Episode 213: ChatGPT In the latest episode of the Assyrian Podcast, we sat down with ChatGPT for a unique and thought-provoking conversation. From intriguing to controversial questions, I explore how AI navigates complex topics, its perspectives on Assyrian culture, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Tune in for a fascinating dialogue that bridges technology and humanity!

Episode 212: Christina Salem is the director of ACS Mental Health, an author, and an entrepreneur. She is from West Bloomfield, Michigan, and is an active member of the Assyrian community in Michigan. Her hard work ethic inspires all aspiring entrepreneurs who strive to give back to their community. In this interview, Christina talks about ACS Mental Health, Salem’s Vision, and her book, this girl i met in the bathroom. Tune in to hear her insights from her experiences! ACS Mental Health website: acsmentalhealth.org  @acs.mentalhealth Website: Salemsvision.com @salemsvision @thisgirlimetinthebathroom  Also on amazon and at brilliant books in traverse city Michigan and Schuler books in west Bloomfield Michigan.

Episode 211 - Arim Hawsho is an Assyrian writer and researcher based in Stockholm, where he lives with his wife and three kids. With a passion for exploring ancient Assyrian culture through food, history, and daily life, Arim connects the past with the present. His upcoming cookbook, Table of Gods, features over 60 recipes inspired by the flavors of ancient Mesopotamia. Through his work, Arim aims to make the rich heritage of Assyria accessible and engaging for modern audiences.  Guest: Arim Hawsho Title: Table of Gods Website: https://www.tableofgods.com/Socials: @ TableofGods

Episode 210 - Diane Patheiu is an accomplished journalist and news anchor, with a career in broadcast media. From her early steps in the newsroom to becoming a trusted voice in Chicago, Diane shares her journey in broadcast media, insights on the changing landscape of journalism, and the pivotal moments that shaped her path. Plus, she opens up about deeply personal experiences, including her husband’s battle with brain cancer and navigating infertility. Tune in for a episode filled with resilience, cultural pride, and the power of storytelling.    @dianepathieu

Episode 209 - Join us as we dive into vital themes like vocation and calling, the church's role in our communities, and the unity between the Assyrian and Chaldean churches. We’ll hear from Father Peter Patros and Father Andrew Aziz about their personal ministries, the challenges they face, and contemporary issues affecting our faith. Plus, they'll share valuable advice for navigating life's complexities. Fr. Peter Patros is the youngest of six children and the only one born in the United States. Raised in San Diego, he entered Mar Abba Seminary after high school and was ordained a priest in December 2018.  After serving in San Diego, Turlock and Ceres, he currently serves as pastor at Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fr. Andrew Aziz was born and raised in Modesto, California on July 23, 1995. In 2006, he and his younger brother and parents moved to Arizona. He became an active member at Mar Yosip Khnanisho Parish’s Youth association, where he began studying for the diaconate in 2009 and served as the parish’s youth president for 5 years. He was ordained a priest by His Holiness Mar Awa III Catholicos-Patriarch on June 30, 2024, and serves as the Youth Overseer in the Diocese of Western USA.Tune in for insights that resonate! 🙏

Episode 208 - In this episode, two couples discuss how they found their Assyrian partner online and you’ll get to hear from a new matchmaking initiative, MesoMatchmaker, aimed at bringing Assyrian matches together in an intentional and thoughtful way. Website: https://www.mesomatchmaker.com/ 

Episode 207 - Dilan Adamat - In this enlightening episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Dilan Adamat, the founder of The Return—a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting returnees to Assyria.  Dilan shares the inspiring story behind The Return and its mission to preserve the ancestral heritage of Assyrians. We delve into the challenges faced by returnees—whether they're second- or third-generation young people reconnecting with their roots, families recently displaced, investors, or retirees seeking peace in their homeland. The Return offers personalized support ranging from language courses and professional networking to providing a home base for stays, making the complex journey of returning home a tangible reality. Website: https://the-return.co/ Instagram: The Return  LinkedIn: The Return      

Episode 206 - Paul Elia: Is an standup comedian from Detroit, Michigan. Among the few Chaldean-Assyrians in Hollywood, the Iraqi-American artist has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Ramy, Lady Dynamite and is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on TBS’s Conan, appearing in over a dozen sketches. With fellow comedian and collaborator Matt Rife, the duo created LowKey Comedy Show which is considered one of the top independent comedy shows today. In addition to LCS, Paul is producing Matt’s next Netflix comedy special Natural Selection while Matt is executive producing Paul’s comedy special debut Detroit Player. He has multiple viral clips and has over 60M+ views across all social media which include his stand up, sketches, and crowd work clips.  

Episode 205 – Baneta, Romta and Dilan are young adults living in the homeland of Northern Iraq. They combine their various backgrounds and experiences to share with you some honest and raw insights on what it’s like to be an Assyrian living in the homeland. They dive into questions of cultural identity and heritage, the challenges faced and opportunities available for Assyrians in the homeland, their connection to the diaspora, and their aspirations for the future. They candidly describe the fatigue often felt by Assyrians in the homeland, as well as the difficult question of whether to stay or to leave.

Episode Description 204 - Dr. Sandra Solaiman was born in Abadan, Iran, and earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Urmieh in the early 70’s. She immigrated to the United States on a student visa to continue her education at UC Davis. Various life circumstances led her to the midwest then the South where she earned her PhD from University of Missouri in Animal Sciences, with a focus on goats and goat nutrition. She has received many prestigious awards throughout her career and served as an important figure in the world of goat sciences. Her textbook has been translated into many languages. In this episode, we talk about the importance of education in her life, her upbringing, and her role as a mother.

Episode 203 - Mark Michael guided DevHub.com through venture-backed Series A, A1, and completed the acquisition of Brickwork Software, adding Nike, Chanel, and David Yurman among leading Fortune 1000 companies powered through DevHub’s OEM and VAR channels. He continues to lead DevHub as CEO. Through his role as the CEO of DevHub, Mark works with multi-location brands of all sizes - from emerging brands to established franchises and portfolio brands, to help them own their digital presence. 📱 DevHub's location-based approach allows brands to easily manage and scale their platform through the core of their digital marketing strategy - their website. From corporate sites to local pages, landing pages, microsites, franchise development sites, and more, Mark and the DevHub team have partnered with 75+ technologies so that DevHub customers can integrate with their chosen providers seamlessly, scale freely, and drive growth like never before. 🚀 Join us as we dive into Mark's journey, exploring his digital leadership and the influence of his Assyrian heritage. https://www.devhub.com/  https://www.markmichael.org/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/devhub-com 

Episode 202 - Emil Brikha - a former DJ, music producer, and spoken word artist turned dad. But not just any kind of dad, a stay-at-home Dad. Emil was born in Iran to Assyrian parents and raised in Sweden. He met the love of his life while living and working in Malta.  As a self-described “odd man out” Emil talks to us about the intuitive decision within his marriage to be primary caregiver and society’s response to it. We learn about his views on fatherhood, the importance of connecting with our children, and the surprising bit of parenthood that involves re-connecting with ourselves. Emil documented a lot of his early fatherhood journey as Fatherologist with a YouTube presence showing a playful and involved view of parenthood. He is the proud father of 9 year-old Ean and 5 year-old Allegra and lives in Malaga, Spain with his family. 

Episode 201 - Meet Lisa Mirza Grotts, “The Golden Rules Gal,” a renowned etiquette expert, author, and public speaker. She has 25 years of experience in helping individuals navigate social situations to present themselves with confidence and poise. Lisa has gained recognition for her expertise in traditional and modern manners. She dispenses pearls of wisdom to provide guidance with civility, consideration and compassion on various aspects of etiquette such as table manners, communication skills, and professional decorum. In this episode, we explore Lisa's upbringing as an Assyrian and how the values instilled in her from a young age have been the compass to her life. We also delve into her journey toward becoming an etiquette expert and share some practical do's and don'ts for social events, ranging from weddings to housewarmings. www.lisagrotts.com

Episode 200 - Paul Elia IG & Tik Tok: @pauleliacomedy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Pauleliacomedy  Is an LA-based standup comedian from Detroit, Michigan. Among the few Chaldean-Assyrians in Hollywood, the Iraqi-American artist has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Ramy, Lady Dynamite and is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on TBS’s Conan, appearing in over a dozen sketches. With fellow comedian and collaborator Matt Rife, the duo created LowKey Comedy Show which is considered one of the top independent comedy shows today. In addition to LCS, Paul is producing Matt’s next Netflix comedy special Natural Selection while Matt is executive producing Paul’s comedy special debut Detroit Player. He has multiple viral clips and has over 60M+ views across all social media which include his stand up, sketches, and crowd work clips.

Episode 199 - Paul Gabriel, Kristin Mar-Elia, Anthony Narsi, and Arbella Maisom have all had to experience the loss of a parent, one has lost both. In this episode, we discuss coping with the loss of a parent, and how difficult it can be. There’s no “normal” path or timeline to navigate one's life after losing their mother or father.  Everyone deals with it in their own way. But taking steps to understand your emotions and find support can make the process a little easier. 

We are re-releasing Episode 191 in honor of Obelit “Obie” Yadgar who passed away on August 30th 2023. We are so thankful we had the opportunity to get to know Obie before he passed away. There was great strength and inspiration felt in every word that he spoke to us. Obie's legacy and impact on the world are profound. His radiant spirit, indomitable will, and the melodies of his voice continue to reverberate in the hearts of many. We deeply feel his absence, and he remains a beacon of inspiration and love in our memories.  Born in Baghdad and nurtured in Tehran, Obie made his journey to the U.S. in 1957, laying roots as a remarkable Assyrian-American radio voice in Glendale, Wisconsin. He etched his mark as a combat correspondent for the US Army's 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam between 1967-68. This episode invites listeners into Obie's poignant tales from Vietnam, his undying passion for music and radio, and the deeply personal stories of losing his cherished mother and wife. Additionally, we explore his distinctive views on the art of shaving.  

Episode 197 - George Piro was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States in the 1970’s. After adjusting to life in Turlock, CA with his parents and siblings, he enlisted in the Air Force at 18 and eventually joined the FBI. He is best known for being the special agent in charge of interrogating Saddam Hussein, a process that lasted 7 months. In this episode we discuss the influence of his Assyrian upbringing, his time serving overseas, and the heavy lift of interrogating Saddam Hussein. 

Episode 196 - Matthew Joudeh hosts an LGBTQ+ panel of Assyrians who openly share their unique experiences of being members of the LGBTQ+ community. Matthew leads the discussion, providing a safe space for these individuals to express their stories, challenges, and triumphs. Join us as we delve into the intersectionality of their Assyrian heritage and LGBTQ+ identities, fostering understanding, empathy, and unity within our community. This powerful episode aims to amplify voices and promote inclusivity, creating a platform for diverse narratives to be heard. Matthew Joudeh, born and raised in Turlock, Ca! Working and a full time student, at CSU Stanislaus! In this episode we discuss the importance of being an Assyrian LGBTQ ally and also the struggles that some of us have faced during the process of finding ourselves and coming out!  Rhoda Nazanin is an Assyrian Christian born in Isfahan, Iran. She immigrated to Los Angeles, CA with her family in 1993. After living in LA for 29 years, Rhoda moved to St. Louis, MO with her wife, Sarah in spring of 2022. Rhoda is a former Assembly of God pastor and congressional candidate for CA’s 27th district.  Andre Shamoon is an Assyrian catholic born and raised in Turlock Ca. He is a proud transman who loves to spend time with family and friends or go to the gym!  Yeshua (ܝܫܘܥ) is a standup comedian living in New York City. He LOVES talking about being Assyrian to anyone and everyone. He talks about being Assyrian and Gay in his standup, hoping it will bring awareness of his Assyrian culture to the world; and to Assyrians, unity within the culture. Yeshua grew up in Turlock, CA and studied at UC Berkeley. Above all else, he loves proving to anyone that the singular strongest common bond every single culture on earth shares is diversity. And, indeed, diversity is God's work, and if you protest God's work then you are saying you know better than God. And you do not. Chris is an out and proud Assyrian from Chicago who currently lives in LA. A passionate cook, everyone Chris befriends is immediately force fed dolma and rice. As an actor, he loves turning Middle Eastern stereotypes on their heads with his web series @WahabbiBobbi. He's thrilled to have participated in this conversation and to connect with other queer Assyrians.  Bernadet Yaghobian is an Assyrian, Armenian, Iranian Christian. She was born in Iran and immigrated to California in 2000. She’s a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a private practice and also works at a non-profit, providing mental health services to unhoused population. She also has an unconditional love for elephants.  

Episode 1 - Missed Opportunities is the first essay from our new podcast series, Musing with My Samovar with Obie Yadgar. In this episode, Obie recalls three individuals from his past and muses on conversations that were never had: an Assyrian man he met once who had been imprisoned in Siberia, a well-dressed stranger at the airport, and his uncle Rabi Benyamin Arsenos.

Episode 195 - Mattico David is an Assyrian-American actor born and raised in Flint, MI. He is a veteran of the stage and has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatrical productions.A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Theatre Performance program, Mattico was a founding member of the Flint City Theatre and a regular performer at Jeff Daniel’s Purple Rose Theatre Co., in Chelsea, MI. In this episode we discuss his upbringing, the audition to rehearsal process, and what working with other Assyrian artists has meant to him.