La Dolce Vita: A Midlife Reinvention Story with Paola Versano

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She had the résumé that’s supposed to quiet the questions: CEO success, a long marriage, two kids, a beautiful life in the US. And yet Paula Verzano still felt the thing so many high-achieving women rarely admit out loud: life looked great, but it didn’t feel fully aligned or fully alive.

Michelle Rios sits down with Paula to unpack the exact moment that “Is this really it?” became impossible to ignore and what it took to choose reinvention at midlife. Paula shares how her Italian American upbringing shaped her ambition and self-sacrifice, why she decided to prioritize herself for the first time, and what “going all in” actually meant: divorce, leaving a multimillion-dollar business, and moving to Italy alone to pursue citizenship and a new chapter. Then COVID hit and everything got harder. You’ll hear the practical reality behind the dream, including fear, logistics, loneliness, bureaucracy, and the deep inner knowing that kept her moving anyway.

We also dig into what the Dolce Vita lifestyle really is and what it isn’t. Paula explains why her Italy retreats for women are intentionally not tourist trips, how beauty and presence can become a catalyst for clarity, and why re-entry support is where lasting change happens. The conversation touches self-love and self-worth, the cultural patterns that teach women to put themselves last, and the “hard mirror” effect when your courage makes other people uncomfortable.

If you’re navigating midlife transitions, craving aligned success, or considering a bold life redesign, this one will give you language, perspective, and real-world insight. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs permission, and leave a review so more women can find these stories.

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I’m Michelle Rios

I'm a wife, mom, coach, speaker, podcaster, author, traveler, master communicator, connector, and more!