Let Me Reintroduce Myself—And My New Writing Project
Hello there,
I’ve been writing this publication since August last year, and many of you have joined only since early this year. So, I thought it was time to reintroduce myself—and to share some exciting news about a new project!
If you’re not an active Substack app user, you may be receiving this as an email newsletter to which you once subscribed to. If it’s no longer your thing, unsubscribing is just a click away. But before you go—hear me out! There’s something new that might pique your curiosity.
Writing Sharing Secrets has been a meaningful way to explore coaching, personal growth, and the challenges we all face. If you’re new to my Substack, you might enjoy this introductory post—it offers a glimpse into who I am and the kind of space I’m creating with this publication.
My publication is still small, but I love the thoughtful engagement it fosters with my readers. One of my most popular posts so far has been Slugs, Heartbreak, and Earthquakes—a reflection on how beauty and awe can help us heal. If you're drawn to personal reflections, deep conversations, and the small moments that shape our lives, you might find something here that resonates.
But today, I want to introduce you to a different kind of space—one that dives into food, culture, and the overlooked corners of the world.
I’d love for you to meet Scattered Crumbs and Tangled Tales, my new Substack where I bring together my background as a social anthropologist, my love of food, and my experiences of living and researching across different parts of the world.
I grew up in Slovenia and have lived in Scotland, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Sweden, and now Lisbon, Portugal (with a several months in Spain and Italy along the way). I have a PhD in Social Anthropology, focused on food practices in urban West Africa, and have spent two decades researching religious practices, gender, agricultureand migration across the African continent. My life and work have been shaped by the places I’ve called home, the people I’ve met, and—always—the foods I’ve eaten.
Being an anthropologist often feels like being a detective—uncovering hidden stories, piecing together clues about human behavior, and making sense of how culture and history shape daily life. It has also fuelled my love of language. Over the years, I’ve studied 13 languages and can communicate in 11 of them, including Jula and Amharic—two African languages that have connected me more deeply to the places I’ve lived.
Through Scattered Crumbs and Tangled Tales, I share non-fiction stories that bring everyday life in Europe and Africa to the page. So far, I’ve written about:
If you’re curious about the world beyond tourist brochures—if you love food, language, and the small, intimate details that make up daily life—this might be a space for you. I’ll be publishing a mix of deep dives and short vignettes.
If any of this resonates, I’d love for you to join me. You can subscribe for free (or support my writing if you’d like) and be part of this journey.
Thanks for being here—I hope to see you in my new space!
Omg you live in Lisbon? Me too! Maybe one day we could go for a coffee and I could pick your brain.
Your new project sounds amazing and I am already excited to read the post about the birds in the Portuguese wine labels. That sounds interesting!
Liza, it was so wonderful to meet you on Clare Egan's Artist's Way call today and you mentioned you had a Substack, and I'm delighted to discover it. I am an American who has lived in 3 European countries, with Spain, now, Barcelona, as my new home as of February, and my older daughter who lives here studied social anthropology so I know she'll be interested in your new Substack on travel, food through the social anthropology lens (as will I). I've traveled to nearly 40 countries and I am fascinated by other cultures. Look forward to following you here.