Entrepreneur, humanitarian, and regenerative thinker Mohammad Salehi joins FutureKind to share the extraordinary story behind Heray Spice—a mission-driven company sourcing premium saffron through a farmer-owned cooperative in Afghanistan. From growing up on a farm during the Soviet occupation to working as a U.S. Army linguist and launching a thriving business in Chicago, Mohammad’s journey is one of deep courage, service, and vision.

In this powerful conversation with host Megan Westgate, Mohammad reflects on what it means to live a purpose-led life, the challenges of upholding food safety and gender equity under Taliban rule, and why cooperative models are vital to a truly nourishing food system. This is a story of radical empathy and the will to change not just a supply chain, but the future itself.

More about Heray Spice: https://www.herayspice.com

Wall Street Journal Article mentioned in this episode: https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/saffron-importing-chicago-business-cbb2ee38

[00:03:00] — Growing up in Herat: war, farming, and early responsibility

[00:07:00] — Working with the U.S. Army and witnessing aid and agriculture reform

[00:12:00] — Moving to the U.S., studying cybersecurity, and finding deeper purpose

[00:15:00] — Uncovering saffron fraud and founding Heray Spice

[00:18:00] — Building a 186-member farmer cooperative with profit-sharing

[00:23:00] — Food safety challenges and strict harvest protocols

[00:28:00] — Navigating Taliban restrictions, including women’s labor and education

[00:34:00] — Women as the backbone of saffron production

[00:38:00] — Operating under surveillance and the risks of speaking truth

[00:43:00] — Running the business remotely with deep local relationships

[00:45:00] — Where resilience comes from: legacy, faith, and the call to serve

[00:51:00] — Joy beyond consumerism and the deeper meaning of FutureKind

Music Credits:
Rise by Yaima from the album C E R E M O N I A
Gaia Nectar by Masood Ali Khan from the album The Yoga Sessions, in collaboration with Yoga Organix Records

Sign up for our newsletter, The Fullist, our weekly rundown of news and nourishment that brings a fresh perspective to food system transformation.

To follow us on Instagram click HERE

To connect with Megan Westgate click HERE