Deia Unpacked

In this episode, Joe and Tara sit down with Angel Blanch to talk about Angel’s connection to Deia, how he grew up learning to love working with the land from his grandfather and father, and his commitment to regenerating Deia through the Community Gardens, Guerilla Grazing, and so much more. 

This is a fabulous, heartfelt talk with a Deia original, a woman who is smart, funny and sensitive, who also happens to be the inventor of Deia’s One Minute Film Festival, Amanda DeMaria. Amanda’s history with Deia, her story telling, and insights, make this a highly entertaining listen. Amanda’s love and attachment to this unique community shine through in this beautiful conversation.

Hello and Welcome to this first edition of Regenera Deia Unpacked. Tara will be doing a continued series of these talks to bring our community updates on all of the incredible things that are happening in the village and the people who are working to make them happen. This episode is somewhat of a Regenera Deia 101 where Tara talks to Joe Holles, who gives us a full update on the remarkable work that has been done in Deia since the launch of the initiative last year.

In this episode Tara speaks to an incredible woman, with a sharp wit, a great sense of humor and a truly international perspective on life, a brilliant new addition to the Deia community, Communications Manager of La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Sonia Bonamassa. In their talk they explore intercultural communication, Sonia’s time working with big fashion, and her new work here in Deia. They also talk about the really cool tennis weekend that is coming up, and art collaborations that are happening this summer.

In this episode Tara speaks with a talented and brilliant chef with deep family ties to the Deia community, Lluis Ferrer Jimenez. In their talk, Lluis talks about growing up with women who deeply understood the Mallorcan kitchen and how that influenced him, and his love of the cultural legacy of food in Mallorca. This is a super fun talk, and will very likely make you hungry.

In this episode Tara talks to a Valdemossa native, an intellectual who is willing to go deep on many subjects, with a passion for permaculture and dancing, Astrologist Steven Goode Hill.  Steven shares his history of early exposure to astrology, his fascinating reading of the Deia astrological chart, the special role solar eclipses play in energy, as well as many other fascinating topics in this very Deia conversation.  

In this episode Tara speaks to a brilliant man, an autodidact, with a tremendous expertise in mathematics and science, an astronomer and the President of Mallorca’s Astronomy Observatory, Amado Carbonell Santos. Amado’s wealth of knowledge about astronomy and outer space are nothing short of fascinating, and he gives us some great viewing tips for the full solar eclipse that will be happening on August 12, 2026.  

In this episode Tara speaks to an incredible man who grew up on the island, and who has a great knowledge of the land ecology and the seas of Mallorca, Geologist and Co-Founder of the Mediterranean Posidonia Network, Marcial Bardolet. Marcial’s understanding of the environment opens up an entire world of discovery, and unlocks the door, showing us how all species play a role in the health of our planet. Marcial’s passion for the long term health of Posidonia Forests and their protection, is wonderful and heroic.

In this episode Tara speaks to a beautiful island diva, a young woman with vast talent, and deep roots in Valldemossa, singer/songwriter Julia Colom. Born to parents who showed her the old ways of working the land, and a community who taught her about the music that shaped the ecology and culture of Mallorca, Julia shares her journey with music. From the ancient poetry of The Sybilla, to the work songs from the terraces, to her own contemporary sound, this is a talk about culture, belonging, and coming of age to the soundtrack of Mallorca and the Mediterranean. 

In this episode Tara speaks with the delightful, knowledgeable, recovering academic, Master Life Coach and Hypnotist, Dr.Suset Laboy Perez. In their talk, they explore the Mallorca/Puerto Rico connection. Suset shares her family's history of migration, and re-migration, and her own personal journey that has brought her home to the land of her ancestors. This talk highlights another fabulous layer to the story of Mallorca.

In this episode, Tara speaks to a really smart and super likable man, a leader in global development, with a deep understanding of the negative impacts of poverty, who experienced burnout to completely reinvent himself in Mallorca while focusing on the importance of sustainability and regenerative practices, Diego Zamuner. Diego’s experiences in Latin America, and his determination to make a positive impact on the world are fascinating and nothing short of inspirational. 

This episode marks 100 episodes of the Deia Unpacked podcast and Tara couldn’t have hoped for a more iconic woman to do this with. She speaks to the legendary Frances Baxter in front of a cozy fireplace up in the mountains of Deia. They talk about life adventures, taking chances, exploring art and music, and finding home. Frances is full of wisdom and thoughtfulness. It is the perfect end of year, beginning of a new year listen. We hope you enjoy it as much as Tara did.

In this episode Tara speaks to a deep rooted Deianenc who is filled with ancestral artistic knowledge, and a deep sense of what Deia means, filmmaker Balthazar Klarwein. Balthazar’s observations about the cultural landscape of Deia, his connection to the community and how it shaped his own artistic expression are captivating. 

In this episode Tara speaks to one of Belmond La Residencia’s artists in residency, the talented and thoughtful Berta De La Rosa. With deep roots in Southern Spain and a powerful connection to olive trees and the natural environment, Berta talks about how these elements, combined with history, have influenced her works. This talk is a reminder that spending time with artists is never disappointing and always inspirational.

In this episode Tara speaks to an artist and an intellectual, who holds a special place in the hearts of the Deia community, Musician, Producer, and Poet, Rupert Clervaux. They cover a lot of ground in this talk including Deia history, why swimming is life changing, books, the state of the world, music, and more. Rupert's unique insights and ability to go deep, leaves us wanting more exploration and conversation. If you listen closely, the talk opens with Does Pop Culture Interest You?, and ends with The Love that Moves the Sun, two of Rupert's remarkable works.

In this episode Tara talks to a really smart and extremely likeable man, who happens to be a shark expert and an incredible documentary filmmaker, President of Shark Med, Augusti Torres. In their talk they cover all things about sharks, from their behavior, to the dangers they face in the midst of commercial fishing and irresponsible stewardship of their environment in the Mediterranean. Augusti talks about his early years of spearfishing in Mallorca and how it led to the realization that it was time to take care of the sea and its inhabitants. 

In this episode, Tara talks to a man who is a Deia veteran, and one of the brilliant and colorful characters that makes Deia so fascinating, artist and filmmaker William Pine. There isn’t a topic that William and Tara couldn’t have tackled in this super fun talk. William’s openness and thoughtful nature sets a tone of comfort and friendship combined with intelligence and out of the box thinking that makes for a great listen. You can hear his track Something Wavey during the intro and closing of this talk.

In this episode, Tara talks to a man with a deep sense of adventure, who has a passion and respect for indigenous and alternative cultures, nautical living, and the Mediterranean Sea, Operations Manager at Save the Med, Jorge Rodriguez-Roda. Almost in two parts, this talk covers a ten year period of global adventures and growth for Jorge that eventually led him to working with Save the Med, an organization with a mission to protect the wonderful sea that cradles the island of Mallorca. This talk not only inspires a sense of adventure, it gives hope for the future, and an insight into what it takes to make a difference in the world.  

In this episode Tara speaks to a native Mallorcan, a mother, a pedagog, and a very beloved woman of Deià, Ñesi Munar. This talk covers everything from education, to feminism, to what it means to be a mother. A lot of this is just our opinion on these topics, and we certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with everything we say in this talk, but we’re pretty sure you’ll find it as entertaining as Tara did.

In this episode, Tara speaks to a brilliant observer, author, musician, and a beloved member of the Deia community, Tomás  Graves. Tomás is elegant and generous with excellent conversation. His wealth of knowledge and vast experience with life in Spain and on the island makes this a fascinating and fun talk. Hope you enjoy it as much as Tara did. 

In this special, time sensitive episode, Joe Holles, Chairman of FIM, returns to talk about a new initiative that is starting in Deia, Regenera Deia, with the intention of ensuring the future of the cultural landscape of Deia and the Serra Tramuntana. Joe and Tara talk about the proven work of Son Moragues in Valldemossa, making it a viable working Finca, the Soller Coop, and important work that is being done to protect the coast line, providing important information on how we can work collectively to protect the future of Deia If you love Deia, and want to be a part of the solution, this is your episode. We also talk about an upcoming event taking place on July 25th for the community. 

In this episode, Tara speaks to a smart, fun woman, who one day some years ago, decided to pick up, and move from London to Mallorca with her husband; she has since worn many interesting hats, as an esthetician, a writer, a photographer, a podcaster, a marketing expert and so much more, Vicki McLeod. This talk has everything in it, it’s the kind of conversations that are had, when people from different cultures come together to share the island experience.

Hello and welcome to Deia Unpacked. This episode is a bit different and a little bit risky for Tara. It's with Juan Ripoll, the new mayor of Deia. As you all know, Tara has loafed hard on getting her Spanish speaking skills up to scratch, and like many of us, she often finds herself having mixed language conversations with island locals. Now just to be fair to her, between recording this talk and the day it comes out into the world, she has been seriously studying Spanish, so it’s hopefully better now than when this was recorded. That said, Juan, who is not an English speaker, made an incredibly lovely and gracious effort to do this talk with her, so that the community can get to know who their new mayor is, what he values, and what his priorities for Deia are. So sit back, possibly have a good chuckle at Tara's expense, and enjoy meeting the new mayor of Deia.

In this episode Tara speaks to a brilliant, lifelong native of the Soller Valley, a man with deep connections to the olive and orange trees of the Serra Tramuntana, a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and part of the Can Det family business, maker of world class olive oil, Tomeu Deya Canals. Tomeu is a wealth of knowledge about the Serra Tramuntana and what makes it one of the most unique cultural landscapes in the world. If you love the Serra Tramuntana and Mallorcan culture, this talk is for you.

In this episode, Tara talks to the one and only Andy Bell about his new solo album Ten Crowns. It’s a delightful moment of cozying up with tea and bonding over music, having a mutual love fest over Debbie Harry, who collaborated with Andy on Hearts a Liar on the new album, and a tarot reading by Andy.  

In this episode Tara talks to a rock and roller, a rebel, who also happens to be an excellent photographer, Mallorca Aborigine, and free spirit, Pere Colom. In their talk, Pere brings us back to the mystic year of 1979 when the music scene in Deia was as wild and experimental as the musicians who played it. Pere’s sense of adventure and his credo of “Porque No?,” makes this a super fun talk and reminds us that in its core, Deia has always been a haven for creativity like no other.

In this episode Tara talks to a brilliant, thoughtful man, who has worked tirelessly to protect the present and future cultural landscape of the Serra Tramuntana, Executive Chairman of Tramuntana XXI, Joe Holles. This talk is a tribute to this unique place that is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Joe walks us through some of the challenges and solutions that promise to keep this cultural landscape healthy and thriving far into the future.

In this special episode, the tables are turned again, and Louise asks Tara the questions. It’s a walk through Tara's life stateside, and a decent insight into what makes her tick. Louise does a fantastic job on getting this podcast host to spill the beans, and it’s a great reminder that the patchwork quilt of Deia, takes all kinds.

In this episode Tara talks to a member of the world class team at Belmond La Residencia, award winning Assistant Head Concierge, Francesco Trevisan. In their talk we learn that an excellent team, along with the best concierge services, equals an unparalleled travel experience. Francesco’s love for Deia, Mediterranean culture, and the work he does, makes it no surprise that he is a winner. His humor and charm shine through in this fun and inspiring talk.

In this episode Tara talks to a tried and true Deianenc, a woman of many talents who is working hard to keep art alive and thriving in the village, Art Curator for Sa Tafona at Hotel La Residencia, Amy Sheridan. In their talk we find out about what it was like to grow up in a house of artists, how art influenced the culture of Deia, and why Amy believes that showing art in the village is vital for the community. It’s one of those great moments when you just get to hear two women talking and getting into it. Amy’s low key style and brilliance, makes this a fascinating talk.

In this episode Tara talks to the super talented, free spirited antiquer Amanda Pickett. In their, talk they cover everything from Amanda’s early life in Scotland, the culture of antique appreciation that she grew up in, to what it’s like to live freestyle here in Deia. Amanda’s warmth combined with her openness, makes this a lovely talk.

In this episode Tara talks to a veteran of the early Deia music scene, a man with a deep passion for music, poetry and the wild history of Deia, front man of The Offbeats and the Sex Beatles, Hamish Macdonald. This talk is a rambling romp through some fantastic Deia stories, and the revisiting of the musical counter culture that grew up on the island. Hamish’s memory for cool details, and his affection for the fascinating characters shine through in this fabulous talk. Intro track is the Sex Beatles ‘El Suelo’, closing song is ‘No. 9’ also by Sex Beatles.

In this episode Tara talks to an incredibly smart, and lovely young woman, who absolutely has it going on, Founder of The Calendar Mallorca, Nina Moons. In their talk we learn about Nina’s life as a citizen of the world, living in many different countries, how she landed in Mallorca as a home base, what it’s like to raise young children on the island and how she started her incredible new project. Nina’s intelligence, gutsiness, and depth of observation helped her to see a need and meet it, resulting in a project that is taking off in every good direction. This talk is fun and inspiring.

In this episode Tara speaks to an extraordinary person, a talented singer and songwriter with a vast and unique story, Leo Orlando Napier. Orlando’s deep roots in Deia, his multicultural background, and his adventures in LA, makes this a fascinating and raw conversation with an artist who is fearlessly authentic and incredibly likable. This is not the talk to listen to if you are in the car with your kids, but it is definitely a conversation worth listening to. We have included a clip of Lady Killer and finish the talk with Can’t Change Crazy, two Orlando originals.

In this episode, Tara speaks to a thoughtful man from Alconasser who has traveled around the world, a good friend and a solid citizen of Deia, Daniel Fabian. In their talk, we learn that Daniel came to Mallorca early in life, where he developed a passion to explore and understand the natural world. Daniel’s adventures, as well as his appreciation for other cultures inspires a sense of wonder, and his knowledge of the biosphere and sustainable gardening makes this a fascinating talk.

n this episode, Tara speaks to a brilliant man with a long history with Deia and Mallorca, a musician, a businessman, a scientist, an expert on water and just an overall super guy, Stephen Lambert. In their talk we learn about Stephen’s early days in Deia, playing chess with the tough guys, and playing guitar with Kevin Ayers.  Stephen shares some fascinating stories and knowledge in this extraordinary talk. Stay tuned to the very end to hear Stephen play a stunning acoustic version of Lady Rachel, a song by Kevin Ayers.

In this episode, the tables get turned and the delightful Jane Winterbottom asks Tara all of the questions. It’s a fun twist and a great talk about Deia, and life.  

In this episode Tara speaks to a woman who has created a space for the village to come together and get strong, an expert in the field of fitness, owner/operator of Art Pilates Deia, Marga Garau. In their talk, we learn about Marga’s early history with the disciplined study of dance, her journey into becoming a teacher of pilates, and the great adventure that brought her to Deia. Over the years, Marga has become a beloved member of the Deia community and her incredible loveliness shines through in this fun talk.

In this episode Tara speaks to a powerhouse in the fashion, music and film industries, a remarkable woman with a birdseye view of the complicated and glorious world of glamor, makeup artist Georgie Hamed. In their talk we learn about Georgie’s extensive career, working with some of the most familiar faces in entertainment, and how she moved from high fashion to rock and roll, and how this has shaped her vision of what beauty is. It’s a fascinating talk and an opportunity for two women to sit down and have a heartfelt conversation about the beauty industry and its impact on society.

In this episode Tara speaks to a young man who has truly become an honorary member of the Deia community, a thinker and a lover of beauty, the talented artist in residency at La Residencia, Hashel Al Lamki. In their talk, we learn about Hashel’s journey from Abu Dhabi to New York and beyond. His art is expansive and informed by a thoughtful worldview, bringing sustainability and beauty together to make something that is unique and important. This is such a fun and informative talk.

In this episode Tara speaks to an energetic, introspective, and exceptional woman, entrepreneurial yoga teacher and gut health nutritionist Mays Al-Ali. In their talk we learn about Mays journey from London party girl, to Ibiza Yoga and Health Teacher. We cover everything from health, to the complexities of life and what it means to be human and living on the island of Mallorca. It’s a really fun conversation about everything.

In this talk, Tara speaks to a very important person on the island, a man with a great sense of humor who is a remarkable chef, the Owner/Operator of Famosa Samosa, Kunal Singh. In their talk we learn about Kunal’s adventurous nature and how it has led him on the path to providing Mallorca with fabulous Indian Food. If you are an Indian food lover like Tara, this talk is for you. It takes so many fun twists and turns, and is guaranteed to leave you feeling hungry.

In this episode Tara speaks with the delightful and brilliant VP of Artnet, Sophie Neuendorf. In their talk, Sophie speaks about all things art, from the business side, to the personal side of why art is so important for meaningful living. Sophie’s observations and wealth of knowledge makes this an informative and fun conversation. In many ways, this talk is a reminder that oftentimes, life impersonates art.

In this episode Tara speaks to a super professional, a man who is on top of the job with an exceptional standard for working with visitors to Deia, Pep Ferreiro, the Head Concierge of Hotel La Residencia. In their talk we learn about what it takes to create an environment of customer satisfaction at one of the world’s finest hotels. Pep’s enthusiasm for his work is as inspiring as his ability to make magic happen.

In this episode Tara speaks to two fabulous women who are adventurous, out of the box, and very talented artists, Vivian Borsani and Anja Kleener. In their talk, we learn that both of these artists have fascinating backgrounds that have led them to reinvent themselves more than once. Not only are Vivian and Anja involved in the Mallorca art scene, they frequently have shows together and are great friends. This talk is full of creative energy, laughter, and is a good fun listen.

In this episode Tara speaks to a man who has mastered the art of mystery, dedication, and excellence, the CEO of Butler Experience Mallorca, Andrea Loni. In their talk, we learn about Andrea’s journey through the world of hospitality and how it landed him in Deia. Andrea’s connection with the Deia community combined with his empathetic nature, has made him a successful entrepreneur on the island, as well as an excellent husband and father. This talk is super fun and it gives an interesting insight into how important hospitality is for the island economy.

In this episode Tara speaks to a Deia original who also happens to be a very talented singer/songwriter, Natalia Farran. In their talk we learn about what it was like for Natalia to grow up in a family that nurtured artistic expression in all of its forms. Natalia talks about her career in voice and music, and her upcoming album. Natalia’s poise and thoughtfulness makes this a very compelling talk. Stay tuned to the end when you will hear Natalia singing “Home,” written by Natalia, arranged by and produced by Clarissa Farran Graves, with Ramon Farran on drums.

In this episode Tara speaks to a tenacious, brilliant artist, and a beloved member of the Deia community Gina Cubeles. In their talk we learn about the incredible art community in Deia and Llucalcari around the time when Spain’s Modernisme was influencing some of the greatest artists in the world. Gina’s lively mind, and incredible passion for her art, which is full of natural imagery and texture, represents a valuable generational legacy of the arts in Spain.

In this episode Tara speaks to one of the sons of Deia, a young man who is civic minded, family minded and who has a close group of legacy friends who make up a Deia brotherhood, Pep Salas. In their talk, we learn about Pep’s connection to Deia, and his concerns about the issues that impact the village. It is delightful to know that this next generation coming up, cares and is committed to the future of this special community and its rich heritage.

In this episode Tara got to speak to a fabulous couple whose sense of humor, and bon vivant energy are exactly what we all need this holiday season, Karina and William Annesley.  Their knowledge of good food, wine and spirits, combined with their wit and fascinating life experiences makes this such a fun talk. There are some great shout outs to a few of the island's local eateries, and enough naughty language to make us wonder if the Annesleys will be getting Santa presents this year. Tara hopes you enjoy this talk as much as she did.