“Right now, I still use the same methods, the type of grapes, as my great-grandparents. The only thing that has changed is that now I am responsible for the Aceto Balsamico and my father has always trusted me to carry on in this tradition. Because for us, the balsamic vinegar is your family history in a bottle.”

We’re in great company with Mattia Montanari, the dedicated and determined founder and CEO of Opera|02, a certified organic winery, traditional vinegar cellar, and tastefully designed resort woven into the rolling hills of Modena’s vineyard landscape—where 3 generations of balsamic vinegar mastery meet contemporary hospitality, inviting guests to reconnect with the craft, culture, and terroir of Emilia-Romagna.

Mattia shares how growing up sneaking tastes of balsamic juice and getting his hands dirty in the family harvest shaped his vision to create an immersive experience where travelers could taste, sleep, and live inside his family's legacy.

In this episode, Mattia reveals that true innovation happens not by abandoning tradition, but by creating new ways for others to understand and appreciate it.

Top Takeaways

[2:00] Growing up in Modena, Mattia learned that craft creates connection—a lesson that would later inspire him to invite the world into his family's three-generation story.

[4:35] After traveling through the vineyards of Tuscany, Piedmont, and Napa Valley, Mattia envisioned bringing that same immersive wine-country hospitality back to Modena—but centered entirely around the time-honored craft and storytelling of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar.

[5:45] At Opera|02, Mattia honors his family's wisdom by preserving the exact recipes and processes his great-grandmother began—proving that tradition and innovation aren't opposing forces, but rather two sides of the same story.

[8:00] Leaving the roar of Motor Valley's Ferraris and Maseratis behind, guests wind up into the vineyard-lined hills to discover Opera|02—where the noise fades into silence, and the only thing that changes with each season is the view from your terrace.

[9:50] From sunrise in the vineyards to sunset in the acetaia, a day at Opera|02 is an invitation to taste, touch, and witness the slow alchemy that turns grapes into legacy.

[11:05] Each of the eight suites is a love letter to the land—named Grappa, Nocino, Prugna, Aceto, Saba, Duroni, Vino, Miele—where the colors and textures of each room mirror the very products that made Mattia’s family name.

[13:40] In the acetaia, each family member has their own barrel aging in the darkness—a tangible thread connecting Mattia to his brother, his parents, his grandparents—a tradition that asks, what legacy are you building that will outlive you?

[14:55] At the Bistrot, every plate holds seasonal ingredients within zero kilometers and is touched by aged balsamic—telling you exactly who Mattia's family is and what this corner of Emilia tastes like.

[16:30] Opera|02 invites guests into vineyard picnics with baskets of local cheese and bread, intimate dinners among three hundred barrels of aging balsamic, wine tastings that change with the seasons, and Lambrusco served in a can—proving that tradition doesn't mean stuffy.

Visit For Yourself
Opera|02 Website | Shop Opera|02 | @opera02resort

"Of course we're gonna have a menu that's constantly changing, we're following nature. And your ingredients when they're at their peak, your dish is gonna be at its peak. So why put something on a menu that maybe is out of season already two months ago. And that also challenges us to think outside the box, to be creative, which is something that we're taking back from Noma because the creativity there goes beyond what you may imagine.”

We’re in great company with Samantha Lamanna and Luca Invernizzi, the chefs and visionaries behind Tenuta Lamanna, who spent four formative years at Noma in Copenhagen before stepping away to pursue their own hospitality dream.

Now they are cultivating a soon-to-be agriturismo and restaurant nestled in the Tuscan countryside between mountains and sea, where rolling vineyards meet olive groves and family values take root. Here, they are building not just a place to stay and dine, but a deliberate return to what matters most—land, community, and the art of slowing down.

In this episode, Samantha and Luca invite us into their formative first year of learning to let the land lead, building a restaurant rooted in seasonality and creativity, and discovering that the greatest plans are the ones flexible enough to change with the seasons.

Top Takeaways

[2:25] Two different childhoods on opposite sides of the world, yet both shaped by family kitchens and the belief that food is where it all begins.

[5:10] At Noma, one of the world's most competitive and intentional kitchens, Samantha and Luca discovered a partnership that grew with the seasons—a foundation that would carry them through everything ahead.

[12:15] A family dream deferred by life's twists and turns for many years became a reality overnight when they least expected it.

[19:10] From minute-by-minute timelines in the Noma kitchen to learning that a farm moves even while you sleep—Samantha and Luca are discovering that the greatest lesson is not planning, it is listening to what nature asks of you each day.

[25:10] What you see and hear as a guest will shift with the seasons—olive harvests, winter hibernation, budding vines. But you are guaranteed one constant—integration into the daily rhythm of a working farm.

[29:25] Apartments with kitchens to cook on your own, a restaurant for shared meals, harvest seasons that welcome anyone willing to learn and teach—Tenuta Lamanna is building a place where you can escape the city, pass through, or stay rooted in community.

[32:40]  For Samantha and Luca, seasonality will dictate the menu, hyper-local ingredients will take center stage, and Noma's creative philosophy will continue to guide them. But do not expect Italian food—expect something born from their hands, their curiosity, and the land itself.

[37:30] Six family members, six different minds, each with their own expertise—wine tastings, olive oil courses, cooking classes, harvest experiences—all designed so guests can savor memories and carry a taste of Tenuta Lamanna home.

[40:15] Medieval piazzas, crystal lakes, mountain bike trails, farmers markets alive with passion—Samantha and Luca have become tourists in their own backyard, eager to share what they're discovering.

[45:15] At Tenuta Lamanna sustainability is not just philosophy, it is practice—nothing wasted because everything comes full circle, from kitchen to animals to land and back again.

Notable Mentions

Noma in Copenhagen, DK

Massa Marittima

Follonica

Lago dell'Accesa

South Italian Sugo

North Italian Polenta Taragna

Visit For Yourself

@tenutalamanna | @samantharosella | @lucaainve

“They make their own wine or olive oil. They have fruit trees. They are so willing to share, to make you taste, to invite you for lunch and dinner, to teach you something. It's a very generous, open approach that was very new for me. It should be normal and obvious, but it's not. It's no longer like this in big cities.”

We’re in great company with Giorgia Goggi, the Head Chef of Masseria Moroseta—who along with her friends turned family, became the stewards behind this modern farmhouse in Ostuni. Here they have curated an elegant but familiar environment, a place created for those seeking a peaceful atmosphere between nature, good food, design and beauty.

A white stone house standing proudly on a ridge overlooking the Adriatic Sea, surrounded by five hectares of organic olive groves, Masseria Moroseta embodies the essence of Puglia—a unique land, a clear sky, warm scents and simple flavors distilled into every detail.

In this episode, Giorgia shares how slowing down to the rhythm of seasons, trusting ingredient-driven creativity, and gathering around a table with strangers who become friends, reminds us why we fell in love with cooking, travel, and community in the first place.

Top Takeaways

[1:55] From childhood family meals to professional calling, Giorgia transformed her greatest passion into her life's work—finally finding the creative freedom to make her voice heard.

[5:00] In Puglia, Giorgia discovered what she didn't know was missing—a landscape where centuries-old olive trees, generous neighbors, and ingredients alive with flavor make creativity not just possible, but inevitable.

[10:10] Carlo Lanzini envisioned Masseria Moroseta as a classical Puglian farmhouse—a simple, purposeful design born from agriculture where every space served the land—then reimagined it for today with reverence for tradition and place.

[11:35] A day in the life of a Head Chef shifts with the seasons—winter's quietude, spring's renewal, summer's full energy—a rhythm that honors both the land's cycles and the creative space needed to truly innovate.

[15:35] With only six rooms and intentionally unscheduled days, guests naturally surrender their itineraries to discover what matters most—a leisurely breakfast, a nap in the afternoon sun, wine at sunset—the very rhythm that defines the Moroseta lifestyle.

[22:15] Each Puglian ingredient holds infinite possibilities ensuring Giorgia's work is never finished, always evolving.

[25:35] Through workshops, Giorgia steps away from behind the counter to sit as an equal among friends—rediscovering the joy that first drew her to cooking, while guests transform from strangers into a community bound by shared meals and stories.

[29:30] Rather than expanding rooms, Moroseta expanded possibilities—holiday villas for friends, boat tours along the Adriatic, restaurant collaborations—each experience another lens through which guests discover the richness of Puglia, always rooted in the same care and intention.

Notable Mentions

Studio Andrew Trotter

Tortellini en Brodo

Nocino Liqueur

Visit For Yourself

Masseria Moroseta Website | @masseriamoroseta

@morosetakitchen | @moroseta_homes | @moroseta_boats

“Everything got quiet and all that noise went away. And I remember being like, ‘Hang on to this, Anna, because you're so clear in this is what the plan is. Don't let the world's noise steal that from you.’ So it's been there in the back of my head while we've been pulling the hotels out of the sinking sand. When we're ready, we're gonna pivot and this is gonna be a place for healing.”

We're in great company with Anna Campbell, a passionate conservationist and wellness advocate who has transformed her late mother's vision into one of Kenya's most enchanting boutique hotel experiences, Mukima Manor—a sanctuary for wildlife and wellness—in one of the country's most breathtaking safari regions.

Anna shares how she's stewarding this century-old manor and accompanying 300 acres of rewilded land as both a love letter to her mother's legacy and a haven where guests can slow down, reconnect, and restore.

In this New Year's episode, we explore what it means to set intentions not through resolutions but through presence—grounding ourselves in nature's rhythms, opening up to strangers who become companions in adventure, and remembering that true wellness lives at the intersection of wild exploration and quiet healing.

Top Takeaways

[1:55] Anna's Kenyan childhood was beautifully untamed. Listen as she shares stories that instilled an innate respect for the land, a joy in recognizing that less truly is more.

[4:25] Remembering Anna’s mother Leslie as a force of nature—brave, creative, and surefooted in ways that seemed almost effortless, taking risks that others might have called bonkers.

[7:30] With such optimism and pride, Anna speaks of her mother and husband—honoring Leslie's creative legacy while relying on Shawn's unwavering strength, the kind of partnership that turns what could have been insurmountable challenges into a love letter to both past and future.

[15:35] The profound experience of caring for her mother sparked Anna's passion for health and wellness—turning heartbreak into healing by creating a sanctuary where others can restore themselves.

[19:25] Mukima Manor's mornings arrive with birdsong, cool mountain air, the crackle of leaves underfoot, and mist rising off the lake—a sensory wake-up call that reminds you why this rewilded sanctuary feels so alive.

[23:30] Living sustainably isn't a compromise, it's an alignment—a quiet luxury where guests consume only what's clean and kind, from chemical-free shampoos to carrots pulled straight from the garden, because wellness begins at the source.

[26:30]  Mukima Manor's adventures are yours to choose, tailored so no two days (or family members) need follow the same path.

[30:00] Wellness isn't just clean eating and meditation, it's beautifully multifaceted—which is exactly what Anna's upcoming retreats at Mukima Manor aim to celebrate.

[33:05] For those craving both beach and bush, Anna offers the best of Kenya—intimate hospitality that feels like staying with your most adventurous friend who knows all the hidden gems.

Visit For Yourself

Mukima Manor Website | @mukimamanorhouse

The Cabanas Lamu Website | @thecabanaslamu

“The idea behind Arctic Bath was born at Treehotel. And I think this is also an important part of the story. How new crazy things inspire other crazy people to do crazy things that nobody says is possible. We are not competing with each other, we are completing each other—working together and bringing people to each other. That's the way that we work with tourism in this area.”

We're in great company with Maarten Raes and Peter Engström, two of the original visionary partners behind Arctic Bath, a one-of-a-kind hotel, spa, and restaurant floating on the serene Lule River in Swedish Lapland, where frost-covered forests transform with the seasons and the Northern Lights dance above the Arctic landscape.

Here, they have reimagined what luxury means—not through excess, but through authenticity, nature, and slow travel. What makes Arctic Bath so extraordinary is the quiet conviction behind it—the grit it took to build something real, a team committed to genuine hospitality, and a philosophy that proves luxury is found in connection, not consumption.

In this winter episode, we discover how slowing down in the Arctic teaches us what truly matters—and why some of the most meaningful travel experiences happen when we stop rushing and start listening.

Top Takeaways

[9:50] The story behind Arctic Bath's iconic circular main building meant to mimic timber logs jamming in rapids—and how architect Bertil Harström designed it as a visual tribute to the Lule River's legacy.

[15:20] Amidst construction delays, a pandemic six weeks after opening, and countless late nights fixing things behind the scenes, Peter quietly delivered a serene sanctuary for their first season of worldly guests.

[19:10] The Michelin Key arrived not for the rooms, the architecture, or the food alone—but for the intangible thing guests keep trying to describe—the genuine warmth of a team that chose to create something real.

[21:45] Three ways to experience Arctic Bath: Land and Suite cabins offer spacious luxury, while floating Water rooms let you swim from your bed in summer and listen to the ice sing beneath you in winter.

[24:45] The sauna and cold plunge ritual—rooted in centuries of Nordic living—transforms guests and locals alike, awakening something so natural that no manufactured wellness experience at home can replicate.

[27:10] Each plate at Arctic Bath tells a story—of the river, the forest, the northern lights—translating the landscape into something guests can taste compliments of the relationships with local fishermen, farmers, and herders.

[29:40] A winter day unfolds: dogsledding or snowshoe hiking with locals, Sámi stories shared around an open fire, a luxurious Swedish spa experience—and if you're fortunate, the Northern Lights dancing above in the endless night sky.

[32:45] Arctic Bath's sustainability runs deeper than awards—it's woven into every choice, a commitment to nurturing the small businesses and community that make this place possible.

Notable Mentions

Nordic Collection

Treehotel in Swedish Lapland

Visit For Yourself

Arctic Bath Website | @arcticbath_sweden

“ Beaumier is a story that began truly 10 years ago if we go back to the beginning of the portfolio. But this story of implementing soulful luxury properties and beautiful environments, really rooted in the local culture—it's less than five years old. We're a very young brand, I would say.”

We're in great company with Anna Fedou, Brand & Marketing Director of Beaumier Hotels, a curated collection of ten soulful luxury properties woven across Europe's most enchanting landscapes—from Provence and the Riviera to the Alpine peaks and Ibiza.

Beaumier is built on a philosophy of "the art of living differently"—a belief that true hospitality begins not with grand gestures, but with listening—to the landscape, to the people who call it home, to the history woven into its walls. Rather than imposing a predetermined style, each property emerges as an act of discovery, honoring its surroundings while breathing new life into them with the spirit of a curious explorer and the care of a devoted steward.

In this winter episode, Anna shares how her own multicultural upbringing—shaped by movement between cultures and meaningful family moments—informs Beaumier's approach to creating spaces where guests feel genuinely at home, offering us timely lessons in slowing down, belonging, and the kind of intentional living we all crave as the holidays approach.

Top Takeaways

[1:50] How Anna's childhood spent traveling between France, Portugal, Spain, and London—punctuated by magical family holidays discovering the world together—became the compass that would eventually guide her career in creating meaningful, connected experiences for others.

[6:40] What began as a small collection of Alpine ski hotels transformed into a spirit of adventure named Beaumier—seeking out hidden architectural treasures and breathing new life into them with intention and reverence.

[19:40] At Beaumier, guests reconnect with nature and themselves through thoughtfully curated spaces where design, storytelling, and “happy accidents” become conversation starters that spark joy regardless of cultural background.

[24:15] Winter Properties: L'Alpaga in Megève, Les 3 Vallées in Courchevel, Le Val Thorens and Le Fitz Roy in Val Thorens—all provide distinctive perspectives and experiences of the French Alps—while the Grand Hotel Belvedere in Wengen is a historic hideaway in the Swiss Alps.

[26:00] Summer Properties: Capelongue, Le Moulin and Le Galinier show different sides of Provence—while Les Roches Rouges sits peacefully overlooking the Côte d'Azur, and Petunia dispels the myth of Ibiza.

[30:55] What ties together ten distinct properties across Europe isn't a playbook—it's a commitment to locally sourced cuisine, genuine human connection, and a deeply personal approach to wellbeing that honors what each guest truly needs to feel whole.

[35:50] A first glimpse into Wengen's revival through Grand Hotel Belvedere—a revitalized property breathing new life into a sleeping beauty destination that's been beautifully unchanged for decades, inspiring the entire community to awaken alongside it.

Visit For Yourself

Beaumier Website | @beaumierhotels

Bon Voyage by Beaumier

“Generally you have to choose one and drive to the other. You have to choose either a rural setting or an area that has all these services with it—you walk to the schools, the hospitality, the shops, the medical services. And so one of the key things is it's all here—you just decide which door you're gonna go out.”

We’re in great company with Steve Nygren, the visionary behind, and steward of Serenbe, an award winning biophilic community on the edge of Atlanta that connects its residents and guests to nature and each other. A place where fresh air, fresh food, and fresh ideas flourish.

Whether you come for a weekend escape at The Inn at Serenbe or envision making it home for a lifetime, this community offers a living model of how we can reconnect with what matters most.

In this Thanksgiving episode, Steve reminds us that if we want to change the world, we can start in our own backyards—sharing how his family's dedication to protecting their land has blossomed into a movement inspiring communities around the globe to live in harmony with nature.

Top Takeaways

[1:45] Listen as Steve’s story comes full circle, from farm roots through urban hospitality ownership, ultimately back to the land where he planned to raise his family—only to discover it was threatened by urban sprawl and desperately in need of a creative solution.

[4:30] “ The effort was to not convince one side to come over to the other, but rather find a solution where each group could get more, that we could get a higher value for the land than they had ever thought they could, and to preserve more of it than we ever thought possible.”

[11:10] With English countryside villages and European hamlets as his blueprint, Steve built Serenbe on four essential components—art for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health and wellness for vitality, and education for growth.

[15:10]  Across 2,000 acres of biophilic community design, Serenbe's miles of nature trails weave together homes, restaurants, and arts businesses while immersing visitors in rich sensory experiences around every corner.

[20:30] At The Inn at Serenbe, guests can experience community life firsthand through a selection of rooms and cottages that offer both modern luxury and authentic connection to the land, complete with farm-to-table dining and access to all of Serenbe's wellness amenities.

[22:30] Guests can dine and drink in good company across Serenbe's spectrum of culinary offerings—from refined seasonal menus to casual bites around the community—with every dish celebrating locally sourced ingredients grown under the nurturing care of neighbors.

[25:25] Serenbe's amenities and activities celebrate both relaxation and exploration, offering everything from rejuvenating yoga classes to horseback riding adventures, and charming community experiences like feeding farm animals and listening to live music.

[28:50] At its core, biophilic design embraces living in harmony with nature as a community to achieve well-being, sustainability and prosperity, creating spaces where this principle can flourish for individuals, the places we live, and the world around us.

[30:10] Serenbe's future embraces a vision of "free range kids" and elders living in harmony together, applying Blue Zone principles to create a lifestyle that values longevity, community, and the richness of multigenerational living.

Notable Mentions

Last Child In The Woods by Richard Louv

Atlanta Beltline

New York City High Line

Start In Your Own Backyard by Steve Nygren

Visit For Yourself

Serenbe Website | @serenbe

Steve Nygren Website