The Podcast from Italy: Ashley & Jason Bartner

Life in Le Marche, Italy - Two American expats, living in Italy since 2007 share adventures of running La Tavola Marche an organic farm, inn & cooking school . With recipes, daily life, crazy neighbors, travels & more! www.latavolamarche.com

Reviews

Real life Expats living and working in Italy.

"This is one of my favorite podcasts! They are “normal” people who choose to start a new life in Italy. Generally I listen to podcasts when I can’t sleep and fall to sleep with them. This is not tru…"

Frankie Teacher | Feb. 19, 2024

Welllll Helloooo!!

"So glad to wake up to the latest news at La Tavola Marche! This podcast is always so full of joy (thank you Ashley) mishaps & mischief (thank you Jason) and razor retorts from our beloved grump (t…"

Toni Noto | Dec. 14, 2022

Great Real Podcast!!!

"I really enjoy this podcast. So much information and so much of Italian life. Such an honest and beautiful stories about living the Italian dream. Reminds me of living in Scotland."

Erik94534 | Nov. 7, 2021

Entertaining!

"Love this podcast about life on a small Italian agriturismo. It’s so funny, over the years Jason is getting more crotchety-he’s becoming Dr Gaggi’s mini-me! Ashley is still her upbeat, hilarious sel…"

12883pgirl | May 28, 2021

So good!

"Not usually a fan of conversation based podcasts. Started listening because my husband and I are interested in moving to Italy. I used to live in Italy for college and we go back for annual visits, b…"

Bjìrd | March 13, 2021

No title

"I love podcasts and you guys are now in my go to rotation. I’m not sure what’s better...Ashley laughing before telling a story, Jason being grumpy about something or hearing stories about your neighb…"

SignalLAX | March 4, 2021

See all reviews

Recent Episodes

View all

#188 - Test driving an Ape, a trip to the ER and a carrier piegon

188

July 27, 2026

#188 - Test driving an Ape, a trip to the ER and a carrier piegon

It's been 101 days since our last podcast, we apologize for the break, it's been busy! From filling the garden, to filling holes with gravel along our road like a chain gang to dinner with the oldies crew - the end of Spring flew by! Now that summer is full on, it's hot-hot-hot and the garden is booming with a bumper crop of cucumbers. Speaking of harvesting, Jason is on the look-out for a way to transport heavy things around the house - so our neighbor brought over his ape to test drive! We sha

Listen to the Episode

#187 -Do you watch or listen to podcasts? Plus the F1 KitKat Heist

187

April 17, 2026

#187 -Do you watch or listen to podcasts? Plus the F1 KitKat Heist

Video or no video - we discuss our thoughts on adding video to the podcast. What do you think? Finally success with Facebook marketplace! Jason finds an implement for the tractor just in time to get the soil ready before the Spring snowstorm. Ashley takes Rossana (Gaggi's wife) to an estate sale where she is brutally honest about her thoughts on the prices! And what is the story with the Formula One KitKat heist that happened in Italy at the end of March? ... Thanks for listening! Visit our fa

Listen to the Episode

#186 - Why Italy has the highest life expectancy in Europe + A breakdown of Sanremo, Italy's biggest music showcase

186

March 2, 2026

#186 - Why Italy has the highest life expectancy in Europe + A breakdown of Sanremo, Italy's biggest music showcase

We've been busy with projects from planting artichokes to trimming trees and breaking down the flower boxes to build new ones. Ashley gets roasted by two elderly ladies in a hilarious exchange. Then we chat about the biggest week of the year in Italy showcasing original songs by new artists, Sanrenmo and breakdown how the voting works. Italy has been named the best country in Italy to live the longest with the average age 84. We explain the 5 reasons why! Later today, a wine tasting at Bruscia

Listen to the Episode

#185 - Italy, where the onions predict the weather

185

Jan. 29, 2026

#185 - Italy, where the onions predict the weather

Move over Punxsutawney Phil the Groundhog and make way for the onion! In Urbania, the weather for the year is predicted by a yellow onion! And this year's predictions are in! Plus there has been an incredible ancient discovery of a 2000 year old basilica in Fano! After a big snow in mid January, there is plenty of cleanup work from the fallen trees which means Gaggi is pumped up! Plus we are excited our feature in National Geographic is published! Book your stay or a cooking class with us on yo

Listen to the Episode

184 - Sometimes it's an 'All You Can Eat Sushi' Kind of Christmas + Pavarotti on Ice

184

Jan. 5, 2026

184 - Sometimes it's an 'All You Can Eat Sushi' Kind of Christmas + Pavarotti on Ice

A festive holiday recap including a few fun headlines from Italy! We chat about the 3 types of panettone and a man getting stopped the Swiss boarder with 66 panettone! A statue of Pavarotti was frozen into the ice rink in nearby Pesaro making national headlines! Due to illnesses, etc - plans changed for Christmas and we ended up at an all-you-can eat crappy sushi restaurant - was it empty or full?! Also New Year's eve traditions from fireworks to lentils! Thanks for listening and Happy New Year

Listen to the Episode

#183 - Thanksgiving as an Expat in Italy, Truffle Festivals and a Big Butchery Workshop!

183

Nov. 30, 2025

#183 - Thanksgiving as an Expat in Italy, Truffle Festivals and a Big Butchery Workshop!

It was a busy autumn from truffle festivals every weekend to ending the season with a big butchery workshop with guests! Jason scored big with another Ritchie Brothers auction and finally has the soil prepared properly for winter - at the right time and without breaking anything! It was a big deal, even Gaggi had a compliment! We chat a bit about what Thanksgiving is like for expats living in Italy. Jason tells stories of the Transumanza. And not only did we have our first snow of the year but G

Listen to the Episode

View all Episodes

About the Host

Ashley and Jason Bartner

Hosts

Jason and Ashley Bartner are American expats living the dream in the Marche countryside and own an Agriturismo (organic farm, inn) and Cooking School. From the hustle-bustle of life in NYC to organic farmers & innkeepers our life took a 360!

In 2007 Jason and Ashley founded La Tavola Marche and have been celebrating life - from the farm to the table - ever since! They take pride in sharing with you the local, seasonal recipes of the area as well as a taste of sustainable living!

Chef Jason Bartner takes the ego out of cooking by creating simple, seasonal dishes from the farm to the table at his organic farm & cooking school in central Italy. Jason is a professional chef & culinary instructor with over 15 years of high-end culinary experience in San Francisco, New York City, Amsterdam & Italy. He studied at the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York, training with culinary legends including Jacques Pepin, and has a passion for cooking for anyone with an appetite.

Ashley, his wife, wears many hats: food & travel writer/photographer & filmmaker, host-extraordinaire & free-range chicken wrangler on the farm. Ashley has contributed to numerous international magazines including 5+ years writing a monthly column in Italia! and Taste Italia! She strives to promote sustainable & culinary tourism.

The couple offers consulting services as well for other couples interested in making the move to Italy!