Nikoo (Nikki) Sedaghat (she/her) reflects on growing up as the child of first-generation Iranian immigrants and the layered experience of identity, belonging and cultural heritage.

She shares what it means to move between cultures, navigate Islamophobia, and carry the protective habits shaped by expectation, pressure, and the need to fit in.

The conversation also touches on body image, beauty standards, connection to land, and changing ideas of success within immigrant communities.

It’s a thoughtful episode about cultural humility, emotional intelligence, and learning how to connect more honestly.

Episode hosted and recorded by Forouz Salari (she/her) in Feb. 2026 - edited & mixed by Miranda Ramnarayan (she/her).

Guest Bio:

Nikoo (Nikki) Sedaghat (she/her) is the founder of Sedâ Psychotherapy, a virtual practice in Ontario, Canada, supporting individual mental health and relational wellbeing: http://www.sedapsychotherapy.com

As a Registered Psychotherapist, Nikoo's work is shaped by her lived experiences as a queer, neurodivergent, diasporic Iranian who grew up in Canada as the child of first-generation immigrants.

These identities inform her strong commitment to anti-oppressive practice and her belief in the transformative power of authentic connections that embrace the full spectrum of the human experience.