Frédéric founded Coco Community in 2020, which offers furnished apartment rentals, shared spaces, and events to create meaningful connections between international entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals. It is a place to live, work and socialize with like-minded people, in the heart of the city.
In this chat, we discuss the experiences that inspired Frédéric to launch Coco, how he navigated the transition from corporate to business owner, and the rise of digital nomads, as well as what makes or breaks a community.
Discover Coco Community: via their website, on Instagram.
Originally from south-east UK, Rob has been living nomadically for 2 years, and stayed at four colivings.
These experiences have shown him that when people living together set the intention to share, create, respect, and support each other, beautiful and surprising things happen.
Read more about Rob by subscribing to his Substack.
This episode I chat with Lulú.
Passionate about creating community spaces and supporting individuals in building their life projects, she has co-founded PAS Rural Coliving—a rural coliving space where they celebrate acts of generosity every day and live in harmony with the nature around them.
With over 15 years of experience in project and operations management, partnership development, consulting, and facilitating training sessions in entrepreneurship, agile methodologies, innovation, sustainability, and personal development, she thrives on leading operations and managing projects within entrepreneurship and innovation programs.
She is deeply interested in mentoring and training teams on social innovation, agile methodologies, business modeling, and soft skills related to leadership, change management, and communication.
Her mission is to empower individuals and teams to build impactful projects that create lasting change.
Follow her journey here on Instagram.
Check out PAS Coliving's website.
Last year, Faith left her corporate job to become a digital nomad.
She transitioned to freelance writing and volunteered as a community manager for a coliving home.
She spent 5 months of 2024 living in colivings as a Community Manager, which was more incredible than she could have imagined. It helped her learn that this lifestyle and traveling isn't about the place but about the people.
Follow Faith's journey here.
After being a digital nomad for 8 years, travelling to 27 countries, and working in the startup ecosystem for 15 years, Jean-Baptiste and his partner decided to develop the mobile app NomadWay, drawing on our experience building communities for digital nomads over the past 4 years.
NomadWay is active in 20 cities, with more than 1,200 users, particularly in Alicante and Valencia.
In 2021, they also launched the Digital Nomads in Alicante community, which now has over 2,700 members and has organized 650 events in collaboration with locals.
Salome's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Originally from France, she has spent the last few years travelling and working remotely, all while creating her own community guest house in Tenerife with her partner.
This episode is not just about physical spaces; it's about the emotional and psychological aspects of what makes a home. Salome shares her experiences living in coliving spaces as a volunteer, a host and a guest, which have become a significant part of her life.
Throughout the episode, Salomé evokes the challenges and rewards of running a guest house with her partner while working remotely.
In our latest episode, join me as we dive into the world of coliving with Ricky, a digital nomad and copywriter from Valencia, Spain.
Discover how shared living can transform solo travel into lasting connections and explore the balance between travel and work.
From the impact of AI on creativity to the joy of community living and the "Digital Nomad pressure" of social media, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration for anyone interested in working remotely at their own rhythm.
Learn more about Ricky: Website & Linkedin.
Learn more about Islow Coliving, Pyren'Escape, Alpiness Coliving, Chateau Coliving.
In this episode we talk with Ben, the founder of The Living Room Co Working in Malaga, Spain.
Ben shares his journey from Austria to Spain on an Erasmus exchange that never ended and how his need for a community led him to co-found a co-working space that feels like a home away from home.
Ben discusses the importance of creating genuine connections in a workspace and how The Living Room fosters a sense of family among its 150 diverse members from over 30 nationalities. He also talks about the unique challenges and joys of building a community-focused co-working space, emphasizing the significance of setting expectations and creating a welcoming atmosphere from the start.
We also dive into the transformative power of community on mental and physical well-being. Ben shares his personal journey with yoga and the Wim Hof Method, explaining how these practices have not only enhanced his life but will also very sson be integrated into the offerings at The Living Room.
Join us as we explore the intersection of work, community, and personal growth, and discover how a shared space can become a sanctuary for creativity and connection!
Have you experienced Positive Peer Pressure? Then you havent colived before.
We explore how living with others can bring the best out of us through gentle pressure.
Read the piece here.
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into the concept of home and community with Elena, a dynamic community builder and applied theater practitioner. Together, we explore the intricate ties between theatrer, community, and the feeling of belonging.
Elena shares her fascinating journey from a high school drama enthusiast to a professional in applied theater, a field that uses theater as a tool in non-traditional settings like schools, organizations, and even prisons. Her passion for theater is infectious, as she explains how it can be a powerful medium for self-expression, confidence building, and fostering creativity.
In our 4th episode of Who Reads Anyway? We dive into the weird power of signs and their shelf life. What works, what doesn't, and why should we (or should not) have them in coliving spaces.
Read the piece here.
In this episode, we dive into the heart of creating a welcoming and authentic coliving space. Jon shares his journey of establishing genuine connections. From his first experiences in coworking spaces to running Sun & Co for 8 years and finally establishing his own studio, discover how he embraced his unique qualities and crafted spaces that feel like home, emphasizing the significance of personal interaction and shared experiences.
In this episode, both Jon and I open up about our need to care for others - maybe too much - and how that impacts our own community experience.
In our third episode of Who Reads Anyway?, we discuss "length of stay" and how long it takes to feel "THE moment."
The moment when residents transition from feeling like newcomers to becoming integral parts of the community. When they've established routines, contributed to the space, and received from it, leading to a deeper connection with their surroundings.
In the latest episode of our podcast, we talk with Haz the visionary co-founder of Escape Coliving and Coliving Hub.
Haz has been a digital nomad, has lived in several coliving spaces as a guest, and has been running his coliving space for the past 8 years.
He loves the idea of tearing down the "imaginary" walls and getting to know our neighbours, and coliving is at the forefront of this. So, he wants to advocate for it as much as possible.
As shared living spaces gain momentum, Haz takes us on a journey through the evolution of coliving, sharing his insights and experiences from his eight-year journey in the industry.
Follow Escape on Instagram @ourescape.co
In our second episode of Who Reads Anyway? we explore the fascinating world of community living where chaos becomes a unifying force.
From the challenges at K9 to the unexpected joys of coliving, discover how organized chaos can strengthen bonds and foster creativity.
Don't miss this engaging episode—listen now and see chaos in a new light!
Find the piece on my substack.
Amélie is the founder of InfiniColiving, a seaside coliving space that fosters connection, creativity, and harmony with nature. After three inspiring years exploring Brazil, as an nomad worker she decided to settle on the northern coast of Salvador de Bahia. Her journey began with years of living in shared housing during her studies and an extended time in Paris, followed by experiences within spiritual and eco-sustainable communities. These deeply influenced her approach to InfiniColiving, which is not only a space to stay but an immersive experience.
There, residents engage in creative and spiritual activities, from art workshops to yoga and meditation, and discover the richness of Afro-Brazilian culture. Through InfiniColiving, she hopes to create a sanctuary where people can reconnect with themselves, nature, and the powerful spirit of community.
Check out her website: https://infinicolivingbr.com/
Follow her Instagrams: @infinicoliving @artmelie_
💬 Show Notes
In this episode of the Life on 5th podcast, we embark on a new journey of short and sweet episodes, diving into the heart of community living through blog articles from Substack.
Our host, that would be me, brings written words to life, exploring the complexities of co-living. From digital nomads to long-term community members, co-living presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth.
Discover the nuances of navigating new spaces, understanding unspoken rules, and finding your place in an established ecosystem. The episode delves into the realities of sharing spaces, time, and values, highlighting the importance of giving back to the community. Embrace the discomfort, ask the tough questions, and learn to accept the process of community living.
Join us as we uncover the priceless connections that form when masks drop and genuine relationships emerge. Experience the laughter, learning, and growth of living in a community, and discover the true value of belonging.
Grace is 26 and originally from the UK. She left when she was 19 to do her bachelor's in the Netherlands and then her master's in Stockholm, and she has stayed here ever since! She moved into K9 a year ago after meeting the people who lived there and feeling the huge outpouring of love they had for their home any time it came up in conversation. She felt it was a place she could join and contribute to —mostly by making cookies, but in other ways, too!
Ramon has been living in various coliving spaces over the past few years, embracing the community lifestyle while working remotely.
He is also the co-founder of Colivers Club, Mapmelon, and Mangobeds.
Projects all focused on improving the coliving community and making life easier and better for both colivers and coliving owners. He is passionate about building strong, supportive communities.
María founded Cactus Coliving in 2021 in Tenerife and recently opened a second location in La Gomera. She welcomes digital nomads from around the world, showing them the beauty of the island and its people. She is trying to create a new kind of “tourism” that will positively impact the locals and their economy.