Postcards from Italy | Learn Italian | Beginner and Intermediate
by Postcards from Italy Podcast
Stop wishing you could speak Italian... And dive right into la dolce vita! Go beyond the basics with our story-based podcast that covers the culture, idioms, grammar and vocabulary of Italy. Pick the season that fits you best:SEASON 1 is for advanced beginners & intermediate learners: Episodes feature a dialogue between American tourists and local Italians they meet in Rome, and then a lively roundtable with hosts Erin and Elisa. SEASON 2 is for travelers, absolute beginners and Italian students in need of a quick refresh. Episodes feature travel-related vocabulary, cultural tips, short dialogues and practice exercises.SEASON 3 (due in early 2026!) will return to advanced beginner and intermediate content in the same format as Season 1. *For full episodes and roundtables, get our premium online course content at www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com *
Episodes
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Conversations and Insults | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep23
WARNING: this episode contains Italian insults and may not be suitable for sensitive ears! In the last episode of this season, we graduate from survival Italian into conversation starters so that we can make lasting friendships. Elisa also confesses the not-so-well-loved traits of her fellow...
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Tech, WiFi and Phones in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep22
In today’s episode, we learn about WiFi, data plans, phones and staying connected while in Italy. We also practice asking for email addresses, passwords, phone numbers and internet access. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium online...
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Safety and Theft in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep21
In today’s episode, we discuss tips to keep ourselves and our valuables safe while visiting Italy, and how to avoid theft and pickpocketing, with a special section on women’s safety. Just in case, we also practice a dialogue to ask for help and Elisa tells us about Italy’s various law enforcement...
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Pharmacies and Medical Emergencies | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep20
In today’s episode, Elisa gives us vocabulary and cultural tips to help us prepare for any unexpected health hiccups while we’re traveling in Italy. We also learn how to ask for help with a long list of illnesses, body parts and medications, just in case. But to get the most out of Italian for...
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Markets in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep19
In today’s episode, we talk about one of our favorite parts of Italian life – the outdoor market – as well as grocery stores. Elisa gives us extensive vocabulary and cultural tips about what to buy, how and when to bargain, and that it’s usually NOT acceptable to touch the produce. But to get the...
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Shopping in Boutiques | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep18
In today’s episode, we talk about the beautiful things money *can* buy in Italy’s department stores, artisanal shops and boutiques. Elisa also shares tips about typical store hours, VAT refunds and lots of vocabulary so you can literally shop til you drop all your Euros! But to get the most out…
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Beaches, Bikes, Hikes and Spas in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep17
In today’s episode, we head outdoors to the beach, hiking trails, bike paths, spas and more, experiencing Italy beyond its food, art and churches. Elisa also teaches us how to relax like an Italian and enjoy Italy’s famous beach culture and hot springs. But to get the most out of Italian for...
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Museums, Landmarks and Sightseeing in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep16
In today’s episode, we learn about visiting cultural landmarks and etiquette for enjoying the art, history and natural beauty of Italy, from its museums to its churches. Elisa also teaches us how to talk about what we see, as well as tips about tickets, opening hours, tours and guides. But to get...
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Food Glossaries, Allergies and How to Order | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep15
In today’s episode, Elisa prepares us for ordering a wide variety of foods with mini-glossaries for Italian specialties we might find in different eateries. We also learn helpful Italian vocabulary to communicate any food allergies, sensitivities and preferences when ordering a meal. But to get…
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How to Eat Like an Italian | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep14
In today’s episode, Elisa explains how eating in Italy is less about the food and more about the art, traditions and social aspects of the Italian culture. We learn about the categories of meals and snacks, as well as how to order food and coffee like an Italian. But to get the most out of…
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Food, Eating and Restaurants in Italy | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep13
Italian for Travelers, Episode 13 - the EATING IN ITALY episode. In today’s episode, we finally sink our teeth into the first of three episodes devoted to our favorite sport: eating in Italy! Together, we explore the delicious world of Italian cuisine, from kinds of restaurants to the typical...
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Hotels and Accommodations | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep12
In today’s episode, Kristi checks into a hotel, so we discuss a range of Italian accommodations, from farm stays to hotels and monasteries. We also learn vocabulary to ask about amenities and to resolve any issues that might come up during a stay, such as asking for more towels or fixing a broken...
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Gas and Parking | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep11
In today’s episode, we take to the open road and learn how to fill up our tanks and find parking along our Italian adventure. We also talk about where and where NOT to park in and around historic city centers. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to...
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Cars and Driving | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep10
In today’s episode, we learn all about driving in Italy and follow Kristi as she rents a car and stops for directions. Elisa also helps us decode Italian road signs and driving rules in Italy. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our premium…
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Transportation | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep9
In today’s episode, we dive into public transportation in Italy and learn about train travel, buses and more. Elisa prepares us to buy tickets, read time schedules and handle the occasional worker’s strike, so that it won’t derail your trip, figuratively, of course. But to get the most out of...
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Directions, Landmarks and Sights | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep8
In today’s episode, Elisa offers some simple tips to avoid falling for common tourist traps. We also learn how to ask for -- and listen for -- directions in Italian, especially when all roads *don’t* lead to Rome! But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe...
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Calendar Dates, Seasons and Weather | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep7
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to fill up your calendar with dates… literally! First, we follow our character Kristi through an outdoor Italian market and learn all about the days of the week, months, years and seasons. Then, Elisa teaches us how to make small talk about the weather. But to...
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How to Tell Time | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep6
In today’s episode, we learn how to tell time in Italian. Elisa shares typical opening and closing times in Italy and why travelers should get familiar with the 24 hour clock before an Italian getaway. But to get the most out of Italian for Travelers, head to our website and subscribe to our...
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Numbers and Money | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep5
This one’s all about counting and money! Today, we learn to count from one to ten… and then all the way up to one billion. Then Elisa teaches us Italian vocabulary about money so we can spend those billions on fabulous Italian shoes and accessories. But to get the most out of Italian for…
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Getting Acquainted | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep4
Today, we begin to connect with Italians, both formally and informally, from exchanging names and phone numbers to basic questions. Elisa also teaches us the difference between the two popular ways of saying “I’m sorry” in Italian, and when to use each one. But to get the most out of Italian for...
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Greetings and Introductions | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep3
In today’s episode, we learn how to make friends and meet new people in Italy. Elisa gives us examples of informal and formal greetings, as well as the etiquette of hugs and kisses Italian-style. You’ll learn how to say hello and goodbye, introduce yourself, ask how someone is, and show off what…
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Essential Words & Phrases | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep2
Today, we tackle some do’s and don’t’s for learning and speaking Italian as a traveler. Elisa congratulates you on the extensive Italian vocabulary that you probably didn’t realize that you already know. (Bravo!) And finally, we share 25 expressions and words that EVERY traveler to Italy needs to...
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Pronunciation & Alphabet | Italian for Travelers | S2 Ep1
Our Italian adventure begins with the basics: the Italian alphabet and pronunciation. If you’re planning a trip to Italy or want to refresh the Italian you learned in college, today is step one! In today’s episode, we learn the alphabet and Elisa gives us a basic pronunciation guide for Italian…
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Trailer | Season 2 | Italian for Travelers
Ready to live La Dolce Vita without getting lost in grammar rules? Your favorite Italy-loving friends Elisa and Erin are back with a fresh season of episodes about the language and culture of Italy, especially for travelers! Italian for Travelers (Season 2 of the Postcards from Italy Podcast) is...
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Train Travel in Italy | Learn Italian | S1 Ep21
Send us a text In the last episode of Season 1, Julie and Dani leave Rome on a train bound for new adventures in Orvieto. Small talk – and a little argument – with fellow passengers adds more local Italian flair to their Italian journey. In our roundtable, Elisa shares a pair of idioms, including...
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Shopping in Rome | Learn Italian | S1 Ep20
Send us a text After visiting the Colosseum, Julie and Dani go shopping at an outdoor market in Rome, then shop for shoes at a boutique. They also have a bit of fun chatting with “ragazzi” dressed as gladiators. In our roundtable, Elisa shares an idiom that tries to explain how your mustache can...
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The Italian Farmacia | Speak Italian | S1 Ep19
Send us a text Julie and Dani go to a pharmacy and learn about all natural Italian cosmetics to help soothe skin, repel mosquitos and much more. Later on, Elisa teaches us everything we need to know about disgusting things… namely, the word for “disgusting” in Italian: “schifo”! As usual, the…
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Food Rules in Italy | Speak Italian | S1 Ep18
Send us a text The Do’s and Don’t’s of eating in Italy! In this very special episode of Postcards from Italy, Julie and Dani enjoy a lively dinner discussion with their new friends that includes a hilarious idiom about why old chickens are preferable to young chicks and a strong warning about...
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Italian Cooking Class | Travel to Italy | S1 Ep17
Send us a text Cuciniamo! Let’s cook! Julie and Dani join a cooking class in Rome and prepare classic Roman recipes that illustrate the Italian expression “avere l’acquolina in bocca,” to have water in one’s mouth. In our roundtable, Elisa gives us a long list of Italian verbs to use in the...
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Food Shopping in Campo de’Fiori | Speak Italian | S1 Ep16
Send us a text Julie and Dani shop for recipe ingredients with a local chef in Campo de’Fiori, where they learn that you must never touch another man’s fruit and that good wine makes good blood. Later, Elisa tells us about the more sinister history of the famous Roman food market piazza Campo...
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Dinner in Trastevere | Learn Italian | S1 Ep15
Send us a text Julie and Dani eat dinner in a charming restaurant across the Tiber River in Trastevere, where they use a few colorful Italian idioms and are first “hungry as a wolf” and then “full as an egg.” Dani learns about some more (weird) food rules in Italy! In the roundtable, Elisa and…
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Lungotevere & Italian Food Festivals | Speak Italian | S1 Ep14
Send us a text Dani and Luca go to a popular Roman summer festival along the Tiber River, where their date is interrupted, first by friends and then by a slap! In our roundtable, we learn about “the misery of the pork” and how it’s used by Italians to express surprise or frustration, or both!…
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Borghese Gardens | Travel in Italy | S1 Ep13
Send us a text The date with Luca continues in the Borghese Gardens of Rome, where Dani meets two of Luca’s friends at a scenic spot. Elisa shares an idiom that says, if you can’t hear very well, you can probably blame it on deli meat. We also daydream about the quintessential Italian tradition…
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A Date in Rome | Italian Lessons | S1 Ep12
Send us a text Ro-ma... Ro-ma-mah! Roman romance is in the air as Dani goes out for an afternoon with Luca. He charms her with his romantic words and the most delicious gelato in Rome. Elisa and Erin enter the arena for the Battle of Gelato versus Ice Cream. We also learn why gelato is so good…
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The Vatican | Speak Italian | S1 Ep11
Send us a text Julie and Dani visit the Vatican, but first they have to get through security and learn the rules to follow in the Basilica. We also learn that being educated in Italy is not the same as being polite! Elisa shares an idiom to express surprise, which is helpful when Erin describes…
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Tabacco Shops + Buses | Learn Italian | S1 Ep10
Send us a text Julie and Dani visit a tabaccheria, and learn all about this magical mystery store that sells much more than just tobacco. After they buy bus tickets, postcards and stamps, they run to catch a city bus. We also learn an Italian proverb that explains why good friends are like white...
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Italian Breakfast | Travel in Italy | S1 Ep9
Send us a text Julie and Dani eat breakfast at the hotel, where Dani meets a new friend and Julie samples the international buffet. We also learn the *single word* that makes an Italian language learner immediately sound like a native speaker. Elisa also tells us how Italians use the word...
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Pizza and Pizzerias | Italian Lessons | S1 Ep8
Send us a text Julie and Dani get their first taste of pizza in Italy… and Dani learns that Italians have very strict rules about pizza. In our roundtable, we discuss an expression of surprise or frustration that translates as “sheer madness”! We also begin a deep-dive discussion about the…
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Aperitivo & Snacks on the Terrace | Italian Lessons | S1 Ep7
Send us a text Julie and Dani enjoy an aperitivo on the terrace after getting a recommendation for a pizzeria. While enjoying the views of Rome, they are treated to cocktails and snacks at the hotel's rooftop bar. In our roundtable, Elisa tells us why Italian mothers hate to hear that someone is...
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Hotels, Accommodations and Amenities in Italy | Learn Italian | S1 Ep6
Send us a text Julie and Dani go up to their hotel room and learn about its many interesting amenities, including an “emotional shower.” In our roundtable, we learn how to live like the Pope, and also how Elisa’s own father can be mistaken for the Pope. We discuss the 2nd part of our list of…
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Hotel Check-in | Learn Italian | S1 Ep 5
Send us a text Julie and Dani check into their hotel and meet a few hotel employees, including Luca, who takes an interest in Dani. In our roundtable, we discuss the Italian idiom “venire alla luce” or come to the light and all the ways it can be used. We also explore vocabulary about hotel...
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Numbers and Directions | Speak Italian | S1 Ep4
Send us a text On their way to the Hotel Artemide, Italian driver Pietro teaches Dani how to count in Italian and Julie asks about directions. In our roundtable, we cover two different expressions about being tired and a classic Roman insult that involves dead people (really!). We also do a deep...
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Talk about Family in Italian | Learn Italian | S1 Ep3
Send us a text Julie and Dani talk about their family members on the way to the hotel and learn that they may not know Italian families as well as they think they do. In our roundtable, we cover two expression about families and Elisa bursts the myth of the "Big Italian Family" stereotype. We…
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Chatting in Italian | Speak Italian | S1 Ep2
Send us a text Julie and Dani chat with their driver and he recommends a place to eat while teaching Dani a little bit of Italian. In our roundtable, we cover three idioms (including "managgia," a favorite of Erin's) as well as learn about Trastevere, learn some small talk basics (how to say your...
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Trailer | Season 1 | Learn Italian Beyond the Basics
Send us a text A fun, new way to learn conversational Italian! Learn Italian with conversations, culture and colorful expressions. 💚🤍❤️ Postcards from Italy is a unique language learning program specifically designed for advanced beginners and intermediate Italian students, as well as armchair...
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At the Airport in Rome | Italian Lessons | S1 Ep1
Send us a text The Baxters' Italian adventure begins! Julie and Dani arrive at the airport in Rome and meet the driver they hired to take them to their hotel. In our roundtable, we cover three idioms (including a very polite curse word) as well as labor strikes, a common Italian greeting that…
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About this show
Stop wishing you could speak Italian... And dive right into la dolce vita! Go beyond the basics with our story-based podcast that covers the culture, idioms, grammar and vocabulary of Italy. Pick the season that fits you best:SEASON 1 is for advanced beginners & intermediate learners: Episodes feature a dialogue between American tourists and local Italians they meet in Rome, and then a lively roundtable with hosts Erin and Elisa. SEASON 2 is for travelers, absolute beginners and Italian students in need of a quick refresh. Episodes feature travel-related vocabulary, cultural tips, short dialogues and practice exercises.SEASON 3 (due in early 2026!) will return to advanced beginner and intermediate content in the same format as Season 1. *For full episodes and roundtables, get our premium online course content at www.PostcardsFromItalyPodcast.com *
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Postcards from Italy Podcast