There are two kinds of people: those who prefer to work in silence and those who need music or a podcast playing in the background. If you’re the latter, then you’re def not alone.
We all have our go-to podcasts, (thriller-mystery vibes anyone?) but there’s something special about discovering a fresh new podcast and adding it to the rotation.
It seems like everyone and their neighbour is starting their own podcast these days. You’ve thought about it too, haven’t you? Well, your besties at Cosmo are on hand to help you curate the *perfect* podcast playlist for your winter hot girl walks.
From candid talks about life, to reality TV goss, to health and wellness fads, all of these homegrown podcasts share one thing in common. Brilliant storytelling.
Swalf.bait
Think cousin sleepover vibes meets Gen Z Gulf girl realness. Hosted by Barbie and Fatima, this Emirati duo spills stories, answers your burning Qs, and gets way too real about life in the GCC. It’s warm, chaotic, and totally relatable, like a late-night chat in your fave abaya.
🎧 on: YouTube & Spotify.
Chit Chat Chicas
Imagine the ultimate girls’ night, but in podcast form. Five unapologetically bold women gather every Sunday to spill the tea, dishing on everything from careers and relationships to personal wins and WIPs with zero filters, just friendship vibes and real laughs.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music.
Recipe to Success
Hosted by entrepreneur Humza Zahoor, this motivational podcast serves up CEO-level energy, sharing success stories from business moguls, influencers, and industry game-changers across the UK, GCC, and beyond. Think compelling narratives from those who turned adversity into empire strategies, real talk, and inspo for your entrepreneurial glow-up, every week.
🎧 on: YouTube & Apple.
Podcast w Nos
Hosted by the iconic duo Maha and Hadeel, this Arabic comedy podcast delivers big laughs, bigger energy, and the kind of friendship banter that makes you feel instantly included. From inside jokes to everyday chaos, Podcast w Nos is basically a voice note from your funniest friends, now streaming weekly.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
Huda Hotline
Beauty mogul Huda Kattan trades her glamorous palette for real talk. Huda Hotline is your weekly dose of bold truths, covering everything from hustle culture and inner beauty to failure, self-sabotage, and authenticity , all unfiltered by makeup filters. This emotional yet empowering podcast is pure big sis energy.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
Meet My Friendz
Hosted by Dubai’s own glam powerhouse Diva Dee (Danya AlMulla), Meet My Friendz feels like the ultimate hangout, complete with candid conversation, real talk, and major sisterhood vibes. Each episode, she invites friends (think fellow creators, entrepreneurs, or real-life “Besties Café” legends) to spill about everything from business decisions to personal wins and messy moments.
🎧 on: YouTube.
The Aura Podcast
This brand new podcast recorded atop the iconic skypool all over our FYP is themed around reaching for the sky, pushing boundaries and overcoming obstacles. What better place for it to be filmed? Listen to host Kubi Springer delve into the stories of the most influential personalities in the region.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
Steps I Took
Join hosts Achasah and Jevanni engage in meaningful discussions with guests who have overcome obstacles to reach where they are today. Chatting all things business, success, and the emotional journey that comes with it, listen to them interview some of the biggest success stories in the region.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
Hikmat Wehbi podcast
On Hikmat’s podcast, he seems to be one step ahead of us, by bringing in the peeps we actually want to hear from. Highlights include episodes with practically every Love is Blind: Habibi cast member unashamedly spilling the tea.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
The Balance Theory Podcast
Self-improvement? Check. Empowerment? Check. Real talk? Check. With over 5 million downloads, The Balance Theory podcast hosted by Australian Erika De Pellegrin, delves into some topics we’re all curious about. Guests include addiction specialist Chantale and Abz Ali who uncovers some of the biggest misconceptions about living in DXB.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
Rateel Alpha Talk
13 -year-old Saudi podcast host and influencer has a following of 490K and is making waves across the region with her incredible content. With thousands of views on her podcast episodes, Rateel describes herself as a social impact entrepreneur with a passion for crafting engaging and relatable content that inspires young people to make positive changes.
🎧 on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple.
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