“I’M FROM IRAN, AND I HAVE A MESSAGE”

Summary

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Therapy Gecko – Episode Summary

Episode: “I’M FROM IRAN, AND I HAVE A MESSAGE”

Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Therapy Gecko (Lyle)
Guest: Arman Ahmed Arman

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Overview

In this emotionally charged episode, Therapy Gecko connects with Arman, an Iranian living in Toronto, who shares his firsthand perspective on the ongoing unrest and internet shutdowns in Iran. The conversation, centering on the turmoil, economic strife, propaganda, and personal feelings of helplessness and survivor's guilt, humanizes the often-abstract news headlines about Iran. Arman’s story serves as both testimony and plea: a message from the Iranian diaspora to the wider world about what is happening to his people under the regime.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and Arman’s Background

• [02:24-04:14] Arman, originally from Tehran, lived in Iran until age 24 before moving to Canada about six to seven years ago. He currently resides in Toronto after a period in Montreal.
  • Quote: "I know what the government is like, I know what the people are like..." (04:16 – Arman)
• Arman is not politically active but feels compelled to speak about the situation in Iran due to the current climate and lack of communication with his family.

Life in Iran and Reasons for Emigrating

• [05:21-09:27] Economic hardship was a driving force behind his emigration. Even professionals in Iran cannot cover basic needs due to currency devaluation.
  • Quote: "It doesn't make sense for a white collar worker to go to their office because that doesn't pay for the cab ride there..." (08:18 – Arman)
• When arriving in Canada, Arman was supported by his family and feels privileged for having the opportunity to leave.

Current Situation in Iran

• [12:18-17:20] Arman is anxious due to the week-long total internet blackout in Iran, curfews, and reports of indiscriminate violence against civilians.
  • Quote: "I don’t have any specific... it has been a week since I heard anything from my family members there.” (14:39 – Arman)
• Communication is nearly impossible; information only comes through rare channels like Starlink.

The Reality of Protests and Government Repression

• [18:24-21:42] The guest contextualizes current protests as the latest in a cycle of unrest, explaining historical precedents (2019’s protests, Woman Life Freedom protests in 2022–23).
  • Quote: “It’s got to a point where people don’t have a choice anymore because... they can’t afford very basic food.” (19:49 – Arman)
• Poverty is widespread; people have no alternative but to protest.

Regime Propaganda and International Perceptions

• [21:52-26:45] Arman explains government narratives that blame unrest on Western interference and threaten "balkanization".
  • Quote: "That's one of their instruments of terror... These people are Westerners. They're paid by the U.S." (25:13 – Arman)
• The “threat” of Iran splitting into ethnic enclaves is regime propaganda to maintain control.

Structure of the Regime

• [26:45-29:09] A brief primer on Iran's theocracy: false elections, a figurehead president, and real power in the hands of the Supreme Leader, Khamenei.

Personal Emotional Toll & Survivor’s Guilt

• [43:37-46:30] Arman opens up about his emotional exhaustion, lack of news from family, constant anxiety, and a profound sense of survivor's guilt.
  • Quote: "I wish I could do more. Yeah, I don’t know. Did you want to ask something else? I really want to talk as much as possible because... I feel like I have a duty, you know.” (46:30 – Arman)

Daily Life and Indoctrination in Iranian Schools

• [51:43-59:50] Vivid details about school life:
  • Gender-segregated education.
  • Daily collective chanting of anti-Western slogans, regardless of comprehension.
  • Emphasis on religious indoctrination, Arabic to recite Quran, little exposure to arts.
  • Mandatory “defense” education focusing on guns and readiness for war.
  • Quote: "They would read a bit of Quran and then they chant things like death to Israel, to America. They would chant stuff like this... to 6 year olds, 6 year olds all around Iran." (53:27 – Arman)
  • Despite this, many youth see through the propaganda.

Poverty, Information Control, and Social Stratification

• [61:04-65:24] Those very poor or very rich are likely to support the regime: the poor due to indoctrination and lack of access/information, the rich because it serves them materially.
  • Use of VPNs is widespread among those seeking uncensored news or connection to the outside world, but many still lack awareness of life elsewhere.

Reflections on Ignorance vs. Awareness

• [67:54-70:10] Arman compares the pain and anxiety of awareness (e.g., after reading '1984') to the comparative “comfort” of ignorance, but affirms knowledge is ultimately a privilege and a responsibility.
  • Quote: "If I didn’t have the education that I’ve had, I wouldn’t have a chance and a privilege to stand up for people... because, you know, the knowledge, even if it brings pain with it, it’s still a privilege." (70:10 – Arman)

Closing Message & Call to Listeners

• [73:36-75:59] Arman directly addresses the audience, urging them to share information about Iran and not let the suffering become invisible.
  • Quote: "If you can spread the word, I would be personally grateful to you... You don’t have to take my word for it. You can do your own research." (74:09 – Arman)
• He also reflects on the possible benefits and risks of foreign intervention and the importance of keeping the plight of Iranians in public consciousness.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On economic hopelessness:
  “Even white collar workers, it doesn’t make sense for them to work anymore because they can’t afford the cab to their workplace.” (08:18 – Arman)

• On government repression:
  "People are being shot at if they’re outside... there’s just no discrimination." (13:10 – Arman)

• On propaganda:
  "They keep telling people, oh, these people are Westerners. They're paid by the U.S. They're paid by outside forces." (25:53 – Arman)

• On survivor's guilt:
  "It could be me who's unemployed, who can’t afford anything, who dreams about having a car or even phone. It could be me there, and now. It could be me fighting for my life, fighting for food..." (45:21 – Arman)

• On knowledge vs. ignorance:
  "Even if it brings pain with it, [knowledge] is still a privilege." (70:10 – Arman)

• On the power of testimony:
  "Your just sharing of your lived experience is, I think, a lot more powerful than you having some kind of savviness over the complex information..." (47:51 – Therapy Gecko)

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Important Timestamps

• [02:24] — Arman introduces himself and shares his background.
• [05:21] — Discusses the economic collapse and life in Tehran.
• [14:39] — Shares the pain of not hearing from family during the internet blackout.
• [18:24] — Historical context of protests in Iran.
• [21:52] — Details about propaganda and Western “incitement.”
• [29:09] — Explains Iran’s regime and Supreme Leader.
• [43:37] — Opens up about exhaustion, worry, and survivor's guilt.
• [51:43] — Describes indoctrination and life in Iranian schools.
• [61:04] — On poverty, lack of information, and VPN use in Iran.
• [67:54] — Reflection on awareness and the pain of knowledge.
• [73:36] — Arman’s closing appeal to the audience.

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Episode Tone

The episode is raw, earnest, and somber, with the host exhibiting deep empathy and curiosity. Arman speaks with a mixture of urgency, heartbreak, and cautious hope—both for Iran’s future and for international awareness.

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Takeaway

This episode provides a rare, unfiltered perspective from within the Iranian diaspora, highlighting not only the macro-political and economic crises, but the intensely personal consequences—family separation, fear, indoctrination, and guilt. Arman’s central message is clear: the Iranian struggle is not abstract, but real, personal, and ongoing. Listeners are called upon to witness, to remember, and to amplify the voices under threat.

"This last few minutes has been my story and it has been the story of a lot of people in Iran, and [they] are suffering a lot more."
— Arman, [74:09]

Transcript

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[Arman Ahmed Arman]

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[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Hi, who is this?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Hi, hi, this is Armand Arman.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

What's up Arman?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, I'm good. How are you?

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, not too bad, man. What, what is it that brings you into my Gecko show today?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So I did say I'm good, but I'm actually not feeling too good. Okay. I don't know. I texted you a couple of times. I. I'm Iranian and.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

You're Iranian?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. And I don't know if you have seen anything in the news, but I sure have. For the past, for the past week there's been an Internet shutdown in Iran, so we can't really hear anything from Iran. Well, there's, there's a few things here and there. People are trying to, You know, make their voices heard, but it's, it's been very difficult and I've been feeling a lot of stress and, and I thought maybe I, I should call in, try calling in and see if you'd be interested in hearing.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

What's going on.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Definitely. So, okay, so you're Iranian and where do you live right now? Because you're not, you're not there?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I'm not there, no. I'm, I'm in. I'm living. I'm living in Toronto, but I have time. Living in Iran.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. Did you live there for a bit?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I did. I lived there until I was 24.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So you lived there until you were 24?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, that was, that was a few years ago. But yeah, I, I did grow up there. So I know what the government is like, I know what the people are like and I know that, you know, everyone has their biases, but I want to try and review and non partisan or whatever you call it, you know.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Sure, sure. I just, I want to just get a profile of, of you first.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Sure.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So, okay, so three years ago you moved from Iran to Toronto. And so what, you're like 27?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Not three years ago, but about six, seven years ago? Yeah, I moved out.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Okay, cool. And what made you want to move from Iran to Toronto?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Well, a big part of it was the economic situation in Iran and the general state of things. I just didn't think I could live there anymore.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

You were in, were you in Tehran?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And did you move to Toronto? Did you move to Toronto with anyone or did you come here completely alone?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

No, no, I moved to Montreal actually, and I was in Montreal for a while and then I moved to Soil. I would be okay sharing more information, but just so you know, the Iran regime is. It is a dictatorship. I'm not here to just send out political messages or anything, but it is difficult for people to talk and a lot of people still refuse to Voice their opinions and their rage. Even because they did, they don't want to be, what do you call, dogs, whatever. They don't want the regime to know this, even if they are outside of Iran.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I listen, I definitely have more questions about Iran itself, but I still want to know. You've been living in Toronto for, you said about six years.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And how, how has it been, how has the experience there been compared to your experience in Iran?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Oh, I mean, it's very different. I don't know where to start. Okay, just to describe what my experience was, right before I moved out of Iran, I was, I was going around talking to people, you know, just living a normal life, as the average Iranian would do. I wasn't a political person. I still don't consider myself a very politically active person. But. Just how life was in Iran was that the value of the uranium currency kept dropping day by day, week by week, month by month, it kept getting worse and worse. And this is something you can check online, so I don't want to get too into it, but just to describe to you what the situation was, I would be talking to someone and they would, they would tell me that it doesn't make sense for them to work anymore because they wouldn't have enough money to get to their workplace, so it wouldn't make sense for them to work anymore. And this was back when I was in Iran, this was mostly blue collar people, but more recently it has been everybody. So it doesn't make sense for a white collar worker to go to their office because that doesn't pay for the cab right there or whatever, the gas to get to their office. So that was one big thing of, now that I'm living here. You know, my, my situation isn't great, but at least I don't have to worry about the value of my currency dropping every day and, and you know, just not being able to afford anything at, at this point. It got to a point that people can't afford food anymore and they can't bring food home to their children. And this is true for again, like white collar workers at this point. So I'm just trying to. Yeah, so.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So six years ago I've, when you made the decision to go to Canada, did you save up money to get there? Like how, how did you get there?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

To be perfectly honest, I had my family support and I consider myself somewhat privileged in that my family, Aunt Rick, but they could afford helping me get out of here and I am very grateful to them for that reason.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And you said that I'M sorry, I know I asked you this already and maybe I just fucking missed the answer, but did you go alone? Did you go with family? Did you have any friends come with you?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I came alone. I had relatives in Montreal, but I. I did. And.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And so when you first got to Toronto, what. What were you doing for work?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So while I was in Montreal, I couldn't work because I was on. I could only work part time because I was on a student visa, basically a student work permit or a student. A study permit. And I could only work part time. I was working at a soft way, the fast food journal that was. That was Montreal. And then when I got here, I was already. Because I was studying in Montreal. So when I got to Toronto, I started applying and I found a job and I'm doing okay now. Toronto is very expensive and I'm not making that much money, but compared to what's going on in Iran and what I could be doing if I were back home, honestly, I think if I were back home, I'd be unemployed at this point. So, yeah, I'm doing a lot better.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Did you mention what it is you're doing for work in Toronto?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I didn't, and I don't know if I'm comfortable saying all of this. I don't know. Is that okay if I don't.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Of course, yeah, of course. Of course.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, yeah, of course. Sorry. I was gonna say I don't know what it would look like if it wasn't. Okay. You know what I mean? I wouldn't. I wouldn't hang up on you. There's many other things I want to talk to you about.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Sure. Yeah.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So. So you're mom and dad and siblings who, Who's. Who's in Iran right now?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I don't know how much I should say because again, I think this might get out. And I don't know, some of this might be just me being paranoid. I don't know how much that is. What are you.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

What are you paranoid about?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So I don't know if you heard, but what I can say for certain based on everything I'm hearing from Iran, people I've talked to firsthand, who have been able to get in touch with family in Iran, which is very difficult right now, is that thousands of people have died and there's a curfew and there's basically martial state. You know, I don't know if that's the correct phrasing, but there is a martial law. Martial law. Yeah, and, and there's, there's just no discrimination that people are, people are being shot at if, if they're outside, she's walking, not doing anything in groups, and it is very scary. And I just don't know. I, I don't want to get anyone in trouble directly. And I, I think, I think that I, I just, I just don't know if me saying anything out of line could lead to somebody getting harmed in any way, but I don't want to do it.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I just, I listen, you, here's. You don't have to say anything you don't want to say. I, I'm, I'm pretty sure the Iranian government is not listening to the Therapy Gecko podcast, but you still don't have to. You can do whatever you want, but I still have questions for you. So, I mean, regardless of the specifics of who you know, have you been able to get in touch with the people that you, you, you do know there?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So the last message I got personally was Thursday, Thursday of last week. So it's been a week since I heard anything. I, I lost messages for people, but they haven't been delivered. And I don't know what's happening on the other end, so I have no idea my family there are even safe. I heard something from one of my aunts who lives in the U.S. she told me that she contacted a friend of hers and they contacted my family members, and they said that they were okay, but I don't know. I don't have any specific. And it's been a week since I heard anything from my, my family members there. I had to call him there. I left him a message. I tried calling. My calls don't go through. Some people say that they have had calls coming out of Iran. So. People, Iranians who are outside Iran right now got calls from inside Iran, but they couldn't call back. They couldn't call. They couldn't make any calls to Iran. And that's been, that's been the situation for about a week now. And there's been a total Internet blackout. There are a few people getting some stuff out with Starlink. I don't know if you remember all that. ELON musk, STARLINK yeah. I have no idea how they work, but apparently some of those got into Iran and people have been using that very sparingly. The amount of information that's coming out of Iran is very, very little. And all the Iranian people that I had been in contact with, people I, you know, people I grew up with, people I knew from school. They have been completely silent this past week because they can't make their voices or they don't have access to the Internet.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So. So you said that, that there's been. Okay, so I've been reading the news a little bit, and I'm gonna summarize what my understanding is of what's going on, and then you can help me fill in these gaps. So basically, my understanding is that there's widespread protests going on in Iran and the government is cracking down on those protesters. And it's. What you just said is freaky about they're not making a distinction between protesters and people just stand in the fuck around. Which is. Which is spooky. Why? Well, okay, why, why. Why are. Why are people protesting? And also like, why. Why is. Why are they protesting now?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So just to be clear, there have been protests going on in Iran for quite a while now. I wish I was a little more educated on these matters. I know the latest protests in Iran were in the latest video protest in Iran that became international News were in 2022 and 23 about Naha Nini protest. And that was the Woman Life Freedom protest. And again, thousands of people died in those protests. A lot of people were arrested. Again, the Internet was shut down. Before that. It was in 2019, there were massive protests in Iran because the regime, as they say, by mistake, they shot down a plane, a passenger plane in Tehran, and people came to the street. There were massive protests, and that was the first huge Internet shutdown back in 2019. So these protests have been going on for years. But to answer your question specifically, right now, people are fed up with a lot of things. They want freedom, they want their voices heard. They want basic civil rights, human rights that they've been deprived of. But it's got to a point where people don't have a choice anymore because the majority of people are so poor that they can't afford very basic fruit food. Stuff like they can't afford eggs, they can't afford. On a regular. On a regular income. You can't afford eggs or tuna for your family. You can't afford a basic vegetable street. And that's just food. I'm not talking about the price of gas or your rent or, or whatever. So this is a. This is a huge. This is a huge issue for the Iranian people especially because when I, when I was living in Iran, this wasn't the situation. You know, there was some poverty, but it wasn't so widespread. I can't put a number to it. I can't Put a percentage to it. But I know that at this point, at least judging by something that heard from the Iranian government themselves, at least like 80% of the people are in poverty. So the thing is they don't have a choice anymore because if they stay home at the end of the month, they're still going to perish at this point. So it is, I don't know if this is being said in the news, but they run in. People really don't have a choice anymore. They're, they're fighting for their survival, not for, not for anything else. You know, I hear a lot of people saying that they're being incited by the west or by Israel or whoever.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I, what, what is, what is the, what is the argument that there be. Who, who's arguing that they're being incited by the West?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Well, I, I don't know, man. I, I've been reading too much news, honestly, the whole past week I've been on my phone non stop and I just see a lot of triggering stuff. I, I don't know, I don't know if it's just rage bait or, you know, there, there is propaganda coming out of ground. There is a lot of propaganda coming out of your home. And I was just talking to my girlfriend last night and she said something that, you know, it was her opinion based on because she's not Iranian. And these were her opinions based on what she had heard in the news and other political outlets and whatnot.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And what was her opinion?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So there were a couple of points that she made that. Sorry, I'm blanking out a little bit, but one thing I remember specifically was the Balkanization of Iran. I don't know if you're familiar with the concept, but basically she was saying Iran is going to be broken into different states. If there's, if there's the Western. Basically if there's Western people coming and messing with the situation.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, oh, Western. Okay, so you're saying that Iran, your girlfriend thinks Iran is gonna split into two different states if the west comes in and intervenes with what's going on?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Intervenes, yeah.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

And then I, I, yeah, I assume, I assume would it be one state, whatever proxy governed by the west versus the one state that's ran by the regime.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So specifically, specifically what I, what I heard when I was living in Iran, I was growing up in Iran over and over again was that if there's Western influence and integration, if there is a war, if there is unrest, there's going to be a Balkanization of Iran and A separation of all the different states of Iran, and there's going to be actually more than a few states, so the Kurdish part of Iran. This is, by the way, not true at all. I just, at least I'm not, I'm not a prophet, you know, I'm not a. I, I can't say for certain that it, this is definitely not going to happen. But judging by how this was the Iranian regime's propaganda all, all of my childhood and adulthood, I know that this is something that they drummed up and this is their opinion and this is what they're sticking to. So there's definitely something in it for them. And they are. They believe that Kurdistan is going to be separated from Iran, which is the western, southwestern part of Iran.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So it's the. So you believe it's the current regime's desire to have Iran split into multiple states?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

No, but that is their, that is something they're using as leverage. That is their propaganda, for lack of a better word. That is that. That is their instrument. That is one of their instruments of terror. Because that's what they keep telling people whenever there is civil unrest in Iran. They keep telling people, oh, these people are Westerners. They're paid by the U.S. they're paid by outside forces. And they are trying to. Yeah, they're trying to. Go ahead, go ahead.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, so it's being, it's, it's used as a propaganda tool where the regime is, like, trying to convince people that the protesters are. The regime wants people to know, wants people to think that the protesters are like Western actors attempting to split the state. That's their life.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Exactly. Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. And this is, may I say, I know there are different political sides and everything. This was my experience growing up in Iran, and I can, I can prove it. That, you know, there's so much evidence out there that this is. The Iranian, the Islamic republics stands on the civil unrest in Iran. So these are just facts.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

How long has the regime, how long has this current regime been in power?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

For. For 47 years. I've been in power for 47 years.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Same guy.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. Islamic revolution back in 1979. The government of Iran has been the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that is what they call the country now. And just because you said the same guys, there is a sort of full election process. There is false democracy. It's not a natural democracy. It happens in a lot of places in the Middle east and in other places in the world as well as well. But in, in its core, there is one, one political group and it's one person at the top. And there, there is an, A system of oligarch, oligarchy.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

But wait, so what's the. Yeah, who's the, who's the one person I'm looking right now? Massoud.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So is he like the guy or is he like a puppet for a different guy who actually has the power.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Is a pu. Is, as you've said, a puppet. I, I don't want to use very strong words here, but he is, quote, unquote, the elected president of Iran at the moment. He, he is not, he is not a very important figure. The most important figure in the country right now is Sayed Ali Khamenei.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

There you go. The. Yeah. Okay, so he's the. Okay, he's a, A Supreme Lee. He's a supreme leader of Iran.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Since. Oh, okay. He's the longest serving head of state in the entire Middle east. That's crazy.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. 47 years.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I mean, 86.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

He is barely alive, honestly. But this is, this is the person who took, took the reins after the death of. The death of Khomeini. So technically not 47 years because the revolution got started by another figure. But Khamenei came right afterwards.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

So is. So what do you think? What do you. I think this is very interesting. I don't usually, I don't know. You know, I don't talk a lot about politics on this podcast, but I, but like, as a. On an individual level, I'm like very fascinated in them and you know, American politics too. And I'm like, I don't know if we have, I don't know if Americans have the, if we, if we'll, if we're gonna really be able to do that, you know, like the way like where you got like. I feel like in other countries when they just have like a up government, like they, they really, they really go at it. But I think you gotta be. It makes sense. It makes sense that like true revolutions are primarily happening when people like literally just have no other option. Like it's pure survival. Maybe, maybe America, like, we're still, maybe we're still too comfortable, I mean, especially compared to other countries to ever, like, you know, and we're out too big for us to ever do like a crazy full scale revolution the way that other countries have.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I don't know. I. I don't know. I. Yeah. I'm gonna be honest, when I called you, I wanted to just say as much as I can about the process happening in Iran and I'm really glad you started with the basics and, you know, trying to understand what the situation is. And it's very perceptive of you to say that you can't really connect with it that deeply and genuinely glad that you fill that with. Because growing up in a totalitarian state is an awful, awful thing and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. And just about the US itself, I'm, I'm, I don't wanna quote, I don't want to get anybody.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Ah, we're here, we're here, we're here. Let's do it. Say whatever. We're past the point of no return.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, yeah, I, I, I personally, I don't consider myself a leftist, but a lot of my ideas, a lot of the things I stand for are less leaning, at least as far as the US political left goes. But, but, but, yeah, sorry, I am trying to make a cohesive comment here, but the, I just think the US political left has nothing to do with, that's, that's the wrong way of putting, has no equivalent in Iran. Like, there's no, no, there's nothing that I can point to in Iran and say, oh, this is somehow reminding me of the political agendas in the U.S.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Really, I would, there's not even, there's no, like, I mean, are there not even any fringe movements in Iran that are, you know, you think are similar?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So you talked about the president of Iran a few minutes back. This guy is actually called a reformist. So there are two.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, saw that.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, there are two. At least on paper. There are two political groups in Iran. There's not really any divide. There's only one Islamic group and he is of the reformist group. These are, these people are supposed to be the political left in Iran. But the fact of the matter is that all these protests that happen, the protest that is happening right now, the protests that happened in, back in 1388, probably, I'm using, because we use a different calendar system. So 1388 would have been four and 16 years ago. The protests that happened then were under a reformist government, quote, unquote. A lot of people got killed and a lot of people got arrested. So there is, there is really no real political left in Iran. There is no, there is no opposition, to be honest. And there are people outside of Iran that sort of take on that mantle. But again, I don't want to get tuned to the politics of it. I don't want to bore your audience. I would rather people.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

No, I mean, yeah, well, actually, it's funny you call it, because I'm like. I'm very. Lately becoming, on a personal level, more interested in geopolitics after, like, you know, fucking traveling in a. Traveling to Iraq. I'm going to. I'm going to. I don't know. I haven't. I haven't talked about this on the podcast, but I'm going to Ukraine in four days to make a video there, so I don't. And I've also just been thinking about fucking America. I've been thinking about. I talked to Gemini about Israel and Palestine for, like, six hours the other day. So I've just been. I've been thinking about a lot of this shit. What was I going to say? Oh, yes. Oh, I was gonna bring this up. There's this. There's this TikTok. This video that. I don't know if it's the same video, if it's a bunch of different videos, but it's going around, and it's of these, like, younger teens in, I think, in Tehran who are, like, putting on, like, a. I. If I think I'm correct, they're putting on, like, a punk concert, and, like, nobody's wearing a hijab. And it's very, like, you know, like this. This, like, punk rock kind of informal thing happening on the streets. If you've seen the video, and that's not what this. It's something like that. I don't know the exact thing, but. Okay, you've seen it. Okay. And then a bunch of people are like, bro, does secular mean religious or non religious? So if you say something as non secular, that means it's not religious. Right.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So secular. My understanding of it is. And if I'm wrong, I don't want to access your chat right now or people can watch your.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Wait, I can just Google this.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Okay, hold on. Yeah. My understanding of it is it's a state where religion and politics are separate.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Okay. All right. So Iraq. So, okay. Basically. Okay, so that would mean people in the comments are saying that Iran is slowly becoming more secular.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Mm.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Do you think. Do you think that's true? And. And do you think. Do you think that, like, we're looking at, like, the future of the country? Do you think that, like, it will. It will become, like, slowly, over generations, more secular? Or do you think that, like. Like, regimes and people in power are gonna, like, shut that down?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

So just to speak to the people in the chat. I'm not sure I'm. I'm being a little technologically literate because I can't see the chat right now, but for the people in your chat, to be perfectly honest with you, and I don't, I don't want this to get misconstrued, but since 2022, when the Maslamy protest happened, because a big, a large focus of those protests was the mandatory hijab laws. So they wanted to make it so that people could wear whatever they want, at least for women specifically not to have to wear hijab. So that was what happened in 2022 and 2020. There were other civil rights issues that the people were fighting for, but that was a large focus then. And since that, since then, the government has been, has been trying to let go of those laws a little bit. It has been, it has become, it has become a little more lax on those laws. And the reason for that is the government, in my opinion, and this is, this bit is my opinion, the government is trying to buy itself more time by appealing to the general population of Iran and people outside of you, you.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Think it's a 4D chess move of like, we'll give a few, we'll, we'll, it will sprinkle a little bit of secularism here to buy ourselves more time to like, to take it all away. Is that what you're saying?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Pretty much, yes. But what I also, what I'm also saying is that so, so for the people in Iran, if not that they've been given these specific rights, maybe some people feel like they, they've made some headway and it's, it's a bargain of sorts and the government is trying to sort of pay them off by giving them these specific freedom. But first of all, the laws are still, that hijab is mandatory in Iran. It's just not being forced as much as before. So that's one thing. And also when you have people without hijab going around in Iran, you can take videos of that and send it, send it to foreign press and tell them, oh, Iran is free. Iran is like Lebanon, Iran, the UAE is like Dubai. People are having the time of their lives. That is certainly not the case. And for a lot of people around, people are still getting, you know, arrested for not having a job. It's just not happening as much as before.

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[Arman Ahmed Arman]

What do you have to lose?

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[Podcast Announcer]

You see it instantly. It's Coldwater Creek, the mark of exceptional workmanship and signature touches inspired by a Mountain west heritage. Distinctive styles created from quality fabrics, silhouettes perfected with just the right drape. Feel good fits offering ease of movement and thoughtful details to elevate your look for a wardrobe you can count on season after season. Visit coldwatercreek.com Shop the new spring collection at 20% off $75 or more with code iheart20.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

What's your name again?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

My name is Arman Ahmed Arman. A r Arman.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Arman.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Arman. Arman.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Armani. Yes.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

How you, how you feeling Arman?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Frankly, I'm I'm very tired. I you know, I haven't had a call in a week from anyone inside here on so at this point, because I'm at a depot, I don't know if everybody has had a call with some of the people I talk to and whatever day I've had calls from Yuan. So now that I haven't been contacted by anybody, I'm wondering if somebody has died and they are not calling me because if they do, they would have to go. And that is very difficult. And well, a lot of scary stuff is also happening there. So I just, yeah, I've just been very tired. I, I've been reading news non stop and I've been trying to, you know, be active on social media. There's nothing else I can do and I just wanted to get on here and talk to people because maybe you haven't had, maybe you haven't seen a lot of political views online, but you, you might see it in the future. And I just want people to know that there are lives that staking Iran, there are people who are suffering and I feel like this is the least I can do to just tell people what's going on. And whatever political stuff is going on out there, the people are still, you know, they're suffering, they're dying, they're getting arrested, they're having their basic human rights pummeled. And I, I just wish I could do more. Yeah, I, I, I don't know, I don't know. Did you want to ask something else? I, I, I, I really want to talk as much as possible because I think, I feel like I have a, I have a duty, you know, I, I'm not sure, I'm sure you guys have heard of like survivor's guilt. I feel a little bit of survivor's guilt and I had been feeling that for, since I moved to Canada because I have been in contact with people in Iran and a lot of them are doing very, very poorly. And that could be me. You know, I keep telling myself that could be me. Sure, sure, sure. And it could be me who's unemployed, it could be me who's, who can't afford anything. It could be me who, who dreams about having a car or even phone. It could be me there and now. It could be me fighting for my life, fighting for food and things like these. Don't know any political agenda. You know, when people are hungry, that's at the end of the line. And I think it's very important for me to be the voice of my people. And. I just wish I was more eloquent. I wish I was more politically savvy. I wish I knew more, I wish I had studied more so that I could say more or what I know.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Well, I mean, but you, well it's, you know, it's funny to me because that you, it's funny to me that you say that because, and this is kind of, this is my, you know, I like kind of approaching These conversations through the lens of, like, who are you? Right. Because I was, like, asking you more questions about yourself earlier, and you were like, well, I would, I want to, you know, more talk about, you know, kind of broader political issues. But to me, I, I think, you know, your, your knowledge of a specific thing is, is less, I don't know, is, is. I will say to me, what's more powerful is, is just you as a person and your feelings and your, your lived experience. And so I think you're sending a really strong message to people just simply through your lived experience, you know, regardless of political savviness. You're, you know, you lived there for 24 years and you saw things that you can talk about not, you know, filtered through a journalist or a social media post or a text message. So, you know, to me, your just sharing of your lived experience is, I think, a lot more powerful than you having some kind of savviness over the complex information regarding any kind of geologic issue. And, you know, before we go, I, I, I, I appreciate you sharing all of this stuff with us. And I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm like, I'm seriously praying for you and for your family and, you know, it's, I also. Thanks for coming. Thanks for coming to my dumb show to talk to, talk about all of this stuff. Really, it, you know, I appreciate it.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Can I just say a few stuff? Okay. I know your time is also valuable, and I don't want to go ahead, dig into it too much, but by the way, if you're interested in how I was living in Iran, I could talk about that, but I don't want to, I don't want to drag this on forever. I can talk about my childhood, and there's a lot of, when I talk about my childhood, people listen and are fascinated, whether in a good way or bad way. Definitely in a bad way. But I, I can talk about my childhood if you're interested. But just getting on your show, I, I want to make this clear. I, I know a lot of people from all different sorts of political ideas. They listen to your show, you know.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, really?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Left, right, whatever. Yeah, moderate. Listen to your show, and you talk to something very personal and human. And I, I was sure that if I get on the show, you, you would ask questions that were the right questions, and I feel like you have done so. And again, I don't wanna, I'm not gonna, you know, have a chocolate on your podcast or whatever, but if you did want to hear more about my Childhood. I'm, I'm willing to talk about it and I, I think it would be important when people know about it too. I don't know if not. It's okay, I understand.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Do you want to.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yes. So yeah, I don't want to use too strong language, but. Okay. I remember when I was, when I started going to school and this is true of schools all through Iran. First of all it's boys schools and girls schools. There's no co education unless it's in a very small village somewhere. And it just doesn't make sense to have two classrooms because you know there's, there's just one teacher and he's trying to teach like multiple, multiple levels. But generally like in Tehran all the schools are segregated by. I don't know if that's the right word but they're the split by gender and, and that's all the way to secondary school, like high school. And when I started going to school we used to, in, in the schoolyard we would, they would ask us to form lines, like military lines. And I don't know if this is normal. Maybe it's normal in some places. I don't know if it ever happens in the US but we would basically form lines and the, whatever you call it, the dean, the head teacher.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Sorry, the principal or dean.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Probably the principal, yes. Sorry again, this is my second language. The principal would get up on echoing and he would start chanting things and chanting religious stuff. And depending on what time of the year it is, there was a specific religious. I wouldn't call it holidays but there it would be like the death of my mom or somebody and they would change things for that and they would read a bit of Quran and then they chant things like death to Israel, to America. They would change stuff like this, this is the exact thing in the school. Yes. To 6 year olds, 6 year olds all around Iran and we wouldn't know what it means. But I remember the US was, you know, when you're talking to a six year old, the six year old doesn't know where. You know, if you talk to a 6 year old in the US they might not know where. I don't know for example where Minnesota is. No, they wouldn't even have a clear idea. They might not even have a clear idea of what a country is and whether the US is in for example, Minnesota. I remember when I was a kid I, I think at some point I thought that Iran was a place in Tehran because I was a kid, like I didn't know any, anything Right, right. So. But at that age, they would make you tense and like this, to this, this entity and that entity. And you know, it's just very. When people talk about indoctrination, that's, that's really what it is. And I just want to make it clear that doesn't mean that everybody in Iran is indoctrinated or against all Western entities or whatever, especially now, because, you know, now is the age of Internet. When I was a kid, we didn't have Internet. The Internet was just coming around. You know, we're about the same age. So, you know, I remember, I remember Google coming around. Like, I, I remember Marcus of 98. And back then people didn't know, like, they didn't have all that information that they have now. They don't have access to social media. But now people know and still they, they chance these things at that level. And when I was a kid, you know, you have music classes at school, you have, I don't know, let's start with music classes. We don't, we didn't have any sort of art classes. I remember one year in middle school, we have, we had a sort of painting class, drawing sort of class, and that was the only, only year I had that. And we had shop for one year, as in, you know, workshop, where you do woodworking or whatever. And that was it. Those were my two classes. Instead we had things like religious studies and we had Arabic. I mean, Arabic, it's, it's language. There's nothing wrong with Arabic. I'm, you know, if you're interested in studying it, more power to you. It has, It's a beautiful language, is a history, whatever. But we would study Arabic specifically to study the Quran. And we would have, so we would have Arabic, we would have a separate class for Quran, he would have a separate class for religious studies. And then when I got to high school, we had a class called defense, Defense preparation, something like that. It's hard. I'm trying to translate here. And that might not be the exact thing, but this, this book, this textbook was basically all about guns, all about, you know, how to be prepared for a foreign attack. And this is, this was a textbook at school, at high school level. And obviously, like when I was growing up, even this was back in 2010, let's say we didn't really buy it. Like, everyone in my class knew that this was nonsense. Like, this was propaganda, really.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Even when you were, even when you were like, you know, high school, middle school, you were like, this is, this is a lot. This is not the thing.

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[Podcast Announcer]

You see it instantly. It's Coldwater Creek, the mark of exceptional workmanship and signature touches inspired by a Mountain west heritage. Distinctive styles created from quality fabrics, silhouettes perfected with just the right drape feel good fits offering ease of movement and thoughtful details to elevate your look. For a wardrobe you can count on season after season, visit coldwatercreek.com shop the new spring collection at 20% off $75 or more with code iheart20.

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[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, listen, I'm not saying that there was nobody. I was. I was. Again, I was kind of privileged. I wasn't rich. My family was never rich. But we were middle class. Upper middle class even. At some points maybe. So the people I hung out with were they. They had, they had time in their day to sit down and think and they had families who, you know, they, they weren't wealthy, thankfully. I wasn't, I wasn't around a lot of super wealthy people because some of those people are actually pro regime because they get paid by. I don't want to get too political with this right now.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Is there a weird thing where like, Is there a weird thing where like, if you're like, like if you're very poor and you have access to. You, you know, really don't have that much access to like greater education or greater information or even like time to think. Like, you support the regime because of propaganda and then if you're really, really rich, you support the regime because the regime acts in your favor.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

That, that is basically it. That is very perceptual of you. I, I was, I was trying to put that into words, but that is more or less it. That says there are a lot of poor people. There are a lot of poor people in Iran who are against the regime. But just to be clear, there are some people who are so starved for information or they are so heavily indoctrinated that they don't really know they have an option to oppose the regime or complain about things even.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, it doesn't even like consciously register. Like, they're so deep in like the indoctrination of it, like the idea that they could not. It's like not even in the consciousness.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah, like they don't even. Even with the Internet. I don't know how this is possible, but there's still a minority group out there who don't really understand that there is so much out there. I guess they don't install Instagram on their phones or whatever, or they don't use VPNs because you don't know. I'm skipping ahead, but basically they don't have an idea of how people live outside of Iran or they think that that sort of stuff is a complete fantasy. Because if they saw normal life in Europe and even in Turkey, if they, if they could see what normal life is like in even Lebanon or Turkey, they would start complaining very heavily. But they don't. And again, maybe they're just not connected. And I said the word vpn. You guys know what a VPN is? I'm sure it's a. But in Iran it has a different meaning because the state censors Internet very heavily. So you don't have access to. In Iran, when I was living there, I didn't have access to YouTube. I didn't have access to Facebook and I had access to Instagram, which was very weird for a while. And I think now you don't have access to Instagram either. So you have to use private network of some kind, a vpn, to connect to the censored Internet inside of Iran. And that's not the. The whole list, by the way. A lot of, A lot of publications, a lot of different websites are censored inside Iran. So when you try to connect to them, you get a web page that basically tells you it has a. It has a bunch of links to other websites that are pro regime or whatever. Sorry, I'm. I'm going on a bit. I don't know if you have any questions so far.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

No, it's been really interesting to hear about, about all of this. Yeah, like. Oh, man, I. Well, it's. You know, we had a guy on the podcast a few episodes ago who was talking about, like, you know, he was raised, like, ultra Orthodox Jewish and they had a similar. He had a similar kind of a thing. And it's. It's weird. It feels like it's like the same story in a bunch of different places. Like, I'm thinking about, like, North Korea too, about, like, people who just. They just don't know about the, The. The, like, greater beyond, I guess, because the government's done a really good job at censoring and, you know, all that stuff. And yeah, it is interesting to be like, man, you know, same. Same story across a bunch of. Same story across a bunch of different applications. You know, I'm really. I'm crap. I think we. I crap. I think I do have to go kind of soon, but so I. No, no, don't apologize. Jesus Christ. You don't have to apologize for anything. This is. I've been. I've sincerely, really, really enjoyed talking to you. It's. Yeah, dude, it's. It's interesting. I mean, do you feel. I know you've expressed a lot of your kind of conflicting feelings about being able to leave Iran and, And go to the west, but are you like. I have a weird question. This is a weird question. And this just has to do with, like, having an existential crisis, but, like, sure, you're an educated guy. I think. I think it's. It's almost. It's. It's. I think it's objectively probably better to be educated than not, but, like, you're an educated guy, right? But do you ever. Do you ever. Do you think ignorance would ever. Would be nice, you know? What, I mean, what does that ever sound like? Just, do you feel. Do you feel burdened by your own clarity of the greater universe that lies beyond?

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Interesting question. I'm going to, I'm going to respond by a scenario. It's something that actually happened to me when I was, When I was just starting university, my bachelor's in Iran. I read 1984. I read 1984. And I felt. For about a week after I read it, I felt extreme anxiety, and I just felt awful because I felt like I was living inside 1984. There are people in Iran who would tell on their neighbors, like, you can get ahead by selling out people, you know, to the government. That. That is exactly something that happens in 1984. Among other things that I felt resonated. And I just want to say that I feel like if I wasn't an educated guy, I couldn't read that book. It's not just about literacy. I think you have to go a little bit out of your way to read something like that.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Right.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

And it's, it's a choice. Like, you have to sit down and you have to finish the book, even though it's genuinely, like, eating you up. And, and I, I just want to say that on the. I, I think I'm a better person for it.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Any person, anyone might have a different opinion on this, but the fact that I'm calling you right now and trying to stand up and be the voice of the Iranian people, I shouldn't say it like that because I'm. I'm the voice of me. I, I just, I'm trying to say sorry.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

I said I'm sorry. Go ahead. I was just saying. I get what you're saying.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah. I'm not, I'm not anybody attorney, you know, but I know a lot of people have had the same experience, and a lot of those people are still living in Iran. So it has been even worse for them. If I, if I didn't have the education that I've had, I wouldn't have a chance and a privilege to stand up for people, and I wouldn't have a chance to anymore. Because, you know, the knowledge, even if it brings pain with it, it's still a privilege.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Yes.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Yeah. If you don't have the knowledge, you can't, you can't do anything. And what?

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. I'll let you finish.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

And other people will suffer for it. Yeah, that's. That's all I wanted to say on that. If you really have to go, just give me A few seconds and I will make some. It's not a statement. I just want to say a few words. But you were. You were saying something.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Well, I. You know, I. Well, after I asked you that weird question, I was. Well, I was. I was. I was thinking about my own answer to it. And you. You. Your answer was really poignant. The way you were, like, you know, even though the knowledge. The knowledge is freaky and an unsettling to you and break. And really breaks your world down and can lead you to, like, this place of, like, existential depression and all these things, like, it's. I love the way you phrase it, and I fully agree with it, which is that. That you. You have to view, you get through the pain, and then you kind of harness the power of the. The knowledge to. To, like, you know, help yourself and to help other people like you're talking about. And I. And I think that's really beautiful. And I also think, you know, you get, like, as you get older and as you settle in with stuff, like, you get. You're like, you just become more able to handle it as a person. I think you just, like, become more able to handle, like, uncomfortable information and truths and things. You be you. You, like, grow, like your. Your capability of strength, like, grows to what you need it to be, and then you can do things like what you're talking about, like, you know, be a powerful, you know, a voice of something. And I think that's cool. So I agree with you. It's better to. It's better to have known and gone insane than to have never known at all. I'm with you on that. I. I want to let. I want to let you have your few seconds of that thing, of the. Of the last few things you wanted to say before we get out of here.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Okay. First of all, thank you so much. You didn't have to talk to me for I don't know how many minutes it has been. Thank you so much.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Of course.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

I really appreciate you otherwise as well. I just want to talk perfect to the people who are listening to this live or on the. If it makes. If it makes it to a podcast or whatever. I know that there's a lot of news out there. You know, I wish I could talk about this more, but this is happening right now. It's unfolding as we speak. There's people getting arrested and murdered and, you know, even tortured in Iran. You don't have to take my word for it. You can do your own research. You can go online. You can see whatever is out there. If you can spread the word, I, I would be personally grateful to you. Even though we might never meet, I really appreciate you and I know that you are going out of your way to help people that you have never met and you might never meet. But this last few minutes has been my story and it has been the story of a lot of people in Iran, and Iran are suffering a lot more. And, you know, I, I don't know if the US is gonna intervene in Iran or not. I can't tell you for certain if that's good or bad at this point. As horrible as it might sound to some people, I'm okay with it because I know that government in Iran will stop at nothing and it will keep on killing people. So I don't know, the people themselves might not be able to fight that. And that's, that's the only reason. That's the only reason. But forget about that. You know, you don't have to even think about the intervention. Just, you know, spread the word there are people suffering and if you can't spread the word, I would be very, very grateful to you. And thanks again. Bye.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Hey, thank you, Armin. You have a good night, man.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Good night too. Bye.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

Bless you, brother. That was a really good conversation. Thank you again. Thank you again, Armin, for taking time out of what I'm sure is a really stressful period of time for you to get on here and share your story with us for an hour. That was. I, I was, I really enjoyed getting to talk to you and hear your perspective on things. I was just thinking about how five and a half years ago I was taking phone calls about diarrhea ing in the Lazy river, and now we're into geopolitics and gotten good for it. Glad for it. Glad for it. No, that was, that was really powerful. I have, I got, I need a second. I need a second after that. Yeah, you know what I was thinking too is like, dude, here's another thing I was saying is like that, that guy Armin that we just talked to, who had like this powerful story and this great character and, and this, all this stuff, like, you know, he was working at Subway and I was thinking, I'm like, do I think about this now? Like, if I'm at Subway or whatever, I'll just be like, looking at the, like whoever's behind the count, I'll just be like, what's, what's, what would my hour long conversation with this person be? You know, where hat we have this weird crossing where I buy A sandwich from them. What would an hour long conversation with them be like? You know, you just know. You never know. Do I have anything else to say? I don't know if I do. I think we'll call it there. Thank you guys for listening to this. Yeah, yeah. I don't know, I've been getting, I don't know, I've been thinking about. That's. We don't, we don't usually talk about like intense geopolitical things or, you know, domestic political things. I think about them a lot. I like talking, I like talking about them with my friends and family. I don't, I think in just certain, in certain situations I'm, you know, I like talking about them on the podcast. But yeah, I appreciate Armin for sharing his story with us and sending blessings to him and his family in Iran. Maybe I'll go there one day. I was, I made that video in Iraq and the, you know, the whole thing, I think. And, and by the way, this is not me throwing shade to anyone because I'm, I'm like this, I was like this before I actually went there, but I was like, Americans, I think, just have a thing where like, all. They just view all countries in the Middle east as the same. Like, I, There was a guy, I passed by, a guy at this office that I make my videos out of, and he was like, yolis, I liked your Afghanistan video. And it was like my gut, my gut instinct was like, it's Iraq, not Afghanistan. And then I was like, you know, a year ago I would also, I think, not have enough information where I knew the difference. You know, because you start out six years old, you don't know what a country is, then you find out what your own country is, then you find out what Minnesota is. And then at a certain point, you have to manually move the needle on your own ignorance. But yeah, yeah, I'd like to go to Iran someday. I think that that would be, that'd be interesting. I mean, I, every, every, every time I go to a place, I'm always feeling like I'm meeting lots of lovely people and learning more about the things that we have in common.

[Arman Ahmed Arman]

Very.

[Therapy Gecko (Podcast Host)]

It's nice. Okay, I think that's it. I think I'm ready to stop talking. Thank you guys for listening to the Therapy Gecko podcast. Let me know in the comments what you think about this one. I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on this conversation. Geck. Bless. See you again soon.

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