Get ready to be transported to the sun-soaked beaches, charming coastal villages, and rolling hillsides of Sicily, Sardinia, and beyond. 

Katie Parla is back and just published her third book: Food of the Italian Islands. 

Katie’s an American who has been living in Rome for about 20 years as a food and beverage writer, culinary guide, and cookbook author.

We will be diving deep into the cultural and historical significance of the island’s regional cuisine, and tell you where to find Katie’s favorite food. 

Get ready to be inspired and hungry!


Katie's other cookbooks:
Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City: A Cookbook

Food of the Italian South: Recipes for Classic, Disappearing, and Lost Dishes: A Cookbook

sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

What would life be like if we felt more happy connections with people on a regular basis? How can we embrace the wider world and bring people closer to us, even if for a few moments at the seaside? 

Oikeiosis

Stoics believe we are all citizens of the world, part of one global community. This is Stoic cosmopolitanism. 

The Stoic philosopher Seneca said: 

“Our relations with one another are like a stone arch, which would collapse if the stones did not mutually support each other, and which is upheld in this very way.” Seneca, Letter 95, Tao of Seneca

Just like each stone in an arch depends on the strength of the others to maintain its stability, we human beings are part of a harmonious system meant to support one another.

Stoics believe meaningful connection is important to our wellbeing, and for society as a whole. 

We’re here on this Earth to take care of one another, and this starts with taking care of ourselves. I’ve talked previously about the Stoic concept of the circles of concern, which describes our relationships to everyone, including ourselves.

https://sarahmikutel.com/

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Harvard researchers have been studying what makes people happy for decades. 

Since 1938, they’ve been following the same people, and then their families, to learn more about what makes a good life. This is the longest-running study of its kind involving hundreds of people across different walks of life. JFK was even involved when he was a student. 

So what did they discover in this happiness survey? 

Money, fame, and awards don’t lead to long-term happiness. Here’s what does — good relationships.

Think about a trip you took a few years ago. A vacation or time abroad or in a new city that you really loved. What do you remember? 

When you first got home and a friend asked, “Oh, how was your time away?” chances are you recited the things you did. But years later, when you think of that trip, you remember your interactions with people, those you were traveling with and also complete strangers.

The key to the good life is developing good relationships and being open to encounters with everyone.

And there’s both science and magic behind why.

https://sarahmikutel.com/

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

I’m hosting a 2023 Goal-Mapping Workshop on Jan. 14. It’s free and a replay will be available for a few days after if you register in advance. 

This isn’t a lecture – it’s a very interactive session. You’ll:

• Create a vision for your year that aligns with your values and priorities
• Break down your big goals into manageable tasks that don't overwhelm you
• Develop a plan of action to stay on track and avoid procrastination
• Prioritize your tasks and projects in a way that helps you stay focused and motivated
• Overcome obstacles and setbacks in a way that allows you to stay true to your values and goals

You'll leave this workshop with a clear and actionable plan for the year ahead. And you'll have the tools and strategies you need to stay focused and motivated, no matter what life throws your way.

What: 2023 Goal-Mapping Workshop

When: 10 a.m. EST, Jan. 14

How long:  60-90 minutes

Where: Online – you’ll receive a link closer to the date

How: Book your space here

This workshop will be especially beneficial for you if you’re great at meeting other people’s needs, but become easily distracted when it comes to prioritizing your own dreams.

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Around January 1, we set goals that we intend to keep. But most of us break these vows before the month is over – why? What’s the real reason people won’t change? And how can we use Stoicism and modern psychology to start?

To truly be free and move forward, we need to cultivate helpful thoughts and let go of unhelpful ones. This is how we become resilient and learn to flow with life instead of fighting it. 

But what if you’re not even aware of your unhelpful thoughts? 

I’ve talked about different ways to uncover your blind spots on this podcast, and today you’ll learn about a new one from Harvard’s Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey, authors of the book Immunity to Change. 

sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

What does Auld Lang Syne mean and why is its message so important?

Find out in this episode.

Also, Happy New Year! What are your intentions for this year?

https://sarahmikutel.com/

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

It’s that time of year when we encourage each other to slow down, appreciate what we have, and be present with others. But how do we stay in the moment when our minds keep drifting to what’s happening next week, or what occurred 10 years ago? That’s what this episode is about.

sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Today I’m continuing my conversation with Dr. Chocolate Kristy Leissle. an American who now lives in South Africa.

Kristy, author of  Cocoa and co-founder of the Cocoapreneurship Institute of Ghana, spent four years living in that country.

In this episode, she shares why this part of Africa is so special to her and what we should see and do when we visit Ghana on our travels.

sarahmikutel.com

❤️

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Chocolate. Lots of us love it. Where does it come from? Who makes it? And how can we be ethical consumers of chocolate? 

I want the answer to be easy — like, just by such-and-such chocolate bar. But the answer is more complicated than that. 

Today I’m speaking with cocoa and chocolate scholar (and lover of chocolate) Dr. Kristy Leissle, an American who now lives in South Africa.

Kristy, aka Dr. Chocolate, wrote the book Cocoa and has spent her career studying the politics, economics, and cultures of the cocoa-chocolate trade in Africa, Europe, and North America. 

She also co-founded the Cocoapreneurship Institute of Ghana, which supports entrepreneurs working at any stage of the cocoa value chain in West Africa.

I absolutely love the stories Kristy shares in this episode about how travel and learning from and befriending people from other nations and cultures led her to becoming Dr. Chocolate. 

So, can we be virtuous consumers of chocolate? What does that even mean? Kristy and I get into it. 

P.S. If you’re in an English-speaking country, it’s pronounced co-co, not ca-cow. So the next time you’re in a snobby artisanal shop and they start talking about ca-cow, you can correct them and say, “Actually, Dr. Chocolate says it’s cocoa and she has a PhD in the matter.”

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Chances are this holiday season you'll have to talk to at least one person who drives you bananas. 

But what if this doesn't have to stress you out? What if you could have a good conversation? What if this could be your least angst-filled holiday yet? 

It can be!

Here are five ancient Stoic techniques (backed up by modern psychology) to manage your anger and anxiety when talking to people you think are difficult. 

sarahmikutel.com

Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? 

I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.

Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.