Piran Zarifian shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Piran, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was with my children. Since becoming a father, I’ve found myself rediscovering the world through their eyes. My oldest son, in particular, has taught me to slow down and notice the simple things, like how fascinating a butterfly is, how magical a puddle can be, how every moment holds the potential for laughter and wonder. It’s as if I’m reliving the small joys of life all over again, but this time with a deeper appreciation because I know how fleeting those moments are.
It’s not just happiness—it’s something more profound. Watching my son experience life for the first time has given me a sense of gratitude I didn’t know I was missing. It’s reminded me that joy doesn’t come from big achievements or milestones, but from being present in these everyday discoveries. This chapter of my life truly feels magical because I get to walk beside my children as they uncover the world, and in doing so, they’ve given me a new way of seeing it, too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an entrepreneur and creative who has spent the past 15 years building BAO Foot Spa, a boutique wellness brand with locations in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. We’ve built our reputation on creating not just treatments, but experiences—spaces where people can escape the noise of daily life and feel cared for with a level of detail and hospitality that’s rare in our industry.
What makes BAO special is that it’s deeply personal. I’ve always believed in listening to feedback—both from clients and my team—and using that to evolve and refine the business. That philosophy has kept us thriving in a competitive market and has allowed us to build lasting relationships with our community.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me clearly before I could see myself was my screenwriting teacher, Heidi Crane. She invested an incredible amount of time in mentoring me when I was younger, and she had this rare ability to cut through the noise and really understand who I was, even before I did. She pushed me to drop the pretenses and approach writing with honesty, vulnerability, and discipline.
What made her guidance so impactful was that she didn’t just nurture my strengths—she helped me recognize and accept my weaknesses too. That gave me a much deeper self-awareness, not only as a writer but as a person. Her mentorship shaped the way I approach creative work even today: with clarity, authenticity, and a willingness to confront the truth.
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Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Something I miss, that I don’t often talk about, is my childhood friends. Watching my kids form these pure, innocent friendships has been incredibly moving—it’s reminded me of what I left behind when my family immigrated. Those early bonds are irreplaceable. As adults, we make new friends, share experiences, and build communities, but childhood friendships carry a different kind of magic. They’re rooted in a time when life was simpler, when connection wasn’t filtered by ambition or circumstance, but just by joy and belonging.
I deeply admire and even envy people who still have their childhood friends close by, because those relationships hold a unique kind of history and understanding. It’s something I’ll always miss, and seeing my children experience it now makes me appreciate its beauty all the more.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
A belief I once held tightly, but now recognize as naive, was seeing the world in black and white. When I was younger, it felt simpler to think in absolutes—right or wrong, good or bad, us versus them. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand and appreciate the shades of gray that make up life and human nature.
What concerns me today is that our world seems to be moving in the opposite direction—toward greater polarization. Too often, people are quick to label those who disagree with them as “the enemy” or “evil.” That kind of thinking erodes empathy, respect, and the ability to coexist. I believe it’s dangerous for society when we lose the capacity to see nuance and to recognize the humanity in others, even when we don’t share the same perspective.
My hope is that more of us can learn to lean into those shades of gray—to approach others with kindness, patience, and respect. It’s in that middle ground that true understanding and progress can happen.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
The times I’ve felt most excited about going to work were during the opening of my locations. There’s something incredibly energizing about those days—planning every detail, sourcing equipment and furniture, making sure everything was just right, and then finally seeing the doors open for the first time. It felt like all the late nights and hard work had crystallized into something real and tangible.
That said, I’ve always genuinely enjoyed going to work. I love what I do, and I love the people I get to work with. My team inspires me every day. Being around them gives me the energy to keep pushing, to keep improving, and to make the business better not just for myself, but for everyone who’s part of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.baofootspa.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/baofootspa
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/baofootspa
