Learn Persian with Chaiang Conversation Raising Nimdrenes, a conversation with Shabnam Rezae.

Hello and welcome to Raising Nimrunni's conversations about passing on Iranian culture and language to the next generation.

My name is Leila Shams and I'm your host.

Today's interview is with Shabnam Rezae, co-founder of Big Bad Boo, a production company that specializes an animated series for television,

and especially television shows that showcase different cultures and languages.

I actually met Shabnam many, many years ago in New York.

I was working on a board game that teaches kids the Persian language,

and Shabdom interviewed me for a really successful blog she had at the time,

in which she wrote about Iranian culture, a blog named Persian Mir.

Shortly after, she produced a short animated film called Boback's First Noroos,

which was about a little boy learning about the Persian New Year.

The film featured the voices of some famous Iranian actors and actresses and was a huge hit.

So after that, she went on to found Oz Naz, which is a video subscription program with tons of Persian and other language children's television programming.

And she also founded the Big Bad Boo Studios with her husband Ali.

Big Bad Boo is an animation studio and produces lots of amazing

programs. So she's a very busy lady. Since I met her, she has also had two Nimbrunee kids,

daughters. I know because of her work, it's important for her that her kids be able to speak

multiple languages. I didn't realize, however, that she would be the only person I interviewed to remain successful

in speaking to her kids exclusively in Persian.

So let's listen to the interview now and see how she does it.

Also, again, this interview took place while New York City, where Shabnam lives, was in

mega lockdown and in pretty bad shape.

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