Unswtnd + Unfltrd

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Unswtnd + Unfltrd episodes

December 11, 2019 Creating a Sisterhood and Finding Your Purpose on Social Media with Erim Kaur
In Episode 38, we are joined by our special guest Erim Kaur, the big sister you never knew you needed.
Erim opens up about losing her mom at the age of 8, growing up without any sisters and being raised by her father and grandparents.
Using her life experiences and her past childhood, Erim is now stepping into the role of big sister, helping those who grew up without a mother or sister, navigate life. She hosts Sister Sundays, which focus each week on different topics like relationships, dealing with conflict and self love.
When it came to finding her purpose on social media, Erim says she didn't set out to become this big sister, but instead it grew out of necessity and her supporters giving her this inspiring role. Erim's supporters began looking up to her and her practices before she even realized her purpose.
We also talk about Erim's faith and how she's choosing to honor her Sikh beliefs. Coming from a community that remains misrepresented, Erim is working to bring the Sikh people into the spotlight and highlighting all of their accomplishments.
Erim also shares with us her new and exciting project! If you've got damaged hair, listen up! Erim gives us the inside scoop into her new business venture, By Erim. As a child, her grandmother used to apply oil treatments to Erim's hair to help her achieve the long, healthy locks her mother had before her passing. And now, Erim is sharing that secret potion with the world. We can't wait to get our hands on a bottle!
We hope this episode provides young women out there who grew up without any female figures to find solace in the content that Erim shares. She has expressed how this social media community is a two way street and the bonds that have been created are irreplaceable!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Erim on Instagram: @erimstagram
Purchase Erim's Luxury Hair Oil Here

1 hr 19 min
December 04, 2019 Grieving a Miscarriage, Coping with Infertility and the Truth About IVF with Pari
Grab a tissue...no wait, go back for the entire box. Trust us, you'll need it!
In Episode 37, Pari joins us for an emotional yet inspirational conversation about infertility and the struggles she had faced, both physically and mentally, as she navigated her way towards motherhood.
For years, Pari tried for a baby of her own, but with every step she took to becoming the mother she knew she was destined to be, a tragedy would strike.
Three miscarriages, a failed IVF attempt and a few unexpected medical diagnoses, Pari began feeling helpless. But, she knew the pain she was enduring would, inshallah, pay off if she kept her faith in Allah.
Throughout this episode, Pari gives us some perspective into her life full of doctor appointments, uncertainty, and the conversation she had shared with her friends, family and husband about her struggle to carry out a full-term pregnancy.
We recorded this episode back in September. when a picture perfect baby bump sat right in front of our incredibly strong and courageous guest. We are so happy to share, since then Pari has gained a new title: Mommy.
Alhamdillah and Mashallah x a billion.
Pari's upbeat personality and her drive to never give up on what you truly want should be a lesson to us all. Put your faith in God and never stop working toward the things that bring you happiness, no matter the pain you may endure along the way,

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Pari on Instagram: @thecentralsteppes

1 hr 33 min
November 27, 2019 Love and Marriage, Toxic Partners and Building a Relationship with God feat. Ascia Sahar
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 relationship, you are not alone. Ascia advises us that although it's not easy, if you truly trust God's plan for yourself, taking that leap isn’t as scary as we think it may be. She stresses that every person we meet comes into our lives for a reason, whether it's a lesson or a blessing.

Ascia has a piece of advice for those who are trying to figure out what it is that they want and how to heal by taking time to reflect. Use your past experiences to figure out what you really want out of a relationship.

So, now you think you have found "The One", so what’s next? Navigating a new relationship is as awkward as it is difficult. Ascia explains how she tackled that annoying "where is this going?" question with her now husband and the situation she found herself in when she realized this was the man she was going to marry.

We also discuss the impacts social media has on marriages and how at times navigating a relationship in the digital world may seem a bit challenging, but Ascia let's us in on the agreement she has with her husband and how it all comes down to respect and understanding.

Whether you're happily married, newly-engaged or single and not sure if you're ready to mingle, this conversation will help teach you vital life lessons and how to put your full trust in Allah.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Ascia on Instagram: @iamascia
Shop @modified.threads

1 hr 36 min
November 20, 2019 Living with Depression/Anxiety, Struggles with Birth Control and First Generation Guilt with Hemali Mistry
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 and anxiety. She shares with us where these issues stem from and the reason why she decided to open up about this so publicly.

Suffering from menstrual issues, Hemali has tried everything to find a solution for her pain. That's where birth control comes in or as Zaina likes to call it, "The Devil." We share our own personal experiences with birth control and the negative effects it has had on our bodies, our mental health and the strain it has put on our personal relationships.

We also discuss the struggles that only first-generation kids would know of. Especially, if this first-gen decides to pursue an unconventional career (creatives, we're talking about you)! Our parents have always wanted the best for us, but how do we explain to them that what they want and what they sometimes force upon us, isn't actually what's meant for us? Hemali has found herself in that situation far too many times. She walks us through how she handles the pressure she receives from her parents, even until today.

Smile, put a filter on it, and then post. As much as we love it, it's easy to admit that social media isn't always the best (or healthiest) way we should spend our time. As an influencer with more than 200k followers, Hemali explains how she avoids getting too caught up in the online world, and how she's learning to navigate life both on and off social media.

Throughout this conversation, Hemali has taught us that being open and honest with our struggles can help us in our healing process. We hope you all can benefit from her humble wisdom.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Hemali on Instagram: @ready.to.glow
Watch her on Youtube: @Ready To Glow

1 hr 15 min
November 13, 2019 Walking Away from Toxic Friendships, Mourning Relationships and Forgiving Yourself with Dear Chereen
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 stay in them? According to Chereen, so many of us are guilty of this. It's all about getting too comfortable and stuck in our own ways. Throughout the conversation she teaches us how to spot these red flags, how to defuse the situation, and how to tell it's time to walk away.
We also talk about forgiveness but not for the other's sake, but for your own. Chereen stresses the importance of learning to forgive yourself. She teaches us that a negative cloud over your head and choosing to hold a grudge only affects you and your mental and physical well-being.
DearChereen.com was inspired by her love for scribbling in diaries as a kid and from the Dear Abby columns in magazines.
Today, Chereen takes that passion and her professional experience to offer advice on a plethora of topics ranging from loss, personal growth and mental health.
We hope that you are able to walk away with a sense of clarity in regards to your past, present and future relationships with friends, significant others and most importantly, yourself!
Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Chereen Instagram: @dearchereen
Learn from Chereen: dearchereen.com

1 hr 5 min
November 06, 2019 Double Standards, Dissecting the Fragility of Our Reputations as Women and Encouraging Sisterhood with Dearborn Girl
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 how women can really support other women. Ladies, it's all about collaboration over competition here at U+U.

Dearborn Girl is a podcast for Arab and/or Muslim women in Dearborn to share their stories and aims to inspire courageous conversation within the community. But trust us, you don't need to be a girl from Dearborn in order to enjoy! You can find them on Youtube, Apple Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher.
Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Dearborn Girl on Instagram: @dearborn.girl
Make sure to check out their new episodes on Mondays: https://linktr.ee/dearborngirl
1 hr 11 min
October 30, 2019 Dealing with Criticism for Being a Non-Hijabi, Overcoming Heartbreak and Juggling Life
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, with or without a partner.
We also give our two cents on the awkward conversation you’re supposed to have with your partner about splitting the bills and handling finances in general. Should you be dividing expenses right down the middle? We discuss budgeting and how it’s actually crucial in keeping a happy and thriving relationship!
Work, family, friends, this podcast and some me-time? Too bad there’s only 24 hours in a day. As we fight to avoid burn-out, we talk about how we’re learning (and sometimes failing) to balance our busy lives, and how we finally learned that taking a break doesn’t actually mean you're falling behind or that you’re lazy.
We can’t thank you enough for joining us on this journey for the past 6 plus months, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and our Unsweeteners.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
1 hr 4 min
October 23, 2019 Removing the Hijab, Connecting With God Spiritually and Ritualistically and Losing a Parent with Alia Taha
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 and what it was that brought her back to it.
The term “Modern Muslim” is also dissected throughout this episode. Is there really such a thing? Alia explains that because our religion is timeless, the term “Modern Muslim” is really just an oxymoron.
When it comes to anxiety, Alia tells us she is no stranger to that struggle as well. But it’s through a creative outlet that she begins to find her peace. Alia’s writing serves as a tool that helps her and her many followers bond over the life experiences many of us deal with.
Losing a loved one is beyond tough, but losing a parent is indescribable. Alia talks about losing her father ( Allah yer7amo), the hardships she faced coming to terms with his passing and the way she’s used those moments to realize there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Alia's new outlook on life is one we can all learn and benefit from.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Alia on instagram: @aliataha_
Follow along with Alia's writing: @aliataha_writing

1 hr 55 min
October 16, 2019 Finding Your Voice in the Workplace, Battling Imposter Syndrome and Promoting Sisterhood with Sofia Haq
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 group is crucial for Muslim women in the workforce, she discusses ways in which we can become more supportive of one another and how we can help elevate the next generation of Muslim women.
She emphasizes the point that there is enough space for us all! Life isn't meant to be taken as a competition and Sofia further explains why helping our fellow sisters succeed will help us in the long run. We also dissect the term Imposter Syndrome and how we can create more space for other Muslim women!
As we always say here at U + U, keep that door of success open behind you so that other women can join you!
Listen to this week's episode to find out how you can help support your community's female entrepreneurs and check out our upcoming Instagram post on how you can win some delicious Knafeh from @knafehqueens!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Sofia on Instagram: @sofia__haq
Follow MWP on Instagram: @muslimwomenprofessionals
Sign up for the MWP newsletter: Here

1 hr 14 min
October 09, 2019 Empowering our Daughters, Juggling Marriage and Motherhood and Rediscovering Who We Are with Sahar Hamdan
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 deciding on how to raise her kids differently by earning one another’s trust and learning how to guide her kids instead of controlling them.

We discuss the topic of relationships and marriage, building confidence and empowering our daughters. Sahar also opens up about her inter-cultural relationship. As a Palestinian, she had to deal with the dreaded conversation of telling her parents she was interested in a man from Iraq. She tells us her secrets to dealing with his family’s traditions and expectations that differ from her own.

As an added bonus, Sahar gives us some tips on how to maintain a loving, trusting and successful relationship. Now, after 17 years of solely focusing on her marriage and raising her kids, Sahar has decided to add another title to her name: college student.

This is just the first step that Sahar is taking to regain her identify while discovering who she really is. Whether you're a parent, spouse, college student or anything in between, Sahar's wisdom is universal, and you'll surely gain something from this episode!

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

1 hr 15 min

About Unswtnd + Unfltrd

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A space for women to feel like they are not alone in the hardships or struggles that they are facing. Some conversations may be lighthearted, some may touch upon taboo topics, but the overall mission…