Unswtnd + Unfltrd – Details, episodes & analysis

We have all heard the phrase : follow your passion and everything will fall into place. 

But I also can't help but to think of another very popular phrase which is : some things are much easier said than done.

I find it funny that when I was younger and I was asked 'what do you want to be when you grow up', my response was one that was very confident and it came with  no hesitation…mind you I  was also five years old at the time.

But if you were to ask me this same question today, I would be confident in saying that I actually don’t know. 

Now this isn't to say it’s a bad thing to not be able to pinpoint what it is that you want to do for the rest of your life…and that’s because we’re finally realizing we are multifaceted human beings who are constantly growing, learning and embracing different versions of ourselves.

Of course, change can be frightening, especially in today’s world which is laced with so much uncertainty, but what do you do if you no longer enjoy the career path you had chosen for yourself?

In today’s episode, I have an insightful conversation with none other than Maariyah Choudrey, who is a Chief of Staff at Uber, content creator and your big sis in tech!

Chances are you have come across a post or video of Maariyah’s account, which is @lifewithmaars, where she shares business tips and advice for working women, her love of modest fashion and beauty, and where she documents her adventures as a foodie in NYC.

So, what is the secret of those who do make it to the other side? The ones who take the leap and pivot careers?

In this conversation, Maariyah shares her career transition journey from pre-med to finance and her most recent role in tech. We also navigate the ways in which one can leverage their skills and their network to successfully pivot careers. 

Fear of failure may be at the forefront of our minds, but Maariyah discusses her own personal experiences with self doubt and finding the confidence within her that is needed to move forward. 

As Muslim women, in today’s society, how can we show up as our full selves in the workplace without comprising our beliefs and faith?

Tune in to find out!

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered

Follow Maariyah on Instagram:
@lifewithmaars

What do you do when the things you want most are happening for everyone but you?

Who do you become when your plans don't fall through? When you are in the waiting period of your life? 

When I look back on my own  life journey thus far, I realize that if everything had gone according to my plans and not God’s Plan, I don't think I would have been as intentional or filled with all of the gratitude I have for all that I was blessed with today. 

Maybe my relationship with Allah wouldn’t be as strong as it is today, either. Today I am a bit more grateful that my life path came with a couple of bumps in the road and just the right amount of rerouting. I am where God has intended for me to be.

A delay in our plans is essentially Allah gifting us with more time. Time to work on ourselves. To prioritize the blessings we have right in front of us and maybe this delay is a much needed breather. 

Subhanallah, how even in the delay there is khair and you can almost see how Allah is working on you, bettering you for the next chapter of your life.  A chapter that includes an answered dua of yours. And so while your dua is coming to life, Allah is also preparing you for it. 

In today’s episode, I sit down with a dear friend of mine, Halima Jama. Not only is she a talented photographer but she is the type of sister that is always right on time with her words of encouragement. She is the friend who will send you a reminder at 2am letting you know how much you are loved. And for me she is a reminder of Allah’s mercy. 

And in our discussion Halima reminds us that two things can be true - we can grieve what we had hoped to be and we can be grateful for what is right in this moment. 

In the process of holding on and believing that relief is being sent our way from Allah, we have to also come to terms that there will be setbacks and loss along the way.  Every single thing that happens to us, is happening for us and it’s all part of the most intricate puzzle known to mankind and that is God’s Plan.

Let that sink in - look back at how things in the past have unfolded and how you had become grateful for the way that things worked out. How every detail and every single event happened in the way that Allah had written. Look at how meticulous God is - how He creates every single thing with a purpose and you are no different.

In today’s conversation we are reminded that our life story is in the palms of Allah. Our life story is in the hands of our Creator. Our life story is being handled by the most Merciful and loving beings we will ever come to know.

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered

Follow Halima Jama on Instagram:
@halimajama

Check out Halima's work:
Click here

*Content Warning: this episode discusses topics such as pregnancy loss and miscarriage*

How does one come to terms with any hardship in their life where you have to accept what is happening to you while it’s happening to you?

From time to time I am hit with the realization that sends a chill down my spine, that everything that has happened to me, not only affects me, but also affects so many others, even strangers whom i’ll never meet. Every single thing that is written for us is just a piece of a puzzle that is larger than us and every hardship and life experience we go through connects each and every single one of us to one another. 

Today’s special guest is Shakirah Sabira, founder of Barakah's Doula, and someone who wears many hats which includes being a midwife, womb healer, and meditation teacher to name a few. 

Through this conversation with Shakirah she takes us on a very intimate journey recalling a moment in her life that had changed her forever, that while a baby was growing inside of her, little did she know what she was truly preparing for. 

Shakira's story reminds us of our own moments in life where we had asked ourselves...is Allah angry with  me, am I not good enough and what did I do to deserve this?

Subhnallah, how every woman carries with her a story that has changed her forever, and even though Shakira and I may have each been tested differently by our Creator, we have found commonalities in the process of surrendering and understanding that the pain we may be experiencing does not mean that Allah intends to hurt us.

We are reminded not only that everything in this dunya is temporary, but that nothing is truly ours to keep - for even our own bodies are a loan from Allah. 

To every woman out there who has experienced a loss in the form of a  miscarriage, I am deeply sorry and I know that grief knows no timeline, and I pray that you are surrounded by loved ones who remind you to be gentle with yourself and that you are not alone. 

Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:
@unsweetenedandunfiltered

Follow Shakirah Sabira on Instagram:
@shakirahsabira

Check out Shakirah's services and workshops:
Click here

Follow Barakah's Doula here:
@barakahsdoula

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 to move back home and how she pulled herself out of that hole and to go on and graduate Magna Cum Laude. 

Her positive outlook on life is prevalent in everything she does; from aging to tackling life’s toughest obstacles, Sahar gives us some insight on how she uses her faith to keep moving forward. 

This positivity is put to the test as Sahar begins to discuss her journey with Crohn’s disease and Endometriosis. She explains how they have impacted her life and the ways she’s found peace in accepting the diagnosis. Sahar also opens up about her infertility journey and she shares with us the life changing decision that she has had to make.

We are left with an everlasting imprint of who she truly is as a person: a beautiful being both inside and out. 

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Sahar at on Instagram: @drsaharshafi

Shop FabFitFun:  Use coupon code UNSWEETENED for $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com

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 such a young age. She balanced multiple jobs as she tried to stay afloat, scrambled to find the time and funds to get an education, and dealt with a cancer diagnosis on her own. Khitam talks about her hardships and how she has found the motivation to get up everyday and work on bettering herself. 

But it was through her struggles that "Blessons for Women" was born. Khitam's non-profit organization provides free mentorship, educational workshops and wellness clinics for all women, in addition to scholarships to disadvantaged, low-income women who are 25 years or older and who have had their higher education interrupted due to challenging life lessons such as: mental health conditions, physical or emotional abuse, sex trafficking or who are first generation female immigrants.

Her life goal is turning wounds into wisdom and lessons into blessings.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Blessons on Instagram: @herblessons
Check out Blessons for Women 

Shop FabFitFun:  Use coupon code UNSWEETENED for $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com

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 explains the positive results she's witnessed, such as a healthier gut, clear mind and an overall positive mood. She teaches us to be more present and mindful in whatever we are doing daily.

Take a listen and you'll learn that working toward a healthier lifestyle doesn't always mean making drastic changes.

One of the biggest lessons we took away from this conversation is that it's not always what you eat, rather it's how and when you eat it.


Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Alaa on Instagram: @hausofblush

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 episode, we discuss the reason for the Kashmir "custody battle", why Ayesha felt compelled to speak out and how she has dealt with the aftermath of that confrontation going viral. 

Ayesha is a blogger, inter-faith activist and natural-hair influencer who lives in Alaska with her family. She wants to bring attention to the Kashmir situation at a time where it is rarely mentioned in mainstream media and urges others to pass down the mic to Kashmiris, too.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Ayesha on Instagram: @spisha
For up to date coverage: @zebatweets

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 about our bodies, such as where do migraines come from or what’s  the difference between a migraine and a headache? We learn if there’s a difference between a natural birth vs a C-section when it comes to the effects they have on your pelvic floor. Trust me we don’t hold back and Heba answers all of your questions in this special episode.  It’s time that we learn more about our bodies and remove the shame behind wanting to know what really goes on down there!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Heba on Instagram: thepelvicexpert
Check out her website: thepelvicexpert.com

Shop FabFitFun:  Use coupon code UNSWEETENED for $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com

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-stigmatize therapy in our culture. We also discuss certain moments in the Prophet's (pbuh) life where mental health was a priority and reasons why we should humanize the feelings he had shared with those around him. 

Sara is a clinical social worker, a writer and published poet. She currently works at the Muslim Community Center for Human Services in Fort Worth, where she provides free mental health counseling and education. Sara is also on the board of FACE, an organization that tackles spiritual abuse in the Muslim community.  She is also the author of her debut poetry and prose book titled, "(w)holehearted".

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow our guest on Instagram: Sara.Bawany
Purchase her book (w)holehearted: here 

Resources:
Psychology Today
Muslim Mental Health Institute
Seema Mental Health
Muslim Wellness Foundation
Black Muslim Psychology Conference

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 marriage outside of a perfectly curated Instagram photo. With a positive attitude, this OG hijabi fashion icon talks about her struggles off camera with infertility, her battle with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and how she came about having her two beautiful children (mashallah). Talk about being completely Unsweetened and Unfiltered, Yasemin sure gave us a run for our money.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Yasemin on Instagram: @yazthespaz89
Catch her on Youtube: @YazTheSpaz89
Check out her website for inspiration: Yazthespaz.com

Shop FabFitFun:  Use coupon code UNSWEETENED for $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com