Assyrian Podcast

Episode 18 - Dr. Andrew Davoodian, MD, MBA, was born in Los Angeles and raised in Central California in the Assyrian-dense city of Turlock. He completed his undergraduate studies in Integrative Biology with an emphasis on Human Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, he created, lectured and directed courses in Modern Assyrian Culture, Introduction to Neo-Assyrian/Neo-Aramaic (INANA), and Assyrian Dance–the first such courses on Modern Assyrian Studies at a major academic research university. He also helped advance an “Assyrian/Chaldean” checkbox for the world’s largest educational system, the University of California admissions application, making for the largest-scale state demographic recognition of the Assyrian identity. He then earned his Masters in Business Administration at the Johnson Graduate School of Management with a graduate minor in Real Estate at The School of Hotel Administration at the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University in New York. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and is currently completing his residency training in Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Episode 17 - Born in Madison Heights, MI, Sargon “Seggie” Isho attended Indiana University as a trumpet player. He joined Straight No Chaser, an a cappella singing group associated with the University. In 2009, Straight No Chaser was signed with Atlantic Records, which has been home to artists like Aretha Franklin, Led Zepplin, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran. With 6 studio albums, Straight No Chaser has toured the world and performed on The Today Show as well as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. For information about tour dates and performances, you can visit www.sncmusic.com

Episode 16 - This week we hear from Aneki Nissan, the founder of the Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations (www.ccarofficial.com). You’ll learn more about the work he and the CCAR are doing, including a documentary titled, "The Forgotten Assyrians of Canada." You can connect with Aneki at anissan@gmail.com. If you like what you are hearing on the Assyrian Podcast, please subscribe and review wherever you listen to the podcast. Also, a shout out to our sponsor John Oushana from HomeSmart. Whether you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home either in Arizona or California, contact John Oushana Real Estate Professional at 209-968-9519, on Facebook @JohnOushanaRealtor, or @John.Oushana on Instagram. www.assyrianpodcast.com 

Episode 15 - Joseph Hermiz is a first-generation Assyrian-American. Both of Joseph's parents left the Middle East as refugees in the midst of persecution and political upheaval. He attended Arizona State University and graduated with a BA in History and Religious Studies. He served on the board of the Assyrian American Cultural Organization of Arizona from December 2012 to September 2014. He is currently a second-year PhD student in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on Assyrians in the late Ottoman Empire (18th to early 20th century) and in Modern Middle Eastern history. Joseph completed his Masters degree at the University of Chicago in 2016, writing on the development of modern Assyrian identity in the 19th century. Arianne Ishaya's book: https://www.amazon.com/Familiar-Faces-Unfamiliar-Places-California-ebook/dp/B079JP7PXF/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1527571485&sr=1-1  The Wilsonian Moment: https://www.amazon.com/Wilsonian-Moment-Self-Determination-International-Anticolonial/dp/0195378539  Thank you to our sponsor, John Oushana from HomeSmart. Whether you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home either in Arizona or California, contact John Oushana Real Estate Professional at 209-968-9519, on Facebook @JohnOushanaRealtor, or @John.Oushana on Instagram.  

Episode 14 - Nathan Kalasho, a Michigan resident, who at the age of 31 is the founder of KEYS, which stands for Kalasho Empowerment of Young Scholars. Nathan and his family opened KEYS Grace Academy in Madison Heights, MI in 2015, and this school is special because in addition to core subjects, it offers an Assyrian language class and it incorporates various cultural components in its classrooms. This is the only K-12 school of its kind in the United States, and you’ll hear Nathan talk about the future plans for KEYS in terms of expansion across Michigan as well as other states.   Like what you're hearing? Rate and reviews on the iTunes or Google Play store. Don't forget to subscribe and tell a friend.

Episode 13 - This week we hear from May Ishak, the wife of the Assyrian martyr, Youbert Benyamin. You’ll hear about her life growing up in Iraq and later fleeing oppression to create a new life in Canada.   Like what you're hearing? Rate and reviews on the iTunes or Google Play store. Don't forget to subscribe and tell a friend. 

Episode 12 - Born in London, England in 1982, he and his family emigrated to Los Angeles when he was 7 years old. He earned his Juris Doctor at Loyola University Law School in Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California Berkeley.  For the past several years, he worked as an attorney at a boutique litigation firm in downtown Los Angeles.  In the next month, he will be launching his own private law practice out of Los Angeles. Previously, he had served as Vice President of the Assyrian American Association of Southern California from 2014-2016 and as a volunteer in different Assyrian projects. He was elected President of the Association in 2016 and was re-elected to a second term in January 2018.  Founded on August 1964, the Assyrian American Association of Southern California is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose broad mission is to serve and advance the Assyrian-American community by concentrating on a wide spectrum of areas such as cultural and linguistic identity, public/governmental outreach and advocacy, education, arts/literature, youth services, and many others. 

Episode 11 - This week we hear from Michael Youash, a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Toronto. He is part of the Assyrian Global (Self) Governance Mandate and is the Secretary for the Nineveh Plain Defense Fund (https://ninevehplaindefensefund.org/).  You'll learn more about his life in politics and current projects, as well as his experience raising a bi-cultural family. You can connect with Michael at myouash@gmail.com

Episode 10 - Kevin Markarian joins the Assyrian Podcast and tells us all about his journey. Founded in 2014, Marker Real Estate achieved rapid success as one of the nation’s most innovative companies. Word is spreading in industry circles about Marker’s unique approach to digital marketing communications via a transparent, inclusive client-focused strategy. Email Kevin here:  kevinmarkarian@markersf.com or look him up on social media! 

Episode 9 - This week we hear from Nadia Younan, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto in Ethnomusicology looking at Assyrian music. You’ll learn about how she selected her PhD topic, her findings thus far, and how it has been like growing up first-generation Canadian with Assyrian & Italian heritage. You can connect with her at nadia.younan@mail.utoronto.ca.