Afternoons with Helen Farmer

With the rise of ChatGPT and as end-of-term rolls around, many parents are questioning how much of that glowing paragraph about resilience and curiosity was actually penned by a human.  Joining us is Zaineb Mahdi, Cluster Lead for Digital Technology and Innovation at GEMS Education, to talk AI, authenticity, and what the future of school feedback might look like.

We’re also exploring the rise of the ‘good‑enough job’ with career guidance practitioner Shazia Bharuchi, why it works for some, when it becomes a trap for others, and how to know if it’s serving your goals or silently stalling your growth. 

Is it true that cheese gives you nightmares? And are we all a little bit dairy intolerant whether we know it or not? From bloating to bedtime bellyaches, we’re tackling the gut-related myths doing the rounds online with Dr. Mazin Rasool Aljabiri, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist at Mediclinic.

And are weighted vests worth the hype? Keith O’Malley Farrell, personal trainer and co-founder of The Training Room and The Physical Training Company, joins Helen live in studio – weighted vest in hand – to separate the muscle from the myth.

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We're talking about a trending mental health tool known as a dopamine menu – a simple yet science-backed way to reset your brain, refocus your attention, and feel good doing it. Our guests Dani Hakim, a fierce neurodiversity advocate living with ADHD, and Anna Kaminski, founder of NeuroKinds, are here to unpack how tools like this are shifting the conversation around productivity, energy, and mental wellbeing – not just for those who are neurodivergent, but for everyone.

We speak with Anna Pollock, Founder of Conscious Travel about responsible travel and if the problem when it comes to overtourism is just too many people or the model of tourism itself.

How are rising costs and climate concerns reshaping summer trips for UAE residents? Travel Counsellor Louise Wrankmore is on hand to assist.

And on our Psychology Hour, we're exploring the science behind hope, how it differs from blind optimism, and why cultivating it might be one of the most powerful tools for mental wellbeing with Dr Thoraiya Kanafani from the Human Relations Institute and Clinics.

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We know mental health and money are linked-- but it's not always the way you think. We're joined by finance coach Beth Clay and clinical psychologist Ali Ilyas.

Illegal room partitions are being dismantled across Dubai, but what exactly counts as an illegal partition? Lawyer Devanand Mahadeva tells us what the law says, and he answers your questions on our property law clinic.

A new UK-developed test is offering fresh hope to women experiencing the heartbreak of recurrent miscarriage. OB Gynaecologist Dr Samina Dornan is on hand to explain.

And Haus & Haus' Sarah King discusses women and property investment in the UAE.

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If you're still scrambling for ideas on what to do and where to dine this long weekend, we've got you covered!

From quality but affordable dishes, indoor experiences, staycations to movies and series to binge watch, this is what you need to have a relaxing and enjoyable Fri-Sat-Sun!

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Research shows that kids can lose 20 to 30% of their academic progress over the summer months - something educators call the summer slide. Occupational therapist Adam Griffiths has 99 ideas to stop it – while three unique summer camps also tell us what they have to offer.

Meanwhile, a new study has found a third of Americans are waking up already exhausted, leading to a productivity crisis in the workplace – and many wasted weekends. Heather Darwall-Smith, author of How To Be Awake So You Can Sleep Through the Night, tells us how to get more shut-eye.

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From new roadside cameras to flashes above the carriageway, what are all these new tools on our roads capturing – and what could they be catching you at? Helen asks Emirati road safety consultant Dr Mustafa Aldah.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s 2025 work trend index report has found that many workers are grappling with a never off culture, interrupted by 270 notifications a day. Workplace culture experts Jessica Elom Ogbodo and Danielle Blizzard say there’s a better way. 

We also talk pet relocation with specialist Kirsty Kavanagh, and learn more about the UAE’s new early year’s Arabic programme with Amira Salem, Head of Curriculum at Jumeirah International Nurseries.

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This weekend, Dubai will host RUNIT 02, the latest event in a controversial collision sport that's attracting headlines, safety concerns and viral popularity.

Helen is joined by the event's Head of Delegation, Lou Sticca - and hears the safety concerns of Matthew Pewtner, a former Wales rugby international who retired at 26 due to a head injury.

Elsewhere, with so many of us glued to our phones amid regional unrest, experts are warning of the risk of parental 'phubbing' - when we snub our kids and scroll instead. Dr Sarah Rasmi joins Helen with her advice on how to find a balance.

And as new research shows women in the Middle East are helping drive a global surge in spending power, yet nearly half say brands just don’t get them. Financial experts Sophia Bhatti and Carol Glynn break it down in studio.

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From a major passwords data breach to spying speakers, how do we stay safe when technology is in every corner of our lives? We ask The Kernal’s Rami Kayali and tech journalist Nick Rego. As for those appliances ticking over in an empty house, We Will Fix It’s Colin Thomson has all the info you need on how to prepare your property ahead of any travels.

Meanwhile, Haus & Haus’s Clementine Munro is here to talk property renovation, and lawyer Madeleine Mendy answers all of your questions regarding travelling with kids, whether you’re married, separated or divorced…

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Filipino food is bold, fun, packed with flavour, and now it’s finally getting the love it deserves in Dubai – largely thanks to the one man culinary campaign of Kooya's Chef JP Anglo.

Plus, two of the city’s most inventive third-culture chefs, Hadrien Villedieu of Chez Wam & Solemann Haddad of Moonrise, tell us why they're joining forces. And Samantha Wood, AKA Foodiva, is on hand to talk all things 50 Best...

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Researchers have released the most wide-ranging research to date about vaginal v C-section birth outcomes - but what can we learn from it? Helen is joined by Consultant OBGYN Dr. Samina Dornan.

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, Meta, TikTok & Snap have ALL unveiled new policies aimed at making social media safer for teens here in the UAE. But what does it mean in reality – and what do parents need to know? Philippa Wraithmell from EdRuption has all the answers…

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