Listen Top Shows Blog

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

Update: 2025-06-26

Share

Description

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian fled Iran with her family during the revolution to escape religious persecution, learning English as her third language before building a career in clinical psychology. Now the first Iranian American woman to lead the city, she governs a diverse community where roughly 20% of the population trace its roots to Iran. As war unfolds in the Middle East, she's tells us how she's become the de facto voice of a diaspora caught between American dreams and a longing for peace in their homeland.

Comments

In Channel

Gustavo Arellano on California families under siege

Gustavo Arellano on California families under siege

2025-11-2035:20

Roddy Bottum: A queer rock pioneer remembers San Francisco's lost era

Roddy Bottum: A queer rock pioneer remembers San Francisco's lost era

2025-11-1335:00

Ashlee Vance on robot gladiators and the future of AI combat

Ashlee Vance on robot gladiators and the future of AI combat

2025-11-0629:14

Todd S. Purdum: How Desi Arnaz invented modern television and lost himself

Todd S. Purdum: How Desi Arnaz invented modern television and lost himself

2025-10-3033:07

John Freeman sees California as America's literary center

John Freeman sees California as America's literary center

2025-10-2331:37

Ari Gold on what happens when 'live cinema' meets family dysfunction

Ari Gold on what happens when 'live cinema' meets family dysfunction

2025-10-1628:57

Dina Gilio-Whitaker on how California commodified Native identity

Dina Gilio-Whitaker on how California commodified Native identity

2025-10-0929:05

Mike Magee on building the world's most innovative university

Mike Magee on building the world's most innovative university

2025-10-0226:48

Tim Higgins on the battle to take down Apple

Tim Higgins on the battle to take down Apple

2025-09-2545:18

Jeff Chang on Bruce Lee and the emergence of Asian American pride

Jeff Chang on Bruce Lee and the emergence of Asian American pride

2025-09-1826:45

Satsuki Ina on echoes of Japanese incarceration

Satsuki Ina on echoes of Japanese incarceration

2025-09-1136:14

Peter Jones explores privilege and vulnerability at a school for sons of the Los Angeles elite

Peter Jones explores privilege and vulnerability at a school for sons of the Los Angeles elite

2025-09-0428:51

Eve Quesnel on how nature always shows up

Eve Quesnel on how nature always shows up

2025-08-2922:27

Scott Alan Lucas on San Francisco, misinformation, and the killing of Bob Lee

Scott Alan Lucas on San Francisco, misinformation, and the killing of Bob Lee

2025-08-2140:04

Jim Newton on freedom, community, Jerry Garcia, and the Grateful Dead

Jim Newton on freedom, community, Jerry Garcia, and the Grateful Dead

2025-08-1436:14

Sam Yebri on L.A.'s decline and a path forward

Sam Yebri on L.A.'s decline and a path forward

2025-07-3126:44

Matt Ritter and Michael Kauffmann on California's iconic native trees

Matt Ritter and Michael Kauffmann on California's iconic native trees

2025-07-2430:20

Gene Seroka: At the helm of America's busiest port

Gene Seroka: At the helm of America's busiest port

2025-07-1725:10

Christopher Beam on how AI safety birthed a killing spree

Christopher Beam on how AI safety birthed a killing spree

2025-07-1046:29

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

2025-06-2619:06

00:00

00:00

1.0x

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

Sharona Nazarian on leading Beverly Hills' Iranian diaspora through crisis

Jeff Schechtman