Inside Saudi Arabia

By Carly & Vesna

Before moving to Saudi Arabia, we searched everywhere for a glimpse of what everyday life would be like. Inside Saudi Arabia was born from that search — a podcast exploring culture, family, style,

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· Society & Culture

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The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.

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Number 1: Our Goodbye Episode...
This one is bittersweet. It is our goodbye episode. Carly and Vesna are back from summer and packing up their studio for the very last time. In this catch up they get into everything that went down over the break, the good, the dramatic, and the completely ridiculous. From the nanny who left the baby home alone and then did a runner, to a 300 year old house falling apart, kids catching 12 fish spearfishing in Greece, dogs that look like they got run over, and the honest truth about why they are outgrowing their Riyadh compound. Grateful for the last year and everything that came with it and ready for the next chapter. Plus a big tease about what is coming next. Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx CHAPTERS 0:00 Teaser 0:56 It's our goodbye episode 1:33 Why this is a new beginning 2:26 All good things come to an end 2:38 Coming back for year two, a different feeling 4:16 Carly's news: two months left, gave her notice 5:03 From a hobby to a real business 5:29 Carly's UK summer and the 300 year old house 7:04 The nanny who wore ball gowns 8:12 The nanny drama begins 9:14 She left the baby home alone 9:58 The nanny did a runner 10:44 Finding the new all rounder nanny 12:33 The dogs look like they got run over 13:25 The last day in the studio 13:49 Vesna's summer in Greece 16:39 The kids caught 12 fish 18:36 Setting up the apartment from scratch 20:07 Gyros and the Canadian accent 20:30 A summer of roaming free 22:44 Why we need outdoor space 24:29 Renting in Riyadh is insane 25:43 Outgrowing where we landed 28:54 Kids, dogs and needing more space 30:18 From a hobby to where we are now 31:09 What's next, a fan favorite guest 31:44 Signing off
September 01, 202632min
Number 2: From Goldman Sachs & KPMG to Saudi’s Biggest Modest Swim Partnership
How do you transition from the intense world of derivatives trading at Goldman Sachs and private client tax at KPMG to launching a global luxury swimwear brand? In this episode of Inside Saudi, we sit down with Katleya Nielsen and Ayesha Mahomed, the visionary founders of Lanuuk. They pull back the curtain on the "maternal shift" that led them to leave their 10-year corporate careers to solve a massive gap in the market: fashionable, high-quality modest swimwear. From packing orders on their living room floors to a landmark partnership with Aquarabia—Saudi Arabia's first and largest water theme park—Katleya and Ayesha share how they built a global empire with zero paid marketing. We dive into supply chain secrets, the reality of being "control-freak" founders, and how they are redefining luxury for the modern woman in Riyadh. What you’ll learn: How to pivot from high-finance/accounting into a creative industry. The strategy behind building a global brand through organic growth and zero ad spend. Sourcing sustainable fabrics in Turkey and managing craftsmanship in the Philippines. Identifying the massive retail gap for high-end modest swimwear in Saudi Arabia. Behind the scenes of the Aquarabia x Lanuuk partnership. Chapters: 00:00 Intro: The Goldman Sachs & KPMG Pivot 01:25 Meet the Founders: Katleya and Ayesha 03:30 The 10-Year Corporate Grind 05:40 The "Maternal Shift": Why We Left 08:45 The Problem: Why Modest Swimwear Didn't Exist 12:15 Manufacturing Secrets: The Philippines & Turkey 17:40 Scoping Riyadh: The Saudi Retail Gap 21:10 The Viral Blow-Up: $0 Ad Spend 32:20 "Control Freaks": Managing a Global Brand 41:10 Aquarabia: Saudi’s Biggest Modest Swim Partnership 47:00 Vogue & Organic PR
April 27, 202649min
Number 3: Beyond the Abaya — Fashion, Beauty & Modesty in Riyadh
When it comes to fashion and beauty in Saudi Arabia, nothing is quite what we expected. From abayas and modest dressing to beauty treatments that rival any global city, this episode is your inside look at how women express themselves in Riyadh today. We share what it’s really like to shop, dress, and feel good here — from lip blushing and luxury facials to nail salons, souk finds, and what we wish we’d packed (and what we really didn’t need). Join Carly and Vesna for a conversation that’s equal parts style, self-care, and cultural discovery — all Beyond the Abaya. Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction 01:48 — Dressing Differently in Saudi 04:55 — Semi-Permanent Beauty Treatments 06:12 — Riyadh’s Salon Scene 08:10 — Women-Only Spaces & Girls’ Days Out 08:55 — Million Dollar Facials & Lip Blushing 11:51 — Botox in Riyadh: What’s the Norm? 14:10 — Nails, Manicures & Local Trends 15:42 — Hot Beauty Tips We’ve Learned 17:29 — Fashion Finds & Souk Al Zal 18:49 — What Not to Pack for Riyadh 22:53 — What You Should Pack Instead 24:58 — Shops & Local Brands We Recommend 26:36 — Hot Fashion Tips to Live By
October 15, 202531min
Number 4: Wait, Why is Everyone Moving to Saudi Arabia?
This week on Inside Saudi, we’re diving into the question everyone keeps asking — why are so many families, expats, and professionals moving to Saudi Arabia right now? Carly and Vesna share their real-life story of finding out about the potential move, navigating contracts, visas, and goodbyes — from the moment they found out they might move, to flying out with kids (and dogs!) in tow. Expect honest insights, helpful visa tips, emotional moments, and everything in between. If you’re considering a move to Saudi — or just curious what life looks like behind the compounds — this one’s for you. You can watch the full video on our youtube channel Listen on Apple or Spotify And follow us on TikTok and Instagram Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:45 The moment we found out 4:43 The waiting game (contracts, visas & planning through unknowns) 7:52 Visa nightmares 11:30 Getting help from agencies 13:19 Our visa tips 13:55 Arriving on tourist visas 17:24 Juggling Carly’s job while maybe moving 19:33 Was it emotional to leave? 25:26 Flying the moms out 26:43 Sell it all 28:25 How we’re bringing the dogs 30:25 Agency timelines & tips 33:54 Checking contracts — can you leave the country?
October 08, 202542min
Number 5: Everything We Got Wrong About Saudi Arabia
When we first moved to Riyadh, we carried every misconception you can imagine: the heat, abayas, women’s freedom, whether our kids would settle, even if our dogs could adapt. In the first episode of Inside Saudi, we share what we thought life here would be like—and the reality instead. From our first Saudi National Day to shopping for abayas at Andulas Mall, it’s a mix of culture shock, surprises, and the moments that made us feel at home.
September 30, 202546min