Yalla Habibi

We’re back in the jungle for episode 69 as our Laos cabin is serving major haunted energy. From fans that scream when you turn the lights on to mysterious late-night knocks on the door, Shelby’s ready to bail to a resort while Scott somehow thinks it’s “friendly vibes.” We chat wild encounters (including one very bold lizard), dinosaurs that turn out to be vegan badasses, and the mind-bending idea...

We came for the art and stayed for the chaos, in praise of the weird and wonderful creativity of David Choe, before freefalling into our travels through Laos. Visa headaches and awful currency conversions, a total internet blackout that forced us to improvise like cavemen, bakeries that somehow forget to sell bread and supermarkets that are optical illusions. Scott recounts his moped crash, it sou...

We discuss the nuance of traveling safely in countries that face extreme weather, political unrest, or unexpected events that could put you in harm’s way. We share how we navigate those moments when locals make you feel silly for being cautious because they’re so used to it, and we share real stories of how that mindset has actually saved us from dodging missiles in Jordan to surviving the stronge...

We have traveled to 40+ beautiful countries and counting, but this place we recently explored has to be one of the most stunning we have ever visited. It truly stole our breath away, and it also happens to be the film set of the famous Kong Island. We also share a hilarious translation mix up that ended in a perfectly awkward moment. Then things get serious, fast: AI literally saves our lives by p...

Meet Wells Jones, a man who has lived more lives than most people have passports. He walks us through three seasons on the Antarctic pararescue team during Operation Deep Freeze, technical glacier climbs and the 1977 free fall over the South Pole that made him only the seventh person to do it. We then flip to Hollywood tales from Broadway to film sets with Johnny Depp, Anthony Hopkins and Margot R...

In this episode, we explore the bustling streets of Hanoi, Vietnam, and engage in a serious discussion about the ethics of bartering in less developed countries. Is it fair to haggle when you're already getting a great deal, or is it taking advantage? Plus, discover why getting the pronunciation of 'Pho'—a popular Vietnamese noodle dish—wrong could lead to an unexpected misunderstanding. We also g...

After six hours of frantic packing, fourteen hours of travel, and a grand total of nine hours of sleep in two days, we finally touched down in Vietnam running on fumes but buzzing with excitement. We share the full journey on the episode. Then we turn to something many of you probably wonder, what it actually feels like to quit your job. Shelby puts Scott in the hot seat two months after his resig...

We share an exciting travel update that’s going to bring lots more travel stories to the podcast. We tackle the scary truth about locally brewed spirits in Southeast Asia and why you really need to be aware. Then we lighten the mood, laughing at the reality that if you’re 30+ and British, your parents probably have a glass of wine every night, but don’t worry, we’re not calling them alcoholics. Ne...

Scott takes us off grid this week with his wild camping adventure, where ditching screens and stress somehow turned into a full reset for his mind, body and even his skin. We get into what really happens when you switch off completely and why a few days in nature might be the cure you did not know you needed. We play a hilarious new game, “Lyric or Line” where Scott has to figure out if the words...

In this episode, we uncover the secret musical pitch hidden in every room and how humming the right note can unlock incredible natural acoustics, a trick architects have harnessed since the Roman Colosseum. We also settle the Lidl versus Aldi debate. Which bargain giant truly deserves the crown? Come and debate with us. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we dive into how lava lamps are helping secure yo...

Trigger warning for sensitive topics including gender bias and violence. We’re diving into some heavy but eye-opening stuff this week, starting with Lewis Capaldi’s surprise Glastonbury set that wasn’t just a show but a powerful spotlight on Tourette’s. We unpack some wild gender bias facts you won’t believe, like why testing pads with blood is only a recent thing and why cold plunges might actual...

Huge thanks to all of you for making our last two episodes the most-played ever. This week we owe Albania an apology as Tirana completely changed our tune with flavour, a warmer vibe, and something—anything—beyond pizza, pasta and burgers. We unpack the chaotic rise and sudden clampdown of marijuana in Thailand where a legal loophole sparked the rapid growth of a thriving marijuana market. “Scott’...

Scott and Shelby have officially landed back in the UK, wrapping up this chapter of their travel journey, and wow, it’s been a ride. From navigating Albania’s surprisingly limited food scene (how many burgers, pizzas, and pastas can one country serve?) to accidentally offending a beach bar owner for “walking into his home”… yes, that actually happened. They dive into culture shock, culinary monoto...

Scott and Shelby dive headfirst into the Liver King meltdown, from his Joe Rogan beef to that Netflix documentary that makes you wonder if even his own family buys the act, sparring over shady business ethics and whether he is truly a bad guy or just another casualty of fame. Things heat up over steroids as they unpack why some people get crucified for it while others skate by, with Shelby’s vegan...

If you are a fan of slasher movies this is the episode for you. We spent this episode diving into Shelby’s lifelong obsession with slasher movies, and her almost supernatural ability to unmask the killer inside the first 20 minutes. She breaks down the costume cues and trope trackers that helped her nail every slasher movie you can think off. Most recently cracking Copycat and Happy Death Day, but...

Podcast SEO specialist shares “Yalla Habibi” podcast keyword rankings, Scott’s not happy, whilst Shelby is soaring. Scott opens up about leaving his job and reveals an exciting trip he’s planning this weekend to clear his head. We share Shelby’s big fitness achievement, a draining hike up to Kotor’s fortress, while many couples lost their cool with each other in the scorching heat along the way. W...

We never thought a simple bus ride could become an international fiasco until our ticket man insisted on paper tickets only, a passenger gave off full-on predator vibes, and we were crammed into a tiny luggage-jammed mini bus looping through rural Albania. We salute a midnight hero Emre the Turkish taxi ninja who literally sprinted our bags across apartment blocks. In our “Travel Segment” we’ll sh...

Delays, lost luggage, and Airbnb headaches at 4am sets the scene before we take a darker turn. We share what it was really like to be caught in a live conflict in Jordan, with missiles overhead and panic setting in as we scrambled to get out. We open up about the shock, the fear, and the strange calm that followed. Then we lighten the mood with our "Travel Segment" where we share our favorite and...

Shelby unleashes her fury on Brewgooder’s Guava Lager; spoiler it tastes about as exciting as a flat Carling. We wish we where professional alcohol testers, yes that is a real job, then blow your mind with the sneaky truth behind advertisements on lorries; you will never look at trucks the same way again. Plus we geek out over Taylor Swift’s uncanny ability to turn heartbreak and success into pure...

It’s our golden jubilee—Episode 50! And what better way to celebrate than with... someone who hates celebrations? That’s right, it’s also Shelby’s birthday, but she’s not here for the forced fun of birthdays, Christmas, or even New Year’s. We get a bit deep and philosophical unpacking why that is, while Scott makes a case for why those moments matter. Will she ever change her mind? We reveal possi...

Recorded straight from our cosy trailer-turned-ultra-marathon-basecamp, this episode is part sweaty milestone, part nature doc, and part Norwegian linguistics lesson (don’t ask—just embrace Bridemoud). Scott hits 70 miles in 16 hours, edging closer to his dream 100-miler, and opens up about the brutal new challenges that nearly stopped him in his tracks. We talk foxes, deer, and bunny cameos, plus...

Ever wondered how kindness can sometimes drive you crazy? We dive into that and much more as Shelby shares her first opera experience, La Bohème, a birthday treat for her mum. We laugh about Shelby’s £20 violin purchase, and end up shocked by the surprising affordability of musical instruments. Plus, we chat about the shocking environmental cost of ChatGPT, and on the other side of the spectrum, h...

We dive into our obsession with the TV show 'Love on the Spectrum' and how it sparked a chat about synesthesia, number personalities, and why autistic people would make brilliant politicians—less ego, more logic. Then Scott drops his most outrageous story yet: someone he met while travelling in Romania who did no work for an entire year, somehow kept his job—then spiraled straight into a crazy par...

We kick off in a foul mood before celebrating Scott’s belated birthday with a mad dash through The Ivy and Everyman Cinema (and a cautionary tale about Tattu). Shelby’s flawless one-take video magic contrasts hilariously with Scott’s five-take blooper reel, and we connect over both secretly running YouTube channels before we even met—and debate the great fruit-salad divide. Then it’s 20 minutes to...

This week, Shelby’s hacking her sleep routine with binaural beats—until she switches tracks mid-song for the twentieth time. We dive into the best over-the-counter meds for surviving long-haul flights, and Shelby confesses to waking herself up mid-air with a fart, blaming the poor soul next to her and triggering a full-blown cabin investigation. Things take a darker turn as we unpack the recent ri...