Podcasts about Tuscan

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Mystery Solved: The Stolen Heirloom at Trattoria di Luca Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-22-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Il cielo invernale stava calando sul piccolo paese toscano, mentre all'interno della trattoria di Luca una calda luce dorata illuminava le pareti di pietra.En: The winter sky was descending over the small Tuscan village, while inside la trattoria of Luca, a warm golden light illuminated the stone walls.It: L'aroma di erbe fresche e carne arrosto riempiva l'aria, in perfetta armonia con le luminarie natalizie che brillavano come stelle.En: The aroma of fresh herbs and roasted meat filled the air, perfectly harmonizing with the Christmas lights that shone like stars.It: Il fuoco scoppiettava delicatamente nei caminetti, creando un'atmosfera accogliente.En: The fire crackled gently in the fireplaces, creating a cozy atmosphere.It: La trattoria di Luca era un rifugio sicuro contro il freddo rigido e il vento che soffiava tra i vicoli.En: La trattoria of Luca was a safe haven against the harsh cold and the wind blowing through the alleys.It: Era la sera della vigilia di Natale, e la trattoria era gremita di avventori.En: It was Christmas Eve, and la trattoria was crowded with patrons.It: Le chiacchiere e le risate si mescolavano ai rumori del Natale.En: Conversations and laughter mingled with the sounds of Christmas.It: C'era qualcosa di speciale nell'aria.En: There was something special in the air.It: Ma tra tutto quel calore festoso, un evento spiacevole aveva sconvolto Luca.En: But amidst all that festive warmth, an unpleasant event had upset Luca.It: Un cimelio di famiglia, una vecchia statuetta di Babbo Natale, era scomparso.En: A family heirloom, an old statuetta of Santa Claus, had disappeared.It: Per Luca, quella statuetta aveva un valore inestimabile, essendo stata tramandata nella sua famiglia per generazioni.En: For Luca, that statuetta held inestimable value, having been passed down in his family for generations.It: Gianna, un'avventrice abituale, sedeva al suo solito tavolo vicino al caminetto.En: Gianna, a regular patron, was sitting at her usual table near the fireplace.It: Aveva sentito bisbigliare di quella perdita.En: She had heard whispers of the loss.It: Il suo spirito avventuroso si accese.En: Her adventurous spirit ignited.It: "Devo aiutare Luca", pensò.En: "I must help Luca," she thought.It: Così, mentre la trattoria si animava di conversazioni, Gianna iniziò ad osservare con attenzione.En: So, while la trattoria buzzed with conversations, Gianna began to observe attentively.It: Nel frattempo, Luca cercava di mantenere l'atmosfera allegra.En: Meanwhile, Luca was trying to keep the atmosphere cheerful.It: Decise di distrarre gli ospiti con una speciale performance culinaria.En: He decided to distract the guests with a special culinary performance.It: Preparò davanti a loro il suo famoso risotto al tartufo, raccontando storie della sua famiglia e delle antiche tradizioni natalizie.En: He prepared his famous truffle risotto in front of them, telling stories of his family and ancient Christmas traditions.It: Gianna, intanto, osservava i volti dei clienti, cercando di cogliere ogni dettaglio.En: Gianna, in the meantime, was observing the faces of the customers, trying to catch every detail.It: Vide una famiglia al tavolo centrale che sembrava particolarmente turbata.En: She saw a family at the central table that seemed particularly upset.It: Si avvicinò discretamente, cercando di non farsi notare.En: She approached discreetly, trying not to be noticed.It: Ascoltò piccoli frammenti della loro conversazione e notò un bambino, che aveva qualcosa in tasca che sembrava una statuetta.En: She listened to small fragments of their conversation and noticed a child, who had something in his pocket that looked like a statuetta.It: Avendo raccolto abbastanza indizi, Gianna si avvicinò a Luca, che l'accolse con il solito sorriso caloroso.En: Having gathered enough clues, Gianna approached Luca, who welcomed her with his usual warm smile.It: "Credo di sapere dove sia il tuo cimelio", disse sottovoce.En: "I think I know where your heirloom is," she whispered.It: Con delicatezza, si rivolse poi alla famiglia e spiegò la situazione.En: Gently, she then turned to the family and explained the situation.It: Il bambino scoppiò in lacrime ammettendo la sua colpa.En: The child burst into tears, admitting his guilt.It: Aveva preso la statuetta credendo fosse un giocattolo.En: He had taken the statuetta thinking it was a toy.It: Luca, con il cuore sollevato e senza perdere un briciolo della sua cordialità, rassicurò il piccolo.En: Luca, with his heart lifted and without losing a bit of his cordiality, reassured the little one.It: "Nessun danno", disse.En: "No harm done," he said.It: "Anche Babbo Natale a volte si nasconde nei posti più inaspettati."En: "Even Santa Claus sometimes hides in the most unexpected places."It: La statuetta tornò al suo posto d'onore, e il chiacchiericcio nella trattoria si trasformò in una storia di mistero risolto, che avrebbe arricchito ancora più la leggenda della trattoria di Luca.En: The statuetta was returned to its place of honor, and the chatter in la trattoria turned into a story of a solved mystery, which would further enrich the legend of la trattoria di Luca.It: Gli avventori ripresero a festeggiare, ora con un motivo in più per sorridere.En: The patrons resumed celebrating, now with one more reason to smile.It: Luca si sentì più sicuro, capendo di poter superare anche gli imprevisti più incredibili.En: Luca felt more assured, realizing he could overcome even the most incredible surprises.It: Gianna, gratificata dal suo successo, realizzò che le sue capacità di deduzione erano più che un semplice passatempo.En: Gianna, gratified by her success, realized that her deduction skills were more than just a mere pastime.It: Quella notte, la trattoria divenne ancor più popolare, e il paese parlò a lungo di quella vigilia di Natale speciale, dove il calore del focolare e l'abilità di due amici avevano salvato la serata.En: That night, la trattoria became even more popular, and the village talked for a long time about that special Christmas Eve, where the warmth of the hearth and the skill of two friends had saved the evening. Vocabulary Words:the sky: il cieloto descend: calarethe village: il paesethe aroma: l'aromathe herb: l'erbato fill: riempireto harmonize: armonizzarethe fireplace: il caminettocozy: accoglientethe haven: il rifugioharsh: rigidothe alley: il vicolothe patron: l'avventoreto mingle: mescolarsithe heirloom: il cimeliothe statuette: la statuettathe value: il valoreto pass down: tramandarethe whisper: il bisbigliothe spirit: lo spiritoadventurous: avventurosoto ignite: accendersito observe: osservarecheerful: allegrothe performance: la performancethe risotto: il risottoto catch: cogliereto notice: notarethe smile: il sorrisoto whisper: dire sottovoce

There are travel experiences… and then there are stories you tell for the rest of your life. Total Tuscany Podcast Episode 97 delivers one of those stories, taking listeners deep into the heart of Italy with Dream Italy's unforgettable Viva Italia Experience. The episode marks a long-awaited return for the podcast, and hosts Travis Justice and Pat Campagna come back swinging with a conversation that perfectly captures what Total Tuscany has always been about: extraordinary experiences over ordinary trips. Their guest, Giorgio Dell'Artino, founder of Dream Italy, doesn't just sell tours—he curates once-in-a-lifetime moments. Viva Italia began with a simple but brilliant idea. Why not let travelers experience Tuscany the way Italians dream about it—behind the wheel of a world-class luxury car, carving through the rolling hills of Siena? What started with two exotic cars has evolved into a fully immersive, fully supported self-drive luxury experience spanning Tuscany, Italy, and even parts of France. Picture this: you slide into a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maserati, the engine growling as vineyard-lined roads unfold in front of you. A professional tour leader guides the route. Every detail—fuel, logistics, hotels, meals, parking, and support—is handled. You don't worry about directions, traffic rules, or flat tires. You simply drive, savor, and experience Italy in a way very few ever will. As Giorgio explains, Viva Italia isn't about reckless speed. It's about control, confidence, and connection—to the road, the landscape, and the culture. The routes are carefully chosen for beauty and safety, with moments where drivers can truly feel what these cars were built to do. And yes, guests even rotate cars during the tour, giving them the chance to experience multiple vehicles. What makes this episode especially compelling is the depth of Dream Italy's philosophy. Since 1997, Giorgio has personally built relationships with nearly 2,000 top-tier suppliers—from five-star hotels and historic castles to private yachts, Michelin-level dining, and exclusive cultural access. Every Viva Italia itinerary is customized, whether it's a two-day Tuscan escape or a multi-day journey from Rome to Milan, Venice to the Dolomites, Sicily, or the French Riviera. The conversation also highlights why Tuscany remains Italy's most beloved region: art, food, wine, history, countryside, and soul—all in one place. Yet Viva Italia proves that Italy can still surprise even the most seasoned traveler. This is more than a driving tour. It's luxury travel redefined, where time is valued, privacy is protected, and memories are guaranteed. If you've ever dreamed of Italy—and dreamed big—Episode 97 of the Total Tuscany Podcast will make you want to turn the key, press the accelerator, and shout it loud: Viva Italia.

SEASON FINALE. With the new year right around the corner, it might be time to start thinking about your creativity in 2026. For writers, writing retreats offer uninterrupted time to focus on your craft, build your writerly community, and receive feedback from publishing experts. In the season finale of "Writer's Digest Presents," editor-in-chief Amy Jones and literary agent Jessica Berg talk about why writers should consider writing retreats, what you can expect from the Writer's Digest Writing Retreat in Tuscany this spring, and more. The Writer's Digest Writing Retreat in Tuscany is from April 7 – April 14, 2026. Escape to the peaceful Tuscan countryside to spend a week dedicated to making time for writing, improving your craft, and learning from publishing professionals, all while enjoying a taste of Italy! Learn more and register here: https://writersdigestshop.com/pages/tour/writingretreat-2026apr-italy

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Snowy Roads and Warm Hearts: A Tuscan Tale of Hope Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-15-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Le colline toscane brillavano di bianco sotto un raro manto nevoso.En: The Tuscan hills gleamed white under a rare blanket of snow.It: Le viti e gli ulivi, solitamente verdi, erano trasformati in sculture d'inverno.En: The grapevines and olive trees, usually green, were turned into winter sculptures.It: In lontananza, il piccolo paese di Montalcino era avvolto da una pace immacolata.En: In the distance, the small town of Montalcino was wrapped in an immaculate peace.It: Alessandro, con occhi pieni di speranza, guidava attentamente la sua vecchia auto Fiat mentre Francesca, seduta accanto a lui, stringeva la cintura di sicurezza.En: Alessandro, with eyes full of hope, was carefully driving his old Fiat car while Francesca, sitting next to him, clutched her seatbelt.It: "Riusciremo ad arrivare al raduno di famiglia," disse Alessandro, cercando di infondere ottimismo.En: "We'll manage to make it to the family gathering," said Alessandro, trying to instill optimism.It: Francesca sospirò, guardando le fitte nevicate coprire la strada.En: Francesca sighed, watching the heavy snowfall cover the road.It: "Spero solo che la tempesta passi presto," rispose, il tono cauto.En: "I just hope the storm passes soon," she replied, her tone cautious.It: Improvvisamente, le ruote dell'auto persero aderenza e iniziarono a scivolare.En: Suddenly, the car's wheels lost traction and started to slide.It: "Attento!"En: "Watch out!"It: gridò Francesca, ma era troppo tardi.En: Francesca shouted, but it was too late.It: La vettura scivolò nel piccolo fossato a bordo strada, fermandosi con un lieve sobbalzo.En: The vehicle slid into the small ditch beside the road, stopping with a slight jolt.It: "Siamo bloccati," disse Francesca, preoccupata.En: "We're stuck," said Francesca, worried.It: Alessandro, mai uno da scoraggiarsi, sorrise con determinazione.En: Alessandro, never one to be discouraged, smiled with determination.It: "Camminerò fino a trovare aiuto," dichiarò.En: "I'll walk until I find help," he declared.It: Francesca, divisa tra esausta rassegnazione e sincera preoccupazione, decise di seguire Alessandro.En: Francesca, torn between weary resignation and genuine concern, decided to follow Alessandro.It: Mentre percorrevano il candido paesaggio, la neve scricchiolava sotto i loro piedi.En: As they walked through the white landscape, the snow crunched under their feet.It: Dopo un'ora di cammino nel freddo, trovarono un casolare isolato.En: After an hour of walking in the cold, they found an isolated farmhouse.It: Una luce calda brillava da una finestra.En: A warm light glowed from a window.It: Bussarono alla porta e furono accolti da una famiglia gentile.En: They knocked on the door and were greeted by a kind family.It: "Venite, entrate," disse il padrone di casa con un sorriso, offrendo loro calore e un rifugio.En: "Come in, come in," said the head of the house with a smile, offering them warmth and shelter.It: Riscaldati e al sicuro, Alessandro e Francesca rifletterono.En: Warmed and safe, Alessandro and Francesca reflected.It: La fiamma del camino illuminava i loro volti pensierosi.En: The flame from the fireplace lit their thoughtful faces.It: "Mi dispiace per il rischio," ammise Alessandro.En: "I'm sorry for the risk," admitted Alessandro.It: "Ma volevo davvero vedere mio fratello."En: "But I really wanted to see my brother."It: Francesca sorrise timidamente.En: Francesca smiled shyly.It: "A volte, bisogna rischiare per scoprire le cose belle," confessò.En: "Sometimes, you have to take risks to discover beautiful things," she confessed.It: Con la tempesta ormai passata, ripartirono.En: With the storm now past, they set off again.It: La famiglia li aiutò a riportare l'auto sulla strada.En: The family helped them get the car back on the road.It: Giunsero finalmente al raduno.En: They finally arrived at the gathering.It: Alessandro vide suo fratello e un abbraccio, lungo atteso, sciolse ogni lontananza.En: Alessandro saw his brother and a long-anticipated hug melted away all the distance.It: Francesca, osservando, capì che a volte l'avventura poteva portare inaspettata gioia.En: Francesca, watching, understood that sometimes adventure could bring unexpected joy.It: Il mondo intorno era ancora avvolto da un bianco scintillante, ma nei cuori di Alessandro e Francesca qualcosa era cambiato, come un nuovo calore.En: The world around was still wrapped in a shimmering white, but in the hearts of Alessandro and Francesca something had changed, like a new warmth.It: E mentre festeggiavano il Natale, impararono entrambi che l'apertura ai cambiamenti poteva trasformare le vite in modi meravigliosi.En: And as they celebrated Christmas, they both learned that being open to change could transform lives in wonderful ways. Vocabulary Words:the hills: le collinegleamed: brillavanoblanket: mantothe grapevines: le vitiwrapped: avvoltoimmaculate: immacolatathe gathering: il radunodesperation: rassegnazioneconcern: preoccupazionecrunched: scricchiolavaisolated: isolatofireplace: il caminoto discover: scoprireunexpected: inaspettatajoy: gioiashimmering: scintillantegripped: stringevatraction: aderenzathe ditch: il fossatostroke: sobbalzodetermination: determinazionegenuine: sincerathe farmhouse: il casolareglow: brillavashelter: rifugiothoughtful: pensierositake risks: rischiaretransform: trasformarewonderful: meravigliosiwarming: riscaldati

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Illuminating Friendship: A Tuscan Retreat's Healing Glow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-10-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore della campagna toscana, tra dolci colline e uliveti argentati, un piccolo rifugio spirituale sorgeva con semplicità e pace.En: In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, among gentle hills and silvery olive groves, a small spiritual retreat rose with simplicity and peace.It: Era inverno, e l'aria frizzante portava il profumo del legno bruciato nei camini.En: It was winter, and the crisp air carried the scent of wood burning in the fireplaces.It: Si sentiva aleggiare un senso di calma, interrotto solo dal suono lontano delle campane di una chiesa.En: A sense of calm lingered, interrupted only by the distant sound of church bells.It: Luca, Gianna e Marco erano arrivati al rifugio pochi giorni prima, ognuno con il proprio bagaglio di emozioni e aspettative.En: Luca, Gianna, and Marco had arrived at the retreat a few days earlier, each with their own luggage of emotions and expectations.It: Per Luca, artista in cerca di nuove ispirazioni, quel luogo era una promessa di chiarezza.En: For Luca, an artist seeking new inspirations, that place was a promise of clarity.It: Gianna, insegnante compassionevole, sperava di trovare conforto dopo la recente perdita di un caro familiare.En: Gianna, a compassionate teacher, hoped to find comfort after the recent loss of a dear family member.It: Marco, imprenditore di successo ma sommerso dallo stress, voleva ritrovare l'equilibrio.En: Marco, a successful entrepreneur but overwhelmed by stress, wanted to regain balance.It: Il 13 dicembre, giorno di Santa Lucia, il rifugio organizzò una cerimonia alla luce delle candele.En: On December 13, the day of Santa Lucia, the retreat organized a candlelit ceremony.It: Era una tradizione per celebrare la luce nel periodo più buio dell'anno.En: It was a tradition to celebrate light during the darkest time of the year.It: L'atmosfera era magica, e i tre amici si riunirono, ognuno con i propri pensieri, sotto le stelle.En: The atmosphere was magical, and the three friends gathered, each with their own thoughts, under the stars.It: Mentre le candele brillavano nella notte, antiche tensioni riemersero.En: As the candles glowed in the night, ancient tensions resurfaced.It: Gli anni passati avevano lasciato delle ombre nel loro rapporto.En: The past years had cast shadows over their relationship.It: Luca ricordava ancora i dissapori con Marco, mentre Gianna si sentiva spesso trascurata dalle loro conversazioni.En: Luca still remembered the disagreements with Marco, while Gianna often felt overlooked in their conversations.It: Finalmente, mentre le fiammelle tremolavano dolcemente, Luca decise di parlare.En: Finally, as the flames flickered gently, Luca decided to speak.It: "Abbiamo bisogno di chiarire," disse con voce ferma.En: "We need to clear things up," he said with a firm voice.It: Le sue parole, semplici ma potenti, aprirono un varco nei loro cuori.En: His words, simple but powerful, opened a gateway in their hearts.It: "Mi dispiace per il passato," aggiunse Marco, con uno sguardo sincero.En: "I'm sorry for the past," added Marco, with a sincere look.It: "Ero troppo concentrato su me stesso."En: "I was too focused on myself."It: Gianna annuì, le lacrime brillavano nei suoi occhi.En: Gianna nodded, tears shining in her eyes.It: "Abbiamo tutti sofferto, ma siamo ancora qui."En: "We've all suffered, but we're still here."It: Il vento leggero portò via le parole, ma lasciò un senso di pace nuova.En: The light wind carried away the words but left a sense of new peace.It: Durante quella notte, sotto il cielo invernale, i tre amici parlarono a lungo, ridendo e piangendo insieme.En: During that night, under the winter sky, the three friends talked for a long time, laughing and crying together.It: Parole non dette per troppo tempo trovarono finalmente una voce.En: Words left unsaid for too long finally found a voice.It: Alla fine della cerimonia, Luca si sentiva trasformato.En: At the end of the ceremony, Luca felt transformed.It: Aveva trovato una nuova fonte d'ispirazione: l'amicizia ritrovata e il mondo intorno a lui.En: He had found a new source of inspiration: the rediscovered friendship and the world around him.It: Aveva scoperto che la vera arte veniva dalla comprensione e dall'amore.En: He had discovered that true art came from understanding and love.It: I tre amici, ora più uniti che mai, decisero di sostenersi a vicenda nei loro nuovi percorsi.En: The three friends, now more united than ever, decided to support each other in their new paths.It: Avevano capito che, nonostante le differenze e le difficoltà, era possibile andare avanti insieme, con un cuore leggero e lo sguardo verso l'orizzonte vasto e aperto della Toscana.En: They understood that, despite the differences and difficulties, it was possible to move forward together, with a light heart and their gaze toward the vast and open horizon of Toscana. Vocabulary Words:the heart: il cuorethe countryside: la campagnathe hills: le collinethe groves: gli ulivetithe retreat: il rifugiothe air: l'ariacrisp: frizzantethe scent: il profumothe fireplaces: i caminithe calm: la calmathe bells: le campanethe luggage: il bagagliothe clarity: la chiarezzathe comfort: il confortothe loss: la perditathe entrepreneur: l'imprenditorethe stress: lo stressthe balance: l'equilibriothe atmosphere: l'atmosferathe stars: le stellethe tensions: le tensionithe shadows: le ombrethe disagreements: i dissaporithe ceremony: la cerimoniathe voice: la vocethe look: lo sguardothe tears: le lacrimethe peace: la pacethe sky: il cielothe inspiration: l'ispirazione

Fans of John Carpenter's 'The Thing' are campaigning to have it recognized as a Christmas classic. The Grand Central Mall hosted a pet night with Santa, with proceeds supporting local animals. McDonald's has launched a Grinch meal in the U.S., while other fast-food chains introduce various holiday-themed items. Johnny also offers unique gift ideas for the culinary enthusiast, including fancy Italian tomatoes, Tuscan olive oil, and gourmet biscuits.Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories' with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!We now have Merch!  FREE SHIPPING! Check out all the products like T-shirts, mugs, bags, jackets and more with logos and slogans from your favorite shows! Did we mention there's free shipping? Get 10% off with code NewMerch10 Go to Caloroga.comGet more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com

Did you know there's MAGIC in your Meditation Practice? Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to More Peace & More Prosperity! Here Are the 5 Secrets on How to Unleash Your Meditation Magic https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/5secrets Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Take a moment and focus on you, letting the day set behind you As you slip away quietly. LONG PAUSE And as you shift your focus, allow yourself to just let go. Let go of any distracting thoughts and stuff them in a basket so you can stay in the present. LONG PAUSE Now, embrace yourself with gentleness and self-love  as you continue quieting the mind and letting go, So there's nothing but you in this moment Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,

Jan Sorensen, vice president of food and beverage operations for Celebrity Cruises, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the many dining options aboard Celebrity Xcel. These range from the main restaurants Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Normandie and Cyprus to casual venues like Mosaic at The Bazaar, Bora, Spice Café and Raw on 5 to elegant eateries Le Grand Bistro, Le Petit Chef and Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud. There are so many choices, it's almost overwhelming, with plenty of options over the course of a seven-day cruise. For more information, visit www.thecelebritycommitment.com or www.celebrity.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Harvest of Hope: A Tuscan Tale of Unity and Resilience Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-29-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole autunnale filtrava attraverso le foglie degli ulivi, creando un gioco di luce e ombra sul terreno.En: The autumn sun filtered through the leaves of the olive trees, creating a play of light and shadow on the ground.It: Era quasi Natale, ma il lavoro non si fermava mai nel frantoio di Lorenzo.En: It was almost Christmas, but the work never stopped at Lorenzo's oil mill.It: Gli uliveti in Toscana erano il cuore della sua famiglia da generazioni.En: The olive groves in Tuscany had been the heart of his family for generations.It: Lorenzo, un giovane uomo dal volto serio ma gentile, sapeva che quella stagione avrebbe deciso molto per il futuro della sua famiglia.En: Lorenzo, a young man with a serious but kind face, knew that this season would decide much about his family's future.It: Doveva riuscire nella raccolta delle olive, non solo per l'orgoglio, ma anche per la stabilità economica.En: He had to succeed in the olive harvest, not just for pride, but also for economic stability.It: Giulia, una giovane artista del paese vicino, camminava tra gli alberi secolari alla ricerca di ispirazione.En: Giulia, a young artist from the nearby town, walked among the ancient trees in search of inspiration.It: Aveva deciso di unirsi alla raccolta degli ulivi, sperando che la natura le avrebbe dato nuova voce creativa.En: She had decided to join the olive harvest, hoping that nature would give her a new creative voice.It: Tuttavia, il caos delle giornate impegnative e l'incertezza del tempo la rendevano ansiosa.En: However, the chaos of busy days and the uncertainty of the weather made her anxious.It: Il meteo era una sfida costante.En: The weather was a constant challenge.It: Le nuvole si addensavano all'orizzonte, e Lorenzo sentiva il peso della responsabilità.En: Clouds gathered on the horizon, and Lorenzo felt the weight of responsibility.It: Giulia, nonostante le sue insicurezze, era determinata a catturare la bellezza e la lotta di quel paesaggio toscano.En: Giulia, despite her insecurities, was determined to capture the beauty and struggle of that Tuscan landscape.It: Un giorno, mentre il vento cominciava a farsi più freddo e minaccioso, Lorenzo prese una decisione rischiosa.En: One day, as the wind began to grow colder and more threatening, Lorenzo made a risky decision.It: "Ragazzi, cambiamo la tabella di marcia," annunciò al gruppo di lavoratori.En: "Guys, we're changing the schedule," he announced to the group of workers.It: "Dobbiamo raccogliere più velocemente, prima che arrivi la tempesta."En: "We must harvest faster, before the storm arrives."It: Giulia osservava, lo sguardo concentrato sui dettagli che avrebbero arricchito i suoi disegni.En: Giulia watched, her gaze focused on the details that would enrich her drawings.It: "Posso aiutare," disse timidamente, avvicinandosi a Lorenzo.En: "I can help," she said shyly, approaching Lorenzo.It: Lui annuì, consapevole che ogni mano era preziosa.En: He nodded, knowing that every hand was precious.It: La tempesta arrivò inattesa, portando pioggia e venti forti.En: The storm came unexpectedly, bringing rain and strong winds.It: Ma invece di disperdersi, i lavoratori rimasero uniti.En: But instead of scattering, the workers stayed together.It: Sotto le fronde degli ulivi, si formò una sorta di sinfonia di movimenti coordinati, una danza di uomo e natura.En: Under the branches of the olive trees, a sort of symphony of coordinated movements formed, a dance of man and nature.It: Lorenzo e Giulia lavoravano fianco a fianco, scoprendo forza e ispirazione l'uno nell'altra.En: Lorenzo and Giulia worked side by side, discovering strength and inspiration in each other.It: Quando la tempesta passò, un bellissimo arcobaleno si posò sopra il paesaggio toscano.En: When the storm passed, a beautiful rainbow arched over the Tuscan landscape.It: Le casse erano piene di olive, e Lorenzo sorrise per la prima volta dopo giorni di tensione.En: The crates were full of olives, and Lorenzo smiled for the first time after days of tension.It: Aveva salvato il raccolto.En: He had saved the harvest.It: Giulia, stanca ma soddisfatta, aveva trovato la sua musa: la collaborazione tra le persone.En: Giulia, tired but satisfied, had found her muse: the collaboration between people.It: "Non è solo l'olio," disse Lorenzo, mentre guardava gli ulivi illuminati dal sole del tramonto.En: "It's not just the oil," said Lorenzo, as he looked at the olive trees illuminated by the sunset.It: "È la gente.En: "It's the people.It: È la comunità."En: It's the community."It: Giulia annuì, sentendosi finalmente parte di qualcosa di più grande.En: Giulia nodded, finally feeling part of something bigger.It: In quel momento, tra gli ulivi verdi e le risate dei lavoratori, Lorenzo e Giulia trovarono non solo una vittoria, ma anche un nuovo inizio.En: In that moment, among the green olive trees and the laughter of the workers, Lorenzo and Giulia found not only a victory, but also a new beginning.It: E con il Natale alle porte, il frantoio di famiglia risuonava di nuova speranza e unità.En: And with Christmas approaching, the family oil mill resonated with new hope and unity. Vocabulary Words:the autumn sun: il sole autunnalefiltered: filtravathe olive trees: gli ulivithe oil mill: il frantoiothe olive groves: gli ulivetithe harvest: la raccoltapride: l'orgoglioeconomic stability: la stabilità economicathe ancient trees: gli alberi secolarichaos: il caosthe weather: il meteothe horizon: l'orizzontethe responsibility: la responsabilitàinsecurities: le insicurezzedetermined: determinatathe beauty and struggle: la bellezza e la lottathe landscape: il paesaggiothe schedule: la tabella di marciastorm: la tempestagaze: lo sguardoshyly: timidamentethe rain: la pioggiastrong winds: i venti fortisymphony: la sinfoniacoordinated movements: movimenti coordinatirainbow: l'arcobalenocrates: le cassetense: la tensionethe muse: la musathe community: la comunità

A brief story of the moment we met my Dad's cousins in the Tuscan village where my grandfather was born. Check out the photos that go along with the story on my instagram, learnitalian4travel.

This episode kicks off with big news about the legendary Red Light Ramen, which returns for a special one-night-only pop-up on Nov. 28. Find out what's on the menu, including Tonkatsu ramen, Japanese curry and those famous boozy slushies.Next, we celebrate TrueMan McGee of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls! After pausing a national roll-out, McGee pivoted to the Funky Fresh Virtual Kitchen, now offering weekly online ordering for pickup, meal kits like Tuscan salmon, and exciting pizzas (hello, jalapeño elote!).We also cover the latest dining news, including the new Soban Korean Eatery, billed as Milwaukee's first fast-casual Korean restaurant, with plans for a downtown location. Plus, the Curry Cat MKE food truck is setting up a permanent spot outside Red Maple, serving Asian-inspired comfort food like golden curry and beef bogey walking tacos.Ann also shares her long-awaited review of 1033 Omakase, the intimate 10-seat spot with a Japanese prix fixe tasting menu. Without spoiling the whole thing, there were 14 courses and a heavy serving of '90s rap. Finally, we discuss the importance of "third spaces" such as Haven Cafe and Serenity Lounge that transition from coffee houses to late-night bars, helping the community connect.#####This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown Whiskey-Spiked Cookies.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Harvesting Harmony: Traditions & Innovation in Tuscany Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-19-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole del mattino illuminava la campagna toscana, facendo brillare gli ulivi come piccoli gioielli verdi.En: The morning sun illuminated the Tuscan countryside, making the olive trees shine like little green jewels.It: Era autunno e il vento portava con sé l'odore fresco della terra e delle olive appena raccolte.En: It was autumn, and the wind carried with it the fresh scent of the earth and freshly picked olives.It: Giovanni si alzava presto ogni giorno.En: Giovanni woke up early every day.It: Metteva il suo cappello di paglia e usciva nei campi.En: He put on his straw hat and went out into the fields.It: Era un uomo dedicato e orgoglioso del lavoro che la sua famiglia faceva da generazioni.En: He was a dedicated man, proud of the work his family had done for generations.It: Quella mattina, mentre si avvicinava al suo uliveto, notò una giovane donna con una macchina fotografica.En: That morning, as he approached his olive grove, he noticed a young woman with a camera.It: Era Chiara, un'aspirante chef di Firenze.En: It was Chiara, an aspiring chef from Florence.It: Chiara amava la cucina e i prodotti locali, ma aveva anche una passione per i piatti internazionali.En: Chiara loved local cuisine and products, but she also had a passion for international dishes.It: Stava cercando le migliori olive per il suo nuovo ristorante.En: She was searching for the best olives for her new restaurant.It: "Buongiorno," disse Giovanni, osservando la donna con una certa cautela.En: "Good morning," said Giovanni, observing the woman with some caution.It: "Che cosa ci fa qui?"En: "What are you doing here?"It: "Sono Chiara," rispose lei con un sorriso.En: "I am Chiara," she replied with a smile.It: "Sto cercando delle olive speciali per la mia cucina."En: "I'm looking for special olives for my kitchen."It: Giovanni era scettico.En: Giovanni was skeptical.It: Gli piacevano le sue tradizioni.En: He liked his traditions.It: L'idea di qualcuno che veniva da fuori e cercava di cambiare il modo in cui si raccoglievano le olive non gli piaceva.En: The idea of someone from outside coming in and trying to change the way olives were harvested did not appeal to him.It: Chiara sentì la sua esitazione.En: Chiara sensed his hesitation.It: "Vorrei collaborare," propose.En: "I would like to collaborate," she proposed.It: "Posso aiutare nei campi.En: "I can help in the fields.It: Così possiamo scoprire insieme nuovi modi per valorizzare il nostro lavoro."En: That way, we can discover new ways to enhance our work together."It: Nonostante il suo scetticismo, Giovanni accettò.En: Despite his skepticism, Giovanni agreed.It: Le chiese di seguire i suoi ritmi, di capire il cuore del lavoro.En: He asked her to follow his pace, to understand the heart of the work.It: Passarono i giorni e Chiara lavorava duramente.En: Days passed, and Chiara worked hard.It: Non si lamentava mai, anche quando le mani diventavano ruvide come la corteccia degli alberi.En: She never complained, even when her hands became as rough as the bark of the trees.It: Mostrava il rispetto che sentiva per le tradizioni di Giovanni.En: She showed the respect she felt for Giovanni's traditions.It: Improvvisamente, una tempesta inaspettata si abbatté sulla campagna.En: Suddenly, an unexpected storm hit the countryside.It: La pioggia battente minacciava di distruggere il raccolto.En: The pouring rain threatened to destroy the harvest.It: Giovanni e Chiara, accanto ai lavoratori, si misero all'opera.En: Giovanni and Chiara, along with the workers, got to work.It: Lavoravano fianco a fianco, combinando il loro ingegno e le loro forze.En: They worked side by side, combining their ingenuity and their strengths.It: Giovanni si rese conto di quanto fosse utile Chiara.En: Giovanni realized how useful Chiara was.It: Aveva proposto di usare teli particolari per raccogliere rapidamente le olive, e l'idea si rivelò vincente.En: She had suggested using special sheets to quickly gather the olives, and the idea proved successful.It: Quando la tempesta finì, il raccolto fu salvo.En: When the storm ended, the harvest was saved.It: Giovanni si girò verso Chiara, ammirando non solo la sua determinazione, ma anche il suo spirito collaborativo.En: Giovanni turned to Chiara, admiring not only her determination but also her collaborative spirit.It: "Grazie," disse, sinceramente.En: "Thank you," he said sincerely.It: Per festeggiare, Giovanni invitò Chiara a una cena in famiglia.En: To celebrate, Giovanni invited Chiara to a family dinner.It: "Sarà un po' come il vostro Thanksgiving," suggerì, sapendo quanto lei amasse la cultura americana.En: "It will be a bit like your Thanksgiving," he suggested, knowing how much she loved American culture.It: Quella sera, tra risate e racconti, Giovanni e Chiara si sedettero a tavola assieme.En: That evening, amidst laughter and stories, Giovanni and Chiara sat at the table together.It: Il cibo era un miscuglio di sapori antichi e nuovi, proprio come loro.En: The food was a mix of old and new flavors, just like them.It: Il successo del raccolto aveva cementato un'amicizia e forse una futura collaborazione.En: The successful harvest had cemented a friendship and perhaps a future collaboration.It: Giovanni aveva imparato ad apprezzare le nuove idee.En: Giovanni had learned to appreciate new ideas.It: Chiara aveva acquisito un profondo rispetto per le antiche tradizioni.En: Chiara had gained a deep respect for ancient traditions.It: Insieme, avevano scritto una nuova storia.En: Together, they had written a new story.It: La campagna toscana in autunno rimaneva splendida, ma ora aveva un nuovo significato per entrambi.En: The Tuscan countryside in autumn remained splendid, but now it had a new meaning for both of them. Vocabulary Words:the countryside: la campagnathe olive grove: l'ulivetothe scent: l'odorethe earth: la terrathe grove: l'ulivetothe chef: lo chefaspiring: aspirantecuisine: la cucinathe storm: la tempestaunexpected: inaspettatathe bark: la cortecciaharvest: il raccoltothe field: il campoto illuminate: illuminarethe jewel: il gioiellothe generation: la generazionededicated: dedicatothe skepticism: lo scetticismocollaborate: collaborareto observe: osservarethe sheet: il telorough: ruvideto enhance: valorizzareingenuity: l'ingegnostrength: la forzathe hesitation: l'esitazionethe determination: la determinazionethe pace: il ritmoto complain: lamentarsito gather: raccogliere

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Tuscan Harmony: Harvesting Tradition Amid Storms Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-19-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Le colline toscane erano coperte di un manto dorato d'ulivi.En: The Tuscan hills were covered with a golden mantle of olive trees.It: Nell'aria si respirava l'odore della terra bagnata e delle foglie secche, poiché l'autunno aveva ormai preso il suo posto.En: In the air, one could breathe the smell of wet earth and dry leaves, as autumn had now taken its place.It: Giulia, con mani esperte e occhio attento, si preparava per la raccolta delle olive.En: Giulia, with expert hands and a keen eye, was preparing for the olive harvest.It: Il suo amore per la terra era radicato come le piante che coltivava.En: Her love for the land was as deep-rooted as the plants she cultivated.It: "È una bella giornata, vero?"En: "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"It: disse Alessandra, mentre si avvicinava.En: said Alessandra as she approached.It: Anche lei amava la natura e la coltivazione sostenibile.En: She too loved nature and sustainable cultivation.It: Era una giornata cruciale, l'inizio della raccolta, e l'atmosfera era piena di aspettative.En: It was a crucial day, the start of the harvest, and the atmosphere was full of anticipation.It: Luca, un amico di città, le osservava con curiosità e un po' di timore.En: Luca, a friend from the city, watched them with curiosity and a bit of apprehension.It: "Non so come farò," confessò, scrutando gli alberi alti e maestosi.En: "I don't know how I'll manage," he confessed, peering at the tall and majestic trees.It: "Tutto andrà bene," rispose Giulia con un sorriso rassicurante.En: "Everything will be fine," replied Giulia with a reassuring smile.It: "Imparerai presto.En: "You'll learn soon.It: L'importante è collaborare e rispettare la natura."En: The important thing is to collaborate and respect nature."It: Mentre lavoravano, le mani di Giulia si muovevano con destrezza tra i rami, raccogliendo le olive con cura.En: As they worked, Giulia's hands moved nimbly among the branches, carefully picking the olives.It: Alessandra spiegava a Luca l'importanza delle pratiche tradizionali, come non danneggiare gli alberi e rispettare il ciclo naturale della stagione.En: Alessandra explained to Luca the importance of traditional practices, such as not harming the trees and respecting the natural cycle of the season.It: Ma il cielo cominciava a coprirsi.En: But the sky began to cloud over.It: Nuvole scure avanzavano all'orizzonte.En: Dark clouds were moving in on the horizon.It: "Dobbiamo sbrigarci," disse Giulia, preoccupata.En: "We have to hurry," said Giulia, worried.It: Il meteo non prometteva nulla di buono, e una tempesta poteva distruggere il raccolto.En: The weather didn't promise anything good, and a storm could ruin the harvest.It: "Luca, vai a prendere i teli!"En: "Luca, go get the tarps!"It: ordinò Alessandra.En: ordered Alessandra.It: Lui corse, inciampando tra i filari.En: He ran, stumbling through the rows.It: Lavorando insieme, stesero i teli sotto gli alberi per proteggere le olive cadute dalla pioggia imminente.En: Working together, they spread the tarps under the trees to protect the fallen olives from the imminent rain.It: La pioggia iniziò a cadere forte.En: The rain began to fall heavily.It: Giulia sentiva il cuore battere veloce, ma rimase concentrata.En: Giulia felt her heart race, but she remained focused.It: Sotto il diluvio, la squadra lavorava in sintonia, condividendo uno scopo comune.En: Under the downpour, the team worked in harmony, united by a common goal.It: Dopo ore di lavoro intenso, quando la tempesta si placò, si guardarono intorno.En: After hours of intense work, when the storm subsided, they looked around.It: Il raccolto era salvo.En: The harvest was safe.It: Gli alberi, ancora pieni di frutti, svelavano la loro resistenza.En: The trees, still heavy with fruit, revealed their resilience.It: "Siamo riusciti!"En: "We did it!"It: esclamò Giulia con un sorriso radioso.En: exclaimed Giulia with a radiant smile.It: Anche Luca, stanco ma felice, sentiva una nuova energia.En: Even Luca, tired but happy, felt a new energy.It: Aveva scoperto qualcosa di più profondo della semplice raccolta d'olive: un rispetto per la terra e per i metodi che da secoli ne celebravano la fertilità.En: He had discovered something deeper than mere olive harvesting: a respect for the land and for the methods that for centuries had celebrated its fertility.It: Al tramonto, il paesaggio brillava di colori autunnali, e il cielo tornava sereno.En: At sunset, the landscape shone with autumn colors, and the sky returned to clear.It: Un successo ottenuto insieme, grazie alla dedizione e alla solidarietà.En: A success achieved together, thanks to dedication and solidarity.It: Giulia aveva imparato a mantenere vive le tradizioni pur accettando l'aiuto della moderna tempestività, e Luca capì il valore del lavoro rurale e della sua connessione con la terra.En: Giulia had learned to keep traditions alive while embracing the help of modern timeliness, and Luca understood the value of rural work and its connection to the earth.It: Era l'inizio di un nuovo capitolo, in cui tradizione e innovazione potevano trovare un nuovo equilibrio.En: It was the beginning of a new chapter, where tradition and innovation could find a new balance.It: Nell'aria restava il suono dei grilli e il profumo delle olive appena raccolte, promessa di un futuro luminoso.En: In the air remained the sound of crickets and the scent of freshly picked olives, a promise of a bright future. Vocabulary Words:the mantle: il mantoto breathe: respirarethe wet earth: la terra bagnatathe keen eye: l'occhio attentothe harvest: la raccoltathe sustainable cultivation: la coltivazione sostenibilethe apprehension: il timoreto confess: confessareto collaborate: collaborareto pick: raccoglierethe traditional practices: le pratiche tradizionalito harm: danneggiarethe horizon: l'orizzonteto rush: sbrigarsito promise: prometterethe storm: la tempestathe tarp: il teloto stumble: inciamparethe row: il filareto protect: proteggereto rain: pioverethe downpour: il diluvioto share: condividereto subside: placarsithe resilience: la resistenzaradiant: radiosoto shine: brillarethe dedication: la dedizionethe timeliness: la tempestivitàthe cricket: il grillo

This week, AJ Sharp interviews cook, writer and storyteller Amber Guinness, whose new book Winter in Tuscany celebrates the magic of Italy's colder months. Amber shares why it's in winter that you can experience the true heart of Tuscan cooking, from porcini-rich forests to truffle-filled valleys and the comforting dishes that define the season. They explore how slowing down, cooking with intention and embracing the colder months can transform the way we live and eat. Warm, nourishing and full of flavour, this episode is a hug for anyone ready to rethink winter.

Do you wish you could meal plan easily for busy weeks or easy entertaining?This week, we're sharing menus and lessons learned from our private chef days, like: how to plan menus and meal prep, adapting to clients with different tastes and needs, and most importantly, what approaches build more confidence in the kitchen. By the end of this episode, you'll:Learn how to menu plan like a private chef for both weeknight cooking and dinner partiesThe dishes and recipes clients requested over and over again, including a chicken cheddar chowder and a classic Thai curryThe recipes sources we rely on the most for cakes, soups, sides and morePress play now to discover how the best kind of cooking isn't about perfection or posting pics – it's about care, connection, and cooking what's needed in the moment. ***LINKS:Sonya's Mediterranean-Inspired Dinner Party Menu:Roasted cod with tomato olive caper tapenade by Kay Chun for NYT Cooking (unlocked)Spinach and chickpeas by Smitten Kitchen Quinoa with toasted pine nuts by Ellie Krieger for Food Network (swap raisins for currants)Cranberry Vanilla Coffee Cake by Smitten Kitchen, originally from Gourmet MagazineKari's Weeknight Family Dinner Menu:Chicken cheddar chowder from Cooking Light Magazine, served in bread bowls, and a quicker chicken corn chowder without cheese Pink Grapefruit and Watercress Salad by Yotam OttolenghiFarfalle with yogurt and zucchini by George Germon and Johanne Killeen for Food & WineSonya's Thai-inspired Dinner:Thai green curry with shrimp from Thai CalienteEasy eggplant stir fry from Vancouver with LoveThai chicken satay with peanut sauce from Recipe Tin EatsButter lettuce salad with carrot miso dressing by Mark Bittman from NYT Cooking (unlocked)Kari's 7-Hour Lamb Dinner Party:7-hour lamb with loads of garlic from Improvised LifeSide of sauteed Tuscan kale

This episode is a special re-release of one of my most engaging and talked-about podcast conversations ever—an unforgettable look into true farm-to-table life in northern Tuscany. James Martin brings to life one of his richest memories: a homestyle pig butchering carried out with his dear friend Armando in the most unassuming of places—Armando's mother's garage. Armando has since passed away, but the spirit of this story, and the tradition it captures, lives on as one of James's best. James describes how he, Armando, and a handful of local men gathered at dawn, working shoulder-to-shoulder to break down the pig and transform it into an astonishing array of Tuscan specialties in the span of a single morning. He shares memories of Armando's skill, the camaraderie of the day, and the incredible lineup of pork delicacies they created: velvety sausages, rich head cheese, and the celebrated Lardo di Colonnata.

Today's guest, Tiffani Churchill, shares how she moved from healing her body and redesigning her life to tackling her last big block—money—by shifting from "chasing cash" to embodying a wealthy state of being. We dive into her practice of observing thoughts, interrupting lack programming, and anchoring a new identity with images and language. Then we zoom out to collective creation: why she built ALLTRUEISTIC, a free app for personal intentions, private circles, and public/global focus sessions that harness group energy for healing, abundance, and world-level outcomes.  In This Episode -Tiffani's "from nothing to everything" arc & the one area that kept eluding her (money) -"Wealth as a state of being" vs. hustling for dollars—identity first, outcomes second -The pocket image + written descriptor method to interrupt lack and install new beliefs anywhere, anytime -Why forcing blocks results—and how release + allow attracts answers in surprising ways -Inside ALLTRUEISTIC: personal intentions, private groups for family/team, and public/global intentions ("happening now" or async) -The "travel wall" story: photoshopping future memories…then living them, down to the Tuscan staircase photo twin  Tiffani Churchill is a conscious creator, entrepreneur, and founder of ALLTRUEISTIC—a free app designed to help individuals and groups manifest, meditate, and co-create outcomes for personal life, communities, and the planet. Her work integrates identity, intention, and collective energy to unlock measurable change. Resources / Mentioned ALLTRUEISTIC (free app for iOS/Android) — create personal, private, or public intentions, with guided "resonance" sequences and music. Try This (Listener Homework) Create a pocket identity card: front = image of your "already there" self; back = 3–5 first-person lines describing how you think, move, and decide at that level. Read it anytime a lack thought appears. Connect with Tiffani @ ALLTRUEISTIC Instagram  Connect with Jen Join Manifestation Playground → www.manifestationplayground.ca IG: @manifestationandmoneypodcast Email: the4leaflifestyle@gmail.com

Hey friends, I just got back from an amazing vacation to Italy.Our first stop was in Florence. What an amazing place! Full of history and culture and art and natural beauty!I enjoyed the food (pasta! gelato! panini!), the Tuscan countryside, the stunning art.Here's my description of my amazing few days in Florence.Have you been there? What do you think? Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com A big thanks to Daisy from Florida who wrote to me about the previous episode.Please listen, subscribe and shareAnd email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Reviving Traditions: Lidia and Marco's Festival Triumph Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-15-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Nella piazza del villaggio toscano, Lidia e Marco si preparavano per la festa d'autunno.En: In the village square of the Tuscan village, Lidia and Marco were preparing for the autumn festival.It: Il cielo era di un azzurro lucente, ma nell'aria si avvertiva il fresco preludio all'inverno.En: The sky was a bright blue, but in the air, there was the crisp prelude to winter.It: Intorno a loro, le bancarelle traboccavano di colori: zucche arancioni, grappoli d'uva, e cesti di noci.En: Around them, the stalls were overflowing with colors: orange pumpkins, bunches of grapes, and baskets of nuts.It: Lidia, con i suoi capelli castani raccolti in un fazzoletto rosso, sistemava con cura i cesti di vimini.En: Lidia, with her brown hair tied in a red handkerchief, was carefully arranging the woven baskets.It: Erano intrecciati a mano, secondo l'antica tradizione della nonna.En: They were handwoven, according to her grandmother's ancient tradition.It: Ogni cesta raccontava una storia, ogni trama un ricordo della sua famiglia.En: Each basket told a story, each weave a memory of her family.It: Marco, giovane e pieno di energia, stava vicino a un tavolo con piccole bottiglie di olio d'oliva.En: Marco, young and full of energy, stood next to a table with small bottles of olive oil.It: Le olive erano il suo orgoglio, coltivate nel rispetto della terra, con metodi antichi.En: The olives were his pride, cultivated with respect for the land, using ancient methods.It: Tuttavia, molti nel villaggio dubitavano del suo sogno di riportare in vita il vecchio uliveto.En: However, many in the village doubted his dream of reviving the old olive grove.It: "Marco, guardiamo avanti!"En: "Marco, let's look forward!"It: disse Lidia, con un sorriso.En: said Lidia, with a smile.It: "Facciamo qualcosa insieme.En: "Let's do something together.It: I tuoi rami d'olivo possono arricchire i miei cesti."En: Your olive branches can enrich my baskets."It: Marco annuì, vedendo nel suggerimento una possibilità per entrambi.En: Marco nodded, seeing in the suggestion an opportunity for both.It: "Sì, faremo vedere il valore delle nostre tradizioni."En: "Yes, we will show the value of our traditions."It: Mentre la musica folk riempiva l'aria, le nuvole grigie si addensavano all'orizzonte.En: As the folk music filled the air, gray clouds gathered on the horizon.It: Un vento freddo cominciò a soffiare, e presto gocce di pioggia iniziarono a cadere.En: A cold wind began to blow, and soon raindrops started to fall.It: La gente si guardò preoccupata; la tempesta minacciava di rovinare la festa.En: People looked at each other worriedly; the storm threatened to ruin the festival.It: "Spostiamo tutto nel salone comunale!"En: "Let's move everything to the community hall!"It: gridò Lidia.En: shouted Lidia.It: Marco la seguì, incoraggiando gli altri.En: Marco followed her, encouraging the others.It: "Venite tutti!En: "Everyone come!It: Insieme non ci fermiamo!"En: Together we don't stop!"It: La comunità si mosse velocemente, trasportando i prodotti e le decorazioni all'interno.En: The community moved quickly, carrying the products and decorations inside.It: Col tempo, il salone si riempì di calore e risate, e la festa continuò.En: Over time, the hall filled with warmth and laughter, and the festival continued.It: Lidia e Marco posizionarono al centro i loro nuovi cesti intrecciati con rami d'olivo.En: Lidia and Marco placed their new baskets woven with olive branches at the center.It: I villaggi, sorpresi, si avvicinarono per ammirare il lavoro.En: The villagers, surprised, approached to admire the work.It: "Che bella collaborazione!"En: "What a beautiful collaboration!"It: disse una signora anziana, osservando con interesse.En: said an elderly lady, observing with interest.It: Altri seguirono il suo esempio, comprando cestini e provando l'olio d'oliva, lodando Lidia e Marco per il loro spirito di iniziativa.En: Others followed her lead, buying baskets and trying the olive oil, praising Lidia and Marco for their initiative.It: A fine giornata, Lidia si sentiva orgogliosa delle sue radici.En: At the end of the day, Lidia felt proud of her roots.It: Marco, invece, trovò sostegno nella comunità che aveva accolto il suo amore per la terra.En: Marco, on the other hand, found support in the community that had embraced his love for the land.It: La tempesta era passata, e il futuro sembrava già più luminoso.En: The storm had passed, and the future already seemed brighter.It: Con la piazza che tornava al silenzio, Lidia e Marco sorrisero, sapendo di aver vinto la loro sfida.En: As the square returned to silence, Lidia and Marco smiled, knowing they had won their challenge.It: Il villaggio adottava il cambiamento con un cuore più aperto e loro due trovavano la posizione che gli spettava, nel rispetto delle tradizioni ricreate insieme.En: The village embraced change with a more open heart, and the two of them found their rightful place, in respect of the traditions recreated together. Vocabulary Words:the village square: la piazza del villaggiothe autumn festival: la festa d'autunnothe crisp prelude: il fresco preludiothe stalls: le bancarellethe woven baskets: i cesti di viminihandwoven: intrecciati a manothe ancient tradition: l'antica tradizioneyoung and full of energy: giovane e pieno di energiathe pride: l'orgogliothe olive grove: il vecchio ulivetoto enrich: arricchirethe folk music: la musica folkthe gray clouds: le nuvole grigiethe cold wind: il vento freddothe raindrops: le gocce di pioggiaworriedly: preoccupatathe storm: la tempestathe community hall: il salone comunalethe products: i prodottithe decorations: le decorazionithe warmth: il calorethe laughter: le risatethe elderly lady: la signora anzianato admire: ammirarethe initiative: lo spirito di iniziativathe roots: le radicithe support: il sostegnothe challenge: la sfidato embrace: adottarethe traditions: le tradizioni

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Tuscan Hills Revival: How a Festival Brought a Library to Life Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-15-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore delle colline toscane, c'era una piccola biblioteca comunale.En: In the heart of the Tuscan hills, there was a small public library.It: Era un edificio di pietra, antico e affascinante, circondato da vigneti e uliveti che, in autunno, assumevano i colori del rame e dell'oro.En: It was an ancient and charming stone building, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves that, in autumn, took on the colors of copper and gold.It: La biblioteca si trovava proprio in cima a una collina, dove il sole pomeridiano filtrava attraverso le finestre ad arco, illuminando gli scaffali di libri.En: The library was located right at the top of a hill, where the afternoon sun filtered through the arched windows, illuminating the bookshelves.It: Giulia, la bibliotecaria, osservava con preoccupazione la sala quasi vuota.En: Giulia, the librarian, watched with concern the nearly empty room.It: Il prossimo mese si sarebbe tenuto un festival del libro regionale.En: Next month a regional book festival would be held.It: Era l'occasione perfetta per rilanciare la biblioteca e attirare nuovi visitatori.En: It was the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate the library and attract new visitors.It: Ma c'era un problema: il budget era limitato e le risorse scarse.En: But there was a problem: the budget was limited and resources were scarce.It: "Manca poco e dobbiamo preparare tutto," disse Giulia, fissando il calendario.En: "Not much time left and we need to prepare everything," said Giulia, looking at the calendar.It: Alessio, un autore del posto, la raggiunse con passo incerto.En: Alessio, a local author, joined her with an uncertain step.It: Il suo primo romanzo era appena stato pubblicato, ma il dubbio sulle sue capacità lo tormentava.En: His first novel had just been published, but doubts about his abilities tormented him.It: "Pensi davvero che qualcuno voglia ascoltare i miei scritti?"En: "Do you really think anyone wants to listen to my writings?"It: chiese Alessio, il timore evidente nel tono della sua voce.En: asked Alessio, the fear evident in the tone of his voice.It: Accanto a loro, Martina, l'assistente giovane e vivace della biblioteca, sognava ad occhi aperti.En: Next to them, Martina, the library's young and lively assistant, was daydreaming.It: "Possiamo fare qualcosa di diverso quest'anno," suggerì con entusiasmo.En: "We can do something different this year," she suggested enthusiastically.It: "Interviste dal vivo, letture interattive... qualcosa che attiri le famiglie e i giovani!"En: "Live interviews, interactive readings... something that attracts families and young people!"It: Giulia inizialmente esitò.En: Giulia initially hesitated.It: Le idee di Martina erano nuove e audaci.En: Martina's ideas were new and bold.It: Ma sapeva che serviva innovazione.En: But she knew that innovation was needed.It: "Proviamo, non abbiamo nulla da perdere," disse infine, con un sorriso deciso.En: "Let's try, we have nothing to lose," she finally said, with a determined smile.It: Il giorno dell'incontro con il consiglio del villaggio, il sole autunnale risplendeva forte.En: On the day of the meeting with the village council, the autumn sun shone brightly.It: Alessio, con il cuore in gola, si preparava a leggere un brano del suo libro.En: Alessio, with his heart in his throat, prepared to read an excerpt from his book.It: Si sistemò davanti al pubblico, i nervi a fior di pelle, ma quando cominciò a leggere, la sua voce divenne ferma e chiara.En: He stood in front of the audience, nerves on edge, but when he started to read, his voice became steady and clear.It: Le parole risuonavano tra le pareti di pietra, catturando l'attenzione di tutti.En: The words resonated between the stone walls, capturing everyone's attention.It: Al termine della lettura, un applauso spontaneo riempì la stanza.En: At the end of the reading, spontaneous applause filled the room.It: Il consiglio, impressionato, acconsentì a sostenere il festival.En: The council, impressed, agreed to support the festival.It: La comunità intera sembrò rivalutare la piccola biblioteca, vedendo nel festival un'opportunità unica.En: The entire community seemed to reevaluate the small library, seeing in the festival a unique opportunity.It: Quando il festival finalmente giunse, fu un grande successo.En: When the festival finally arrived, it was a great success.It: La biblioteca si riempì di visitatori curiosi e appassionati di lettura.En: The library filled with curious visitors and book lovers.It: Le idee di Martina portarono un'aria nuova e Alessio ricevette molti complimenti, riscoprendo la fiducia nella propria scrittura.En: Martina's ideas brought a new atmosphere and Alessio received many compliments, rediscovering confidence in his writing.It: Dopo il festival, il numero di visitatori alla biblioteca aumentò notevolmente.En: After the festival, the number of visitors to the library increased significantly.It: Giulia si sentiva finalmente sollevata, e la sua fiducia crebbe.En: Giulia finally felt relieved, and her confidence grew.It: Martina si era guadagnata il rispetto, e Alessio, ora, non vedeva l'ora di scrivere il suo prossimo libro.En: Martina earned respect, and Alessio was now eager to write his next book.It: La piccola biblioteca sulle colline toscane era tornata a vivere, illuminata non solo dal sole autunnale, ma anche dalle nuove prospettive e dall'entusiasmo della comunità.En: The small library on the Tuscan hills had come back to life, illuminated not only by the autumn sun but also by the new perspectives and enthusiasm of the community. Vocabulary Words:heart: il cuorehill: la collinaancient: anticovineyard: il vignetoolive grove: l'ulivetosurrounded: circondatocharming: affascinantefloor: il pavimentoarch: l'arcobook festival: il festival del librobudget: il budgetresource: la risorsaconcern: la preoccupazionelibrarian: la bibliotecariaauthor: l'autoreabilities: le capacitàdoubt: il dubbiowriting: la scritturaenthusiastically: con entusiasmoinnovation: l'innovazionedetermined: decisospeech: il discorsoexcerpt: il branoapplause: l'applausocouncil: il consiglioconfidence: la fiduciaperspective: la prospettivasuccess: il successovisitor: il visitatorespontaneous: spontaneo

The infernal aunties are feeling nostalgic. They reminisce on Tuscan kitchens, 90s era mums, bath pearls and eating flake chocolate bars in the bath! Daniel gives his best bimbo estate agent impression and Dane ponders whether he'd like to be named ‘Dane Anus'! Plus, a letter from a Devilled Egg who got scabies… ew.  Deviled Egg Jack's Mumpop playlist: https://spotify.link/dr8mngKmTXb For tickets to Daniel's brand new tour, visit www.danielfoxx.co.uk For Dane's latest live dates, visit https://linktr.ee/danebuckley 

Today we're heading to the Tuscan coast - to the chic seaside town of Forte dei Marmi, where marble mountains meet golden beaches and life revolves around la dolce far niente - the sweet art of doing nothing. My guest today is my friend, Salvatore Madonna, owner of the beautiful Hotel Byron. Salvatore grew up here and believes true luxury is rooted in authenticity - in people, place, and the effortless rhythm of Italian life. We chat about everything from the vintage vibe of Forte dei Marmi to the easy pace of nearby Lucca. And of course Carrara - where marble from this small corner of Tuscany has brought beauty to the world, a fitting legacy from a place where beauty is simply a way of life. I hope you enjoy this sunny episode of Luxury Travel Insider.   Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Art by the Window: Luca's Tuscan Tale of Triumph Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-12-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: La luce morbida del mattino filtrava attraverso le grandi finestre del salone, disegnando ombre calde sui muri della villa.En: The soft morning light filtered through the large windows of the lounge, casting warm shadows on the villa's walls.It: Era autunno in Toscana, e le colline si stendevano come un mare dorato e rosso fuori dalla villa.En: It was autumn in Toscana, and the hills stretched out like a golden and red sea outside the villa.It: Luca, seduto su una poltrona, osservava il paesaggio con occhi socchiusi.En: Luca, seated in an armchair, watched the landscape with half-closed eyes.It: Da settimane lui cercava l'ispirazione per il suo nuovo quadro.En: For weeks, he had been searching for inspiration for his new painting.It: Giulia, la custode della villa, aveva accolto Luca con calore e sorriso, offrendogli tè caldo e storie sulla villa.En: Giulia, the villa's caretaker, had welcomed Luca warmly, offering him hot tea and stories about the villa.It: Matteo arrivò una mattina di sorpresa.En: Matteo arrived one morning by surprise.It: Il suo viso radioso rifletteva l'entusiasmo per questa nuova avventura.En: His radiant face reflected the enthusiasm for this new adventure.It: "Luca!En: "Luca!It: Andiamo a vedere i giardini!"En: Let's go see the gardens!"It: aveva esclamato Matteo, tirandolo per un braccio.En: Matteo exclaimed, pulling him by the arm.It: Luca, esitante ma incuriosito, si unì all'amico.En: Luca, hesitant but intrigued, joined his friend.It: Passeggiavano lungo i viali di cipressi, mentre foglie colorate cadevano dolcemente ai loro piedi.En: They walked along the cypress avenues, as colorful leaves gently fell at their feet.It: Matteo raccontava delle sue ultime avventure, e Luca rideva, dimenticando per un momento la sua ricerca artistica.En: Matteo recounted his latest adventures, and Luca laughed, forgetting for a moment his artistic search.It: Ma mentre correva verso una statua avvolta dall'edera, Luca inciampò su una radice nascosta.En: But as he ran towards a statue wrapped in ivy, Luca tripped over a hidden root.It: Cadde, e un dolore acuto attraversò la sua gamba.En: He fell, and a sharp pain shot through his leg.It: "Non riesco a muovermi", sussurrò tra i denti serrati.En: "I can't move," he whispered through gritted teeth.It: Matteo corse a chiamare aiuto.En: Matteo ran to call for help.It: Giulia venne in loro soccorso, con un'espressione preoccupata ma calma.En: Giulia came to their aid, with a worried but calm expression.It: "Dobbiamo riportarti all'interno", disse con fermezza.En: "We need to get you back inside," she said firmly.It: Matteo e Giulia aiutarono Luca a tornare in villa.En: Matteo and Giulia helped Luca back to the villa.It: Con la gamba ingessata e un'aria sconsolata, Luca era seduto vicino alla finestra.En: With his leg in a cast and a disheartened air, Luca sat by the window.It: "Non posso dipingere all'esterno", disse sconsolato a Giulia e Matteo il giorno dopo.En: "I can't paint outside," he said, discouraged, to Giulia and Matteo the next day.It: Ma Giulia aveva un'idea.En: But Giulia had an idea.It: "Perché non dipingi ciò che vedi da qui?En: "Why don't you paint what you see from here?It: La vista è comunque mozzafiato."En: The view is breathtaking anyway."It: Con la determinazione che solo un artista innamorato del suo lavoro può avere, Luca allestì il suo studio vicino alla finestra.En: With the determination only an artist in love with his work can have, Luca set up his studio near the window.It: Il tramonto colorava il cielo di rosso e oro, mentre Giulia e Matteo gli facevano compagnia.En: The sunset colored the sky red and gold, while Giulia and Matteo kept him company.It: Mentre il pennello di Luca danzava sulla tela, il dolore alla gamba sembrava scomparire, trasformato in colori vivaci e in profonda serenità.En: As Luca's brush danced across the canvas, the pain in his leg seemed to vanish, transformed into vibrant colors and deep serenity.It: Con il passare dei giorni, il quadro prendeva vita.En: As days passed, the painting came to life.It: Luca catturava l'essenza dell'autunno toscano, con tutte le sue sfumature.En: Luca captured the essence of the Tuscan autumn, with all its nuances.It: Il lavoro era arduo ma appagante.En: The work was arduous but rewarding.It: Giulia portava caffè e racconti di tempi antichi, mentre Matteo lo distraeva con aneddoti divertenti.En: Giulia brought coffee and tales of ancient times, while Matteo distracted him with amusing anecdotes.It: Finalmente, il giorno arrivò.En: Finally, the day arrived.It: Il quadro era completo.En: The painting was complete.It: Giulia e Matteo lo guardarono in silenzio, ammirando il capolavoro davanti a loro.En: Giulia and Matteo looked at it in silence, admiring the masterpiece before them.It: "Hai trovato la tua ispirazione, anche con una gamba rotta", commentò Matteo con un sorriso orgoglioso.En: "You've found your inspiration, even with a broken leg," commented Matteo with a proud smile.It: Luca, seduto tra i suoi amici, osservava la sua opera d'arte con occhi pieni di gratitudine.En: Luca, seated amongst his friends, observed his artwork with eyes full of gratitude.It: Aveva imparato che la bellezza e l'ispirazione possono trovarsi ovunque, anche quando le circostanze sembrano avverse.En: He had learned that beauty and inspiration can be found anywhere, even when circumstances seem adverse.It: Sorrideva, sentendosi più forte e più ricco di spirito, come i colori vivaci del suo dipinto autunnale.En: He smiled, feeling stronger and richer in spirit, like the vibrant colors of his autumn painting. Vocabulary Words:the lounge: il salonethe window: la finestrathe landscape: il paesaggiothe armchair: la poltronathe caretaker: la custodethe adventure: l'avventurathe garden: i giardinithe statue: la statuathe ivy: l'ederathe root: la radicethe pain: il dolorethe help: il soccorsothe cast: l'ingessaturathe view: la vistathe determination: la determinazionethe sunset: il tramontothe brush: il pennellothe canvas: la telathe serenity: la serenitàthe nuance: la sfumaturathe coffee: il caffèthe tale: il raccontothe masterpiece: il capolavorothe gratitude: la gratitudinethe spirit: lo spiritothe warmth: il calorethe company: la compagniathe gold: l'orothe shadow: l'ombrathe tranquility: la tranquillità

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Giulia's Redemption at the Tuscan Villa Retreat Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-11-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nell'aria fresca dell'autunno, Giulia camminava lungo il sentiero che conduceva alla villa antica.En: In the fresh autumn air, Giulia walked along the path that led to the old villa.It: Era situata nella campagna toscana, circondata da foglie che danzavano al vento.En: It was located in the Tuscany countryside, surrounded by leaves dancing in the wind.It: La villa aveva un'aria misteriosa, ma per Giulia rappresentava un rifugio di pace.En: The villa had a mysterious air, but for Giulia it represented a haven of peace.It: Giulia era una giovane infermiera in cerca di tranquillità.En: Giulia was a young nurse in search of tranquility.It: Si portava dentro un grande peso: un errore commesso tempo fa in ospedale.En: She carried a heavy burden inside: a mistake made some time ago in the hospital.It: Sperava che il soggiorno in campagna l'aiutasse a ritrovare se stessa.En: She hoped that staying in the countryside would help her find herself again.It: Aveva pianificato tutto per Ognissanti, un periodo di riflessione e riposo.En: She had planned everything for Ognissanti, a time for reflection and rest.It: Alla villa l'aspettavano Marco e Claudio, due cari amici.En: Marco and Claudio, two dear friends, were waiting for her at the villa.It: Avevano deciso di passare insieme quel breve soggiorno per godere della natura e celebrare l'antica tradizione italiana.En: They had decided to spend that short stay together to enjoy nature and celebrate the ancient Italian tradition.It: Prepararono una cena speciale: zuppa di castagne e arrosto di cinghiale.En: They prepared a special dinner: chestnut soup and wild boar roast.It: Ma qualcosa andò storto durante il pasto.En: But something went wrong during the meal.It: Mentre assaporavano il dolce, Marco iniziò a sentirsi male.En: While savoring the dessert, Marco began to feel unwell.It: Si mise una mano sul petto, ansimando.En: He put a hand on his chest, gasping.It: Il suo volto diventò rosso, gli occhi lacrimavano.En: His face turned red, his eyes watered.It: Giulia lo guardò, apprese subito che si trattava di una reazione allergica.En: Giulia looked at him, immediately realizing it was an allergic reaction.It: Il cuore di Giulia batteva forte.En: Giulia's heart was pounding.It: I ricordi del passato le riempirono la mente.En: Memories of the past filled her mind.It: Ma non c'era tempo per il dubbio.En: But there was no time for doubt.It: Doveva agire.En: She had to act.It: Aveva pochissimo con sé, solo un piccolo kit di emergenza.En: She had very little with her, just a small emergency kit.It: Scelse di fidarsi di se stessa e delle sue competenze.En: She chose to trust herself and her skills.It: Giulia prese un respiro profondo e si avvicinò a Marco.En: Giulia took a deep breath and approached Marco.It: "Tranquillo, Marco", disse con voce calma.En: "Take it easy, Marco," she said in a calm voice.It: Controllò rapidamente i suoi sintomi.En: She quickly checked his symptoms.It: Decise di somministrare l'antistaminico che aveva nel kit.En: She decided to administer the antihistamine she had in the kit.It: Pregava che fosse la scelta giusta.En: She prayed it was the right choice.It: Claudio stava accanto a lei, osservando con ansia.En: Claudio stood by her side, watching anxiously.It: Il tempo sembrava fermarsi.En: Time seemed to stop.It: Dopo qualche minuto, Marco cominciò a ritrovare il respiro.En: After a few minutes, Marco began to catch his breath again.It: Il colore del suo viso tornava normale.En: The color of his face returned to normal.It: "Grazie, Giulia", sussurrò Marco, ancora scosso ma sollevato.En: "Thank you, Giulia," Marco whispered, still shaken but relieved.It: Giulia si sentì come se le avessero tolto un macigno dal cuore.En: Giulia felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.It: Aveva affrontato la sua paura.En: She had faced her fear.It: Il calore della gratitudine di Marco la colmò di una nuova fiducia.En: The warmth of Marco's gratitude filled her with new confidence.It: Si accorse di potersi perdonare, di potersi fidare di nuovo.En: She realized she could forgive herself, that she could trust herself again.It: L'atmosfera della villa si ravvivò, e la serata continuò con chiacchiere e risate.En: The atmosphere of the villa brightened, and the evening continued with chatter and laughter.It: Il vento autunnale che spirava nel giardino sembrava promettere un nuovo inizio.En: The autumn wind blowing in the garden seemed to promise a new beginning.It: Quando il sole tramontò, Giulia si sentì finalmente in pace.En: When the sun set, Giulia finally felt at peace.It: Aveva trovato una nuova fiducia in se stessa e, soprattutto, la capacità di andare avanti.En: She had found a new confidence in herself and, above all, the ability to move forward.It: La villa, un tempo spettrale, ora era per lei un simbolo di rinascita.En: The villa, once spectral, was now a symbol of rebirth for her. Vocabulary Words:the path: il sentierothe villa: la villathe countryside: la campagnathe leaves: le fogliemysterious: misteriosathe nurse: l'infermieratranquility: tranquillitàthe burden: il pesothe mistake: l'errorethe hospital: l'ospedalethe stay: il soggiornothe feast: il pastothe chestnut soup: la zuppa di castagnethe wild boar roast: l'arrosto di cinghialeto savor: assaporareunwell: maleto gasp: ansimarethe allergic reaction: la reazione allergicathe emergency kit: il kit di emergenzathe skills: le competenzeto administer: somministrarethe antihistamine: l'antistaminicoto pray: pregareanxiously: con ansiato catch one's breath: ritrovare il respiroto shake: tremarerelieved: sollevatothe gratitude: la gratitudinethe confidence: la fiduciato forgive oneself: perdonarsi

Jeff welcomes restaurateur Robert Maynard, and Chef Scott Liebfried - the team behind Fontana de Vino in downtown Davidson.Scott shares how his experience with the Four Seasons and California cuisine shaped his approach to hospitality and concept creation.Robert and Scott unveil Fontana de Vino - an Italian-forward, steak-friendly concept blending “old world meets new” with an approachable vibe. Expect hand-cut, house-made pastas, prime steaks, and lively table-side activations - including a communal polenta pour inspired by Tuscan family gatherings. The wine program is rooted in Italy's regions.They also discuss affordability by design, staff comfort and service, and why they prefer a buzzing dining room to hushed “fine dining.” Set inside Davidson's historic former ice house at 416 S. Main Street, the build-out journey was long - and full of lessons - but the mission is simple: create a place where families and friends gather, feel seen, and leave happier than when they arrived.Listeners will hear candid talk on reviews, margins, and resilience - and why community sits at the heart of hospitality. Fontana de Vino is aiming to open by the end of November.Fontana Di Vino---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lake Norman's #1 Podcast & Email NewsletterThe Best of LKNhttps://thebestoflkn.com/Hosted by:Jeff Hammwww.lknreal.comSupport the show

In this episode of Five Questions, Billy sits down with Alessandro Bindocci, winemaker at Il Poggione, one of Montalcino's founding estates and a benchmark producer of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.From the estate's roots as a working Tuscan farm to its massage-selection Sangiovese vineyards, Alessandro shares how Il Poggione balances deep tradition with innovation in the cellar. He discusses the influence of Barolo on his winemaking, the adoption of submerged-cap fermentation, the vintages that shaped his career, and Il Poggione's ongoing organic efforts.

We have some real or fake headlines that stumped Billy and Lisa. Joe Farrow from Tuscan called into the show to discuss his amazing work with veterans. Listen to Billy & Lisa weekdays from 6-10AM on Kiss 108! 

A Katrina-era detour turned a pre-med student into a chef, and her path led her to The Compton. We sit down with Chef Corrin Ellis, the executive chef behind The Compton's food and beverage program, to unpack how design, community, and local farms shaped a three-part culinary vision: a Tuscan-style steakhouse (Sestina), an all-day cafe with an Onyx collaboration (Field Notes), and an upscale cocktail lounge with sweeping square views (The Eddie). The Compton and all its spaces open in November 2025.Check out the website for more info, or to book your stay: The Compton | Official Site. Follow along on IG @TheComptonHotel, and on FB @TheComptonHotel.A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn. You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

Dreaming of Italy but worried about the cost? Travel advisors Ryan and Julie break down how a family of four can experience the magic of Italy at three different price points—from budget-conscious to moderate to luxury—proving that your dream Italian vacation is more accessible than you think.Episode HighlightsBudget-Conscious Italy ($350/person/night) Discover how to experience Rome and Florence over 7 nights without sacrificing the essentials. Learn why traveling during shoulder season (September-April, excluding peak summer), using trains and metro systems, and booking shared tours can dramatically reduce costs while still hitting major attractions like the Vatican, Coliseum, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Plus, find out why staying in hotels might actually save you money compared to Airbnbs in Italy.Moderate Italy ($525/person/night) Take your Italian adventure up a notch with a 10-night journey through Rome, Florence, and Sorrento. This itinerary adds exciting family-friendly experiences like a "Gladiator for a Day" program, pizza and gelato making classes, a stop at Pompeii, and a boat tour of Capri—all while keeping the trip surprisingly affordable through smart planning and high-end train tickets booked in advance.Luxury Italy ($820/person/night) Experience Italy like never before with complete flexibility in your travel dates, private tours customized to your family's interests, and two weeks exploring six incredible destinations: Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Florence, Milan, and Venice. From cooking lessons at local markets to wine tastings in Tuscan farmhouses, gondola rides in Venice to tours of Lake Como, this is the ultimate Italian experience.Whether you're planning your first trip to Italy or returning for another adventure, this episode will open your eyes to the possibilities within your budget. Ryan and Julie also share valuable insider tips on transportation, tour options, and why certain choices make financial sense.Coming Soon: The hosts tease future episodes featuring Japan and Hawaii using this same three-tier approach!Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/new Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation" Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

A 24-year-old Dutchman came to pick some grapes in Bordeaux on an estate belonging to a friend of his father Eric Albada Jelgersma. He ended up staying for 30 years. Listen in to hear the remarkable story of Alexander Van Beek, Estate Director of Château Giscours. In a frank interview, he talks about the highs, the lows and the practices he has introduced to take Giscours to new heights. He also discusses Caiarossa, the Tuscan property he runs and his approach to bio-dynamic farming.More information at wine-conversation.com

Halloween over Florence: THE MARKET OF GHOSTSSeverino lived in the bell tower on the hill — the one next to the ancient Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.Every evening, at sunset, he would lock the gate at the base of the entrance stairway and before climbing back up, he would pause to watch Florence color itself amber.And so he did today as well. The tourists had left. Time stopped and silence became sacred again.Through the rusted bars the city stood there motionless — perhaps since forever; with its red roofs, marble facades and the Arno flowing between its stones like a glittering silver ribbon.Domes and towers trembling with light, almost suspended in the air, as if everything and everyone were holding their breath waiting for twilight — and for the night that would cover it with shadows, stars and dreams.One more glance, then he turned on his transistor radio that he had found a few years ago and the notes of Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' filled the autumn evening.Silence may be sacred for the monks, but for Severino music was more so. Seven, his raven, didn't need to be called and at the first notes launched himself from the cypresses of the cemetery above, circled in front of the imposing facade of the Basilica and suddenly glided down along the stairway, to land gently on his left shoulder."Hey Seven, had a good day?""Yes. Could have been worse — Let's settle for that."At which, Severino smiled, turned up the radio's volume and began climbing resolutely toward le Porte del Cielo, while Jazz music echoed among the ancient stones.Nine years ago, on this same day in the month of October, the Olivetan monks residing in the Abbey found a child on the steps of the Basilica.He was there, wrapped in fog, silent as the night, eyes curious as the wind, without name and without past. They called him Severino — I don't know why — and he grew up among prayers and silences. He played in ancient rooms and discovered his world, surrounded by books, tombs, art and mysteries never revealed. At night a raven and a black cat accompanied him, illuminated by the moon, in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, wandering among imposing crypts and motionless statues that whispered memories and mysteries.But on Halloween nights the whispers transform into screams and endless laments. Secrets manifest themselves, legends become reality, and dreams disguised as nightmares knock on doors lit by candles. And that full moon night was precisely this night: October 31st — and remember, whether you believe in spirits or not, nothing changes: the ghosts will come.And Severino was up there, right there waiting for them to arrive. Leaning out the highest window of the bell tower, calm, looking at Florence from above. While Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight' played on his radio, he watched — tapping time with one foot and waited.At the second of the twelve strokes of the midnight bells, something began to happen. On the Arno formed a dense fog that pulsed with spectral green. It began to rise and slide slow but inexorable over the bridges like fingers of cold hands of impatient ghosts. It slid over the Ponte Vecchio and rolled through the streets of Oltrarno until reaching San Niccolò, where it climbed up the hill swallowing everything it found in its path.When it reached the gate of San Miniato, it slipped through the bars and climbed up the stairs until it covered, like a high luminous tide, the entire square in front of the church. It climbed up the marble facade and wrapped also the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, covering the entire hill in a cloak of mystery. Then slowly, as if by enchantment, the fog began to dissolve rising toward the sky and when the last cloud melted into the night air, the square was no longer empty.Small jack-o'-lanterns with flickering lights floated in the air smiling with teeth of fire. Black candles sprouted from nowhere, illuminating spectral stalls full of everything and nothing. Bats that seemed made of paper but were alive fluttered among the lights with wings of black velvet, while autumn leaves danced without wind, sparkling with gold and copper. Pumpkins of every shape filled the stands, some carved with funny faces, others covered with silver spiderwebs that shone like threads of moon. Witch hats swirled in the air like flying umbrellas rotating slow on themselves. Roasted chestnuts perfumed the air with cinnamon and mystery, while small dancing skeletons tinkled like ice bells.And finally in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, the Portal opened. Like every Halloween, for centuries, spirits from all over the world congregated in Florence for their annual meeting. A spectral river of ghosts poured into the square, each heading toward their own stall, and each with their impossible merchandise to sell or trade. The spirits had arrived and Severino observed them from above. A carnival of other worlds, made of sounds, colors and unimaginable stories.The deserted square had transformed into the Market of Ghosts. Stalls kept materializing from nowhere, carved and glowing pumpkins told each other stories of Halloweens past, present and future laughing malicious among the perfumes of lost memories, past centuries, tomorrow's candles and fallen stardust. The sky above the Tuscan hills and above Florence was full of ghosts arriving from everywhere to search for the unfindable. But no human eye could see this spectacle. No one except Severino, who descended from the tower enchanted by that spectacle and immersed himself in the crowd pulsating with otherworldly life. Seven circled above him observing with attentive eyes and cawing a bit nervous. Some ghosts looked at him with curiosity and recognized him. Someone greeted him and many others whispered his name in forgotten languages."There he is," murmured a witch from Prague."The child of time," sighed a Norman knight."He's returned, I told you so." laughed a Caribbean pirate.But Severino paid them no attention because there were ghosts selling: dreams of sleeping dragons, laughter of northern gnomes, tears of mermaids in love, the last breath of dinosaurs, shadows of unicorns. And even fears from past Halloweens — two for the price of one, but only for tonight. The ghost of a pirate who died during a boarding gone not so well shouted: "Storm bottles! Lightning in jars!" A witch from Salem whispered: "Love potions that last three lifetimes…" A medieval knight showed swords that cut fear, A Chinese spirit waved kites that fly into the past.The spectral crowd grew and thickened, laughed and bargained, while Severino walked amazed and fascinated among the impossible stalls of the Halloween Market. Seven cawed restless from above and Eleven, the black cat with orange eyes, jumped from one tent to another not losing sight of a single movement of Severino and the hundreds of souls circling around him.A ghost monk from an era that never existed saw him and smiled at him from behind a stall full of ancient radios adorned with mysterious symbols. Severino approached, fascinated."How wonderful! Do they all work?""Oh yes, certainly" replied the monk. "These transmit on the waves of past, present, and future time. But you don't need to buy one."The other ghosts stopped. They ceased selling, buying and bartering. They looked at Severino with respect and listened to what the collector of frequencies told him."The transistor radio you already have is more special than you think. But to discover its true secrets, you'll have to search in the ancient crypts where everything began."And suddenly the first lights of dawn began to illuminate the sky behind San Miniato with pink. In rush and hurry the ghosts said goodbye flying away in the wind. "Until next Halloween!" They told each other crossing in the sky. The stalls vanished. Lanterns and candles went out. The Market of Ghosts dissolved like a dream.Severino found himself alone in the empty square, Seven on his shoulder and Eleven sitting on the low wallLooking at Florence illuminating itself in the day of All Saints. He observed his old radio with new eyes and from the ancient crypts of San Miniato, something seemed to call him. He turned it on, turned up the volume and descended the stairway in time to Chet Baker's version of 'Autumn Leaves'.It was time to throw open the gate of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.___________________We will continue this story.... For now a Happy Halloween to all of you, may you always believe in magic!Story written by Marco Ciappelli for "Stories Under The Stars" Halloween 2025___________________Listen to Severino's Playlist for the songs that accompany this story and subscribe to discover new music with every adventure.

Halloween over Florence: THE MARKET OF GHOSTSSeverino lived in the bell tower on the hill — the one next to the ancient Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.Every evening, at sunset, he would lock the gate at the base of the entrance stairway and before climbing back up, he would pause to watch Florence color itself amber.And so he did today as well. The tourists had left. Time stopped and silence became sacred again.Through the rusted bars the city stood there motionless — perhaps since forever; with its red roofs, marble facades and the Arno flowing between its stones like a glittering silver ribbon.Domes and towers trembling with light, almost suspended in the air, as if everything and everyone were holding their breath waiting for twilight — and for the night that would cover it with shadows, stars and dreams.One more glance, then he turned on his transistor radio that he had found a few years ago and the notes of Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' filled the autumn evening.Silence may be sacred for the monks, but for Severino music was more so. Seven, his raven, didn't need to be called and at the first notes launched himself from the cypresses of the cemetery above, circled in front of the imposing facade of the Basilica and suddenly glided down along the stairway, to land gently on his left shoulder."Hey Seven, had a good day?""Yes. Could have been worse — Let's settle for that."At which, Severino smiled, turned up the radio's volume and began climbing resolutely toward le Porte del Cielo, while Jazz music echoed among the ancient stones.Nine years ago, on this same day in the month of October, the Olivetan monks residing in the Abbey found a child on the steps of the Basilica.He was there, wrapped in fog, silent as the night, eyes curious as the wind, without name and without past. They called him Severino — I don't know why — and he grew up among prayers and silences. He played in ancient rooms and discovered his world, surrounded by books, tombs, art and mysteries never revealed. At night a raven and a black cat accompanied him, illuminated by the moon, in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, wandering among imposing crypts and motionless statues that whispered memories and mysteries.But on Halloween nights the whispers transform into screams and endless laments. Secrets manifest themselves, legends become reality, and dreams disguised as nightmares knock on doors lit by candles. And that full moon night was precisely this night: October 31st — and remember, whether you believe in spirits or not, nothing changes: the ghosts will come.And Severino was up there, right there waiting for them to arrive. Leaning out the highest window of the bell tower, calm, looking at Florence from above. While Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight' played on his radio, he watched — tapping time with one foot and waited.At the second of the twelve strokes of the midnight bells, something began to happen. On the Arno formed a dense fog that pulsed with spectral green. It began to rise and slide slow but inexorable over the bridges like fingers of cold hands of impatient ghosts. It slid over the Ponte Vecchio and rolled through the streets of Oltrarno until reaching San Niccolò, where it climbed up the hill swallowing everything it found in its path.When it reached the gate of San Miniato, it slipped through the bars and climbed up the stairs until it covered, like a high luminous tide, the entire square in front of the church. It climbed up the marble facade and wrapped also the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, covering the entire hill in a cloak of mystery. Then slowly, as if by enchantment, the fog began to dissolve rising toward the sky and when the last cloud melted into the night air, the square was no longer empty.Small jack-o'-lanterns with flickering lights floated in the air smiling with teeth of fire. Black candles sprouted from nowhere, illuminating spectral stalls full of everything and nothing. Bats that seemed made of paper but were alive fluttered among the lights with wings of black velvet, while autumn leaves danced without wind, sparkling with gold and copper. Pumpkins of every shape filled the stands, some carved with funny faces, others covered with silver spiderwebs that shone like threads of moon. Witch hats swirled in the air like flying umbrellas rotating slow on themselves. Roasted chestnuts perfumed the air with cinnamon and mystery, while small dancing skeletons tinkled like ice bells.And finally in the Cimitero delle Porte Sante, the Portal opened. Like every Halloween, for centuries, spirits from all over the world congregated in Florence for their annual meeting. A spectral river of ghosts poured into the square, each heading toward their own stall, and each with their impossible merchandise to sell or trade. The spirits had arrived and Severino observed them from above. A carnival of other worlds, made of sounds, colors and unimaginable stories.The deserted square had transformed into the Market of Ghosts. Stalls kept materializing from nowhere, carved and glowing pumpkins told each other stories of Halloweens past, present and future laughing malicious among the perfumes of lost memories, past centuries, tomorrow's candles and fallen stardust. The sky above the Tuscan hills and above Florence was full of ghosts arriving from everywhere to search for the unfindable. But no human eye could see this spectacle. No one except Severino, who descended from the tower enchanted by that spectacle and immersed himself in the crowd pulsating with otherworldly life. Seven circled above him observing with attentive eyes and cawing a bit nervous. Some ghosts looked at him with curiosity and recognized him. Someone greeted him and many others whispered his name in forgotten languages."There he is," murmured a witch from Prague."The child of time," sighed a Norman knight."He's returned, I told you so." laughed a Caribbean pirate.But Severino paid them no attention because there were ghosts selling: dreams of sleeping dragons, laughter of northern gnomes, tears of mermaids in love, the last breath of dinosaurs, shadows of unicorns. And even fears from past Halloweens — two for the price of one, but only for tonight. The ghost of a pirate who died during a boarding gone not so well shouted: "Storm bottles! Lightning in jars!" A witch from Salem whispered: "Love potions that last three lifetimes…" A medieval knight showed swords that cut fear, A Chinese spirit waved kites that fly into the past.The spectral crowd grew and thickened, laughed and bargained, while Severino walked amazed and fascinated among the impossible stalls of the Halloween Market. Seven cawed restless from above and Eleven, the black cat with orange eyes, jumped from one tent to another not losing sight of a single movement of Severino and the hundreds of souls circling around him.A ghost monk from an era that never existed saw him and smiled at him from behind a stall full of ancient radios adorned with mysterious symbols. Severino approached, fascinated."How wonderful! Do they all work?""Oh yes, certainly" replied the monk. "These transmit on the waves of past, present, and future time. But you don't need to buy one."The other ghosts stopped. They ceased selling, buying and bartering. They looked at Severino with respect and listened to what the collector of frequencies told him."The transistor radio you already have is more special than you think. But to discover its true secrets, you'll have to search in the ancient crypts where everything began."And suddenly the first lights of dawn began to illuminate the sky behind San Miniato with pink. In rush and hurry the ghosts said goodbye flying away in the wind. "Until next Halloween!" They told each other crossing in the sky. The stalls vanished. Lanterns and candles went out. The Market of Ghosts dissolved like a dream.Severino found himself alone in the empty square, Seven on his shoulder and Eleven sitting on the low wallLooking at Florence illuminating itself in the day of All Saints. He observed his old radio with new eyes and from the ancient crypts of San Miniato, something seemed to call him. He turned it on, turned up the volume and descended the stairway in time to Chet Baker's version of 'Autumn Leaves'.It was time to throw open the gate of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.___________________We will continue this story.... For now a Happy Halloween to all of you, may you always believe in magic!Story written by Marco Ciappelli for "Stories Under The Stars" Halloween 2025___________________Listen to Severino's Playlist for the songs that accompany this story and subscribe to discover new music with every adventure.

On today's episode, we sit down with Salvatore Ferragamo Jr. — entrepreneur, hospitality visionary, and member of one of the most ICONIC fashion families in the world — for a rich conversation that blends heritage, hospitality, and the evolving landscape of luxury living. Website: www.ilborro.it Instagram: salvatore_ferragamo_jr ilborro    BACK STORY The Italian Association of Arizona is thrilled to announce its 10th annual Italian Festival at Old Town Scottsdale Waterfront, where attendees can experience Italy in the Valley on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day festival will bring back its theme “La Strada del Vino”, translated directly as the street of wine, offering visitors new opportunities to experience Italian cuisine, wine, live entertainment and a special Italian guest star in honor of the festival's 10th anniversary. “We are pleased to welcome fashion leader and wine owner Salvatore Ferragamo Jr. to the festival,” said Italian Association of Arizona Founder Dario Soldan. “As part of the iconic designer family, Mr. Ferragamo Jr.'s attendance highlights the strong unity of the Italian community, and we look forward to celebrating our wonderful culture in Scottsdale." Salvatore Ferragamo Jr., the grandchild of Salvatore Ferragamo, the fashion designer and founder of the renowned Italian luxury fashion house known for its shoes and accessories since 1927, will be this year's special guest. Ferragamo's grandson owns part of the family wine company out of Tuscany, Il Borro, a super Tuscan wine producer, and Pinino, a Brunello wine producer. There will be a Ferragamo wine station open throughout the entire weekend of the festival, offering wine bottles and tastings. Ferragamo Jr. will attend the event briefly on Sunday afternoon. The two-day festival will feature over 30 wines from various regions in Italy, new Valley food vendors such as Luna by Giada and Elephante, along with returning favorites like Pomo Pizzeria, Mamma Lucy, Marcellino Ristorante and several others. Merchant vendors such as Outrageous Oils, Italian Harmony and Mamma Letizia will offer a selection of curated Italian products at the event. Additional items available include ceramic pottery from Lome, handcrafted apparel from Tea n Lace, jewelry, leather handbags and original artwork. This year, the festival will feature two stages with live entertainment along the waterfront. Programming includes cooking demonstrations from the festival's title sponsor, Greco & Sons, music performances by Ripalta Bufo, Sima and her All-Star Quartet, the Steve Ansel band and various street performers, including a group of 15 flag twirlers from Asti, Italy. Children can also enjoy face painting and balloon making at the event. The festival provides three ticket packages. The Salvatore Ferragamo Experience is available for $99.99 during the presale period from now until Tuesday, Sept. 30, offering one general admission ticket, six wine tasting tickets, four Ferragamo wine tasting tickets, as well as a wine glass and lanyard. After the presale, the price increases to $125 and does not include the wine glass or lanyard. The “La Strada del Vino” package consists of one general admission ticket, six wine tasting tickets, a wine glass and a lanyard, priced at $49.99 for presale and $65 at the regular rate. General admission tickets cost $15 if purchased in advance and $25 at the door. Children aged 12 and under receive free entry to the festival. The celebrations don't stop there. Ferragamo Jr. will also have an exclusive meet and greet experience on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of the Ferragamo store in Scottsdale Fashion Square, right next to the festival. For $150, guests can personally meet Ferragamo Jr. and select a bottle of either the highly rated Super Tuscan Il Borro or the Brunello di Montalcino from Pinino. Following the festival, Ferragamo Jr. will host an exclusive dinner on Monday, Oct. 27 at Virtu Honest Craft in Scottsdale. Limited to 50 guests, this event will feature a seven-course menu paired with wines from Il Borro and Pinino, offering attendees the opportunity to dine alongside Ferragamo Jr. A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to the Italian Association in support of building a future Italian Culture Center. Tickets are priced at $400 per person. The Italian Association of Arizona wants to thank its title sponsor, Greco & Sons, and the City of Scottsdale, for making the event possible. For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.italianassociation.org/annual-italian-festival. About Italian Association: The Italian Association (IA) is a private, non-profit 501c (3), non-political membership organization for Arizona Italian and American communities interested in developing their understanding and knowledge of Italy. Guided by the Board of Directors and Advisory Council, the Italian Association's mission is to establish Arizona's premier Italian Cultural Center, a vibrant hub celebrating Italian heritage, traditions and community. SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much! ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE! JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.

In this episode of The Compendium, we delve into the terrifying true story of the Monster of Florence — the Italian serial killer who stalked lovers in the Tuscan hills for nearly two decades. Blending fact, obsession, and myth, we uncover how the unsolved case inspired Hannibal Lecter, entangled the Amanda Knox investigation, and haunted generations of Florence locals. This chilling journey through Italy's darkest legend exposes a mystery that still grips the world today. We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources: The Monster of Florence (2025) – Netflix limited series Monster of Florence – Wikipedia Host & Show Info Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they're your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people. Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll Community & Calls to Action ⭐ Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Live from Boston, Scott welcomes to the stage Jason Mantzoukas, comedian Eugene Mirman, Malt Shop owner Bing Lujo, Scott's grandma Nana, Tuscan lawyer Italiano Jones, and financial guru Doug Gropes! Special thanks to the Wilbur Theatre! Originally recorded 06/13/2024. Don't forget to check out the Comedy Bang! Bang! Action Figures at shop.figurecollections.com and go to actionfigureseller.com for international purchases. If you want more great episodes of Comedy Bang! Bang! become a subscriber at comedybangbangworld.com. We have all of the past episodes from the archives, every live show, ad-free new episodes, and original shows like CBB Presents and Scott Hasn't Seen. Find more great Comedy Bang! Bang! merch at https://www.podswag.com/collections/comedy-bang-bang Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/cbb Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's Monday, Let's raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It's time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let's begin Exploring the Wine Glass!  We are back in Montepulciano for more reviews! and the owner's responses continue to steal the spotlight—a masterclass in polite, yet firm, indignation. Wineries where the owners defend their staff's "patience, education, and kindness" against every accusation of rudeness, and where a free tasting only covers one-third of the actual tasting—a simple misunderstanding due to a language barrier. In search of a less emotionally fraught experience, we moved on, only to encounter a tour guide more focused on flirting than fermentation, and a host that insults Americans We've officially determined that touring this region's cellars is less about the vintage and more about running a gauntlet of hilariously hostile hospitality, and frankly, we're loving every minute of it and hope you do too. Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It's completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!   Slainte!  Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video Follow me on Instagram!   Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com. Please support our sponsors Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

Bestselling author Frances Mayes comes in from the Tuscan sun to tell us about her favorite uncrowded corners of Italy, away from the crush of the country's top tourist destinations. And a certified beer judge explains what makes lager the world's most popular style of the ubiquitous beverage. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: Autumn Magic: A Tuscan Vineyard Sparks Love and Dreams Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-10-11-07-38-20-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De herfst zon gaf de Toscaanse wijngaard een gouden glans en de bladeren kleurden in vurige tinten.En: The autumn sun gave the Tuscan vineyard a golden glow, and the leaves turned fiery shades.Nl: Hier, tussen de druivenranken, kwamen Sanne en Bram aan voor een tour.En: Here, amidst the vine rows, Sanne and Bram arrived for a tour.Nl: Sanne, met haar schetsboek in de hand, zocht inspiratie voor haar kunstscriptie.En: Sanne, with her sketchbook in hand, sought inspiration for her art thesis.Nl: Bram, altijd een goede vriend, hield haar gezelschap en genoot van de Italiaanse cultuur.En: Bram, always a good friend, kept her company and enjoyed the Italian culture.Nl: Ze ontmoetten Lars, de charmante sommelier, middenin de wijngaard.En: They met Lars, the charming sommelier, in the middle of the vineyard.Nl: Zijn ogen straalden als hij sprak over wijn en het leven tussen de druiven.En: His eyes sparkled as he spoke about wine and life among the grapes.Nl: "Welkom bij onze wijngaard," zei hij, een warme glimlach op zijn gezicht.En: "Welcome to our vineyard," he said, a warm smile on his face.Nl: De lucht was gevuld met de geur van net geperste druiven.En: The air was filled with the scent of freshly pressed grapes.Nl: Sanne voelde haar hart een sprongetje maken.En: Sanne felt her heart skip a beat.Nl: De tour begon en Lars leidde hen langs de rijen druiven.En: The tour began, and Lars guided them along the rows of grapes.Nl: Sanne luisterde aandachtig, maar haar gedachten dwaalden steeds af naar Lars' verhalen over zijn droom om ooit een eigen wijngaard te openen.En: Sanne listened attentively, but her thoughts kept drifting to Lars's stories about his dream of opening his own vineyard one day.Nl: Een verborgen avontuur vonkte in haar.En: A hidden adventure sparked within her.Nl: Die avond vierde de wijngaard Halloween.En: That evening, the vineyard celebrated Halloween.Nl: De boerderij was versierd met kaarsen en pompoenen.En: The farmhouse was decorated with candles and pumpkins.Nl: In deze sprookjesachtige setting onder de sterren besloot Sanne Lars te zoeken.En: In this fairy-tale setting under the stars, Sanne decided to find Lars.Nl: "Mag ik je even spreken?"En: "May I speak with you for a moment?"Nl: vroeg ze aarzelend.En: she asked hesitantly.Nl: Lars knikte en samen wandelden ze langs de wijngaard, de maan verlichtte hun pad.En: Lars nodded, and together they walked along the vineyard, the moon lighting their path.Nl: Bij een oude stenen muur, omarmd door de nachtelijke sereniteit, durfde Sanne haar verlangens te uiten.En: By an old stone wall, embraced by the serenity of the night, Sanne dared to express her desires.Nl: "Ik ben hier voor mijn studie," begon ze, "maar mijn hart verlangt naar iets meer."En: "I'm here for my studies," she began, "but my heart longs for something more."Nl: Lars glimlachte en zijn ogen straalden begrip.En: Lars smiled, and his eyes shone with understanding.Nl: Hij doorbrak de stilte.En: He broke the silence.Nl: "Ik voel hetzelfde, Sanne.En: "I feel the same, Sanne.Nl: Maar ik vreesde de rollen die we spelen."En: But I feared the roles we play."Nl: Onder de sterrenhemel deelden ze hun dromen en angsten.En: Under the starry sky, they shared their dreams and fears.Nl: Sanne vertelde over haar zoektocht naar inspiratie en Lars sprak over zijn ambities.En: Sanne spoke of her quest for inspiration, and Lars talked about his ambitions.Nl: Deze openhartigheid bracht hen dichterbij, hun harten vol hoop.En: This openness brought them closer, their hearts full of hope.Nl: De volgende dag voelde Sanne zich bevrijd.En: The next day, Sanne felt free.Nl: Ze wist wat ze wilde voor haar scriptie en, belangrijker nog, voor zichzelf.En: She knew what she wanted for her thesis and, more importantly, for herself.Nl: Ze vond de inspiratie in de passie van mensen zoals Lars.En: She found inspiration in the passion of people like Lars.Nl: Haar schetsboek was gevuld met nieuwe ideeën, vol van leven en liefde.En: Her sketchbook was filled with new ideas, full of life and love.Nl: Voordat ze vertrok, wist ze dat ze moest beloven terug te keren.En: Before she left, she knew she had to promise to return.Nl: "Zodra mijn studie voorbij is, kom ik terug," fluisterde ze tegen Lars.En: "As soon as my studies are finished, I'll come back," she whispered to Lars.Nl: En met die belofte vertrokken Sanne en Bram, de wijngaard achterlatend in de schittering van de herfst.En: And with that promise, Sanne and Bram departed, leaving the vineyard in the splendor of autumn.Nl: Lars bleef achter, maar hij was niet langer alleen.En: Lars stayed behind, but he was no longer alone.Nl: Geïnspireerd door Sanne's moed, wist hij dat het tijd was zijn eigen droom te volgen.En: Inspired by Sanne's courage, he knew it was time to follow his own dream.Nl: Beide harten, eens zoekend, vonden hun richting met de Toscaanse wijngaard als hun stille getuige.En: Both hearts, once searching, found their direction with the Tuscan vineyard as their silent witness. Vocabulary Words:autumn: herfstvineyard: wijngaardgolden: goudenglow: glansshades: tintenamidst: tussensketchbook: schetsboekinspiration: inspiratiethesis: scriptiesommelier: sommeliersparkled: straaldenscent: geurfreshly: netpressed: gepersteattentively: aandachtigdrifting: dwaaldenhidden: verborgenadventure: avontuursparked: vonktecandles: kaarsenhesitantly: aarzelendmoon: maanserenity: sereniteitdesires: verlangensquest: zoektochtambitions: ambitiesopenness: openhartigheidhope: hoopfulfilled: vervuldsplendor: schittering

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unearthing Tuscany: The Hidden Treasure Beneath Olive Trees Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-10-11-07-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore dell'autunno, gli alberi d'olivo ondeggiavano nel vento dolce e fresco delle colline toscane.En: In the heart of autumn, the olive trees swayed in the sweet and cool wind of the Tuscan hills.It: Le foglie d'argento brillavano sotto il sole dorato, stendendo lunghe ombre sulla terra.En: The silver leaves shone under the golden sun, casting long shadows on the ground.It: Uno scenario calmo e sereno, ma oggi qualcosa di straordinario stava per accadere.En: A calm and serene scene, but today something extraordinary was about to happen.It: Elena, una storica appassionata, camminava con attenzione tra le file di olivi.En: Elena, a passionate historian, walked carefully between the rows of olive trees.It: Il nonno le aveva sempre raccontato storie di tesori nascosti sotto questi alberi antichi.En: Her grandfather had always told her stories of treasures hidden beneath these ancient trees.It: Era determinata a dimostrare che non erano solo fantasticherie.En: She was determined to prove that they were not just fantasies.It: Marco, il contadino, la osservava da lontano.En: Marco, the farmer, watched her from a distance.It: Non credeva a queste storie, ma la speranza di un terremoto economico per la sua tenuta in difficoltà lo spingeva a non interrompere la ricerca di Elena.En: He did not believe these stories, but the hope of an economic earthquake for his struggling estate pushed him not to interrupt Elena's search.It: Mentre Elena scavava con cura vicino a uno degli alberi più vecchi, qualcosa di duro bloccò la pala.En: While Elena dug carefully near one of the oldest trees, something hard stopped the shovel.It: Con il cuore che batteva forte, si chinò per vedere di cosa si trattasse.En: With her heart pounding, she bent down to see what it was.It: Era un pezzo di metallo antico, un artefatto, perduto nel tempo.En: It was a piece of ancient metal, an artifact lost in time.It: Le notizie si diffusero velocemente.En: The news spread quickly.It: Giovanni, un collezionista con un interesse troppo grande per il denaro e troppo poco per la storia, arrivò in fretta.En: Giovanni, a collector with too much interest in money and too little in history, arrived in haste.It: "Dobbiamo fare un patto," propose a Elena e Marco con un sorriso ambiguo.En: "We must make a deal," he proposed to Elena and Marco with an ambiguous smile.It: "Io posso farvi guadagnare molto."En: "I can make you earn a lot."It: Ma Elena non era convinta.En: But Elena was not convinced.It: Si consultò con Marco, il quale, dopo riflettere, decise di fidarsi di lei.En: She consulted with Marco, who, after reflecting, decided to trust her.It: Giovanni diventava insistente, minacciando di coinvolgere le autorità se non fosse stato incluso.En: Giovanni became insistent, threatening to involve the authorities if he wasn't included.It: L'aria tra di loro era tesa come una corda di violino.En: The air between them was tense as a violin string.It: Ma nel profondo, Elena sapeva che doveva fare la cosa giusta.En: But deep down, Elena knew she had to do the right thing.It: "Non abbiamo bisogno dei tuoi piani," disse Giovanni con fermezza.En: "We don't need your plans," she said with firmness.It: Decisero di contattare loro stessi le autorità.En: They decided to contact the authorities themselves.It: Le autorità arrivarono e l'artefatto fu portato via per essere studiato, ma la scoperta portò fama alla zona.En: The authorities arrived, and the artifact was taken away to be studied, but the discovery brought fame to the area.It: Marco vide un nuovo inizio per la sua fattoria grazie all'arrivo di turisti e studiosi attratti dalla scoperta.En: Marco saw a new beginning for his farm thanks to the arrival of tourists and scholars attracted by the discovery.It: Elena si rese conto che la vera vittoria risiedeva nella protezione della storia, non nella gloria personale.En: Elena realized that the true victory lay in protecting history, not in personal glory.It: Anche Giovanni imparò una lezione.En: Even Giovanni learned a lesson.It: Il suo approccio egoistico non aveva portato nulla se non l'ostracismo.En: His selfish approach had brought nothing but ostracism.It: Elena e Marco divennero alleati, dimostrando che il lavoro di squadra e l'integrità vincono sempre sulle sole aspirazioni personali.En: Elena and Marco became allies, proving that teamwork and integrity always win over personal aspirations.It: E mentre il sole tramontava ancora una volta sulle colline toscane, il campo di olivi era più ricco che mai, non solo per la scoperta, ma per le nuove amicizie coltivate nel tempo.En: And as the sun set once again over the Tuscan hills, the olive field was richer than ever, not just for the discovery, but for the new friendships cultivated over time. Vocabulary Words:the historian: la storicato sway: ondeggiarethe leaf: la fogliato shine: brillarethe shadow: l'ombraextraordinary: straordinariothe treasure: il tesoroto prove: dimostrarethe fantasy: la fantasticheriathe earthquake: il terremototo struggle: avere difficoltàthe shovel: la palato pound: batterethe artifact: l'artefattoto insist: insistereambiguous: ambiguoto consult: consultareto threaten: minacciarethe authority: l'autoritàtense: tesothe string: la cordathe integrity: l'integritàto cultivate: coltivarethe fame: la famathe scholar: lo studiosoto attract: attrarreselfish: egoisticothe ostracism: l'ostracismothe ally: l'alleatopersonal aspirations: le aspirazioni personali

Hi there, happy Thursday! Recording this week's episode with John Bersani reminded me why I started Salt + Spine in the first place: to sit down with a cookbook author and glimpse their world. We're often recording in studio—or more often these days, virtually—and it's easy to miss the small details that make these conversations so alive.But there's something grounding about being welcomed into someone's home kitchen, hearing their stories as the dog runs past or a family member checks in to ask when we're leaving for lunch. It was a real treat to join John and his family for an afternoon in Chianti. And while recording al fresco may not have produced the crispest audio, it offered something you can't replicate in a studio: an honest glimpse into a life built around food, friendship, and place.I hope you enjoy our chat:The first thing I notice at John Bersani's home in Gaiole in Chianti is the view. I'm so enamored by the rolling hills dotted with vines and olive trees that I miss the driveway. Finally, I find the right entryway, am greeted by John, and we settle next to the pool to record our conversation. A lifelong cook and host, John built a career in business before turning toward what truly grounded him: food and community. His cookbook—20 Amici 40 Ricette: Twenty Friends, Forty Recipes—is not a chef's manifesto or a guide to Tuscan cuisine, but a love letter to the community he and his family have made there. Each chapter introduces a friend who's shaped his life in Italy, paired with one or two recipes that carry the imprint of that relationship.In our conversation, John talks about growing up in an Italian-American family in Syracuse, New York, where Sundays smelled like simmering sauce. He recalls his grandparents' small-town kitchens and the rituals that endured even after they left their old neighborhood for the suburbs. And he reflects on the years spent straddling two identities—American and Italian—and learning to see his adopted home from both sides of the table.We talk, too, about the rules of Italian cooking and how to bend them. About why Tuscan bread is famously unsalted. About the importance of shopping well. About how the right techniques transform a simple pasta into something magical.

Robbie Maynard, a seasoned interior designer with over three decades of experience in San Diego, California, joins us to reveal her remarkable transformation from PR novice to confidently landing features in House Beautiful, Forbes, and Martha Stewart Living.With refreshing candor, Robbie shares how she initially felt "petrified" when submitting her first pitch to editors. "I thought they wanted me to be a writer and make it sound wonderful," she admits, reflecting a common misconception among design professionals. Through consistent practice and expert guidance, she discovered that editors simply valued her design expertise, not her writing skills—a revelation that freed her to pursue major publication opportunities with confidence.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Robbie discusses the evolution of her business strategy. After recognizing that her website showcased outdated Tuscan-style projects no longer aligned with current trends or her preferred design direction, she implemented strategic updates that transformed her client acquisition process. "I was getting a lot of people that wanted Tuscan... and I didn't really want that anymore," she explains, highlighting how targeted marketing attracts ideal clients.Perhaps most valuable is Robbie's perspective on client selection, gained through years of experience: "Every client is not your client." She now approaches initial consultations as mutual interviews rather than sales opportunities, ensuring better project outcomes and more satisfying professional relationships. This mindset shift represents a crucial evolution for designers looking to elevate their business.As the interior design industry continues to evolve, with traditional revenue streams disrupted by online retailers, Robbie shares her plans to adapt through specialized service packages focused on kitchen design and exploring alternative income sources like affiliate marketing. Her willingness to continuously reinvent her business approach offers inspiration for designers at any career stage.Ready to transform your own design business through strategic marketing and PR? Sign up for our Designer Discussions Academy at designerdiscussions.com and get personalized guidance from our team of experts.More on Robbie:https://www.robbieinteriors.com/https://www.instagram.com/robbieinterTransform your marketing with Designer Discussions Academy. In weekly face-to-face sessions, we equip busy business owners with cutting-edge PR strategies, marketing insights, and time-saving tools to not just work in your business, but on your business. Join us to outshine competitors and elevate your business.Join us for our weekly live sessions and workshops: https://www.designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/pages/academyDesigner Discussions is an educational interior design podcast on marketing, PR and related business topics. We also provide in-depth, actionable products in the Marketing Studio including time-saving templates and guides to help design professionals grow their businesses. Download our FREE Client Avatar Guide https://designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/store. Designer Discussions is a partnership of three experts: Jason Lockhart, CEO of KABMS; Maria Martin, founder of DesignAppy; and Mirjam Lippuner, founder of Get Ink DIY

It's hard to stand out in a field of giants, and when it comes to Tuscan wine, the landscape is populated by Titans. But Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, crafted from the Sangiovese grape planted around the tiny town of Montepulciano, has always managed to catch the eye of connoisseurs. From a Renaissance poet who declared it the king of all wines to the 20th-century legislators who named it alongside Brunello, Barolo, and Barbaresco as one of Italy's first four DOCGs, the quiet giant known as the “noble wine of Montepulciano” never fails to impress. In this episode of the Wine Enthusiast podcast, brought to you by Avignonesi Winery, writer-at-large and reviewer for Tuscany Danielle Callegari spoke with the operation's CEO and chief winemaker Matteo Giustiniani. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.com. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!    FOLLOW US: TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unexpected Spice: The Gelato Twist That Won Hearts Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-10-06-07-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Luca passava i pomeriggi nella sua gelateria, "Dolci Sogni", nel piccolo villaggio toscano di Montevico.En: Luca spent his afternoons in his gelateria, "Dolci Sogni", in the small Tuscan village of Montevico.It: Era un luogo speciale.En: It was a special place.It: Fuori, le stradine di ciottoli e i campi dorati facevano sembrare il villaggio come uscito da un dipinto.En: Outside, the cobblestone streets and golden fields made the village look like something out of a painting.It: Dentro, il negozio profumava di zucchero e spezie.En: Inside, the shop smelled of sugar and spices.It: Era il tempo del raccolto autunnale, un momento perfetto per il concorso "Miglior Gelato".En: It was the time of the autumn harvest, a perfect moment for the "Best Gelato" contest.It: Luca era pieno di energia e passione.En: Luca was full of energy and passion.It: Voleva vincere.En: He wanted to win.It: Aveva preparato sapori unici per impressionare i giudici: mele cotte, nocciola tostata e un segreto... un gelato alla cannella con un tocco di calore.En: He had prepared unique flavors to impress the judges: baked apples, toasted hazelnut, and a secret... a cinnamon ice cream with a touch of heat.It: Aveva già immaginato il momento in cui avrebbe vinto, ma qualcosa non andò come previsto.En: He had already imagined the moment when he would win, but something did not go as planned.It: Quel pomeriggio, Gianni, suo aiutante, si avvicinò preoccupato.En: That afternoon, Gianni, his assistant, approached him worriedly.It: "Luca, credo ci sia un problema con la cannella."En: "Luca, I think there's a problem with the cinnamon."It: Esaminando la cucina, scoprirono l'errore: Paolo, l'addetto agli ingredienti, aveva confuso la cannella con un peperoncino in polvere.En: Upon examining the kitchen, they discovered the error: Paolo, the ingredient handler, had confused cinnamon with chili powder.It: Ora il gelato era piccante.En: Now the ice cream was spicy.It: Luca era in crisi.En: Luca was in crisis.It: Sostituire il gelato sarebbe stato sicuro, ma una parte di lui era affascinata dall'idea di stupire i giudici con questo nuovo sapore.En: Replacing the ice cream would have been safe, but a part of him was intrigued by the idea of surprising the judges with this new flavor.It: Dopo una lunga riflessione, decise.En: After a long reflection, he decided.It: Avrebbe servito il gelato piccante.En: He would serve the spicy ice cream.It: "Facciamo di necessità virtù," disse con un sorriso incerto.En: "Let's make a virtue out of necessity," he said with an uncertain smile.It: Il giorno del concorso arrivò.En: The day of the contest arrived.It: La gelateria era piena di gente.En: The gelateria was full of people.It: Giudici e spettatori osservavano curiosi mentre Luca, con una sciocca di creatività, presentava il suo "esperimento".En: Judges and spectators watched curiously as Luca, with a dash of creativity, presented his "experiment."It: Quando i giudici assaggiarono, i loro occhi si spalancarono per la sorpresa.En: When the judges tasted it, their eyes widened in surprise.It: C'erano mormorii tra la folla.En: There were murmurs among the crowd.It: Ma Luca, con un gesto fiero, spiegò l'accaduto e il suo desiderio di osare.En: But Luca, with a proud gesture, explained what had happened and his desire to dare.It: Alla fine, i giudici si scambiarono sguardi e sorrisi.En: In the end, the judges exchanged looks and smiles.It: "Per il coraggio e la creatività, assegniamo a Luca una menzione speciale."En: "For courage and creativity, we award Luca a special mention."It: L'applauso fu caloroso.En: The applause was warm.It: Luca realizzò che non doveva temere i passi falsi, ma accoglierli.En: Luca realized that he should not fear missteps, but embrace them.It: Era contento.En: He was happy.It: Non aveva vinto il primo premio, ma aveva guadagnato una lezione preziosa e la fiducia nella sua capacità di trasformare gli imprevisti in opportunità.En: He hadn't won the first prize, but he had gained a valuable lesson and confidence in his ability to turn the unexpected into opportunities.It: Guardando il tramonto sulla campagna toscana, Luca capiva che ogni sfida poteva portare a nuovi, inaspettati successi.En: Watching the sunset over the Tuscan countryside, Luca understood that every challenge could lead to new, unexpected successes. Vocabulary Words:the gelateria: la gelateriaafternoon: pomeriggiospecial: specialethe cobblestone streets: le stradine di ciottoligolden: doratito seem: sembrarethe painting: il dipintoto smell: profumarethe spice: la speziathe harvest: il raccoltothe contest: il concorsoto impress: impressionarethe judges: i giudicithe baked apples: le mele cotteto imagine: immaginarethe crisis: la crisithe reflection: la riflessioneto serve: servireto dare: osarethe courage: il coraggiothe creativity: la creativitàthe mention: la menzionethe applause: l'applausothe missteps: i passi falsithe confidence: la fiduciathe sunset: il tramontothe countryside: la campagnachallenge: sfidaunexpected: inaspettatisuccesses: successi

"Christine and David visit Janelle in North Carolina to celebrate the purchase of her new flower farm property. Kody and Robyn discuss their now monogamist relationship and the possibility of bringing in a new wife. Meri dips her toe back into the dating world and heads to a speed dating event."Move over Taylor Frankie Paul, Parowan has a new hot bachelorette on the scene: Meri Brown. Meri and Just Jenn head to Salt Lake for a round of speed dating, while Kody and Robyn go on a date with a dessert of licking. David "No Butt" Woolley Brown is a trackstar, Janelle is sick of his shit and Christine is going full Tuscan. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠– and while you're at it, feel free to peruse our Shit Talk Shop!And if you're the ultimate trash, join us on ⁠Patreon!

Father Tuscan preaches the homily on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Father Tuscan preaches the homily on the traditional 15th Sunday after Pentecost.

Latch your steamer trunk and press your travel slacks, as Trixie and Katya summon you for a grand tour through the jeweled harbors of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7, Episodes 9 and 10. Like discerning aesthetes adrift upon the sapphire sea, they linger in reverie over the operatic revels of the Divine Comedy challenge, then recline in first-class velvet banquettes to consider, with equal parts mirth and melancholy, the metamorphic splendor of the makeover episode. Their discourse gleams with the intricacy of freshly-blown Murano glass, refracting triumphs radiant as a Tuscan dawn and humiliations heavy as an Amalfi dusk. Let your eyes and ears wander as their recollections drift like perfumed zephyrs along the cliffs of the Cinque Terre. Sit back, relax, and let their reminiscences unfold as an intoxicating odyssey stitched from myth, memory, and the gilded embroidery of glamour. If you're thinking about GLP-1s for weight loss, but don't know if they're right for you—Ro makes it simple to find out and get started. Go to https://Ro.co/BALD to see if you qualify. If you're planning a trip this year, consider hosting your home on Airbnb while you're away. Your home might be worth more than you think! Find out how much at https://Airbnb.com/host This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at ⁠⁠https://Betterhelp.com/BALD⁠⁠ and get on your way to being your best self! Get your gut going and sdupport a balanced gut microbiome with Ritual's Synbiotic+. Get 25% off your first month at https://Ritual.com/BALD Visit ⁠https://gemini.google/students⁠ to learn more about Google Gemini and sign up. Terms apply. Follow Trixie: @TrixieMattel Follow Katya: @Katya_Zamo To watch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/TrixieKatyaYT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out our official YouTube Clips Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/TrixieAndKatyaClipsYT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to follow the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/thebaldandthebeautifulpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to support the show, and get all the episodes ad-free go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebaldandthebeautiful.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/thebaldandthebeautifulpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out future Live Podcast Shows, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://trixieandkatyalive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To order your copy of our book, "Working Girls", go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://workinggirlsbook.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs, CA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.trixiemotel.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen Anywhere! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/thebaldandthebeautifulpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Follow Trixie: Official Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.trixiemattel.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trixie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/trixiemattel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/trixiemattel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/trixiemattel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Follow Katya: Official Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.welovekatya.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@katya_zamo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/welovekatya/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/katya_zamo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Twitter (X): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/katya_zamo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    #TrixieMattel #KatyaZamo #BaldBeautiful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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