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STORIES BETWEEN IRAN AND AMERICA (2021)

STORIES BETWEEN IRAN & AMERICA is an episodic series that moves back and forth between Pirooz Kalayeh's present-day life to various stories from his childhood and even recent past with his mother and father during the pandemic. 

 

"A heartfelt and authentic example at how childhood, connection, and artistic resilience can help us find stories even in the most desperate times."

Season 4 (August 12, 2022): New episodes will air every other Monday at 8:00 a.m. PST. on the following platforms:

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Watch Season One - Complete in Single Player on YouTube or on Vimeo.

Watch Season Two - Complete in Single Player on YouTube or on Vimeo.

Season Three will air on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. PST beginning January 18th.

Individual episodes below.

SEASON ONE

Episode 1 - "Koo-Koo, What?"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh tells a story about the Persian dish gormet sabzi and his mom making him koo koo sabzi for lunch when he first came to America and his American classmates' reactions.

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Episode 2 - "The Magical Invention of an Ant"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh recounts how his father taught him about the magical invention of an ant.

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Episode 3 - "The Lottery Ticket"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh's mother tells him about her weekly lottery ticket

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Episode 4 - "Bumblebee Stew"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh recounts making bumbleebee stew with his friends when he first came to America from Iran. 

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Episode 5 - "Persian Cowboy"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh recounts his love for The Lone Ranger, making smoke signals, and getting in a lot of trouble.  

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Episode 6 - "My Beloved"

Pirooz Kalayeh recounts his trip back to Iran with his mother when he was four years old and his first love.

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Episode 7 - "The Millennium Falcon"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh recounts his love for Star Wars, his father's bedtime stories, and his favorite hero, Rostam. 

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Episode 8 - "The Jesse Owens Story"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh remembers eating on the floor, his hero Jesse Owens, and focusing like a laser. 

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SEASON TWO

Season 2, Ep. 1 - "My Fourth of July"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh drives across America during the pandemic and recounts a family camping trip in Missouri when he was five years old to his father on the phone.

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Season 2, Ep. 2 - “Jogging with a Veil?”

Pirooz Kalayeh drives across America during the pandemic and talks with a relative about the oppression women face under the Islamic Regime.

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Season 2, Ep. 3  - “Mrs. Ellis”

Pirooz Kalayeh drives across America during the pandemic and talks with his mother on the phone about his second grade teacher Mrs. Ellis.

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Season 2, Ep. 4 - “The Readathon”

Pirooz Kalayeh drives across America during the pandemic and talks with his mother on the phone about winning the Readathon in the second grade.

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Season 2, Ep. 5 - “For You”

Pirooz Kalayeh drives across America during the pandemic and asks his student, a relative in Iran, and his mother in America if all Iranians are hopeless romantics.

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Season 2, Ep. 6 - “Rocky”

Pirooz Kalayeh starts a training regiment to get in shape, watches the commemorations for September 11th, and then his relative in Iran tells her perspective on American politics. 

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Season 2, Ep. 7 - “The Debate”

Pirooz Kalayeh does a vegan juice cleanse, watches The Princess Bride with his family, and gets advice from his father about the upcoming Presidential debates.

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Season 2 - Ep. 8 - "Lord of the Flies"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh remembers his 10th grade English teacher and wonders how she'd connect "Lord of the Flies" with the latest Presidential debates.

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Season 2 - Ep 9 - "The Nin-Ja"

Pirooz Kalayeh remembers Halloween with his brother. 

 

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Season 2 - Ep 10 - "Hope"

Pirooz Kalayeh and his family watch the election results. 

 

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Season 2 - Ep 10 - "Hope"

Pirooz Kalayeh and his family watch the election results. 

 

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SEASON THREE

Season 3 - Ep. 1 - "This Is Just the Beginning"

Pirooz Kalayeh watches the Insurrection and remembers his second teacher loaning him a copy of Dr. King's autobiography. 

 

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Season 3 - Ep. 2 - "It's a Wonderful Love"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh watches Christmas movies and remembers his first date at Alexis I. Dupont Middle School.

 

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Season 3 - Ep. 3 - "500 Big Macs"

 

Pirooz Kalayeh remembers the last time his entire family got together for Thanksgiving and went out for fast food.

 

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Season 3 - Ep. 4 - "Chicken & Fire"

Panauh builds a fire with his dad for his birthday, while Pirooz's relative in Iran deals with the food shortage from the pandemic.

 

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Season 3 - Ep. 5 - "Kissie-Kissie"

 

Pirooz hikes with his dad and remembers being bullied in New Jersey and saving squirrels.

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Season 3 - Ep. 6 - "Abbott & Costello"

 

Pirooz's mother and brother cook up a storm during the pandemic.

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Season 3 - Ep. 7 - "The Maltese Bully"

 

Pirooz's relative asks how the bully in Episode 5 got the way he was.

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Season 3 - Ep. 8 - "Khaneh Koo-chack"

Pirooz's family watches "Little House on the Prairie" during the pandemic and he remembers making a bow and arrow when he was a child.

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Season 3 - Ep. 9 - "Bobbie"

Pirooz's remember his writing teacher Bobbie Louise Hawkins. 

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