Doors will open early to allow for mingling, and the post-film discussion will be recorded for a special live episode of the Slow Love podcast. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, but Portolan jokes that the real intoxicant is the conversation.
The connection between Portolan and Borgobello was forged at the Italian Film Festival in Canberra , where Ruth’s film, The Space Between , was being showcased. This initial meeting sparked a creative partnership that would later evolve into the podcast during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Portolan, who holds a PhD in dating apps and intimacy, saw a need to document the raw, authentic experiences of vulnerability she was uncovering in her research. Borgobello, drawn to the power of shared human narratives, joined as co-host to help conceptualise and produce the series. Slow Love: Reimagining Intimacy lisa portolan slow love podcast co-host film event
“We’re not promising you’ll find your soulmate in the audience,” she says with a smile. “But we are promising you’ll leave feeling a little less alone in how you love.” Doors will open early to allow for mingling,
“Cinema has always been our collective dreamscape for romance,” Portolan explains. “From the grand gestures of classic Hollywood to the messy realism of indie dramas, films shape our expectations of love. But we often consume them passively. This event is about watching actively .” This initial meeting sparked a creative partnership that
The collaborative synergy between Dr. Lisa Portolan and her co-host, filmmaker Ruth Borgobello , began at an Italian film event, setting the stage for one of the most insightful podcasts on modern intimacy. Their partnership combines Portolan’s deep academic research into dating culture with Borgobello’s cinematic eye for storytelling. The Origin Story: From Film Festival to Podcast
Building on the podcast's core theme of "Slow Love"—a movement toward mindful dating and Jane Austenesque courtship —the event explored love and intimacy in a digital-first world.