Made in Spain

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Your olive oil habit might be costing you flavour, money, or both. We head off on a little “Triple O” mission (oil obsession) to visit Señoríos de Reyu, a single-estate producer a winding drive inland from the Alicante coast, and the day changes how we think about every casual drizzle in the kitchen. When you learn that olive trees flower heavily but only around three per cent of those flowers become olives, “cheap” extra virgin suddenly feels a lot less straightforward. 

We talk through what makes a premium Spanish olive oil producer different: growing, harvesting, processing, and bottling all on site rather than sending olives to a co-operative. We get into coupage blends, why modern machinery protects quality, and how sustainability can be built into the land itself with biodiversity projects, composting, and using every part of the olive so nothing goes to waste. And yes, we nerd out over packaging and design, including aluminium bottles that better protect oil from light, heat, and air plus a bold designer collaboration that turns a bottle into a collectible. 

Then we get practical. We share what to look for on an olive oil label (harvest date that goes beyond the year, origin wording, acidity) and we bust one of the biggest myths: “cold pressed” or “first press” as a guarantee of superiority. We also give a quick shout-out to other award-winning Spanish olive oils we love, and we answer a listener email about Aena airports and how to request free support for invisible disabilities and neurodivergent travel in Spain. 

If you enjoy food travel, Spanish culture, and smart buying tips you can use immediately, hit play. Subscribe, share with a fellow olive oil obsessive, and leave us a review and tell us: what do you check first when you pick up a bottle?

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Podcasting looks simple from the outside: press record, tell a story, publish, repeat. Then you step into the industry and realise it is a mix of language quirks, listener psychology, algorithms, advertising money, and a lot of behind-the-scenes learning. We share what surprised us most after visiting the London Podcast Show, including the sheer scale of the event, how intense short networking meetings can be, and why you need to protect your energy if you want to make genuine connections.

We also zoom out to the history of podcasting itself, from how the word “podcast” was coined (and why it still carries the ghost of the iPod), to a small detail we love: many Spanish speakers say “poscat” because that consonant pairing is awkward in Spanish. From there, we get honest about why podcasts feel so comforting, how they have replaced parts of radio for many listeners, and the downside no one wants to admit: recommendation engines can trap us in beliefs we already hold, feeding an echo chamber one autoplay at a time.

Finally, we talk numbers and strategy. The podcast market is massive, podcast advertising works because listeners actually pay attention, and big-name deals show how valuable attention has become. But the heart of it stays small and human: a clear theme, a real relationship with your audience, and the grit to keep going when you feel out of your depth. If you care about the business of podcasting, starting a podcast, or growing a travel podcast community around Spain, you will take away practical lessons and a few laughs along the way. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves audio, and leave us a review: what makes you hit play on a podcast every week?

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Denia is the kind of place that makes you stop mid sentence and look up. A city on Spain’s Costa Blanca sitting between a castle and the sea, continuously inhabited for thousands of years, and somehow still calm enough to feel personal. We’re sharing why Denia earns its reputation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and how to experience it without turning your day into a rushed itinerary.

We talk through Denia’s layered history, from its Greek beginnings to the Roman Dianium connection, then move into what you actually do when you arrive: wander the old town, eye up the castle, and head to the port and marina for that waterfront energy. We also get practical about the ferry to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza and Mallorca) and why it can be slower and pricier than flying, even though it still makes sense if you’re travelling with a car or staying longer.

The biggest surprise is the one most people miss: Jardín de l’Albarda, a conservation led botanical garden just outside Denia that feels like a secret garden hidden in a residential neighbourhood. We share costs, tips, why it’s brilliant for families and photographers, and why a simple coffee and cake there can become the most memorable part of the day. From gamba roja de Dénia and fideuà to a mindset of vivir despacio, we end on what slow travel can teach you about everyday life.

If you enjoyed this coastal guide and our slice of life chat, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a slower weekend, and leave us a review. What’s your perfect Denia plan, castle first or lunch first?

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Spain’s weekly markets are not a cute holiday extra, they’re a living timetable that shapes how towns eat, shop, and socialise. We’re Nalini Sharma and Laura Senior Garcia, and we take you right into that rhythm, from the everyday fruit and veg stalls to one of the Costa Blanca’s most famous Saturday traditions: the Jalón flea market in the Jalón Valley.

We talk through how market culture evolves from village trading into covered city mercats, and why the market is also a social gathering point where generations mix, gossip flows, and a simple bocadillo can turn into a lifelong memory. We share what Jalón looks like on the ground: the riverbed layout, the competitive parking, the thrill of crystal, china and odd collectibles, and a practical tip for browsing antiques without getting completely lost, using AI on your phone to get a rough benchmark on authenticity and value.

Then the mood shifts. We describe an unsettling stall selling Nazi memorabilia and why seeing it among “normal” market finds hits differently, alongside the legal grey areas and the historical backdrop many visitors never hear about. To round out the weekend, we zoom out to nearby Moraira, Benissa and Calpe, and we get into local Moscatel wine and olive oil, plus a genuinely off-the-beaten-path lunch recommendation at Casa del Maco.

If you’re planning Costa Blanca travel, love local food culture, or just want to understand Spain beyond the beach, come along. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find Made in Spain.

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What does "Made in Spain" actually mean? In this episode, Nalini and Laura take the podcast name literally and dig into the Spanish brands quietly carrying the country's soul — from a Madrid espadrille shop that's stood on the same corner since 1845, to the secretive leather workshops of Ubrique that craft bags for the world's biggest luxury houses.

Inside this episode:

• Casa Hernanz, the family-run espadrille maker just off Plaza Mayor, five generations in
• Ubrique: the hidden engine behind Loewe, Polène, Strathberry and more
• Mint & Rose's quiet luxury out of Valencia, plus Pokihomba's handcrafted boho hats from Barcelona
• La Bien Hecha's modern bags made the old-school way
• The unspoken language of the Spanish fan (and where to buy a beautiful one in Madrid)
• La Chinata's Pimentón de la Vera — Spain's protected smoked paprika, fourth-generation family business
• Fun facts on Lladró porcelain, world-leading olive oil, and 1917, an award-winning Cava you can only buy direct
• Laura's first Romería de Santa Faz — pilgrims, canes, rosemary, and a few shots of Jäger before 10am
• Plus a show-and-tell on Medicube skincare and Netflix's Running Point

Sentence of the day: hecho con amor — because something made the way it was five centuries ago still tastes better than anything made at scale.

This episode is powered by GoKo Energy — clean, natural energy made with coconut water, natural caffeine, and real fruit. No crash, no jitters. Order at gokoenergy.com.

Follow us @madeinspainpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

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Valencia keeps topping global “best places to live” lists, but most people still only talk about Madrid and Barcelona. We wanted to change that with a grounded, travel-friendly Valencia guide that mixes practical tips with the kind of history that makes you look at a city differently the moment you arrive.

We get into the essentials first: how big Valencia really is, why it feels so liveable, how easy it is to walk the centre, and why parking can test your patience. We talk transport hacks like the multi-day tourist card, plus why Valencia Airport can be a cheaper way to land in Spain. Then we zoom out to the layers beneath the postcard views, from Roman Valentia to Moorish irrigation that still shapes the region today. The Tribunal de las Aguas, a centuries-old water court that meets outside the cathedral, might be the most “only in Valencia” detail we’ve ever found, and yes, we also go down the Holy Grail rabbit hole.

From there it’s all about what to do and what to eat. We share our take on the City of Arts and Sciences, Oceanogràfic Valencia as a conservation-focused attraction, and Bioparc Valencia as an immersive habitat-style zoo, with notes for families and anyone who cares about animal welfare. On the food side, we revisit paella Valencia, what the original recipe looks like, and the one rule that helps you blend in: don’t order paella for dinner. We also cover horchata de chufa, where to eat in Valencia, and seasonal highlights like Noche de San Juan and La Tomatina near Buñol. We finish with a slice of life on social media backlash, tourism tensions, and why we still believe hospitality is the soul of Spain.

If this helped you plan a Valencia weekend break, subscribe, share the episode with a travel-loving friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show.

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Chocolate shows up everywhere at Easter, but Spain tells a different story once you look past the shop displays. We’re leaning into that contrast by taking you to Villajoyosa in Alicante, home of Valor, the historic Spanish chocolate brand founded in 1881 and still family-owned today. What starts as a “local factory next door” quickly turns into a global business that exports to over 60 countries, and we talk through what that kind of growth looks like when your cocoa has to be sourced abroad.

We also get nerdy about Spanish chocolate tradition: cacao arriving in Spain in the 1500s via Seville, the original thick and bitter drink, and why hot chocolate here still feels like a ritual rather than a quick mug of cocoa. If you’ve ever searched for Spanish hot chocolate, chocolate con churros, or the best food experiences in Spain, you’ll recognise the details that matter: texture, timing, and how these treats anchor social moments. We also share what the free Valor factory tour is like, the surprisingly memorable “placer adulto” advertising that helped shape the brand, and why Valor cafés are such a smart extension.

Then we shift to Semana Santa and Easter in Spain, including the key 2026 dates, the cities that deliver the most intense Holy Week atmosphere (think Seville, Malaga, Valladolid), and the seasonal sweets and street-level senses that define it all, from torrijas and mona de Pascua to incense and palm braiding. Stick around for our first ever giveaway with the boutique hotel Mansión Iturbe in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, and tell us what your ultimate Easter treat is. Subscribe, share, and leave a review so more curious travellers and food lovers can find us.

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Crossing the stage at dawn. Dancing for 12+ hours. Costumes you choose months ahead. Trinidad Carnival sounds like a party, but the lived reality is a full-body, full-logistics adventure, and we’re telling you what we wish we’d known before we landed in Port of Spain.

We start with the journey from Spain, including the messy parts: route planning, time zone tactics, and the moment a train strike and an electric Uber nearly made us miss our flight. From there, we get into how Trinidad Carnival actually works on the ground, from picking a band and section to understanding what “playing mas” means. We played with Hearts (Bacchanal In Bloom, Wild Bloom) and talk through costume timing, deposits, delivery, and why hotels and packages need to be booked shockingly early.

Then we break down the two-day rhythm: Monday wear vs Tuesday wear, why stockings are basically non-negotiable, and how professional Carnival makeup becomes part of the production. We also share the real survival checklist: shoes, hydration, sunscreen, sleep, safety, and how the parade flow works with music trucks, moving drinks carts, lunch stops, and crowd management. If you’ve ever wondered whether you could do it, we answer honestly and we even debate how we’d do Carnival differently next time.

We also share a special giveaway with a boutique “museum hotel” in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, plus our take on Road March controversy, soca culture, and where Carnival lives outside Trinidad. If you enjoy this peek into living Carnival, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review so more travellers find it.

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Port of Spain flips a switch when Carnival season hits, and suddenly the city isn’t just hosting a festival, it’s showing you what identity feels like when it’s sung, danced, and defended in public. We’ve just come back from Trinidad and Tobago, and this first part of our two-part Carnival series is our debrief on what surprised us most: the pace of the capital, the warmth of the people, and the sense that even outsiders get pulled into something that feels generational.

We trace the roots of Trinidad Carnival through colonial history and cultural remixing, from French masquerade traditions to Canboulay and the pushback against suppression that helped shape modern street culture. That context changes how you hear everything, especially soca music. Once we understood soca as the high-tempo evolution of calypso built for the road, it made sense why it’s everywhere, why artists grind all season, and why Road March matters so much.

Then we get practical and very honest about the Carnival ecosystem: fetes like Hyatt Lime, ticket access, day parties, cooler party culture, and why waking up at 3am for Soca Street somehow becomes a highlight. We also share a few slice-of-life details that taste like Trinidad to us, from Crix crackers to salted prunes steeped in tequila, plus our giveaway with a boutique museum hotel in Patzcuaro, Mexico.

If you’re curious about Trinidad Carnival, Port of Spain travel, soca culture, and what it really feels like on the ground, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What part of Carnival would you want to try first?

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Dreaming of a home in Spain but unsure what’s real and what’s just sunshine? We pull back the curtain on the Costa Blanca North market and walk you through the parts most foreigners never see: why many listings start overpriced, how verbal offers actually work, and the legal power of a well-written arras contract. With luxury broker Darcy Maxim as our guide, we map the stretch from Denia to Alicante, show how different nearby towns feel in daily life, and explain why a great agent becomes your researcher, negotiator, and project manager in a system that isn’t built like the US or UK.

We get practical fast. Inspections aren’t standard in Spain, so we break down how to commission your own and what to test, from electrics and HVAC to humidity and roofs. We talk furniture inventories, because deals often wobble over “personal items,” and we outline a clear sequence from shortlisting and viewings to negotiation, deposit, and the notary. Expect a formal closing: assigned seats, a full deed reading, identity checks, and verified funds. It’s slower, yes, but designed to keep the transaction clean.

If you’re investing, we cover where returns still make sense and how to match budget to strategy. With around €500k, consider off-plan new builds with 10–20 percent uplift at delivery or a sea-view refurb with bright, Mediterranean finishes. At €1.5m, scarcity, views, and walkability lead, with rentals strong if you follow evolving local rules. We also share hard-won lessons from rental horror stories and why platform protection matters. Love Spain for the lifestyle, but buy with discipline: test towns at night, question the price, and never sign blind.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, rate, and share the show, and tell us your target budget and biggest question about buying in Spain so we can help in a future episode.