Real Walking Friday - The Podcast

3 - Anna

Anna is a Swedish who has been living in Genova, Italy for almost four years with her family. Their move began with a dream: their youngest daughter wanted to play basketball in Italy. Instead of sending her abroad alone at 15, Anna and her husband made a bold decision — they moved together. At first, Anna kept working intensely, traveling back and forth between Sweden and Italy. But after a year, she made a life-changing choice: she left her job. That decision marked a deep turning point. For the first time in years, she slowed down. And in that slowing down, something unexpected happened — her life expanded. She built new friendships, focused on her health, rediscovered reading, and began to engage with ideas and perspectives she hadn’t had the energy for before. But slowing down isn’t always easy. It also brings questions: Where do I belong? What kind of life do I want now? With her children grown, Anna finds herself in a new phase — one shaped by conscious choices. Anna also shares her deep connection to Italian culture through food. For her, food is more than nourishment — it’s an everyday act of love, a way to understand history, culture, and people. From traditional recipes to following local grandmothers at the market, food becomes her way in. She is even writing a book that combines recipes with reflections on the differences between life in Italy and Sweden. At the same time, she brings her own culture with her — hosting Swedish celebrations, sharing traditional dishes, and introducing rituals like “fika,” turning food into a bridge between identities. Her story is ultimately about what happens when you change pace. You may lose structure and certainty, but you gain space — space for new relationships, new perspectives, and perhaps, a deeper connection with yourself.

2 - Evelyn

Evelyn was born and raised in El Salvador and has lived in Mexico, the United States, and now Italy — soon moving again to the Netherlands. In this episode of Real Walking Friday, Julie talks with Evelyn about what it really means to live abroad, adapt to new cultures, and find balance between challenge and discovery. From starting over in a small apartment in Genoa with a baby and a dog to building a supportive circle of expat women, Evelyn shares her journey with honesty and humor. She also talks about raising a bilingual child, building her own career as a lactation consultant, and what she’s learned from moving countries again and again. 🌍 Topics include motherhood abroad, learning new languages, community, travel, and how to stay open when everything around you changes. “Living abroad isn’t for everyone. But if you keep an open mind, you’ll always find beauty — even in the unexpected.”

1 - Julie

Julie is an American living in Nervi, Italy, with her Italian husband and two teenage kids. She’s one of the founders of Real Walking Friday — a group of women who meet every Friday morning to walk, talk, and support each other along the Ligurian coast. In this first episode, Chiara talks with Julie about what it really means to live la dolce vita, to feel at home abroad, and to build a community of women who share balance, gratitude, and laughter. They talk about travel, motherhood, nature, and Sardinia’s special energy — a place where Julie recharges and reconnects with herself. “Be grateful for the good days, get through the bad ones, and make your middle enjoyable.”