Espresso Encounters

Valérie Henzen

We live closer together than ever and somehow farther apart. Our world is faster, louder, more digital. We scroll, we function, we stay in our bubbles and many feel lonely, even when surrounded by people. This podcast is the opposite. It started with a simple “Hi.” Every Friday, I took my laptop to a café and talked to strangers. No plan. No agenda. No intention. Just being there, listening, staying curious and not judgmental. That is how I met an architect working on the Rialto Bridge in Venice, a young woman researching social media addiction, a man who trains assistance dogs, two entrepreneurs hunting rare luxury watches, and more. Once, there was even a marriage proposal. These encounters would never have happened if I had stayed in my own world. If I had not sat with the moment. If I had not said “Hi.” Each episode is a random encounter, a cup of coffee, and twenty questions. No script. No perfect story. Just real people, real conversations, and a little courage to connect. Maybe it will remind us that strangers can be friends we just have not met yet and that a small “Hi” can change everything.

Episodes

  1. Apr 23

    Espresso Encounter with Angelo

    Please note: This is my first out-of-studio episode, and the audio is not quite at my usual standard. As a perfectionist, I hesitated to release it anyway....but here it is. Not perfect, but truly the best first espresso encounter I could have wished for. In this cozy espresso chat at Super Mountain Market, Angelo shares why he rarely drinks coffee (too strong) but loves making it for others. He talks about finding a real sense of home in the Engadin, and how living close to nature has softened his nervous system, shifted his creativity, and quieted city-style FOMO. We also get into his daily practices— meditation, breath-work, and visualization—shaped by books The Power of Now and Becoming Supernatural. He opens up about connection, choosing love over fear in creative risks, and a compliment that genuinely moved him. Plus: a sneak peek at his upcoming mushroom-inspired jewelry collection. Connect with Angelo De Luca: https://www.instagram.com/angeloxdexluca https://www.angelodeluca.ch/ Books Mentioned: The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza

  • 1 Episode

About

We live closer together than ever and somehow farther apart. Our world is faster, louder, more digital. We scroll, we function, we stay in our bubbles and many feel lonely, even when surrounded by people. This podcast is the opposite. It started with a simple “Hi.” Every Friday, I took my laptop to a café and talked to strangers. No plan. No agenda. No intention. Just being there, listening, staying curious and not judgmental. That is how I met an architect working on the Rialto Bridge in Venice, a young woman researching social media addiction, a man who trains assistance dogs, two entrepreneurs hunting rare luxury watches, and more. Once, there was even a marriage proposal. These encounters would never have happened if I had stayed in my own world. If I had not sat with the moment. If I had not said “Hi.” Each episode is a random encounter, a cup of coffee, and twenty questions. No script. No perfect story. Just real people, real conversations, and a little courage to connect. Maybe it will remind us that strangers can be friends we just have not met yet and that a small “Hi” can change everything.

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