Afternoons with Helen Farmer
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Afternoons with Helen Farmer
A laid back look at life in the UAE. Stay up to date with what's happening and where to go with free advice, expert opinion and storytelling which gives an inside scoop in to real life UAE. Calling foodies, culture vultures and people who want answers from our trusted team of engaging experts.
Recent Episodes
127 episodes
How to raise a healthy gamer
Digital addiction is fast becoming one of the world’s biggest mental health challenges. Now, one globally-renowned expert says the problem isn’t games...
Your weekend, sorted
From new restaurants and a museum opening, to movie releases and a GOAT festival, we’ve got all the fun you could ask for this Friday!
See omnys...
Think before you trend
Dubai Police are warning parents about the latest risky TikTok trend — but why are kids so easily swept up in viral challenges? Psychologist Mark Samw...
How to rebuild a life
How do you relearn and recover when your life changes in an instant? Helen finds out from adaptive athlete Henry Dunn, a Dubai-based coach who faced a...
Are you headed for a slow divorce?
Can’t be bothered to argue anymore, and intimacy feels like a chore? You’re not alone. Relationship experts call it “slow-burn divorce”. Helen finds o...
First there was catfishing, now there's CHATFISHING
Something new is emerging in the world of digital dating. Chatfishing is a new word coined for when a person uses AI-generated messages to disguise or...
Croissants and haute couture
From chef Yannick Alleno’s new chocolaterie to the French pastry chef now serving Dubai’s fashion set, Helen gets the lowdown on the city’s sweetest e...
Let's talk menopause in the workplace
This Saturday marks World Menopause Day with the aim of raising awareness of the issues that every woman will experience during this phase of life. Wi...
Are you wasting money without realising?
New research shows the average family is wasting $120 a year on unused subscriptions. Carol Glynn is on hand to talk easy saving hacks on spending you...
Are we doing dads a disservice during divorce?
UAE expat lawyer Byron James says it’s time the system better recognised the role of dads – and the pain of reduced child access after divorce – when...
Health boosting, the A-list way
From stem cells to gene editing to tissue engineering, some of the treatments favoured by the A-list sound truly space age to us ordinary joes. But ar...
Can you eat your way to happiness?
As we mark World Mental Health Day, Helen is joined by Sandra Mikhail, author of The Gut Chronicles, to ask what dietary tweaks could improve your wel...
Why is sport leaving women’s money on the table?
New international study Her Fandom, Her Buying Power, found that 90% of female sports fans say organisations don’t truly understand them, and 40% feel...
When gaming becomes an addiction
Gaming isn’t just for kids. Adults are spending hours, even entire weekends, lost in virtual worlds—and for some, it’s becoming a serious issue. We di...
Could you spot a narcissist?
It’s TikTok’s topic du jour – but everyone’s ex can’t be a narcissist. So, what really are the signs of narcissism, and how do avoid falling victim? H...
Drink driving in Dubai
It's the leading cause of road deaths in the UAE - now Dubai is cracking down on drink driving with some of the toughest laws in the country. What doe...
ADHD with Alex Partridge
He's a bestselling author whose late stage ADHD diagnosis has made him a favourite agony uncle of the world's neurodiverse community.
Now, he si...
Community over competition
The Global Restaurant Investment Forum will return to Dubai next week, bringing together a host of the UAE – and the world’s – top chefs. But why does...
Travel trends
Can you still fly with a power bank? Should AI plan your holiday? Helen gets into it with industry expert Emily Jenkins.
Plus, we dive into the...
Visas and immigration - the facts
From new visas to self-sponsorship to new rules on residency after divorce or bereavement, immigration expert Kelly Labuschagne joins Helen to answer...
When wellness goes wrong
The death of a vegan influencer in Bali is raising fresh concerns about online health misinformation - but who is at risk and how to we counter fear w...
Could school fees fall in Dubai?
The KHDA's Director General says schools need to deliver affordability for families. So what could that mean for those bills? Helen puts it to finance...
Why is the UAE obsessed with Korean culture?
The UAE ranked as the top spender on Korean cultural content for the third consecutive year, according to the 2025 Global Hallyu Survey. But why does...
How to negotiate a better package at work?
New research shows UAE employers are increasing housing benefits by an average 4% this year. But if you’re not getting a hike, what’s the best way to...
Pregnancy and paracetamol – the truth
Donald Trump says pregnant women should avoid paracetamol, linking the drug to a “very increased risk of autism”. Dr Margaret Harris, former WHO spoke...
Would you talk money on a first date?
New research says young adults like to discuss their incomes and financial goals when dating - while older couples are still shy to talk numbers. Hele...
The truth about trauma
How does cultural background impact on the way we experience and process trauma? We find out from the co-founders of Dubai’s upcoming MENATA Trauma Co...
Off the menu & on the move
We're out once again broadcasting live from The Agenda in Media City-- yes, just metres away from our normal studios! We'll tell you why in a sec.
Can we still trust influencers?
From the boardroom to your social feed, how much trust do we really place in influencers — especially as new regulations in the UAE demand advertiser...
The humans teaching AI to be 'human'
On today’s episode, we explore the very human side of artificial intelligence. AI doesn’t just “know” how to speak, reason, or relate — it has to be t...
Beware of your kid's 'online friend'
Two stories in the UAE this week underline every parent’s worst fear: predators targeting children online. Parents have been warned about grooming ris...
What does your penmanship reveal about who you are?
From Sherlock Holmes to CSI, we’ve always been fascinated by the clues people leave behind. But did you know your handwriting can reveal not just pers...
Going for gold…
Team UAE has returned to Dubai from the World Transplant Games – and they’re bringing bling! Gold medallists Fatima Rashid and Omar Tom join Helen to...
Tackling child obesity
More children around the world are obese than underweight for the first time ever, according to a UN report that warns ultra-processed junk food is ov...
Why are fewer mums returning to work?
The workforce participation of mothers with young children is dropping sharply, with reports from the US showing the biggest decline in four decades....
Dubai’s super rich influx
Dubai is set to attract 9,800 new ultra-wealthy residents this year – more than any other country in the world. So what is life truly like for the ric...
Are you a headphones refusnik?
Should playing songs or videos on phones without headphones be banned on public transport? London says yes, while Dubai is issuing fines for bad tech...
The Godfather of Spanish cuisine
After training in some of Spain’s best kitchens, Chef José Pizzaro made his mark in London then in the UAE, bringing his cooking to José by Pizarro at...
Is your energy a luxury item?
One of the many headlines from Taylor Swift’s recent podcast appearance was her idea that people must earn your energy. As research reveals 70% of peo...
Protecting kids from AI
MThe technology is already embedded in our lives - but how do we teach our kids about risks we barely understand ourselves? Helen asks the experts.