A Way Beyond the Rainbow

This is part II of a 2-episode series that addresses the history and politics of the gay liberation movement, the influence of the LGBT movement on countless aspects of everyday life and how far things have progressed in a few decades. How has the LGBT movement influenced media outlets, religious discourse, school curricula and global corporations over the past few decades? Why and how did the Ame...

With this episode, we commence the fifth and final season of the podcast which focuses on sociopolitical and religious topics, themes related to gender and transgenderism,  as well as broader topics of relevance to the larger community. The season premieres with a 2-episode series that addresses the history and politics of the gay liberation movement, the influence of the LGBT movement on countles...

This is part II of a 2-episode series on the topic of self-esteem and becoming more confident in our lives. In this season finale, Aadam and I discuss imposter syndrome, how to deal with fear of rejection and criticism, as well as practical tips to boosting one's confidence. What are the different kinds of imposter syndrome and how can we overcome them? What's the difference between feed...

This is part I of a 2-episode series on the topic of self-esteem and becoming more confident in our lives. In this episode, Aadam and I introduce self-esteem and self-confidence, touch upon some relevant spiritual themes and dive into the six pillars of self-esteem. How does living consciously contribute to my self-esteem? How can I practice more self-acceptance on a daily basis and take responsib...

This is part II of a 2-episode series on the topic of self-discipline and building healthy habits. In this episode, Aadam and I discuss building atomic habits, overcoming procrastination and failure, and developing morning routines. How can I build healthy habits consistently and overcome some of my bad habits? How can I deal with distractions in my life and overcome procrastination? Why is a morn...

This is part I of a 2-episode series on the topic of self-discipline and building healthy habits. In this episode, Aadam and I outline the differences between self-discipline, motivation, willpower and self-control, highlight the benefits of self-discipline, and discuss practical methods to cultivating that in our daily lives. How can I prevent my "monkey mind" from taking over when I tr...

*TRIGGER WARNING: Episode discusses themes of sexual abuse, assault and rape*   This is part II of a 2-episode series on the topic of sexual abuse, assault and rape.   In this episode, we discuss the process of defining and processing sexual abuse experiences and outline stages of healing, practical work and different coping strategies. We also cover the topic of rape, as well as the intricacies i...

*TRIGGER WARNING: Episode discusses themes of sexual abuse, assault and rape* This is part I of a 2-episode series on the topic of sexual abuse, assault and rape. In this episode, we tackle some relevant definitions and statistics, discuss some reasons why survivors do not disclose their sexual abuse experiences, and highlight some of the psychological and emotional repercussions of sexual abuse....

This is the fourth and last part of our 4-episode comprehensive series on understanding and overcoming porn and sex addictions. In this episode, we examine together relevant spiritual themes on the journey of sexual recovery, including patience, perseverance, surrender, repentance and going back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We also discuss many lessons from the story of Prophet Yunus (PBUH)...

This is part III of a 4-episode comprehensive series on understanding and overcoming porn and sex addictions. In this episode, we examine together the withdrawal period, potential pitfalls and mind games on the journey of healing and recovery, as well as practical tips and tools that we can use on our journey. We also talk about helpful apps, websites and support systems, how to deal with periods...

A 17-minute meditation that involves mindfulness, breathing and connecting with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala using some of His Divine Names, reorienting our being as we call unto Him and ask for His help. Background music from Benjamin Tissot (Bensound). Send as an anonymous one-way text message

A 10-minute meditation focused on grounding and breathing to practice mindfulness and demystify triggers. Background music from Benjamin Tissot (Bensound). Send as an anonymous one-way text message

A 13-minute meditation focused on breathing and a full body scan to practice mindfulness and demystify triggers. Background music from Benjamin Tissot (Bensound). Send as an anonymous one-way text message

This is part II of a 4-episode comprehensive series on understanding and overcoming porn and sex addictions. In this episode, we discuss many practical techniques to help us demystify sexual triggers and overcome the urges of sexual "acting out". How can I communicate with my "inner addict" and deconstruct my urges? How do mindfulness and conscious awareness exercises help me o...

This is part I of a 4-episode comprehensive series on understanding and overcoming porn and sex addictions. In this episode, we discuss what addiction is, from physiological, emotional and personal perspectives. We  also look at the damaging effects of porn and the horrifying realities associated with the porn industry. Do I have a compulsive sexual behavior disorder? How does compulsive porn use,...

In this episode, we explore the topic of masturbation comprehensively, from its legal (fiqh), physiological and psychological angles, taking into consideration particular complexities and nuances relevant to men and women dealing with same-sex attractions. We also discuss practical tips and tools to help us keep masturbation in check in our lives. Under what conditions can masturbation be consider...

In this episode, we explore together some of the ripple effects of the sexual revolution and gay liberation movement, discuss the nature of morality in Islam, and introduce relevant sexual ethics and gender norms within Islam based on the male-female dichotomy. What are some of the tangible effects of the sexual revolution that we witness nowadays? How do we understand morality, sexuality and gend...

This is part II of a 2-episode series on setting boundaries. In this episode, Amina and I discuss setting boundaries with people who have narcissistic tendencies, how to prepare mentally for any pushback, and how to avoid being pulled into the arena of what many psychologists call "pathological narcissists". What are some characteristics and behaviors of "pathological narcissists&qu...

This is part I of a 2-episode series on setting boundaries. In this episode, Amina and I discuss what boundaries are, how to define your own boundaries, communicate them and maintain them, as well as techniques on how to say "no" and how to clearly communicate your needs  with others in your life. Are my boundaries loose, rigid or flexible? What are the three main types of boundaries, an...

This is part II of a 2-episode series on healing codependency and emotional dependency. In this episode, Amina and I discuss how to reclaim our place and power in relationships, how to help men reclaim their masculinity, how to reconnect with our path and purpose, as well as how to begin to heal emotional dependency. How do I feel more secure in my friendships and romantic relationships? How can a...

This is part I of a 2-episode series on healing codependency and emotional dependency. In this episode, Amina and I discuss how codependency shares similar traits with addiction, and we explore some of the goals, expectations and practical tips on the healing journey, starting with reclaiming our personal power. How can I stop people pleasing and focus on my own growth instead? What aspects of sel...

In our second episode in the series on attachments, codependency and emotional dependency, Amina and I discuss the mental, emotional and behavioral characteristics that many individuals dealing with codependency and/or emotional dependency tend to exhibit. What is the difference between caring and care taking? Why do I avoid confrontation and resort to people pleasing? Why do I hide my mistakes an...

In a series of episodes on emotional attachments, dependency and codependency, my friend Amina joins me to discuss the origins and characteristics of these themes as well as relevant and practical healing and recovery work. In this episode, we talk about the origins of attachment styles in adulthood,  the four styles of adult attachment, and we introduce the topic of codependency. Why am I anxious...

An important theme along the healing and recovery journey is inner child work and re-parenting. In this episode, we dive into childhood attachment theory, introduce the inner child, inner parent and inner adult, as well as the inner child archetypes, and we talk about practical tools of inner child work and the reparenting process. Who is my inner child and how different is he/she from my inner ad...

This is part 4 of a four-episode series on understanding the origins and characteristics of complex trauma as well as paving a holistic path of healing. In this episode, Aadam and I talk about a holistic approach to healing complex trauma using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, wrapping up our series on complex trauma. How do proper nutrition and sleep impact my healing and recovery? What are...