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Feb 2024
1h 11m

Can you really escape female stereotypes...

Layla Maghribi
About this episode

What does it mean to live outside the stereotypes, and how can we free ourselves from shame?

How do we stop caring about others' judgments and start living for ourselves?


Alya Mooro, Egyptian-born and London-raised writer and best-selling author of The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes, joins us to explore these themes. Many of you may know Alya from her newsletter and community, The Greater Conversation, but did you know she’s also a TV producer with exciting projects on the horizon? In this episode, we dive into her journey of self-development, her mental health toolkit, and how she’s learned to trust herself more through life’s challenges.


Together, we discuss what it means to be a “woman outside the stereotypes” and why Alya might rethink putting "Middle Eastern" in her book title today. We also touch on body image, how illness taught her self-trust, and why looks are the least interesting thing about her (though she still loves a good selfie!). Alya also reflects on hosting her podcast The Talk of Shame and explores how confronting shame can empower us, especially for women.


To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.


Finally, click this link to hear more from our brilliant guest, Alya!





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