FCI 001 – Introduction to The Fatal Charm Of Italy Podcast With Rick Zullo

In a post that I wrote at the beginning of the year, one of my stated “resolutions” for 2015 was to start an Italy podcast. It has taken me a little longer than expected, but at last I’ve fought my way through the learning curve and have created an audio version of my silly blog.

That’s not to say that I’m done writing—far from it; the written word will always be my preferred method of communication. But I’ve discovered that this podcasting thing might be kind of fun once you get the hang of it. (Not that fun yet—I’ll let you all know once I get the hang of it.)

My Podcast About Italy

In this first episode, I mostly just introduce myself, and I explain the title that I’ve chosen for my little show. It’s called, “The Fatal Charm of Italy,” and it’s borrowed from a quote by Erica Jong who asks the questions, “What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find here that can be found nowhere else?”

Then she answers her own question by offering, “I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago.”

I like it, because it sort of describes what foreigners find appealing about Italy without pandering to worn out sentimentality and overly romantic clichés, which, quite frankly, get tiresome in a hurry.

In the following episodes of my Italy podcast, I’ll be talking to folks who are experts in various facets of Italian culture—usually from the expat perspective, but sometimes from the Italian perspective, as well. Language, food, history, politics, art…it’s all fair game.

I’ll also be soliciting inquiries from readers and podcast listeners, and I’ll use them for topics of future episodes. I’m installing a widget called “SpeakPipe” that will allow anybody to leave me a voicemail question to be answered via podcast. Go ahead, give it a try below!

So please bear with me while I work this all out. At the very least, you might get a good laugh at my expense.

In the meantime, check out the introductory episode (and see if you catch my “Freudian Slip,” when I meant to say that Italians are very “fashion” conscious).

Then I’ll be back in a couple of days for my conversation with Maria Pasquale from “Heart Rome” and “Eating Italy” about traditional Roman cuisine.

Until then,  Ciao!

(And click the link to check out other episodes and see my list of the best podcasts about Italy.)In a post that I wrote at the beginning of the year, one of my stated “resolutions” for 2015 was to start an Italy podcast. It has taken me a little longer than expected, but at last I’ve fought my way through the learning curve and have created an audio version of my silly blog.

That’s not to say that I’m done writing—far from it; the written word will always be my preferred method of communication. But I’ve discovered that this podcasting thing might be kind of fun once you get the hang of it. (Not that fun yet—I’ll let you all know once I get the hang of it.)

My Podcast About Italy

In this first episode, I mostly just introduce myself, and I explain the title that I’ve chosen for my little show. It’s called, “The Fatal Charm of Italy,” and it’s borrowed from a quote by Erica Jong who asks the questions, “What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find here that can be found nowhere else?”

Then she answers her own question by offering, “I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places,