New year, a new podcast list.
Whether you’re looking for a light-hearted accompaniment to your work day or to expand your understanding of the universe, here are 11 divergent podcasts to tune into in 2022.
Khosh Bosh with Anita and Sarah
Khosh Bosh with Anita and Sarah gives creatives living in the UAE the chance to talk about what moves, troubles and inspires them.
The podcast was launched in August last year and has since featured artists, writers, curators, researchers and art collectors. Guests have included artists Hashel Al Lamki, Mays Albaik, Mohammed AlShaibani and Anna Bernice among others.
The show derives its name from a Turkish-Farsi phrase popularised in the Arab world, and which refers to a close-knit relationship uninhibited by formalities. Conversations in the show live up to the title, offering an intimate and transparent view of the UAE's creative scene.
StarTalk Radio
A podcast that brings on stars to talk about stars. Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the show brings on celebrities and scientists to discuss subjects from space travel and extraterrestrial life to the role science plays in our daily lives. The podcast is now in its 12th season and, according to Tyson, is for “people who never knew how much they’d love learning about space and science.”
As the show has already aired a few hundred episodes, it can be dizzying to pinpoint where to start. A few of our picks would be the season 10 premiere with Anthony Bourdain, which was recorded before the celebrity chef’s death in 2018. Other noteworthy episodes include the Globetrotter’s Guide to the Galaxy, which explores physics phenomena with the Harlem Globetrotters, and the AI, Autonomous Vehicles, and Race − Oh My! episode, which looks at how self-driving cars affect our psychology with Malcolm Gladwell.
Freedom of Peach
Freedom of Peach is a podcast that flips the script on the interviewer/interviewee dynamic.
Every episode podcaster Hysum Ismail brings on a guest to debate topics that range from dating in the Muslim world to picking a safe massage parlour, except it's usually Ismail himself that is in the hot seat. His guests pull no punches, which makes for surprising and thought-provoking discussions. The show launches its second season later this month.
Another podcast of Ismail’s to check out is Switch/Flicks, which he co-hosts with Omar Abbas. Like Freedom of Peach, the show is a Dukkan Media project, but instead of subverting celebrity interview podcasts, it puts a twist on the film review format.
In Switch/Flicks, the reviewers’ opinions are starkly-contrasted and mercurial. Every time one of the two podcasters yells “switch!”, they have to change their opinion of the film in question. The podcast is as much a film review show as it is, to quote the programme, “a game of wit and sabotage".
Beyond the Headlines
A podcast by The National’s foreign desk that dives deeper into the biggest stories from around the world. Beyond the Headlines brings together experts and those living the news to provide a clear picture of the region’s changing social and political landscape.
The podcast has published more than 240 episodes. Its most recent episode was released on January 7. It explores the nuances of the ongoing Iran nuclear talks with host Leila Gharagozlou looking at what negotiators in Vienna must contend with to strike a new agreement.
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
“Health has become overcomplicated. I aim to simplify it,” British physician Rangoon Chatterjee says of his podcast. The author of The 4 Pillar Plan meets with industry experts and researchers to debunk health myths and giving listeners the insight to transform the way they eat, sleep, work and relax.
The show has released more than 200 episodes since it launched in 2018, and alternates full length two-hour features and bite-sized episodes that provide tips on managing daily stresses and improving productivity.
The Maris Review
Cultural critic and Slaughterhouse 90210 author Maris Kreizman talks with writers from around the world about their own works as well as the books that inspire them.
The podcast, launched in 2019, has featured a range of authors including Susan Choi, David Sedaris, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Rivka Galchen, Zakiya Dalila Harris and Alexander Chee.
Dukkan Show
The Dukkan Show has become a staple podcast in the UAE and wider region. Hosted by Omar Tom, Reem Hameed and Mohamad Akkaoui , the show has aired more than 200 episodes since it launched in 2016, and has featured a range of luminaries including Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, Obey artist Shepard Fairey and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk.
If you’re looking to add local podcasts to your daily rotation of content consumption, Dukkan Show is a no-brainer.
The Last Podcast on the Left
You can’t have a decent podcast list without at least one spooky entry, and The Last Podcast on the Left will satiate your appetite for the morbid and macabre, but with a healthy dose of comedy.
Hosted by comedians Ben Kissel and Henry Zebrowski, as well as researcher Marcus Parks, the podcast draws its name from the title of the 1972 film The Last House on the Left, and tackles real and paranormal horrors, from serial killers and slashers to UFO sightings and ghost stories. The podcast brings a beam of dark humour to the true crime genre. Launched in 2011, the show releases two episodes every week.
Entitled Opinions (About Life and Literature)
A talk show hosted by Stanford literature professor Robert Harrison. Entitled Opinions covers a wide range of topics from French novelist Marcel Proust to thermodynamics. The podcast also reflects on the ways we read older texts in light of new global experiences, such as how the pandemic sheds a novel light to The Decameron, a collection of novellas by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio, who was witness to the effects of the Black Death, which caused the deaths of up to 200 million in Europe alone.
Entitled Opinions is one of the longest running podcasts on this list, having been launched in 2005.
Business Extra
As one of the world‘s most influential business hubs, the Middle East requires expert attention. Business Extra provides those experts, as well as news and insights from The National‘s team of business editors and reporters.
Updated weekly, the podcast’s most recent episode looks at how how health care, aviation, education and dining industries are scuffling to meet the staff shortages brought about by the Omicron variant. Geopolitical futurist Abishur Prakash joins co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner to talk about how robots and automation are becoming a necessity in the midst of a capricious labour market.
Deep Fried
Hosted by Dubai’s food tour company Frying Pan Adventures, Deep Fried is the much-needed local offering to your inner gourmand. The podcast, which launched in 2017, features food talents from around the country, such as tea sommelier Haiya Mughal of Haiya Tea; Christopher Gunson, founder of Dubai’s dedicated udon noodle shop Maru Udon; and Yulia Belal, founder of Organic Dumplings Dubai.
The show highlights staple regional recipes, such as in the episode Three Palestinian Dishes with Haya’s Kitchen, and teaches you how to cook international dishes with a twist, like in the episode Middle Eastern Turkey by Carnistore.
The show's most recent episode was in November 2021, and while host Arva Ahmed mentioned that it was not certain Deep Fried would return for a fourth season, the show has more than 90 episodes in its archive and is an important resource for discovering the food scene in the UAE.
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
more from Janine di Giovanni
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
5.30pm Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed | Dh180,000 | 1,600m
6.30pm Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 | 2,400m
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Getting%20there%20
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Ftravel%2F2023%2F01%2F12%2Fwhat-does-it-take-to-be-cabin-crew-at-one-of-the-worlds-best-airlines-in-2023%2F%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EEtihad%20Airways%20%3C%2Fa%3Eflies%20daily%20to%20the%20Maldives%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%20The%20journey%20takes%20four%20hours%20and%20return%20fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C995.%20Opt%20for%20the%203am%20flight%20and%20you%E2%80%99ll%20land%20at%206am%2C%20giving%20you%20the%20entire%20day%20to%20adjust%20to%20island%20time.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERound%20trip%20speedboat%20transfers%20to%20the%20resort%20are%20bookable%20via%20Anantara%20and%20cost%20%24265%20per%20person.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
