Yalla Habibi

Should couples follow society’s expectations about money, or decide for themselves what financial equality looks like? In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we explore money in relationships, conflicting social expectations, financial compatibility, and why couples need to find an approach to finances that works for them. We’re joined by Lauren Thorpe, financial educator and founder of Lear...

Why is saying no so difficult, even when you know it’s the right thing for you? In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we’re joined by psychology coach Breanne Felicella, founder of Diary of a People Pleaser, to explore people pleasing, healthy boundaries, self worth and the pressure to meet society’s expectations in relationships. We put our five social rules under the microscope, from atte...

How can couples manage money fairly when everyone has a different opinion on how relationships should work? In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about financial equality in relationships, managing money as a couple, communication, and why social expectations shouldn't determine how couples handle their finances. We share how we make financial equality work in our relationship,...

Is splitting everything 50/50 really the fairest way to manage money in a relationship? In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about splitting finances as a couple, financial equality, money disagreements, and the challenges of managing shared expenses while keeping personal finances separate. We share the challenges of splitting everything evenly, dealing with judgement from family...

When it comes to relationships, should it be my money, your money or our money? In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about money in relationships, financial equality, splitting expenses as a couple, and the conflicting expectations around who should pay. We share how we manage our finances as a couple, why we pay evenly for shared expenses, what we keep financially separate, when w...

Here’s your ultimate guide to the United Arab Emirates— a country that holds a special place in our hearts and is ultimately responsible for this podcast being called Yalla Habibi. We share the story behind the name, our first trips to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and a New Year’s experience we’ll never forget. In “Jet Lag Judgements” we unpack what Dubai hit us with from the moment we arrived an...

Here’s your ultimate guide to the USA— a country home to some of the most famous cities, iconic experiences and jaw-dropping natural wonders on Earth. From Hollywood and Las Vegas to New York, Yosemite and beyond, we look back at our travels across seven states and discuss how our relationship with America has changed from childhood visits that felt magical to seeing the country through very diffe...

Five years together, countless adventures, a few questionable decisions and more than enough stories to fill an episode. We go back to where it all started, from our first date and the ultimatums that nearly ended things before they began, to the experiences that have tested us, changed us and ultimately brought us closer. We reflect on the decisions that have shaped our relationship, why we’ve ne...

We ask whether couples really need to agree on everything, and what happens when the way you live, socialise and set boundaries doesn’t fit what everyone else expects. Drawing on our own experience of going against five social norms, we share practical lessons on supporting each other, dealing with FOMO, recognising each other’s triggers and standing firm when people test our boundaries. We also e...

We question what it really means to be “normal” and why going against social norms can be so difficult, from being judged for changing to feeling like the odd one out when your choices no longer fit other people’s expectations. We share how stepping away from certain pressures has given us more freedom, healthier boundaries, greater financial stability and less guilt about saying no, and why somet...

In Series 3, The Social Rules We Stopped Following as a Couple , we’re questioning the unwritten rules that quietly shape how we live, from what we’re expected to do for friends and family to how we’re “supposed” to behave in social situations. We explore what happens when you stop following the script and start making choices based on what actually feels right for you. We kick off the series by q...

Today we celebrate the biggest achievement of Scott’s life: running 100 miles non-stop, one of the toughest physical and mental challenges a person can take on. Although the race began at Edinburgh Castle, the real story started 11 years earlier with a dream that at times felt impossible. Shelby sits down with Scott to unpack the journey from his first steps as a runner to the setbacks, self-doubt...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Mexico — we spent a month exploring ancient wonders and colourful cities to tropical islands and food we still think about today. We share why this country completely lived up to the hype, the moment Shelby learnt the Mexican sun plays by its own rules, and why the stereotypes your parents warned you about don't tell the full story. In “Jet Lag Judgements” we reve...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Canada. We talk huge fluffy pancakes drenched in maple syrup, the quiet family neighbourhood that made Scott feel like he had stepped back into childhood, and how Toronto somehow feels calm even when it is busy. We share the unforgettable beauty of Niagara Falls, nearly driving into the USA by mistake, the reality of getting around when taxis cost a fortune and why Ca...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Brazil. We spent three weeks exploring one of the most iconic countries on Earth, only to find ourselves spending a night at a rock gig with the Hells Angels. From Rio’s famous beaches and football obsession to the moments that genuinely surprised us, we unpack whether Brazil really lives up to the hype. In “Jet Lag Judgements” we reveal what caught us off guard the m...

We’re joined by dating and relationship coach, author, and content creator Laura Forbes to put the biggest conversations from this series to the ultimate test. Do our conclusions about dating apps, shared values, and changing priorities actually match what an expert sees behind closed doors? Together, we tackle the question at the heart of the series: can you find a serious relationship on dating...

We ask one of the biggest relationship questions of all: what happens when the person you love changes? From children and marriage to veganism and life goals, we explore whether there are some differences that love simply can’t overcome, and whether chasing the future you imagined is ever worth losing the person you imagined it with. Along the way, we share our own experiences of changing views on...

We explore one of the biggest questions in modern relationships: do opposites actually attract, or is long-term love built on similarity dressed up as compromise? From vegan and omnivore dynamics to Conservative and Labour worldviews, and even the clash between feminist thinking and alpha male ideology, we break down where difference adds depth and where it starts to quietly test a relationship’s...

In Series 2, Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type , we're exploring a question that millions of people wrestle with: can you find a serious relationship on dating apps without compromising who you are? Using veganism as a case study, we examine what happens when your values, lifestyle, identity, or circumstances shrink your dating pool, and whether staying true to yourself a...

Today we celebrate a milestone achieved by fewer than 5% of podcasts worldwide: our 100th episode. We look back on the moments that resonated most with you over the last 100 episodes, from fleeing countries on the brink of war and being chased by bears to battling food poisoning, running ultramarathons, and visiting every Disney park on Earth. We reveal our most listened-to and watched episodes, u...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Peru— home to one of the greatest wonders in the world, with ancient engineering so advanced we’re still scratching our heads today. We spent three weeks exploring Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes so you can decide if Peru is right for your travel style, from city life and world-class food to mountain markets, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley. In “Jet Lag Judgement...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Nicaragua — a country maybe not on your radar, but this episode might just change that. This country has somehow survived pirates, American invasions, revolutions, and repeated destruction. After ruling out Guatemala due to its state of emergency following a surge in gang violence, we spent a month exploring Nicaragua from our base in San Juan del Sur, with trips to G...

Here’s your ultimate guide to Costa Rica — a country powered entirely by renewables and home to a quarter of its land protected from development. If you’re wondering what it’s actually like to spend real time here, we’ve got you. We spent a full month travelling up and down the country, experiencing it alongside our friends and their nine pets. In this episode, we answer the questions you’re proba...

We’re joined by Monica Tanner this week, a certified relationship and intimacy coach, keynote speaker, and author with over two decades of real marriage experience, to put our relationship under the microscope and answer the question at the heart of this series, does travel make or break a relationship, and what actually determines the outcome? We get into what a modern relationship actually looks...

We make around 35,000 decisions a day, and when you’re travelling as a couple, it suddenly feels like you’re negotiating every single one of them. Where to eat. What to book. Who decides. It’s rarely the big life choices that wear you down, it’s the constant drip of tiny ones that quietly build tension without you realising. From pasta stand-offs in Nicaragua to redefining who handles logistics, w...