A New Life in Italy

Learning Italian can feel like one of the biggest hurdles when you're planning a move to Italy.

You can study for months or even years, understand quite a bit, and still find yourself stuck when someone asks you an unexpected question in Italian. In this episode, Samantha sits down with Clara and Martina, co-founders of My Italian Room, to talk about what learning Italian really looks like, especially as an adult.

They discuss why mistakes are such an important part of learning, how small wins can build confidence, and why speaking shouldn't be something you leave until you feel "good enough." They also get practical about what you can accomplish with 15 or 20 minutes a day, active versus passive learning, apps like Duolingo, grammar, and how long it really takes to learn a language.

If you've been putting off speaking Italian because you're waiting to feel ready, this conversation is a reminder that making mistakes isn't a sign that you're failing. It's part of the process.

Guests:

Clara and Martina are the co-founders of My Italian Room, an online Italian school helping learners move beyond studying Italian to speaking it with confidence. Through practical, conversation-focused programmes, they've built a global community where learners combine structured learning, authentic Italian, and regular opportunities to speak.

Resources:

As part of A New Life in Italy, Martina and Clara lead monthly live Italian lessons created specifically for members. These relaxed, practical sessions focus on the language you'll actually use in everyday life in Italy, from useful phrases and cultural context to building confidence when speaking with locals. Lessons are also recorded, so you can revisit them whenever you need.

Learn more about A New Life in Italy.

Join their Sunday newsletter

Explore My Italian Room

Follow My Italian Room on Instagram

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for people who are curious about life, open to change, and haven't decided that the most interesting part of their story has already happened.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

What happens when La Dolce Vita becomes real life?

Samantha is joined by the hosts of Two Voices No Filter, Georgette Jupe and Valentina Dainelli, for a fun and candid conversation about the gap between the Italy we dream about and the Italy we actually live in.

They talk about what happens when Italy becomes everyday life, the realities of building a life here, and why Italy doesn't have to be perfect to feel like home.

Guests:

Georgette and Valentina are hosts of the podcast Two Voices No Filter where they discuss the topics we're all thinking about but don't always have the courage to say out loud.

Listen to Two Voices No Filter

Follow Two Voices No Filter on Instagram

Georgette Jupe is a Texas native who has called Florence home for more than 18 years. She is the creator of Girl in Florence and the Managing Editor at Vivace Media.

Learn more about Georgette

Read Georgette's Substack

Follow Georgette on Instagram

Valentina Dainelli was born in Tuscany and raised in Florence, and spent time living in New York and London. She is a communication consultant, educator, project coordinator, and the creator of TooMuchTuscany.

Learn more about Valentina

Resources:

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for people who are curious about life, open to change, and haven't decided that the most interesting part of their story has already happened.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

We hope you enjoyed the Bootcamp! This replay will be available for one week, until Thursday, September 24.

• An honest overview of the visa landscape
• The pitfalls that get applications delayed or rejected
• How the path differs for EU citizens, non-EU, and spouses of EU nationals
• What's changed this year, plus how to plan for your specific situation

• The one secret to following through with your move and really living the life you dream of. (Hint: it has nothing to do with visas, budget, connections, or time.)
• A full breakdown of the cost of moving and living in Italy. Surprise, Italy is more affordable than you think! No huge budget necessary.
• What to do if you don’t feel like you’re “ready” to move to Italy full time, plus how living part time can be good enough.
• How to choose the perfect place to live so you can save thousands of euros and gain massive lifestyle benefits. You’ll know where the best places are for you in Italy and whether you should rent or buy.
• Discover the fastest, easiest pathway to Italy for YOU and how to avoid the biggest mistakes people make early on.
• A small but mighty mindset shift that will transform the way you think about moving to Italy. It’s the same one that has helped thousands of people go from dream to reality.
• The phrase “it’s not the right time” will never stop you again.

Confusing and misguided information online can leave you feeling uncertain about your plans.

You deserve clear, actionable, and truthful information to make a decision as big as moving to a new country.

You’re ready to learn the truth about what it’s really like to live in Italy, so you can have the confidence and clarity you need to decide if moving to Italy is right for you.

Let’s face it, we are all better together than apart.

Knowing that I have helped thousands of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy successfully means that you are in good hands.

You want to uncover your current stage in the journey and learn how to confidently move forward, equipped with the right knowledge to steer clear of any missteps.

You know that life is short, and that you are the only person holding you back from your next big adventure and living your best life in Italy.

You understand that taking baby steps and learning as much as you can will help you make a decision with confidence.

Now is the time to start living your best life.

Here is what I know...

YOU CAN move to Italy.

Here is what else I know…

You need a plan, and you need help.

I know this because I have been where you are and made more mistakes than I will ever admit.

I also know this because I have helped hundreds of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy.

And I can help you too.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Join Our Move to Italy Bootcamp: www.smartmoveitaly.com/themovetoitalybootcamp

This replay will be available for one week, until Thursday, September 24.

📌 One session left! If you’re seeing this in time, join us live for Day 3 (Thursday, Sept. 17th) at 10 am Pacific | 1 pm Eastern | 6 pm UK on YouTube.

• The regions of Italy: north versus south, and what fits you
• What EU residency actually gives you day to day
• Renting versus buying, and what the process really looks like
• A first look at renovating, including the €1 house path

• The one secret to following through with your move and really living the life you dream of. (Hint: it has nothing to do with visas, budget, connections, or time.)
• A full breakdown of the cost of moving and living in Italy. Surprise, Italy is more affordable than you think! No huge budget necessary.
• What to do if you don’t feel like you’re “ready” to move to Italy full time, plus how living part time can be good enough.
• How to choose the perfect place to live so you can save thousands of euros and gain massive lifestyle benefits. You’ll know where the best places are for you in Italy and whether you should rent or buy.
• Discover the fastest, easiest pathway to Italy for YOU and how to avoid the biggest mistakes people make early on.
• A small but mighty mindset shift that will transform the way you think about moving to Italy. It’s the same one that has helped thousands of people go from dream to reality.
• The phrase “it’s not the right time” will never stop you again.

Confusing and misguided information online can leave you feeling uncertain about your plans.

You deserve clear, actionable, and truthful information to make a decision as big as moving to a new country.

You’re ready to learn the truth about what it’s really like to live in Italy, so you can have the confidence and clarity you need to decide if moving to Italy is right for you.

Let’s face it, we are all better together than apart.

Knowing that I have helped thousands of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy successfully means that you are in good hands.

You want to uncover your current stage in the journey and learn how to confidently move forward, equipped with the right knowledge to steer clear of any missteps.

You know that life is short, and that you are the only person holding you back from your next big adventure and living your best life in Italy.

You understand that taking baby steps and learning as much as you can will help you make a decision with confidence.

Now is the time to start living your best life.

Here is what I know...

YOU CAN move to Italy.

Here is what else I know…

You need a plan, and you need help.

I know this because I have been where you are and made more mistakes than I will ever admit.

I also know this because I have helped hundreds of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy.

And I can help you too.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Move to Italy Bootcamp 2026

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Join Our Move to Italy Bootcamp: www.smartmoveitaly.com/themovetoitalybootcamp

• Cost of living: How you can afford the lifestyle you want in Italy.
• Timing is everything: Why now may be a great time to move to Italy.
• Tips to success: The #1 reason people struggle to make the move and how to avoid it.

• The one secret to following through with your move and really living the life you dream of. (Hint: it has nothing to do with visas, budget, connections, or time.)
• A full breakdown of the cost of moving and living in Italy. Surprise, Italy is more affordable than you think! No huge budget necessary.
• What to do if you don’t feel like you’re “ready” to move to Italy full time, plus how living part time can be good enough.
• How to choose the perfect place to live so you can save thousands of euros and gain massive lifestyle benefits. You’ll know where the best places are for you in Italy and whether you should rent or buy.
• Discover the fastest, easiest pathway to Italy for YOU and how to avoid the biggest mistakes people make early on.
• A small but mighty mindset shift that will transform the way you think about moving to Italy. It’s the same one that has helped thousands of people go from dream to reality.
• The phrase “it’s not the right time” will never stop you again.

Confusing and misguided information online can leave you feeling uncertain about your plans.

You deserve clear, actionable, and truthful information to make a decision as big as moving to a new country.

You’re ready to learn the truth about what it’s really like to live in Italy, so you can have the confidence and clarity you need to decide if moving to Italy is right for you.

Let’s face it, we are all better together than apart.

Knowing that I have helped thousands of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy successfully means that you are in good hands.

You want to uncover your current stage in the journey and learn how to confidently move forward, equipped with the right knowledge to steer clear of any missteps.

You know that life is short, and that you are the only person holding you back from your next big adventure and living your best life in Italy.

You understand that taking baby steps and learning as much as you can will help you make a decision with confidence.

Now is the time to start living your best life.

Here is what I know...

YOU CAN move to Italy.

Here is what else I know…

You need a plan, and you need help.

I know this because I have been where you are and made more mistakes than I will ever admit.

I also know this because I have helped hundreds of people evaluate, plan, and make the move to Italy.

And I can help you too.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Move to Italy Bootcamp 2026

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Moving to Italy changes a lot more than your address.

It changes your routines, your relationships, your sense of belonging, and even the way you see yourself.

In this episode, Samantha sits down with psychotherapist Camilla Jackson to talk about the emotional side of building a life abroad. They explore why expectations can make adjusting harder, why it's normal to feel out of place even when you've achieved your dream, and how understanding Italian culture, building community, and giving yourself time can make all the difference.

If you're planning your move, or you've already arrived and are wondering why it feels harder than expected, this conversation will remind you that you're not doing it wrong. You're simply doing something that takes time.

Guest:

Camilla Jackson is a UK-trained psychotherapist who has called Italy home for more than 16 years. She works with individuals and couples navigating anxiety, relationships, major life transitions, and the emotional challenges of living abroad.

Learn more about Camilla

Find Camilla on Facebook

Follow Camilla on Instagram

Resources:

Samantha's free Move to Italy Bootcamp takes place September 15, 16, and 17.

www.smartmoveitaly.com/movetoitalybootcamp

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for people who are curious about life, open to change, and haven't decided that the most interesting part of their story has already happened.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

If you want to move to Italy in 2027, now is the time to start figuring out what would actually have to happen to make that possible.

In this episode, Samantha breaks down the five things you need to figure out first, and what you can leave for later.

Because you don't need to know everything. You just need to know what to figure out next.

Resources:

Samantha's free Move to Italy Bootcamp takes place September 15, 16, and 17.

www.smartmoveitaly.com/movetoitalybootcamp

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for people who are curious about life, open to change, and haven't decided that the most interesting part of their story has already happened.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Twenty-two years ago, Samantha came to Italy with her mother, who was turning 60. She had no idea that the trip would change the course of her life.

Now, one week away from turning 60 herself, Samantha is thinking about that first trip, the life she built in Italy, and what it means to reach an age you once thought meant you had already lived most of your story.

Because she doesn't feel finished. Not even close.

In fact, this is only just the beginning...

Resources:

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for people who are curious about life, open to change, and haven't decided that the most interesting part of their story has already happened.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Buon Ferragosto, friends. And happy birthday, Sam!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

What does it really mean to experience Italy through a local lens?

In this episode of A New Life in Italy, Samantha speaks with Martina Arezzini, a licensed tour guide and founder of SunFlorence Tours, about the people, customs, and everyday moments that reveal the character of Italy.

Born in Tuscany and based in Florence, Martina shares why Italy cannot be understood from the outside alone. She explains how local knowledge, cultural context, and personal connections help us see a deeper side of everyday life in Italy.

Together, Samantha and Martina explore how understanding the character of a place can change the way we experience it, from the traditions that shape daily life to the small interactions that help us feel more connected.

They also discuss why slowing down, returning to familiar places, and building relationships with local people can reveal a different way of experiencing life in Italy.

In This Episode:

• Why Italy is shaped by many different local identities and ways of life
• What a local perspective can reveal that we might otherwise miss
• Why understanding customs and everyday interactions changes the way we experience a place
• How relationships with local people create a deeper connection to Italy
• Why slowing down and creating routines can transform your relationship with a city
• The difference between a licensed tour guide and a tour operator

Resources:

Explore Italy through a local lens with Martina Arezzini and SunFlorence Tours, offering private tours and customized experiences throughout Italy.

https://www.sunflorencetours.it/

@sunflorence_tours

@martina_sunflorence

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy. Learn more and start planning your move to Italy today.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for stories, ideas, and connections that inspire a life lived fully.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Italy has a way of making us see our own lives differently.

People visit for a week and come home asking questions they weren’t asking before.

Not just about Italy, but about themselves.

Why am I always in such a hurry?

Is this really how I want to spend the next twenty years?

When did life become something to manage instead of something to experience?

In this episode, Samantha explores why Italy has a way of making us reflect on time, success, connection, and the kind of life we truly want to create.

Maybe Italy doesn’t change us. Maybe it simply introduces us to the person we’ve been too busy to become.

If you’ve ever returned home from Italy feeling a little different, this episode is for you.

In This Episode:

• Why Italy seems to stay with people long after they leave
• The two competing philosophies of time: efficiency versus experience
• How Italy challenges the invisible rules we inherit about success and adulthood
• Why seeing another way of living can make us question our own choices
• How travel can reconnect us with curiosity, adventure, and growth at any age
• Why people often fall in love with the version of themselves they discover in Italy

Resources:

Smart Move Italy offers guidance on visas, Italian citizenship, residency, and building a life in Italy.

www.smartmoveitaly.com

Want to keep the conversation going? Join Vivace, a place for stories, ideas, and connections that inspire a life lived fully.

www.vivacenetwork.com

Ciao for now!

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network

Listen Vivace

A life well lived is never finished. There is always another version of yourself waiting to emerge. Vivace exists for women who believe the most beautiful part of life is not what has already happened, but what comes next. https://vivacenetwork.com/

Vivace Media Network