In this episode of Poncha Talk, I chat with Manon, cofounder of Viomatico Business Retreats and an expat who’s called Madeira home for the past 3.5 years. Manon opens up about the early challenges of her entrepreneurial journey and how those struggles eventually led her to create something deeply fulfilling: retreats that bring entrepreneurs together to connect, grow, and support one another.

We talk about how her retreats work—from attracting the right people to creating space for masterminds, skill-sharing sessions, and collaborative workshops. After a successful retreat in Morocco, she’s now preparing for the next one in Madeira this June.

Manon also shares honest insights about the emotional side of business: why sales can feel hard, how patience pays off, and why clarity often comes through trying, adjusting, and growing over time. If you’re an entrepreneur or remote worker craving deeper community and purpose, this one’s for you.

🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 Website: www.theviomati.co
📸 Instagram – Viomatico: https://www.instagram.com/theviomati.co/
📸 Instagram – Manon: https://www.instagram.com/travelwithmelon/
💼 LinkedIn – Manon Jongejan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manon-jongejan/

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🎙️ Follow Poncha Talk for more stories on remote life, entrepreneurship, and finding your path abroad:
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/ponchatalk
📱 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@ponchatalk

Curious about visiting Madeira? Check out my travel blog:

🌐 Website: ⁠www.your-madeira.com

📸 Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/your_madeira

In this episode, I’m joined by Anna, who’s been living the digital nomad life for the past five years while working full-time for a fully remote company. 🌍💻

She shares how she found her job at WorkFlex by taking a leap of faith—reaching out on LinkedIn even though no position was posted—and what it’s really like to work asynchronously across time zones while traveling the world.

We talk about everything from remote job tips to nomad routines and travel fails, all the way to the decision to slow down and build a home base in Portugal.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
1:02 – How Anna got started in her remote job
7:04 – Working in a fully remote company
13:04 – Finding your travel style as a digital nomad
24:54 – Digital nomad fails
32:20 – Work setup when working from anywhere
34:15 – Having a base as a nomad

🔗 Connect with Anna

🎧 Podcast: Hinterm Horizont gibt’s Plan
📸 Instagram: @travelbuddyanna
💼 LinkedIn: Anna Dung
🧳 WorkFlex Job Openings: careers.getworkflex.com

✨ Poncha Talk is the podcast where we talk about remote work, life abroad, and finding freedom in unexpected places.
📲 Follow along on Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk

Mahdi's New Release: Desert Waves on Soundcloud

This week’s episode of Poncha Talk is a rooftop brunch special with my good friend Mahdi—a DJ and musician from Tunisia who now calls Madeira home. We recorded this episode while he cooked an incredible brunch and served it with a view from his terrace.

Mahdi’s creative process is as free-flowing as his conversation. He shares how improvisation shapes not only his music but also his life philosophy. We talked about dreaming big while staying grounded, the tension between creating art for passion versus profit, and his journey toward finding his own unique sound.

Although Mahdi hasn’t released any tracks yet due to perfectionism, he made a promise on this very episode: his first track will drop with this podcast.

This is an honest conversation, made for every creative out there trying to find their way. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure of your voice, or caught between vision and reality—this one’s for you. Expect real talk, relatable struggles, and valuable insights from someone still in the midst of the journey.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

1:30 - Mahdi’ story

7:00 - The struggle with perfection & finding your own style of music

16:50 - Dreaming big vs. being realistic

20:55 - Challenges in monetising music & art

28:05 - Finding inspiration in Madeira

30:20 - The mission of a DJ

34:35 - Planning vs. improvising

41:40 - Mahdi’s new Music Release

Follow Mahdi and his music journey here: @mahdi.hlewi

And don’t forget to check out Poncha Talk on Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk