Episode 220 – Dyana Dawood is an Assyrian football player in Iraq’s Women’s National Team. She has competed at professional levels in both the United States and Europe. Her journey reached a historic milestone when she earned a call-up to the Iraq Women’s National Football Team. As the first Assyrian woman to represent this team, she has become a powerful symbol of representation, resilience, and opportunity for young girls across Iraq and throughout the diaspora.  In this Episode we'll talk about her upbringing, her passion for the sport and her journey to the national team. We also hear about the challenges she and her teammates have faced competing abroad and what it means to inspire the next generation of girls through football. Sponsor: This episode of the Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Get Set Tech, a Google for Education partner helping schools get the most out of Google Workspace and Chrome. From security audits to Chromebooks, Gemini, and Google Voice licenses, our team is here to help you Get Set with Google. Email us at [email protected] or visit getsettech.com to learn more. Instagram: @dyanadawood https://www.dd8academy.com

Episode 219 - Ano Memari is an Assyrian DJ local to the San Francisco Bay Area. Based out of Gilroy, CA, Ano does shows and sets for various weddings, parties, and other events every weekend of the year. In this episode, we learn more about his humble beginnings, memorable moments, his love for the Assyrian community, and how he found himself spinning music for the masses week in and week out.  Sponsor: This episode of the Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Get Set Tech, a Google for Education partner helping schools get the most out of Google Workspace and Chrome. From security audits to Chromebooks, Gemini, and Google Voice licenses, our team is here to help you Get Set with Google. Email us at [email protected] or visit getsettech.com to learn more. Instagram: @dj.ano408Business Instagram: @epicmusic.entYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@djano408Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/9WmngA7WWUIsnkkLM3

Episode 218 – Chris Halef is an Assyrian comedian calling Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada home — and his story is one worth hearing. In this episode, we sit down with Chris to talk about how his family found their way to the East Coast, his journey into stand-up comedy, and what his heritage means to him both on and off the stage.    Sponsor: This episode of the Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Get Set Tech, a Google for Education partner helping schools get the most out of Google Workspace and Chrome. From security audits to Chromebooks, Gemini, and Google Voice licenses, our team is here to help you Get Set with Google. Email us at [email protected] or visit getsettech.com to learn more.   Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chrishalefcomedy Instagram: @chrishalef  Tik Tok: chrishalef

Episode 217 Part 2 - Shamiram Urshan: The Life and Music of an Assyrian Icon Step into the world of an Assyrian legend! 🎤✨ In this episode, we explore the life and enduring legacy of the iconic Shamiram Urshan, a singer and entertainer who rose to international fame in the 1980s. Known for her vibrant style and "revolutionary" spirit, Shamiram was a performer who stayed true to her roots while connecting with audiences across the globe.   Her first-born son, Dino Pick who we met in part 1 provides an intimate look at the woman behind the music. From her childhood in Tehran to her life as a "close-knit" family anchor in Seattle, Dino shares stories of her "superpower" of forgiveness and her unique stage presence—where she was known to dance right into the middle of the crowd.   Highlights of this episode include: A Family Affair: The story of how her debut album was written entirely by her father, Daniel. The "Mom" Energy: How she balanced being a global star with her roles as a nurturing mother and grandmother. Cultural Pride: Her journey of maintaining Assyrian traditions in America and her commitment to passing that heritage to the next generation. Don't miss this heartfelt tribute to a woman who pushed the Assyrian people forward through her art and her love. 🎶❤️ 🎧 Listen now to learn about the one and only Shamiram Urshan! #ShamiramUrshan #AssyrianMusic #AssyrianPodcast #CulturalLegacy #MusicHistory

Episode 217 - Dino Pick (Part 1) In this episode of the Assyrian Podcast, we sit down with Retired U.S. Army Colonel Dino (Danial) Pick, whose life sits at the intersection of military service, diplomacy, and Assyrian identity. From commanding tanks in Desert Storm to leading special operations in northern Iraq, Dino reflects on the tension of serving as an Assyrian-American during the 2003 invasion. He shares a powerful moment when, in the middle of active combat, he used a satellite phone to reconnect an Assyrian professor with his mother in the village of Alqosh. Raised in a close-knit Assyrian home in Seattle, Dino began school speaking only his native language and went on to master Arabic, Farsi, and Dari, eventually serving as a Foreign Area Officer and Commandant of the Defense Language Institute. Beyond his 29-year military career, Dino opens up about a deeply personal calling: honoring the legacy of his mother, a legendary Assyrian singer we’ll meet in part 2. This episode explores identity, sacrifice, and what it means to carry your heritage through every stage of life. Mr. Danial Pick serves as the Director of International Graduate Programs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.  Mr. Pick previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD (SOLIC)).  In this capacity he assisted the ASD (SOLIC) in the execution of Department-wide counterterrorism and irregular warfare policy, operational oversight, and execution of service secretary-like responsibilities over U.S. SOCOM.    Previously he served as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy and Programs, a position called for in bipartisan legislation as a means of strengthening civilian oversight of U.S. Special Operations Forces.  In this capacity he was responsible for advising the ASD (SOLIC) and the Secretary of Defense by formulating, recommending, integrating and implementing policies and strategies on matters pertaining to the organization, training and equipping of special operations forces including oversight of the $13.4B MFP-11 Special Operations budget.    Mr. Pick graduated in 1987 from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization.  He also holds a Master of Military Art and Studies from the Marine Corps University, and a Master of Arts in Near Eastern studies from Princeton University.  He was a National Security Affairs Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Mr. Pick served for 29 years in the US Army as a military intelligence and Middle East foreign area officer.  He served with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) working with partners and allies throughout the Indo-Pacific region.  His combat deployments included service with 3/66 Armor Battalion in Desert Storm in 1990-91, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and service in Afghanistan in 2009.  Mr. Pick helped develop the counterterrorism capabilities of the Iraqi and Jordanian Armed Forces while serving at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, from 2003-2006, before serving as a Policy Officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2006-2008 building the partner capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces.  Mr. Pick commanded the Defense Language Institute from 2010-2014 providing foreign language capability to special operations forces and the intelligence community. Mr. Pick has served as a municipal government leader in the Cities of Monterey and Del Rey Oaks, California.  He currently serves as an elected official on the Monterey Peninsula Airport Board.   He speaks Assyrian, Arabic, Farsi, and Dari. He is married to Karen Pick. They have two children, Dalton (24) and Lauren (21).  Mr. Pick is a member of the Global SOF Foundation, the OSS Society, Chair of the Big Sur Marathon Foundation Board, and a member of the Rotary Club of Monterey.

Episode 216 – Assyriska Fotbollsföreningen, also known simply as Assyriska FF, is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje, Stockholm. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 1. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in 2005 where their games were broadcast in over 80 countries The club has also played a final in Svenska Cupen. In this episode, Assyriska chairman Moussa Esa discusses how the club began, its legacy, and his aspirations for the team’s future. We also explore the history of Assyrian migration to Sweden and how Södertälje became known as the unofficial Assyrian capital of Europe. This episode of the Assyrian Podcast is brought to you by Get Set Tech, a Google for Education partner helping schools get the most out of Google Workspace and Chrome. From security audits to Chromebooks, Gemini, and Google Voice licenses, our team is here to help you Get Set with Google. Email them at [email protected] or visit getsettech.com to learn more. Assyriska website: https://assyriska.se/  Moussa Esa’s contact: [email protected] You can support the team here: https://assyriska.se/donera

Episode 215 - Dr. Shana Sara Zaia In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shana S. Zaia, an Assistant Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a rare Assyrian Assyriologist. We explore the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, widely regarded as the world’s first true empire, and discuss the innovations, from standing armies to complex diplomacy, that allowed it to dominate the ancient world. Dr. Zaia explains how her work as a philologist allows her to "time travel" through cuneiform texts, finding human connection in everything from royal inscriptions to ancient schoolchildren’s homework. We also dive into her passion for outreach and her mission to ensure modern Assyrians feel a profound connection to their 6,000-year heritage. Thank you to Get Set Tech (www.getsettech.com), for making this conversation possible. Their support helps us continue sharing the stories and history of the Assyrian people. Highlights include: The transition of Assyrian identity from a political status to a cultural heritage. How the humanities serve as a vital tool for cultural preservation. Resources for the diaspora available at shana-zaia.com. Tune in to bridge the gap between ancient Nineveh and the living community of today. https://shanazaia.com/ https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/shana-zaia/

Episode 214 - Ramina Samuel, Christine Kochou Yousif, John Shlimon What does it take to turn a language that was once dismissed as “not possible” into a fully accredited high school course in the United States? In this episode of the Assyrian Podcast, we sit down with educators, advocates, and students behind the first accredited Assyrian language program in the U.S. Together, they give us an update on how the program is doing two years after its inception. They share the eight-year journey of persistence, collaboration, and community leadership that brought Assyrian language and culture into public schools as a recognized world language. From curriculum design and academic rigor to student identity, pride, and belonging, this conversation explores why language matters, how representation shapes confidence, and what becomes possible when a community refuses to give up. This episode is not just about education, it is about visibility, legacy, and building a future where Assyrian culture is seen, valued, and passed on. Niles Township High School District 219: https://www.niles219.org/  Instagram: @d219assyrian Facebook: D219 Suraye Books/Resources:D219 Assyrian Website - https://sites.google.com/d219.org/d219assyrian/home Textbook: Lishani by Rabi Anwar Atto

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.