Assyrian Podcast

Episode 159 - Dr. Sargon Donabed is an associate professor of history at Roger Williams University. He holds a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations from the University of Toronto and a MSci from Canisius College in Anthrozoology/Animal Studies. He also serves as one of the Board of Directors for the Assyrian Studies Association.  Donabed is one of the foremost experts on the perennial history of Assyria-Mesopotamia and its heritage. His recent focus consists of indigenous and marginalized methodologies concerning the development of Assyrian Studies as an anti-orientalist and anti-colonialist field, as well as issues of cultural continuity. Currently, his studies in animal studies touch upon storytelling and folklore and issues of re-enchantment of reality through myth and panentheism. In this episode, we discuss his unique and enriching upbringing, his journey into academia, his book, “Reforging a Forgotten History”, the interesting intersection between Assyrian studies and Animal studies, and the importance of establishing the Assyrian Studies Association.  Purchase Dr. Sargon’s “Reforging a Forgotten History” here: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-reforging-a-forgotten-history.html  “Discussing Diaspora” - The Shifting Lens podcast episode featuring Dr. Sargon Donabed: https://soundcloud.com/theshiftinglens/discussing-diaspora-with-dr-sargon-donabed  The Assyrian Studies Association:  https://www.assyrianstudiesassociation.org/  This episode is sponsored by @theoushanapartners -- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 158 - Philimon Darmo has spent over 50 years volunteering for Assyrian community in Australia, whether it be teaching Assyrian, running an Assyrian radio programme or translating important announcements. Born in Iraq, Philimon migrated to Australia in the early 60s and while officially retired, still translates to this day. He recently gained wide recognition for his role in translating Government messages and advice relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in Assyrian.  How to install Assyrian keyboard: Android: Set up Gboard - Android - Gboard Help (google.com) iOS:  https://t.co/klgFG4uuKD" / Twitter Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 157 – William Bnyameen, better known as Khlapieel, was born in 1993 in Sarsink and is one of seven children. He later studied film making in Duhok and became a documentary filmmaker, directing such films as “A Civilization Under the Rubble” and “Rise of Gilgamesh,” both short films giving an exclusive look at Khabour (Syria) and the lives of Khabour's Assyrians post-ISIS. He is currently completing a degree in Administrative Law at the Lebanese-French University, in Erbil. On top of being a documentary film-maker, Khlapieel is a writer, a civil activist and a journalist with a simple mission of highlighting injustices suffered by Assyrians and speaking up about inequalities that exist, and demanding inclusivity and equal rights in order to achieve harmonious coexistence with other ethnic groups in the homeland. I’m this episode, we discuss Khlapieel’s vision of himself as simply a “Nashet Mata,” or “village person,” his journey to becoming Khlapieel, and his work in filmmaking and activism.  Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.

Episode 156 - Eva Toma is an extraordinary blend of both sides of the brain—encompassing the technical and design skills sets that make her the well-rounded and hard-to-come by professional in the architecture and interior design spaces. With proven acumen in both worlds, Eva has a robust list of clients across the entire hospitality spectrum—from boutique power houses in hotel hospitality to independent, national and global restaurant brands. And when she isn’t found creating a new design concept or next iteration for one of her many longstanding clients, she can be found researching and concepting for another. Outside of architectural and interior design, Eva has successfully built or evolved several high-profile hospitality brands. That work includes complete brand identity packages and full-spectrum brand development work that encompasses everything from visual identity to collateral, to signage and menus, to holistic customer experiential programs that elevate and differentiate her clients in a dense sea of competitors. Eva also created the widely loved and popular logo for the Assyrian Podcast.  Instagram: @etoma2  Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Ep. 155 - ܩܫܝܼܫܐ ܝܘܿܚܢܢ ܒܕܠ ܦܝܼܪܘܿ - Reverend Qashisha John Badal Piro was born on February 7, 1973 in Turlock, California to his father Reverend Cor-Bishop Badal S. Piro, and Bereshwa Piro. He completed both his Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Physiology from the University of California, Davis. In 2004, he obtained his Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of California, San Francisco. Fr. John is a long-time practicing pharmacist, which allows him the opportunity to further serve the community which he finds the most rewarding aspect of his professional career. Ordained a priest in 2017, He is currently serving St. Mary’s Mission in Sacramento, California. He recently completed his Masters in Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies.    Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.    This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners - a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 154 - Brian Patto is the writer and director of a new short film, Grace. The film has been a finalist for numerous film festivals and tells the poignant story of a father attempting to keep his daughter safe in war-torn Iraq. In this episode we talked about Brian’s inspirations behind creating the film, the casting process, and the name of the movie.  Instagram for Brian Patto: @brianpatto  Instagram for Grace Film: @grace.shortfilm  Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners - a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 153 - Steve Oshana is the executive director of A Demand for Action, which advocates for the rights of minorities in the Middle East. He started his career in Washington DC as an intern and worked his way to becoming a political consultant, or lobbyist. In this episode we talk about what lobbyists do, how he manages to work with US politicians across the aisle on Assyrian issues, how he marched as a teenager with Reverand Jesse Jackson, and the first time he met former President Barack Obama in Chicago.    Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.    This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 152 - Ninwa Yonan is 29 years old and the former chairwoman of the Assyrian Youth Federation in Central Europe (AJM). She currently works as a psychotherapist in training and resides in Berlin, the capital of Germany. In this episode she shares information about her case study in regards to the Sayfo (or Seyfo) Genocide and transgenerational Trauma, her upbringing, and her perspective on the “name issue” of our people. Tune in to learn more about her experiences in different movements, the work of AJM, and to find inspiration for youth work wherever you live.  Instagram: @ninwa.yonan Facebook: Ninwa Yonan Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 151 - Eleanor Thorn is a first generation Assyrian-American, born in Chicago and currently residing in the north suburbs of Chicago. Early family tragedies didn’t prevent Eleanor from getting a college education, having a long and well-traveled career in accounting, starting her own family, and creating a legacy as the most recent steward of Lake Forest Bookstore. Tune in to learn more about her journey, her family, her book recommendations, and what she hopes is the future of small business and her own bookstore. Instagram: @if_bookstore Facebook: lakeforestbookstore Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com

Episode 150 - Dr. Ashurina Ream is a clinical psychologist who began to focus on perinatal psychology and education for women, after the birth of her son turned her world upside down. Feeling alone and experiencing postpartum depression, she began cultivating a community online that validates the experiences of other moms struggling with similar issues and educates them and their partners on how to best cope with struggles related to fertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum. In this episode, we discussed how her page @psychedmommy came to be and discussed lots of topics like boundaries and effective communication that will apply to you, even if you are not a parent.  Support for this week’s episode of The Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Tony Kalogerakos and the Injury Lawyers of Illinois and New York. If you know anyone that has been in a serious accident, please reach out to Tony Kalogerakos. Tony has been recognized as a Top 40 lawyer, and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Publication and has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar awards. Tony can be reached at InjuryRights.com or 847-982-9516.  This episode is sponsored by The Oushana Partners-- a husband and wife real estate team. Are you considering purchasing or selling a home in Arizona or California? John and Reata are available to help make your next real estate decision into a seamless transaction. Contact the Oushana’s at 209-968-9519. Get to know them a bit more by checking out their website TheOushanaPartners.com