Sometimes a single dinner can change everything! In this episode the Italian Life team greets Chef Aurelio Barattini to talk about the distinctions of Tuscan cooking and the traditions of a family restaurant, four generations in the making, Antico Locanda di Sesto! News of the day celebrates Andrew's favorite, The 80th birthday of the Vespa and guess. what? Smart Working doesn't mean what you think in Italian-- Iole's word of the day will set you straight.

Italian Life guest Joe Hamrahi visits the podcast to discuss that pull that so many Italo-Americans feel, to come to Italy and reconnect with their roots. Joe's ties to Sicily include a great grandfather, an actual Corleone Family loyalist, who's gangland murder on the streets of New York made the New York Post. We have a Napoli Bank Robbery on News of the Day and much more.

Italian Life goes to the Eastern edge of Tuscany with special guests Sonia and Tom, owners of Casale Della Luci, a restored Tuscan farm house in the medieval town of Lucignano, known as the "Pearl of Val di Chiana. Learn all about this amazing region, with nearby gems like Arezzo, Cortona and Montepulciano and more. News of the day takes a serious look at the controversial new Italian Citizenship laws exploring the different sides of the issue. Listen in and learn, be inspired and plan your trip to discover the undiscovered.

Italian Life heads south with our guest Claudia who grew up in Puglia as our guide. We dive into the famous places you may know—Alberobello, Matera and Polignano a Mare, but take you so much further and tell you how to enjoy it like a local. Andrew takes the challenge to test his one day walking tour of Bari. See how he does! News of the day and so much more.

Special guest Russell Thomas, a 20+year resident of Siena joins Italian Life for a deep dive into how to discover one of Tuscany's most interesting, beautiful cities. Beyond the famous Palio in the summer, the city continues to defend its old-style charm and ancient traditions while being a vibrant place for locals and tourists to easily mix. We follow up an earlier News of the Day on the controversial painting using the face of Giorgia Meloni, and Iole protests Is it Real or AI? Don't miss this!

Special guest Eric Veroliemeulen, curator of This Time Tomorrow in Florence joins the Italian Life crew to dive into all things Florence, where strong opinions drive the public conversation. Love it? Hate it? There seems to be little in between, yet it remains one of the most popular destinations in all of Italy. We dive into the issues, explore solutions for your visit and give the insider's perspective on all things Firenze, the epicenter of The Renaissance. Riccardo struggles with Is It Real or AI?, news of the day on tourism trends and much more.

Special guest Manuel Maiese joins the Italian Life team talking about the wonders of seeing Tuscany to the Ligurian Sea from the mountains above. Maneul, of Wild Trails, is hosting our Jaw Dropping Hikes week April 24-30 including the amazingly fun, local, walking celebration of Marce della Villa! News of the day about efforts to stop overtourism, Is it Real or Ai, and so much more.

With our hub so close to Viareggio, home to one of the best Carnevale festivals in all of Italy, we danced and dodged our way through the festivities to give you the pros and cons and the insider tips on how to make this amazing festival, a bucket list item that you won't miss next year. And the funniest Is it Real or AI ever? You be the judge! Listen in.

Riccardo and Andrew welcome Simone, co-owner of Bella Touring Tuscany to dive into the myths and realities of over-tourism and whether Americans are less welcome in Italy than before. We help you navigate and give great ideas for how to plan your next vacation. Word of the day, News of the day and Simone takes her first shot at "Is It Real or AI?" Listen in!

Well we don't get to all five of them, but lively conversation here about how to plan (and not plan) you're next Italian adventure. Check out our free guide to unlock Tuscany and avoid all five of these mistakes here: https://unlocktuscany.com/

Iole and Andrew banter about the best small airports, what's real and what's AI and of course, the word of the day! Listen in.