Iranian-American sci-fi author Reza Rajebi (pen. Daiko Hazhir) joins us to explore the thin, often terrifying line between imagined monsters and real-world horrors.

Get a mini lesson in Iranian culture, an overview of the brutal realities of the U.S.-Iran conflict, and also a reminder of the internal conflict Iran now faces with itself.

We also discuss the historical role of repression, exile, the next regime, the resilience of youth, and the role of storytelling and art in surviving and resisting oppressive power.

Reza shares deeply personal reflections on watching the conflict between his two home countries and how that tension inspires him to write and read to find the answers we all need for humanity to evolve toward peace.

The Exorcist (1973)

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