“New Year, New You” can feel inspiring… until your life takes a turn you didn’t plan. In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini—author of SOS Podcasts—joins us to explore what it really means to reinvent yourself when your path changes, and how to meet that deviation with grace, empathy, and connection.

Rosamaria shares her story of leaving New York and rebuilding her identity through major transitions in Italy and later Germany. From culture shock and learning new rhythms of daily life to loneliness, motherhood, and the challenge of making friends later in adulthood, she offers an honest look at what it takes to start over—without losing yourself in the process.

A standout theme: podcasts as connection. For Rosamaria, podcast voices became a lifeline during isolated seasons—helping her feel less alone, more grounded, and still connected to the world she came from.

If your “future plan” doesn’t look the way you expected this year, this conversation is a reminder: different doesn’t mean wrong—your path can deviate and still be yours.

In this episode, we talk about:

• When Rosamaria realized she was truly an expat
• Italy vs. Germany: the emotional whiplash of switching cultures
• How slowing down can be the key to belonging
• Friendship abroad + building “chosen family”
• The “emergency contact” moment that hits expats hard
• Podcasts as a tool for comfort, learning, and connection
• The mindset shift: staying true to yourself when plans change

Guest: Rosamaria Mancini

• Website: [https://rosamariamancini.com]
• Book: SOS Podcasts

Resources mentioned

• NPR Life Kit
• The Daily (The New York Times)
• Wiser Than Me (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)

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Work Besties! Theme Song Written by Ralph Lentini @therallyband