We are joined by Shaudi Bianca Vahdat, a Seattle-based Iranian-American musician and theatre artist exploring story-driven songwriting through influences that include musical theatre, jazz, classical, and both American and Iranian folk music. Shaudi shares stories of her heritage, her experiences as an artist, and info about her upcoming work, The Golden Door: an American immigrant song cycle, debuting at Seattle Center, June 8th 2025.Learn more about Shaudi on her webiste:https://www.shaudibiancavahdat.com/Check out her performance at Seattle Center, June 8 2025:https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/artists-at-the-center-shaudi-vahdat

Persis Karim of the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies joins us to talk about her film The Dawn Is Too Far: Stories of Iranian-American Life

The Dawn is Too Far is screening at UW Bothell Feb 18 and SIFF Uptown Feb 19.

https://www.peyvandnpo.org/events

Intro music for this episode was created by Iranian-American artist DJ Pyum

My full interview with Hanna Eady of Dunya Productions where we talk history, art, politics, and the Feb 19th world premiere of his new play Almonds Blossom in Deir Yessin, based on a historic massacre that took place in the Palestinian village of Deir Yessin. Learn more by listening to our discussion then visit dunyaproductions.org and follow @dunyaproductions.