Podcasts about Persian

As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait—were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the “Indian Empire,” or more simply as the British Raj. And then, in just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division.A new book the author Sam Dalrymple, Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, presents the unknown back story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. Sam is a historian and award-winning filmmaker who grew up in Delhi. He graduated from Oxford University as a Persian and Sanskrit scholar. In 2018, he co-founded Project Dastaan, a peace-building initiative that reconnects refugees displaced by the 1947 Partition of India. His debut film, Child of Empire, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022, and he runs the history Substack @ travelsofsamwise.To talk more about his new book, Sam joins Milan on the podcast this week. They discuss Sam's personal journey with the Partition of the subcontinent, the forgotten separation of Burma from the Indian Empire, and Delhi's dismissiveness of its Gulf outposts. Plus, the two talk about the creation of Pakistan, the twin genocides of 1971, and the special resonance of the princely state of Junagadh in modern-day Gujarat.Episode notes:1. Sam Dalrymple, “The Gujarati Kingdom That Almost Joined Pakistan,” Travels of Samwise (Substack), July 5, 2025.2. Nishad Sanzagiri, “Shattered Lands by Sam Dalrymple review – the many partitions of southern Asia,” The Guardian, July 1, 2025.3. “Ramachandra Guha Revisits India After Gandhi,” Grand Tamasha, April 19, 2023.4. Preeti Zacharia, “Interview with historian Sam Dalrymple, author of Shattered Lands,” Hindu, July 8, 2025.5. Sam Dalrymple, “The Lingering Shadow of India's Painful Partition,” TIME, July 14, 2025.

Was Halloween part of the ancient sacred tradition? In this episode of Hidden Wisdom, Meghan Farner uncovers the forgotten roots of All Hallow's Eve — from the Festival of the Dead to its connections with the Pleiades, divine feminine archetypes, and global flood myths. Explore how cultures across the world once honored death, rebirth, and ancestral connection at this sacred time of year. Learn how to reclaim the holy essence of Halloween through intention, gratitude, and light-filled observance.Timestamps & Key Discussion Points00:00 – 01:14 | Opening reflections and gratitude to Hidden Wisdom supporters01:14 – 02:05 | Why Meghan felt inspired to speak on Halloween and its controversy02:28 – 03:24 | Addressing misconceptions: Is Halloween demonic or meaningless?03:42 – 04:17 | Introducing the deeper purpose of exploring ancient origins04:32 – 05:26 | Quote from History of Halloween — witches, symbolism, and folklore05:26 – 06:53 | Global “Festival of the Dead” traditions across cultures and eras07:06 – 09:32 | Parallel celebrations: Celtic Samhain, Egyptian Osiris, Mayan, Persian, and Polynesian rites09:48 – 10:22 | The Pleiades constellation, comets, and the heavenly signs of the season10:46 – 12:41 | The Flood connection — how ancient trauma unified human remembrance13:57 – 15:15 | Death and rebirth as a universal cycle; spiritual implications15:32 – 17:10 | Feminine symbols in Halloween: Hathor, Isis, the flood, and the Seven Sisters17:28 – 18:30 | The misunderstood witch: wise women, midwives, and ancient wisdom18:46 – 20:28 | Modern misconceptions and redeeming the spiritual roots of the holiday20:51 – 22:13 | Reclaiming intention — celebrating with light, love, and purpose22:33 – 23:37 | Family traditions: “Switch Witch,” ancestral remembrance, and seasonal rituals23:54 – 25:33 | Honoring ancestors, creating altars, and feasting in gratitude25:33 – 26:44 | Reflection rituals: letting go of the old and writing a year's-end blessing26:44 – 27:10 | Avoiding fear and judgment — reclaiming joy in spiritual discernment27:40 – 28:49 | Closing blessings: seeing light, abundance, and love in all observance Donate to Hidden Wisdom: Venmo @Meghan-Farner

Friends of the Rosary,Today, October 28, we celebrate the feast day of two great apostles: St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Simon the ZealotSt. Jude Thaddeus, brother of St. James the Lesser, preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. He suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then under Persian rule.He is the author of an epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, in particular the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics.St. Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection.He is invoked as the patron of desperate, forgotten, and lost situations and causes because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them.Every image of him depicts him wearing a medallion with a profile of Jesus.Saint Jude Thaddeus is not the same person as Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Our Lord and despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God's mercy.St. Simon, who had been called a Zealot, is thought to have preached in Egypt and then to have joined St. Jude in Persia. Here, he was supposedly martyred by being cut in half with a saw, a tool he is often depicted with.Today, we also celebrate the Fourth Anniversary of the departure for the glory of heaven of Maria Blanca, co-founder of the Rosary Network, along with Mikel A. Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• October 28, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

How did Persian mythology seep into the texts of the Hebrew Bible? In this week's Biblical Time Machine, Helen and Lloyd are joined by Professor Mark Leuchter, who has recently argued that the 'dynastic myth-making' of the Persian Achaemenid rulers left its mark on Second Temple Jewish texts. Drawing on cognitive science, postcolonial theory, ancient letters and iconography, Mark guides us through the complex world of Persian myth-making and its effects on the Hebrew Bible. Mark Leuchter is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism and Director of Jewish Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. His publications include The Levites and the Boundaries of Israelite Identity (Oxford University Press, 2017) and more recently An Empire Far And Wide: The Achaemenid Dynastic Myth and Jewish Scribes in the Late Persian Period (Oxford University Press, 2024). He is one of the editors of the New Oxford Bible Commentary and is an executive board member of the Canadian Society for Biblical Studies. If you would like to gain a sense of the ancient Persian empire – the largest of its time – check out this map from our friends at SBL Bible Odyssey. SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINEIf you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travellers Club, our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription.DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHYCheck out our 4-part audio study guide called "The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography." While you're there, get yourself a Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle.Support the showTheme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 produced by John Nelson.

2 Chronicles 25 tells of Amaziah's accession to his father's throne. Amaziah put to death his father's murderers, as the Law of Moses required. Judah's new king musters an army of 300,000 and spends 100 talents to hire 100,000 Ephraimites. A prophet insists that Amaziah avoid mingling with Ephraim i.e. Israel. Amaziah is given a great victory against Edom; but the disgruntled Israelites smote 3,000 from Judah and carried away much spoil, while they are enraged. Sadly, Amaziah worships the idols of the defeated Edomites. Amaziah, being lifted up in pride seeks a confrontation with Israel and is soundly defeated. Many from Judah are taken captive and shamefully dragged as under captives, clothed in rags and taken to Samaria Israel's capital. The parallel record in 2 Kings 14 and is the basis for Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan: in Luke 9. In Daniel 6 we have the administrative structure for the 120 provinces of the realm of king Darius the Median - with Daniel as the chief of these princes. The lesser rulers become envious of Daniel and set about to trap him. They knew that his faithfulness to his God was his sole Achilles' heel. They petitioned king Darius to make it a capital offence to pray to any god, other than the king for 30 days. Daniel is found to be breaking the law as he continues to pray openly three times each day. The king realises that their scheme is to destroy Daniel but Darius according to the law of the Medes and Persians is bound by his own laws. Daniel is cast into the lions' den. Yahweh protects him throughout the night by closing the mouths and calming the savage and starving lions. The king hastens in hope to the lions' den and desperately calls to Daniel - read aloud verses 20-24 - pause and ponder. The malicious Persian princes are torn to pieces by the hungry lions. Again, read aloud verses 25 and 26. Darius is the only non-Jewish person to speak of "the living God"; and he was convinced that "the living God" was real because He had a servant that served Him continuously. 1 Timothy 3:15-16 is based on Daniel 6. Acts 4 spoke of Barnabas' generous act in selling land and donating the proceeds to the ecclesial common cause. Barnabas may well have been the rich young ruler of Matthew 19. In Acts 5 couple named: Ananias and Sapphira, want the ecclesia's acclaim without giving all of the proceeds of their sale of land. It was their right to do with their money as they pleased. Their sin lay in lying - attempting to deceive God and other believers. It cost them their lives and was a great wake-up call to the ecclesia. We are told from verse 12 of the mighty signs that support the Apostles' preaching The chapter says that Peter and John are arrested and put in the public prison overnight. The angel of the Lord comes and releases those 2 Apostles and tells them to continue to proclaim "the words of life". At daybreak Peter and John were enthusiastically preaching in the temple. The Apostles are rearrested by the officers, but this time quietly for fear of the people and once more the Jewish Council forbids them to preach full stop. The Apostles' answer in verse 29 is a message to believers for all time, "We must obey God rather than men". Their bold testimony was an evidence that they were Jesus' disciples. Gamaliel counsels his peers to desist from opposing, or harming, the Apostles, since historical evidence - Gamaliel asserts - always showed that what was not from God was doomed to fail. In chapter 6 we have a complaint from the Hellenistic believers that their widows were not being treated fairly in the daily distribution of help. Seven faithful believers of Grecian background were chosen to rectify the matter. One of the seven, Stephen, was seized by the Jewish rulers and falsely accused of speaking words against Moses and the temple. False witnesses are secured and tell lies against Stephen. Those members of the Council behold Stephen's angelic appearance and demeanour. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

Wesley Wright Lighthouse Bible Church Sunday, October 26, 2025 Title: Back to business Ezr 5:1-17 Chapter 5 starts out mentioning the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah. Their prophecy spurred the Jews back on toward their work. Hag 1:12-15 Perhaps Tattenai thought Zerubbabel was the Branch that Zechariah prophesied about. Isa 11:1-6 Jer 23:5-8 Zec 3:8, 6:9-15 There's a great deal of Persian turmoil at this point in time, which might explain why Tattenai asks about their work (Ezra 5:3). The Persian army placed its support behind Darius. Darius I: King of Persia (Ezr 4:5) from 521 to 486 Succeeds... for full notes: http://www.lbible.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=1760

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Episode Description:What happened between the Old and New Testaments? Discover the dramatic 400-year period that transformed the biblical world from Persian rule to Roman occupation, from a modest temple to Herod's architectural wonder, and from religious unity to competing Jewish sects.Join Professor Rachel Chen and Harvard-trained church historian Bishop Andy Lewter as they trace the epic story from Alexander the Great's Hellenistic revolution through the Maccabean Revolt, the rise and corruption of the Hasmonean Dynasty, and Herod the Great's ruthless climb to power. Learn how Antiochus IV's persecution sparked a guerrilla war led by the priest Mattathias and his sons, establishing Jewish independence celebrated today as Hanukkah.Explore why synagogues, rabbis, the Sanhedrin, and major Jewish sects like the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots—all absent from the Old Testament—dominate the New Testament landscape. Understand how Roman roads, Greek language, and diaspora communities became divine instruments for spreading the gospel.This episode reveals why those "silent" centuries weren't silent at all, but rather God's orchestration of world history to prepare for the perfect moment when "the fullness of time had come."Perfect for: Bible students, history enthusiasts, church leaders, seminary students, and anyone seeking deeper understanding of the New Testament's historical context.Key Topics: Inter-Testamental Period, Alexander the Great, Hellenism, Maccabean Revolt, Hanukkah, Hasmonean Dynasty, Herod the Great, Jewish sects, Roman occupation

Celine Rouben — an Iranian-Jewish speaker and storyteller — shares her powerful journey from Tehran's ancestral roots to modern-day Jerusalem. In this episode, she exposes media myths about Israel, Jewish identity, and what it truly means to reconnect with faith in today's world.Watch till the end for a raw discussion on heritage, Zionism, and spiritual awakening.Your spiritual path is yours to define. Learn how to embrace ancient wisdom, plant medicine, and inner transformation to reclaim your divine purpose.

Avik Mitra from A Chef's Tour is back on the podcast to talk about the cuisine of the Bengal region of India. Avik tells Brent about the surprising Persian origin of Biryani, samosas from Uzbekistan and momos from Nepal. Plus, we fit in a little Eric Clapton and Beatles talk. [Ep 360] Show Notes: Destination Eat Drink foodie travel guide ebooks Destination Eat Drink videos Avik's Kolkata Food Tour at A Chef's Tour Avik talking about Kolkata on Destination Eat Drink

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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.

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Empires can lose in stages—and the moments in between can matter most. We dive into the chain that turned Xerxes' massive gamble into Greek momentum: the trap at Salamis, the phalanx at Plataea, and the “forgotten victory” at Mycale that shifted the war from survival to liberation. Step by step, a divided world of city-states learned to think as one, using geography, coalition discipline, and psychological pressure to unmake Persian dominance of the Aegean.We start with the strategic stakes of 480–479 BCE, when Athens and Sparta put rivalry on hold to exploit narrow seas and favourable ground. Salamis shows how triremes, tight channels, and local knowledge shattered a larger fleet and denied Persia the supply lines that kept its army viable. Plataea follows with a land reckoning: Pausanias' coalition absorbed missile fire, closed ranks, and broke Mardonius' force, clearing central Greece and puncturing the myth of Persian inevitability.Then comes Mycale on the Ionian coast, where the meaning of victory changes. Persian ships beached, Ionian units peeled away, and Greek hoplites stormed fortified positions—liberating cities that had long lived under satrapal rule. Near-simultaneous success at Plataea and Mycale delivered a morale shock the Persians couldn't absorb and gave the Greeks ports, partners, and purpose. The result: a transition from defence to projection, the seeds of the Delian League, and a lasting story about unity, freedom, and the power of coordinated land–sea strategy.Support the show

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. In Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian(Harvard University Press, 2018), Angelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, examines how his successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Ryan Tripp (Ph.D., History) is currently an adjunct in History at Los Medanos Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Farīd al-Dīn Abū Ḥamid Muḥammad ʿAṭṭār lived and died in Nishapur. Though he was little known beyond his city as a poet, his enduring legacy can perhaps be summarised by Rumi: Attar has roamed through the seven cities of love while we have barely turned down the first street. (1) Attar was born in Nishapur around 1145CE during the reign of Abbasid caliph al-Muqtafī who finally succeeded in asserting the caliphate militarily against their supposed Sunni Seljuk Turkic vassals. Ghazzali had passed away in the conveniently memorable 1111CE leaving his enduring influence upon Sunni-Sufi high culture. What more can we say about his socio-political and cultural context? (2) Attar seemed to have been little known beyond his city. His family business appears to be a pharmacy. What more can we say about his personal biography? (3) Attar is best known for his Conference of the Birds. Give us a guide to reading that work, and tell us about his other works. (4) What translations and secondary resources would you recommend on Attar? (5) And finally let's end with a sample and translation. Further Reading The Conference of the Birds (translated by Afkham Darbandi and Dick Davis) Religion of Love: Sufism and Self-Transformation in the Poetic Imagination of ʿAṭṭār by Cyrus Ali Zargar Ali Hammoud: https://alihammoud7.substack.com/ We are sponsored by IHRC bookshop. Listeners get a 15% discount on all purchases. Visit IHRC bookshop at shop.ihrc.org and use discount code AHP15 at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Contact IHRC bookshop for details.

What happens when curiosity meets courage? In this inspiring conversation, Amy Sylvis reconnects with her former USC professor, Dr. Paul Frommer,  linguist, educator, and creator of the Na'vi language for Avatar. From astrophysics to the Peace Corps to Hollywood, Dr. Frommer's story is one of bold pivots, lifelong learning, and a deep sense of purpose. He shares lessons from his global journey, teaching in Malaysia, studying Persian in Iran, inventing a language for the world's most successful film, and reminds us that abundance isn't about possessions, but about truth, beauty, love, and authenticity.This episode invites you to rediscover who you are, follow opportunity even when it scares you, and live abundantly through contribution and curiosity.Connect with Dr. Paul Frommer!pfrommer@marshall.usc.eduConnect with Amy Sylvis:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysylvis/Contact Us:https://www.sylviscapital.comhttps://www.sylviscapital.com/webinar00:00 Introduction 01:29 Meet Dr. Paul Frommer01:52 Reconnecting After Years04:39 Dr. Frommer's Journey Begins07:31 Creating the Navi Language for Avatar10:25 Teaching in Malaysia18:08 Linguistic Talents and Early Influences19:39 A Year in Iran22:15 Reflecting on Opportunities and Support22:48 Influence on Dissertation and Academic Contributions24:11 Creating the Navi Language for Avatar26:43 Challenges and Joys of Language Creation28:55 Community and Evolution of the Na'vi Language36:14 Personal Reflections on Abundance and Life

In this episode I review my October pickup - the Nike SB Dunk Low Persian Violet.  Also, I get into the new and upcoming kicks! Thanks as always for listening AFS Squad! Shoutout to the Patrons: Kingsley G, Tristan S, Joshua N, John You can support this podcast, get your name listed above and get early access to episodes (paid tier) at: Patreon.com/ActualFanOfSneakers

Libby Klein writes ridiculously funny murder mysteries from her Northern Virginia office with a very naughty calico Persian named Miss Eliza Doolittle, and a sweet black Lab named Vader. She can name that tune for 70s and 80s rock in the first few notes, and she's translated her love of classic rock into her Layla Virtue Mysteries. Libby was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that prevents her from eating gluten without exploding. Because bread is one of her love languages, she includes the recipes for gluten free goodies in her Cape May based Poppy McAllister series. Most of her hobbies revolve around travel, and eating, and eating while traveling. She insists she can find her way to any coffee shop anywhere in the world, even while blindfolded. Follow all of her nonsense on her website libbykleinbooks.com Website: https://libbykleinbooks.com/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/libbykleinbooks/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykleinbooks/Mentioned in the Podcast:Manuscript Wish List: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/ ******About SinCSisters in Crime (SinC) was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sincworldwideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincworldwide/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sincworldwideBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sincworldwide.bsky.socialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincworldwideeTikTok:: https://www.tiktok.com/@sincnationalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sisters-in-crime/The SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

Today, we're sharing an episode of the No Small Endeavor podcast. These days, our culture is marked by political unrest, polarization, and anxiety. Beauty and art feel like a luxury, or even a distraction. In a special series, No Small Endeavor is asking: What if art, beauty, and poetry are exactly what we need to face the crisis at hand? Can poetry help us protest, pray, lament, and even hope? Host Lee C. Camp talks to poets like Haleh Liza Gafori, a poet, musician, and acclaimed translator of the Persian poet Rumi; and Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian, and host of Poetry Unbound. Their conversations evoke thoughtfulness about how to fight for beauty in the current culture, and how to make it through the fires of our time together. In this episode, Lee talks to Joy Harjo, a musician, author, and three-term U.S. Poet Laureate. Camp and Harjo explore how poetry can act as a form of justice, a practice of self-development, and a tiny experiment in healing. You can listen to No Small Endeavor here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The book of Nehemiah isn't just an ancient story about rebuilding walls. It's a masterclass in how we too can live a strategic, purposeful life for the Lord. Nehemiah shows us how to transform overwhelming situations into opportunities for restoration. Through his journey from cupbearer to wall-builder, we will discover a powerful pattern for living in our own challenging times.Themes of this podcast:Develop depth perception to truly care about others' struggles. Nehemiah models how to move beyond superficial concern when hearing about others' difficulties. Instead of simply expressing sympathy and moving on, he demonstrates the importance of actively listening, processing what's really happening in people's lives, and allowing yourself to feel genuine concern that moves you to action.Use strategic prayer before making any major plans or decisions. Rather than immediately jumping into action when faced with a challenge, Nehemiah spent months in prayer using a structured approach of praise, confession, thanksgiving, and request. This deliberate pause to seek God's direction first, rather than relying solely on our own wisdom and planning abilities, can transform how we approach life's obstacles.Recognize that your current position may be preparation for a greater purpose. Nehemiah understood that being a cupbearer to the Persian king wasn't just a job. It was strategic positioning by God for a specific moment of need. Whatever role or position you currently hold, no matter how ordinary it seems, it may be exactly where God has placed you to make a difference when the right opportunity arises.Show Notes:BlogPrayer GuideWe love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!Contact Bible Book ClubDonate or pick up merch here Like, comment, or message us through Bible Book Club's InstagramLike or comment on Susan's Facebook or InstagramLeave us an Apple reviewContact us through our website formThanks for listening and happy podcasting!

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. In Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian(Harvard University Press, 2018), Angelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, examines how his successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Ryan Tripp (Ph.D., History) is currently an adjunct in History at Los Medanos Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

The phrase "die before you die" is attributed to the Prophet Muhammad as a famous Hadith (saying); and Muhammad Rumi, 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic also coined the phrase. Together, with Rev. John, Let's explore what this means in light of our theme this month.

During the fierce persecution of Christians by the Persian King Shapur II, Saint Sadoth succeeded the Martyr Symeon (April 17) as Bishop of Seleucia. His name in Persian, Shah-dost, means 'Friend of the King'; but the earthly Shah saw him as no friend, and the holy bishop knew that his days on earth were numbered. One night in a dream, Sadoth saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. At the top stood Bishop Symeon, who called joyfully to him: 'Climb up, Sadoth, and do not be afraid! I climbed up yesterday; you will climb up today.' Waking, Sadoth knew that he would soon be called to martyrdom. He immediately set out to encourage his flock and to exhort them to stand firm for Christ in the coming day of persecution.   A few days later the persecutors came in the King's name to arrest the holy Bishop; with him they seized 128 priests, deacons, monks and simple believers. All were held in prison for five months, being brought forth repeatedly and tortured in ways too cruel to describe; but not a single one could be brought to worship the sun. Finally, all were condemned to die by the sword. The 128 martyrs, chained together, sang joyous hymns as they went to the place of execution. They did not cease to sing until the death of the last Martyr. Sadoth himself, however, was taken in chains to the city of Beit Lapat, where he was beheaded a few days later.

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. In Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian(Harvard University Press, 2018), Angelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, examines how his successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Ryan Tripp (Ph.D., History) is currently an adjunct in History at Los Medanos Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. In Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian(Harvard University Press, 2018), Angelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, examines how his successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Ryan Tripp (Ph.D., History) is currently an adjunct in History at Los Medanos Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

The world that Alexander remade in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death in 323 BCE. In Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander to Hadrian(Harvard University Press, 2018), Angelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, examines how his successors reorganized Persian lands to create a new empire stretching from the eastern Mediterranean as far as present-day Afghanistan, while in Greece and Macedonia a fragile balance of power repeatedly dissolved into war. Then, from the late third century BCE to the end of the first, Rome's military and diplomatic might successively dismantled these post-Alexandrian political structures, one by one. During the Hellenistic period (c. 323–30 BCE), small polities struggled to retain the illusion of their identity and independence, in the face of violent antagonism among large states. With time, trade growth resumed and centers of intellectual and artistic achievement sprang up across a vast network, from Italy to Afghanistan and Russia to Ethiopia. But the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE brought this Hellenistic moment to a close—or so the story goes. In Angelos Chaniotis's view, however, the Hellenistic world continued to Hadrian's death in 138 CE. Not only did Hellenistic social structures survive the coming of Rome, Chaniotis shows, but social, economic, and cultural trends that were set in motion between the deaths of Alexander and Cleopatra intensified during this extended period. Age of Conquests provides a compelling narrative of the main events that shaped ancient civilization during five crucial centuries. Ryan Tripp (Ph.D., History) is currently an adjunct in History at Los Medanos Community College and Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wesley Wright Lighthouse Bible Church Sunday, October 19, 2025 A Temporary Halt Ezr 4:1-24 Enemies noticed the building of the second temple, and they were unhappy about it (Ezr 4:1-2). These were Samaritans of mixed lineage. Those same enemies tried to make the case that they wanted to build to the same God, but the Israelites quickly saw through it (Ezr 4:3). Deu 6:4, Joh 4:17-25 Remember how the people of Israel feared the enemies around them (Ezr 3:3)? Some now are putting fear in them, again (Ezr 4:4-5). Other groups sought to stop this building, too, later on. Neh 6:1-8 Darius (Ezr 4:5) is a Persian king who reigned from around 521 to 486 BC. He's... for full notes: http://www.lbible.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=1759

Sometimes, we head off in our own direction - and then we discover, at some point, that we've strayed so far away from God's plans for our lives. We've all done it. You have, I have. And yet the amazing thing is that God always, always provides us with a way back home. Always.   Israel's Dilemma Over these last few weeks on Christianityworks, we've been looking at what it means to take God at His Word. Sometimes it can seem that God's promises are just too good to be true. An abundant life full of blessing and we think, “Oh, yea – right!” But it also seems that some people who meet Jesus end up living out this abundant life of blessing, and well, others don't. Why is that? I believe that one of the key factors of living a victorious life through our relationship with Jesus Christ is taking God at His Word. Because when we see all the troubles of life; when we see the struggles of life, sometimes it's just too good to be true. Today we are going to look at overcoming adversity, by taking God at His Word and it's a special kind of adversity – it's an adversity that we bring on ourselves, because sometimes we go through tough times as a direct consequence of our own actions and choices and behaviours. Bad choices, wrong motives, wrong thoughts, wrong behaviour have consequences. If I spend too much money on my credit card there are going to be financial consequences. If my wife Jacqui and I don't spend time together, there are going to be consequences in our relationship. We have to live out those consequences and a number of times through the Bible we see this principal “as we sow, so shall we reap”. It's a spiritual, emotional and physical principal that free choice has consequences and we have this good and loving Father who lets us bear the consequences of our sin. The sin of gluttony – if we eat too much, we put on weight, we get lethargic, we get disease. What we eat and how we eat has a direct impact on our lives. There's a cause and effect relationship – as we sow so shall we reap. And sometimes our own choices and decisions bring us to a place of adversity. Now, please, it's not always like that. If you read the story of the blind man – the man who was blind from birth, in John's Gospel, chapter 9. Here was this man who was blind from birth and the disciples said to Jesus, “Well, who sinned - this man, his parents? What sin caused this man to be blind?” And Jesus said, “It's no one's fault; there's no sin. This guy is blind so that I could heal him.” And as I look back on my life, it's certainly true. Sometimes I have done things that have brought consequences on my life, and have brought times of adversity. Sometimes it wasn't my fault at all but today we are going to look at that specific form of adversity that comes when we are living out the consequences of our own sin. And when we are in that place; when we are in that place of adversity, how do we get out of it, how do we deal with that? What is God's way? What is God's wisdom for us? We are going to go to the last book of the Old Testament – the Book of Malachi, chapter 3 and we will be looking at specifically verses 6 through 12, so if you have a Bible, go and grab it, open it up – it's the last book before Matthew's Gospel. It's a short book – only a few pages long, and we are going to see the relevance of how God provides us with the road back. Now in this particular passage, (you may have heard this passage a lot of times in your church) we are going to read just right now, verses 8 through 12. And it says this: Will anyone rob God, yet you are robbing me? But you say, “How are we robbing you? And God answers: “In your tithes and offerings. You're accursed with a curse for you are robbing me; the whole nation on you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house and thus put me to the test,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I won't open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I'll rebuke the locusts for you so that it will not destroy the produce of you're soil and your vine in the field shall not be barren,” says the Lord of Hosts. “Then all the nations will count you happy for you will be a land of delight.” says the Lord of Hosts. Now in a lot of churches you hear that particular verse quoted and it says something like this, “If you tithe your income; that is if you give a tenth of your income to church, then God will open the windows of heaven and bless you. Now there is truth in that because there is a spiritual principle that "as we sow, so shall we reap", and if we sow abundantly into God's Kingdom then God will bless us abundantly. The problem is that we can take this verse on its own out of context, and all of a sudden God becomes like a slot machine. You know, we put a coin in and we pull the handle and the money flows out the bottom, and that's not what God intended because this passage comes in a particular context; it comes in the context where Israel was supposed to be getting blessed. You know, they started off with the promise of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and Jacob had twelve boys and the whole of that family ended up in Egypt and they grew into a large nation and God took them out of slavery through the Red Sea, through the exodus of forty years in the desert into the Promised Land – the land that He had promised to Abraham. They went through a time where Judges ruled the land and then kings and then Israel split into two nations and because they were unfaithful. In 586 BC, the Babylonian empire overran Jerusalem, destroyed them, took them into captivity for seventy years and then God brought them back after the seventy years. Now the exiles were turned back and you'd think they'd have it all sorted out by then, but they continued on with their failure to obey God. There's several wonderful pictures in the Books of Haggai and Zachariah, that once they come back from their Babylonian captivity that God will bless them - you know, God will pour out His blessing on this land, material prosperity. If you look at Zachariah chapter 8 verses 1 to 8, there's this sense of the captives streaming back into this land of abundance. Yet, the completion of the temple – they rebuilt that – it hasn't ushered in all this blessing. They had an expectation of blessing but instead of blessing, there's Persian domination; there are hostile foreigners, there are plagues, there are droughts, there are locusts – it's that like our Christian walk? God promises this enormous blessing and sometimes we turn around and say, “But, hang on a minute, this isn't a blessing at all – this is hell – all these bad things are happening to me. God, why are these bad things happening? What's going wrong? We are going to have a look at exactly what God tells Israel, next.   God's Perspective Well, there was Israel; they were back in the Promised Land again. They'd had prophesy after prophesy of blessing and all of a sudden they discover – they turn around and say, “Life is actually awful. Life is not going well at all.” Have a look what Malachi writes in chapter 3 verses 13 to 15: You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord, yet you say, “How have we spoken against you? You've said it is vain to serve God, what do we profit by keeping His command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of Hosts? Now we count the arrogant happy; evil doers only prosper but when they put God to the test, they escape. In other words, things were not going as well for Israel as they expected from the prophesies that they had been given. Now Malachi is the last of the Minor Prophets, the last book of the Hebrew Canon – the Old Testament and it's a monologue from God. It's God's perspective; God points them to the problem and He gives them the solution. And here's the problem – let's just move quickly through the Book of Malachi and have a look what God says. In chapter 1 verse 2, He says this: “I've loved you,” says the Lord, “but you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother,” says the Lord, “Yet I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau. I have made his hill country desolation and his heritage a desert for jackals.” God says ‘I have preferred you;' when He says ‘I have loved Jacob,' He is saying ‘I have loved you.' God says, “I love you, yet you show contempt for God's love.” And then you look further down, in verse 6, and He says: Look, a son honours his father, and servants their master. If I then am a Father, where is the honour due to me and if I am your master, where is the respect due to me? , says the Lord of Hosts, to you. O priest who despise my name. You say, “How have we despised you name?” By offering polluted food on your alter and you say, “How have we polluted it?" By thinking that the Lord's Table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple doors so that you would not kindle the fire on my alter in vain. They weren't putting God first – they weren't giving God their best. The whole sacrificial system was set up so that animals would be sacrificed – a blood sacrifice – to atone for sin. Now we don't go through that any more because Jesus is our blood sacrifice; Jesus died for us. We are forgiven through that sacrifice but that wasn't the case back then and God had commanded them to give their best – their first fruits, their best animals, their best food in sacrifice. And these people were giving God their second best or their third best and worse than that, the priests were bored. Look at verse 13: “What a weariness this is,” you say and sniff at me, says the Lord. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick and this you bring as an offering? And further down, in chapter 2: And now, oh priest, this command is for you, if you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to me, says the Lord of Hosts, then I will send a curse on you and I will curse your blessing and indeed, I have already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart. They're hearts weren't in it. They were going through religious rituals without ever really thinking about it and the population followed them. In verses 8 and 9, it says this: But you've turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble in your instruction; you've corrupted the promise of Levi, says the Lord of Hosts and so I make you despised and abased before all the people inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but you have shown partiality in your instruction. So God's people have been through this enormous thing as a nation, where Jerusalem was destroyed and burnt down; for seventy years they were in captivity; they come back. Wouldn't you think they would have learnt their lesson? Wouldn't you think they'd have it all sorted out? No! No, no. they do the same thing over and over again and then look what happens – verse 13 of chapter 2: And this you do as well: you cover the Lord's alter with tears, with weeping and groaning because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favour at your hand and you ask, “Why doesn't He?" Because the Lord was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did not God make her? Both flesh and Spirit are His and what does God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel, and covering one's garments with violence, says the Lord of Hosts, so take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless. He is talking to a faithless nation – people were getting divorced, they were being unfaithful to their wives, they weren't honouring God, they weren't putting Him first and surprise, surprise – God didn't bless them!! Surprise, surprise, they were not living in the blessing that God had planned for them. The problem, according to God is sin and God says, “You wonder why you are not being blessed.” And they're thinking, “Has God taken a holiday; can't He cope with us? Doesn't God want to bless me? Why are the locusts eating our food, what's going on? And God says, “It's not my faithfulness that's at stake here, it's yours. I chose you; I uphold you and I continue to bless you. I chose you, I uphold you and the only reason you are still alive is because I am the same.” Look at what He says in chapter 3 verse 6. For I the Lord your God do not change, therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. The only reason I haven't destroyed you is because I made a promise to Abraham and to Isaac – I promised to bless their offspring and you are their offspring. If I hadn‘t made that promise, I would have destroyed you by now. The problem is your sin; your imperfect offerings, not the best fruits, not the first fruits, the second, the third and the forth fruits. You're bored with me; you're unfaithful and we do that sometimes in our Christian walk too. We're a living sacrifice – we don't give God our best, we get bored with God, we stop reading God's Word, we stop praying, we stop enjoying His presence and we chase after other gods and we chase after worldly ideals and God says, “What's the matter with you? Are you surprised that you are not being blessed? The most important thing for God is the relationship that we have – He takes it so seriously – His Son died to give us that and we race off and we do other things and we wonder why God isn't blessing us. We are living through the consequences of our own sin, of our own rejection, of our own rebellion of God, and because the relationship is so important to God, He won't let the blessing flow while we're doing that. It's His way of giving us a wakeup call; it's His way of bringing us back home; it's His way of saying, “I love you”, so when we're living through the consequences of our sin, can I encourage you to hear those words in the middle of that – “I love you so much, I'll let you live through those consequences.” Well, God made a road back for Israel and we are now going to look at what that road looks like.   The Way Home We are looking at this whole dilemma of what happens when we live out the consequences of our rebellion of God and this is where we pick up the answer. God looks at Israel through this Book of Malachi and says, “You people have forsaken me, despite every thing you've been through in the Babylonian captivity. You haven't learned, you're not putting me first, you're not honouring me, you're just going through a religious mumbo-jumbo and routine, but really, your hearts not in it and I want your heart, and until your hearts in it, well, you are not going to be blessed by me.” And the people rightly go, “well, what are we going to do about it?” In fact they ask that question in the Book of Malachi. Let's look at it – beginning at chapter 3 verse 7. Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them, says the Lord. Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts, but you say, “How shall we return?” This is the crux of this whole small Book of Malachi. They've left God and God says, “I want to be with you; I want to bless you; I want to spend time with you, come back to me and I will come back to you.” God always, "always" wants to have a relationship with us. There's never a time where God says, “Well, you know, I know this person believes in me but they've been so bad, I'm never going to spend any time with them again. I'm going to reject them.” NO! Because He sent Jesus to die for me; He sent Jesus to die for you. There is never a time where God rejects us in this life. And here the people say, “Well, ok, ok! We know that we've done the wrong thing. We know we've failed. We know we've gone in the wrong direction. Um, but now what? How do we come back to you? You say, “How shall we return to you?” and in answer to that question, this is what God says. This passage about tithing that we read earlier on. He said, “Will any one rob God? Yet you are robbing me.” Isn't it interesting? “How shall we return to you?” And God points to one thing that they are doing wrong. “Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, how are you robbing me? In your tithes and your offerings! You are cursed with a curse because you are robbing me - the whole nation of you.” You see part of the Mosaic Law; part of the law of Israel; part of the law of what we call the Old Testament today, was that every one of God's people had to give one tenth of their income to God's work. It was called a tithe; a tenth; it was part of the law. It was almost ... well it was, it was exactly like, we have to pay taxes today and if I avoid my taxes, the Tax Office will come after me and ultimately I can be fined or put into jail – it's against the law and Israel was breaking God's law by not giving God the tenth; the tithe, that was due to Him and God said, “You're robbing me.” Now they were doing a whole bunch of other things wrong too – we read it before; they weren't putting God first, their heart wasn't in it, they were just going through the actions, they were being unfaithful, husbands and wives, but God just picks one thing out of that in answer to the question, “How shall we return?” God says, “This is the one thing I want you to do. I'm not going to get you to fix everything and all your mistakes and all your sin and all your rebellion at once, I'm just going to pick one thing. Start tithing again, bring the full tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Sow seed while things aren't going well, because things weren't going well – locusts were eating their food. They didn't have a lot to spare. “Bring the full tithe into my storehouse, that there may be food in my house and thus put me to the test,” says the Lord of Hosts, “See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out for you an overflowing blessing.” How can we come home? “Just do this one thing – just obey me because loving me is obedience – obedience that you can actually cope with.” Don't you love that about God? We may have a problem in one area of our life but God knows who we are, what we can cope with, so He may choose something quite different, in another area, and says, “Be obedient in this area, that I know you can cope with and when you have been obedient there; when you're working there, that bit that I have put my finger on through my Spirit and my Word, when that's working, just watch and I'll bless you. And then as I am blessing you, there are lots of other things that we are going to deal with too, but I know you can't deal with those now, so just deal with this one issue.” I think that's awesome! And then God says, “I'll rebuke the locusts, I'll make sure they don't destroy your food, I'll make sure that the vine isn't barren, that the windows of heaven will be open and my blessing will pour out. That's God's love - that's God's encouragement because God rewards our faithfulness. No father will bless a child that is not being faithful. Dad wants to bless us, but He wants more than that – a relationship with us. That is just so awesome and look what it says down in verse 16 of chapter 3, just finishing up this discussion of God's blessing. Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another and the Lord took note and listened and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who revered the Lord and thought on His name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts; my special possession on the day when I act and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. Wow! God wants to bless us but that blessing – that hand of blessing comes off our lives when we rebel against God, because more important than the blessing is the relationship. More that any thing, God wants to have a relationship with us and so if your traveling through a time in your life when you know that you are living the consequences of your own failures and your own sin, I would encourage you to do this - go to God and say, “Lord how shall I return?” And I promise that God will speak to you through His Spirit in the most amazing way and say, “Be obedient to me in just this one area of your life and put me to the test. See if I won't open the windows of heaven and pour out all my blessings on you.” It's time to take God at His Word.

In this episode, we're going to explore a topic that's a bit different and more emotional than usual. Life is full of happy moments, but also difficult ones—especially when we lose someone we love.In such times, just a few kind and heartfelt words can bring comfort to those who are grieving.That's why, in this episode, we'll learn how to offer condolences in Persian.We'll look at different words used for “death” in various contexts, and we'll also practice common phrases for expressing sympathy and responding to condolences.If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We'd also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at podgapp@gmail.comWant to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let's keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

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On this week's episode, Hunter is deep in her Persian rug era, while Kayla is embracing the art of stillness and settling into Fall with a tip on how she and her husband are ending their days. The girls are also convinced that Halloween candy just hits differently than its regular counterpart. They unpack Mel Robbins' mysterious ability to have lived in every era from past, present, and future! To top it all off, Hunter's best friend finds herself in quite the rendezvous with her handyman! Follow us! Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/huntermcgrady Michaela: https://www.instagram.com/michaelamcgrady Subscribe to Patreon for exclusive episodes and content: https://www.patreon.com/Themodelcitizenpodcast

The one thing we don't discuss in this, our penultimate, recap of HBO's Task is that the title of episode 6 is a play on a line from a poem by the 13th century Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi (sorry if you already knew that!). We just thought its meaning was self evident because there IS a river in this show.Here's what we do cover:* Goodnight, snickerdoodle* There are still more moles! Stop it! Enough! * Tom's search for a replacement son* Gertie's evocation as a Lego and what constitutes an impression of a chicken *Robbie's final moments. Golden Globe for Tom P or are we the only people watching this show? Get full access to Tell Me About Your Father at tellmeaboutyourfather.substack.com/subscribe

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David McCloskey keeps writing spy thrillers – and the plots keep coming true. In the opening of his latest novel The Persian, Israel has just launched a surprise attack on Iran. But the author says he had already finished writing by the time conflict broke out between the two nations earlier this year. In today's episode, McCloskey speaks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about working at the intersection of reality and fiction, and having his work reviewed by the CIA.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Selected excertps of poems from Rumi - translations by F. Hadland Davis and R.A. Nicholson.Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century Persian poet, faqih, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan in Greater Iran. Rumi's influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions.Music: Envato Elements - Licensed music

Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran: The Autobiography of Mahboob Qirvanian provides a translation of a compelling autobiography that chronicles the life of Mahboob Qirvanian, from childhood and enslavement in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire to his eventual liberation in Iran. The Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran is a poignant and compelling account of one man's journey through struggle, resilience, and unimaginable suffering. In the early twentieth century, Mahboob Qirvanian recorded his personal experiences of forced migration and enslavement as he navigated his path from captivity in Africa to full citizenship and a reconstructed identity in Iran. Written in Persian and Arabic, this remarkable autobiography serves as a powerful testament to Mahboob's endurance, suffering, and ultimate transformation. Through insightful analysis, Behnaz A. Mirzai places Mahboob's narrative – the only known account by a former African slave in Iran – within the context of the political upheavals of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran and the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. This book not only sheds light on Mahboob's personal story and the historical injustices of slavery but also engages with broader themes of displacement, identity, and social justice. In doing so, it invites readers to reflect on the enduring legacies of racial inequality and the ongoing struggles for freedom and dignity in the modern world. Behnaz A. Mirzai is a professor of Middle Eastern history at Brock University and senior guest researcher at Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies at University of Bonn. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran: The Autobiography of Mahboob Qirvanian provides a translation of a compelling autobiography that chronicles the life of Mahboob Qirvanian, from childhood and enslavement in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire to his eventual liberation in Iran. The Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran is a poignant and compelling account of one man's journey through struggle, resilience, and unimaginable suffering. In the early twentieth century, Mahboob Qirvanian recorded his personal experiences of forced migration and enslavement as he navigated his path from captivity in Africa to full citizenship and a reconstructed identity in Iran. Written in Persian and Arabic, this remarkable autobiography serves as a powerful testament to Mahboob's endurance, suffering, and ultimate transformation. Through insightful analysis, Behnaz A. Mirzai places Mahboob's narrative – the only known account by a former African slave in Iran – within the context of the political upheavals of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran and the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. This book not only sheds light on Mahboob's personal story and the historical injustices of slavery but also engages with broader themes of displacement, identity, and social justice. In doing so, it invites readers to reflect on the enduring legacies of racial inequality and the ongoing struggles for freedom and dignity in the modern world. Behnaz A. Mirzai is a professor of Middle Eastern history at Brock University and senior guest researcher at Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies at University of Bonn. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran: The Autobiography of Mahboob Qirvanian provides a translation of a compelling autobiography that chronicles the life of Mahboob Qirvanian, from childhood and enslavement in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire to his eventual liberation in Iran. The Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran is a poignant and compelling account of one man's journey through struggle, resilience, and unimaginable suffering. In the early twentieth century, Mahboob Qirvanian recorded his personal experiences of forced migration and enslavement as he navigated his path from captivity in Africa to full citizenship and a reconstructed identity in Iran. Written in Persian and Arabic, this remarkable autobiography serves as a powerful testament to Mahboob's endurance, suffering, and ultimate transformation. Through insightful analysis, Behnaz A. Mirzai places Mahboob's narrative – the only known account by a former African slave in Iran – within the context of the political upheavals of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran and the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. This book not only sheds light on Mahboob's personal story and the historical injustices of slavery but also engages with broader themes of displacement, identity, and social justice. In doing so, it invites readers to reflect on the enduring legacies of racial inequality and the ongoing struggles for freedom and dignity in the modern world. Behnaz A. Mirzai is a professor of Middle Eastern history at Brock University and senior guest researcher at Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies at University of Bonn. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran: The Autobiography of Mahboob Qirvanian provides a translation of a compelling autobiography that chronicles the life of Mahboob Qirvanian, from childhood and enslavement in North Africa and the Ottoman Empire to his eventual liberation in Iran. The Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran is a poignant and compelling account of one man's journey through struggle, resilience, and unimaginable suffering. In the early twentieth century, Mahboob Qirvanian recorded his personal experiences of forced migration and enslavement as he navigated his path from captivity in Africa to full citizenship and a reconstructed identity in Iran. Written in Persian and Arabic, this remarkable autobiography serves as a powerful testament to Mahboob's endurance, suffering, and ultimate transformation. Through insightful analysis, Behnaz A. Mirzai places Mahboob's narrative – the only known account by a former African slave in Iran – within the context of the political upheavals of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran and the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. This book not only sheds light on Mahboob's personal story and the historical injustices of slavery but also engages with broader themes of displacement, identity, and social justice. In doing so, it invites readers to reflect on the enduring legacies of racial inequality and the ongoing struggles for freedom and dignity in the modern world. Behnaz A. Mirzai is a professor of Middle Eastern history at Brock University and senior guest researcher at Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies at University of Bonn. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

We visit Maktabi's flagship store in Beirut to unravel the rich history and intricate artistry of carpets. A third-generation carpet dealer from the renowned family behind Iwan Maktabi, Mohamed Maktabi delves into everything from the first carpet every discovered, the ancient origins of carpet weaving and the unique characteristics of tribal versus city carpets, to the esteemed legacy of Persian rugs and the evolving nature of the carpet dealing business. Maktabi shares personal family anecdotes, discusses the cultural significance embedded in some woven masterpieces, and offers insights into caring for these cherished objects. Whether you're a long-time admirer or new to the world of carpets, this conversation offers a deep appreciation for an art form that has captivated humanity for millennia. Maktabi also gives us his carpet wishlist from around the world. 0:00 Introduction0:22 The Oldest Carpet and Persian Heritage0:46 Tribal vs. City Carpets: Craft and Purpose0:50 The Evolution of Carpet Dealing: From Bazaar to Flagship1:08 Mohamed Maktabi's Role and Family Legacy3:31 The Craft of Hand-Knotted Carpets4:57 Tribal Weaving: A Woman's Art9:01 The Unparalleled Quality of Persian Carpets15:15 The Rise of Carpets in Every Household17:40 The Golden Age of Classical Carpets19:24 The Shifting Landscape of Carpet Dealing20:30 Contemporary Creations and Embedded Stories21:20 Mass-Produced vs. Hand-Knotted Carpets24:26 A Tour of Curated Antique Pieces25:06 Shahabs Suzani: A Needlework Diary from Central Asia28:32 The Paisley Design in Khorasan Carpets29:55 Isfahan Quran Cover Design: A Family Heirloom33:37 The Enduring Value and Care of Carpets35:11 Japan's Appreciation for Persian Carpets35:48 The Future of Classical Carpet Making36:38 Mohamed's Dream Carpet Collection38:32 The Legendary Ardabil Carpet40:33 Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance Mohamed Maktabi is a third-generation carpet dealer and a scion (and now CEO) of the Iwan Maktabi family, an institution in the carpet business established in Beirut in 1926. His grandfather immigrated from Isfahan to Beirut, with his father, Abbas Maktabi, continuing the family tradition. Mohamed, alongside two of his five sisters, joined the family business, which his father initially envisioned as a small gallery for esoteric textiles and unique tribal pieces. Mohamed is known for his deep knowledge of carpet history, from ancient origins to contemporary creations, and his appreciation for the cultural and artistic significance embedded in each piece. He maintains a focus on both traditional and modern designs, ensuring the legacy of hand-knotted carpets endures.Connect with Mohamed Maktabi

We enter in the final years of Afonso de Albuquerque as he continues his master strategy to bring the Indian Ocean under Portuguese control. He heads west to subdue the Red Sea and the Persian gulf. In doing so, he earns his title "The Lion of the Sea"   PLEASE LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS!  Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGccYXBxc8cA Contribute on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FPHx Leave some feedback: flashpointhistory@gmail.com Follow along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FLASHPOINTHX/ Engage on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlashpointHx