Podcast Summary:

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Bänoo Zan and Cy Strom, "Women, Life, Freedom: Poems for the Iranian Revolution" (Guernica Editions, 2025)
Host: Holly Gattery
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the recently published anthology, Women, Life, Freedom: Poems for the Iranian Revolution, co-edited by poet Bänoo Zan and editor Cy Strom. The anthology commemorates and documents the ongoing movement for women’s rights, political freedom, and human dignity in Iran, sparked by the killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in 2022. The conversation explores the genesis of the anthology, its inclusive editorial process, the power of poetry as witness and protest, and the hope and solidarity it aims to inspire across geographic and social boundaries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origins and Intent of the Anthology (02:34–08:31)

• Genesis of the Project
  • The anthology proposal was initiated shortly after the death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent protests in Iran. By September 2022, the proposal was sent, accepted quickly, and the open call for submissions followed in March 2023.
  • The submission process lasted a year and featured a commitment to anonymize submissions to ensure inclusivity and meritocracy.
• Historical & Ongoing Context
  • The editors stressed the revolution continues: “There is a revolution right now. It’s the same movement. It’s not yet completed.” (Sai, 07:53)
  • The poems bear witness to ongoing violence, courage, and the unfinished struggle for rights in Iran.

Inclusion, Anonymity, and Artistic Mission (08:31–19:41)

• Anonymous Review and Global Participation
  • The editors reviewed submissions blindly—without knowing identities—resulting in a diverse anthology, with contributions from Iranians and non-Iranians alike.
  • Bänoo Zan emphasized art’s power to bridge differences:

    “Art should connect us with each other and should let us imaginatively participate in the struggle...I don’t believe that Iranians have the monopoly over writing about Iran.” (Bänoo Zan, 10:41)

• On Inclusion and the Diaspora
  • The anthology welcomes not just Iranians, but anyone who can meaningfully engage with the struggle.
  • Bänoo called for Iranians to write in English, positioning it as a lingua franca—"not as a colonial language," but as a language for global partnership and understanding. (13:51)
• Personal Account of Belonging
  • Host Holly Gattery shared her initial hesitance to contribute—feeling “not Iranian enough”—but found validation in the inclusive mission:

    “...seeing the call that you made helped me feel validated in my voice, in my experience...I just want to thank you for that approach...it was such a legitimizing experience...” (Holly, 18:47)

The Book’s Structure: Thematic Sections (19:41–30:41)

• The anthology is organized into thematic sections: roots and mythologies, defiance, the struggle, witness/testimony, and futures/hope.
• Section Details:
  • Roots/Mythologies: Links movement to Iranian and global history.
  • Defiance: Explores forms and acts of resistance.
  • Struggle: Narratives of activism and sacrifice; includes cross-regional solidarity (e.g., with Afghan poets).
  • Witness: Voices documenting atrocities and internal/external conflict.
  • Futures: Envisioning hope, commemoration, and the ongoing fight for freedom.
• Bänoo shared her belief that:

  “Art cannot be just for its own sake. It has to be at the service of a better world, at a cry for help...committed to justice and to freedom.” (Bänoo, 27:47)

Editorial Surprises & Reader Responses (31:52–35:29)

• Surprises emerged both in the composition of contributors (roughly half Iranian heritage, half not) and the imaginative reach of poets, including, for instance, men writing convincingly in the voice of women.
• The bravery of contributors (including those in Iran) astonished the editors:

  “These very brave people astonish me, actually, with their effrontery towards a violent dictatorship.” (Cy, 34:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Anonymity and Inclusivity
  • “Just being an Iranian doesn't mean that you care about Iranians...if art cannot bring us closer together in that, it has failed its mission.” (Bänoo, 10:04)
• On the Mission of the Anthology
  • “This is a cause that sparks interest and ought to spark interest anywhere.” (Cy, 34:10)
• On Art’s Responsibility
  • “For me, art cannot be in this case, writing cannot be an exercise in width and...mastery over words and language. It has to be at the service of a better world, at a cry for help.” (Bänoo, 27:47)
• On Hopes for the Anthology
  • “I would say my hope would be that this anthology would bring us closer together, and the geographical borders and the ideological borders...would fall and we would become one people on earth.” (Bänoo, 43:17)
  • “An anthology like this keeps hopes alive in words and lines that will not be forgotten because they cannot be forgotten.” (Cy, 44:08)

Poetry Readings (Highlights & Timestamps)

• "I'm not supposed to be talking about this" (Holly Gattery’s poem read by Cy), about the pressure to remain silent and the layers of denial/complicity. (20:58–22:35)
• "Urgent Report" (Bänoo Zan)
  • Based on a real message from the father of a political prisoner, Hossein Ronaghi:

    “The gate to human rights is closed in Iran. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, officials are not answerable. They’re appointed to kill...If anything happens to Hussein, you are all responsible. All of you.” (Bänoo reads, 36:05–37:51)

• "Don’t Tell Mom" (Ari Honarvar, read by Cy Strom)
  • Inspired by a young protester’s last phone call to his father:

    “Dad, they’ve reached a verdict. Mine is execution by hanging. Don’t tell mom...” (Cy reads, 38:36–39:58)

Reflections on the Iranian Revolution & Global Resonance

• The co-editors stressed that while the anthology arises from a specific historical context, it extends its vision to all struggles for justice, dignity, and liberation.
• The diversity of contributors, reflected at the anthology’s Toronto launch, was cited as a source of strength and hope.

Closing Questions: Hopes for the Reader (42:22–44:35)

• Bänoo’s hope: That the book brings readers together across borders and differences—“we would become one people on earth.”
• Cy’s addition: That the anthology “lives within the present moment and will continue. It celebrates heroism. Its poems interrogate our own selves...keeps hope alive.”

Updates from the Editors (45:47–47:06)

• Cy Strom: Completing an essay on Canadian artist Oscar Cahén.
• Bänoo Zan: Looking for a publisher for a new manuscript of deeply political poems.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Origins & Context of the Anthology – 02:34–08:31
• Editorial Mission & Inclusivity – 08:31–19:41
• Book Structure & Thematic Sections – 19:41–30:41
• Editorial Surprises & Reader Impact – 31:52–35:29
• Poetry Readings: "Urgent Report" & "Don't Tell Mom" – 35:29–39:58
• Panel Reflections & Hopes for Anthology – 42:22–44:35
• What’s Next for the Editors – 45:47–47:06

Final Thoughts

The episode stands as a profound testament to the role of poetry in witnessing, resisting, and envisioning justice—not just for Iran but for the world. The anthology Women, Life, Freedom and this conversation alike break the boundaries of ethnicity, geography, and tradition to create a chorus of global solidarity anchored in the hope for freedom and dignity.