WHYLD.one

Ever wondered why phone booths in Italy might be wider than elsewhere?

Well, it’s most likely an untrue myth, to be fair. Plus, this is definitely not the topic of the episode – but you’ll hear an answer anyway if you keep listening to the very end.

In this episode, you’ll get to meet Francesco Leone. A serial entrepreneur who does not consider himself to be one. All his life, being a passionate dreamer and a multi-faceted character, Francesco has created an authentic path for himself.

It had led him from Italy to Bulgaria to India to Tenerife, among other stops along the journey. His ability to sniff out business opportunities and make a living out of creativity, little means, and hard work, is inspiring. Truth be told, this interview only captures a fraction of the stories that his rich life journey entails. At only 19 years old, he opened up his own pizzeria, finding out just how many things he had yet to learn. In India, he discovered his talent to create a truly special atmosphere for travellers in need of accommodation. After a setback that made him lose everything he had in India, he arrived on the Canary Islands, with only 50 Euros in his pocket, starting from zero. There, on Tenerife Island, he confirmed his resilience and capacity to create a new one-of-a-kind Backpacker Hostel, Los Amigos, with his heart and soul weaved into it. At the peak of his success, he was sought out by depression which eventually he came out of by changing his perspective on life.

When in March 2020, COVID-19 hit Tenerife, he was back on the brink of losing everything he had built… again. Be inspired by Francesco’s take on embracing uncertainty and accepting what is.