15 with Fosca

Fosca D'Acierno
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15 with Fosca takes you on a journey to contemporary Italy and, through a plurality of voices, offers insights into Italian culture today and prepares you, in a meaningful way, for your time here. The podcast features authentic stories from Italy in real time and strives to create and build a sense of community across space and borders through conversations about what’s going on in Italian society right now.

  1. In the Parlour featuring Esther Tadjiev

    2D AGO

    In the Parlour featuring Esther Tadjiev

    “I wanted to build a space where nobody would feel unseen.” Esther Tadjiev My guest today is Esther Tadjiev, founder and owner of The Parlour in Florence, a beautifully designed space that goes far beyond nails or aesthetics. What Esther has created is a study in hospitality, community, and the emotional architecture of luxury. Before moving to Florence, Esther worked at the highest levels of the luxury sector, including roles at Sotheby’s and Chanel. In this conversation, she reflects on what brought her from New York to Florence, how a personal frustration sparked a business idea, and what it took to build something truly original here. We talk about entrepreneurship in Italy, the evolution of Florence after the pandemic, the importance of detail, and why the deepest luxury may simply be feeling welcomed, recognized, and cared for. Biography Esther Tadjiev is the founder of The Parlour, a design-led beauty studio on the Arno that has redefined nail care in Florence as both a ritual and a place of connection. Originally from New York, she built her career in the luxury sector, including a senior leadership role at Sotheby’s auction house, before arriving in Florence in 2018 for what was meant to be a short stay. She never quite left. Drawing on her background in luxury, fashion, and design, Esther created The Parlour as a space that balances high standards with a sense of ease — where clients feel cared for, seen, and part of something. Known for its monobrand philosophy and its quietly social atmosphere, The Parlour has become a destination for locals, expats, and those passing through the city. Today, Esther continues to lead the studio hands-on while exploring new ways to expand the brand, always with a focus on experience, integrity, and building meaningful connections. The Parlour Firenze  +39 0550880101  Borgo San Jacopo 30R Firenze 50125 Links  www.theparlour.it https://www.instagram.com/theparlourfirenze/ linkedin.com/in/esther-t-67781431

    57 min
  2. The Innocents of Florence with Joseph Luzzi

    APR 10

    The Innocents of Florence with Joseph Luzzi

    The ultimate indicator of a society is how you treat the most vulnerable. Joseph Luzzi In this episode of 15 with Fosca, I speak with Professor Joseph Luzzi, Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College and acclaimed scholar of Italian culture. Our conversation centers on his latest book, The Innocents of Florence, a powerful exploration of the Ospedale degli Innocenti, the Renaissance institution that cared for abandoned children for over five centuries. But this episode goes far beyond history. Together, we explore the intersection of art, childhood, grief, civic responsibility, and the role of the humanities in shaping a more humane society. Luzzi shares the deeply personal moment that led him to write the book, connecting his own experience of loss and fatherhood to the mission of the Innocenti. He reflects on the Renaissance belief in beauty as a form of care, and on what it means to dignify human life, especially for the most vulnerable. We also discuss the crisis and resurgence of the humanities, particularly in an age increasingly shaped by technology and AI, and pose important questions on why literature, art, and history still matter and what they give us that no algorithm can.  Don’t miss this conversation on what it means to build a society that’s worth living in. Biography  Joseph Luzzi received his PhD from Yale University. He is the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College, where he also teaches courses on film and Italian Studies. He is the author of eight books, including his recent The Innocents of Florence. His other books include Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance (Norton, 2022), a New Yorker Best Books of 2022 selection and shortlisted for the Phi Beta Kappa Ralph Waldo Emerson Award. Romantic Europe and the Ghost of Italy (Yale University Press, 2008), which received the MLA’s Scaglione Prize for Italian Studies; A Cinema of Poetry: Aesthetics of the Italian Art Film (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014), a finalist for the international prize “The Bridge Book” Award; My Two Italies (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014), a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice; and In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love (HarperCollins, 2015), which has been translated into multiple languages. Joseph’s essays and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, TLS, Bookforum, and American Scholar, among others, and his scholarly writing has appeared in PMLA, Modern Language Notes, Modern Language Quarterly, Raritan, Italica, and Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century. His media appearances include a profile in the Guardian and an interview with National Public Radio. Among his honors are a Dante Society of America essay prize, Yale College teaching prize, a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Award, and fellowships from the National Humanities Center and Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center. The first American-born child in his Italian immigrant family, Luzzi was named Cittadino Onorario / Honorary Citizen of Acri, Calabria, in 2017. A widely sought-after speaker, he has presented worldwide on literature, art, film, and the power of the humanities. Joseph is the founder of the Virtual Book Club, an international online community devoted to exploring some of the best books ever written. Links  https://josephluzzi.com/ https://josephluzzi.com/virtual-book-club/ https://josephluzzi.com/book/the-innocents-of-florence/ https://www.facebook.com/luzzi.joseph Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recorded via Zoom, post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    52 min
  3. Reading Energy, Reading Time featuring Aelita Leto

    APR 3

    Reading Energy, Reading Time featuring Aelita Leto

    Mastery is when you don’t know if it’s intuition, experience, or knowledge. It just feels right.” Aelita Leto What if your life isn’t something you need to fix, but something you need to understand? In this intimate conversation recorded in Florence just before the Year of the Fire Horse, I sit down with Feng Shui master and Chinese astrologer Aelita Leto to explore what it really means to read energy within ourselves, within our spaces, and within time itself. From her early training with classical masters to her deeply embodied practice today, Aelita shares a perspective that challenges the Western instinct to control, fix, and predict. Instead, she invites us into something far more nuanced: adaptation, awareness, and alignment. We talk about why Feng Shui is not about “cures” or objects, the differences between intuition and mastery, how space reflects who we are (and vice versa), ancestral energy, rhythm, and cycles, and the real meaning of the Lunar New Year and what the Year of the Fire Horse actually represents And in a moment I didn’t plan, but gently nudged, Aelita reads my chart live on the podcast, offering a powerful, deeply personal glimpse into her work. Biography  Aelita Leto is a renowned Feng Shui master known for her profound understanding of ancient Chinese metaphysics and its practical applications in modern living spaces. Born with an innate curiosity about the interconnectedness of energy, space, and human well-being, Aelita embarked on her journey into the world of Feng Shui at a young age. Her passion for the subject led her to study under several esteemed masters, immersing herself in the intricate principles of Feng Shui, including the balance of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the flow of Qi. Aelita has studied extensively Daoist mysticism and Christian mysticism, has received her Master of Chinese Energetic Medicine and a preistly Doctorate in Chinese Energetic Medicine from Bian Hua Gong- The Temple of Change and Transformation. Aelita's unique approach combines traditional wisdom with contemporary insights, making her a sought-after consultant for individuals, businesses, and organizations seeking to harmonize their environments for improved prosperity, health, and happiness. Throughout her career, Aelita has traveled extensively, sharing her expertise through teaching, workshops, lectures, and consultations across the globe. She has authored several publications on Feng Shui, offering readers practical guidance on creating harmonious spaces that support personal growth and success. With a deep commitment to empowering others through the transformative power of Feng Shui, Aelita continues to inspire people to cultivate balance and harmony in their lives, one space at a time. Links  https://aelitaleto.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FengShuiAelita/ https://www.instagram.com/fengshuiaelita/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aelita-leto/ https://linktr.ee/fengshuiaelita?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9bae62a4-7b5e-41fe-be61-a7aadc09de13 https://www.zenitybiolabs.com/ Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recording and post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    1h 7m

  4. MAR 27

    A Renaissance Life featuring Vincenzo Lodato

    “Just do what you enjoy doing. Be curious. You don’t know where your path will take you.” Vincenzo Lodato  There are people you meet at the end of a party, when the night is winding down and you’re already halfway out the door, who stop you dead in your tracks. Vincenzo Lodato was that person for me. We met at one of Mary Shea’s unforgettable vineyard dinners at Querceto di Castellina, talked for maybe two minutes, and I knew before I reached my car that I had to have him as a guest on the podcast. Vincenzo is a Los Angeles native whose first time on a plane was when he left for Rome for a junior year abroad, a trip that turned into nearly two years, dual Italian-American citizenship, and eventually a permanent life in a restored farmhouse outside Cortona.  His career reads like a fever dream of creative range: a fine arts degree, a stint in advertising, Design Director overseeing a division of Barbie at Mattel, Creative Director managing the Jurassic Park franchise at Universal Studios, Disney, Warner Bros., GQ Magazine in New York, and now teaching at Polimoda and FIT in Florence.  The thread running through all of it? He was almost never looking. The Mattel job led to Universal because a castmate in West Side Story mentioned his boss couldn’t find a creative director. Vincenzo showed up to the interview in a t-shirt and jeans, portfolio in hand, on his way to dress rehearsal. His first day on the job, he sat across from Steven Spielberg. We also talk about Café Society, the intimate performance group he founded in Florence to bring American standards and musical theater to expat audiences; his illustrated children’s book BuppaLaPaloo & The I Love MEs, created with actress Dee Wallace of E.T. fame, now in conversations about becoming an animated series; and the art show he’s been quietly dreaming about for years.  This is a conversation about what it looks like to live a creative life on your own terms, the importance of staying curious, and of always yes to things you don’t fully understand yet. Biography  Vincezo Lodato is one of the most respected global branding and marketing executives in the licensing and publishing industries with 30+ years of consumer products experience in apparel, accessories, footwear, toys, gifts, stationery, interactive games, publishing, fragrance, food, beverage and retail. He has studied in both the USA & in Europe and is currently living Tuscany, Italy.   He has held Vice President and Creative Director positions at Universal Studios, Disney, Mattel, Warner Bros/New Line Cinema, FAO Schwarz, GQ Magazine / Conde Nast Publications and IMG Worldwide.   Throughout his many years in Licensing and Brand Marketing,  Vincenzo has managed and developed successful brand strategies for properties  such as: Barbie, The Lord Of the Rings, The Jurassic Park Franchise, Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Curious George, Harry Potter, Universal Studios Classics, GQ Magazine, and The Nutcracker with Martha Stewart.   While living in New York, Vincenzo became the Creative Director and acted as Executive Producer for GQ Magazine / Conde Nast Publications,  for the - “2003 GQ Man of the Year Awards” show with MTV / Spike TV hosted by Jon Stewart with celebrity guests that included The Black-Eyed Peas, Jay Z, Beyonce, Colin Farrell, Charlize Theron, Adrian Brody, and others. While at GQ Magazine, he developed marketing and special programs with many top luxury advertisers such as Prada, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Mercedes-Benz, Hummer, David Yurman, L’Oreal, Revlon, and others.

    51 min
  5. The Stories that Find Us: Featuring Katherine Mezzacappa

    MAR 13

    The Stories that Find Us: Featuring Katherine Mezzacappa

    “When I write under different names, I can be a different person. So, if I got stuck on whatever I was writing as Katherine Mezzacappa, that was a bit more literary, then I could dive off into a romance, if you like, and be Kate Zarrelli, and that does feel a bit different.” Katherine Mezzacappa In this episode, I’m joined by author Katherine Mezzacappa, the Irish-born, Tuscany-based novelist behind The Maiden of Florence and a wide-ranging body of work written under more than one name. We talk about Katherine’s long relationship with Italy, from her first trip to Florence as a child to the life she eventually built in Tuscany, and about the beauty, history, and cultural inheritance that shape her work. We also discuss her path to writing seriously later in life, and why her fiction so often returns to women and working people whose stories official history has ignored, distorted, or erased. Katherine shares the surprising ways books begin, how she researches the worlds she writes, and the unusual method she uses to understand her characters from the inside out. We also talk about discipline, time, artistic community, and what aspiring writers need to hear most: that there is no single right way to write a book, only the way that allows you to keep going. Biography Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish author of mainly historical fiction, long resident in Carrara. Ten of her novels have been published under three different names. The Maiden of Florence (Fairlight, 2024, also available in Italian translation with Piemme) was shortlisted for the Historia Gold Crown award, 2025 and this month achieved first place in Kindle sales in the US in the Italian Historical Fiction category. Katherine is also a manuscript assessor for a London literary consultancy, lead organiser for this year's Historical Novel Society's conference in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and is an executive committee member of the Irish Writers Union. She's also proud to be a member of the Florence Literary Society. Katherine holds degrees from East Anglia, Durham and Canterbury Christ Church universities. Links https://katherinemezzacappa.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-mezzacappa-09407815/ https://www.instagram.com/katmezzacappa/ https://www.facebook.com/katherinemezzacappafiction Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recorded via Zoom, post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    46 min
  6. The Art of the Moment featuring Sheean Hanlan

    MAR 6

    The Art of the Moment featuring Sheean Hanlan

    “People don’t just want the result; they want the experience of the work coming to life.” Sheean Hanlan In this episode of 15 with Fosca, I’m joined by Sheean Hanlan, a live event illustrator based in Florence whose work captures people not as perfect replicas, but as their essence, gestures, moods, microexpressions, and spirit. We talk about how Sheean first encountered Florence as a Pepperdine study abroad student, and how she felt, almost immediately, that something in her was going to shift. At the time she was pre-med, but the city’s art, history, and beauty cracked something open. She returned again and again until 2020 when she took the leap that changed everything. Sheean shares the behind-the-scenes truth: getting to Italy during COVID, training intensively in classical techniques, and then realizing that mastery doesn’t automatically equal a life. There was a gap between learning and making a career until she began trusting what felt natural; a style that embraces the human hand, the beauty of imperfection, and the thrill of watching art come alive in real time. We also talk about deeper questions like what it means to create while surrounded by Renaissance greatness, how a Henry James story (“The Madonna of the Future”) shaped her thinking about originality, and why the rise of AI has only increased the hunger for real artists and real presence. Sheean Hanlan Biography and Links  Sheean is a live event illustrator splitting her time between Italy and the Bahamas. She creates watercolor portraits at luxury weddings across Europe, and her work has been featured in British Vogue and commissioned by Amazon and the National Gallery of London. https://linktr.ee/Studiosheean Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recorded via Zoom, post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    51 min
  7. Essential Astonishments

    FEB 27

    Essential Astonishments

    “It’s not about what happens to us, it’s about who we become going through it.” Gina Mazza  In this episode of 15 with Fosca, I sit down with author, editor, and self-described “word provocateur” and “creative alchemist”, Gina Mazza, for a grounded and expansive conversation about writing, fear, consciousness, and why storytelling may be the most powerful force we have. Gina has built a career not only as a writer, but as a guide for other writers. She helps authors shape their ideas, find their voice, and navigate the often intimidating world of publishing, whether traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing.  We talk about her award-winning poetry collection, Essential Astonishments, which was born in an extraordinary way, through 3 a.m. awakenings where she felt called to “take dictation” from something beyond herself. Listening to her describe that experience reminded me of my own early-morning writing sessions, those moments when the words seem to arrive fully formed, as if they’ve been waiting for us. Gina asks a question that I haven’t stopped thinking about: “What must I say before I die?” It’s a powerful way to frame the writing process; not as something we “should” do because it looks impressive, but as something that feels necessary.  We also talk about the emotional reality of publishing. How vulnerable it feels. How rejection stings. How launching a book can feel like stepping off a cliff. And how important it is to have both creative support and practical strategy, because books aren’t just written, they’re raised. What I loved most about this conversation is Gina’s duality: she moves easily between the spiritual and the strategic, the intuitive and the practical. She understands that writing is both art and product, soul-work and marketing reality. At its heart, this episode is about courage; the courage to listen to that quiet voice, to follow the spark when it arrives (even if it’s at 3 a.m.), and to trust that our stories matter. If you’ve ever felt the pull to write, or the fear that stops you, this conversation is for you. Gina Mazza Biography and Links  Gina Mazza has worked and played with words on a professional basis for nearly four decades. She’s an award-winning journalist and author of five books in the personal growth category, including Everything Matters, Nothing Matters (St. Lynn’s Press), which was praised in Publisher’s Weekly. Her latest release, Essential Astonishments: Poetic Reflections for Awakening, answers the soul’s longing to speak with intimacy about the bliss and bewilderment of the human experience. Gina runs a company that helps other writers bring forth their creative expressions, particularly in the spirituality/consciousness/wellness space. Her offerings include ghostwriting, editing, publishing consulting, “creative musing”, book promotion and branding.  Gina also has a solid background in PR and advertising, media writing, corporate communications, entrepreneurship and the use of intuitive guidance to elucidate one's work, mission, passion and purpose. https://ginamazza.com Facebook: gina.mazza Insta: @ginamazza_poetry LinkedIn:ginamazza Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recorded via Zoom, post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    47 min
  8. 5 Chairs, 5 Choices featuring Louise Evans 

    FEB 20

    5 Chairs, 5 Choices featuring Louise Evans 

    “When you’re triggered, you always have a choice: reactive or responsive.” Louise Evans What if every difficult moment in your life came down to one simple truth: you have a choice? In this rich and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Louise Evans, creator of the Five Chairs Framework, a powerful behavioral model that has transformed workplaces, schools, families, and relationships around the world. Louise’s TEDx talk (with over 6 million views) introduced millions to five archetypal “chairs” that represent our possible responses when we’re triggered: 🟥 Red Chair (Jackal): Represents reactive, aggressive, and blaming behavior. 🟡 Yellow Chair (Hedgehog): Represents self-judgment, insecurity, and defensiveness. 🟢 Green Chair (Meerkat): Represents pause, awareness, and observation. 🔵 Blue Chair (Dolphin): Represents empathy, connection, and understanding. 🟣Purple Chair (Giraffe): Represents authenticity, courage, and high consciousness.  Louise reminds us that when we are triggered, we are not trapped. We can react or we can respond. Biography  Founder and Director of The 5 Chairs project, Behavioral Coach, Corporate Trainer and Facilitator, Speaker, and Author of 5 Chairs 5 Choices. Louise’s audiences routinely describe her as “captivating,” “inspiring,” “entertaining,” and “life-changing,” These qualities have been a throughline of her life. Since childhood, Louise has had a determination and an enthusiasm for life. Three things have always been dear to her heart: people, travel, and the performing arts. A large part of her happiness today comes from being able to combine all three in bringing The 5 Chairs to the world. Born in England to Welsh parents, she left home in her early 20s to work in the South of France which marked the beginning of her passion for travel. After France, she moved to Germany. Then, in 1986, she settled in Florence, Italy which she considers her spiritual home. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, makes a perfect backdrop for Louise’s artistic vision: to bring forth a revolution in the way people behave and interact with each other — each person able to develop into their wiser, more noble and compassionate selves. In short, Louise’s modern Renaissance is to make the world a better place through “behavioral agility.” Her professional journey began in educational organizations offering language and communication training to the corporate world. This suited her well. In this environment, she was able to use the skills she developed in the performing arts. Since, her audiences always remark about how much more entertaining she is than the average corporate trainer. Her move to Italy marked the beginning of her life as an entrepreneur and as a serious world traveler. Her passion for exploring other cultures inspired her to specialize in Cross-Cultural Diversity Management and Global Leadership, which she offers to multinational companies across the world as a facilitator, trainer, and coach. Having visited 85 countries and experienced culture shock three times, Louise enjoys bringing multiple perspectives to the present moment to help people connect across their differences. Links  https://the5chairs.com/ Own Your Behaviours, Master Your Communication, Determine Your Success | Louise Evans | TEDxGenova https://youtu.be/4BZuWrdC-9Q?si=dWAvNEOgme40K2wL https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-evans-b67485/ https://www.instagram.com/the5chairs_louiseevans/ Share, like, comment, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Nicole Stevens Recording and post-production Lorenzo Maiani, Faminore Sound Agency

    45 min
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About

15 with Fosca takes you on a journey to contemporary Italy and, through a plurality of voices, offers insights into Italian culture today and prepares you, in a meaningful way, for your time here. The podcast features authentic stories from Italy in real time and strives to create and build a sense of community across space and borders through conversations about what’s going on in Italian society right now.

Information

  • Creator
    Fosca D'Acierno
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Fosca D'Acierno
  • Show Website
    15 with Fosca

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