logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
56m 46s

Interview | Growing Up Irooni: Sierra Ur...

Chai & Conversation
About this episode

"Finding Joonam: A Dialogue with Filmmaker Sierra Urrich" - Immerse yourself in a candid and emotive conversation with Sierra Urrich, the talented director behind the striking documentary, 'Joonam'. In this episode, Sierra shares her heartfelt experiences of creating the film and navigating her Iranian identity through the process. She provides us with an intimate glimpse into her journey, spanning from her childhood in Vermont to her connections with Iran, sparked by the stories, culture, and heritage shared by her mother and grandmother. We discuss the complexities of learning Persian, the multifaceted portrait of three generations of women against Iran's cultural backdrop, and the powerful reactions to the brave protests happening in Iran. This dialogue will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who has ever sought to understand their roots, grappled with their identity, or felt the echoes of a diasporic existence. Tune in for an enriching exploration of heritage, identity, and the extraordinary potency of storytelling.

Related Links:

Up next
Jul 7
Poetry | Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, Part 3
In this third part of the discussion of Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, we cover the next two lines in detail, beginning to contemplate the importance of love to all human beings. 
12m 51s
Jul 7
Speak Lesson 63 | Meeting Up with Friends
In this lesson, we learn some useful expressions for talking with friends or people we know, especially people who we haven't seen in a long time. 
31m 46s
Jun 30
Poetry | Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, Part 2
In this second part of the discussion of Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, we go over the first two lines of the poem in detail. 
18m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
How Are Iranians Making History? (Part One) with The Iranian Diaspora Collective
A note from team Getting Curious: This episode contains descriptions of violence that are at times graphic.   If you haven’t heard about the women-led revolution happening in Iran, or you thought things had quieted down, that’s by design. The Islamic Republic of Iran has banned w ... Show More
38m 17s
Apr 2023
How Are Iranians Making History? (Part Two) with The Iranian Diaspora Collective
A note from team Getting Curious: This episode contains descriptions of violence that are at times graphic.   Women in Iran aren’t allowed to dance, sing, or show their hair in public. But it wasn’t always this way in the country. In part two of our conversation with Moj Mahdara ... Show More
54m 9s
Mar 2023
Book Forum: This Flame Within - Iranian Revolutionaries in the United States
In This Flame Within MANIJEH MORADIAN recounts the experiences of Iranian foreign students who joined a global movement against US imperialism during the 1960s and 1970s. Drawing on archival evidence and in-depth interviews with members of the Iranian Students Association, Moradi ... Show More
1h 3m
Oct 2021
FWD: "Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring 20s"
In this afikra FWD, Hasheemah Afaneh talked about 'Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring 20s' by Raphael Cormack. Cormack unveils the rich histories of independent, enterprising women like vaudeville star Rose al-Youssef (who launched one of Cairo’s most important newsp ... Show More
12m 1s
Apr 2023
DAIZY GEDEON | The Lebanese Diaspora's Role | Conversations
Daizy Gedeon talks about her work as a filmmaker and activist, producing work about Lebanon from Australia. She discusses the importance of the role of the diaspora in creating change.Daizy's family immigrated to Australia when she was five years old. She began her writing career ... Show More
1h 12m
May 2023
La révolution féministe en Iran vue par les expatriés iraniens
Début 2022, Anahid Djalali demande à son amie Juliette Rauwel de l'accompagner en Iran. Ce pays qui a vu naître ses parents, elle ne l'a jamais connu: depuis quarante ans, les islamistes font la loi et son père est trop engagé politiquement pour pouvoir y retourner. Anahid Djalal ... Show More
20m 29s
Jul 2023
Les Chenilles: Lebanese Silk and Exploitation | Michelle Keserwany
Michelle Keserwany joined us on Movie Night to talk about her and her sister Noel’s short film Les Chenilles. We dive into the 3.5 day filmmaking process, the inspiration behind it and the colonial impact of the silk industry. Michelle also shares her journey into film, why she d ... Show More
1h 14m
Jun 2022
HEBA GOWAYED | Refuge | Conversations
Heba Gowayed talked about her latest book “Refuge: How the State Shapes Human Potential.”Heba Gowayed is the Moorman-Simon Assistant Professor of Sociology at Boston University. Her research, which is global and comparative, examines how low-income people traverse social services ... Show More
57m 23s
Mar 2023
Maysoon Pachachi | Everyday Stories from 2006 Baghdad
Maysoon Pachachi talks about her film "Our River... Our Sky," an Arabic language narrative feature film. The film is a web of intersecting stories that describes a collective drama happening in this time and place... in 2006 Baghdad.Maysoon Pachachi is a London-based filmmaker of ... Show More
58m 36s
Oct 2021
FWD: "Egyptian Composer Sheikh Imam"
In this afikra FWD, Nisrine Shehadeh talked about Sheikh Imam, an Egyptian composer and singer. For most of his life, Sheikh Imam formed a duo with the famous Egyptian colloquial poet Ahmed Fouad Negm. Together, they were known for their political songs in favor of the poor and t ... Show More
15m 40s