Interviews
Phoenix Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari
Yassamin Ansari is the youngest woman ever elected to the Phoenix City Council and the first Iranian-American elected to public office in the state of Arizona.
She is an Arizona native, daughter of immigrants, and a graduate of Stanford and Cambridge universities. She's dedicated her career to finding solutions to critical issues such as climate change, air pollution and public health, most recently as a senior policy advisor at the United Nations. In this interview, we discussed what it means to grow up Iranian in America and Ms. Ansari's advocacy work to empower the Persian community.
Clinical Dietitian Nour Hoda
Hoda is a Clinical Dietitian at UCLA Medical Center where she works with critically-ill patients. She believes in the power of food and nutrition slowing the progression of and preventing disease. Throughout her training and current work, Hoda seeks to provide patients with optimal and research-based nutrition therapy. She works to advocate against fad diets and the promotion of unrealistic lifestyles. She utilizes her Instagram page @HealthyByHoda to provide others with real nutrition information. In this interview, we discussed the health benefits of Iranian food, how to maintain healthy nutritional habits to be at your optimum physical and mental health, and more.
ER Physician & Performance Coach Dr. Shafie
Dr. Shideh Shafie is, an emergency room physician, assistant professor at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, and a performance coach. She empowers her clients to lead fulfilling lives through maintaining a healthy work and home lifestyle in order to preform at the highest level. She is a recipient of multiple teachings awards and also serves on the boards of the Rhode Island Economic Progress Institute and the Providence Preservation Society. In this interview, we discussed the causes, effects, and solutions to burnout and how to thrive outside of your comfort zone.
OBGYN Physician Dr. Maryam Baird
Dr. Maryam Baird is an obstetrics and gynecology physician in Houston, Texas who has been practicing for over 17 years. We began by discussing the struggles of culture shock moving from Iran amid the revolution to 1980s America and the difficulties of assimilating while maintaining a connection to your heritage. Dr. Baird gave her insight on navigating through a career in medicine and the unique benefits of her field. Additionally, we discussed how Roe v. Wade has affected her patients and the many factors that people often overlook in cases of abortion.
Federal Prosectutor Shirin Bajoghli
Shirin Bajoghli is a federal prosecutor who has been practicing for over 10 years. We started off by discussing the importance of schools acknowledging student diversity from a young age to foster a welcoming environment for kids of all ethnicities. Then, we spoke about how her Persian identity has shaped her interests in law. Mrs. Bajoghli provided insight into pursuing a career in law and the challenges to consider. We also discussed how the pandemic negatively affected the courts across the U.S. and the consequences in postponing federal cases.
Author & Activist Melina Farahmand
Melina Farahmand is the author of When the Stars Collide and From Dust to Breath: Finding Our Place in the Circle of Life. She is a storyteller, activist, writer, and video editor. At twelve years of age, she founded Past Present Future Co., a news and media entity to educate, inspire, and cultivate a world in which women’s empowerment and sustainability issues are addressed. In this interview, we discussed how Melina began her writing journey, the different mediums through which she has advocated for political change, and how her Iranian-American identity has shaped her.