In their sphere, boundaries crumble, stereotypes dissolve, and a new narrative unfolds—one where Arab women proudly embrace their rightful place at the forefront of the media landscape.
Put your headphones on, get your groove on, and slip into an immersive world with these 10 unmissable podcasts.
Table of Contents
Yalla, Bye
Yalla Bye, hosted by the sisters Hager Eldaas and Mnatallah Eldaas Yalla, is the ideal mashup of unadulterated, unfiltered ideas. The podcast provides an opportunity for Egyptian American hosts to reflect on their upbringing in the West as Arabs while also looking ahead to what the future may hold.
UNSWTND+UNFLTRD
This show is not for those who like it sugarcoated, as the name reflects ‘unsweetened and unfiltered’, it aims to provide listeners with a genuine look into the lives of women.
The show is run by Palestinian-American Muslim women Zaina Kahak and Dounya Hamdan. It aims to transform difficulties and isolating challenges into group-based ones that “make every woman realize that she is not alone.”
The hosts highlight issues related to faith, culture, mental health, and spiritual healing, stating that “it’s time that we finally speak into the mic and have our voices heard.”
Talk of Shame
Talk of Shame, founded by bestselling author Alya Mooro, unapologetically explores the world of womanhood by challenging most narratives associated with the heavily connoted idea of shame in the region—and beyond—in an effort to learn more about the dynamics of the region and the Arab diaspora.
The Dukkan Show
The focus of The Dukkan Show is the reality that connects us via our encounters, conversations, and meet-and-greets. Dukkan, which means “shop” in Arabic, is supposed to “showcase the great conversations friends have when they hang out at their respective dukkan stoop”—a tribute to the presenters’ ability to go with the flow.
The show serves as your mid-week refreshment and an all-encompassing, constantly intriguing listen that will grasp your every inch in a series that defies convention, refers to siblings as the “family we didn’t choose,” and wants you to feel comfortable about being alone.
The Mother Being Podcast
Using the platform to empower and free women via their self-righteousness, creator Nour Emam has been dispensing women’s health and wellness advice throughout the MENA area since 2021. A podcast created in Arabic, it focuses on issues including infertility, fatherhood, and self-worth, each of which is a branch of their larger health tree.
It’s a podcast that does credit to its goal of promoting community reconciliation by acting as a gateway into a woman’s self-awareness about her rights and capacity to challenge social norms.
The Game Changers
With CEO Nisreen Shocair serving as the podcast’s presenter, The Game Changers is Net-A-Porter’s homegrown podcast show. In the inaugural season, she sat down with some of the most inspirational women in the region.
Nisreen talks about everything related to art, fashion, and business, to name a few. She also addresses industry leaders and women who are empowering younger women to pursue their dreams.
When Women Win
This is your go-to show to hear your favorite female role models from around the globe. When Women Win is hosted by Rana Nawas, a Dubai-based entrepreneur who shares advice on how to be your best successful self.
The show aims to inspire, engage, and enthuse viewers. The series has a vast list of celebrities, inspiring personalities, business leaders, and real-life superheroes, and it has grown to be the Middle East’s most popular podcast.
Eib
Eib embodies reliability.
This podcast emphasizes and dismantles taboos that have become society’s construct. The word Eib or “shameful” in Arabic is oh-so commonly used to criticize certain behaviors across many cultures.
The show hosted by Tala El-Issa examines topics including conventional gender roles, cultural conventions, and eating problems.
Arab-American Pyscho
It sounds scary but it’s not at all. Noor Elkhaldi – a Palestinian-American freelance creative is one juicy host. Her show is a safe space that will dissect what it means to individualize; issues around body image, the influencer economy, relationships and trauma.
The Radical Contemporary
Creator and host, Noor Hassan lives by the motto “Unleash your inner creative genius and let your soul free.” The podcast jumps from Italy to New York in one episode and from robotics to alchemy in another. The platform, based between Cairo and Jeddah, is intended “for the sharing, discovery, and appreciation of artistic and personal expression in the MENA region & beyond.”
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