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Sage Takes Thyme

Womena

This is not a cooking show, but it will nourish your soul (maybe). Womena’s founders open a new dialogue with their community and give their perspectives on relevant, topical issues that affect women in and from the Arab world. This podcast will serve as a space for genuine exploration of the authentic experience of two women in search of belonging and balance, using storytelling to reclaim and redefine the distorted narratives that surround them.

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23 episodes
Avg 41 min
English

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#2
Wednesday · 56 min
S3 EP02 | No One Is Coming To Save You
As the public square moves online, we dissect how on ground and online activism can shape change, and why each creates impact on different timelines and at different scales.
#1
Wednesday · 27 min
S3 EP01 | WE'RE BACK: why we’re taking up space in Season 3
We’re opening season 3 by reflecting on the past year and everything it entailed, the ways we’ve grown, the losses we’ve navigated, and the parts of ourselves we’ve had to reconsider along the way.
#1
September 15 · 27 min
WE'RE BACK: why we’re taking up space in Season 3
In this Season 3 introduction, we’re catching up on where we are now, what’s changed, and what we’ve learned about taking up space, setting boundaries, and being more intentional about the lives we’re building.
September 8 · 1 min
It’s the time of the year… | S3 Trailer
In Season 3 of Sage Takes Thyme, Womena’s founders expand the table, bringing in more voices, more lived realities, and more difficult questions shaping the Arab world and its diaspora today.
April 22 · 15 min
S2 Bonus | Why is "Girlboss" Problematic?
Let’s talk about the rise and fall of girlboss culture. We unpack why some women founders had to adopt problematic values to succeed, why calling someone a boss lady feels strange, and how today’s female leadership can be supportive, creative, and far from competitive toxicity. خلينا نتكلم عن صعود وسقوط ثقافة الست القائدة "Girl boss." هنتكلم عن ليه بعض رائدات الأعمال اضطروا يتبنوا قيم غلط عشان ينجحوا، وليه مصطلح السيدة القائدة "Boss lady" مصطلح غريب، وإزاي القيادة النسائية دلوقتي ممكن تكون داعمة، مبتكرة، وبعيدة عن التنافسية السامة. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx) SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts for EXCLUSIVE content and show us your love and support! : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sage-takes-thyme/id1765472572 Follow Sage Takes Thyme: - IG: https://www.instagram.com/sagetakesthyme/ - Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sagetakesthyme Follow Womena everywhere: - Subscribe to YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/womena ) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/womenaco ) - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/womena ) - Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@womena) - LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenaco ) - Find out more (https://womena.com/ ) - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/Womena-Collective Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#20
February 24 · 48 min
S2 EP20 | Five Life Lessons We Learned The Hard Way
What would you tell your younger self if you had met her? For us, the first advice we would give our younger selves is learning how to accept advice, how to slow down in a world that glorifies constant doing, and how to make space to simply exist. In this episode, we explore the importance of surrounding yourself with friends who lift you up and the value of nurturing connections that soothe the soul. We also discuss financial independence, building a fulfilling life outside of relationships, and entering partnerships in a healthy way. لو قابلتي نفسك وإنتي صغيرة، كنتي هتقوليلها إيه؟ بالنسبة لينا، أول حاجة كنا عايزين نقولها لنفسنا هي إزاي نتعلم نقبل النصايح، نهدى شوية وسط زحمة الحياة، و نعمل لنفسنا مساحة نكون فيها موجودين وبس من غير توقعات. في الحلقة دي بنتكلم عن أهمية الصحاب اللي بنقويك، العلاقات اللي بتغذي الروح، الاستقلال المالي، وبناء حياة مرضية وكاملة بعيدة عن أي علاقة، وكمان إزاي ندخل علاقات صحية. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx) SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts for EXCLUSIVE content and show us your love and support! : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sage-takes-thyme/id1765472572 Follow Sage Takes Thyme: - IG: https://www.instagram.com/sagetakesthyme/ - Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sagetakesthyme Follow Womena everywhere: - Subscribe to YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/womena ) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/womenaco ) - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/womena ) - Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@womena) - LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenaco ) - Find out more (https://womena.com/ ) - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/Womena-Collective Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#19
February 10 · 55 min
S2 EP19 | Who Taught Men This? The Patriarchy is Exhausting
In this episode, we unpack what toxic masculinity really is, not as a label to shame men, but as a pattern that often hurts men first before anyone else. Through an open conversation with mental health advocate Mohamed Elma'andi we explore how men are shaped by childhood and social expectations that leave little room for vulnerability. We dive into how therapy, leaving corporate life, movement, and spirituality helped him rewrite his own definition of masculinity. The episode also explores how women have been carrying much of the emotional labor, why male friendships rarely go beyond the surface, and what it would take collectively to build spaces where men can actually feel, share their emotions, and be understood. في الحلقة دي بنشرح إيه معنى الرجولة السامة، مش كاتهام للرجالة أو عيب عليهم، لكن كنمط غالبًا بيأذي الراجل نفسه قبل أي حد تاني. من خلال حوار مفتوح مع الناشط في مجال الصحة النفسية محمد المعاندي، بنتكلم عن إزاي الطفولة وتوقعات المجتمع بتشكل الرجالة وتخليهم ما عندهمش مساحة كافية لإظهار مشاعرهم. بنتعمق كمان في إزاي العلاج النفسي، وترك بيئة الشركات، والحركة، والروحانيات ساعدوا معاندي يعيد تعريف الرجولة بالنسبة له. الحلقة كمان بتناقش إزاي الستات غالبًا بيتحملوا معظم العبء العاطفي، وليه صداقات الرجالة غالبا بتكون سطحية، وإيه اللي محتاجين نعمله كمجتمع علشان نخلق مساحات تقدر تسمح للرجالة يحسوا، يشاركوا مشاعرهم، ويكونوا مفهومين. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx) Guest: Mohamed Elma'andi (@ma3andi) SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts for EXCLUSIVE content and show us your love and support! : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sage-takes-thyme/id1765472572 Follow Sage Takes Thyme: - IG: https://www.instagram.com/sagetakesthyme/ - Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sagetakesthyme Follow Womena everywhere: - Subscribe to YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/womena ) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/womenaco ) - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/womena ) - Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@womena) - LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenaco ) - Find out more (https://womena.com/ ) - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/Womena-Collective Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#18
February 3 · 24 min
S2 EP18 | Are we still waiting for Mr Darcy? The World of Period Dramas; From Pride and Prejudice to Bridgerton
In this episode, we step into the world of historical fiction, Regency romance, and period dramas, moving from “Pride and Prejudice” to “Bridgerton” to ask why these romantic classics still matter today. We look at how writers like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott quietly pushed against a society that confined women, showing that their ideas about choosing love, desire, and independence were actually radical for their time. We also reflect on “Little Women” as an example of how this genre shaped Amira’s love for literature, reminding us that while the language may feel formal and slow today, it carried an early form of feminism that opened new possibilities for women. في الحلقة دي، هنتكلم عن عالم الروايات التاريخية والرومانسية الكلاسيكية، وهننتقل بين "كبرياء وتحامل" و"بريدجرتون" علشان نفهم ليه القصص دي لسه مهمة لحد النهاردة. هنشوف إزاي كتاب زي جين أوستن ولويزا ماي ألكوت تحدوا المجتمع اللي كان مقيد حياة الستات، وورونا إن أفكارهم عن الحب والرغبة والاستقلال كانت جريئة جدًا وقتها. كمان هنتكلم عن "نساء صغيرات" كمثال على إزاي النوع ده من الروايات حبب أميرة في القراءة، ويفكرنا إن رغم إن اللغة ممكن تحسها رسمية وبطيئة دلوقتي، إلا إنها كانت بتحمل شكل بدائي من النسوية وفتحت فرص جديدة للستات. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx) SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts for EXCLUSIVE content and show us your love and support! : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sage-takes-thyme/id1765472572 Follow Sage Takes Thyme: - IG: https://www.instagram.com/sagetakesthyme/ - Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sagetakesthyme Follow Womena everywhere: - Subscribe to YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/womena ) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/womenaco ) - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/womena ) - Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@womena) - LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/womenaco ) - Find out more (https://womena.com/ ) - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/Womena-Collective Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#17
January 27 · 1 hr
S2 EP17 | Is Ozempic fueling a "heroine chic" comeback?
Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, which some listeners may find distressing. Kardashian curves, “heroine chic,” Ozempic diets, and what’s considered a “tea body.” — In this episode, we dive into eating disorders and the pressures women face to fit ever changing ideals. We talk about how social media trends, AI, and deepfakes blur what’s real and how family and society’s invasive comments can amplify negative body image. We also share personal stories, the mu
#16
January 12 · 47 min
S2 EP16 | Femininity, health and wellness with Tadros sisters
In this episode, we sat down with sisters Solenne and Christina Tadros to discuss femininity as a practice rooted in wellness, ease, and self-empowerment. Solenne Tadros (@solenneternet) is a Jordanian designer and creative technologist who brings ideas to life through storytelling, art, and immersive VR experiences.Keena (Christina Tadros) (@keena_ofc) is a Jordanian singer and DJ who blends Arabic lyrics and melodies with electronic music, bringing Arab identity into a contemporary global sou
#15
January 5 · 44 min
S2 EP15 | Glorifying individualism and its effects on collective liberation
In this episode, we unpack the clash between collectivist cultures and individualistic ideals. We talk about what it means to carry one another through grief and joy. Reflecting on how community can be deeply nourishing and emotionally demanding, and how commercialization has turned human connection into a burden. We also explore women’s role in preserving family stories and lineage. This episode is a discussion on how to honor community without burning ourselves out, and why choosing not to liv
Dec 29, 2025 · 50 min
BONUS | Relationships: From Red Flags to the Madonna-Wh*re Complex
This is a republished conversation from Season One where we dive into the ups and downs of personal relationships. In this episode, we explore the trials, mistakes, and lessons we’ve learned along the way, reflecting on the complexities of love in modern society and the growing awareness of red, green, and even beige flags that previous generations may not have noticed. Happy New Years from all of us at Sage Takes Thyme! ✨ Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx)SUBSCR
Dec 22, 2025 · 43 min
BONUS | A Woman is a School with Celine Semaan
This is a re-uploaded conversation originally released last year, in which we sit down with Céline Semaan, co-founder of The Slow Factory, to discuss her book A Woman is a School, a memoir exploring discredited ancestral tales from Lebanon and the surrounding region.They also talk about the intersections of culture and politics, Western beauty standards, immigration systems, the importance of independent platforms, and ask: Is there such a thing as an objective truth?Happy holidays from all of u
#14
Dec 15, 2025 · 17 min
S2 EP14 | 2025 was predicted? Story Thyme with "Parable of The Sower"
In this Story Thyme book club episode, we’re talking about "Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler, a dystopian novel written in 1985 but set in 2025 that feels way too real right now. Octavia imagined a future where climate change goes unchecked, water is scarce and expensive, wealth inequality is extreme, wildfires are constant, and a fascist “Make America Great Again” style movement is rising in the United States. We reflect on why this book has resurfaced during today’s climate disasters
#13
Dec 8, 2025 · 41 min
S2 EP13 | Are Pinkpilling and Microfeminism the Latest Feminist Trends?
How much power do tiny, everyday actions have to challenge the status quo? In this episode, we explore the world of microfeminism and “pink pilling” — small, intentional acts and insights that reveal the subtle ways gender discrimination shapes our lives. From the choices we make in language and online spaces to the hidden biases we often take for granted, we unpack how awareness and simple shifts can spark sustainable change. Tune in to explore small, actionable ways to make feminism part of ev
#12
Dec 1, 2025 · 51 min
S2 EP12 | Unpaid labor and weaponized incompetence: The hidden costs of women's work
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 across cultures, especially in Arab households, and the imbalance in modern relationships. We also explore how naming and sharing unpaid labor is key t
#11
Nov 24, 2025 · 51 min
S2 EP11 | Embodying Pleasure and Unlearning Sex as a Performative Act With Mariam Aziz
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 goes beyond a simple yes or no. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx)SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcasts for EXCLUSIVE content a
#10
Nov 17, 2025 · 41 min
S2 EP10 | The Power of Female Friendships: More Than Just “Besties”
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 imperfection. It’s about letting go with grace, holding on with care, and finding strength in sisterhood and chosen family. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@fr
#9
Nov 10, 2025 · 59 min
S2 EP09 | When Your Coworker Is Your Friend: Lessons from Our Entrepreneurial Journey | Pt. 2
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 platform together without losing the bond that started it all. Hosted by Elissa Freiha (@freiha) and Amira Salah-Ahmed (@amiralx)SUBSCRIBE to Apple Podcas
#8
Nov 3, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
S2 EP08 | Inside Lebanon’s Independent Music Scene | Blu Fiefer
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 up about finding her voice through her Lebanese dialect, documenting grief without erasing it, and creating music that is fearless, deeply personal,

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