From Persian family pressure to Shark Tank success! Zoya was expected to follow the traditional Middle Eastern path—become a lawyer, get married, and live the “perfect” Persian life. But she had other plans. As a gay Persian entrepreneur, Zoya had to fight against cultural expectations, family struggles, and self-doubt to build her own empire.
In this episode, we dive into: ✔️ How Zoya’s parents reacted when she came out as gay ✔️ The pressures of being Middle Eastern & breaking tradition ✔️ How she built a food empire from scratch (and made $$$ from content!) ✔️ The dark truth about raw fish & why she stopped eating sushi ✔️ Her insane Shark Tank journey and what happened behind the scenes
Watch till the end to hear Zoya’s message to anyone struggling to live their truth!
00:00 Intro 02:07 Cultural Expectations and Career Choices 16:18 Challenges of Being Gay in a Persian Family 34:28 Coming Out to Family 44:57 Reflections on Luck and Life 46:43 Reflecting on Life's Luck and Fate 47:37 The Lottery of Life 49:16 The Culinary Journey Begins 51:05 From Social Enterprise to Culinary Ventures 55:06 The Birth of Fish Foods 57:58 Challenges and Triumphs in the Vegan Sushi World 01:07:41 Shark Tank Experience and Future Goals 01:19:23 Discussing the Deal: Behind the Scenes 01:20:22 Shark Tank Experience: Expectations vs Reality 01:22:52 Challenges in the Food Industry 01:25:44 Restaurant Business: The Real Struggle 01:32:44 Content Creation: The New Frontier 01:34:16 Collaborations with Gordon Ramsay 01:39:13 Future Plans and Advice for Aspiring Creators 01:52:50 The Value of Engagement Over Follower Count 01:53:34 Earnings and Niche Differences for Content Creators 01:54:27 Negotiating Deals and Knowing Your Worth 01:55:20 Challenges of Sponsored Content 01:55:52 The Importance of Authenticity 02:00:02 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators 02:17:41 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Follow Zoya
Follow Arrad (podcast host)
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST:
CONNECT WITH US:
✩ Ourselves (production team):
✩ TikTok
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.