Podcasts about Jian

With Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed following a joint United States–Israel military operation inside Iran, the political and strategic landscape has shifted dramatically. What comes next? Jian sits down with: Shayan Samii - U.S. national security analyst and strategic communications expert. Behnam Ben Taleblu - Senior Director of the Iran Program at FDD and specialist on Iran's security apparatus. They discuss: Whether this is a genuine turning point If celebration is appropriate for long-suffering Iranians based on the death of Khamenei, but despite there being a long way to go Whether Washington and Jerusalem have a real “day after” plan The risk of a clerical power vacuum The role of Prince Reza Pahlavi and the opposition The regime's regional retaliation The episode opens with an essay from Jian outlining 4 reasons a free Iran could transform global security, economics, migration patterns, and the Middle East's long-term trajectory. This episode is supported by: Stellar Law - stellarlaw.ca Avoca Chocolates - avocachocolates.com Follow Jian on Instagram @JianGhomeshi Meezoon basheen.

On this edition of Roqe, Jian and guests examine the growing wave of disinformation surrounding Iran in Western media and public discourse. Joining from Vancouver, Sadaf Yasini, and from Ottawa, longtime Roqe contributor Pegah Ganji, the conversation explores: The scale and discipline of diaspora demonstrations Why Western audiences struggle to process the demand for regime change How anti-war rhetoric can obscure the reality Iranians are already living And what practical steps the diaspora can take to educate non-Iranians Jian opens with an essay urging Iranians in the diaspora not just to speak to each other - but to reach out beyond their own communities. Silence creates informational vacuums. Vacuums invite distortion. Later, Jian speaks with Daniel Diba, who recounts his imprisonment and torture by the Islamic Republic and explains why he believes it is critical to speak out now. This episode was recorded on February 26, 2026. This episode is supported by: Famluxy - famluxy.com Stellar Law - stellarlaw.ca

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Under Water Lanterns: Yilin's Journey of Courage and Connection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-27-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的上海，我们随着一群学生走进了繁忙的水族馆。En: In wintery Shanghai, we entered a bustling aquarium with a group of students.Zh: 鱼儿在水中游弋，光影舞动，像是海底的彩灯。En: Fish swam in the water, light and shadows danced, resembling colorful lights beneath the sea.Zh: 外面，节日的灯笼照亮街道，庆祝着即将到来的元宵节。En: Outside, festive lanterns lit up the streets, celebrating the upcoming Yuanxiao Festival.Zh: 依琳是一名好奇但安静的学生，她极爱海洋生物，但对周围的人群有些不安。En: Yilin was a curious yet quiet student who loved marine life but felt uneasy around crowds.Zh: 今天是学校的参观活动，她希望能在水族馆找到灵感，为她的社会研究项目加分。En: Today was a school field trip, and she hoped to find inspiration at the aquarium that would enhance her social studies project.Zh: 走在展馆中，依琳看着各种色彩斑斓的鱼群，鱼儿们似乎在玩捉迷藏。En: As she walked through the exhibits, Yilin watched various vibrantly colored fish, which seemed to be playing hide and seek.Zh: 她喜欢这些生物散发的宁静，但同时，她又感到与同学之间的距离。En: She appreciated the tranquility these creatures exuded, yet sensed a distance between her and her classmates.Zh: 在水母展区，依琳停下脚步。En: In the jellyfish exhibit area, Yilin paused.Zh: 透明的水母在水中漂荡，仿佛舞者般优雅。En: Transparent jellyfish drifted in the water, graceful like dancers.Zh: 但她的目光很快转向了不远处的美和健，他们正在讨论这些生物的奇妙特性。En: But her gaze soon shifted to Mei and Jian, who were discussing the wonderful characteristics of these creatures.Zh: “也许，我可以加入他们的讨论。”依琳心想，心中却仍有一丝迟疑。En: "Maybe I can join their discussion," Yilin thought, though a trace of hesitation lingered in her heart.Zh: 然而她记得，水母在中国文化中象征好运和平安。En: She recalled, however, that in Chinese culture, jellyfish symbolize good luck and peace.Zh: 而元宵节，正是一个庆祝和希望的节日。En: And Yuanxiao Festival is indeed a celebration of hope and good fortune.Zh: 鼓起勇气，她走上前对美和健说：“你知道吗，水母在中国文化中象征好运，就像元宵节的灯笼，可以带来光明和希望。”En: Summoning courage, she approached Mei and Jian and said, "Did you know that in Chinese culture, jellyfish symbolize good luck, just like the lanterns of the 元宵节, bringing light and hope?"Zh: 美和健被依琳的话吸引，眼睛一亮。En: Mei was intrigued by Yilin's words, her eyes lighting up.Zh: 美说：“真的吗？我不知道这个，说得太好了！”En: "Really? I didn't know that, you explained it so well!"Zh: 健也附和道：“这样说起来，水母真的像灯笼一样在水中闪烁呢。”En: Jian agreed: "Thinking about it that way, jellyfish do resemble lanterns flickering in the water."Zh: 从短暂的沉默中，依琳的心跳仿佛漏了一拍。En: In the brief silence, Yilin's heart seemed to skip a beat.Zh: 接下来的对话热烈而自然，三人分享了更多关于海洋和文化的故事。En: The ensuing conversation was lively and natural, with the three sharing more stories about the ocean and culture.Zh: 时间悄然流逝，夜幕降临。走出水族馆，他们被外面的灯火吸引，心中充满温暖。En: Time quietly slipped by, and as night fell, they were drawn to the lights outside, feeling warmth in their hearts.Zh: 这次经历让依琳明白，分享自己的热情可以带来意想不到的友谊。En: This experience made Yilin realize that sharing her passions could lead to unexpected friendships.Zh: 她不仅找到了项目的灵感，也找到了新的友谊和归属感。En: She not only found inspiration for her project but also discovered new friendships and a sense of belonging.Zh: 对依琳来说，这一天，她不仅了解了更多的海洋生物，还发现了勇敢表达自我的快乐。En: To Yilin, on this day, she not only learned more about marine life but also discovered the joy of bravely expressing herself.Zh: 灯笼在夜空中摇曳，仿佛祝愿着她新的开始。En: The lanterns swayed in the night sky, as if wishing her a new beginning. Vocabulary Words:wintery: 冬天的bustling: 繁忙的aquarium: 水族馆festive: 节日的lanterns: 灯笼curious: 好奇social studies: 社会研究exhibits: 展馆vibrantly: 色彩斑斓tranquility: 宁静transparent: 透明的drifted: 漂荡graceful: 优雅hesitation: 迟疑symbolize: 象征flickering: 闪烁ensuing: 接下来lively: 热烈natural: 自然quietly: 悄然warmth: 温暖unexpected: 意想不到friendships: 友谊belonging: 归属感expressing: 表达swayed: 摇曳resembling: 像是inspiration: 灵感celebration: 庆祝characters: 特性

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Discovering Insights at Longmen: Mei's Artistic Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-25-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 梅和健在一个寒冷的冬日早上来到龙门石窟。En: Mei and Jian arrived at the Longmen Grottoes on a cold winter morning.Zh: 梅裹紧大衣，抬头望着这些雄伟的石刻。En: Mei wrapped her coat tightly around her and looked up at these majestic stone carvings.Zh: 龙江两岸的红灯笼在微风中轻轻摇晃，仿佛在欢迎每一位到访者。En: The red lanterns on both banks of the Long River swayed gently in the breeze, as if welcoming each visitor.Zh: 这里既古老又神秘，是他们此行的重要部分。En: This place, both ancient and mysterious, was an important part of their journey.Zh: 梅正处于研究生阶段，她的论文围绕佛教艺术展开。En: Mei, currently pursuing her graduate studies, was focusing her thesis on Buddhist art.Zh: 作为旅游向导的健是她的好朋友，也是此行的向导。En: Jian, a tour guide and her good friend, was also their guide on this trip.Zh: 他们慢慢地走进这片神圣的土地。En: They slowly walked into this sacred land.Zh: 健指着一个巨大的释迦牟尼佛像说：“这尊佛像是北魏时期雕刻的，具有极高的艺术价值。En: Jian pointed to a huge statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and said, "This statue was carved during the Northern Wei period and holds immense artistic value."Zh: ”梅点点头，仔细地观察着每一个细节。En: Mei nodded, carefully observing each detail.Zh: 她感到有些焦虑，担心无法找到新的灵感。En: She felt a bit anxious, worried about not finding new inspiration.Zh: 健注意到她的担忧，轻声说：“有时真正的发现不在于新，而在于你自己的理解。En: Noticing her concern, Jian softly said, "Sometimes true discoveries aren't about new things, but about your own understanding."Zh: ”梅决定不再过于聚焦于总结学术数据。En: Mei decided not to focus too much on compiling academic data.Zh: 她开始放慢脚步，试图感受这个地方的气息和声音。En: She began to slow her pace, trying to feel the spirit and sounds of the place.Zh: 晶莹的雪花轻轻落在雕刻的石头上，似乎在诉说千年以前的故事。En: The crystalline snowflakes gently fell on the carved stones, seemingly telling stories from a thousand years ago.Zh: 当他们到达一个小型洞窟时，梅停下脚步。En: When they reached a small cave, Mei paused.Zh: 这个洞窟内有一尊小佛像，略有磨损但依然充满慈悲。En: Inside the cave was a small Buddha statue, slightly worn but still full of compassion.Zh: 她凝视着佛像的眼神，忽然感到一种从未有过的平和。En: She gazed into the eyes of the statue and suddenly felt an unprecedented peace.Zh: “我想我找到了，”梅轻声说道。En: "I think I've found it," Mei whispered.Zh: 她不再需要寻找所谓的“新发现”，而是要表达她自己对这些艺术品的理解和想法。En: She no longer needed to search for so-called "new discoveries" but rather needed to express her own understanding and thoughts about these works of art.Zh: 踏上返回路径时，梅的心情变得轻松而明亮。En: As they stepped onto the path back, Mei's mood became light and bright.Zh: 她知道，无论是学术还是生活，关键在于融合知识与自我感悟。En: She knew that whether in academics or life, the key lay in merging knowledge with personal insights.Zh: 冬日的阳光洒在地面，片片雪花在阳光下闪耀。En: The winter sunshine spilled onto the ground, with snowflakes shimmering in the light.Zh: 梅和健并肩走着，向前方的红灯笼走去，那是走过一年努力，又迎来新希望的象征。En: Mei and Jian walked side by side toward the red lanterns ahead, symbolizing the end of a year of effort and the ushering in of new hope.Zh: 这次旅行不仅给梅带来了论文的启示，更重要的是，她找到了自己的声音。En: This journey not only provided Mei with insights for her thesis but, more importantly, she found her own voice.Zh: 明年的灯节，她将以全新的视角来审视自己的艺术旅程。En: By the Lantern Festival next year, she would view her artistic journey from a brand-new perspective.Zh: 她的心仿佛与千年前的艺术家和信仰者相连，为她的论文注入了鲜活的灵魂。En: Her heart seemed connected to the artists and believers from a thousand years ago, breathing vibrant life into her thesis. Vocabulary Words:grottoes: 石窟majestic: 雄伟lanterns: 灯笼mysterious: 神秘graduate: 研究生pursuing: 处于thesis: 论文sacred: 神圣statue: 雕像artistic: 艺术value: 价值observe: 观察anxious: 焦虑concern: 担忧inspiration: 灵感crystalline: 晶莹carved: 雕刻compassion: 慈悲unprecedented: 从未有过discoveries: 发现insights: 感悟shimmering: 闪耀perspective: 视角believers: 信仰者vibrant: 鲜活whispered: 轻声说道ushering: 迎来endeavors: 努力landscapes: 土地etched: 刻

As student protests surge across Iran, universities are once again becoming epicenters of open defiance. In this episode of Roqe, we focus on the courage of Iranian students demonstrating right now - chanting forbidden slogans, confronting repression on their own campuses, and absorbing immense personal risk in the face of an authoritarian regime. Jian opens with a powerful essay addressed directly to Iran's students. He is then joined by Dr. Sepehr Vakil, associate professor at Northwestern University and author of Revolutionary Engineers, for a wide-ranging conversation that connects Iran's long history of student activism to the present moment. Together, they explore why students so often move first, what today's campus uprisings reveal about the strength and fragility of the Islamic Republic, and what this latest wave of student courage may bode for a revolution aimed at a free Iran. This episode is supported by: Avoca Chocolates https://avocachocolates.com

In Episode 417 of Roqe, Jian challenges the sudden rise of Western “anti-war” rhetoric on Iran by reframing the reality on the ground. Iranians are not debating a future conflict - they are already living through one, as the Islamic Republic continues its campaign of repression, arrests, and mass killing. The opening essay explores why many Iranians now support intervention - not lightly, not casually, but after decades of failed reform, negotiation, and restraint. The episode then turns to a global panel discussion examining the fallout from the Global Day of Action demonstrations, Prince Reza Pahlavi's presence at the Munich Security Conference, and the regime's escalating crackdown inside Iran. Panelists analyze whether the Islamic Republic can maintain power, what intervention actually means, and why Western audiences continue to misunderstand Iranian demands. Guests: Ali Hamedani - London Ardeshir Zarezadeh - Toronto Mahdi Ghodsi - Vienna Recorded February 19, 2026. Sponsors: @StellarLawTO @AvocaChocolates

This episode of Roqe takes stock of an extraordinary Global Day of Action for a Free Iran, with major demonstrations in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Munich - and coordinated rallies across the diaspora following a call initiated by Prince Reza Pahlavi. Jian is joined by four voices who were there: Farnoush Hamadian in Munich Laleh Tangsiri, joining from London after attending the Munich rally Navid Negahban in Los Angeles Pegah Ganji in Toronto They reflect on the scale, discipline, and political significance of the weekend - and what this moment could mean for Iranians inside Iran and around the world. Jian opens the episode with an essay addressing Christiane Amanpour and the criticism surrounding her recent interview with Prince Reza Pahlavi - arguing the issue is not tough questions, but uneven journalism. This episode is brought to you with the support of Avoca Chocolates https://avocachocolates.com

Jian opens Episode 415 of Roqe – Iran Rises with a sober assessment of the United Nations, arguing that despite its language and ideals, it is structurally incapable of protecting Iranian civilians or advancing the revolution now underway. As tens of thousands of Iranian families grieve victims of an ongoing massacre, outrage is growing over the UN's continued engagement with representatives of the Islamic Republic. This episode asks a difficult but necessary question: where should Iranians place their energy, pressure, and hope now? Jian is joined by: Lisa Daftari, Iranian-American foreign policy analyst, journalist, and founder of The Foreign Desk Shayan Samii, U.S. national security analyst and expert in strategic communications Bahador Alast, Iranian-Canadian engineer and widely followed cultural and language commentator The conversation explores: Why anger toward the UN is intensifying among Iranians worldwide Whether the UN functions as protection or symbolism during mass atrocities The meaning of “intervention” and what actually helps people on the ground The role of global protests in cities like Toronto, Los Angeles, and Munich Recorded February 12, 2026. This episode of Roqe is brought to you with the support of: Avoca Chocolates – avocachocolates.com Stellar Law – stellarlaw.ca

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unlocking Legacy: Mei's Journey to Family Honor and Hope Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-10-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京的冬天寒冷而凛冽，满是白雪覆盖的街道。En: The winter in Beijing is cold and piercing, with streets covered in white snow.Zh: 梅站在一座废弃的仓库前，内心感到一种莫名的紧张和期待。En: Mei stood before an abandoned warehouse, feeling an inexplicable mix of tension and anticipation.Zh: 在她眼前的，是一个漫长的旅程的终点，也是家族命运的新开始。En: Before her was the end of a long journey and the beginning of a new chapter in her family's destiny.Zh: 仓库的门生锈又笨重，她用力推开。En: The warehouse door was rusty and heavy; she pushed it open with effort.Zh: 进入仓库后，阴冷的空气扑面而来，灰尘在高高的窗户下飞舞，地上结了一层薄冰。En: Inside, the cold air hit her face, dust danced under the tall windows, and a thin layer of ice covered the ground.Zh: 四周安静地只有自己的呼吸声，梅的心情逐渐平静下来。En: The only sound around was her own breathing, gradually calming her mood.Zh: 她知道，她必须在春节到来前，找到祖传的传家宝。En: She knew she had to find the inherited family heirloom before the arrival of the Spring Festival.Zh: 梅在心中默默祈祷，希望一切顺利。En: Mei silently prayed for everything to go smoothly.Zh: 她沿着墙边，小心翼翼地迈步，良好的家庭教育让她明白，这件宝物关系到家族的荣誉。En: She carefully walked along the wall, knowing from her good family upbringing that this treasure was linked to her family's honor.Zh: 很快，她发现了一个旧储物箱，却怎么也找不到打开它的钥匙。En: Soon, she discovered an old storage box but couldn't find the key to open it.Zh: 时间一分一秒流逝，梅焦急不已。En: As time ticked by, Mei grew increasingly anxious.Zh: 突然间，一个身影出现在身后。En: Suddenly, a figure appeared behind her.Zh: 是一位戴着围巾的年轻人，他自我介绍说：En: It was a young man wearing a scarf.Zh: “我叫建，是一名锁匠。”En: He introduced himself, saying, ""My name is Jian, and I am a locksmith."Zh: 梅看到了希望。En: Mei saw a glimmer of hope.Zh: 她简要向建说明情况，请求他的帮助。En: She quickly explained the situation to Jian and asked for his help.Zh: 建仔细研究了储物箱，眉头紧锁。En: Jian studied the storage box carefully, his brow furrowed.Zh: 经过短暂的沉思，他拿出工具箱，开始认真地工作。En: After a brief moment of contemplation, he took out his toolbox and began to work meticulously.Zh: 梅紧张地在一旁注视着，她知道，这一刻，她不仅依赖自己的努力，更依赖建的专业技艺。En: Mei watched nervously from the side, knowing that at this moment, she was relying not only on her own efforts but also on Jian's professional skills.Zh: 时间飞快流逝，窗外的天色逐渐暗下来，距离新年倒计时的钟声越来越近。En: Time flew by, and as the sky grew darker outside, the countdown to the New Year approached.Zh: 终于，建打开了箱子。En: Finally, Jian opened the box.Zh: 他和梅都松了一口气。En: Both he and Mei breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 里面闪烁着令人炫目的金属光辉，是梅家族的传家之宝。En: Inside, there was a dazzling metallic luster — the family heirloom of Mei's family.Zh: 梅小心翼翼地把它捧在手中，泪水在眼中打转。En: She carefully held it in her hands, tears welling in her eyes.Zh: 带着建的帮助下获得的信心，梅意识到，合作和信任是成功的关键。En: With the confidence gained from Jian's help, Mei realized that cooperation and trust were the keys to success.Zh: 当她和建一起走出那阴冷仓库时，她心中充满了感激与欣慰。En: As she walked out of the cold warehouse with Jian, her heart was filled with gratitude and relief.Zh: 春节的鞭炮声已经响起，梅知道，她将带着这一珍贵的家族传承，与家人团聚，共度一个幸福的新年。En: The sound of firecrackers for the Spring Festival was already echoing; Mei knew she would reunite with her family with this precious family legacy and spend a joyous New Year together.Zh: 在回家的路上，梅心底的一个声音告诉自己：无论遇到什么困难，她都不会孤军奋战。En: On the way home, a voice inside Mei's heart told her that no matter what difficulties lie ahead, she would not face them alone.Zh: 家族的期待不再是沉重的负担，而是一种流淌在血液中的责任和荣誉。En: Her family's expectations were no longer a heavy burden but a responsibility and honor flowing in her veins.Zh: 这个春节，梅不仅找回了祖传的宝物，也找到了自己的力量与自信。En: This Spring Festival, Mei not only reclaimed the family heirloom but also found her strength and confidence. Vocabulary Words:piercing: 凛冽abandoned: 废弃inexplicable: 莫名destiny: 命运rusty: 生锈dust: 灰尘layer: 层heirloom: 传家宝anticipation: 期待tension: 紧张upbringing: 家庭教育honor: 荣誉anxious: 焦急figure: 身影scarf: 围巾locksmith: 锁匠glimmer: 希望toolbox: 工具箱meticulously: 认真地contemplation: 沉思countdown: 倒计时luster: 光辉gratitude: 感激reunite: 团聚legacy: 传承joyous: 幸福burden: 负担veins: 血液confidence: 自信responsibility: 责任

On this episode of Roqe – Iran Rises, Jian is joined by Khosro Isfahani, Research Director at the National Union for Democracy in Iran, for a clear-eyed conversation about where the Iranian revolution stands right now, what intervention actually looks like, why the United States continues to negotiate with the Islamic Republic, and what may come next under Donald Trump. The episode then widens into a panel discussion with Picasso Moin in Istanbul and Kamyar Mahinsa in Vancouver, including Kamyar's reflections from the demonstration in Vancouver yesterday, the resilience of Iranians inside the country, growing distractions and infighting in the diaspora, and whether unity is holding at the moment it matters most. Jian opens Episode 414 with a moving essay - “When they arrest the doctors, the regime tells you what it is” - examining the moral meaning of a regime that punishes doctors and medical workers for helping wounded protesters. This episode of Roqe is brought to you with the support of Avoca Chocolates

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

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Snowfall Sparks Unforgettable Lantern Festival in Shanghai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-06-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个银装素裹的冬日，伴随着轻盈的雪花飘落，上海豫园被白雪覆盖。En: On a winter day cloaked in silver, with light snowflakes fluttering down, Shanghai Yu Garden was covered in white snow.Zh: 园内的假山、亭台楼阁在雪的点缀下，显得格外宁静优美。En: The rockeries, pavilions, and towers within the garden, adorned with snow, looked exceptionally serene and beautiful.Zh: 豫园正在紧锣密鼓地准备元宵节灯会。En: Yu Garden was bustling with preparations for the Yuanxiao Festival lantern show.Zh: 丽华，作为负责主灯展示的创意艺术家，在忙碌中感到无比的骄傲和期待。En: Li Hua, as the creative artist responsible for the main lantern display, was feeling immensely proud and excited in the midst of her busy schedule.Zh: 丽华梦想打造一个难以忘怀的灯展，她的设计充满了色彩和希望。En: Li Hua dreamed of creating an unforgettable lantern exhibition, filled with color and hope.Zh: 然而，这场意想不到的降雪给她的计划带来了巨大的威胁。En: However, this unexpected snowfall posed a great threat to her plans.Zh: 纸灯笼是她作品的核心部分，但它们完全经不起这突如其来的雪。En: Paper lanterns were the core of her work, but they couldn't withstand such a sudden snowfall.Zh: 就在她一筹莫展时，健和梅来到她身边。En: Just when she was at a loss, Jian and Mei came to her side.Zh: 健提议：“不如我们使用防水的材料重新制作？En: Jian suggested, "Why don't we remake them using waterproof materials?"Zh: ”梅附和道：“是啊，或许可以尝试一些新的材质，比如塑料或布料。En: Mei agreed, "Yes, perhaps we can try some new materials, like plastic or fabric."Zh: ”丽华凝视着白茫茫的园子，心中渐渐有了主意。En: Li Hua gazed at the snowy garden, and an idea slowly formed in her mind.Zh: 三人分头行事，丽华动员所有人尽快筹措材料。En: The three of them set to work separately, with Li Hua mobilizing everyone to gather materials as quickly as possible.Zh: 在团队的不懈努力下，他们在雪地中创建了全新设计的灯笼。En: Through the team's relentless efforts, they created newly designed lanterns in the snow.Zh: 这些新灯笼不仅抗御严寒，还融入了银色和蓝色的冬季元素，与纯白的雪景相映成趣。En: These new lanterns not only withstood the harsh cold but also incorporated silver and blue winter elements, creating a charming contrast with the pure white snowy landscape.Zh: 元宵节的夜晚，豫园灯火辉煌。En: On the night of the Yuanxiao Festival, Yu Garden was brilliantly illuminated.Zh: 灯笼在雪中熠熠生辉，游客们纷纷感叹不已。En: The lanterns glowed brightly amidst the snow, leaving the visitors amazed.Zh: 谁能想到，这场突如其来的降雪，反而成就了一场别具一格的灯会？En: Who would have thought that this sudden snowfall would instead create a unique lantern festival?Zh: 丽华站在桥头，望着欣赏灯景的游客，心中涌动着满足与快乐。En: Standing at the bridge, Li Hua watched the visitors appreciating the lantern scenes, a sense of satisfaction and joy welling up in her heart.Zh: 她明白了，面对突如其来的挑战，灵活应变、创新才是应对的良策。En: She realized that when faced with unexpected challenges, adaptability and innovation are the best responses.Zh: 困境之中，也孕育着新的机遇。En: Within adversity, new opportunities are also nurtured.Zh: 那一夜，豫园成为了上海冬日里最美的景致之一，丽华和她的团队被赞誉为节日中最亮眼的星星。En: That night, Yu Garden became one of the most beautiful sights in Shanghai during winter, and Li Hua and her team were hailed as the brightest stars of the festival.Zh: 丽华微笑着，心中笃定，再大的难题也阻挡不了她对艺术的热爱与追求。En: Li Hua smiled, confident that no problem could hinder her love and pursuit of art. Vocabulary Words:cloaked: 银装素裹的serene: 宁静的bustling: 紧锣密鼓的immensely: 无比的unforgettable: 难以忘怀的withstand: 经不起relentless: 不懈的illuminated: 灯火辉煌innovation: 创新adversity: 困境hailed: 赞誉fluttering: 飘落adorned: 点缀exhibition: 灯展threat: 威胁mobilizing: 动员incorporated: 融入contrast: 相映成趣resilience: 灵活应变pursuit: 追求stunning: 格外elements: 元素opportunity: 机遇unwavering: 笃定core: 核心部分unexpected: 意想不到的gazed: 凝视endeavors: 努力satisfaction: 满足commended: 称赞

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.

Commentary by Dr.  Jian'an Wang.

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.

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 January 2026 Issue of JACC: Asia, by Dr. Jian'an Wang.

Commentary by Dr.  Jian'an Wang.

Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.

Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.

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

...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

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

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.