

Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation
Chai & Conversation
Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation teaches you conversational Persian in a fun and casual manner in weekly lessons of about 15-20 minutes each. Check out our website chaiandconversation.com for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 6, 2025 • 18min
Speak Lesson 67 | How to Talk About School
In this lesson, we learn how to talk a little bit about school.

Sep 29, 2025 • 29min
Speak Lesson 66 | Tārof When Welcoming Guests
In this lesson, we continue to explore examples of tārof relevant in situations where we have guests at our houses.

Sep 15, 2025 • 23min
Culture | Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Part 5
In this lesson, we cover the thrilling conclusion to the Story of Zal in the Shahnameh with Leyla and Dr. Sahba Shayani, where Zal returns with Sam to their palace in Zabulistan, where he enjoys a hero's welcome.

Sep 8, 2025 • 19min
Culture | Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Part 4
In this lesson, we continue our discussion of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh with Dr. Sahba Shayani to the fourth part of the Story of Zal, where Simorgh reunites Zal with his father, Sam.

Sep 1, 2025 • 14min
Culture | Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Part 3
In this lesson, we continue our discussion of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh with Dr. Sahba Shayani to the third part of the Story of Zal, where Sam begins to have dreams that inspire him to search for the son he had previously abandoned.

Aug 25, 2025 • 15min
Culture | Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Part 2
In this lesson, we continue our discussion of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh with Dr. Sahba Shayani to the second part of the Story of Zal, where Simorgh spots the abandoned baby.

15 snips
Aug 18, 2025 • 27min
Culture | Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, Part 1
Dr. Sahba Shayani, a scholar of classical Persian epic poetry, dives deep into Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, a cornerstone of Persian identity. The discussion reveals how this masterpiece preserved the Persian language during Arabic dominance. They explore the rich mythology and language of the Shahnameh, focusing on the character of Zal and the interplay of beauty and shame in cultural narratives. Shayani highlights the vital roles women play in these stories, connecting historical themes to contemporary societal expectations.

Aug 6, 2025 • 1h 28min
Interview | From Oklahoma to Shahnameh: Daniel Nayeri, Author of Everything Sad is Untrue on Memory, Myth and Belonging
In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Daniel Nayeri, author of the acclaimed autobiographical novel Everything Sad is Untrue, talks about growing up as an Iranian refugee in Oklahoma, the mythic structure of memory, and the stories we inherit—true or not. He reflects on what it means to carry generational trauma, how he began writing the book in a Brooklyn bathroom, and the long journey of learning to tell his family’s story with emotional honesty.We discuss the magic of Persian storytelling traditions, from Shahnameh to Khosrow and Shirin, why he originally wrote the book for adults, and how his father reacted to seeing himself as a character on the page. Daniel also shares a preview of his newest novel, The Teacher of Nomadland, a literary adventure set in WWII-era Iran, and why he wanted to sneak a Farsi lesson into the heart of it.This episode is for anyone who’s ever tried to make sense of a fractured past—and found something beautiful in the pieces.📚 Related LinksEverything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Sad-Untrue-True-Story/dp/1646140001The Teacher of Nomadland (Preorder): https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/the-teacher-of-nomadlandDaniel Nayeri on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/danielnayeriLearn Persian with Chai and Conversation:https://chaiandconversation.comDaniel's publisher:https://www.levinequerido.com/daniel-nayeri

Jul 28, 2025 • 16min
Poetry | Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, Part 6
In this final part of our discussion of Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, we cover the remaining lines, explaining how love transcends even existence on Earth and applies to the entire universe.

Jul 21, 2025 • 10min
Poetry | Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, Part 5
In this fifth part of the discussion of Nizami Ganjavi's sokhanee chand dar eshgh, we cover the two more lines that describe the life-giving nature of love.