Cycle Hood

Ever wondered why some weeks you feel unstoppable and other weeks everything feels harder? In this solo episode, I'm taking you back to the basics and breaking down what actually happens in the female body throughout the menstrual cycle. From estrogen and progesterone to energy levels, training adaptations, cravings, sleep, recovery, and mood, we'll explore how your hormones influence your...

This week on Cycle Hood, I’m joined by Engy, founder of Girliee, for a powerful conversation about period health, womanhood, entrepreneurship, and breaking taboos around menstrual care. We talk about: • The story behind Girliee and why Engy created the brand • Period underwear myths, hygiene, sustainability & comfort • The cultural taboos around periods in the Middle East • Running, workouts &...

I'm back in Dubai and my heart is full. In this solo episode, I'm sharing my most personal and reflective takeaways from a yoga retreat in Sardinia, one of the world's five Blue Zones, where I spent a week disconnecting, going deep, and letting myself just  be . From deleting Instagram and getting comfortable with boredom, to navigating real uncertainty as an Iranian woman not knowing...

In this episode of Cycle Hood, I sit down with Connor — Barry’s instructor, performer, storyteller, and the person so many of us know as “Mr. Good Vibes.” But behind the energy, dancing, and unforgettable classes is a story of resilience that feels like a movie. Connor opens up about growing up as a dancer in South Africa, finding fitness almost by accident, moving to Dubai after a breakup, and fa...

In this solo episode of Cycle Hood, I’m talking about one more thing we can bring back into our control when life feels uncertain: the way we nourish our brain. I’m breaking down the Antidepressant Food Scale (AFS) in a simple and accessible way — what it is, how it was developed, which nutrients are most strongly linked to brain and mental health, and which foods came out on top. We also get into...

Podcast description: In this episode of Cycle Hood, I’m joined by Isha Sharma for a deeply grounding conversation on breathwork, belonging, movement, mindfulness, and what it really means to feel at home within yourself. Isha is a sound healer, meditation trainer, yoga and Pilates teacher, and a public policy strategist working across international development. In this conversation, she shares her...

In this episode of Cycle Hood, I sit down with Justine, founder of  Shake Your Plants , the UAE-based water boost brand on a mission to make hydration more functional, enjoyable, and conscious. We talk about the personal health journey that led her into wellness, how small daily habits like drinking more water can create big shifts in how we feel, and why gut health, probiotics, and hydration matt...

We’re living in a moment that doesn’t feel real… And yet, our bodies know exactly what’s happening. In this solo episode, I’m opening up about what it feels like to live through uncertainty, war in the background, and the emotional tension of feeling both  safe  and  not okay  at the same time. If you’ve been feeling anxious, overwhelmed, glued to the news, or just… off — this episode is for you....

We’re a few weeks into the year… which makes this the perfect time for a gentle New Year’s resolution check-in. In this solo episode of Cycle Hood, I invite you to pause and ask yourself: Are your goals still aligned? Do you want to keep them, pivot them… or let them go? We talk about momentum over motivation, the power of small actions, decision fatigue, and how reconnecting with your body can he...

This Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about love, but without the clichés. In this special episode of Cycle Hood, I’m joined by Dating & Relationship Coach Cybele to decode the psychology behind modern dating. We unpack attachment styles, break down Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl, analyze Carrie Bradshaw through an attachment lens, and even discuss the viral Vogue article asking:...

In this special solo episode, I’m recapping my first ever half marathon at Burj to Burj — and yes, I ran it on day two of my period. So Hormone Health Coach of me! After three months of training (and a very emotionally heavy January), race day didn’t land in my dreamy follicular phase like I had planned. Instead, it arrived with cramps, inflammation, and all the prostaglandins. In this episode, I...

This episode marks my return to  Cycle Hood  in 2026 — after an unplanned pause shaped by the collective trauma of what’s been unfolding in Iran. I’m not here to talk politics. I’m here to honor a lived experience, name survival guilt, and share what has helped me regulate my nervous system during a time when movement, focus, and even daily life felt impossible. In this solo episode, I reflect on...

In this end-of-year episode, I’m joined by Monica (@movedbymon), one of my absolute favorite coaches and human beings in Dubai, for her very first podcast conversation. We talk about the moment movement became more than fitness for her, and how spin helped her fall in love with her life (and herself). Monica shares the chaotic-beautiful Dubai story that started with a “delusional” dream, a sudden...

Description / show notes (copy-paste ready): In this episode of Cycle Hood, we’re doing a real “glow up” — not the overnight transformation kind, but the sustainable kind that comes from your daily habits, your inner dialogue, and the choices you make when no one is watching. Because here’s the truth: most of us want the same things for the new year — more energy, better health, stronger relations...

PMS can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing — even when you’ve been dealing with it for years. In this solo episode of  Cycle Hood , I’m sharing  five practical, compassionate steps  to help you navigate PMS days with more ease, self-understanding, and kindness toward your body. We talk about why PMS can make you feel like “you’re not yourself,” how hormonal shifts in the luteal phase impa...

In this episode, I’m joined by  Shereen Abdulla , founder of  Adaye  — a female-founded, Dubai-based clean period care brand — to explore what your vaginal microbiome is really exposed to each month. We talk about the hidden toxins in conventional pads and tampons, SAPs and petrochemicals, why “organic” on the box can still be misleading, and how switching to endocrine-safe materials can make a me...

The 9–5 was  never  designed for a woman’s body — so why are we still trying to squeeze our energy, hormones, and creativity into a system built around the male 24-hour cycle? In this solo episode of  Cycle Hood , I dive into what it really means to be a  female solopreneur : building a one-woman business, owning your calendar, and finally working  with  your hormonal rhythm instead of against it....

Jade Palmer is a Nike athlete, ultra runner, co-founder of The Uncommon Club, one of my favorite Barry’s instructors — and truly, a running bestie. In this conversation, Jade opens up about her path from growing up in New Zealand to running seven ultramarathons in seven days across the seven Emirates, and what it really takes — mentally, physically, and emotionally — to prepare for her next big go...

In this solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of race season in Dubai and using it as a metaphor for something much bigger:  your unique “race day” in life. I share how I’m training for the Burj to Burj half marathon, why I checked my cycle phase before I even checked my pace, and how  your mindset on race day can override your physiology —when it’s built on respect for your hormones, not...

When Betty Lemby decided she wasn’t going to wait for the “right time” or the “right person,” she made one of the bravest choices a woman can make — to trust herself and step into motherhood on her own terms. What began as a deeply personal journey led her to write a heartfelt book that will be released in December — a story about courage, surrender, and creating life in the most authentic way. Bu...

Ever been called “delulu” for dreaming too big? Good. That’s where it starts. In this episode, we unpack how to make those big, audacious dreams real — through small, consistent actions, energy embodiment, and the psychology of belief. Inspired by Robert Dilts’ Logical Levels, this conversation connects mindset, purpose, and everyday choices to show you how manifestation really works — when scienc...

In this episode, I’m joined by  Tania Dars , yoga teacher and creator of  Artoga  — a unique practice that blends art and yoga to help women reconnect with their essence through movement, creativity, and expression. We explore the essence of Artoga and how it creates a safe space for you to return to your true self, release limiting beliefs, and benefit from the shared wisdom of the group. Our con...

We all  know  what’s healthy — but what keeps us from actually  living a healthy lifestyle? In this episode, I talk about the  transformation gap  — that space between knowledge and action — and how our  inner dialogue  often shapes our behaviors more than any diet plan ever could. I explore this through the lens of  Transactional Analysis  and the  Karpman Drama Triangle , two powerful frameworks...

Fasting has become one of the biggest wellness trends — but what if the science behind it was never designed for women? In this episode of  Cycle Hood , we explore how intermittent fasting affects women and men differently — from neuropeptides like kisspeptin, to how our nervous system responds under stress. We’ll also talk about why this information is  especially  important for teenage girls goi...

In this episode, I sit down with a friend who shares her egg freezing journey from start to finish. She walks us through the process with honesty and clarity—what it was really like physically, emotionally, and logistically. Beyond the medical side, we dive into the bigger picture: grounding herself in her purpose, the decisions she had to make about the future, and what it means whether she uses...