Arash's World Podcast Arash Farzaneh

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with presidential historian Talmage Boston and the author of “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.” We talk about timeless leadership qualities embodied in each of the Top 8 American Presidents and how this knowledge and insight can be of great benefit to anyone interested in becoming a leader in any field or business.
Talmage explains how each of the presidents offers something unique that can inspire us and help us on our own leadership path. For instance, Washington was good at learning from his mistakes, was good at making decisions and had an impeccable reputation, whereas Jefferson demonstrates the importance of having positive relationships, keeping the communication lines open, and getting people in a mode of collaboration and cooperation.
What others have shown as well is the importance of a clear vision, of unwavering faith and dedication to one’s goals and aims, and of overcoming various obstacles and challenges. In addition, Lincoln shows us great focus and not being distracted from one’s path, while Franklin Roosevelt’s strength and resilience are commendable and inspiring.
Finally, a sense of pragmatism imbued with optimism often leads to success. This is embodied in both the attitude as well as deeds of Reagan, who managed to restore confidence and motivate the nation after a period of stagnation and demotivation. Not only do we learn more about the selected presidents, their personalities, and political careers but also, how this information can make us all more successful leaders in our own respective endeavors.

In this episode, filmmaker Jennifer Takaki talks about her documentary “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” on the photographer and journalist Corky Lee who over 50 years and with almost a million pictures to his credit managed to combine art, images, and photographs with politics as well as awareness, inclusion, and social change.
In fact, Corky retook the 1869 photo of the railroad celebration and made it more diverse, inclusive, and true to fact by - this time around - not excluding Asian faces from the image even though many Chinese workers had been involved in the work and labor of the railroad construction.
Moreover, Jennifer explains how Corky was very passionate, persistent, dedicated and very good at his art of photography while always being at the right place at the right time. A picture speaks a thousand words, and, in this case, it also caught what had often eluded mainstream media at the time and has framed and reframed our knowledge and understanding of historical events.
Finally, his influence needs to be put into perspective as in the lens and framework of his times, it was rather uncommon for people and society to be diverse and inclusive in their practices. At the same time, by being open to and even expanding his community to include many others, he has always brought attention to a lot of cultural festivities and celebrations in New York.  

In this episode, I have the wonderful pleasure of speaking with Rabbi Jeffrey Katz, the author of “Rules to Live By: Maimonides’ Guide to a Wonderful Life,” which provides us a summary of fascinating maxims and proverbs by this intellectual and spiritual mind of the Middle Ages.
Maimonides was a multi-talented person, and he was a doctor as well as a prolific writer who was persecuted for his beliefs but whose ideas influenced many philosophers, thinkers, and scholars, including Thomas Aquinas. In fact, the writings of Maimonides were discussed and even revered by three main Western religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Yet on this podcast, the Rabbi focuses on practical tips and guidance for everyday life and taps into the wisdom of Maimonides’ maxims and proverbs. We learn about finance and how to best deal with money as well as how a charitable and philanthropic mindset and lifestyle can attract affluence in different ways.
Moreover, it comes down to character and attitude, which can bring not only happiness to our personal and professional life, but they can also build and create trust and respect within our own community. Moreover, family is of great importance and so best practices and values are encouraged to ensure that there is mutual respect and love within the given family unit.
Finally, we also delve into the more mystical aspects of Maimonides and the importance of tapping into the good and the light and refraining from falling prey to evil and negativity. Through a spiritual lens and outlook, we can not only find love but also connect with God and experience divine overflow, which would help us see and notice signposts and divine providence throughout our lives. This would lead us to a feeling of awe and connectedness and transform our lives in profound ways and manners.

In this episode, I have the wonderful pleasure to be once again speaking with Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Podcaster Dr. Carla Marie Manly about her book “The Joy of Imperfect Love: The Art of Creating Healthy, Securely Attached Relationships.”
We talk about the intersection between the letting go of perfection and the letting in of joy while not only accepting the flaws in each of us but also allowing space for and embracing the quirky and idiosyncratic parts of one another.
Dr. Carla gives us a summary of four different relationship styles and how we can adopt the healthiest one that, like a braid, allows for dependence while also supporting independence as well as fostering connection between each other. At the same time, if the relationship includes emotional intelligence, with strong communication and healthy conflict, it could lead to even more joy and harmony.
Furthermore, we discuss how and why the relationship with oneself is of great importance and that we need to be reminded that self-love is not always synonymous with self-care. It is best to be kind and gentle with oneself including past versions of our selves.
Often, there is a lot of pain and traumatic experiences that need to be addressed and processed to be able to move forward and onward in life, yet we should not be afraid to change direction or our mindset to attain what works best for us at a given moment. We also look at how change may be difficult but necessary to embrace and the three positive purposes of uplift, grow, and accept that can help us along the way.

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with historian and author James Swanson on his fascinating book of “The Deerfield Massacre: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America” as well as on his recent involvement with the Apple TV+ series “Manhunt” an adaptation based on his own best-selling book.
What happened on February 29, 1704, in the remote town of Deerfield, Massachusetts? James Swanson gives a chilling account of this chapter in early American history by examining the massacre perpetuated by 300 Indians and 50 French officers and the subsequent abduction of over a hundred residents and their experience of captivity.
Many Deerfield residents, including women and children were murdered on the spot, others were slaughtered on the long march to Canada through wintry conditions, and some of them, like Eunice Williams, daughter of Reverend John Williams, were forcefully adopted by Indians and then incorporated into their tribes. No matter how much the Reverend tried, he could not get his daughter to come home in addition to having lost two very young children and his wife to this brutal and unexpected attack.
We also look at the importance of preserving history in the form of relics like the “Old Indian Door,” the constant threat of attacks combined with fear and superstition of the times including witchcraft, and the belief in divine punishment. James also explains the reason for using horseshoes at the door, how native voices had been erased but have now been added to the historical accounts, and how today, there are many descendants of mixed blood in these areas, especially in Canada.
Finally, we look at how history can be complex and filled with irony, especially the relationship triangle between France, England, and America, and how French support had been instrumental in winning the revolutionary war and how the Statue of Liberty is a French gift and symbol that commemorates American independence.

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with biographer and historian Lord Conrad Black and author of “The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol. I”, an ambitious and comprehensive project that will encompass a trilogy of books starting from the Old Testament and focusing on various influential people and leaders that have made history.
In the first volume, Conrad looks at how clans and tribes organized themselves in Mesopotamia, India, and China, and it ends with the death of the first Roman Emperor Augustus. He also looks at other notable and noteworthy historical figures that have left indelible marks in the annals of history, including Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.
We also touch upon the founding fathers and the American Experiment and the strategic contributions of Benjamin Franklin as well as later important influences by Franklin Roosevelt, who is generally considered to be a polarized figure ranging from being a socialist to the “greatest friend capitalism ever had.”
Moreover, we agree that history is a fascinating subject and that it is not merely a repetitive cycle but that it in fact represents a line of progress, which is not straight but rather jagged in its shape and nature. Conrad also gives two "what-if" examples and scenarios of speculative history, the nightmare and the best outcome, in his view.
Finally, we talk about how the Americans faced the Communist threat during the Cold War period and how despite occasional overreactions, it was a bold and successful strategy to keep the Soviet Union at bay. At the same time, Nazis were not as unified as is often thought and believed but that they faced internal strife and opposition including the assassination attempt on their leader.