Episode 254 - From Tehran To Tomorrow With Sara Fashandi

#254 - What if the most important stories in your family were the ones nobody could afford to tell at the time? I sit down with author Sara Fashandi to trace her family’s journey from Tehran, Iran to the United States, and the brother at the center of it all, Mohsen, whose memory is so sharp it becomes the family’s unofficial archive. Sara explains what it’s like to grow up with very little, to crave books so much you read scraps of newspaper, and to realize later that your sibling lived a completely different version of childhood than you did. We talk about the heartbreak that shaped Mohsen early, including a devastating loss that left him carrying guilt for decades, and the surprising ways hardship can produce ingenuity. Sara shares story after story of Mohsen’s creativity and resilience, then takes us to his early immigrant experience: arriving with almost no money, making impossible choices, and even spending nights homeless in Washington, D.C. The details are raw, honest, and deeply human, and they show what perseverance looks like when nobody is watching. Sara also pulls back the curtain on the memoir writing process, from the family reunion moment that sparked it all to the commitment it takes to self-publish well. We dig into her books Message in a Matchbox and From Tehran to Tomorrow, what she hopes readers understand about immigration, and why preserving family history is a gift to future generations. If you care about immigrant stories, Iranian-American life, resilience, and the power of memory, this conversation will stay with you.  Subscribe for more human stories, share this with someone who loves family history, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can find the show. To learn more about Sara you can follow her on Instagram @talesfromiran. To get copies of her books Message in a Matchbox and From Tehran to Tomorrow check out just search for the titles on Amazon or click here.  To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.