Mei stands by the lake again, watching the lantern-lit reflections on the water.Zh: 此刻,她感受到一种前所未有的平和与接受,她明白旅程的一部分便是拥抱变化。En: At this moment, she feels an unprecedented peace and acceptance, understanding that part of the journey is embracing change.Zh: 梅轻轻地微笑,觉得未来不再那样遥不可及。En: Mei smiles gently, no longer feeling that the future is so out of reach.Zh: 西湖的灯火依然明亮,仿佛在为三位朋友的重逢庆贺,也为梅的新开始加油。En: The lights of Xihu remain bright, as if celebrating the reunion of the three friends and cheering for Mei's new beginning. Vocabulary Words:chilly: 微冷faint: 淡淡fragrance: 香gazing: 凝视bare: 光秃秃lanterns: 灯笼swaying: 摇曳envies: 羡慕simplicity: 简单entices: 吸引venture: 走得更远decide: 决定shoulder: 肩energetic: 活力四射mature: 成熟familiar: 熟悉nostalgia: 怀念musters: 鼓起hesitation: 迟疑reassures: 安慰unpredictable: 变化无常doubts: 疑虑dissipate: 消散feelings: 感觉acceptance: 接受embracing: 拥抱journey: 旅程reunion: 重逢cheering: 加油roots: 根基
Jian opens Episode 411 of Roqe – Iran Rises with a searing essay explaining why the anger felt by Iranians around the world right now is not excessive, emotional, or misplaced - but informed, earned, and justified. He's then joined by Nazenin Ansari (Kayhan London / Kayhan Life) and Sadeq Bigdeli (Toronto-based lawyer and human rights advocate) for a sharp, up-to-the-minute conversation on the Huda Beauty backlash, disinformation campaigns, atrocity denial, the EU's designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, legal accountability, and the possibility of international intervention. Recorded January 29, 2026.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Harmony and Tradition: A Spring Festival Tale of Balance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-28-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个寒冷的冬天,雪花轻轻地飘落,家里却是另一番景象,充满了节日的温暖和喜悦。En: On a cold winter day, snowflakes gently floated down, but the inside of the home was a different scene, filled with the warmth and joy of the holiday spirit.Zh: 红色的灯笼挂在墙上,金色的“福”字贴在门上,空气中弥漫着热腾腾年夜饭的香味。En: Red lanterns hung on the walls, golden "福" (fu) characters were pasted on the doors, and the air was filled with the aroma of steaming nian ye fan, the New Year's Eve dinner.Zh: 这是连的家,一个热闹又舒适的大宅子。En: This was Lian's home, a lively yet cozy mansion.Zh: 连是家中的大姐,她对于即将到来的春节非常重视。En: Lian was the eldest sister in the family, and she took the upcoming Spring Festival very seriously.Zh: 一早,她就开始忙着布置家里的每一个角落,希望每位亲朋好友都能感到满意。En: Early in the morning, she started decorating every corner of the house, hoping that each friend and family member would be satisfied.Zh: 特别是爷爷奶奶,他们的肯定对连来说最重要。En: Especially her grandparents, whose approval was the most important to Lian.Zh: 她的弟弟剑却不太一样。En: Her brother Jian, however, was a bit different.Zh: 剑有自己的想法,喜欢尝试新鲜的事物。En: Jian had his own ideas and liked to try new things.Zh: 他提议在客厅挂上一些自己设计的现代风格装饰品。En: He suggested hanging some modern style decorations he designed in the living room.Zh: 连和剑在准备过程中的意见总是不一致。En: Lian and Jian always had different opinions during the preparations.Zh: “要是来点新意,大家可能会更喜欢。”剑说。En: "Maybe if we add something new, everyone might like it more," Jian said.Zh: “可是,我们要尊重传统,这才是最重要的。”连坚持。En: "But we need to respect tradition, that's the most important thing," Lian insisted.Zh: 这时,梅进来了。En: At this moment, Mei came in.Zh: 梅是一位熟悉家里但不太了解传统的好朋友,总是能在连和剑之间起到缓和的作用。En: Mei was a good friend who was familiar with the family but not very knowledgeable about traditions, and she was always able to mediate between Lian and Jian.Zh: “也许你们可以各退一步,试着结合传统和新意,结果可能会很棒。”梅建议。En: "Perhaps you could both take a step back and try combining tradition with new ideas; the result might be great," Mei suggested.Zh: 终于到了春节当晚,亲友们都陆续到来,家里显得更加热闹。En: Finally, on the night of the Spring Festival, friends and family gradually arrived, making the home even more lively.Zh: 连忙着招待每位客人,小心翼翼地确保一切按计划进行。En: Lian was busy entertaining each guest, carefully ensuring everything went according to plan.Zh: 然而,一个突然到来的客人打破了她的计划。En: However, an unexpected guest arrived and disrupted her plans.Zh: 这位客人见到剑的装饰品时脱口而出:“这些真的很有意思!是谁设计的?”En: Upon seeing Jian's decorations, this guest exclaimed, "These are really interesting! Who designed them?"Zh: 连愣了一下,但立刻感谢这位客人的意见。En: Lian was stunned for a moment but immediately thanked the guest for their feedback.Zh: 她意识到,有时候灵活变通,比一味追求完美更重要。En: She realized that sometimes being flexible and adaptive is more important than blindly pursuing perfection.Zh: 她微微一笑,对剑点点头。En: She smiled slightly and nodded to Jian.Zh: 这个春节晚宴在欢声笑语中度过。En: The Spring Festival dinner was spent amid laughter and cheerful voices.Zh: 大家对装饰的赞美让连明白,结合每个人的长处,才能让家更温暖。En: The compliments on the decorations made Lian understand that by combining everyone's strengths, the home became warmer.Zh: 她不再固执地追求完美,而是学会接受不同的意见。En: She no longer stubbornly pursued perfection but learned to accept different opinions.Zh: 最终,这场春节庆祝不仅赢得了老人们的满意,也让连发现了新的生活态度:平衡才是最美好的结果。En: In the end, this Spring Festival celebration not only won the approval of the elders but also led Lian to discover a new attitude towards life: balance is the most beautiful result.Zh: 在这个冬季的家庭聚会中,连学会了取舍、包容,也守护了传统和家庭的幸福。En: In this winter family gathering, Lian learned to choose wisely, embrace diversity, and safeguard the happiness of tradition and family. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: 雪花floated: 飘落aroma: 香味steaming: 热腾腾lively: 热闹cozy: 舒适eldest: 大姐decorating: 布置approval: 肯定mediate: 缓和tradition: 传统adaptive: 变通pursuing: 追求perfection: 完美compliments: 赞美stubbornly: 固执balance: 平衡embrace: 包容safeguard: 守护upcoming: 即将到来的satisfied: 满意insisted: 坚持exclaimed: 脱口而出feedback: 意见gradually: 陆续unexpected: 突然disrupted: 打破flexible: 灵活cheerful: 欢笑attitude: 态度
Jian is joined by Farzin Nadimi, senior Iran and defense analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Shayan Samii, a U.S. national security analyst specializing in strategic communications. The panel examines why Western intervention in Iran is no longer optional, how the regime's escalating violence signals strategic weakness rather than strength, and what tools the United States and its allies actually have at their disposal as mass killing unfolds inside Iran. The episode opens with a forceful in-studio essay arguing that Western media atrocity denial - driven by hesitation, ideological discomfort, and an obsession with disputing numbers - is delaying truth and enabling the continued killing of Iranian civilians. This episode is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law
Jian opens Episode 409 of Roqe - Iran Rises with a direct message to members of the Iranian diaspora who have chosen silence during one of the most violent chapters in the Islamic Republic's history - not out of ignorance or absence, but out of convenience. The episode then turns to a panel discussion with two guests joining from opposite sides of the world: Erfan Paydar, Iranian-American rapper and activist in Los Angeles, and Forouq Canaani, academic and political analyst based in Munich. Together, they examine the current state of the uprising inside Iran, the unprecedented scale of global solidarity rallies, the role of regime-linked lobbying and disinformation efforts, and how Iranians inside the country are navigating repression, fear, and hope in real time. Roqe - Iran Rises is recorded as events continue to move rapidly on the ground, with perspectives shared as close to real time as possible. This episode is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law
In this episode of Roqe – as part of the Iran Rises series - Jian reflects on a defining moment in Iran's ongoing revolution as internet blackouts begin to crack and evidence of mass violence by the Islamic Republic regime against civilians comes into view. In an opening essay entitled “Don't Look Away,” Jian argues that silence, exhaustion, and narrative distortion are among the most powerful tools authoritarian regimes rely on. Jian is then joined by Iranian-American former U.S. senior official and global business leader Bijan Kian for an in-depth conversation about: What the regime's actions reveal about its survival strategy Whether recent massacres mark a point of no return The international community's response – and its limits The role of disinformation and soft-pedalled narratives What sustained attention and support can actually achieve This episode was recorded on January 19, 2026, as events inside Iran continued to evolve This edition of Roqe is supported by Stellar Law – a Toronto-based boutique litigation firm known for disciplined strategy and rigorous advocacy.
What is happening in Iran can no longer be described as a “regime crackdown.” It is a military occupation of civilians by their own state. In this urgent new episode of Roqe, Jian opens with a forceful essay addressing the scale of violence, mass arrests, and civilian deaths unfolding inside Iran - and the growing silence from Western governments and media. This edition features a wide-ranging panel discussion with: Dr. Siamak Aram (Washington DC) – Academic and community organizer focused on Iranian civic mobilization Shayan Samii (Virginia) – U.S. national security analyst specializing in the Near East and strategic communications Later, Jian speaks with Gazelle Sharmahd (Los Angeles), a German-American freedom advocate and the daughter of Jimmy Sharmahd, who was kidnapped and killed by the Islamic Republic in 2024. Recorded on January 15, 2026, this episode asks a painful question many Iranians are now voicing openly: Are we alone again? This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – stellarlaw.ca (http://stellarlaw.ca/) Famluxy – famluxy.com (http://famluxy.com/)
As protests escalate inside Iran and internet access is increasingly restricted, the urgency of this moment continues to sharpen. On this edition of Roqe (Episode 406) - the third installment of the ongoing Iran Rises series - Jian leads a timely panel discussion examining the rapidly unfolding situation inside Iran, the regime's escalating crackdown, the information blackout, and what meaningful international pressure could realistically look like. This episode was recorded on January 12th, 2026 at 3pm ET, as events were moving quickly on the ground.
Jian continues the Iran Rises series with a timely panel discussion examining the unfolding protest movement inside Iran. Recorded on January 8, 2026, this episode brings together four perspectives - street-level insight, security analysis, economic context, and historical framing - to better understand what is happening now and what may come next. Guests: Picasso Moin – Iranian activist and commentator (Istanbul) Mahdi Ghodsi – Economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies Sepehr Vakil – Associate Professor, Northwestern University; author of Revolutionary Engineers Shayan Samii – U.S. national security analyst and strategic communications expert The conversation explores protest organization, regime power dynamics, economic pressure points, historical parallels, international response, and what may determine whether this moment advances or stalls. The episode opens with Jian's essay honoring the bravery of Iranians in the streets. This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – stellarlaw.ca Famluxy – famluxy.com
As mass protests continue across Iran, Roqe launches IRAN RISES, a new twice-weekly series dedicated to understanding an uprising that is not simply about economic unrest – but about legitimacy, power, and regime change. This episode opens with Jian's short essay arguing that what is unfolding in Iran is a new revolution. What follows is a focused panel discussion examining the current phase of the uprising, insights coming directly from inside the country, the Islamic Republic's posture, and what the near future may realistically look like. Panel: Nazanin Ansari – Iranian journalist, editor (London) Kamyar Mahinsa – Police officer, analyst (Vancouver) Ali Fathollah-Nejad – Political scientist, Iran expert (Berlin) This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Stellar Law – a Toronto-based boutique litigation firm Visit stellarlaw.ca iWelcome – premium Iranian-Canadian tour, travel, and limo services Visit iwelcome.ca Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. Meezoon basheen.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Joining the Joy: Mei's Lunar New Year Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-04-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 梅(Mei)站在窗前,透过薄薄的窗帘,看着外面热闹的街道。En: Mei stood by the window, looking through the thin curtain at the bustling street outside.Zh: 冬天的雪已经覆盖了屋顶,白色的粉末给整个小区披上了一层梦幻的面纱。En: The winter snow had already covered the rooftops, and the white powder draped the entire neighborhood in a layer of dreamlike veil.Zh: 街道两旁的小房子上挂满了红色的灯笼和春联,整个社区都沉浸在迎接农历新年的喜悦气氛中。En: Red lanterns and couplets hung on the small houses lining the street, and the whole community was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the Lunar New Year.Zh: 梅刚搬到这个社区。En: Mei had just moved to this community.Zh: 这里的一切对她来说既新鲜又有些陌生。En: Everything here felt both fresh and a bit unfamiliar to her.Zh: 她很想融入这个新的环境,但不知道该从哪里开始。En: She wanted to integrate into this new environment but didn't know where to start.Zh: 她感到有点害怕,但同时也充满了好奇。En: She felt a little scared but was also full of curiosity.Zh: 于是,她决定找邻居贾恩(Jian)帮忙。En: So, she decided to ask her neighbor Jian for help.Zh: 贾恩是个热情的人,总是乐于组织活动。En: Jian was a warm-hearted person who always enjoyed organizing activities.Zh: 梅敲开了贾恩的门。En: Mei knocked on Jian's door.Zh: 贾恩见到梅,非常高兴。En: Jian was very happy to see Mei.Zh: "欢迎来到我们的社区!En: "Welcome to our community!"Zh: "贾恩微笑着说。En: Jian said with a smile.Zh: "我们正在准备农历新年的活动,你愿意加入吗?En: "We are preparing for the Lunar New Year activities, would you like to join?"Zh: "梅重重地点了点头。En: Mei nodded vigorously.Zh: "当然!En: "Of course!Zh: 但我不太了解这些传统,不知道如何帮忙。En: But I'm not very familiar with these traditions and don't know how to help."Zh: "贾恩笑了:"没关系,我来教你。En: Jian laughed, "No problem, I'll teach you.Zh: 我们会一起布置街道,还要准备年夜饭的食材。En: We will decorate the street together and also prepare the ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner."Zh: "于是,他们一起开始忙碌起来。En: So, they started to get busy together.Zh: 梅得到的第一个任务是挂红灯笼。En: Mei's first task was to hang the red lanterns.Zh: 在挂灯笼的时候,她用了点力气,结果不小心弄松了系带,灯笼掉落下来。En: While hanging the lanterns, she used a bit of force, and accidentally loosened the strap, causing a lantern to fall.Zh: 围观的人群中传出一阵惊呼。En: A gasp erupted from the crowd watching.Zh: 这时,邻居莉娜(Lina)从旁边走上前来。En: At this moment, neighbor Lina stepped forward.Zh: 她是梅的邻居,平时不太爱说话,但显然对解决问题很有一手。En: She was Mei's neighbor, usually not very talkative, but apparently quite good at solving problems.Zh: "不要担心,我们一起来修好它!En: "Don't worry, let's fix it together!"Zh: "莉娜鼓励道。En: Lina encouraged.Zh: 很快,周围的人也加入进来,帮忙把灯笼重新挂好。En: Soon, people around also joined in, helping to rehang the lantern.Zh: 大家在一起忙忙碌碌,笑声感染了每一个人。En: Everyone was busy together, and laughter spread through the group.Zh: 梅心里的一块石头终于落了地。En: The weight in Mei's heart finally lifted.Zh: 经过这次的小插曲,梅意识到,犯错并不可怕,重要的是要勇于尝试和表达热情。En: Through this little episode, Mei realized that making mistakes isn't scary; what matters is the courage to try and express enthusiasm.Zh: 这个社区,因着新年的准备活动而更加温馨热闹,而梅也终于真正觉得自己成为了其中的一份子。En: This community, made even more warm and lively with the preparation for the New Year, finally made Mei feel truly a part of it.Zh: 笑声中,梅感受到无比的温暖,也更加自信地迎接接下来的每一个新年。En: Among the laughter, Mei felt an immense warmth and became more confident to welcome every New Year that comes. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 热闹的veil: 面纱couplets: 春联integrate: 融入curiosity: 好奇task: 任务vigorously: 重重地strap: 系带gasp: 惊呼episode: 插曲immense: 无比venue: 场地lantern: 灯笼laughter: 笑声community: 社区organizing: 组织decorate: 布置ingredients: 食材confidence: 自信atmosphere: 气氛neighbor: 邻居enthusiasm: 热情preparation: 准备welcoming: 迎接curtain: 窗帘neighboring: 旁边的unexpected: 不小心anxious: 害怕unfamiliar: 陌生encouraged: 鼓励
In this special New Year's Day episode of Roqe, Jian convenes eight prominent Iranian voices from around the world to reflect on the year that was and the year ahead. The episode opens with a freshly recorded opening essay responding to the most recent protests inside Iran and the ongoing mischaracterization of Iranian uprisings by parts of the Western media. The interviews themselves were recorded shortly before the latest events, but the themes explored remain strikingly current. Each guest is asked four shared questions: How they characterize the past year for Iranians Their hopes for Iranians in 2026 Their fears for the year ahead And their personal resolutions Guests featured on this episode: Andy Madadian (Los Angeles) Elina Shirazi (Washington DC) Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad (Berlin) Bijan Kian (California) Nazenin Ansari (London) Tehran Von Ghasri (Los Angeles) Shahrzad “Sherry” Kazemi (Vancouver) Pegah Ganji (Toronto) Together, they offer a global portrait of a people navigating protest, trauma, hope, and the enduring belief that meaningful change is still possible.
In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Jian Jin from Purdue University explains how engineering, automation, and data-driven design are redefining sustainability and performance in modern agriculture. He explores how hyperspectral imaging, AI-based modeling, and robotic sensing systems contribute to crop management and resource efficiency in the field. Discover how innovation and circular thinking are building a more resilient and precise crop production system. Listen now on all major platforms!"Combining remote and proximal sensing creates a hybrid system that balances coverage, accuracy, and reliability in crop monitoring."Meet the guest: Dr. Jian Jin is an Associate Professor at Purdue University and President of LeafSpec LLC, specializing in agricultural and biological engineering. His research integrates imaging technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation to enhance plant phenotyping and precision agriculture.Liked this one? Don't stop now — Here's what we think you'll love!What you will learn:(00:00) Highlight(01:11) Introduction(03:55) Plant sensor lab(05:47) Optical sensor tech(09:40) Hyperspectral modeling(15:34) Industry applications(28:01) Scaling and automation(38:11) Final three questionsThe Crop Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:- KWS
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Fireworks, Fate, and The Unforgettable Night in Shanghai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海外滩的灯光闪烁,在冬季的新年夜,空气中弥漫着期待。En: The lights of Shanghai's Bund flickered on the New Year's Eve of winter, with an air of anticipation in the air.Zh: 街道拥挤,游客们裹着围巾,脸上带着微笑。En: The streets were crowded, and tourists wrapped in scarves wore smiles on their faces.Zh: 黄浦江的水面反射着灯光,天空渐渐暗下来,等待着烟花表演的开始。En: The surface of the Huangpu River reflected the lights as the sky gradually darkened, awaiting the start of the fireworks display.Zh: 梅琳站在人群中,心里既兴奋又紧张。En: Mei Lin stood among the crowd, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 她是第一次来上海,期待与多年的笔友建见面。En: It was her first time in Shanghai, and she was eager to meet her pen pal of many years, Jian.Zh: 今晚,他们计划一起迎接新年,对梅琳来说,这个夜晚承载着许多期待。En: Tonight, they planned to greet the New Year together, and for Mei Lin, this night carried a lot of expectations.Zh: 渐渐地,四周的人越来越多,梅琳看到身边的人们都在欢声笑语。En: Gradually, more and more people surrounded her, and Mei Lin saw the people around her laughing and chatting joyfully.Zh: 她的小心脏扑通扑通跳得飞快。En: Her little heart was pounding rapidly.Zh: 突然,她看见一个熟悉的身影,以为是建。En: Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure and thought it was Jian.Zh: 她急忙向那个方向走去,心中默念着,希望他的真实模样如她想象的一样美好。En: She hurried in that direction, silently hoping that his real appearance would be as wonderful as she imagined.Zh: 但不知为何,她跟随的人其实是莉莉的哥哥。En: But for some reason, the person she followed was actually Lili's brother.Zh: 此时,莉莉正巧和建一起在人群中寻找梅琳。En: Meanwhile, Lili coincidentally was with Jian in the crowd, looking for Mei Lin.Zh: 莉莉是一位热情的本地导游,喜欢为游客制造神奇的瞬间。En: Lili was a passionate local tour guide who loved creating magical moments for tourists.Zh: 她很快发现梅琳跟错了人。En: She quickly realized that Mei Lin had followed the wrong person.Zh: 莉莉灵机一动,决定在最完美的时刻安排他们见面。En: Lili had a quick idea and decided to arrange their meeting at the perfect moment.Zh: 建急切地想找到梅琳。En: Jian was eagerly wanting to find Mei Lin.Zh: 他的心就像冬日的气氛一样紧张。En: His heart was as tense as the winter atmosphere.Zh: 旁边的莉莉则调皮地笑着,安慰他说她有办法。En: Next to him, Lili playfully smiled, reassuring him that she had a plan.Zh: 午夜即将来临,烟花即将绽放。En: Midnight was approaching, and the fireworks were about to bloom.Zh: 当梅琳意识到自己跟错人时,心里一凉,但很快烟花在空中开始绽放。En: When Mei Lin realized she had followed the wrong person, her heart sank, but soon the fireworks began to explode in the sky.Zh: 她抬头仰望,欣赏这美丽的光景。En: She looked up, admiring the beautiful spectacle.Zh: 这时,莉莉手中拿着一个小旗子挥舞着,指引着梅琳的方向。En: At that moment, Lili was waving a small flag to guide Mei Lin in the right direction.Zh: 梅琳顺着指引,看到了在人群另一侧的建。En: Mei Lin followed the guidance and saw Jian on the other side of the crowd.Zh: 他正向她微笑,眼里充满了坚定和温暖。En: He was smiling at her, his eyes filled with determination and warmth.Zh: 当时钟指向午夜,天空中一朵巨大的烟花绽放,形成了"爱"的字样,正如莉莉精心安排的那样。En: As the clock struck midnight, a huge firework bloomed in the sky, forming the word "love," just as Lili had meticulously arranged.Zh: 梅琳和建终于在人群中相遇,分享着属于他们的温暖时刻。En: Mei Lin and Jian finally met in the crowd, sharing a warm moment that belonged to them.Zh: 在这一刻,所有紧张和担忧都化为乌有。En: At this moment, all tension and worries vanished.Zh: 莉莉看到这一幕,微笑着向后退去,消失在热闹的人群中。En: Lili watched this scene, smiled, and quietly retreated into the lively crowd.Zh: 此刻,梅琳和建心中都有了不同的改变。En: At this moment, both Mei Lin and Jian felt a change in their hearts.Zh: 梅琳开始享受命运的惊喜,而建则鼓起勇气,终于大胆说出自己的心声。En: Mei Lin began to enjoy the surprises of fate, while Jian gathered the courage to finally express his feelings boldly.Zh: 在外滩,灯火辉煌,烟花如梦如幻,这真是一个难忘的新年夜。En: At the Bund, the lights were brilliant, and the fireworks were dreamlike, making it truly an unforgettable New Year's Eve. Vocabulary Words:flickered: 闪烁anticipation: 期待reflected: 反射surface: 水面darkened: 暗下来expectations: 期望surrounded: 围绕pounding: 扑通扑通familiar: 熟悉appearance: 模样coincidentally: 正巧eagerly: 急切reassuring: 安慰approaching: 将临spectacle: 光景guidance: 指引determination: 坚定meticulously: 精心vanished: 化为乌有retreated: 后退unforgettable: 难忘pen pal: 笔友crowded: 拥挤nervous: 紧张tourists: 游客chatting: 聊天magical: 神奇moment: 瞬间fireworks: 烟花bloomed: 绽放
Masterpiece Audiobooks: Collection of Chinese Classic Novels
Masterpiece Audiobooks: Collection of Chinese Classic Novels
...but it's ok because I wore a dope fit!IT'S A HOLIDAY HIJINX SPECIAL EDITION FREE EPISODE! Jeremy, Jian, and Jeff recap the holiday hang at Meta Lab, fit checks, dinners in the village with J. Mueser, and what pieces they wore the most in 2025.See you in 2026! PS: You can watch the episode on YouTube, too! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In Episode 401, Jian welcomes automotive content creator Vahid Amirimoghaddam into the Roqe Studio. Vahid is the force behind the Instagram page “Cars I Have Driven,” with more than 400,000 followers watching the cars he gets behind the wheel of. Jian speaks with him about his rise on social media, what drives his fascination with cars, how Iranians express identity and status through vehicles, and how car culture is evolving — from luxury flexing to EV adoption. This episode also features: • An update on Roqe Live 6, set for Feb. 19, 2026 at RHCPA in Toronto This edition of Roqe is brought to you with the support of Stellar Law (@stellarlaw.ca on Instagram). Follow @roqemedia and @JianGhomeshi on Instagram and subscribe for new episodes.
Masterpiece Audiobooks: Collection of Chinese Classic Novels
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Audio Summary of the December 2025 Issue by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Masterpiece Audiobooks: Collection of Chinese Classic Novels
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Solstice Ties: A Family's Journey to Harmony and Understanding Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-13-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 窗外飘着雪,屋内暖意融融。En: Snow was falling outside, while indoors it was warm and cozy.Zh: 梅围着围裙,忙着准备冬至家宴。En: Mei, wearing an apron, was busy preparing the winter solstice family feast.Zh: 她是姐姐,觉得自己有责任让家人保持在一起。En: As the elder sister, she felt it was her responsibility to keep the family together.Zh: 妹妹莲在房间里,离厨房远远的。En: Her younger sister, Lian, was in her room, far from the kitchen.Zh: 她不喜欢按照传统过节,而哥哥建远在国外工作,这次梅特意邀请他参加冬至团圆饭。En: She didn't like celebrating holidays according to tradition, and their brother, Jianyuan, was working abroad.Zh: En: This time, Mei specifically invited him to join the winter solstice reunion dinner.Zh: 梅打了一个电话给建:“哥,今年冬至回来吧?大家都很想你。”En: Mei made a phone call to Jian, “Bro, come back for the winter solstice this year? Everyone misses you.”Zh: 建犹豫了一下,点了头说:“好吧,我请假试试。”En: Jian hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll try to take leave."Zh: 莲则不愿意参与,她觉得这些都是老一辈的期待。En: Lian was unwilling to participate; she felt these were just the expectations of the older generation.Zh: 梅走到她面前,轻声说:“你可以不用穿传统服装,这次更随意些。”En: Mei approached her and softly said, “You don't have to wear traditional clothing this time, be more casual.”Zh: 莲看着姐姐,勉强地点了头,但她心里还是有些不快。En: Lian looked at her sister and reluctantly nodded, but still felt a bit displeased inside.Zh: 终于到了冬至夜,梅的小家在皑皑白雪中显得格外温馨。En: Finally, it was winter solstice night, and Mei's small home appeared particularly warm amidst the snowy landscape.Zh: 桌上摆满了饺子、汤圆和各种传统菜肴。En: The table was filled with jiaozi, tangyuan, and various traditional dishes.Zh: 这是梅精心准备的,希望能让建和莲感到家的味道。En: These were carefully prepared by Mei, hoping to give Jian and Lian a taste of home.Zh: 饭桌上,大家一开始还挺和谐。En: At the dining table, everyone initially got along well.Zh: 梅努力调节气氛,不断地为大家夹菜。En: Mei tried hard to set the mood, continuously serving food to everyone.Zh: 突然,莲打破了沉默:“我们不应该老是这样回忆过去,做些无谓的期待吧?”En: Suddenly, Lian broke the silence, "Shouldn't we stop always reminiscing about the past and having pointless expectations?"Zh: 建也停下筷子,皱起眉头:“这就是我不喜欢回来的原因,每次都这样吵。”En: Jian also put down his chopsticks, frowning, "That's why I don't like coming back; it's always like this, arguing."Zh: 梅深吸一口气,她知道必须说些什么。En: Mei took a deep breath, knowing she had to say something.Zh: “我们是家人,过去的误会应该弄清楚。En: “We are family; past misunderstandings should be clarified.Zh: 我们都是在乎彼此的。”En: We all care about each other.”Zh: 在她的引导下,三人最终在灯下慢慢敞开了心扉,说出了心里的不满和期望。En: Guided by her, the three eventually opened up under the light, expressing their grievances and expectations.Zh: 是夜,虽有争吵,更多的是让彼此更加理解的沟通。En: Though there were arguments that night, there was also communication that led to better understanding.Zh: 家宴结束后,建说:“以后,我会尽量多回来。”En: After the family feast, Jian said, “In the future, I'll try to come back more often.”Zh: 莲也放下了心中的不满:“我会常联系,不是为了传统,而是因为我也想知道大家的生活。”En: Lian also let go of her discontent, “I'll keep in touch more, not because of tradition, but because I want to know about everyone's lives.”Zh: 梅松了一口气,她明白自己不能控制一切,但可以通过理解和耐心让家人走得更近。En: Mei breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she couldn't control everything, but through understanding and patience, she could bring the family closer together.Zh: 雪还在下,屋内却充满了温暖的笑声和尘封消融的情感。En: The snow continued to fall, but indoors, it was filled with warm laughter and feelings once sealed away melting away.Zh: 这个冬至夜,他们又多了一份理解,少了一份隔阂。En: This winter solstice night, they gained more understanding and lessened their estrangement. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至apron: 围裙reunion: 团圆reluctantly: 勉强地displeased: 不快landscape: 风景jiaozi: 饺子tangyuan: 汤圆prepared: 准备的reminiscing: 回忆expectations: 期待chopsticks: 筷子frowning: 皱眉头grievances: 不满misundertandings: 误会estrangement: 隔阂harmony: 和谐patience: 耐心laughter: 笑声snowy: 皑皑白雪seal: 尘封mood: 气氛trepidation: 犹豫bonding: 结合illuminate: 敞开comprehension: 理解marrow: 深入tenacity: 顽强introspection: 反省nourishment: 滋养
On Episode 400 of Roqe, Jian reunites members of the original team - Groovy Shaya, Captain Reza and Smart Pegah - for a special roundtable reflecting on the five and a half years since the show launched in April 2020. The conversation explores how Roqe evolved from a pandemic-era experiment into a global program streamed over 45 million times; how Toronto has become the epicentre of a rapidly growing Iranian diaspora; and how events such as the Mahsa Amini uprising, mass executions in Iran, worsening economic and environmental crises and the Iran-Israel conflict have reshaped the tone and urgency of diaspora media. The team also discusses the rise of Iranian digital creators, shifting audience expectations and standout moments from 400 episodes of Roqe. Plus: Jian speaks about the upcoming Roqe Live 6. Meezoon basheen.
The second part of TNG's look back at 2016 (don't miss part one here!) digs into the massive, enduring influence that year had on the fashion industry. This week, I sit down with Jian DeLeon, the men's fashion director at Nordstrom who was steeped in menswear media at the time, to discuss the year's lasting impact on clothing and culture. Tune in to hear how Jian made the transition from editorial to retail — or, how he went from indirectly selling things to directly selling things — as well as how 2016 marked the apex of meme and algorithm fashion; why it was the last year that people felt something of a monoculture, as well as the final moment of Kanye West's domination of the zeitgeist where fashion and culture intertwined; how fashion and streetwear weren't as muddled yet, the last days of knowing who the gatekeepers were; the year responsible for the pop-up and why everything is an “activation” now; New York Fashion Week: Men's (RIP), the Raf Simons Calvin Klein debut, and a formative time for menswear; the merch-ification of fashion thanks to Kanye, Justin Bieber, Frank Ocean, Drake, etc.; whether designers were “trolling” or actually subverting how we think about fashion and design; the resale market boom and bust, and much more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Solstice Serendipity: A Chance Encounter in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-08-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至的北京,特别是颐和园,总是有一种宁静的美。En: On the winter solstice in Beijing, especially at the Summer Palace, there is always a tranquil beauty.Zh: 这里的雪覆盖在地上,像给大地盖了一层洁白的被子。En: The snow covers the ground, like a white blanket over the earth.Zh: 昆明湖的湖面结了冰,在清晨的柔光下闪闪发亮。En: Kunming Lake is frozen over, glistening under the soft light of dawn.Zh: 长寿山上的建筑设计精美,如同一幅雄伟的画卷。En: The architecture on Longevity Hill is exquisite, like a magnificent painting.Zh: 梅从上海来,她爱摄影,想在这里捕捉冬至的美。En: Mei came from Shanghai; she loves photography and wanted to capture the beauty of the winter solstice here.Zh: 简是一个导游,对历史极为着迷。En: Jian is a tour guide who is extremely passionate about history.Zh: 他住在北京,经常来学习颐和园的建筑。En: He lives in Beijing and often comes to study the architecture of the Summer Palace.Zh: 那天早上,梅提着相机在长寿山附近走动,寻找完美的拍摄角度。En: That morning, Mei was walking around near Longevity Hill, looking for the perfect angle to shoot.Zh: 就在她仔细观察四周的时候,不小心撞到了一个人。En: Just as she was carefully observing her surroundings, she accidentally bumped into someone.Zh: 是简。En: It was Jian.Zh: 他手里正拿着一本有关颐和园的书,两人都因为突如其来的相遇而愣住了。En: He was holding a book about the Summer Palace, and both were taken aback by the sudden encounter.Zh: “对不起,”梅先开口道,有点尴尬地微笑着。En: "Sorry," Mei said first, smiling a bit awkwardly.Zh: “没事,我也没注意到你。”简回答,露出友好的笑容。En: "It's okay, I didn't notice you either," Jian replied with a friendly smile.Zh: 就这样,他们开始聊起了天。En: And so, they began to chat.Zh: 梅对简说起了她的摄影梦想,而简则分享了他对颐和园历史的热爱。En: Mei spoke to Jian about her dream of photography, while Jian shared his love for the history of the Summer Palace.Zh: 梅的朋友李总是说:“不要错过生活中意外的惊喜。”她的话似乎在梅的耳边轻轻回响着。En: Mei's friend Li always said, "Don't miss the unexpected surprises in life." Her words seemed to gently echo in Mei's ears.Zh: 他们的兴趣似乎截然不同,可梅被简对历史的热情吸引住了,她决定加入他的非正式导览。En: Their interests seemed entirely different, yet Mei was drawn to Jian's enthusiasm for history, and she decided to join his informal tour.Zh: 在参观的过程中,梅开始放下对相机的痴迷,用心听简讲故事。En: During the visit, Mei started to let go of her obsession with the camera and listened attentively to Jian's stories.Zh: 长寿山的建筑秘密、昆明湖的湖心亭,都在简的讲述中如同活了过来。En: The architectural secrets of Longevity Hill and the pavilion in the center of Kunming Lake came to life through Jian's narration.Zh: 突然,一道稀有的阳光穿透云层,照在冻结的昆明湖上,形成了一幅美轮美奂的画面。En: Suddenly, a rare ray of sunshine pierced through the clouds, casting a stunning image on the frozen Kunming Lake.Zh: 梅赶紧拿起相机,但发现自己选错了角度。En: Mei quickly picked up her camera but found she had chosen the wrong angle.Zh: 就在这一刻,简站在她旁边说:“从这里来拍,会更好。”En: At that moment, Jian stood beside her and said, "Shooting from here would be better."Zh: 梅调整了位置,果然捕捉到了她所希望的那一瞬画面。En: Mei adjusted her position and indeed captured the moment she had hoped for.Zh: 两人相视而笑,仿佛瞬间拉近了彼此的距离。En: They exchanged smiles, as if the distance between them had instantly narrowed.Zh: 结束观光后,简惊喜地收到梅的邀请,让他一起参加冬至晚上的传统晚餐。En: After the tour, Jian was pleasantly surprised by Mei's invitation to join her for the traditional winter solstice dinner.Zh: 李也会在场。En: Li would also be there.Zh: 简开心地答应,他觉得这个冬至会特别温暖。En: Jian gladly accepted, feeling that this winter solstice would be especially warm.Zh: 晚餐时,梅、简和李一起高兴地聊着天。En: During dinner, Mei, Jian, and Li happily chatted together.Zh: 梅看看简,心中感慨,偶然的相遇可以带来意想不到的快乐。En: Mei looked at Jian, feeling moved by how an unexpected encounter could bring unforeseen joy.Zh: 简也由衷地觉得,分享自己的兴趣是多么值得的一件事。En: Jian genuinely felt how worthwhile it was to share his interests.Zh: 就这样,一段温暖的友谊在冬至给他们带来了一个不一样的开始。En: Thus, a warm friendship began, bringing them a unique start on the winter solstice.Zh: 梅意识到,生活比镜头里的风景更富有色彩,而简则发现,热情的分享总能换来更深的连接。En: Mei realized that life is richer in color than the landscapes through a lens, while Jian discovered that sharing his passion always leads to deeper connections. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至tranquil: 宁静的glistening: 发亮exquisite: 精美magnificent: 雄伟capture: 捕捉passionate: 着迷architecture: 建筑angle: 角度observe: 观察encounter: 相遇awkwardly: 尴尬地enthusiasm: 热情informal: 非正式obsession: 痴迷attentively: 用心地narration: 讲述ray: 道pierced: 穿透stunning: 美轮美奂adjusted: 调整instant: 瞬间narrowed: 拉近traditional: 传统surprised: 惊喜invitation: 邀请unique: 不一样lens: 镜头sharing: 分享connections: 连接
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Climb Towards Harmony: A Transformative Journey at Mount Tai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-08-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 黎华和健被公司派去泰山。En: Li Hua and Jian were assigned by their company to go to Mount Tai.Zh: 他们需要在这次活动中加深了解,并为来年的项目筹划策略。En: They needed to deepen their understanding during this event and plan strategies for next year's project.Zh: 泰山的秋末,薄雾笼罩,落叶铺满小径,幽静而壮丽。En: Late autumn at Mount Tai was shrouded in mist, with fallen leaves covering the paths, tranquil and magnificent.Zh: 黎华专注于工作,总想着如何能让上司满意。En: Li Hua focused on her work, always thinking about how to satisfy her boss.Zh: 这次,她希望能在活动中提出一个让人惊艳的新项目方案。En: This time, she hoped to propose an impressive new project plan during the event.Zh: 然而,工作的压力让她的生活有些黯淡,她对个人幸福心存恐惧。En: However, the pressure of work cast a shadow over her life, and she harbored fears about personal happiness.Zh: 健则一向随和,乐于工作,但家庭的责任常让他感到拉扯。En: Jian, on the other hand, was always easygoing and enjoyed his work, but family responsibilities often made him feel torn.Zh: 冬至节快要到了,他希望能提早回家,和家人一起准备节日的传统活动。En: With the Winter Solstice approaching, he hoped to return home early to prepare for the holiday's traditional activities with his family.Zh: 两人的性格和工作方法不同,合作时摩擦不断。En: The two had different personalities and working methods, leading to constant friction in their cooperation.Zh: 黎华常常不满健的漫不经心,而健又对黎华的紧张感到压抑。En: Li Hua often felt dissatisfied with Jian's carelessness, while Jian felt oppressed by Li Hua's tension.Zh: 泰山顶是他们此行的目标。En: The peak of Mount Tai was their goal for this trip.Zh: 在登山途中,健终于向黎华坦白了自己的家庭责任。En: During the climb, Jian finally confessed to Li Hua about his family responsibilities.Zh: 他希望理解,能在工作和家庭间找到平衡。En: He hoped for understanding and to find a balance between work and family.Zh: 黎华听完,沉思片刻,她反思自己工作的紧张态度,也许是时候放松些了。En: Li Hua listened, pondered for a moment, and reflected on her anxious work attitude, perhaps realizing it was time to relax a bit.Zh: 途中,他们谈论如何结合彼此的优势,提议新的项目方案。En: Along the way, they discussed how to combine their strengths and proposed new project ideas.Zh: 黎华发现,健的方法虽然随意,但常有意想不到的好处。En: Li Hua discovered that although Jian's methods were casual, they often had unexpected benefits.Zh: 她决定尝试放宽心,接纳健的所有意见。En: She decided to try to ease up and accept all of Jian's suggestions.Zh: 他们的旅程在黎明时分达到顶峰。En: Their journey reached its peak at dawn.Zh: 泰山顶上,朝霞染红天地,景色壮丽,En: At the top of Mount Tai, the morning glow painted the sky red and the scenery was magnificent.Zh: 他们静静地看着,看见一片广阔的未来。En: They stood quietly, seeing a vast future before them.Zh: 刹那间的豁然开朗,他们找到了共同的愿景。En: In that moment of sudden clarity, they found a shared vision.Zh: 下山后,他们将最终方案呈上。En: After descending the mountain, they presented the final plan.Zh: 经理对他们的合作感到满意,不仅认同方案中的创意,也看到了两人之间的互补与和谐。En: The manager was pleased with their collaboration, not only approving of the creativity in the plan but also seeing the complementary and harmonious relationship between the two.Zh: 黎华学会了在生活和工作中留些余地,让自己更加均衡。En: Li Hua learned to leave some space in life and work, achieving a more balanced self.Zh: 健也更加自信,敢于说出自己的需要,明白了事业家庭可以和谐共存。En: Jian became more confident, able to voice his needs, understanding that career and family can coexist harmoniously.Zh: 泰山之行,不只是一次公司活动,更是他们心灵的攀登和成长之旅。En: The trip to Mount Tai was not just a company event but a journey of spiritual ascent and growth.Zh: 在感悟中,他们开始理解,事业与生活本就是一体,和谐而共生。En: Through their insights, they began to understand that career and life are inherently one, harmonious and symbiotic. Vocabulary Words:assigned: 派去deepened: 加深shrouded: 笼罩tranquil: 幽静magnificent: 壮丽satisfy: 满意impressive: 惊艳pressure: 压力harbor: 心存easygoing: 随和responsibilities: 责任torn: 拉扯approaching: 快要到了traditional: 传统friction: 摩擦dissatisfied: 不满carelessness: 漫不经心oppressed: 压抑confessed: 坦白pondered: 沉思reflected: 反思casual: 随意unexpected: 意想不到ease up: 放宽心dawn: 黎明clarity: 豁然开朗shared: 共同complementary: 互补harmonious: 和谐balanced: 均衡
On this week's edition, Jian offers a clear and comprehensive primer on the environmental crisis now affecting Iran - a polycrisis that touches the country's air, water, energy grid, and public health. Jian outlines recent AQI levels in major cities, groundwater depletion, the shrinkage of rivers and wetlands, dust storms, land subsidence, and the impact of Iran's inefficient energy sector on daily life. Two experts then join in the Roqe Studio: • Roozbeh Eskandari - Environmental researcher focused on water systems, wetlands, and Iran's deepening water bankruptcy. • Farid Safari - Engineer and energy analyst examining the country's fragile power grid, gas shortages, and outdated energy infrastructure. An informative and accessible conversation for listeners around the world. This episode is created with the support of Quasar Homes.
On this edition of Roqe, the legendary artist Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam returns to the Roqe Studio — in full colour, full force, and fresh off a packed performance of Aref Nameh in Toronto. Jian speaks with Shahrokh about his bold new staging of the cheeky, satirical, and explicit poem by Iraj Mirza; how he transitioned from iconic dance work into text-driven theatre; and what the pandemic taught him after years away from the stage. The conversation explores poetry, provocation, exile, identity, and the reinvention of one of the most distinctive Iranian performers in the world. Presented with the support of Quasar Homes. Subscribe and follow @JianGhomeshi and @RoqeMedia for more.
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Harmonizing Lanterns: Forging Unity at Hangzhou's Festival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-19-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在杭州的一个深秋下午,明宇、丽华和健走进了一家古色古香的茶馆。En: On a late autumn afternoon in Hangzhou, Mingyu, Lihua, and Jian stepped into a quaint tea house.Zh: 走在石板街道上,他们感受到了空气中弥漫的茶香和栗子香。En: As they walked on the cobblestone street, they could smell the aroma of tea and chestnuts in the air.Zh: 茶馆的窗户上凝着蒸汽,温暖的光线透过悬挂的红色灯笼照亮了整个房间。En: Steam lingered on the tea house's windows, and the warm light filtering through the hanging red lanterns illuminated the entire room.Zh: 他们坐在一个低矮的漆桌旁,准备讨论即将到来的灯笼节计划。En: They sat by a low lacquered table, ready to discuss their upcoming plans for the Lantern Festival.Zh: 明宇是个心思细腻的艺术家,他一直想做一场关于西湖的灯笼展示。En: Mingyu is a meticulous artist who has always wanted to create a lantern display about West Lake.Zh: 他渴望让观众通过灯笼感受到西湖的美丽与宁静。En: He longs for the audience to feel the beauty and tranquility of West Lake through the lanterns.Zh: 丽华则是个充满活力的组织者,总想把节日变得更加难忘。En: Lihua, on the other hand, is a vibrant organizer who always wants to make celebrations more memorable.Zh: 她的计划非常宏大,希望把整个湖岸都装饰上灯笼。En: Her grand plan is to decorate the entire lakeshore with lanterns.Zh: 健却比较现实,他觉得丽华的计划过于夸张,不太可能实现。En: But Jian is more realistic, feeling that Lihua's plan is too extravagant and unlikely to be feasible.Zh: 三人在茶馆中讨论着节日的计划。En: The three discussed the festival plans in the tea house.Zh: 明宇轻声说:“我希望灯笼能展现出西湖的宁静之美。”En: Mingyu softly said, “I hope the lanterns can showcase the peaceful beauty of West Lake.”Zh: 丽华兴奋地回应:“但我们可以多加一些创意,让它更吸引人。”En: Lihua excitedly responded, “But we can add more creativity to make it more appealing.”Zh: 健则皱眉说:“我们需要考虑实际情况,不然计划可能无法实施。”En: Jian frowned and said, “We need to consider practicality, otherwise the plan might not be implemented.”Zh: 在讨论的过程中,气氛略显紧张。En: During the discussion, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.Zh: 为了打破僵局,明宇决定妥协。En: To break the stalemate, Mingyu decided to compromise.Zh: 他说:“也许我们可以把丽华的创意融入我的设计中,同时确保现实的可行性。”En: He said, “Maybe we can incorporate Lihua's creativity into my design while ensuring realistic feasibility.”Zh: 随后,他从包里拿出一张卷轴,慢慢展开,上面是他设计的灯笼展示图。En: Then he pulled out a scroll from his bag and slowly unfurled it, revealing his lantern display design.Zh: 图中不仅有明宇对西湖的独到见解,还融入了丽华生动的创意。En: The design not only featured Mingyu's unique vision of West Lake, but also incorporated Lihua's vivid creativity.Zh: 看到这一设计,丽华瞪大了眼睛,兴奋地说:“太美了!这样会给观众带来意想不到的惊喜。”En: Seeing this design, Lihua widened her eyes in excitement and said, “It's beautiful! This will bring an unexpected surprise to the audience.”Zh: 健也仔细地看着图纸,终于点了点头,说:“这样确实有趣,而且我看到了明宇的艺术和丽华的妙思,这很不错。”En: Jian also carefully examined the drawing and finally nodded, saying, “It's indeed interesting, and I see the blend of Mingyu's artistry and Lihua's ingenious ideas. It's really nice.”Zh: 最后,三人达成了一致。En: In the end, the three of them reached an agreement.Zh: 他们决定一同努力,把这场展示在灯笼节上呈现给大家。En: They decided to work together to present this display at the Lantern Festival.Zh: 明宇从这次合作中学会了团队合作的重要性,丽华意识到了创意与计划并重的价值,而健也开始对艺术眼界产生了新的尊重。En: Mingyu learned the importance of teamwork from this collaboration, Lihua realized the value of balancing creativity with planning, and Jian began to develop a new respect for artistic perspectives.Zh: 在茶馆的暖光中,三人的笑声回荡,与秋日的气息融为一体。En: In the warm light of the tea house, their laughter resonated, blending with the atmosphere of autumn.Zh: 他们的新计划将会为杭州的灯笼节增添别样的光彩与魅力。En: Their new plan would add a unique charm and brilliance to Hangzhou's Lantern Festival. Vocabulary Words:quaint: 古色古香cobblestone: 石板aroma: 香味linger: 停留meticulous: 心思细腻tranquility: 宁静extravagant: 夸张的feasible: 可行的showcase: 展示appealing: 吸引人practicality: 实际情况stalemate: 僵局compromise: 妥协incorporate: 融入unfurl: 展开ingenious: 妙思collaboration: 合作resonate: 回荡charm: 光彩brilliance: 魅力lakeshore: 湖岸vivid: 生动的feasibility: 可行性scroll: 卷轴unique: 独特的audience: 观众artistry: 艺术性balanced: 并重respect: 尊重perspectives: 眼界
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
Audio Summary of the November 2025 Issue by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
On Episode 396 of Roqe, two timely conversations that reflect the global Iranian experience. Jian begins with Samin Pourkhalili (Samin Yoga), joining via Zoom from Missouri. Samin shares her journey from Tehran to India to the U.S., her rise as a global Farsi-language yoga instructor, and the tension between authenticity and the digital wellness industry. Later in the program, Jian hosts an in-studio discussion on the major immigration policy changes announced by the Canadian government just days ago — including reduced temporary visa intake, flatter PR levels, and new barriers for transitioning from study and work permits to permanent residency. Immigration consultants Vahid Babaei and Hesam Asadi break down what these changes mean for Iranians hoping to come to Canada, Iranians already here, and the broader paradox within the Iranian-Canadian community regarding immigration levels. This episode of Roqe is presented with the support of Quasar Homes.
She built a career in business in America. Then, through depression and reflection, she found her true calling. Iranian-American podcaster and life coach Helli Hendesi, host of HelliTalks, joins Jian in the Roqe Studio to talk about her remarkable transformation - from corporate executive to full-time creator. A conversation about courage, reinvention, healing, and how one woman turned pain into purpose. Presented with support from Quasar Homes. Follow Jian on Instagram: @jianghomeshi and Roqe Media: @roqemedia Learn more at www.RoqeMedia.com
In a world where fitness is filtered and wellness is for sale, how do we separate truth from illusion? Studies show that six out of ten TikTok fitness videos are misleading or harmful, and that more social media use often means more body dissatisfaction — especially among young people. In this eye-opening conversation, Jian is joined by two Iranian-background fitness creators who are navigating both the promise and the pitfalls of the digital wellness boom: Sepideh Faraji (@sepideh_fit) – a Toronto-based fitness coach and lifestyle influencer helping women embrace realistic, sustainable approaches to health. Sama Ghorbani (@nutrifitopia) – a Los Angeles-based nutritionist and content creator bridging science, fitness, and accessibility online. Together, they unpack misinformation vs. expertise, “fitspiration” vs. pressure, and how social media is reshaping the entire fitness industry. Recorded with Sepideh in the Roqe Studio in Toronto and Sama joining via Zoom from L.A. This episode of Roqe is presented with the support of Tika — the customer-generating machine helping businesses grow through digital marketing, lead generation, and telecom innovation. #Fitness #SocialMedia #Roqe #JianGhomeshi #IranianDiaspora #Wellness #BodyImage #FitTok #TikTok #SepidehFaraji #SamaGhorbani
A rare in-studio performance and conversation with TrioMoon - featuring Milad Derakhshani (tar), Dara Daraei (bass), and Bahar Falsafi (violin). Visiting from Iran, the trio delivers two breathtaking instrumental pieces - a fusion of Persian classical roots, improvisation, and modern texture - followed by an intimate discussion with Jian Ghomeshi on creativity, collaboration, and the flourishing new wave of Iranian music. Milad and Dara open up about living double musical lives - from pop and rock to sonati and fusion - and what it means to make art between worlds. At the top of the show, Jian reflects on Toronto's excitement as the Blue Jays head to the World Series and shares his recent streak of Persian concerts - from Alireza Ghorbani to Martik to Milad Derakhshani's captivating Toronto performance with Trio Moon.
A special edition of Roqe featuring two of the most influential Iranian architects of the last century - Hossein Amanat and Kamran Diba - together for the first time in the Roqe Studio. In a rare and deeply personal interview, they sit down with Jian Ghomeshi to explore architecture, identity, exile, and legacy - from the creation of Tehran's Azadi Tower and Museum of Contemporary Art to life and creativity after 1979. Also in this episode: Jian's Roqe Roundup with Pegah Ganji on the “Little Iran” designation in Toronto — and the unexpected backlash that followed.