Sage Takes Thyme

The manosphere turns male loneliness and the pressures of patriarchy into resentment towards women, fueling a gender war that reinforces existing power structures rather than challenging them.  In this episode, we explore the rise of incel culture and the roles of capitalism, evangelical fundamentalism, and white supremacy in shaping these ideologies. How do we hold space for men's struggles...

New segment unlocked: welcome to SAGE BAITING! We give our hosts a blind topic and absolutely no time to prepare. They have 20 minutes and one rule: keep talking until the time runs out. No one knows where the conversation will take us, so tune in and let’s find out together.  For our first SAGE BAITING episode, our blind topic is “Pick Me.” Our hosts unpack what pick me behavior actually mea...

In this episode, we explore how creativity has become increasingly commercialized, with artists and creators feeling the pressure to constantly share their work, build a personal brand, and stay visible online. We reflect on what it means to be creative beyond the algorithm, and how making space for play and imperfect hobbies, embracing self expression, and finding inspiration offline can help us...

What does it take to create space for emerging filmmakers?  We sat down with Hayat Aljowaily ( @xhayatyx ), founder of Kalam Aflam ( @kalamaflam.fr ) and director of CineGouna Emerge at the Gouna Film Festival ( @gff ), to talk about filmmaking, cultural programming, and creating space for stories from the region. We dive into her work of supporting young creatives, spotlighting new voices, a...

Can online activism really create change? As the public square moves online, we dissect how on ground and online activism can shape change, and why each creates impact on different timelines and at different scales. We also reflect on our role, individually and collectively, in creating change. Why does boycotting still matter? And what role do storytelling, art, and documentation play in preservi...

How much can you change in a year? More than you might realize. We’re opening season 3 by reflecting on the past year and everything it entailed, the ways we’ve grown, the losses we’ve navigated, and the parts of ourselves we’ve had to reconsider along the way. We’re unpacking what it means to take up space more authentically, and be intentional about the people, relationships, and communitie...

In Season 3 of Sage Takes Thyme, Womena’s founders expand the table, bringing in more voices, more lived realities, and more difficult questions shaping the Arab world and its diaspora today. We take a deeper dive into the forces influencing women’s lives across the region: power, labor, technology, identity, resistance, and the politics of visibility. We examine not only what is changing, but who...

Let’s talk about the rise and fall of girlboss culture. We unpack why some women founders had to adopt problematic values to succeed, why calling someone a boss lady feels strange, and how today’s female leadership can be supportive, creative, and far from competitive toxicity. خلينا نتكلم عن صعود وسقوط ثقافة الست القائدة "Girl boss." هنتكلم عن ليه بعض رائدات الأعمال اضطروا يتبنوا قيم غلط عشان ينج...

What would you tell your younger self if you had met her? For us, the first advice we would give our younger selves is learning how to accept advice, how to slow down in a world that glorifies constant doing, and how to make space to simply exist. In this episode, we explore the importance of surrounding yourself with friends who lift you up and the value of nurturing connections that soothe the s...

In this episode, we unpack what toxic masculinity really is, not as a label to shame men, but as a pattern that often hurts men first before anyone else. Through an open conversation with mental health advocate Mohamed Elma'andi we explore how men are shaped by childhood and social expectations that leave little room for vulnerability. We dive into how therapy, leaving corporate life, movement, an...

In this episode, we step into the world of historical fiction, Regency romance, and period dramas, moving from “Pride and Prejudice” to “Bridgerton” to ask why these romantic classics still matter today. We look at how writers like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott quietly pushed against a society that confined women, showing that their ideas about choosing love, desire, and independence were actu...

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, which some listeners may find distressing. Kardashian curves, “heroine chic,” Ozempic diets, and what’s considered a “tea body.” — In this episode, we dive into eating disorders and the pressures women face to fit ever changing ideals. We talk about how social media trends, AI, and deepfakes blur what’s real and how family and...

In this episode, we sat down with sisters Solenne and Christina Tadros to discuss femininity as a practice rooted in wellness, ease, and self-empowerment.  Solenne Tadros  (@solenneternet) is a Jordanian designer and creative technologist who brings ideas to life through storytelling, art, and immersive VR experiences. Keena (Christina Tadros) (@keena_ofc) is a Jordanian singer and DJ who blends A...

In this episode, we unpack the clash between collectivist cultures and individualistic ideals. We talk about what it means to carry one another through grief and joy. Reflecting on how community can be deeply nourishing and emotionally demanding, and how commercialization has turned human connection into a burden. We also explore women’s role in preserving family stories and lineage. This episode...

This is a republished conversation from Season One where we dive into the ups and downs of personal relationships. In this episode, we explore the trials, mistakes, and lessons we’ve learned along the way, reflecting on the complexities of love in modern society and the growing awareness of red, green, and even beige flags that previous generations may not have noticed.  Happy New Years from all o...

This is a re-uploaded conversation originally released last year, in which we sit down with Céline Semaan, co-founder of The Slow Factory, to discuss her book A Woman is a School, a memoir exploring discredited ancestral tales from Lebanon and the surrounding region. They also talk about the intersections of culture and politics, Western beauty standards, immigration systems, the importance of ind...

In this Story Thyme book club episode, we’re talking about "Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler, a dystopian novel written in 1985 but set in 2025 that feels way too real right now. Octavia imagined a future where climate change goes unchecked, water is scarce and expensive, wealth inequality is extreme, wildfires are constant, and a fascist “Make America Great Again” style movement is risi...

How much power do tiny, everyday actions have to challenge the status quo? In this episode, we explore the world of microfeminism and “pink pilling” — small, intentional acts and insights that reveal the subtle ways gender discrimination shapes our lives. From the choices we make in language and online spaces to the hidden biases we often take for granted, we unpack how awareness and simple shifts...

Why do we still treat women’s labor as invisible even though society relies on it every day? In this episode, we examine the emotional, physical, and mental workload women carry at home and why it’s recognized as unpaid labor, unpacking how gender roles and social conditioning reinforce this unequal burden. We discuss the pressure placed on women across cultures, especially in Arab households, and...

Sex Therapist and Educator Mariam Aziz (@mariam.aziz.sextherapy) joins us to explore why women’s pleasure is often overlooked and how desire naturally shifts over time. We discuss cultural shame, communication barriers — especially in Arabic — and practical ways couples can enjoy sex more. Consent is part of every moment, and Mariam explains how it goes beyond a simple yes or no.  Hosted by Elissa...

In this episode, we open up about the women who’ve carried us through heartbreak, growth, and change — and the ones we’ve had to let go of along the way. We talk about how female friendships shape our sense of belonging, and why they’re often misunderstood or reduced to envy and competition. We examine how love between women endures, even in its imperfection. It’s about letting go with grace, hold...

What happens when best friends become business partners? This episode dives into the real dynamics of mixing friendship and business. We talk about redefining roles, managing power with care, and how bringing in a business coach helped us lead Womena with more clarity and compassion. Tune in to hear how, over the years, we’ve built a meaningful platform together without losing the bond that starte...

Join us as we sit down and chat with Blu Fiefer, a Lebanese musician redefining independence and authenticity in the region’s music scene. From starting her journey at 15 to founding her own label, “Mafi Budget.” Blu shares how Beirut’s explosion, the Lebanese revolution, and years of war have left a profound mark on her life and her art. She opens up about finding her voice through her Lebanese d...

We’re back with our Book Club episodes! This time, let’s dive into Margaret Atwood’s “ The Handmaid’s Tale ,” a dystopian vision of a society, based in the United States, where women are stripped of autonomy, constantly surveilled, and reduced to reproductive machines. The story explores the oppressive structures of a patriarchal dictatorship and draws parallels to today’s world — showing how righ...

In this episode, we examine the deeper agenda behind Project 2025. From the erasure of gender and scholarly research to banning language itself. We look at how authoritarian power grabs often begin with controlling women’s bodies, and why movements like Korea’s 4B are rising in response. If the most liberal societies are stripping women’s rights, what does that say about where the world is headed?...