Yalla Habibi

We’re back in the jungle for episode 69 as our Laos cabin is serving major haunted energy. From fans that scream when you turn the lights on to mysterious late-night knocks on the door, Shelby’s ready to bail to a resort while Scott somehow thinks it’s “friendly vibes.” We chat wild encounters (including one very bold lizard), dinosaurs that turn out to be vegan badasses, and the mind-bending idea that science might not be as certain as we think. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we unpack a world headline that blurs the line between innovation and insanity, and “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” reminds us that even the wild can surprise you with a moment of pure kindness.

Scott's WTF of the Week

🤖 Albania Appoints the World’s First AI-Made Minister

📅 Thursday 11th September 2025

🔗Article >> https://www.politico.eu/article/albania-apppoints-worlds-first-virtual-minister-edi-rama-diella/

Video >> https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_pFySgUxJ/?img_index=2&igsh=dGtjNGZuaGFyNmQ4

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

🐶🐨 Man Shocked to Find His Dog Giving a Baby Koala a Piggyback Ride

📅 Sunday 5th October 2025

🔗⁠Article>>>https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/guy-was-shocked-to-find-his-dog-giving-a-baby-koala-a-piggyback-ride/⁠

Photos>>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1555390584700274/posts/4191795074393132/

Chapters

(00:00) - Welcome and Introduction

(01:12) - A freaky Airbnb

(09:09) - Dinosaur facts (kind of)

(17:43) - Laos' got loads of bugs

(23:26) - Scotts WTF of the Week

(34:57) - Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

---------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe

If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we ask you to please consider any or all of these: Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share and leave a short Review? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.

- "Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!"

Watch Our Shorts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠

---------------------------------------------------------------

Transcript Keyword Summary
Yalla Habibi, Podcast, Episode 69, Travel Podcast, Laos, Luang Prabang, Jungle Cabin, Haunted Airbnb, Backpacker Story, Jungle Adventure, Wildlife Encounter, Monitor Lizard, Termites, Snakes, Camping Trip, Hiking in Laos, Southeast Asia Travel, Cultural Travel, Funny Travel Stories, Couple Travel Podcast, Relationship Banter, Adventure Travel, Expat Life, Scott, Shelby, Dinosaur Facts, Jurassic Period, Cretaceous Period, Science Chat, Vegan Dinosaurs, Weird Facts, AI Minister, Artificial Intelligence, Tech Ethics, Innovation, Government Corruption, Albania News, “Scott’s WTF of the Week”, “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only”, Kuang Si Waterfalls, Golden Deer Legend, Buffalo Ice Cream, Australian Wildlife, Baby Koala Story, Feel-Good News, Kindness, Real Travel Experiences, Jungle Life, Travel Mishaps, Funny Podcast Moments, Curiosity, Humour and Insight

Transcript Quotes

"A T-Rex wouldn't even entertain trying to eat a Triceratops because they'd usually lose that fight."

"There's some badass vegans from millions of years ago."

"Shelby's worst nightmare happened ... at 9pm someone knocked on our door"

"There's definitely something on this ground right in front of us...how are we gonna get through here?"

We came for the art and stayed for the chaos, in praise of the weird and wonderful creativity of David Choe, before freefalling into our travels through Laos. Visa headaches and awful currency conversions, a total internet blackout that forced us to improvise like cavemen, bakeries that somehow forget to sell bread and supermarkets that are optical illusions. Scott recounts his moped crash, it sounds bad, but honestly it’s more like Jay riding a motorbike for the first time in The Inbetweeners. Shelby goes face first into the largest spider we have ever seen, and our Airbnb nightmares escalate from exploding water pipes to mouldy damp and a house literally running off a caravan battery while ants and rolling power cuts keep us on our toes. In "Scott’s WTF of the Week" we tease a bizarre real life story about someone living where you would least expect, and in "Shelby’s Good Vibes Only" we introduce a local hero whose unconventional way of rewarding kids for their hard work is guaranteed to make you smile, and finally in our “Travel Segment” we share our raw first impressions of Lao.

Scott's WTF of the Week

🏠 Man Arrested for Allegedly Living in Crawl Space of Oregon Home

📅 Sunday 7th September 2025

🔗 ⁠https://news.sky.com/story/man-arrested-for-allegedly-living-in-crawl-space-of-oregon-housing-complex-13426044

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

🍎 Bodega Owner Gives Kids Free Food for Good Grades: “I Like Seeing the Smile on Their Faces”

📅 Tuesday 13th May 2025

🔗https://www.today.com/food/people/bodega-owner-free-food-kids-good-grades-rcna206372

Chapters

(00:00) - Welcome and Introduction

(03:16) - Arrival Experience in Laos

(09:50) - Challenges of Daily Life in Laos

(16:11) - Embracing Travel Challenges

(23:27) - Accommodation Issues in Laos

(27:08) - Scotts WTF of the Week

(34:53) - Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

(38:19) - Travel Segment

(42:53) - Closing Thoughts and Future Adventures

---------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe

If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we ask you to please consider any or all of these: Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share and leave a short Review? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.

- "Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!"

Watch Our Shorts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

---------------------------------------------------------------

Transcript Keyword Summary

Yalla Habibi, Podcast, Episode 68, Travel, Laos, Luang Prabang, Visa, Airbnb, Jungle, Mountains, National Parks, Hiking, Camping, Moped, Southeast Asia, Local Culture, Community, Adventure, Humour, Personal Reflections, Scott, Shelby, Shopping, Buddhist, David Choe, Drop Dead Fred, Ricky Stanicky, Beetlejuice, Scott's WTF of the Week, Shelby's Good Vibes Only, Travel Segment

Transcript Quotes

"We filled in the form on the plane and got in the queue and then she said, no you've got to fill in a different form as well… it was really long and confusing."

"If you zoom out from where we are, you see this tiny dot of population and then it's just mountainous jungle for hundreds of miles. This is probably the most remote we've been."

"It's like if you inherited a cabin off in the jungle that no one's been to for 20 years… mold, damp, power outages, super slippy outside but it has its quirks."

"Everyone's so confident on their bikes here… there's no patiently waiting, you just have to go for every gap, and that makes it intimidating for a beginner like me."

"You wouldn't be able to do a weekly shop in the supermarket; you need to stop at multiple places – fruit and veg market, bakery – just to get what you need."

"A bodega owner in Staten Island rewards kids who bring in their report cards with free snacks, cash, and smiles – he says, 'I like seeing the smile on their faces, it makes me happy."

We discuss the nuance of traveling safely in countries that face extreme weather, political unrest, or unexpected events that could put you in harm’s way. We share how we navigate those moments when locals make you feel silly for being cautious because they’re so used to it, and we share real stories of how that mindset has actually saved us from dodging missiles in Jordan to surviving the strongest typhoon of 2025 in Vietnam. We laugh about our bizarre couple synchronicity where both of us always seem to need the bathroom at the same time, and ask our audience if there are other couples out there that have similar quirks. We also discuss a bizarre pattern we have noticed wherever we travel. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we discuss the Strictly Come Dancing curse, peeling back the curtain with real stats, whilst  in “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” we share a milestone medical achievement that could cut childhood asthma attacks by 45%. In our “Travel Segment” we share our favourite and least favourite thing about Vietnam, What's something you need to know before you go? and Overall, would we recommend it? Finally, we debut our new segment “Vegan Voyagers,” where we decide whether the latest country we visited (Vietnam) earns our unofficial vegan seal of approval. We rate each question from 1 to 5 - How easy is it to find vegan options? How tasty is the vegan food? How affordable is the vegan food? and we tell you the one dish you must try.  

1 – Bad

• Accessibility: Hardly any vegan options around

• Taste: Food is poor, bland, or unappealing

• Cost: Extremely expensive compared to non-vegan food.

5 – Excellent

• Accessibility: Vegan food is everywhere, no effort needed

• Taste: Delicious, high-quality meals across the board

• Cost: Very affordable, cheaper or equal to standard food.

Scott WTF of the Week

💃🕺 The Strictly Curse: Love, Scandals & Spin Turns

📅 Sunday 28th September 2025

🔗 https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/2-in-1-inhaler-reduces-asthma-attacks-in-children-by-45-shows-new-study/

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

💨 New Inhaler Cuts Childhood Asthma Attacks by 45%

📅 Sunday 28th September 2025

🔗https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a68001645/harry-styles-berlin-marathon-stats/⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vegan Voyagers

🔗 https://www.happycow.net/reviews/tam-khoi-vegetarian-foods-hanoi-428821#i=3015514&t=0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

We have traveled to 40+ beautiful countries and counting, but this place we recently explored has to be one of the most stunning we have ever visited. It truly stole our breath away, and it also happens to be the film set of the famous Kong Island. We also share a hilarious translation mix up that ended in a perfectly awkward moment. Then things get serious, fast: AI literally saves our lives by pointing us to the safest spot to survive Typhoon Ragasa and Typhoon Bualoi, the world’s strongest typhoons of 2025! They tore through the region with mass evacuations, power cuts and devastating floods. We were so focused on staying in the safest room AI recommended that we actually denied a free upgrade to a deluxe room. We unpack what worked, what nearly went wrong, and the surreal balance of beauty and danger when travelling—asking, is it worth the risk? In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we tease a weird but science backed heart hack involving hot baths, and in “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” we share how Harry Styles breaks limits in a category you would never expect.

Scott WTF of the Week

🛁 Hot Baths May Boost Heart Health

📅 Friday 12th September 2025

🔗 ⁠⁠Medical Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-26908-1

🔗 Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOfviPijRCo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

🏃‍♂️ Harry Styles Breaks 3 Hours at Berlin Marathon

📅 Sunday 21st September 2025

🔗 https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a68001645/harry-styles-berlin-marathon-stats/ ⁠⁠

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

Meet Wells Jones, a man who has lived more lives than most people have passports. He walks us through three seasons on the Antarctic pararescue team during Operation Deep Freeze, technical glacier climbs and the 1977 free fall over the South Pole that made him only the seventh person to do it. We then flip to Hollywood tales from Broadway to film sets with Johnny Depp, Anthony Hopkins and Margot Robbie that include laugh out loud and jaw dropping moments. We dig into his 1,100 mile trek from Jeddah to Damascus retracing T.E. Lawrence's journey from 1916 to 1918 during the Arab Revolt. We also discuss how that journey became the Amazon bestseller A Line in the Sand, born from 39 checkpoints and desert shocks that changed him, and why he believes the Middle East is far more generous than its headlines suggest. We explore what in his childhood sparked this appetite for adventure and the lessons risk taught him about creativity and courage. Finally, in our "Quick Fire Segment" we squeeze out the best and most shocking bits of Wells Jones's life, from his coldest Antarctic moment to the celebrity who surprised him most.

Below you’ll find how to connect with the guest and explore the exciting work they’re doing.

Wells Jones 

Miles Spencer (Co author of “A Line in The Sand” and Wells Jones adventure buddy)

A Line in The Sand 

Reflekta.AI

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

In this episode, we explore the bustling streets of Hanoi, Vietnam, and engage in a serious discussion about the ethics of bartering in less developed countries. Is it fair to haggle when you're already getting a great deal, or is it taking advantage? Plus, discover why getting the pronunciation of 'Pho'—a popular Vietnamese noodle dish—wrong could lead to an unexpected misunderstanding. We also give you a sneak peek into an upcoming exciting guest podcast interview with Wells Jones, an extraordinary Antarctic explorer and actor, whose tales of adventure and resilience are not to be missed. In "Scott's WTF of the Week," prepare for a very British culinary marvel involving a record-breaking creation that will leave you amazed. Meanwhile, "Shelby's Good Vibes Only" highlights a groundbreaking initiative in New Mexico that promises to bring positive change to all families.

Scott WTF of the Week

🥚 British Chefs Whip Up World’s Largest Scotch Egg

📅 Wednesday 16th July 2025

🔗 ⁠https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/07/16/Guinness-World-Records-largest-scotch-egg/1951752684454/⁠

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

👶 New Mexico Offers Free Childcare for All

📅 Wednesday 10th September 2025

🔗 ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/09/new-mexico-free-universal-childcare⁠

🔗 The Viral Chanel Video

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Uz7AxcTrs⁠

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

After six hours of frantic packing, fourteen hours of travel, and a grand total of nine hours of sleep in two days, we finally touched down in Vietnam running on fumes but buzzing with excitement. We share the full journey on the episode. Then we turn to something many of you probably wonder, what it actually feels like to quit your job. Shelby puts Scott in the hot seat two months after his resignation and his raw reflections on freedom, identity, and unexpected challenges even catch her off guard. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we dig into the creeping reality of governments wanting to scan your private messages, and in “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” we spotlight a groundbreaking programme inside Scottish prisons that is reconnecting families in ways that are moving. Finally in our “Travel Segment” we give our unfiltered first impressions of Vietnam.

Scott WTF of the Week

📱EU to Scan Private Messages and UK Faces Backlash Over Online Safety Act

📅 Wednesday 6th August

🔗 ⁠⁠https://dig.watch/updates/eu-proposal-to-scan-private-messages-gains-support

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

👨‍👧 Scottish Prisons Help Fathers Reconnect with Kids

📅 Tuesday 2nd September 2025

🔗 https://www.positive.news/society/scottish-prisons-lead-the-way-with-fathers-programme/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

We share an exciting travel update that’s going to bring lots more travel stories to the podcast. We tackle the scary truth about locally brewed spirits in Southeast Asia and why you really need to be aware. Then we lighten the mood, laughing at the reality that if you’re 30+ and British, your parents probably have a glass of wine every night, but don’t worry, we’re not calling them alcoholics. Next, we recount our first Indian wedding, wow, what an incredible experience! Shoes get stolen for money, brothers tug of war to prove who wears the trousers, speeches teeter between touching and risky, the outfits are stunning, and the after party is pure chaos. We also put our relationship to the test with a fun game you can play at home: Scott guesses three items that would be sold in the souvenir shop of the museum about Shelby’s life, and Shelby does the same for Scott. Will we agree? In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we explore a once-rare allergic condition now rising across the US that can suddenly make you vegan, and in “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” we share the story of a woman who refused to get engaged until she found her own ethically sourced diamond, a quest that took three weeks in the blistering heat at the world’s only public diamond mine.

Scott WTF of the Week 

🌱 Woman Forced to Go Vegan After Overnight Allergy From Tick Bite

📅 Wednesday 27th August

🔗 ⁠https://nypost.com/2025/08/27/health/im-vegan-against-my-will-after-a-developing-a-meat-allergy-overnight/

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

💎Woman Digs for 3 Weeks to Unearth Her Own Engagement Ring Diamond

📅 Monday 25th August

🔗 https://nypost.com/2025/08/27/health/im-vegan-against-my-will-after-a-developing-a-meat-allergy-overnight/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

Scott takes us off grid this week with his wild camping adventure, where ditching screens and stress somehow turned into a full reset for his mind, body and even his skin. We get into what really happens when you switch off completely and why a few days in nature might be the cure you did not know you needed. We play a hilarious new game, “Lyric or Line” where Scott has to figure out if the words came from My Chemical Romance or Nicolas Cage… and trust us, it is way harder than you would think. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we dive into the jaw dropping story of a man you have never heard of who is on the verge of accomplishing a feat no human has ever achieved. While “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” introduces us to the oldest woman alive and her life advice that will change your perspective on everything.

Scott WTF of the Week 

🚶‍♂️ Man Walking the World Nears Finish Line

📅 August 2025

🔗 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2e30mxnmxdo

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

🎂 Happy Birthday to Britain’s Oldest Ever Person

📅 Thursday 21st August 2025

🔗 https://news.sky.com/story/happy-birthday-to-britains-oldest-ever-person-13415456

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠

In this episode, we uncover the secret musical pitch hidden in every room and how humming the right note can unlock incredible natural acoustics, a trick architects have harnessed since the Roman Colosseum. We also settle the Lidl versus Aldi debate. Which bargain giant truly deserves the crown? Come and debate with us. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we dive into how lava lamps are helping secure your internet. Whilst in “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” we share the first ever Michelin star for a street food vendor, a mouthwatering underdog proving that sometimes the simplest things shine the brightest.

Scott WTF of the Week 🧑‍💻 How Do Lava Lamps Help with Internet Encryption?

🔗 https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/lava-lamp-encryption/

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only

🌮 First Taco Stand in Mexico to Win a Michelin Star

📅 Tuesday 14th May 2024

🔗 https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/first-mexican-taco-stand-to-ever-receive-a-michelin-star-shows-how-less-is-so-often-more/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe, follow along, and join us as we navigate the exciting and unpredictable waters of podcasting. Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!

WATCH OUR SHORTS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠