Italy Unedited

Lorena Bignamini & Kristi Derkacy
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Places & Travel

Parliamoci chiaro—let’s be honest: The real Italy—its language, people, contemporary life, and contradictions—is messier, funnier, rougher, and infinitely more interesting than any of the widespread ideas about it. Hosted by Lorena, a native Italian living in Los Angeles, and Kristi, an American born with an Italian spirit, Italy Unedited will invite you to travel far beyond la dolce vita. The Italy we are here for will take you deeper into the language, closer to the culture, and more into la vera vita italiana—real Italian life. For all of us who love it enough to want to see it more clearly, this is Italy—unfiltered, unpolished, unscripted.

  1. 2d ago

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Roma, No Filter (and a Milanese Keeps Interrupting)

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In our final episode of The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba, we get into the uniqueness of the Roman accent, how Romans create intimacy and show care by creating nicknames for their people, and the ways that other Italians may view Rome and Romans. We get into a discussion that breaks down the expression “Roma, ladrona” as a stereotype about Rome and Romans. We end with some Roman expressions, what they mean, and how to use them, including one that really encapsulates the Roman philosophy for viewing life. Our conversation touches on: The recognizable Roman accent once you know what to look for Barbara’s hyperbolic way of describing reasons for the Roman dialect Roman sarcasm and how it relates to the lifestyle and historical survival “Warm suffering and nostalgia” that Barbara describes in her relationship to her Roman identity Roman ways of giving nicknames that translate into creation of intimacy Ways that other Italians view Romans Roma, ladrona—what does it really mean?The stinging sense of Roman humor and an anecdote about Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni Italy’s divided history that has evolved into massive contemporary regional differences Find out more about Barbara and her work: www.barbarasaba.com IG: barbarasaba.12 FB: Barbara Saba For images of our guest and her photography of her home city, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Roma, No Filter (and a Milanese Keeps Interrupting)

  2. Oct 12

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Sto a Arrivà—What Time Means in the Eternal City

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In our third episode of our Roma series, Barbara offers some generative and constructive criticism on where she sees some challenges in Italian culture and Italian philosophies, including how Italians treat public spaces. Our conversation is threaded together with fun and spicy little patches of banter back and forth about Rome and Milan, including especially the differences about the concept of time and punctuality. We get into: The differences between how private vs. public spaces are respected (or not) in Italy versus the USAll the ways she becomes a critic when she is home in ItalyA fun and spicy little banter back and forth about Rome and MilanBarbara’s poetic explanation of Rome as a beguiling siren or temptress that will live on eternallyThe evidence of Rome’s endless history and how it keeps surfacing (literally)Sto a arrivà: the Roman way to say “I’m almost there” and what it actually means15 minuti academici: the “15 academic minutes” and what that means in Rome Find out more about Barbara and her work: www.barbarasaba.com IG: barbarasaba.12 FB: Barbara Saba For images of our guest and her photography of her home city, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Sto a Arrivà—What Time Means in the Eternal City

  3. Oct 5

    The Italian You've (Maybe) Always Wanted to Know

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This week on the show, we are going into colorful phrases of the Italian language. These are the ones you will definitely never hear in a classroom setting, but will certainly hear when speaking to Italian native speakers. We give you some oft-used and well-loved ways of expressing all kinds of emotion, but especially surprise and frustration, which Italians do exceptionally well. We debunk the cliche of the phrase mamma mia and give you legitimate situations to use it appropriately in. Not only the more lively expressions, but we also give you phrases that are politer, and can be used with small children. Full spectrum of native expressions this week, that will satisfy your curiosity for a more real version of the Italian language! Nothing expresses big emotion, or wishes good luck, like Italian! After this episode, you will be able to: Express emotion via a colorful Italian phrase Understand how to use and pronounce native expressions correctly Feel more like an Italian when inserting these phrases into your repertoire Giggle when you recognize some of these expressions in casual conversation For a full list of the phrases we use and what they mean, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    The Italian You've (Maybe) Always Wanted to Know

  4. Sep 28

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Roman in Rome, Roman in California—A Candid Cultural Reality Check

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In our second episode of the Rome Series with Barbara Saba, we get into the beloved topic of food, authentic restaurants, and dining culture you don’t want to miss while in the Eternal City. She guides us on how to make the best choices for the most satisfying meals before we dive into a vulnerable and honest conversation about the cultural differences between Italy and America. She offers poignant observations about what is missing in an individualist society for a person who was raised in collectivism. She openly shares her experiences of where Italian social values and norms aren’t met here, the implications for isolation and loneliness on people, and the deep value of community, meeting and togetherness. We Deep Dive: What to avoid when choosing a restaurant in Rome (American dishes that may be on menus but should not be!) Keep in mind that restaurants that cater to tourists don’t need to worry about seeing their customers again…Barbara tells us where not to go, and offers amazing alternatives insteadWays that Italian speakers and Italians can vet a menuReasons Italians would RUN away from an Italian restaurant and criteria that would make them feel safe to try it The Italian sense of community and how that contrasts with American culture The importance of gathering and how we may be missing the mark in the US from an Italian perspective What Italians consider to be the hallmarks of friendship versus the American friendship standards The stark differences between American individualism and Italian collectivism What sounds like complaining to Americans is a way of connecting for ItaliansDinner party differences: for Italians, a dinner invitation at their home is not just a dinner invitation, it is a way of showing care and love. Differences in how Italians express emotion versus Americans Places we mention: Prati neighborhood near St. Peter’s Find out more about Barbara and her work: www.barbarasaba.com IG: barbarasaba.12 FB: Barbara Saba For images of our guest and her photography of her home city, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Roman in Rome, Roman in California—A Candid Cultural Reality Check

  5. Sep 21

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Tourist, Traveler, Native

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This week on the show, we are welcoming Barbara Saba, a native Roman now living in LA. Barbara is an actress, artist and teacher. She brings her authentic Roman candor to the show and to our Rome series that will air over the following weeks. In this pilot episode, Barbara brings us closer to her Rome; the identities, realities and layers that make up this exquisite city and its people. She shares ways to experience its realness and its rawness more, and how to build intimacy with more of what Rome is, even—or perhaps, especially—as a tourist. We get into: The magic of Rome onscreen Rome’s aesthetic, appearance Stereotypes about Rome and Italians The ideology of purchè se ne parli-“as long as they are talking about us”The Roman worldview (Barbara’s candor about this will make you smile, and make you think!), including what they think when they travel abroad (hint: nothing compares to Roma!) Milanese style and dress versus Roman importance on historical affluence To really get to know Rome, Barbara breaks down the difference between being a ‘tourist’ and a ‘traveler’ Tourism as an “abuffata”—a Roman word that she uses as a food and gluttony metaphor of trying to consume as much as possible in a short amount of timeWays to slow down to get to feel and know the pulse of the city and her favorite ways to build intimacy with the city Both women explain how they relate to the famous places and monuments of their respective cities (which brings them into a whole new much more immersive perspective Plastic menus, spelling mistakes, and the real Roman food you actually don’t want to miss “Just slow down!” The beauty of inter-permeation: letting a place work its magic on you, while you leave something sweet of yourself there interchangeably. Places and things we mention: Italian director Sorentino and his film La Grande Bellezza Tiber River Trastevere neighborhood Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere Tour of the life of Anna Magnani (first Italian actress to win an Oscar in 1955) Food (as ritual) to try in Rome: Laborer Lunch: pizza col la mortadella —White pizza with mortadella with pistachio, small cold beer eaten on the steps of a monument Roman artichokes Puntarelle: a seasonal vegetable available from January to April in Rome Find out more about Barbara and her work: www.barbarasaba.com IG: barbarasaba.12 FB: Barbara Saba For images of our guest and her photography of her home city, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    The Roma Series, with Barbara Saba: Tourist, Traveler, Native

  6. Sep 14

    Contemporary Italian Musicians & Singers You Will Want to Get to Know

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! We are getting into music that has come into the Italian music scene within the last 10-15 years. We have some great suggestions of fresh Italian artists that are as great for learning and immersing in the Italian language as they are for eliciting emotion and connecting to feelings, even if you don’t understand the meaning of (all) the words! This episode are going to take you beyond the more globally famous Italian artists, like Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, maybe even Elisa, because there are so many incredible musicians you will want to know—Either to enjoy the language and feel the vibe, because you want to learn the language through the vehicle of music (which is highly recommended by the way), or both. Our list goes across the spectrum of genres, so hopefully there is something for all musical preferences and tastes here. Throughout, we address the power of music to make you feel, and to transport you back to memories and moments that carry meaning and significance. And we guide Italian language learners on how to make the most of music to learn different components of the language, such as past and future tenses, vocabulary, and native phrasing. We open with the song that always makes us say “yes! This one!” and sing along, and flow into songs that transport us to a different time of life. Kristi goes into a sweet list of contemporary artists that are definitely worth getting to know, each of them with a different sound and style. We also discuss: The two ways to express love in Italian (ti amo, to voglio bene)The sea as a motif in Italian music and lyricsThe northern Italian word ‘balorda’ and what it means and how to use it Link to our playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hac9WsaCY0c9Y4mOKkeOY?si=gSKlVugmR2uoKz-TRrL8Cw&utm_source=copy-link&pi=uE6CjfrvRymaH Full list of the songs and artists we mention at https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    Contemporary Italian Musicians & Singers You Will Want to Get to Know

  7. Sep 7

    Untranslatable Italian Words & Phrases That Will Make You Sound More Like a Native Speaker

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of Italy Unedited, we are giving you some key words and phrases that are going to bring your Italian into native territory. Why? Because there comes a point in a language learning journey where immersion in conversation will leave you lost without the native flavors and particles that people actually use! Flavors like “un sacco di roba”, and “per forza”. And particles like “boh” or “allora”, which takes on a ton of meanings! These are expressions you will hear often in casual conversation, but won’t find in a classroom or on DuoLingo. They will help you keep up in the chat—and don't worry— we will provide the context for where they will appear! And speaking of flavors, we get into the social reality of the Spaghettata, the Italian version of fast food and how to do this correctly. This week, we are giving you a first round of our favorite words and phrases, so get ready to give your Italian a big native boost! By the end of this episode, you will be able to: Discern colloquial expressions and spot them in dialogue Try them out on your own and pronounce them correctly Be ready to engage in native conversations with more confidence Sound more native while speaking Italian Uplevel your polemic capacity, skepticism and bantering abilities in Italian (hallmarks of Italian conversations) Teach the other Italian language learners a little something extra and useful For a full list of the phrases we mention and what they mean, head over to our Show Notes page on the show’s website: https://italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/blog/

    Untranslatable Italian Words & Phrases That Will Make You Sound More Like a Native Speaker

  8. Aug 31

    The Best Souvenirs to Bring Back from Itay

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! If you want to invest in bringing back an authentic piece of Italy when your travels are over, skip the trinkets! We have the perfect suggestions for you! Our list is creative, surprising, and fun. At times, practical, at others whimsical! Either way, you will definitely feel inspired by all of the great things you will want to look around for while in Italy! Beyond the usual small souvenir perusal, we get into products and places that are one hundred percent made-in-Italy, some of which are one of a kind! That said, we go across the spectrum of prices and interests, so there will be something for everyone you love, options for all budgets, and plenty for you to get excited about to pick up for yourself! Feel good (and do a bella figura) by investing in Italian quality, while there, and come away with items that are totally unique to Italy. This episode covers clothing and articles of dress as well as everything else— and believe us, our suggestions will include things you haven’t thought of but will be ready to find! We include easy-to-find national brands and shops, as well as bespoke and boutique recommendations as well. Our list promises to deliver across a variety of tastes and budgets. We finish with a brief overview of things we do not recommend buying and bringing back, or even to avoid because they can get you into serious trouble! Find full show notes and photos of our recommendations at www.italyuneditedpodcast.wordpress.com/show-notes/ Places We Mention: Cotton & Silk (Italian men’s clothing shop) https://www.cottonsilk.it/it L’Erbolario ( natural skin care, fragrances, cosmetics) https://international.erbolario.com/ Santa Maria Novella (one of the oldest perfumeries in Florence) https://us.smnovella.com/ Brera street in Milan (boutiques for house-made personal fragrances) Aqua e Sapone (Italy-wide hair & body care, cosmetics store) https://www.acquaesapone.it/

    The Best Souvenirs to Bring Back from Itay
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Parliamoci chiaro—let’s be honest: The real Italy—its language, people, contemporary life, and contradictions—is messier, funnier, rougher, and infinitely more interesting than any of the widespread ideas about it. Hosted by Lorena, a native Italian living in Los Angeles, and Kristi, an American born with an Italian spirit, Italy Unedited will invite you to travel far beyond la dolce vita. The Italy we are here for will take you deeper into the language, closer to the culture, and more into la vera vita italiana—real Italian life. For all of us who love it enough to want to see it more clearly, this is Italy—unfiltered, unpolished, unscripted.

Information

  • Creator
    Lorena Bignamini & Kristi Derkacy
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lorena Bignamini & Kristi Derkacy 2026
  • Show Website
    Italy Unedited

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