Book Two Trailer

Book Two Trailer

Author: String Studios January 15, 2025 Duration: 2:04

Down with the Qajars. Long Live Reza Shah.

Listen to new chapters from January 29th.


As we’re recording this, Iran is experiencing a wide range of issues.

Both internal turmoil and external conflicts. 

But the fascinating thing about this statement is that it doesn’t matter when you’re listening to this podcast. It could be a week from now, a month, or even years.

No matter the time, the above sentence will hold as much truth then as it has now.

Iran is a rather peculiar place. A country with over 2000 years of history that has always been at the center of world events. From the days of the Achaemenid empire and the Persian wars with the Greeks to their Islamic revolution of 1979 and their constant conflict with the West.

Yet, despite this vast history, for many Iranians, no era looms as large as the Pahlavi dynasty. Despite being one of the shortest reigns in Persia’s long history, its legacy remains embedded in the nation’s collective memory.

The last true dynasty to rule Iran.

In book two of The Lion and the Sun, we turn our focus to the Pahlavi dynasty and its founder. A man who rose from obscurity, dismantled an ancient monarchy, and declared himself king; establishing a new order under his name.

Loved by some and reviled by others, his influence on the nation is undeniable, shaping its modern identity.

This season, we delve into the life of Reza Shah: his meteoric rise to power, the sweeping changes he brought to Iran, his ruthless pragmatism and his ultimate demise.

The second season of The Lion and the Sun begins on January 29 and new chapters will be released every other week.

You can listen to season one here or on all podcast platforms.

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok or X (Twitter).
For early access to episodes, become a supporter on Patreon.

The post Book Two Trailer appeared first on The Lion and The Sun Podcast.


The 2025 Signal Award winner for Best History Podcast, The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran from String Studios, explores a past defined by continuous striving for freedom and self-determination. This narrative history podcast moves beyond simple chronology to examine how the potent forces of faith, royal authority, democratic aspiration, and national identity have intertwined to shape the nation's complex journey to the present. Each episode is built on a foundation of meticulous research, delivered as a compelling story. The inaugural season, "Book One: The Qajars," focuses on a pivotal era, detailing the events and personalities behind the Constitutional Revolution that established Iran's first parliament. Listeners will hear a nuanced account of a society in profound transition, where modern ideas clashed with ancient institutions. The podcast carefully untangles these threads, revealing how decisions and movements from over a century ago continue to resonate deeply. It is an essential listen for anyone seeking to understand not just what happened, but why it matters today, offering clarity and context to a history that is often summarized but seldom fully grasped. Through this focused storytelling, the series provides a clear window into the forces that built a modern state.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 35

The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran
Podcast Episodes
Book One Recap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:16
The Qajar dynasty was the embodiment of ineffectiveness. Tyrants incapable of true tyranny. This is the story of their demise. Season two of The Lion and the Sun Podcast will start next week. If you’re new to this show,…
Book One – Special Episode: Arabistan (2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Reza Khan’s army marches toward Arabistan, Khaz’al tries to unite local tribes against the government and the battle for Arabistan reaches its breaking point. This is part two of a special episode of The Lion and the Sun…
Book One – Special Episode: Arabistan (1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:48
A defiant Sheikh, a province rich in oil, and Reza Khan’s push to unify a fractured Iran. The story of Arabistan and how one local tribe became the biggest threat to Persia. This is a special two-part episode of The Lion…
Book One – Ep.10: Brave New World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In the season finale of the podcast, Reza Khan aims for total control, the young shah flees his country and Iran braces itself for a brave new world. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok or X (Twitter).For early access to epis…
Book One – Ep.9: The Coup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:42
A new player emerges in Persian politics…How a journalist and a military lieutenant orchestrated the 1921 coup d’état and how Reza Khan gained control of Iran’s military and became an influential player in the government…
Book One – Ep.8: APOC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
The biggest oil field the world had ever seen, a foreign military occupation and a socialist revolution in the north. As Russia’s influence wanes, Britain seizes control of Iran’s newfound oil wealth and expands its infl…
Book One – Ep.7: The Great War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
As the great war breaks out in Europe, Persia is turned into the ultimate proxy battleground. The story of the First World War and how British, Russian, and German forces competed for control in Iran. Follow us on Instag…
Book One – Ep.6: Russian Roulette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
An old king tries to reclaim his throne, the United States sends help for the country’s finances, and Russia invades Iran. The complicated history of Iran and Russia and how the Russian influence impacted Iran’s democrac…
Book One – Ep.5: Battle of Tehran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:07
Two constitutionalist armies arrive at the gates of Tehran and Mohammad Ali Shah prepares the capital of Iran for an all-out war. How the battle of Tehran reshaped the future of democracy in Iran and how the country was…
Book One – Ep.4: The Bombardment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:21
How Mohammad Ali Shah laid siege to the parliament building, ending Iran’s brief experiment with democracy. Discover the story of the Majlis bombardment and the Iranian guerrilla warfare to reclaim their hard-fought free…