The Off Script Podcast

The UAE's alternative take on news, entertainment and sport. With personality aplenty, this is a show designed to cross the opinion divide - whose side are you on? Join Chris, Robbie and Sonal as they cut through the clutter to bring you the news, entertainment and sport stories that actually matter. With topical talk, big name guests and a strong sideline in humour, prepare to veer Off Script on your drive home commute.

THE GLITCH #193

This is the story of Dan Saunders - the Australian bartender who found an ATM "glitch" and went on to blow... $1.6million! Off Script tracked down the man himself to hear this remarkable story in his own words. The loophole, his five months of partying and what eventually became of him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

05-22
23:46

THE TEAM MEMBER WHO RUNS THE PHONE BATTERY GAUNTLET #192

Can you guess which Off Script team member is always on 8% phone battery? We go behind the scenes on one of the craziest movies ever conceived, and (back by popular demand) we take a second bite of the 'band name origin' cherry.Were you hit by the Modi viral WhatsApp in Dubai? Not everyone in the studio was.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03-21
37:34

OPENING SCENES, GENIUS PRANKS AND OUTSMARTING ZOMBIES #191

The “How To” podcast you never asked for: how to create a winning opening scene for your movie, how to prank like a boss, and how to survive a zombie apocalypse in Dubai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03-16
48:15

THE BEACH BOYS AND THE CULT LEADER #190

We can imagine it’s very hard to make friends when you’re the drummer for one of the biggest bands in the world in the 1960s but we still cannot endorse welcoming a cult into your home. Also, no matter how much you know about the real Cleopatra, the story behind Elizabeth Taylor’s 1963 portrayal is wonderfully salacious, strap yourself in for a very off script Off Script!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03-14
37:51

WHY HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH? WHY NOT? #189

It turns out the origin story of your favourite (well some people’s favourite) 90s band names isn’t as romantic or creative as you might have thought. We also take a look at this year’s Academy Awards’ Best Director a man who places importance on collaborating and will not tolerate UGG boots!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03-11
28:44

THE PODCAST YOU CAN'T REFUSE #188

Robbie answers a question you never ever pondered, Sonal gives Amelia Earhart the “How They Made It” treatment and we celebrate one of the best sequels ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02-08
35:25

POWER BALLADS, THE SPEECH THAT MADE OBAMA AND MIND READING #187

It's rare that a guest in the studio knocks Sonal, Chris and Robbie off their feet, so to have two at the same time do it is pretty special. Martin and Sylar popped in to speak to the gang about their show 'Evening of Wonders' at the Theatre by QE2. Robbie delves into the speech that made Barack Obama, and Producer Rog brings on all the nostalgia with a look at the rise and fall of the 80s power ballad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02-06
46:17

THE RETURN OF SHARK CONTENT ON OFF SCRIPT FINALLY! #186

 Robbie, Sonal and Chris get excited about another Reality TV Show having a Dubai revival. They reflect on the life and times of the man behind the book behind the first ever blockbuster - Jaws. They feature some of the best (some would say worst) break up letters, and get ready for some brilliantly cutting writing, and Robbie rolls out Fact or Fiction again, can he hoodwink super sleuths Chris and Sonal this week?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-31
52:19

TIKTOK TALK AND NO GO SONGS FOR DONALD #185

Sonal, Robbie and Rog debut a brand new Off Script feature! "In The News" is a hard-hitting take on the stories dominating the headlines, the first item on the agenda is the ubiquitous Stanley Cup. TikTok has a language of its own and Sonal gives it a go. In '5 things in 5 minutes' Robbie takes slightly longer than 5 minutes to detail 5 recording artists that have given Donald Trump a big no-no about using their music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-28
26:42

HOW TO MAKE A ONE SHOT FILM #184

Chris, Sonal and Robbie find out how Sam Mendes crafted the war epic 1917 - in just one take.  We unpack the story of DB Cooper as the net closes on one of history's most notorious thieves - in the long awaited return of Off Script Mysteries. In honour of her visit to Expo City Dubai Sonal takes a look at the life and career of Jane Goodall who revolutionized both our understanding of our closest relative - and of the natural world itself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-26
39:52

PUBLIC SNUBBINGS AND THE TRUTH ABOUT VIKINGS #183

When we found out that potatoes could be downgraded from their status as vegetables (and let's be honest they are easily in the top 3 of best vegetables) Robbie decided to look further into the public demotions of inanimate objects. Producer Rog shatters everything Chris thought he knew about the Vikings in "5 Things in 5 minutes" and Robbie puts his bluffing skills to the test again in a second round of "Fact or Fiction".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-21
25:18

WITCHES AND RICHES #182

You will be shocked to hear that a shocking film turns 25 years old this year, Robbie peeps behind the scary curtain at how they made it, and in the process of doing so, how they revolutionized the horror genre. Producer Rog finds out how Bernard Arnault 'the other' richest man in the world made his way to that title and how he manages to remain relatively anonymous. Plus in an Off Script first, after years of trying, Robbie finally manages to shoe horn philosophy onto the show with a retrospective look at the work of Alan Watts, stay with us, he's fascinating - Alan, not Robbie!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-19
50:54

MEMORY TIPS FROM THE MAN WHO FORGOT TO FORGET #181

In the studio we have two men with incredible mental capacity, not Chris and Robbie, Melik Duyar (Memory expert and the founder of MEMORIAD Mental Olympics) and Chris Jacob (CEO, Sparkler Minds and MEMORIAD ambassador) - their brain power will blow your mind. Meanwhile Robbie road tests two of his new Off Script 2024 features: 'Figures Of Speech' and '5 Things In 5 Minutes' which will tell you almost everything you need to know about a subject you didn't realise you needed to know everything about.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-12
41:56

THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER #180

FINALLY!  It's rare as a blue moon, but the stars have aligned and Chris Robbie and Sonal are back in the studio with their usual nonsense, including a new feature run out "True Or False", a look at some of the greatest (or worst) car crash interviews of all time and we discuss the most Dubai thing you've ever seen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-09
37:59

ROBBIE FOR PRESIDENT, AND WHY DOES 2014 FEEL LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY #179

Despite Sonal's attempts to make him feel old an remind him he's a hypopcrite, Robbie went home with a huge grin on his face today after a James Bond discussion turned into a surprising rallying cry for him to run for office. We have no idea where that could happen, and we hope it never does. Is slapping James Bond with a trigger warning a step too far?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-05
39:04

LIVING AS A BADGER AND THE GIFTS FROM THE MEGA RICH #178

Welcome to the very first Off Script podcast of 2024 and a happy new year to you! Sonal and our resident new dad Robbie Greenfield are back in the studio together.   Our first big interview of 2024 is with author, traveller, barrister, professor of law, part-time judge and former vet Charles Foster to find out what it's like to live as a badger. And in his first rant of the year Robbie has looked at the strange emptiness of gift buying if you happen to be a member of the super rich elite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-02
49:37

Episode 177 - The 2023 SCRIPTIES

It's that time of the year again, but without Sonal and Robbie it’s up to Chris and Rog to arbitrarily dish out their very self-reflective end of the year awards in Off Script’s fourth annual Scripties. Categories: WORD OF THE YEAROFF SCRIPT GUEST OF THE YEARMOST OFF SCRIPT GUEST OF THE YEARBIGGEST U-TURN OF THE YEAROFF SCRIPT TALKING POINT OF THE YEAROFF SCRIPT MOMENT OF THE YEAR2023 VILLAIN OF THE YEARG.O.A.T (greatest of all twenty twenty four!)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12-29
30:36

Episode 176 - JAMIE DOUGLAS HAMILTON - FROST NIPPED AND FLIPPED BY A BLUE WHALE

Jamie is an adventurer, entrepreneur, multiple world record-holder, he was part of the team completing the first man-powered crossing of the treacherous Drake Passage and part of a team that rowed across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Africa. He's also launched a revolutionary water brand after mixing his drinking water with sea water during an expedition. We were spell bound by Jamie's stories in our brief moment with in the studio with him, we have asked him to come back to tell more of his story, so let this podcast be a teaser for that future chat!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-25
16:46

Episode 175 - KAYLA ITSINES

Joining us live ahead of her participation at Dubai Active, a lady whose fitness prowess has garnered her 16 million Instagram Followers - for context, the UAE population is 9 million! Kayla has made fitness her business, and it's a business that she sold and bought backfor a staggering fee! In this truly fascinating chat we talk about her journey, how she managed to set herself apart in the saturated fitness market, and the biggest lies that the fitness industry tells us.  For more information about the Dubai Active, and for the latest news, updates and tickets please visit, dubaiactiveshow.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-25
15:26

Episode 174 - IN CONVERSATION WITH MIKE PHELAN

The former Manchester United assistant boss sits down with Chris McHardy to look back on his time at the club both as a player and coach. How did he and the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson get the best out of Ronaldo, Rooney et al, and how do you manage the fragile egos of today's modern players? Mike tackles those questions and gives his verdict on the current United side labouring under Erik ten Hag. Not one to be missed!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-27
48:54

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