Ep. #72: When the Heart Says Go - Valerio Geraci’s Artistic Awakening

🎙️ Welcome to Ep. #72 of The Urbanaut Podcast presented in collaboration with @Urbanautica. In this unforgettable conversation, we’re joined by Italian photographer Valerio Geraci, whose work straddles the poetic and the documentary, weaving themes of identity, memory, and place.About Our Guest: Valerio GeraciBorn in Palermo and based in Paris, Valerio Geraci left behind a legal career to pursue a lifelong passion for photography. His acclaimed body of work includes “American Eden”, a long-term exploration of American landscapes shaped by childhood nostalgia, and “Little Italy”, an ongoing project tracing forgotten Italian stories across rural America. His photography blends technical mastery with deep narrative insight, and his images have been exhibited internationally and featured in publications such as Vogue France, Monocle, and AD Magazine. He is also a faculty member at the Paris College of Art.Tune in to this episode to:- Hear how a book — “East of Eden” — changed Valerio’s life trajectory.- Explore the making of “American Eden” and the cultural weight of nostalgia.- Discover the hidden histories behind “Little Italy” and the Italian diaspora in America.- Reflect on the tension between freedom and responsibility in creative work.Don’t forget to:- Subscribe to our channel for more in-depth artist interviews.- Like and share to support independent photography and storytelling.- Follow us on socials for updates and behind-the-scenes content.EPISODE LINKS:Valerio's Website: www.valeriogeraci.com | Valerio’s Instagram: @valeriogeraciOUTLINE:0:00 - Coming Up..1:58 - Opening & Meeting at Paris Foto  3:50 - From Palermo to Paris: Valerio’s Background  4:56 - The Shift from Law to Photography  8:23 - Influences: Robert Capa, Cuba, and Timshel  14:32 - Family Support & Decision to Move to Paris  19:06 - Starting Out as a Photographer  22:12 - Craft, Discipline & Finding a Visual Voice  27:17 - Childhood Fascination with America  32:29 - American Eden: Origins and Meaning  40:50 - Photography Style: Interiors, Landscapes & Light  51:56 - “Your Camera is Your Passport”  1:01:19 - Meeting James: A Friendship in Nebraska  1:13:45 - Why Nebraska? Love for the American Midwest  1:20:56 - Little Italy: Discovering Italian Legacies in the U.S.  1:32:13 - Cemeteries, Stories & Cultural Echoes  1:43:36 - Macaroni Line, Alamo, and Future of the Project  SOCIAL: Twitter: /UrbanautPodcast Facebook: /TheUrbanautPodcast Instagram: /TheUrbanautPodcast Support on Patreon: /TheUrbanautPodcast#ValerioGeraci #TheUrbanautPodcast #Photography #AmericanEden #LittleItaly #ItalianDiaspora #DocumentaryPhotography #ArtisticAwakening #VisualStorytelling #urbanautica #stevebisson #PatrickLeeHubbard