The Italophilia Podcast

Italy in the winter is a completely different experience. In this episode, I’m taking you through the quieter, colder, slower side of the country and sharing what I’ve learned from travelling there during the winter months. From cities that are wonderful to explore without the crowds to the little things you need to know before planning a winter trip, we’ll look at why this season might be more rewarding than you expect. I also take you to Tellaro , a tiny coastal village in Liguria that holds a very special place in my winter Italy story. It’s one of those places that reminded me why I love discovering the Italy that exists beyond the usual tourist routes! If you’re dreaming of Italy but wondering whether winter is the right time to go, come along. Planning your first trip to Italy? Check out ⁠ What Nobody Tells You About Italy ⁠ - an eBook with 29 essential things to know before you go- from everyday etiquette and getting around to the small cultural details in Italy. It includes a first timers guide to Italy and things you don't necessarily think to Google before an Italy trip. Get the ebook ⁠ here ⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who dreams of Italy as much as you do

Turin wasn't on my original Italy list. And yet, somehow, I went back twice within eight months! In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, we head to Turin/Torino - a city of grand arcades, elegant piazze, historic cafés and unhurried walks beneath the porticoes of Via Po. I'll take you through some of the things that make Turin so distinctive including an unexpected friendship that began on Instagram while planning my first trip- and eventually led to a friendship that crossed continents. If you're curious about an Italy beyond Rome, Florence and Venice, come to Turin. Follow on YouTube , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com Planning your first trip to Italy? I put together What Nobody Tells You About Italy - 29 essential things to know before you go, from everyday etiquette and getting around to the small cultural details in Italy. It’s for the things you don't necessarily think to Google before an Italy trip. Get the ebook here If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast on Spotify and Apple ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who dreams of Italy as much as you do

For years, conversations in Italy followed the same pattern: I'd speak a little Italian, and people would kindly switch to English. Until one trip in 2022, when they didn't. In this episode, I reflect on the moments my Italian became more than something I'd studied and for the first time, I felt I made it! Related Episodes: I am speaking in Italian in this episode! The Fear of Speaking Italian (and being judged) Why Studying Italian Was a Choice That Changed My Life Want to chat about Italy with me? Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ask an Italophile ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast on Spotify and Apple ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who dreams of Italy as much as you do

Italy is still one of the most extraordinary countries to visit-but the travel experience has changed. From record-breaking tourism to social media crowds, there are a few things every traveler should know before booking their trip. In this episode, I share 5 ways travelling to Italy has changed since 2020 and how you can make the most of your visit today. Also, if you're planning your travels to Italy, check out my eBook called "What Nobody Tells You About Italy". This eBook includes 29 things to avoid -things that cost time, money or even a fine if nobody warns you first. It is everything I've learned in 13 years that never really makes it to the guidebooks. If that sounds like your kind of read, the link is ⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠ Related Episodes: The Italy We Imagine Through Films If I Were To Do My First Italy Trip Again Learn more about: ⁠ Ask an Italophile ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast on Spotify and Apple ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who dreams of Italy as much as you do

Coffee is more than a drink, it is a cultural ritual. In this bonus episode, I compare coffee culture in Italy and India, while also making coffee in my Moka Pot in the background (there are sounds!) ☕🇮🇹🇮🇳 Related Episodes: From My Kitchen in India: The Moka Pot Ritual What I Miss About Italy and What I Don't Enjoy the sound of ⁠ my moka ⁠ bubbling in your home! If you love the show, please do consider supporting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠ I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who loves coffee!

Google can tell you train times, museum opening hours and the most popular restaurants in Florence. But it can't tell you whether you'd fall in love with Perugia more than Venice or why standing at a coffee bar might become one of your favourite memories. In this episode, I share why some of the best conversations I've had about Italy have happened away from search engines and why I've decided to create a new way for fellow Italophiles. Learn more about: Ask an Italophile Also, if you're planning your travels to Italy, check out my eBook called "What Nobody Tells You About Italy". This eBook includes 29 things to avoid -things that cost time, money or even a fine if nobody warns you first. It is everything I've learned in 13 years that never really makes it to the guidebooks. If that sounds like your kind of read, the link is ⁠⁠⁠ here Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack ⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com Related Episodes: Why Do I Talk About Italy So Much? Why I'm Not Trying To Become Anyone Else If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could: ⭐ Follow The Italophilia Podcast ⭐ Leave a rating or review on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Podcasts ⭐ Share this episode with someone who dreams of Italy as much as you do

The Italy you'll remember most may not be the Italy you planned for. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I talk about the things nobody really tells you before your first trip -the slower pace of life, the joy of wandering without a plan, the small moments that stay with you, and why Italy stays with you! All of this and more is included in my eBook called "What Nobody Tells You About Italy". This eBook includes 29 things to avoid -things that cost time, money or even a fine if nobody warns you first. It is everything I've learned that never really makes it to the guidebooks. If that sounds like your kind of read, the link is ⁠ here ⁠ Related Episodes: Italy and the art of being alone My best encounters with Italian strangers Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com

Beyond Rome, Florence, and Venice lies another Italy - one filled with elegant northern cities, Baroque southern gems, and hidden corners that stay with you long after you've left. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I share 5 places I would personally recommend for your next trip to Italy: Perugia, Trieste, Lecce, Modica, and Torino. These aren't necessarily the most famous destinations, but they are places that surprised me, inspired me, and continue to occupy a special place in my memory. Whether you're planning a future trip or simply dreaming about Italy from afar, I hope this episode introduces you to a few places worth adding to your list!! Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠ Check out ⁠⁠ these 15 Italian words ⁠⁠ that express what we often can't. Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack

A quick thank you to everyone who has supported The Italophilia Podcast. As the podcast approaches a special milestone, I'm taking a moment to ask a small favour. If you've enjoyed the show, please consider following the show and giving a rating and a review on Spotify , Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts ! Grazie, it means a lot! Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠ ⁠

On this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I talk about what it means to be an Italophile. (lover of all things Italian) This episode is dedicated to all Italy lovers! If you're planning your travels to Italy, check out my eBook called "What Nobody Tells You About Italy". This eBook includes 29 things to avoid -things that cost time, money or even a fine if nobody warns you first. It is everything I've learned in 13 years that never really makes it to the guidebooks. If that sounds like your kind of read, the link is ⁠⁠⁠ here Support the show by buying my a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠ Related Episodes: My Best Encounters with Strangers in Italy Why Do I Talk About Italy So Much Share your thoughts on the podcast: info@ishitasood.com

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I share about how I discovered the world of Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano books in Assisi and ended up doing my own little Montalbano tour in Sicily. This episode is about my love for the Sicilian characters over the years. Also, if you're planning your travels to Italy, check out my eBook called "What Nobody Tells You About Italy". This eBook includes 29 things to avoid -things that cost time, money or even a fine if nobody warns you first. It is everything I've learned in 13 years that never really makes it to the guidebooks. If that sounds like your kind of read, the link is ⁠⁠⁠ here Related Episodes: My Italian Journey Through Jhumpa Lahiri Authors Who Shaped How I Look at Italy Buy Montalbano books here Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com

A reflection on how cinema shapes the way we see Italy, from La Grande Bellezza, The White Lotus and To Rome with Love, Call Me by Your Name and The Talented Mr. Ripley. This episode ends with a food for thought- do you think we are pre-influenced when it comes to Italy?? Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I reflect on the fear of speaking Italian, of being judged for your accent, navigating identity and learning to show up anyway. This is a personal take on what it really feels like to speak Italian as an Indian woman. Check out my guide Italian for the Soul - ⁠⁠⁠ 15 Italian words ⁠⁠⁠ that don't translate. Along with their meaning and pronunciation, I've included a short reflection with each of them. Format: PDF | 17 pages | Instant download | $9 Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Sometimes life shifts not through big events, but through small decisions - like enrolling for a course and opening a textbook. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I share how studying Italian became one of the most defining choices of my life and how it shaped me and my career. Want to know more about my Italian journey? Listen to the episodes below: Learning Italian and finding motivation The Fear of Speaking Italian (and being judged) Also, check out my guide Italian for the Soul - ⁠⁠⁠ 15 Italian words ⁠⁠⁠ that don't translate. Along with their meaning and pronunciation, I've included a short reflection with each of them. Hope you like them! Format: PDF | 17 pages | Instant download | $9 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠ Check out ⁠ these 15 Italian words ⁠ that express what we often can't. Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I reflect on the authors who shaped how I see Italy - from Tim Parks’ realism to Beppe Severgnini’s wit and Elena Ferrante’s emotional intensity. A quiet conversation about how literature deepens our relationship with a place beyond travel. Books mentioned: 1. On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo by Tim Parks 2. An Italian in Italy by Beppe Severgnini 3. Neapolitan Novel Series by Elena Ferrante If you love The Italophilia Podcast do consider supporting the show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Substack Connect: info@ishitasood.com

A mindful reflection on letting go of comparison, finding your own pace, and standing fully in who you already are. This episode of The Italophilia Podcast is about growth and learning to shine more authentically by being yourself. Thanks for tuning in! If you love this no fluff unedited and raw Italophilia show and would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack Connect: info@ishitasood.com

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I reflect on re-reading In Altre Parole by Jhumpa Lahiri and the unexpected moment when it made me cry. This is not a book review but my journey and meditation on the Italian language. At the heart of this episode is one haunting idea: to stay in dialogue, however imperfect, even when the language remains indifferent. If you love this no fluff unedited and raw Italophilia show and would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com

A small thank you to listeners of The Italophilia Podcast. This bonus episode is a personal story and reflection of one of my lowest phases and coincidentally also the phase when this podcast was born. Grazie for listening! If you love this podcast would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ ⁠⁠

Rome was the first Italian city I ever visited and the one that stayed with me. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I reflect on why Rome became my favourite Italian city, not as a tourist destination, but as a feeling. I also share how my first impression of Rome began long before I travelled, through cinema. This episode is a love letter to La Città Eterna- Roma. If you love this no fluff unedited and raw Italophilia show and would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠ here Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com ⁠⁠

When Italian food travels to India, it often becomes louder. More cheese. More sauces. More toppings. In this episode, I reflect on how cucina italiana changes when it enters an Indian context. From ketchup, oregano, and chilli flakes on pizza, to richer sauces and heavier portions, this episode explores why Indian palates respond differently to Italian food! If you love Italophilia, do consider supporting the show ⁠ here You can also listen to my ⁠ Manifesting Italy ⁠ audio - 90 seconds of affirmations inspired by the same energy. Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ ⁠ ⁠