While you or I can't invite former president Barack Obama round for a cup of mint tea to quiz him about his incredible life, his wife, former first lady Michelle, certainly can, and that's exactly what she did for the first episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast.
In recent years, the celebrity podcast has become the place for the world’s most influential stars to get their famous friends (or spouses) to unbutton, spill secrets and share opinions, not to mention offer advice on everything from dating to body image.
Here are 10 of our favourite all-star podcasts to download.
1. Michelle Obama, ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’
What's it about? The hour-long podcasts, which are available exclusively on Spotify, focus on news, social and community stories happening around the world.
"My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we're all trying to answer in our own lives," the formerfirst lady told Spotify.
Notable guests: Former president Barack Obama (obviously!), talk show host Conan O'Brien, and author and Washington Post journalist Michele Norris.
2. Anna Faris, ‘Anna Faris is Unqualified’
What's it about? The Mom actress – and ex-wife of Jurassic World star Chris Pratt – takes on the complicated world of dating in her chatty, informal podcast, in which celebrity guests are given hypothetical dating situations and asked to offer their advice.
“I started this podcast with zero qualifications, only curiosity, the desire to connect, and a genuine interest in your life and your stories,” she says on her website.
Notable guests: Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Josh Hutcherson, Padma Lakshmi and Seth Rogen.
3. Dax Shepard, ‘Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard’
What's it about? The comic actor and husband of Frozen star Kristen Bell, with whom he has two children, is the host of one of the most popular celebrity podcasts. Happy to delve into his own life experiences, the Bless This Mess actor says on his website: "I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly attractive."
Notable guests: Aly Raisman, Sofia Coppola, Bill Gates, Tom Brady and Sean Penn.
4. Jameela Jamil, ‘I Weigh with Jameela Jamil’
What's it about? The British actress and activist, and star of Netflix show The Good Place, tackles a subject close to her heart in her podcast: weight and body image. Having started the hashtag #iweigh on Instagram, encouraging her followers to measure their worth in achievements rather than the number on the bathroom scales, she told Stylist: "I'm so polarising on Twitter. I think it's hard to ever get a gauge of what I'm actually like … It's nice to have more than 280 characters to have a proper conversation."
Notable guests: Reese Witherspoon and Demi Lovato.
5. Gwyneth Paltrow, ‘The Goop Podcast’
What's it about? Hosted by Oscar-winning Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, the actress, along with the company's chief commercial officer, Elise Loehnen, discuss the wide-ranging subject of wellness. From mental to physical health, marriage and relationships, dealing with trauma and learning to apologise properly, the pair welcome expert guests each week.
Notable guests: Oprah Winfrey, Cameron Diaz, Laura Wasser and Ambassador Susan Rice.
6. Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson, ‘Sibling Revelry’
What's it about? The actor siblings and children of Hollywood great, Goldie Hawn, discuss all things family in their podcast, with a focus on the relationships between siblings.
"We had a childhood that I think a lot of people would look at and think it was the best childhood," the Almost Famous actress told Grazia. "And in retrospect, I look back and think we had a wonderful upbringing. But like any other family dynamic, at some point you have to accept the fact that yes on the outside everything looks great but there's always going to be something."
Notable guests: Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, Elle and Dakota Fanning, and Danica Patrick and Brooke Selman.
7. Alec Baldwin, ‘Here’s The Thing’
What's it about? The 30 Rock actor and father-of-six uses his impressive Hollywood and political connections to showcase what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to work.
“Alec pursues great conversations in unexpected places to find out what motivates his guests, how they feel about what they do and what keeps them up at night,” says his podcast website.
Notable guests: Chris Rock, Michael Douglas, Anjelica Huston and James Caan.
8. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, ‘Office Ladies’
What's it about? The stars of the US version of The Office, Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin), who just so happen to be best friends in real life, teamed up to create a podcast that's perfect for fans. Each episode breaks down an episode of the TV show, which ran for nine season from March 2005 to March 2013, providing insights "only two people who were there can tell you".
9. Amy Schumer, ‘3 Girls, 1 Keith’
What's it about? The American actress and stand-up comedienne has teamed up with her three friends, Rachel Feinstein, Bridget Everett and Keith Robinson, for a podcast in which they discuss pop culture and comedy.
“I know that everybody feels like you can only take in so much news. We’re all just trying to do the right thing and stay home and not go completely insane,” Feinstein told Spotify of the podcast’s ethos. “So, I feel like it has to be a balance between taking in enough information so that you know whether you’re supposed to wipe down cardboard or not, and staying calm and entertained.”
Notable guests: Quentin Tarantino, David Byrne, Jerry Seinfeld and Harley Pasternak.
10. Oprah Winfrey, ‘Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations’
What's it about? Promising to "light you up, guide you through life's big questions and help bring you one step closer to your best self", the most well-connected person in Hollywood opens up her vast contacts book to interview "thought-leaders, best-selling authors, spiritual luminaries, as well as health and wellness experts". Expect plenty of Winfrey's signature uplifting messages.
Notable guests: Beyonce, David Letterman, Rihanna, John Legend and Deepak Chopra.
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Read more:
Why scripted drama series ‘The Basement’ is a landmark for the Arab podcast scene
Michelle Obama launching a podcast on Spotify: It's a place to 'open up and be vulnerable'
Soon, you won't find Joe Rogan's podcast on most apps, and it won't be on YouTube either
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Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
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1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything
Director: Asif Kapadia
4/5
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
AWARDS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Male%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELucas%20Protasio%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20female%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJulia%20Alves%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Masters%20black%20belt%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Igor%20Silva%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Asian%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Federation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kazakhstan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Academy%20in%20UAE%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECommando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20International%20Academy%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Commando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAfrican%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKatiuscia%20Yasmira%20Dias%20(GNB)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOceanian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAnton%20Minenko%20(AUS)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEuropean%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rose%20El%20Sharouni%20(NED)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENorth%20and%20Central%20American%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexa%20Yanes%20(USA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAsian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZayed%20Al%20Katheeri%20(UAE)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERookie%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
