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Afternoons with Helen Farmer

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Movies, motherhood & (role)modelling

Episodes

1 hour 7 minutes | Thursday, 8 January 2026
From Ivy League graduate to global fashion runways, from Hollywood sets to birth advocacy to Dubai’s Gladiator Summit, Yaya DaCosta joins Helen to discuss how her career has never followed a single lane. Meanwhile, the precautionary recall of a specific infant formula by Nestlé has some parents worried – but should they be? We ask Aisling Oslizlok, Paediatric Dietitian at Genesis Healthcare Center.And with some parents across the UAE discovering their child may be eligible to start school earlier than OT Adam Griffin and educational designer Hollie Mayes talk school readiness. See omnystudi...
1 hour 25 minutes | Wednesday, 7 January 2026
A UK GP has been suspended after faking appointments so she could leave work in time for the school run- leaving many parents asking the same question: why does it still feel risky to be honest about childcare at work? Helen asks campaigner Joeli Brearly, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, and workplace culture consultant Lorna King. Plus, as new research suggests tracking our kids could make them less independent and more anxious, we talk tech and trust with psychologist Mark Samways, while digital educator Philippa Wraithmell is on hand with all the info you need to make your household’s d...
1 hour 23 minutes | Tuesday, 6 January 2026
She’s amassed millions of followers for her kitchen DJ sets. Now, 63-year-old Crazy Auntie Ann is in Dubai to show us how to live it up at any age – while the founders of Please Leave By 10 say you don’t even need to stay up late to have a dance.Meanwhile, Helen delves into the British Embassy’s updated advice to new arrivals to the UAE, and as the UAE lowers its legal age of adulthood, we discuss the realities of growing up with Dr Thoriya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 30 minutes | Monday, 5 January 2026
BNPL schemes boomed across the Middle East at the end of 2025 - but how many people are now waking up to the reality of putting off costs into the new year with fear? Financial coach Beth Clay talks us through how to get 2026 started out on the right financial foot. Meanwhile, Ruth Dance and David MacKenzie talk recruitment and team spirit in January, David Harkin of 8 Billion Ideas joins us to discuss motivation and imagination for kids, and we ask Pulmonologist Dr Rachel Kaminski about a new drug bringing hope to asthma sufferers…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 9 minutes | Friday, 2 January 2026
From the world’s best hotels, cruises, to new flights launching this new year, we’ve got you covered. Connecting Travel's Sarah Hedley Hymers has all the details for you. Courtney Brandt joins us to separate the fads from the future when it comes to the UAE’s booming dining landscape. And what's the best phone when it comes to photography? Tech journalist Kevin Sebastian has the answer based on his personal experience, plus info on other gadgets that you might need this new year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 28 minutes | Tuesday, 30 December 2025
We get that from Dr Thoraiya Kanafani as we discuss celebrating pacing your peaks and trusting your own path. Dubai Health's Dr Sara Kazim shares what's in place to ensure safety of crowds celebrating New Year's Eve in the city. We also discuss how common heart diseases and cardiac arrest are among teens following the tragic death of a 17-year-old student in Sharjah. Hollie Mayes guides us on how to declutter properly, especially when emotions are hindering you. And are experiential gifts better presents for kids?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 21 minutes | Monday, 29 December 2025
As we look ahead to 2026, a lot of parents are quietly asking the same question: is gentle parenting still working, or have we misunderstood it altogether?  Our kids are growing up in one of the safest places in the world, but travel can quickly expose them to very different realities. Today we’re talking child safety beyond screens, from airports and hotels to public spaces and unfamiliar cultures. ADHD diagnoses are rising worldwide, particularly among adults who are only now realising there may be a reason life has always felt harder than it should. But with that rise comes confusion, mi...
1 hour 3 minutes | Monday, 22 December 2025
Helen explores how our mouth health is connected with other parts of the body more than we think, with Dr David Roze. ​Can the current flu vaccine protect you from the new flu variant? Dr Howard Podolsky has the answers And discussing men's mental health with Scott Armstrong of Mentl.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 10 minutes | Friday, 19 December 2025
Away from Dubai’s 5-star kitchens, what can food teach us about culture and community? Helen asks superstar chef, TV host and UN Food Security Advocate Andrew Zimmern. Plus, we find out who’s eating at Neighbourhood Food Hall (hint, he’s got a beard and you’d better be nice), and we talk festive desserts with Bateel Bakery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 hour 12 minutes | Friday, 19 December 2025
New research from McKinsey and Lean In has found women “want promotions less”, meanwhile, Zoe Ball is making headlines for leaning out to spend time with her family. Do we need to reframe how we view female ambition? Helen asks Anushka Kalyanpur DeLuca of Nannies & More and leadership expert Constanze Munz. Meanwhile, as new data from Betterhomes shows nearly 60 percent of UAE residents now plan to stay for over a decade, KCA’s Alex Elander-Phoenix explains how to foster a sense of belonging for our kids, their schools and our communities. Plus, Principal Lisa is on hand for an early-years ...
Movies, motherhood & (role)modelling
Afternoons with Helen Farmer

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