What brings someone back to Mallorca after building a life and career in Los Angeles? For actress, filmmaker and Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival founder Sandra Seeling Lipski, choosing where her daughter would grow up became the deciding factor.

In this episode of Mallorca Living, Helen speaks with Sandra about moving from Berlin to Mallorca aged ten, leaving to pursue acting in New York and Hollywood, and returning to Santa Ponsa with her own family. She shares the school visits in LA that prompted them to reconsider their future, why her daughter now attends her former school, and what she values about life on the island.

Alongside her personal journey, Sandra takes us behind the scenes of Evolution as the festival celebrates its 15th edition, revealing how she built an international film event that connects local talent with filmmakers from around the world.

In this episode, we cover:

• Growing up in Mallorca and returning to the island as a parent.

• Why schooling and family life shaped the decision to leave LA.

• Living in Santa Ponsa, from its residential neighbourhoods to its year-round community.

• Building Evolution, bringing Danny DeVito to Mallorca and making the festival welcoming to everyone.

• Tourism, housing pressures and taking care of the island.
• Sandra’s advice for newcomers: learn the language, make local friends and embrace Mallorcan culture.

An inside look at raising a family, pursuing creative ambitions and becoming part of life in Mallorca.

After travelling to more than 50 countries and building a location-independent life, Australian entrepreneur and content creator Jake Snow has amassed an Instagram audience of 1.6 million followers. He could have chosen almost anywhere to call home. In this episode, Helen sits down with Jake to explore why he and his wife Marie chose Mallorca as the place to slow down, raise their young family and create a more permanent base after a decade of travelling the world.

Jake shares what Mallorca offers beyond the holiday experience, from the walkability and everyday lifestyle of Palma to beaches, mountains, family-friendly culture, healthcare and the growing question of schooling. He also explains why he believes renting before buying is one of the smartest things prospective residents can do, and what he learned from eventually purchasing and renovating their own property on the island.

Their conversation also traces the unconventional journey that made the move possible: meeting in Thailand, creating an online business and building a global audience, before moving into boutique hotels in Bali and developing a new project in Cape Town.

In this episode:

• Why Mallorca stood out after travelling to more than 50 countries
• How living in Mallorca differs from holidaying here
• Why Jake and Marie chose Palma for life with a young family
• The lifestyle, safety and sense of freedom they value on the island
• Schools, healthcare and the practical considerations of raising children here
• Why Jake recommends renting in Mallorca before deciding to buy
• What they learned from purchasing and renovating their Palma property
• Why trusted recommendations, local contacts and Spanish speakers matter
• The realities of working online and building a location-independent life
• How Jake and Marie built an Instagram audience of 1.6 million followers
• Their journey from travel creators to boutique hotel owners
• Why integration and learning Spanish matter when making Mallorca home
• Jake's advice for anyone still wondering whether to make the move

For anyone contemplating a move to Mallorca, Jake offers a particularly useful perspective: that of someone who has spent years comparing different lifestyles around the world before deciding what truly matters when choosing somewhere to live.

After years working in some of the world's finest hospitality destinations—from Germany and Mallorca to California and New Zealand—Anita Possner and Bastian Wenzel decided it was time to stop following other people's dreams and build one of their own.

In this episode, Helen sits down with the couple behind La Pasión, one of Mallorca's newest and most exciting restaurant concepts, to explore the journey that brought them back to the island.

They discuss learning from Michelin-level chefs, travelling the world in search of inspiration, opening and selling their first restaurant in Germany, and why Anita's solo Camino walk became the catalyst for creating a business centred on creativity, community and meaningful connection—not just great food.

The conversation also explores what it's really like starting a hospitality business in Mallorca, the realities of navigating bureaucracy, finding the perfect location, building relationships with locals, embracing the island's incredible food and wine culture, and why patience, authenticity and passion have been the foundations of their success.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why they left Germany to start a new life in Mallorca
• How working in California and New Zealand shaped their philosophy
• The Camino walk that changed Anita's life
• Lessons from opening restaurants in two different countries
• What makes Mallorca's food scene so exciting today
• Why La Pasión is about much more than dining
• Their advice for anyone dreaming of starting over abroad