Iran Explained
This is an independent, non-partisan podcast for discussing Iran-related topics, hosted by Saman Askari, an Iranian-American professional from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Podcasting since 2018 • 29 episodes
Iran Explained
Latest Episodes
Thoughts on the Iranian Opposition
On this episode, Saman Askari reads a piece he wrote on his Substack called Iran’s Radicalized Opposition and the Cycle of Ruin. The essay examines the current state of the Iranian opposition in light of the recent regime crackdown and...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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9:46
Thoughts on the Current Iranian Uprising
This is a brief emergency episode where Saman Askari shares his thoughts on the current situation in Iran. He does an examination of the desperation behind the protests, the limits of outside intervention, and the hard realities facing the oppo...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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7:12
1979: The Revolution
In 1979, Iran underwent one of the 20th century’s most consequential revolutions. What began as a wave of protests against a monarchy transformed the country into an Islamic Republic that would reshape its identity and place in the world.
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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28:45
Cyrus the Great: The Man Behind the Legend
After a long hiatus, Talk Iran is back. In this new episode, Saman Askari takes us on a deep dive into the life and legacy of Cyrus the Great—the founder of the Persian Empire. He explores his rise, his wars against Croesus of L...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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25:26
A Conversation with John Ghazvinian
In this episode, I speak with John Ghazvinian, an author, historian and a former journalist. He's considered a foremost expert on US-Iran relations and has written a comprehensive book about the subject. John and I start off by tal...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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46:34