Your Next Step with Mahdieh Rassafiani

Honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers daring to do things differently.

Your Next Step with Mahdieh Rassafiani is a education podcast hosted by Mahdieh Rassafiani, with 17 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mahdieh Rassafiani hosts Your Next Step with Mahdieh Rassafiani, a education show with 17 episodes published.

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  Episode #15

  Ep 15: My Dad Turned 60. I Asked Him What Really Matters in Life || Mehdi Rassafiani

  Sep 17, 20261h 4m

  What really matters after 60 years of life? In this special episode of Your Next Step, I sit down with my dad as he turns 60 to reflect on the experiences, challenges and lessons that have shaped his life. From losing his father at seven years old and leaving home for Tehran, to moving our family from Iran to Australia, navigating 30 years of marriage and becoming a father, we unpack what six decades of life have taught him about resilience, love, family and success. We talk about learning to accept what you cannot control, staying flexible as you grow, allowing your children to make their own mistakes, and why he has never viewed what he has done for his family as sacrifice, but simply as responsibility. We also explore a definition of success that has little to do with money, status or recognition, and much more to do with the kind of person you become and the impact your actions have on others. In this episode, we explore: - What actually matters after 60 years of life. - Losing a parent young and learning to become independent. - Why following someone else's path isn't always the answer. - Redefining success beyond money and status. - Acceptance and navigating life's hardest seasons. - The importance of flexibility and forgiveness. - What 30 years of marriage teaches you about love. - Moving from Iran to Australia and starting again. - Fatherhood and raising independent children. - Why he sees responsibility differently to sacrifice. - What he would tell his 20-year-old self. - The legacy he hopes to leave behind. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 What actually matters after 60 years of life? 05:02 Losing his father at seven years old 12:19 How losing a father shaped him 15:01 Why he never chose a role model 19:56 Redefining what it means to be successful 21:42 Leaving home and moving to Tehran 25:11 Navigating life's hardest challenges 27:51 Why acceptance can be more powerful than forcing an outcome 32:39 Understanding your subconscious patterns 34:58 The importance of having good intentions 38:27 Why staying flexible keeps you growing 40:19 What 30 years of marriage taught him 45:21 How love changes over time 47:18 The moment he found out he was becoming a dad 48:23 What fatherhood taught him 48:37 Why he doesn't believe in "sacrifice" 49:52 Raising independent children 54:07 How he learned to worry less 56:52 What he would tell his 20-year-old self 57:33 What he's still dreaming about at 60 59:19 The legacy he wants to leave behind This is one of the most personal conversations I've shared on the podcast. A conversation between a father and daughter about growing older, looking back, and figuring out what actually matters. ️ Your Next Step is a podcast about the stories, lessons and decisions that shape who we become. CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdieh-rassafiani-97611a185/ FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@yournextsteppodcast

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  Episode #14

  EP 14: She Lost Her Dream Job. What Happened Next Changed Everything || Sophie Sherman

  Sep 7, 202648 min

  Losing your job can feel like everything is falling apart. But what if it’s actually the push you needed to build the life you’ve been thinking about? Sophie Sherman is the founder of Ourfit , a clothing hire platform designed to make accessing clothes as easy and normal as buying them. After almost five years in a career she loved, Sophie’s company unexpectedly went into liquidation, just weeks after she had written down that she wanted to work for herself. In this episode, Sophie and I talk about burnout, losing the security of a salary, building Ourfit, joining the Antler accelerator, overcoming perfectionism and learning to take risks before you feel fully ready. We also unpack the sacrifices that come with going all-in, the pressure to have life figured out in your 20s, and why sometimes the question isn’t “What if it doesn’t work? ”but“ If not now, then when?” This one is for anyone sitting on an idea, feeling behind, scared to take the leap or wondering whether it’s finally time to back themselves. WHAT WE COVER: - Losing your job and turning uncertainty into opportunity. - Burnout and rebuilding yourself. - The story behind Sophie creating Ourfit. - Why clothing rental could change the way we consume fashion. - Overcoming perfectionism and learning to ship. - Sophie’s experience inside the Antler accelerator. - The sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship. - Imposter syndrome and the fear of losing a secure salary. - Why your 20s don’t need to look like anyone else’s. - Taking action through fear. - Asking “Who can help me?” instead of “How do I do everything?” - What’s next for Sophie and Ourfit. TIMESTAMPS [01:00:57] — Losing her dream job and the start of a new chapter [01:01:42] — The Mel Robbins moment that changed everything [01:05:46] — Burnout and hitting her lowest point [01:07:01] — Sophie’s entrepreneurial beginnings [01:09:09] — What is Ourfit? [01:10:40] — The future of clothing rental [01:18:43] — Sophie’s biggest challenge: perfectionism [01:20:23] — Documenting the journey online [01:23:51] — Inside the Antler accelerator [01:31:08] — How going all-in impacts relationships [01:34:09] — Imposter syndrome and “What if this doesn’t work?” [01:37:32] — Why your 20s are a time to take risks [01:38:27] — There are many right paths in life [01:41:13] — Stop asking “How?” and start asking “Who?” [01:42:18] — Why action helps you move through fear [01:45:23] — Sophie’s next step and what’s next for Ourfit CONNECT WITH SOPHIE SHERMAN INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/sophiesherman/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@sophsherman LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiesherman/ INFORMATION ON OURFIT JOIN OURFIT FOR LAUNCH ON 09.09.26 — https://ourfit.app/join INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/ourfit/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@ourfit.app LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourfit/posts/ CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH NSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdieh-rassafiani-97611a185/ FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST NSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@yournextsteppodcast

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  Episode #12

  Ep 12: The Psychologist Who Forgot How to Cope || Ben Jepsen

  Aug 2, 202654 min

  Everyone knows the coping strategies. Ben Jepsen spent 6 years studying them, then forgot every single one when he burnt out. He's an organisational psychologist who completed 6 years of psychology training, hit a wall he didn't see coming, and only realised he was burnt out a month later when someone told him. Out of that funk came Blue Friend, a mental health card deck that started as a shoebox of fidget toys and resilience cards he made for himself, and has since reached 250+ people through workshops. In this episode Ben (founder of Blue Friend) and I talk about why we forget the things that make us feel better right when we need them most, the science of labelling your emotions to calm your nervous system, why "impact over profit" kept him moving when charging for wellbeing felt wrong, and what it took to come back after quitting for two months. This one is for anyone sitting in the middle ground of languishing, struggling to put themselves out there, or holding an idea they're too burnt out or scared to start. This episode discusses burnout and mental health. If you're struggling, support is available - please reach out to someone you trust or a professional service in your area. WHAT WE COVER: Why we forget our coping strategies exactly when we need them most. The signs of burnout most people miss until it's too late. How labelling your emotions sends a calming signal to your brain. Box breathing and why the long exhale relaxes your nervous system. "Impact over profit" and the discomfort of charging for wellbeing. How to filter advice when everyone has an opinion (the Brené Brown Venn diagram). Why courage comes before confidence, not the other way around. Quitting for two months and what pulled him back. Building a "cookie jar of wins" so you don't forget your own progress. Why the smartest first step is self-compassion, not action. TIMESTAMPS [00:00] — Subscribe + welcome [00:37] — Who is Ben and what is Blue Friend [01:30] — Not realising he was burning out and the signs he missed [03:37] — Languishing: the word he learned in COVID for the middle ground [04:02] — What the people around him couldn't see [05:52] — The shoebox that became a mental health card deck [07:52] — Flicking through the deck and why reminders matter [09:58] — The science: why the brain deletes our coping strategies [10:47] — Normalising the struggle and labelling your emotions [14:09] — The unglamorous side of turning a passion project into a business [16:16] — Reframing money: people investing in themselves [19:18] — Quitting for two months and what brought him back [22:28] — Walking through the deck: affirmation, grounding and action cards [26:47] — Box breathing live, and the seven-second version [34:40] — Why psychology, and the 13-year-old who knew [37:38] — How to filter advice when everyone has an opinion [41:39] — Courage before confidence and putting yourself out there [44:45] — Building a founder toolkit and adapting from user feedback [49:47] — Grit, taking breaks, and why your baseline never resets [52:34] — What he'd say to anyone too burnt out or scared to start CONNECT WITH BEN JEPSEN INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/bluefriendben/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-jepsen/ INFORMATION ON BLUE FRIEND WEBSITE — https://www.bluefriend.com.au/ INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/bluefriendau/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluefriend/ CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdieh-rassafiani-97611a185/ FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@yournextsteppodcast

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  Episode #11

  Ep 11: The Finance Expert: Most People Shouldn't Start A Business! Do This Instead || Stephen Mitchell

  Jul 15, 202659 min

  Everyone talks about finding your passion. Stephen Mitchell built his career by ignoring that advice completely. He grew up in Western Sydney, opened one of the first small group training gyms in Surry Hills, built a genetic testing startup that ran out of money, then accidentally fell into car finance after losing it all. Now he runs Nexus Advisory, a boutique brokerage helping founders access the debt they need to scale. In this episode Stephen (founder of Nexus Advisory) and I talk about why "do what you're good at" beats "do what you love", the biggest mistake founders make when they borrow money, why Australia's capital is stuck in property while America's flows into business, and why sometimes the smartest move isn't being the founder at all. This one is for anyone who feels lost about their direction, is thinking about borrowing to grow, or wonders whether the founder path is actually for them. WHAT WE COVER: Why "do what you're good at" is better advice than "do what you love." Falling into your career by accident and making it work anyway. The one thing lenders actually want to see before giving you money. Why Australian capital hides in property while American capital backs business. How broker commission structures quietly trap founders in bad loans. The red flags that expose a predatory lender in under a minute. Minimising losses when you're naturally a risk-taker. Why being a great 2IC can be just as rewarding as being the founder. Increasing your luck surface area by broadening your skillset early. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Subscribe + welcome 00:27 — Who is Stephen growing up in Western Sydney and feeling lost 04:41 — From a Surry Hills gym to a genetic testing startup, and what killed it 09:12 — Imposter syndrome and the moment he actually felt like a founder 10:56 — Falling into finance by accident: car dealerships, boiler rooms and starting his own brokerage 15:32 — Risk appetite, control issues and why he'd never answer to a board 18:17 — Selling the gym, vendor finance regrets and his one piece of exit advice 20:41 — The biggest mistake founders make when borrowing money 24:03 — Australia vs the US: property obsession, conservative capital and private credit 30:42 — Money, risk and momentum: what he wishes he knew 15 years ago 33:09 — Why this generation is so serious, and the truth about authenticity online 42:17 — Why Nexus stays boutique, and how broker commissions quietly hurt founders 45:44 — How to avoid predatory lenders (his red flags are so simple) 48:28 — The advice every Australian founder needs to hear 53:22 — Legacy, kids and why his next step is the simplest one yet CONNECT WITH STEPHEN MITCHELL LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mitchell/ INFORMATION ON NEXUS ADVISORY WEBSITE — https://www.nexusadvisory.co/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/company/nexusadvisory/posts/?feedView=all CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH IINSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahdieh-rassafiani-97611a185/ FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@YourNextStepPodcast

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  Episode #10

  Ep 10: This Is What It Actually Takes To Go All In || Olly Williams

  Jun 29, 202655 min

  Everyone romanticises walking away from the safe path. Olly actually did it. director title, nice car, the income he chased since his twenties. Then he hit rock bottom, got sober, and gave it all up to bootstrap a health and wellness brand he knew nothing about. In this episode Olly (founder of Sunday Salt) and I talk about what success really means once money stops being the answer, the brutal reality of building sunday salt from ground zero, burning through 90k pre-revenue, and how documenting the messy founder journey openly pulled in a whole network of people providing valuable advice. This one is for anyone standing at the edge of a big decision, wondering if they have the courage to start over. WHAT WE COVER: Redefining success after you get everything you thought you wanted. Hitting rock bottom and rebuilding piece by piece. Why the skill curve is always steeper than you think, and so is your ability to learn. Managing future stress by living the worst case once, then moving on. Building brand and community before you even have a product. Documenting the journey as an underrated arbitrage. How complementary co-founders cover each other's blind spots. Balance as a discipline, not a default. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Cold open: the night that changed everything 01:35 — Who is Olly: from Bathurst basketball obsession to real estate director to founder 04:19 — Redefining success: from money and status to fulfillment and freedom 06:26 — Rock bottom: waking up with no memory and getting sober 16:05 — The brutal first 30 days: hating his own content and starting from zero 23:15 — Why gels and electrolytes: the ingredient gap nobody else was solving 30:10 — The real cost of building a product: a $250K packaging call and a hidden expense 34:02 — Going public with the numbers: the $6300k bill that brought in free mentors 39:43 — Angel investors vs. bootstrapping: what Olly actually wants in a partner 52:47 — What's next: building community before the product even exists CONNECT WITH OLLY WILLIAMS INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/ollywynnwilliams/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-williams-688432241/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@oliverwilliams952 INFORMATION ON SUNDAY SALT WEBSITE — https://www.sundaysalt.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOornzD9gpp3mvqd-JdVIphvruZtA7qxBEj_JopBQOVNsCfd0QMuM INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/sundaysaltau/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunday-salt/posts/?feedView=all TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@sundaysaltau CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/ FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/ TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@YourNextStepPodcast

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