Marbella Life by Tene Sommer

Today’s guest is the incredible Dr. Veronika. Born in Mexico to a Czech father and a Mexican mother, she’s been calling Marbella home for the past four years. Veronika’s journey started in dentistry, studying and practicing across Mexico, Europe, and California. But life took a dramatic turn when she faced a near-death experience that left her in a wheelchair. Doctors told her she would never walk...

Today’s guest is the charming Lucas, a Brazilian native who’s been calling Spain home for the past 17 years. Leaving Brazil at just 18, he began his journey in Madrid, spending three years there before finding his way to the luxury industry in Marbella. His résumé includes iconic brands like Versace, Bottega Veneta, and ultimately Louis Vuitton—where, despite having no previous experience in the l...

Today’s guest is the inspiring Nary Song from Narybu Marbella, a Korean entrepreneur who moved to Spain at just 5 years old. After studying hotel management, her journey took a different turn, leading her to build two thriving beauty salons in Marbella. Korean culture, with its success-driven and disciplined approach, has played a huge role in shaping Nary’s path, but beyond her expertise in beaut...

Today, I’m excited to welcome the incredible Saeko Hamada (54) to the podcast. Saeko was one of the very first people I met and collaborated with when I arrived in Marbella back in 2010. Originally from Tokyo, she’s been visiting Marbella for over 34 years! Despite her business studies background, her career has largely been in marketing and PR. Now, she’s the owner’s representative and executive...

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Maria, an inspiring beauty expert and the owner of a beauty clinic here in Marbella. Originally from Ukraine, Maria moved here two years ago, bringing her years of expertise and passion for skincare to the Costa del Sol. With two clinics back in Odessa, a background in psychology, and training in advanced beauty techniques, she’s built a thriving business despite the...

Today, I’m joined by Iain Blackwell, a true Scottish gentleman who made his way to Marbella 38 years ago. He’s the mastermind behind the coast’s most popular magazine, Essential Magazine in Marbella , which is celebrating an incredible 25 years this autumn. Over the next hour, you’ll hear the fascinating story of how a humble man, who once studied pure mathematics and lived in India, built one of...

My guest today is Adam Kelbie, a man of many talents. While he now runs a thriving AI solutions marketing business for luxury real estate, you might be surprised to learn he once rocked the stage as a singer and even served as a judge on BBC1’s All Together Now. Originally from London, Adam now divides his time between Marbella, London, and Dubai, though he’s considering making Marbella his perman...

Last guest Georgina Shaw is well known in Marbella for her Shaw Marketing and PR company, but how did she end up here from London and what does it take to set up a PR agency is what you will discover in this episode. Besides work and her clients, we will also touch on her year spent in Peru, her family life, favorite places and a lot more. Enjoy! Georgina Shaw is a Chartered Institute of Marketing...

My latest guest is Tom Shield (41), a Londoner who has been coming to Spain since he was a teenager. He launched a Mini Moke business The Jolly Mile, 6 years ago in Sotogrande and now these beautiful fun cars, that were actually created by the designer of Mini, are also available in their new Marbella showroom. But what brought Tom here and what jobs he has done over the years in Spain, you’ll fin...

My latest guest is Zazou (Zahir) Belounis (44), born in Paris with Algerian roots, but for the last 10 years he calls Marbella his home and if you live here you have surely heard of him. Even though he was a footballer in Qatar, he started in Marbella from zero - as a waiter, and seven years later he is the CEO of the extremely successful Casanis Group that has a turnover of more than 30 million a...

My guest today is Darryn Welch, born in the UK to a French mother and a British father, but then reiding to Marbella when he was just 7 years old. But of course life took him abroad, as he studied film in North Yorkshire, made over 20 movies whilst living in Berlin and now we catch him in a beautiful eco-certified hotel in Ronda called Cueva del Gato, that he owns, besides the lovely Hustle’n’Flow...

My guest today is the lovely Nicky Lloyd (52), originally from the UK, but now a resident of Marbella for over a decade. She’s a qualified wine expert, who’s been working in the industry since she was 23 years old. From working in a winery in Chile, she now owns her own company here called Rootz Wine Tours specialising in wine tours in the costa del sol. We talk about her journey and her career, b...

My guest today is Sebastian Marc Graham , a talented young artist, who is originally from Mallorca, but is actually a mix of British, Greek and Dutch. He has been painting professionally for 5 years not just in Marbella, but also in LA, Miami,  Tulum, London, Paris and Ibiza to name a few. And his clients include Antima, Marbella Club, L’ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, Bal Harbour Luxury Shops in...

My guest today is Jay Pettersson, originally from Iran, but adopted by a Swedish family at a very young age, so he considers Sweden his home country. He’s been living abroad since the age of 19 and having done many fascinating jobs his heart is in the event industry where he has been active for the last 15 years, so launching his own event and HR company Pink Palms was no surprise to anyone. As a...

My guest today is Santi Godfrid, the creator of the successful Celicioso Cafes (one is located in Puente romano Hotel Marbella), who was born in Barcelona, but now divides his time between Marbella and Madrid. After discovering that he is a celiac back in 2009, he opened the first gluten free bakery and cafe in Spain. We talk about his life and work but also a bit about his friendship with Novak D...

My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.  It’s a pleasure to introduce you to my guest today - the beautiful Denisa, who is originally from Chezch Republic but for the last 10 years she calls Marbella her home. She has two master degrees, but she had to start from scratch here, working her way up to being the sales executive at the famed Dani garcia group. And now she is a businessowner h...

My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life. I am so excited to introduce you to my guest in today’s episode - the one and only John Brendmoe, a Norweigen businessman who has built up a 500 million dollar business in less than a decade. He’s mainly known for his family run property company Antima, who has flipped now over 60 houses in Marbella and as we sit down with him in their latest maste...

My latest guest for my podcast is the beautiful Franca Villarroel , who has a background in the entertainment industry as a musical performer and actress, but after having children and marrying her husband twice, yes you heard me right, she changed her career to become a trained life and business coach. We will discuss about her work, beauty tips, personal life and of course what it’s like to live...

Welcome to Marbella Life podcast. This week’s guest is someone who usually questions me - my therapist - Fares Fayad, who has a Syrian and Spanish background but has been living in Marbella for 40 years. He’s practising gestalt therapy, kinesiology and family constellations, so in this episode will find out more about his work and what are the main reasons people get therapy in Marbella. More info...

My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.  I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here.  My next guest for my podcast is the lovely Millie Sophia Pugh aka Pocket Pilates Marbella, my amazing Pilates teacher, who started her life in Marbella working in the nightlife industry to now running her own Pilates studio & co...

My next guest is the lovely Sofia Ilieva aka Sofia Marbella, who originally comes from Bulgaria, but has been living in Marbella almost 30 years. Besides being the mother of two young adults, she’s best known as an etiquette influencers as she has over a million followers on Instagram and over 2 million on TikTok. She has the wisdom and experience of 50, with the soul and vitality of 20 and I’m so...

Marbella Life Podcast #5: Marcus Dahlgren - from a carpenter to being a successful entrepreneur and running 10 companies. My next guest for my Marbella Life podcast is Marcus Dahlgren , originally from Sweden, but now a resident of Spain for almost a decade. His first profession was being a carpenter, but now Marcus runs multiple companies and creates new brands almost every year! Currently his ru...

Marbella Life Podcast: #4 Gretel Kutan - from hostess to a top position at Nikki Beach  My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.  I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here.  My fourth guest is the lovely Gretel, originally from my home country Estonia, who first came to Marbella back in 2006. She started working as a...

Marbella Life #3: Tara Lorimer - Event & wedding planner with 10 years of experience in Puent Romano. My third guest is the lovely Tara Lorimer, an esteemed wedding and event planner, who has lived in Marbella over 20 years, but originally comes from Scotland. She studied in Saint Petersburg and has worked in New York and London (in Savoy, Claridges, Barkley to name a few) before ending up in...

Quike Navarro - Famed Artist talks about his success, life in Marbella and more. My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.  I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here. Join me for my second episode with the talented Quike navarro, who fell in love with the sunny coast 15 years ago. Born in the north of spain, Quike has...