The critically acclaimed podcast Uncovering Roots has officially returned for a compelling new season, once again immersing global audiences in rich narratives drawn from the heart of the Middle East and surrounding regions. Following the international success of its previous miniseries The Lost Voice: Aurora Mardiganian—which explored the life of an Armenian Genocide survivor who later became a silent film star—the latest season kicks off with a deeply moving episode titled “The Baron Hotel.”
Streaming now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, this audio documentary delves into the life and legacy of one of Syria’s most iconic historical landmarks: the Baron Hotel in Aleppo.
🏨 Episode One: “The Baron Hotel” – A Deep Dive into Aleppo’s Forgotten Grandeur
🌍 A Portal to the Past, Told Through Sound
The premiere episode transports listeners into the faded grandeur of the Baron Hotel—a site that once hosted royalty, adventurers, journalists, revolutionaries, and refugees. More than just a hotel, the Baron was a silent witness to the upheavals that shaped modern Syria and the wider Middle East.
🎧 Storytelling Excellence: The Power of Voice, Memory, and Sound
This episode is co-produced by Maxim Saakyan, a sound designer with a knack for atmospheric audio production, and Zila Demirjian, a Syrian-Armenian historian and researcher dedicated to preserving Middle Eastern heritage. Their collaboration results in a rich, immersive audio journey that’s both emotionally resonant and historically significant.
👩👧 Through Her Eyes: Mary Momdjian’s Journey into the Past
At the core of the narrative is Mary Momdjian, granddaughter of the hotel’s original founder. Her personal recollections breathe life into a building long considered a cultural landmark of Aleppo.
- Her voice guides listeners through stories of family, war, resilience, and loss.
- Her memories encapsulate the slow transformation of Aleppo from a thriving crossroads to a war-torn shadow of its former self.
- She offers insights not just into the hotel, but into the soul of a city that refuses to be forgotten.
🏛️ A Historic Space that Housed Kings, Spies, and Scholars
🗺️ A Who’s Who of Guests at The Baron
The Baron Hotel was more than a place of lodging—it was a haven for:
- Royalty: Kings and princes stayed here during diplomatic missions.
- Revolutionaries: The corridors echoed with whispers of rebellion.
- Historians and Archaeologists: Scholars like Agatha Christie found inspiration within its walls.
- Wartime Journalists: Foreign correspondents chronicled conflicts from its balconies.
- Refugees: In times of crisis, it opened its doors to those in need.
Today, the hotel stands empty—its facade battered, its windows broken—but its legacy endures through the voices that remember it.
🎙️ What Sets This Episode Apart: Original Soundscapes and On-the-Ground Interviews
🎼 Sonic Immersion at Its Finest
- The sound design integrates archival recordings, field interviews, and on-site ambient audio from Aleppo.
- Listeners can almost hear the echo of footsteps in abandoned hallways and the rustle of war-torn curtains swaying in the wind.
- Interviews with local historians, filmmakers, and former guests add context and emotional weight.
🧠 Cultural Memory and the Danger of Erasure
🧩 “When spaces like this disappear, it’s not just history we lose. It’s belonging.”
That quote from Zila Demirjian encapsulates the essence of Uncovering Roots’ mission: to document, preserve, and share the stories of places and people often neglected in mainstream historical discourse.
- The Baron Hotel is symbolic of Syria’s lost cosmopolitanism.
- It reminds us of the fragility of memory, especially in times of conflict and displacement.
- The podcast challenges listeners to reflect on the importance of cultural continuity, heritage preservation, and collective identity.
📱 Where to Listen: Available on Major Streaming Platforms
The episode is currently streaming on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Google Podcasts (Coming soon)
Each episode of Uncovering Roots offers something different—but all are unified by a commitment to storytelling that is both personal and universal.
🔍 What’s Next for the Season?
After The Baron Hotel, upcoming episodes are set to explore:
- Displaced communities in Armenia and Lebanon
- Historical archives in Palestine
- Diaspora voices redefining identity
With an evolving narrative arc and a blend of investigative journalism and oral history, this season promises to be the podcast’s most ambitious yet.
📢 Summary Highlights
- 🎙️ Uncovering Roots podcast launches a new season focused on Middle Eastern heritage.
- 🏨 Episode one, “The Baron Hotel,” recounts the life of Aleppo’s legendary landmark.
- 👩👧 Mary Momdjian, the founder’s granddaughter, serves as the episode’s emotional anchor.
- 📚 Rich with archival sounds, personal interviews, and field recordings.
- 📲 Available now on Apple and Spotify.
