AskFosca

AskFosca 🇮🇹 Italy Travel Designer, Relocation & Expat Coach - Podcaster - Study Abroad Professional - Writer - Connector - Mom to a Gen Zer🇺🇸

09/08/2026

My final episode before taking a little hiatus feels like exactly the right one to end on.

Writer and writing mentor Karena Benke divides her life between the San Francisco Bay Area and Florence, a city she describes as being bathed in “creative light.”

We talk about writing, reinvention, raising (and launching!) children, the importance of protecting creativity, and what Karena’s young writing students have taught her about trusting yourself and letting go of the need to do things “right.”

And then there’s Lunch at Lola’s, her forthcoming book with Matilde Pettini of Florence’s beloved Trattoria da Lola. It’s a cookbook, a collection of memories, a love letter to a disappearing Florence, and a wonderful story involving friendship, neighborhood life…and Stanley Tucci.

Karena and I met completely by chance about a year ago. Somehow, that makes her the perfect guest for this final conversation (for now!).

Streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Link in story & bio.

02/08/2026

What if the thing that scares you most is the thing you are meant to do?

Alatia Bradley Bach joins me to talk about leaving New York, finding a new life in Florence, discovering her vocation through Kundalini yoga, and creating a joyful community grounded in generosity and connection.

Streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Link in story & bio

A little summer gift for you!After more than three years of weekly episodes and hundreds of conversations with my wonder...
26/07/2026

A little summer gift for you!

After more than three years of weekly episodes and hundreds of conversations with my wonderful guests, I’m taking an indefinite hiatus from 15 with Fosca.

Starting a new full-time role has reminded me that there are only so many hours in the day, and for now I’d rather press pause than produce something that isn’t my very best.

Before I go, though, I wanted to leave you with an incredible lineup of conversations.

July & August Guests

Angela M. Sims — Award-winning historical fiction author whose novels The Rose of Florence and Hiding the Flame explore history, resilience, and memory.

Daniel Grace — Novelist, historian, and Chianti winemaker. We dive into myth, history, storytelling, and his fascinating novel In the Wake of Golgotha.

A solo episode with me — A very personal conversation about online dating, algorithms, unexpected reinvention, and why I found myself back on Hinge after swearing I’d never date again.

Manjula Dias-Hargarter — Writer, editor, and educator exploring language, belonging, identity, and what it means to build a life between cultures.

Alatia Bradley Bach — Kundalini yoga teacher on finding community abroad, embracing unexpected life changes, and creating a more intentional life.

Karena Benke — Writing guide and bestselling author sharing practical, joyful ways to help children and adults fall in love with writing.

Thank you to every guest who trusted me with their stories, every listener who tuned in, and everyone who’s supported this podcast from the very beginning.

It’s been such a privilege.

Angela M Sims
Daniel Grace
Fosca D'Acierno

alatiabyoga
Razzi & Karena

26/07/2026

How many languages does it take to become yourself?

This week on 15 with Fosca, I sit down with my longtime friend Dr. Manjula Dias-Hargarter, writer, editor, educator, and fellow Bryn Mawr alum, for a conversation about language, identity, belonging, and what it means to build a life across continents.

Manjula reflects on the stories we inherit, the languages that shape us, and the unexpected gifts of living between cultures.

This is one of my favorite conversations of the summer. Enjoy!

Streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Link in bio & story

01/07/2026

What happens when Renaissance Florence is seen not through the usual grand narrative of power, art, and dynasty, but through the eyes of a woman searching for knowledge, space, and a cure?

This week on 15 with Fosca, I speak with professor and author Gigi Berardi about her novel Bianca’s Cure, a fact-inspired historical fiction novel that is often referred to as a Renaissance version of Lessons in Chemistry.

The book takes inspiration from Bianca Capello, Francesco de’ Medici, their love story, alchemy, and the hidden scientific histories of Florence.

Don’t miss our conversation about women’s voices, the complexity of historical fiction, the danger of turning Florence into a tourist fantasy, and the power of going deeper into a place.

Streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio & story.

22/06/2026

Sometimes the shortest route isn’t the one that teaches us the most.

This week on 15 with Fosca, entrepreneur and marketing strategist Jodi Koskella joins me for a candid conversation about reinvention, resilience, and finding your way through life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio & story

14/06/2026

In this week’s episode of 15 with Fosca, I speak with master ceramicist Jacqueline Haberlink — about reinvention, craftsmanship, and her years of dedication to creating work that is both striking and deeply tactile.

She shares her unlikely journey, artistic philosophy, and what decades of working with her hands have taught her about beauty, discipline, and creativity.

Streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Link in bio & story

05/06/2026

Part 2 is live!

What began as a conversation about Emilio Pucci evolved into a fascinating discussion about writing, history, postwar Italy, cultural exchange, and the lessons the past still holds for us today.

Join Idanna Pucci, Terence Ward, and me for the second half of this rich and wide-ranging conversation.

Streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio & story

June is packed with extraordinary conversations on 15 with Fosca.The month begins with the second part of my interview w...
01/06/2026

June is packed with extraordinary conversations on 15 with Fosca.

The month begins with the second part of my interview with Idanna Pucci and Terence Ward, whose remarkable new book explores the life of Emilio Pucci through the lens of wartime and postwar Italy. Far more than a fashion designer, Pucci was a pilot, Olympic skier, resistance supporter, innovator, and entrepreneur whose life intersected with some of the most consequential moments of the twentieth century. Together, we discuss his extraordinary journey and the Italy that emerged from the ruins of war.

I’ll also be joined by Jacqueline Harberink, master ceramic artist and founder of JHA Porcelain, for a conversation about craftsmanship, creativity, and the pursuit of beauty.

With Jodi Koskella, marketing consultant, entrepreneur, and author, we explore her new book, the lessons hidden within both success and failure, and the winding path that led her through the worlds of fashion, business, and entrepreneurship.

And finally, Gigi Berardi joins me for a fascinating discussion of her new historical novel, Bianca’s Cure. Set in Renaissance Florence, the novel follows Bianca Capello’s quest to cure malaria amid the intrigue, politics, science, and passions of the Medici court. We explore the remarkable real-life woman behind the story, the mysteries that still surround her fate, and the enduring appeal of one of Florence’s most captivating historical periods.

New episodes drop every Friday. Follow and subscribe, link in bio and story.

01/06/2026

Emilio Pucci: Fashion icon. War hero. Secret agent. Cultural visionary.

This week on 15 with Fosca I’m joined by authors and cultural historians, Idanna Pucci and Terence Ward, for a conversation about the extraordinary life behind one of Italy’s most iconic names and the fascinating new book that tells his story.

Listen to part 1 now, link in bio. & story

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