🎙️ Episode Description

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica welcomes Giada Valenti, the Venetian-born singer whose career has brought the spirit of Venice and the language of love to audiences around the world. Known for her romantic voice and elegant stage presence, Giada shares the journey that took her from the quiet canals of her childhood to the bright lights of international stages.

Together they talk about Venice as an endless source of inspiration, the universal power of music to connect people, and why romance continues to matter today more than ever.

This is a heartfelt conversation about music, passion, and carrying Venice in your soul no matter where life takes you.

✨ Show Key Notes

• Growing up in Venice and discovering music
• Giada’s path from the lagoon to international stages
• Love and romance as the heart of her artistry
• How audiences in America and Europe listen differently
• The importance of storytelling through music
• Venice as muse and constant companion
• Future dreams and projects inspired by her hometown

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Giada Valenti, singer

📌 Listen & Subscribe

Do not miss this intimate and inspiring episode with Giada Valenti.

👉 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and remember to subscribe, rate, and share Venice Talks so you will always be part of the stories that keep Venice alive.

In this episode, Monica meets two extraordinary women who brought the rhythm of the East to the heart of the lagoon.

Katerina, from Russia, and Regina, from Kazakhstan, met by chance in Venice — and chose to stay.

Together, they created Venetians (By Choice and By Occasion), the very first Russian-language radio show on Radio Ca' Foscari.

Their story is one of identity, migration, and transformation — a testament to how Venice can welcome, inspire, and redefine belonging in the most unexpected ways.

🔑 Key Show Notes:

• Meet Katerina and Regina: their journey from Russia and Kazakhstan to Venice
• How a casual meeting in the lagoon turned into a life-changing friendship
• Behind the scenes of Venetians (By Choice and By Occasion) on RCF
• What it means to be "Venetian" without being born in Venice
• Finding a voice — and a purpose — in a new language and a new land
• Cultural integration, unexpected challenges, and proud moments
• Why Venice has a magnetic pull on those who come from far away
• The role of language, radio, and community in feeling at home

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Regina & Katerina from Venetians by Choice & by Occasion

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

🌟 Follow and subscribe to Venice Talks to never miss an episode filled with voices, stories, and secrets of La Serenissima.

📩 And do not forget to share it with fellow lovers of Venice — wherever they may be.

In this special episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with journalist and CNN anchor Erica Hill, who recently hosted the powerful documentary Saving Venice as part of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. Together, they explore what it means to tell the story of a fragile, beloved city through an international lens.

What happens when a global media giant turns its cameras on Venice? How does storytelling impact preservation? And what was it like, for Erica, to walk through the calli and canals with a microphone in hand and a mission to share Venice’s truth?

Whether you love Venice, live in Venice, or dream of Venice — this conversation is a must-listen.

🔑 Key Show Notes:

• What inspired Erica Hill and CNN to create Saving Venice

• Behind-the-scenes moments from filming in the city

• Erica Hill’s personal impressions of Venice

• The challenge of balancing beauty with urgency in storytelling

• Reflections on overtourism, climate change, and local voices

• How media can be a force for cultural preservation

• Monica’s own perspective as a Venetian insider

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Erica Hill from CNN

✨ Listen now, subscribe to never miss a story, and follow Monica on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes of Venice’s soul.