Ditch the Ick with Katie Carson: Redefining Relationships, Self-Worth, and Building Your Dream Life as Millennial and Gen X Women

84: From Machismo to Mamma Mia, and Why Italian Stallions are Actually Ponies

Buckle up, party people, because we're diving deep into the absolute chaos that is dating in Italy as a plus-size woman. And I mean chaos. I thought I'd seen it all with dating in America and the UK (God, I miss dating in the UK), but Italian men have brought a whole new level of wild to my life. We're talking about a culture where men won't be seen with you in public but will absolutely beg to be pegged in private. The machismo is real, the Madonna-whore complex is alive and well, and apparently being over 135 pounds makes you "plus-size" here. It's been eye-opening, honestly, in ways both hilarious and frustrating. The apps have been a disaster (looking at you, mommy guy), and I've officially deleted them all. But you know what? Despite the dating horror show, I'm genuinely the happiest I've ever been. I'm making incredible friends, saying yes to amazing experiences, and living the life I always dreamed about. In this episode: Why Italian men's concept of "plus-size" made me laugh out loud The truth about Italian stallions (spoiler: mostly false) My visceral reaction to being called "mommy" by a 27-year-old The wild disconnect between public machismo and private requests Why I've ditched the apps and I'm focusing on organic connections instead If you've been putting off your big move or that thing you've always wanted to do... stop. I promise you it's more possible and more worth it than you think. Even with the dating disasters, this is still the best decision I've ever made. Connect with Katie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠⁠⁠ Join the Patreon Party! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Facebook Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

83: Hermit Summer: A Sweaty Survival Story

Okay party people, it's been a hot fucking minute. Literally. I'm finally back with proof of life and holy shit, these past five months have been an absolute rollercoaster. Between melting into a puddle every time I stepped outside, becoming a hermit with Archie in my AC-dependent bedroom cave, and stress-eating over whether I could communicate "ovarian cyst" in Italian, summer in Florence was not the romantic European dream I sold myself. But spoiler alert: I had the best gynecological appointment of my life, paid less than my monthly US insurance premium, and left with zero surprise bills in the mail. The lifestyle here is phenomenal even when it's hard as fuck, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't questioned this move a few times. But between friends visiting at the perfect 90-day mark, making new connections at supper clubs, and averaging 6,500 steps a day without even trying, I think I made the right call. Coming up in the next few weeks: Sex and the City Florence edition, the vulnerable shit about starting over, what it's like navigating fatphobia in Italy, and apparently re-working through middle school trauma because that's fun. Send me your questions about literally anything (dating, Archie, making friends in your late 30s, logistical chaos). I'm here for all of it. Connect with Katie: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠⁠ Join the Patreon Party! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck⁠⁠⁠ Join the Facebook Group: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

82: Ciao Bella! Living My Best Chaotic Life in Italy

Four weeks into my big Italian move and I'm hitting that inevitable expat reality check - you know, the part where you realize moving across the world changes everything and also absolutely nothing. I'm sharing the messy, sweaty, hilarious truth about what it's really like when the honeymoon phase wears off and you're left figuring out how to build a life from scratch in a place where your dog speaks better Italian than you do. From the things I wish I'd packed (spoiler: not what you think) to navigating loneliness in paradise, this is your unfiltered update on what happens when you stop romanticizing the move and start actually living it. Connect with Katie: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/⁠ Join the Patreon Party! ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck⁠⁠ Join the Facebook Group: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

81: Life Update - ITALY!

Y’all… I’m in the thick of it. I basically Marie Kondo’d my entire life, packed it into a car, and (at the time of recording this) I’m days away from hopping on a plane to Italy with my dog and an even bigger sense of “WTF is happening.” This episode is a real-talk voice note about that weird-ass limbo where everything’s changing but nothing’s quite real yet. If you’ve ever told yourself “I could never do something like that,” I promise—this one might just flip that script. Inside the chaos, we chat about: Selling all my sh*t and living out of a car like a hot mess minimalist. Flying an anxious, oversized dog across the world (pray for Archie and his crate the size of a Smart car). Letting a maybe-kinda crush help me drive stick (literal, not metaphorical… this time). Choosing the “scary but exciting” option instead of the “safe but soul-sucking” one—and why it’s worth it. Connect with Katie: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/ Join the Patreon Party! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck⁠ Join the Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

80: I literally have no spoons: A mental health and Italy move update

Katie is back this week with zero spoons, a suitcase full of mental health revelations, and a one-way ticket to Italy (because of course). In this episode, she’s catching you up on burnout, boundaries, and why sometimes moving across the world is the only logical next step when your nervous system is shot. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s deeply relatable—and somehow still funny even when it shouldn't be. Come for the chaos, stay for the catharsis. Move Abroad Crash Course: https://freedomlife.thinkific.com/courses/the-move-abroad-crash-course?ref=1dec9d Finch App: https://finchcare.com/ Connect with Katie: https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/ Join the Patreon Party! https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices