"Perhaps in Italy, surrounded by beauty and history, we shed the layers of who we think we're supposed to be and rediscover the essence of who we truly are" - Erica Simone Welcome to Episode #100: Today on the podcast we go on a personal journey, the story of what took me to Ischia recently and what exactly I discovered there. From the Gulf of Napl…

"I adore the spirit of Rome" - In the Shadow of a Cypress - An Italian Adventure Welcome to Episode #99: Today we go on an adventure in Rome… I share some travel adventures and a few details on staying in Monti, Roma. I take a few beautiful tangents telling you all about my recent time in Italy with my family, some discoveries, some funny moments, …

"The travel journey is always an interesting paradox. To spend time navigating, being, seeing, collecting and contemplating. And haphazardly wondering about the next step. Yet, to not get carried away, or in front of yourself that you miss the opportunity that is right under your nose. I like sitting here observing the morning pursuits, the cars zo…

"So this is it. I am thirty nine years old. I am sitting at a table in a medieval piazza with a black moleskine journal. I am sipping a glass of Chianti Classico. I stare at the menu with none other than Luca Signorelli on the cover. I like the words Gran Caffe Signorelli. Luca Signorelli was born in Cortona in 1441. He is still revered. Signorelli…

"Time in Italy seemed less linear than it was at home, more of a space waiting to be filled with whatever delights the day might bring – exquisite miniature pastries behind the etched glass of an art nouveau window, a sliver of cantaloupe on a market-stall holder’s knife, amber and pink spritzes on a waiter’s tray, a flirty glance, a raised eyebrow…

"Perfection is static, and I am in full progress" - Anais Nin Welcome to Episode #95: Today I go on a whimsical journey through my process! Reading and working on my book. The book is done! Yet, I am most keen to record an audiobook first - so here I go. It’s a journey of ruminating over recent books I have read and what is happening IRL and certai…

"Be kind to yourself and just get going, because even if you are just writing a little bit, for a few hours a week - it adds up" - Kimberly Sullivan Welcome to Episode #94: Today I have a conversation with fiction writer Kimberly Sullivan and her recent novel Rome’s Last Noble Palace. Kimberly loves to weave a story that includes a contemporary and…

"One's destination is never a place but a new way of looking at things" - Henry Miller Welcome to Episode #93: Today a share a meander through the creative landscape of writing and my process and the discoveries on the creative journey.... Shownotes include a list of books and memoirs that have inspired me along the creative journey plus extra deta…

"Ligurian cuisine is often defined as a "poor" cuisine, of humble, rough origins because it was born in the homes of fisherman and farmers who had only simple, seasonal and low-value ingredients available. Yet, it is also sophisticated due to the expert use and skilful transformation of those few ingredients"..... Enrica Monzani Join me for a conve…

"You have not a right, but a duty to be happy" - Roberta Mussato Welcome to Episode #91: What a privilege it is to talk to women and share their stories. Women lead such fascinating lives. I continually notice this, the fact they continue to expand themselves, push their limits and boundaries, to grow, and not except contraction as the norm, but le…

"We travel, initially to lose ourselves, and we travel, next to find ourselves" - Pico Iyer Welcome to Episode #90: Today I have a special conversation with Nadia Fragnito from The Vegan Italian Kitchen. Nadia is here to talk about her solo travel experience and the journey of returning to Italy to research her next cookbook due out later this year…

"Italy was more than a subject, it was a tool of resurrection and empowerment" - Michelle Johnston “Can a place be an archetype? Or pertain mythical qualities? Emily Dickinson never left her home in New England to travel, the Italy she wrote and dreamed of symbolised something else, joy, hope, freedom…. And ultimately, the most powerful of qualitie…

"You cannot lose what really belongs to you, even if you throw it away" - I-Ching Here I talk about the bitter sweet few months that have been, reflecting on life, books and events, and the books and writing adventures that happen along the way. Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at: michellejohnston.life You can now Support the Podcast and …

"One will never forget the sudden transcendent quality of ordinary things, the glow of the fruit in its own leaves, the purple and green of artichokes with bushy tales, the delicacy of the sea creatures, silver, lilac - pale and coral red" - Winter in Venice, Pleasure and Landscapes by Sybille Bedford Here is some light musing over books I have lov…

"Some things are here for our souls, not our interests, and every land has its pockets of wild. Let us leave then there for the birds, for the night watch, for the person who needs and longs for a creeping into invisibility" Welcome to Episode #86: This year Allison published her third book, 'Allison Zurfluh and the Venice Lagoon'. Here are pages o…

“Cucina Povera is not just a unique approach to cooking and ingredients; it’s the highest expression of the Italian arte delle arrangiarsi - the art of making do with what you have got" - Giulia Scarpaleggia, Cucina Povera Welcome to Episode #85, Today a wonderful conversation with Giulia Scarpaleggia about her recent cookbook Cucina Povera: The It…

"I travel and collect things that I love. Memories, tastes, colours and stories. I bring them home and make the beautiful meals I had, so we can live them all over again" - Tessa Kiros, Now & Then: A collection of recipes for always Welcome to Episode #84: Tessa Kiros is here today, her most recent book is 'Now & Then: A collection of recipes for a…

"Much testing, much reflecting, much living must intervene before we can say 'My soul is my own'" - Madonna Kolbenschlag, (from) The Spiritual Sampler by Sue Monk Kidd Welcome to Episode #83, While in the middle of a big year, I reflect on what has filled my cup this year and why it all matters. On creating community, on inspired books, on writing,…

"My grandmother always used to tell me your last name is going to bring you luck. When people meet you it makes them happy and a little bit hungry too" - Luca Spaghetti, Un Amico Italiano - Eat Pray Love in Rome Welcome to Episode #82: Twenty years ago the writer Elizabeth Gilbert made the city of Rome her home for three months before visiting Indi…

"I just knew that I had to figure it out for myself, step by step" - Claire Hearn, My Five Year Journey in Italy.... Welcome to Episode #81, This week I share a conversation with Ms Britaly from Palermo in Sicily. Five years ago, Claire Hearn made the decision to change her life and move in the direction of her dreams. Claire landed in Salerno in C…

“And we are of course, each one of us, the historians of our own lives” - Hisham Matar, A Month in Siena Welcome to Episode #80; In this episode I share pages from ‘Italian Hours’ a travel journal I am in the middle of creating. I share my feelings about creativity and my artistic process on making pages happen! I also give tips on stationary, art …

"I thought I had the perfect life in New York, but fate had something different in mind for me. I've fallen in love with this place and what it has to offer" - Casalvento: House of the Wind by Gudrun Cuillo Welcome to Episode #79: About twenty five years ago, Bob and Gudrun Cuillo were looking for a place to buy in Capri Italy, not far from Beneven…

"We will cook together, you’ll don an apron and get your hands dirty, learning about local traditions on the way. We eat and drink together, tasting wines chosen by Marco. Afterwards, in the late afternoon and evenings, you are free to go and explore or rest or catch up with family....." Welcome to the Episode #78: In this bountiful share we talk a…

"R is for Rome. Roma is my Lupa, the She-Wolf. She is mother and my muse" - Michelle Ciani, Letters from Rome Welcome to Episode #77: Michelle Ciani lives in Rome, Italy. Through her writing and journals, she explores place, home, identity and belonging. Rome is the muse, the portal and the inspiration behind her words and letters. Life is a quest.…

“Far from a fleeting moment in history, or a stack of stones, the open museum of Sardinia recounted a story of foundations; a story of birth and rebirth, of endurance and resilience, and re-use, and a story of rituals and cross cultural ways that had made the island the staging ground of civilizations that not only shaped its own peoples, but the r…

"What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a world view that excludes nothing?” - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love Can a book be mythical and kind of a life time journey. Yes it can! This a story about the book Eat Pray Love and the journey I have had with this book…. E…

“And I do believe that Italy really purifies and ennobles all who visit her. She is the school as well as the playground of the world.” – E. M. Forster Welcome to Episode #74 Q.. Do you have a story you would like to share with me on Italy? I am open to a personal letter or a Voice Message that I will share or read on a special Podcast Episode or 2…

"The Thing about Rome is that it always manages to give you something special" - Luca Spaghetti, Un Amico Italiano - Eat Pray Love in Rome Welcome to Episode #73: Italy seems to find its way into many people’s hearts whether it be through the world of books or the joy of a holiday experience. It is always fun to have a conversation about favourite …

"The Black Madonna represents a time of direct connection. She is the spiritual connector. She is the energy behind creation. We are to bring our thinking into our heart and have this influence our deeds" - Stephanie Georgieff, The Black Madonna: Mysterious Soul Companion Stephanie Georgieff is the host of the Black Madonna Speaks Podcast. We had a…

"It was only decades later, in my little house here in the shadow of the Apennines, that I was completely free to forge my own path" Shadow of the Apennines, Kimberly Sullivan Welcome to Episode 71: Kimberly Sullivan works in International Development by day and moonlights as a fiction writer by night. Kimberly has written three books that she has …

"In writing about Peggy, it's important to listen to one's own instincts. Don't listen to critics. What do they know? What one should say about Peggy is, simply, that she did it. That no matter what her motivations were, she did it" - Lee Krasner Welcome to Part 2 of my epic share on the 20th Century Art Collector and Art Patron Peggy Guggenheim...…

“I have never been in a city that gave me the same sense of freedom” - Peggy Guggenheim, Out of this Century: Confessions of an Art Addict Welcome to Episode #69: Are you dreaming of visiting Venice and one of the iconic galleries on the Grand Canal - The Peggy Guggenheim Collection? If you would like to know more about Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979)…

"The old cypress trees along the ancient noble roads stand tall as if to welcome you into their home" - Sheryl Ness, Love in a Tuscan Kitchen Welcome to Episode #68, This week I share Part 2 of my conversation with Author Sheryl Ness about life in Tuscany and the writing of her book Love in a Tuscan Kitchen: Savouring Life Through the Romance, Reci…

"Everything around me gave me a feeling that I was at home, from the foods to the people and the unique landscape. I was falling in love" - Sheryl Ness, Love in a Tuscan Kitchen Welcome to Episode #67, Today I share a wonderful conversation with Sheryl Ness about her time in Tuscany and her memoir, Love in a Tuscan Kitchen: Savouring Life Through t…

“The appeal of this floating city built on stilts in a lagoon is real. Venice remains a place always beckoning me to return. Far from perfect, this island shaped like a fish entices me” - Margie Miklas, Introduction, The Venice I Know Welcome to Episode 66, Margie Miklas has a special connection to Italy as a second generation Italian/American. Com…

"And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again - to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more" - Pico Iyer, 'Why We Travel' Welcome to Episode #65: The thing is Italy has so much to offer. Twenty regions and each with something special and unique. I wanted to share all of the beautiful things about the city of Padova or P…

Welcome to Episode #64: I couldn’t resist but share a few books and artists that are truely inspiring me and feeding my spirit in the realm of Muse Italia. Enjoy, The Art of Excellent Products: Enchanting Customers with Premium Brand Experiences by Riccardo Illy A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home by Frances Mayes Visit: Frances Mayes…

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware“ - Henry Miller Welcome to Episode #63 This podcast share is a great window into my world… Have you ever wondered why a place is calling you, why you cannot stop thinking about it or more so, why you want to visit, or stay forever? Well this sha…

"Nature accompanies me, exalts me" - Henri Matisse A Serenade to a Sunday.... Reflections on a house and a garden. "I buy another five cypress. I work hard, water, pray, read them poetry. I listen to books as I dig... A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Rebecca Solnet….A Paris year, John Baxter….and I dream of a day where they will drill their taproot d…

"I think that a writer should observe the real world before imagining a non-existent one" - Jhumpa Lahiri, In Other Words In a day and age where the universe is at our finger tips and we can meander the world with a smart phone in our pocket. A device that has the ability to solve most of our problems, pay the bills, track your kids, read you a boo…

“Do you know the land where the lemon trees grow, in darkened leaves the gold-oranges glow, a soft wind blows from the pure blue sky, the myrtle stands mute, and the bay-tree high? Do you know it well?” - JW Goethe, Author of Italian Journey Welcome to Episode #60: When I think about Limoncello immediately I find myself in Italy. In particular on t…

"Now I know why I keep a diary. I am not at peace until I continue the thread into the present. I am interested in analyzing myself, in trying to discover the reasons why I do such & such. I cannot do this without dropping dried peas behind me to help me retrace my course, to point a straight line in the darkness". Patricia Highsmith, Her Diaries a…

"The only joy in the world is to begin" - Cesare Pevase What do these people have in common? Jean Cocteau, Cesare Pevase, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann, Kurt Cobain, Frida Kahlo, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Anais Nin and John Ruskin…. They were all Diarists and writers of a certain moment in time. And they found solace on the page, and for some of them th…

"We often need to be alone to reconnect to life and to ourselves, which then allows us to connect more meaningfully to others" - Sarah Wilson, This One Wild and Precious Life Welcome to Episode 57: Solo travel is make or break in my opinion and not for the faint of heart. However, traveling alone can be a lot of fun too. I love sharing the journey …

“It’s not just the great works of mankind that make a culture. It is the daily things, like what people eat and how they serve it” - Laurie Colwin, Home Cooking Welcome…… There is something about food that weaves its way in and out of life, that we cannot deny. When I wrote this some time back I was in the middle of the day to day yet, musing over …

“Recipes are like stories. Once told then re-told, they become familiar and part of our families heritage. Families would share food and recipes with one another and through this organic process a cuisine was born. Spread a little wider, and this tale becomes regional. There is handmade pasta created without eggs, sources that are meat free and cel…

"You can make the world beautiful just by refusing to lie about it" - Gio Ponti (1891-1979) Welcome to Episode #54: The last day of a travel adventure can be a quite distilling, generally it is a tricky day where the emotions run up and down, with that inner knowing that something special is about to end. Sometimes it can be a relief, sometimes the…

"Let us be honest: who hasn't wanted to be just a little bit Italian?' - Kay Plunkett-Hogge, Aperitivo..... Welcome to Episode #53: Have you ever wondered how the effervescent Spritz drink customarily enjoyed at Aperitivo time in Italy became a cultural icon? Once a purely Northern Italian cocktail and now very much a sign of the Good life wherever…

“Sometimes I think we only half live over here. The Italians live all the way” - Ernest Hemingway, (letter to his sister) Welcome to Episode #52: Come with me on a journey to Turin, we will board the Italo service at 10.35 at Milano Centrale and arrive an hour later at the Porta Nuova in the beautiful and the elegant Torino in Piemonte. Travel days…

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” - Oscar Wilde Welcome to Podcast #51 I thought it would be great to share a little more of the adventure and what happened next in Italy on the journey from Liguria to Milan. On the last days there was much to savour and explore. I love the adventu…