Sotogrande People, Places and Life.
The Podcast that brings Sotogrande closer to you.
Charlie in Sotogrande is an authentic journey into the people, places, and ideas that shape one of Sotogrande’s fascinating community. Each episode, Charles Gubbins sits down with the visionaries, creators, and changemakers who are redefining what it means to live, work, and thrive in Sotogrande.
Through curiosity-driven conversations, Charlie uncovers the stories behind success (from luxury real estate and design to sport, gastronomy, and wellbeing) exploring the values and mindsets that connect this unique corner of the world.
Most popular episodes of Charlie in Sotogrande Podcast
Charlie in Sotogrande is a bridge between locals and newcomers, between tradition and innovation, between the past that shaped Sotogrande and the future we are building together. Each story reminds us that Sotogrande is a living, breathing community.
Living Between Gibraltar & Sotogrande
What happens when two worlds, British & Spanish, begin to merge? When a border that once divided lifestyles, currencies, and tax systems suddenly starts to disappear?
Mike Nicholls, founder of Chestertons Gibraltar and editor of the iconic Bite Size Brief, break down what the upcoming UK–EU Gibraltar Treaty could mean for commuters, investors, and homeowners on both sides of the border.
Real Estate: How to Stay Human in a Digital Age
Why do some agents dominate the market while others struggle to stand out? It’s not luck. It’s not listings. It’s strategy and it starts with video.
Alfredo Bloy-Dawson, one of southern Spain’s most respected media consultants and the man behind the phrase Video First, a philosophy that’s quietly redefining real estate marketing, shares what top agents are doing differently, how social media has evolved from “social” to “interest media”, and why authenticity has become the most powerful currency in business today.
Sotogrande SA: The Art of Living
What turns a destination into a way of life? Some places sell you sun, hotels and headlines. Sotogrande sells you space, privacy and time, a calm, deliberate elegance that has stayed true for 60 years.
Rita Jordao is the Marketing Director of Sotogrande SA, she unpacks why Sotogrande isn’t just another coastal hotspot but a masterplan for living well: low-density neighbourhoods, world-class golf, family safety, international community, and a lifestyle that works 12 months a year.
Marbella vs Sotogrande
What makes a place luxury? Some say Marbella wins by sheer scale: Michelin stars, Starlite concerts, global brands and buzz. Others swear by Sotogrande’s low-density calm, wide avenues and elite sport, a quieter form of excellence.
Peter Jacobsen (Peter Jacobsen Premium Estates), ex-pro golfer turned a veteran broker who’s watched Marbella evolve since the 1970s to decode how these two neighbours truly differ and where the smart money is moving next.
Polo’s Enduring Soul: La Capilla
What makes Sotogrande the true beating heart of European polo? For many, it’s the glamour, the major tournaments, and the simple elegance of summer afternoons under the Andalusian sun. But for others, it’s a story rooted much deeper, in family legacy, expert craftsmanship, and the timeless bond between humans and horses.
Gaëtan Charloux, owner of La Capilla Polo Estate, uncovers the soul behind one of Sotogrande’s most iconic traditions, sharing his journey from a young rider in France to building a life surrounded by nature, architecture, and the sport. He reveals how a passion becomes a lasting legacy and how fierce discipline meets deep emotion on the polo field.
Paola Zóbel: Sotogrande’s Polo Legacy
What keeps a place special as the world discovers it? Is it the fields, the trophies, the famous faces or the families who protect its soul? Paola Zóbel, President of Ayala Polo Club and fourth-generation member of the Zóbel–McMicking family, sits at the intersection of legacy and reinvention.
Raised between the Philippines, Europe and the US, married to a pro polo player, and rooted in Sotogrande since childhood, Paola now steers the club her family helped create while rebuilding her beloved restaurant Cancha Dos after a devastating nighttime fire.
Luxury Redefined: Inside S/O Sotogrande
What is luxury in the modern world? Is it still defined by crystal chandeliers and marble lobbies, or by a team so expertly trained that your entire stay feels effortless?
Stefan Menú, a Corsican hotelier with 30 years of experience spanning four continents (Fairmont, Sofitel, Accor), arrived in Spain after the pandemic to lead the ambitious transformation of the former Almenara into S/O Sotogrande. The result is a lifestyle resort that seamlessly blends fashion, wellness, golf, and community. The belief is both radical and simple: assets don’t create luxury, people do.
The Architect Who Helped Build Sotogrande
Sotogrande was built by visionaries who turned wild land into one of Spain’s most elegant places. Most people see the golf, the polo, and the sea views, but few know the architect who shaped it: Colin McLundie.
The Scottish architect arrived in the late 1980s “for six months” and never left. He’s since designed the defining homes, schools, and landmarks of Sotogrande. Colin reveals how a chance meeting led him to architecture, and how resilience and a love of design kept him in Sotogrande through every phase of the community’s evolution.
Why Families Choose Sotogrande International School (SIS)
How do you pick the right school when the world’s changing faster than your children grow? Is it just about test scores and facilities, or something deeper, like values, character, and a global outlook?
Rachel Dent, Head of Sotogrande International School, has over 35 years of global experience, from the UK to Harrow Beijing. Her career started with a simple truth from a colleague: “Rachel, you have a gift. You have to teach.” Today, she leads a truly international community in Sotogrande, dedicated to the idea that education is a passport, not a postcode.
From Sotogrande International School to Young Entrepreneurial Success
What does it take to turn youth, uncertainty, and a single idea into a company that transforms a community? Most people believe success comes after years of experience: You must move to a big city and climb the corporate ladder. But what if the smartest move was to start early, right where you are?
Felix Petersen did exactly that. Raised between Dubai and Sotogrande, educated at Sotogrande International School and King’s College London, Felix discovered that adaptability, not age, is what defines an entrepreneur. From rugby fields to boardrooms, his story is a lesson in curiosity, courage, and community.
The Truth About Expat Family Life in Sotogrande
What does it really take to start over: to move your family, your entire life, and build a home in a foreign country? Most people dream of escaping to the sunshine, but few talk about what happens after the dream begins: the cultural shock, the loneliness, the search for belonging.
Heike knows that journey better than anyone. A German mother of three who has lived across Africa and Europe, she came to Sotogrande not for golf, polo, or yachts, but for one reason shared by many expat families: the international school.
In this heartfelt conversation, she shares what it’s like to rebuild life from scratch: from finding a home and community to raising teenagers abroad and learning to call a new country “home.”
