The real life in italy podcast

Doing our best to understand life in Italy as a foreigner, through culture, bureaucracy, and beyond

We're bringing you what you need to make life in Italy as a foreigner just a bit easier. Cutting through the bullshit of “La Dolce Vita” to share with you what you really need to know while living in Italy. From tidbits of Italian culture to navigating the nightmarish bureaucracy, and even some language tips, you’ll find it all here.

Here’s some topics we’ll be covering:

  • Who the fuck was this Garibaldi guy? And this Aldo Moro? Why does every town have a Via XX Settembre?!
  • How do I get my Permesso di Soggiorno and more importantly, dear God how do I survive the Questura?
  • What DOES mi raccomando mean?
  • What Birth Control is in Italy? Can I get IVF on Healthcare? What are my options when pregnant in Italy? (Yes, we’ll get serious.)
  • What IS the difference between Carabinieri and Polizia?!
  • No really, can I get an iced coffee in Italy?

Living in Italy as a foreigner is filled with challenges and moments where we all want to cry, rip out our hair, throw the towel in, and say basta, I’m going home. You’re not alone. But frankly, I’m a strong believer in the fact that the more we understand why things are the way they are, we can learn to accept them. The more we are able to confidently understand our life abroad, the easier, and more enjoyable it gets.

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Episodes

RSS Episode List

  • The Permesso di Soggiorno and How to Survive the Questura
    A bonus bureaucratic episode for you this week. We’re talking all about the Permesso di Soggiorno - the Italian Residence Permit. An essential part of life in Italy as a foreigner, but also our worst nightmare as expats in Italy, and while I admit it can be a boring topic, you need to know about […]
  • What IS the Difference between the Carabinieri and the Polizia?!
    On this episode of The Real Life in Italy we’re finally answering What IS the difference between the Carabinieri and Polizia? A question I know many expats in Italy have probably asked themselves every once a awhile. Probably the more important question we've asked living in Italy is: no seriously, WHO DO I CALL? Turns […]
  • Caught Inbetween Cultures: How I made Italy home, and how it's still hard.
    In this kick-off episode of The Real Life in Italy, I'll share my story of how I moved to Italy, and what it's been like since then. Even after 12 years of living in Italy, I don't feel any closer to being Italian, and I feel even further from being American. As expats in Italy, […]