Mehdi Fallahi was full of passion when he decided to premiere Namaashoum — Ottawa’s first ever fully Farsi show — some 20 odd years ago. As an activist, he said the support was overwhelming despite his first few productions being “dry and awkward.”
Since then, he’s grown and has expanded the program into a collective with 30 diverse members (some even Carleton professors) who air educational programs and intriguing interviews.
In 2024, Namaashoum cracked into the top five most donated to funding drive shows at CKCU — an achievement Fallahi said was due in part to his steadfast activism.
“People know me as someone who is serving the community,” Fallahi said, adding that Namaashoum is often the medium for his activism.
The philosophy behind the program, Fallahi said, is to help spur change. He said he wants people to think critically about the contents of the show and further their knowledge for the better.
“I believe that my show should bring people from point A to point B at the end, even if point A and B are very close to each other,” he said.
During the funding drive, Fallahi said he takes his activism a step further and physically connects with people. In this way, Fallahi said he builds a stronger sense of community — something he’s already deeply committed to.
“So when I go to them asking for help, they respond to me, especially when I explain the nature of CKCU and how it works.”
With about 12 active co-hosts of Namaashoum, Fallahi said they all involve themselves and help with the funding drive. But, he said he’s still the main “driver” of the program.
“If for whatever reason I cannot continue and produce the show tomorrow, there is not one single person who can grab the torch and continue,” he said.
Fallahi said he puts on average 20 to 30 hours a week into Namaashoum and treats it like a second full-time job.
He does this because he said he believes that radio is still the most powerful broadcasting tool. For most Canadians, it’s accessible anywhere and everywhere and provides news, entertainment, sports, and much more.
For this reason, Fallahi tries to pack as much high quality Farsi content like interviews and educational segments rather than just airing music — his unique and personal preference.
Namaashoum airs weekly on Monday’s from 7 to 9 p.m. and consists mainly of Mehdi Fallahi.
By Simon McKeown