The Move to Cantabria Podcast

You can arrive in Cantabria with English — but to truly belong, you need Spanish. In this episode, Grace sits down with Arantxa from Unilang, a language school in the heart of Santander, to talk about why learning the language is the single biggest factor in a successful integration into life here. After the paperwork is filed, the school is chosen and the apartment is found, there's one thing...

If part of why you're drawn to Cantabria is the idea of raising your children closer to nature, this episode is for you. Grace talks to Naomi and Marta, founders of Enboscados, an extracurricular forest school activity in Cantabria for children, families, and even businesses. Neither are originally from the region — Naomi moved from England, Marta grew up in the Pyrenees — but together they've spe...

Integration Stories is a series from the Move to Cantabria Podcast featuring honest conversations with people who've built a life here, in their own words. Every journey looks different — this is one of them. Mardi Lucich didn't move to Spain once — she moved twice, in two completely different chapters of her life. The first time, she arrived in Zaragoza with zero Spanish, trading a confid...

Coffee Culture in Cantabria: It's Not Really About the Coffee, with Carlos Zamora

Food is one of the first things newcomers notice when they relocate to a new region, and one of the last things they truly understand. In this episode, we sit down with Carlos Zamora for the first in a series of conversations exploring the food culture of Cantabria. We talk about why the region's cuisine varies so dramatically from valley to valley, shaped by geography, altitude, and history....

Before tourism, before Michelin stars, there was the sea. In this episode of the Move to Cantabria Podcast, Santander-born restaurateur Carlos Zamora explores the deep connection between Cantabria and the Cantabrian Sea, and how centuries of fishing shaped the region's identity, traditions and cuisine. From the ports of Santander, Santoña, Castro Urdiales and Laredo to the famous anchovies of...

In this episode of the Move to Cantabria Podcast, we sit down with Santander-born restaurateur Carlos Zamora to explore the values, traditions and people behind Cantabrian food culture. Carlos has spent almost two decades shaping Santander's restaurant scene, beginning with the creation of Deluz in his grandparents' home in Sardinero and later developing a collection of restaurants and caf...

What is school life in Spain really like for children and families? In Part 2 of our conversation on the education system in Cantabria, we go beyond the structure of schools and talk about the day-to-day reality of raising children here. We discuss: • School routines and schedules• Healthy eating and lunch culture in Spain• Screens, phones, and technology in schools• Public vs concertado schools•...

If you’re planning a move to Northern Spain with children, understanding the education system is one of the biggest — and often most overwhelming — parts of the journey. In this episode, we’re joined by Julie McNamara, a teacher, mum of three, and long-term expat who has lived in Cantabria for over 20 years. Together, we break down exactly how the Spanish education system works — with a focus on w...

When people dream about moving to Northern Spain, they picture the coastline, the slower pace of life, and a strong sense of community. What they don’t always realise… is that where you choose to live in Spain can significantly shape your tax situation. In this episode of The Move to Cantabria Podcast , I’m joined by Spanish tax specialist Carlos Lorenzo, founder of American & Legal Spain, to...

Raising Healthy Children in Cantabria: Inside the Public Healthcare System What is public healthcare in Cantabria really like for families? If you’re moving to Spain with children, healthcare is often one of the biggest concerns. In this episode of The Move to Cantabria Podcast – Celebrating Life in Cantabria , we speak with a public-sector paediatrician who relocated from Madrid and is now raisin...

About this episode In this episode of The Move to Cantabria Podcast , Grace speaks with Pablo — surfer, musician, and member of the Cantabrian folk group Cahornega — about Cantabria’s Celtic roots and the deep connection between music, nature, and identity. Through stories of land, ocean, and tradition, this conversation explores what makes Cantabria feel closer to Ireland or Brittany than souther...

Welcome to the The Move to Cantabria Podcast where celebrates life in Cantabria .  I’m Grace, I moved here with my family five years ago and in a way this podcast is something I would have benefited from greatly as a newcomer.  It is an honour for me to curate these conversations with wonderful guests , and to help you understand Cantabrian culture — making it easier to integrate into your new com...