Yalla Bye

on today's episode, we have a fulfilling conversation with rotana about something we rarely openly talk about: women's sexual pleasue! rotana is a saudi-born, la-based singer and songwriter, and host of the show, f*d + blessed. with her, we go into the misconceptions taught to us about sexuality and eroticism, what makes us feel most loved by ourselves and in our bodies, the importance of sex education and why it's totally okay (encouraged!) for us to explore and see ourselves as sexual beings.  ROTANA's LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/iamrotana/FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about tattoos and about the friendship faults and fails that happen when your friend has a partner that you really don't get along with. we discuss our own fallouts with friends we've lost and about how our understanding of how to deal with these situations has evolved throughout the years. but we mainly talk about tattoos. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:watching the bachelor for funhager's sa2afolo:exit scamFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we finally make a comeback! it's been an emotional few months; new jobs, new addresses, new ambitions, but more importantly we've been focusing on what we hope is a global awakening to the injustices that Palestinians have seen for decades. we miss you all and can't wait to get talking again.OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:episode 110 of arab-american psychohager's sa2afolo:palestinian journalists: dena takruri, laila al-arian, ahmed shihab-eldinFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, it's just mna. i talk about a book that broke my heart and stayed with me for months. i also answer your questions about dating  outside of my religion and vent about breakups and the aftermath of long relationships. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:friends from college - netflixFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we tackle the big elephant in the room: superiority complex in the arab world! we talk about times when we've encountered people making others feel inferior, whether based on financial status, beauty standards, color of skin, social "class" or the many, many other factors that play into this problem. we talk about the times it's been done to us and even when we've caught ourselves thinking in a way that hints at superiority. we also retell the stories you've sent us and break down why this is a habit/culture we all need to completely say goodbye to! OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:riz ahmed on as me podcasthager's sa2afolo:emma chamberlain videosFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we tackle the question: is "fake it till you make it" good advice? when does it work? when does it come back to bite you in the ass?  is it better to reveal your  "shortcomings" with confidence than to lie about them? we talk about moments when we've faked it, moments when we've been brutally honest and all the other moments in between the two. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:let me tell you what i mean by joan didionhager's sa2afolo:mystery show - gimlet mediaFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

this week, we talk about our unpopular opinions. is beyonce really a genius? are gen z worse than millennials? can anyone and everyone be an artist?  we also talk about how people really need to stop making women feel like they need to be wives and mothers and why your life can and should be fulfilling all on your own. oh, and we also count how many times mna yawns. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:the vanishing at the cecil hotel - netflixnight stalker - netflix hager's sa2afolo:the nightingale from cairo: umm kulthum - amazon prime videoamal hayaty by umm kulthumFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about the ridiculous and shallow requirements that we all have when dating. they're silly, they're vain, they usually don't even make any logical sense. but they exist and we all have some. we also talk about the fantastical scenarios we all make up when thinking about how we'll end up meeting "the one" and we tell an embarrassing story that involves a soulmate psychic. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:michelle choi - youtubehager's sa2afolo:putting  almonds on sandwichesFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about how your late twenties and early thirties are a good time to unlearn all the toxic shit you learned in your childhood and teen years. we discuss what it is we each feel we need to unlearn, how we're planning on doing it and what made us come to the realization that we need to change in the first place. we also tell embarrassing teen stories and dissect how our childhoods have led us to be who we've become as adults. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:broad city - huluhager's sa2afolo:3aks ennas - erkez hip hop de deboFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about how we go about setting long term goals, our changed views on 7asad, being life-long learners and the advantages of having a secret instagram account. we also bicker a little, chat about the late 60s era in music, and talk about some classic movies.OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:making a secret instagramhager's sa2afolo:masterclassFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas 

on this episode, we talk about the boundaries we've been working on implementing with ourselves and in our relationships. we also talk about the boundaries we know we need to set but still haven't figured out how to. we go in detail about why it's important to set boundaries, how to do it, when we've been successful in doing it in the past and why we're still having trouble with certain boundaries. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:@lexie podcasthager's sa2afolo:the corrections by jonathan franzenFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about if it's worth it to make resolutions this year, the difference between resolutions and intentions, our own goals for our personal and professional lives and the what we've learned about goal setting in the past.OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:pretend it's a city - netflixhager's sa2afolo:bullet journalingFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about cancel culture and we ask the questions: should certain people be canceled? what happens after a genuine apology? should we separate the art from the artist? we discuss our developing opinions and try to have a nuanced conversation about an issue that's often overly simplified. we also talk about movies we've watched recently, classics we've never watched, the taboos around talking about debt and how many weeks there actually are in a year (spoiler alert: it's 52). OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:a little life by hanya yanagiharahager's sa2afolo:before sunriseFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we reflect on this whirlwind of a year, and it wouldn't be a 2020 recap if it wasn't complete and utter chaos. we reflect on what we've learned about ourselves and the world and we recap our favorite binges, books, podcasts, music, movies, memories and food. this'll be our last episode of the year, so happy new year in advance! we love you all and can't wait to grow more and more in 2021. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:all good - samm henshawhager's sa2afolo:jelly donuts FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, it's just hager. i talk about complaining, my decision-making process, the shame of feeling envy, careers in journalism, and my thoughts on marriage and religion. today's episode is basically how it would feel to swirl around in my head for 48 mins, a long conversation going back and forth with myself, a diary of sorts if you will. let me know how you like this style! OUR SA2AFOLOS:hager's sa2afolo:the office - netflix rom-com, break up, 129 cars - this american life ira glass - longformFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we let it all out! we work out a fight we've been having (though i do have to admit we're back fighting again so i guess it didn't really work...) we also talk about how our culture sometimes encourages social hierarchy and classism and how, as arab women,  feeling like there isn't enough room at the table for everyone can often lead us to compete with each other instead of working to lift up one another. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:arab-american psychohager's sa2afolo:latif nasser on longformFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on today's episode, we have an incredible conversation with marwan abdelhamid, an activist, artist and social entrepreneur. we talk about his company, grow home, which aims to connect innovative entrepreneurs to diasporas, bridging the gap and offering an easy path to an exchange of ideas and resources. we also talk about palestinian  history and activism, the power of community and how feminism is also a man's job. MARWAN'S LINKS: grow home: https://growhome.app/ig: @marwan.abhOUR SA2AFOLOS:marwan's sa2afolo:majd mashharawi - leads a startup that makes bricks from recycled local materials and employs women in the gaza stripmna's sa2afolo:patti smith - advice to the young - youtubehager's sa2afolo:krafenbel - war time radio - this american lifeFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about heartbreak: romantic heartbreaks, career heartbreaks, friendship heartbreaks and just all the other life heartbreaks we endure. we answer your questions about the first people that have broken our hearts, what we do to cope and how we finally get up and move on. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:wendy's (yeah, that's right)hager's sa2afolo:who killed malcolm x? - netflixFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, mna begrudgingly allows us the privilege of her presence on her birthday and we talk about the people and things that have shaped us into who we are today; my *nsync phase which tbh i'm still going through now, our obsession with gilmore girls and mohamed mounir and damon dominique and all the little moments that have subconsciously or consciously seeped into who we are as people today. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:schitt's creek - netflixhager's sa2afolo:marginalia by billy collinsFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about the unbelievable societal pressures placed on women to remain young. we discuss why we associate fun and playfulness only with youth, how women are expected to stay young forever and what happens when we have to come to terms with the fact that we all get older.  OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:depophager's sa2afolo:zadie smith on keep itFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about our evolving tastes and we run down our recent sa2afolos; including what we've been wearing, watching, eating, impressed by, reading, downloading and doing. let us know if you want more of these kinds of episodes! OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:wearing:baggu: https://baggu.com/watching: girlfriends - netflixaljazeera cafe series: https://bit.ly/3izd0sRreading: men without women by haruki murukamion love by alain de botton year of the monkey + just kids by patti smith hager's sa2afolo:wearing:murad inviscar: https://bit.ly/2I7vKDj watching: girlfriends - netflix aljazeera cafe series: https://bit.ly/3izd0sRimpressed by: podU: https://podu.me/rukmini callimachi and caliphate: https://apple.co/3liMsh9reading: kafka on the shore by haruki murukami consider the lobster by david foster wallace the shawl by cynthia ozick FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas

who are you when no one is watching? on this week's episode, we imagine how we would've been and what kinds of things we would've liked if social media wasn't a thing. we talk about the positives and negatives of being involved and invested in social media and why everyone needs to (at least once) sit with themselves and try to get to the core of who they would be if they were only doing it for them. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:just kids by patti smithhager's sa2afolo:our listener: @nouravocadoan episode i produced for kerning cultures about little syria: https://apple.co/33fka0KFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas 

on this episode, we talk about our experiences growing up as the children of immigrants—the advantages of growing up between two cultures, the times we've felt the most and least american, which parts of our immigrant experience we wish we can pass on to our children and the shame that comes from being different. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:tim burton movieshager's sa2afolo:the feeling of being watched - amazon prime videoFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas 

today, we talk about our favorite time of year: autumn. we discuss all our mood changes, how it's a perfect chance to start over, all our cozy plans and why we're determined to make it the best time ever. listen to mahdoom: https://sow.tl/mahdoomOUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:keep it (podcast)hager's sa2afolo:thrifting (specifically from l train vintage)FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

today, we open up with some ridiculous stories from our childhood, followed by a list of mama's advice that has impacted our lives. we talk about trusting your kids, a mother's intuition and the times you should take advice versus when you should go with your own instincts instead. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:the other americans by laila lalami hager's sa2afolo:our women on the ground by zahra hankir FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas   

finally, our long awaited episode! today, we're talking about dating outside of our culture. mna is the expert here so she takes the lead, but we both discuss our experiences, our anticipations and hesitations and the lessons learned along the way. **hager's edit: i realized i sound super passive aggressive towards mna in certain moments on this episode and wanted to clarify that she's my baby sister and i do love her. most days, anyway.**DONATE TO LEBANON:https://helplebanon.carrd.co/OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo: almost love - netflix desperados - netflix hager's sa2afolo: nice white parents - serial FOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas 

on this episode, we change our format a bit; we go from one-topic dominated episodes to a more multi-topic, current events style show. we talk about why we call ourselves 'arab' and the current discussion around the word itself. we also speak our dream futures into existence (fingers crossed) and talk about the state of utter sadness mna would be in if tiktok were to be banned for real.DONATE TO LEBANON:https://helplebanon.carrd.co/OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo: frank ocean's blondezane and heath: unfilteredhager's sa2afolo: plant money's tiktokthe zen commandments by dean sluyterFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas   

on this episode, we answer your questions about friendships. we talk about maintaining childhood friendships, making friends as adults & the heartbreaking but sometimes inevitable friendship breakups. OUR SA2AFOLOS:mna's sa2afolo:npr - code switchhager's sa2afolo:candy crush saga47 soulFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas   

on this episode we talk about our own careers and about the idea of picking a career in general. we have a few giggle fits and discuss american career ideals versus those of the rest of the world. we also answer our first "not an advice column" question.OUR SA2AFOLOS: mna's sa2afolo: ira glass - the gaphager's sa2afolo: the fourth estateFOLLOW US ON IG: @yallabyepod@themeemshop@hagereldaas@mnaeldaas

on this episode, we talk about all the little lies and indirect messages that men (and sometimes women) tell while dating! we go into what they really mean when they're trying to avoid the telling the truths and all the red flags and warning signs you know you should've noticed. OUR SA2AFOLOS: mna's sa2afolo: talkspace (maybe)hager's sa2afolo: "everything is copy" and all things nora ephron

as we're all mostly still in the midst of a global pandemic, we've been thinking about the things that make us happy. on this episode, we talk about our personal experiences with happiness, how we redefine the word as we get older and if we think money really does buy happiness. OUR SA2AFOLOS: mna's sa2afolo: love island uk, season 6hager's sa2afolo: falling by *nsync

our sa2afolos:mna's sa2afolos: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates & Serial Season 3 hager's sa2afolos: 1619 podcast & David Dobrik  

our sa2afolos: mna's sa2afolos: Dave on Huluhager's sa2afolo: Wind of Change on Spotify

SEND US YOUR ANONYMOUS SITUATIONS AND QUESTIONS: heymeemshop@gmail.comsa2afolos: mna's sa2afolos: Mna's blog, Daughters And Their Mothers: https://bit.ly/2WsLZ2jTell Me How It Ends by Valeria Luisellihager's sa2afolo: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown                                

We're Not Really Strangers Card Game: https://bit.ly/2SL5DECour sa2afolos: hager's sa2afolo: @yorkshire.silly.walksmna's sa2afolo: Normal People on Hulu

Buy The Greater Freedom: https://amzn.to/3aOev2cAlya's The Greater Conversation Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2VKXfGNsa2afolos: alya's sa2afolos: "Misbehaviour" and "She's Beautiful When She's Angry" on Amazon hager's sa2afolo: brainpickings.org and @brainpicker 

sa2afolos: mna's sa2afolo: Gratitude walks and Headspace visualization meditations hager's sa2afolo: Design Matters with Debbie Millman, Tim Ferris Show, How I Built This

OUR SA2AFOLOS: mna's sa2afolo: herself (so not sure how you can tune in to that) hager's sa2afolo: The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All (Amazon Prime Video) & Money Heist on NetflixOur IGs: @yallabyepod @hagereldaas @mnaeldaas

our sa2afolos: hager's sa2afolo: the ranch on netflix mna's sa2afolo: glee on netflixmentions:the new yorker article about tiktok that hager mentioned: https://bit.ly/2UvQf03 

OUR SA2AFOLOS: mna's sa2afolo: @interspeciesfriendship on IG / a page devoted to "celebrating the amazing & unlikely friendships between animal species"hager's sa2afolo: Boy Meets World / FEENY, FEEEEENY, FEEENAYYYYY

On this episode, we tell dating app stories. We talk about how for us, meeting people IRL is a lot better than on dating apps and  talk about what we're looking for. This week's SA2AFOOLOS: mna's sa2afoolo- High Fidelity on Hulu & Modern Love on Amazon Prime Videohager's sa2afoolo- Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz & MUBI If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us :)

We talk about the 5 things they've learned in the last 5 years. Hope you enjoy our (fake) wisdom!Follow us: @themeemshop || @yallabyepod

On this episode we talk about how we deal with the hard times. Hope you enjoy!Follow us - @themeemshop | @yallabyepod

Join us as we talk about social media culture, break ups and other highs and lows.Sa2afooloo- chasingcurious.substack.com

Mna now believes in hasad. Hager still does not... The ladies discuss their views on marriage and why the word 3obalek sucks!Follow us: @themeemshop | @yallabyepod

In this episode, we talk about how to preserve the Arab culture while living so far away! Do we even do a good job at it? Ummm.This week's shout outs go to: @noor_amiry, @kerningcultures, @bellaibrahimFollow us: @yallabyepod | @themeemshop

Goodbye to all that! 2020, we're ready for you!Follow us: @themeemshop | @yallabyepod

Follow us @yallabyepod and @themeemshop! Thank you Chris for our music and editing! @yungelephant and yungelephant.com

CHRIS WILL BE ON NEXT EPISODE. For now you can enjoy this one!Follow us on Instagram: @themeemshop | @yallabye

Follow us: @yallabyepodThank you Chris for our show music! @yungelephant Our weekly shoutouts: @meisology @funtasiaegypt