The Zoroastrian youth from the UK have chosen a new style to converse that they call Zoroverse. Using the podcast medium, in their introductory episode, the hosts of the show Danny Master and Shaizeen Persa explained how they will be endeavoring to connect the "small but spaced out” global Zoroastrian community. The monthly interactions that will capture the evolution of Zarathushtis can be accessed via podcasts "a medium people listen to.” While 32-year-old Master has lived in India, the Middle East and New Zealand before settling in the UK, 28-year-old Persa is from the UK but makes an annual sojourn to India.
Persa mentioned how the elders in the community "like my grandma read Parsiana. It is quite exciting for her to get news, find out what is going on in the community, to keep up to date... Our generation probably doesn’t have that medium to tune into.”
Clockwise from top front row l: Ryan Kalifa, Sheherazad Kapadia, Phiroza Marker,
Danny Master, Shaizeen Persa; Zoroverse logo; Ayesha Billimoria
Zoroverse, directed by Phiroza Marker and Sheherazad Kapadia, expects to fill that lacuna. Ryan Kalifa was introduced as the editor of Zoroverse. It was stressed though that the contents of the podcasts will be uncensored, "Nothing is taboo… All voices will be equally represented… Not our own personal views.” They basically plan to talk to members of the community from all walks of life who have made a success of their careers or created an impact on others. Revelations by the interviewee sharing what worked for him/her should help others get a headstart. Depending on the viewer’s predisposition, "some episodes will resonate more with you.”
The first episode of Zoroverse launched on the Shahenshahi New Year, August 16, featured "FitGirl India,” Ayesha Billimoria, a track athlete who has set her eyes on qualifying for the 2021 Olympic Games. In her candid chat with the hosts for nearly 40 minutes, Billimoria declared how over the years she has learnt to be self reliant, disciplined, focused, committed… "One lesson covid has taught me is to value people’s lives,” she stated in the episode that was advertised as "No finish lines, only new horizons” and could be viewed on YouTube and Spotify.