AP Team

Steve was born in Turlock, California, of Assyrian parents. Steve started the Assyrian podcast as an effort to inspire and encourage Assyrians and all ethnic minorities around the world. Steve is interested in helping people share their story and the greatness they carry. When Steve isn’t podcasting, he loves educational technology, chess, the New Orleans Saints, and spiral dynamics. 

Follow him @stevenetniss on Twitter or @stevenetniss on Instagram.

In San Jose, California, born and raised, on the playground is where Adessa spent most of her days. Joining the Assyrian Podcast as the co-founder has been one of her favorite Assyrian initiatives to get involved with! Helping share people’s stories, she believes, makes us better and closer as a diasporic people. She currently resides in Hamilton, Canada. When Adessa isn’t podcasting, she loves to be around music, dance, travel, and do anything cultural; particularly Assyrian. 

You can follow Adessa on Instagram @adessak.

Roda was born in Tehran, Iran and immigrated to California when she was set to begin high school. After finishing her studies in Turlock and spending 7 glorious years in San Francisco, she moved to the metro-Detroit area in 2017 when she married her husband, Tony. Her love for people and their stories stems from her love for books, which she developed as a young child, thanks to a family that revered books and read regularly. This same love for stories led her to join the Assyrian Podcast team. She views life as one big adventure and loves cooking, reading, traveling, and photographing things, places, and people. 

You can follow Roda on Instagram @rodadankha

Peter was born in Modesto, California to Assyrian parents, and delivered by an Assyrian doctor. His work background is in local government, grantmaking and urban planning. In spring 2018, Peter went on the Gishru homeland trip and life has never been the same. He hopes and works to preserve the Assyrian language, culture and identity. In his spare time, Peter sings and volunteers for Assyrian charitable causes. 

Follow him @peteribrahim on Instagram. 

Marina is a first generation Assyrian-American. She was born in Tehran, Iran but grew up in southern California after her family made the typical move (via a pit stop in Germany). Marina's natural inclination towards self-reflection coupled with her immigrant experience is the basis for her interest in how our understanding of our identity impacts our lived experience. Marina's hope is to uplift Assyrian voices and get to know the multitude of ways our culture shows up in our lives no matter the paths we take. She is an avid reader, a yoga aficionado and a mother. She currently lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband and young daughter.

Sarha was born and raised in Chicago, IL and currently resides in Hyde Park. She attended Loyola University in Chicago and obtained a degree in Anthropology which ignited a fondness for ethnography and story-telling. Sarha has spent many years volunteering for various Assyrian organizations and currently works on the board of Ishtar's Circle, a non-profit org based in Chicagoland. When she's not working on projects to help her community, Sarha enjoys reading, going on lakeside runs, hanging out with her dog Charlie, traveling, singing, reading and writing. 

You can follow Sarha on Instagram @sarhaabraham

Mark was born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in Turlock, California. He studied at San Jose State University where he earned a Master of Arts in Communication Studies. Along with this, he was a part of SJSU’s radio station, 90.5FM KSJS, where he ran the sports department broadcasting collegiate sports games. In the spring of 2024, Mark went on the Gishru homeland trip and had an unforgettable experience visiting historic sites and meeting amazing people. His goal is to preserve the Assyrian language, culture, and identity. He likes to play guitar and watch his favorite sports teams in his free time. 

Stephanie was born in Melbourne, Australia to an Assyrian mother and Greek father. Her Assyrian family roots are from Khabour, Syria, and prior to this Hakkari. Her close connection to her Assyrian maternal grandmother fostered Stephanie’s love for the Assyrian language, culture and identity. A strong desire to give back to the Assyrian community led Stephanie to join the Assyrian Podcast team. Currently a Biomedical student, in her spare time she loves to undertake creative pursuits and is involved in a traditional Pontian Greek dance group as well as having recently joined an Assyrian dance group. Stephanie enjoys volunteering at her local children’s hospital and also in her church’s welfare programs for those in need.