A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

"Stretta la soglia e larga la via, dite la vostra ché ho detto la mia. . .” (Narrow the threshold and broad the way. Now you tell your tale, for I have told you mine)"

- Gina M. Miele, Italian Folklore, Chapter 1 - What is Italian Folk Tradition?

Welcome to Episode #151:

Today we gather to share a conversation about keeping the traditions of ancient Italy alive. Dr Gina M. Miele, Professor of Italian studies at Montclair State University in the US is here to talk about her beautiful book Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations, and Ancient Traditions.

Gina is a treasure trove of information and lived experience. Her book Italian Folklore is the perfect companion, providing us a synthesis of the history, the knowledge, the traditions, the secrets and yet celebrating the sacred and the daily, while honouring the folkloric traditions, the oral wisdom, the past, the ancestry and the spirit of the old ways in Italy. 

Gina is a wonderful story teller, she holds space for the old and the new and shares a way to walk the path between the mystical and the mundane in Italian culture; that many ways, many layers can co-exist, be honoured and celebrated.

As a lover of books, the beauty of this work and the illustration is also an invitation. The design is by Italian artist and designer Sylvia Virgillo is another special layer to this book, you will want to hold this work in your hands and open to a page to see for yourself. 

Italian Folklore is on preorder and released on the 29th September and I thought I would publish this share on the Feast Day of Saint Gennaro of Naples, and there is a reason for that you will get to know at the end of our conversation, a little of that Italian magic is afoot.

Enjoy this conversation and thank you Gina for sharing your work with us.

About the Author:

Dr. Gina Miele is a Professor of Italian at Montclair State University, where she also served as the founding director of the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America. She holds a PhD in Romance languages and Literatures from Harvard University.

For many years, she has traveled throughout Italy and Italian - American communities, documenting living folklore traditions and the stories that continue to be shared across generations. 

The Book - Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations and Ancient Traditions by Gina M. Miele PhD

*Visit Gina on Instagram @profgmm

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

A White Chalk Production

Support the show

"In Italy I have fallen and dreamed and traveled on my own terms. My Italy is endless and a drop of pleasure each day"...

Welcome to Episode #150:

This week I am moved to share a story about my Italy and how it lives with me.  I am slightly challenged by social media yet I guess fall somewhere in the middle, not one way or the other…. I was thinking about pop culture, ‘la dolce vita’ Italy and how my travel experiences have been quite different to that. So I wrote an article about this on substack At my Table and then realised later perhaps it is just my version of Italy, neither here nor there but a place forever at the heart of everything I do.

Enjoy this episode,

Michelle x

Image captured in the city of Parma, Emilia Romagna

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

"Italiam non sponte sequor - I am pushed toward Italy and it is beyond my control" - Virgil, Aeneid

Welcome to Episode #149:

Today I share some of the signs and symptoms that you may be an Italophile. Someone who loves Italian culture, who enjoys everything that Italy offers and pretty much cannot get enough!

Italophile: noun:

1. a person who admires Italian customs, traditions, etc.

Enjoy this episode,

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

"The history, art, language, beauty, colour and so much to learn, and know. I realise, Italy as a subject is bountiful, rich, alluring. Keep teaching me Italy, I want more" - Michelle Johnston, In the Shadow of a Cypress - An Italian Adventure

Welcome to Episode #148:

Today I share some of the background details of publishing my new print book, In the Shadow of a Cypress that is now available in print, and that is its own kind of beautiful thing. I am excited to share some of the stories and adventures of getting to this place on the journey. I remembered that, really this was the type of book I wanted to read, so I wrote it. It was a work in progress, a bit like me. But as they say, it is the journey and not the destination. 

So enjoy this personal share about writing my books and getting them into print.

Enjoy this episode,

Michelle x

P.s If you did want to listen to the book it is available on Substack app via the monthly subscription. You can download the audio there and keep it for easy listening. Also, I am not offended if you want to pay for one month to get the audio and then unsubscribe. That is fine by me. The final chapter will be uploaded this week. There are 6-7 hours of the book available for paid subscribers.

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A White Chalk Production

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

“Learning Italian is about more than memorizing vocabulary. It is an invitation to experience a way of life” - Margherita Berti, Italian History & Culture Through Language

Get prepared for your next Italian Journey with this wonderful book and guide - Italian History & Culture Through Language by Italian Linguistics Teacher and Podcast host Margherita Berti PhD.

Today Margherita shares the release of her new book 'Italian History & Culture Through Language' and the story behind creating her Italian Matters Language courses for seekers of Italy. Enjoy this conversation...

About the Author: 

Margherita Berti is the founder of Italian Matters, an online Italian language hub with 5 million followers across platforms. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and creates digital courses and resources to help learners build real-world Italian fluency. Margherita also hosts the Italian Matters podcast and shares language tips through engaging videos and social content.

This book is:

"Perfect for travelers, language learners, Italophiles, and anyone reconnecting with their heritage, Speak the World: Italian is both an entertaining cultural keepsake and a practical introduction to the language. Whether paired with travel plans, family traditions, or dreams of Italian cafés and gondola rides, the book makes an ideal gift for lovers of Italy and its timeless charm".

Book: Italian History & Culture Through Language by Margherita Berti

Visit Margherita Berti at Italian Matters 

Follow Marghertia Berti on Instagram @ItalianMatters

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

A White Chalk Production

Support the show

"But now my will and my desire were turned, as wheels that move in equilibrium, by love that moves the sun and other stars" - Dante Alighieri, Canto XXXIII

"Welcome to Episode #146:

Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy Divina Commedia over many years and completed the work late in his life. He died a few years later in Ravenna, Italy. 

Many find comfort in his words, “In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost” - Dante Alighieri

I contemplate his exile from Florence and his journey as a writer while musing over my own sense of being “in the woods” in recent times and having to forge a new path. It seems his profound words were written for the generations and the centuries that would follow. 

Yes, there are words that transport and there are some things already written in the stars. 

Enjoy this episode,

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A White Chalk Production

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

"There is only one way, and that is your way" - CG Jung

Welcome to Episode #145:

This share is all about reflecting on a recent milestone of seven years of podcasting and sharing stories and conversations about this Italian Love Affair - it has been a journey of living between two worlds and cultivating a sense of meaning from my journeys to Italy and being at home in Australia. 

I share how my books on Italian culture and living my own version of the Italian dream has been a journey of discovery and illumination over the past twenty years. There is so much that I have been attracted to in Italy that I have made my own over the years living in country NSW with my cypress and olive trees, and yes the dream has been realised without my even knowing it. 

I talk about the "Values Renaissance" that has been simmering in the background of my own world and how I have come to terms with honouring what really matters at home and in life. It has been a wild journey and a wonderfully spirited process of learning and living....

Enjoy this episode,

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A White Chalk Production

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

“France had long been at the center of her philosophy. She had made France a touchstone in her writing, in which she alchemised life, love, and food in a literary genre of her own invention” - Luke Barr on MFK Fisher, Provence 1970

Welcome to Episode #144:

Today I share why going to Europe for art, writing, philosophy and liberation has been a necessary evolution for many artists and writers. I contemplate my own journey and the many that have gone before seeking stimulation and artistic freedom amongst the avant-garde and the lively cafes of Paris and other wonderful European cities. 

Artists and writers have gravitated to these places and cultural epicentres for artistic communities, intellectual stimulation, mentors and teachers, and to attract opportunities for their art and writing careers. 

Enjoy this share,

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A Writer in Italy is about travel, art and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

"There is magic in cooking, and in cooking Italian food there is alchemy" - Old World Italian by Mimi Thorisson

Since our lives contain multitudes, yes an American poet once said that, I feel to step away from the noise is to disarm the outside influences that are at times necessary and sometimes it is just kind of ridiculous. So the remedy is to open a cookbook and read a recipe and make something beautiful. 

I am an instinctual cook, I like throwing things together and using what is within reach, but sometimes I do find it quite meditative to pull a book and take some quiet time to wander through the pages, let the pages talk to me. I find this kind of thing quite wonderful and simple. I like reading about the author's philosophy and personal experience, what brought them to share their world of cooking and eating and sharing. I find this rather meditative and inspirational, a balm for my spirit. 

In these changing times I believe it could be the perfect antidote to the things piling up on top of us. Cook something, eat something, and maybe share it with a friend.

Note: The image is from my table, while editing I was baking my favourite Ricciarelli - the Tuscan almond biscuits from the cookbook by Gennaro Contaldo - Gennaro's Italian Bakery...

Enjoy, 

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A White Chalk Production

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show

"I am reading six books at once, the only way of reading: since, as you will agree, one book is merely a note to another book" - Virginia Woolf

Today I share some beautiful moments while reading a few books on my table that have given much pause for thought. So I open a few on the fly and chat about the book, the author and what I Loved about the pages....

Teach Us To Sit Still by Tim Parks

A Place in the World by Frances Mayes

Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim 

Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop by Alba Donati

Intermezzo by Michelle Johnston (August Release)

Image - 6th Arrondissement Paris & Me (or it could have been heaven)

Enjoy, 

Michelle x

Shownotes 

A Writer in Italy Instagram

Substack - At My Table

Michelle’s Books

Musical Scores by Richard Johnston

A White Chalk Production

A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. 

Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.

Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.

Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.

A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

© 2026  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026

Support the show