Kerning Cultures
New Dubai podcast brings a fresh voice to the Middle East
When Serial became the fastest podcast to reach five million downloads, it was evdient that we were reaching the golden age of audio. In 2015, UAE podcast produced its first episode and has since helped put the region’s podcast scene firmly on the map. The monthly show brings a new voice to the Middle East, breaking misconceptions and asking difficult questions. What’s On chats to Hebah Fisher, co-founder and presenter, and Razan Alzayani, cofounder and executive producer, who tell us more.
Why did you start
Kerning Cultures? We wanted to capture the depth of our region in ways we’re not seeing now. Turn on any media and it’s either politicised or shallow content, neither of which resonate with our own experiences.
Who are your listeners?
People who identify with the Middle East, either because they’re from here or wish to learn more – people who are curious about their worlds, who want to engage in conversations.
Any favourite episode so far?
The episodes on the Egyptian brain drain phenomenon were so rewarding. A mentor told us that the best work starts from hard questions and we looked at why Egyptians appear to be giving up on Egypt. Being half-Arab, half-westerners ourselves, questions like, ‘ What do we owe the places that made us who we are?’ are issues we’ve not found answers to. The result is an expression of our own soul-searching. Fed up with the lack of alternative music on Dubai radio, local DJ MoCity started his weekly podcast Motellacast a year ago. Each episode is packed with an eclectic range of music, from reggae and classical music to vintage hip hop.
What’s the production time like?
An episode takes anywhere between one to six months of preparation, research, interviews, drafting, editing and then another two weeks of audio production to create each episode.
What do you love about podcasts?
Podcasts have this powerful ability to transport you into other worlds. They build an intimate relationship between the hosts and the listeners in a way that sinks the stories that much more deeper. Episodes come out weekly and mainly see the three hosts, MCs Tooless,