Introducing Podcast Episode Zero: We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano

Meet Myra's sideckick Antonio, learn some Italian, and start your journey

Welcome! This is the first in a new series of posts where I share a bit more about what’s happening inside the podcast Impariamo l’italiano piano piano (We Learn Italian Step by Step).
Whether you’ve already started listening or are just discovering the show, these posts will give you highlights, cultural insights, and language tips to enrich your Italian-learning journey.

As I begin introducing myself in the very first episode of the podcast (actually Episode Zero - which acts as a preview of the bonus episodes normally reserved for Founding Members), I’m interrupted, quite unexpectedly 😊 by a certain Antonio Giovanni Maria di Rossi. A confident, disembodied voice, Antonio quickly lets me know that my Italian might need some… fine-tuning.

This is the first of many playful exchanges between us, and it sets the tone for the series. Antonio isn’t just a running joke. He’s also your enthusiastic vocabulary guide, helpful pronunciation coach, and occasional cultural ambassador. For instance, in this episode, he explains why even Italian men sometimes have Maria as a middle name, as it is a sign of cultural devotion and respect. He also helps listeners navigate one of Italy’s most charming social customs: asking if you can converse using the familiar tu instead of the more formal Lei when getting to know someone new.

Episode Zero is actually an example (a free taste or as Antonio puts it, a linguistic aperitivo) of what our bonus episodes have to offer (the kind of episodes that Founding Members receive). It focuses on vocabulary building through themed categories, starting with:

Vocabulary in Context: Places and Locations

In each category, you’ll first hear a short story in English sprinkled with Italian words. Try to guess the meanings from context, no dictionary required.

Here’s your challenge: read the mini story below and try to figure out the meaning of the words in bold based on the context.

Imagine waking up in a piccolo appartamento in the heart of Florence. As you step onto your balcone, you see the vivace piazza below. In the distance, the stunning Cappelle Medicee stand tall, full of history. Before heading to work, you pass by the stazione ferroviaria, where travelers hurry to catch their trains.

And the Italian version for reinforcement:

Immagina di svegliarti in un piccolo appartamento nel cuore di Firenze. Appena entri sul tuo balcone, vedi la vivace piazza sottostante. In lontananza si stagliano le splendide Cappelle Medicee, ricche di storia. Prima di andare al lavoro si passa davanti alla stazione ferroviaria, dove i viaggiatori si affrettano a prendere il treno.

Active Recall Exercise: Places and Locations

To get the feel for this, try covering the list and revealing the italian when you are ready. See if you can say the Italian before you reveal the answer.

• Apartment
  → Appartamento

• Small
  → Piccolo

• Square
  → Piazza

• Lively
  → Vivace

• Balcony
  → Balcone

• Medici Chapels →
  - Cappelle Medicee

• Train station →
  - Stazione ferroviaria

The pronunciation of Cappelle Medicee is a bit of a challenge. As Antonio explains, we need to take into consideration, the word Medicee in this context is both a family name and possessive. At the same time it is feminine plural so we need to pronounce the long “ee” sound and the emphasis changes to the middle syllable. As you can hear in the episode, I have a bit of trouble with this one too.

Mini Quiz: Places and Locations

Next on the agenda is a mini quiz for this category where you try to say the correct Italian phrase before the answer is revealed. For example:

• I live in a small apartment.
→ Vivo in un piccolo appartamento.

• She is in the lively square.
→ Lei è nella vivace piazza.

• From my balcony, I see the city.
→ Dal mio balcone, vedo la città.

• The train station is nearby.
→ La stazione ferroviaria è vicina.

This exercise will help you learn the vocabulary at the same time as you practice forming the sentences in Italian.

Ready to Practice with Flashcards?

Now that you’ve reviewed the vocabulary in context and tested yourself with a mini quiz, you can reinforce everything through interactive flashcards made just for this episode. Try them out here:

👉 Click to Open the Flashcards

They’re perfect for studying on your phone, tablet, or computer, and a great way to keep practicing when you have a spare moment.

Want More?

If you enjoyed this sneak peek into this vocabulary-packed episode, the Podcast Companion Series offers even more.

Each Companion post expands on the vocabulary, grammar, and cultural insights from the podcast and includes printable guides, mini quizzes, and active recall sheets, all designed to help you internalize the language piano piano (step by step).
And if you happen to teach Italian, the Leader guide doubles as a ready-made lesson plan.

👇 Subscribe below to unlock the rest of this post and all future Companion Series content.

Note: If you have already clicked “Support the Show” in the podcast feed, your subscription includes access to both the Companion Series and the bonus episodes.