If you’ve ever thought about moving to Spain, or you’re already here and wondering if you’re really making the most of it, there’s a new podcast that could be worth adding to your playlist. Spainfully Honest, hosted by Catherine from Ireland and Paul from England, is all about open, unfiltered conversations about life in Spain. It’s the kind of show that goes beyond the holiday snapshots and glossy property ads, digging into what day-to-day living here is actually like.

Between them, Catherine and Paul have over 45 years of experience of life in Spain. “We were talking and realised we have a lot of real life experience with over 45 years between us of life in Spain,” Paul says. “When you look at the social media streams for info about life in Spain its hard to know what is genuine advice and what is advice with an hidden agenda so ‘Spainfully Honest’ is trying to address that. With real life experiences from us and listeners as well as trusted experts.”

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How Catherine and Paul Ended Up in Spain

Catherine’s Spanish journey began when she studied the language in Ireland before heading to Madrid for university. She decided to stay, later falling in love with a Spanish man and raising two children, both born in Spain. She has a high level of Spanish but says she’s not fluent – “but she is, trust me,” Paul laughs. She has lived in Madrid and the Region of Murcia, and her eldest son is studying in Granada and will soon move to Oviedo.

Paul’s path was different. He moved from England with his young family after his parents bought a holiday home in Spain. He has lived on the Costa del Sol and now calls Murcia home. Between them, they have first-hand knowledge of city life, coastal living, and smaller inland communities, something listeners often find valuable when deciding where in Spain might suit them best.

Honest Conversations With a Purpose

At the heart of Spainfully Honest are conversations that are both personal and practical. Sometimes it’s just Catherine and Paul talking about their own experiences, the highs, the challenges, and even the mistakes they’ve made, and other times they bring in guests.

So far, they’ve interviewed their own children about growing up in Spain and the Deputy Head of King’s College, offering insights into education and school life. “We try to pick the most discussed subjects on social media and delve into them to give our own and trusted experts views,” Paul says. An upcoming episode features a property expert talking about buying rural homes in Spain, which promises to be a must-listen for anyone dreaming of a countryside escape.

Setting Expectations: The Holiday Is Over

One recurring theme in the podcast is managing expectations. “I see people move to Spain but they don’t seem to enjoy life in Spain like they should,” Catherine says. “Firstly, I think when people move to Spain, they expect it will feel like a holiday all the time, but it isn’t like that. A lot of the podcast is about managing expectations.”

Catherine adds, “We see a lot of horror stories on social media and negative stories about Spain and then we see a lot people selling a dream, we want to give a balanced view of what life is really like living in Spain.”

Learning to Live Like a Local

Paul believes some of the best advice comes from simply looking at how Spanish people live. “We try to give advice on things that have worked for us such as living more like a native Spaniard to cope with the weather, shopping like a native to get the best ingredients at the best prices, socialising like a native to have the most fun at a price that won’t break the bank. The majority of things the locals do are done for a reason such as siestas, eating main meal at lunchtime, socialising later, and on the Podcast we delve more deeply into those plus many more.”

Catherine agrees that integration is key. “I also notice that sometimes when people move to Spain they can live on the fringes of Spain never really integrating properly, not learning the language or making Spanish friends. We want to highlight the benefits of integrating but also talk about really simple ways to do it as well.”

Why a Podcast Like This Matters

For many people thinking about moving to Spain, online information can be overwhelming and often conflicting. There’s no shortage of advice, but it can be hard to know what’s genuine and what’s trying to sell you something. Spainfully Honest offers a space where two people who’ve lived the reality, and still love it, share not only their successes but their mistakes, so others can learn from them.

For those already living in Spain, the podcast can be just as useful , offering fresh ideas for integrating into local life, finding new experiences, or understanding cultural habits that can make day-to-day living easier and more enjoyable.

How to Listen

New episodes of Spainfully Honest are released every Tuesday. You can listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Whether you’re at the planning stage of your move, newly arrived, or looking for ways to connect more deeply with your Spanish community, Catherine and Paul’s honest chats and expert advice could make all the difference.

Paul adds, “We also love hearing from our listeners. They can send us their questions, suggestions, or even their own stories about moving to or living in Spain. It’s great to share those real experiences on the podcast.”

Listeners can get in touch by emailing hello@spainfullyhonest.com.