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.
None of this would be possible without our incredible sponsor and co-owned with Stephanie Noll, agency Noll Sotogrande Real Estate.
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.
Gibraltar Treaty Explained
What happens when a border that has shaped daily life for decades begins to disappear? And could the new Gibraltar treaty transform Sotogrande, La Línea and the wider property market?
Cayetano Caparros, cross-border lawyer known as “The Lawyer of the Rock,” joins Charlie to explore what the UK–EU Gibraltar agreement could mean for cross-border workers, residents and investors, from easier travel and airport connections to property opportunities, taxation and the future of the region.
Marbella vs Sotogrande Property Market
Is Sotogrande becoming the smarter alternative to Marbella? And what are luxury property buyers really looking for when choosing where to live on the Costa del Sol?
Pippa Jones, founder of Jones in Marbella, joins Charlie to explore the changing property market, why some Marbella buyers are moving west, and how personal branding, trust, transparency and technology are reshaping the future of real estate in southern Spain.
San Roque Golf Club
What does it take to transform a legendary golf club into one of Spain’s finest? And can you preserve its heritage while making golf more accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable?
Stephen Dundas, Director of The San Roque Club and former professional golfer, shares the story behind its ambitious transformation, his vision for the future of golf, and why Sotogrande has become one of Europe’s most extraordinary golfing destinations.
Sotogrande’s Most Addictive Watersport
Could you turn your passion for the ocean into a business built around freedom, innovation, and a better lifestyle? Why is Sotogrande the perfect place to make it happen?
Wayne Brooks, founder of Blua Blue Watersports, shares his journey from South Africa to Sotogrande, how he became a pioneer in electric watersports, and why this corner of the Costa del Sol offers so much more than beautiful properties.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
