Afternoons with Helen Farmer

We're meeting hotel and restaurant managers who want us all to understand the pressure hospitality staff are under, and what we can do to help them, as well as ourselves, feel a sense of normality. We're also discussing food security - Tom from Spinneys and Yazen from Emirates Bio Farm are keeping us all reassured. William Mullally is in studio with entertainment recommendations for all ages and stages. And we have info a lot of parents have been looking for - we're talking spring camps and safety!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When tensions rise or uncertainty creeps in, it’s not just our emotions that are affected - our family arrangements, travel plans, and legal responsibilities can suddenly feel much more complicated too. We open our family clinic today with lawyer Byron James to help families navigate co-parenting logistics, travel permissions, finances, paperwork and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’ve been heralded as the solution to loneliness, but new research suggests AI companions are actually increasing social isolation. We meet the experts trying to ensure everyone in the UAE has the human companionship they need. Plus, we talk small business strategies, how not to panic about your property investments, and get top tips on regulating our nervous systems...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Answering our kids' questions can be challenging right now, especially when we don't have all the answers ourselves. Coach Maysaa joins Helen to boost our parenting approach, while psychologist Tanya Dharamshi talks us through the differing reactions of adults in our lives. Plus, if you're concerned about your savings, financial security or investments, Steve Cronin is on hand to help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From homeschooling and homeworking to identifying fake news - and even how to calm your pets - we're navigating the realities of life in the UAE right now and answering all your questions with the experts today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Logan Paul has just made headlines after selling a single Pokémon card for a jaw-dropping $16 million - but could us mere mortals make similar returns? Helen finds out from industry expert Craig McKelvie. We also meet the mum helping other parents satisfy their wanderlust - with kids in tow. We chart 12 years of Boca's sustainable impact on Dubai dining, and meet the two female restaurateurs behind a meaningful Ramadan collab. And Ramadan Reunion has its first winners!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new book argues millennial and Gen Z workers don’t just want to be rich - they want to be free from geographical constraints as they build successful careers. Helen discovers what that looks like in real life from Nirbhay Handa, founder of Multipolitan and author of The Borderless Generation. Plus, we find out why teachers say the key to tackling our kids’ boredom could be a board game…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are told to work longer, build experience, climb the ladder. But what happens when that experience starts working against you? Helen talks ageism with recruitment expert Mollie Powell. Plus, we meet the men creating community and conversation through exercise, and we talk child safeguarding changes in the UAE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From e-bikes to homework, Coach Maysaa joins Helen to talk boundary setting without the battle of wills. Plus, we meet the men helping ex-military men and women build new lives in the UAE, and we find get the lowdown on ALS following the death of actor Eric Dane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria can be one of the most debilitating parts of life with ADHD, and now, it's the subject of Alex Partridge's new book. The internet's favourite ADHD advisor joins Helen to talk reaction, rejection and how to deal with life when nothing feels safe...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an aspect of the Holy Month we rarely discuss - but as Eating Disorder Awareness Week begins, Helen talks recovery, coping strategies and fasting with expert, psychologist and author Dr Vicki Mountford. Plus, Madeleine Mendy joins us for a family law legal clinic...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahmed Ali, the local behind Emirati Food Geeks, gives us an etiquette lesson on attending iftars and suhoors. Plus, a quick guide on where to dine during the Holy Month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From investing to saving, getting out of debt to money mindset, Steve Cronin from Dead Simple Savings joins us to take all of your income-related questions. And it’s easy to think that your kid would need to be a sporting star to focus on a career in the field – but could you be underestimating opportunities off-track? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Bad Bunny - and what his portrayal of masculinity can teach our boys - to that America's Next Top Model documentary and what it's done to women's body image, we're talking the good and the bad of pop culture's phenomenal impact. And we meet the neuroscientist whose groundbreaking clinic is giving fresh hope to sufferers of everything from chronic pain to dementia to depression.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are more connected than ever, yet loneliness is rising and relationships are under pressure - but what if the problem with modern love is not commitment, communication or compatibility, but the way we approach it altogether? In this special extended interview, tech titan and happiness expert Mo Gawdat explains why his latest project, Emma - an app that aims to reshape how we find love, build it and sustain it long after the Valentine’s cards are packed away - could be the answer...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research says one in four workers would be out of money within a month of losing their job – and Helen’s own listener poll suggests the number here could be even higher. So, how do we safeguard our savings for the worst? We get expert advice from Financed Well’s Beth Clay. Plus, as Ramadan approaches, Sandra Mikhail, author of The Gut Chronicles, joins us to discuss preparation for a healthy fast this Holy Month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lewis Capaldi and Zara Laarson are headed to Abu Dhabi for the first night of the 2026 Grand Prix – but what goes into planning the big gig schedule? Helen gets the lowdown from Ethara’s David Powell. Plus we talk flavours with two of the city’s top foodies, find out how to experience a real community Iftar this Ramadan, and we get some last minute Valentine’s Day inspiration from Dubai’s flashiest Cassanovas…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAE’s first dedicated clinic to offer testing, treatment and support for neurodivergent adults, employers and families, opens its doors in Dubai next week. So, why now? Helen meets Dr Samir Pathan ahead of the opening of Adults by Insights Psychology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tokenisation of Dubai’s property market took a major step forward this week, opening the market to a whole new category of investors. But what do they need to know? Helen asks the experts.Plus, we talk ‘hot take dating’ – the idea that we should get all those controversial opinions out of the way on date one – and we talk resilience and what we can learn from the Winter Olympics’ greatest competitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As global vaccine rates stall or fall, Dr Howard Podolsky joins Helen to bust some myths and answer your questions. Plus, we talk rage and how to channel it, and learn how to make friends as a grown-up...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From shorter school hours and longer work hours to a pressure to perform in an ever-changing market, Helen asks a host of industry experts what workers, and employers and realistically and legally do to protect family time? Plus, as a growing body of evidence suggests shielding kids from failure can make them more anxious, Adam the OT joins with his advice for raising resilient kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From movies and TV to awards ceremonies to the food finds you need to know, we've got your social life sorted! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rent increases, eviction notices, bounced cheques, off-plan delays—property questions land in our inbox every single week, and for many people the rules still feel confusing and stressful. We open up a UAE property law clinic today on the show with Bassel Boutros, Partner at BSA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is our obsession with digital speed quietly eroding the human skills that matter most: deep thinking, empathy, judgement and creativity? Helen discusses this with internationally-renowned graphologist Emma Bache. If it feels like everyone you know is sick right now, you’re not imagining it. Doctors across the UAE are warning we may be in a second peak of flu season, with clinics seeing a steady stream of patients with fever, cough and exhaustion. Dr Rania from Circle Care Clinic shares ways to rebuild our immunity. We're unpacking why hormone health remains so misunderstood, under-taught and emotionally charged. And we're telling you how football is making room for mothers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, we were preparing to talk to you about buying gold. And then, it crashed. So, when markets are so predictable we get the experts to guide you in investing and saving. Why does neurodiversity impact our sleep and what can you do if your brain wakes up when your head hits the pillow? A new book may have the answer… And in our psychology hour... Gen Z have got their first ‘retirement’ facility to help them recover from burnout. Meanwhile, biscuit firm Kit Kat has launched a round the clock Teams meeting aimed at helping employees ‘pretend’ to be busy so they can take a break at work. What does this tell us about the prevalence of burnout? We ask Dr Thoraiya Kanafani from the Human Relations Institute and Clinics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The headlines are a challenge for even adults right now – but with our kids exposed to news online at ever- younger ages, how do we parent through all of these unprecedented times? Helen asks Maha Cooper, a family-focussed counselling psychologist at The Free Spirit Collective. Plus, we talk equality in sport and go behind the scenes at a new course aimed at improving driving standards on the UAE’s roads.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From arts and culture to Wicked at Dubai Opera to the foodi finds you need to know, we've got your social life sorted!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advertiser permits become a legal requirement for influencers in the UAE from this weekend - but who needs them and what does it entail? Helen puts your questions to media lawyer Martin Hayward. Plus, we're live from Xposure in Sharjah, where we meet the filmmakers and world creators in town to teach the Middle East's next generation of creators.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French rugby pro Thibaud Flament made headlines this week when he said he’d miss his country’s Six Nations opener due to fertility treatment and his wife’s cycle. So why has his move sparked such a chord with so many? Helen asks racing driver and male fertility campaigner Toby Trice and Dr Luciano Nardo from Orchid Fertility.We talk cervical cancer awareness month – and ask why screening rates remain stubbornly low – with Dr Natasha Shah. And as new research suggests our uncertain times are changing holiday plans in unexpected ways, we talk repeat destinations with luxury travel expert Rowena Hanley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research from the children’s finance app GoHenry estimates that Gen Alpha now have around £3.3 billion in spending power through their influence on household purchases, with 26 percent of parents saying their children directly shape how money is spent. Helen gets the lowdown from financial coach Carol Glynn.Plus, lawyer Byron James tells us what the UAE’s new digital laws mean for your family, and we discuss Hamnet and its portrayal of parental grief with doula Lala Langtry-White and psychologist Tanya Dharamshi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has found 70% of UAE residents want to buy property this year. But what do you need to know if you’re taking your first steps into the market? Helen puts your questions to industry expert Clementine Munro. Meanwhile, as we’re live from Gulfood, we discuss the importance of variety – in diet and exercise alike – with Dr Shef, and we find out how cultivated foods could change the way we eat, forever, with cardiologist and founder of Upside Foods, Dr Uma Valeti.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoons is live from the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, getting the lowdown on all the fun - sporting and otherwise - on site for 2026...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the challenge of our time - how to maintain respectful dialogue with people we vehemently disagree with. Could a new book help? Helen meets Paul Dolan, author of Beliefism: How to Stop Hating the People We Disagree With.Plus we meet the teen skier headed from Ski Dubai to the Winter Olympics, and talk childhood anxiety with the author aiming to tackle it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brand Beckham has long been presented as the ultimate tight-knit family, but this week that image cracked. So, behind the gossip, what does their story really tell us about family breakdown? Helen asks psychologist Noha Al Khatib. Meanwhile, we discuss new research into why so many of us are looking for a new career path with recruiter David MacKenzie. And dating coach Hunt Etheridge lets us in on the difference between realism – and settling for less than you deserve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the biggest social trend on TikTok right now – sitting down with pals for an evening to tackle those jobs you’ve been procrastinating about. But why are admin nights becoming so popular – and do they actually work? Helen talks it over with Ali Khawaja, author of Understanding ADHD: A Short Guide for Loved Ones.Meanwhile, as Novak Djokovich says he’s not retiring, discuss knowing when it’s time to move on – and what we can all learn from the post-sports pivot – with two sports industry pros, and Dr Thoriya joins Helen to discuss closure, and why we all crave it so badly after a big life change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exam season is here - and hitting straight after the holidays, leading many parents to turn to tutors over the festive break. But as new research suggests, is over tutoring creating more problems than it solves? Helen asks education consultant Heather Harries. Plus, we meet two women determined to help us master the return to work – or mid-career pivot – with confidence, and ask the author of a new book why he thinks the way we breathe might be making us ill…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find out all about the upcoming Al Quoz Arts Fest, and go behind the scenes at the Golden Globes with judge, William Mullally.Plus, Helen faces House of Habanero’s hot sauce challenge, meets the chef behind the original Dubai Chocolate and discuss the launch of Tresind Studio’s first cookbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From workplace bullying and employers withdrawing benefits to research showing the detrimental impact of a work-heavy work/life balance, early headlines this year have workers worried. So, what can we do to improve our own professional lives? Rohini Gill has the answers you need. Plus, we meet the man making life easier for left-handed learners…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Single person and childless households are on the rise. A Chinese app called Are You Dead has gone viral. And 56% of UAE-based workers say they experience loneliness. So what’s behind the trend, and how do we counter it? Helen asks Scott Armstrong, founder of Mentl, and Wifag Adnan, Associate Professor of Economics at NYU Abu Dhabi. We also discuss a new study suggesting a link between screen use in early years and language development problems, and take your questions on the financial and legal implications on new laws for influencers in the UAE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a global furore over its use, Grok’s ability to remove the clothes from women and children has been put behind a paywall, but creator Elon Musk says he won’t row back on the tech’s abilities. So, how worried should we be? Helen speaks to global cybercop Susan McLean and Dubai-based media lawyer Martin Hayward.Plus, as the KHDA and DHA warn parents about risky behaviour, we get some lessons in communication with our teens from Kristin MacDermott, founder of the MacDermott Method, and after yesterday’s clinic on divorce law, we shift our focus to the emotions of a break-up with family systems specialist Karen Sutherland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s what’s commonly known as Divorce Month, with lawyer’s offices across the world packed out every January. But what are your next steps here if you believe your marriage is in trouble? Lawyer Madeleine Mendy answers your questions. Plus, as Dubai launches an AED10million fund to help families in rent arrears, Steve Cronin joins Helen to discuss budgeting in the real world, and education and inclusion consultant Louise Dawson has the latest on the KHDA’s updated inclusion and SEND assessment rules too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.