Think Like A Lady Podcast

Join us this week and get to know your podcast hosts, Dua and Afroze on a more personal level! Want to know how we met? How we manage our friendship and podcasting business? How  different we are? Listen to it all as we casually discuss various topics such as  men, communication, friendships, relationships, self respect and more!Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more. 

This Episode Dua and Afroze talk to John, a software engineer and analyst at Facebook. While remaining anonymous, John delves into Facebook's algorithm and it's biases pertaining to Palestinian content, how politics influences the training set of the algorithm, and how the reach of a post on instagram works. John reveals how certain words are blacklisted purposefully by Facebook, while other biases exist due to blindspots that in the end still block the Palestinian narrative. Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more. 

Special guest Erik Al-Hussaina joins Afroze to talk about the bleak origins of zionism. Dating back to 1799 to when the idea was first described, to the Balfour Declaration lobbied by Britain to the League of Nations, Erik and Afroze reveal the troubling intentions of establishing an ethno-state. While many argue that to be anti-zionist is to be anti-semitic, Erik and Afroze delv deep into this misleading logic; in fact- by providing historical context Erik and Afroze make the case of how Zionism is anti-semitic itself. From dismantling the "Human Shields" argument to drawing the distinction between self-determination and zionism, Think Like a Lady Podcast has decided to make an avid effort to join the Pro-Palestinian cause in debunking dangerous rhetoric that ultimately serves to fuel the violence against Palestinians, the Occupation and the Israeli Apartheid regime. Dua wasn't able to join us this week, but will be back again next week! Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more. 

S2E4: The History of Islam in AmericaThis week on Think Like a Lady Podcast, Dua and Afroze delve into the origins of Islam in America. From the Muslim slaves that were brought to the Americas during the slave trade to the first Mosque established in the United States; Dua and Afroze analyze how the pinnacle of Islam is in large part credit due to the black roots in this country and the inherent presence of Islam in black history. As we discuss how Islam is part of the fabric of American life, history and culture, we find that the contributions of muslims is among those who built this country and formed its legacy. Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more.

Have you ever doubted your faith in Islam? This episode Dua and Afroze invite Hossain Albgal to talk about their journey's in doubting Islam. In both the female and male perspectives in doubting Islam, Afroze and Hossain both describe having gone through a recoil effect; in which doubting the religion caused them to become even closer to the faith. Dua, Afroze and Hossain discuss why it's ok to ask the tough questions, and how getting the wrong answers can be emotionally distressing and often cause an existential crisis. 

Ever wonder how your fasts impact your metabolism? Well Dua and Afroze can help! This week on Think Like a Lady Podcast, we discuss the 4 stages of fasting (otherwise known as the 4 states of fasting), some crucial hormones that come into play during your fast over the course of 30 days such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin and glucagon. We provide some insight on how your macronutrient ratios in your meals impact your fasts and how that can either lead to weight gain or weight loss. Dua and Afroze also discuss how discipline can be achieved in Ramadan when it comes to not only your health and nutrition, but also your spirituality and your daily habits. Ramadan Mubarak Everyone! Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more. 

S2E1: The Quantum Physics of Islam- Out Thursday! Welcome back Think Like a Lady listeners! We are finally back!! TLAL launches our special Ramadan edition episodes about the science behind Islam!! Dua and Afroze discuss the Quantum physics related to much of the phenomenon laid in Quranic scripture and Hadith. From exploring string theory to the dimensions of heaven and hell to navigating the law of conservation mass of our souls, join Dua and Afroze as they delve deeply in the conundrum that is our universe. Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Amazon Audible, Pandora and more.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to enter into the university of their dreams with the right credentials and academic marks, right? Wrong. The College Admission scandal shed light on the harsh reality that someone who works hard for four years with exceptional grades and athletic abilities can have their well deserved spot at a prestigious school yanked out from underneath them by a student without merit simply because their parents have money. This episode discusses the intricacies of privilege amongst the elite class of society and how this continues to expand the gap between socioeconomic classes.This episode is our last episode for this season! Thank you to all of our listeners that have joined us for Season One. Keep checking our instagram to get the exact dates for our first episode of Season Two in January, 2021. We wish all of our listeners a great winter break, holiday season, and Happy New Year! See you in 2021!

Inter-generational Trauma, what does it mean? This episode Dua and Afroze discuss the experiences of having grown up with immigrant parents, and the some of the toxic parenting methods found in Arab and South Asians culture. From talking about the repercussions of physical discipline as a form of parenting, to crossing the line to abuse, to the emotional and mental trauma that immigrant and first generation children endure. Dua and Afroze anecdotally describe how they’ve seen inter-generational trauma break the cycle, and what healthy parenting looks like. Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Pandora and more.

Have you ever questioned what Muslim unity looks like? Do we truly have an ummah today despite living in a post modern era that is lacking of any structure or organization that would define an ummah? From a global scale in which Muslim nations have turned their backs on each other to our daily microcosmic lives, Dua and Afroze discuss the challenges Muslims face in remaining unified. From discussing solutions that involve supporting Muslim led business and initiatives to boycotting the corporations that hurt Muslims, to the elements of Islam that unite us all, we delve deep into the economic and cultural problems that led to Muslims becoming less unified. What does Muslim unity look like to you? Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Pandora and more.

Kamala Harris has achieved the vice presidency as not only the first woman, but as a woman of color from Indian and Jamaican descent. In terms of identity politics, many people finally felt represented in the vice presidency, hoping that a woman of her background would benefit communities of color, women, and therefor reflect the constituency and their needs. However, Due and Afroze discuss a deeper side of identity politics. When identity politics goes too far in that it begins to override Harris’ record and the harm she brings to the office. When identity politics overrides substance, we enter a very dangerous territory. We ask our listeners, what good is a woman, and a person of color occupying the second office in the country if the way she got there involved stepping on the very communities in which she came from. Due and Afroze delve deep into her record, from when she disproportionately targeted communities of color during her time as district attorney of San Francisco through the anti-truancy program and her office soaringly prosecuting marijuana convictions. If you had to choose between a standard white male with a record of compassion versus a woman of color with a track record riled in corruption. Which would you choose? Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Pandora and more.

*Trigger Warning: sensitive content belowHave you heard the phrase “Believe all women”? Well there’s a deeper meaning to be had about the logic this phrase offers. Have you ever wondered what the investigative process looks like when several parties come forward with an allegation against an individual? This episode, Afroze sits down with Sara Bawany (@sara.bawany ) a licensed social worker from FACE, an organization designed to tackle abuse in community environments. FACE recently published an investigative report against Mohamed Ali Mohamed Egeesa, otherwise known as Sheikh Abo Ras, a well known community leader in the town of Windsor, Ontario in Canada. Afroze and Sara discuss the specific allegations in this case and the evidence FACE used to substantiate the allegations. From allegations of clergy misconduct, marriage fraud and takhbib (an Arabic term that refers tp the act of convincing, incentivizing, pressuring, manipulating, or persuading a person to divorce their spouse with an ulterior motive and/or malice that is usually personally beneficial to the one doing the convincing), to allegations of blackmail and workplace misconduct. We discuss how an organization such as FACE has made it their mission to foster safe community environments by holding abusive religious and community leadership accountable. You can visit their website to access their database of released investigative reports of community abuse, or to report abuse. To learn more about FACE go to www.Facetogether.org or visit their IG @facingabuseDue wasn't able to join us this week but will be back with us for next weeks episode.

As America shifts away from a democracy into a corporate plutocratic oligarchy, minorities lose more and more weight in the election process. As Muslims make up less than 1% of the US population, what are the issues that inform our votes? Afroze and Dua dive to the depths of how the American Overton window has shifted so far to the right, that in any other country Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders would not be in the same party. In fact, Trump and Biden would likely be in a Conservative party together. Afroze discusses how conceptually Islam is more progressive and socialist in nature than what we believe, and how these guiding principles inform our vote. What coalition do American Muslims ought to join In order to expand the electorate and tug the Democratic Party back to the left and dismantle the American corporateracy; which by in part is supported by Citizens United and the advent of the Electoral College that tends to dilute the minority vote. Dua and Afroze discuss the origins of the electoral college being rooted in slavery and upholding minority rule in America. Learn more about what matters to the Muslim voter.

S1E12: Anti-Muslim Sentiment in the West Recently anti-Muslim sentiment has been on the rise in France and much of the west. But where did this sentiment come from? What specific occurrence in both the dark ages and modern history of the western world contributed to the Islamaphobia we see today? In this episode Dua and Afroze discuss the intricacies of anti Muslim sentiments, it’s origins, the agenda of such a sentiment and the recent events of violence in France.Join us this Thursday when our new episode drops! (Link in bio) Listen on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Pandora and more.

Women have dominated the workforce in many ways. On average women obtain bachelors, masters and doctorates at a higher rate than men do. Women now dominate the workforce both in professional careers, and in essential careers. Women have proven to be a resource that was untapped for so long and we can all acknowledge that based on the barriers women have been breaking, the future is indeed female. However, we still have bigger hurdles to jump over than men. Dua and Afroze discuss the obstacles women face in the workplace in depth, from the interview process, to being a female boss to what Islam says about women striving for successful careers.

S1E10: Systemic Patriarchy in the Beauty IndustryWe know that the beauty, fashion and cosmetic industry have largely defined what physical femininity looks like. 50 years ago male execs decided that the voluptuous woman like Marilyn Monroe was beautiful. Today, they’ll have you thinking that a petite woman with a big chest and glutes is what looks attractive. This male ideation of female beauty rejects biology, anatomical proportionality and psychology. If the preference is that a woman ought to be curvy with a chest and bottom, well she won’t be thin. At the same time, the preference also exists for her to be thin, well then she won’t be curvy. For far too long female beauty has been dictated by male ideation of physical beauty, it’s time that it’s dictated by women’s exhibition of realism for the sake of a woman’s internal satisfaction and happiness.Check out our Social Media Accounts and Join the Discussion:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinklikealadypodcastTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/thinklikealady_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinklikealady_podcast

Have you ever been on a date and noticed a few red flags that you really wanted to ignore? Maybe he referred to his ex as a “psycho bitch” or he explains his sexist concept gender roles. He doesn’t want to tell you if he’s talking to other people but he wants to make sure he’s the only one you’re talking to. Dua and Afroze talk about many of these red flags, what they mean and trusting your gut.

What if we told you that children’s shows aren’t as innocent as you think. What if we told you that they’re contributing to a larger phenomenon called the Lolita Effect. Recently the French film “Cuties” was released on Netflix that sparked global outrage from parents of all walks of life. However, we enlighten our listeners that such a film is only a brazen example of the sexualization of children and young girls. It’s been happening much more subtly in the TV shows and other media young girls consume. And while the film withheld the intention to bring awareness to the issue, it seemed that it only ended further perpetuating the problem. Join Dua and Afroze as they discuss the social impact of the Lolita Effect and how the concerns of Muslim parents that are raising children in a world in which they’re losing grip over what their children are exposed to.New episode drops Thursday. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Pandora and more.

Dua and Afroze discuss that all children are a blessing no matter how they are brought into this world. Complex ideas are explored that run parallel to each other but in opposite directions. Just as we’re told to avoid sin, we’re also taught that we’re guaranteed we’re going to commit them (both on a big and small scale). Just as intimacy outside of marriage is forbidden, a child as a result of that sin is still a blessing. Two counter-intuitive notions that run parallel to one another but in opposite directions... because we know morality and ethics don’t always coincide and that this life is complex. We discuss several aspects of this complex topic 1. Ramifications for men vs women when children are born our of wedlock 2. Positive Islamic point of view (All children were meant to be born, even through sin) 3. Ramifications for the child itself in Islamic society versus all societies4. Mental Health impact on children who grow up without a father in the picture

On this episode of our podcast we sit down with Carley Deardorff, an international communications strategist. Carley grew up in a small town in Texas in a majority white community. Post 9/11 she had no exposure to Muslims and her only source was the media that vilified Muslims. The impression that Islam is a patriarchal religion, where women have no rights, the tendency to conflate local cultures with the religion itself and the unforgiving attitudes towards Muslim societies in which “Radical Islam” is the default and “the moderate Muslim” is the alternative... when neither exist. Carley discusses the minimal exposure she had with Muslims growing up. And not befriending one until she was in her master’s program. However, she had unlearned much of the propaganda well before then. Coming to the conclusion on her own that most Muslim women don’t feel oppressed and the definition of freedom simply means the choice of a woman to wear whatever she wants. She came to the conclusion that what she thinks freedom looks like for a woman looks different from what freedom may look like for a Muslim woman who covers. Her self realization of who Muslims are reinforces the fact that it does not require a token Muslim friend for a person to come to the conclusion that Muslims, particularly Muslim women are regular everyday people.Due couldn't join us for this episode but will be back with us next week!

Dua and Afroze talk about how the burden of a dignified society is always placed on the woman’s shoulders, be it in the west or the east. The notion that the west looks at Muslim countries and views the culture in which women covering is the norm somehow suggests that muslim societies are oppressive and immoral, we see the east on the opposite end of the spectrum; maintaining the notion that women being exposed in the west are too indignified and immoral. However, we see the standards of the f***boy culture existing across all societies. Attitudes on sex being very unforgiving towards women, be it in America or in the Middle East. Not only do we see this double standard on a social level, but in the bedroom as well. Let’s face it, for women, there is no winning. The night of marriage, the expectations often placed on a woman who has chosen to be modest all her life is that she lose the timidness and discomfort and do as her husband pleases. On the flipside, we discuss the instance of a fully formed woman who has been married before in which she is ridiculed in the bedroom for knowing exactly what she wants and being confident. There are no expectations for men. Women are not afforded the same neutrality or dismissive attitude towards the sexual excursions that men from all societies engage in.A great poet by the name of @Sara.Bawany puts it perfectly: the doubling down of a clean Muslim image for so many men, and the playboy tactics they use behind closed doors. You can buy the book “(w)holehearted: a collection of poetry and prose” on Amazon, which spent weeks as a #1 bestseller in the category of South Asian Poetry. Having additionally won the Daybreak Press Award for “Best Poetry Book”, this five-star rated collection of poetry and prose will have you relating to the author’s experiences and outlook on life at a depth uncharted.

On this episode of our podcast we will be discussing the WOMAN’s perspective of hijab. An outlook you will never get from a man. Which is why we believe men shouldn’t have an opinion about hijab. They should simply listen.Hijab is a journey but we would be lying if we said it didn’t have its difficulties. Often times putting on the hijab means signing an unspoken contract for a set of expectations that are unrealistic for almost every person. It means being put on a pedestal much higher than a woman who doesn’t wear hijab... and miles higher than any man. Our hosts, Dua and Afroze, both bring their outlook on hijab to the table. Afroze is a hijab wearing woman, she wears hijab to the office, to the grocery store and yes, even in swimming pools. Dua is just as much of a devout Muslim as Afoze who does not wear hijab but grapples with it. Just as there is a certain amount of mental strength in putting on hijab... believe it or not, there’s also a mental strength required in taking it off. Neither are easy decisions for a woman. We discuss the in-between limbo that many hijab wearing women feel where they’re too afraid of social backlash from their own communities in taking it off, in which they begin to feel disingenuous to themselves because they start to feel that they’re wearing it for the public. We discuss the burden of the pedestal that Muslim society puts on hijab wearing women in which many women profess that it is often their own communities and not necessarily western society that can make hijab a heavy burden to carry. Join us as we offer a perspective from both hijabi and non-hijabi wearing women.

Zara Abid was a Pakistani model who perished on May 22nd 2020 in an air crash on Pakistan flight PK8303. While many religious leaders came to a consensus that everyone on that flight was a shaheed (a martyr or person who dies an honorable death in which they are thought to have been granted heaven upon death); sexism showed its true colors when many in the media and on social media claimed that Zara was an exception because of her career choice in modeling and acting... which they deemed immoral. In episode 3, we plan to dissect this sort of sexism and re-take Zara’s narrative and honor her in the way she deserves. What many don’t know is that Zara wasn’t the immoral and Godless woman that some portrayed her out to be. She was a determined woman who had a close relationship with God. She was the eldest of 3 siblings and when her father passed away in 2018, she stepped foot in her father’s shoes and fought hard to make ends meet for her family. Indeed she found success and uplifted her entire family as she became the sole breadwinner. She rose to stardom in a very short amount of time. She moved her family into a better home and supported her mom, her two younger brothers and even her aunts and uncles and other extended family members. In a dominantly male society, she re-defined her family dynamic as she became the pillar of her family clan, showing us that women can do what fathers do. What if this was a male model? Would he have received the same response? Sexism even in death is unconscionable. Zara was a powerhouse of a woman and we will always remember for the phenomenal woman she was. May she Rest In Peace. Ameen. 1992-2020. May all the Shaheeds from Flight PK8303 be granted the highest ranks in Jannah. Ameen.

Our very own Dua will be sharing her experiences of having married an emotionally abusive spouse. She discusses that divorce isn’t easy but your happiness matters more. Our motto is simple “If you have to stop being all of who you are to be half of a couple, the price is too high”.We explore the intricacies of divorce. A stigma that many women live with, but we’re here to offer hope. We’re here to remind you that your worth in society is not compromised by having a divorce (or two) under your belt. Quite the opposite really. And we explain why divorce may not necessarily be a bad thing.As times are changing, divorce rates have gone up in Muslim societies. There has been a cultural shift for women to no longer put up with domestic abuse as education and career advancement has become more accessible to millennial women. A recent generational focus on mental health and women getting married later in life as a result of their educational and career endeavours has given women more leverage to leave marriages that they couldn’t have otherwise. According to a study by the Cambridge University Press: Married Women's Economic Independence and Divorce in the Nineteenth- and Early-Twentieth-Century United States, “labor market opportunities explain divorce rates throughout US history. Attitudinal changes could have produced both higher labor force participation and marital instability, these changes are likely a function of economic development: As women engaged more with the labor”So what’s our point? A woman’s independence, happiness and freewill should never be compromised at the expense of her marriage. The price is simply too high.A healthy society does not have too low of a divorce rate or too high of a divorce rate. Rather it is assessed by a different metric; one of the most important measures of a society is how it treats its women.We invite any women who have been subject to emotional and physical abuse in their marriage or past marriage(s) looking for a voice onto our platform. We offer the respect to keep you anonymous if you wish.

Our launch is near! We’ll be releasing our first episode this Thursday so stay tuned! Our very own Dua will be sharing her experiences of having married an emotionally abusive spouse. She discusses that divorce isn’t easy but your happiness matters more. Our motto is simple “If you have to stop being all of who you are to be half of a couple, the price is too high”.We explore the intricacies of divorce. A stigma that many women live with, but we’re here to offer hope. We’re here to remind you that your worth in society is not compromised by having a divorce (or two) under your belt. Quite the opposite really. And we explain why divorce may not necessarily be a bad thing.As times are changing, divorce rates have gone up in Muslim societies. There has been a cultural shift for women to no longer put up with domestic abuse as education and career advancement has become more accessible to millennial women. A recent generational focus on mental health and women getting married later in life as a result of their educational and career endeavours has given women more leverage to leave marriages that they couldn’t have otherwise. According to a study by the Cambridge University Press: Married Women's Economic Independence and Divorce in the Nineteenth- and Early-Twentieth-Century United States, “labor market opportunities explain divorce rates throughout US history. Attitudinal changes could have produced both higher labor force participation and marital instability, these changes are likely a function of economic development: As women engaged more with the labor”So what’s our point? A woman’s independence, happiness and freewill should never be compromised at the expense of her marriage. The price is simply too high.A healthy society does not have too low of a divorce rate or too high of a divorce rate. Rather it is assessed by a different metric; one of the most important measures of a society is how it treats its women.We invite any women who have been subject to emotional and physical abuse in their marriage or past marriage(s) looking for a voice onto our platform. We offer the respect to keep you anonymous if you wish.