Podcasts can be described as a sleeper hit amongst recent technological innovations. However, podcasts sadly get a bad reputation for either monotonously droning on about political and intellectual discourse or mindlessly spewing out tabloid fodder.

Luckily there's a middle ground, and it's Dua Lipa: At Your Service. This podcast manages to be entertaining and thought-provoking through articulate, informative, and engaging conversations with eminent personalities in entertainment, fashion, and activism.

Dua Lipa: At Your Service is a far cry from the glossy, disco, and glitter-infused image the superstar musician has curated through her work. This podcast portrays Lipa more intimately as a lifestyle guru than a popstar, delving into weighty and breezy matters with a high-profile lineup of guests from an array of fields. Throughout each episode, interviewees talk about their careers, failures, and what keeps them going. 

Undoubtedly ambitious for a novice podcaster, Dua Lipa delivers on her promises through her surprisingly impressive interview skills and envious contact list. Guests range from obvious choices such as Elton John and Megan Thee Stallion to ones such as creative director of Balmain Olivier Rousteing, Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad, and bestselling author Lisa Taddeo to make for a fascinating listening experience.

Content-wise, we explore conversations both light-hearted and ponderous. Throughout the first season, we see heart-to-heart discussions on many of the struggles the guests went through. Olivier details his personal and career struggles with being an adopted person of colour in a country like France. While Nadia recounts her emancipating escape from Iraq, Riz Ahmed reflects on the palpable Islamophobia he still faces despite being an Oscar winner.

We also get an insightful look at our personalities. Edward Enninful talks about how his Ghanaian heritage influences his work at British Vogue, and Bowen Yang hilariously describes the status quo at SNL. Megan Thee Stallion explains how black women inspire her and how she plans to use her platform to empower them.

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However, these musings are counterbalanced by moments of levity. We discuss the host's love for West Village, Elton John's wild nights in Studio 54, and the best Korean barbeque in Seoul. Then comes my favourite part – celebrity recommendations of places to go, things to do, and dishes to eat. Hotspots in Tribeca, Parisian patisseries, and the best English breakfast in London are animatedly discussed before the runtime ends.

In summary, Dua Lipa: At Your Service perfectly balances the conflicting opposites of the podcast world. It's brainy but exciting enough that it doesn't put you to sleep while simultaneously approaching current topics through a more sophisticated view. If you're looking for a fun, informative, and overall feel-good podcast, look no further, you've come to the right place.

Turns out Taaseen Mohammed Islam can write semi-decently at the expense of being able to do basic math. Send him pointers at taaseen.2001@gmail.com