Afternoons with Helen Farmer

From credit cards and car loans to family expectations back home, getting into debt in Dubai can be easier than getting out of it. Helen hears one worker’s debt story – and gets advice from the experts. 
Meanwhile, as a new survey finds 45% of Gen Z workers want a job with more social interaction, has the appeal of remote working waned? 

And if you’re finding it challenging to get your kids to pull their weight at home, we discuss weaponised incompetence – and how to rid your home of it…

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Multiple European countries have now enshrined children’s rights to digital privacy in law. But what does the law in the UAE say? Lawyer Dino Wilkinson and digital educator Philippa Wraithmell advise.

Plus, we discuss those robot womb hoax posts, Serena Williams’ new campaign for weight loss jabs, and Dr T is on hand to discuss the emergence of a ‘new’ personality type.

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Feeling like the holiday buzz just won’t fade? Is the quiet house making you wonder where your kids—and your energy—went? Join Jen Crichton as she unravels whether what you're experiencing is just seasonal slump—or a sign it’s time for a deeper life reset.

Shazia Bharuchi, Career Guidance Practitioner, and Rhiannon Downie‑Hurst, business coach, break down how to return to routine without letting those “post-holiday blues” spiral into something more.

Rhian Lindley, The Positive Divorce Coach, dives into the complex emotions of empty nest syndrome—why this new chapter can bring both grief and freedom, and how to support your children even as you find your own footing.

Julie Mallon, sleep expert from Nurture To Sleep, shares practical insights on how recalibrating sleep habits can transform mornings, and Clementine Munro from Haus & Haus discusses how navigating traffic and the school run can even influence where you choose to live.

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From movies and TV to live music and, of course, the city's best food, Helen has everything you need to know as we head into Dubai's busiest season...

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Quiet quitting made headlines, but now there’s a more worrying workplace trend– quiet cracking. It’s the breaking point employees reach when financial pressure means they can’t walk away, and HR expert Rohini Gill says it’s on the rise…

Plus, Adam the OT has all the advice you need for navigating back to school anxieties.

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It’s hard to see how arguing could save your marriage, but one lawyer is so convinced it could, he’s written a whole book about it – called If You're in My Office, It's Already Too Late. So, what can it teach us? Sarah Rasmi from Thrive Wellbeing Centre and family lawyer Madeleine Mendy weigh in. 

Plus, we discuss Denzel Washington’s blast on cancel culture, and the Dubai Hair Doctor is with us for a hair loss clinic…

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From world-changing kids to pastel-colored debt to a culture stuck on refresh—this episode of Afternoons with Helen Farmer dives into the contradictions shaping 2025.

We begin with AlDhabi AlMheiri, the 11-year-old Emirati changemaker behind the world’s first AI academy for kids. Her mission? To make tech ethical, inclusive, and accessible—especially for girls.

Next: why is debt now wrapped in soft colors and influencer aesthetics? We unpack the hidden risks of Buy Now, Pay Later culture with financial planner Michele Carby, and hear from Mei, a Filipina expat navigating the fallout of a 7,000 AED loan.

Finally, we ask: what happens when a summer has no defining vibe? No anthem, no blockbuster—just vibes and brain rot. Is it a cultural crisis, or a break from the hype machine? We hear from Afroz Nawaf, Film Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai, and Amanda Hoover, the Business Insider journalist who coined the term "Summer Brain Rot."

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Join Jen Crichton for a compelling conversation on caring across generations and borders.

Discover what’s behind the rise in eating disorders among UAE children (as young as eight) and how experts like Aisling Oslizlok and Liam Kelly are responding. 

Then, explore the emotional challenges expats face when supporting ageing parents from afar with therapeutic coach Anne Jackson and finance coach Jay Adrian Tolentino. 

We’ll also unpack the pressures of overexercise culture with trainer Rory Brown, and debunk the biggest myths Dubai property investors need to know featuring insights from Haus & Haus Sales Director Tom Poulson.

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Chef Alexandros Sperxos joins Jen Crichton to share what it’s like to lead The Dish, one of twelve unique concepts at Culinara Social Dining, perched 100 metres above the city in the world’s highest food hall. On the ground, Mazlum Topcu, co-founder of The Banc, explains how the new Mini Bancer weight-loss–friendly menu offers high-protein, smaller portions to accommodate changing appetites.

Meanwhile, the trailer for Season Two of the Netflix show With Love, Meghan was just released. And it’s the moment revealing that Prince Harry doesn’t like lobster that’s really getting people talking. So, on the show, we delve on the topic of fussy eating with occupational therapist Tara Connolly.

Plus, we explore eco-fashion initiatives with Jennifer Sault of Thrift For Good, and learn about environmentally friendly floristry from Kat Legaspi, founder of Raya Flora.

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The UAE job market is buzzing with opportunities, but standing out takes more than just a polished CV. Join us as Mollie Powell, Founder & Managing Director of Pink Camel Recruitment, shares insider tips to get noticed in a competitive job market.

We also sit down with Mark Samways, Director of Wellbeing & Counselling Psychologist at The Free Spirit Collective, to explore how schools abroad are successfully teaching empathy, the surprising benefits for academic performance and social skills, and practical ways parents can nurture empathy at home.

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