Talking Vartan Podcast

In Episode 61 - "Through an Armenian Lens", The Talking Vartan Podcast profiles Asbed Jean Mazmanian of the Knights of Vartan's Hayasdan Lodge in Boca Raton, Florida. As a filmmaker, composer, performer, and activist, Jean Mazmanian has used his skills to tell the story of the Armenian people through video and music, and also to focus on the work of The Knights of Vartan in helping our fellow Armenians who left their homes in Artsakh two years ago. He spoke with the host of the Talking Vartan Podcast, Asbed David Medzorian, from his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Here is a link to Jean Mazmanian's film, "People of the Ark." https://vimeo.com/163354075 Here is a link to the video profiling our Economic Sustainability Program families: https://youtu.be/0fPtA_DTz3k?si=mQhFL4eObIipSDXj Here is a link to Jean Mazmanian's "One World" album: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMfrGKNpFetsA8WRb-ZNOFEKh8BbknU8Q&si=3NDDWM8F0nyN6a6X

Host and Producer David Medzorian introduces us to the new Grand Chairwoman of The Daughters of Vartan, Avak Dirouhie Lily Sarkissian in Episode 60 of the Talking Vartan Podcast. In Part two of "The Torch Has Been Passed", Avak Dirouhie Lily Sarkissian describes what she wants to accomplish as Grand Chairwoman and why the mission of The Daughters of Vartan has been so dear to her heart for nearly four decades.

In Episode 59 of Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast, Host and Producer David Medzorian introduces us to the new Grand Commander of The Knights of Vartan, Avak Sbarabed Bob Avakian of Ararat Lodge in Boston. In this conversation, recorded in Bedford, Massachusetts, Avak Sbarabed describes his goals and hopes for The Knights of Vartan during the next two years, and also why the mission of the Knights of Vartan is more important now than ever before. Our Grand Commander also discusses our Economic Sustainability Program and other projects that he feels are important to our brotherhood and those whom we serve.

In Episode 58 of Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast, we talk with Former Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan Hunan Arshakian and Former Grand Chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan Nancy Berberian Thompson. In a conversation with Host and Producer David Medzorian, they discuss their time as leaders of their respective fraternal organizations, their accomplishments, regrets, and their hopes for the future of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan. The Conversations were recorded just before the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Grand Convocation in Washington, DC.

Episode 57 of the Talking Vartan Podcast focuses on the upcoming Armenian Genocide Commemoration to be held in New York's Times Square on Sunday, April 27th. Host and Producer David Medzorian, Asbed of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston, talks with Sbarabed Haig Gulian of Mamigonian Lodge No. 12 in Brooklyn, NY. Sbarabed Haig is Co-Chair of the Times Square Commemoration Committee. He describes how the Times Square Genocide Commemoration came to be forty years, and why it is more important than ever for people to attend and to remember the tragic events of 1915.

The Knights of Vartan Archive is the focus of Episode 56 of the Talking Vartan Podcast. Host and Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge talks with Avaktivanabar and NS Arto Kurkjian, also of Ararat Lodge, about the archive and how he and others are preserving nearly 110 years of our fraternal organization's history. Avaktivanabar Arto will share some of the treasures to be found in the archive and also how you and your Talij can contribute to it.

Part 2 of our special Christmas Podcast includes reflections of 2024 and a look ahead to 2025 by Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Hunan Arshakian. Asbed Dro Kanayan of Ararat Lodge discusses the KOV Economic Sustainability Project, of which he serves as Chairman. Rev. Fr. Aram Mirzoyan recalls the visit of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan to Tavush Province this September and offers a Christmas prayer in Armenian. Host and Producer David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge is joined by his son Alexander to perform two well known Christmas Carols in both English and Armenian.

Here is Part 1 of a special two-part Talking Vartan Christmas podcast called "A Season of Giving." In this first episode, Host and Producer David Medzorian looks back at 2024 and ahead to 2025 with the Grand Chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan, Avak Dirouhie Nancy Berberian Thompson. We also receive words of inspiration from Ararat Lodge NS Der Antranig Baljian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Massachusetts. The program concludes with a Christmas musical offering. Part 2 of "A Season of Giving" will be available on December 26th.

Armenians in America focuses on the birth of the Armenian community in the United States beginning in the mid-19th century. Guests include Dr. Robert Mirak, author of "Torn Between Two Lands: Armenians in America 1980 to World War One," and Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs for the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and Editor of "The Armenians of New England." Your host and producer is Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Armenians in America focuses on the birth of the Armenian community in the United States beginning in the 19th century. The program looks at who we were as Armenians and how we became who we are. Guests are Dr. Robert Mirak, author of "Torn Between Two Lands," and Marc Mamigonian, Director of Academic Affairs for the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and editor of "The Armenian of New England".

Episode 52 of "Talking Vartan: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Podcast profiles award-winning actress Nora Armani, whose one-woman play is about an Armenian woman who, in 1948, repatriates to what was then Soviet Armenia. It is also a play about family and the passage of time. Nora Armani, who Asbed David Medzorian interviewed, will perform the play in Providence, Rhode Island, on Friday, April 26th, and in Arlington, Massachusetts, on Sunday, April 28th. Details are below.

Episode 51 of the Talking Vartan Podcast looks ahead to this summer's Grand Convocation in Fresno, California. Host and Producer Asbed David Medzorian speaks with Grand Convocation Co-Chairs NS Alan Farsakian, Avak Tbrouhie ND Yeretzgin Roberta Hairabedian, and NAS Steven Adams, who serves as Registration Chairman and Convocation Advisor. The trio will update us on plans for the Grand Convocation and how you can join your fellow Knights and Daughters in Fresno this summer.

Talking Vartan's 50th Podcast Episode, "A Helping Hand," features a conversation with Der Vasken Kouzouian, an Asbed of Ararat Lodge in Boston and Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cambridge, MA. His wife, Yeretzgin Arpi Kouzouian, joins Der Vasken for the interview recorded at the Talking Vartan Studio. The pair have just returned from Armenia, where they helped deliver and distribute clothing and boots to refugees from Artsakh. In an interview that will warm your heart, Der Vasken and Yeretzgin Arpi talk to the host and Asbed David Medzorian about the inspiration for the clothing drive and the challenges and rewards of their effort in bringing needed clothing and boots to the Artsakh refugees.

Episode 49 of the Talking Vartan Podcast features Part Two of our series, "Visiting Armenia." Host and Asbed David Medzorian continues his conversation with Patil Toutounjian, the Founder and Host of "The Armenian Traveler." Her video series on YouTube focuses on travel information for those considering a visit to Armenia or who are already in our motherland and want to enjoy their trip to the fullest. Topics include dining, transportation, sightseeing, entertainment, and much more. For additional travel information, check out Part One of our series on Talking Vartan Episode 48.

Episode 48 of The Talking Vartan Podcast is the first of two programs focusing on what travelers need to know when visiting Armenia, whether for the first time or as a seasoned traveler. Host and Asbed David Medzorian speaks with Patil Toutounjian, the Founder and Host of the YouTube Channel "The Armenian Traveler." Part One focuses on planning your trip, where to stay, the best ways to exchange money, dining, and transportation options.

This special Christmas edition of the Talking Vartan Podcast features holiday greetings and messages from Avak Sbarabed Hunan Arshakian and Avak Dirouhie Nancy Berberian Thompson. Christmas prayers are offered in English by NS Der Antranig Baljian of Saint Stephen's Armenian Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, and in Armenian by Der Aram Mirzoyan of Saint Hovhaness Armenian Church in Berd, Armenia. The program concludes with a special Christmas musical offering. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston, Massachusetts.

In this special episode of Talking Vartan, Asbed David Medzorian remembers "Four Dark Days" as the word marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Recollections of that tragic weekend come from Former Grand Commander Steven Adams and Former Grand Chairwoman Gloria Korkoian. Also included are rare recordings, including announcing the president's death to a Boston Symphony Orchestra audience and original radio news coverage from Dallas and Fort Worth. Finally, Asbed David Medzorian includes segments from broadcast interviews he conducted in 1988 and 1993 with President Kennedy's best friend and aide, Dave Powers. Mr. Powers was also an eyewitness to the assassination in Dallas.

Part 2 of "They Came From Artsakh" features an interview with the Balayan Family from Askeran Province in Artsakh. They had to flee their homes and relocate to the Tavush Province village of Chinari in Armenia following the Azeri military action on September 19th. Also included are Father Aram Mirzoyan from Berd and the Village leader in Chinari, Samvel Saghoyan. The English translation is provided by Anahit Badalian, Founder and Director of the Berd Women's Resource Center in Berd City. Hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.

Episode 44 focuses on the recent deportation of some 120 thousand Armenians from their homeland in Artsakh following a September 19th military attack by Azerbaijan. Interviewed are Aram Khatchaturian, his wife, Elena Farajanian, Yuri Khatchaturian, and his wife Smela Sarukhanian. Anahit Badalian, a relative and Director of the Berd Women's Resource Center in Tavush provides the English translation. Hosted by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Tahlij No. 1 in Boston, MA

Episode 43 of the Talking Vartan Podcast looks back at the recent Grand Convocation of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan held in Boston, Massachusetts. Also, it looks ahead to this September's Veratarts Hayrenik pilgrimage to Armenia. It is hosted and Produced by Asbed David Medzorian of Ararat Lodge No. 1 in Boston.