Q: What is the this special about?
A: Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive explores how Italy can change your life – whether adapting to the Italian lifestyle at home, traveling to Italy in a more meaningful way or deciding to move there. Dream of Italy host Kathy McCabe explores the 11 essential elements of the Italian lifestyle – the land, food, family, art & culture, beauty, pace of life, passion, movement, community, celebrations and sense of home– through the stories of full- and part-time expats Sting & Trudie Styler, Francis Ford Coppola, Under the Tuscan Sun author Frances Mayes, best-selling financial author David Bach, retiree Sally Carrocino and interior designer Arlene Antoinette Gibbs.
Q: How do I view the Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive Special?
A: Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive Special will be premiering on PBS stations and Create TV in June! A few stations will even begin airing it the last week of May. Americans are currently the only viewers who can see the special as its premiering on PBS stations and Create TV. For international viewers, there will be more options to watch online in 2022.
There are two versions of the special:
The pledge version which is 90 minutes and is the regular 60 minute special plus 30 minutes of breaks co-hosted by actor Joe Mantegna. This is a great opportunity to give to your local PBS station and get amazing premiums including a companion book, Rosetta Stone Italian lessons, jewelry and more (see below). This version will be airing heavily, especially in early June.
The regular version which is 60 minutes and doesn’t include the pledge opportunity. This will air most often on Create TV.
You can find out more about your local air dates here, with more added everyday and there is a big primetime airing across most of the country on Saturday, June 26 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on the PBS channel Create TV.
Q: How do I look up my local air dates?
A: Keep in mind this search covers the next few weeks – your local station may be airing the special a few weeks later so keep checking back.
Dream Of Italy
Q: What can I do if my local station is not airing the Special/Pledge Special?
A: Contact your local PBS station by phone or email if it is not airing Dream of Italy or if it doesn’t have it scheduled. They listen to viewers! Then check back again in a few weeks.
If you are interested in pledging to receive the premiums and you don’t see it scheduled you should contact your local station and they will let you know how to proceed.
Q: What are the Pledge premiums?
A: The premiums you receive depend on the donation amount you pledge to your local station. There are three different levels:
Level 1:
- One-Year Digital Subscription to Dream of Italy Magazine – Donors will receive six colorful issues in PDF via email over the course of the next year and immediate online access to an online archive of 180 back issues.
- Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive Recipe Booklet (Public Television Exclusive) – Food is essential to the Italian lifestyle and our guests including Francis Ford Coppola, Frances Mayes, Joe Mantegna and Kathy herself share more than two dozen recipes that incorporate the tenets of the healthy Mediterranean Diet.
Level 2:
- One-Year Digital Subscription to Dream of Italy Magazine – Donors will receive six colorful issues in PDF via email over the course of the next year and immediate online access to an online archive of 180 back issues.
- Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive Recipe Booklet (Public Television Exclusive) – Food is essential to the Italian lifestyle and our guests including Francis Ford Coppola, Frances Mayes, Joe Mantegna and Kathy herself share more than two dozen recipes that incorporate the tenets of the healthy Mediterranean Diet.
- DVD: Extended Version of Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive (Public Television Exclusive) – Enjoy an extended version of the pledge special with 30 minutes of additional material including tips on living better the Italian way and moving to Italy. If viewers prefer to stream the extended version of the program on a TV or digital device, they can use the link provided on a card inside the DVD.
- 3-Month Online Subscription to Rosetta Stone Italian Lessons – Donors are provided with an individual redemption code (no credit card needed) on a card inside the DVD.
Level 3:
- One-Year Digital Subscription to Dream of Italy Magazine – Donors will receive six colorful issues in PDF via email over the course of the next year and immediate online access to an online archive of 180 back issues.
- Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive Recipe Booklet (Public Television Exclusive) – Food is essential to the Italian lifestyle and our guests including Francis Ford Coppola, Frances Mayes, Joe Mantegna and Kathy herself share more than two dozen recipes that incorporate the tenets of the healthy Mediterranean Diet.
- DVD: Extended Version of Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive (Public Television Exclusive) – Enjoy an extended version of the pledge special with 30 minutes of additional material including tips on living better the Italian way and moving to Italy. If viewers prefer to stream the extended version of the program on a TV or digital device, they can use the link provided on a card inside the DVD.
- 3-Month Online Subscription to Rosetta Stone Italian Lessons – Donors are provided with an individual redemption code (no credit card needed) on a card inside the DVD.
- Companion Book: Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive by Kathy McCabe (Foreword by Frances Mayes) – Kathy expands on the lessons of the pledge program with in-depth tips on how to live like an Italian at home (on topics ranging from food to family), how to travel to Italy in a more meaningful way and how to move to or retire in Italy or reclaim citizenship if you qualify.
- Tuscan Sunflower Charm from Delbrenna Jewelry in Cortona – Delbrenna Jewelry in Cortona, the adopted hometown of Under The Tuscan Sun author Frances Mayes, has created a stunning sunflower charm with a base of silver covered in DelBrenna’s Signature Antique Gold Finish.
Q: Is there another way for me to get the Companion Book if I don’t pledge?
A: For a short time it is going to be offered exclusively for public television viewers. Check this spot for when it may become available for a general audience.
Q: Is there another way for me to get the 30 minutes of additional footage digital link/DVD?
A: The DVD is an exclusive to public television stations. You can only get it through pledging to your local station. We may make the extended version available digitally in the future. You can check back here.
Q: Is there another way for me to get the recipe booklet if I don’t pledge?
A: No. It is an exclusive to encourage you to give to your public television station.
If you have any other questions please contact us and we will continue to update this page with new information.