1. No More Ghosting: Local Letters Begin

5. Excitement Unleashed: Following My Heart in Italy

You know? I'd say that this pod episode is one where I reflect in real-time on the journey of self-discovery and creativity while living in Italy for the past (nearly) two years. Without overthinking the share, I just sat down and turned on the mic and let things flow. If you feel like hearing a bit of the challenge I face with starting new projects or actually listening to everything the gurus and coaches have told me over the years - this one might be for you. I'm reminded of how important it is to follow my own alignment (which is to follow my excitement) and shared a bit about anew project I'm in the midst of! (And it's one I'm SOO excited about) I'll be sharing more about that here with you soon! xoxo laura Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Starting a Podcast 02:49 Embracing Excitement and Overcoming Overwhelm 05:42 Listening to Your Own Voice 08:57 The Power of Journaling and Self-Reflection 11:51 Creative Projects and Following Excitement 14:38 Living in Italy: Grounding and Adventure 18:01 The Birth of a Children's Book Series 20:51 Weekly Souvenirs and Future Aspirations podcast, Italy, self-discovery, creativity, children's books, personal growth, excitement, journaling, life lessons, storytelling

4. An 88-Year-Old Bestie & the Real Rhythms of Life in Italy

Cycles that repeat, friendships that heal, and what life in Italy is really teaching me. A new little Series inside WMTI - Learning to Local: Episode 1 When we moved to Italy, I thought I’d be sharing about my big adventures here every week. Instead, this past year has looked very different — quieter, slower, more internal. As it turns out, that makes sense: I’ve been living through my 12th house profection year, a season in astrology that’s all about retreat, reflection, and preparing for what comes next. In this episode, I share a bit about how that cycle has shaped my life here in Florence — from pausing travel to finding unexpected community in our neighborhood, to the gift of a deep friendship with my 88‑year‑old bestie, Giovanna. What started as 'we moved to Italy, now what? ' has really become 'we live in Italy, now what?' And for me, the answer has been: pay attention. This is the first episode of the new series I’m calling Learning to Local — snapshots of the hidden, everyday moments that shift how we see ourselves and the season we’re in. If you’ve ever felt like you “should” be doing more but life is asking you to go inward, or if you’re curious about how astrology can frame the season you’re in, I think you’ll find something here. A presto :) xo laura ---- ----- ----- ---- And in case you're curious now about what I mentioned in the episode, here's a super brief, cheat-sheet style recap of the 12 Profection Years with Ages and Themes: 1st house: ages 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 — self, body, identity, beginnings 2nd house: ages 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 — money, resources, self-worth 3rd house: ages 2, 14, 26, 38, 50, 62, 74, 86 — communication, siblings, local life 4th house: ages 3, 15, 27, 39, 51, 63, 75, 87 — home, family, roots 5th house: ages 4, 16, 28, 40, 52, 64, 76, 88 — creativity, pleasure, romance 6th house: ages 5, 17, 29, 41, 53, 65, 77, 89 — daily work, health, routines 7th house: ages 6, 18, 30, 42, 54, 66, 78, 90 — relationships, partnerships 8th house: ages 7, 19, 31, 43, 55, 67, 79, 91 — shared resources, intimacy, transformation 9th house: ages 8, 20, 32, 44, 56, 68, 80, 92 — travel, study, beliefs, expansion 10th house: ages 9, 21, 33, 45, 57, 69, 81, 93 — career, reputation, public role 11th house: ages 10, 22, 34, 46, 58, 70, 82, 94 — friendships, groups, hopes 12th house: ages 11, 23, 35, 47, 59, 71, 83, 95 — rest, retreat, hidden matters p.s. they all go WAY deeper than this, but at least this gives you a start to see what year you're living now :)

3. Finding My Voice: Podcasting from Italy

Hi friends, heads up! There's no intro music on this one - because in this episode, Laura jumps right into it and shares her journey of starting a podcast while living in Italy. From figuring out her identity in a new country to sharing everyday stories and experiences, Laura opens up about the real-life challenges and joys of podcasting. Whether it's a funny encounter or a personal insight, she invites you to join her in this honest and relatable exploration of life and storytelling. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just curious about the art of storytelling, this episode is perfect for anyone curious about starting a podcast or just looking for a genuine connection. Don't miss out on this heartfelt exploration of life, growth, and the power of sharing stories. So happy to have you here!

2. Spring Reset: Catching up & Cracking Up (w/ First Guest Andrés!)

Ready for a laugh?! Bc nothing says 'we're back' like a little unexpected guest episode! We're kicking off this Spring season with some good laughs and life in Italy updates. And *SURPRISE!* I brought Andrés on to talk about his hilarious recent experience with driver's ed (spoiler: it's as chaotic as you'd imagine). I also share a quick catch-up on what I've been up to, to get back into the storytelling mode! We're back to stayyy! Here's to fresh starts, fun convos, and more episodes coming your way soon! Thanks for being here -- I missed you! And if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to follow along! Would be honored to have you with me as this sweet little journey unfolds in real time. :) your amica, Laura

1. No More Ghosting: Local Letters Begin

Welcome (back) to the soft relaunch of the podcast! After an unexpected five-month pause, I'm returning with a new energy, a new mini-series called Local Letters, and a deeper commitment to showing up imperfectly. This episode is raw, heart-led, and completely unfiltered—no intro, no outro, just me and you. I'm sharing the messy, honest journey of learning how to express myself without getting tangled in perfectionism, comparison, and performance. I even share a story I've never told about how self-doubt once led me to accidentally build an entire business. So - if you've ever felt like you have to have it all figured out before you can be seen, this one's for you. Timestamps: * [00:00] - A soft hello and an honest return * [01:30] - Why I ghosted and why I'm not mad about it * [03:45] - Letting it be messy: chit chat over performance * [06:20] - The trap of self-editing and comparison * [08:10] - Introducing Local Letters: sharing the internal shifts * [10:45] - How perfectionism keeps sneaking in (even now) * [13:20] - A little story about turning an identity crisis into a business * [16:00] - How past patterns shaped my creative life * [17:50] - Why showing up imperfectly still feels scary—but worth it * [19:15] - How learning my astrology chart helped me love my patterns * [21:00] - The real reason this space matters: real connection, not performance Resources Mentioned: * Social Experiment: Check Laura's Substack for more details (coming soon) * Learning to Local [https://learningtolocalwithlaura.substack.com/]: A series of short, heart-on-sleeve episodes * Astrology Course [https://www.kacydanae.com/astro-vip/] (where she learned more on understanding subconscious patterns through the 12th house) As always, thanks for being here! :) your amica, Laura