Love and marriage, love and marriage...in Episode 36, Ascia Sahar joins us to talk about all things relationship related. When it comes to toxic relationships, Ascia says she is no stranger to them. The now-mother of three walks us through the moment she knew she had to finally leave, the red flags that stuck out to her the most and how she used her connection to Allah (swt) and prayer to guide her in making that choice. If you find it difficult to open yourself up again after ending a negative ...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr 35 min
In Episode 35, we sit down with Hemali Mistry as we dive into an unfiltered conversation about mental health, birth control, the struggle of being a first-gen child and the effects social media can have on our lives. You may know Hemali from her page, Ready to Glow, but the Canadian native wants you to know that she has more to bring to the table than just her picture perfect make-up skills. Hemali invites us into her world as she opens up about her bouts with mental health issues, depression an...
Nov 20, 2019•1 hr 14 min
Move over Dear Abby! In Episode 34, we are joined by Chereen, a therapist, life coach and the mastermind behind DearChereen.com. In a much needed therapeutic episode, we discuss grief in all of its varying forms. Chereen explains that grieving is an essential part of moving forward. Whether it's a loved one who is gone too soon, an end of a relationship with a significant other or even the demise of a friendship, we all grieve in different ways. As for toxic relationships, why do we choose to st...
Nov 13, 2019•1 hr 5 min
In Episode 33, we take U+U on the road for the first time as we sit down with the brilliant minds behind Dearborn Girl, the podcast. You read that right, your two favorite podcasts all in one episode! It can't get any better than this. Rima, Yasmeen and Malak join us in an extremely unfiltered conversation to discuss double standards in our community, marriage and where the pressure surrounding the topic really stems from, our reputations and the struggle we face trying to protect it as well as ...
Nov 06, 2019•1 hr 11 min
In Episode 32, we’re shaking things up a bit and bringing you guys in on the conversation. To mark being on-air for more than 6 months, we reached out to our supporters who didn’t hold back when it came to asking super intimate and personal questions. From how to deal with heartbreak to why we don’t wear the hijab (yet), we let our guard down and bare it all in this episode. We also talk about our personal struggles with embodying self-love and learning to teach ourselves that we are enough, wit...
Oct 30, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In Episode 31, Alia Taha joins us as she shares her take on the current state of the hijab. As a hijabi, Alia offers some insight on the battle most women are dealing with; the struggle to keep it on. As we have seen an influx of women deciding to remove the hijab, it’s Alia’s faith and connection to God that keeps her motivated it put it on every day. But that connection hasn’t always been as solid as it is today. Alia opens up about the moments she grappled with the idea of removing the hijab ...
Oct 23, 2019•1 hr 55 min
There's nothing dirty about our Dirty 30 episode. We decided to keep it professional as we're joined by Sofia Haq, the founder of Muslim Women Professionals. MWP is an organization that promotes empowerment amongst Muslim women by educating, uplifting, and mobilizing a global network. This organization serves as a space where Muslim women are inspired to thrive in both their personal and professional lives through networking, mentorships, and content. Sofia explains why this type of networking g...
Oct 16, 2019•1 hr 13 min
In Episode 29, Sahar Hamdan-Khalaf stops by to talk to us about marriage, motherhood and how she's taking the necessary steps to rediscovering herself after all these years. Sahar fell in love and got married at the age of 18 and one year later she welcomed her first child into the world. Now in her mid 30s, Sahar is the mother of two teenage daughters, a 17 and 15yr old. She is also the mother of two young boys, 10 and 5 years old. Growing up in a strict household, Sahar shares how she's decidi...
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 15 min
In Episode 28, we kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Bassema. Statistically - less than 2% of all women diagnosed are in their early to mid 30’s and in a series of unfortunate events, Bassema became part of that statistic. In an extremely vulnerable episode, she walks us through how she dealt with her mother's breast cancer diagnosis, the signs she began noticing on her own body, her experience with doctors who at first didn't taker her pain seriously and the aftermath of learning she, ...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr 24 min
In Episode 27, we sit down with Aminah Musa at The Wing and we dive deep into who this powerhouse of a woman truly is. Many of you may know Aminah from her brand, PaliRoots, which she runs alongside her brother Hussein. Through this movement she has become a successful female entrepreneur and someone who is exploding with passion, love and creativity. Aminah teaches us how to train our minds to appreciate the good and to observe the negative thoughts that arise subconsciously, rather than just s...
Sep 25, 2019•1 hr 46 min
In Episode 26, Sahar Shafi leaves us feeling all types of ways with her vulnerability, honesty and all around adorable charm. Although, she's currently a successful Periodontal & Implant Surgeon (mashallah), Sahar tells us she's no stranger to failure. After moving away to attend a fairly large university, her grades suffered tremendously during her freshman year. Sahar talks about accepting the fact that something she once really wanted wasn’t in God’s plan for her. She discusses her choice...
Sep 18, 2019•1 hr 6 min
In Episode 25, we are joined by Khitam Masoud, a cancer survivor and nonprofit organization founder. In 1998, when she was just 16 yrs old, Khitam decided to take her parents to court and fight for her emancipation in order to avoid an arranged marriage. With no relationship with her family she has had to overcome obstacles on her own, which proved to be silver linings once the dust had settled. Khitam walks us through the struggles she had faced as she learned to navigate life on her own at suc...
Sep 11, 2019•1 hr 16 min
In Episode 24, Alaa Elharezi enlightens us as we talk about health and wellness in a whole new way. As a certified Hijama therapist, Yoga Instructor and Ayurvedic Health Advisor, Alaa offers up some simple ways to improve our daily lives and overall health. Although, the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) and those of Ayurvedic medicine vary, she finds a way to incorporate both into her regimen, seamlessly. By integrating Prophetic wisdom and medicine into the way we eat, drink and sleep, Alaa expl...
Sep 04, 2019•1 hr 23 min
In Episode 23, we are joined by Ayesha Malik, the Pakistani-American woman who unapologetically called out Priyanka Chopra at Beautycon. The reason for the confrontation: Kashmir. Pakistan and India have been in a custody battle over Kashmir for over 7 decades now. With tensions rising, a tweet by Priyanka supporting India’s armed forces at a time where Ayesha'a family feared for their lives, was all the motivation Ayesha needed to confront the actress and goodwill ambassador of UNICEF. In this ...
Aug 28, 2019•55 min
In Episode 22, we get down to the real truth with Heba Shaheed, in regards to period pain, the many myths surrounding PMS, how to be more in tune with our bodies and the importance of mental health overall! Heba provides women’s health and pediatric pelvic health services including physiotherapy, exercise, nutrition and pain education. She specializes in sexual pain, pelvic pain and endometriosis just to name a few! Through her personal story, Heba unravels almost everything we need to know abou...
Aug 21, 2019•1 hr 35 min
In Episode 21, Sara Bawany gives us a crash course on all things mental health. Scheduling an appointment with a therapist isn't on the top of every Muslim's to-do list due to the intimidation and misconceptions that surround therapy, however, Sara explains why paying attention to our mental health is just as important as our physical health. We learn about what traits to look for while choosing a therapist, instances in the Quran that highlight the importance of mental health and how to de-stig...
Aug 14, 2019•1 hr 39 min
In Episode 20, we chat with Yasemin Kanar aka YazTheSpaz and trust me she doesn’t hold back. Yasemin gives us an in depth look into the melting pot of cultures which is her life. With a mother from Cuba and her father from Turkey, she decided to add to her hybrid life when she found her soulmate, who is of an Egyptian background. We talk about the struggles that come with an intercultural marriage and the beauty it also brings. Yasemine lets down her walls to also discuss the truth about marriag...
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 18 min
In Episode 19, we talk to Jackie Courtney, the mastermind behind the incredible website NearlyNewlywed.com. Prior to creating Nearly Newlywed, Jackie worked as a publicist for international fashion designers including Marni, Thakoon, Matthew Williamson and Emilio Pucci and top stylists/editors at Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle and more. Jackie walks us through where the idea of her business came about, why it's so important we unlearn the habit of apologizing (yeah, sorry not sorry is act...
Jul 31, 2019•1 hr 26 min
In Episode 18, Leah Vernon blessed us with her presence. As a plus-size model, author, body-positive activist and Muslim feminist, Leah is creating a new narrative for women who don't fit into normalized beauty standards. We dive deep into Leah's childhood and the trauma she had endured, why she decided to embrace her body after a lifetime of shaming and the ways she deals with an influx of social media hate. Whether it's through her eccentric outfits, documenting her bouts with mental health or...
Jul 24, 2019•1 hr 14 min
Grab some tissues! In Episode 17, we talk to Mna Eldaas, who unfortunately lost her father to liver cancer in 2016. Coming from an extremely tight-knit family, Mna walks us through the pains, struggles and upsets she had experienced after his passing. In a completely vulnerable state, she explains her grieving process, why it's crucial to understand that grief is unique to each individual and the reason why finding a way to connect to those who we have lost is fundamental in order to heal. Throu...
Jul 17, 2019•1 hr 11 min
In Episode 16, we sit down with Fawzieh Kahook, a mother of two beautiful boys. Fawzieh walks us through the first time she began noticing things about her younger son that set him from apart from his older brother. These little red flags set alarms off in her head, but seemed minimal to family and friends when she expressed her concerns. The toys he liked, not answering to his name and the way he avoided eye contact were all warning signs. Fawzieh explains why she decided to finally listen to h...
Jul 10, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In Episode 15, we are joined by an anonymous guest who takes us through the roller coaster ride that was her marriage. An unexpected pregnancy and already unsure of where her relationship stood, she discovers something truly unbelievable about her now ex-husband. Our guest walks us through her thought process on why she initially decided to stay and when she decided enough was enough. Wise beyond her years, she explains her healing process, the way she regained the strength to stand on her own t...
Jul 03, 2019•1 hr 7 min
In Episode 14, Shaymaa Ismaa’eel joins us to discuss her journey in connecting spiritually to her faith. Although, that journey varies from one person to the next, Shaymaa's approach to finding her place in Islam is truly inspirational. We also talk about what it's like to be visibly Muslim in today's political climate and how she deals with racism. We learn though that racism doesn't always come from outside of one's religious group and as a Black-Muslim, Shaymaa deals with this problem in diff...
Jun 26, 2019•1 hr 24 min
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode focuses primarily on eating disorders. If you feel the content discussed could be triggering, please either proceed with caution, or feel free to listen to any one of our previous episodes. In Episode 13, Adeline Ania Hocine takes us through her experience as an immigrant, how it led to the development of her eating disorder and the struggles she has faced as a Muslim woman learning to navigate her faith and her mental illness simultaneously. Adeline uses her writin...
Jun 19, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In Episode 12, we are joined by Faten Albanna, a teacher, photographer and mother of two who had suffered from Postpartum Depression. PPD is the most common pregnancy complication, with one in seven mothers experiencing it, but it is still highly stigmatized. Faten uses her personal experience to break down some of those stigmas as she discusses her journey through new motherhood, the signs of depression she initially ignored and the reason having a support system is crucial. Enjoy and remember ...
Jun 12, 2019•1 hr 12 min
In Episode 11, we celebrate our three month anniversary! Yes, three months despite what Zaina might have said - hey we never promised to be good at math lol! To commemorate this milestone we get a little personal by letting our walls down and by answering all of your questions regarding our personal lives. We talk about how we met and the ins and outs of the UNSWTND + UNFLTRD podcast. So please allow us to reintroduce ourselves - cue Jay Z’s voice! Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @...
Jun 05, 2019•1 hr 16 min
In Episode 10, we sit down with Youssra Kamel Kandil, a motivational speaker whose videos have gone viral by capturing the hearts of thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Youssra shares her thoughts on maintaining patience during hardships, keeping our faith strong even post-Ramadan, the importance of giving back and so much more. If you’ve felt a disconnect this Ramadan, then this episode is a must listen. Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered Follow Yous...
May 29, 2019•55 min
In Episode 9, we are joined by Isra Chaker, a civil rights activist, campaigns and advocacy expert, and public speaker. Isra walks us through her high school days and explains how the bullying she endured essentially influenced her decision to become an activist. We also talk about the Muslim Ban and how we can use our voices and platforms to fight for what's right, especially in the current political climate. If you're ready to feel enlightened, take a listen! Enjoy and remember to follow us on...
May 22, 2019•49 min
In Episode 8, our guest Faten Odeh shares her story about her struggles with infertility. We learn about the IVF process and the effects it has had on her physical and mental health. Faten discusses the hardships she has dealt with in regards to conceiving and how she has found the silver lining throughout it all. We hope this episode leaves our listeners with more knowledge about infertility and how to better approach this topic with family and friends. Watch our IGTV sit down with Dr. Abeer Sa...
May 08, 2019•1 hr 3 min
In Episode 7, we discuss food, self love, improving ourselves spiritually for Ramadan and everything in between with Abeer Najjar. Abeer is a self-taught chef, blogger and the founder of the Huda Supper Club. Through her Palestinian background and her childhood growing up on the south side of Chicago, Abeer is using food and her cooking to break down cultural barriers. Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @ unsweetenedandunfiltered Follow Abeer on Instagram @ abeernajjar_ Check out Abee...
May 01, 2019•1 hr 39 min
