Inside Saudi Arabia

Carly & Vesna
  • 3.8 (9)
  • Society & Culture

Before moving to Saudi Arabia, we searched everywhere for a glimpse of what everyday life would be like. Inside Saudi Arabia was born from that search — a podcast exploring culture, family, style, wellness  and life in today’s Kingdom. Hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic, each episode blends our personal experiences as expats with the everyday rhythms of a country in transformation. Whether you’re moving here, already living here, or simply curious about life inside Saudi Arabia, we’ll give you our perspective on the trends, shifts and conversations shaping the Kingdom right now.

  1. 5d ago

    Senan Returns: The Saudi Word for Fawning Over Foreigners

    This episode is powered by Colabs. We have a brand new studio space and office, if you want to work here too comment for our discount code.  Saudi creator Senan is back on Inside Saudi, our first guest in the new studio. He teaches Carly and Vesna the Saudi word munbatih (منبطح, literally "lying flat") and explains why people use it on him, makes the case for south Riyadh over the north, and tells the story of how his sister turned him into the guy reviewing K-pop in a thobe. We also get into how Saudis talk about mental health now, what inshallah really means, why the desi community holds a special place in Saudi, his pitch to dub The Lion King in a Saudi dialect, and what it would take for Carly to eat her first shawarma in 18 years. 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. Guest: Senan @senan_ar LISTEN EVERYWHERE (Apple, Spotify, YouTube): pod.link/insidesaudi FOLLOW Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia Carly: instagram.com/caroverman Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx Senan: instagram.com/senan_ar Thanks to our sponsor Yammak for home services in Riyadh: massage, nails, hair, cleaning and kids' services. Use code INSIDESAUDI20 for 20% off. CHAPTERS 0:00 Teaser 1:30 Intro: Senan is back 2:46 Getting recognised, and context blindness 3:53 Planning a first trip to London 6:09 Turning 40, and knowing yourself 6:32 Fate, and leaving it in God's hands 7:31 Living with anxiety 8:07 How Saudis talk about mental health now 9:12 Zodiac signs, and trusting in fate 11:17 How having kids changes your worries 14:07 Why he cancelled Brazil 15:35 Perth, and Australia's giant bugs 17:32 Spotted at Nakheel Mall 19:29 Toning it down: the Western influencer debate 19:50 Sponsor: Yammak 21:21 Disney characters in a Saudi dialect 25:15 Munbatih: a Saudi word explained 28:33 Not all Saudis: a generation shift 29:15 Saudi and the desi community 31:48 What inshallah really means 32:55 Vecna, Stranger Things and Vesna's movie gap 34:02 The Avatar cinema chaos 35:20 One baby girl 37:22 "Unc" and Gen Z 38:08 How K-pop in a thobe blew him up 38:58 K-pop 101: what a "bias" is 42:01 Would Carly eat shawarma for 500,000 riyals? 44:32 Why expats live in compounds 45:12 Where to really live in Riyadh 48:09 His sister, his filter

  2. Oct 12

    How to Make Friends and Build Community in Saudi Arabia (also a studio sneak peek)

    A year in, and Inside Saudi finally has a real studio.   In this update episode, Carly and Vesna welcome you to Chapter 2 of Inside Saudi from their brand new studio at Colabs, and catch you up on everything happening in their world and their community.   We cover the women only pool party that sold out, how women's events actually work in Saudi, why it is so hard to make friends as an expat (and how we are fixing it), the WhatsApp community and coffee pin drops, a community MVP shout out, and exactly where to travel from Saudi for the October and Christmas breaks.   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 1:09  Welcome to the new studio, Chapter 2 1:33  Out of the bed, into a proper studio 2:48  Why we chose Collabs 5:36  Guests are coming soon 6:05  The women only pool party that sold out 6:51  Self care, self love and community 7:23  How women's events work in Saudi 9:25  Why every staff member had to be a woman 10:10  What the pool day actually was 11:04  Food, drinks and an all inclusive ticket 12:13  95% came alone, and left with friends 13:23  Making friends as an expat isn't easy 13:57  More pool days before winter 14:42  Yammak, the home services team 16:59  Growing the WhatsApp community 17:59  The coffee pin drops 19:33  New groups, networking, Jeddah and women only 22:10  The community organizes itself 23:44  Community shout outs 24:59  The community MVP, Abdullah 26:10  Planning the October and Christmas breaks 27:03  Where to go for the October break 28:40  Christmas plans, further afield 31:49  AlUla and a Saudi trip at Christmas 32:31  Moving to a bigger compound 34:25  Wrapping up, guests next weekA year in, and Inside Saudi finally has a real studio.   In this update episode, Carly and Vesna welcome you to Chapter 2 of Inside Saudi from their brand new studio at Colabs, and catch you up on everything happening in their world and their community.   We cover the women only pool party that sold out, how women's events actually work in Saudi, why it is so hard to make friends as an expat (and how we are fixing it), the WhatsApp community and coffee pin drops, a community MVP shout out, and exactly where to travel from Saudi for the October and Christmas breaks.   We loved using Yammak for all of our spa services at our pool event!! They gave us a discount code for you to get 20% off all services!! INSIDESAUDI20 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 1:09  Welcome to the new studio, Chapter 2 1:33  Out of the bed, into a proper studio 2:48  Why we chose Collabs 5:36  Guests are coming soon 6:05  The women only pool party that sold out 6:51  Self care, self love and community 7:23  How women's events work in Saudi 9:25  Why every staff member had to be a woman 10:10  What the pool day actually was 11:04  Food, drinks and an all inclusive ticket 12:13  95% came alone, and left with friends 13:23  Making friends as an expat isn't easy 13:57  More pool days before winter 14:42  Yamik, the home services team 16:59  Growing the WhatsApp community 17:59  The coffee pin drops 19:33  New groups, networking, Jeddah and women only 22:10  The community organizes itself 23:44  Community shout outs 24:59  The community MVP, Abdullah 26:10  Planning the October and Christmas breaks 27:03  Where to go for the October break 28:40  Christmas plans, further afield 31:49  AlUla and a Saudi trip at Christmas 32:31  Moving to a bigger compound 34:25  Wrapping up, guests next week

  3. Sep 29

    How We Are Launching a Business in Saudi Arabia (It's Not What You Expect)

    How do you actually launch something in Saudi Arabia? The honest answer surprised us too.   In this (bed) episode, Carly and Vesna share what really helped them build Inside Saudi over their first year, and it is not the business advice you would expect. It is about patience, relationships, gut feeling and serving people first.   We cover the advice that is more nuanced, why we run everything on vibes and our gut, playing to your strengths, the how can I help you mindset that defines Saudi business, setting boundaries, the licenses and language barriers we are still working through, why not everyone will like you, how to finally start putting yourself out there, and also how we choose our guests.   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, and why we love the bed episodes 2:04  Today's topic, how to launch in Saudi 2:24  The launch advice nobody wants to hear 2:56  Carly's story, arriving as a full time mum 4:11  How it all happened so fast 5:04  How Saudi opens up space and time 6:47  Running a business on vibes and gut feelings 7:41  Lessons from Oprah and Mel Robbins 9:09  Women, intuition and the gut 9:50  Saying yes to everything in year one 10:57  Divide and conquer, playing to your strengths 13:20  Doing business in Saudi, put the time in 13:39  How can I help you, not what can you do for me 14:48  Boundaries, don't deplete yourself 15:54  Serving the community and the WhatsApp groups 17:56  Designing the job and life you want 21:03  Advice if you want to start something here 21:26  Don't be afraid to fail 22:07  Our biggest challenge, licenses and red tape 22:56  The language barrier, and giving grace 23:57  Feeling blocked, and changing your approach 26:17  Opportunities come from giving value 26:58  Sticking to your values, the kebab rule 27:48  Putting yourself out there online 28:51  Not everyone is going to like you 30:48  The videos made about us, and the dark times 32:51  Protecting your energy online 33:57  Just start, and be yourself 34:45  Getting ghosted, and Saudi politeness 35:42  How we choose our guests 37:40  Everyone has a platform 39:52  Wrapping up 40:56  Float and Glow, our women only pool day

  4. Sep 15

    Living in Saudi: Driving, Loneliness, and What No One Tells You

    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

  5. Sep 7

    We Toured EVERY Compound in Riyadh (Honest Review + Q&A)

    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

  6. Sep 1

    Our Goodbye Episode...

    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

  7. Aug 24

    The Truth About Child Safety in Saudi Schools with Sajid Khan

    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

  8. Aug 17

    We Went to Saudi Weddings, Here's What Shocked Us

    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

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Ratings & Reviews

3.8
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Before moving to Saudi Arabia, we searched everywhere for a glimpse of what everyday life would be like. Inside Saudi Arabia was born from that search — a podcast exploring culture, family, style, wellness  and life in today’s Kingdom. Hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic, each episode blends our personal experiences as expats with the everyday rhythms of a country in transformation. Whether you’re moving here, already living here, or simply curious about life inside Saudi Arabia, we’ll give you our perspective on the trends, shifts and conversations shaping the Kingdom right now.

Information

  • Creator
    Carly & Vesna
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Inside Saudi Arabia

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