Vaporetto Italiano Podcast

Francesco Cositore named his podcast after the iconic Venetian water buses, and there is something fitting about that — each episode carries you through Italian language and culture at a comfortable pace, making regular stops at interesting destinations. The show is 100% in Italian, covering a wide range of topics: Luigi Pirandello's literary works, Italian idiomatic expressions, Christmas traditions, travel stories from Tanzania, TV culture, relationship dynamics, and Italian stereotypes examined with humor and honesty. The podcast has 95 episodes, with new content dropping frequently — the latest episode aired in February 2026. Episodes run 14 to 28 minutes, and most come with free transcripts on vaporettoitaliano.com. The transcripts are a big selling point, especially for learners who want to verify what they heard or study vocabulary after listening. With a perfect 5.0 star average from 46 Apple ratings, the audience response is about as enthusiastic as it gets. Francesco's delivery is conversational and warm. He speaks at a natural pace that is challenging enough for intermediate learners to grow but clear enough that you can follow without constant pausing. The cultural content is what makes the show special — rather than recycling the same tourist-Italian topics, Francesco talks about aspects of Italian life that you would normally only learn by living there. If you want to understand Italy through the eyes of an Italian who is passionate about sharing his culture, and improve your listening comprehension in the process, Vaporetto Italiano is an excellent choice.