Italian Life

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• Season Finale: Unlock Tuscany by not doing what we've done! 30.06.2026 48min

  Even travel experts make mistakes. In fact, travel experts always make mistakes! But few actually tell you what they are. Not us! We are laying it all out there for you to learn from. Seasoned traveler Julie Brown joins Riccardo and Andrew for our season finale. If you're coming to Italy soon, you need to listen to this (and enjoy the laughs). Visit UnlockTuscany.com for our free guide. So much more including noctourism (huh??) and news of the day. Listen in!
• Flee the Heat: Veneto and More 02.06.2026 39min

  Our guest Ariana joins the Italian Life team with insider tips for our upcoming August "Flee the Heat" trip. We dive deep into Bassano del Grappa's unique history and traditions. Is Treviso worth seeing? You don't have to say Valdobbiadene to want to go and drink the famous prosecco. News of the day: What's this fuel shortage all about anyway? The Word of the Day is appropriate: Basta. Join us!
• Tuscan Food Tradtions with Chef Aurelio 08.05.2026 39min

  Sometimes a single dinner can change everything! In this episode the Italian Life team greets Chef Aurelio Barattini to talk about the distinctions of Tuscan cooking and the traditions of a family restaurant, four generations in the making, Antico Locanda di Sesto! News of the day celebrates Andrew's favorite, The 80th birthday of the Vespa and guess. what? Smart Working doesn't mean what you think in Italian-- Iole's word of the day will set you straight.
• Connect to Italian Roots: A Gangster, A Cookie and More 28.04.2026 49min

  Italian Life guest Joe Hamrahi visits the podcast to discuss that pull that so many Italo-Americans feel, to come to Italy and reconnect with their roots. Joe's ties to Sicily include a great grandfather, an actual Corleone Family loyalist, who's gangland murder on the streets of New York made the New York Post. We have a Napoli Bank Robbery on News of the Day and much more.
• Hidden Tuscany: Escape to Val di Chiana 07.04.2026 47min

  Italian Life goes to the Eastern edge of Tuscany with special guests Sonia and Tom, owners of Casale Della Luci, a restored Tuscan farm house in the medieval town of Lucignano, known as the "Pearl of Val di Chiana. Learn all about this amazing region, with nearby gems like Arezzo, Cortona and Montepulciano and more. News of the day takes a serious look at the controversial new Italian Citizenship laws exploring the different sides of the issue. Listen in and learn, be inspired and plan your trip to discover the undiscovered.
• The Ultimate Local Guide to Puglia 31.03.2026 55min

  Italian Life heads south with our guest Claudia who grew up in Puglia as our guide. We dive into the famous places you may know—Alberobello, Matera and Polignano a Mare, but take you so much further and tell you how to enjoy it like a local. Andrew takes the challenge to test his one day walking tour of Bari. See how he does! News of the day and so much more.
• Siena: Intentionally 'undiscovered' Tuscany 26.03.2026 51min

  Special guest Russell Thomas, a 20+year resident of Siena joins Italian Life for a deep dive into how to discover one of Tuscany's most interesting, beautiful cities. Beyond the famous Palio in the summer, the city continues to defend its old-style charm and ancient traditions while being a vibrant place for locals and tourists to easily mix. We follow up an earlier News of the Day on the controversial painting using the face of Giorgia Meloni, and Iole protests Is it Real or AI? Don't miss this!
• Is Florence Still the Crown Jewel of Tuscany? 17.03.2026 47min

  Special guest Eric Veroliemeulen, curator of This Time Tomorrow in Florence joins the Italian Life crew to dive into all things Florence, where strong opinions drive the public conversation. Love it? Hate it? There seems to be little in between, yet it remains one of the most popular destinations in all of Italy. We dive into the issues, explore solutions for your visit and give the insider's perspective on all things Firenze, the epicenter of The Renaissance. Riccardo struggles with Is It Real or AI?, news of the day on tourism trends and much more.
• Jaw Dropping Hikes in Tuscany 02.03.2026 43min

  Special guest Manuel Maiese joins the Italian Life team talking about the wonders of seeing Tuscany to the Ligurian Sea from the mountains above. Maneul, of Wild Trails, is hosting our Jaw Dropping Hikes week April 24-30 including the amazingly fun, local, walking celebration of Marce della Villa! News of the day about efforts to stop overtourism, Is it Real or Ai, and so much more.
• February's a Party at Carnevale! 21.02.2026 41min

  With our hub so close to Viareggio, home to one of the best Carnevale festivals in all of Italy, we danced and dodged our way through the festivities to give you the pros and cons and the insider tips on how to make this amazing festival, a bucket list item that you won't miss next year. And the funniest Is it Real or AI ever? You be the judge! Listen in.
• Is Italy Breaking Up With You? 04.02.2026 45min

  Riccardo and Andrew welcome Simone, co-owner of Bella Touring Tuscany to dive into the myths and realities of over-tourism and whether Americans are less welcome in Italy than before. We help you navigate and give great ideas for how to plan your next vacation. Word of the day, News of the day and Simone takes her first shot at "Is It Real or AI?" Listen in!
• The 5 Biggest Mistakes Tourist Make 28.01.2026 46min

  Well we don't get to all five of them, but lively conversation here about how to plan (and not plan) you're next Italian adventure. Check out our free guide to unlock Tuscany and avoid all five of these mistakes here: https://unlocktuscany.com/ Iole and Andrew banter about the best small airports, what's real and what's AI and of course, the word of the day! Listen in.
• Undiscovered Italy: The spirit of Umbria 21.01.2026 34min

  We all agree: Umbria has the "it" quality. Want to know more about it? Listen in! We have some fun with Is it Real or AI, news o of the day and word of the day. If you want to discover Umbria, this is it!
• The Holiday: Would you house swap? 16.01.2026 44min

  Wrapping up the holiday season, we take a look back at the famous rom-com and debate the merits of house swapping as a method for an Italian Adventure. Pro or con? Riccardo and Andrew are joined by Pisan Chemist Iole to hash it out. Learn the difference between Prendere and Adare and of course, play "Is it Real or AI?" Listen in!
• What's Real: Italy or Sh*taly? 02.01.2026 46min

  Does the bella vita really exist? How much is marketing and how much is something you can really embrace and experience? The phrase, "well, that's Sh*taly" exists for a reason. Our guest is Chris, an American expat raising two daughters in Italy and is about to launch a podcast called Shitaly, where the love for Italy is balanced with the reality of living here. For those dreaming of living here one day, and even for those who realy do... this fun look at the complexities may resonate or even enlighten. This is your turn to Play Is it Real or AI! Do we have our first celebrity endorsement? Listen and vote!
• Sardinia: Did reality match the dream? 27.12.2025 36min

  Riccardo is back, and Andrew revisits his obsession with Sardinia, the focus of a podcast earlier this season. That podcast was the first that we “planned” Andrew's trip on air. Now Riccardo and Andrew break down the travel plans, the goals and if the dream of Sardinia was matched by the reality. We have our first video Is it Real or AI! Check it out on instagram. News of the day and so much more.
• Off Main Street: Celebrating Artful Lucca 04.11.2025 47min

  Lucca is tops in Tuscany for tourist growth, according to recent statistics. Come here once and you'll see why. But we talk about how to explore the city off the main street and the same tours of the same seven places that every tour takes you on. With Artful Italia Founder Sheri Doyle, we talk about the truly unique adventures that await. We even have a new audio tour, just for art and shopping (and some really good snacks as well). As always we have "Is It Real or AI?" -- news of the day (Party at the Pope's house!) and so much more.
• Obsession With 'Italian' Food and Wine 14.10.2025 57min

  Restauranteur, food writer and self-described "cook" Stefano joins the Italian Life crew to talk about the passions and obsessions of Italians with food. Just what is "Italian" cooking? Butter in Cacio e Pepe?! NO! No? We cover it all. More is it Real or AI, news of the day and so much more.
• Phones down! We're Making Memories For A Lifetime 09.10.2025 47min

  Special guest, world traveler, writer, musician and more, Alan Gaskill joins the show talking about how to dive into the experiences of Italy when you come here. Talking all things Italy to help get your mind in the right place a truly make memories that last a lifetime. Real or AI is back! News of the day? Nobody wants to come to the US... but are Americans facing backlash abroad? We'll talk about it all and more.
• Lucca Audio Tour: An irreverent guide 22.09.2025 50min

  Lucca is like a new pop single, climbing the charts of "must-see" tourist destinations. Every day we see the streams of tourists wandering in and out, while missing the essence of what makes Lucca such a magical, mystical, historic town. Two locals join me talking all things Lucca. We'll give you the inside information about things you'll see if you use our first audio tour. Tips for restaurants, Puccini gossip, walk where Julius Caesar did and of course, we'll argue about gelato. It's impossible not to. Check it out here if you're coming to Lucca or already here: https://italianlife.co/audio-tour/Listen in and we'll it like it is!