Ourselves Podcast Zoya: The Iconic Gay Persian Content Creator Who Took Over Shark Tank!
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
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