Biohack-it Podcast: "Better Divorced With A Kid Than No Kid."

Guest: Nada Baeshen
Host: Iman Hasan
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Biohack-it explores the powerful personal and professional journey of Nada Baeshen—a pioneering Saudi TV presenter, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Host Iman Hasan and Nada candidly discuss the evolution of women's roles in Saudi Arabia, breaking traditional norms, female financial independence, and embracing holistic wellness after hardship. Personal stories about marriage, motherhood, divorce, and redefining happiness blend seamlessly with biohacking insights and cultural critique, resulting in an episode both universal and deeply rooted in Middle Eastern realities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Cultural Barriers: The Evolution of Saudi Women

• (01:08–05:15):
  • Nada recounts her upbringing in Saudi, her father's aspirations for safe careers, and her unplanned educational leap to Boston at 17.
  • She reflects on how Saudi women have always been strong and active, but now have broader career opportunities:

    “I don’t think Saudi women are on the map today. I think just the map is on Saudi today. That’s why there’s a microscope now looking at women there. But I think we’ve always been strong.” — Nada (01:38)

  • She highlights the drastic shift from limited fields like teaching and medicine to women embracing every sector, with more visibility and opportunity.

2. Multi-faceted Career Journey: From Banking to Retail to Media

• (05:18–11:49):
  • Nada's 10 years in corporate banking, entrepreneurship (boutiques "Newbury" & "The Huntress"), and her pivot to retail innovation in Saudi.
  • Her unexpected transition into media:

    “Fame never interested me. Being on TV never interested me. … When I got married, my pictures went viral. So, okay, let me move this following to my boutique to increase sales.” — Nada (07:25, 08:02)

  • Social media as a business tool, not for vanity:

    “If you don’t have a product to sell, why would you be on social media?” — Nada (08:02)

3. The Power and Perception of Social Media

• (08:00–11:49):
  • Social media presented as a double-edged sword: a platform for business growth, but also a place where the “real you” can be obscured.
  • Nada’s practical approach: set a financial target to continue, using COVID downtime to host IG Lives with wellness experts, doing 100+ free Instagram Lives:

    “I did 100 lives, I swear, for free, just because I was bored during COVID.” — Nada (10:12)

4. Entering Media: Live TV, Cultural Expectations, and Self-Discovery

• (16:19–17:43):
  • Nada tells the story of her live TV casting—uncertainty, imposter syndrome, and ultimately securing a seat on "Kalam Nawam," the Middle Eastern “View”:

    “What’s the worst that can happen in life? It’s nice to try new things… Why not?” — Nada (17:43)

5. Personal Stories: Marriage, Family Dynamics & Motherhood

• (19:25–27:29):
  • Navigating career and motherhood: two young boys, a marriage traversing cities (Riyadh, Jeddah), and a supportive, cross-cultural partnership.
  • The stress, maternal guilt, and benefits of modeling ambition for her children:

    “As a mom of two boys, it’s nice to let your boys see a mom that’s working, that’s achieved. They learn from that.” — Nada (20:21)

  • Deep loss: her father’s illness leading to increased focus on wellness and biohacking.

    “When my dad got diagnosed… it’s the time I actually started focusing more on my health.” — Nada (22:19)

6. Women’s Wellness in the Arab World: Sugar, Sleep, and Exercise**

• (23:34–24:56):
  • Iman and Nada critique regional health habits: high sugar and carb intake, late sleep, low protein, limited weight training among women.

    “Women always have this theory that if I weightlift, I’m going to be bulky… I look way better in my 40s now than my 20s and 30s.” — Nada (24:21)

7. Financial Independence: Core Value for Women

• (30:47–32:41):
  • Nada's father—a conservative but progressive patriarch—instilled the necessity of women’s financial autonomy.

    “All I do every day on my show is preach that you need to be financially independent as a woman. You cannot leave a bad husband if you have no money.” — Nada (32:10)

  • Discussion of generational shifts: from “stay no matter what” to “leave if you’re unhappy—if you can support yourself.”

8. Spirituality, Therapy, and Personal Healing

• (33:31–36:36):
  • Discussing the difference between religion and personal spirituality, the benefits of meditation, and the role of faith in coping with struggle:

    “I just feel sometimes when you go through hardships… you don’t know how to deal. … Having this time with myself… gives me that sense of serenity and peace.” — Nada (34:00)

  • The importance of connecting to something bigger: prayer, meditation, or simply pausing to reflect.

9. Navigating Love, Marriage, and Divorce with Honesty

• (37:23–54:47):
  • Deconstructing social pressure around marriage, motherhood, and the stigma of divorce:

    “It’s okay not to be married. It’s okay not to have kids, and it’s okay to be divorced, and it’s okay to get married more than once. And it’s okay to love again and again and again. It’s a cycle of life.” — Nada (39:17)

  • Candid talk about being better divorced with a child than childless (reflecting the episode title):

    “I never forget once… She said, ‘I just want to have one kid… better be divorced with a kid than no kid.’” — Nada (40:31)

  • Iman shares her impending divorce at 42 and a vision for conscious uncoupling, supportive partnership, and not succumbing to societal fear-mongering:

    “I want to have kids, but I don’t want to have kids for the sake of having kids. … You have to do what’s right for you.” — Iman (50:49–54:55)

10. Redefining Modern Middle Eastern Women

• (41:41–45:22):
  • Challenging Western stereotypes; Saudi and Kuwaiti women as empowered, pivotal to family and national life for generations.

    “Saudi women are, I think, very strong personalities. … Imagine me with so many more stories like me.” — Nada (41:41)

  • Women as essential multitaskers, emotional anchors, and professional leaders—across home and workplace.

11. Vulnerability and Authenticity in the Public Eye

• (46:44–49:44):
  • Nada discusses being open but selective on TV and social media, and the pitfalls of public perception (rumors, judgments).

    “The disadvantage is… they relate that every topic is related to you.” — Nada (49:44)

12. Growth, Change, and Reclaiming Power

• (57:27–62:29):
  • Advice for women on empowerment, self-reflection, and the importance of sometimes stepping back:

    “To have a clear vision of what you really want and how you can grow… you need to really take a step back and look at things from the outside… I started loving myself again and valuing myself again.” — Nada (57:39–60:12)

  • Affirmations and modeling self-love for her children:

    “Sometimes you really need—you hear it from a child.” — Nada (61:01)

  • Host Iman reflects on life’s unpredictability, choosing self-fulfillment, and trusting in a bigger spiritual plan.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On self-worth and independence:

  “You cannot leave a bad husband if you have no money. Because realistically, you cannot build on your own if you have no money.” — Nada (32:10)

• On societal perceptions:

  “It’s okay not to be married… It’s okay to love again and again and again. It’s a cycle of life.” — Nada (39:17)

• On motherhood:

  “As a mom of two boys, it’s nice to let your boys see a mom that’s working, that's achieved. They learn from that.” — Nada (20:21)

• On Western narratives of the Middle East:

  “The Western world has gone out of their way to paint the Middle East… a certain way, … [we want] to showcase the beauty, the strength, the resilience, but also the tolerance that we have.” — Iman (45:22)

• Empowerment advice for women:

  “Take a step back...To have a clear vision of what you really want...you need to really take a step back and look at things from the outside.” — Nada (57:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:08 – Nada on Saudi women’s evolution & educational barriers
• 05:18 – Switching from banking to entrepreneurship & retail
• 07:25 – Social media for sales—not vanity
• 11:49 – Getting into TV: the casting story
• 19:25 – Balancing motherhood, career, and marriage
• 22:19 – Father’s illness sparks wellness journey
• 24:16 – Critique of Saudi health habits; benefits of weight training
• 30:47 – The lesson of financial independence for women
• 32:57 – Personal spirituality and coping
• 37:23 – Navigating marriage/motherhood pressures
• 40:31 – "Better divorced with a kid than no kid" story
• 41:41 – Redefining perceptions of Saudi / Arab women
• 46:44 – Being vulnerable on TV and social media
• 49:44 – Public misinterpretations of personal topics
• 54:04 – Iman's conscious uncoupling and vision for life after divorce
• 57:27 – Nada’s empowerment tip: stepping back, self-value
• 61:01 – Affirmations and self-love with her son

Final Empowerment Takeaways

• Embrace change; reimagine outdated social scripts.
• Financial independence is the cornerstone of female empowerment—globally.
• It’s okay to step back, re-evaluate, and honor your own growth process.
• Spirituality, self-love, and community are vital for resilience—especially for women.

“Teach yourself to love yourself. Even when you’re in doubt… We all go through this phase, we’re not always strong.”
— Nada Baeshen (61:11)