Best Sylva Florence Podcasts (2025)

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Special 50th Episode: How Do We Find Peace and Purpose in Such Uncertain Times? 32:30

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10d ago32:30

32:30

"In strange and uncertain times such as those we are living in, sometimes a reasonable person might despair. But hope is unreasonable and love is greater even than this." (Musician Robert Fripp) Whose heart doesn't hurt these days? We might, in this turbulent period, find it logical to believe that the darkness has won. However, as Robert Fripp sai…

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49: Creating Deep Friendships with Plants and Trees (with Amy Terepka) 49:53

24d ago49:53

49:53

If you're looking for a different way to live--one which is grounding, nourishing, inspiring and supportive--look no further than tomorrow's episode. Join me and the wise Amy Terepka for a timely and playful conversation on how we can simply but powerfully reconnect ourselves with the natural world--one tree or plant at a time. Inside this episode,…

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48: The Enchanting History of Samhain (and a Modern Protection Spell) 18:37

1M ago18:37

18:37

Join me to celebrate my favorite spooky holiday: Samhain (aka Halloween)! We'll get into my crazy outfits for this year and the history of Samhain before I guide you through a protection spell I crafted just for the occasion. What you need to for the protection spell mentioned in the episode (and you'll need to prepare it before listening if you wa…

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47: Autumn Equinox Special--Abundance Starts With Death (and then Rebirth) 13:30

2M ago13:30

13:30

There's proof in the abundance of nature, especially at harvest time: We really can have it all. A supportive community full of people who love us for you for who you really are. A healthy, loving romantic partnership. A job that springs you out of bed, because you're passionate about what you're doing. A life which is in balance between work, trav…

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46: The 9-9 Portal, An Invitation for Magical Rest 14:14

3M ago14:14

14:14

Happy 9-9! In numerology, the number 9 represents completion, but not finality--it's like the ending of one cycle and nearly the beginning of another. To me, it's like a portal... Come with me as we take advantage of this powerful moment on the cusp of leaping forward to take a magical pause. Our hectic world shoves us from one thing into another, …

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45: Make Your World More Magical With One Simple Exercise 17:17

7M ago17:17

17:17

"The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." -Henry Miller The human mind is a marvelous thing, in essence a little mini-computer capable of the greatest and worst ideas on earth. And thus, it holds the greatest key to making our worlds eithe…

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44: Take a February Walk With Me in Tuscany 35:16

9M ago35:16

35:16

Why do I take you with me on these walks in Tuscany? Is it just because I like to walk? Yes. Is it because walking in Tuscany ain't half bad? Well, yes. But there are other, deeper and more important reasons for this that definitely involve you, your wellbeing and even the wellbeing of the whole planet. Curious? I'll explain everything in this epis…

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43: You Can Give Up or Press On--What Will You Choose? 18:07

10M ago18:07

18:07

One day you're partying with your friends, and the next day you're in the emergency room--and that's just the start of the wacky journey you are still on now. No, unfortunately this isn't a hypothetical situation... This is what happened to me about three weeks ago, and I'm going to explain everything to you in this episode. You'll also hear what e…

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42: Take a January Walk With Me in Tuscany 35:05

11M ago35:05

35:05

The first episode of this year is all about renewal and magic: from Italy's beloved Christmas Witch (La Befana) to the enchantment of the great outdoors--even in winter! Join me as we take a bewitching journey through the historic and modern celebrations and traditions surrounding La Befana and learn why it is that my 2025 work year started on Janu…

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41: Take a December Walk With Me in Tuscany 38:35

12M ago38:35

38:35

The year 2024 is about to blow out of here, like the last of the fall leaves in a gust of icy wind. Join me for one last walk in the Tuscan hills before we say goodbye to this year--but this time, we're not in the hills above where I live. We're somewhere completely new and different! This time, I'm exploring right along with you as I take in the s…

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40: How Moving Abroad Transforms You 1:27:55

1y ago1:27:55

1:27:55

As a child, I believed 100 percent that mermaids roamed the oceans, unicorns thundered through the forests and fairies hid behind trees just a second before we saw them. Thankfully, adulthood never convinced me to leave behind the belief that if I looked at things just so, something magical might happen. Throughout years of transforming and adaptin…

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39: How to Be an Authentic Witch (featuring Catarina Esteves) 1:02:44

1y ago1:02:44

1:02:44

No man is an island. No witch, either. And that's what my guest today--fellow witch, yoga teacher and MUCH more--Caterina Esteves, are here to talk about. Well, not only--we'll touch on what it means to be truly authentic, the self-sabotaging behaviors that keep us from that end, what blocked Catarina for so long, and how she both overcame cripplin…

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38: Take a November Walk With Me in Tuscany 37:39

1y ago37:39

37:39

November is kind of a sad month, isn't it? Yet--even as the days shorten and the temperatures drop--it doesn't have to be so melancholy. For ancient Celtic people and the Ireland of yore, the month of November is the start of the Celtic new year, which began on October 31st. The Celts called it Samhain (pronounced Sah-win). The Celtic day also bega…

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37: Telling the Bees About Our Grief and Starting A Peaceful Revolution 15:32

1y ago15:32

15:32

The day of the election was a week ago now, but the repercussions will be felt for some time. As Trump's supporters continue to celebrate, those of us that were hoping for a fresh new take on America that would have included a colored woman president grieve and wonder how to move forward. Speaking with others who voted for Kamala, I sense the despa…

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36: (SPECIAL EPISODE) Meet Your Ancestors on a Spooky Imramma with Bastet and Black Cat 40:39

1y ago40:39

40:39

Black cats, witches dancing around a bonfire under a full moon, the dark, misty forest, mysterious caves guarded by Jack-o-lanterns, ghosts--this extra special episode has all the spooky stuff this season demands! But not only... Start in ordinary reality and embark on a wondrous journey--or, as the Celts and my ancestors say, an Imramma. You can l…

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35: Introducing Imramma: The Worlds You Never Know Existed Really Want to Meet You 21:27

1y ago21:27

21:27

When I take my clients back to their roots, I mean two things: I mean, some of my ancestors came from Ireland, England, Wales, Germany and France–where did yours come from? Let’s learn about them, and from them. And then let’s go even deeper and see if we can pick up where some of those ancestors left off. It’s the start of a journey both of rememb…

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34: Take an October Walk in Tuscany 30:26

1y ago30:26

30:26

Join me for a new, immersive kind of walk in the Tuscan hills above where I live. This time, it's YOU having a wander in the foggy Tuscan hills. Feel the mist on your skin. Hear the rain as it falls on your umbrella. Gaze upon the olive trees laden with fruit. Feel that you are really and truly in Tuscany, having a stroll in the autumn weather. In …

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33: How the Heart Knows Where to Build a Nest 18:36

1y ago18:36

18:36

Perhaps you feel at home where you were born--or perhaps you never have. Maybe you've finally found a place to put down roots, after ages of wandering... Or it could be that you're still on the move, seeking that place whose heart calls to yours. It could also be that home is exactly where you are, and you're happy to follow the call of the road wh…

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32: How to Greet The Magical Darkness Within You (featuring Katharina Löwenherz) 44:51

1y ago44:51

44:51

As the darkness of Halloween/Samhain and winter approaches, as the light wanes and the shadows lengthen, many of us feel a tug on our hearts. Perhaps it's more than the bittersweetness of summer's exit, but a deep and primordial call to go within. The dark journey to the Underworlds undertaken by Inanna or Persephone, the descending into the depths…

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31: Take a September Walk with Me in Tuscany (featuring very special guests!) 31:55

1y ago31:55

31:55

All around you, the seasons are changing--can you feel them? Can you see them? Hear them? Out in the olive groves, fields and oak forests above my house, all you need to do is go for a stroll in order to immerse yourself in the transition. Are you ready to come for a walk with me? Also in this episode: strange and wondrous guest appearances by Hors…

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30: Take an August Walk With Me in Tuscany 32:28

1+ y ago32:28

32:28

“In the summer, the days were long, stretching into each other. Out of school, everything was on pause and yet happening at the same time, this collection of weeks when anything was possible.” (Sarah Dessen, "Along for the Ride") Come outside with me and let's savor this collection of weeks when anything is possible. Let yourself be engulfed in the…

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29: Tying the Knot, Jumping the Pond, Glimpsing the Future 13:52

1+ y ago13:52

13:52

Do something every day that scares you," said Eleanor Roosevelt (hopefully listening to me talk isn't one of them). In this episode, I'll update you on the things that are making my heart race--both in Magic, Medicine and Mayhem and in my personal life. After all, they've both been entwined since my broken hip was what spurred me to create a podcas…

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28: Take a July Walk With Me in Tuscany 30:00

1+ y ago30:00

30:00

🌳Reconnect with nature. Re-wild. We hear these phrases a lot these days, but what do they actually mean? How can someone in this busy modern world plug themselves back into nature? 🌳Find out when you come on a walk with me in Tuscany. It's July, so we're going outside together to see what July looks like, smells like and feels like. As I wander thr…

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27: (Sylvology 101) Transformational Wisdom with the Italian Tree Frog 24:21

1+ y ago24:21

24:21

Last week on the podcast, I mentioned that the frog has become something of a mascot for the LGBTQIA+ community–even though, scientifically speaking, only 2 species of frogs have ever been recorded as displaying homosexual behavior. So, why frogs then? Well, thanks to the internet–and the weird places that it sometimes takes us. Tune in to this wee…

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26: Introducing Magic, Medicine and Mayhem 19:07

1+ y ago19:07

19:07

Welcome to the new and improved podcast (formerly known as Live From Suckville). In this episode I’ll share the vision and reasons behind the evolution of this podcast and tell you more about me, your host Sylva Florence. You’ll also hear what is blooming after this period of silence (aka silent transformation) and find out what exciting things are…

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25: How to Move From Surviving to Thriving (with Justin Sunseri) 47:22

1+ y ago47:22

47:22

Did you know that you can start (or continue) the path to healing your trauma just by listening to this episode? My guest this week, Justin Sunseri, will tell you that whatever is blocking you comes down to biology and inherent mechanisms which exist in each of us to help us survive. But what neither of us wants is for you to just survive. We want …

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24: How to Say Yes to Life 29:31

1+ y ago29:31

29:31

Are you ready to say yes to life? Are you ready to surrender to it? Did you know that these two concepts are also one and the same? If surrendering sounds like giving up, if it's difficult for you or if you're not even sure where to begin, this episode is for you! Join in to listen to stories of and lessons from moments of utter surrender from my o…

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23: How to Turn Your Trauma Into Your Medicine (Part 2) 39:28

1+ y ago39:28

39:28

❤️‍🩹If you feel like your healing is a constant work in progress, you're certainly not alone. Join me and my guest, Katie MacDonald as we finish what we started in episode 4: wisdom and advice collected along an ongoing journey of healing through codependency. It's not about perfection and hindsight, but more about vulnerability and honoring the pa…

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22: How to Stop Culturally Sucking (An International Women's Day Special) 33:49

2y ago33:49

33:49

A conversation I had at a pizzeria last week got me really fired up... And thus a new episode was born! Yes, I am here to rant against the patriarchy this week--but not only. Other than my own recent and not-so-recent experiences, you'll hear from other women about the trials and tribulations they have come up against, and the powerful lessons that…

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21: How to Turn Your Trauma Into Your Medicine (Part 1) 34:28

2y ago34:28

34:28

How do we cope when all of a sudden life throughs us a curveball that no one saw coming, and it stirs up all of our trauma? What happens when there is, therefore, no way to avoid our triggers? Join me for part one of a conversation that is as encouraging and affirming as it is vulnerable and real. It's the kind that gets you thinking about how you …

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20: How to Reconnect With Your Inner Forest 25:47

2y ago25:47

25:47

The forest: A place we desire to return to, but at the same time, we're afraid to do so. A place where green shoots climb up through the duff: a simultaneous host of both life and death. A place to be navigated with reverence and trembling. Our inner forest, the home and root of our inner nature, must be traversed with this same reverence and fear.…

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19: How to Heal Your Self-Worth 35:10

2y ago35:10

35:10

Imagine one evening your life takes a rather scary u-turn, and your safety becomes the most important thing that exists. My guest this week, using the pseudonym Charlotte Grey to protect her identity, knows exactly how this feels. Join me as she recounts her story of survival--but not only. It's also a tale of rebuilding and reinventing. Of steppin…

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18: Why Suffering is Ultimately the Key to Your Healing 12:03

2y ago12:03

12:03

What if I told you that the key to your healing is in your suffering? Yes, all those crappy experiences (and visits to Suckville) aren't just misfortunes, random difficulties or horrible traumas. They are the very way that you become whole, healed and the most authentic version of yourself. Join me for an introductory episode to get you started on …

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17: How Splitting Up Can Keep You Together (A conversation about conscious uncoupling) 37:01

2+ y ago37:01

37:01

We all know that breaking up is hard to do... But what if our endings don't always have to leave huge scars? Is there a way to ensure that no matter how things end, we can walk away with love? My guest this week, Becky Prokova, is here to tell us that the answer is yes. Join us to discover new ways to honor your endings in this empowering and hopef…

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16: How to Be Unapologetically You (A convo about coming out in South Africa) 37:59

2+ y ago37:59

37:59

Be yourself. Love yourself. It's not always easy, is it? Especially if you're someone who is "different" than the others around you. Because of the way you are, the way you aren't, or because of who you love. Join us for an inspirational, Pride-themed coming out story that will have you laughing, tearing up, and (hopefully) feeling inspired to be m…

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15: How to Make Ordinary Magic (One veteran's unique healing journey) 34:09

2+ y ago34:09

34:09

Need healing? Why not take your vintage sailboat across the Atlantic? That's what came to mind for veteran Thorfin Skullcrusher. Back from Afghanistan and diagnosed with PTSD, up until then his life had been all about being a warrior. The boat adventure changed all that, and set him on a completely new course (pun intended). Join us for this extrao…

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14: How Not to Get Swept Away by the Current (My experience surviving the floods that just hit Italy) 43:19

2+ y ago43:19

43:19

You're never prepared for the moment that muddy water starts filling up your apartment, are you? Nobody imagined the water would have come into the historic center of Faenza, Italy. Nobody imagined that in other places in our town, the water would rise to 5 meters (15 feet). Still, it happened--and this is our tale. Listen in as I tell my own tale …

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13: How to Dance Through Every Twist and Turn (A conversation with a professional dancer) 34:34

2+ y ago34:34

34:34

Every crisis is an opportunity, according to Chiara Dal Borgo. She's a professional dancer, but not only: she is also an incredible, strong women. A converter of so-called failures into growth, injuries into self-awareness, and life into a curious and creative dance. Chiara told me during our interview that dance has taught her so much about life. …

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12: How to Surrender to Life (A Conversation on Going to Vietnam, Coming Out, and Returning Home) 36:39

2+ y ago36:39

36:39

Like Alanis Morissette sang in her famous song, Ironic, "Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you..." She was right, in that it sometimes takes us everywhere but where we thought we'd go. Alanis also sang, however, "Life has a funny way of helping you out." And she's correct about this as well. It might be bittersweet, it might not always be easy…

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11: How to Let Trauma Be Your Teacher (A Conversation With the Child of Two Alcoholics) 37:06

2+ y ago37:06

37:06

As humans, we live with paradoxes all the time, right? The world seems at once a horrible place filled with war and famine, and a lovely place full of beautiful natural spaces and warm-hearted people. We, too, are paradoxes... Maybe we are the types that devour both multi-colored donuts AND organic, free range, antibiotic-free chicken. Our families…

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10: How to Manage Your Chaotic Life 17:05

2+ y ago17:05

17:05

The kids, the errands, cooking and cleaning, your job, your studies and exams, car troubles, bills, somebody's birthday you forgot... It's just too much! Sound familiar? Tune into the latest episode in which my amazing guests give us inspiring and practical ways not to lose our freaking minds in the daily grind. Warning: this episode might make you…

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9: How Not to Catch a Frog 28:35

3+ y ago28:35

28:35

What do frogs and my family have in common? Until recently, not too much. Join me and a very special guest today to talk creatures that ribbit, nasal passages, salt, how cool my brother and dad are and much more. But first, an important update in the life of your host! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Get the free weekly Crescent Moonletter to stay…

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8: How to Find Sweetness and Simplicity in Life 37:42

3+ y ago37:42

37:42

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. But when life throws you lemons in Ghana...? Only my guest this week, James Damman, has the answers for that. In his time there working for the Peace Corps, he experienced just about everything, from being convinced he might really die to finding humor and sweetness in the most unexpected of places. Join …

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7: How to Turn an Emergency Into Empathy (And Much, Much More...) 33:00

3+ y ago33:00

33:00

In about 24 hours, Michele Camorani's life changed completely. My guest this week endured a year+ of very scary and unexpected trials, yet he came out the other end as a better person. Join us today for a good dose of reality AND a really good laugh. If you haven't learned WAY too much about Michele by the end of this episode, you've been listening…

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6: How to Create Love From Loss 22:19

3+ y ago22:19

22:19

Every ending can be a new beginning -- no matter what kind of an ending it is. Join me and my guest, Betta Sazzini, for a heartwarming and honest talk about the beautiful things that can grow from even the most unexpected of tragedies. Warning: This episode might leave you feeling like you want to hug everyone. Covid or no Covid. LINKS MENTIONED IN…

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5: How to Forgive the Person Who Hurt You 30:20

3+ y ago30:20

30:20

When things get real--or real bad--it's tempting to slide right into a big ol' pool of negativity and/or bitterness. However, my guest today, Amanda Mayes, shows us that no matter how crappy things get, we always have a choice on perspective, how move forward, and what to do with our beautiful scars. Warning: this episode might leave you feeling gr…

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4: How to Navigate Power and Pain 34:30

3+ y ago34:30

34:30

This week, join me and my guest, Tiffany Glenn, a strong and brave woman who has been through a lot. Together, we confront important and timely issues regarding power, pain, labeling, and so much more. Warning: This episode contains references to rape and sexual violence. Other warning: It still might just leave you feeling quite hopeful. LINKS MEN…

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3: How to Go Cold Turkey (Emphasis on the "Cold") 32:20

3+ y ago32:20

32:20

What do cold water and freedom from addiction have in common? A lot more than you'd think, actually. Join me and my guest, Julie Shanks, for an interesting and liberating discussion on these topics and much more. Warning: this episode might leave you feeling mighty curious. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Get the free weekly Crescent Moonletter to…

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2: How to Climb the Wall of Grief 36:05

3+ y ago36:05

36:05

Have you ever lost someone or something important? Jacob Shannon has a lot to say on the matter, after something big and starting happened just before the start of the pandemic. Listen in on this wise interview about loss, grief, and the good things that might just come later. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Get the free weekly Crescent Moonletter…

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1: Welcome to Suckville 13:15

3+ y ago13:15

13:15

Ever been through something difficult? Think you might someday? Then this is the podcast for you. Tune in for a show that brings you healing, hope, and a sense of community for when shit hits the fan. Welcome to Suckville! #hope #community #advice #difficultsituations LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Get the free weekly Crescent Moonletter to stay …