Who Run the World

This episode is part of a three part series we are releasing for the holidays! In this episode we talk all about the art of gift giving. With the holidays coming up, we wanted to share with you a framework on how to find the best gift for the people you love. We also share examples of some of the best gifts we’ve given each other and why we sometimes feel awkward receiving gifts ourselves. 

What are some of the best gifts you’ve received?  We’d love to hear your stories! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod. 

 As always, we would love it for you to find it in your hearts to donate to one of these causes in Lebanon, as the country is going through a crippling economic crisis. We are privileged enough to buy each other gifts and would love to spread the love. Every little bit counts. 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie.

This episode is part of a three part series we are releasing all for the holidays! Part 1 is all about the activities that we are nostalgic (and not so nostalgic for) to maybe help inspire you with activities to do this holiday season

What are some of the things you used to do and no longer do? We’d love to hear your stories! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod. 

 As always, we would love it for you to find it in your hearts to donate to one of these causes in Lebanon, as the country is going through a crippling economic crisis. Every little bit counts. 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie.

Ever since Marilyn became a mom, she’s noticed an infuriating pattern: her friends started leaving her out of things. She decided to bring up her frustrations on the microphone which led to a conversation about how single and married friends with kids could bridge the gap and not lose their friendship just because they are at different stages of their lives. Marilyn explains what single friends can do to be there for their mommy friends, while also making it clear that just because she now has a family does not mean her friends are any less important to her. On the flip side, Rhea talks about what it’s like from a single person’s perspective and how sometimes our insecurities can get the best of us. 

We believe that sharing our stories will help people feel less alone, and we’d love to hear yours! Are you a parent who has felt their friends change towards them since they had children? Are you the single one in your group and find that you always have to accomodate for your parent friends? Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod .   

In honor of our 100th episode, we decided to celebrate what got us here in the first place: our friendship. We discuss the different facets of female friends with the help of women of all ages from around the world. Our female friendships have been incredibly important to us in our lives. Not only have they shown up for us in times of trouble, but they have also chosen us to be with them in joyful times, have come with us to run errands and supported us in our growth. 

We dedicate this episode to our childhood friends, college friends, work friends, friends we met through other friends, friends who are no longer our friends, our moms and our sisters. 

A special thank you to all the women who agreed to share their stories with us. In order of appearance: 

• Haya Al Husry
• Caline Khoury
• Marley
• Lenny
• Randa Tohme
• Maria Baladi
• Nicole Chedid
• Leticia Feraras 
• May Chaker
• Marie Noel Gervais
• Marina Bevilacqua 
• Nadia Deghayli 
• Mia Nehme 

We’d love to hear about your epic female friendships! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod .  

In this episode, Rhea opens up about her struggles with body image. Rhea shares how the negative feelings she’s had about her body made her feel like she is living a half life. Later on in the episode, Marilyn and Rhea talk about how friends can support friends with negative body image, and what are some of the things we can do to improve our feeling towards ourselves and the skin we are in.   

We believe that sharing our stories will help people feel less alone, and we’d love to hear your stories if you feel like sharing! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod .  

We are back in Dubai and kicking things off with Marilyn telling us all about her birth story: how contractions felt, how she got through the pain, the role of her support system, including her husband Hadi, her doula Valerie, her mom and her brother. 

Marilyn also updates on the cliffhanger from last episode: did she or did she not get an epidural? 

Finally, Marilyn shares what happened after her daughter was born and how she and her team (which now included baby Gabrielle) got through it all. 

This episode is dedicated to Gabrielle Nour Kabalan, born on June 25th at 8:24PM.

We believe that sharing our stories will help people feel less alone, and we’d love to hear your birth stories! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram @whoruntheworldpod .   

Resources we mentioned on the podcast: 

• Birth with Confidence: Savvy choices for normal birth by Rhea Dempsey
• Sirat Om | سيرة أم - a podcast by Dr. Gael Abou Ghanam about birth stories

Marilyn is inching closer to her due date, and that means she has a few key decisions to make around her labor. Epidural or no epidural? Constant monitoring of the baby’s heartbeat or sporadic monitoring? Where to give birth and which care provider to have? Vaginal or cesarean? Do you want to induce the birth or not? Which interventions will you allow? Do you want Pitocin to help you birth your placenta? Do you want to play Beyonce in the deliver room? Marilyn takes us through her thought process in making these decisions, showing that you can only go through pregnancy as yourself. 

Are you pregnant? Are you preparing for your labor? How are you making your decisions? Did you already give birth? Write to us on [email protected] or on instagram @whoruntheworldpod 

 Also, make sure to check out our previous episodes where Marilyn talks about her pregnancy journey: 

• Final Stretch of Pregnancy: Body, Tribe and Data
• Feelings and Thoughts on Pregnancy
• Announcing Our Third Co-Host

On a final note, we’ve been overwhelmed by the latest world events, particularly what’s been happening in our home country Lebanon. We do hope you can take some time out in your day to donate to these worthy causes: 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie

We start this episode off with a very special announcement: Rhea has moved back (or forward - depends how you look at it) to Dubai! She has started a brand new job at Spotify, and on this episode she breaks down her decision making process that got her there. We also talk about growth (it’s no secret that Rhea’s mental health struggled this last year), and how to carry that growth and feeling grounded wherever you live. 

We’d love to hear from you! How do you make your decisions? Have you ever moved cities/countries/Jobs? What was that experience like? Write to us on [email protected] or on instagram @whoruntheworldpod 

Also, make sure to check out our previous episode about different decision making frameworks: Time For Decisions | Who Run the Time

On a final note, we’ve been overwhelmed by the latest world events, particularly what’s been happening in our home country Lebanon. We do hope you can take some time out in your day to donate to these worthy causes: 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie

This episode is all about the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy as Marilyn shares everything she has experienced in the last 6 months. She tells Rhea about all the ways her body has changed, and how her little girl has been sucking the energy out of her (we love you Gaby!). She also talks about the importance of her tribe, friends and family showing up for her, and how that has made her feel more ready to take on labor and motherhood. Finally she talks about how equipping herself with the right information and data has helped be more prepared for the unknown.  

Have you been pregnant before? How did you deal with the changes in your life? Alternatively, have you gone through a major life change recently? How have you navigated through the range of emotions that came with that transition? We would love to hear from you! Write to us on [email protected] or on Instagram: @whoruntheworldpod 

On a final note, we’ve been overwhelmed by the latest world events, particularly what’s been happening in our home country Lebanon. We do hope you can take some time out in your day to donate to these worthy causes: 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie

Something that many Arab women have faced in their lifetime is single shaming. In this episode we dive deep into single shaming: how it shows up, how to respond to single shaming and Marilyn even hits us with some stats (since the pandemic single shaming has been on the rise). We even try to understand how single people and people and relationships can broach the topic of dating and relationships. This resulted with our first ever on microphone argument. 

We’d love to hear from you! Have you been single shamed? How do you talk about dating with your single or non single friends? Write to us on [email protected] or on instagram @whoruntheworldpod 

Also, make sure to check out our previous episode where we talk about Rhea’s online dating:The Bumble edit - We’re Swiping Left, We’re Swiping Right.

On a final note, we’ve been overwhelmed by the latest world events, particularly what’s been happening in our home country Lebanon. We do hope you can take some time out in your day to donate to these worthy causes: 

• Lebanese Red Cross
• Beit el Baraka
• Offre Joie