I’m delighted to announce that season two of The Making of Madrid podcast is coming on April 20! After a first season that earned a spot on Feedspot’s list of the 100 best podcasts in Spain, I’ll be back with more neighbourhood guides, practical travel tips, historical deep dives, and interviews with local experts. While you wait for the new season to launch, here’s a roundup of my five favourite episodes from season one that showcase what this podcast is all about.
1. Overrated & Underrated: Madrid’s Tourist Traps and Hidden Treasures
This has to top the list as my most popular episode and was maybe the one that put me on Feedspot’s radar. It’s a topic I’m passionate about: the most popular tourist sites aren’t always the best. In this episode, I reveal which famous Madrid attractions are overrated, from overcrowded markets to underwhelming landmarks, and explain why they don’t live up to the hype. But I don’t leave you hanging—I also share my favourite underrated gems, including hidden museums, quiet art spaces, and secret squares that most tourists miss. Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of Madrid, this episode will help you explore the city like a local. If you like this one, check out my “Is Madrid Still Worth Visiting?” episode, which I recorded after a research trip to Kyoto for Lonely Planet got me thinking deeply about the topic of overtourism.
2. Madrid’s Hidden Muslim Origins (two-parter)
Madrid is the only European capital founded by a Muslim ruler—a fact widely accepted in academic circles—yet traces of this Islamic heritage remain frustratingly hard to find. Back in 2023, I wrote a piece for Al Jazeera about Madrid’s Muslim past, and the topic has stayed with me. In this two-part episode, released alongside my Medieval Madrid Voicemap tour, I examine the archaeological evidence around the Royal Palace and La Latina neighbourhoods to uncover why this significant history remains so hidden. From poor signposting to restrictive opening hours, I explore how the city council does little to highlight Madrid’s true origins and set the record straight about the city’s Islamic past.
Incidentally, I’ve got several Voicemap tours out now, so if you’re interested in other aspects of the city’s history, definitely check those out. I also highly recommend Clare Starkie’s tours of the Manzanares River area for a look even further back into Madrid’s prehistoric origins.
3. Autumn Reads with David Price
David Price, owner of The Secret Kingdoms bookshop in Madrid, is a big friend of this podcast and also my publisher. Together, we brought out the bilingual Guide to Madrid’s Literary District (Barrio de las Letras). He’s a huge bookworm who recently admitted to me that he pulled an all-nighter so he could read the latest history of Madrid! In this episode, David takes us through some perfect autumnal reads and discusses his personal essay about his love affair with Madrid, which was published by Ybernia Press in the recently released Stray Cats compilation. This episode is perfect for book lovers and anyone interested in Madrid’s literary culture.
In season two, I’ll have more guests on, but if you want more interviews from the archives, I really recommend Luke Darracott on wine, Joy Figueroa on food, and Marsha Scarborough on moving to Madrid as a retired U.S. citizen.
4. Madrileño Words with Sergio de Isidro
Speaking of guests, last year was the first time my husband Sergio appeared on the podcast, along with our cat Jiji. Released during Madrid’s biggest festival, the Fiestas de San Isidro, this episode features Sergio discussing Madrileño terms and traditions. He explains why there’s nothing more Madrileño than not being from Madrid—a fascinating paradox that captures the city’s inclusive spirit. You’ll learn about festival food, how to dress as a chulapo and chulapa (traditional Madrid figures), how to dance the chotis, and much more. You’ll also meet Jiji, our gato (cat), who might just be the most Madrileño member of our household. In Madrid, “gato” is the closest thing you’ll get to a true local.
5. Caroline Fish on Juana of Austria
My final recommendation is an episode I’m a little nervous about because it’s the one I made without any experience in sound recording. My recorder failed, so I used my mobile phone backup in the echoey room of the journalist’s union on Gran Vía. But I love this episode because the guest is an expert in the hidden histories of women. For the podcast, Caroline Fish chose to talk about Juana of Austria, who served as regent of Spain, meaning she was the woman in charge for a while. Caroline is an expert on Spanish women in diplomacy during the Renaissance, and discusses Juana’s remarkable life and her creation of the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales as a centre of royal power. We explore how convent life for aristocratic women in 16th-century Spain offered surprising freedom, delve into the role of ambassadresses in covert diplomacy, and reveal hidden treasures within the convent, including Juana’s art collection. Caroline also highlights Juana’s influence as Philip II’s trusted adviser and her niece Isabella Clara Eugenia’s connection with Rubens, bringing a much-needed female perspective to Renaissance history.
If these episodes give you a taste for more, look out for season two!
If you’re already enjoying the show, you can support the podcast by leaving a tip, buying an audio tour or purchasing my ebook (Tranquil Spaces in Hidden Places). The Making of Madrid has no advertising and no affiliate marketing—it’s a passion project, but episodes take time and effort, so your support means the world!
