Deia Unpacked

In this episode Tara speaks to the warm and wonderful woman who researched and wrote the book Soul of Soller, Ellen Joosten. If you love Soller as much as Tara does, this is your episode. In it, Ellen and Tara talk about everything Soller, from its history to its current state, with all of the love and affection that special town deserves. This talk is a celebration of what Tara, a...

In this episode, Tara speaks to an adventurous, risk taking artist who also happens to have a good sense for business, Sara le Roy. Sara recently opened Deiarte Gallery & Bar on Deia’s high street. Sara is as warm, funny and engaging as her art is dark, multilayered and powerful. She is a remarkable addition to the Deia community, and her gallery already tells the tale of many incred...

In this episode, Tara speaks to a remarkable woman, a native Deianenc, who is a vital part of the Mallorcan community in Deia, Magdalena Ripoll Vives. In their talk we learn that Magdalena has family connections with some of the old Deia families, including that of Toni Vives who was the secretary to Archduke Lluis Salvadore. They talk about her passion for theater and how the performing arts has...

This talk holds a special place in Tara's heart. Last Fall she had the honor of talking to an incredible young woman who landed in Deia during the Pandemic with her small baby. She’s a punk rocker, a documentary filmmaker, and a journalist, Hannah Brooks. After a long and arduous journey with addiction, Hannah and her partner were creating a life together here in Deia when her partner su...

In this episode Tara speaks to a man who is a writer, an intellectual, with an incredible gift for good conversation, and a fascination for Deia, David Holzer. In their talk, we learn about David’s journey with yoga and how it helped him to stop drinking, and his lifelong relationship with writing and books. This talk takes a lot of fun turns, covering everything from cancel-cu...

In this episode, Tara speaks to a dear friend, an expert canyoner who is fearless in the face of risk, Toni Calero. A warning to the listener that in the talk they speak about a serious accident that Toni had in November of 2021 while canyoning on the island. Though Toni continues to deal with the aftermath of a serious, nearly fatal accident, his ability to heal, his mental toughness an...

In this episode Tara speaks to an iconic woman who has had deep roots in Deia, with a vast career in public relations, and who has spent years lifting up other women around the world, Lynne Franks.  In their talk we learn that Lynne launched her PR firm at a time when London was crackling with creative energy, a time when women were changing their dynamics at the grass-roots level.  An i...

In this episode Tara talks to a hard working man, competitive, compassionate, kind, and a natural born leader Thomas Moons, the General Manager of Hotel La Residencia here in Deia. In their talk we get a full update on all things La Residencia, including its remarkable successes and its wonderful offerings. Thomas gives us an insight into what it means to run one of the world’s top hotels, with a...

In this episode Tara celebrates the female energy of Deia with a remarkable woman who is known for her excellence and her hard work, Louise Fletcher Loni. In their talk we learn about Louise’s journey to becoming the owner operator of Mountain Wellness Mallorca, a successful business that encompasses a wide range of wellness services, including massage, beauty treatments, yoga, and most recen...

In this episode Tara had so much fun speaking to an incredible native Mallorcan, he’s funny, super smart, full of knowledge and great ideas, Mountain Guide Martin Bestard. In their talk they cover everything from cleaning up trails, preservation, sustainable tourism, and all of the things that people who love Mallorca love to talk about. Martin’s love and respect for Mallorca, and his diploma...

In this episode Tara had the pleasure of speaking with one of the woman painters on the island who is a risk taker, and an innovator in the art world, Natasha Zupan. In their talk, Natasha tells us about the times in her life when she had to reinvent herself as an artist in order to work within the contemporary framework. We learn that despite roadblocks she faced as a woman in the male dominated...

Tara always says that every once in a while, life likes to throw out curve balls. The kind that upends you, and takes you on an unexpected journey whether you want it or not. Tara had the great fortune of meeting Antonio Navas through a common friend in Deia while recently on one of these journeys, and they sat down together in New York City to talk.  Antonio has had an incredible c...

In this episode Tara speaks to a man who is full of determination, hard work, and a deep passion for the game of tennis, Tennis Coach Director Ariel Nastasia. In their talk, we learn that tennis is a metaphor for the challenges of life, and that the game is so much more than a game. From Buenas Aires to Mallorca, Ariel’s journey as a top tennis player in Argentina, his experiences of lea...

In this episode, Tara speaks to a woman who led a life of adventure and fearlessness, an entrepreneur and connoisseur of living life to the fullest, Sandra Jones. In their talk, we get an earful about Sandra’s life of adventures and how she landed in Deia at a time when it was exploding with powerful male energy and artistic creativity. Sandra’s stories make us yearn for a time when people knew ho...

In this episode Tara speaks to a remarkable woman who plays a key role in the operations of Hotel La Residencia in Deia, PR Manager, Hanna Bornebusch. Hanna’s warmth, sense of humor, kindness, and her attention to detail, creates a  comfortable, and welcoming environment at this iconic hotel. Tara holds a special affection for Hanna because she took a chance and championed the Deia...

In this episode Tara speaks to two musicians who grew up in different cultures, who by chance found each other and have been exploring all of the musical similarities and overlap that comes from the ancient songs from Mallorca and Persia. The musicians are Pegah Khoei and Tomeu Gomila, and their music project is Qanat. In their talk, we learn about the ancient work songs from the Balearic isl...

In this episode Tara speaks to the lovely, highly cultivated, man of many interests, Deia artist and sculptor, Laurent Gardet. In their talk, we learn about the long history that Laurent’s family has with Deia, his work as an architect and designer, and his passion for sculpture and land art. Laurent’s understated and charming demeanor fronts a brilliant mind and a man of great talent.

In this episode, Tara speaks to a man who has a long and interesting history with a Michelin star rating, an excellent restaurateur, and a remarkable chef of the family run restaurant, Es Raco d’es Teix, located in Deia, Josef Sauerschell. She also has the pleasure of speaking with his wife and business partner Nori and their daughter Ines, this episode’s translator, who grew up helping in th...

In this episode, Tara speaks to the high octane, natural born leader, entrepreneur, professional actress, dancer, business woman and the person who makes Mallorca that much more fun, Emma Boardman. In their talk, we learn about what it means to have a cultivated special surprise skill, that helps to push you to the next level of career, how imposter syndrome is built into success, and why it’...

In this episode, Tara speaks to the music legend who played all over the world and the man who brought Jazz to Spain, Ramon Farran. In their talk, Ramon shares his long musical history with us, including the influence that Deia and Mallorca had on his musical career, his love of experimentation and taking chances with his music. From Miles Davis, to the Gypsy Kings, Ramon’s passion for music has c...

In this episode, Tara speaks to a man who has mastered the art of living the expat life, an intellectual, a publisher of books, and one of Deia’s finest characters, Lanny Aldrich. In their talk, we get to experience the lively nature of the heart of the village while sitting in Lanny’s magical garden, surrounded by bougainvillea and a landscape that suggests a beautiful life. Lanny’s eloquence and...

Hello and welcome to Deia Unpacked. In this episode Tara speaks to the adventurer, and artist who left Mallorca to pursue a career in acting and a life that has taken him around the globe, Miguel Such. In their talk, we learn about Miguel’s experiences of hosting MTV Spain, working on telenovelas in Mexico and Columbia, all of which led him to his first feature film, acting alongside Penelope...

In this episode Tara speaks to the glowing and authentic Sarah Elfvin, co-founder of Living Room, a new multi-disciplinary space, located in Santa Catalina, Palma. Sarah has a long relationship with the island of Mallorca that led her on the path to create the perfect living room space that appeals to her inner child, a space where learning and community come together. In their talk, we get to kno...

In this episode, Tara speaks to the charming and distinguished Toni Jaume Ripoll. Toni’s family has roots in Deia that go back to the 1300’s, and he is a wealth of knowledge on the history of Deia and the island of Mallorca. In their talk, they go back to an earlier time when tradition, and water rights met bohemian artists from the mainland, creating and shaping the culture of Mallorca. This...

In this episode Tara speaks to the brilliant, intellectual, multiple award winning Algerian film director, Sofia Djama. In their talk, they cover everything from Algiers, Paris and Deia, to multiculturalism, politics, and movie making. Sofia gives us some insights into what inspired her award winning film The Blessed, and why she thinks growing up during the time of the Civil War in Alge...