Shows
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#35 Arsalan Korkchi - Top Dentist Shares His Story, Struggles & Health TipsToday’s guest is my amazing dentist — Dr. Arsalan, whose story spans from Persia to Sweden and now, Spain. After fleeing the Iranian revolution in 1983, Arsalan grew up in Sweden, studied dentistry in Gothenburg, and followed in his father’s footsteps.Now, he’s opening his third clinic here on the coast — a space that feels more like a boutique hotel than a dental office. We talk about teeth and oral health - and he shares amazing tips for the perfect white smile. We also dive into his personal journey, the struggles he’s overcome, and his exciting new chapter as h...2025-05-021h 09
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#34 Alieke van Esterik - From Boutique Hotels to Soul Work: A Life ReinventedToday’s guest is the inspiring Alieke van Esterik — a transformational coach, stress intervention expert, and visionary guide for high-achieving women in life transitions. From running a boutique hotel in the Caribbean to 13 years in Dubai, and now flourishing in Sotogrande, Alieke shares her story of purpose, motherhood, and reigniting the inner fire. We explore her powerful journey, the foundations of her 22-year marriage, and how she’s guiding women to reconnect with themselves and live with clarity, confidence, and purpose.#marbellalife #sotogrande #lifecoachMore info here: www.tenesommer.com2025-04-211h 28
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#33 Caroline Wendelin - From Catwalks to Canvas with Paintings in Haaland’s Marbella VillaToday's guest is the incredibly talented artist Caroline (31), whose massive canvases, romantic imagery, and creative life with three kids have captivated thousands online, including me. Born to a Finnish-Swedish mother and German father, she actually grew up in Andalusia and earned a teaching degree in Madrid before traveling the world as a fashion model. But no matter where life took her, art kept calling her back. In 2020, just after becoming a mother, she turned painting into a full-time career—and she’s thriving. Her work even adorns Haaland’s villa in Marbella. We talk about her journey, balancing work and moth...2025-04-0859 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#32 Rob Lipsett - From College Dropout to Youtube SensationToday’s guest is fitness entrepreneur Rob Lipsett. Originally from Dublin, Rob began as a personal trainer and launched his first YouTube video a decade ago. Today, his coaching app, Game Plan, serves over 1,000 users, and he has built a diverse portfolio of businesses. After relocating to Marbella during COVID, Rob embraced coastal living and is now starting a family here. In this episode, we explore his work ethic, his approach to overcoming challenges, the law of attraction, and the secrets behind his success—plus fresh fitness and nutrition tips to help you gear up for summer. Get ready to b...2025-03-2359 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#31 Nicola Cuddy - Marbella’s top makeup artist with 20 years of experience shares her secretsToday’s guest is the lovely Nicola Cuddy (47), a talented and well-known makeup artist originally from Cork, Ireland. Her journey has taken her across the globe—from the fashion streets of Paris to the sun-soaked beaches of Hawaii, Tenerife, Greece, the Cayman Islands, Australia, and beyond—before finally settling in Marbella, what she calles home for the past seven years.With a career in makeup spanning over two decades, Nicola has trained and worked with Charlotte Tilbury, perfected countless bridal and event makeups, and built a thriving beauty business on the coast. But today, we’re not just tal...2025-03-011h 21
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#30 Samantha Penfold - The Woman Behind Marbella’s Favorite Healthy RestaurantsWelcome back to the podcast! Today, I’m joined by the lovely Samantha Penfold, co-owner of the beautiful Planta Bistrot in Forum. Samantha has called Marbella home since she was just three years old, when her parents moved here for the incredible lifestyle. With an Irish mother and a British father she grew up with a mix of cultures and ambition. She studied business, law, economics, and languages abroad before returning to Marbella, but ended up working in interior design for a decade, until she pursued a lifelong dream—opening her first restaurant, Organic Market & Food, that was a...2025-02-141h 01
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#29 Mouna Azirar - From Burberry to Bespoke Events: Mouna’s Secrets to SuccessToday’s guest is the incredible Mouna—an entrepreneur, luxury brand expert, and founder of the bespoke event and travel company, SÖNRAI. With Moroccan, Irish, and English heritage, Mouna’s international background has shaped her journey across four countries. She spent 17 years in London, six years in Dubai, and, since the pandemic, has been calling Marbella home.
With over 20 years of experience in the luxury sector, she has worked with global markets and prestigious brands like Burberry, mastering business development, market research, and high-end brand strategy.
In this episode...2025-02-041h 09
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#28 Architect Ismael Merida - Work, marriage and life lessons from Marbella’s Top ArchitectToday’s guest is one of the top architects of Marbella—Ismael Mérida (54). Born and raised in the heart of the Costa del Sol, Ismael brings nearly 30 years of experience to the table, with projects not only in Marbella, but also in Riyadh, Morocco, and the Dominican Republic. From creating iconic spaces like Olivia Valere, Boho, Mamzel, and the upcoming Avenue Villas, Ismael has built a legacy of innovation and excellence.
In this episode, we dive deep into his journey—from working solo to building a powerhouse team of 20 to execute his vision. We also touch on some b...2025-01-251h 05
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#27 Rayan Ramal - an event producer’s journey after a decade at ChanelToday’s guest is the extraordinary Rayan Ramal (42), a seasoned event producer and consultant of Swiss-Lebanese origin. With over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of luxury, fashion, art, and entertainment, Rayan has built an incredible career. From managing events for Chanel Middle East across 11 countries to founding successful companies like RTime Creative House and designing groundbreaking entertainment venues, his journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
In this episode, we dive deep into his story—from his roots in Beirut to building cultural bridges between Europe and the Middle East, his mindset as a...2025-01-081h 04
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#26 Dr. Veronika Šumbera - From Near-Death to HealingToday’s guest is the incredible Dr. Veronika. Born in Mexico to a Czech father and a Mexican mother, she’s been calling Marbella home for the past four years.
Veronika’s journey started in dentistry, studying and practicing across Mexico, Europe, and California. But life took a dramatic turn when she faced a near-death experience that left her in a wheelchair. Doctors told her she would never walk again—yet today, she’s perfectly healthy. Her remarkable recovery fuels her passion to help others heal, too.
In this episode, we discuss everything from the American l...2024-12-311h 38
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#25 Lucas Santos Reis - Private Client Advisor at Louis VuittonToday’s guest is the charming Lucas, a Brazilian native who’s been calling Spain home for the past 17 years. Leaving Brazil at just 18, he began his journey in Madrid, spending three years there before finding his way to the luxury industry in Marbella. His résumé includes iconic brands like Versace, Bottega Veneta, and ultimately Louis Vuitton—where, despite having no previous experience in the luxury sector, he’s risen to become one of the top 57 private client advisors in the entire EMEA region—Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Lucas’s role is nothing shor...2024-12-1042 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#24 Nary Song - Korean Entrepreneur Talks About Beauty, Business & MindsetToday’s guest is the inspiring Nary, a Korean entrepreneur who moved to Spain at just 5 years old. After studying hotel management, her journey took a different turn, leading her to build two thriving beauty salons in Marbella. Korean culture, with its success-driven and disciplined approach, has played a huge role in shaping Nary’s path, but beyond her expertise in beauty, we dive deep into her passion for self-development, manifesting, and the books that inspire her. Join us as we chat about marriage, mindset, beauty secrets and so much more.
More info www.tene...2024-11-2649 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#23 Saeko Hamada - from Tokyo to Puente Romano, Driven by Passion & PurposeToday, I’m excited to welcome the incredible Saeko Hamada(54) to the podcast. Saeko was one of the very first people I met and collaborated with when I arrived in Marbella back in 2010. Originally from Tokyo, she’s been visiting Marbella for over 34 years! Despite her business studies background, her career has largely been in marketing and PR. Now, she’s the owner’s representative and executive assistant to Daniel Shamoon from the Puente Romano and Marbella Club Hotels. In this episode, we dive into her fascinating career journey, her insights on Japanese culture, beauty tips, and so much more. Yo...2024-11-1145 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#22 Maria Oguz: A Ukrainian Businesswoman’s Secrets to Beauty and ResilienceToday, I’m thrilled to welcome Maria, an inspiring beauty expert and the owner of a beauty clinic here in Marbella. Originally from Ukraine, Maria moved here two years ago, bringing her years of expertise and passion for skincare to the Costa del Sol. With two clinics back in Odessa, a background in psychology, and training in advanced beauty techniques, she’s built a thriving business despite the language barrier. We talk about everything from cutting-edge face and body treatments to mindset and affirmations, Maria’s interview is a testament to her resilience and dedication.
2024-10-3043 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#21 Iain Blackwell - The Man Behind Essential MagazineToday, I’m joined by Iain Blackwell, a true Scottish gentleman who made his way to Marbella 38 years ago. He’s the mastermind behinnd the coast’s most popular magazine, Essential, which is celebrating an incredible 25 years this autumn. Over the next hour, you’ll hear the fascinating story of how a humble man, who once studied pure mathematics and lived in India, built one of the most successful magazines in Marbella.
2024-10-131h 09
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#20 Adam Kelbie: from a rock star to an entrepreneurMy guest today is Adam Kelbie, a man of many talents. While he now runs a thriving AI solutions marketing business for luxury real estate, you might be surprised to learn he once rocked the stage as a singer and even served as a judge on BBC1’s All Together Now. Originally from London, Adam now divides his time between Marbella, London, and Dubai, though he’s considering making Marbella his permanent base. In this episode, we’ll dive into everything from his career journey, dating and personal life to his meditation practices and, of course, the reasons he’s fallen...2024-09-281h 00
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#19 Georgina Shaw - a simple London girl to Marbella PR GuruLast guest Georgina Shaw is well known in Marbella for her Shaw Marketing and PR company, but how did she end up here from London and what does it take to set up a PR agency is what you will discover in this episode. Besides work and her clients, we will also touch on her year spent in Peru, her family life, favorite places and a lot more. Enjoy!
Georgina Shaw is a Chartered Institute of Marketing Qualified professional with experience of all areas of marketing and communications. She is an offline marketing specialist...2024-09-0638 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#18 Thomas Shield - from teaching English to running a Mini Moke businessMy latest guest is Tom Shield(41), a Londoner who has been coming to Spain since he was a teenager. He launched a Mini Moke business The Jolly Mile, 6 years ago in Sotogrande and now these beautiful fun cars, that were actually created by the designer of Mini, are also available in their new Marbella showroom. But what brought Tom here and what jobs he has done over the years in Spain, you’ll find out in our upcoming conversation. Enjoy!
2024-07-2340 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#17 Zazou Belounis - successful restauranteur, the CEO of Casanis Group: There is no success without sacrificeMy latest guest is Zazou (Zahir) Belounis (44), born in Paris with Algerian roots, but for the last 10 years he calls Marbella his home and if you live here you have surely heard of him. Even though he was a footballer in Qatar, he started in Marbella from zero - as a waiter, and seven years later he is the CEO of the extremely successful Casanis Group that has a turnover of more than 30 million a year. From 30 employees to 420 he talks openly about his beginnings in hospitality, but also about his day to day life and habits and even...2024-07-0628 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#16 Darryn Welch - from a film producer to a hotel owner in RondaMy guest today is Darryn Welch, born in the UK to a French mother and a British father, but then reiding to Marbella when he was just 7 years old. But of course life took him abroad, as he studied film in North Yorkshire, made over 20 movies whilst living in Berlin and now we catch him in a beautiful eco-certified hotel in Ronda called Cueva del Gato, that he owns, besides the lovely Hustle’n’Flow Cafe in San Pedro, that everyone who lives in Marbella is surely familiar with. This is by far the longest interview I’ve had, but I s...2024-06-181h 21
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#15 Nicky Lloyd - wine talks in Ronda with a wine expertMy guest today is the lovely Nicky Lloyd (52), originally from the UK, but now a resident of Marbella for over a decade. She’s a qualified wine expert, who’s been working in the industry since she was 23 years old. From working in a winery in Chile, she now owns her own company here called Rootz Wine Tours specialising in wine tours in the costa del sol. We talk about her journey and her career, but of course also about wines and the local wine areas as we meet her on one of her tours in Ronda.
2024-06-0639 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#14 Sebastian Graham - a talented artist with clients like L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, Bal Harbour in Miami, Marbella Club Hotel and more - A Rising Star in the Art WorldMy guest today is Sebastian Marc Graham, a talented young artist, who is originally from Mallorca, but is actually a mix of British, Greek and Dutch. He has been painting professionally for 5 years not just in Marbella, but also in LA, Miami, Tulum, London, Paris and Ibiza to name a few. And his clients include Antima, Marbella Club, L’ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, Bal Harbour Luxury Shops in Miami and even the queen of Spain was spotted wearing a dress that he did the illustrations for. We delve into his life, work, mindset and the impressive milestones he has...2024-05-1753 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#13 Jay Pettersson - event planner & networking guruMy guest today is Jay Pettersson, originally from Iran, but adopted by a Swedish family at a very young age, so he considers Sweden his home country. He’s been living abroad since the age of 19 and having done many fascinating jobs his heart is in the event industry where he has been active for the last 15 years, so launching his own event and HR company Pink Palms was no surprise to anyone. As a master of networking, you will rarely come across a person who hasn’t met or heard of Jay and everyone has nothing but good thin...2024-05-0958 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#12 Santi Godfrid - creator of the first gluten free cafe in SpainMy guest today is Santi Godfrid, the creator of the successful Celicioso cafes, who was born in Barcelona, but now divides his time between Marbella and Madrid. After discovering that he is a celiac back in 2009, he opened the first gluten free bakery and cafe in Spain. We talk about his life and work but also a bit about his friendship with Novak Djokovic, how Covid affected and changed his business and a lot more.
2024-04-2832 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#11 Denisa Viktorinova - from sales executive at Dani Garcia Group to owning her own jewerly brandMy name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.
It’s a pleasure to introduce you to my guest today - the beautiful Denisa, who is originally from Chezch Republic but for the last 10 years she calls Marbella her home. She has two master degrees, but she had to start from scratch here, working her way up to being the sales executive at the famed Dani garcia group. And now she is a businessowner herself, designing her very own jewelry brand called Aujery and enjoying the life under the sun. We talk about her struggles here in...2024-04-1354 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#10 John Brendmoe - from a painter to a millionaireMy name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life. I am so excited to introduce you to my guest in today’s episode - the one and only John Brendmoe, a Norweigen businessman who has built up a 500 million dollar business in less than a decade. He’s mainly known for his family run property company Antima, who has flipped now over 60 houses in Marbella and as we sit down with him in their latest masterpiece that just sold for nearly 16 million, we get a glimpse of his mindset and work ethic. We talk about what it takes to g...2024-03-3054 min
Marbella Life by Tene SommerMarbella Life Podcast: #10 John Brendmoe - from a painter to a millionaireMy name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life. I am so excited to introduce you to my guest in today’s episode - the one and only John Brendmoe, a Norweigen businessman who has built up a 500 million dollar business in less than a decade. He’s mainly known for his family run property company Antima, who has flipped now over 60 houses in Marbella and as we sit down with him in their latest masterpiece that just sold for nearly 16 million, we get a glimpse of his mindset and work ethic. We talk about what it takes to g...2024-03-2855 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#9 Franca Villarroel - a lifecoach who remarried her ex husbandMy latest guest for my podcast is the beautiful Franca Villarroel, who has a background in the entertainment industry as a musical performer and actress, but After having children and marrying her husband twice, yes you heard me right, she changed her career to become a trained life and businesscoach. We will discuss about her work, beauty tips, personal life and of course what it’s like to live in Marbella.
See more: www.tenesommer.com2024-03-2054 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#8 Fares Fayad - interviewing my therapist - why do people get therapy? Talking about anxiety, character and more.Welcome to Marbella Life podcast. This week’s guest is someone who usually questions me - my therapist - Fares Fayad, who has a Syrian and Spanish background but has been living in Marbella for 40 years. He’s practising gestalt therapy, kinesiology and family constellations, so in this episode will find out more about his work and what are the main reasons people get therapy in Marbella.
More info: www.tenesommer.com2024-03-121h 00
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#7 Millie Pugh aka Pocket Pilates - the Pilates queen of Marbella opens up about her past struggles with anorexiaMy name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.
I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here.
My next guest for my podcast is the lovely Millie Sophia Pugh, my amazing Pilates teacher, who started her life in Marbella working in the nightlife industry to now running her own Pilates studio & company Pocket Pilates in Puerto Banus. Not only will she share her best beauty and fitness tips and of course what she eats to mai...2024-02-2654 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#7 Millie Pugh aka Pocket Pilates - Pilates queen of Marbella opens up about her struggles with anorexiaMy next guest for my podcast is the lovely Millie, my amazing Pilates teacher, who started her life in Marbella working in the nightlife industry to now owning her very own Pilates studio in Puerto Banus. Not only will she share her best beauty and fitness tips and of course what she eats to maintain her six pack, but she’s also speaks openly about her struggles with anorexia. Trust me, you will not want to miss this episode! Enjoy.
2024-02-2554 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#6 Sofia Illieva - from a housewife to etiquette influencer with 3M followersMy next guest is the lovely Sofia Ilieva aka Sofia Marbella, who originally comes from Bulgaria, but has been living in Marbella almost 30 years. Besides being the mother of two young adults, she’s best known as an etiquette influencers as she has over a million followers on Instagram and over 2 million on TikTok. She has the wisdom and experience of 50, with the soul and vitality of 20 and I’m so happy she is bringing Etiquette & Manners into fashion again. Join me for this interesting conversation with Sofia about her work and how she started all of this.
2024-02-141h 00
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#5: Marcus Dahlgren - from a carpenter to running 10 companiesMarbella Life Podcast #5: Marcus Dahlgren - from a carpenter to being a successful entrepreneur and running 10 companies.
My next guest for my Marbella Life podcast is Marcus Dahlgren, originally from Sweden, but now a resident of Spain for almost a decade. His first profession was being a carpenter, but now Marcus runs multiple companies and creates new brands almost every year! Currently his runninng 10 various businenss ventures from online banking systems to organic wine - so in this podcast I will find out what is his secret to success and his contagious optimism and of course what...2024-02-0745 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#4 Gretel Kutan - from hostess to a top position at Nikki BeachMarbella Life Podcast: #4 Gretel Kutan - from hostess to a top position at Nikki Beach
My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life.
I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here.
My fourth guest is the lovely Gretel, originally from my home country Estonia, who first came to Marbella back in 2006. She started working as a hostess in one of the best beachclubs here called Nikki Beach and worked her way up to b...2024-01-2447 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#3: Tara Lorimer - Event & wedding planner with 10 years of experience in Puent RomanoMarbella Life #3: Tara Lorimer - Event & wedding planner with 10 years of experience in Puent Romano.
My third guest is the lovely Tara Lorimer, an esteemed wedding and event planner, who has lived in Marbella over 20 years, but originally comes from Scotland. She studied in Saint Petersburg and has worked in New York and London (in Savoy, Claridges, Barkley to name a few) before ending up in Marbella. For a whole decade she worked in the famed 5 star hotel, Puente Romano, and today she is sharing with me how has it been like going solo and of course...2024-01-1748 min
Marbella Life by Tene Sommer#2 Quike Navarro - talented violinist advice on how to make it as artistQuike Navarro - Famed Artist talks about his success, life in Marbella and more.
My name in Tene Sommer and this is Marbella Life. I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here. Join me for my second episode with the talented Quike navarro, who fell in love with the sunny coast 15 years ago. Born in the north of spain, Quike has made a successful career here as a violinist. With his electric violin, laser bow, and unlimited energ...2024-01-1040 min
Marbella Life by Tene SommerMarbella Life: #1 Margit Meier - Life in MarbellaMarbella Life Podcast with Tene Sommer: #1 - Margit Meier Life in Marbella.
I’ll be talking to some of my friends and interesting people to find out more what it’s like to live and work here. Join me for my first episode with the lovely Margit, who has been living in Spain for over 23 years now. She’s had a colourful life - living in New York at the age of 16 and finally ending up in Marbella to raise her son and to sell luxury villas. We will be chatting about everything from botox to mindset and of...2024-01-0141 min
The Confidence ZoneNo tin akshon fout!E episodio aki ta bai trankilisabu. Bo tambe sa eksperensia e miedu di hasi un fout? Bo tambe ta sinta komo un talento skondi? Skucha e mensahe aki. Bo mester di dje! No lubida ku awor tur djarason nos tin nos episodionan na Papiamentu, i tur djaluna nos tin nos episodionan na Ingles.Pa esnan ku no sa, mi a bira partner di un linja di produkto ekselente pa yuda nos tene e body optimal i sexy. Kisas riba mi pagina personal bo a mira ku mi ta promove produktonan aki. Nos tin tur kos p...2020-12-0213 min