Who we are
Your host: Mandi Gunsberger
Founder & Retreat Curator of Nourish Travel | Serial Entrepreneur | Soulful Connector
Hi, I’m Mandi Gunsberger, founder of Nourish Travel, storyteller, and passionate believer in the power of pressing pause.
Over the last two decades, I’ve launched and grown multiple businesses (including one that was acquired), raised three daughters, moved across the world, and learned that the most powerful moments often happen when we simply step away. Step away from the noise, the inbox, the to-do lists and give ourselves the space to reconnect with what really matters.
The idea for Nourish Travel first took root in Tuscany. In 2018, after selling my media company, my family and I spent a life-changing year living in the heart of the Italian countryside. While consulting from a villa, our daughters enrolled at the International School of Siena, and I fell head over heels for the people, the pace, the pasta, and the possibility of something more.
That one magical year became a mission: to design retreats that nourish not just the body, but the mind and soul. And while it all began in Tuscany, it didn’t stop there.
Today, Nourish Travel hosts boutique retreats across the globe from the rolling hills of Italy, to the untamed beauty of Botswana, to the soulful landscapes of Australia’s coastlines, vineyards, and mountains. Each retreat is curated with care, connection, and creativity for people who are ready to slow down, tune in, and experience something extraordinary.
These are not cookie-cutter holidays. They’re immersive, deeply personal experiences, filled with storytelling, movement, meaningful conversations, shared meals, quiet moments, and the kind of beauty that sneaks up on you.
Our guests are curious, open-hearted humans, men, women, solo travellers, partners, friends, from all walks of life, united by a shared desire to step off the treadmill and into something a little more nourishing.
And wherever we go, I bring with me some of the incredible people I’ve met along the way, including authors, winemakers, artists, yoga teachers, chefs, guides, and storytellers, people who help make every retreat feel rich with authenticity and connection.
So if you're craving something a little different and a little deeper, I’d love to welcome you to a Nourish retreat.
Come for the scenery, stay for the soul food. Leave feeling like you’ve come home to yourself.
Our Next Soulful Escapes With
Leigh Sales, AM
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, master storyteller, and beloved co-host of Chat 10 Looks 3
Leigh Sales is one of Australia’s most respected and admired journalists, with a career spanning more than three decades of bringing clarity, compassion, and fierce curiosity to some of the nation’s biggest stories.
Best known for her decade-long tenure as the anchor of ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30, Leigh has interviewed everyone from prime ministers and global leaders to everyday Australians, navigating moments of triumph, heartbreak, and change with unmatched precision and humanity.
A gifted writer, Leigh is the author of several best-selling books, including Any Ordinary Day, a deeply moving exploration of resilience in the face of sudden life upheaval and Storytellers, a celebration of the art and craft of journalism.
She is also one half of the wildly popular Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast, where her wit, warmth, and love of books, music, culture, and connection have endeared her to a loyal audience of "Chatters" across the country.
Leigh’s rare ability to combine intellectual depth with genuine empathy shines through in every conversation she leads — whether grilling a world leader, championing a debut novel, or swapping book recommendations over a glass of wine.
At the retreats, Leigh brings her extraordinary storytelling gifts into an intimate, welcoming space, creating the perfect setting for thought-provoking workshops, fireside chats, and relaxed conversations that invite reflection, laughter, and genuine connection.
Whether you come with a story ready to tell, a question in your heart, or simply a love of books and big ideas, Leigh's sessions promise to be memorable, inspiring, and infused with the magic that happens when open minds and kindred spirits gather.
Daniela Maiorano:
Chef • Culinary Storyteller • Italian Food Educator • Retreat Host • Cultural Connector
Daniela Maiorano is a chef, storyteller, and food educator who celebrates the heart of Italian culture through the art of cooking and connection. Born into a Southern Italian family where the kitchen was the soul of the home, Daniela’s passion for food is rooted in tradition, simplicity, and the belief that every meal tells a story.
With over 20 years’ experience across restaurants, education, and community events, Daniela has become known for her warm, soulful approach to Italian cuisine. Her classes and experiences bring people together through food — blending traditional recipes with modern creativity, and always with an emphasis on quality ingredients, authenticity, and joy.
Daniela trained in both Australia and Italy and has shared her culinary expertise through teaching, private dining experiences, and immersive workshops that celebrate seasonal produce and mindful cooking. Her philosophy is simple: cook with love, eat with intention, and gather often.
As founder of Daniela Maiorano Cooking, she has built a loyal following of home cooks and food lovers who are drawn to her ability to make Italian cooking both approachable and deeply meaningful. Her retreats and classes are as much about connection as they are about cuisine — creating space for people to slow down, savour, and rediscover the beauty of sharing a meal.
Whether leading a hands-on masterclass, hosting a long-table feast, or guiding guests through a La Dolce Vita retreat, Daniela brings heart, heritage, and a touch of Italian magic to everything she does.
Anna Polyviou:
Award-Winning Pastry Chef • Culinary Disruptor • Creative Director • Brand Collaborator • TV Personality
Anna Polyviou is a creative force in the culinary world. A pastry chef, brand collaborator, and television personality known for her fearless creativity, playful energy, and signature hot-pink mohawk. With her rockstar flair and rebellious edge, Anna brings joy, colour, and connection to everything she creates.
From the world’s most prestigious kitchens, including Pierre Hermé Pâtisserie in Paris, Claridge’s Hotel in London, and Sofitel Melbourne, to her seven-year tenure as Creative Director of Pastry at Sydney’s Shangri-La Hotel, Anna has built a career defined by innovation and excellence. Her creations have earned her global acclaim, with awards including Best Dessert in the UK, Hotel Chef of the Year (Australia), and Pastry Chef of the Year.
Anna’s infectious personality and bold style have made her a household name. She’s lit up screens as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, Dessert Masters, and Family Food Fight, and appeared on shows like Ready Steady Cook, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and Everyday Gourmet. Her two best-selling cookbooks (Sweet Street and Kids’ Corner) capture her love of creativity, colour, and fun in the kitchen.
Today, through her own business, Anna continues to push boundaries, creating spectacular sweet experiences at major global events from the Melbourne and Singapore F1 Grand Prix to the Ambani family’s multi-million-dollar celebrations in India. Whether she’s inspiring the next generation, collaborating with brands, or curating extraordinary culinary moments, Anna brings her signature blend of flavour, flair, and fun to everything she does.
Meet Cally Albrecht - Yoga & Meditation, Tuscany
Cally Albrecht is your retreat host & leader, yoga & meditation teacher, and owner of Antico Macchione.
‘I am passionate about creating inclusive spaces for us to heal, learn and grow together.’
Cally created the healing sanctuary that is Macchione because she had experienced the transformational and healing power of retreats for herself.
With a lifelong passion for the philosophy of yoga among other wisdom traditions, she blends these teachings with movement and meditation to offer her own unique style of body-mind-self-healing.
In 2018 Cally started sharing her style and teachings with others, now leading various retreats each year. Many of her clients do not consider themselves ‘yogis’ or have never practiced yoga or meditation before and are amazed to find an accessibility within her retreats that feels deeply personal to each and every one.
Above all, Cally’s work is in creating the ideal environment for the retreat community to form: the loving space in which each member feels safe enough to truly be themself, so that each of us can have our own individual experience within the heart-led, soulful space of a shared group experience.
Meet Riccardo, the culinary maestro behind the magic at Nourish Retreats in Tuscany!
From an early age he was always fascinated with all things to do with food. He often wondered how it was possible that wonderful meals could be born from simple ingredients. This curiosity has evolved into his current work and searching for the best ingredients and their highest quality, so as to create excellent dishes to delight all guests with both traditional and modern combinations.
His warmth and zest for life are as delightful as his dishes, making Riccardo a cherished member of our Nourish Retreats family.
Chef: Riccardo Petraru - Tuscany
Ben Lucas: Head Coach of the Sydney Marathon
A former NRL player, marathon runner, gym founder and head coach of the Sydney marathon.
Ben focuses on blending running, mobility, strength, and recovery practices with mindset, nutrition, and connection.
You’ll learn how to move efficiently, fuel intelligently, and recover intentionally, unlocking that sweet spot between effort and ease.
One of Australia’s leading fitness experts, Ben Lucas, has been a well-respected trainer, innovator and businessman in the health and fitness industry for 20 years.
Ben was the owner and Director of Flow Athletic and Flow Training Centre, two of the most well-known and highly regarded fitness brands in the country. Flow Athletic was founded in 2013 by Ben and his good friend Kate Kendall, who is one of Australia’s leading Yoga teachers. Together they shared a vision for a facility that combined the best elements of yoga, strength and fitness delivered in a boutique, day spa environment to the local community.
Ben started his journey as a Rugby League player for the Cronulla Sharks in the late 2000s, transitioning to the fitness industry post football career. He then went on to own and run 3 of Australia’s most successful personal training studios, selling them to fund his dream of Flow Athletic.
In 2007 Ben ran his first full marathon on the Gold Coast. He has now completed 40 full marathons, including ‘The Great Wall of China’ marathon, the NYC marathon.
Ben trains the like of Elton John when he is in Australia and NZ, Sammy Robinson, Edwina Bartholomew, Kate Waterhouse, Erin Holland, and Emma Freedman.
Kate Kendall: Yoga, meditation & breathework
Kate is the Co-Founder and Director of Spiritually Fit at Flow Athletic in Paddington.
With over 20 years of experience teaching locally in Australia and around the globe, her knowledge and interests move beyond the asana (physical yoga) into energetic practices, breathwork and emotional freedom techniques.
She is the author of Life in Flow, a contemporary guide to living your yoga off the mat and loves inspiring her wide audience to return to self through the science of slow. Yoga came into her life as a teacher when she needed it the most. Struggling mentally and having surrendered to the idea that she may be medicated for the rest of her life to treat depression and a chronic eating disorder, yoga and its many gifts kept her buoyant throughout her healing journey.
With her yoga teachings featured on Gaia and having Founded Flow After Dark, Australia’s largest yoga silent disco, Kate is committed to and passionate about bringing spiritually expansive experiences to all.
Her current passion project is Spiritually Fit, a three-month container during which participants undergo daily practices to return to self and get clear on what feels most important, most alive and what wants to be expressed. It’s a course that is deeply respectful of the yogic traditions and all the teachers before her and is equal parts practical and magical; it’s science meets spirituality and she returns to this curious question of “what is it to be spiritually fit in this modern world” through all her offerings both in the studio and online.
Learn more about Kate’s messaging and how she endeavours to live a life in flow at @activeyogi and www.spirituallyfit.com.au
