Open Draft - with Fabio Cerpelloni

In this episode, I share a personal story about Susy, a person that changed my life forever. This was a very hard story for me to tell but I'm glad I had the courage to share it. By crafting this story I reflected on many things and, I won't lie to you, I even cried. Some people told me it made them cry too, so it's probably a good idea to have some tissues at hand :) I hope you'll find this episode somehow inspiring and if you want to 'meet' Susy, you can see her on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photo that inspired this story (stolaroid.com/susy)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a personal story about discovering what freedom might really mean for me. It's a story from 2013, when I was living and travelling around Australia. What happened in this story is probably one of the most important things I've learned in life and it's something that might make you reflect on your idea of freedom. What does being free really mean for you? Think about this question after you've listened to this episode, which was inspired by a photo of Ivan, our amazing van. You'll see 'him' on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photo that inspired this story (stolaroid.com/road-trip)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a personal story about two people I met while I was backpacking in Bulgaria: Sasho, a cool Bulgarian guy, and Emma, a lovely girl from Greece. Meeting this couple made me reflect on the type of people I like hanging out with and I hope this story will inspire you to do the same. You'll see a lovely photo of Sasho and Emma on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photo that inspired this story (stolaroid.com/sasho-and-emma)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a personal story about a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat I took in South Korea in 2017. I was isolated from the world for 10 days. No internet. No smartphones. No books. Nothing! I meditated all day every day and discovered what/who my biggest enemy in life is. This is a story that, I think, will really make you reflect a lot on yourself.  I'm not religious at all, but I highly recommend taking a spiritual retreat. It's an awesome eye-opening experience.

The photo that inspired 'The Enemy' is a picture of the meditation centre I took when I arrived there. You can see it on my website (link below).

Episode links

Here's where you can learn more about Vipassana (dhamma.org/en/index)

The South Korean Vipassana centre where I took the course (korea.dhamma.org)

The photos that inspired this story (stolaroid.com/enemy)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a personal story about the way I tend to form impressions about people I don't know. It takes place in the summer of 2021 while I was buying a souvenir in Greece and it's a story that might make you think about the way you make judgments about strangers. The photo that inspired this story is not particularly special. It's not a picture of that moment but one of the souvenir I bought. You'll also hear me talk about another photo. You can see both of them on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photos that inspired this story (stolaroid.com/souvenir)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a personal story about a time I was running in the woods near my hometown. I often go out running as this is a way for me to release stress, stop worrying about problems and reflect. As I was running, I started wondering if I was living my life on autopilot. This is a story that might make you reflect on how you live your life. If you feel you're going through the same routine day after day, this is a story you might want to hear. It was inspired by a photo of the track I was running on, which you can see on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photos that inspired 'Autopilot' (stolaroid.com/autopilot/)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a true story about doing something that scared me. I was solo travelling from Romania to Bulgaria and found myself in a situation where the only option I had was to do something I was afraid of. This is a story that might remind you of a time you did something you were scared of, but it could also be a story that will inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and take more risks in your life. Comfort is very addictive and doesn't help you grow. Doing something that scares you is one way to step out of it and discover your true potential. 

The story was inspired by a selfie I took as I was doing this scary thing. You can see this on my website (link below). In the story I also mention a book by Derek Sivers, one of my favourite writers (link below).

Episode links

The photos that inspired 'If It Scares You, Go Do It' (stolaroid.com/if-it-scares-you-go-do-it) 

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

The book I mention in the story (sive.rs/n)

The page I was reading on the train (https://sive.rs/scares)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In this episode, I tell a very short story about a time I went for a slow mindful walk in my neighbourhood and noticed little things around me that made me feel grateful. One of the reasons I sometimes feel sad and frustrated is because I focus on what I don't have rather than appreciating what I already have. Appreciation, this is what this story is all about. It's a simple story that might inspire you to have a walk in your neighbourhood and pay attention to what's around you, so you feel happier. Being grateful is one way to feel happy. 

I took a photo while I was walking. It's not the greatest photo you'll ever see, but it very much reminds me of that day. You can see it on my website (link below).

Episode links

The photos that inspired 'Neighbourhood' (stolaroid.com/neighbourhood)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me

Email me at [email protected]

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid).

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)

In Episode 1 of Stolaroid Stories, I tell a personal story about travel, love and separation. It's a true story from 2013. I was 25 back then and I was moving from Italy to Adelaide, Australia. The story was inspired by a photo that my mother took while I was getting ready to go to the airport and I think it's one that might make you think about a time you left someone you really loved. At the end of the story, I refer to another photo that I took in 2021. You can see these photos on my website (link below). 

Episode links 

The photos that inspired 'Leaving for Australia' (stolaroid.com/leaving-for-australia)

My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)

How to get in touch with me 

Email me at [email protected] 

I'm also on Instagram (fabio_stolaroid) and Facebook (Fabio Stolaroid). 

Join my private email list by downloading my free guide on how to use your own photos and stories to improve your English (stolaroid.com/get-your-guide)