The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran
String Studios2025 Signal Award Winner: Best History Podcast
Iran’s history has been a never-ending struggle for liberty and independence. In this podcast, we tell the story of how Iran ended up where it is now and how religion, monarchy, democracy, and nationalism all played important roles in defining the lives of its people.
Book One: The Qajars How the constitutional revolution created Iran’s very first p... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 30 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | History | |||
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Latest Episodes
As World War II ends, Iran becomes the first battleground of the Cold War. After Stalin reaches for northern oil, a calculated gamble in Tehran determines whether the country will split or survive.
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S... more
After Reza Shah’s abdication, the young Mohammad Reza Pahlavi takes the throne. As Iran struggles with the aftermath of the Anglo-Soviet invasion, Allied leaders gather in Tehran to plan the next phase of the war.
Book Two Recap
Book One Recap
Fo... more
In 1944, Reza Shah died alone.
Banished from his homeland and despised by his people.
But even his most bitter critics couldn’t deny one thing:
He was the architect of a new Iran.
The creator of a modern empire.
Season three of The Lion and ... more
Kermit Roosevelt was on a mission that night.
To overthrow Iran’s prime minister and take back control of its oil.
Listen to new chapters from January 28th 2026.
In book three of The Lion and the Sun, we look at how Iran’s bid to nationalize i... more
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Reviews
- Pronounce
ta-BREEZE, al-EYE, WEAR-ee
Apple Podcasts3jdubinMKE
United Statesa month ago - Great Educational Show
Interesting and well done, the diction may not be perfect but I’m having no problem following the story. This is a wonderful way to learn more about a subject that would guess most Americans and Westerners generally likely know very little about.
Apple Podcasts5Central Valley Ca listenerUnited States5 months ago - Excellent show
Just started the second season. Exceptionally interesting show. Oriana's voice and narrative skills seem to improve and become more mature with each episode.
Apple Podcasts5CSK loves historyUnited States8 months ago - Interesting history
It’s a great description of history, but the pronunciation is terrible. Find someone who can actually speak Farsi who can pronounce the names correctly
Apple Podcasts5LailaSamUnited States8 months ago - Feels Like AI wrote a podcast
Lacks character, reads like a mediocre book report, no use of primary sources or citations of secondary sources. If I was betting man I would bet this is written and spoken by a large language learning model. Pronunciation is awful
Apple Podcasts2DwsJrsKnrsUnited States10 months ago
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #222 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #154 |  Switzerland/History |
Apple Podcasts | #160 |  United Arab Emirates/History |
Apple Podcasts | #187 |  India/History |
Apple Podcasts | #213 |  Austria/History |
Apple Podcasts | #224 |  Sweden/History |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
| Household Income | Social Media Reach | ||||
Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Focusing on the intricate and tumultuous history of Iran, this podcast provides a continuous narrative detailing the interplay of religion, monarchy, democracy, and nationalism that has shaped the nation. Through captivating storytelling, it covers significant eras, beginning with the decline of the Qajar monarchy and the establishment of Iran's first parliament during the constitutional revolution. Following that, the focus shifts to the rise and fall of Reza Shah, the architect of modern Iran, exploring his ambitious attempts to modernize the country amidst external pressures and internal dissent. The series is designed for those interested in deepening their understanding of Iran's complex historical landscape, particularly as it sets th... more
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz
2. Tides of History
3. Empire: World History
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Throughline
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 30 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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