Shirin Conversations

On today's episode, I am joined by Yeganeh Mafaher. Yeganeh is a 24-year-old activist born in Iran. Her career has taken off in multiple areas- comedy, life coach, and content creator. Recently she has received recognition for leading the conversation on Tiktok about daily Iran updates and what we can do to continue supporting Iranians in Iran. However, this isn't new to her… she has always used her platform to educate others about Iran and the truth we often do not see.⁣

On today's episode, I am joined by Mandy Ansari, a marketing executive, influencer, mental health advocate, and immigrant obsessed with the internet's ability to make the world smaller and more connected. She is passionate about helping people feel less alone by creating a safe space and community online. Her blog girlandthe.com has over 500K readers a month, and her account has reached around 10.7M people in the last month. ⁣⁣Mandy is a founding member of the Iranian Diaspora Collective. This non-partisan, multi-faith group is inclusive of multiple backgrounds, gender, and LGBTQ identity and include leaders in business, media, entertainment, fashion, beauty, and more who have a combined social media reach of over 50M. In addition, the Iranian Diaspora Collective has raised over $460K to activate in 136 locations with a visibility campaign that launched Thursday, October 27th, and garnered around 150M media impressions.⁣

On today's episode, I am joined by Goldie Ghamari - the first Iranian Canadian politician to be elected in Canada. She's been in office since 2018 and has always made sure she connects with her audience (not just online). As a politician, she knows the need to be in touch with her community, and as a millennial, she knows the best way is through social media. At the start of COVID, she started her TikTok account and has since dedicated much of her time to educating others about the lack of fundamental human rights in Iran, led under the Islamic Regime since 1979, and on September 16th when Mahsa Amini was murdered, she made sure it was part of her job to be the voice of the voiceless in Iran and bring awareness to the gruesome attacks happening daily to the Iranian people (especially to the women and children). She wants us to band together and helps, whether calling congress, posting on social media, or both. The more voices come together, the better it is for all of us.⁣#MahsaAmini #IranProtests #IranRevolution #FreeIran

On today's episode, I am joined by Donya Bouzarjomehri. Donya is currently a strategy director living in Paris, France, after spending 5+ years in NYC working in advertising. Donya promised herself after studying abroad in Paris that she would one day return not as a student but to start her career. Then in 2016, as she was advancing in her career, she decided to honor that promise even if that meant quitting her job, moving to a new country, and figuring it out day by day… she calls her journey a “wild experience but also one that tests your patience and tests your passion.” For Donya, it was this drive to make it work, so she maintained her optimism to make that happen.

On today's episode, I am joined by Rhoda Rahaii. A seasoned tech executive with a strategic vision to take businesses to the next level. She is Mary Poppins for the corporate world, and she even comes equipped with a tool-belt filled with what every company needs to succeed. Her experience includes executive compensation, talent and performance management, executive coaching, expansion strategies, and more. Working for companies like Oliver Wyman, Mercer, Postmates, Compass, and most recently, GoPuff. However, don't be fooled; Rhoda isn't the type of consultant that comes into an organization to sit back. No. She will roll up her sleeve and get to work; that's just her style.

On today's episode, I am joined by Layla Sabourian. A seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in product management, partner marketing, digital media, and community development, working for top companies like LVMH, Oracle, eBay, and Yahoo. She is currently the founder and CEO of Chef Koochooloo, an educational software platform that encourages interdisciplinary, intercultural learning for children through cooking lessons. She is also a published children's book author writing books that teach children awareness of their own (and other) cultures to shape them to become better compassionate and emotionally intelligent human beings. Her mission is very obvious - she hopes to educate, enlighten, and inspire others to be their best and make a positive difference.

On today's episode, I am joined by Azin Valy- the co-founder of the award-winning multi-disciplinary Architecture firm, I-beam Design, based in New York, and the founder of Cityzen by Azin, a luxury brand that merges fashion with social impact. Her fashion brand transforms aerial views of cities into wearable art, and the mission is to promote global dialogue and diplomacy by transcending physical and mental borders with her pieces. Her brand has been worn by celebrities and public figures like Anousheh Ansari, Yara Shahidi, and Tory Burch. In addition, her Chicago Cityzen gown was accepted as a gift by Michelle Obama. Azin has always known what she wanted to do and teaches us that being clear with our vision is the first step in building the career or life we desire.

On today's episode, I am joined by Sorina Vaziri - A multi-disciplinary artist, professional designer, and the founder of Teapot (@teapot.la), a nonprofit in Mid-City Los Angeles fostering a lifestyle of creation in paradise. Teapot was inspired by Sorina's grandparents' tea garden in Iran, where she spent summers as a child. Sorina's mission is to share art, culture, and beautiful stories through gardening projects in hopes to inspire, create memories and grow the community along the way.⁣

On today's episode, I am joined by Nini Ordoubadi - an educator by nature, an artist at heart, and a third-generation tea enthusiast who founded Tay Tea in 2003 in NYC before relocating her shop and home base to the Catskills. Nini has created over 22 beautiful blends of exotic loose leaf teas. She intends to teach people the art of slowing down by sharing the history, stories, and of course, the hospitality of our culture over a cup of tea prescribed specifically for what you need at that moment.

On today's episode, I am joined by my mother and Shirin's daughter - Marjan Peyrovan. Marjan has been a well-respected travel agent and business owner for over 25 years here in Orange County. She is the President and Founder of Passport 2 Travel, but today she's just Shirin's daughter - sharing with us some memories of her mother, my grandmother, and the show's namesake.

On today's episode, I am joined by Shadi Pourkashef, a Mother, Composer, Conductor, Teacher, Founder, and Fierce Activist. Shadi wants to create an impact in this world, and her true passion is to combat bullying by creating kinder and safer environments in schools through her non-profit, the Ability Awareness Project. You can see her pushing that further with her work as a Goodwill Ambassador in Laguna Beach and by teaching music at her new studio Anami where she provides private lessons that dive deeper into her student's abilities and talents.

On today's episode, I am joined by Zahra Tabatabai, the founder of a Brooklyn Based, first-generation, and woman-owned beer company, Back Home Beer. Zahra wasn't always a professional brewer. A former journalist, writing for Fox News and ESPN, she started brewing in her Brooklyn apartment motivated by stories of her late grandfather's home brewing operations in Shiraz. What began as a hobby turned into something more. She found a way to educate others on the richness of our Iranian Culture through ingredients used in her beer, all the while staying true to her brand's mission of empowering women, supporting immigrants, and taking care of the community she's a part of. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Zahra Golafshani, a Los Angeles Based, award-winning writer and director working on an upcoming TV movie for a Canadian Television Network. Zahra is passionate about her craft and believes that a project must speak to you before you commit to it and if there is anything she's learned from her journey in life and directing is that we should not escape what we fear or try and change ourselves to fit in. She speaks about accepting who we are, what the meaning of “home” is, and why we should all lean into areas within ourselves that could set us all apart. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Roya Shariat, the Senior Manager of Social Impact at Glossier. Her career trajectory has always been focused on doing good with a degree in Economics, Middle Eastern Studies, and Social and Public Policy from NYU mixed with parents who have also dedicated their lives in the social impact space - there is no denying Roya's destiny to change the world. However, Roya reminds us that life is precious and fragile, and if there is one thing we've learned this past year, it's just that. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Mina Khanaman, a Civil Engineer turned sound healer, reiki practitioner, sacred plant medicine herbalist, and holistic life coach. Mina created her company Moksha Elements after leaving her 10-year career in engineering to help others find their purpose and align with their authentic self. Mina shares with us how each of us has a specific gift and when we learn to love ourselves and accept who we are - as we are - our potential is limitless.

On today's episode, I am joined by Sepideh Dadsetan, a real estate agent who has spent a decade specializing in energy efficiency and green homes. She considers herself a comfort consultant helping her clients find their dream homes and creating one that meets their specific needs both visually and sustainably. Sepideh not only shares stories about Green Homes with us but also about the homes left behind… as she speaks to me for the first time about her experience leaving Iran in a not-so-traditional way after the revolution. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Yalda Kazemi. Yalda is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, stylist, and writer of her new book Unapologetic Truths: The realities of Postpartum we don't talk about. Her personal experience with postpartum mental illness has led her on a mission to be a voice for mothers who suffer in silence, to raise awareness and break stigmas associated with mental illness. At her company stylEsteem, she merges style and mental health to empower and educate individuals to look and feel confident while using her strategies as a method to uplift one's mood. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Kiana Anvaripour, the Chief Marketing Officer at Sweet Flower, the leading cannabis retailer based in Los Angeles. Kiana holds a degree in Fashion Design from Otis College and has worn many hats since graduating. Holding roles in PR, Sales, and Business Development. She has founded two companies, a luxury shapewear brand DMondaine worn by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, and co-founded a virtual styling platform, FOVO, with the founder of Zappos. As the Queen of Reinvention, she is now re-educating different generations on the benefits of Cannabis.

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, I am joined by Roya Khadjavi, an independent curator, producer, and founder of Roya Khadjavi Projects based in NYC. She has always wanted a career that gives back, and she primarily focuses on the work of young artists in Iran and beyond. Her project's mission is to create a US platform for emerging artists by sharing their stories and experiences through their art while demonstrating what happens when power and culture are used to bring us together.

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, Marjaneh speaks to Dr. Sheva, a Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Coach focusing on empowering young adults, particularly women, on taking the wheel when it comes to living their best life, silencing their inner critic and why the relationship we have ourselves is the one we should always prioritize. 

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, Sanam shares her story on how she became an attorney and what she wishes for others who are looking to get into the legal field. She also gave us a glimpse into the power of social media and how small signs bring meaningful connections. 

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, Parisa shares with us her journey from leaving Iran at a young age (during the Iranian Revolution), forging a name in an industry that isn't so common for most Iranians, creating a gender-fluid brand at a time the definition was unknown and finding herself through food and storytelling.

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, Pooneh shares with us her journey from starting her brand 20 years ago in her garage (yes, like Amazon) and her positive words to never give up on your passion.

On this episode of Shirin Conversations, Dr. Foojan speaks to us about her daily practices (hint: she begins her day with gratitude) and the value of therapy and creating a space that allows us to become whole.

In the first episode of Shirin Conversations', Host Marjaneh Peyrovan has enlisted her longest friend (read BFF), Zulfia Ali Manely, to Interview her. Marjaneh believes the only way she can give this series justice is for you to know who will be leading you through these conversations.

No Matter How You Say It.No Matter Where You're From.These are SWEET Conversations That Need To Be Had.WELCOME!