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/

–––
🎙️ 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

Are you thinking about leaving your stable 9–5 to pursue something more meaningful — like starting your own business or making a major career shift? Or maybe you're already in the messy middle of that transition, wondering why no one talks about how hard it actually is?

In this solo episode of Poncha Talk, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own career pivot in my late 20s — the financial sacrifices, the internal struggles, and the quiet wins that keep me going.

A few years ago, I had a stable job, a comfortable income, and the freedom to book flights or order food whenever I wanted. Now, I’m self-employed, navigating a completely new path, earning far less (for now), and learning how to rebuild both my career and my sense of self-worth from the ground up.

This episode is for anyone who’s:

• switching careers in their late 20s or early 30s

• starting their first business or creative project

• leaving behind financial security to pursue a passion

• struggling to stay motivated in the early stages of entrepreneurship

• wondering if it’s normal to feel lost, broke, or behind

You’ll hear honest insights into what it’s really like to start over — from major mindset shifts to invisible progress — and why learning to celebrate the smallest wins matters more than ever when building something new.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Why this episode is so personal
03:25 Lesson 1: Your relationship with money will change
06:36 Lesson 2: You’ll need to rebuild your self-worth
09:50 Lesson 3: Progress often feels invisible
13:19 Lesson 4: Structure is something you have to create
16:09 Lesson 5: Support is nice, but understanding is rare
18:13 Final thoughts

🎙️ Listen to this related episode:
👉 Finding Balance in Chaos – Creating Routines That Support You

Let’s connect:
📸 Podcast: @ponchatalk
📍 Travel Blog: @your_madeira
🌐 Website: www.your-madeira.com

In this episode of Poncha Talk, I sit down with Paul Andrei Lungu, general manager of Storytailors—a global video production company operating in over 150 countries. Paul shares how he scaled a creative business internationally while living between Bucharest and Madeira, and what it really takes to lead a remote team across continents.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, or team leader, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. You'll learn:

• How to hire the right people to grow your team

• How to maintain company culture and communication across borders

• What it takes to scale an international business sustainably

• The real-life impact of AI on creative industries

• Why balancing passion with the right support system is essential for long-term growth

Paul also opens up about the challenges and unexpected lessons from running a global team, building a hybrid work structure, and choosing Madeira as a second base for both lifestyle and creativity.

✨ Huge thank you to Paul Andrei Lungu and Storytailors for organizing the recording studio, helping with the studio setup, and supporting the editing of this episode. And big thanks to the beautiful Katedral Studio for hosting us!

⏱️ Timestamps:

• (0:00) Intro

• (1:22) Paul’s story

• (7:19) How to hire the right people

• (15:27) Culture clashes when working around the world

• (22:00) Madeira as a second base

• (26:50) Scaling a business internationally

• (34:34) Growth in 2025

• (38:40) Impact of AI in video production

• (41:27) Building your business with passion and the right support

  (48:18) Romania as a nomad base

• 
  

  🔗 Links & Socials:

• Storytailors Website: https://storytailors.tv

• Storytailors Instagram: @storytailors.tv

• Paul Lungu Instagram: @domnupaul

• Studio Space: @katedral_studio

• Follow Poncha Talk on Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk

How do you build meaningful friendships and relationships as a digital nomad? Constantly moving from place to place brings incredible opportunities for meeting new people—but also unique challenges in forming deeper connections.In this episode of Poncha Talk, I sit down with Nicky Vonk—a freelancer and relationship coach based on Madeira—to explore the realities of friendships, long-distance relationships, and dating as a digital nomad.We discuss:✅ The benefits of short-term friendships—how meeting diverse people broadens your perspective and fuels personal growth✅ The importance of stable relationships—why long-term friendships (local or remote) provide emotional grounding✅ The challenges of dating as a digital nomad—why many nomads hesitate to open up when connections seem temporary✅ Tips for navigating social life while traveling and making meaningful connections on the moveIf you've ever struggled with loneliness as a remote worker, felt the sting of short-lived connections, or wondered how to build lasting relationships while traveling, this episode is for you!🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!💬 Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with Nikki on Instagram @Nicky_Vonk and follow Poncha Talk @ponchatalk on Instagram and TikTok for more discussions on the digital nomad lifestyle, remote work, and personal growth.

Are you a digital nomad navigating the complexities of taxes while living location-independently? In this episode of Poncha Talk, I sit down with Marchela Georgieva, a tax expert and location independent business owner specializing in helping nomads optimize their tax setup.

We discuss her transition from a corporate career to running her own location-independent business and how she discovered her passion for helping digital nomads avoid common tax pitfalls. From waiting too long to address taxes (and overpaying in their home country) to unintentionally living without a tax residence—Marchela shares insights on structuring your taxes in a way that minimizes tax while aligning with your lifestyle.

You'll learn:
✅ The biggest tax mistakes digital nomads make and how to avoid them
✅ How to choose the right tax residency based on your travel habits
✅ Why even nomads benefit from having a place to belong

If you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, or remote worker living abroad, this episode is packed with personal stories and practical insights to help you stay compliant and keep more of your hard-earned money!

📌 Connect with Marchela:
📩 DM her on IG: @marchela_georgieva_
🎥 Get FREE training on how to start paying significantly less taxes: wealthynomad.co/lt
📘 Take the Low Tax Business Blueprint course: wealthynomad.co/course

📢 Follow Poncha Talk for more digital nomad insights:
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk

Leaving your home country is one thing—actually settling into a new place is another. In this solo episode of Poncha Talk, I dive into what it takes to go from just living somewhere to truly feeling at home. Whether you're a digital nomad, remote worker, or entrepreneur navigating life abroad, I share my personal journey of building routines, making friends, and embracing cultural differences while settling in Madeira.

I’ll talk about:
✅ The shift from travel mode to everyday life
✅ Finding community and meaningful friendships abroad
✅ Navigating culture shock & language barriers
✅ Creating routines that make a place feel like home
✅ The mindset shift that turns a new location into your place

If you’ve ever wondered when (or if) a new place will ever feel like home, this episode is for you. Tune in and let’s talk about the reality of settling down abroad!

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube!
📲 Connect with me on Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk