Welcome back to Balanced Not Boring 🎙️ A wellness podcast that keeps things real, relatable, and science-backed.

We’ve talked about gut health before — but today, we’re uncovering one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s wellness: the gut-hormone connection.

Ever feel like you’re eating healthy, working out, and sleeping okay... yet still feel bloated, tired, or off? You’re not imagining it. Your gut could be sending signals about your hormones; and today, we’re decoding what that means.

Joining us is Tonie-Maria Abi Nader, Registered Dietitian & Nutritionist, mom of two, and founder of Generation H. Tonie helps women simplify nutrition, balance their metabolism, and build sustainable habits that actually work.

✨ Tune in to learn:

-How your gut impacts your hormones & mood

-Why “doing everything right” might still not work

-Signs your metabolism needs a reset

-How to eat and live in sync with your body

Because balance isn’t built in a smoothie — it’s built in how you eat, sleep, move, and recover.

Chapers:

00:00 Episode Introduction

00:45 Sponsor Message – Generation H

02:00 Welcome to Balanced Not Boring

02:40 Toni Maria Story and Gut Health Journey

07:00 Gut Health Basics Explained

12:00 Daily Habits for Better Digestion

17:00 Blood Sugar and Energy Control

22:00 Protein, Snacks and Meal Timing

27:30 Leaky Gut and Inflammation

32:00 Supplements You Actually Need

37:00 Food Myths Debunked

42:00 Best Foods for Gut Healing

47:00 Generation H – Brand Story

50:00 Generation H – Purpose and Vision

54:30 Final Advice and Wrap Up

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts @balancednotboringpodcast

Episode sponsored by @generationh.ae (www.generationh.ae); your easy one stop shop for healthy eats pre approved by TONIE herself!

#guthealth #hormonebalance #balancednotboring #podcast #womenshealth #nutrition #metabolism #bloating #energy #wellnesspodcast #generationH #uaepodcast #dubaiwellness

From teen years spent trying to fit in… to motherhood that reshapes not just your body but your identity — this new episode peels back the layers on how women’s relationships with their bodies evolve. 🩶

Co-host Judy Daghestani + Baraa El Sabbagh - a Dietitian and Adidas Athlete - open up about growing up between California + the Middle East during the era of Victoria’s Secret models and beauty pageants, cultural beauty pressures, and the unspoken weight of comparison.

They explore what happens when admiration turns into obsession — and how to find your way back to partnership with your body instead of judgment through structured, flexible eating habits.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt you weren’t enough, this one’s for you. 🪞

We dive into:

-Seeing your body as an object to treating it like a partner

-Generational + cross-cultural beauty trends that shaped our self-worth

-Body comments during family visits that stayed with them

-Pregnancy & motherhood as turning points for body appreciation

-Simple food structure that supports freedom, not fear

-Why our body is only 10% of who we are

-Reparenting themselves so their kids inherit a healthier narrative

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Balanced Not Boring

00:29 – Guest Intro: Baraa Sabbagh’s Wellness Journey

01:15 – Understanding Body Image in Women

02:04 – Trigger Warning & Episode Overview

02:25 – When Body Image Awareness Begins

02:56 – Cultural Shifts & Body Comparison

04:05 – Puberty, Identity & Belonging

05:01 – Thinness Culture & Media Influence

05:42 – Victoria’s Secret & Unrealistic Beauty Standards

07:03 – Impact of Teenage Body Ideals

07:39 – How Early Conditioning Affects Women Today

09:02 – Shifting From Pressure to Body Respect

09:56 – Pregnancy’s Role in Body Acceptance

11:07 – Seeing the Body as Miraculous, Not an Object

12:05 – Mindful Nourishment During Pregnancy

12:40 – Fitness Extremes & Perfectionism in Our 20s

13:23 – When Healthy Becomes Controlling

14:21 – Perfectionism, High Standards & Self-Pressure

16:13 – Stress, Gut Health & the Mind-Body Connection

17:47 – Breaking the Cycle of Extreme Dieting

18:27 – Asking “Why?” Behind Your Health Goals

19:30 – Balancing Discipline With Flexibility

20:49 – Intuitive Eating vs Structured Eating

22:47 – Building Trust With Your Body

23:37 – Enjoying Food Without Guilt

24:55 – “Just Get Back On Track” Mindset

25:44 – Big Picture Thinking Around Health

26:25 – Accepting Natural Body Changes

27:15 – Emotional Eating & Mindful Awareness

28:33 – Breaking Unhealthy Eating Cycles

29:06 – Motherhood, Stress & Healthy Routines

29:56 – Glow With B: Supporting Women Holistically

31:40 – Why Meal Variety Matters for Families

32:10 – How to Raise Kids With a Healthy Body Image

33:01 – Food & Body as Only 10% of the Pie

34:02 – Embodying Balance as a Parent

36:04 – Body Comments in Arab Culture

37:29 – Disempowering Hurtful Comments

38:07 – Breaking Generational Conditioning

39:33 – Confidence & Protecting Your Peace

40:08 – Body Ideals Across Cultures

41:19 – What She Eats in a Day (Realistic Day of Eating)

42:09 – One Tip to Start Eating More Mindfully

43:12 – What Her Body Would Say Today

43:39 – Working With Your Body, Not Against It

44:26 – Practicing Real (Not Cringe) Self-Love

45:13 – Your Body as a Partner, Not an Enemy

46:06 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Baraa

🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify & YouTube @balancednotboringpodcast

NEW EPI! The aim isn’t striving for perfect health since that’s not always realistic. We care about building resilient immune systems — swapping sodas and juices with bone broth so we can bounce back to health faster. 🥣

Meet Hadil Al Khatib, founder of @thebrothlab, @catcha_matcha, and @theroost_ae — an award-winning entrepreneur and mom of two. From HR expert to certified gut health coach, Hadil shares how her postpartum nutrient depletion sparked a whole new journey.

In this episode, Hadil + Judy unpack:

•⁠ ⁠Postpartum nutrient depletion and how it started her wellness journey + career

•⁠ ⁠The intuitive gut-brain axis

•⁠ ⁠Why healing requires a hopeful mindset

•⁠ ⁠How Hadil runs three businesses while raising a family

•⁠ ⁠The power of ancient remedies like bone broth

•⁠ ⁠Collagen for beauty vs. immunity — which one to choose

•⁠ ⁠How to avoid long-term autoimmune issues by repairing your gut lining

•⁠ ⁠Bone broth truths vs. myths

•⁠ ⁠A new power product launch you’ll hear first on BNB + more 👀

00:00 – Welcome to Balance Not Boring

00:20 – Meet Hadeel Al Khatib

01:49 – Intro & Guest Welcome

02:23 – Postpartum Health Struggles

03:33 – Corporate Life to Health Crisis

05:01 – Turning to Nutrition for Answers

06:13 – Finding Hope Through Healing

07:06 – Power of the Mind-Body Connection

07:40 – Gut-Brain Axis Explained

08:32 – Discovering Gut Healing

09:12 – Hidden Food Intolerances

10:17 – Stress & Allergies Link

11:16 – Becoming a Gut Health Coach

12:56 – Turning Pain into Purpose

13:52 – Mom Life & Entrepreneurship

16:25 – Bone Broth: A Healing Start

18:07 – Why Bone Broth Works

19:11 – Fixing Leaky Gut Naturally

21:29 – Judy’s Gut Story

22:36 – Understanding Low Stomach Acid

24:44 – Beauty & Gut Connection

25:36 – Broth Types & Benefits

27:03 – Collagen vs IV Drips vs Bone Broth

27:48 – Bone Broth & Detox Power

29:16 – Returning to Ancient Remedies

30:38 – Immunity Begins in the Gut

31:28 – Nutrition for Kids & Little Munchkins

33:29 – Why Kids Need Real Nutrition

35:24 – Bone Broth Myths: True or False

37:16 – The One Wellness Swap You Need

38:29 – What’s Next for Broth Lab

39:19 – Where to Find Broth Lab Products

39:57 – Closing & Final Message

Follow @healwithhadil and tune in to “Soup or Superfood? The Real Truth About Bone Broth” now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube 🎧 @balancednotboringpodcast

Follow us on IG at @balancednotboringpodcast

Ever feel like your zodiac or personality test didn’t quite capture the whole you? Enter Human Design — a system that combines astrology, chakras, the I Ching, and even quantum physics to map out the unique way your energy is meant to flow.

In this week’s episode of Balanced Not Boring, co-host Judy sits down with Caline Malek — journalist, mindfulness coach, and Human Design reader — to unpack how this tool can help you elevate, flow, and thrive in everyday life. From her career shift into spirituality to a live Human Design reading for Judy (who turns out to be a Projector), Caline brings both wisdom and real-life examples to the table.

✨ What we cover in this episode:

• Caline’s personal journey from journalism to Human Design and energy work

• What Human Design actually is (and why it’s worth your time)

• A breakdown of the five types — Generators, Manifestors, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors

• Judy’s live Projector reading: authority, strategy, and gifts in action

• Myth-busting: is Human Design just astrology, a cult, or limiting?

• How Human Design aligns with religion and spiritual beliefs

• Real-life applications: career, relationships, parenting, health, and burnout prevention

• Practical ways to use your design daily to feel more in flow

  
  

  0:00 – Welcome to Balance Not Boring Podcast

  0:20 – Today’s Topic: Exploring Human Design

  1:10 – Meet Caline Malek – From Journalism to Spirituality

  3:10 – How a Life Tragedy Sparked Spiritual Awakening

  6:00 – The Journey into Energy Healing & Mindfulness

  7:00 – Discovering Human Design

  9:00 – What Is Human Design? Explained Simply

  11:30 – The Fascinating Story of Human Design’s Founder

  14:00 – Understanding the 5 Human Design Types

  14:40 – Generators: The Builders of the World

  15:40 – Manifestors: The Initiators

  16:50 – Manifesting Generators: Fast & Multi-Passionate

  17:55 – Projectors: The Guides and Visionaries

  19:05 – Reflectors: The Rare Energetic Mirrors

  21:20 – Can You Be a Mix of Types?

  21:40 – Reading Judy’s Human Design Chart (Live Analysis)

  24:30 – The Meaning of Chakras in Your Chart

  27:10 – Emotional Awareness & Energy Boundaries

  29:00 – Understanding Intuition, Gut & Emotions

  31:40 – How to Make Better Life Decisions

  34:10 – Signs You’re Living Out of Alignment

  35:40 – Debunking Misconceptions About Human Design

  38:00 – Human Design & Faith – Can They Coexist?

  39:35 – How Human Design Improves Relationships

  40:55 – Using Human Design for Career Alignment

  42:20 – Human Design for Health & Avoiding Burnout

  44:40 – Fulfillment as a Daily Practice, Not a Goal

  45:20 – Human Design in Schools & Workplaces

  46:50 – If You Try One Thing in Human Design…

  47:50 – Where to Find & Connect with Caline Malek

  48:30 – Closing Thoughts & Gratitude

  
  

By the end, you’ll see Human Design not as a belief system, but as a blueprint — one that helps you understand yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you with more clarity and confidence.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube @balancednotboringpodcast

Book a reading with Caline @calinebynature

🚨 What if the real reason you’re tired, bloated, or “off” has nothing to do with stress — and everything to do with how far we’ve drifted from how our bodies were designed to live?

This week on Balanced Not Boring, we sit down with Lena Khalil, the powerhouse who chose to leave university early. On paper, she’s now the 27 year old PR founder of LNA Consultancy, working with the UAE’s biggest names. Behind the scenes? A major health scare forced her to flip her lifestyle upside down.

Lena ditched synthetic everything, swapped hustle culture for feminine flow, and started living like our grandmothers (raw milk, grass-fed meat, home-made skincare — the whole deal). The result? More energy, more clarity, more alignment.

We go there:

🔥 when others say “it’s nothing” but your body screams otherwise

🔥 why listening to your own intuition is better than outside noise when it comes to your well-being

🔥 why extreme feminism + hustle culture might actually be wrecking women’s health

🔥 how to live “non-toxic” without spending $$$ on wellness fads

⚠️ Disclaimer: this is Lena’s personal story, not medical advice. warning, this episode might just wake you up, in the best way possible.

Listen now on apple, Spotify & YouTube @balancednotboringpodcast 🎧

Follow us on Instagram at @balancednotboringpodcast

Why are so many women dismissed at some doctors offices? Fatigue, bloating, brain fog, autoimmune flares — they're all too common lately, and too often brushed off as “stress” or “in your head.”

In this episode of Balanced not Boring, we sit down with Joelle Wardeh, Functional Medicine practitioner & Clinical Dietitian at Yutopia Clinic in Dubai, to uncover why women’s symptoms are frequently misunderstood — and how Functional Medicine looks at the root cause instead of quick fixes.

Joelle shares how personalized nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle shifts can finally give women the answers (and relief) they’ve been searching for.

We dive into four emerging tests that are finally gaining recognition:

-Histamine intolerance & sensitivity

-Mold

-Heavy metals

-Parasites, gut bacteria, IBS & beyond

Listen now on Apple, Spotify & Youtube @balancednotboringpodcast — your health deserves to be taken seriously.

Follow us on IG at @balancednotboringpodcast and TT at @bnbpoddubai

Welcome back to Balanced Not Boring! Confused about what’s real vs. fake in skincare and anti-aging? This episode is your myth-busting guide!

We’re joined by Dr. Lana Kashlan, American Board-certified dermatologist based between Chicago and Dubai at Skin Experts Clinic. With a unique blend of psychology, dermatology, and aesthetics, Dr. Kashlan is known for highlighting her patients’ looks, not changing them.

From viral beauty trends gone wrong to AI imposter dermatologists, we cover the myths, facts, and must-know treatments for healthy, confident skin, once and for all!

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Balanced Not Boring

00:22 – Skincare Myths with Dr. Lana Kashlan

01:11 – Meet Dr. Kashlan

02:02 – Beauty Standards & Social Media

05:04 – Skin & Mental Health

07:41 – Why Celebrity Skin Is Unrealistic

10:52 – AI Imposter Dermatologists

13:04 – Clean Beauty Movement

20:35 – Rapid Fire Skincare Myths

26:01 – Sun Damage & Sunscreen

32:40 – Preventative Botox in Your 20s

36:12 – Best Skin Treatments to Invest In

39:23 – Laser Hair Removal Facts

41:56 – Final Advice on Healthy Skin

🎧 Listen to Balanced Not Boring on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify — follow us on IG at @balancednotboringpodcast.

💎 Visit @skinexperts.uae clinic in Dubai

👩‍⚕️ Follow @drlanakashlan on Instagram

If you’re a parent, partner, teacher—or simply a human curious about how our brains and emotions shape our lives—this episode is for you. (ps, there are diagrams too)!

Our guest, Sarah Raslan, Co-Founder of Wise Parent, brings a rare blend of academic expertise and practical wisdom to the conversation. Sarah holds double MSc degrees in Neuroscience and the Psychology of Mental Health, as well as a third MSc in Post-Conflict Development. Through her work with Wise Parent in Dubai, she helps families access tools that make parenting more grounded, connected, and effective.

In this episode, we explore:

• The fascinating differences between the male and female brain

• How gender and past experiences influence our emotional patterns

• What self-regulation looks like in both children and adults

• Practical ways we can nurture more connected, compassionate families—at home and beyond

  Chapters:00:00 – Intro

  00:28 – Guest Introduction: Sara & The Wise Parent

  01:54 – The Birth of The Wise Parent Program

  03:46 – Humanitarian Work & Trauma in Families

  05:29 – Why Study the Brain?

  06:42 – Brain Basics: Lower, Middle & Upper Levels

  09:41 – Childhood Brain Development & Regulation

  10:42 – Emotional Growth & Maturity

  13:18 – Understanding Children’s Tantrums

  13:24 – Boys vs Girls: Emotional Regulation Differences

  15:35 – Culture, Gender & Emotional Socialization

  16:12 – Parenting in the Middle East vs the West

  18:28 – Reparenting Ourselves & Breaking Cycles

  19:20 – Red Zone vs Green Zone: Self-Regulation Explained

  21:18 – Parenting in the Moment vs Outside the Moment

  22:38 – The Myth of Perfect Parenting

  24:20 – Apologizing & Repair in Parenting

  25:12 – Healing Childhood Trauma & Neuroplasticity

  28:41 – Inner Child Meditation & Rewiring

  31:09 – Modern Parenting: Balance Between Validation ®ulation

  33:26 – Takeaways: Learning About the Brain &Relationships

  34:20 – Rapid Fire Round

  35:14 – Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn?

  36:22 – Stress, Cortisol & the Brain

  37:13 – Emotional Superpower: Repair

  38:06 – Daily Brain Need: Joy

  38:38 – Rewiring Moments: Becoming a Parent

  39:23 – How to Connect with Sara & The Wise Parent

  39:40 – Closing & Thanks

About Sarah:

Raslan holds a double MSc in Neuroscience and the Psychology of Mental Health, and another MSc in Post-Conflict Development and is co-founder of Wise Parent in Dubai, a children's development program, which focuses on highlighting practical tools for parents in their parenting journeys.

Raslan had spent over 15 years working in the humanitarian field—evaluating programs for families affected by war, conflict, and trauma. And now, she’s channeling all that expertise into creating a trauma-informed parenting program to help raise emotionally resilient children.

Listen at @balancednotboringpodcast on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Follow us on IG at @balancednotboringpodcast and TT at @BNBPodDubai and connect with Sarah at @thewiseparent on IG.