Carlos Pons on Respiralia: Cystic Fibrosis Breakthroughs, Formentera Swim and Life in Mallorca

Carlos Pons, managing director of Respiralia, joins us to share how a Mallorca-based foundation is changing lives for people with cystic fibrosis. We talk about life-extending treatments like Kaftrio, why modern respiratory physiotherapy has moved on from clapping to autogenic drainage, and how strength training is boosting lung capacity. Carlos explains the famous Swimming Tour around Formentera that funds hundreds of treatment sessions each year, and he lifts the lid on their pioneering phage therapy research that targets dangerous bacteria without antibiotics. He also reflects on life in Mallorca, housing pressures, and his own journey from Spanish Air Force search and rescue pilot to charity leader. If you care about science, community and real Mallorca stories, this one is for you.Listen now and find links to Respiralia, the Swimming Tour and how to support their work in the show notes.https://www.respiralia.org/ Sign up for our free newsletter here. https://majorca-mallorca.esPlease follow Majorca Mallorca on Social Media:FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/MajorcaMallorca.esFACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/MajorcaMallorcaINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/majorcamallorcapodcast/You can email MM on [email protected]:00 Who is Carlos Pons and what Respiralia does 07:30 Kaftrio and how it changes day to day life for patients 12:00 Screening at birth in the Balearics and early intervention 16:40 From clapping to autogenic drainage 20:30 Why strength training improves lung capacity 24:30 Incidence in the Balearics and what daily management looks like 30:40 The Swimming Tour around Formentera and how it funds treatment sessions 37:30 How to get a place, timing, and the Respiralia spirit 42:00 Palma fun run and inclusive community events 46:00 Carlos’ SAR pilot years and the leap into the third sector 52:00 Phage therapy research to target bacteria without antibiotics 59:30 Regulation, funding, and why they seek grants over investors 1:06:00 Community projects, forests in the Serra de Tramuntana, and support for Ukrainian families 1:12:00 Housing pressures, legal insecurity in rentals, and balanced debate 1:18:00 The future for people with cystic fibrosis and why outlooks have changed