In this episode, I sit down with my husband Simone for a deeply honest conversation about what it means to rebuild your life and start again at 52.

After decades in Australia, running businesses, building a life, raising a family and following a path that looked successful from the outside, Simone made the bold decision to leave it all behind and return to his homeland of Sicily with me and our daughter.

We talk about the realities of reinvention, the fear that comes with big change, letting go of old identities, and why it's never too late to create a life that feels more aligned with who you truly are.

This is a raw, reflective and at times inspiring conversation about courage, family, purpose, ageing, and the belief that some of the most meaningful chapters of our lives can begin when we least expect them.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start over, pursue a dream, move countries, change careers, or create a different life for yourself, this episode is for you.

Because perhaps the question isn't whether it's too late.

Perhaps the question is: what would you do if you trusted yourself enough to begin again?

For our 10 year anniversary, we decided to sit down and tell the story of how it all began.

In this episode we go right back to the start, how we met, our first impressions of each other, the early days of our relationship and some of the moments that shaped the life we’ve built together over the last decade.

There’s a lot of laughter in this one, a few stories we haven’t spoken about in years, it felt really special going down memory lane together.

This episode is us reflecting on love, timing, growth and everything that has unfolded between then and now.

A little reminder that some of the biggest things in life can begin with one completely ordinary moment.

This episode continues the conversation we began in Episode 8 because, truthfully, this is still our current reality.

We speak more openly about mental health, emotional exhaustion, grief, instability and the challenges we’re navigating while trying to settle into life in Sicily. We also talk about the ongoing search for a place to finally call home and how unsettling it can feel living in such an in-between season of life.

These episodes aren’t polished, motivational or wrapped up neatly with answers. They are simply us sharing where we are in real time honestly, vulnerably and unfiltered.

And we think there’s something important in allowing that to be enough too.

After almost a month away from the podcast, we’re back with a very real and honest update on where we’re currently at in Sicily.

Truthfully, the last few weeks have been heavy. We’ve been navigating grief, instability, emotional overwhelm and the reality of trying to build a new life while not fully feeling grounded yet ourselves.

In this episode we speak openly about what’s been going on behind the scenes, the mental and emotional challenges we’ve been facing, the uncertainty of still searching for a place that feels like home, and what it’s been like trying to hold everything together while moving through such a big life transition.

It’s not the most polished or uplifting episode, but that’s also the point of this podcast. Life Unfiltered was always meant to be real-time, honest conversations about where we actually are not just the highlight reel.

Friendship is something we don’t talk about enough.

In this episode we reflect on how friendships can slowly fade when life becomes full, and how important it is to consciously nurture and prioritise the people around us.

We speak about building a village, the effort real connection requires, and the cultural differences we’ve experienced between Australia and Italy when it comes to community.

It’s an honest and at times confronting conversation, but one that comes from a place of wanting deeper connection for all of us.

We’ve officially arrived in Sicily.

This week we share what the first few days have really looked like not just the beauty of being here, but the reality of stepping into a completely new life.

It’s been amazing, but it hasn’t been without its challenges.

We speak honestly about not having everything figured out, and what it feels like to juggle building new businesses, navigating parenthood, settling into a new rhythm, and searching for a place that truly feels like home… all while slowly beginning the process of restoring our farmhouse.

This episode is a real-time life update raw, honest, and exactly where we are right now.

We finally made it to Italy.In this episode we’re just sitting down and sharing what the journey actually looked like, travelling with a 1-year-old, the flight over, arriving, and everything in between.

There were moments that were chaotic, moments that were beautiful, and a few that we can laugh about now.

This is a real, in-the-moment update as we step into this new chapter.

In this episode we talk about the uncomfortable side of building an online business. After years running a restaurant, putting ourselves out there online and asking for support has felt vulnerable, awkward and yes a little cringe.

But if we want to change our lives and build something meaningful, we have to move through that discomfort.

We speak openly about finances, sacrifice, the transition away from brick-and-mortar business, and share the projects and guides we’ve created as we begin this new chapter.

A gentle note before listening:
In this episode we speak openly about death and grief. I share the story of my dad’s passing, including the hours leading up to it and the moment he took his final breath.

If you are currently navigating loss, please take care while listening and only tune in if it feels right for you.

For us, this conversation was deeply emotional but also strangely beautiful, and we speak about the peace and perspective that has come from the experience.

For those who have walked through and are still walking through grief, we hope this episode makes you feel a little less alone.

In this episode we talk about something that’s been sitting quietly underneath this move to Sicily...FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

The excitement is real, but so is the apprehension. We speak honestly about what it feels like to leave the familiar, to step into Simone’s homeland as a couple and family, and the invisible pressure that can build in a relationship when one person is returning home and the other is starting over.

This is a conversation about naming the fears, not running from them, and choosing to support each other as we step into a life that feels uncertain but deeply right.