Podcasts about tehran university

This episode is going to be unique in topic and perspective. I was so inspired in my conversation with my guest.You will love listening to this episode!!Today, I am introducing to you, the highly respected, Dr. Azita Madjidi.Dr. Azita is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. She has a rather unusual path in life that has brought her to this place, to who she is today and how she does her practice.Born in Tehran, Iran, Dr. Azita was raised by a loving family. Her mother was the first woman Sculptor in Iran, graduating from Tehran University in Fine Arts.When her mother became ill, Azita being only 17, took her mother to Paris for treatment.  While there, the war between Iran and Iraq broke out, the borders were closed which prevented she and her mother from returning to Tehran, leaving them with little money, a suitcase, and no place to live.Dr. Azita's story is riveting, filled with so many obstacles, yet she chose to persevere, overcome and her practice has changed the lives of so many hurting people around the world. It was during this challenging season in her life, that Azita received a letter from her grandmother.“My dear granddaughter, I know how hard you are working and learning.   Don't worry.  You are digging a well with a needle.   One day, you'll reach the water which will spring out and benefit others.”Dr. Azita shares that once she became a plastic surgeon, she started going on mission trips around the world in 1991 helping children and adults with cleft lip and palate, burns etc. “I always remember what my grandmother told me.”Dr. Azita has a practice in Houston, Texas where she offers a wide range of surgical and non-surgical procedures. Check out her website to find out more about her services. CONNECT WITH Dr. Azitawww.DrAzitaMadjidi.com CONNECT WITH DEBIDo you feel stuck?  Do you sense its time for a change but unsure where to start or how to move forward?  Schedule a clarity call!Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/debironca/free-clarity-callWebsite – https://www.debironca.comInstagram - @debironcaEmail – info@debironca.comCheck out my online course!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Your Story's Changing, finding Purpose in Life's Transitionshttps://course.sequoiatransitioncoaching.com/8-week-programThe Family Letter by Debi Ronca – International Best Sellerhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SSJFXBD

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and military reporter Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in our Jerusalem offices on today's episode. Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the early hours of the morning in Iran, hours after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for the country's new president Masoud Pezeshkian. No nation has taken credit for the attack. Fabian fills us in on what we know about the means of the attack. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington will help defend Israel if it is attacked, while the White House will also work to reduce tension in the region following Haniyeh's assassination. Berman speaks about the possibilities of a wider war in the Middle East and how other countries are condemning Israel. This morning, Hezbollah issued its first statement on Israel's assassination of the terror group's top military commander Fuad Shukr last night, saying he was present in the building in Beirut when it was struck, but does not confirm his death, which the IDF announced last night. Fabian debriefs on this strike. Berman discusses how these two attacks are an "elegant" solution to the need for respond to the Iranian-made Hezbollah bomb that killed 12 children in Magdal Shams on Saturday afternoon. Is there any speculation that there will be further reprisal? Fabian clarifies that as yet there are no changes to Homefront Command guidelines following the two strikes. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Tehran missile strike IDF kills top Hezbollah commander in Beirut in response to deadly Majdal Shams attack Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: People hold up the Palestinian flag and a portrait of assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, during a rally at Tehran University, in the Iranian capital on July 31, 2024, as Iran declares three days of mourning. (AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diagnosing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at an early stage is a daunting challenge that often seems almost impossible. However, the pressing need for early diagnostic tools has driven remarkable individuals to seek innovative solutions. One such individual is Dr. Ahmadreza Keihani, whose personal story and profound loss led him on a mission to find early diagnostic possibilities for ALS using cutting-edge neurotechnologies. Dr. Keihani, a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Pittsburgh, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his work. After graduating as the valedictorian from the medical school at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), he was invited to be an assistant professor of neuroimaging. However, driven by a relentless desire to learn and innovate, he moved to the United States to further his research under the mentorship of senior scientists in the field. In this episode, we delve into Dr. Keihani's groundbreaking project, which he developed alongside his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh and TUMS. Their real-time monitoring system for the cortico-muscular coupling index (CMC) promises to be an early biomarker for ALS, offering hope for earlier diagnosis and intervention. This project was nominated for the prestigious BCI Award 2023, recognizing its potential to revolutionize ALS diagnostics. Dr. Keihani discusses his innovative research and also shares his personal career journey, providing invaluable career advice for aspiring scientists. Additionally, he offers useful information about the International BCI Award application process, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to submit a successful project. Moreover, Dr. Keihani is an amazing educator, and listeners will truly enjoy his easy-to-understand explanations of complex concepts in neurotech research. Join us as Dr. Keihani shares his journey, the inspiration behind his work, and the innovative neurotechnologies driving his research. We'll explore how his project aims to provide real-time assessment of CMC in ALS patients and the potential impact this could have on the future of ALS diagnosis and treatment. Tune in to discover the intersection of personal passion and scientific innovation with Dr. Ahmadreza Keihani and learn how his work paves the way for new diagnostic possibilities in the fight against ALS. International BCI Award: The International BCI Award sponsored by g.tec medical engineering GmbH is back! If you're working on pioneering BCI research, use your chance to gain international recognition. With a total endowment of $6,000 USD and the possibility of publishing and presenting your work globally, this is an opportunity to shine at the forefront of neuroscience innovation. Submission Deadline: September 1st, 2024 Nominees will be invited to: Submit a chapter for the BCI State-of-the-Art book series by Springer. Present their work at the prestigious BCI Award Ceremony. Receive keynote invitations to the BCI & Neurotechnology Spring School. For more details on submission and criteria, visit: https://www.bci-award.com Join the BCI Award Ceremony! About the Podcast Guest: Ahmadreza Keihani, PhD graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Engineering (Bioelectric) from Isfahan University in 2014 and completed his MSc and PhD in the same field at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), graduating as valedictorian in 2022. He was then invited to be an assistant professor of neuroimaging at TUMS but moved to the US in 2022 to learn more and work as a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on computational neuroscience. Ahmadreza's research interests include neuroimaging, nonlinear dynamics, biomedical data science, and brain-computer interfaces (BCI). His PhD work on cortico-muscular coupling in ALS patients was nominated for the 2023 BCI Award. He is dedicated to translational research on neurological and psychiatric disorders, with a special focus on causal machine learning. Link to the review BCI paper mentioned in the podcast interview: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/2/1211_2 Link to the work discussed in the podcast interview: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0270757 About the Podcast Host: The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a neuroscience educator, research consultant, and career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in the field, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed. Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K: Identification and pursuit of career goals Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news

message me what did you take away from this episode? Ep 77 (ibit.ly/Re5V) Mo Tabib on Emotional Intelligence in Maternal Care@PhDMidwives  #MidTwitter  #research #midwifery @RobertGordonUni @RGUMidSoc  @world_midwives @MidwivesRCM #phdlife #academiclifeResearch link - ibit.ly/yBBrrImagine finding your life's calling through a book in high school and embarking on a journey that takes you from the rural landscapes of Iran to lecturing at a prestigious university in Scotland. That's the incredible story of Mo Tabib, a midwifery lecturer at Roberts Gordon University. Inspired by a story about a midwife in rural Iran, Mo's passion led her through an extensive education at Tehran University and memorable experiences working in remote areas of Iran. Her narrative is a testament to the power of storytelling in midwifery, making a profound impact on her students and her own professional growth.Transitioning to the UK, Mo faced numerous challenges, from adapting to team-based work to understanding different cultural practices. This transition highlighted the importance of evidence-based practice in midwifery, with real-world examples like optimal cord clamping underscoring the need for solid research. Mo's personal experiences with relaxation techniques, especially after a personal loss, inspired further academic pursuits, culminating in her PhD research focused on calmness techniques during cesarean sections.Completing a PhD is no easy feat, and Mo's journey was filled with stress and the need for emotional balance. By developing a morning routine that included meditation, Mo found a way to stay present and make significant progress on her research. Her work on the emotional intelligence program for midwives in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire shows promising results, aiming to support the mental and emotional well-being of midwives. This episode promises rich insights into the evolution of midwifery practices, the transformative power of storytelling, and the critical role of research in maternal care. Support the Show.Do you know someone who should tell their story?email me - thruthepodcast@gmail.comThe aim is for this to be a fortnightly podcast with extra episodes thrown inThis podcast can be found on various socials as @thruthepinardd and our website -https://thruthepinardpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ or ibit.ly/Re5V

Recorder player and baroque violinist Yasaman Mashhouri was born in Tehran, Iran. Her musical education began at the age of ten with the Orff method, then subsequently taking her first violin lessons and teaching herself the recorder. After graduating with a biology degree from Tehran University, she decided to follow her heart and pursue her musical studies, moving first to Vienna to study recorder performance, and later to Germany. Yasaman is currently based in Switzerland, where she teaches in Schwyz and Ingenbohl.In this episode, Yasaman spoke about the difficult decision to leave home and the non-musical path that was planned for her; her love of presenting music in new and modern ways; the importance of personal connection; and the upper age limit of many competitions overlooking those that began their musical careers later than most.This episode was recorded in October 2023.-------------------Yasaman's links:YouTubeInstagram-------------------Follow The Classical Circuit on InstagramDid you enjoy this episode? If so, ratings and follows help a lot with visibility, if you have a spare moment... *bats eyelashes*No offence taken if not.--------------------This podcast is also available to listen to via The Violin Channel--------------------Music: François Couperin - Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les MaillotinsPerformed by Daniel Lebhardt--------------------The Classical Circuit is made by Ella Lee (producer by trade, pianist at heart). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/RF-3TbX8fXAAs a Christian in Iran, Naghmeh Panahi was arrested numerous times—and once even had a gun pointed at her head. But as awful as that was, Naghmeh says she endured something far worse when she began speaking out about abuse from her husband. It was then that she faced persecution—not from radical Muslims, but from Christians. In this edition of The Roys Report, you're going to hear Julie's powerful interview at the Restore Conference with Naghmeh Panahi. Naghmeh was catapulted into the national spotlight in 2013, a year after her husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, was imprisoned for his faith in Iran.  With the help of Franklin Graham of Samaritan's Purse and Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, Naghmeh launched the Save Saeed campaign. The campaign garnered worldwide attention. And it eventually led to Saeed's release in 2015. But during this time, Naghmeh learned that Saeed's violence, repeated insults, and spiritual manipulation were not just a sign of a bad marriage. It was abuse.  Yet, when she spoke out about the abuse, the backlash from Christians was virulent and cruel. And the psychological and spiritual damage from that backlash was far worse than anything Naghmeh said she encountered in Iran. In this interview, Naghmeh talks candidly about the abuse and the Christian community's failure to stand with victims. But she also talks about the persecuted church—and how the Western Church's failure to care for the abused and broken is not a bug but a feature.  Drawing from her book, aptly titled, I Didn't Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse, Naghmeh's message is a prophetic witness to the American church—if we will listen in and take heed.  In her talk, Naghmeh refers to recent books by Miriam Ibraheem and Lance Ford. Guests Naghmeh Panahi Naghmeh Panahi is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. Naghmeh made national news when she publicly advocated for the release of her then-husband, Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith. Naghmeh's autobiography, I Didn't Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse, is available now. Learn more at NaghmehPanahi.com. Show Transcript SPEAKERSNAGHMEH PANAHI, Julie Roys Julie Roys  00:04As a Christian in Iran, Naghmeh Panahi was arrested numerous times and once even had a gun pointed at her head. But as awful as that was Naghmeh says she endured something far worse when she began speaking out about abuse from her husband. It was then that she faced persecution, not from radical Muslims, but from Christians. Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys, and today you’re going to hear my powerful interview at the RESTORE conference with Naghmeh Panahi. Naghmeh was catapulted into the national spotlight when her husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, was imprisoned for his faith in Iran. And with the help of Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse, and Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, Naghmeh launched the Save Saeed campaign. The campaign garnered worldwide attention and it eventually lead to Saeed’s release. But during this time, Naghmeh learned that Saeed’s violence, repeated insults, and spiritual manipulation was not just a sign of a bad marriage, it was abuse. Yet when she spoke out about the abuse, the backlash from Christians was virulent and cruel. And the psychological and spiritual damage from that backlash was far worse than anything Naghmeh said she encountered in Iran. In our interview, Naghmeh talks candidly about the abuse and the Christian community’s failure to stand with victims. But she also talks about the persecuted church and how the Western Church’s failure to care for the abused and broken is not a bug but a feature. I am so grateful for Naghmeh’s, prophetic witness to the American church, and I’m confident that God is using that witness both through podcasts like these, and in Naghmeh’s book aptly titled, I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution and Hidden Abuse.   Julie Roys  01:50 We’ll get to my interview with Naghmeh just a moment, but first, I’d like to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Judson University and Marquardt of Barrington if you’re looking for a top ranked Christian University, providing a caring community and an excellent college experience. Judson University is for you. Judson is located on 90 acres just 40 miles west of Chicago in Elgin, Illinois. The school offers more than 60 majors, great leadership opportunities, and strong financial aid. Plus, you can take classes online as well as in person. Judson University is shaping lives that shaped the world. For more information, just go to JUDSONU.EDU. Also, if you’re looking for a quality new or used car, I highly recommend my friends at Marquardt of Barrington. Marquardt is a Buick GMC dealership where you can expect honesty, integrity, and transparency. That’s because the owners there Dan and Kurt Marquardt are men of integrity. To check them out, just go to BUYACAR123.COM.   Julie Roys  02:56 Well, again, here’s my interview with Naghmeh Panahi on surviving persecution from the church. This is from our last RESTORE conference in October 2023.   Julie Roys  03:07 Let’s just start with a little bit of your story. And again, those of you who know her story, this may be familiar, but I know I learned a lot of new things. You were born in Iran. And the interesting thing is you got to see Iran before the revolution, and then after. Talk about what the change was in Iran when you when you saw that happen?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  03:29 Yeah, I was actually born soon, a few years before the revolution. So, my mom was one of the first women in the king’s army, as a woman, which was pretty radical for her time. And also just, you know, Iran has had Islam for about 1400 years, so not Islamic culture. And she was very proud woman with her gun and protecting the Shah, but also, you know, having authority in a sense that women usually didn’t have. So, my mom was kind of protecting the king from the revolution. My dad was actually one of the people that wanted the Islamic Revolution, because, before the revolution, people like my mom, were wearing miniskirts. And, you know, just like the US, they were free, and my dad and his group of people thought, you know, we’re becoming too westernized. And if we have an Islamic religious revolution, then the culture will be more purified. And so, I kind of grew up in chaos. I saw  tires burning, my mom going, and my nanny would cry, and is she going to come back? Cuz she was trying to defend against the protesters, and then my dad would be in the streets and there was different groups that were trying to take over the government. And they were all radical and there was a lot of people just been killed in the streets. And so, I kind of grew up in a very chaotic political atmosphere of where the country was becoming very Islamic. And so, I went to school I shared in my book, my photo from my school, elementary school and I looked at and I was the most covered up. Like some of the girls had their head covering a little back. Just from the photo, you can tell I was so afraid. I was told you can’t show hair and all this teaching that was like going through the schools about just Islam and how we had to cover up. And so, it was very foreign to me, having seen my mom without a covering, and then seeing her, she had to be all covered up and her rank  taken away from her. And she had to be in an office setting, as a woman couldn’t have any authority over men in any position of power. And so, I was noticing a lot of that changes and the fear that was gripping a lot of the woman. I would actually have a lot of dreams that I was walking in the streets in Iran without head covering, and I was being arrested. And that was one of my, a lot of the nightmares I had. But just the fear of having to cover up and right around the revolution right after there was a war with Iraq. So, I also grew up in war, we had bombs and missiles. And I was just flipping through my social media, and I saw a video with the sirens going off in Israel. And all of a sudden I had a panic attack, because I would hear those sirens all of the time, the bomb sirens and you have to go to shelter and not knowing if your house was going to be the next one that was bombed, or a missile would hit it, or a lot of the Iraqi soldiers were certain parts of Iran were attacking and raping and taking captives and women and children were being killed. And so, it’s brought back a lot of that memory as a child, even just hearing that siren was so hard to listen to.   Julie Roys  06:47 I’m thinking when you’re talking about being covered up your mother losing her rank, being afraid as a woman I mean, I’m thinking of Sheila’s talk yesterday. I mean, this is like modesty message on steroids. As a young girl, how did you internalize, did that make you feel different about you?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  07:04 Yeah, I was told as a seven-year-old at that time. Like when I went to school, I had to dress up, like cover up, I was told that I was sexually appealing to men.   Julie Roys  07:14  As a seven-year-old?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  07:16 That’s what I we had to once I went to school, like six, seven-year-old got to be fully covered. And people I know that had their relatives like their grandmother had married at the age of nine and their mother had married at the age of 12. Right now, we do work in Afghanistan, and since the Taliban has taken over these, as soon as the girl hits puberty, like nine, a lot of times 9-10, they’re being married and they’re now giving birth to babies at like 10, 11, 12. And so yeah, it’s unfortunately it was part of the culture. And as a little girl, you’re told that you had to cover up because it would be tempting to a man as a little seven-year-old. Which is interesting, because years later was like, the purity culture sounds very Islamic.   Julie Roys  08:05 So, your parents did leave. And it sounded like the impetus was the fear that your brother might get drafted in the army. And the little boys were basically sent out there to check where the landmines were right? So, I mean, it was almost certain death. So, your parents escaped out of there and came to the US, settled in Idaho, and then the story of how you became a believer is really phenomenal and interesting too, how your parents when you became a believer, that was not welcome.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  08:41 No. My mom was more of a moderate Muslim. My dad was very strong Muslim. Like he had his prayer life and fasting. I’d never in the Islamic Revolution world, I never heard of the name Jesus. And so, when we came to America, my twin brother who actually he got his doctorate at University of Chicago in quantum physics, and so he was not emotional growing up, and even with the war I was the more emotional one he was, the more like, questioning God. But he was crying like I’d never seen him emotionally. And he said, I know we question Who is God? Why is he allowing, we would see our classmates like their dead bodies in the street. The houses of the kids that we would play with,  completely gone. And we didn’t know if we were next. I mean, just growing up in war was just insane. And so, we had a lot of questions about God. And he came running to me one day when we’d just come to America, and he said, I found the God we’ve been looking for. His name is Jesus. And I was like, what? He had a vision, I guess he had seen Jesus and he said, he is all I felt was love. And I just know we have to find out who this Jesus is. And so that’s how we were saved. We were running around acting like crazy nine-year-olds, like who’s Jesus? And with our limited English, we found some people who, you know, spoke Farsi, and told us and gave us a Farsi Bible. And we thought our parents would be as excited as us. They were angry. My dad wanted us actually, to move us back to Iran. He said, it’s better if we die in the war. You’ve become Christian. You’ve lost your culture. You’ve lost everything. And my full name is Naghmeh Sharia Panahi. So, Sharia is Islamic law. Panahi means protector, so our last name meant protector of Islamic law. And so, my dad always prided himself like we’re related to the Prophet Mohammed, like the Prophet of Islam. And so, for him, for us to become Christian was like, the worst thing ever. And so, he was in the process of moving us back into a war with like chemical warfare. My brother was about to be signed up to go to like, run through the mines. And he didn’t seem to care. He thought us becoming Christian was like the worst thing that had happened.   Julie Roys  11:07 Unbelievable. And despite that, I mean, you would think as a nine-year-old, something like this happens, your parents don’t support it, it’ll be gone, it will be eradicated from your life. Why didn’t that happen?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  11:19 Yeah, my uncle, my uncle, who graduated from university in California, had found a job in Boise, Idaho. And he said, you know, let’s move them there. They’re only nine. It’s just a little feeling. They’re going to forget about this Jesus, you know. And as a nine-year-old, you want to please your parents. They’re all we had in the war. Like, they were our lifeline, and wanting to please them. And so, they thought he said, they’re going to forget about this Jesus. And we didn’t. I mean, it’s by grace of God, he kept our faith, our Bible was taken from us, me and my brother weren’t allowed to even pray together. My dad had a lot of fits of anger. Just a lot of it, we experienced a lot of persecution, anger in the home. And in Idaho, we were pretty much isolated. Try to forget about Jesus, and we didn’t, and it was not until we were from nine until 16-17, where my parents, I guess, were on their own journey. We didn’t know but they were on their own journey of finding Jesus. They were secretly reading the Bible they took from us. I didn’t know that at that time.   Julie Roys  12:26 When did they actually become believers?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  12:29 Right around as I was graduating, I could see they had softened. I would sneak out, as soon as I got my driver’s license, I would sneak out to a church. And I thought they didn’t know but they knew. And they were okay with it because they were reading the Bible. But they didn’t become Christians until I went to college. And when I came home, they were like, We believe we want to be baptized, from nine until 22.   Julie Roys  12:57 And why is it? I’ve always you hear this among Muslims so often, that they have these visions of Jesus, and they come to Jesus through that. I mean, it just seems to be a feature. Why do you think that is?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  13:14 I think that whoever cries out to God, anywhere in the world, God will make himself known. In Iran, you don’t have a lot of missionaries right now. And I would talk to people in Iran, I would talk to, and I would say, hey, I would talk to a woman, I’d say, Do you know who Jesus is? And they would start crying. And they would say, Yes, I saw him in a vision. Like, tell me more. My child was dying, and I cried out to God, and I said, help and Jesus appeared to me and said, I am the way the truth and the life, but they didn’t know much. They just knew that he’d healed their child, or he was the way the truth and the life. Like they knew little parts of who Jesus was. But it was really not hard to evangelize. That’s why I think when I returned to Iran, we saw such a revival because people already knew who Jesus was. They’d seen him in dreams and visions, and they’d already seen him move in ways that wasn’t, we weren’t trying to convince them. They were like, Yeah, we know him. He healed our child, or I saw him in a vision.   Julie Roys  14:15 Wow. So you went to college, were planning on becoming a doctor. You must have done quite well in school.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  14:23 I think coming from an immigrant family, you’re told you have no choice, lawyer, or doctor. We’re in America you have to pursue the American dream.   Julie Roys  14:33 Right. And probably the last place on earth you wanted to go was Iran and yet you ended up back in Iran.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  14:41 I did. My parents really struggle with that because I went right after September 11. And when no one wanted to get on an airplane, and no one wanted to fly into the Middle East. So, I had the whole airplane to myself flying into Iran, and President Bush was like there’s gonna be war in that region. And so, I just felt like God was like, this is the time to go, I’m going to change that land through the gospel. My fight is through the gospel is through love, you know, in Christ. And so, I didn’t know when I went back. And my parents thought I was crazy. I was about to take the MCAT like I was on the road to being a medical doctor. And I said, I need a break. I feel like God’s telling me to go to Iran  I didn’t know that I was going to be at the forefront of a revival. But I just knew God was like, You need to go now. And so, when I went, he allowed me to be at the forefront of revival and be part of leading one of the largest house church movements in Iran.   Julie Roys  15:46 And when you flew over there, was it on the plane, you get those cards, and you have to declare things?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  15:51 In Muslim countries, I don’t know why, but every single they have no shame about discrimination. Religious discrimination is like they don’t there’s like nothing. So, everything you fill out has religion, what’s your religion? So, that’s why Christians when people become Christians, they have to fill up. And because of their conscience, they can’t put Muslim. So, they put Christian so as soon as they put Christian, even like filling out a passport. If they write Christian, they’re arrested. They can’t work if they write Christian, if they’re not arrested, they can’t find job, or they can’t go to school, Christians are not allowed to go to school. And so even on the airplane immigration form, I had religion, and I knew my last name meant I was a Muslim. Like people could tell by your last name, you’re a Muslim, but I knew I was a Christian, I really struggle with that form. And it was right after September 11. And I was like, stepping into radical Iran that I had read about killing so many pastors and hanging them as an example. And I wrote down Muslim.   Julie Roys  16:57 And also because of your name, they would know that you were born Muslim, yeah. That you converted and that’s a major, major no, no.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  17:04 Yeah. I was fine by myself. And I mean, I just felt so bad. I felt like a Peter moment. I just there was so much fear, flying into Iran. And as a Christian, I’d never experienced that. Anyway, I had left Iran as a Muslim. God was allowing me to go back as a Christian and to experience what it meant to really understand the persecuted church. And so yeah.   Julie Roys  17:30 So, you get into Iran. Talk about the church and the, you know, the way the house church movement was going and also about this very charismatic pastor that you saw over there named Saeed.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  17:43 Saeed. Yeah, so I grew up in the purity movement. I was like, when I went to Iran, I was 24. I hadn’t dated I was told first hold, holding hand or first kiss had to be with someone you married. I had some people pursued me in college, good Christian guys that I was like, nope. And so, I hadn’t really experienced  anything. And Iran had right now they don’t they had some building churches, that they allowed the Armenians to conduct church, because the Armenian people are considered Christians. They’re not converting. They were like, they have been Christians for generations. So Iranian government allows for religious freedom for the Armenians to conduct church. They weren’t allowed to let Muslims in like Persians. Persians are, you know, have been Muslims for so many hundreds of years, you know, 1400 years. But the church actually that I met Saeed in had started allowing Muslims to come in and they were converting, and one of them was Saeed. And that’s why they had killed some of their pastors. The government had arrested and killed some of the pastors at that building church. And I saw Saeed he was on. It’s a long story, how I ended up in that church. I had a cousin that had gotten saved and invited me, so I was about to leave Iran. I had been a missionary for one year, and I had five people who accepted Christ. And I was like, Okay, I shared with every single relative, like aunt and uncle gave out Bibles. And there was five people became Christians. And then I was like, Okay, I’m done. I was about to leave.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  19:12 My cousin invites me to this church service. And I go inside Saeed was on stage worship on the worship team. And I really saw a lot of passion for Jesus. And then he was like, I love evangelism. Like that’s my number one passion. And even in Boise, I would always go and evangelize to the refugees, the Muslim refugees that were coming in. And so, he seemed like this great evangelist, and I was really drawn to him. And so, we started working together. He actually reached out to me and said, Hey, you want to do ministry together? And I didn’t realize but he was going to an underground bible school by the Assemblies of God there. And  because the government was heavily persecuting the building church, they were being trained to start house churches. So, at that time, he had about a dozen people, I had five we decided to join forces. And within a few years it grew to 1000s over 33 cities and it was college students, they were our house was in the middle of Tehran-by-Tehran University. And so, all these college students were getting saved. And then they would go back into their city and evangelize. And all these house churches was just popping up. And all over Iran, every 33 major cities had churches, within two years.   Julie Roys  20:34 Very organically.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  20:35 Very, it was all college students, very organic.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  20:39 And women. Women did a lot of leadership. Yes, it’s really I mean, ironic in a Muslim country.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  20:46 Very ironic. I was just sharing that is China and Iran had this revival of house church movement, and women are the main ones leading it. And in a culture like, Iranian culture, where women are literally told their property, and a lot of the Muslim men treat them with a lot of contempt, they don’t have a lot of freedom. And so, a lot of Muslim women are drawn to the church and become saved because they see how the men in the underground church honor women and they’re leading. And the men are completely okay with that. And they’re working together. I mean, there’s no titles, there’s no stage, they call each other brother and sister, even the pastor, which is like a shepherd or shepherdess. It’s called sister like Sister Naghmeh, Sister Julie. So, no one’s called, , no one’s given a title. And actually, being the pastor or the leader of that house church, means you’re going to be the first one to be arrested and killed, you know. And I share in my book about a 10-year-old girl that I met in one of the cities and  she got saved at 10. She was passionate by 25. She was a discipling like 500 women. And she was arrested, tortured, and solitary confinement. She would not even give out one name, she was defending her flock. She went through so much. And she came out she’s like, I didn’t give out one name. They weren’t able to find any of the 500 people that she was discipling. And so that’s what it means to be the leader, it’s, you’re literally laying down your life for the sheep. It’s not like a place of popularity, it’s actually not a place, I’ve shared that in the podcasts with you. Not a place that a lot of narcissists like to serve. It’s not fun.   Julie Roys  22:33 I mean, that’s the thing, if you hear so often, the shepherd should be the first to lay down his life, right? And if that were the case, it does just sort of naturally weed out the chaff.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  22:47 Literally, if you’re the leader means you’re going to be the first one that’s arrested and tortured. So what narcissist want to do that? So, you don’t see a lot of narcissists. And you don’t see, unfortunately, you don’t see a lot of the men wanting that position. So, a lot of the women are the ones carrying the torch of the gospel, and they’re the ones being arrested. They’re the ones being raped. They’re the ones being tortured. They’re the woman by the well that Jesus is using. I was sharing with one of my pastors recently, I was like, how dare God use women on the underground churches in Iran? Why does he do that? But it’s the woman but they’re not getting any popularity. They’re literally being tortured and killed, but they’re the ones, the weak, Isn’t doesn’t Jesus says he uses the weak, broken? It is the weak, broken woman who’ve been so shattered in that society that God is just lifting up and honoring and giving the privilege to suffer for the gospel.   Julie Roys  23:45 And where we see the church shrinking in the West, in these places where it’s organically happening without all of the money and the programs and, you know, all the seven steps to this that are the other thing. The gospel is going forward.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  24:02 Yes, it is going without a program. It’s weak vessels that society has crushed, that Jesus is honoring and using for the gospel in one of the hardest countries in the world that has the most crazy governments. With great wisdom, God is using that. And doesn’t he say that in his word? That’s who he uses, but it’s really It’s so confusing for me because I see that happening in the Middle East. And then the way women are honored in a place where they haven’t been. And then I see something different here, which has been so hard to try to digest that. But it’s so radical. I mean if you guys could understand how radical it is. And I know you’ve watched like sheep among wolves and all that. It’s radical for women to be leading in the Middle East, the house churches. Just think about that in a culture that has said You’re nothing your property, just how radical that is. And for Jesus during his time to do that too; be so radical in the way he honored women. I am just still shocked by the fact that how the men in the house churches really honor the women and really  God, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit. There’s no other explanation.   Julie Roys  25:19 It is so cool. So, you told of a time when you denied the Lord, but you had another chance.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  25:26 Yeah, I told the Lord. I went home and I cried, I said, God, if I have another opportunity, I will not deny your name. And two and a half years later, I was arrested. But I’ve been arrested a lot. Many times, for the gospel. We were like, if we were smuggling Bibles, like at night, we would try to move around Bibles and give it to different house churches. So, we were arrested many times, there’s so many stories. But there was an incident where it was the scariest because I was actually detained. I have guns pointed to my head, we were basically told, if you say you’re a Christian, you will go to a woman’s prison, you will get raped and tortured and you will die. If you say you’re Muslim, you get to walk out this door right now. And everything within me wanted to be Muslim. I just want to get out of that door. I had the radical Revolutionary Guards all around me with guns and I was just like, Okay God, you know how the Bible says, he will put the words in our mouth? And I said, I’m a Christian. And the story is more detailed in my book. But towards the end of it,  this top interrogator was crying and asking for a Bible. The guy that threatened to kill me, was actually ended up asking for a Bible.   Julie Roys  26:46 And Saeed said that he got his inspiration from you because you. . .   NAGHMEH PANAHI  26:52 There was three of us that got arrested. The first guy wrote Muslim, and then it was my turn. And so, I wrote Christian, and the Revolutionary Guard interrogator asked for my testimony. He said,  basically my testimony was the evidence that was going to convict me of the death sentence they were going to give me for converting. And then Saeed also said he was Christian. And he told me after we left, I was gonna write Muslim. But when you said Christian, I got inspired to also write Christian. So yeah.   Julie Roys  27:32 So, you guys come back to the States. You end up getting married to Saeed. There were some red flags in your dating relationship, obviously, that you talk about in the book. And we don’t have time to go into all of what happened. But what was your life with Saeed behind closed doors?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  27:55 Yeah, so Saeed had never been to the states. We came to the States in 2005, after a lot of persecution. But in Iran, it was the first full on physical abuse happened when we fled Iran in Dubai. So about a year and a half into our marriage, but I didn’t see the signs of abuse, obviously, now looking back, but early on, he didn’t find me attractive. He would say, you’re so dark, and you’re so ugly, and you need to do nose surgery, you need to do surgery with your eyebrows, and you need to lose weight. And so, he was just, pretty much I start questioning, I said by that by the time we were  eight years into the marriage before Saeed’s arrest, I couldn’t even think for myself. I remember the interviews, I would tell people, this is the first time I’m processing life without Saeed because I would have to ask him permission, what do I say? And it was really hard  being put in the spotlight and having to rely on my own. Not as Saeed  to give answers. It started out with him putting down my looks. And then it was like, questioning the way I was seeing things and then questioning the way I was looking at Scripture and saying, I was idolizing scripture, I needed to let the Holy Spirit , you know, his own idea of what the Holy Spirit is. And just he started questioning my understanding of Scripture. There was not a full-on beating, but he would shove me he had me beg. He would have me beg and kiss his feet. It’s in the book. There’s some really hard stuff in the book. But pretty much, after eight years of marriage, we came to America because of intense persecution. And then after four years of being in America from 2005 to 2009, we didn’t go to Iran, but then he started traveling. And then he got arrested. He thought, Well, we haven’t done house church for four years. I can go back. He went back and forth, back, and forth. 2012 was arrested the time he was arrested; I was a shell of a person. I had no friends. He cut off my family, my friends. I had so much makeup on, I was 30 pounds lighter than I am now. I tried everything to be exactly how he wanted me to be. And I couldn’t show emotion. If I cried, he would say you’re trying to manipulate me with your tears, he would get very angry with tears. I couldn’t laugh, I couldn’t express any emotion. So I was just like this very dead person, just basically, I worked full time he didn’t work. So, I was full time I was a slave, I was working full time taking care of the kids cooking, cleaning. And he was just traveling, and I was funding his travels. And so I was, close to death. I didn’t realize his imprisonment was my freedom. I did not see it; I was so mad at God. And I explained it in my book. I thought God was being so cruel to me. Now I have to try to get my husband out of the worst prison in the world.   Julie Roys  30:55 And you are gone from being premed, you had done incredibly well in school, then you help your dad run his business.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  31:02 I was very confident.   Julie Roys  31:03 Confident, competent, all of these things. And after these years of marriage, you have been reduced to that point. And then you start advocating for him. It doesn’t dawn on you that you’re being abused till pretty far along in the whole process. But talk about when you finally because I think a lot of people have heard you know the story up until this point. But then you advocated for him. And then you got to the point where you finally said, it dawned on you you were being abused. And you said something.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  31:36 Well, the reason it dawned on me if he hadn’t had a phone, most people don’t realize this part of the puzzle. The last year of his imprisonment, he had obtained a smartphone where he could literally get on the internet in maximum security prison in Iran. It was a smuggled phone worth $7,000 to get that phone to him. But I’m glad it happened. Because at first I was like, why does he have a phone and he’s treating me like this? He would call me Jezebel, like that was the number one word he’d use against me. whore and again, you’re ugly, you’re nobody if people are clapping, they’re clapping for Abedini, Saeed Abedini. They’re not clapping for you. I’m the hero of the story. He saw that I met with Obama I met with Trump I  was on the news. And we did a prayer vigil with Mr. Franklin Graham and 2 million people watching online and he saw when he called me for the first time he saw this confident woman that he had destroyed for eight years. So, he saw, Oh, she has confidence in Jesus. I dreamed in his time of imprisonment. It was my time in the cocoon. I was reading the word praying again, because I couldn’t even pick up the Bible when I was in abuse. I couldn’t imagine, I kept myself pure. I had been a missionary and part of me was really mad at God for allowing me to suffer like this. I mean, I describe a lot of hard things in the Bible. In my book, I was raped by him. It was just a horrible, horrible marriage.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  33:15 And so, part of me, I guess, had distanced myself from God thinking, I kept myself pure. I wanted to serve you. Why would you allow this? And so, when he was in prison, actually, I drew close to God and like you said, I had been raised in a home where my dad gave me a lot of confidence. And so anyways, my Heavenly Father was like, really, through the Bible I am finding confidence. So, when he got a smartphone, he saw that confidence and he was scared. I didn’t see it at that time. So, as he was calling me all sorts of names, I’m writing articles for The Washington Post and New York Times. I'm writing op-eds on being on the news and traveling, speaking in churches and he’s calling me names. I couldn’t understand why because people are like, Your husband must be so proud of you. I was literally traveling the world getting him out. He had an eight-year sentence. He spent three years in prison, six months in house arrest, but he could have been there for a longer time. They were actually going to give him more and more years. People are like, he must be so proud. You’ve met with presidents to get him out and then here he was calling me names and I couldn’t get it.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  34:22 So finally, I broke coming from the Middle Eastern culture and the Christian culture, you don’t want to air out your dirty laundry. So, I didn’t tell anyone even my parents had experienced abuse themselves. He had physically beat up my dad, but it was a culture of you don’t divorce no matter what, but also a culture, you don’t talk about it. So, for the first time I shared with this pastor that I was speaking at his church, I said, I don’t understand. Here’s all these text messages he’s sending on Skype to me. He’s calling me all sorts of names. I don’t get it like why? And he said, “You're an abused wife. He said, This is why he is And then it started making sense Oh, he needed to crush me to control me. And I wasn’t crushed. During his time of imprisonment, God was setting me free inside was seeing that. And so, he was calling me all sorts of names. And when this pastor gave me the diagnosis, that was it   There was no going back. Because before then I was like, I have a hard marriage. And then once I knew it was cancer, I’m like uh, this needs chemo, and I knew I had to educate myself on what abuse was and what do I do?   Julie Roys  35:35 And so, you sent an email. To like, 100 close supporters.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  35:39 Yeah, I was like, Nah, this is the way the media has blown it up. I sent an email to really close friends. And then that got leaked to the media. And then yeah, I was, I think Lori Anne Thompson said this stone was like the person bleeding by the road. I was like, stones were thrown at me. I was bullied by Franklin Graham, told to shut up. You’re damaging the cause of Christ. He used every power every connection he had. And he was like, You’re never ever going to do ministry again if you talk. I was like, I don’t want to do ministry. I just want to live quietly in Boise, Idaho. Why is ministry an idol? He was scaring me but saying you’re never gonna do anything. I’m like, It’s okay, I don’t want it. So, he couldn’t hold that over me. But I lost everything like Lori Anne Thompson said, I had to quit my job to advocate for him. So, my income had been speaking engagements. And that was taken from me. So, all of a sudden I’m in the middle of he comes out, files for divorce, because how dare I have leaked, shared with a group of people that leaked information about abuse. And so, he came out filed for divorce, the worst thing I was afraid of which was actually my freedom. But at that time, it was heartbreaking. Because I fought to get him out. He didn’t even want to fight for our marriage. He just came out and filed for divorce. And I literally lost everything. I lost my marriage, I lost my income, I had stones thrown at me, I was literally by the side of the road. And all the religious leaders were like either kicking me, or quietly walking by. It was very few that were there, all the text messages stopped, all the Naghmeh, we got you and my poor kids too, they would always get gifts and support. They would get so many gifts on their birthdays. And it all of a sudden stopped. And they’re like, Mom, what happened? And all of a sudden, we’re just like, I mean, I got so many calls from past, pastors that were just throwing things at me. And I had a really interesting experience with Family Research Council too. And so, it was just like, a lot of stones at a time where my marriage was falling apart. And yeah, it was a very difficult time.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  35:43 So that the title of your book is I Didn’t Survive.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  37:58  People don’t like that. They’re like you’re a survivor.   Julie Roys  38:03 But the old Naghmeh is not the Naghmeh who’s sitting here is this like Dr. Monroe said, you know that you change your different. How have you changed and why?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  38:19 I am not the person I was 10 years ago once I went to prison. I think I would describe it like a caterpillar going into the cocoon. The caterpillar is no longer the caterpillar, it's a butterfly. There’s a confidence I have in God. There’s a lack of fear of what religious leaders. My Goliath was Franklin Graham. He used every power he had to shut me down. I know this for a fact. Some megachurch pastors called me and said yeah, Franklin called us and every person I reached out for help, Franklin would call and say if you help her, you know? And so yeah, there’s a lot of stories. I don’t have fear of losing anything. I know that losing income, ministry, people’s praises, all of that fell and the old Naghmeh was afraid of losing a lot of things like marriage, status, income, even as a single mom; all that fear is gone. He’s been my provider, day in and day out. I live for Christ and if people don’t like that, then it’s okay. I don’t get any benefit from people either copying or so there’s a lot of people pleasing. I’m just not the old Naghmeh. The old Naghmeh was so afraid, scared about people’s opinion. I mean, I care for people but I’m not a people pleaser. You would have been surprised to meet the Naghmeh of 2012. She would have been a completely different person.   Julie Roys  39:49 Thing Mariam said in her book, that she said that the domestic abuse that she suffered by her husband was worse and If you read Miriam’s book, I can’t quite even wrap my head around what can be worse than some of the things that she suffered at the hands of Muslim persecutors. But in what ways was that worse when you get persecuted from professing Christians?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  40:22 She said it’s worse? So, Miriam and I are, she’s one of my best friends. And she came out of Sudanese prison. She was on death row, and I met her soon after she’d given birth to her daughter, Maya in prison. And then she faced this horrific, you will read her account in prison in her book that’s out there. The prison experience her growing up as a refugee in Sudan. Her mom was a refugee. Her dad was Sudanese, and she grew up in a horrible situation and then she was given the death sentence by the radical Muslims there in Sudan and treated horribly. For her to say what she experienced in domestic abuse and the church’s response was worse than that? I was like, “Are you what?! She said she knew that was the enemy, she’s like, I knew that was my enemy. I knew that those people that had persecuted me where my enemy. I didn’t expect it to come from my home. And I didn’t expect it to come from my Christian community. Like that was what was like I think you said that about Lori Anne Thompson’s, that it came from the church is the most messed up thing with the name of carrying the name of Jesus to for broken people that Jesus so cares about to be trampled on. And use then abuse is I just that just, it’s so messed up. And so that’s why she says that she’s like, I didn’t expect it in my home, that my enemy would be in my home and that the way the Christian community respond to her she was a Christian hero for standing up to the Muslim community in Sudan. And then she was a bad person for wanting to divorce her abusive husband. No one wanted to touch her. She shares that. It’s like the modern leper, she Yeah, she  actually became homeless, no one wanted to help her. She had to flee her home with her two kids that had just left Sudanese prison. And no one wanted to touch it. No one wanted to get her a lawyer help get her nothing. She had nothing. She just come out of Sudan with no English. She filed for divorce in 2018. So, four years after she came out from Sudan, so she knew a little bit of English, but she had never worked in the US. I mean, she literally was helpless. She had no family. Her mom had died. I mean, she had no family and the Christian community that had tried to help her escape Sudan was now like, don’t talk to us, don’t reach out. Don’t talk to us. Like she became a leper. Yeah, so I wish she was here. And we tell her story.   Julie Roys  42:56 Yeah. So last question because we’re gonna have to wrap up. But having been through what you’ve been through, seeing what you’ve seen in the house church movement in Iran, then coming to the US and experiencing what you did by the American church, what message do you have for the American church today?   NAGHMEH PANAHI  43:18 To get Lance’s book. It's so messed up the way the system is destroying is not Christianity, what we have here is a system it’s a business. It’s not laying down your life for the sheep. It’s actually like Ezekiel, where God’s like you’re abusing,  you’re using the sheep for your own benefit. A good shepherd would actually lay down. I mean, Paul says, you know, parents should give to the children, not children, like he should have been this rich pastor, and he’s like, I’m poor. I’m homeless. I’m treated like he wasn’t a great speaker, he wouldn’t be probably have any church gathering. And so, it’s just the way the system is really. If anyone that comes from the house church movement in Iran or China, they come here and they’re like, Oh, the church is asleep, like there’s no church. There’s buildings, people are gathering in buildings, but the church is dead. Anyone has ever come that’s the first reaction they give is, wow, the church here is sleeping. And so, I would say I think we really need to rethink and not just read about Jesus was the servant, what does that mean in my life? And I love what Lori Anne Thompson said that we don’t also as abuse survivors, we are not the heroes either, Jesus is. I think the reason I wrote my book is that it's not heroic, someone wrote a review. It’s not about anyone being a hero. It’s about the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony, and my hope is my testimony is going to help draw people to Christ because I’m not the answer. Christ is. And so that’s why I’ve kind of refrained from writing a curriculum or having an answer. I’m and like Jesus, he helped me, point to him. And so, we’re not the heroes. You know, as survivors, or as the persecuted church. The persecuted church doesn’t want to be heroes. They’re just following Christ. But I think we can learn a lot from the persecuted church and really learn what it means to carry our cross. I don’t think the American church really, the leadership understand what that is. What does it mean to carry your cross and die to yourself daily?   Julie Roys  45:36 And I do believe that out of the ashes, new things are coming. And who was it that said, maybe it was last night at the dinner that I think it was Laurie Adams Brown, who said that she believes that survivors and a lot of what’s happening for people that have been through this who have really experienced the pain of what’s happened, it’s fertile ground for a new thing to happen in the church. And so that’s my prayer.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  46:07 I think this is my I’ve prayed and cried out to God many times. I think God’s gonna use the broken. We are looking for oh, I think Sheila said that, too. We’re looking to these big platforms to do something and God’s like, No, I’m going to use the little scattered broken people on the outside. You keep looking to these megachurch pastors see, please see this. And they’re not because for them to see it, it means their whole world would be toppled upside down. And so, we’re trying to change these big organizations. But a lot of times the answer is actually Jesus is like, no, I’m actually going to  do a work outside of that. And that’s going to, yeah, anyways, I think just having spent many hours just crying for the church in America, because I was born and raised for the first nine years in Iran. But I’ve been in America for like 37 years. And so, I’ve cried for this country. And as a Christian, and I think he’s going to work in a way we didn’t expect him to. It’s not going to be people with platforms, it’s going to be a grassroot, no one’s going to be the hero, it’s only going to be Jesus. I tell people because they like to build heroes. I’m like,  don’t look to me to be the chain. It’s gonna require every one of us, like Sheila I think said, and a lot of the speakers. It’s going to be a grassroot because like I said, Jesus Himself, God is a jealous God. He deserves all the glory; he’s going to be the Savior. There’s no minnie saviors that are going to change the climate, you know, here. So, it’s just gonna be all Jesus. But all of us are just a voice. But we need to use our voice. And I think what Lori Anne said, or Adam said is true, I think it’s going to be a lot of the movement is going to start with the survivors and the broken. And that’s why people ask me, you were so passionate about the Middle East, I still work with the underground church in Iran and Afghanistan. I’m not a ministry, but I try to collect money and just give everything there. But I also care about their views, then they’re like, this is kind of two different worlds. I’m like, No, it’s not. Because Jesus is with the broken, the persecuted church is broken. The abused are broken, they’re both desperate for God. And guess what God cannot resist? God cannot resist His people being broken. Like he will step in like you have not. Gloria Thompson said she was like, once she had her daughter, she’s like, I will fight for her. And God is that jealous for us. And when we’re broken, that’s when God’s steps in. And so, for both the persecuted church and the abused, my heart is for them. First of all, Jesus says, If you want to minister to me, minister to the least of these my brothers. So, if you want to actually walk with Jesus, it’s not on the big platforms. It’s literally walking with the least of these. That’s where I experienced Jesus is when I’m walking with an abused woman. I’m not on I’m literally just, I’ve had abused woman live in my house, like, that’s where I’m experiencing Jesus, or when I’m working with the persecuted church, who have no money to eat, and they’re still carrying forth the gospel. They’re in these countries that are sanctioned. They’re so poor, and as Christians, they’re even poorer, but they continue to take the gospel. So when I hang out with the least of these, I truly experience the move of the Spirit. And so, they’re related. The persecuted church, and the survivors abused, you know, women and men. They have a common thread that is attractive to me, and that’s brokenness and desperation for God. Anyways.   Julie Roys  49:47 Naghmeh, every time I sit with you, I get inspired. Thank you so much. Thank you for so truthfully telling your story and for being an inspiration to so many of us.   NAGHMEH PANAHI  50:02 Thank you, Julie. And I just so appreciate it. You know, people have attacked you before being divisive and like, trying to go after the church, but your heart to bring healing to the church is I think I just know there’s going to be I’ve prayed for this, there should be 10s of 1000s of people coming to this conference of just finding that restoration. And you know, and so I appreciate your work so much. And yeah, keep going. You have my prayers. And so, thank you. Thank you.   Julie Roys  50:45 That was just such a special interview with Naghmeh Panahi, and it’s one of many unforgettable moments from our last RESTORE conference. And if you’re listening and thinking, man, I don’t want to miss out on that next RESTORE conference, I want to encourage you to send us an email at The Roys Report at JULIEROYS.COM, and just put in the subject line RESTORE EMAIL, and we’ll be sure to add you to our email list. And then when we announce the date and all the information about the next conference, you’ll be sure to be the first to know. Also, if you’re grateful for these interviews and talks, which we’re making available free of charge, would you please consider giving to The Roys Report. As I’ve noted before, we don’t have any big donors or advertisers, we simply have you the people who care about abuse and corruption in the church and want to expose it. To donate, just go to JULIEROYS.COM/DONATE. Also, just a quick reminder to subscribe to The Roys Report on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts or Spotify. That way you won’t ever miss any of these episodes. And while you’re at it, I’d really appreciate it if you’d help us spread the word about the podcast by leaving a review. And then please share the podcast on social media so more people can hear about this great content. Again, thanks so much for joining me today. Hope you were blessed and encouraged. Read more

photo is by Tyson Housman Originating from vintage video clips, Helia Chitsazan (b. 1995, Tehran, Iran) invokes a visualblur and static of old camera films through her painting. Chitsazan explores a constant and universally ambiguous feeling of absence and loss. To her, art is a language to hold emotions and complications that she experienced growing up in Iran's specific cultural and social circumstances. Chitsazan speaks on the manifestation of her practice, “...growing up in a society with different levels of verbal oppression has made me interested in communicating and expressing myself through various other ways but not talking and art is one of them.” Chitsazan was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Tehran University of Art and recently received an MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Recently, Chitsazan was included in a group exhibition, Interest in Humanity: Portraits of Yesterday and Today at Fou Gallery (New York, 2023) alongside Andy Warhol and Joan Miró. Her overall practice includes both painting and installation. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Helia Chitsazan, Three Helias, 2023 Oil on canvas 28 x 28 in 71.1 x 71.1 cm Helia Chitsazan, After midnight 2022 Oil on Canvas 53 x 56 inches Helia Chitsazan, Please take a seat, 2023 Oil on canvas 50 x 56 in 127 x 142.2 cm

Welcome to this edition of the NCRI Women's Committee podcast. Every year, December 7 marks the Day of Students in Iran. On December 7, 1953, three students were killed by military forces on the campus of Tehran University's College of Engineering. Since then, this day has been known as Students' Day in Iran, honoring the struggles of Iranian university students.Iranian universities have long served as hubs of knowledge. Alongside knowledge, there emerges a deep longing for freedom. Consequently, many leaders of opposition movements in Iran have risen from universities, drawing from the most informed sectors of Iranian intellectuals.Today, we explore the pivotal role of female students within universities and their involvement in the 2022-2023 uprising in Iran.***It's fitting to remember dozens of young women who paid the ultimate price during the 2022 protests. Let's remember Donya Farhadi, a 22-year-old student of Architecture at Azad University of Ahvaz, in the southwest Khuzestan province. Donya had been missing since December 7 after she had an argument with Basij militia members on the campus that day. Her body was found on the 15th of December on the banks of Karun River in Ahvaz. Her chest had been pierced by three bullets. However, the regime initially claimed that she had jumped down from the Karun bridge and committed suicide.We also had the case of Nasrin Qaderi from Marivan, Kurdistan. She was 38 years old and a student of Ph.D. in philosophy. Security forces hit her on the head during a protest in Tehran on the 4th of November. She slipped into a coma and died the next day in a hospital. Again, the state media claimed that she had died due to a chronic disease. There was also Negin Abdolmaleki who was only 21. She came from Qorveh, Kurdistan, but studied medical engineering at the Industrial University of Hamedan. She was repeatedly hit on the head by batons during a protest on October 11 in the city. She was severely injured. When she returned to the dormitory, she died due to severe bleeding. The authorities claimed that she had been intoxicated by expired canned fish!!Let us also remember Behnaz Afshari, a 23-year-old woman from Pakdasht, in Tehran Province. She left home on the 26th of October to participate in protests in Tehran but never returned home. Her body was found after five days in forensics medicine.  Episode: Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908986

Classically trained pianist, born and raised in Tehran, Iran, currently based in Toronto. Having started her piano studies at 9, Paria developed a passion for music. She completed her diploma after 6 years of academic music education and later received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Tehran University. Numerous Musicians and Pianists have trained her in Classical, Jazz, and Contemporary styles of music. She has also gained various experiences in different professions in the music industry after completing her education in Arts Management, in Toronto. Paria is passionate about Classical music pedagogy, specifically music education for students with special needs. She has worked with Psychotherapists and Music Therapists to further her experience in that field. @user-514395114

3CR Breakfast with Grace, Sunehra, Patrick and Claudia AOC// Headlines// 7.07am Grace speaks with Kay Shields, member of the No 3 Tulla Runway Coalition discussing about the impact of the proposed third runway on communities experiencing poverty.  7.27am Patrick will be speaking all things kangaroos with UNSW PhD Candidate Sydney Nora Campbell from the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES).  You can read Nora's article at https://theconversation.com/the-social-lives-of-kangaroos-are-more-complex-than-we-thought-213770 7.48am Claudia speaks to Kamran Motamedi, an Iranian researcher living in Naarm, speaks to us about the Women Life Freedom movement in Iran. While he says the movement is indeed remarkable, Kamran illuminates the way protest has been used as a form of resistance in Iran's history with beginnings well before Mahsa Amini's death. Neither is protest confined to fighting women's issues. Kamran says Iranian society is diverse and not all sectors have responded equally to State oppression.  This segment is the first part of an extended interview about Iran's political landscape. Part Two to be broadcast next week on 3CR Wednesday Breakfast. CORRECTION: Our broadcast wrongly announced the song following the segment as being performed by students of the Tehran University of Art. The song broadcast was a Farsi version of the song el pueblo performed by a Marxist group in 1979. The music soundbed for the interview was the version performed by students of the Tehran University of Art in 2022. Our apologies for the error. 8.08am Claudia speaks with Associate Professor Jeanine Leane, a Wiradjuri writer, teacher and academic from southwest New South Wales who is currently a Writer-In-Residence at the University of Melbourne. She is a supporter of a Voice to Parliament and will join us to talk about respect, truth and messaging in the upcoming Referendum.  You can read Associate Professor Leane's recent article at Overland/2023/09/the-ballot-box-does-not-translate-ideology/ Music el pueblo (Farsi language) performed by a Marxist group in 1979You're Looking at Me – Colin HayThe Lost Song – The Cat Empire      

Saeid Golkar has been writing and teaching about Iranian politics for the last decade since he was forced to leave the country. A 2009 alumnus of CDDRL's Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program, Saeid is an expert on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and their Basij auxiliaries. Last month he joined Francis Fukuyama to discuss the nature and implications of the anti-regime protests that have rocked Iran since the killing of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.Saeid Golkar is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science & Public Service at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Previously an adjunct professor at Northwestern University's Middle East and North African Studies Program and a visiting scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Studies, he was also a  postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University's Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. Golkar was a lecturer from 2004 to 2009 in the Department of Social Sciences at Azad University, Iran, where he taught undergraduate courses on the political sociology of Iran and the sociology of war and military forces.Golkar received a PhD from the Department of Political Science at Tehran University in June 2008. His recent work can be found in publications such as Middle East Journal; Armed Forces & Society; Politics, Religion & Ideology; and Middle East Policy. Captive Society, his book on the Basij paramilitary force and the securitization of Iranian society, was copublished by Columbia University Press and Woodrow Wilson Center Press in June 2015.

Iran has been gripped by demonstrations and violent crackdowns sparked by the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini. But is Iran's government listening? DW's Conflict Zone spoke to Mohammad Marandi, professor at Tehran University.

From far-flung villages to the steps of Tehran University in the capital of Iran, women are leading men. They are at the front of protests and rally the crowds by burning their mandatory hijabs, cutting their hair and dancing in public. This thing started with story of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old student, who died on September 16th after morality police beat her, apparently for wearing a loose hijab. But their grievances are fed by four decades of religious structures that have fallen heaviest on women But this time. What Women Want? Tune In! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September has sparked a wave of protest across the country. She was arrested for 'not properly' wearing her headscarf according to Iran's morality police. Schoolgirls in Iran have been waving their headscarves in the air and chanting against the clerical authorities in an unprecedented show of support for the protests engulfing the country. Today's Mishal Husain spoke to Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and activist, and Seyed Mohammad Marandi Professor of American Studies at Tehran University, with explanation and analysis from Parham Ghobadi, BBC Persian reporter, and Jeremy Bowen, BBC International editor. (Image: Activist holds a poster depicting deceased Mahsa Amini,Credit: WAEL HAMZEH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Enjoy this week's episode of EUROFILE with our very own Monique Camarra and her co-host Scott Lucas! Mo and Scott are joined by OLGA TOKARIUK & ALEXANDER KHARA on the ground in Ukraine. Subscribe to EuroFile on Mo's substack: https://camarra.substack.com/  SCOTT LUCAS is an Adjunct Professor with the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. A specialist in US and British foreign policy, Scott has written and edited 11 books and more than 70 major articles. He has been the Editor of the Journal of American Studies, an Adjunct Professor at Tehran University, and a member of the Executive Board of the Center for American Studies and Research at American University Beirut.  https://eaworldview.com/ OLGA TOKARIUK is a Non-resident Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and an independent journalist and researcher based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her professional interests include Ukrainian politics, international affairs, and the study of disinformation and its impact on democracies worldwide, including her research and work done here in Italy and across Europe. Olga also regularly appears on international media outlets. https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk  ALEXANDER KHARA is a diplomat, foreign policy and security expert, Director of the Department of International Multinational Relations at the “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Foundation (Kyiv, Ukraine), Centre for Defense Strategies Ukraine, Deputy Chair of the Black Sea Institute, and Advisor to the Minister of Defense. https://twitter.com/alexanderkhara  Kremlin File Season 3 returns mid-September! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever paid attention to my intro and outro music for this podcast? Well, this episode's guest is the composer of this magical piece. He is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, music producer, and entrepreneur who has been active in Iran and outside (internationally) for numerous years. His name is Rouzbeh Esfandarmaz. Rouzbeh Esfandarmaz holds a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from The Tehran University of Art. Musically, he has a wide range of work experience, as he has successfully led a fusion band in Iran (which had top-charting songs) and has composed music for both feature and short films. He has composed and performed in theatrical projects around the world, and was a member of the Tehran Symphonic Orchestra. Furthermore, he is a continual advocate for Iran's folk music. So what are you waiting for? Hit the subscription button, listen to this story and let's get inspired every other Wednesday.    All the links to contact Rouzbeh: https://zez.am/rouzbeh_esfand  Rouzbeh's Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/rouzbeh-esfandarmaz   

Negar Mortazavi discussed Iran nuclear negotiations discussion on The Newsmakers with Hassan Ahmadian at Tehran University and Ali Fathollahnejad at the American University of Beirut. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

İran Araştırmaları Merkezi Başkanı Hakkı Uygur; İran hakkında sinema, medya, ulusal imaj, sosyolojik yapı, politika ve daha birçok konuyu içeren görüş ve değerlendirmelerini paylaşıyor. İran ile ilgili merak edilenler ve daha fazlası için bu keyifli sohbeti kaçırmayın. *Doktor Hakkı Uygur, İran Araştırmaları Merkezi Direktörü. Lisans öğrenimini Kazvin'deki İmam Humeyni Üniversitesinde, yüksek lisans öğrenimini ise Tahran Üniversitesinde İslam Kültür ve Medeniyeti Tarihi Bölümünde tamamladı. 2010-2014 yılları arasında merkezi Tahran'da bulunan İslam İşbirliği Teşkilatı'na Üye Ülkeler Parlamentolar Birliği'nde İdare ve Protokol Amirliği görevini yürüttü. 2015-2016 yılları arasında TRT World'te çalıştı. President of the Centre for Iranian Studies Hakkı Uygur shares his views and evaluations on Iran, in the fields of cinema, media, national image, sociological structure, politics, and a variety of other topics. Don't miss out on this lively discussion about Iran and other topics. *Hakkı Uygur (PhD) is the President of the Centre for Iranian Studies. He completed his bachelor's degree at Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin and later, his master's degree in the History of Islamic Culture and Civilisation Department at Tehran University. From 2010 until 2014, he worked as the Director of Administration and Protocol in the Parliamentary Union of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Member States, based in Tehran. From 2015 to 2016, he worked for TRT World.

Chili peppers for a healthy gut: Spicy chemical may inhibit gut tumors University of California, San Diego   April 14, 2022 Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that dietary capsaicin -- the active ingredient in chili peppers -- produces chronic activation of a receptor on cells lining the intestines of mice, triggering a reaction that ultimately reduces the risk of colorectal tumors. The receptor or ion channel, called TRPV1, was originally discovered in sensory neurons, where it acts as a sentinel for heat, acidity and spicy chemicals in the environment. "These are all potentially harmful stimuli to cells," said Eyal Raz, MD, senior author of the study. "Thus, TRPV1 was quickly described as a molecular 'pain receptor.' But Raz and colleagues have found that TPRV1 is also expressed by epithelial cells of the intestines, where it is activated by epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR. EGFR is an important driver of cell proliferation in the intestines, whose epithelial lining is replaced approximately every four to six days. The scientists discovered that TRPV1, once activated by the EGFR, initiates a direct negative feedback on the EGFR, dampening the latter to reduce the risk of unwanted growth and intestinal tumor development. They found that mice genetically modified to be TRPV1-deficient suffered higher-than-normal rates of intestinal tumor growths. The researchers fed capsaicin to mice genetically prone to developing multiple tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. The treatment resulted in a reduced tumor burden and extended the lifespans of the mice by more than 30 percent.   (NEXT)   How Tart Cherries Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative Stress University of Michigan,  April 15, 2022 Michigan researchers had previously shown that a cherry-enriched diet not only reduced overall body inflammation, but also reduced inflammation at key sites (belly fat, heart) known to affect heart disease risk in the obese. This study offers further promise that foods rich in antioxidants, such as cherries, could potentially reduce inflammation and have the potential to lower disease risk. Two daily doses of the tart cherry concentrate was associated with significantly lower levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), compared to placebo, according to findings published in Nutrients. "This is the first study to investigate the impact of Montmorency cherries on systemic inflammatory and oxidative stress induced by a series of metabolically challenging cycling bouts.   (NEXT)   Water outperforms sports drinks for young athletes Penn State University, April 14, 2022 Most youngsters don't exert themselves at an intensity or duration that requires the extra sugar and salt contained in sports drinks. Sports drinks can replenish some of what you lost during exercise, but you really need to be exercising for more than 45 minutes to an hour before you would consider that. Many of our kids are not doing enough to warrant it. Energy drinks that contain caffeine or other stimulants are also ill-advised for children, the physicians said. These beverages can boost blood pressure, cause heart palpitations and heart rhythm disorders, headaches and upset stomach. Coaches and parents should provide water to make sure children are properly hydrated during exercise, the doctors said.   (NEXT)   Ginger Found to Reduce Premenstrual Pain and Mood Symptoms Tehran University of Medical Sciences, April 17, 2022 New research has confirmed other findings that ginger root (Zingiber officinale) can relieve premenstrual pain and associated symptoms, without some of the side effects associated with NSAIDs. Medical doctors from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran studied 70 female students between 18 and 35 years old in a three-month long double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The women had regular menstruation cycles and were not taking medications, but they each had at least five symptoms of PMS during their normal cycles. Both groups' PMS symptom severity scores were calculated before and after each of the three months. The researchers found that while both groups averaged between 106 and 110 points on the PMS severity testing at the beginning of the study, the ginger group scored significantly lower on all PMS symptoms at the end of each month. After one month, the ginger group's scores averaged 51, while the placebo group averaged 105.7. After three months, the ginger group's scores averaged 49 while the placebo group averaged 107. After the third month, the ginger group's scores average 47 while the placebo group averaged 106.   (SUPERFOODS)   Oranges: The orange is a vitamin and mineral-packed treasure chest of a fruit, rich in vitamins A, B and C, potassium, and calcium, as well as being an excellent source of fiber. One phytonutrient in oranges that boosts it into the super food category is the flavonoid hesperidin. This biochemical works to support healthy blood vessels and reduces cholesterol. What has been established so far overlooks what the public considers the orange's defining health trait, it being stocked with vitamin C, an important antioxidant that limits free radicals while also building the immune system. Vitamin C's healing properties are well known and have been repeatedly scientifically validated. These include the lessening of arterial plaque as well as protecting from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Crohn's diseases, arthritis, and diabetes.

Manuka honey contains natural antiviral compounds that fight influenza Nagasaki University (Japan) New research published in the journal Archives of Medical Researchshows that manuka honey is a powerful natural remedy against influenza and other associated diseases – including the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). Entitled, “Anti-influenza Viral Effects of Honey In Vitro: Potent High Activity of Manuka Honey,” the study looked at the commonly researched H1N1 influenza strain known as A/WSN/3. Researchers infected MadineDarby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with the virus before exposing them to numerous types of honey. (NEXT) Study Suggests Ultrasound Stimulation May Be An Effective Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, February 1, 2022 Researchers from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology propose ultrasound stimulation as an effective therapy for Alzheimer's disease in a new study. Synchronizing one's brainwaves to ultrasound pulses could reduce the accumulation of abnormal proteins characteristic of the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Now, scientists from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology demonstrate reduced protein accumulation in the brain by synchronizing brain waves to external ultrasound pulses at gamma frequency, opening doors to a non-invasive therapy. (NEXT) More spice could help seniors avoid salt Washington State University, February 3, 2022 Add a little spicy seasoning to a low sodium meal, and adults over the age of 60 may have a harder time noticing a lack of salt, according to a new study in the journal Food Quality and Preference. Led by Carolyn Ross, a professor of Food Sciences at Washington State University, the study tested saltiness perception in older adults using white sauce formulations with varying amounts of salt and different spices and seasonings added. (NEXT) Saffron a safer treatment for ADHD, just as effective as Ritalin, says study Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Iran) Fortunately, recent studies show that there may be a safe, all-natural alternative to Ritalin: saffron. In a study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, researchers from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in Iran found that saffron is just as effective as Ritalin at treating ADHD. Corresponding author Shahin Akhondzadeh of the Psychiatric Research Center at TUMS' Roozbeh Hospital said that his team has been studying the psychotropic effects of saffron since the early 2000s and found that the herb has antidepressant effects. (VIDEOS) (READING) kristen meghan New Rule: Apply Precision to the Pandemic | Real Time (HBO) George Carlin told us about the Corona panic years ago Virginia mom Merianne Jensen call out the hypocrisy Why I'm leaving the cult of wokeness Africa Brooke If there's one thing I'm NOT afraid of, it's being ‘cancelled'. If being cancelled means me living in integrity as a human being who thinks for themselves, CANCEL ME TODAY! I repeat; I am not afraid.What I'm truly afraid of is existing in a world that forces me to submit to an ideology without question, otherwise I'm to be shamed (or pressured to shame myself) and cast out of the community. A world that tells me that because I inhabit a black body; I will forever be oppressed and at the mercy of some omnipresent monster called ‘whiteness'. That because of the colour of my skin; I am a victim of an inherently racist system by default – and me rejecting the narrative of oppression means that I am in fact, in denial. How empowering! *You know, as someone that comes from Zimbabwe, a country where the general population is truly oppressed, it perplexes me that oppression is now being worn as an identity piece in most parts of the West, especially by those who claim to be ‘progressive'* What I'm truly afraid of is existing in a world that forces me to consider the colour of my skin and my gender (and that of others) at every fucking turn, instead of living by Martin Luther King's teachings and prioritising the content of mine and other people's character. I dread the prospect of a world where context, nuance, critical thinking, meritocracy, mathematics, science, and rationality are considered tools of ‘white supremacy', and the rule is that you're not allowed to question or argue this senseless statement – especially if you're white. A world that is conditioning you and I to believe that we will always be trapped in some weird hierarchy because of our race, our genitals, our physical abilities, our neurodiversity, our sexuality, and our politics. And that if we do not agree on every single thing, it's a sign that we are interacting with an enemy – or at the very least, someone to be wildly suspicious and judgmental of…instead of another complex human being worthy of being seen and heard. I wish this world I'm speaking of was just a figment of my imagination, but we are already inside it. Our suitcases have been unpacked here for quite some time. This absolutist, authoritarian world is being fiercely crafted under the guise of ‘social justice', and I want no parts in this. I AM OUT. As someone that, politically speaking, leans left on most things (although I'm neither left or right) – the current state of affairs and this push for obedience at all costs is NOT what I signed up for. I never signed up to be hit over the head with disempowering narratives that tell me that I need to refer to myself as a ‘person of colour' (how is this different being called a ‘coloured' person?), a minority, a marginalised person, and BAME (UK version of BIPOC). I cannot stand any of these terms. Please, if we ever need to address my racial identity, which we really don't need to do as often as you might think…BLACK works just fine, it's not a dirty word. And remember; it's okay if the language I mentioned before is affirming for you, we are allowed to disagree – but for ME, it does nothing but give me false reminders of my supposed oppression…which rubs me the wrong way entirely because I AM NOT OPPRESSED. I think it's key that we begin to accept that black people don't all share a singular experience, nor do we share the same brain. Shocking, I know. ‘We are not a monolith' has become a common statement within communities that identify as marginalised, and while I wholeheartedly agree, we're definitely not a monolith… I've noticed that despite this being a popular mantra – when someone ‘steps out of line' or dares to think differently…it's a different story. You will often have the pleasure of being told that you are in denial and have some kind of internalised disorder; ‘internalised racism', ‘internalised anti-blackness', ‘internalised misogyny', ‘internalised sexism', ‘internalised homophobia', ‘internalised transphobia', ‘internalised white supremacy'… Meaning NOTHING can be questioned. Fun. Culty. Vibes. Honestly, I want better for us because it's all getting a bit much in these social justice/woke spaces, and it scares me to know that it's become controversial to address any concerns or express a differing viewpoint. It's becoming dangerous to address reality. You either agree and comply, or you shut up. I'm so happy that these are conversations that are now happening with many black people in my life, including my family who spend very little time online, are willing to have healthy debates, and couldn't give a crap about identity politics. These are the people who have really helped me free myself from the dogmatic thinking. It's necessary for me to mention that I'm having these conversations with black people because some individuals think that it's only white people who are pushing back against wokeism, and it's far from the truth. What is worrying though is how many more of us feel afraid to talk to our own friends, our partners, our spouses, our colleagues, our family – of fear of being branded as ‘wrong-thinkers'. How are we supposed to understand each other if we're living in constant fear of saying the ‘wrong' thing? It's even harder if you're white because there's usually someone just waiting to call you racist. And according to the woke manual, if you're white you're supposed to just accept that label. If you do question it or defend yourself, it's taken as confirmation that you ARE in fact a white supremacist. If you DARE express any fears or signs of being rightfully upset, you'll be accused of ‘centering your white feelings', and of exuding ‘white guilt' or ‘white fragility'. With all disrespect, I don't understand the purpose of these cultish, degrading, racist terms. How are they helping us move forward? Is this true social justice? How is this helping the black community? How is this shaping a world where you and I aren't judged by the colour of our skin? Are we really trying to eradicate racism with racism? The LITERAL definition of racism is “prejudiced against or antagonistic towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group”. And yet some people have suddenly decided that white people cannot experience racism, nor are they permitted to dispute this insane claim. This then leads to most white people choosing to not say anything at all (which creates resentment because that's the nature of suppression & self-censorship), and some choose to comply and pretend they are on board with anything and everything (whilst also secretly resenting that they can't truly express their thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc). To me all of this confirms that when it comes to ‘wokeness', critical social justice, and the beast that is cancel culture, you will never win. You will NEVER get it right. If you choose to stand back, ‘educate yourself' privately and quietly; you'll be accused of being violent via your silence… And if you speak out, ask questions, or express valid confusion from the dehumanising generalisations and character assassinations; you'll be denounced for centering your ‘white feelings'. This sounds like psychological warfare to me. I can't be the only one that also finds this language eerie. This is cult behaviour! And for saying the above I'm sure someone out there will lovingly label me a ‘white apologist'… This is where we're at people. And like I said at the beginning, when it comes to this – I am unafraid. This is my open letter detailing some of the things that have led me to this point, because if there's anything that this past year has taught me; it's that my wellbeing and that of those around me (including the collective), is infinitely more important than any temporary discomfort that might come from me doing what I know to be right. I also want to let you know that I'm not writing this to convince you of anything, your agreement is welcome but it's not a requirement. I'm not writing this from a place of animosity or anger. I'm not writing this on behalf of any individual, group, movement, organisation, or community. I am not an activist, a social commentator, a feminist, an academic, or any other label apart from the ones I claim publicly. I am writing this to free myself. I am writing this for myself. And for you if you need it. Just like you; I am entitled to my own opinions, I have every right to question things that don't feel aligned with my values, morals, ethics, and beliefs. I have every right to push back if I recognise that I'm being forced to comply with ideologies and practices that don't make sense to me (which is how I've felt this past year). I don't want to live my life in a fearful and paranoid state. I don't want to spend my life thinking that everything that doesn't go my way is because of my skin colour, I don't want to spend the rest of my life unable to have insightful conversations with those that think differently to me…I really don't. I'm tired of hearing that because I'm black I should feel victimised. That because I'm black I should agree with everything that black people do and say (surely NO ONE should have this expected of them). None of these narrow definitions of human existence or blackness help me. None of it helps my community. It's keeping us small. It's keeping us stuck, afraid, and defensive. I reject the idea that I am a victim. I reject the idea that I am oppressed. I reject the idea that white people only exist to oppress and should be reminding me of their privilege every 2 seconds, while simultaneously telling me that they are above me. How is this helpful!? If anything, it's deeply offensive and condescending. There's no question about it; being black is a beautiful part of who I am, but it's not all I am – not even close. My identity (race, gender, sexuality, body parts) will never be more important than my humanity, my spirit, and my wholeness. EVER. Because of this, I fervently reject the idea that all white people are racist and must be shamed into confessing their sins and admitting complicity in all of their ancestors indiscretions…simply because of the colour of their skin. I reject this bullshit idea that every white person walking this planet is ‘inherently racist'. Do we even know what we're saying? or are we just regurgitating/parroting things, and now it's gotten out of control. I honestly struggle to see how shaming others (or shaming yourself) for having white skin is an essential part of fuelling true social change. Surely this is regressive? It also sounds a little like the very thing we've spent years moving away from… The truth of the matter is that my own ancestors have participated in some FUCKERY and I would not want to live the rest of my life being punished for their actions. A lot of what I'm seeing in the woke/critical social justice spaces is not about creating a better world, it seems to be about punishment and revenge. And it's doing nothing but trampling on the work true Activists are doing and have been doing for centuries! I do have to take a moment to acknowledge those who are doing fantastic work and making a long-lasting impact in their communities, instead of perpetuating fear and manipulating people's emotions by convincing them they will always be victims. I'm done with the insidious brainwashing of wokeness. I'm committed to understanding human behaviour (this is also at the core of what I do professionally), I'm committed to compassion and kindness without excusing that which must be acknowledged. I'm well aware of the systems we live under. I know what's happening in the world. I've lived it. I acknowledge reality, but I refuse to be a slave to a disempowering narrative that rarely focuses on actual solutions. I never want to forget that you can still be compassionate with those you don't agree with. And this way of thinking is what I CHOOSE because it makes my time on planet earth better, you don't have to take it on if it doesn't work for you. I want to live a life that isn't centred around identity politics and all that comes with it, so much more in my life takes priority. I want to remain open to new ideas, perspectives, and thoughts – so that I can grow, course correct where necessary, and make a genuine impact on a local and global level. I want to give people the benefit of the doubt and continue using discernment instead of making sweeping harmful (often lazy) assumptions based on the colour of people's skin or their gender. I refuse to take on the black or white thinking because I've seen and experienced the grave harm that does. As I move into this next season of my life, I'm more interested in the grey area – where we all exist. The nail in the coffin for me was all the events that took place last Summer. Last Summer in the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, I noticed a shadowy part of me emerging and although I didn't judge it, I wasn't comfortable with what was coming up. All the critical social justice dogma I'd been consciously and unconsciously imbibing over the past 2 years began taking a HUGE toll on my mental health, and I hadn't even realised that I wasn't functioning as a full human being – until it reached it's peak. The unpleasant internal experience I had is what led me where I am now, which is why I'm a firm believer that welcoming discomfort in is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself. On social media at that time I was DEEP is various social justice echo chambers that shared more than enough infographics, stories, feed posts, IG LIVES, to make my fight or flight response go nuts. I was in constant fight mode, and wasn't aware. I was being indoctrinated; this means “to teach a person or a group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically”. I found myself subconsciously looking for things that would piss me off, which is a symptom of wokeness that seems to show up in many people – hundreds of you have shared your own experiences with me in the past month alone and the similarities in our stories are alarming. Before reacting to things, I did ZERO in-depth research of my own. It's almost as if facts were an unwelcome guest. Anything that didn't align with the beliefs I held about race, sex, gender, politics, etc – I rejected (this was all unconscious). I didn't question the sources I was getting information from, it was all taken as objective truth. It was ALL reactionary, I was on autopilot. I didn't realise I had many people on pedestals that they shouldn't have been on in the first place (no fault of their own, I put them there), I was operating purely based on emotions and feelings that gave my nervous system the signal that I was under threat. And that's the energy I acted and spoke from. I rashly unfollowed some people on my social media who I'd decided should have ‘spoken up' in support of Black Lives Matter (an organisationI have now done my own extensive research on, but that's a whole other story) – simply because (based on my egos time frame) they weren't responding as and when they ‘should' have. I'm sure I re-shared something about ‘white silence' being ‘violence' (an oversimplified and unfair statement I no longer agree with, and you can watch the lengthy live I did with Rukiat where I go into some of this). I also publicly shamed an unsuspecting man who had messaged me to question me about my conduct (I immediately assumed he was white…he was mixed race). And even though his approach was not a welcome one, he wasn't unkind to me – which is why I'm not proud of the unkind way in which I reacted…not responded, reacted. What frightened me was the applause I got from over 4,000 people when I called out this man in an Instagram post – I didn't say anything wild, but I did deconstruct his direct message publicly with the intention to embarrass him, not to resolve anything – to embarrass. I was honestly shocked by how many people used the environment I had created to exercise pack mentality, and to casually shame and scold a stranger – of which I take responsibility for as the person that created that environment. I now know that publicly shaming someone is a common tactic used in most woke spaces and echo chambers on social media, and it's so normalised. This is the kind of thing that quickly leads to bullying, doxing, stalking, and harassment…and sometimes ends in suicide. After seeing the responses applauding me, I removed the post and started asking myself some questions; who am I doing this for? why did my interaction with this man need to be publicised? what is really the root of the anger I feel? is this a performance on my behalf? what research have I done to support the ideology I'm leading with? are there any alternative sources that can give me more information or provide clarity on the situation I'm reacting to? do I really believe this or am I regurgitating something I read/heard/saw somewhere? I'm of the thinking that there is such a thing as justified anger, and I believe that all emotions and modes of expressions have their place – but I know myself well enough to know that the way I handled that particular situation was not necessary. This incident led me start evaluating my own behaviour and doing more research around the cancel culture phenomenon. And it's just one recent example of how some of this stuff has showed up in my life over the past 2 years. SO, why am I calling ‘WOKENESS' a cult? Well, first lets start by defining what the term woke even means. It's a term that been around for a very long time but has (in my eyes) lost all of it's credibility and meaning in recent years. Woke: a term embedded in US Black History and social justice which originally meant being aware, well-informed, and up to date with what was happening within the community. “Stay woke became a watch word in parts of the black community for those who considered themselves self-aware, questioning the dominant paradigm, and striving for something better” – and these are the sentiments I will always stand for, however… This is NOT how it's playing out these days, and you can read this interesting article to get a timeline of how it's evolved over the years, and I'll continue sharing with you the specific pockets of ‘wokeness' and social justice that I have divorced myself from. I can no longer be an active participant in any culture or movement that encourages groupthink, outrage on demand, fear and violence, revamped segregation, fabricating history, cancellations masked as accountability, self-centredness… normalisation of racism towards white people, the disempowerment of black people masked as social justice, the constant redefining of existing language, ignoring self-responsibility, constant pathologizing, oppressed vs oppressor mentality, and the pressure to conform and comply… It's exhausting. And honestly, I have better things to do with my time. Not to mention, it's killing us. I also find it very telling that people who are married to these woke spaces will immediately assume that those that are requesting for more compassion, understanding, room for discussion, removal of censorship – only want these things so they can have free reign to be bigots, sexist, ‘fascists', racists, homophobes, etc. As a free-thinking black woman who most definitely wants more compassion, understanding, healthy discussion, empathy, removal of censorship, more tolerance and acceptance when it matters most…I can guarantee you that my final goal isn't so I can be a racist sexist fascist alt-righter extremist. LOL. And if you can understand this, what makes someone who happens to be white any less sincere if they want the exact same thing as me? Which many people do! I hope you can sort of see just how oversimplified and flawed this madness is. I often laugh about the ridiculous nature of it all, but what's concerning is that it's spreading like wildfire, it's causing lasting harm, and it's distracting us from the very real work that needs to be done to tackle injustice and unite us as human beings. I will stick to my guns by saying that the turn we're taking because of critical social justice and this current strain of branded monetised wokeness – is not going to take us to the promised land (SPOILER: there is no utopia, I'm sorry to break it to you). As someone who will never stop advocating for human rights (fairness, equality, access to resources, respect, independence – for ALL, not just for people who share my skin tone and gender), I have come to realise that I do not need to be part of any groups or wear any labels to make a positive contribution to this planet of ours. This is also why I do not identify as a feminist. Just like everything else I've spoken about so far; the current wave of commodified feminism is so far removed from my core values; honesty, respect, interconnection, equality, individuality etc. There's a lot of self-righteousness, virtue signalling, self-centeredness, and a lack of empathy in most of what I see being presented today as feminism – and again; it seems to be about revenge, superiority, and personal branding. It's also not uncommon to be made to feel unintelligent, wrong, and inferior in a lot of these supposedly ‘safe spaces' – simply because you don't identify with the label or agree with all the view points of the group. IT'S TIRING, and I wish more people knew that you can still believe in and advocate for equality and fairness without wearing a label like a badge of honour. My mission isn't to be superior to anyone, nor do I want to see the demise of any gender. I believe that we should all have equal rights and opportunities, and I'm also realistic about the differences we have as human beings – I celebrate those differences. In a world obsessed with labels and titles, I would rather let my values and actions speak for themselves. These are the times when I am incredibly grateful for the upbringing I've had, both in Zimbabwe and here in the UK. I'm grateful that I was raised to think for myself, and that's what I'll continue to do. I was raised to not judge people based on the colour of their skin, gender, class etc – no matter what. And that's what I'll continue to do. YES, I could choose to carry animosity in my heart based on the pain my ancestors experienced and the injustice still taking place in many different parts of the world – but what does that do for me, my mental state, my community, and those I interact with in the present day? I'd rather acknowledge reality, and focus on solutions. I wasn't really raised to ask many questions, but in adulthood asking powerful questions (even when they are simple) is something that has become a non-negotiable – and that's what I will continue to do. I will continue to trust myself and question things. I will do my own research before responding purely based on emotion. I will keep myself open to having challenging conversations if I have the capacity to do so, and if I don't have the capacity to engage, I will still not shut anyone down – unless absolutely necessary. My biggest realisation has been that most of these people that pose as Social Justice Warriors, Activists, Agents of Change etc – don't actually want to improve and repair society. They don't want a better world. For some the goal is to make things worse. A lot of the people I know in these spaces have brands, careers, and management teams from this. Their livelihood depends on them playing this role, which often means that they will continue to find everything wrong with society instead of making consistent efforts to unite and truly empower. There's a sinister side many people aren't comfortable speaking about because of the potential backlash, and it's unfair to those of us who end up being sucked into these echo chambers and movements through the promise of community and betterment. Most of us just want to help. We want to see change! In our personal lives, and in the world we exist in. This leaves us vulnerable to questionable ‘leaders', influencers, and organisations who set themselves up so that you cannot question their practices or agenda. The similarities of wokeness/critical social justice to fundamentalist religion (something I'm VERY familiar with) is why I choose to call it a cult, the framework and tactics are eerily similar… It usually goes a little like this; find/attract a vulnerable person, make them feel like they belong so they can trust you, tell them exactly what they want to hear, and once they become loyal – it is easier to sell them outlandish concepts and to make them ‘repent' for ‘sins' they have supposedly committed… the person then regresses and begins to rely on their ‘leader' or the ideology to shape their thoughts and their world view. They are introduced to an enemy and are encouraged to cut themselves off from the outside world and anyone else who doesn't agree with or follow the ideology (us vs them mentality). Once cut off from everyone, the individual is more dependent on the leader or the group, and then it becomes increasingly difficult to leave. Just like an abusive relationship! This is exactly what I'm seeing in the woke/feminist/critical social justice spaces. Despite it all, the individual is often unaware of what's really happening and will continue to believe that they are acting on their own accord. The prison walls remain invisible. But it's possible to break out! It's why I've decided to speak out. And if you don't agree with what I'm sharing, and this has not been your experience – that's okay. I will always respect your right to own your experiences and perspectives. I ask that you do the same for me. We live different lives, we have different views. It's normal. What ISN'T normal, is forcing people to comply and bow down to an ideology, simply because YOU think it's the right one. If you resonate with what I've shared in this letter, please know that you are not alone. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to grow. You are allowed to walk away. You are allowed to put your foot down. There is no one way to ‘do the work'. You don't have to pray to a single political idea, movement, or group – nor do you have to agree with EVERYTHING presented to you as the absolute truth. You are not morally inferior or superior to anyone else. And remember that we still have to co-exist on this planet, so expecting everyone you encounter to agree with every belief or view that you hold – is fucking wild, LOL. If you have read this far, I appreciate your time and your attention. Any typos you see, represent the sheer passion flowing through me. I'll stop here because I could go on, there is always more to say. I feel like this letter is just the foundation of the conversations I REALLY want to have so I will likely explore some of the specificities in podcast form and through my newsletter. I'm considering producing and hosting a limited podcast series that specifically talks about these themes. Don't worry, my existing podcastBeyond the Self won't be going anywhere! In the meantime; you can find me on Instagram if we're not already connected. Although my work as a Mindset Coach, Speaker, and Consultant has nothing to do with social justice, cancel culture, wokeness etc – this is something I'll continue to speak about because it directly speaks to 2 of my biggest areas of focus, which in this case are collective self-sabotage and psychological manipulation. I encourage you to break out of any echo chambers (especially on social media) and explore yourself BEYOND your race, your pronouns, your genitals, your sexuality, your physical capabilities, your politics – those things have their place but there is so much more to you. And in fact, when you do go beyond those neatly prescribed boxes, you become more secure within your identity. I urge you to unsubscribe to anyone and anything that is stripping you of your humanity, your agency, and is proving to be detrimental to your mental wellbeing. You deserve better, let's never stop speaking up! Love always, Africa (OTHER NEWS)  Senators Have Re-Introduced the Highly Unpopular EARN IT Bill That Would Scan All Online Messages Electronic Frontier Foundation People don't want outsiders reading their private messages—not their physical mail, not their texts, not their DMs, nothing. It's a clear and obvious point, but one place it doesn't seem to have reached is the U.S. Senate. A group of lawmakers led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have re-introduced the EARN IT Act, an incredibly unpopular bill from 2020 that was dropped in the face of overwhelming opposition. Let's be clear: the new EARN IT Act would pave the way for a massive new surveillance system, run by private companies, that would roll back some of the most important privacy and security features in technology used by people around the globe. It's a framework for private actors to scan every message sent online and report violations to law enforcement. And it might not stop there. The EARN IT Act could ensure that anything hosted online—backups, websites, cloud photos, and more—is scanned.The bill empowers every U.S. state or territory to create sweeping new Internet regulations, by stripping away the critical legal protections for websites and apps that currently prevent such a free-for-all—specifically, Section 230. The states will be allowed to pass whatever type of law they want to hold private companies liable, as long as they somehow relate their new rules to online child abuse. The goal is to get states to pass laws that will punish companies when they deploy end-to-end encryption, or offer other encrypted services. This includes messaging services like WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage, as well as web hosts like Amazon Web Services. We know that EARN IT aims to spread the use of tools to scan against law enforcement databases because the bill's sponsors have said so. In a “Myths and Facts” document distributed by the bill's proponents, it even names the government-approved software that they could mandate . Senators supporting the EARN IT Act say they need new tools to prosecute cases over child sexual abuse material, or CSAM. But the methods proposed by EARN IT take aim at the security and privacy of everything hosted on the Internet. Possessing, viewing, or distributing CSAM is already written into law as an extremely serious crime, with a broad framework of existing laws seeking to eradicate it. Online service providers that have actual knowledge of an apparent or imminent violation of current laws around CSAM are required to make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a government entity which forwards reports to law enforcement agencies. The Senators supporting the bill have said that their mass surveillance plans are somehow magically compatible with end-to-end encryption. That's completely false, no matter whether it's called “client side scanning” or another misleading new phrase. The EARN IT Act doesn't target Big Tech. It targets every individual internet user, treating us all as potential criminals who deserve to have every single message, photograph, and document scanned and checked against a government database. Since direct government surveillance would be blatantly unconstitutional and provoke public outrage, EARN IT uses tech companies—from the largest ones to the very smallest ones—as its tools. The strategy is to get private companies to do the dirty work of mass surveillance. This is the same tactic that the U.S. government used last year, when law enforcement agencies tried to convince Apple to subvert its own encryption and scan users' photos for them.  It's the same strategy that U.K. law enforcement is using to convince the British public to give up its privacy, having spent public money on a laughable publicity campaign that demonizes companies that use encryption. (NEXT) Why Are Myocarditis Rates Surging in Europe? New groundbreaking data: Myocarditis rates up 30-75 percent nationally Epoch Times, February 1, 2022 I've been trying to find national rates of myocarditis in Canada or the United States for several weeks but haven't been able to find a reliable dataset. However, I came across two countries that appear to be closely tracking this issue: Germany and France. The results are damning. First, take a look at Germany: Since vaccines were widely distributed last year, myocarditis rates surged more than 75 percent. Maybe Germany is just an outlier and I'm senselessly speculating. Look at France: In 2021, myocarditis cases rose 31 percent—the highest in several years. They only rose in 2021, the year vaccines were rolled out to the public. It's impossible to prove with 100 percent certainty, but this data strongly indicates that mass vaccination in these European nations has led to surging rates of myocarditis (cases are almost certainly concentrated in young men under the age of 40). But among young men, the vaccine-induced myocarditis signal is incontrovertible. And by best available evidence, it occurs at a HIGHER frequency than infection-induced myocarditis in that age/gender demographic. As a robust analysis by Oxford researchers found last month, Pfizer doses 2 & 3 and Moderna doses 1 & 2 are associated with post-vaccine myocarditis rates that exceed the rates of infection-induced myocarditis in men under 40. Myocarditis Is a Non-Serious, Minor Condition? For detractors who think myocarditis is no big deal and most cases are “mild,” consider a TYPICAL case of myocarditis (regardless of the cause): 1) 3-6 months of limited physical activity. No sports or athletic competition. Even carrying heavy textbooks and walking up stairs can be prohibited. 2) Being placed on medications such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors that can have negative side effects. 3) Scars in heart region visible on an MRI scan. 4) Life-long risk of cardiac complications.

“The Creation of Kanoon” - Part 5 of the new Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. What exactly was Kanoon? What is it today? And how did one of the most progressive systems for the cultural education and creativity of kids and teens - anywhere in the world - begin in Iran? The founder and Managing Director, from 1965-1979, of the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults known as Kanoon, Lily Amir-Arjomand, also the former head of the National Library, and an associate professor at Tehran University, joins Jian Ghomeshi from Naples, Florida, to tell the story of the creation of an institution that began as a children's library and grew into a model of integrative creative learning for kids that was a model for the world during the Pahlavi Dynasty, and continues to thrive today.

Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections (in Armenian)A Conversation with Robert MarkarianThe South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional political instability at home.Yet, Iran is hugely influential, and Armenian-Iranian relations have been largely positive in modern times, especially in the post-Soviet era. So how should we view our relations with Iran today, and especially in the past year? And what should we expect in the future?Guest:Robert Markarian, who has degrees in physics and law from Tehran University, and has published several political articles about Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenian and Persian newspapers and political journals such as Alik, Iranian Diplomacy, IRAS (The Institute for Iran-Eurasia Studies), IPSC (International Peace Studies Center) and The California Courier.  His articles in Armenian, Farsi and English are available on robertmarkarian.com. He studies and has presented on the position of the Iranian Government and scientific-research centers on the conflict around Nagorno Karabakh at conferences such as the Pan-Armenian Conference of Political Scientists and International Relations Experts (November, 2012) and more.HostsHovik ManucharyanAsbed BedrossianTranslation from Armenian to English by Martin Adamian.Episode 67 | Recorded: May 28, 2021

Did you know that 1 out of 5 children in the United States ages 6 to 19 are overweight or obese? Dr. Jamie Lawson, a Pediatric Hospitalist, joins Pediatric Resident Ashley Miller to discuss the evaluation and management pediatric obesity. Specifically, they will: Review the key history and physical exam findings associated with obesity. Discuss the initial diagnostic approach to obesity Identify associated co-morbidities of patients with obesity Guide pediatricians on how to initiate appropriate therapy for children who are overweight or obese Advise on strategies to counsel patients and their families Special thanks to Dr. Rebecca Yang and Dr. April Hartman who peer reviewed today's episode.  Free CME Credit Available: https://mcg.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=7596 References: Alizadeh, Zahra, et al. “Obese and Overweight Children and Adolescents: an Algorithmic Clinical Approach.” Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Dec. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025117/.  Barlow, Sarah E. “Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Summary Report.” Pediatrics, vol. 120, no. Supplement 4, 2007, doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2329c.  Cuda, Suzanne E., and Marisa Censani. “Pediatric Obesity Algorithm: A Practical Approach to Obesity Diagnosis and Management.” Frontiers in Pediatrics, vol. 6, 2019, doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00431.  “Defining Childhood Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 July 2018, www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/defining.html.  Flegal, Katherine M, et al. “Characterizing Extreme Values of Body Mass Index–for-Age by Using the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 90, no. 5, 2009, pp. 1314–1320., doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28335.  Gulati, A. K., et al. “Clinical Tracking of Severely Obese Children: A New Growth Chart.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 130, no. 6, 2012, pp. 1136–1140., doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0596.  Lang, Jason E., et al. “Being Overweight or Obese and the Development of Asthma.” Pediatrics, vol. 142, no. 6, 2018, doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2119.  Ludwig, David S. “Epidemic Childhood Obesity: Not Yet the End of the Beginning.” Pediatrics, vol. 141, no. 3, 2018, doi:10.1542/peds.2017-4078.  “Overweight & Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Oct. 2020, www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html.  Pont, Stephen J., et al. “Stigma Experienced by Children and Adolescents With Obesity.” Pediatrics, vol. 140, no. 6, 2017, doi:10.1542/peds.2017-3034.  Puhl, R. M., and M. S. Himmelstein. “Adolescent Preferences for Weight Terminology Used by Health Care Providers.” Pediatric Obesity, vol. 13, no. 9, 2018, pp. 533–540., doi:10.1111/ijpo.12275.  Yanovski, Jack A. “Pediatric Obesity. An Introduction.” Appetite, vol. 93, 2015, pp. 3–12., doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.03.028. 

Recorded on 10/30/2020 at the East Brunswick Public Library. In this multidisciplinary talk conducted virtually, Dr. Kazemi will conduct a comprehensive review of the diagnosis, treatment and management of lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Topics include: Lymphoma and Leukemia: A new era of targeted treatments for lymphoma Using the immune system to fight blood cancers Multiple Myeloma: What is multiple myeloma? How is multiple myeloma treated? New advances in treatment of multiple myeloma Please note, the doctor presenting will not be able to offer personal medical advice to attendees during this program. Dr. M. Hossein Kazemi received his medical degree from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He completed his residency at the Hofstra School of Medicine/Northwell Health System and completed his fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Kazemi is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology.

The Gary Null Show is here to inform you on the best news in health, healing, the environment. Intense light may boost heart health A novel use of intense light therapy may help decrease the tissue damage experienced during heart attacks, reveals new research in mice.  University of Colorado, August 19, 2020 The study, out of the University of Colorado and appearing in the journal Cell Reports, shows that exposing lab mice to intense light for a week improved their outcomes after heart attacks. The research also suggests that this procedure could benefit humans, and the researchers outline the reason why. “We already knew that intense light can protect against heart attacks, but now we have found the mechanism behind it,” says the study's senior author Dr. Tobias Eckle, professor of anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. Boosting specific gene protects heart In the study, the researchers discovered that intense light influences the functions of the PER2gene, which is expressed by a part of the brain that controls circadian rhythms. By boosting this gene through intense light therapy, the researchers discovered that the mice's heart tissue received extra protection when it experienced issues with oxygen, such as during a heart attack. Additionally, this intense light also heightened cardiac adenosine, which is a specialized chemical that helps with blood flow regulation. In concert, both benefits helped protect heart health. Also, when they studied the mice, the researchers found that being able to physically perceive light was vital, as blind mice experienced no benefits from the intense light. Humans had similar benefits The next step was to see if humans could benefit from light therapy. The researchers worked with healthy human volunteers and exposed them to 30 minutes of intense light. On five consecutive mornings, the researchers exposed the participants to 10,000 lumens of light and drew blood several times. The researchers found that PER2 levels increased in response to light therapy in the human participants as it did in the mice. They also reported that the human volunteers saw a decreased level of plasma triglycerides and improved metabolism.  Dr. Eckle explained that light plays an essential part in human health, not only in regulating the circadian rhythm but in cardiovascular health as well. He adds that according to prior studies, more people throughout the U.S. experience heart attacks during the darker months of winter, even in states that traditionally get more sunshine, such as Hawaii and Arizona.   Study: Supplementation with curcumin offers benefits for patients with metabolic syndrome Coventry University (UK) and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Iran), August 19, 2020   A study published in the journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Review found that curcumin supplementation can help increase adiponectin levels. Adiponectin is said to help reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disease. According to researchers from the United Kingdom and Iran, people with metabolic syndrome and metabolic disorders can benefit from taking curcumin supplements regularly. Curcumin is the main active component of turmeric, an herb that offers plenty of health benefits. Increased levels of adiponectin through curcumin supplementation Adiponectin is a hormone produced exclusively by adipocytes, or fat cells. It plays a role in insulin response and has anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, low blood levels of adiponectin are linked to cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidemia — a condition characterized by abnormal levels of lipids in the blood. In the study, the researchers examined the effect of curcumin on blood adiponectin levels. They reviewed six randomized clinical trials on curcumin, in which 652 participants were included. Data analysis revealed that, compared with a placebo, curcumin supplementation significantly raised adiponectin levels. In trials that lasted longer, the researchers observed greater effects on adiponectin. “We were able to confirm the veracity of a number of independent studies, highlighting that curcumin supplementation, particularly when consumed for less than 10 weeks, may significantly increase adiponectin levels, even when controlling for numerous biological and sociological variables,” wrote the researchers. People with metabolic syndrome, in particular, will find curcumin supplementation useful. Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.      Study finds physical activity is beneficial for health, and more intense activity is better Cambridge University, August 18, 2020 Physical activity of any intensity is beneficial for health, but more intense activity has greater benefits, according to a new study published today in Nature Medicine. In the largest study to date of accelerometer-measured physical activity, a team led by researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge analyzed data from more than 96,000 UK Biobank participants. Current physical activity guidelines from the UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults should aim to be active every day, and also that adults should undertake 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity (equivalent to a brisk walk) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity (such as running) every week. Previous research has shown that moderate and vigorous intensity activity confers greater health benefits than light intensity activity, but it has not been clear if this is because it makes a greater contribution to the total amount of physical activity, or if it has additional health benefits beyond this. A challenge facing researchers has been that the low intensity, incidental movement that accumulates in the course of everyday activities is very hard to recall accurately, and consequently difficult to measure using questionnaires. Wearable devices have enabled better detection of this type of movement that makes up the majority of our daily physical activity, but until now have not been used on a large enough scale to determine if more intense activity makes a contribution to health, distinct from increasing total volume.  The researchers used data from 96,476 middle-aged adults in Great Britain to investigate whether activity of moderate intensity or above contributed to a lower risk of death over and above its contribution to total volume of activity. These individuals wore a research-grade activity tracker on their dominant wrist for a week as part of their participation in the UK Biobank study. The researchers used the data on the duration and intensity of movement collected to calculate the total volume of activity, expressed as physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE). The researchers also determined the percentage of that volume that was achieved through moderate and vigorous intensity activity. The UK Biobank participants had an average PAEE of 40 kJ/kg/day, a third of which was from activity of at least moderate intensity, again on average. Owing to the large scale of the study, there was much variation in the underlying intensity contributions to similar volume levels. The researchers examined if physical activity levels were associated with the risk of death in the follow-up period of on average 3.1 years. During this time 732 of the 96, 476 participants died, though the researchers excluded those who died within the first year from their analysis, and took existing conditions such diabetes, heart disease, and cancer into account as these might reduce physical activity. Expending more energy of any intensity was strongly associated with a lower risk of death over the following three years. Participants who accumulated 20 kJ/kg/day through physical activity were a third less likely to die compared to those who accumulated 15 kJ/kg/day, when the proportion from at least moderate intensity activity was 10% in both cases. The additional activity is the equivalent to a 35-minute stroll, with an extra two minutes at a brisker pace. Those who accumulated 30 kJ/kg/day were about half as likely to die in the follow-up period compared to those who accumulated 15 kJ/kg/day, when the proportion from at least moderate intensity activity was 10% in both cases. However, if this volume of 30 kJ/kg/day included 30% from at least moderate intensity activity, then they were only about a quarter as likely to die. The difference between this scenario and the reference of 15 kJ/kg/day and 10% is equivalent to an hour's stroll plus 35 minutes at a brisker pace. Dr. Tessa Strain of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, and lead author on the paper, said: "Our results show that doing more activity of any intensity is beneficial, but that expending those calories in more intense activity is better still. By gradually building up the intensity of physical activity we do each day we can improve our future health." Dr. Søren Brage, also at the MRC Epidemiology Unit and senior author on the paper, added: "Our research shows how the use of wearable devices capable of measuring physical activity in large cohorts can help disentangle the roles of volume and intensity of activity in influencing future health. The availability of data from nearly 100,000 participants in UK Biobank, backed up by a series of validation studies, allowed us to compare the impact of activity intensity in groups with similar overall volumes of physical activity, and demonstrate that more intense physical activity has health benefits beyond just contributing to total activity volume. Our results also show that activity volumes accumulated almost exclusively through light activity could still halve the mortality risk. Taken together, this means that there are several different pathways to maintain good health and people can choose the path that works best for them."   High blood pressure during pregnancy may mean worse hot flashes during menopause Mayo Clinic, August 19, 2020   Women with a history of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy are more likely to experience bothersome menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, according to a study published Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. "We already know that women with high blood pressure during pregnancy or those who experience menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Our research discovered that women who experienced high blood pressure during pregnancy were much more likely to experience bothersome menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats during menopause," says Stephanie Faubion, M.D., the study's lead author. Dr. Faubion is the Penny and Bill George Director for Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health. Researchers analyzed the medical records of 2,684 women ages 40 to 65 who were seen for specialty menopause or sexual health consultations at women's health clinics at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, between May 2015 and September 2019. All study participants completed a questionnaire in which they self-reported their menopause symptoms and effects of these symptoms on their quality of life. Study participants also completed questionnaires that documented whether they experienced high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. Researchers discovered a significant association between women with a history of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy who reported more bothersome menopausal symptoms. Women with this high blood pressure history using hormone therapy also reported more menopausal symptoms, compared to women with no history of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy. Dr. Faubion says more research is needed to understand why there is a link between high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy and more severe menopausal symptoms. But one thing is clear: Physicians need to do a better job monitoring women who experience high blood pressuring during pregnancy after they give birth. "We know medical providers have historically done a lousy job identifying and following women with histories of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, despite knowing that they have a higher heart disease risk," says Dr. Faubion. "This study is another reminder that these women are different. It is important that they not only receive education with regard to what they may experience during menopause, but also that they undergo routine screenings and counseling on how they can reduce their risk for heart disease."   Oxidative stress a significant contributor to COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Justus-Liebig University (Germany), August 17, 2020   According to news reporting originating from Giessen, Germany, research stated, “Healthy ageing of the lung involves structural changes but also numerous cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic alterations. Among them are the age-related decline in central cellular quality control mechanisms such as redox and protein homeostasis.” Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, “In this review, we would like to provide a conceptual framework of how impaired stress responses in the ageing lung, as exemplified by dysfunctional redox and protein homeostasis, may contribute to onset and progression of COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We propose that age-related imbalanced redox and protein homeostasis acts, amongst others (e.g. cellular senescence), as a ‘first hit' that challenges the adaptive stress-response pathways of the cell, increases the level of oxidative stress and renders the lung susceptible to subsequent injury and disease. In both COPD and IPF, additional environmental insults such as smoking, air pollution and/or infections then serve as ‘second hits' which contribute to persistently elevated oxidative stress that overwhelms the already weakened adaptive defence and repair pathways in the elderly towards non-adaptive, irremediable stress thereby promoting development and progression of respiratory diseases.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “COPD and IPF are thus distinct horns of the same devil, ‘lung ageing.”     Citrus fruits could help prevent obesity-related heart disease, liver disease, diabetes Universidade Estadual Paulista  (Brazil), August 11, 2020    Oranges and other citrus fruits are good for you—they contain plenty of vitamins and substances, such as antioxidants, that can help keep you healthy. Now a group of researchers reports that these fruits also help prevent harmful effects of obesity in mice fed a Western-style, high-fat diet.   The researchers are presenting their work today at the 252nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 9,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.   "Our results indicate that in the future we can use citrus flavanones, a class of antioxidants, to prevent or delay chronic diseases caused by obesity in humans," says Paula S. Ferreira, a graduate student with the research team.   More than one-third of all adults in the U.S. are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being obese increases the risk of developing heart disease, liver disease and diabetes, most likely because of oxidative stress and inflammation, Ferreira says. When humans consume a high-fat diet, they accumulate fat in their bodies. Fat cells produce excessive reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells in a process called oxidative stress. The body can usually fight off the molecules with antioxidants. But obese patients have very enlarged fat cells, which can lead to even higher levels of reactive oxygen species that overwhelm the body's ability to counteract them.   Citrus fruits contain large amounts of antioxidants, a class of which are called flavanones. Previous studies linked citrus flavanones to lowering oxidative stress in vitro and in animal models. These researchers wanted to observe the effects of citrus flavanones for the first time on mice with no genetic modifications and that were fed a high-fat diet.   The team, at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in Brazil, conducted an experiment with 50 mice, treating them with flavanones found in oranges, limes and lemons. The flavanones they focused on were hesperidin, eriocitrin and eriodictyol. For one month, researchers gave groups either a standard diet, a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus hesperidin, a high-fat diet plus eriocitrin or a high-fat diet plus eriodictyol.   The high-fat diet without the flavanones increased the levels of cell-damage markers called thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 80 percent in the blood and 57 percent in the liver compared to mice on a standard diet. But hesperidin, eriocitrin and eriodictyol decreased the TBARS levels in the liver by 50 percent, 57 percent and 64 percent, respectively, compared with mice fed a high-fat diet but not given flavanones. Eriocitrin and eriodictyol also reduced TBARS levels in the blood by 48 percent and 47 percent, respectively, in these mice. In addition, mice treated with hesperidin and eriodictyol had reduced fat accumulation and damage in the liver.   "Our studies did not show any weight loss due to the citrus flavanones," says Thais B. Cesar, Ph.D., who leads the team. "However, even without helping the mice lose weight, they made them healthier with lower oxidative stress, less liver damage, lower blood lipids and lower blood glucose." Ferreira adds, "This study also suggests that consuming citrus fruits probably could have beneficial effects for people who are not obese, but have diets rich in fats, putting them at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity."   Next, the team will explore how best to administer these flavanones, whether in citrus juice, by consuming the fruit or developing a pill with these antioxidants. In addition, the team plans to conduct studies involving humans, Cesar says.     Researchers find link between gut microbiome and cancer treatment outcomes Study highlights positive impact of microbial diversity on immunotherapy response and suggests that cancer patients should eat a high-fiber diet with fruits, vegetables and grains with resistant starches. City of Hope Hospital, August 19, 2020   Physicians at City of Hope, working in collaboration with scientists at Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), have found that greater gut microbial diversity in patients with metastatic kidney cancer is associated with better treatment outcomes on Food and Drug Administration-approved immunotherapy regimens. Their findings are outlined in a study published today in the journal European Urology. "We also reported the changes over time in the gut microbiome that occur during the course of therapy -- the cumulative findings from our report open the door to therapies directed at the microbiome," said Sumanta Pal, M.D., one of the study's senior authors and co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. The gut microbiome is composed of microbes like bacteria and viruses that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. In recent years, an increase in knowledge about the microbiome in relation to general health has led to deeper explorations of its role in disease states, as well as how the organisms may interact with treatments.  "Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the gut microbiome and response to immunotherapy in solid tumors, including metastatic kidney cancer," said Nicholas Salgia, B.Sc., a clinical research assistant at City of Hope and the paper's lead author. "The results from our study build on earlier findings and reaffirm that the diversity and composition of patients' microbiomes are associated with clinical responses to anti-cancer therapies."  The study, which collected data from 31 people with metastatic kidney cancer, features the first reports of comparing microbiome sequencing at different time points in cancer patients. Participants were asked to provide up to three stool samples: at baseline, four weeks into therapy and 12 weeks into therapy.  Using the clinical trial results, the team was able to identify changes in the microbiome over time in kidney cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. The findings found that a greater variety of organisms was associated with a benefit to the patients, and also suggested that modulating the gut microbiome during the course of treatment may impact responses to therapy.  "The patients with the highest benefit from cancer treatment were those with more microbial diversity, but also those with a higher abundance of a specific bacterium known as Akkermansia muciniphila," said Sarah Highlander, Ph.D., a research professor in TGen's Pathogen and Microbiome Division and one of the study's senior authors. "This organism has been associated with benefit in other immunotherapy studies."  Highlander says one potential takeaway is that oncologists might encourage patients to pay attention to their gut microbiome by eating a high-fiber diet, including fruits and vegetables high in fructo-oligosaccharides such as bananas, dried fruit, onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus and artichokes, as well as grains with resistant starches such as barley or uncooked potato starch, for example. Highlander says that next steps should include expanding the relatively small study to a much larger group of patients that are followed over a longer time period. At City of Hope, researchers have already embarked on a clinical trial to further explore the idea that modulating the microbiome during therapy could have an impact on clinical outcomes.  "We have randomized patients with metastatic kidney cancer to receive a probiotic supplement in addition to an FDA-approved immunotherapy regimen or the immunotherapy alone," explained Salgia. "This work provided a strong framework for such a study."  The collaborations between clinical experts at City of Hope and basic science colleagues at TGen have contributed to advancements in the understanding of not just the microbiome, but also in cancer biology and clinical outcomes at large.  "Our strong relationship with the microbiome team at TGen has fruitfully produced novel insights into the clinical implications of the microbiome in kidney cancer, among other cancer types," said Pal, who is an internationally recognized leader in the area of genitourinary cancers.  Just last month, City of Hope and TGen launched a project to use one of the world's most comprehensive genomic analysis tools to map out personalized treatment plans for metastatic kidney cancer patients. "This current study is a further testament to the collaborative research structure we've developed between the affiliate institutions," said Pal. "Through these collaborations we can implement both a bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench research model that will lead to better patient care at City of Hope through access to clinical trials and precision medicine approaches."     Antiapoptotic effects of carotenoids in neurodegeneration University of Alabama, August 17, 2020 According to news reporting out of the University of Alabama research stated, “Apoptosis, programmed cell death type I, is a critical part of neurodegeneration in cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from University of Alabama: “Apoptosis begins with activation of pro-death proteins Bax and Bak, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspases, loss of membrane integrity of intracellular organelles, and ultimately cell death. Approaches that block apoptotic pathways may prevent or delay neurodegenerative processes. Carotenoids are a group of pigments found in fruits, vegetables, and seaweeds that possess antioxidant properties. Over the last several decades, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated a protective role of carotenoids in neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we describe functions of commonly consumed carotenoids including lycopene, b-carotene, lutein, astaxanthin, and fucoxanthin and their roles in neurodegenerative disease models.” According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “We also discuss the underlying cellular mechanisms of carotenoid-mediated neuroprotection, including their antioxidant properties, role as signaling molecules, and as gene regulators that alleviate apoptosis-associated brain cell death.”

Babak Roshanaei-Moghaddam, MD is a founding member and director of Tehran Center for Psychoanalytic Studies (TCPS). He is a faculty member at Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (SPSI), an adjunct faculty of psychiatry at the University of Washington in Seattle and psychoanalytic supervisor and instructor at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Roozbeh hospital. He is a board-certified psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He completed his psychoanalytic training at SPSI and psychiatric residency and addiction fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was the co-chair of the scientific committee of the 1st Iranian Psychoanalytic and Dynamic Psychotherapy Conference (IPDPC.) He has also served as a consultant to the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM)-2 task force. He is a member of both American Psychoanalytic Association and International Psychoanalytical Association. Sigh up for 10% off of Shrink Rap Radio CE credits at the Zur Institute

SarrSew - "Farewell, Warden.” from the 2018 album Girih: Iranian Sound Artists on Zabte Sote When Tehran-born, Paris-based artist Sara Bigdeli Shamloo isn’t recording as half of the duo 9T Antiope, she records solo under the name SarrSew. While previous SarrSew tracks were composed for theatre and film (Shamloo was studying Theatre Directing at Tehran University before she dropped out), today’s Song of the Day marks her solo debut single, a haunting, somber chant sung in English over an eerie, yet meditative lullaby until it culminates in an erratic blur of feedback.  Read the full post on KEXP.org Support the show.

For the first interview of 2020, Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Mohammad Marandi, a Tehran University professor in Iran. We start the interview with Mohammad sharing his thoughts about the Iranian response to the U.S. assassination of Iran General Qassim Soleimani. Mohammad describes why Soleimani was and is so revered by Iranians. He talks about the critical role Soleimani played in ensuring the Islamic State did not seize control of Baghdad, Iraq, as well as Damascus, Syria. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, was assassinated in the same strike that killed Soleimani. His assassination received minimal attention in the press. Mohammad talks about Muhandis and what he did for the people of Iraq. Later in the show, Mohammad recalls volunteering at the age of 16 to fight in the Iran-Iraq War. He also discusses the impact of economic sanctions, as well as how the "Resistance Axis" in the Middle East appears to grow stronger with each act of war launched by President Donald Trump's administration.

This week, meet my talented and Master of Musicalligraphy guest sitting in Paris, France. We talked about his love for calligraphy and the musicality of calligraphy. Let me know what you think. To learn about him, you must listen or watch this episode and part 2 coming next week. A sensitive and bold soul. Bahman Panahi was born in Iran in 1967. Youngest son of a large artistic and cultivated family he was born into the milieu of the arts and came into contact with music, painting, theater and calligraphy through the work of his brothers. From these arts he chose music and calligraphy for himself. In his opinion the former stands for the Iranian history, its culture and its civilization, the latter gives a spontaneous image of the Iranian creativity and its taste. His constant preoccupation is the relation between these two artistic domains. He has obtained the Master certificate from the “Institute of Calligraphers of Iran” under great masters of calligraphy: "Amirkhany , Foradi and Kaboli" and started teaching in different cultural, artistic and academic centers from a very young age. In parallel he learned to play the “Tar” and “Setar” and deepened his musical knowledge with great masters of Persian classical music like Houshang Zarif, Mohamad Reza Lotfi, Ataolah Zahed Shirazi. Bahman Panahi graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University and continued his studies at Ecole des Beaux-arts, in Valanciennes and then Sorbonne in France toward a Ph.D. in visual arts. Since 1990 he has been involved with teaching courses, lectures, workshops, conferences, concerts and exhibitions in five continents. In addition, he has been invited as a guest professor and distinguished artist to noted institutions such as Harvard University and Northeastern University in Boston, Science Po. in Paris and other institutions. Bahman Panahi lives in Paris since 2002 and is actively engaged in his artwork globally. http://www.bahmanpanahi.com/about-me.... Thank you, Shua - شعا ع www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram

This week, meet my talented and Master of Musicalligraphy guest sitting in Paris, France.  We talked about his love for calligraphy and the musicality of calligraphy. Let me know what you think. To learn about him, you must listen or watch this episode and part 2 coming next week. A sensitive and bold soul.  Bahman Panahi was born in Iran in 1967. Youngest son of a large artistic and cultivated family he was born into the milieu of the arts and came into contact with music, painting, theater and calligraphy through the work of his brothers.   From these arts he chose music and calligraphy for himself. In his opinion the former stands for the Iranian history, its culture and its civilization, the latter gives a spontaneous image of the Iranian creativity and its taste.  His constant preoccupation is the relation between these two artistic domains.   He has obtained the Master certificate from the “Institute of Calligraphers of Iran” under great masters of calligraphy: "Amirkhany , Foradi and Kaboli" and started  teaching in different cultural, artistic and academic centers from a very young age.   In parallel he learned to play the “Tar” and “Setar” and deepened his musical knowledge with great masters of Persian classical music like Houshang Zarif, Mohamad Reza Lotfi, Ataolah Zahed Shirazi.   Bahman Panahi graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Tehran University and continued his studies at Ecole des Beaux-arts, in Valanciennes and then Sorbonne in France toward a Ph.D. in visual arts.   Since 1990 he has been involved with teaching courses, lectures, workshops, conferences, concerts and exhibitions in five continents. In addition, he has been invited as a guest professor and distinguished artist to noted institutions such as Harvard University and Northeastern University in Boston, Science Po. in Paris and other institutions.   Bahman Panahi lives in Paris since 2002 and is actively engaged in his artwork globally. http://www.bahmanpanahi.com/about-me.html Thank you, Shua - شعا ع  www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram  

Join Amina as she interviews Dr. Maryam Sharifian who visited and presented at IIIT during for the Summer Institute of Scholars in 2019. Dr. Sharifian talks about her study, "Trauma, Burnout, and Resilience of Syrian Primary Teachers Working Inside the War Zone". They discuss the findings from the study, the phenomenal resilience of teachers in the war zone in Syria, as well as the importance of teachers' well-being and how that plays a role in students' lives. Dr. Maryam Sharifian is an Assistant Professor at James Madison University, College of Education. Dr. Sharifian received her undergraduate and graduate degree in School Counseling from Tehran University in Iran. After completing her PhD in Early Childhood Education from SUNY at Buffalo, she started her position at JMU to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Early Childhood Education. Dr. Sharifian serves as country liaison at Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) as a National Representative (representing Iran/Middle East). She also served as Board of Directors of ACEI for three years. She is an active member in several international Early Childhood Organizations such as the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, Cooperative and International Education Society and American Education Research Association to advocate for children and teachers' right. Dr. Sharifian addresses educational issues relating to children and teachers in the area of armed conflict (their well-being and resilience strategies). In addition, she has worked with children of undocumented Afghan immigrants, school girls in rural Tanzania and street children in Iran. She has several book chapters and article publications related to teacher training and children education.

Join Amina as she interviews Dr. Maryam Sharifian who visited and presented at IIIT during for the Summer Institute of Scholars in 2019. Dr. Sharifian talks about her study, "Trauma, Burnout, and Resilience of Syrian Primary Teachers Working Inside the War Zone". They discuss the findings from the study, the phenomenal resilience of teachers in the war zone in Syria, as well as the importance of teachers' well-being and how that plays a role in students' lives. Dr. Maryam Sharifian is an Assistant Professor at James Madison University, College of Education. Dr. Sharifian received her undergraduate and graduate degree in School Counseling from Tehran University in Iran. After completing her PhD in Early Childhood Education from SUNY at Buffalo, she started her position at JMU to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Early Childhood Education. Dr. Sharifian serves as country liaison at Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) as a National Representative (representing Iran/Middle East). She also served as Board of Directors of ACEI for three years. She is an active member in several international Early Childhood Organizations such as the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, Cooperative and International Education Society and American Education Research Association to advocate for children and teachers' right. Dr. Sharifian addresses educational issues relating to children and teachers in the area of armed conflict (their well-being and resilience strategies). In addition, she has worked with children of undocumented Afghan immigrants, school girls in rural Tanzania and street children in Iran. She has several book chapters and article publications related to teacher training and children education.

Saffron for ADHDBaziar S, Aqamolaei A, Khadem E, et al. Crocus sativus L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2019;29(3):205-212.The standard of care in treating ADHD is the use of stimulant medications, the most popular of which is methylphenidate (Ritalin).It works by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in presynaptic neurons in the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures. NE and DA are the primary neurotransmitters responsible for learning, rewards, memory formation, and stimulation.Side effects include insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, pupil dilation and blurred vision, hyperthermia), orthostatic hypotension, and arrhythmias. Saffron (Crocus sativus) has been known as the world’s most expensive spice. About 90% of the world’s supply comes from Iran. In addition to its culinary application it is also used for its antispasmodic, antiseptic, antidepressant, anticancer, memory enhancement, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant effects. The primary mechanisms of saffron are thought to be reuptake inhibition of NE and DA, antagonism of NMDA receptors, and agonist of GABA-α.How the study was doneRandomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial. Tehran University of Medical Sciences50 Males and females between the ages of 6 and 17 with ADHD completed.Patients were randomized to receive standard-dose methylphenidate (tid, at 30mg/day for kids >30kg) on a titration schedule or 30mg/day of saffron in three doses.Outcome measure was a parent and teacher rating scale measure at baseline, week 3, and week 6 of treatment.Results:There was no statistically significant difference between parent or teacher ratings of either inattentive or hyperactive behaviors between the two groups. In other words, both saffron and methylphenidate improved ADHD symptoms equally well. The saffron group reported fewer although not significantly fewer side effects.My thoughts:Stimulants lead to significant improvement in the quality of life for many people, however, they don’t work in everyone and many have undesirable side-effects.Coming down for the medication is hard and can lead to mood disturbancesPeople can become tolerant to stimulantsThey can become dependent on them in place of developing skills to manage their symptomsThis study was small, the first and only study of saffron for ADHD, and there was no placebo groupMore studies should be done to confirm the findingsSaffron is safe, give it a try, and let me know what you thinkDisclaimer: topics discussed on the podcast are for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult with your medical provider about the appropriateness of these interventions in your individual case.Music credit: American Vernacular by RAGESupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q6MJHU6BLWMWS&source=url)

“We begin introducing children to emotions, how they felt, their functions and how to deal with their intra and interpersonal feelings, like anger, shame, fear and envy and we did this through storytelling, paintings and plays.”   Description: Harvey Schwartz welcomes Shahrzad Hashemi and Rosa Famini. Shahrzad Hashemi is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and an advanced candidate at the comprehensive program for psychoanalytic psychotherapy at HamAva Institute in Tehran. She is also the editorial assistant of the open-access journal Psychoanalytic Discourse. In addition to her private practice, Shahrzad has been involved in many psychoanalytically informed activities in hospitals and schools, which we will hear more about in today’s interview. Rosa Famini is also a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and an advanced candidate at the comprehensive program for psychoanalytic psychotherapy at HamAva Institute in Tehran. She is also a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology in Tehran University and she heads the Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training courses being held in collaboration with the Dutch Psychoanalytic Institute and Society in Tehran.   The work we are going to hear about today in the schools is being supervised by Dr. Nahaleh  Moshtagh who is an American trained psychoanalytic candidate and is also the Director of the HamAva Institute. As we will hear in today’s interview, the passion for understanding, touching and freeing people’s minds from painful limitations is an interest that is shared by clinicians worldwide.   Key takeaways: [4:05] The principles of the school project. [7:06] School principal who was interested in psychoanalytic training for the students. [9:10] Pupils, teachers and parents. [9:26] Improving children’s self reflection skills. [9:51] Example of the psychoanalytic listening implemented in a school setting. [13:11] A project that attempts to change perspectives about school. [15:21] Reflecting on group dynamics. [17:50] Psychodynamic psychotherapy in Iran. [19:21] The challenges that Shahrzad Hashemi and Rosa Famini encounter. [20:36] Psychoanalytic training in Iran. [23:16] Psychoanalytic private practice in Iran. [24:25] Future goals for Shahrzad Hashemi and Rosa Famini. [25:18] Continuing growth in a career as a psychoanalyst.   Mentioned in this episode: IPA Off the Couch www.ipaoffthecouch.org   Recommended Readings:   Britzman, D. P. (2009). Very Thought of Education, The: Psychoanalysis and the Impossible Professions. Suny Press. Britzman, D. P. (2012). After-education: Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, and psychoanalytic histories of learning. SUNY Press. Britzman, D. P. (2015). A psychoanalyst in the classroom: On the human condition in education. Suny Press. Henry, G., Osborne, E., & Salzberger-Wittenberg, I. (2003). The emotional experience of learning and teaching. Routledge. Sapountzis, I. (2018). Revisiting Bion’s “Notes on thinking”: Implications for school psychologists. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 17(3), 187-197.  

When Iran’s President Rouhani was convincingly re-elected last year, Iranians seemed hopeful their living standards might improve. However, inflation, poverty, water shortages and corruption are all things that appear to be getting worse. Now, Iran is again facing US sanctions after President Trump walked away from the nuclear deal with Tehran. Stephen Sackur speaks to Iranian political analyst and erstwhile nuclear talks adviser Mohamed Marandi. Is Iran on the brink of an economic and political crisis? (Photo: Professor Mohamed Marandi)

When Iran’s President Rouhani was convincingly re-elected last year, Iranians seemed hopeful their living standards might improve. However, inflation, poverty, water shortages and corruption are all things that appear to be getting worse. Now, Iran is again facing US sanctions after President Trump walked away from the nuclear deal with Tehran. Stephen Sackur speaks to Iranian political analyst and erstwhile nuclear talks adviser Mohamed Marandi. Is Iran on the brink of an economic and political crisis? (Photo: Professor Mohamed Marandi)

Samira Kiani, M.D. (PI), leads an eye-opening discussion on the groundbreaking medical advances that could be on the horizon with gene editing. Dr. Kiani is the principal investigator at Kiani lab located on the campus of Arizona State University. She holds a doctorate degree (M.D.) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Dr. Kiani gained extensive experience in CRISPR/Cas9 technology while working toward her post-doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Integrative Synthetic Biology. Kiani studied the development of synthetic gene circuits used to reprogram various functions and general behavior of mammalian cells based on the advanced CRISPR/Cas9 technology.  As Dr. Kiani explains, gene editing, specifically changing the sequence of DNA is not a new concept; however, the tools used to study gene-editing processes were expensive and perhaps cost prohibitive for some labs. But the CRISPR/Cas9 technology ushered in a new era, as gene editing could now be done rapidly, and at a much lower cost. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. With gene editing, Kiani states that the technology could allow researchers to repair or disable genes. By using CRISPR, Kiani and other researchers are able to work with double-strand DNA breaks.  Dr. Kiani provides an overview of the Cas9 protein, which is a DNA cleaving enzyme that can be manipulated and targeted to any specific DNA sequence via a small guide RNA (gRNA), and it can be adapted for gene editing and gene regulation alike. With the advancing technology, researchers are able to more closely approximate nature, in terms of how genes perform and enact double-strand breaks in literally any specific location. The potential for CRISPR technology is immense, as the technology would make it possible to potentially provide the correct template to a cell and repair mutations that are causing a particular genetic disease. The gene editing expert explains that researchers are interested in different forms of CRISPR as each bacteria has its own unique set of CRISPR; thus there is great enthusiasm to learn more about CRISPR that targets RNA, that is simpler, or smaller even. The possibilities are limitless as scientists expand their research, looking for new genes that could fight cancer, disabling genes to understand their specific function, and in vivo experimentation in animals to study how to defeat diseases. Dr. Kiani discusses in detail what is known in the research world as ‘guide RNA,' which essentially functions as a select protein's legs, to take them to the precise location where researchers desire to begin their work. As she explains, the CRISPR technology holds immense promise for human applications but the coming years will see more refinement to address current safety concerns for its uses within humans. As clinical trials are scheduled for everything from blindness to liver disease, gene editing technology experts are extremely hopeful that the answer to complex disease problems could be an edit away.

    Welcome to episode 69 of the Sexology Podcast, today my guest is Dr. M. Max Ezzati M.D., FACOG who speaks to us about the common misconceptions around fertility treatment, how struggles with infertility can have an impact on sexual relations and recommendations for couples currently going through this process.   Dr. Ezzati is a fertility specialist and reproductive surgeon at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, affiliated with Sutter Health in the Bay Area in Northern California. Dr. Ezzati received his medical degree from Tehran University in Tehran, Iran. After medical school, Dr. Ezzati moved to England to pursue specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology at the teaching hospitals of the University of Cambridge and the University of London, where he also served as a clinical lecturer.  In 2007, Dr. Ezzati moved to the United States and completed his internship and residency at Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C. Following his residency, he completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Hospital, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Ezzati is double board-certified in both Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI).  Dr. Ezzati's special professional interests include fertility preservation through oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) and embryo cryopreservation (embryo freezing), fertility treatment for older women and those with diminished ovarian reserve, and minimally invasive reproductive surgery using the da Vinci robot to treat endometriosis and uterine fibroids. He has published numerous peer-reviewed clinical and scientific research papers, review articles, case reports and textbook chapters on these and other topics.  He is currently on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and also serves as an ad hoc peer-reviewer for several other high impact journals such as Human Reproduction, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Placenta, and Reproductive BioMedicine Online    In this episode, you will hear:   The most common misconceptions about fertility treatment   The frequency of intercourse needed through fertility treatment  How struggles around infertility can have an impact on sexual relations   The best way to define infertility   Is it safe for couples to have sex during pregnancy?   The need to keep with the treatment over a long period of time for success   Recommendations for couples currently frustrated going through this process      Resources  https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-doctor/dr-mohammadmax-ezzati   https://twitter.com/maxezzatimd   https://www.facebook.com/oasis2care   https://www.instagram.com/oasis2care   https://twitter.com/oasis2care    

Abolala Soudavar completed his university education at the Ecole Polytechnique, Paris (1963-67), Stanford University (1967-68) and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Pratiques, Paris (1980-81). As a businessman he was involved in Iran from 1969 to 1982, when he moved to the USA and established Mirak Inc. He was Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Tehran University from 1970 to 1977. http://iranian-studies.stanford.edu/event/mithraic_societies_from_brotherhood_to_religions_adversary

Abolala Soudavar completed his university education at the Ecole Polytechnique, Paris (1963-67), Stanford University (1967-68) and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Pratiques, Paris (1980-81). As a businessman he was involved in Iran from 1969 to 1982, when he moved to the USA and established Mirak Inc. He was Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Tehran University from 1970 to 1977. He is/was a member of the Visiting Committee for Islamic Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York (since 1983), of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1978 to 1994), Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Chicago - Visiting Committee - (1995-7), Arthur M Sackler Gallery- Visiting Committee, Smithsonian Institution (1995-2003), Harvard University Museums-Collection Committee (1997- present). His publications include Art of the Persian Courts (1992), The Aura of Kings: Legitimacy and Devine Sanction in Iranian Kingship (2003),Decoding Old Masters: Patrons, Painters, and Enigmatic Paintings of the 15th Century (2008), Mithraic Societies: From Brotherhood to Religion’s Adversary” (2014)

MAJID NAFICY Majid Naficy was born in Isfahan, Iran, in 1952 and currently lives in West Los Angeles, California. Raised in a large and well- educated family, his first poems were published in a literary journal in Isfahan when he was just 13. After studying at the University of California at Los Angeles, Naficy returned to Tehran University, abandoned writing poetry, and joined political groups working to overthrow the Shah. After the 1979 Revolution, when Khomeini began to crack down on dissidents, Naficy and his wife, Ezzat Tabaiyan, were forced to go underground, but continued to work against the new regime. In 1981 both Ezzat and Naficy’s brother, Said, were imprisoned and executed and thereafter, in 1983, Naficy fled the country. With the help of Kurdish guerillas, Naficy escaped to Turkey on horseback, carrying the nine poems he had written after Ezzat’s death, some money, an Afghani passport, and torn photos of his brother and wife. Eighteen months later he was granted asylum in the U. S. and moved to Venice, California. Naficy’s poetry has been widely anthologized, and he has published more than twenty collections of poetry in Persian and two collections in English. He is a beloved poet among Iranian exiles in Los Angeles and elsewhere, and an inspiration to many. In his honour, a stanza of his poem ‘Ah, Los Angeles!’ is engraved on the wall of a city park in Venice. This podcast features Elizabeth T. Grey Jr, reading her translation of the poem, first published in MPT 'The Great Flight'. ELIZABETH T. GRAY, JR. is a poet, translator, and corporate consultant. SERIES | INDIA, a collection of original poems, was published by Four Way Books in 2015. Her translations from classical and contemporary Persian include The Green Sea of Heaven: Fifty Ghazals from the Diwan-i Ha z-i Shirazi (1995) and Iran: Poems of Dissent (2013).

Dr. Behnam Shakibaie: •1993 - 1998 Studied Dentistry at Berlin University •1996 - 2001 Doctorate at Berlin University due to clinical Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) •1999 - 2003 Specialization in Oral Surgery in Berlin •2004 - 2007 Mastership Implantology & Periodontology (DGI/DGP) •2007 - 2009 Specialist in Oral Micro Surgery & Micro Dentistry of Carl Zeiss Academy •2007 Specialist of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Iran •2005 - 2011 Owned clinic in microsurgical Implantology & Periodontology in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck / Germany •Since 2006 Invention, development and international publication of microsurgical techniques and instruments in oral Implantology •Since 2008 Scientific Consultant of DGI (German Association of Implantology) •Since 2009 Instructor of “Implant Microsurgery” of Zeiss Dental Academy •Since 2009 Ambassador of Quintessence Publishing Group •Since 2012 Founder of first specialized microsurgical Implantology clinic in Middle East in Tehran / Iran •2014 Founder of international group of “Implant Microsurgery”   Internationally Granted Awards: • Best Practitioner Award 2007 of German Society of Periodontology • First Scientific Prize 2010 of German Society of Periodontology • Innovation Award in Medical Science 2011 of Tehran University in Iran • Best Education Lecturer 2012 of Zeiss Dental Academy in Austria • Congress Best Presentation 2014 of AMED in USA • European Business Management Award 2015 of EBCL in Croatia   www.DrShakibaie.com

Investigates the frequency of and attitudes towards academic disintegrity among medical students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

An Iranian man sits on the ground after weekly Friday prayers at Tehran University in the Iranian capital, 02 June 2006. An Iranian cleric today dismissed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s warning that the Islamic republic would incur ‘great costs’ if it rejected the latest international offer to curtail its nuclear programme. ‘We are ready to pay a great cost to defend our ideals,’ Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khatami said in his sermon at the main weekly Muslim prayers broadcast live on state radio.