In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal talk about the rise and function of opera houses in Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh and across Middle East.What significance do these cultural centres in the region hold? And how do they change the fabric of a city's cultural identity?

Enas discusses the excitement surrounding the coming release of the sequel to the animated film Inside Out, reflecting on the magical impact of the first movie on her children.

Maan then discusses his list of 10 must-watch Arab films from the 1970s and how the political, social and cultural backdrop of that era was reflected in cinema.

He focuses on the film Khaly Balak Men Zozo (Watch Out for Zozo) released in 1972, starring the beloved Egyptian actress Soad Hosny. Then Enas delves into the world of press junkets and why some celebrities are complaining about them.

Should celebrities complain about having to promote their films? Do press junkets and press tours before a film's release create hype or an over-exposure of some celebrities?

And how does the cancellation of Jennifer Lopez's recent concert tour play into all of this?

In this week’s episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal discuss Cate Blanchett’s Jean Paul Gaultier's custom dress at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and whether it was a sign of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Maan then talks about the exhibition of Syrian artist Khalid Akil entitled The Infinite & The Finite now on show at Ayyam Gallry in Alserkal Avenue until June 25. The exhibition is Akil's first foray into painting from the medium of photography where he explored concepts of the infinite through large immersive paintings that experiment with colour, form and process.

Enas and Maan then discuss their thoughts on Netflix’s original film, the Arabic romcom Honeymoonish, starring Egyptian actress Nour Al Ghandour, Kuwaiti actor Mahmoud Boushahri, and directed by Lebanese filmmaker Elie El Samman. Honeymoonish is the first non-English film to hit number one on the streaming platform’s weekly Top 10, plays with modern western tropes of the romcom genre while adding its own Arab twist.

Finally, the hosts share their thoughts about part one of season of Netflix’s Bridgerton. Maan is a big fan of the show he has some qualms on how far the series has deviated from the essence of the series of novels by Julia Quin while Enas is not interested in the genre of regency era-romance.

However, they both discuss how Bridgerton has impacted pop culture and reframed the notions of diversity and character representation on the screen.

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 Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal discuss a digital movement that has taken over the internet, urging social media users to block celebrities who have been publicly silent about the war in Gaza.

They explain how the #blockout campaign grew in the days following the Met Gala, how it is affecting the online influence of a number of celebrities and reactions from some influential personalities.

Maan also talks about starting an art collection with a modest budget, explaining why people should consider it and where to find pieces from emerging artists in the region. A full guide can be found in his story here.

Finally, the hosts share their excitement for Abu Dhabi Comedy Week, which will see some of the biggest names in the business, including Dave Chapelle, Aziz Ansari and Bassem Youssef, performing in the capital.

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 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.