TALKING BALEARICS
Number 1 for news and views from IBIZA. Welcome to my 'MAN IN SAN AN' Podcast
TALKING BALEARICS - Current affairs podcast with myself in Ibiza & Richie Prior in Mallorca focussing on the Balearic Islands which has a thriving ex-pat population and almost 4M UK visitors every year.
MY IBIZA JOURNEY - in this series I talk to prominent people about their Ibiza journey, what the Island means to them & how it has changed over the years.
About Me: Described in the Ibiza press as a ‘friendly agitator’' and the UK's Daily Telegraph as a 'swaggering manspreader' (thanks to appearing in an ITV reality show), White Isle resident since 1991, Ibiza property expert & President of the British Association of San Antonio. Read my ‘Man in San An’ weekly blog & listen to my podcasts vía all the usual platforms.
Episodes
110 episodes
Ibiza Cricket Club at 40 | In conversation with Wisden for their 2027 Almanack
EXTRA PODCAST | Ibiza Cricket Club: 40 Years on the White IsleIn this Talking Balearics special episode, Martin Makepeace speaks to journalist Thom Airs, who has been commissioned by the editor of Wisden’s ...
Balearic Housing Lottery - Who & When? Hotel Worker Bonus, Beach Saturation, Airport Protests, Living Cost Rise, Football News
The Balearic housing lottery, who should get priority for affordable homes, and should residents get preferential treatment when buying property? The hotel summer bonus for staff working in the heat raises a bigger question about how the touris...
Ibiza Parador Success, Petrol Rip-Off, All Change for Traffic Lights & Boat Rental, Transport Scams, Balearic Rental Meltdown, Football News
The summer numbers are in for Ibiza's historical Parador hotel, the price at the Balearic petrol pumps has hit record levels, there's a change of law for traffic lights and boat rentals, beware of transport scams, the Balearic rental market is ...
Ecotax Billions, Tourist Spend Surprise, Soller Overload, Back2School Issues, Rental Cars Court Case, Pacha New York, Real Mallorca News
The Balearic Ecotax is back in the headlines, with another round of project funding announced but where exactly is the benefit for residents?Tourist spending is higher than ever, so why are some businesses still struggling?Soller ...
Ryanair Standoff, Taxi War, Rental Properties Drop, Heatwave Continues, Vehicle Limits Take Hold, Sant Josep Unhappy
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary is at it again — this time taking on the Spanish authorities.There’s trouble brewing after a rather strange vehicle turns up at an Ibiza taxi rank.We look at the real reason behind the drop in rental prop...
August Review, New USA Flight, Big Names for Free Concert, Financial Times Focus on Ibiza, Real Mallorca News
We review the always challenging month of August across the Balearics — and the results are certainly mixed.There’s news of another direct flight from the USA to the islands, but this one might surprise you.Big names have been an...
Eclipse Debrief, Egyptian Lake Fallout, Affordable Housing, Boat Frenzy, Flight Bargains, Ibiza Arrival Numbers, Canadian Surge
After months of build-up, was the Balearic Total Eclipse everything we hoped for?An Egyptian lake in San Antonio has sparked a political meltdown, while Mallorca is making headlines for something far more positive with a major affordabl...
The King in Mallorca, Campervan Downturn, Political Deadlock, Strike Update, Hotel Satisfaction Surprise, Restaurants Squeeze, Real Mallorca Kick Off
As the solar eclipse looms, the Spanish Royal Family are enjoying their annual Mallorca holiday and it’s all smiles - unlike the Balearic political deadlock, as the two main parties continue to disagree. Ibiza’s campervan numbers plunge, while ...
The Balearic Solar Eclipse Special - 121 Years in the Making
Martin and Richie are joined by fellow podcaster and Mallorca resident Ollie Neilson to discuss the much-anticipated total solar eclipse that will sweep across the Balearic Islands on the evening of 12 August 2026.
Airport Strike, Solar Eclipse, Housing Surprise, Protest Violence, Club Overcrowding, Dead Chicken Row, Beckham & Jordan in Ibiza
The Palma anti-tourism protests turned violent, with both sides blaming each other. Ibiza's property market shows no signs of returning to normal, with some truly eye-opening housing and rental figures. The countdown is on to next month's solar...
¡Viva España! Balearics Go Football Crazy, Airport Disco, Homeless Eviction, Uber's New Market, New Maritime Public Transport
Spain and the Balearics have gone football crazy as La Roja bring home the biggest prize of them all - but what will the knock-on effect be for the islands? Trouble is brewing at Ibiza Airport over the popular Sunday Sessions, and the is...
Protest Backlash, Record Airport Figures, Flight Carry-on Shake-up, Zara Bargains, Airbnb Falters, Mega Cruises, Serra Says Yes, Footy Fever
There's a growing backlash against anti-tourism protests, Ibiza Airport's record-breaking passenger numbers, the latest shake-up to airline carry-on baggage rules, whether Airbnb is finally losing momentum, the return of the debate over mega cr...
EasyJet Takeover, Ibiza Taxi Wars, Magaluf Evolution, Dreamy Deia Weddings, Amnesia's 50th, Bora Bora Returns, World Cup Fever
The holiday industry could be on the brink of a major shake-up as easyJet eyes a takeover that could change the way millions book their summer breaks. Back in Ibiza, the island's taxi service is making headlines again - for all the wrong reason...
Balearic Poster Backlash, Ryanair Family Climbdown, Magaluf goes Luxury, SuperBog Fail, Swedish House Mafia Return, FatBoy Slim in Mallorca
Have Balearic warning posters gone viral for all the wrong reasons, and should they be taken with a pinch of salt? Ryanair has climbed down over family seating, Magaluf is entering a new era with a very special concert on the beach, and in San ...
Balearic Corruption Case, Germans Dwindling, Burnham's Back, Ibiza's Traditional Dishes, San An Identity Crisis, Club Overcrowding
A major corruption case ends with lengthy prison sentences, are German tourists falling out of love with Ibiza, and could a future government led by Andy Burnham expand youth mobility opportunities between the UK and Europe?We discuss Ib...
World Cup Fever, Balearic Slowdown, Illegal Parties, Ibiza DJ's Blacklist, Minivan Misdemeanours, Brits Safety, West End Names
World Cup fever has swept across the Balearics, but why are bars and restaurants reporting an unexpected slowdown in the middle of June?An illegal Ibiza party has made headlines across the islands, and the local government has unveiled a...
Ecotax Epic Fail, Tourism Protests, When to Book Your Holiday, Co-Living in Ibiza, Mallorca LIVE, Spanish BOOM, Med Sea Surprise
Another summer, another tourist protest on the horizon in Palma as activists promise their biggest demonstration yet. The Balearic Ecotax continues to generate millions, but is proving surprisingly difficult to spend effectively. We'll look at ...
Flights Blacklist, August Concerns, Trip Advisor Withering, Cultural Ibiza, Europes Best Beaches, Car Hire Standoff, 50 Cent in the Club
Blacklists for badly behaved airline passengers, nervous hotel owners watching August bookings, and the question nobody seems willing to ask: does anyone actually use TripAdvisor anymore?We'll also look at Ibiza Town's cultural transform...
€175M New Hotel, Tourist Overload Fears, Easyjet Twilight Service, Foreigners Housing Concern, Passport Control Debacle, Bernados 'Law', Real Mallorca Relegated
Another spanking new hotel announcement - this time in Calvià - and the numbers are eye-watering, as fears grow over tourist overload despite thousands of authorised beds still sitting unused.EasyJet rolls out a new luggage...
90-Day Limit Rethink, Agritourism Surge, Bizum Boom, West End Shake-Up, Real Mallorca Meltdown, Hospital Walkout
Brits could get a 90-day rule rethink, agritourism is booming but facing hotel-style pressures, Bizum is transforming payments for local businesses, San Antonio’s West End is getting a bold rebrand but with a surprise twist, Real Mallorca are h...
Arise Sir Richie, New Trainline, Campervan Crackdown, Beach App Surprise, Balearic Cricket, Mallorca Market Crossover, Ultra-Expensive Restaurant, Amnesia Opening
A new Mallorca train line is making the headlines and the numbers speak for themselves, Ibiza draws the line under camper vans, a new Mallorca beach app is dispelling a few myths, the Balearic Cricket Championship was a straight shootout in Men...
Vehicle Limit Confusion, PIGS EES Exodus, Beach Bar Closure, Shanty Towns & No Solutions, Billion Euro Boating & Medieval Ibiza
Vehicle limitations in the Balearics but are the tourists really to blame, PiGS! Portugal & Italy join Greece in the EES exodus, will Spain follow? A potential beach bar closure in Ibiza has got locals hot & bothered, shanty town shenan...
Jet2 Passport Pressure, Flight Seat Bonanza, Palma Boat Show, West End Demolition, Cycling Surge, Balearic Luxury Living
Jet2 apply pressure for Spain to follow the Greek lead at passport control, an incredible amount of flight seats are scheduled for the Balearics this summer but there's devil in the detail and Palma International Boat Show wows once again. Why ...
Spring Explosion as Mallorca & Ibiza Diversify, Booking.com Upsurge, Jet2 Luxury Travel, IMS Returns, Fitz to Open, World’s Top Clubs, Greece Leads the Way at Passport Control.
Is this the busiest April on record, as the islands’ diversification strategy bears fruit? Booking.com’s eye-catching Ibiza report, Jet2 launches a new luxury concept direct from Liverpool, rumours of a new nightclub for Palma, IMS lands in Ibi...
Prime Minister's Wife in Trouble? Ibiza Passport Control Issues, Luxury Hotels of Mallorca, Concrete Demolition with Wings, Arise Lord Rafa Nadal, Ibiza Club Openings
The Spanish Prime Minister's wife is in a spot of bother, Ibiza's passport control is under the spotlight as residents face long waits, A new über luxury hotel is opening in Mallorca as the big brands look to take over, the ugly eyesore of Cala...
