Podcast appearances and mentions of rick zullo

Michael Kim is the Founder of Cendana Capital, a fund of funds that makes anchor investments in very early stage VC funds.We talk characteristics of the best investors, how Cendana does diligence on fund managers, portfolio construction best practices, Michael's “60x rule”, and why high ownership to fund size is the main driver of returns.We also get in to how VCs are using AI, the competition between Seed and multi-stage investors, why US endowments are under siege, and how secondaries are driving most early stage venture returns today.Michael also opens up about the early days of starting Cendana, the 18 month grind raising Cendana Fund 1, the day he almost died, and ranking in the top 2% globally in Call of Duty.Special thanks to Roger Ehrenberg, Kevin Hartz, Semil Shah, Jeff Claviar, Beezer Clarkson, Jack Altman, Jeff Morris Jr, Sheel Mohnot, Nichole Wischoff, Ted Alling, and Rick Zullo for their help putting this episode together.Thanks to Bolt for supporting this episode. Check out their world record largest (up to $1m in prizes) at: https://bit.ly/ThePeelBoltHackathonTimestamps:(4:24) The day Michael almost died(5:10) Call of Duty & video games(9:34) Hiring @ Cendana(10:31) How Cendana uses structured and unstructured data(16:51) How VCs are using AI(19:55) Why secondaries are driving most early stage venture returns(22:01) Deciding when to sell secondaries(24:28) Best performing venture funds ever(27:26) The best VCs have amazing access to the best founders(33:42) Why Cendana backs Solo GPs(35:57) How to invest over time and hype cycles(41:35) Why multi-stage firms are investing earlier(44:45) Cendana's current thesis: High ownership % to fund size(45:51) Why Cendana started backing non-lead VCs(48:41) How Cendana does diligence on fund managers(52:22) VC NPS Scores and Ron Conway's Silver Bullet(53:49) Good vs bad new VC firm strategies(56:36) Determining defensibility of a strategy(57:57) “Messy middle” software buyout fund(1:03:25) Portfolio construction best practice(1:08:11) Michael's 60x Rule(1:14:28) How Seed funds compete with multi-stage funds(1:20:05) Should you collect logos writing small checks?(1:21:07) Becoming an LP for the city of SF(1:24:42) Taking 18+ months to raise Cendana Fund 1 in the GFC(1:26:48) Warehousing the first Cendana Fund 1 investments(1:29:56) How to do a first close(1:34:29) Why it's hard to kill a VC firm(1:37:00) What happens to ZIRP tourist fund managers(1:40:22) How to raise a Fund 2 or 3 today(1:42:07) “US endowments are under siege”(1:44:55) What the best GP LP relationships look like(1:46:41) What Fund of Funds get wrong(1:50:43) The three most interesting trends in venture todayReferencedCheck out Cendana https://www.cendanacapital.com/Deep Checks https://www.deepchecks.vc/Prior episode with Eric at Bolt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6n1vqUrF4Follow MichaelTwitter: https://x.com/MKRocksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kim-cendana-capital/Follow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

Highlights from their conversation include:The origin story of Equal Ventures (0:41The challenges of the new brokerage concept (5:16)Impacts of market dynamics on brokerage business models (8:16)The Entrepreneur's Agency (11:11)Rolling Over Equity (12:13)Platform Solution for Freight Forwarders (15:27)The freight cycle and the future of startups (22:18)Consolidation and partnerships in the industry (26:39)Enabling rather than disrupting the industry (28:07)The success of brokers based on relationships (31:20)Appreciation for the supply chain ecosystem (32:21)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

Rick Zullo is the Founder of Equal Ventures. Our conversation gets into Equal's unique approach to venture capital, thinking more like public market and private equity investors, and why they also think traction is overrated at Seed.We talk through Equal's thesis-driven model, employing a team of product owners, only investing in only 3 to 5 themes at once, and Rick's admiration of Charlie Munger.We also talk AI - who will benefit the most, what he does and doesn't like in terms of investing in the space, why venture capital is not really venture capital anymore, and why it sucks to be a Seed investor right now.Rick also runs the Emerging Manager Circle, a group for emerging fund managers. We get into the origin story of the group, his own struggles raising his first fund, and why talent is leaving the mega funds.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:38) Why venture capital isn't venture capital anymore(11:33) How founders should approach raising a Seed round(14:13) The realities of downrounds(15:55) Rick's favorite founders that raised little capital(18:54) Biggest fundraising mistake founders make(21:21) Why we need to stop funding AI companies(28:34) How AI will benefit private equity the most(33:30) Three levels of opportunity in AI right now(38:36) Why traction is overrated at Seed(41:38) Investing in businesses with compounding returns on capital(52:07) VC lessons from PE firms(56:24) Why Seed investing sucks right now(1:04:15) The beauty of small exits(1:12:52) How failing to start a fund in college led to Equal Ventures(1:20:06) The struggle raising Equal's $55m Fund 1(1:23:23) Why the best talent is leaving mega VC firms(1:30:16) The Emerging Managers CircleReferenced* Equal Ventures: https://www.equal.vc/* EMC Summit: https://www.emcsummit.com/Follow RickTwitter: https://x.com/Rick_ZulloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickzullo/Follow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

Highlights from their conversation include:The origin story of Equal Ventures (0:41)The challenges of the new brokerage concept (5:16)Impacts of market dynamics on brokerage business models (8:16)The Entrepreneur's Agency (11:11)Rolling Over Equity (12:13)Platform Solution for Freight Forwarders (15:27)The freight cycle and the future of startups (22:18)Consolidation and partnerships in the industry (26:39)Enabling rather than disrupting the industry (28:07)The success of brokers based on relationships (00:31:20)Appreciation for the supply chain ecosystem (32:21)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

Jason Lemkin is the Founder @ SaaStr one of the best-performing early-stage venture funds focused on SaaS. In the past, Jason has led investments in Algolia, Pipedrive, Salesloft, TalkDesk, and RevenueCat to name a few. Prior to SaaStr, Jason was an entrepreneur, selling EchoSign to Adobe for $100M where it is now a $250M ARR product. Rick Zullo is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Equal Ventures. Prior to co-founding Equal Ventures, Rick was an investor at Lightbank, Prior to Lightbank, Rick worked with investment firms Foundation Capital, Bowery Capital, and Lightview Capital. In Today's Episode We Discuss: 1. Why Venture Capital Needs It's Jerry Maguire Moment: Why does Rick believe that VC needs it's "Jerry Maguire" moment? What needs to change? What needs to stay the same? Why does Jason believe we will see even more mega funds in 2024 and 2025? 2. Unicorns are So 2019: Why does Jason believe that "unicorn investing is mostly dead for bigger funds and none of them are looking for a $1BN outcome anymore?" Why does Rick believe that multi-stage fund investing at seed simply does not make sense? What does Rick believe many founders need to know when they take multi-stage money at seed? Of the over 1,000 unicorns created over the last few years, how many of them do Rick and Jason feel are actually unicorns today? 3. Efficiency and Growth: We Need it All: Why does Jason believe, as a founder you should be embarrassed if you ever had a RIF (reduction in force)? Last year many founders got a pass on growth as they were more efficient. Is that pass over? Do they need to get back to growth? What is the single biggest reason that companies do not scale from seed to Series A? What happens to the many companies with years of runway but no product-market-fit? Are we entering a new age of efficient company building or will we go back to high burn environments and excessive spending? 4. Entering the World of LPs: If Jason and Rick were to advise LPs today on how much to discount the value of their venture books, what advice would they give? How have markups completely corrupted the venture ecosystem? How does LPs being incentivized by paper-marks make the industry even more screwed? What are the single biggest misalignments between GP and LP?

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) and Rick Zullo (@Rick_Zullo) discuss, Rick's career trajectory to VC, the thesis behind Equal Ventures, his thoughts on the CTVC's H1 Funding report, and his advice to founders and VCs. This episode is densely packed with value as Rick has clearly thought a lot about these problems. Perhaps my favorite takeaways are 1) that he views VC as more Consulting with Equity than banking and 2) was how they develop industry connections and understanding so that they can actually help their PortCos succeed. Enjoy the Episode!

Rick discusses the advantages of having a prepared mind in the 5 key sectors Equal Ventures focuses on, shares a review and look-ahead for the supply chain sector, defines what “Climate Tech” is and how it squarely aligns to the digital industrial ecosystem, and outlines what an Emerging Manager is and how critical it is for an Emerging Manager to have a real, unique competitive advantage in order to stand out in today's VC landscape.  

This episode is part of our new Capital Series hosted by MCJ partner, Jason Jacobs. This series will explore a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we'll take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. Rick Zullo is co-founder and general partner at Equal Ventures, a firm that is purpose-built to deploy technology across society and industry. And as they say on their website, they back the non-obvious founders before it's obvious. There are a few categories where they spend most of their time in: retail, insurance, supply chain, care, and climate. Rick and Jason have a great discussion in this episode about the origin story of the firm, what makes them different, their strategy, their approach, what it was like to raise Fund I, where they're at today, what criteria they use when they make their investments, what their process is, and how their firm fits into the broader investment landscape in climate and beyond. In this episode, we cover: [00:00]: Intro[02:46]: Overview of Equal Ventures[04:23]: What sectors and stages Equal invests in[06:09]: Origins of Equal Ventures[08:35]: Rick's thoughts on the "conviction gap"[11:02]: Three big questions he asks for every opportunity[17:40]: Overview of Equal's Fund I[18:13]: Rick's thoughts on reserves[24:16]: Equal Venture's differentiators[28:07]: Their views on disciplined pricing and founder alignment[32:33]: Domain expertise, portfolio balancing, and power law dynamics[39:52]: Bandwidth constraints and scaling[44:44]: How the climate playbook differs from other sectors[51:01]: What Rick's most excited about in climate[54:13]: Who Rick wants to hear fromGet connected: Jason JacobsRick ZulloMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Apr 20, 2023

In this episode of Pit Stops To Podium, we have Rick Zullo, Co-Founder and General Partner at Equal Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on bridging the digital divide. Rick is currently on the board of multiple companies including Threeflow, Smarthop, Leap Retail, Ghost Retail, MVMNT, Starday Foods, David Energy, Odyssey Energy Solutions and vQuip Insurance. In this conversation, we dive into the topic of Vertical vs. Horizontal solutions, discussing why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to growth. We explore the need to combine industry networks with modern sales practices to scale vertical solutions, and we look at the differences between GTM strategies in vertical vs. horizontal markets. Additionally, we touch on the alternative monetization methods required for industries that have low digital adoption, budget, or willingness to pay. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Who Is Equal Ventures? 04:06 - 3 Fun Facts About Rick 06:56 - Vertical Vs Horizontal Growth Strategies 08:57 - Recommendations For Vertical Marketing Approach 12:21 - Driving Adoption in High Friction Industries 16:40 - Finding Early Adopters and Evangelizing Customers in New Markets 19:16 - Rewarding Early Adopters for Network Effect with Scalable Value Creation 22:40 - Scalable Value Creation and Monopolistic Growth Opportunities 24:03 - Engage With Rick //ENGAGE WITH RICK Equal Ventures Website Equal Ventures Substack Rick's Email Rick's Twitter //BOOKS Crossing The Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore //SUBSCRIBE! Subscribe to RevPartners YouTube Channel New "pit stops" every week. Join our growing community!   //STAY AWESOME &  DO IT BIG!! Website: revpartners.ioListen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Today, Dee and Anand discuss a range of topics from finance to lifestyle. They begin with the latest insights on Interest Rates by Category, as shared on The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter. They also explore Macy's and Best Buy's Sales Decline, and what it reveals about shopper trends. The duo dives into the tech world, with a focus on Salesforce's 16% surge in share prices, driven by a better-than-expected forecast. Plus, they discuss how VCs have invested $35b in the Direct-to-Consumer industry, according to Rick Zullo on Twitter. Finally, they end on a luxurious note, with Lufthansa's new First-Class Suite, complete with a double bed and a door that closes. Tune in for these topics and this week's Winners, Losers, Content! - written by ChatGPT Connect with Group Chat! Watch The Pod #1 Newsletter In The World For The Gram Tweet With Us Exclusive Facebook Content We're @groupchatpod on Snapchat

On today’s episode, Dooner and The Dude are LIVE from FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit where they’re spending this Earth Day trying to solve some of freight’s sustainability issues. It’s time to trim the fat on trucking’s empty calories: the empty mile.Plus, what can we expect on Earth Day a year from now, FreightWaves Carbon Intelligence offsets freight companies’ carbon footprint, and how much carbon does the transportation industry emit annually?They’re joined by special guests Glenn Jones, GVP, Product Strategy, Blume Global; Daniela Perlmutter, SVP Marketing, Bringg; Rick Zullo, Co-Founder & General Partner, Equal Ventures; Stephan Sieber, CEO, Transporeon; Jennifer Wong, Head of Sustainability, Convoy.Visit our sponsorSubscribe to the WTT newsletterApple PodcastsSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

On today’s episode, Dooner and The Dude are LIVE from FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit where they’re spending this Earth Day trying to solve some of freight’s sustainability issues. It’s time to trim the fat on trucking’s empty calories: the empty mile.Plus, what can we expect on Earth Day a year from now, FreightWaves Carbon Intelligence offsets freight companies’ carbon footprint, and how much carbon does the transportation industry emit annually?They’re joined by special guests Glenn Jones, GVP, Product Strategy, Blume Global; Daniela Perlmutter, SVP Marketing, Bringg; Rick Zullo, Co-Founder & General Partner, Equal Ventures; Stephan Sieber, CEO, Transporeon; Jennifer Wong, Head of Sustainability, Convoy.

Rick Zullo talks about bridging the digital divide in legacy industries by supporting founders with experience. Authentic relationships with industry experts is important, not just a rolodex of CXOs. Highlights: Industries with complex problems need  cataclysmic changes with tail winds lasting many years.Founders with  experience in industries like employee benefits, staffing, senior care, and healthcare understand intricacies much better than a typical tech entrepreneur.The pitch is not as critical founders think it is. Honesty, self-awareness and having a network are more important.Future of entrepreneurship is more geographically dispersed, not concentrated in hubs like the Silicon Valley.Non-profit: Victory Over CancerMore details at https://podcast.sure.ventures

Don't even trip dawg, this one's a bit meta, but we got you on this one, broh. The Growth Stage Podcast explores the nature of problems being solved with products, and in this episode, we look at the problem of Product itself. Product is a proper noun here. We’re joined by Co-Founder of unicorn Pendo, Eric Boduch, and Rick Zullo, of Equal Ventures, to discuss Product's ecosystem and roots in every success story. 

Times are still weird. So we’re gonna continue being different... Last week we checked in with a familiar face, this week we're introducing a new guest, but in a shorter format. Rick Zullo from Equal Ventures, a fund 1 seed stage investor in NYC, joins us to talk shop, thesis investing, and Rick & Morty. Cartoon references aside, this one is denser than a Tim Ferris podcast in a black hole...Wubba lubba dub dub!!!!

Rick Zullo (@Rick_Zullo), General Partner at Equal Ventures, joins Erik on this episode.They discuss:- The different phases of technological revolutions- Will incumbents become stronger in the next platform shift- What Carlota Perez’s work means for the venture capital landscape- Which categories will create the most successful startups in the next decadeThanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform. Check us out on the web at villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.

Rick Zullo (@Rick_Zullo), General Partner at Equal Ventures, joins Erik on this episode.They discuss:- The different phases of technological revolutions- Will incumbents become stronger in the next platform shift- What Carlota Perez’s work means for the venture capital landscape- Which categories will create the most successful startups in the next decadeThanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform. Check us out on the web at villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.

Rick Zullo discusses some of the most common mistakes made by English speakers when learning Italian. There is also a brief interview with his three year-old daughter, Demetra.

Italian superstitions While Italian superstitions aren't any crazier than any other country's, but they are interesting for someone who didn't grow up with them. We're talking with Rick Zullo today who wrote about a lot of these on his blog which talks about his expat experiences throughout Italy. Topics we cover with Rick: Rick's Italian heritage The Italian-American ghettos created by Italian immigrants in the U.S. How these ghettos kept some traditions more strict than even in Italy Where all these ghettos are located, everywhere from New York to Chicago to Lousiana Italian wines How mythology, superstitions and religion mix a lot in Italy Paul's theory on where the tradition of Easter Eggs comes from The worst insult you can say to someone here in the south, Ki Te Murt.  Which by the way in the inspiration for our new line of hot and spicy products. How a lot of these superstitions and traditions are followed with a sense of obligation to family and culture The tradition of first confession and first holy communion The slight mistranslation in Christ Stopped at Eboli The new civil union law that will hopefully pass in Italy The power of the Catholic church in Italian politics Below is the list superstitions we discuss: Malocchio The evil eye. The bane of many an Italian when someone looks at you in an envious manner they can give you the evil eye, even unintentionally. You could be struck with all kinds of sicknesses, most of which include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. The only cure is to search out an Italian grandma who has inherited a talent to rid you of this curse. Covering the mirrors when someone dies I have heard that the mirror represents the soul, so breaking means you'll loose part of your soul thus have 7 years of bad luck. Are you covering/mourning the passing of your loved one's soul by covering the mirrors? Who knows. Maybe people just didn't want to see themselves when grieving. Touch your balls Every time a hearse goes by, a man must grab his balls or be the next to ride in the hearse. Sweeping our the corners of a new house When moving into a new home, you must sweep out all the corners to get rid of any evil spirits that might be lurking around. This is probably a good idea as it also gets ride of any lingering dirt and dust. You have to kiss bread before you throw it away Bread represents Jesus, so you can't just throw it away. You have to kiss it good-bye. I'm not sure why this makes it any better that you're throwing it away, but you have to do it. You can't make a bed with three people or the youngest will die This is a "fond" memory for Paul, as when he was growing up in a household full of women he would always jump in to help with the chores and be shooed away immediately if they were making the bed as he was the youngest. Maybe that's why he doesn't make beds to this day? Throw coins into a newlywed's bed to bring them good fortune Showering them with fortune. Seems a pretty straight-forward one. After all, they end up with some money right away. Throw coins in a newlyweds' car for good fortune Same goes for this one, though I'm wondering if you are supposed to do both or just one. If you spill salt, throw it over your left shoulder Salt was a very important product, used not to flavor food but preserve it, so you didn't want any to go to waste. If you do spill it, throw it over your left shoulder so you can blind the devil who is bringing you the bad luck. If you drop a utensil like a fork or knife on to the floor, company is coming Anyone know the origin of this one? I couldn't find anything. Just curious how this one developed. If you want to sell your house, bury a statue of Saint Joseph in your front yard upside down This was a new one for Paul and I. Interesting one to say the least. 17 is unlucky number, meaning death, while 13 is lucky Very different than in America, but as Paul points out, they accommodate both superstitions in Italy, where something you won't find both a 13th floor or a 17th floor in a building. Pouring wine underhanded (you palm is facing up and the back of your hand toward the table) is bad luck It essentially means you want the person you are pouring the wine for to choke to death. It goes back to the time of poison rings where it was much easier obviously to pour the poison from your ring into someone's glass when pouring this way. Do you know any we missed? Let us know in the comments. Sorry, couldn't resist putting this up:     We'd like to thank Rick again for joining us. You can find him at http://rickzullo.com/ And here are just a few of the books he's written: Live like an Italian, Eat like an Italian, Talk like an Italian

In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, we speak with Rick Zullo, an American writer, teacher, and relentless Italophile. He was born in Chicago, raised in Florida, but always dreamt of Italy. In 2010, he left his career in the United States to live in Rome, where he met his wife. When he’s not writing for his blog, he enjoys exploring the hidden areas of Italy and studying the Italian language, trying to become fully fluent before his two-year-old daughter Demetra beats him to it. We also talk about the feast of St. Joseph in the Italian American Stories Segment. Episode Sponsors The National Italian American Foundation NIAF New York City Gala Select Italy

Saskia Balmaekers from Ciao Tutti discusses for of the Eastern Sicily Highlights during a recent trip to the Aeolian Islands with Rick Zullo and 8 other international travel bloggers.

Hear about travel to the Aeolian Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rick Zullo from rickzullo.com about these historic but lesser known islands off the coast of Sicily.

Hear about travel to the Aeolian Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rick Zullo from rickzullo.com about these historic but lesser known islands off the coast of Sicily.

Hear about travel to the Aeolian Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rick Zullo from rickzullo.com about these historic but lesser known islands off the coast of Sicily.

Rick Zullo interviews Expats Living in Rome founder Patrizia Di Gregorio to learn a few tips for people wanting to relocate to Italy's capital city. Join her group on any given Tuesday evening in Rome for a happy hour aperitivo and conversation.

Join us for a fascinating chat on regional differences in Italy, the complex relationship between Catholicism and superstition, how to dress like an Italian, and the significance of the bidet in Italy!

Rick Zullo answers some of the most common questions about life in Rome as an expat, and gives some advice on making the most of your Italy vacation.

Rick Zullo discusses what is meant by "Italian" food within Italy versus the exported version. His guest is Paolo Rigiroli, the man behind "Disgraces on Menu," blog and podcast.

Rick Zullo talks with his good friend Fidel Gamboa about his career as an opera singer, and his current business as an exporter of fresh truffles from the Alba region of Italy.

Rick Zullo discusses life in Italy versus the United States with literature professor Emanuele Pettener, an Italian in America.

Rick Zullo chats with Andrea Timonere from "Sex, Lies, and Nutella" about the differences of raising children in Italy versus The United States.

Georgette Jupe tells Rick Zullo about her recent engagement and gives would-be Romeos some tips on proposing in Italy.

Rick Zullo talks with Cher Hale from The Iceberg Project about some confusing words in Italian and how to avoid the most common misuses.

Rick Zullo talks with Sarah Dowling in Bologna Italy about the food culture of "la grassa." Learn about the right way to make bolognese sauce and which wine to pair it with.

The Fatal Charm of Italy Podcast will be an extension of the popular Italy blog, "Rick's Rome." Rick Zullo is an American who moved to Rome and started a blog as a way to help understand his new surroundings. Over the years, Rick's blog has become a resource for both expats and visitors in Rome; helping them navigate some of the more challenging aspects of life in the Eternal City. Not just the practical advice and sightseeing, but also a good measure of “daily life,” and the things that a foreigner might find puzzling about Italian culture. Some of the most popular posts have been on the following subjects: dating in Italy; fighting the Italian bureaucracy; Italian superstitions; learning the Italian language; and regional Italian cuisine.

The Fatal Charm of Italy Podcast will be an extension of the popular Italy blog, "Rick's Rome." Rick Zullo is an American who moved to Rome and started a blog as a way to help understand his new surroundings. Over the years, Rick's blog has become a resource for both expats and visitors in Rome; helping them navigate some of the more challenging aspects of life in the Eternal City. Not just the practical advice and sightseeing, but also a good measure of “daily life,” and the things that a foreigner might find puzzling about Italian culture. Some of the most popular posts have been on the following subjects: dating in Italy; fighting the Italian bureaucracy; Italian superstitions; learning the Italian language; and regional Italian cuisine.