Unswtnd + Unfltrd

A chance to play a role of a lifetime is a dream come true for this week's guest, but how did the role of her parents influence her decision?

In Ep.28 of Season 2, we speak to Zoha Rahman, who starred in the Marvel movie, "Spiderman: Far From Home", as the first hijabi character.

We chat with Zoha about representation in the media and her thoughts on tokenism, as well as starting a career in acting; a profession not too often touched by those in our community.

We also dive into the many conversations Zoha has had with her parents as she opened up to them about her hopes and aspirations. Many who choose an unconventional career route know this conversation doesn't go over too well, but the actress walks us through how she navigated the discussion and how she kept working toward her goals without the initial support from her parents.

The conversation continues as we talk about the basic fundamentals we should raise our young girls with and how we can continue to support each other.

From just a dream to actually seeing her name in lights, Zoha proves with hard work, determination and faith, anything we put our minds to is truly possible!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Zoha On Instagram: @zoha_purplemush

Trigger Warning: In this episode we discuss sexual violence. If you find this topic to be triggering, please hit pause and check out some of our older episodes instead! 

Let's stop beating around the bush when it comes to our bodies and our health. Instead, let's empower each other with shameless knowledge and remove the stigma that follows. 

In Ep. 27 of Season 2, we speak to Aisha Ismail about the lack of sexual health & reproductive education in the Muslim community, the importance of understanding and confronting sexual violence and all that the Muslim-led organization Heart has to offer. 

It's our body and it's about time we get to know it. Aisha outlines the importance of sexual health literacy and why it's crucial that we increase the spread of this vital information throughout our community. 

Understanding our bodies is a right, because sexual education covers more than just the birds and the bees- it expands across areas like menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum and so much more. We shouldn't be caught-off guard or left in the dark when it comes to our own physical health. 

Aisha also discusses the growing number of sexual violence incidents within our community. The unfortunate truth is that 68% of victims don't go to the police. Could fear of being judged, for something that they are a victim of, be to blame? Aisha says, most likely. She digs into why and how we can help differentiate the difference between consensual sex and sexual assault. 

This episode is a chalk full of incredibly useful and crucial information that helps learning about our bodies at any given age much easier. 

We're proud to be a part of an ever-growing circle of women, who like Aisha, share a common goal: empower the ladies in our community with knowledge.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Aisha on Instagram: @ayooshismai
Check Out Heart on Instagram: @hearttogrow
Take A Look At All 'Heart' Has To Offer HERE

Your happiness shouldn’t amount to the number of checkboxes you tick, but instead the things that truly put your heart and soul at ease. 

In Ep. 26 of Season 2, we sit down with Shazia Imam to talk about the fear of letting go, cultivating a relationship with ourselves and learning how to let go and put our faith in Allah’s hands. 

Shazia opens up about a very personal and vulnerable part of her life; moments she thought there was no way she could ever find happiness. She takes us through those dark moments of her prior marriage, and how she was able to pull herself out and lead a life she is proud of. 

So, we ask ourselves why are we so afraid of letting go of the things (or people)  that don’t even bring us happiness?  That’s a question we find ourselves asking way too many times. The fear of the unknown can cause us to miss out on people, moments and experiences that can truly help us change our world completely. Shazia shares with us how she was able to walk away from a life she knew she didn’t deserve, and into one full of possibilities. 

Focusing on our relationships with others is an important thing to do. Being a good mother, friend, spouse, coworker all are important roles we play. But what about the relationship we have with ourselves? You wouldn’t neglect a friend, so why do we believe that neglecting ourselves is an OK thing to do? 

Shazia also talks about how she is able to practice tawwakul- putting her trust and reliance in Allah while also accepting His plan. It is He who truly knows what’s best for us, so plan, work hard and leave the rest up to Him. 

At a time when most of us are feeling lost and hoping to stumble upon a path that leads us to a lifetime of eternal happiness, Shazia’s advice can surely get you to where you need to go.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Shazia on Instagram: @thelifeengineer
Listen to Shazia's Podcast "Feminine & Fulfilled" HERE 

Your worth shouldn’t be defined by your bank account balance or your credit score, but that shouldn’t mean you should ignore these figures, either.

In Ep. 25 of Season 2, Kenya Imani gives us great insight on how to take control of our finances by creating a budget, investing and tackling our loans. 

We discuss financial trauma and how the topic of money can be very stressful for many people. It's important to not dismiss the healing portion of the financial process.

There’s a lot we aren’t taught in school, and unfortunately managing our finances is one of them. Kenya walks us through why we should set life goals and the importance of living within our means.

Creating a budget may not sound like too much fun, but Kenya explains how this simple task can help us save up for rainy days and allow us to be in control of our money. Budgeting is meant to give you the ability to treat yourself, too!

College can be exciting for many reasons but when it comes to student loans - we rarely get the 411 on the ins and outs of these loans and that little thing called interest. The majority of graduates are stuck with student loan debt and the feeling that it will never go away. Kenya puts our hearts at ease by offering us some words of wisdom and comfort. 

We stick by this platform’s goal, and that’s to empower women in all avenues of their life, and what better way to do so then by giving them the right tools they need to understand and control their finances. 

It’s never too late to start working toward a debt-free life!

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Kenya on Instagram: @kenya.imani
Use Code 'Unfiltered' for an additional 20% off services offered by Kenya! 

It’s important to remember that your relationship with God is no one else’s but yours. So learn to leave the judgement, the comparisons and envy at the door. 

In Ep. 24 of Season 2, we sit down with May Calamawy (again!) to discuss the second season of the Hulu show “Ramy”! Our conversation touches upon faith, creating a personal relationship with God, and as well as our thoughts on the evil eye. 

Struggling with faith isn’t an uncommon thing to go through. Calamawy discusses the ups and downs her character faces with faith on the show and how it relates to her own struggles in real life. 

Sometimes you may find yourself so far away from God and the path you once followed. But, luckily, something will always pull you back. Most of the time it won’t be the same path, but a better one you’ve paved for yourself. 

Evil eye, or hassad, could possibly be the most popular topic discussed amongst those in our community. We dive into our outlook on the matter, share personal antidotes of our encounters with the evil eye, and ways we’ve learned to “humble ourselves” and protect the people and things we value the most. 

We also discuss relationships and how to deal with a partner’s past. How much is too much knowledge, and what’s just not enough? Although this may vary from person to person, I think we can all agree that falling down a rabbit hole of social media stalking of your current beau isn’t a good idea. 

Whether you are just beginning your journey to connecting to your faith, or well down that road, this episode is loaded with enlightening and feel-good content that will give you the push you need to keep on going.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow May on Instagram: @maycalamawy

No one said practicing self-growth was going to be easy, but we can promise you it will be worth it. 

In Ep. 23 of Season 2 we sit down with Sumayyah Taufique to discuss self growth, learning how to show ourselves compassion and the concept of spiritual bypassing. 

When you think of your ideal day of self-care, you probably think of a nice long bath, a trip to the spa or a day spent Netflixing surrounded by your favorite food. According to Sumayyah, there’s nothing wrong with that. 

But she also says there’s another level of self-care that produces long-term effects, rather than just handling what’s on the surface. 

Self-growth allows us to focus on the root cause of the issue and coming up with solutions to change what’s actually triggering us. This process may be more work than just soaking in the tub, but it’s crucial to get you going on your journey to wellness. 

When was the last time you sat down and talked to yourself? If it’s been a while, well you’re not alone there. Sumayyah says checking in on ourselves will help give insight into the direction we need to go in - to support your mental health. Ask yourself questions, like, “Why did I react to something seemingly small, in such a big way?”, “Why was I triggered by that action?” 

Stop treating your feelings like unwanted guests. The longer and harder we fight to hide and suppress our emotions, the louder they yell. Go and get your Drake on, girl, it’s ok to cry it out. 

Do you ever feel guilty for feeling sad rather than being “more grateful”? It’s called spiritual bypassing and Sumayyah explains how we can avoid using faith as an avoidance mechanism. It’s not haram to cry, it’s not wrong to feel sad and it’s more than ok to be all up in your feelings. 

The benefits of therapy are also discussed in this episode. We spend so much time and effort getting to know the people around us, but isn’t it time we invest that same energy into ourselves, too? We think so.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Sumayyah on Instagram: @growthwork

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but it’s through these ups and downs that we are shaped into who we are truly meant to be. 

In Ep. 22 of Season 2, we sit down with Hanan Abdel-Khalek to discuss finding happiness post-divorce, learning to honor the hardships we face in silence and how we can take control of our lives and invest in our own selves. 

Hanan opens up about getting married and ultimately divorced in her early twenties. We discuss many of the things we often overlook when getting into a new relationship, and all the red flags we often paint to look like other colors. 

Hanan explains that in order to grow and prosper post-break up, you have to learn how to forgive your younger self. 

Although, it was definitely not where she imagined her life going at such a young age, Hanan says she’s also learned to honor the hardships she’s faced in silence. Often times we hold the extent of the hardships we had faced away from loved ones, friends and family as to not burden them. But this can make the healing process a bit tougher, but Hanan explains how she was able to process what she’s gone through, and still be able to find the purpose of her pain. 

Of all the pain we’ve experienced we’re learning that these obstacles are truly gifts from Allah, because the women we are today would never exist without those difficult moments. Hanan talks about becoming the person she is today, and the ways she began investing in her own self. 

Allah truly tests those He loves the most, and although at times it may feel hard to feel blessed in those trying moments, remember it’s through those dark times that we find light.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Hanan on Instagram: @hananithink
Shop Youngnevertiti

Black Lives Matter isn’t an Instagram trend, it’s a commitment to justice. And it’s not just a  moment, but a movement that will never not be important. 

In Ep. 21 of Season 2, we sit down with Eman Idil Bare to discuss her bouts with racism beginning at such a young age, anti-blackness in the media and what we can do to help push the BLM movement beyond our dinner table discussions. 

Micro-aggressions are more than just insults or insensitive comments. They are the thinly veiled, everyday instances of racism that you see in the world. And as Eman explains, it’s something that she had to deal with all of her life. She talks about how a visit to the hair salon for a quick cut taught her about racism at a young age, and how those micro-aggressions even followed her to law school. 

The media can be racist at times and that’s no surprise. There has been many instances of this through the reporting of the murder of George Floyd, the protest and countless situations just like this one. Eman also digs into her time working in a newsroom, and moments she was subjected to stereotypes, racism and the lack of opportunities she was given as a reporter compared to her white counterparts. We discuss what needs to be done in order to get back to the basics of journalism: reporting the unfiltered truth. 

No matter how open-minded you think you are, or socially conscious you may be, we all have a responsibility to check our privilege everyday. We must learn to unlearn our own biases, and although it maybe uncomfortable, it’s our duty to do the same to those around us. We discuss ways to help push the purpose of the BLM movement beyond just hashtags and conversations. Eman tells us what we can do in order to do better for the Black community. 

We also want to mention that often-times the mental health of the Black community goes unchecked. And much more than often, the Black community isn’t given the same opportunity to heal from their trauma, since they are constantly reliving it and experiencing one traumatic event after the next. We talk about what we can do as allies to bring focus to the well being of those in the black community. 

This is a cause that isn't going away, it's a battle we will continue to fight until justice is served.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Eman on Instagram: @emanidil

How can you tell if it’s your nafs or the Shaytan luring you away from Allah? How many times should you ask for forgiveness for the same sin? What are the differences between a hypocrite and a believer?

In Ep. 20 of Season 2, we sit down with Hosai Mojaddidi to discuss the diseases of the heart, dealing with our nafs and how to view hardships as blessings in disguise.

Our hearts are vessels that carry all that we consume. And while we allow ourselves to over-indulge without a second thought, it’s important to realize the impact it has on our minds, bodies and souls. Hosia explains why it’s crucial that we pay more attention to what we are feeding our hearts.

Everyday we are faced with the difficult challenge of dealing with our desires and temptations. Some are easy to ignore, while others seem close to impossible. Hosai explains what our nafs is, and how we can learn to overcome such weaknesses.

If we allow it to, our nafs can take over our lives, preventing us from connecting to Allah and putting distance between us and our prayer rugs. Hosai breaks down ways we can overcome our nafs and use our heart as a weapon to stay God conscious.

When it comes to sinning - it is something we are prone to as imperfect humans and something we all try to work on putting an end to. But how do we prevent ourselves from falling into the same sin over and over again? We discuss certain practices we can take part in to help keep us on the right path, and thinking of Allah more often.

If you’re struggling to build a connection to your faith, we hope this episode allows you to find solutions to stay God conscious, always.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Hosai on Instagram: @hosaimojo

Your voice is your power. Use it to speak up against any injustices you may see, and fight for what you truly believe in. That’s our duty as Muslims.

In Ep. 19 of Season 2, we sit down with Jael Kerandi to discuss the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, how she used her voice to push her University to adjust their relationship with the Minneapolis Police and encourage change nationwide.

After news broke of Floyd’s death, Jael says she knew she had to do something to protect her fellow students. She drafted up a letter addressed to her University’s president demanding the school end ties with the city’s police department. That letter had a 24 hour response time, and in that time her university answered saying it will adjust how they deal with Minneapolis Police moving forward.

And once the word got out, universities and colleges around the nation followed suit. Jael expresses her gratitude to the young generation’s passion for justice and political engagement. No one’s voice is ever too weak, young or unimportant. Jael’s words have inspired change that will impact the lives of thousands.

We are living in a time full of despair, but a time also full of hope. Jael explains why no matter how often these inhumane killings occur, we can never allow ourselves to become desensitized to the violence. We must use our voices and whatever position we are in to take a stand.

As the protests wind down, we must not let the fire and passion to put an end to police brutality die down too.

Enjoy and remember to follow us on Instagram: @unsweetenedandunfiltered
Follow Jael on Instagram: @itsjayelle