? A sanctuary for women’s voices: Just days ago, the weekly podcast Sage Takes Thyme launched its second season. Created as part of Womena, the English-language podcast offers something rare: a safe space where Arab women can see themselves reflected and heard. Hosted by Emirati and Egyptian co-founders and entrepreneurial duo Elissa Freiha and Amira Salah Ahmed, the podcast tackles the conversations many women may have been waiting to hear.

It’s not a cooking show, but it is soul food. Elissa and Amira dive into life’s unspoken complexities, drawing from their own journeys as well-traveled women navigating identity between Arab sensitivities and the modern sensibilities. Together, the two women are on a mission to find belonging and balance while dismantling the misconceptions they’ve witnessed firsthand.

What is feminism, really? In one particularly powerful episode, the hosts unpack what feminism actually means for Arab women today — a conversation that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt caught between worlds. They discuss subtle ways society polices women’s behavior, from something as simple as laughing too loudly in public, to more insidious topics. It’s about the internal tug-of-war many Arab women know too well: how do you stay true to yourself while navigating the expectations constantly placed on you by society?

Like coffee with your closest friends. What makes the podcast special is its warmth. Listening feels like being welcomed into an intimate conversation between old friends who aren’t afraid to dig deep. Elissa and Amira move gracefully between discussing how to rebuild confidence in environments that thrive off the lack of it to exploring questions of purpose, evolving identity, and everything in between. They also spotlight important causes like Palestinian solidarity and health awareness, weaving social consciousness naturally into personal storytelling.

An hour well spent. Despite tackling weighty subjects, the conversation between Elissa and Amira flows so naturally that the episodes feel like a delightful break. The chemistry is genuine, their insights hard-won, and their message clear: no woman has to navigate life’s challenges alone.

WHERE TO LISTEN- Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anghami | Deezer | Audible | Amazon Music | YouTube | YouTube Music.

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