Best Small Group Travel Italy Podcasts (2024)

1
This Delicious Life, with Food Writer Sonya Gellert 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

Sonya Gellert has the enviable job of being a full-time food writer. She’s done a host of fabulous things throughout a career that's taken her from Australia to Japan, the UK and back to Australia. She's been a travel editor, restaurant reviewer, editorial food and drink writer, copywriter and recipe editor. She’s written for Table Magazine UK, Esc…

1
Episode 104: Sicily - A Food Tour in the Land of "White Lotus" 42:00

4M ago42:00

42:00

Thanks to the incredible popularity of the show White Lotus, Sicily is red hot right now. In this episode, Natascha Mirosch chats with Carmel Ruggeri, former restaurateur-turned-tour guide, who runs extremely popular tours to a part of Italy not only blessed with natural beauty, but some of the country's best regional cuisine (cannoli anyone?) Carm…

1
Australia's Guy Grossi and "La Cucina Italiana" 45:00

6M ago45:00

45:00

Guy Grossi has carved out a distinguished career and made a significant contribution to the hospitality scene over the last forty years, both as a restaurateur and chef. In fact, in 1996, Guy was awarded the L'insegna Del Ristorante Italiano by no less than the president of Italy, for his dedication to presenting and promoting "La Cucina Italiana" …

1
How to Buy a Property in Italy and Those One Euro Houses 38:49

9M ago38:49

38:49

We've talked about those one Euro houses in Italy in a previous podcast (episode 81) but in this episode we’re about to revisit the subject (and the topic of buying property in Italy as a foreigner in general) with Michele Capecchi, a lawyer based in Florence, who has extensive experience in guiding foreigners through the red tape that is buying a …

1
What's an Antarctic Cruise Really Like? 58:20

9M ago58:20

58:20

Have you been thinking of (or dreaming about) taking an Antarctic cruise? Cruising is huge and estimates have the cruise industry growing by another 9% in 2024. For some regular cruisers, particularly those with large disposable incomes, the great white continent, represents just another an as-yet unexplored cruise destination to conquer. For other…

1
How to Hike, with Caro Ryan 47:51

10M ago47:51

47:51

We all know that getting out and communing with nature is good for both our body and our mental health, but where to start if you've never done any hiking but are keen to give it a go? Trekking, hiking, tramping, rambling or just plain walking - whatever you call if and whatever you aspire to, whether it's a kilometre on a flat countryside track to…

1
Playing with Fire. With Agnes chef, Ben Williamson 55:15

10M ago55:15

55:15

Agnes Restaurant was recently awarded Restaurant of the Year by Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant. In this episode of ExtraVirgin, Natascha Mirosch chats with Agnes executive chef, Ben Williamson, who also co-owns other popular restaurants Same Same, Bianca, Honto and Agnes Bakery. Western Australian-born Ben spent time travelling the Middle …

1
From Gauchos to Glaciers - Adventures in South America 41:27

12M ago41:27

41:27

Is South America on your wish list but you worry it might be too challenging or unsafe? In this episode, ExtraVirgin host, Natascha Mirosch who has just returned from 3 weeks in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, shares her experiences. Her trip, travelling by plane, car and boat, starts in Santiago in Chile, where she visits an extraordinary museum and…

1
Uncharted Paths: The Joy Of Small Group Adventures 39:08

1y ago39:08

39:08

Group travel needn't involve being shuttled around on 50-seater coaches, taken to the major sights to snap your instagram pics, then...back on the bus to do it all again. In this podcast, host Natascha Mirosch talks with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass who offer small group trips to some destinations that are definitely off the well-trod t…

1
Episode 102: How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World 28:26

1y ago28:26

28:26

Accommodation is one of the biggest expenses when we travel, but what if you could travel almost anywhere in the world and stay for free? Our guest on this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel tells us how. Fiona Ryan has done more than a dozen exchanges, temporarily swapping her home in Brisbane, Australia for one in cities such as Helsinki or B…

1
Postcard from Dublin, Ireland 9:44

1y ago9:44

9:44

This episode of Extra Virgin Food and Travel's "Postcards,"comes to you from the Republic of Ireland's capital, Dublin. Our guide is Louise Slyth, who's originally from Scotland but has made this enchanting city her home. Louise shows us around 'her' Dublin, her favourite galleries and museums, parks and pubs. She tells us the best places to shop a…

1
Postcard from Istanbul 10:41

1y ago10:41

10:41

Welcome back to another episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel Podcast. In this episode, we're embarking on an extraordinary journey to an enchanting travel destination, where east meets west (literally) and history and flavours are equally complex - Istanbul, Türkiye. Chatting with host Natascha Mirosch, is intrepid travel writer and cultural conn…

1
Creating a Hospitality Empire - Tony Kelly 49:52

1y ago49:52

49:52

Being credited with having "the Midas touch" is one thing that riles the seemingly unflappable Tony Kelly. His journey from young apprentice to owning ten successful Sunshine Coast hospitality businesses has been far from easy, nor linear - there have not only been set-backs and hard times, but also periods of intense self-doubt, the chef-turned-re…

1
How to Drink Australian, with Jane Lopes 50:45

1+ y ago50:45

50:45

Sommelier, importer and wine writer Jane Lopes reckons that Australia is making the most exciting wines in the world right now, and ExtraVirgin podcast host Natascha Mirosch, while she could be accused of being a little biased, agrees. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel Podcast, Jane and Natascha discuss Jane's background - including th…

1
Postcard from London, England 8:46

1+ y ago8:46

8:46

Heading to London? There's a lot more to the city than Buckingham palace and Big Ben. Our guest on this episode of "Postcards," is Che-Marie Trigg, a freelance writer and editor. In February 2023 she relocated from Sydney to London for the second time – she spent two years living and working in the English capital in 2017 and 2018, and has been in …

1
The Impacts of Tourism and How to be a Better Traveler 46:17

1+ y ago46:17

46:17

What could possibly be wrong with volunteering in an orphanage for a week of your holiday? Should you reconsider taking that Antarctic cruise? In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel, Natascha Mirosch talks with Freya Higgins- Desbiolles, an academic in the field of tourism and co-editor of the recent books Socialising Tourism: Rethinking To…

1
How to Cook and Eat Like an Italian 51:31

1+ y ago51:31

51:31

Italians have what is indisputably the best cuisine and lifestyle in the world, right? In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel, Natascha Mirosch talks with Silvestro Silvestori, owner and director of cooking school The Awaiting Table, in the beautiful baroque city of Lecce, in Italy's south about how to cook and eat like an Italian. Rich in …

1
Postcard from Split, Croatia 12:55

1+ y ago12:55

12:55

In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel podcast, we hear from travel and food journalist Belinda Luksic, who left her home in Australian in December to live in Split, in Croatia. For this postcard from her adopted town, Belinda shares what's so special about Split, its beautiful coastline and nearby islands, the ancient palace and atmospheri…

1
Galoppa galoppa, o bel cavalier — la Giostra del Saracino fa venire! 5:12

1+ y ago5:12

5:12

Get ready! Hold on to your horses (or should I say your lance?) because I'm going to tell you about the Giostra del Saracino. This most thrilling and exciting event occurs in Arezzo every June and September! What is the Giostra del Saracino? It's a medieval jousting tournament that dates back to the 13th century, and it's held in the beautiful Piaz…

1
Future-proofing our food security 40:17

1+ y ago40:17

40:17

What is wrong with our food system? What's threatening food security? Covid and food shortages highlighted one aspect - the supply chain, and climate change is showing us another. There is an urgent need to fundamentally transform the way we farm, shop and cook - it's no longer enough to just try to maintain the status quo, but instead, we need to …

1
Treasure Island - The Southern Great Barrier Reef's Lady Elliot Island 40:43

1+ y ago40:43

40:43

The Great Barrier Reef, at 2300 kms (1400 miles) is almost twice the length of Italy. It's pristine southern end, just four hours drive, or a short flight from Brisbane, however remains a bit of a secret yet is no less spectacular than the tourist hot-spots off Cairns. For this episode of ExtraVirgin, we travel to one of the southern islands, where…

1
The Best Cookbooks of 2022 13:38

2y ago13:38

13:38

Well, some of them! This year has produced a bumper crop of fantastic cookbooks - way too many to give love to in a podcast, so Natascha Mirosch has picked out a few of her favourites from 2022. Some are already sauce splattered and dog-eared, others waiting their turn, but she reckons all are a little bit special - from books that will help nip fo…

1
Postcard from Berlin, Germany 8:37

2y ago8:37

8:37

Did you know that Berlin has more bridges than Venice? Or that has a 160km bike trail along the former Berlin wall? Or that vintage shopping and "textile free" bathing are big? You'll learn more about these topics, plus where to eat, drink and play in this exciting, creative city in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel's Postcard. So whether y…

1
Pasta Grannies, with Vicky Bennison 29:56

2y ago29:56

29:56

All over Italy, in tiny mountain and seaside villages, elderly women are making pasta by hand, as their mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers did before them. But with a shrinking world with accessibility to prepackaged food and supermarkets, and an ever-elderly population of nonnas, it's a dying art. Since 2014, however, Vicky Bennison h…

1
Postcard from Lisbon 9:00

2y ago9:00

9:00

Ola! This ExtraVirgin Postcard comes from the beautiful capital of Portugal - Lisbon, one of Europe's oldest cities. Tour guide, travel and food writer and blogger Daniela Sunde-Brown moved to the city in 2018. In this postcard, Daniela shares with us the best of her adopted city, from the miradores offering the best views of the city, to where to …

1
How one cataclysmic moment changed this chef's life. 34:00

2y ago34:00

34:00

In April 2022, chef Adam Wolfers was riding his bike when he was struck down by a stroke, at just 38. He lost movement on one side of his body, his sense of taste and had to learn to do the everyday things he once took for granted all over again. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, Natascha Mirosch catches up with this talented chef, who'…

1
Postcard from New York 27:11

2y ago27:11

27:11

New York City. "Everybody is here and everything is here for you. A lot of people are here to live out their dreams and make wonderful things happen." So says our guest in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast's "Postcard," Dena Levitz. Event organiser, yoga teacher and travel journalist, New Yorker Dena shows us her New York, taking us…

1
How I Found My Missing Travel Mojo in Italy & France 19:40

2y ago19:40

19:40

I nearly cancelled the whole thing, I really did. Mid-2022 and I'd booked a trip in September to France and Italy and it was causing me high anxiety. The world is in turmoil. The Covid crisis seems to be easing, but is it? Will I get stuck away from home like so many others? What about the war in Ukraine? What about work, how can I be away that lon…

1
Postcard from Amalfi 16:46

2y ago16:46

16:46

Laura Thayer is living a life most of us could only dream of. An American by birth, Laura is a travel writer based on Italy's Amalfi Coast. In this postcard, Laura shows us around her Amalfi, a place that won her heart in 2007. She shares everything from her favourite beach, to where to buy the best pastries, how to get around to avoid the traffic …

1
Italy for Culture Lovers 28:47

2y ago28:47

28:47

Italy. Art, culture, history. They're some of the topics Natascha Mirosch discusses with Dr Kathleen Olive, cultural historian, university lecturer and tour leader. They discuss her first trip to Florence as a young PHD student, the best places to visit in Italy for art and culture lovers, how she'd spend 10 days in Italy and much more, If you love…

1
Postcard from Toronto, Canada 10:55

2+ y ago10:55

10:55

This ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Postcard wings its way to us from one of the world's most multicultural cities, Toronto, Canada. Our guest is lifestyle journalist Maryam Saddiqi who shares everything she loves about her city; from its lively art scene, to heritage districts and green spaces, its residents’ love of sports, the live music scene, and o…

1
Ascoli Piceno Small Group Italian Program 11:21

2+ y ago11:21

11:21

In a new podcast, I take to Ascoli Piceno, where I’m planning a new Italian Language Program this September. Here is a chance to meet some of the teachers and the school director with whom I am partnering this September to organize a small group Italian language program in le March in the town of Ascoli Piceno from September 11 - 23, 2022. We also …

1
Kirsten TIbballs - Chocolate Queen 24:51

2+ y ago24:51

24:51

Her classes sell out within minutes of being open for bookings; she is a regular guest chef on Masterchef and she has her own television programme, The Chocolate Queen. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, Natascha Mirosch talks with "The Chocolate Queen" herself, renowned patissiere, owner of Savour Cooking School and international pastry…

1
Postcard from Sydney, Australia 19:07

2+ y ago19:07

19:07

Travel writer Ute Junker travels all over the world, but it's Sydney, Australia she comes home to. In this ExtraVirgin Food & Travel "Postcard," Ute generously shares her insider knowledge of one of the world's most beautiful cities; from its architecture to the culture, history, and of course, Sydney's fantastic food and drink scene. You'll hear a…

1
Why I'm Not a Free-Spirited Traveller 39:14

2+ y ago39:14

39:14

Are you a planner or do you prefer to wing it when you travel? ExtraVirgin host Natascha Mirosch is definitely one of the former and in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast, she tells us why she prefers to leave nothing to chance. Natascha also shares her tips and tricks; from getting the best out of frequent flyer points, to how to in…

1
Postcard from Nizwa, Oman 10:55

2+ y ago10:55

10:55

Nicole Brewer is from Detroit, Michigan, but now lives in the small town of Nizwa, just over an hour from the Oman capital, Muscat where she's a university teacher of English and a published author. Famous for its souks and its silver as well as traditional wooden sailing boats, called dhow, its deserts and beautiful beaches, as well as its warm, f…

1
The Life of a Travel Guide Writer 31:45

2+ y ago31:45

31:45

If you're a keen traveller, it's a good bet that you have a Frommer's Guide or two on your bookshelf. The highly respected guidebooks have been around since 1957 and the company is still family- owned. In this podcast, Natascha Mirosch talks with New Yorker Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer's Media, award winning-travel writer and editorial …

1
Postcard from La Paz, Mexico 10:56

2+ y ago10:56

10:56

Our guest on this episode of ExtraVirgin Postcard lives an enviable life in La Paz on the Bay of California in Mexico. Travel writer Kristen Gill fell in love with the town on a work trip and made it her mission to move there. Now, as she tells us, she rides her bike along The Malecón, goes down to the seafront of a morning to watch the fishermen r…

1
Taste of Tibet 35:37

2+ y ago35:37

35:37

Writer and editor Julie Kleeman was on a hill in Dharamshala photographing monkeys when she met Yeshi Jampa. Yeshi had grown up in a semi-nomadic family in northern Tibet, living a traditional lifestle, taking care of their many animals. At 19, he made his way over the Himalayas in an arduous 24-day journey to the Indian town, now home to the exile…

1
Five language learning difficulties and how to overcome them 16:19

2+ y ago16:19

16:19

The Studentessa Matta discusses 5 learning difficulties that many language students encounter and the things they can do to keep their "language learning" boats from faltering and sinking but instead keep their boats afloat, getting them back on track so they can continue full steam ahead!! Follow along with the Youtube Video with transcripts in bo…

1
Book Club Chat with Silvia Zucca, author of “Guida astrologica per cuori infranti” 42:45

2+ y ago42:45

42:45

This was an incredibly delightful day! The Studentessa Matta Bookclub met Silvia Zucca the author of “Guida Astrologica per cuori infranti” to discuss her book that inspired the hit Netflix series of the same name! In the beginning, when I had this idea to start an Italian book club and I chose Silvia’s book, to begin with, I joked “who knew… at th…

1
Ascoli Piceno 2022 Italian Language Immersion Program 14:23

2+ y ago14:23

14:23

Learn more about Ascoli Piceno, the town in le Marche, where I plan the next "Matta" Italian Language Immersion Program with the Accademia Linguistica Scuola directed by Antonella Valentini and her staff of dedicated teachers. Join me in this charming town, immerse in language and culture, and take your Italian skills further.…

1
Postcard from Venice 12:17

2+ y ago12:17

12:17

Venice has been on the wishlist of travellers for centuries, but in this postcard, we're taking a tour of a Venice way beyond St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge or the Grand Canal. Artist and writer Allison Zurfluh lives on the island of Burano, in the northern section of the Venice lagoon. Passionate about her adopted home, she tells us a little …

1
Australia's Best Restaurants 29:13

2+ y ago29:13

29:13

Are you a foodie planning a trip to Australia? Or a local just looking to add to your dining bucket list? In either case, you'll want to listen to this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel. Our guests are Joanna Hunkin, editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller, and restaurant critic at The Australian newspaper, John Lethlean. You'll find out what Joa…

1
Postcard from Bangkok 13:27

2+ y ago13:27

13:27

Thailand's capital, Bangkok is a large, sprawling city best known for its river, ornate temples and delicious street food. Our guest, Wisrute Buddhari has lived in Bangkok most of his life. Not only does he share the best time of the year to visit and what to see and do; from temple hopping to viewing the city from a boat on the Chao Praya river, a…

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Small Group Travel Italy Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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