Best Reclaiming Our Thyme Podcasts (2025)

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S2 EP12 | Unpaid labor and weaponized incompetence: The hidden costs of women's work 51:34

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1d ago51:34

51:34

Why do we still treat women’s labor as invisible even though society relies on it every day? In this episode, we examine the emotional, physical, and mental workload women carry at home and why it’s recognized as unpaid labor, unpacking how gender roles and social conditioning reinforce this unequal burden. We discuss the pressure placed on women a…

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S2 EP11 | Embodying Pleasure and Unlearning Sex as a Performative Act With Mariam Aziz 51:04

9d ago51:04

51:04

Sex Therapist and Educator Mariam Aziz (@mariam.aziz.sextherapy) joins us to explore why women’s pleasure is often overlooked and how desire naturally shifts over time. We discuss cultural shame, communication barriers — especially in Arabic — and practical ways couples can enjoy sex more. Consent is part of every moment, and Mariam explains how it…

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S2 EP10 | The Power of Female Friendships: More Than Just “Besties” 41:12

16d ago41:12

41:12

In this episode, we open up about the women who’ve carried us through heartbreak, growth, and change — and the ones we’ve had to let go of along the way. We talk about how female friendships shape our sense of belonging, and why they’re often misunderstood or reduced to envy and competition. We examine how love between women endures, even in its im…

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S2 EP09 | When Your Coworker Is Your Friend: Lessons from Our Entrepreneurial Journey | Pt. 2 59:06

23d ago59:06

59:06

What happens when best friends become business partners? This episode dives into the real dynamics of mixing friendship and business. We talk about redefining roles, managing power with care, and how bringing in a business coach helped us lead Womena with more clarity and compassion. Tune in to hear how, over the years, we’ve built a meaningful pla…

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S2 EP08 | Inside Lebanon’s Independent Music Scene | Blu Fiefer 1:04:23

30d ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Join us as we sit down and chat with Blu Fiefer, a Lebanese musician redefining independence and authenticity in the region’s music scene. From starting her journey at 15 to founding her own label, “Mafi Budget.” Blu shares how Beirut’s explosion, the Lebanese revolution, and years of war have left a profound mark on her life and her art. She opens…

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S2 EP07 | Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale 22:58

1M ago22:58

22:58

We’re back with our Book Club episodes! This time, let’s dive into Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian vision of a society, based in the United States, where women are stripped of autonomy, constantly surveilled, and reduced to reproductive machines. The story explores the oppressive structures of a patriarchal dictatorship and dra…

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S2 EP06 | From Project 2025 to Korea’s 4B Movement: Women Fighting Back 52:25

1M ago52:25

52:25

In this episode, we examine the deeper agenda behind Project 2025. From the erasure of gender and scholarly research to banning language itself. We look at how authoritarian power grabs often begin with controlling women’s bodies, and why movements like Korea’s 4B are rising in response. If the most liberal societies are stripping women’s rights, w…

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S2 EP05 | Burnout Is Not Cute: Managing Mental Health in a Feminist Company 44:52

2M ago44:52

44:52

Is mental health part of your workplace? In light of World Mental Health Day, we explore how human-centered leadership protects the well-being of both leaders and teams. At Womena, we’re redefining the workplace through feminist values and radical empathy for life’s unpredictable ups and downs. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahme…

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S2 EP04 | How Consumerism Profits from Women’s Insecurities 38:26

2M ago38:26

38:26

What if beauty is just a sales tactic? Let’s talk about how women, especially from a young age, are targeted by marketing that promotes harsh products and quick fixes that often backfire. From childhood toys like Barbies to teen magazines and early skincare routines, consumerism molds our ideas of beauty and what we think we need to fit in. We talk…

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S2 EP03 | Have Reality Shows Become Everyone’s Guilty Pleasure? 55:01

2M ago55:01

55:01

Can You Enjoy Reality TV as a Feminist? This episode, we explore reality TV through both a media-savvy and feminist lens. From bingeing “Love is Blind” to analyzing the gender politics of “The Bachelor,” we talk about why reality shows are more than just entertainment—they’re complex, addictive, and sometimes deeply problematic. Especially for thos…

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S2 EP02 | How will AI drive the Arab world's sexual health revolution? (ft. Nour Emam) 54:42

3M ago54:42

54:42

This week, we’re joined by Nour Emam — Co-Founder and President of Daleela. Nour opens up about what it took to launch a platform dedicated to women’s health in a region where even basic terminology for women’s sexual health is often taboo. From confronting the hymen myths to learning how to speak openly in Arabic about anatomy. We explore the back…

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S2 EP01 | What is feminine and how do we redefine womanhood? 1:06:57

3M ago1:06:57

1:06:57

We kick things off by unpacking how misogynistic ideals have historically molded femininity into a performance — from how we dress and laugh, to how we’re expected to serve and shrink ourselves for others. We explore how younger generations are both challenging and, at times, unknowingly reinforcing these outdated roles, and ask what it means to tr…

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S2 E00 | What We Learned (and What’s Coming) | Season Recap 9:19

3M ago9:19

9:19

WE’RE BACK! It’s Elissa and Amira, kicking off Season 2 of Sage Takes Thyme. In this premiere episode, we reflect on the growth of Season 1 and the amazing love from you, our listeners. Your support has shaped our vision for this new chapter, and we’re ready to go deeper than ever. Stay tuned for Episode 1 dropping next Tuesday. 🎙️ A @womena podcas…

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S1 E15 | Learning Self Compassion Before You Reach Burnout is Essential 40:55

11M ago40:55

40:55

In this episode, our hosts Elissa and Amira delve into how compassion shapes the way we live, love, and lead - especially as women. They speak about the wisdom that comes with age, sharing some of the lessons they’ve learned about self-love, relationships, and managing life's complexities. They also explore the concept of impact and how they aim to…

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S1 E14 | Arab/Other: How our perception of identity and privilege changes over time 41:33

12M ago41:33

41:33

In this episode, we explore the topic of decolonizing our Arab identities and owning our narrative. We take a deeper look into identity, who we are to ourselves and others, but also how the identity of women in the region has been amplified and even weaponized and what we can do to help this. For exclusive “Sage Takes Thyme” content and early relea…

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S1 E13 | A Set Takes Thyme; behind the scenes with the Art Director 17:28

12M ago17:28

17:28

In this week’s episode, our hosts sit down with Monica Abadir, the creative producer and director that brought our podcast’s art direction and set design to life. Monica shares her journey of moving to Cairo after being born and raised in Canada and reflects on how this cultural shift has influenced her work. They delve into the inspiration behind …

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S1 E12 | Finding Purpose Again: Lessons from Our Entrepreneurial Journey 1:08:52

1y ago1:08:52

1:08:52

In this episode, we talk about entrepreneurship and what it entails to turn a vision into a thriving business. Our hosts reflect on their entrepreneurial journeys and share insightful stories on the challenges and triumphs that led to the reinvention of Womena into what it is today. For exclusive “Sage Takes Thyme” content and early release episode…

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S1 E11 | Story Thyme: Inspiring Book Recommendations 11:09

1y ago11:09

11:09

A previous version of this episode discussed the author Zadie Smith in more depth, but it has been re-edited after it was brought to our attention that the author's stance on PAL has been problematic and not aligned with our values. The episode, which was filmed months before Smith's recent views were made public, was re-edited to remove specific p…

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S1 E10 | 10 years of Womena: What has changed for women in the Arab world? 41:02

1y ago41:02

41:02

In this special episode of Womena celebrating its 10-year milestone, our hosts take a moment to reflect on the past decade in the region. They explore the question of whether representation alone can drive real change. The episode dives into the progress made, the ongoing challenges that women still face, and the continued fight for women’s rights …

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S1 E09 |Trad Wives & The Soft Life: America's Influence on Global Trends 44:06

1y ago44:06

44:06

This week’s episode zooms in on the American influence on global realities, particularly in the MENA region. We explore the impact of US elections, political and social trends, and laws on the region. Our hosts also discuss related topics such as the enforcement of the patriarchal system by the US and the West, the misappropriation of feminism, and…

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S1 E08 | Purpose Over Profit: Navigating Impact Driven Media in the age of Viral Content 42:34

1y ago42:34

42:34

Purpose over profit, what does it mean and how is it impacting media today? In this episode, we explore the reality and challenges faced by independent media companies in creating media and generating revenue. Our hosts, and co-founders of Womena, share insights from their journey on what it takes to sustain a platform like ours, the guiding princi…

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S1 E07 | Raising Breast Cancer Awareness with Baheya featuring Dr. Jaylan Ahmed (In Arabic) 19:19

1y ago19:19

19:19

In this episode of Sage Takes Thyme, host Amira sits down with Dr. Jaylan Ahmed, the managing director of the Baheya Foundation for Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer. They discuss the inspiring story behind the founding of Baheya Hospital and the journey of establishing the first charity organization of its kind in Egypt, which special…

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Bonus | How Israel “shrinks” the category of civilian to justify ethnic cleansing 18:39

1y ago18:39

18:39

To mark one full year of the ongoing gen.ocide, we are re-releasing a conversation we had last November with Noura Erakat, a Palestinian-American activist, legal scholar, human rights attorney and professor, where she explains how Isr/ael continuously violates international law by “shrinking” the category of civilians to justify the ethnic cleansin…

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S1 E04 | What Does Pa.lest!ne Mean to You? 38:07

1y ago38:07

38:07

In this episode, we talk about P.@lestine, the significance of bearing witness and engaging in conversations about the gen.ocide taking place in G.aza, and the importance of using precise language to accurately convey information in a nuanced way. Our hosts also share tips and insights on battling the algorithm and maintaining our mental well-being…

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S1 E02 | Is feminism a “dirty” word? 35:05

1y ago35:05

35:05

Would you call yourself a “feminist”? In this episode, our hosts Elissa and Amira explore topics around "Feminism," what it means, how it's perceived by wider society, and the misconceptions that lead to detrimental labels being associated with the word itself. They dive into what feminism means to us in the region and its effects on women focused …

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S1 E01 | Why do we need feminist storytelling for Arab women? 35:08

1y ago35:08

35:08

Womena’s brand new podcast “Sage Takes Thyme” dives into the journey and perspectives of the Womena co-founders Elissa Freiha and Amira Salah-Ahmed. As a media company, we always get asked “Why Womena?” and why we have chosen to tell the stories of women in the region. In this first episode they open up about how Womena got started, why we do what …

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Introducing Sage Takes Thyme by Womena… It’s not a cooking show 1:08

1y ago1:08

1:08

Welcome to Sage Take Thyme by Womena founders Elissa Freiha and Amira Salah-Ahmed. This new podcast dives into our perspectives on relevant, topical issues that affect women in and from the Arab world. It will serve as a space for genuine exploration of the authentic experience of two women in search of belonging and balance, using storytelling to …

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Reclaiming Our Thyme: 1 41:58

8y ago41:58

41:58

Cydni and Sally start shit.By Reclaiming Our Thyme