What if the future of work isn’t in glass towers or city coworking chains but in small, rooted hubs where people feel they belong?
In this episode of Powering Productivity, Suzanne is joined by Maria do Céu Bastos, founder of NOWHERE Desk - a rural coworking hub in Portugal that’s become a lifeline for freelancers, founders, and her local community.
Together, they explore how rural coworking is redefining connection and belonging not just for those who work there, but for the people who nurture these spacesevery day.
✨ In this conversation:
The emotional and economic value of local hubs
🌿 Discover more about Maria’s work and the rural coworking movement:
💛 Listen now , this is a story about heart, place, and the quiet revolution happening in rural coworking.
Time stamped Shownotes:
00:00 Introduction to the Powering Productivity Podcast
00:48 Meet Maria do Ceu Bastos: A Journey from Translationto Coworking
02:21 Challenges and Realities of Rural Coworking
07:29 Building Community and Overcoming Isolation
13:18 Navigating Bureaucracy and Renovation Hurdles
16:08 Funding and Financial Challenges
18:18 The Vision for Education and Reskilling
23:34 Navigating Emotional Challenges with AI
24:38 Finding Balance in Nature
25:19 Building Resilience Through Hobbies
26:13 The Importance of Community Support
26:54 Managing the Invisible Load
29:40 The Power of Networks and Collaboration
33:37 Sustainable Living and Upcycling
38:08 Rural Regeneration and Education
46:04 Conclusion and Resources
