“I think what's been an amazing part of this project in general but particularly with
Rodolfo’s story was the comments. There have been thousands, the majority filled with
a sense of sadness and very much connected to nostalgia and this sense that Florence
is going through a huge transformation at the moment and he represents everything that
people think is great about Florence. People wrote that they felt moved to tears which I
find amazing. I love that. I love idea that the films can have an impact on people
because it means that I've managed to communicate something and touch them in
some way.” Kirsten Hills
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker Kirsten Hills, creator of Souls of Italy, about what
it takes to document a country so often reduced to images and clichés and why Italy
continues to resist easy storytelling.
Our conversation centers on Kirsten’s approach to filmmaking as a form of inquiry: how
she gains trust, listens closely, and allows people and places to reveal themselves on
their own terms. Rather than chasing spectacle, Souls of Italy focuses on everyday
lives, local histories, and the emotional ties that bind individuals to their communities.
We also discuss how some of the series’ most resonant episodes emerged organically,
including widely shared profiles such as Rodolfo, the Florentine tailor, whose story
struck a chord with audiences around the world. These moments, Hills explains, reflect
the power of intimate, place-based storytelling, where craft, memory, and human
connection quietly take center stage.
Warm, thoughtful, and grounded in lived experience, this interview offers a nuanced
look at Italy through the eyes of a filmmaker committed to telling its stories with
authenticity and care.
Biography
Kirsten Hills is a British-born video journalist and filmmaker based in Florence, Italy.
With a passion for storytelling that’s simple, authentic, and meaningful, she specializes
in creating films that connect and inspire.
Her career began with a degree in politics and broadcast journalism, followed by a BBC
traineeship. She went on to work in news and current affairs as a producer, reporter,
and presenter, developing her skills in uncovering and sharing compelling stories.
She lives in Florence with her Italian husband and two children. Since moving here,
she’s built her business, as a freelancer, collaborating with luxury travel
companies, fashion brands, and world-famous museums to create bespoke videos that
highlight beauty, culture, and creativity. She continues to work with international news
networks CNN, NBC, BBC & ITV.
Over the years she’s been asked to film destination weddings, which she loves to do.
Each year she does a limited number of weddings, working with lovely couples, some of
whom have become friends.
She’s driven by curiosity and inspired by the quirky, humorous, and unexpected
moments of everyday life. Living in Italy offers endless opportunities to discover
extraordinary stories in the seemingly ordinary.
Links
https://kirstenhills.com/
https://www.instagram.com/soulsofitaly/
tiktok.com/@SoulsofItaly
https://www.youtube.com/@SoulsofItaly
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575937589934&sk=about
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-hills-06910361/
Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recording and post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
I live in an international community and that gives you a lot. If you're open minded, love
different languages, know how to interact and interface with people of different cultures it's a very inspiring, very human place.
Andrea Zurlo
Join me and author and translator Andrea Zurlo for the second part of our conversation about her work, her favorite writing to do and read, and the many ways her choice to live in Florence has impacted her craft.
In the episode, we also take a deep dive into her novels, El reposo de la tierra durante el invierno (The Land at Rest in Winter), a finalist for Spain’s Premio Planeta, 2016, set in Argentina during the Peronist government and the military dictatorship from 1968 to
the early 1980s, and La ineficacia de la Muerte, a book about a young translator, who unwittingly gets entangled in an artificial intelligence project and ends up connected to a phone that not only receives mental commands but is also capable of reading her mind. We also delve into Florence’s long literary tradition, reflect upon the many famous writers who've passed through and found inspiration here.
Finally, we chat about what’s next for Andrea, the current state of humanity, where we’re headed, and the things that could ultimately save us.
Biography
Writer and translator, born in Argentina, where she earned her degree in Literary and Technical Translation. She is the published author of several novels, including El
sendero de Dante (2007, Spain); El reposo de la tierra durante el invierno (shortlisted for the 2016 Planeta Award and published in Argentina and Puerto Rico), and La ineficacia de la muerte (2024, Spain). She has been shortlisted for several literary awards in both Spain and Italy, and her short stories have appeared in fourteen anthologies across Europe and Latin America.
As a screenwriter, she has written two produced short films and one produced feature film.
Links
www.andreazurlo.wix.com/ andreazurlo
Substack: https://substack.com/@andreazurlo
https:// www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-zurlo-6241b547/
IG: @andrezurlo
http:// www.imdb.com/name/nm8080567/
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Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recording and post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
My guest this week is Italo-Argentinian writer and translator, Andrea Zurlo. In this first part of our conversation, we speak about Andrea’s journey to and first impact with Italy in the early 1990s. We also discuss the art of translating, how AI is changing that landscape, and the cultural nuances of language.
We move on to discuss what it means to live one’s life between different countries, languages, and cultures and how living in Florence has transformed and continues to affect Andrea’s craft. We also reflect upon what it means to be in an Italy currentlyoverrun by stereotypical notions of what the country is as opposed to the reality of making a life here.
Finally, we speak about Andrea’s new novel, All is Transient, the first she has written directly in English. She gives us a little teaser of the book which she describes as speculative fiction with a bit of historical fiction and touches of magic realism. We discuss how writing in one’s nonnative tongue changes the way you think about language and how the experience of penning this book prompted her to ask questions about the meaning of life and what we are here for.
Biography
Writer and translator, born in Argentina, where she earned her degree in Literary and Technical Translation. She is the published author of several novels, including El sendero de Dante (2007, Spain); El reposo de la tierra durante el invierno (shortlisted for the 2016 Planeta Award and published in Argentina and Puerto Rico), and La ineficacia de la muerte (2024, Spain). She has been shortlisted for several literary awards in both Spain and Italy, and her short stories have appeared in fourteen anthologies across Europe and Latin America.
As a screenwriter, she has written two produced short films and one produced feature film.
Links
www.andreazurlo.wix.com/ andreazurlo
Substack: https://substack.com/@andreazurlo
https:// www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-zurlo-6241b547/
IG: @andrezurlo
http:// www.imdb.com/name/nm8080567/
Your brain is a supercomputer, but we don’t know how to program it. It comes out of the box pre-programmed for fear, and unless we rewire it, it keeps repeating that pattern. Jim Keyes
In this inspiring episode of 15 with Fosca, I welcome James W. Keyes, global business leader, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, philanthropist, educator, artist, and self-described modern Renaissance man, to explore the extraordinary journey behind his book Education is Freedom.
Jim shares the powerful story of his early life, growing up without running water and learning to rely on education as a pathway to possibility. His father’s message, “someone can take your money, but they can’t take away what you know”, became a lifelong compass, shaping Jim’s belief in agency, resilience, and the inner freedom that comes from knowledge.
Together, Jim and I unpack themes of adversity as opportunity, the mindset shifts that unlock personal transformation, and why Jim believes failure is never final but rather an invitation to learn, echoing a favorite Nelson Mandela quote: “I never lose. I win or I learn.”
We also dive into Jim’s contagious optimism, discussing neuroplasticity, fear, and the brain’s capacity to be rewired toward confidence and possibility. He recounts conversations with neuroscientists and spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama, to illustrate how genuine positivity is cultivated, not inherited.
Jim speaks about the Education Is Freedom Foundation, which has helped more than half a million students pursue higher education, and why expanding educational access remains core to his mission today.
Finally, we tackle the “elephant in the room”: AI. Jim offers a hopeful lens on the future of technology, arguing that if embraced wisely, AI can transform global literacy, accelerate human learning, and become one of humanity’s greatest tools for progress rather than something to fear.
This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, curiosity, and the transformative power of learning, an episode for anyone seeking inspiration, clarity, and renewed belief in what’s possible.
Biography
Jim is a global business leader, philanthropist, educator, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc, and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries including retail, consumer products, technology, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies. Keyes’ philanthropic initiatives, have an equally broad focus, including serving on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, The Cooper Institute, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross.
He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education is Freedom Foundation. A personification of the American Dream, Keyes came from his humble beginnings and was inducted in 2005 as a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024 he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award, presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.
Links
https://www.jameswkeyes.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jkeyesauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/Jkeyesauthor
Get your copy of Education is Freedom: https://www.jameswkeyes.com/book-foreword
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Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded via Zoom, Post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
My guest this week is Melissa Deep, CEO & Founder of Virtique Srl, a Tuscany-based company that creates virtual experiences that transform sales, marketing, and advertising through Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, E-Commerce, and Geolocated
Mapping. Virtique creates superior digital content that replicates and enhances the intimacy of the brick & mortar store experience.
Through Virtique, Melissa shows her commitment to creating a better world and a more sustainable retail eco-system, and helps communities by promoting local businesses, supporting, reducing the carbon footprint, and providing crucial visual aid to those with limited mobility issues and content for those with food intolerances.
Be sure to join us to learn more about Melissa’s exciting life and work, and her fascinating, international professional and personal journey from New York to a magical beach town on the coast of Tuscany.
Biography
With over 30 years of international management, sales and strategy for tech startups, including one unicorn, Melissa has lived and worked in New York City, USA, Moscow, RU, London, UK, Zurich, CH, and Forte dei Marmi, IT.
She graduated Valedictorian of her high school class and attended University of Rochester, Cum Laude, Class of 1992. Her career in technology started in the early ’90s in satellite telecommunications in Russia, providing communications services to international mining and oil companies. From there, her passion for using technology to create business solutions began.
She has held several senior management positions in sales & strategy with startups including Arbinet, an electronic exchange for voice and data trading, which ultimately went public in 2004 and became a unicorn.
She speaks English, Italian and a little bit of Russian and Spanish.
She has a passion for technology, DIY projects and family, which includes her dog.
Melissa is the Vice President of the Association Digital Twins Italia, dedicated to promoting commerce, tourism, and art & culture throughout Italy via Virtual Experiences.
Links
https://virtique.it/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-deep-b923683b/
https://www.facebook.com/virtique.it
https://www.instagram.com/virtique/
https://www.instagram.com/melissa_anne_deep/
https://www.facebook.com/melissa.a.deep
Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani
“What if we believe that what really makes us thrive as human beings, what makes us human beings, is our civility, and that we commit to it from a level of fierceness. That in the face of bullying, in the face of an error in the world system now, where people are rewarded for being nasty to each other and trying to take each other down, we stand fierce in our civility.” Joe Weston
Join me and my guest, Joe Weston, for an important conversation about what it means to be fiercely civil and why it’s so important and necessary in today’s world.
Our conversation spans from how meditation, martial arts, Taoist practices, and diverse traditions have informed and shaped the work Joe does with individuals, corporations, governments, and NGOs to how his teachings of respectful confrontation and fierce civility give us tools to transcend our biological, cultural, and tribal impulses of survival that lead to separation. Joe leads us to a discovery of strategies for releasing the gridlock caused by extreme polarization, thus enabling us to shift effectively to bridging and alliance-building, and find new solutions even in the most unlikely places and in times of turmoil.
Joe founded the Fierce Civility Project in 2020 to create a vehicle for those looking to take their innovative, passionate visions and ideas for a better, more equitable and sustainable world, and turn them into practical action.
Joe Weston Biography
Joe Weston is an author, speaker, facilitator, and advocate for peace, whose work is rooted in resilience, compassion, and fierce accountability. With more than 30 years of international experience in conflict prevention, leadership development, stress management, and communication, Joe is the founder of The Weston Network and The Fierce Civility Project, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to healing divides and revitalizing civic engagement.
His clients span the globe and include organizations such as NASA, the World Bank, Oxfam, The United Nations, the National Cancer Institute, and Mitsubishi Motors. Joe’s teachings are informed by his lifelong commitment to service and transformation,
including his past work with veterans, inmates, and individuals in high-stakes leadership roles. He previously served as an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s Program of Conflict Resolution and continues to offer trainings worldwide.
His most recent book, Fierce Civility: Transforming Our Global Culture from Polarization to Lasting Peace, was published in English and Italian and has become an Amazon bestseller in 14 categories. He is currently expanding his work across Europe, including recent events and workshops in Italy such as the University of Pisa’s Masters in Scalability and collaborations with leadership networks, NGOs, and corporate leaders.
Now living between the U.S. and Europe, Joe continues to travel widely as a speaker and guide for those committed to creating a world rooted in courage, connection, and fierce compassion.
Links
https://joeweston.com/
A Cure for Chronic Niceness | Joe Weston | TEDxYoungstown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EmbwYM8qus
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-weston-a6327931/
https://www.instagram.com/fiercecivility/
https://www.facebook.com/joewestonauthor
https://www.youtube.com/@westonnetwork217
https://joeweston.com/weston-network/
Buy the book:
https://joeweston.com/books/
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Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded via Zoom, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani, FaMinore Studio
“When you break, you're forced to open another door and that's when I came back here and found my roots because Nonna was strong and I figured it had to be in me somehow. She was thekey. A lot of bad stuff happened to us but we're still together and a lot of that came from Nonna Carmela” Libby Cataldi on her new memoir, It Takes a Lifetime to Learn how to Live
In part two of my interview with Italian American author Libby Cataldi, we dive deeper into her riveting personal and family story, one filled with challenges, triumphs, love, and forgiveness.
Join us to hear more about Libby’s journey, not only to Italy and back to her ancestral village, Rotondella, but also to a deeper understanding of her family and who she is today thanks to the legacy left by her grandmother, her guiding light andexample of fortitude, wisdom, and inspiration.
Libby’s memoir came out this week, and I recommend it to everyone looking for a beautifully written, powerful, touching, and engaging family and personal story about immigrants in America, generational trauma, mother-daughter relationships, family secrets, and more.
Libby Cataldi Biography
Born in Pittsburgh, I grew up in an Italian family andsurrounded by an Italian community. My early years were steeped in faith as I attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Canevin Catholic High School.
My dad, the patriarch of the family, dictated that I couldattend college only if I majored in education or nursing, so I entered Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. A year later, I applied for and received an internship position at the University ofPittsburgh where I earned both a Master’s and Doctorate.
For seventeen years, I was Head of The Calverton School, an independent day school in Maryland.
My maternal grandmother, Carmela—an Italian immigrant fromBasilicata who came to America in 1915 during the Italian diaspora—was my primary role model of steadfast love and strength. When life jumped the rails and I found myself collapsing under the weight of my older son’s heroinaddiction, breast cancer and a bilateral mastectomy, my dad’s death, and the culmination of twenty-one years at Calverton, I journeyed to Rotondella, Nonna’s village in Basilicata. There, I found family and began to understand how she had become a woman of such grit and determination—the one who protected,loved, and held our family together
Today, my two sons, Jeff and Jeremy, and my granddaughters—Iysa, Monroe, and my love-granddaughter Camryn—fill me with joy. My sons and I joined together to write Stay Close: AMother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction. Jeff—who is now nineteen years healthy—and I speak to groups in both the United States and Italy about the hope of recovery.
I divide my time between Annapolis, Maryland, and Florence, Italy. In Florence, I rowed with the Dragon Boat team for breast cancer survivors and served on the board of the International School of Florence. Currently, I’m a member of AILO, a women’sassociation dedicated to charitable fundraising, and a founding member of the Florence Literary Society. All four of my grandparents were born in Italy, and I hold dual citizenship through my maternal grandparents.
Our family has experienced both miracles and sorrows, but like Pittsburgh steel, we have survived—and remain strong. My sons and I have been through hell and back, but we’re still together—and still staying close.
Today, I live in a space of gratitude. Where there is life,there is hope.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/libby.cataldi
Get the Book!
https://libbycataldi.com/books/
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded by Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: LorenzoMaiani
“My grandmother Carmela was my North Star, my safe port in many childhood storms.Strong. Independent. She swept the snow from her sidewalk wearing only a sweater, made her own wine, canned her own tomatoes, strung her own peppers to dry in the basement, and found edible dandelions for salads in the yard. She was the matriarch of la famiglia, whose grown sons stopped by every night after work to eat at her table before going to their own homes to eat again. She couldn’t read or write—not in Italian, not in English—but she was the smartest person I knew. She taught me how to eat pasta, how to cook, how to pray, and how to protect those I love.” Libby Cataldi, It Takes a Lifetime to Learn How to Live: An Italian American story of coming home.
Join me and my guest, Italian American author Libby Cataldi, for a heartfelt chat about her new memoir, It Takes a Lifetime to Learn How to Live. The book, and our conversation, touch on universal themes such as the immigrant experience in America, generational trauma, mother-daughter relationships, family secrets, sacrifice, the subjugation of women, love, and forgiveness. Libby and I speak about the disconnect between the real Italy and the imagined one and her first encounter with the country and with Rotondella, her remote ancestral village in Basilicata, where she went “to connect with the grandmother who loved me and to understand the mother who couldn’t.”
Libby beautifully recounts this mysterious place that ultimately provided her with answers about her family heritage, relationships, and herself. We converse about food as “a legacy of love, culture and tradition,” language and the chasm between regional dialects and standard Italian, how dialect both shrouds and reveals, and the reality of Italy’s Mezzogiorno, a still much-misunderstood part of the world.
The episode centers on Libby’s Italian Americanness and how her upbringing and heritage shaped the person she is today; how, in her words, “by risking a solitary journey to Italy, I found strength—and in doing so, I found the grace to forgive my mother, help my son, and save myself.”
Libby Cataldi Biography
Born in Pittsburgh, I grew up in an Italian family and surrounded by an Italian community. My early years were steeped in faith as I attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and Canevin Catholic High School. My dad, the patriarch of the family, dictated that I could attend college only if I majored in education or nursing, so I entered Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. A year later, I applied for and received an internship position at the University of Pittsburgh where I earned both a Master’s and Doctorate. For seventeen years, I was Head of The Calverton School, an independent day school in Maryland.
Links
https://libbycataldi.com/
https://www.facebook.com/libby.cataldi
Get the Book!
https://asterismbooks.com/product/it-takes-a-lifetime-to-learn-how-to-live
https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Lifetime-Learn-How-Live/dp/1599542390/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3WYIFBJGCPVL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1YlwgQ3Oy3DTRU9Fr9vSVtlSOaE7s4TIRNiJ0NFmSo3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.3a1rnrDerwSTrpcXk9oshHsTmtur52MgQZ-MAayrF-U&dib_tag=se&keywords=libby+cataldi&qid=1756998445&sprefix=libby+cat%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1
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Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani
As the podcast enters its third year, we’re changing things up a bit!
The new season features another incredible lineup of guests and stories; but we’re
broadening and widening the scope and taking 15 with Fosca a little outside of its niche
to bring you conversations with writers, artists, and changemakers exploring creativity,
culture, life, and human connections from Italy and beyond.
Find out what’s different about Season 5, how and why we’re shifting, what we have in
store for you, and the reasons we need stories that inspire now more than ever.
Don’t miss a new season of authentic storytelling, culture, and humanity across borders.
Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: Jasmine Kim
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani
Aperilife featuring Sam Rich
I try to have one-on-one relationships, and I encourage them, because caring about a person and being kind is what I needed when I first came here because I was unsure. I fell in love with an Italian and I had to fall in love with Italy, with the good and the bad. Sam Rich
When I met Sam a few months ago at an event I cornered her, told her how much of a fan I am, and she, with her signature grace and kindness, happily accepted my invitation to be on the podcast and I am so glad she did.
Join us this week for an honest and joyful conversation about the reality of life in Italy as we look behind the dolce vita façade and dig deep into the nuances and intricacies of Italian culture.
Sam tells us about her first encounter with Italy, the serendipitous moment that shaped her journey, the challenges she’s faced, what’s important to her, and how she’s helping visitors and foreign residents decipher and navigate Italy through her refreshingly honest, insightful, and valuable work.
Sam is also committed to mentoring, especially study abroad students, building and cultivating community, and sharing her firsthand experiences and knowledge with candor and heart, to help people make sense of Italy and engage with the culture and Italians in a meaningful way.
Biography and Links
Sam is a globetrotting soul with a passion for untangling life’s cultural threads. With nearly two decades of experience as a flight attendant, she’s soared through over 24 countries, each journey shaping her understanding of people and the intersectionality of diversity.
Her journey in Tuscany started with serendipity, meeting her fiancé at a birthday party in San Gimignano in 2016. From renovating their home, a 15th century convent with a vineyard and olive groves, to hosting social events for her expat social club, Fiori d’Italia, practicing yoga, and setting sail, life’s flavors enrich her.
Sam’s heart beats for storytelling, and she’s had the honor of sharing her insights at universities, The Florentine, and to her audience of 123K+ followers on social media.
The name "Aperilife" is a reflection of her joyful approach to life in Italy. She sees her life as a perpetual happy hour, an endless aperitivo where happiness flows as freely as glasses of prosecco and spritz. She aims to bring together a community of like-minded souls, encouraging them to embrace the cocktail of beauty and chaos that comes with living in Italy as a foreigner.
https://www.aperilife.com/
https://www.instagram.com/aperilife/
https://www.youtube.com/@AperiLife
This episode of 15 with Fosca was brought to you by Foto Locchi, guardians of Florence’s visual memory. The Archivio Storico Foto Locchi is the world’s most comprehensive photographic archive of Florence and its history. Now you can dive into the city’s beating heart with a new video storytelling experience that takes you on a photographic journey from the 1930s to the 1960s, giving you direct access to the soul of Florence’s people, history, and beauty.
Experience Florence like never before and step back in time by taking a visual journey through The Archivio Storico Foto Locchi. Prepare to be transported.
https://www.fotolocchi.it/en/archive/
https://www.instagram.com/archiviofotolocchi
https://www.facebook.com/archiviofotolocchi
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, comment, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ Plunkett
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani
In this episode, we’re invited into the warm, magical and delicious world of Carlotta Conti, a gifted cooking instructor who originally hails from Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna and who now welcomes guests into her home in the hills just outside of her Florence.
Carlotta doesn’t just teach recipes, she offers a rare opportunity to live and experience Italian culture from the inside. Her bespoke cooking classes unfold in her own kitchen, nestled among olive groves and rolling Tuscan hills, where guests gather not as tourists, but as honored friends at the table. It’s an experience rooted in authenticity, hospitality, and the deep traditions of regional Italian cooking, the kind of Italy few travelers ever truly get to see.
Join us as we delve into the rich culinary heritage of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Italy, the influences on Carlotta’s cooking and teaching, the nuances between authentic Italian cuisine and its Italian American counterpart, and the evolution of Italian cooking from Pellegrino Artusi’s foundational works to Marcella Hazan’s modern interpretations, and right up to the present day.
BIO:
Growing up in Emilia Romagna, a region known for Parmesan, Parma ham, lasagna, and stuffed pasta, a great deal of my childhood was spent in the kitchen with my grandmother and mother. Even at a very young age, I could see that for them cooking was a passionate expression of their love for their family. While I’m filled with many warm memories of watching them cook, what I remember most is circling the table and watching the stove, waiting for any opportunity I could to steal a taste.
Being raised in a home where there was only homemade food, I’m proud to say that I carry on the family tradition of fresh egg pasta, using my grandmother’s rolling pin — an 80-year-old tool that has also come in handy for keeping husbands in line, over the years…
…and pasta is magic. Our origins define what we are, and my regional roots deeply influence me. In Emilia-Romagna, fresh home-made pasta, a skillful mixture of eggs and wheat, is the protagonist of regional gastronomic culture. Not only does it contain tryptophan, an amino acid which turns into serotonin, the hormone of happiness, but it also testifies to centuries of efforts in creating a unique cuisine.
Emilia-Romagna, though not so famous as Tuscany, is an area of gastronomic excellence. The tradition of home-made pasta is still prevalent: the pasta machine is considered “the tool of the devil”, and we still have, in our fresh-pasta shops and restaurants, women who are rolling pasta in front of the shopwindow. Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany are the staple of national gastronomic heritage. Our good Pellegrino Artusi, publishing his Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well in 1891, created the pattern of a unified cuisine in a country which had been politically separated up to thirty years earlier. Copies of his book, stained and tattered, passed down like a family heirloom, from mother to daughter.
Links
Cooking with Carlotta – Official Website - https://cookingwithcarlotta.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookingwithcarlottainflorence/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithcarlottablog/
Google Reviews: https://g.co/kgs/JqNZWJN
html
This episode of 15 with Fosca was brought to you by Foto Locchi, guardians of Florence’s visual memory. The Archivio Storico Foto Locchi is the world’s most comprehensive photographic archive of Florence and its history. Now you can dive into the city’s beating heart with a new video storytelling experience that takes you on a photographic journey from the 1930s to the 1960s, giving you direct access to the soul of Florence’s people, history, and beauty.
Experience Florence like never before and step back in time by taking a visual journey through The Archivio Storico Foto Locchi. Prepare to be transported.
https://www.fotolocchi.it/en/archive/
https://www.instagram.com/archiviofotolocchi
https://www.facebook.com/archiviofotolocchi
An Epic Ride
featuring Emma Boutcher
“When you're thinking about moving to a place it’s the people, that’s the most important thing. You get to see how they live, what it actually means to live there versus just staying on the surface. I was drawn to the beauty of this place and then had this immediate sense of what a community here is like.” Emma Boutcher
Emma Boutcher is a young U.S. expat and engineer who decided to take the leap and make the move to Italy just about a year ago. I was lucky enough to be by her side through some of the process and sat down with her a couple of months ago to talk about her path to where she is right now, how it's been going so far, what kind of challenges she's faced, the work culture in Italy vs that in the States, how to find community, and so much more.
Anyone who knows me know just how much I love talking to Gen Z and Emma, and her story, are delightful and inspiring. I find her perspective intriguing and insightful especially in light of the fact that so many of her Italian counterparts are still fleeing the country in record numbers. So, how does a talented young engineer from the U.S make her dream of living and working in Italy come true? What role did her passion for cycling, WWOOFING, and trying to save the planet play in her decision? And what’s next for Emma?
Tune in this week to find out!
Biography and Links
After graduating from Northeastern University in 2019, Emma has lived many lives - English teacher in Vietnam, product manager for Specialized Bicycle Components in Colorado, and now, by a combination of luck, determination, and being in the right place at the right time, as a Product Development Manager for MET Helmets in Northern Italy. Her move to Italy in 2024 was inspired by a desire to live life with more balance. She now calls the shores of Lake Como and finds joy in the big and little adventures that come with living in a foreign country. You can find her (at all months of the year) in the lake, on her bike in the mountains, or soaking in a shared meal with friends at home.
You can follow all her adventures at the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/emboutch13?igsh=ZGlueGdldml4NGg2&utm_source=qr
https://strava.app.link/VDXIg8icUTb
https://wp.me/PbzKAV-8
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, comment, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Recorded via Zoom, post-production, Lorenzo Maiani, Fa Minore
In this special episode, we dive into the heart of American football in Italy with Estra Guelfi Firenze, one of the premier teams in the Italian Football League. Founded in 2000, the Guelfi have become a powerhouse in the growing European football scene, known not just for their grit on the gridiron, but also for their deep ties to the local community.
To celebrate their 25th anniversary and a spectacular season thus far, I sat down with
with the team’s General Manager, Edoardo Cammi, Captain Gianluca Santini, and newest wide receiver, Frankie Stola to talk about everything football. Frankie is a recent U.S. import with a story that’s almost too good to be true: he’s the son of my Florence roommate from way back in 1990, representing a rare and beautiful full-circle moment that literally brought tears to my eyes. It goes without saying that this was a very meaningful and emotional interview for me.
Join us to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to build a football dynasty in the shadow of the Duomo, who the players are, what they are all about, their impact in the community, and why this team is about more than just wins and losses. We also discuss the team’s journey, their passion for the game, and what it means to play football in one of the world’s most historic cities.
Whether you’re a football fanatic or a fan of great stories, this episode is about sports, culture, friendship, and how a team from Florence is making serious noise in Europe’s American football scene.
Links
https://www.guelfifirenze.it/
https://www.instagram.com/guelfifirenze/
https://www.instagram.com/weplayforpizza/
https://www.guelfifirenze.it/booster-club-us/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelfi_Firenze
Let’s Stay Connected!
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, comment, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ Plunkett
Recorded at the Guelfi Sport Centre by Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
SHARING SECRETS
featuring Elia Nichols
“I would say that after I did my TED talk in August my life did change in some ways because I think it's about changing the energy. You put yourself out there, you create new work, and you get seen by different people. You bring different energy to yourself and immediately I got a lot of people contacting me for new work or for different types of work.” Elia Nichols on the reaction to the recent release of her TEDx talk, The secret to looking more confident.
On this week’s podcast I joke that I had to invite Elia Nichols, public speaking and communication coach, TEDx Speaker, and actor back on the podcast so that we could finally sit down for a proper catch-up! I am so very happy that I did. In this heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation, I ask Elia about how things have been going since the recent release of her incredible TEDx talk, what she’s been up to lately, and what’s in store for the immediate future.
But we like to mix it up here at the podcast, and at a certain point Elia interviews me. Together, we peel back the layers on the “secret” parts of life we don’t always talk about: from parenting and creative burnout, to rediscovering confidence, the importance of mentoring young people, building community, friendship, and redefining balance in an age of constant performance.
Elia and I also delve into how parenting transforms our identity and the importance of of staying inspired and creative. Finally, at a certain point we even break out into song and I also spill the beans on my novel!
Elia Nichols Biography & Links
Elia Nichols is an American-born, Italian-based Public Speaking and Communication coach, TEDx Speaker, a 2x TEDx Speaking coach, and a film and TV actress. Her mindful, yet fun teaching techniques have helped thousands of people master the skill of charisma and break communication barriers.
Elia teaches speakers and professionals in strategic business and leadership roles effective ways to perfect their presence and speaking skills onstage, in the courtroom, classroom, boardroom and onscreen.
Her techniques incorporate elements of theatre, improvisation and comedy into teachings as she has found that this type of mindful and fun experiential learning leads to the most effective, transformational changes in her clients.
Elia believes that charisma is a skill that can be learned and which, once mastered, has the potential to motivate, persuade, inspire, and advance business and personal interests.
She has held high-level jobs in Public and External Relations as well as Learning and Development, which has given her insight into both the academic and business environments. In addition, she has been a professor of Public Speaking and Communication at renowned academic institutions such as the European University Institute, Syracuse University, the European School of Economics, Istituto Lorenzo de’Medici and the University of Texas at Austin.
She has been a professional actress for 15 years and is best known for her starring role as Professor Tucker in the comedic TV series Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends that airs nightly on the RAI Gulp channel in Italy and in 180 countries across the globe on Netflix. She also co-founded F.E.S.T.A. Theatre Company and produced and acted in many of its productions.
Elia received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Tulane University and her Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Texas at Austin.
https://elianichols.com/about/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elianichols/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx5QMmaIuh4&t=133s
https://www.facebook.com/elianicholspublicspeaking
https://www.facebook.com/elia.nichols
https://www.facebook.com/EliaNicholsActress
https://www.instagram.com/elianichols/
https://www.instagram.com/nicholselia/
Let’s Stay Connected:
If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Catching up with Girl in Florence
featuring Georgette Jupe
Season 4, Episode 15
“At the time I really felt like I was living my best life in that sense. I was meeting people, I loved Italy, the chaos, the food, and being pushed out of my comfort zone. In the US, I think sometimes especially where I grew up, you can live in a bubble. You're in your car, in your neighborhood, you don't see a lot of different realities that aren't your own unless you ask for and go purposely for them.” Georgette Jupe
Georgette Jupe, also known as Girl in Florence, arrived in Italy almost twenty years ago from San Antonio, Texas.
In today’s episode, she catches us up on she’s been doing lately, her current and future projects, and what this chapter of her life looks like now that she’s been back in Florence with her family for a year after a stint in Switzerland.
Join us as Georgette takes us through the various phases of her life, how Girl in Florence was born, what it’s brought to her loyal followers, and what it was like in those early days when she was hustling nonstop to carve out a successful career and create a popular brand. We also reflect upon life as expats, the importance of community, the challenges our adopted city and country currently face vis-à-vis overtourism, and some thoughts on solutions.
Georgette’s voice is trusted and real and that authenticity emerges in this podcast and in everything she does. Her new Substack, Honest Conversations with Georgette, is perfectly named and embodies what she’s all about; her writing, whether it be deep reflections on parenting, loss, and grief, or suggestions on the best things to do in town or musings on travel with a small child, is always spot on.
There is little that Georgette and I don’t talk about, and I’ve already made her promise she’ll come back on the podcast so we can continue the conversation.
Biography
Georgette Jupe is a 'Tuscan Texan' digital communications expert living in Florence, Italy. With a knack for crafting authentic communication and social media strategies, she helps international clients make a real impact while maintaining an authentic voice. Georgette is also the voice behind Girl in Florence and newly-minted substack, where she shares her unique insights on life, travel, and the vibrant culture of Italy. A former editor turned freelance writer, she's contributed to top publications like Infatuation, Lonely Planet, Tme Out and Italy Magazine with curated guides and is known for her savvy storytelling and ability to speak on hard topics. On social media, Georgette boasts an engaged following of over 83K on Instagram, reaching more than 100K across all platforms. When she's not creating content, you’ll find her hanging out with her family, taking walks with her beagle, or learning (sometimes the hard way) how not to kill her house plants.
Links
https://georgettejupe.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/girlinflorence/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgettejupe/?originalSubdomain=it
Our Sponsors
This episode is brought to you by Exclusive Connection, the Florence-based luxury travel company crafting bespoke experiences for travelers who crave something more than sightseeing, those seeking gratifying, special, authentic and unique encounters.
Explore the treasures of Florence and Italy, through extraordinary tours and itineraries led by art and culture experts. Let Exclusive Connection guide you through the wonders of Italy. Go to exclusiveconnection.it and make your next trip to Italy as extraordinary as you are.
Experience the real Italy at exclusiveconnection.it @Exclusive-Connection-Italy @Exclusive Connection
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ Plunkett
Recorded @musikalmente3951 Musikalmente Firenze
Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani, @faminoresoundagency
Minobossi: Made in Florence with Love
featuring Monica Bonaiuti
“It’s important to give possibilities for conscious buying because nowadays people know very well what's behind an object and they don’t buy it because of a logo but because they want to know what's really behind these two, three pieces of leather. There must be something that gives the buyer a sense of fairness, of being happy to say they bought something which really has value.” Monica Bonaiuti
In 1979 two lifelong best friends realized their dream of becoming business partners and founded luxury Florentine leather brand, Minobossi. I sat down with Monica Bonaiuti, daughter of one of the founders and current CEO of parent company, the Exin Group, to learn more about this phenomenal family firm that is synonymous with Made in Italy excellence.
Don’t miss my conversation with Monica about the history of the company, how it has evolved and grown over time with losing sight of its roots, where it is right now, and what we can expect from the new generation as they look to the future with a very clear sense of the brand’s history, legacy, and steadfast commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Minobossi, with its talented artisans who spend hours crafting beautiful and durable creations, is keeping the great tradition of Italian craftsmanship alive, and using only the finest leathers to produce aesthetic and functional objects that you can wear with pride knowing their provenance, their story, and that they were made with loving, expert hands.
Finally, I ask Monica to share more about what running a luxury brand in Florence today entails, how they welcome clients into the world of Minobossi by opening up their factory showroom where you can shop or even create your own customized one-of-a-kind bags, and experience a behind-the-scenes look at the art of leathermaking through VR technology.
Links
https://www.instagram.com/minobossi/
https://www.facebook.com/minobossi1979
https://www.linkedin.com/company/exin-group---s.r.l./
https://exingroup.it/en/
Company History
Welcome to the world of Minobossi
MINOBOSSI is born from the union of tradition and futuristic vision. Our story is a celebration of family and innovation, which began in the 1970s and is now renewed by Elisa and Caterina, the guardians of a legacy that continues to evolve. Here, modern design meets artisanal mastery to create bags and accessories that are much more than just objects: they are expressions of elegance and uniqueness.
Every MINOBOSSI creation is a symphony of perfection and beauty. We select only the finest leathers and craft them with meticulous precision, giving each piece a character and story that grow richer over time. Our commitment is to produce items that embody timeless elegance, designed to amaze and seduce with unexpected details and impeccable quality.
Our Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Exclusive Connection, the Florence-based luxury travel company crafting bespoke experiences for travelers who crave something more than sightseeing, people like me who love stories and want to discover authentic, hidden gems. Whether you’re looking to do a private museum visit, a wine tasting in a magical vineyard or a shopping tour of boutiques and artisans’ workshops including Minobossi, Exclusive Connection will make every moment of your stay in Florence and Italy unique.
Reach out at exclusiveconnection.it and let them craft your next adventure.
Experience the real Italy at exclusiveconnection.it
@Exclusive-Connection-Italy
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ Plunkett
Recorded @musikalmente3951
Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani, @faminoresoundagency
Time, Again: A digital detox story - and a new way of being for solopreneurs, leaders, and seekers featuring Sandrine Kom
Last month I participated in a retreat led by Sandrine Kom that aimed to transform stressed out superwomen into Zen superwomen.
I embraced the opportunity, shut off my phone, and spent a glorious weekend free of it and my other devices.
In this week’s episode Sandrine interviews me about how I was feeling before and during the retreat and the many ways the experience impacted me and continues to do so daily.
Be sure to tune in for our chat and for more information on Sandrine’s work, her book, upcoming retreats, and our May 21 workshop at Il Conventino.
Biography
Sandrine Kom was born and grew up in Paris before moving to live and study in Berlin for over 12 years. In 2000 she moved to Florence, where she still resides, and currently divides her time between Florence and Paris. Sandrine graduated from Berlin University in Communication Sciences and Economics and obtained her diploma as a Nutrition Coach at the Centre de Formation à Distance (CFD) in Brussels. She completed her Yoga Teacher Training at “Yoga Garden” in San Francisco. In addition to English, she is fluent in French, German, Russian and of course Italian! A Parisian in love with Tuscany, her adoptive home is where where her love of food, yoga and nature led her to create FiloCIBOsofia Slow Life which grew and became “Slowlife Coaching” and “Slowlife Yoga”. Sandrine has offered her experiences through Airbnb for many years, won several awards and received over 700 positive testimonials. Furthermore, in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, she and five other Italian hosts were selected (out of 5,000 experiences) by Airbnb as they diversified their model from in-person to online experiences. She also offers experiences to companies where she focuses on increasing the wellbeing of their teams and people. In addition to a range of SlowLife Retreats and Experiences, she also supports Stressed Super Women to become Zen Super Women, and accompanies CEO’s and Managers in need of rest, dreaming of slowness and time for themselves. With Slow Life Yoga, Sandrine has also participated in the television programs “Casa Beau” for RTL 4 Netherlands and “Best Weekend Chianti“ for Nove Warner Bros. Discovery Italia.
Links http://www.slowlifecoaching.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrine-kom/ https://www.facebook.com/SlowLifeCoachingSlowLifeYoga https://www.instagram.com/slowlifecoaching_slowlifeyoga/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4xzHmfloofDwZCkm6Jrlg 2025 Retreats https://www.quietluxury.it/2025-events_en/
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ Plunkett
Recorded at Faminore Sound Agency, Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani
A lot of people say, I want to go to Italy, I want to go to Tuscany, I want to live there and then they get here and they're like, oh, I didn't realize it was going to be so hard. Yes it is hard, and a lot of times I just trudged along anyway and I did it and I think it was just the pure positive energy of I'm going to get this done. Donna Scharnagl
What happens when you truly stumble upon your destiny, when life gives you an opportunity, you seize it and end up somewhere you never imagined you would be?
That’s the story of my guest this week, Donna Scharnagl, a fellow US expat in Tuscany and Independent SEO Consultant who helps business owners, success-driven individuals and solo entrepreneurs use tech skills and digital online tools confidently and successfully.
Donna, known as your friendly digital coach, also happens to be Ask Fosca’s social media manager. When we sat down to record this unscripted podcast (quite a few months back now), I had already known her for a while, but it was the first time I heard about her incredible path to Italy.
Tune in to hear more about Donna’s excellent work, her amazing personal narrative, and how she creatively and tirelessly pivoted to forge a solid path for success.
Biography
Donna Denise Scharnagl
Living in Tuscany for almost 30 years - I am an American citizen with a traveling soul. Born in New Jersey, my family moved to Florida when I was a teenager and I finished high school and college in the Miami area.
I am a graduate of Florida International University with a double major in English Lit and International Relations. My work experiences are all over the place - and it is this variety that has led me to my passion for helping others get found online.
With over 25 years of experience, I offer organizational and online marketing consultancy for you and your business especially to increase your engagement and branding, and a few tips for traveling and living in Tuscany.
Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnadenisescharnagl/
https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendlydigitalcoach/
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ PLUNKETT
Recorded at Musikalmente Firenze
Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
Writing Florence
featuring Lori Hetherington and Monica Sharp, The Florence Literary Society
The real value of the Literary Society is that information exchange and sharing. When you sit down at your computer or with your notepad or notebook, it’s a solitary activity,but so many other aspects of writing involve others. Whether it's brainstorming an idea, getting feedback on a first draft, finding a beta reader, or later, when you do move into the publishing sphere, an agent, someone who can help you with marketing and all those other things related to books and publishing that require others. Lori Hetherington
Florence has always been a cherished locale for writers who’ve flocked to it for centuries and continue to do so, eager to soak up the city’s charm and find inspiration.
It is a legendary place, full of stories that capture the imagination, where you can walk in the footsteps of your favorite author, follow an itinerary based on one of the many novels or films set here, or spend time daydreaming in one of the city’s bookshops orliterary cafés.
What about today? How do creatives experience Florence right now? Why do writers continue to be drawn to it? What kind of community exists for those looking for kindred spirits?
I sat down to discuss these very questions with Lori Hetherington and Monica Sharp, respectively President and Vice President of The Florence Literary Society, a new association founded by local writers whose goal is to serve the international writing community through a rich and diverse series of initiatives, workshops, talks, meetingsand brainstorming and silent writing sessions.
Join Lori, Monica and me for a conversation about their personal stories, what happens when you get a room full of writers together, all the incredible things The Florence Literary Society is doing for our community, their many upcoming events, including the incredibly popular annual publishing day, coming to Florence in October 2025 (I’ll see you there!), the benefits of membership, and plans for the immediate and more distant future.
Biographies
Lori Hetherington thrives on words, connections, and emotions in their myriad forms. A translator, ghostwriter, and linguistic consultant, she published Tuscan Tales in 2020 and facilitates the monthly brainstorming session for writers at the British Institute of Florence. Her website: lhetheringtontranslation.com.
Monica Sharp fell in love with Europe in 1993 and moved to Florence in 2016 with her husband and two kids. A curious spirit, incurable bookworm, and language fanatic, Monica writes poetry, essays and fiction. Her website: sharpmonica.com.
Links
Florence Literary Society
https://www.florenceliterarysociety.com/?page_id=59
Become a Member
https://www.florenceliterarysociety.com/?page_id=104
Sign up for the Newsletter
https://www.florenceliterarysociety.com/?page_id=15
https://www.instagram.com/florenceliterarysociety?igsh=MTB1MnlycWNzb2xqNg==
https://www.instagram.com/lori.e.hetherington?igsh=MXM5eG4xYjd1bG5mMg==
https://www.instagram.com/occhiatafiorentina?igsh=MXdiZGp0OWFsYmtkcg==
This episode is brought to you by Exclusive Connection, the Florence-based luxury travel company crafting bespoke experiences for travelers who crave something more than sightseeing, people like me who want a story, a hidden gem, a place so magical that it feels like it can’t possibly be real. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of your favorite author, literary character, or artist, Exclusive Connection offers extraordinary visits that will set your imagination free.
Start your next literary adventure at exclusiveconnection.it
Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Production Intern: RJ PLUNKETT Recorded at Musikalmente Firenze
Post-production: Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency
What I look for in my street photography is the expression of people in everyday situations, their stories, something that's got a little twist to it, that's open-ended, so that people can step into a space and finish the story. Louise Olko
Join me and this week’s guest, Louise Olko, photographer, figurative painter, and sculptor who took the leap just over a decade ago and decided to live out her dream of being an artist in Italy.
What has Louise found in Florence? How did she pivot from a career in business to her current life as an artist? Where does she find inspiration? What has her journey been like so far and what’s in store for the future?
Don’t miss our conversation about Louise’s path, finding a community of artists, her craft, ongoing and upcoming shows and events, and her first photography book.
Biography
Louise Olko was born in Colonia, New Jersey. She studied classical ballet at the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild (NJDTG) where she thrived and excelled before she shifted her focus to business, where she mastered the arts of advertising, leadership, management, marketing and visual merchandising. She went on to become the youngest divisional executive for a major NYC fine jewelry company by the age of 29. Success followed her business career, leading her to live and travel all over the United States and abroad. Throughout her life, she never lost sight of her artistic origins for classical art, ballet and modern dance and continued classes to harness skills in drawing, oil painting, pastel, sculpture and music.
In 2009 as a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies she was awarded a scholarship to further her studies. In 2011 she was given an opportunity to pursue a career in Fine Arts, and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to begin a course of full-time studies at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Art. In 2014, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge she began to explore the facets of European Art and moved to Florence, Italy to study oil painting with Michael John Angel at the Angel Academy of Fine Art, where she focused on figurative and still life oil painting. Upon receiving a three year certificate of completion she entered an Intensive Program of Study at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. Where in 2022 she completed her four years of study for figurative drawing and painting, anatomy and art restoration.
Louise's work has been exhibited in America and in Europe.
Links
https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/louiseolko/about
https://www.instagram.com/louiseofineart/