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 | 27 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | History | ||||
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Latest Episodes
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
Our podcast is a Finalist in the 2025 Signal Awards in the History category!
Vote for the listener’s choice award here.
This is a special episode of The Lion and the Sun to celebrate our nomination:
As Iran crowns a new king, Reza Shah is force... more
In the season two finale, Britain and the Soviet Union invade Iran in hopes of a regime change …
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Sources for this episode. Episode Summary
On August 25, 1941, Iran f... more
As the Second World War breaks out, Iran declares neutrality. But Britain and the Soviet Union fear that Reza Shah’s ties with Germany could tip the balance of power in the Middle East.
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Reviews
- Pronounce
ta-BREEZE, al-EYE, WEAR-ee
Apple Podcasts3jdubinMKE
United States20 days 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 States4 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 States7 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 States7 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 States9 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #200 |  United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #207 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #215 |  Italy/History |
Apple Podcasts | #231 |  Germany/History |
Apple Podcasts | #248 |  France/History |
Apple Podcasts | #73 |  Russia/History |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Gender Skew | Location | Interests | |||
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| Professions | Age Range | Household Income | |||
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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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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 27 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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