A personal note from Nalini and Laura — on the joy and the hard days, the deeper friendship, and what's next.
Sun, sea, sand — maybe that's what most people picture when they think of Spain. But it's so much more than that.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and our little corner of the world. Made in Spain started as a passion project — a creative outlet for the two of us. Like many of you, we have full, busy lives. But carving out time for this podcast has become a source of deep joy and constant inspiration.
It's been a steep learning curve — a fast one — but with each episode, we're making progress, laughing at ourselves, and embracing every adventure (and misadventure) along the way.
So much has changed since we began.
Professionally, I completed an EFL Teaching Certificate through the University of Toronto. On a personal note, I lost my mother unexpectedly in January. It's not something I'm ready to talk about fully just yet, but I will when the time is right. I also completed a final surgery after fracturing my ankle last summer — a not-so-gentle reminder that cobblestone streets are charming until they aren't.
And I got a puppy. Her name is Luna, and right now, she's the best distraction I could ask for. It was either a puppy or a lot of cava to get through these challenging months.
What I want to say is this: Made in Spain is more than a podcast about tapas and toasts. It's about us — two women navigating life in a beautiful, sometimes chaotic, deeply layered country. We're lucky to show you Spain through our lens, but behind every dreamy day trip and perfectly edited clip, there are also hard days, quiet tears, and moments of overwhelming gratitude.
While I'm still juggling my work as a leadership advisor, this podcast has quickly become something much more than a side project. It's a reminder of how powerful storytelling can be — how much joy comes from following curiosity and connection. As someone born in Spain but raised with a global perspective, this podcast has given me a chance to rediscover my own culture, but also to see it with fresh eyes through Nalini's voice.
Since we started Made in Spain, life has continued — beautifully, messily — in the background. One of the biggest parts of my heart is my daughter Valentina. She's 10 years old, full of light and magic, and has autism. Being her mom is the greatest love of my life — and also comes with a deep sense of responsibility that, some days, makes it hard to stay on the bright side. There are moments of joy and absolute wonder, and moments of exhaustion, where I'm simply trying to keep it all together.
Made in Spain has given me something precious: a space to create, to express, and to remember that joy and struggle can live side by side — often in the same breath.
"Joy and struggle can live side by side — often in the same breath."
One of the most incredible moments so far was diving deep into Spain's rich legacy of shoemaking. We didn't just visit a shop or meet a craftsman — we were lucky enough to sit with the curator of the Museo del Calzado in Elche, home to one of the largest footwear-related collections in the world. Through his stories, archives, and passion, we gained a whole new understanding of the industry's cultural significance, historical roots, and its impact on Spanish identity. It was like opening a time capsule made of leather, tools, and tradition.
The best part? This podcast has given us the gift of a deeper friendship — and a growing community of listeners who share our love for Spain's culture, food, people, and contradictions.
We're still growing, still learning, and still pinching ourselves that we get to do this. To everyone who's joined us on this ride so far — thank you. We see you, we appreciate you, and we're raising a glass of something bubbly in your honour.