Rephonic
Artwork for The Shadow Sessions

The Shadow Sessions

Hiba Balfaqih
Mental Health
Identity
Honor Killings
United States
Childhood Trauma
Violence
Child Abuse
Resilience
Child Marriage
Gender-Based Violence
Survivor Advocacy
Incest
Face Transplant
Survival
Prison System
Grief
Hacking
Bankruptcy
Abuse
Mixed Martial Arts

The Shadow Sessions is hosted by Hiba Balfaqih, an unconventional psychologist and trauma alchemist. We explore the stories that most people bury—particularly those tied to shame, trauma, and identity. Our goal is to shed light on the hidden corners of human experience, allowing listeners to hear stories that challenge societal norms and spark deep,introspective conversations.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes13Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeHealth & FitnessMental Health

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Shadow Sessions

Latest Episodes

Abuse doesn’t always hide in dark corners. Sometimes it lives in mansions, on private jets, and behind the reputations of powerful people.

In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Jena‑Lisa Jones, a survivor of Jeffrey Epste... more

What if your family told you you were going on vacation…

And instead, you were married off?

In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Rubie, who was just 15 years old when her family took her to another country and left her ... more

YouTube

We live in a world obsessed with appearance. We chase beauty, filters, and familiarity — often tying confidence to what we see in the mirror. But what happens when the mirror no longer shows the face you remember?

In this episode of The Shadow Sessi... more

YouTube

When we hear the word abuse, many people picture a girl. Culturally, harm is often associated with her fear and her silence. But what happens when the victim is a boy — and no one knows how to see it?

In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Bal... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

UNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast
UNMARKED: A True Crime PodcastUNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast
Crime Junkie
Crime JunkieAudiochuck
Betrayal Season 5
Betrayal Season 5iHeartPodcasts | Glass Podcasts

Recent Guests

Joe DiMeo
Burn survivor, recipient of full face and double hand transplant
Medical transplant patient
Episode: Joe DiMeo on Living After 80% Burns and the World’s First Face & Double Hand Transplant
Nina Aouilk
A survivor of honor-based violence, life coach, and global advocate against honor killings.
End Honor Killings
Episode: The Sin Of Being a Girl: Surviving Honor-Based Violence
James Linton
Former hacker known for impersonating high-profile figures and initiating discussions on identity and psychology.
Episode: Hacker & Identity James Linton
Aziza Kibibi
Survivor, author, and advocate for truth regarding abuse.
Episode: The Secret She Carried for Decades: Her Father Was the Father of Her Children

Host

Hiba Balfaqih
Host of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih is an unconventional psychologist and trauma alchemist who focuses on exploring narratives tied to shame, trauma, and identity. Through her work, she seeks to shed light on hidden aspects of human experience and foster deep, introspective conversations.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Be better.

    Enjoy the topics, however the interview inserts herself way to much.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ZombiesNeedLuv2
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing & Insightful

    This is wonderfully presented podcast that puts a light on many things no one is even aware of in this world. I love the hope this podcast can give so many ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mrsmivory
    United States2 months ago
  • Love but…

    Love the stories that come through here, but host - please stop talking over your guests, rewording their statements after they say things, and the affirmative listening mmm’s. It gets muddy, distracting, and feels like you’re putting words into their mouths, and making it about you. Gripping stories though. Looking forward to my next listen, which hopefully has less interruptions of these often harrowing tales.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    An Actual Young Woman
    United States2 months ago
  • Unfathomable

    Just finished listening to The Secret She Carried for Decades. How the guest survived and is now thriving is a miracle. I want to read her book. I did get frustrated when the interviewer would often talk over her and almost put words in her mouth. I think more questions and active listening vs trying to insert herself would have made for a better interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Beetles mimi
    United States2 months ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Joe DiMeo on Living After 80% Burns and the World’s First Face & Double Hand Transplant
Q: What advice would you give to someone facing an even more daunting recovery?
Accept help, push through with small, daily goals, and remember that progress isn't linear; keep showing up tomorrow, even if today was hard.
Joe DiMeo on Living After 80% Burns and the World’s First Face & Double Hand Transplant
Q: How did you cope with the emotional aspects after waking up and realizing what happened?
I leaned on a strong support system, stayed grounded with practical routines, and chose to focus on hands-on progress and moments of gratitude to move forward.
Joe DiMeo on Living After 80% Burns and the World’s First Face & Double Hand Transplant
Q: What were you told about the transplant when you first got the news, and how did you decide to move forward?
I didn't know the full scope of what a transplant would entail, but I felt I had to say yes to regain a life I felt slipping away, focusing on what I could gain rather than what I'd lose.
When Anger Explodes: The Hidden Psychology Behind Losing Control
Q: If you could say something today to your victim, what would you like to say to them?
I would say I'm sorry for what I did, and I hope my victim can forgive me.
From Prison to MMA Legend: The Making of Frank Shamrock
Q: If there was a kid listening to this and they're being physically abused right now, what is any piece of advice you'd like to tell them?
Tell somebody, talk to somebody you trust, coach, mentor, teacher, all those people are in a position to help.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Shadow Sessions

What is The Shadow Sessions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the unspoken narratives of trauma, identity, and shame, the content showcases compelling stories that most people shy away from discussing. Listeners are taken on a journey through profound and often challenging life experiences, with topics ranging from financial crises and personal empowerment to the psychology of hacking and the complexities of familial relationships. Each episode often features emotional storytelling paired with insightful commentary, aiming to elevate conversations around mental health and societal taboos. This unique approach not only fosters understanding but also promotes healing and transformation by allowing vulnerable discussions to surface in a supportive environment.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Shadow Sessions?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Shadow Sessions. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Shadow Sessions and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Shadow Sessions get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Shadow Sessions, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Shadow Sessions?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Shadow Sessions, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Shadow Sessions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Shadow Sessions has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Shadow Sessions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Shadow Sessions:

1. UNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast
2. Crime Junkie
3. This Is Actually Happening
4. Atonement: The John Paulk Story
5. Betrayal Season 5

How many episodes of The Shadow Sessions are there?

The Shadow Sessions launched 4 months ago and published 13 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Shadow Sessions?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Shadow Sessions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Shadow Sessions from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Shadow Sessions?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Shadow Sessions. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Shadow Sessions?

Recent guests on The Shadow Sessions include:

1. Joe DiMeo
2. Nina Aouilk
3. James Linton
4. Aziza Kibibi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days