The Puglia Podcast

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

As the covid-19 coronavirus goes global so do we. Our first conversation is with Alp in Istanbul before heading across the border to Greece where Fo is in Serres, Vicky in Thessaloniki and Amalia and her brother Hercules and sister Angela are in Egio, near Patras. We ask them how their countries are dealing with the current crisis, with particular reference to societal and economic challenges, and the day to day impact on their lives. We compare and contrast the situation in Italy and the UK. Recordings were made live over the internet on Sunday 15 March 2020.

As news leaks that a quarter of Italy's population are to be put into quarantine, Puglia's President Michele Emiliano issued a dramatic appeal urging those trying to escape the quarantine zone, "Don't come to Puglia, go back." He urges "Get off at the first train station, don't take planes to Bari and Brindisi, go back by car, get off the bus at the next stop," he wrote, mostly addressing people from the region who live in the north.

"Do not bring the Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia epidemic to your Puglia. You are carrying the virus into the lungs of your brothers and sisters, your grandparents, uncles, cousins and parents."

With our guest Guiseppe we consider the impact of covid-19 on day-to-day life in Italy, Europe's worst hit country, and how it affects life in Puglia - currently outside the quarantine zone.

This episode was recorded on 8 March 2020, the day that Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte announced the quarantine.

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

In this mini-episode we speak to Antonio Nicoletti the Direttore Generale of Basilicata's tourist board, the Agenzia di Promozione Territoriale Basilicata. Antonio explains that there's no rest for Matera. After a full and splendid year as European Capital of Culture in 2019 Matera is preparing for another surge in tourism in 2020 after the release of "No Time to Die" the 25th James Bond movie this April. Antonio tells us why Basilicata has so much more to offer than the sass of the Sassi. So sit back and listen as Antonio guides us through four seasons in Basilicata - "le quattro stagioni in Basilicata". To find out more about beautiful Basilicatta visit their website at www.basilicataturistica.it

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

Bond is back! We preview "No Time to Die" filmed in Puglia and in neighbouring Matera. With guest Gianluca, one of the organisers of the 2020 Salento Rainbow Film Festival we talk films showing off Puglia at its best and preview the 2020 Festival, now in its 6th year.

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

When you think of Italian men, you might well think dark and hairy. But the modern Italian man prefers to "manscape", waxing all over their body, from their chest arms and legs... and even more intimate bits. Scott thinks that for the sake of the podcast it's time to go the full "Italian", but ultimately decides that for his first waxing, maybe less is more. For this episode he is joined once again by @daviditalia92 who isn't afraid of a good waxing all over... and he means all over. Including his most tender parts.

So, how will Scott fair? More pain than pleasure? Listen to find out....

We take a detour from Puglia and our usual focus on LGBT+ life and culture when Scott represents Italy on a 10-day Erasmus+ course held in Reims, France...just north of Paris, where champagne comes from...

If you don't know about Erasmus+, Jus Gentium and the amazing learning and cultural (=the big party) experience that Erasmus+ provides, listen to the podcast and be sure to check out our post about it on the RicchiToni website hosted by the podcast.

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

We meet Fabrizio in his adopted town, Grottaglie, famous for its ceramics. We learn about the ethos of the boutique/bar business that he runs and consider the benefits of being able to be your authentic self and the internal discrimination that exists within the gay community. Fabrizio is the proprietor of FCruciani, via Armando Diaz 50, Grottaglie. Find him on Instagram @cruciani.fabrizio

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

We visit Torre Guaceto, one of Puglia's most popular beaches, and one of its best known gay and nudist beaches. We speak to some volunteers from WWF working at the nature reserve and cleaning up the beach. DavidItalia92 is back to tell us how the local gays access the gay beach - which is much easier than the 50 minute plus walk described on other LGBT travel guides - and to tell us a little bit more about what to expect...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

We are in Matera, European capital of culture 2019, for the first ever Matera Pride. We take the chance to compare it with our experiences of Rome Pride, Bari Pride and Taranto Pride. Michele takes the test and we find out whether he is more a prosecco or peroni boy, with a preference for inside or outside...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.

Part 2 of our gay travel guide to Ostuni, Puglia. David, our guide to Ostuni, takes us to Ostuni's two local beaches where there is something more beginning with "S" going on than just sun, sea and sand... Lamaforca and Torre Pozzelle. David explains the protocol and the rules of engagement and helps us with the language! ADULT CONTENT and EXPLICIT REFERENCES used.