Lisa Morales shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Lisa, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Most definitely “integrity.” Intelligence can be cultivated and energy restored, but integrity is rooted within. I’ve always built my professional and personal life around it. Most of my clients have come through referrals, and I’ve had the privilege of working with many of them for years—small businesses and nonprofits that I deeply believe in.
While amplifying their voices is rarely the path to riches, I’ve always tried to tell their stories in creative and meaningful ways. That commitment carries into my role as Editor-in-Chief of Live in Italy Magazine, which—despite launching in 2020—has been named Best Italy Magazine for three consecutive years. Our entire team writes from the soul. We resist the trend of short sound bites, AI clickbait, and algorithm-driven content. Instead, we advocate for the reader within us. The one who wants to slow down, feel something, and remember the humanity in stories.
As a writer, my focus now leans more into sustainable luxury and visual arts—covering travel, food and wine, and major art fairs and exhibitions. It’s not about trends. It’s about valuing eco-conscious building, supporting local producers, and highlighting experiences that feel both intimate and impactful.
That’s what integrity means to me: being rooted in who you are, showing up consistently, and creating work that reflects your values—no matter what the crowd is doing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a writer, editor, and communicator who believes in the power of story to connect people, culture, and purpose. After a long career in PR and marketing—roles I still hold for select clients—I’ve leaned into my lifelong passion for writing. I now spend most of my time crafting stories about sustainable travel, food and wine, and the people behind these experiences, as well as visual arts coverage, including art fairs and exhibitions.
I’m the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Live in Italy Magazine, where we celebrate authentic, slow Italian travel and culture. I’ve also written for publications like Impact Wealth Magazine and Luxury Guide USA. Recently, I launched a podcast called “Italy Answered” under Live in Italy, and I’m currently developing a new audio series for my blog #TASTE, where I’ll feature in-depth interviews with cultural innovators and changemakers—many outside my Italy hub. It’s a platform for soulful stories that aren’t confined by borders.
Whether I’m profiling a Michelin-starred chef or the owner of an eco-luxury yacht company, my goal is to create connections through meaningful storytelling. That’s the heart of what I do.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
As a lifelong communicator, I believe the answer is simple: communication itself. Or more specifically, the lack of it.
So many of our rifts stem from miscommunication. A poorly timed text. A misunderstood pause. Or over-curating our messages until they become hollow. As someone who writes for a living, I’m very aware of how easily words can both connect and divide.
One project that really moved me is photographer Eric Pickersgill’s series “Removed,” which shows people frozen in moments of connection—with their phones digitally removed. The images are haunting; they remind us how physically present yet emotionally absent we can be in modern life.
I think the same applies to how we approach AI. While it’s an extraordinary tool—even helpful for writers—it lacks the ache, spontaneity, and nuance that make human creativity so special. And that disconnect, if unchecked, could be just as isolating.
What restores the bonds between people? Choosing to be present. To listen deeply. To create and communicate with intention. We need to return to our roots—not out of nostalgia, but out of necessity. That’s how we build something lasting.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I lost my only sibling and both parents within a span of three years. It was a period marked by numbness. I kept going—focused on work, raising children—but I was moving through life in survival mode.
Healing didn’t come all at once. It arrived slowly, in the small choices I began to make for myself. I started running regularly and embraced a healthier lifestyle: intermittent fasting, reducing sugar and ultra-processed foods, getting more rest. It may sound simple, but these choices built a framework of resilience.
That physical transformation opened the door to emotional healing. I’ve learned to prioritize my own well-being—not perfectly, but consciously. I now see that by caring for myself, I can better care for others and create from a place of presence rather than pain.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
On social media? Probably not. Much of my work centers around luxury—fine wine, travel, design—and naturally, that’s what I show. I suppose you could call it “subtle branding.” But integrity is my baseline, even there.
Offline, in real conversations, I believe I am the real me. I love interviewing people and hearing their stories. One of my greatest influences is James Lipton from “Inside the Actors Studio.” His interviews were masterclasses in vulnerability and curiosity. I try to bring that same energy into my own interviews.
During a recent interview, both my subject and I ended up in tears—twice. Those are the moments that fuel me. When the curtain falls away, and we meet one another as humans. Even if I never speak to that person again, we’ve shared something real.
That’s the version of me I want to show more: less polished, more present.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Honestly? Most of what I do.
Writing—especially the kind I do—is not about quick wins. There’s little monetary reward, and even less certainty. But I’ve chosen not to chase trends or algorithms. I avoid clickbait and fight the pressure to produce for virality’s sake.
Instead, I’m investing in meaningful work. Building a body of writing that aligns with my values. Launching a new podcast that will spotlight underrepresented voices in the sustainable travel and lifestyle space. Nurturing relationships with clients who appreciate thoughtful communication. It might not “pay off” in the traditional sense, but I believe it builds something better: a legacy of stories that matter.
In uncertain times, that feels like its own kind of wealth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allegorypr.com/news/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allegorypr/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allegorypr/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AllegoryPR
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllegoryPR/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/liveinitalymagazine
- Soundcloud: https://www.youtube.com/liveinitalymagazine
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zJX2Vu83ow6cqfRBwGaKL?si=afbd581a67ed4a9e
Image Credits
Antoine Martin
Adriana Samanez
Michelle VanTine
Aaron Morales
John Craven
Carlos Morales
