Ditch the Ick with Katie Carson: Redefining Relationships, Self-Worth, and Building Your Dream Life as Millennial and Gen X Women

It's been a year, party people! In this long-overdue episode, I share big news: Ditch the Ick is evolving into a new podcast, I Thought I Wanted This, launching in October. The new show is about pivots, big life changes, and realizing that the thing you thought you wanted isn't always the right fit.

Then I catch you up on life in Italy: immigration headaches, building community, a long-awaited first catcall, and some new experiences (family, you've been warned). I also talk about the guy I've been seeing for a couple of months. We met on Facebook Dating, our first date lasted nine hours, and the whole thing was in Italian.

In this episode:

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I'm kicking off 2026 with some real talk about the Scotsman's chaotic holiday visit and why I had to draw some hard boundaries after watching him turn into someone I barely recognized. After that mess and some honest feedback from my Italian crew, I've decided to do a "Dry Hoo-ha January" – no dating, no apps, just focusing on hobbies and expanding my community here in Florence. Of course, the universe immediately threw me a curveball with a cute guy at the café.

In this episode:

I'm ready to make 2026 about actually living the life I moved here for instead of just filling the time.

Connect with Katie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Buckle up, party people, because we're diving deep into the absolute chaos that is dating in Italy as a plus-size woman. And I mean chaos. I thought I'd seen it all with dating in America and the UK (God, I miss dating in the UK), but Italian men have brought a whole new level of wild to my life. We're talking about a culture where men won't be seen with you in public but will absolutely beg to be pegged in private. The machismo is real, the Madonna-whore complex is alive and well, and apparently being over 135 pounds makes you "plus-size" here. It's been eye-opening, honestly, in ways both hilarious and frustrating. The apps have been a disaster (looking at you, mommy guy), and I've officially deleted them all. But you know what? Despite the dating horror show, I'm genuinely the happiest I've ever been. I'm making incredible friends, saying yes to amazing experiences, and living the life I always dreamed about.

In this episode:

If you've been putting off your big move or that thing you've always wanted to do... stop. I promise you it's more possible and more worth it than you think. Even with the dating disasters, this is still the best decision I've ever made.

Connect with Katie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠⁠⁠

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Okay party people, it's been a hot fucking minute. Literally. I'm finally back with proof of life and holy shit, these past five months have been an absolute rollercoaster. Between melting into a puddle every time I stepped outside, becoming a hermit with Archie in my AC-dependent bedroom cave, and stress-eating over whether I could communicate "ovarian cyst" in Italian, summer in Florence was not the romantic European dream I sold myself. But spoiler alert: I had the best gynecological appointment of my life, paid less than my monthly US insurance premium, and left with zero surprise bills in the mail.

The lifestyle here is phenomenal even when it's hard as fuck, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't questioned this move a few times. But between friends visiting at the perfect 90-day mark, making new connections at supper clubs, and averaging 6,500 steps a day without even trying, I think I made the right call. Coming up in the next few weeks: Sex and the City Florence edition, the vulnerable shit about starting over, what it's like navigating fatphobia in Italy, and apparently re-working through middle school trauma because that's fun. Send me your questions about literally anything (dating, Archie, making friends in your late 30s, logistical chaos). I'm here for all of it.

Connect with Katie:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠⁠

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Four weeks into my big Italian move and I'm hitting that inevitable expat reality check - you know, the part where you realize moving across the world changes everything and also absolutely nothing. I'm sharing the messy, sweaty, hilarious truth about what it's really like when the honeymoon phase wears off and you're left figuring out how to build a life from scratch in a place where your dog speaks better Italian than you do. From the things I wish I'd packed (spoiler: not what you think) to navigating loneliness in paradise, this is your unfiltered update on what happens when you stop romanticizing the move and start actually living it.

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⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠

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Y’all… I’m in the thick of it. I basically Marie Kondo’d my entire life, packed it into a car, and (at the time of recording this) I’m days away from hopping on a plane to Italy with my dog and an even bigger sense of “WTF is happening.” This episode is a real-talk voice note about that weird-ass limbo where everything’s changing but nothing’s quite real yet. If you’ve ever told yourself “I could never do something like that,” I promise—this one might just flip that script.

Inside the chaos, we chat about:

Selling all my sh*t and living out of a car like a hot mess minimalist.

Flying an anxious, oversized dog across the world (pray for Archie and his crate the size of a Smart car).

Letting a maybe-kinda crush help me drive stick (literal, not metaphorical… this time).

Choosing the “scary but exciting” option instead of the “safe but soul-sucking” one—and why it’s worth it.

Connect with Katie:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/

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Katie is back this week with zero spoons, a suitcase full of mental health revelations, and a one-way ticket to Italy (because of course). In this episode, she’s catching you up on burnout, boundaries, and why sometimes moving across the world is the only logical next step when your nervous system is shot. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s deeply relatable—and somehow still funny even when it shouldn't be.

Come for the chaos, stay for the catharsis.

Move Abroad Crash Course: https://freedomlife.thinkific.com/courses/the-move-abroad-crash-course?ref=1dec9d

Finch App: https://finchcare.com/

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/

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https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck

Join the Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/

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Ghost not, lest ye be ghosted. That's in the dating Bible right?

Well, regardless, I'm joined by my dear friend Aubrey de los Reyes who shares her dating journey and strategy to avoid bad ghosting karma. Trust me you don't want to miss this.

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/

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https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/

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When the world feels heavy, loud, and chaotic, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is light a candle, put on a song that makes you feel alive, and pour a little more love into your everyday routines.

In this episode of Ditch the Ick, Katie is joined by Angela Armstrong — intuitive life strategist, spiritual realist, and hype woman for high-achieving women who are ready to press pause and trust themselves again. They’re talking real-deal self-care, what to do when everything feels like a lot, and how to stop isolating yourself when connection is what your nervous system actually needs.

We talk about grief, community, and the reminder that fun is not frivolous — it’s fuel. Whether you’re navigating burnout, big decisions, or just trying to stay grounded in a world that seems off its axis, this conversation is a permission slip to soften, feel, and start romanticizing the hell out of your life.

In this episode:

Resources + Mentions:

Angela’s Spiritual Toolkit → Email [email protected] to get it

Beach Bum Beauty (massage candles) → https://bbbeautynj.com/

Connect with Angela Armstrong

Angela is an Intuitive Life Strategist helping high-achieving women press pause, trust their intuition, and reclaim their magic. Through workshops, retreats, and coaching, she blends real talk, deep wisdom, and spiritual insight to empower women with confidence. Passionate about transformation and self-love, Angela creates spaces where women thrive.

Instagram: @iamangelaarmstrong

Website: https://angeladarmstrong.com

Email for the Spiritual Toolkit: [email protected]

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend, send a voice note instead of a text, or go light that fancy candle you’ve been saving. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ditch the Ick — it helps more people find these honest conversations when they need them most.

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Jealousy. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. And yeah—it definitely gives us the ick. But what if jealousy is actually trying to help us?

In this episode of Ditch the Ick, Katie sits down with the incredible Dr. Joli Hamilton to unravel everything we don’t talk about when it comes to jealousy in relationships—monogamous, non-monogamous, and everything in between.

Together, they dig into:

Whether you’re navigating open relationships, reflecting on your past dynamics, or just ready to stop feeling like the “crazy jealous girl,” this episode gives you tools, validation, and a whole new way to look at your emotional landscape.

Meet the Guest: Dr. Joli Hamilton

Dr. Joli Hamilton is the relationship coach for couples who color outside the lines & founder of The Year of Opening. She’s a depth psychologist, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and AASECT-certified sex educator. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and NPR.

Joli helps people build non-monogamous partnerships that are deeply authentic—no more shrinking, pretending, or hiding required. She's also the co-host of the Playing with Fire podcast alongside her anchor partner, Ken.

Follow & Connect with Joli:

Instagram: @drjoli_hamilton

YouTube: Dr. Joli Hamilton

TikTok: @drjoli_hamilton

Resources Mentioned:

Jealousy Roadmap – Joli’s free guide to navigating jealousy with curiosity instead of shame

Feelings & Sensations Wheel by Lindsay Braman

Dr. Joli’s “Befriending Jealousy” Workshop

Books Mentioned: The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton & Janet Hardy

Ready to ditch the ick?

If this episode hit you in the gut (in a good way), don’t forget to:

Leave a 5⭐ review on your favorite podcast app

Screenshot and tag @ditchtheickpod + @ladykatiecarson

Share it with a friend who needs to hear they’re not “too much” for feeling jealous

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