Balanced Not Boring

Judy Daghestani and Tamara Khoury

Welcome to the Balanced Not Boring Podcast. A safe space where wellness entrepreneurs & cohosts, Judy Daghestani (Cofounder of Laurus Organics) & Tamara Khoury (Founder of Teal Bakehouse) talk about all things Mind, Body & Soul, live from Dubai. Stay tuned to hear from our balanced babe community, certified practitioners, doctors, healers and more, to learn how to live a realistic 80/20 in today's hectic pace. It's time to debunk 'wellness' and make it inclusive, as it was always meant to be ❤️ Follow us on TiktTok and Instagram at @balancednotboringpodcast

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Motherhood Uncensored – The Things We’re Finally Saying Out Loud

    Motherhood changes everything — but it doesn’t have to erase you. In this honest, feel-seen episode, new mama Tamara sits down with co-host Judy, a seasoned mom of two, to talk about the identity shift no one prepares you for after having kids. We unpack the messy middle of motherhood: learning who you are now, balancing ambition with family life, letting go of outdated timelines, and realizing that growth doesn’t stop — it evolves. This is a conversation about choosing yourself without guilt, redefining success on your own terms, and understanding that age is just a number — especially when you’re becoming more you than ever. Whether you’re a new mom, a mom of many, or simply navigating your next chapter, this episode is your reminder: you’re allowed to want more and love your life as it is. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify @balancednotboringpodcast🔔 Subscribe to Balanced Not Boring for real conversations about modern life, wellness, and womanhood

    29 min

  2. 19/12/2025

    Is This the Loneliest Generation Yet? An Honest Conversation on Modern Loneliness

    Is this the loneliest we’ve ever been? In this cozy, honest episode, Judy and Tamara reflect on modern loneliness — the kind that exists even when you’re constantly connected, scrolling, and “keeping up.” We talk about how social media quietly reshapes our capacity for friendship: how being inundated with information, updates, and comparison can leave us emotionally maxed out — with less energy for real connection. From friendship changes in our 30s, to motherhood, to connection fatigue, to the loss of spontaneity, this conversation is for anyone who feels close to people online… but far from them in real life. Maybe connection doesn’t need to be constant.Maybe it just needs to be real. 🎧 Share this episode with someone you miss — or comment “Friend” and we’ll send it your way. Chapters 00:00:00 – Welcome to Balance Not Boring & today’s topic 00:00:20 – Are we more connected yet lonelier than ever? 00:01:45 – The loss of spontaneity & unannounced visits 00:04:15 – Why phone calls feel draining in modern life 00:07:28 – Ambition, FOMO, and the nonstop pace of adulthood 00:10:46 – Community, neighbors, and why village life disappeared 00:13:25 – Childhood friendships vs friendships in your 30s 00:16:20 – Social media, overstimulation, and emotional burnout 00:19:32 – Disconnection, virtual friendships, and growing isolation 00:22:34 – Tech, the future, and longing for a slower life 00:25:22 – Burnout, boundaries, and protecting your energy 00:27:34 – Accepting changing friendships as you grow 00:30:45 – Letting go, maturity, and emotional vs logical thinking 00:33:10 – Being your own best friend and narrowing your circle 00:36:12 – How this friendship and podcast came together 00:36:58 – Final reflections on evolving friendships & priorities

    37 min

  3. 09/12/2025

    Take Back What’s Yours: Forget Brain Fog & Reboot Your Energy, Hormones + Metabolism with Tonie-Maria

    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

    1h 3m
  4. Body Obsession to Body Connection with Baraa El Sabbagh

    24/11/2025

    Body Obsession to Body Connection with Baraa El Sabbagh

    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

    46 min
  5. Soup or Superfood? The Real Truth About Bone Broth with Dubai’s Wellness Pioneer, Hadil Al Khatib

    03/11/2025

    Soup or Superfood? The Real Truth About Bone Broth with Dubai’s Wellness Pioneer, Hadil Al Khatib

    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

    40 min
  6. Human Design: Your Tool to Elevate, Flow & Thrive with Caline Malek

    24/10/2025

    Human Design: Your Tool to Elevate, Flow & Thrive with Caline Malek

    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

    49 min
  7. Living Like Our Ancestors: How Non-toxic Living Healed Me with Lena Khalil

    16/10/2025

    Living Like Our Ancestors: How Non-toxic Living Healed Me with Lena Khalil

    🚨 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

    36 min
  8. Underlying Symptoms Our Bodies Are Begging Us to Notice with Joelle Wardeh

    05/10/2025

    Underlying Symptoms Our Bodies Are Begging Us to Notice with Joelle Wardeh

    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

    46 min
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About

Welcome to the Balanced Not Boring Podcast. A safe space where wellness entrepreneurs & cohosts, Judy Daghestani (Cofounder of Laurus Organics) & Tamara Khoury (Founder of Teal Bakehouse) talk about all things Mind, Body & Soul, live from Dubai. Stay tuned to hear from our balanced babe community, certified practitioners, doctors, healers and more, to learn how to live a realistic 80/20 in today's hectic pace. It's time to debunk 'wellness' and make it inclusive, as it was always meant to be ❤️ Follow us on TiktTok and Instagram at @balancednotboringpodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Judy Daghestani and Tamara Khoury
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Judy Daghestani and Tamara Khoury
  • Show Website
    Balanced Not Boring