The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran
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2025 Signal Award Winner: Best History Podcast
Iran’s history has been a never-ending struggle for liberty and independence. In this podcast, we tell the story of how Iran ended up where it is now and how religion, monarchy, democracy, and nationalism all played important roles in defining the lives of its people.
Book One: The Qajars
How the constitutional revolution created Iran’s very first parliament. This season follows the story of the fading Qajar monarchy, as unrest, foreign meddling, and political betrayal set the stage for Reza Khan’s rise to power.
Book Two: Reza Shah
The rise and fall of Reza Shah, the architect of modern Iran. The meteoric rise of Reza Khan from a simple soldier to the founding Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty, his radical transformation of Iran into a modern state, and his ultimate downfall.
Book Three: Oil (January 2026)
Listen to new episodes every other Wednesday.