Uncovering Roots

There Was There Was Not: The Women of Artsakh

Linum e, chi linum. There Was There Was Not. This is how Armenians begin their myths and stories, the same saying as  "Once Upon a Time." Filmmaker Emily Mkrtichian spent several years in Artsakh documenting four women building their lives and fighting for their place in society. In this episode we follow two of them in Artsakh. Sose, a judo champion dreaming of the Olympics. Siranush, a politician determined to prove women could lead differently. Then September 27, 2020 arrived, and the question became: What do you do when your world suddenly disappears?This episode was produced, written and sound designed by Maxim Saakyan. Voice overs done by Mariam Koloyan (Siranush) and Nana Shakhnazaryan (Sose).Emily’s film, There Was, There Was Not is playing in select theaters now! It’s coming to the Bertha DocHouse on November 7th.Thank you for listening! If you want to support us, please leave us a review – it really helps.If you have a story you'd like to tell, or for us to investigate, DM us on Instagram or email max@uncoveringrootspod.com!Make sure to follow us on Instagram @Uncovering.Roots and Twitter @UncoveringRoots

Flags for the Stateless

When Leo Torosian started studying old photographs of Armenian revolutionaries, he noticed something strange: almost every fighter posed with a flag. But these weren't the neat, simple flags we know today, they were covered in text, embroidered with poems, and broke every rule of good flag design.Now, in his Los Angeles apartment surrounded by recreated flags from the 1890s, Leo has become possibly the world's only specialist in Armenian revolutionary flags. Following his detective work through faded photographs and museum archives, we uncover how these flags became the lifeline of a stateless people fighting against colonial empires.Through Leo's research, we discover how Armenian fedayi used flags not just as battlefield markers, but as propaganda tools photographed in studios and sent worldwide to fund a 20-year revolution. This is the story of symbols, survival, and what happens when the country you're fighting for exists only on a piece of cloth.This episode was produced and sound designed by Maxim Saakyan. Flag Rules voice over by Mariam Koloyan.Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, please leave us a review – it really helps.Make sure to follow us on Instagram @Uncovering.Roots and Twitter @UncoveringRoots

Pasolini in Beirut

In 1974, three revolutionary elements came together in Beirut: a city at the centre of political and cultural change, a filmmaker who challenged ideas of queerness and power, and a cultural space called Dar el Fan. By 1975, all three were gone.This episode of Uncovering Roots follows not just a moment in history, but a personal search for meaning. For Filmmaker Raed Rafei, uncovering Pasolini’s visit to Beirut became a way to explore memory, loss, and the traces of a city that no longer exists. Through letters, archives, and conversations, the episode pieces together a story that links the past to questions we’re still asking today, about queerness, solidarity, and what it means to remember.This episode was produced by Maxim Saakyan. Sound design by Maxim Saakyan. Voice over by Antonio Sangirardi, Bashar Atiyat, Sarah Sarofim and Zeina Dowidar.This topic was inspired by Raed Rafei's e-flux article.Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, please leave us a review – it really helps.If you have a story you'd like to tell, or for us to investigate, DM us on Instagram or email max@uncoveringrootspod.com!Make sure to follow us on Instagram @Uncovering.Roots and Twitter @UncoveringRoots

The Baron Hotel

Uncovering Roots returns with the first episode of its new season, beginning in Aleppo, at the doors of one of the most iconic hotels in the Middle East.The Baron Hotel once hosted kings, spies, archaeologists, and refugees. It was a grand hotel at the crossroads of empire, war, and survival. In this episode, we trace the layered history of the Baron through the voice of Mary Momdjian, whose family built and ran the hotel for generations.From stories of Armenian refugees during the genocide to cocktails with Agatha Christie, the Baron’s past is woven into the fabric of Syria’s modern history. Today, it stands abandoned. A fragile, fading symbol of memory and loss.This episode was co-produced by Maxim Saakyan and Zila Demirjian. Sound design by Maxim Saakyan. Thank you to the Armenian Film Foundation for letting us use Koko Mazloumian's  testimony. Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, please leave us a review – it really helps.If you have a story you'd like to tell, or for us to investigate, DM us on Instagram or email max@uncoveringrootspod.com!Make sure to follow us on Instagram @Uncovering.Roots and Twitter @UncoveringRoots

Uncovering Roots Returns: New Season Coming Soon!

Happy New Year from Uncovering Roots! We’re so excited to share that our first full season is launching soon. It’s been a bit of a journey getting here, and we truly appreciate your patience. This season, we’ll dive into more incredible stories from the SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) region—stories we can’t wait to explore with you. Thanks for all the sort, and we promise it’ll be worth the wait.Music by: Olivia MelkonianMake sure to follow us on Instagram @Uncovering.Roots and Twitter @UncoveringRoots