Inside Saudi Arabia

Епизоде

• 
  Living in Saudi: Driving, Loneliness, and What No One Tells You 15.09.2026 31мин

  Living in Saudi is not always the highlight reel. This week we get honest. Carly and Vesna talk through the hard parts of living in Saudi Arabia, the things nobody posts about. From the fear of driving in Riyadh, to the loneliness of expat life, to the real struggle of starting a business here. If you are moving to Saudi Arabia or already living in Riyadh, this episode covers what it is actually like: why everyone is scared to drive and how to get over it, buying a car in Saudi, the road rules nobody tells you, finding friends and beating loneliness, and navigating Misa, premium residency and business licensing as an expat. Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx CHAPTERS 0:00  Teaser 1:04  Welcome, the bedroom episode and the new studio 2:32  Today's topic: the hard parts of living in Saudi 2:56  The number one fear: driving 3:34  Ubers with no seatbelts 5:02  Buying a car, why we went Chinese 6:52  What our car cost and how we paid for it 7:21  Getting your license and hitting the road 9:14  Which side of the road do you drive on? 13:33  Just dive in, start from day one 14:45  Driving tips, always be alert 16:25  U-turns and missed turns 18:24  What to do if you have an accident, the Najm app 19:27  Merging into aggressive traffic 20:18  The loneliness nobody talks about 22:17  Feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated 23:49  Holding it together while partners work 24:50  Compound friendships and the Mystery Pin Drop 26:49  The reality of starting a business in Saudi 27:23  The licensing struggle 28:44  The anxiety of not knowing the future 30:26  It's not always easy, and that's okay
• 
  We Toured EVERY Compound in Riyadh (Honest Review + Q&A) 07.09.2026 43мин

  We toured every compound in Riyadh, so you don't have to. In this Inside Saudi episode, Carly and Vesna give an honest review of the best compounds in Riyadh, from Flow Granada to Palma 2, Vives, Wadi Qortuba, Al Nakhla and more, then answer your questions in a full Q&A. If you are moving to Saudi Arabia or living in Riyadh, this is your guide to compound life: what it really costs, the Ejar rent freeze that can save you money, the best dog friendly compounds, how to actually make friends as an expat, nanny agencies and a scary nanny story, after school routines, nursery versus school, and more. Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx CHAPTERS 0:00  Teaser 0:57  The bed episode, why we're recording here 1:52  Why we did a full compound tour 3:22  The Q&A questions we're answering 4:19  How Carly picked her compound online 5:02  Honest review of Flow Granada 6:55  What Flow is missing (kids and dogs) 7:46  The community at Flow 8:16  Touring the Azura compounds 9:14  Palma 2, the Bali villa compound 10:42  Carawan, the new luxe one 12:04  Hidden, a great location 13:46  Lamara, they listen to residents 15:11  Kaft, for work focused execs 16:07  Vives, renovating villas for residents 19:52  Al Nakhla and its 20 pools 20:30  Antara, the resort style pool 21:03  Renovate your own villa for 110k 23:06  Wadi Qattuba, green and walkable 24:37  The Ejar rent freeze hack 25:38  Honorable mentions (Arizona, Sedra) 27:53  The best dog friendly compounds 28:49  Compound hunt update 29:17  Why community is everything in Saudi 32:20  You pay a premium for compound life 33:15  Getting your UK house on Airbnb 33:39  Getting a job in Saudi 34:37  Travel plans, the Commonwealth tour 35:16  Nanny agencies and a scary story 37:33  After school routine with the kids 40:03  Nursery versus school 41:47  Is summer in Saudi humid? 42:28  Vesna's 40th and what's next
• 
  Our Goodbye Episode... 01.09.2026 31мин

  This one is bittersweet. It is our goodbye episode. Carly and Vesna are back from summer and packing up their studio for the very last time. In this catch up they get into everything that went down over the break, the good, the dramatic, and the completely ridiculous. From the nanny who left the baby home alone and then did a runner, to a 300 year old house falling apart, kids catching 12 fish spearfishing in Greece, dogs that look like they got run over, and the honest truth about why they are outgrowing their Riyadh compound. Grateful for the last year and everything that came with it and ready for the next chapter. Plus a big tease about what is coming next. Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx CHAPTERS 0:00  Teaser 0:56  It's our goodbye episode 1:33  Why this is a new beginning 2:26  All good things come to an end 2:38  Coming back for year two, a different feeling 4:16  Carly's news: two months left, gave her notice 5:03  From a hobby to a real business 5:29  Carly's UK summer and the 300 year old house 7:04  The nanny who wore ball gowns 8:12  The nanny drama begins 9:14  She left the baby home alone 9:58  The nanny did a runner 10:44  Finding the new all rounder nanny 12:33  The dogs look like they got run over 13:25  The last day in the studio 13:49  Vesna's summer in Greece 16:39  The kids caught 12 fish 18:36  Setting up the apartment from scratch 20:07  Gyros and the Canadian accent 20:30  A summer of roaming free 22:44  Why we need outdoor space 24:29  Renting in Riyadh is insane 25:43  Outgrowing where we landed 28:54  Kids, dogs and needing more space 30:18  From a hobby to where we are now 31:09  What's next, a fan favorite guest 31:44  Signing off
• 
  The Truth About Child Safety in Saudi Schools with Sajid Khan 24.08.2026 1ч 15мин

  This might be the most important conversation we have had on Inside Saudi. We sit down with Sajid Khan, a child safeguarding and education expert who moved from Birmingham to Riyadh at 24 and has spent over a decade protecting children in schools across the Kingdom. We get into what safeguarding really means, why Saudi can feel safer than the UK, the neglect cases that changed how he sees parenting, how AI is creating a whole new risk for kids, why the teacher matters more than the school, and the exact questions every parent should ask before choosing one. Whether you are raising kids in Saudi, moving here soon, or you just care about keeping children safe, this episode is essential listening. Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx, featuring @sajidkhanfcct FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx Guest, Sajid Khan: @sajidkhanfcct 🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode 💬 Parents, what would you add? Tell us in the comments.   CHAPTERS 0:00 Teaser 0:45 Intro 2:10 Meet Sajid Khan 2:40 From Birmingham to Riyadh, finance to education 4:46 Why he moved to Saudi at 24 6:03 Arriving at 2am to a cold, empty building 9:42 Becoming a lecturer, then building schools 11:08 What child safeguarding actually means 13:22 The coffee shop test, nobody had heard of it 15:02 Why Saudi feels safer than the UK 15:44 The gap in background checks 18:50 Affluent neglect, the Oreos case 20:46 How harm starts at school, and AI 23:58 Nannies, drivers and basic needs 25:26 The CCTV driver dilemma 29:08 When emotions are high, intelligence is low 32:49 Get a criminal record check for anyone you hire 35:47 Saudi is not a ski in, ski out resort 36:43 Investing in the Kingdom, hiring locals 37:16 The teacher is everything 38:06 Kids can feel if you care 41:29 Growing up online, the new dangers 42:32 The London school trip lesson 44:23 Saudi has its own child protection policy 46:53 The biggest gap he sees in schools 49:28 Teacher training and career pathways 54:49 Advice for parents, 10 minutes a day 56:35 Put the phones away at dinner 58:14 Friend versus friendly, boundaries 1:00:42 Discipline, respect and the good cop bad cop trap 1:03:57 Guilt syndrome and screen time 1:06:25 The questions every parent should ask a school 1:09:00 The grooming red flag nobody spotted 1:10:42 Why he would rather be extra 1:13:59 The UAE horror story that changed the law 1:15:13 Thank you and close
• 
  We Went to Saudi Weddings, Here's What Shocked Us 17.08.2026 27мин

  We went to our first Saudi weddings, and nothing could have prepared us. This week Carly and Vesna break down everything they have learned about Saudi weddings and gatherings, from a total newbie point of view. Dinner served at 2:30 in the morning, glam that rivals the Met Gala, and the unspoken rules of what to wear. We get into the real flow of a Saudi wedding, why you can never overdress, the coffee and chocolate before the 2:30am dinner, how the women only celebrations actually go, the gatherings that run until 3am, what to bring as a gift, and the best advice for anyone new here: say yes and be open. If you are moving to Saudi, planning a visit, or just curious about the culture, this one is for you. Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx 🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode   💬 Going to a Saudi wedding soon? Ask us anything in the comments.   CHAPTERS 0:00  Teaser 0:54  Cold open, why we made this episode 2:28  Dinner at 2:30 in the morning 3:24  Saudi is a night culture 4:20  Walking in, it felt like the Met Gala 5:16  Weddings here are women only 6:44  What we wore, and underdressing the first time 8:54  The compliment: you look like Saudi girls 10:29  The second wedding, leveling up 12:09  The flow, coffee, chocolate, tea and dinner at 2:30 15:17  Perfume stations and flowers 16:00  You cannot be on time, arrive fashionably late 16:54  People watching and the perfect night 17:44  Dancing at a Saudi wedding 20:29  Saudi ladies gatherings 22:27  What to bring as a gift 23:38  Gatherings that run until 3am 24:16  Doing life with the locals 25:12  Tips if you get invited 26:00  Say yes to the DM, how we get invited 26:54  Wrap up
• 
  Couture, Burnout, and Building a Fashion Brand with Pacinthe 10.08.2026 44мин

  From night classes in Cairo to a runway at Paris Fashion Week. This week Carly and Vesna sit down with Pacinthe, the Egyptian couture designer behind two Vogue Arabia covers, a Paris Fashion Week show, and a client list full of Arab stars and red carpet moments. We get into how she built her fashion house from the ground up, her signature draped corsets and sustainable line, dressing for weddings across cultures, and why she does her best creative work at 2am. We also go somewhere real: the burnout that led to an autoimmune diagnosis, the mum guilt, and why she believes you were never meant to do it all. She finishes with honest advice for anyone dreaming of a career in fashion. Whether you love fashion, run a business, or just need to hear that slowing down is allowed, this one is for you. Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx Find Pacinthe here: https://www.instagram.com/pacinthe_badran/ FOLLOW Inside Saudi: https://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: https://www.instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: https://www.instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx 🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode 💬 What is your dream career, and what is stopping you? Tell us in the comments.   CHAPTERS 0:00 Teaser 1:22 Cold open, meet Pacinthe 1:47 How the hosts met Pacinthe 2:27 Shopping local and Egypt's design scene 5:23 How she got into fashion 7:19 Quitting her job to launch her own label 10:11 Three lines and the signature draped corsets 12:41 Getting to Paris Fashion Week 13:48 Vogue Arabia covers and red carpets 15:36 Expanding into Saudi 15:48 Wedding fashion, too fancy for a Western wedding 17:32 Saudi's booming fashion scene 19:22 Jeddah versus Riyadh 21:13 Cairo, chaos, and where creativity comes from 23:22 Why she creates at 2am 26:07 Burnout and an autoimmune wake up call 29:28 Mum guilt and making space for yourself 31:31 You were never meant to do it all 35:15 How men and women recharge differently 38:39 The Serenity collection and celebrating wins 41:19 Advice for anyone starting in fashion 43:29 Wrap up
• 
  10 Lessons From Our First Year in Saudi Arabia 28.07.2026 26мин

  One year in Saudi, and we finally figured a few things out. In this episode, Carly and Vesna swap the ten lessons they learned after their first year living in Riyadh, going back and forth without knowing each other's list. We get into being kind to yourself through the move, whether you really need the big compound, why making Saudi friends changes everything, the truth about getting help at home, what drivers and nannies actually cost, what to pack and what to buy once you land, road tripping across the country, and the real cost of living in Riyadh. We finish on the honest part: the peaks, the valleys, and why everything here takes time. If you are moving to Saudi, thinking about it, or already here and nodding along, this one is for you. Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx FOLLOW US: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia instagram.com/caroverman instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx 🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode 💬 What was your biggest lesson from your first year abroad? Drop it in the comments.   Chapters: 00:00:00 Cold open00:01:10 Welcome, and why we are doing lessons learned00:02:16 Lesson 1, Be kind to yourself00:02:48 Lesson 2, Do you really need the big compound00:06:44 Lesson 3, Put yourself out there and make Saudi friends00:08:07 Lesson 4, Getting help and being a good manager00:12:46 Lesson 5, Drivers and nannies are normal here00:14:39 Lesson 6, What to pack and what to buy in Saudi00:17:10 Lesson 7, Explore Saudi by road00:19:16 Lesson 8, The real cost of living in Riyadh00:21:33 Lesson 9, Do not pressure yourself, it takes time00:22:07 Lesson 10, Peaks and valleys are normal00:23:55 Kids adjusting to a new school00:25:41 Wrap up and where to listen
• 
  The World Will Come to Learn From Saudi: Victor Barrero on Expo 2030 & the Riyadh Boom 20.07.2026 48мин

  We've never done a two-parter, but there was too much to cover. In Part 2, Victor Barrero is back to talk about the next chapter: Vision 2030, Expo 2030, and what it actually takes to build a country at the speed Saudi is moving.   Victor helped launch Flow in Riyadh, close to 1,000 households across four communities, stood up in a matter of months after landing. In this conversation he pulls back to the bigger picture: the wave of development sweeping the kingdom, why capital from around the world suddenly wants in, how the compound model has changed since the Aramco era, and what separates a project that sells from one that struggles. We get into the airport that now greets you with "welcome to my country," opening a company through WhatsApp, the hidden cost of moving senior talent halfway across the world, and why Saudi "rewards patient, not fast" even in a race to 2030.   If you're trying to make sense of the Gulf right now, as a resident, a professional weighing a move, or just someone watching from afar, this is a wide-angle view from someone who's been in and out since 2009.   New here? Go back and listen to Part 1 first for Victor's story of how he got to Saudi.   with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx   FOLLOW VICTOR HERE: https://www.instagram.com/victorinriyadh/ and follow us for more: https://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia/ https://www.instagram.com/caroverman/ https://www.instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx/   00:00 Cold open01:25 Welcome back: what Part 2 is about02:30 Recap and picking up where we left off03:00 Launching Flow: 1,000 homes on an ambitious timeline05:59 What makes Flow different to live in07:30 The development wave and building blocks of hospitality10:40 Saudi capital vs. foreign capital11:00 Before Vision 2030: compounds, Aramco and family offices12:55 International co-living models arriving13:55 Expo 2030: getting a country ready16:40 The scale: 100+ countries and a temporary city18:22 What's left behind after the Expo18:38 The Formula One analogy20:07 The airport test: welcome to my country21:55 Digital life: Nafath, SIMs and banking on WhatsApp23:00 Setting up a company in Saudi24:17 What makes a project sell vs. struggle27:35 What the market actually wants: hospitality29:55 Families vs. single professionals32:25 The hidden cost of senior talent34:22 UK or Saudi? Not apples to apples36:28 Saudi rewards patient, not fast39:00 Advice for newcomers: observe, then sprint40:18 Being a connector: 40 nationalities in a day42:34 No back alleys: a transparent platform44:44 Five years from now47:04 What success looks like47:59 Closing   Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday. 🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode 💬 Questions for a future episode? Drop them in the comments
• 
  A Year of Nanny Mistakes: What We'd Do Differently 13.07.2026 31мин

  One of us has had a live-in nanny since September. The other has a cleaner for three hours a week and a robot vacuum called Robbie, who has just broken down. A year into life in Riyadh, Carly and Vesna compare notes on help: how to find it, how to manage it, and what it costs you when you refuse it. Carly walks through the two routes to finding a nanny in Riyadh, why she asks to see an iqama live in Absher rather than a screenshot, and why the one week trial she recommends should probably be a month. She is also honest about what she got wrong from day one, which was never setting expectations out loud. Vesna has never had help. She grew up watching her mother do everything and did the same in Australia, until a back injury and a growing podcast made that untenable. Her teenagers, for the record, do not want a nanny anywhere near their rooms. They close on mum guilt, the guilt of having help, and the boundaries they now actually hold. If you've been here longer than us, tell us what we're still getting wrong in the comments please.    Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, co-hosted by two moms in Riyadh, made for Saudis, residents, and anyone trying to make sense of the Gulf during Vision 2030. With @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx Follow us for more:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia/Carly: https://www.instagram.com/caroverman/Vesna: https://www.instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx/   Chapters: 00:00 A year in, real and raw01:11 Why this one is for people in the Gulf02:27 Finding a nanny in Riyadh: the two routes04:10 ~ Checking status and documentation properly05:44 Why a trial period matters, and how long it should be07:58 Hiring from abroad: agencies, timelines, cost11:00 ~ Qualifications, first aid, and keeping kids independent12:23 What I'd do differently: expectations from day one14:30 ~ Weekly check-ins and positive reinforcement16:32 I did everything myself, until I couldn't20:30 Robbie the robot vacuum, and outsourcing the small stuff25:24 Having help here is normal, so why the guilt27:30 Mum guilt and the boundaries we hold now29:31 Send us your tips    
• 
  Google Told Him Not to Come to Saudi. One Message Changed Everything. (Victor Barrero, Part 1) 07.07.2026 1ч 5мин

  In the summer of 2009, Victor Barrero typed "life in Saudi Arabia" into Google and got scared. He came anyway, on an eight-week flynas internship, a 25-year-old from Mexico who packed a camera and a checklist: camel market, old Diriyah, the grand bazaar. None of it looked like the photos. Diriyah was boarded up. He got into Kingdom Tower only because a guard mistook him for a diplomat. Then a friend in Mexico sent one Facebook message introducing him to a Saudi named Sultan. Sultan took him to lunch. Three weeks later Victor was at an istraha an hour outside the city with thirty Saudi men, dates and Arabic coffee, getting mistaken for an Egyptian who wouldn't come pray. That single introduction turned the whole summer around. In Part 1, Victor tells Carly and Vesna how Riyadh went from a place Google warned him about to the place that felt like home, why he taught himself to read Arabic in three weeks, what revenue management at an airline actually is, and the family decision that brought him back in 2024. Part 2 is next Monday. Listen: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi FOLLOW VICTOR HERE: https://www.instagram.com/victorinriyadh/ and follow us for more: https://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia/ https://www.instagram.com/caroverman/  https://www.instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx/    Chapters: 0:00 Teaser: Landing in Riyadh, 2009 1:13 Welcome to Inside Saudi 2:15 Victor Joins the Show 3:07 First Landing in Riyadh, Summer 2009 5:43 Adjusting to Saudi Business Culture 8:19 Failed Sightseeing & Early Misconceptions 13:07 The Facebook Message That Changed Everything 13:50 Straha Nights & Saudi Hospitality 17:58 Deciding to Return & Starting a Blog 20:20 Going Fully Local 25:04 Revenue Management at Flynas 28:29 Insider Flight Booking Tips 31:40 Leaving Saudi & a Career Around the World 35:55 Pandemic Reinvention 37:42 Costa Rica & Wellness 39:41 Lessons from a Math Teacher 41:34 The Power of Real Relationships 42:24 The Fire That Shaped Everything 45:01 Returning to Riyadh in 2024 47:21 Riyadh Transformed 49:02 Joining Flow 49:45 What Expats Get Wrong About Housing 52:07 Selling a Lifestyle, Not Just a Villa 55:01 Advice for People Relocating 57:05 The Kingdom's Vision for Quality of Life 59:36 Take It Slow: First 90 Days Advice 1:01:26 Adjusting to a New Culture 1:04:31 Wrap-Up & Part Two Teaser
• 
  How Much It Really Costs to Live in Riyadh (2026 Update) 30.06.2026 47мин

  A year in, Carly and Vesna re-priced their whole life in Riyadh: what's gone up, what surprised them, and what they'd tell someone running the numbers before a move. This is the granular version of the cost conversation, from the two biggest line items down to the ones nobody warns you about. They walk through compounds across four tiers, from the common 300 to 350K range to the half-million luxe end, plus what an off-compound option like Sedra actually trades away. International school fees land near 100K per child once trips, uniforms and deposits are counted, and they're honest about the math that forces real choices: cheaper school or more travel, space or community, save or spend.   They get into the Chinese cars they both bought outright, fuel so cheap it changes how you move around the city, a four-tier map of where to grocery shop, and the beauty, abaya and travel spend that adds up quietly underneath everything.   No invented numbers, just what a year of living it has actually cost them. Follow Inside Saudi so you never miss a Monday episode.   New here? Start with our cost of living and relocation episodes. Follow us:Show: @insidesaudiarabiaCarly: @caroverman on insta / @carlyoverman on tiktokVesna: @vesnapetrovicx Everything in one place: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi Got a question we didn't cover? Drop it in the comments and we'll get to it in a future episode. Listen wherever you get podcasts   Chapters: 00:00 Cold open01:01 Welcome and what this episode covers02:47 The biggest cost: schools vs compounds03:37 Is Riyadh expensive? London, Sydney, Vancouver04:27 Housing: compounds and your top-three list06:47 The common tier: 300 to 350K compounds09:11 Apartment-style compounds: 150 to 250K13:53 Off-compound: the community trade-off14:42 The luxe end: half a million to one million16:35 Less is more: what a year taught us17:28 Utilities, electricity and internet19:17 School fees: roughly 100K per child20:50 Uniforms, ECAs and the trips that add up24:40 Visas, exit re-entry and premium residency25:58 Cars: why we both bought Chinese, outright28:22 Fuel: the one genuinely cheap thing29:08 Groceries: weekly spend and where we shop31:00 The grocery map: Spinneys down to corner shops34:31 Beauty: nails, Botox, finding someone you trust39:35 Abayas: 50 riyals to a few thousand42:30 Clothing and kids' clothes44:20 Help, nannies and cleaners45:00 Travel: why living here makes you want to go46:01 Wrap-up
• 
  Your Neck Pain Starts In Your Gut? Wellness in Riyadh (Peter, Tonic The Method) 22.06.2026 1ч 3мин

  Your neck pain and your gut might be the same problem. This week we sit down with Peter from Tonic The Method on what wellness actually looks like in Riyadh right now.   Peter is a physical therapist and Chinese-medicine specialist who moved here from Lebanon expecting wellness to rank near the bottom of people's priorities. He was wrong. We get into the nerve that connects your neck to your stomach, the breathing fix he reaches for before any machine, which everyday foods are quietly acidic, the exact contrast-therapy order he recommends, and why he reads teeth grinding as a clue to something bigger. Plus the colon-massage story Vesna will never live down.   Hosted by Carly and Vesna. Listen and follow wherever you get podcasts: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi   Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Teaser Highlights01:18 Welcome - What This Episode Is About03:13 Meet Peter and Introducing Tonic 18006:15 Tonic's Services and Kingdom Tower Launch11:47 The Wellness Scene in Riyadh13:21 The Gut and Neck Pain Connection19:13 Diet: Alkaline vs Acidic Foods24:21 Pressotherapy Explained26:33 Infrared Sauna and Cold Plunge33:58 Red Light Therapy39:29 Laser Body Remodeling45:59 EMS (Electromagnetic Muscle Stimulation)48:19 The Tonic Signature Massage and Colon Cleanse52:26 PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields)56:10 Dry Needling and Electroacupuncture59:22 Personalised Protocols and Recommendations
• 
  Wedding at the Ritz, Summer Plans & Why We Chose Riyadh 15.06.2026 46мин

  After a run of guest episodes, we did something different.. a live summer Q&A on TikTok, answering your questions in real time, and turned it into this week's episode. No guest, just us catching up before the summer break. We get into what a Saudi wedding at the Ritz-Carlton is actually like, the malls worth your time in Riyadh, the Saudi and Gulf abaya designers we actually buy from, learning Arabic from scratch, and the question that started this whole show: why Saudi, and would we choose Riyadh again. Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, co-hosted by two moms living in Riyadh, made for Saudis, residents, and anyone trying to make sense of the Gulf during Vision 2030. Listen wherever you get podcasts: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open 01:42 Welcome — summer catch-up, live on TikTok 02:47 Summer plans: UK, Greece, Macedonia 05:24 The Saudi wedding at the Ritz-Carlton 09:08 Why we chose Saudi 13:44 Our Saudi road trip — Taif, Jeddah, AlUla, the Eastern Province 18:05 Learning Arabic 21:55 What weddings here are really like 26:14 The malls we love in Riyadh 28:45 Abayas and Saudi designers 31:48 Beauty and salons 35:48 Saudi schools 38:10 Riyadh or Jeddah — would we choose it again 38:51 What surprised us most: the hospitality 45:20 What is the podcast about  
• 
  Everything You Got Wrong About the Saudi Sun 08.06.2026 46мин

  Saudi Arabia had no sunscreen of its own, in one of the hottest climates on earth. Ghadi Alshehri spent three years fixing that.   Ghadi is the founder of Borderline Beauty, the first homegrown Saudi sunscreen. She sat down with Carly and Vesna in Riyadh to talk about the gap she found, the science most of us were never taught, and what it takes to build something Saudi-made right now.   In this episode: - How she found the gap on an ordinary Tuesday at work - Chemical vs mineral sunscreen, and why it actually matters - Why UV passes through glass, clothes, and cloudy skies - Three years of formulation in Korea, and the "impossible" brief - Growing up between Manchester and Riyadh - Vision 2030, being seen, and building something local - Her advice for the next Saudi founder   Listen anywhere you get your podcasts: pod.link/insidesaudi   Follow Inside Saudi: Instagram @insidesaudiarabia TikTok @insidesaudiarabia Hosts: @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx Guest: Borderline Beauty @borderlinebeautysa   Chapters 00:00 The country with no sunscreen 00:35 Meet Ghadi and Raghad 02:00 The Tuesday she found the gap 05:00 Chemical vs mineral, explained 09:00 The myths: glass, clothes, cloudy days 13:00 Three years, Korea, and a formula that didn't exist 18:00 Manchester to Riyadh, and coming back 24:00 Vision 2030 and building something Saudi-made 30:00 Advice for the next founder   #SaudiArabia #Vision2030 #MadeInSaudi #SaudiBeauty #Riyadh
• 
  The Premium Residency Episode: All 7 Routes 18.05.2026 28мин

  There are seven routes to Saudi Premium Residency. Most people only know about one or two of them, and almost everyone thinks Vesna got hers because of Instagram. This week, Carly and Vesna walk through all seven, what each costs, what each unlocks, and what they wish they'd understood before they started navigating it themselves. Vesna holds Premium Residency as a secondary, sponsored by her husband, and she's open about what that actually means in practice: full benefits for him, partial for her, and a learning curve for the whole family. Carly doesn't have it. Together they break down limited-duration, unlimited-duration, special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur, and real-estate routes, with the actual SAR figures and the catch on each one. A few things to know up front: this isn't legal advice, the Premium Residency website is the only source you should trust to apply, and the math fact-check halfway through is worth staying for. Part two, on starting a business once you have residency, is coming. Listen wherever you get podcasts: https://linktr.ee/insidesaudi Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, co-hosted by two moms in Riyadh. Follow Inside Saudi: Instagram: @insidesaudiarabia TikTok: @insidesaudiarabia Carly: @caroverman (Instagram) @carlyoverman (TikTok) Vesna: @vesnapetrovicx   Chapters: 00:00 Cold open 00:53 Welcome + why this episode 03:00 Seven routes, overview 07:20 Route 1: Limited duration (100,000 SAR/year) 08:45 Route 2: Unlimited duration (800,000 SAR) 10:39 Route 3: Special talent residency 13:13 Route 4: Gifted residency (culture & sports) 16:10 Route 5: Investor residency (7M SAR + 10 jobs) 16:45 Route 6: Entrepreneur residency (two tiers) 21:02 Route 7: Real estate residency (4M SAR unmortgaged) 22:04 Process, timeline, background checks 24:58 Myths people get wrong 27:31 The big summary  
• 
  He Said No To Saudi Three Times. Then He Stayed 5 Years | Cedric Dahmoun 11.05.2026 1ч 16мин

  Cedric Dahmoun said no to Saudi three times before he came. He stayed five years. He's a Belgian-Algerian content creator with 600,000 followers, most of whom found him through TikToks showing what life in Saudi actually looks like. He came during COVID from Dubai, with no Arabic, no plan, and a feeling that he'd run out of versions of himself to try in Europe. In this episode he tells us about the night a stranger followed him through the dark in the south of Saudi and what happened next. He talks about leaving his phone on the coffee table for five years and what that says about the city he chose. He explains what he calls "the imam of TikTok," and why he doesn't argue with them. And he tells us about his next thing: walking from Riyadh to Mecca by camel, one month, the old way, because he wants to feel how the pilgrimage used to be done. Carly and Vesna hosted from the studio in Riyadh. Cedric was in Saudi dress and a Shure mic. Episode 28. Listen wherever you get podcasts. With Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic.   00:00 Cold open00:58 Welcome from Carly and Vesna03:43 Meeting Cedric05:30 The road to Riyadh06:25 No three times07:15 Dubai vs Riyadh09:42 Going full-time on social12:14 Converting to Islam13:42 First viral video15:07 Taif and the baboons18:23 By camel to Mecca22:31 Giving back to Saudi23:11 His father, and stopping alcohol25:14 Why he feels safe27:01 The compound trap28:38 3am stranger in Fayfa33:12 Real Islam34:06 The imam of TikTok35:21 The phone on the table38:24 Building 600K42:50 Handling negativity45:13 The spy comments46:16 Media authority call48:24 Authenticity and respect53:58 Advice for new creators01:01:55 Best platforms01:03:14 Why he deletes his camera roll01:04:40 Goodbye and Jeddah invite01:07:21 The Vesna and Alex story01:08:27 Conflict in Saudi vs Belgium01:13:20 Serbian content question01:16:36 Closing
• 
  From Pro Tennis to Saudi: Alex Tashbaeva on Building a Life She Never Planned 04.05.2026 51мин

  Alex Tashbaeva stopped going to school at twelve. She'd already been on a tennis court eight hours a day since she was five, and her Uzbek-Soviet parents had decided she was going to be a champion. By sixteen she'd left home; by nineteen she was the only girl on a ten-person coaching team flying to Riyadh to build out the Saudi national tennis programme. She said yes on a phone call. She knew nothing about the country. This week we talk to Alex about what those first years actually looked like — coaching the under-14 boys' national team, building the women's programme alone over the summers when her colleagues went home to Europe, and how the Jeddah Yacht Club years pulled her sideways into hospitality and events. She tells us why she resisted calling herself a content creator long after her TikToks were working, and what she sees in Saudi now that she didn't five years ago. She and Cedric are in Riyadh now and heading back to Jeddah. There's a marketing agency, a YouTube studio, and plans we get into. Listen wherever you get podcasts: pod.link/insidesaudi   00:00:00 Cold open00:01:00 Welcome and intro00:02:40 Two fires: living with Cedric00:05:07 Moving to Saudi: the path through the US and Spain00:05:57 Tennis from age five and an Uzbek-Soviet upbringing00:08:16 Leaving home at sixteen00:10:38 The phone call: only girl on a ten-person team to Riyadh00:11:13 Arriving in Saudi with no expectations00:12:42 Coaching the national under-14 boys00:14:26 The pivot to hospitality at Jeddah Yacht Club00:17:53 Meeting Cedric00:18:09 Why she refused to call herself a content creator00:20:11 Building the women's programme alone00:24:00 Medina, six months ago00:26:25 Jeddah vs Riyadh: pace, traffic, and where you actually live00:31:36 What they're building next00:34:30 Tips for starting on social in Saudi00:44:00 Reading the comments and adjusting the content00:50:51 What's next
• 
  From Goldman Sachs & KPMG to Saudi’s Biggest Modest Swim Partnership 27.04.2026 48мин

  How do you transition from the intense world of derivatives trading at Goldman Sachs and private client tax at KPMG to launching a global luxury swimwear brand? In this episode of Inside Saudi, we sit down with Katleya Nielsen and Ayesha Mahomed, the visionary founders of Lanuuk. They pull back the curtain on the "maternal shift" that led them to leave their 10-year corporate careers to solve a massive gap in the market: fashionable, high-quality modest swimwear. From packing orders on their living room floors to a landmark partnership with Aquarabia—Saudi Arabia's first and largest water theme park—Katleya and Ayesha share how they built a global empire with zero paid marketing. We dive into supply chain secrets, the reality of being "control-freak" founders, and how they are redefining luxury for the modern woman in Riyadh. What you’ll learn: How to pivot from high-finance/accounting into a creative industry. The strategy behind building a global brand through organic growth and zero ad spend. Sourcing sustainable fabrics in Turkey and managing craftsmanship in the Philippines. Identifying the massive retail gap for high-end modest swimwear in Saudi Arabia. Behind the scenes of the Aquarabia x Lanuuk partnership.   Chapters: 00:00 Intro: The Goldman Sachs & KPMG Pivot 01:25 Meet the Founders: Katleya and Ayesha 03:30 The 10-Year Corporate Grind 05:40 The "Maternal Shift": Why We Left 08:45 The Problem: Why Modest Swimwear Didn't Exist 12:15 Manufacturing Secrets: The Philippines & Turkey 17:40 Scoping Riyadh: The Saudi Retail Gap 21:10 The Viral Blow-Up: $0 Ad Spend 32:20 "Control Freaks": Managing a Global Brand 41:10 Aquarabia: Saudi’s Biggest Modest Swim Partnership 47:00 Vogue & Organic PR
• 
  Saudi Content Creator Explains Taboos, Slang & Life in Saudi Arabia 20.04.2026 1ч 24мин

  What is life in the Kingdom actually like when you step outside the "compound bubble"? In this episode of Inside Saudi, we sit down with viral creator Senan, a "Westernized Saudi" who has mastered the art of explaining his culture to the world. We start with a quick story about how an internet misunderstanding actually brought us together, but the real conversation begins when we dive into the local experience. Senan reveals the "unprofessional" slang your tour guide will never teach you and explains why delivery drivers really need that WhatsApp pin (from his own experience as a former driver!). We also explore the reality of Saudi safety—from leaving your car running while you grab coffee to the peace of mind of raising kids in Riyadh. We tackle the big cultural questions: the truth about gender mixing, why asking for a mother's name is taboo, and the hilarious debate over Western vs. Saudi bathrooms. In this episode, we discuss: • The "Chicken Nugget" Identity: What it means to be a Westernized Saudi• Delivery Driver Confessions: Why the app location is never enough 📍• Local Slang 101: Beautiful phrases for age and hospitality• The Safety Factor: Why expats feel so secure in the Kingdom 🛡️• TikTok vs. Instagram: Creating for two completely different audiences• Thobe Etiquette: How to wear the traditional dress the right way• The "Just Do It" System: Senan’s secret to viral content success Follow Senan:https://www.instagram.com/senan_ar/https://www.tiktok.com/@senan_arfaj Follow Inside Saudi:https://www.tiktok.com/@insidesaudiarabiahttps://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Chapters: 0:00 – Moving past our internet misunderstanding1:20 – Being a “Westernized Saudi” (The Chicken Nugget nickname)4:10 – Learning the hard way: Complaining online5:55 – Answering delivery calls while snorkeling in the Red Sea7:38 – Why Saudi delivery drivers ALWAYS call you for a pin12:00 – TikTok vs. Instagram: Creating for two different worlds13:12 – Saudi Slang 101: The beautiful meaning of "May God give you more years"17:18 – The struggle of being a vegetarian in the land of Kabsa20:56 – The Ultimate Shawarma Guide: Mama Noura & local favorites27:15 – Genuine creators vs. "Views chasing" in Saudi culture33:10 – Why Saudis love escaping to London for the weather43:40 – The "Unprofessional" slang your tour guide won't teach you47:15 – Navigating the Gender Mixing question: Taboos & change56:10 – Thobe Etiquette: How to get it tailored correctly1:04:05 – The Reality of Safety: Handbags, cars, and raising kids1:08:10 – Breaking the "Compound Bubble": Why you need to live local1:10:55 – The Great Bidet Debate: Why the West is missing out1:16:15 – Why talking about toilets is actually a taboo1:22:10 – The "Just Do It" Viral Content System
• 
  Why Understanding Saudi Culture Is the Key to Business Success (with Mahmoud Moamenah) 13.04.2026 1ч 14мин

  What does it really take to succeed in Saudi Arabia? In this episode, we sit down with Mahmoud Moamenah, founder of Sudasi Business Solutions, to explore why understanding Saudi culture is the key to both life and business here. From growing up in Saudi and living abroad, to helping expats and businesses navigate the market, Mahmoud shares insights on integration, identity, and why many people never fully experience the country. We cover: Why living in a bubble holds people back The difference between compound life and real Saudi How culture impacts business success The role of hospitality, religion, and community Why Saudi feels so different Whether you are an expat, a founder, or just curious about life in Saudi, this episode offers a perspective you will not hear anywhere else.   Episode Chapters: 00:00 Intro and what this episode is about00:10 Living in a bubble abroad01:30 Why Saudi is not what you see in the media02:00 Why business success is about culture03:05 Mahmoud Moamenah’s background06:20 Studying in the US and new perspectives08:35 How stories shape how we see the world10:05 Why Saudi will never lose its culture12:30 Culture shock and moving abroad13:00 Experiencing countries vs living in a bubble15:30 Moving to Washington DC16:20 Teaching Arabic and culture to diplomats18:00 Saudi vs media perception20:45 Why integration matters in Saudi21:20 Language, dialects and culture24:20 Why expats stay in their comfort zone26:58 Why Saudi culture feels different28:30 Community, hospitality and generosity30:40 What family really means in Saudi33:45 Charity, zakat and giving37:20 Returning to Saudi and starting a business38:50 Compound life vs real Riyadh40:15 Helping expats integrate into Saudi life41:50 Bringing Saudis and expats together43:00 Saudi weddings and social life45:00 Ramadan lifestyle and routines47:30 Experiencing Ramadan as an expat 49:10 Moving into consulting and business50:00 Building Elevate Spark53:00 Networking and partnerships in Saudi57:00 Creating opportunities and supporting talent01:01:00 Why culture drives business success01:05:00 Advice for expats and founders01:09:00 The future of Saudi01:12:00 Final reflections01:14:30 Outro