Nearly two weeks after the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, the fear has faded—but for many, its shadow still lingers. In this episode, we hear from Ramin, a 32-year-old journalist in Tehran. He recorded his voice during the height of the war, as bombs fell, the internet went dark, and the city emptied out. His girlfriend and friends had fled. Tehran, he says, felt ghostlike. Later, we check in with him again days after the ceasefire. He is relieved but uncertain, and trying to find his footing. Ramin offers a rare, personal reflection on what it felt like to live through those days of silence, fear, and solitude.

A newborn and a cat. That’s who she was thinking about as bombs fell on Tehran. In this episode, we hear from a woman in her thirties who didn’t flee the capital during the war. Instead, she stayed—caring for her infant child and her cat, listening to the sounds of explosions, unsure what would happen next. This is a short, raw voice message recorded days before the ceasefire. A quiet reflection on fear, survival, and the small things we try to protect when everything feels uncertain.