So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast Ep. 262: Escaping Iran
Jan 22, 2026
Pouya Nikmand, an Iranian-born writer and creator of 'Outliving Iran', shares his harrowing journey from life under an authoritarian regime to freedom. He discusses the current state of protests in Iran, detailing the brutal suppression and moral policing that define daily life. Pouya recounts his desperate escape, including trafficking in Europe and the challenges of arriving in the U.S. He emphasizes the importance of speaking out against injustice, urging listeners to understand the weight of freedom and belonging.
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Paramilitary Rule Beyond The Law
- The IRGC operates as a parallel, lawless paramilitary that enforces brutality beyond official judicial oversight.
- Pouya Nikmand says the IRGC recruits young people and treats violence like a game of hunting opponents of the regime.
Censorship Cemented The Regime
- Censorship in Iran erased the possibility of discussing alternatives, which cemented the regime's control over generations.
- Pouya argues that banning open debate prevented society from imagining different political systems.
Growing Up In North Esfahan Slums
- Pouya grew up in the slums of North Esfahan in deep poverty with no meat and limited possessions.
- He describes serf ancestry and how extreme material hardship shaped his childhood ambitions.
