Cultural Confessions of an Italian - Middle Names, Religion, Dating and Sex, Fashion, Egg Freezing and Surrogacy in Italy

In Italy, without a comma in-between a first name and a middle name [e.g. Catrin, Austin], the two names become one, legally binding first name [e.g. Catrin Austin]. Did you know that? Or how about the fact that a woman cannot legally thaw eggs she’s had frozen in Italy to use them unless she is in a documented heterosexual relationship; Blows your mind, right?

Milanese local Giulia Lavinia Futura Baroni and host Catrin Austin Skaperdas have an entertaining and uncensored conversation about Italian culture inclusive of:

• Middle Names
• Popular Given Names, like Giulia: If you grew up in Italy during the 1990s, half of your friends were named Giulia.
• Religion in a Modern Society: While Italian-Americans fiercely preserve old-school Catholic traditions, modern young families in Northern Italy are increasingly raising their kids completely detached from the Church.
• Dating, Sex, and Circumcision: An unfiltered look into Italy's view regarding sexual culture, dating rules, and modern intimacy.
• Fashion in Milan: Milanese fashion is effortless elegance.
• Egg Freezing: We look at the practical, emotional, and financial realities of freezing your eggs in Italy.
• Surrogacy: Surrogacy is illegal in Italy.
• Italian Food: Why Italians don't all balloon in weight despite eating pasta and pizza nearly daily comes down to ingredient quality, processing standards, and walking culture.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains open conversations regarding sex, anatomy, and reproductive topics.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The views expressed are personal experiences and opinions of non-healthcare professionals. Always consult a qualified medical professional for any health-related questions or treatments.

Recording Date: This episode was recorded in 2024. All personal reflections reflect the timeline of recording.

Chapters:

00:02:08 Intro

00:03:32 Middle names in Italy

00:08:15 Common given names in Italy

00:14:35 Religion in Italy

00:23:47 Dating in Italy

00:39:17 Sex in Italy

00:43:30 Circumcision: Italy vs U.S.

00:47:19 Fashion in Milan, Italy

00:54:28 Egg freezing in Italy

00:58:38 Surrogacy in Italy

01:00:56 Italian food

01:05:23 Outro

This interview of ITALIAN, FOR SURE is available to watch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and available to listen-only everywhere else you can get podcasts.

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