Culture Bites

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal talk about global artists showing solidarity with Palestinians through music, with a focus on American rapper Macklemore, who released his new track Hind’s Hall this week. The song, inspired by student protests happening around the world, pays tribute to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in Gaza earlier this year. The hosts then discuss the Met Gala, one of the world's most glamorous events, commenting on this year’s dress code and the fashion choices of popular figures like Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian and Tyla. The conversation then turns to Netflix’s new Bollywood drama series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar by Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with hosts discussing what makes the series special, in terms of its location, storyline, costumes and filmmaking. Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, and watch the full episode on YouTube.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal start by talking about indoor season kicking off in the UAE, and all the activities and attractions that can be enjoyed in the country, with indoor theme parks, shopping malls and cultural centres. The hosts then turn their attention to jailed Palestinian author Basim Khandaqji, who was announced as the winner of the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel A Mask, the Colour of the Sky. They talk about the novel, how it was written from prison and what it represents. Enas, Farah and Maan then celebrate the selection of Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki as a jury member for the 77th Cannes Film Festival, sharing their favourite films directed by her. Lastly, the hosts dive into a conversation about Netflix's Baby Reindeer, a limited series that has become a major hit online since it had its premiere on April 11. They discuss the storyline, how it is based on true events and their thoughts about the dark show. Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, and watch the full episode on YouTube.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal discuss the impact of the intense rain and floods that hit the UAE last week, which was the country's largest recorded rainfall in 75 years, with significant disruption felt across the Emirates. They also highlight the community efforts to support those affected by the severe weather. The hosts then turn their attention to the Venice Biennale, the international art exhibition that takes place in the Italian city every two years. Maan spotlights the Arab representation, listing some of the regional artists and pavilions taking part. The hosts then dive into Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, which was released last week. Farah gives an enthusiastic rundown of notable themes and tracks on the surprise double album, and the trio share their overall impression and their favourite tracks. Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal start with a recap of the prestigious Dubai World Cup, held at Meydan Racecourse last week, chatting about the glamour and fashion highlights of one of Dubai's biggest showcases. The hosts turn their attention to Beyonce’s new album, Cowboy Carter, and discuss their favourite tracks on it as the artist ventures into country music. Farah and Maan then talk about Egyptian-American actor Ramy Youssef's groundbreaking appearance on Saturday Night Live, with an opening monologue that included anecdotes about Ramadan and moments of sincerity to use the platform to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Finally, with Eid celebrations around the corner, the hosts share their plans and traditions for the holiday, with Maan teaching Farah the different ways to say “Eid Mubarak” in Arabic and recommending places to visit and suggests ideas for gifts to bring when seeing family.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about theme parks, Lindsay Lohan's new film Irish Wish, the much-anticipated return of Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love book series and the pressure social media can put on mental health. After the news that the first Dragon Ball theme park will be built in Saudi Arabia, and will feature locations from the original Japanese anime TV series created in 1984, the hosts chat about other pop culture-themed parks in the region and Enas shares her impression of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which she recently visited for the first time. The hosts then talk about the news that English novelist Wilson is set to revive her Girls in Love book series. The popular collection of books originally revolved around the lives of three teenage girls, but will be updated and set in the present day, checking in with the main characters, now in their forties. They then discuss Selena Gomez’s latest comments about body image and mental health, reflecting back on her 2022 documentary My Mind & Me. Arts & Culture reporter Maan Jalal then joins the conversation to talk about the new Netflix movie Irish Wish, in which where Dubai-resident Lohan plays a book editor whose romantic dream comes true ... or does it? Maan also shares a rundown things you can do in the UAE this week, including the Stay a Little Longer Ramadan-themed nights at Alserkal Avenue.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about Mother's Day in the region, which is celebrated on March 21. Enas reflects on motherhood and why it’s important to celebrate mothers, and the hosts discuss statements on motherhood made by British star Lily Allen, who has spoken recently of how becoming a mum affected her music career. The hosts then talk about the first images of actor Timothee Chalamet in character as Bob Dylan on the set of A Complete Unknown, as filming began in New York this week. They discuss Chalamet’s outfit in the pictures, pondering if he looks like 19-year-old Dylan. Farah talks about the new Banksy artwork that has appeared this week on the side of a building in north London and the team discuss the fictional settings from film, television and literature that they would move to if they could. Arts and Culture reporter Maan Jalal then joins the conversation to recommend a list of books to read during Ramadan, including The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi and Minaret by Leila Aboulela. He also fills the hosts in on the television he watched during his time off.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews delve into the significance of Ramadan for Muslims worldwide, exploring its spiritual and communal aspects.   Enas shares her personal experience of fasting this year, and talks about Ramadan and the TV season in the Arab region, with a focus on popular soap operas and how people gather around it. Farah discusses the transformation of the UAE during the holy month, from adjusted working hours and cannon firing to late-night activities and suhoors.   The hosts talk about the Oscars earlier this week, and how some celebrities have shown their support for a ceasefire in Gaza by wearing Artists4Ceasefire pins. Farah chats about major highlights from the ceremony, from the winners to fashion statements.   Enas and Farah also talk about the fallout from Kate, Princess of Wales's Mother's Day photo with her children, which was published this week, and why international agencies took it down.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews share some highlights from the Culture Summit, which was held in Abu Dhabi this week, and how it brought together leaders from various countries from diverse backgrounds.   Enas also talks about her visit to the new Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, and the pieces showcased at the Echoes of the Orient exhibition. She also shares her thoughts on the minimalist design of the building.   Farah talks us through the Ambani pre-wedding extravaganza that took over the internet this week and shares her favourite fashion, jewellery and performance highlights from the star-studded multi-day event.   The hosts also pay tribute to maximalist fashion designer Iris Apfel who died this week aged 102 and discuss what she meant for the world of fashion and her legacy.

In this week's episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal are at Art Dubai to talk about the biggest art fair in the region and what to expect when it opens to the public. They also talk to Emirati artist Sarah Almehairi about Encounters, a new exhibition which is part of the Dubai Collection at the art fair. Maan also gets into Art Week across the UAE and the shows at Alserkal Avenue that opened this week.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews start with highlights of the 77th British Academy Film Awards, from red carpet appearances, to dresses made by regional designers and the artists showing solidarity with people affected by the conflicts in Gaza and Yemen. They also talk about Abu Dhabi hosting the Middle East premiere of Dune: Part Two, and discuss other movies filmed in Abu Dhabi such as Star Wars, Mission: Impossible 7 and Furious 7. Farah then dives into the internet buzz around the Spider-Man-adjacent Sony film, Madame Web. She navigates through the negative fan commentary online and the positive reviews from film critics, such as The National’s own review. Arts and Culture reporter Maan Jalal also joins the conversation to talk about The Circle Was a Point, a group exhibition at The Foundry presented by Barjeel Art Foundation and recalls what caught his eye at Ripe Market in Dubai.

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss how celebrities around the world are showing solidarity for Gaza on awards show red carpets, with many actors and actresses calling for a ceasefire. Stars who have spoken out about the war include American actor Mark Ruffalo and Spanish artists at the recent Goya Awards. The hosts also talk about Al Yamaniah, a new publication founded by Yemeni-British singer Noha Al Maghafi, aka Intibint, which spotlights Yemeni female creatives and aims to create a space for the work of established and upcoming artists. Enas and Farah then discuss Saltburn, a recently-released thriller comedy movie, sharing their impressions and rating it. They also enthuse over Netflix’s new limited series, One Day, and the trailer for Ariana Grande’s musical film Wicked. Arts and culture reporter Maan Jalal joins the conversation to talk about his favourite performances from Perform Sharjah, where 16 artists from diverse disciplines are giving a variety of live performances. He also lists some of the big names appearing this weekend at one of the UAE's most anticipated music festivals, Untold Dubai.

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about the Middle East Film and Comic Con, which is returning to Abu Dhabi from February 9 to 11. They share highlights from the line-up of celebrities who are expected to come to town for the pop culture convention, including American actor Oscar Isaac and English actress and Marvel’s Loki star Sophia Di Martino. Enas speaks about a film that caught her eye during Reel Palestine last weekend: Tomorrow’s Freedom, which features the story of Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti. Farah also talks about how this Palestinian film festival gathered a community of Arabs together, screening 12 feature films and offering space for social enterprises at the Reel Palestine Souq. The hosts also talk about the 2024 Grammy Awards, sharing their highlights from the ceremony and explaining why it was a record-breaking night for Taylor Swift. Arts and Culture reporter Maan Jalal joins the conversation to talk about exhibitions that have grabbed his attention in the UAE, including the Nika Project Space's fourth exhibition, I Can No Longer Produce the Limits of My Own Body, at Al Khayat Avenue.

In this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews are back in the hot seat together as they catch up after two weeks apart.   They discuss the Eurovision Song Contest and how the popular singing competition has a political history. Enas also tracks Palestine's history within the contest, which looks set to continue this year.   Enas and Farah then chat about the hit Netflix series Love is Blind, which is coming to the UAE with a new version, Love is Blind, Habibi. The hosts also discuss the real-life treasure hunt that is currently taking place in search of Amelia Earhart's missing plane.   Enas and Farah are then joined by Maan who gives a rundown on what he's been up to this week, including how he enjoyed Hamilton and what he is looking forward to at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2024.

For this week’s episode of the Culture Bites podcast, Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal are in a new location and are without Farah Andrews. Enas discusses her recent trip to Davos, where she rubbed shoulders with Jeff Bezos, and how she was blown away by a Turkish breakdancer. Enas and Maan then talk about Netflix's record subscriber numbers and the possible reasons why the streaming company has announced revenue of $8.8 billion. Sticking with films, they then chat about Reel Palestine, a festival that showcases Palestinian films at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai.   Enas and Maan also take a closer look at the Oscar nominations and, of course, the Barbie fallout, before giving their thoughts on Jimmy Kimmel, who will host this year's event.   Maan then gives a rundown on what he's up to in this episode's "Maan about Town", including Al Quoz Arts Fest in Dubai.

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal discuss the cancellation of Palestinian artist Samia Halaby’s first US retrospective, which was set to showcase more than 30 works from her career.   They also talk about the first Saudi Arabian grand opera, which will be staged in April and is inspired by ancient folktale Zarqa Al Yamama, about a woman blessed with foresight who unsuccessfully warns her tribe of imminent danger.   During the episode, Farah interviews Jason Arrow, the actor playing the leading role in hit Broadway musical Hamilton, which made its Middle East debut this week in Abu Dhabi.   Farah and Maan also shared their highlights from this week's Emmy Awards ceremony, commenting on the most notable wins (and red carpet looks).

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews discuss their recent trip to watch Mariah Carey's performance on the first night of the Saadiyat Nights concert series. Enas and Farah were blown away by the American singer's voice and the intimate venue's atmosphere. The hosts also talk about the Golden Globes, the fallout from Jo Koy's Barbenheimer jokes and the inevitable memes that come from awards ceremonies. The focus then turns to the Brunei royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, the son of the Sultan of Brunei, and his longtime girlfriend Anisha Rosnah. They discuss the cultural traditions followed during the 10-day event and speculate over which international royals will attend the final banquet. Arts and culture reporter Maan Jalal joins the hosts to talk about Syrian artist Tammam Azzam and his digital art that is being showcased at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. Maan also gives his top three tips for movies and books of 2024, before chatting about Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize winner Luke Leafgren.

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews catch up and discuss how they celebrated the New Year and their resolutions for 2024. Farah also shares her excitement about awards season, which kicks off next week. From the Golden Globes, on January 7, to the Academy Awards in March, Farah details all the must-know dates, events and predictions for the next few months. Enas and Farah then chat about Mickey Mouse, as the character enters the public domain, They explain what that means for him and who might be the next character to face a deadly reinvention. The hosts are then joined by arts and culture reporter Maan Jalal, who takes them on a conceptual art journey as he talks about Afra Al Dhaheri, a young Emirati artist who is showcasing her work at Alserkal Avenue.

In this special year-end episode of Culture Bites podcast, regular hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews are joined this time by arts and culture reporter Maan Jalal for a delightful conversation on the best of 2023, and lots of recommendations. The trio dive into their favourite reads and titles that left a lasting impression, including Yellowface, Careering and Down the Drain. They also share the films and TV shows that captured their hearts, including Succession, Barbie, The Bear and The Boy and the Heron. Enas, Farah and Maan also highlight their favourite galleries and exhibitions and the masterpieces that moved them, including Iraqi-Kurdish artist Hayv Kahraman's Gut Feelings: Part II. Listing their favourite music albums and pieces from the year from Fred Again, Jessie Ware and Reuben McIntyre, the hosts also consider the quirkiest and most unusual stories that graced the headlines in 2023.

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about Christmas in the UAE as Enas, despite growing up in the Middle East, is spending her first festive season in the country, while Farah has been celebrating the occasion in the UAE since 1997. Farah has also shared a list of Christmas films; the good, the bad and the ugly.   The hosts share their excitement for American singer Mariah Carey’s anticipated performance in Abu Dhabi in January. They also talk about Brad Pitt’s 60th birthday and look back at some of his career highlights.   Arts and culture reporter Maan Jalal joins Enas and Farah to talk about Netflix’s reality TV show Dubai Bling, which stirred controversy among Arab and international viewers for apparently depicting stereotypes about the region. The discussion also reflects an argument about the show highlighting the diversity of Arab culture, dialect and tradition.

n this week’s episode of Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews talk about Succession actor Brian Cox and his stunning reading of If I Must Die, a poem by the Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer. The hosts also talk about Denzel Washington's casting as Hannibal, which has sparked a huge debate in Tunisia. Enas gives her review of Naga, a new film on Netflix by director Meshal Al Jaser. The film is set in Saudi Arabia and explores a father/daughter relationship that is pushed to the limits and the vengeance of a vigorous camel. There's a significant Tinseltown milestone that Enas and Farah discuss, as the hosts wish the Hollywood sign a very happy birthday. Art is also on this week's agenda as Art Basel Miami Beach closed on Sunday, marking the end of the biggest art market week in North America, reporting significant sales from regional artists.