Searching for Garegin

After meeting a man in Artsakh who vowed never to leave, Sheila Paylan feared he

had died when more than 100,000 Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Years later, a fallen wheat wreath makes her reconsider what it means to keep a promise, love a homeland and choose to survive.

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Please Don’t Make Me Defend an Oligarch

Sheila Paylan

Sep 7, 2026

In this special edition of “Unleashed”, Sheila Paylan examines the arrests and prosecutions of Armenia’s

political opponents, asking whether the fight against oligarchy is being pursued with consistent standards and respect for judicial independence. She argues that defending democracy requires holding power accountable, even when those targeted are difficult to defend.

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Deus ex Absurdo

Sheila Paylan

Aug 10, 2026

Why do we turn celebrities, influencers and political leaders into modern-day gods? Sheila Paylan explores

the psychology of hero worship, personality cults and our willingness to surrender critical thinking in exchange for admiration and belonging.

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Progress, Interrupted

Sheila Paylan

Jul 6, 2026

Drawing from a deeply personal chapter of her life, Sheila Paylan reflects on the hard,

often unflattering work of trying to become better. Exploring relapse, discipline and self-forgiveness, she argues that progress is not erased by the moments we fall, but revealed in how we rise again.

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Vote for [Blank]

Sheila Paylan

Jun 1, 2026

As Armenia heads to the polls, Sheila Paylan reflects on the meaning of voting, the

temptation of strategic choices, and why the only truly wasted vote is the one never cast.

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Rise and Outshine

Sheila Paylan

May 4, 2026

This month for Unleashed, Sheila Paylan draws a line from childhood bullying to Armenia’s unexpected

rise into the global spotlight, reflecting on how people and countries can use pain and rejection to rise above and beyond what tried to break them.

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Let Them Lose You

Sheila Paylan

Apr 6, 2026

A reflective Easter meditation on boundaries, self-worth and the power of walking away. Drawing from

personal and professional experience, Sheila Paylan argues that refusing to tolerate disrespect is not loss, but a necessary act that creates space for growth and better possibilities.

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