Join us in this lively episode of the Italian American Podcast as we welcome special guests from Boston, two brothers and their sister, who share their expertise on Italian feasts and the fascinating blend of their Irish and Italian heritage. Listen in as we prepare for the iconic Festa delle Tutte Feste, San Gennaro, and explore the strategic, and sometimes contentious, planning that goes into these significant cultural events. We'll reflect on the cultural dynamics between Italian and Irish communities and the contrasting attitudes toward unity and leadership within these vibrant cultures. Our journey continues with a nostalgic look at New York City's historic neighborhoods and the evolution of the San Gennaro Feast into a multi-ethnic celebration. We reminisce about the Italian heritage, the transformation of these communities, and the broader cultural shifts that have shaped New York over the years. The discussion is enriched with memories of local delicacies and historical holidays that have faded over time, painting a vivid picture of a bygone era and its lasting impact on the city's cultural landscape. We then explore the culinary and cultural traditions of Italian American neighborhoods in Boston and New York, highlighting unique dishes and festive street life. The conversation touches on memorable dining experiences, the importance of local connections, and the vibrant atmosphere during Italian feasts. Special mentions include notable Italian personalities and the traditions like the passeggiata, which add depth to our appreciation of these tight knit communities. Finally, we reflect on the enduring pride, familial ties, and playful rivalries that bind these cultures together, leaving you with a rich tapestry of Italian American life.

Join us for an engaging episode as we welcome esteemed editors Stanislao Pugliese and William Connell to explore the evolving field of Italian American studies. Listen in as we trace the academic journey of this discipline, which has grown from an overlooked orphan to a respected and interdisciplinary field. With contributions from scholars worldwide, we discuss the significance of attracting interest from non Italian Americans and the importance of Italian translations to foster cultural understanding between Italian Americans and their counterparts in Italy. Discover the remarkable impact of Italian heritage and studies at Seton Hall University, supported by generous benefactors like Mr. Valente. Learn about the establishment of an Italian studies chair and a comprehensive Italian library boasting 50,000 books, including a rare 1541 manuscript proposing radical church reforms. This chapter highlights the significance of supporting academic institutions and preserving historical texts, with a special acknowledgment from the Pope underscoring the global importance of such discoveries. Finally, explore the intricate process of cataloging and preserving Italian American memorabilia, the efforts of the Italian American Museum, and the rich cultural heritage of Italian Americans. Hear personal narratives, the challenges of maintaining traditions, and the efforts by organizations to promote Italian American literature. We also touch on significant academic projects and the role of Italian feast bands in keeping cultural traditions alive. This episode beautifully encapsulates the theme of exile and migration, drawing parallels to historical events and celebrating a century of cultural preservation.

Ever wondered what it’s like to navigate Hollywood’s golden era with icons like Frank Sinatra and Robert Mitchum? What defines the essence of resilience and the enduring power of family bonds? Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Brenda Vaccaro, who takes us on a heartfelt journey through her Italian heritage and family history. Venture into Brenda's illustrious acting career as she reminisces about her early days in New York City, the emotional dynamics of theater, and the differences between acting in various mediums. Brenda's admiration for Norwegian and English actors provides deep insight into her craft. At the same time, a humorous story from the set of "Naked City" offers a light-hearted glimpse into her experiences. We also explore the profound impact of losing a loved one and how their wisdom influences her work and life. From Brooklyn to Dallas, Brenda shares the struggles and triumphs of her family during the Great Depression, highlighting her father's challenges as an Italian immigrant and corporate lawyer educated at NYU. Through poignant anecdotes, Brenda emphasizes the values instilled in her by her parents and the unbreakable ties that shaped her upbringing. While listening, you can experience the glamour and excitement of Hollywood through Brenda's eyes as she recounts her first film experience and the cultural clash of the 1960s and 1970s. From wild Hollywood parties to the genuine camaraderie among artists, Brenda's stories paint a vivid picture of a bygone era in entertainment. Reflecting on her Italian American family roots, Brenda emphasizes the enduring power of family traditions and the deep connections that define her heritage. This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the importance of family, heritage, and the colorful personalities that shaped Brenda's life and career.

When we scored an interview with famed Italo-Australian comedian Joe Avati, we figured we would be lucky to get 45 minutes with the man many credit with creating a worldwide Italian comedy revolution. In fact, we ended up spending two hours in deep discussion with the man known around the world as the “Italian Seinfeld!"

On this week’s episode of the Italian American Podcast, we’re bringing you Part 2 of this fascinating discussion, commercial-free, and picking up right where last week’s episode left off with an exploration of “Cancel Culture” in the comedy world, and why Italian stereotyping might be one of the last acceptable subjects of ethnic humor.

Plus, we’ll look at whether or not there is some truth to the cliches that are oftentimes associated with our community, why many of us feel so connected to our Italian roots even when we are generations removed from our immigrant ancestors, American “assimilation” versus Australian “integration," and why Italian identity appeals so deeply to the many varied peoples who have a stake in it.

We’ll share some laughs exploring the relationship between Italians and Greeks, and why so many of us root for Italy against our own countries when the World Cup rolls around!

If you enjoyed Part 1 of this impassioned interview, you won’t want to miss the thoughtful conclusion of our afternoon with the one-and-only Joe Avati!

For more information on Joe's North American tour, click here!

Until recently, Joe Avati never thought of himself as a “real comic."  This bout of self-deprecation probably comes as something of a surprise to the Italo-Australian's legion of devoted fans, who many years ago dubbed him the “Italian Seinfeld!"

Avati’s signature “clean style” of comedy and his laser-sharp insight into the minds of Italians around the world have made him a comedy superstar in his native Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and anywhere more than a handful of paesani have made their home!

Taking a few hour break from his current World Tour, Joe sits down with us to discuss the global Italian comedy revolution he unintentionally kicked off more than 20 years ago, and why audiences in all parts of Italy’s vast diaspora can relate to his observations, and to one another.

In this week’s episode, part 1 of 2, we’ll examine the similarities and differences between Italians around the globe, where our unique identity finds its origins, and how his set reflects on the Italian American comedians for years gone by.

He’ll share why he never wavered from his commitment to “clean comedy” and whether or not we at the Italian American Podcast set out to create a “clean show” of our own for the same reasons.  We’ll discuss why he's enjoying being a “real comic” a quarter of a century into his incredible career.

And, we’ll address the simmering issue of “Cancel Culture” in the comedy world, and why Italians don’t seem to want to cancel anyone!

Plus, we look at the humor in the often unexplainable Italian traditions we hold dear, and in the Italian fear of the things we don't see… from the Malocchio to the air conditioning, to a summer breeze… all the things that give us sicknesses that no other ethnic groups seem to contract!

It’s a 45-minute appointment that turned into a two-hour “Paesani Mind Meld," and you WON’T want to miss the first half!

Are you interested in seeing Joe Avati during his North American tour? Visit www.joeavati.com for more information!

It’s said that Heaven touches Brooklyn, New York, every July… and if you know Brooklyn like we do, then you know that celestial poke occurs at the famed Festa del Giglio at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, and you also know the passionate pastor there!

This week we sit down with the one-and-only Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello who, beyond his job as the spiritual father of one of the nation's most important Italian parishes, also serves as the vicar of development for the Diocese of Brooklyn, as well as chaplain for the New York City Fire Department.  Msgr. Jamie is a familiar face to those of us in the New York City area, since in his “spare time” he hosts his long-running cooking show, “Breaking Bread," and is the author of a forthcoming cookbook of the same name!

Msgr. Jamie will share details of his 10 years of experience working in hospitality before receiving the call to the priesthood, his thoughts on why traditional Italian Sunday dinners are a cornerstone of civilization, what the current state of Catholic education means to our nation, and why the kitchen table and the altar table have so much to do with one another.

Of course, we can’t have Msgr. Jamie on air without asking him about Brooklyn’s world-renowned Giglio Feast, which takes place this year from July 6-17. He shares the history of the feast’s origins from Nola, Campania to its various iterations in New York City and beyond, and explains why this particular event is a “must see” bucket list location for all Italian Americans!

Get ready to start planning your road trip to Brooklyn as we give you an insider's look at the history and happenings behind an event that’s near and dear to our Italian American hearts!

For more information about the Brooklyn Giglio feast, visit www.olmcfeast.com.

Family is the cornerstone of our life as Italian Americans, but what happens when one member of the family is diagnosed with a serious illness?

That’s just one of the topics we cover with this week’s guest, Dr. Benedict Albensi, Ph. D., BCMAS, CRQM. Dr. Albensi is a professor and chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Renowned for his work with factors involved in aging, cognition, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), Dr. Albensi has been ranked in the top one percent worldwide by Expertscape.com for his number of publications from 2010-2020 in seven areas, including expertise in Alzheimer’s Disease, neurocognitive disorders, tauopathies, and dementia. On this week’s episode, he’ll share the personal reasons that lead him to study the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and what his research has revealed over his several decades of experience. We discuss the hallmarks of aging and what people can do to increase their longevity, and how Italian American staples like a traditional Mediterranean diet, and the primacy of “La Famiglia” might just hold the keys to longer, healthier lives.

We’ll explore how genetics plays a role in the development of dementia, and how certain ethnicities are prone to certain illnesses, such as Cooley’s Anemia in our own community.

We also look at how family protection comes into play, and how when families rally around a member who has been diagnosed with a cognitive illness, it can be some of the best medicine possible for all concerned!

If you’re interested in developing a healthier lifestyle or if Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia has affected your family, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode!

Are you guilty of crimes against Italian food?

A recent YouGov survey that polled 20,000 people across 17 different countries decided that Italian cuisine was the most beloved on earth… but also established a list of alleged "Italian Food Crimes" that might trip up even the most passionate Italian American, let alone the first-time visitor to "il Bel Paese."

Some of the worst offenders list will read like a familiar set of “Culinary Commandments” for those who know Italy well… putting pasta in cold water before bringing it to boil, serving pasta as a side, cutting long pasta with a knife, adding cheese to a fish dish, or (gasp) drinking cappuccino after a meal!

Yet others might surprise even the most accepting pallette… Do we really need to reiterate that ketchup on pasta is a crime against humanity, and serving pineapple on pizza an inexcusable abuse of the world's most beloved food?

We’re going to unpack these results and provide our own take on how and why these offenses even exist. We’re also going to discuss what we think are the worst Italian food crimes, and which alleged crimes really aren’t so bad after all.

Get ready as we serve up a new take on the cuisine we all know and love in this week’s episode of the Italian American Podcast!

We’re back for the second half of our incredible conversation with Ian MacAllen, the author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American, as we continue our quest to understand the evolution of “Red Sauce Italian,” - that unique cuisine born of the melding of Southern Italian tastes and American abundance.

This week, in Part 2, we’ll take the conversation even deeper to explore everything from the ingredients that we treasure to the Red Sauce standards that have gone the way of the Dodo.  We’ll discover which beloved Italian American family dish originally contained cow utters, how to differentiate between pasta and macaroni, how those famed pastas REALLY got their shapes, and learn about the strange era when the Italian government tried to ban pasta!

We’re also digging into some of the heirloom products Italian Americans created, and made our own, here in America, looking at lost recipes from Red Sauce days gone by, and uncovering two long lost classics that were once amongst the most famous spaghetti dishes in America… created for America’s most famous Italian opera stars!

And, as we always do here on the Italian American Podcast, we’re asking the important questions… like how DID grated cheese and crushed red pepper become the ubiquitous Italian American table-side seasonings, and where do our cheeses come from, and why does it matter?

It’s the conclusion of one of our most popular episodes we’ve ever released, so tuck into a plate of your favorite Red Sauce specialty, and join us as we explore the unique creation that is Italian American cuisine!

Once in a long while, a book comes along and immediately qualifies as a “must have” in the Italian American home library. In Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American, author Ian MacAllen has created one of those books!

In this rollicking two-part episode, we’re joined by this proud Italian American writer as he leads us in an exploration of the evolution of traditional Italian American cuisine, lovingly referred to as “Red Sauce Italian,” from its origins in Italy to its transformation in America into a new, distinct, and wildly popular cuisine.

This week, in Part 1, we’ll take a look at the fascinating social and culinary history exploring the integration of Red Sauce food into mainstream America alongside the blending of Italian immigrant otherness into a national American identity.

We’re looking for the “roots of red sauce” in Southern Italian cuisine, and how early Italian immigrants to America developed new recipes and modified old ones based on the new foods they found in America, and how they were able to introduce and eventually domesticate the staple ingredients they couldn’t leave behind.

We’ll search out the origins of uniquely Italian American dishes like Penne alla Vodka, and examine the new fascinating history of how the earliest Italian immigrants brought the tomato into mainstream America… and why the differences in manufacturing between tomato paste versus canned tomatoes might explain how YOUR family recipes came to be distinct from those of other Italian American clans.  And, we’ll seek to answer the age old question: “Why do I add sugar to my sauce?"

It’s the first half of one of our most enjoyable episodes, on a topic we know every Italian American can agree on -- the unique brilliance of Italian American cuisine!

For countless Italian Americans, many of the best-loved hallmarks of our distinct culture are intrinsically tied to Catholic tradition.  Even for those who have let their personal practice lapse, or for others who come from different religious backgrounds, recollections of a special feast day in the old neighborhood, or holiday traditions rooted in Catholic practice remain treasured touchstones of their Italian American experience.  For some families, that sense of identity continues to be informed by participation in Italian language Masses, or membership in one of the remaining Italian National Parishes spread throughout the country.

And while these parishes and liturgies are available to our community at a lesser frequency than they were to older generations, there are some younger Italian Americans setting out to change that.

In this week’s episode, we’re sitting down with Eric Lavin of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Newark, NJ and Alexis Carra-Tracey, founder of the Italian Mass Project of New York City, to learn about the ways they and their fellow millennials are seeking to preserve and expand the presence of Italian Catholic life in America.

We’ll explore their efforts to bring old traditions to a new generation, and get a lesson in the history of Italian Catholicism in America straight from the Wiki-Pat-ia himself. And, speaking of the Notorious P.O.B., he’s inviting everyone out there in Italian American Podcastland to come out and support HIS efforts to evolve forward an Italian American Catholic tradition, the Feast of Our Lady of Sacro Monte in Clifton, New Jersey, a long-dormant tradition he revived more than a decade ago!

If you want to come out and meet the IAP Famiglia, or you’re just looking for a great way to reconnect with long forgotten traditions, this is an episode you’ll surely enjoy!

Of the more than 20 million Americans with Italian roots, approximately 87 percent are of Southern Italian origin.  This massive dispora from Italy’s south has made southern Italian cuisine, culture and traditions into familiar aspects of Italian American life; yet the wealth of classical music originating in the Italian south has remained a mystery, even to the millions whose ancestors left her shores.

This week’s guest, Alexis Zingale, hopes to change that with The Southern Italian Piano Project. The Southern Italian Piano Project seeks to change the narrative and ensure that the lesser-known composers from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, from both before and after the Risorgimento, attract the attention and respect given other composers in the canon of classical music.

Alexis shares how The Southern Italian Piano project got its start (spoiler alert: the Italian American Podcast might have been an early inspiration), how she worked to uncover and reintroduce composers from all over the south of Italy, which composers are part of her repertoire, including Francesco Durante and Alessandro Longo, and how her overall vision is to expand the canon of western art music to include as many underrepresented composers from the south of Italy as possible.

Alexis also shares a few samples of works she’s unearthed as she prepares to bring them to life in a series of live performances in the greater New York City area in the coming weeks, including:

·       Friday, May 6, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Branford Free Evangelical Church, 231 Leetes Island Road, Branford, CT. Tickets are $20 for general admission or $10 for seniors at the door, or $20 via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=312023991157

·       Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., at the Littlefield Recital Hall at Paier College, 84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, CT. Tickets are $20 for general admission or $10 for seniors at the door, or $20 via Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=312040701137

·       Friday, May 20, 2022, 8:00 at p.m., at Mary Flagler Cary Hall at The Dimenna Center for Classical Music, 450 W 37th St., New York, NY. Tickets are $25 via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=226211192767

If you’re a devotee of classical music, a proud daughter or son of the Two Sicilies, or just someone who loves to explore new and unique topics, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

With 20 titles to her credit, Adriana Trigiani is one of Italian America’s most profound and authentic voices. This week, she joins us to celebrate the launch of her latest book, “The Good Left Undone,” a generational story that will easily secure a place of honor in anyone’s Italian American book collection upon its release on April 26.

Adriana tells us about her process for writing her latest epic -- a work that she believes may just be her best yet -- and how her characters are representatives of the stories that live in each and every one of us. She also shares how the world of publishing is for Italian American authors, and issues a rallying cry to support Italian American creators that seek to tell our stories through writing, art, theater, and film.

Adriana also shares the power of networking, and how creating an “in tribe” network among Italian Americans will help us band together as a group to help share our heritage the world over.

If you're a fan of one of Italian America’s most prolific voices, or you just want to learn more about how our community can support the expansion of our creative voices, it's an episode you won’t want to miss!

We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Ernie Rossi of E. Rossi Company to the newly minted Red Sauce Studio in the heart of Little Italy. With a legacy dating back to 1910, Ernie shares captivating stories about his family's significant contributions to Neapolitan music in America. From his grandfather's early days publishing sheet music to producing records, this episode offers a tribute to the enduring legacy of Italian culture in Little Italy.

Travel back with us to the nostalgic Italian American neighborhoods where cultural dynamics and traditions shaped everyday life. Ernie paints a vivid picture of how the family business evolved from a music-focused enterprise to a broader Italian American resource, emphasizing the cultural significance of traditional coffee pots like the Neapolitan flip coffee pot. Personal anecdotes, such as children being given coffee in their milk to keep them hyperactive, enrich our discussion of memories that continue to shape Italian American heritage today.

From our sit down with Ernie we explore kitchen mishaps, traditional Italian cookware, and share humorous stories about encounters with famous Italian Americans like Martin Scorsese and Connie Francis. As we wrap up, we dive into planning an Italian American Christmas album, including a playful debate about Dominic the Donkey and creating a new holiday hit. Join us for an episode brimming with rich history, personal connections, and a heartfelt celebration of Italian American culture.

This week we’re jumping back into the second part of our two-part episode exploring the 50-year relationship between the Italian American community and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”, with a commercial-free conclusion to this well-received conversation.

Since its premiere in March of 1972, The Godfather has been considered one of the most influential and important films of all time, but even before the cameras started rolling, the would-be epic had drawn the ire of Italian Americans frustrated by the continued portrayal of their community as a haven for organized criminality.

As we look back on this 50-year history, we examine the impact the “The Godfather” has had on the Italian American experience… not just how it has come to represent (or not represent) our community, but how it has ultimately left its own mark on our sense of self definition.

We’ll seek to understand what the film means to cinema, to audiences around the world and, most importantly, to us, and how its release five decades ago may represent a crucial turning point in Italian American history.  And, we’ll look at the film’s legacy and impact on subsequent portrayals of Italian American life, from 1972 through today.

Join us this week as we look back at 50 years of “The Godfather” and the making of Italian America!

It is considered one of the most influential films of all time, a critical and commercial success, the winner of the 1972 Academy Award for Best Picture, selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, and ranked as the second-greatest film in American cinematic history by the American Film Institute… and for 50 years it has aroused equal parts love and loathing in the Italian American community.

On March 24, 1972, Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” made its debut in theaters across the nation and, since that first showing, the epic story of the Corleone family has dominated discussions on its portrayal of Italian Americans, with its proponents celebrating it as hauntingly authentic and its detractors decrying it as stereotypical exploitation.

In this week’s episode (Part 1 of 2), we look back on five decades of the relationship between “The Godfather” and the Italian American experience, its place in the tome of American cinema, and why it is a film that all Italian Americans should see at least once.

We’ll also examine the movie’s cast and characters, how their roles have become iconic, and what their stories say about the Italian American experience. And we look at the film’s impact on American pop culture, on organized crime itself, and what it means to Italian Americans today.

Join us this week as we look back at 50 years of “The Godfather” and the making of Italian America!

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shocked and horrified onlookers around the world, and has brought us closer to the brink of a global conflagration than most observers ever imagined possible in an interconnected and globalized society.

This week’s guest is His Eminence Archbishop Lorenzo Casati, the archbishop of Palermo and All Italy and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Abroad, who joins us to offer his uniquely multifaceted perspective, as an Italian American, living in Italy, and serving a community of Ukrainian faithful, as we seek to understand the complicated relationship between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the relationships between these two nations and Italy.

He shares with us the history of the Orthodox faith in Ukraine and in Russia and how it has shaped the identities of these two peoples, as well as how it is being brought to bear in the current crisis. He also discusses the differences between Ukrainian and Russian culture, and how Italy is taking part as the situation between the two nations unfolds.

We’ll discuss how Italy’s unique reliance on Ukraine for some of her most beloved foodstuffs, and why Italy has taken the stance it has taken in this conflict, welcoming refugees and doing what it can to support the Ukrainian people. Finally, Archbishop Casati tells listeners how they can help support Ukraine and offers a prayer for the end of this devastating conflict.

It's an episode that departs from our usual subject matter, but one which we pray offers clarity and hope in this time of unprecedented global uncertainty.

Imagine Elizabeth Bettina Nicolosi's surprise when she discovered that her grandmother’s Italian village had a secret: over a half century ago, in the southern Italian town of Campagna, countless residents defied the occupying Nazis and risked their lives to shelter and save hundreds of Jews from the Holocaust. What followed her discovery became an adventure as she uncovered fascinating untold stories of Jews in Italy during World War II and the many Italians who risked everything to save them.

In this week’s very special commercial-free episode of the Italian American Podcast, we sit down with author Elizabeth Bettina Nicolosi to explore how that personal voyage of discovery evolved into her immensely popular and impactful book, "It Happened In Italy: Untold Stories of How the People of Italy Defied the Horrors of the Holocaust," and how her book inspired the making of a documentary, "My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes."

We’ll discuss how this proud Italian American came to unravel the hushed secrets of her ancestral home, why she took it upon herself to bring this noble chapter of history to light, and share the incredible stories of her efforts to interview as many of the survivors as she could find, so this story of goodness in a time of evil could finally be told.

She’ll take us through her personal experiences meeting and traveling with the men and women whose lives were inextricably linked in this worst chapter in human history, and hear the heartwarming tales of their reunions and reminiscences decades later through the series that earned her work the highest of praise from Nino Asocoli: “Finally, somebody made known the courage and the empathy of the majority of the Italian people toward us Jews at a time of great danger.”

Around here, we’ve become pretty adept at recognizing the symptoms of an Italian American obsession... and this week’s guest can easily be diagnosed within a few moments of first meeting him!

Ray Guarini is the founder and driving force behind Italian Enclaves, an immensely popular Italian American social media platform on which Ray has set out to identify and catalogue the countless Italian American enclaves that add so much incredible Italian culture to the American mosaic. Since his last visit to the show in its earliest days, Ray and a team of equally-obsessed volunteers have grown the Italian Enclaves brand to include its first published book, New York City's Italian Neighborhoods, in person meet-ups, and a 501(c)3 non-profit organization known as the Italian Enclaves Historical Society, a charitable network dedicated to expanding Ray’s mission and bringing his work to the next generation.

We sit down with this Italian American All-Star to discuss just how his platform has expanded in recent years, how two years of limits and lockdowns have affected the nation’s Italian neighborhoods, how to discover the hidden Italian communities dotted across the country, and how the famed ethnic enclaves of America’s cities stack up against the often unknown centers of Italian life in America’s suburbs and rural areas.

Ultimately, we’re asking what constitutes an Italian enclave, and how all of us can play our part in their continuing evolution, making sure they continue to thrive for the next generation of Italian American obsessives!

We’re kicking off the month of March, known as Women’s History Month, by catching up with two very talented Italian American women behind a much anticipated event happening this weekend in honor of International Women’s Day.

This week’s guests, Vanessa Racci and Lena Prima, are the producer and headliner of the fourth-annual “Festa della Donna," a variety show celebrating Italian American females in the arts. Taking place virtually this coming Sunday, March 6, at 6 p.m., EST, Festa della Donna features Lena and Vanessa, as well as comediennes Tara Cannistraci and Regina DeCicco, and medium Tessa DelZoppo.

Lena and Vanessa share their experiences as women in the performing arts field, from trying to gain a foothold in their chosen professions, to their experiences with ageism and imposter syndrome, and how their experiences have helped shape them on both the personal and professional level.

They also share their thoughts about the timelessness of music and how it truly provides the soundtrack to our lives, as well as a celebration of our incredible culture.

Podcast listeners can enter the code FestaDella at checkout on www.metropolitanzoom.com for $5 off the admission to this special event!

Join us as we celebrate the Festa della Donna with two extraordinary Italian American women!

Queen Maria Carolina of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies was one of the most fascinating, impactful and, unfortunately, forgotten women in the long story of Southern Italy. Thanks to the work of this week’s guest, Her Royal Highness is about to reclaim her rightful place in history!

Diana Giovinazzo is the author of “Antoinette’s Sister,” which tells the story of Queen Maria Carolina, the Queen Consort of Naples and Sicily as the wife of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. This strong-willed Austrian princess took little time in making herself into the de facto ruler of her husband's kingdoms, and over her nearly 50 years as Queen left a legacy so important, that it might actually be part of what led our ancestors to the United States!

The sister of the ill-fated Marie Antoinette, Maria Carolina’s story has never quite drawn the attention of her tragic sister yet, as we will discuss, her impact can still be seen today in the glorious Reggio di Caserta and the vast array of art and culture that she helped bring to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies before she was sent into exile by the French.

Diana reveals Maria Carolina’s story and shares why her legacy should be known by anyone interested in Italian history. We also discuss how Diana approaches historical fiction, what inspires her about the often overlooked Italian women at the center of her stories, and how writing for historical figures can be approached without imposing 21st century values.

It's a revealing look at a fascinating woman who is finally getting her due!

To learn more about Diana Giovinazzo, visit https://dianagiovinazzo.com/.

Sicily… for millennia, this island at the crossroads of the world has been drawing peoples from across the globe to its shores, and in the second part of this very special two-part episode, Melissa Muller, author of “Sicily: Recipes Rooted in Tradition,” published by Rizzoli, shares with us some of the history behind Sicily’s most famous dishes.

Melissa describes how Sicily’s position as the crossroads of several key civilizations has influenced some of its most famous dishes, like caponata, arancini, cannoli, and more. We also discuss the concept of cuisine as an heirloom, and how recipes can tell the story of people, whether a large community or a family, and how those recipes can change generation to generation as ingredient availability differs.

We’ll dive into the fascinating histories behind some of Italian America’s most beloved Sicilian dishes.  We’ll discover how Sicilian chocolate offers a trip back in time with every bite, how the Cassata cake encapsulates most of the cultures that have called Sicily home, how one of the most popular fish dishes in the island’s cuisine was actually created for game birds, and how the famed eggplant caponata isn’t actually supposed to contain any eggplant at all.

Join us as we conclude this very special two-part edition of the Italian American Podcast!

Sicily… for millennia, this island at the crossroads of the world has been drawing peoples from across the globe to its shores, and in this very special two-part episode, we’re sitting down with Melissa Muller, author of “Sicily: Recipes Rooted in Tradition,” published by Rizzoli, as she shares how she too surrendered to the siren call of this unique island.

We’ll discover how this Italian American anthropologist, chef and journalist became “Sicilian by choice,” as she became ever-more drawn to the island each summer in her grandmother’s Sicilian village. She’ll share how her early experiences there led her to a career as an anthropologist and journalist studying the gastronomy of the Mediterranean regions, focusing on how Sicily is a unique crossroads of civilizations and how its history is visible and tangible in the island’s cuisine, allowing her to create a culinary time machine to discover the island’s storied past.

Eventually, the time came when her distance from the island no longer satisfied her soul, and Melissa made a life-changing move to her beloved Sicily, where today she lives with her family at Feudo Montoni, her husband Fabio Sireci’s organic farm and winery. There, she plays an integral role in the winemaking and cellar activities and is specifically dedicated to the cultivation of heritage Sicilian plants and the creation of food products.

We’ll discuss how Melissa has experienced the changes that come with swapping life in New York City for the sleepy center of the Sicilian island, how modern demands are affecting Sicily’s famously fertile fields, and how to understand the often under-appreciated diversity of the Sicilian landscape.

Join us as Melissa introduces her lifelong mission to understand the mysteries of Sicilian cuisine, and how it led to one of the finest works of culinary literature available today.

“Vision” can mean different things to different people, but for this week’s guest, his life’s work has been inspired by a vision of sharing his Italian family’s inspiring love with the visually impaired.

This week, we’re sitting down with Tony Cancelosi, the chief executive officer of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Washington, D.C. Since 1900, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind has been dedicated to helping the blind or visually impaired overcome the challenges of vision loss, a mission that enables people of all ages to remain independent, active, productive, and secure.

Tony will share how vision has played a role in his life, both literally and figuratively, whether it was his late father’s eventual loss of vision that inspired him to see blindness in a more empathic way, or his steadfast faith and overwhelming desire to help as many people as he can, treating each meeting as a spiritual encounter.

We also talk about Tony’s Italian American background, including his Philadelphia-based upbringing, and his family’s big “secret” that helped set him on his life’s path. Taking us from his successes in the business world to his vocation with Lighthouse for the Blind, we’ll discuss how the love of famiglia is at the heart of everything he does.

Finally, we also discuss how Tony’s work has been affected by his Italian American heritage and how that has become part of his life’s overall vision and vocation.

Join us for a genuinely heartwarming episode that you won’t want to miss!

Join us in our latest episode as we celebrate the Italian American community and culture from our new Red Sauce Studio in Little Italy, Manhattan. We continue to look towards the future and are excited to see what new adventures we will have with our brand new studio.  In this episode we give thanks to those who have helped us get to where we are today.  Although the store is not finished, Red Sauce Studio is up and running!  Our passion for Italian American culture shines through as we discuss our growing collection of memorabilia and the importance of immersing ourselves in these cultural experiences as well as tackling some Italian American debates.   

In this episode we discuss the proper representation of the Italian American Barbie doll as well as why our studio was named “Red Sauce” and not “Red Gravy.”  We reminisce about the countless joyful hours spent personalizing our studio and the playful critique of dolls that sparked a fun conversation about cultural representation. Listen to our light-hearted discussions as we share the humorous struggles, family dynamics, and the quirky tastes that come with preserving our cultural heritage. We also delve into the pride of our heritage, from the dynamics between Italian diplomats and the community, to our creative journey in designing Italian American-themed apparel. With a nod to designers like Dolce & Gabbana and a sneak peek into our upcoming projects, this episode is a celebration of community spirit, cultural pride, and the joy of sharing our heritage with the world.

The future of The Italian American Podcast is here at Mulberry and Grand St!  

It was called the “Economic Miracle," and Italy’s economic expansion after World War II was so rapid -- and her climb from war and poverty to wealth and prosperity so drastic -- that one might be tempted to believe that God had in fact deigned to bless Italia with La Dolce Vita… the Sweet Life!

But this “miracle” also triggered unprecedented social, cultural, and religious changes, so this week we’re unpacking those changes with Dr. Roy Domenico, the author of “The Devil and the Dolce Vita: Catholic Attempts to Save Italy's Soul, 1948-1973.”

This book tells the story of how the Catholic Church of Popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI, the lay Catholic Action association, and Italy’s near-monolithic Christian Democratic Party, worked in a series of culture wars to preserve a traditional way of life and to engage and tame the challenges of a rapidly modernizing society.

We discuss the April 1948 Christian Democratic electoral triumph and how their nearly thirty-year political hegemony ended when pro-divorce forces dealt the Catholics a defeat in the referendum of May 1974.

We’ll examine the Lateran Accords of 1929 and how the Vatican city-state’s relationship with Italy has evolved over the years, as well as the battles over what was considered proper decorum affected Catholic and Italian society during the 1960s and 1970s.

And, ultimately, we’ll explore how Catholicism is a driving force in Italian culture -- even today -- and how it has affected Italian and Italian American life.

If you’re a student of Italian history, practice the Catholic faith, or just love a great tale, you won’t want to miss this fascinating episode!

It’s sometimes the hidden stories that can tell us more about our history than we ever dreamed of.

In this week’s episode, Danielle Oteri of Feast on History talks to us about her latest project, a series of classes focusing exclusively on Southern Italy by Context Learning. These 90-minute courses are designed to take learners on a journey through the territory once occupied by the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies as they discover Southern Italy’s art, cuisine, culture, and history.  It’s a Masterclass for the Masses!

We’re discussing not just Southern Italian history, but the idea that new history is being discovered every day in some of the most surprising places and ways. From the quest for historic records thought to be lost, to the long held “facts” of history being upended by modern science and a random circumstance, you’ll leave the conversation looking at history in a whole new light.

And of course, we will find ourselves in a fascinating discussion of Italy’s forgotten foodways, including historic dishes and traditions that are no longer part of the Italian American diet, but that are still invaluable clues into our family histories, and how the monastic life brought us some of our favorite pastries, like sfogliatelle and babà.

Join us as we “feast” on Southern Italian history with Danielle, and then visit Context Learning to sign up for one of her fascinating classes!

For many Italian American families, the story of an immigrant's sacrifice usually begins in the years between 1880 and 1920, known as the Great Wave of Italian Immigration to the United States.

But for 2,800 unfortunate souls, immigration to the “Land of Opportunity” came earlier, and at a much greater cost.

Between late 1872 and early 1873, thousands of unsuspecting Italian laborers were victims of an international scheme in which con men descended upon “every village and hamlet in Italy promising that a great deal of money was to be made in the United States.” But the promises of jobs, housing, and the opportunity for a better life were unfounded, and the newly-arrived immigrants found themselves stranded at journey’s end with only the clothes they wore and their life’s savings stolen.  Most would end up wards of the United States government.

On this week’s episode, historians Joe Tucciarone and Ben Lariccia join us to explore this shameful chapter in early Italian American history, and to discuss their newly-released book, Italians Swindled to New York: False Promises at the Dawn of Immigration, the first-ever work to reveal this fascinating tale that would become an international scandal in its time.

We’ll examine how this under-studied saga reflects upon the first significant trickle of Italian Immigrants to America, what drove these men and women into the clutches of swindlers and predatory lenders, how American industrialists would use these victimized Italians as a tool in their battles with American labor, and how this toxic tale at the genesis of the Italian American experience might have defined the Italian immigrant experience for generations to come.

It’s a thought-provoking exploration into a little-known, and greatly important chapter in the Italian American story.

Another holiday season has come and gone here in Italian America.

The fishes have been served, the champagne has been popped, and the lentils have been eaten, so we’re kicking off the new year with the best thing we can think of to combat the post holiday blues… a collective therapy session!

We’re getting together to share our reflections on this year’s Christmas and New Year's celebrations, with a thoughtful eye on how Italian American family traditions are evolving in an ever-changing world.  We’ll explore what practices and customs have changed, and how technology might just be redefining the entire concept of the holidays.

We’re discussing our attempts (or lack thereof) at some New Year's resolutions, and considering the ways in which we might find new opportunities to make 2022 a definitional year here at the Italian American Podcast.

It's a conversation with depth, heart, and some incredible questions that often bubble up when we sit down at the table, as well as, of course, the non stop laughter that comes with the gathering of great friends. If you are an Italian American who just survived another year of Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's,  you won’t want to miss out on this thought-provoking episode!

It’s almost time to say “Buon Natale,” as Christmas is right around the corner! Since this is the final episode before the Feast of the Seven Fishes and Christmas arrive in earnest, we’re sending you into the holiday in style with our annual Italian American Podcast Christmas Special!

In what has become a nice little tradition here at the Italian American Podcast, some of our Podcast famiglia are gathering together right before the holiday madness begins to reflect on our favorite traditions, share recipes, unwind Christmas mysteries, and figure out exactly which designer panettone is really worth the price!

As we explore our most beloved Christmas memories and reflect on what traditions are important to each of us, you’ll be taken back into the recesses of your own joyous Natale recollections, and learn a thing or two about what makes an Italian American Christmas so special!

Remember, you and yours can listen along with us to six-plus hours of uninterrupted, never repeated, and carefully curated Italian and Italian American Christmas classics by visiting our one-of-a-kind Yule Pot Playlist at www.yulepot.com.

We hope these songs are ringing through your home come Christmas Eve and that you and yours enjoy a healthy, safe, and BUON NATALE!

Picture an Italian American family... Where are they gathered?  Are they around the table with a pot of coffee?  Or are they in the kitchen preparing a Sunday meal?  Perhaps they are in the basement pressing grapes or jarring tomatoes?  For most of us, scenes of the famiglia are also scenes of the home.  You've got to wonder... what is it exactly that makes a house an Italian American home, and what do these shared domestic traditions tell us about our community, our culture, and ourselves?

For Italian American Podcast co-host Dolores Alfieri-Taranto, those types of questions are at the heart of the second season of her new hit podcast “Bella Figura- The Tradition of Living Beautifully."

So in this week's episode, we're all joining in the conversation, and eschewing the fashionable concept of “Green Building Certification” in favor of a designation a little closer to home, and asking what it takes for a home to qualify as Red-White-and-Green Certified?

Just what are the must-haves of an Italian American home, and what do those commonalities of the Italian American domicile tell us about our community’s history?  What does the formal, and for many decades plastic-covered, living space that never gets lived in reveal about our socio-economic history? Why is a well-stocked pantry more about our shared values than our modern shopping habits, and why are there images of saints in many homes where the family might have very little commitment to organized religion?

These questions, and many more, are at the heart of an episode that explores the essence of what makes our homes, and our families, certifiably Italian American!

To listen to Dolores's podcast, visit www.bellafigurapodcast.com.

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941— a date which will live in infamy— the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

That iconic quote by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced the United States’ entry into World War II after the surprise military strike on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. At the time, the United States was a neutral country, but Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to prevent the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia.

Peter L. Belmonte is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, author, and historian. A veteran of Operation Desert Storm, he has published articles, book chapters, reviews, and papers about immigration and military history, including extensive studies on Italian Americans in World War II.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Peter to learn about the Italian American experience of World War II, a countless number of whom enlisted immediately after the Pearl Harbor attacks. We talk about these brave men and women and what their experiences were like from an ethnic perspective.

We also discuss what it was like for Italian Americans to be fighting against Italy, and how World War II came to shape the Italian American ethnicity, helping these soldiers and civilians feel both Italian and American at the same time.

While our country pauses to commemorate the 80th anniversary of these attacks, we remember our paesani who took up the call to serve and protect this great nation.

To purchase Peter's book on Italian Americans in World War II, click here.

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

For true Italian Americans, love really can blossom over the exchanging of caponata recipes. For Scott Tacinelli and Angie Rito, a shared passion for the tastes of Italian American life didn’t just lead to amore, but to marriage, a family, a Michelin-starred restaurant and their debut cookbook, Italian American, published by Clarkson Potter in October.

Scott and Angie are the husband and wife chef team behind “Don Angie” in the West Village of New York City. Named one of Esquire Magazine's Best New Restaurants in America, this Michelin-starred modern Italian American restaurant is the couple’s homage to the beloved red sauce joints of their youths. Of course, Don Angie is one of the toughest reservations to get in America, so the duo have brought their unique, forward-thinking take on Italian American classics to the people, with the recently-published cookbook that has created as much buzz as their New York hotspot!

We’ll hop on the mic with this talented team to discuss their particularly Italian American love story, how their reverence for the flavors of their childhoods earned them a surprising (to them at least) recognition from the world’s top restaurant critics, and why they are so passionate about evolving the “red sauce” style that has come to mean so much more than just the food you eat at their restaurant.

We’ll share stories and secret ingredients, and even run down some of their -- and our -- favorite off-the-beaten-path Italian American red sauce spots!

It’s an episode filled with the sparks of kindred spirits, and one that will surely leave you hankering for a heaping plate of your favorite Italian American dishes!

Click here to purchase your own copy of Italian American!

On November 14, the new Governor of New York Kathy Hochul, decided to eliminate the state’s Director of Italian American Affairs position. It just so happens that the director was one Dolores Alfieri Taranto, co-founder of the Italian American Podcast. What began with the Governor’s intention to eliminate the position as a whole has caused an unprecedented -- and unexpected -- backlash amongst the Italian American community throughout New York State, where it is the state’s largest ethnic group, as well as around the country.

Despite our best efforts to stay out of these kinds of issues, this was one that hit about as close to home as you can get. None of us at the Italian American Podcast expected the level of backlash and, even less, the complex level of response our reaction to it would garner. When the story even made its way into main-stream comedic coverage, the tangled web got even more disheartening.

We decided to take the opportunity for co-hosts Dolores Alfieri Taranto (@dolores_alfieri_taranto) and John M. Viola (@john_m_viola) to sit down and discuss not only the details of this unique story, but also to examine why they felt addressing it was important, and why this platform means so much to us… and whether or not it means the same to other Italian Americans.

Simply put, in what is one of the most intimate conversations in the show’s 210-episode history, we wanted to use one of the most complicated events we’ve encountered to discuss the simplest of concepts… why we are here to begin with.

It’s an unscripted, unedited, behind-the-microphone look at what drives us, and how our community’s response affects what we do every day!

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

It starts with a simple philosophy -- "Better teaching makes better students, and makes a better future."  Today, a better future for Italy is the mission inspiring Nick Autiello and Andrea Pastorelli, two passionate Italians behind the early success of "Teach For Italy" (TFI).

Built on the model of the highly-effective non-governmental organization "Teach For America," the project is the brainchild of Pastorelli, a young thought leader from Tuscany who brings years of experience working on global issues back to his motherland to focus on the most important issue of all, the future of our young people!

Nick Autiello, an Italian American with roots in Campania, is a member of the board of directors of "Friends of Teach For Italy," an American nonprofit organization created to support this valuable young initiative.

On this week’s episode, they’re joining us to discuss the inner workings of this program that identifies young Italian university graduates to serve a two-year fellowship teaching in Italy’s most underserved primary schools. They couldn’t be rendering a more important service to their nation, as decades of underinvestment and stagnation have brought Italy’s education system into what can only be called a crisis.

We’ll examine this educational crisis in Italy today, look at how its structure differs from the system here in the United States, and what TFI is doing to form not just teachers, but future leaders.  And, we’ll explore how Italian Americans are making a contribution to this effort through the works of Friends of TFI.

Join us for this fascinating look into this most consequential of issues, and then check out the work  Teach For Italy  and Friends of Teach For Italy are doing to address this problem, and perhaps to become a part of the solution yourself!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Ciao Paesani and welcome to an exciting new era for the Italian American Podcast, because we are broadcasting from our brand new Red Sauce Studio in the heart of Little Italy, Manhattan. Join us as we celebrate this exciting new chapter with Pat, Rosella, John, and Dolores reuniting hours before the ribbon cutting ceremony that will officially open the new studio. We share our journey from makeshift setups to this beautiful new space, surrounded by the vibrant life of Little Italy. Our discussion kicks off with the joy of reuniting after time apart and the humorous evolution of our recording locations, from an office space, to a cardboard box, and even zoom land.

Get ready for a heated and passionate debate over the beloved and sometimes controversial red sauce restaurants. We explore the intricacies of Italian American cuisine, from the heavy use of sauce and mozzarella to the frying methods and oil choices that define our favorite dishes. Amidst the lively banter, we also reveal our favorite and least favorite red sauce dishes, and share personal anecdotes that highlight the impact of ingredient quality on traditional recipes.

As we transition from audio to video recordings, we reflect on the evolution and preservation of our Italian American culture. From cookbooks and culinary traditions to the significance of Little Italy and the impact of modern changes, we celebrate nearly a decade of the Italian American Podcast. Plus, enjoy our reflections on Little Italy's history, cultural significance, and the personal anecdotes that make this episode a heartfelt celebration of nearly a decade of the Italian American Podcast. Join us as we express our gratitude to our supportive community and look forward to many more conversations here at Red Sauce Studio!

As our nation gathers to celebrate Veterans Day this week, and all of us pause to say “grazie” to the millions of brave men and women in uniform who have served our country in war and peace, we’d like to turn our attention to remembering the Italian American legacy of our Armed Forces. There’s no better guest to guide us than Colonel Renato “Ron” Bacci (Ret.) of the Italian American Veterans Museum in Chicago.

In this week’s episode, Col. Bacci tells us the story of how this museum was founded in 2006 to encourage and promote the awareness of Italian American involvement in the defense of our nation from the Revolutionary War to the present, and how it now serves as a resource center for scholars, students, and the general public, and most importantly, as a source of comfort and assistance to all those who served, no matter what their ethnicity is!

Col. Bacci also shares stories of the unique items in the museum’s collection… from a massive World War II training bomb to an authentic Medal of Honor given to the museum to honor the 28 proud Italian Americans who have received our nation’s highest military recognition.

He also tells us about growing up in Chicago’s Italian American community and shares memories from his own military experience, from the differences between meals in the Italian and US Armed Forces, to seeking out other Italian Americans in the ranks.

We’re exploring the incredible legacy of Italian American military service, and how serving our nation in uniform can be considered a true “melting pot” for all ethnicities as they unite under one common goal… defending the United States of America.

Join us for this very special celebration of our nation’s veterans, and then make sure to visit the Italian American Veterans Museum by clicking here for a virtual tour!

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

The United States Congress is one of our nation’s most enduring and important institutions, but with partisan politics growing more hostile every day, and Congressional approval ratings trending ever-lower, it often feels as if the Legislative Branch is terminally ill. Perhaps the Italian American Congressional Delegation has the right prescription!

For the 38 Italian American lawmakers who count themselves part of this bicameral and bipartisan fellowship, the opportunity to unite around their shared Italian heritage might just provide the perfect excuse to reach across the aisle and encourage a new, non-partisan spirit in the halls of power in Washington.

We’re joined by the Italian American Congressional Delegation’s co-chairs, Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ) and Republican Congressman Mark Amodei (NV), for conversations around not only the important legislative topics facing the Italian American community today, but also the ways in which the friendships that blossom within their membership end up impacting their work on the Hill.

And, of course, since this is the Italian American Podcast, we end up discussing everything from the importance of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Italy, to how one Congressman almost ended up an honorary member of the Italian Communist Party, and what might just be the the most important Italian American political speech ever given!

This Election Day, join us as we examine this most important of topics, and get to know the human side of two fiercely proud Italian American legislators!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Napoli… the great urban amphitheater spreading out across its picturesque bay.  Anchored by the steaming hulk of Vesuvius and pushed up to the heavens from the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, it's a city so vibrant, so full of history that the quest to tell its story inspired six volumes, eight scholars, 2,322 pages, 758 illustrations, 651 readings, and countless appendices, maps, and indexes.

And for Ron Musto, telling its story has been a 30-year labor of love.  On this week’s episode, Musto, the editor of A Documentary History of Naples, published by Italica Press, joins us to discuss Naples, its history, and the passionate effort behind this unprecedented compendium of Neapolitan history.

First conceived while Musto and co-editor Eileen Gardiner were in residence at the American Academy in Rome in 1994, this series brings together leading scholars to present the first comprehensive collection of primary-source materials, in English translation, on the structures, history, arts, and culture of this Mediterranean capitol, which Musto nicknamed “The Brooklyn of Europe.”

We discover how this series tries to introduce students, researchers, and Italian Americans to one of the most important Italian, European, and world capitals; how it helps dispel long-standing prejudices against the Italian South shared widely not only in the English-speaking world but in Italy itself; and how it brings modern-day attention to a city that is rapidly being rediscovered as one of the world’s most interesting centers of culture, food, music, art, architecture, and new urbanism.

We also reflect on how uncovering the story of Naples shows us the deep roots of so many cultural patterns in language, family tradition, food, and community and how they could bolster a sense of pride and continuing tradition among Italian Americans. And we discuss how this history could teach valuable lessons to the children of Southern Italy by reminding us that they shared so much in common with people of various backgrounds and national origins and with their struggles and achievements.

Join us as we take a trip through the history of Naples in this very special episode!  And, if you’re interested in purchasing one or all of the volumes of A Documentary History of Naples, be sure to visit Italica Press’s website and mention the Italian American Podcast for a special offer!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Imagine a place where you could go and spend the day surrounded by the art and artifacts of the Italian American experience, where you can immerse yourself in our story, and learn new and surprising facts about the history of Italians in America… all free of charge!

Well, if you’re lucky enough to live near or visit Los Angeles, California, this Italian American dream has been a reality since 2015, when the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) opened its doors in the historic Italian Hall of Downtown LA.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of countless Italian Americans, and the leadership of our guest, IAMLA co-founder and executive director Marianna Gatto, the City of Angels is not just home to the nation's fifth-largest Italian American population, but also to one of its finest and foremost museums dedicated to studying and sharing the Italian American experience.

We sit down with Marianna for this special Italian American Heritage Month episode to hear the story of how the IAMLA came to be, what aspects of the Italian American story it seeks to share, and why in just a few short years it has become a destination for hundreds of thousands of Italians and Italian Americans not just from Los Angeles, but from around the world.

We’ll examine what it means to preserve the material culture of Italian America, explore the other Italian American museums working to preserve our history around the nation, and ponder whether future generations might see the birth of a truly national Italian American Museum.

It’s a long overdue return to recording in-person, with a guest who is a true friend. If you know the Italian American Podcast, you know this is going to be an episode filled with interesting conversation, curious tangents, and a whole lot of infectious laughter, so we’re confident it’s one you won’t want to miss!

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Filmmaker Michael Cavalieri doesn’t want to make just another movie.  The passionate and proud Italian American, whose career as an actor spans three decades, decided he had had enough of the stereotypical “Italian tough guy” roles that his sharp looks and New York City upbringing seemed to encourage Hollywood producers to type cast him for.  With a grant from the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum, he decided to make his own film… one that might honor his Sicilian ancestors.

On this week’s episode of the Italian American Podcast, we’ll sit down with Michael to discuss that labor of love, his new short film “Ritornato," which is based on a true story and shot entirely on location in Limina, Sicily, the town where Cavalieri’s grandfather, Agatino, was born.

It's the story of a man who goes back to his roots to fulfill a promise made to his dying mother and, in turn, finds out a family secret that will change his life forever.  In an ode to the Italian neorealist films of the post-war era, and conscious of a budget coming mostly from his own pocket, this first-time producer/director opted to cast only the local people in the village, not actors, to help him realize his vision!

We’ll discuss not only this incredible project, but the conditions that inspired Cavalieri to forgo the normal “Hollywood Route," why many Italian American actors struggle with the stereotypical roles they are often offered, and how, perhaps, our community bears some of the blame!

Michael Cavalieri created a film to “inspire other Italian-American filmmakers to go back and search for their roots and share their own stories”… perhaps this episode will inspire you to see your own stories in a whole new light!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

It’s no surprise to longtime listeners of the Italian American Podcast just how much we love our Southern Italian roots and this week’s guest, Valarie D’Elia, is seeking to bring our ancestral home to people in a tangible, living way.

Valarie is an award-winning multimedia travel journalist and content provider who specializes in both Italy and ancestral travel. In her latest project, “Saving Southern Italy,” which is part of the National Italian American Foundation’s Russo Brothers Film Forum, Valarie turns her directorial eye to the abandoned properties scattered throughout the region.

When the late stages of the pandemic brought her back to Italy in search of a home to buy and renovate, Valarie discovered other expats who were also going through a similar process of rewarding and honoring their roots. Realizing that building a home in Southern Italy is a way of building gratitude, Valarie sought out other Italian Americans seeking concrete ways of honoring their heritage, such as establishing businesses in Italy or even populating an artist-in-residence borgo.

In true Italian American Podcast style, we even veer off into a discussion of the foods of Southern Italy, including a spirited debate about caciocavallo and a foray into the ins-and-outs of the Italian bureaucracy and why overcoming the frustrations is well worth the efforts!

If you’ve ever imagined yourself moving to Italy or starting a business there, you won’t want to miss this episode! Valarie can be contacted via her website, www.travelwithval.com or by using this contact form.

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

This week’s episode of The Italian American Podcast takes listeners on a journey through the Neapolitan Sceneggiata with special guest Dr. Reba Wissner, who is assistant professor of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

Dr. Wissner’s specialty is the Neapolitan Sceneggiata, which is a form of musical drama typical of Naples. Beginning as a form of musical theater after World War I, it was also adapted for cinema; sceneggiata films became especially popular in the 1970s and contributed to the genre becoming more widely known outside Naples.

We talk about this “musical soap opera” and how the Sceneggiataplots revolve around melodramatic themes drawing from the Neapolitan culture and tradition, such as passion, jealousy, betrayal, personal deceit and treachery, honor, vengeance, and life in the world of petty crime. We also discuss the great talents of this genre, including Alfredo Bascetta, Mario Merola, and Gino Merignola.

We also discover how the Sceneggiata became synonymous with artistic expressions of Italian immigrant culture in the United States and how the New York City area was the “hot spot” for this type of theater. We also compare it to other forms of immigrant theater, including Irish, German, and Yiddish, and discuss ways that this form of art can be preserved for years to come.

And we also discuss how this artform made its way into one of the best-known movies of all-time, The Godfather Part II, and how Little Italy’s longest-running store, E. Rossi & Co., played a role in preserving Sceneggiata for future generations.

If you’re looking for a very special way to broaden your Italian American cultural horizons, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode!

Discover More:

“Italian Birds of Passage” by Simona Frasca

“La Tradizione la Sceneggiata” by Mario Merola 

“Mario Merola canta Napoli” by Mario Merola 

“Le ragazze di New York” by Alfredo Bascetta 

“Se n'è fuiuto 'o banchiere” by Alfredo Bascetta

“I ricordi de lu primmo amore” by Gino Meringola

The Godfather Part 2 on Amazon Video

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

If you’ve visited Italy at some point in the last 75 years, and if you arrived in ‘il Bel Paese’ by air, chances are you’ve traveled with Alitalia, which has been the official Italian national airline since 1947.

And, if you’re like co-hosts Rossella, John, and Pat, you’ve got countless memories of returning to the Motherland “Italian Style” aboard this legendary airline.

But, as of October 15, the famed carrier will be no more. After decades of financial difficulties, and numerous near misses on the executioner's block, Alitalia’s world recognized green-white-and-red livery will descend from the skies one last time, and then pass quietly into memory. Sure, it’ll be replaced by a new Italian flag carrier called ITA, but for thousands of Italian American families, Alitalia will always be remembered as the airline that brought them and their ancestors to a new life in the New wWorld, or carried them and their offspring back to the old country in its quintessentially Italian way.

Join us as we raise a toast, and share history, memories, and some surprising facts about this treasured Italian brand, while we look to diagnose exactly why the loss of Alitalia is hitting so close to home. We’re sending Italy’s famed “Flying Arrows” off in style, and you won’t want to miss it!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

If you were set out to tell the stories of every great Italian and Italian American to leave their mark on human history, you could probably speak for a thousand years without even scratching the surface of such an illustrious list.

And for businessman and philanthropist Robert Barbera, that’s exactly the task he has set out for himself.

At 89 years young, this proud Italian American dedicates each day, as he has since his boyhood in Depression-era Brooklyn, New York, to the promotion and promulgation of his Italian heritage.

His immigrant parents taught him the value of hard work and the importance of family.  As a young man, Robert made his first stock investment when he was only four years out of high school in 1954, and he bought his first building in 1961.  Through hard work, dedication, focus, and the support of his family, he now has 500 units and multiple subsidiary companies, making real estate the cornerstone of his success.

He launched The Barbera Foundation in 1994 and has donated his time, expertise, and financial resources to many worthy organizations, including Pepperdine University, Thomas Aquinas College, and the California State University system.  The founder of numerous organizations to promote Italian culture and language, this tireless community leader even purchased and revived L’Italo-Americano, the last surviving Italian newspaper in his adopted home of Los Angeles, California.

But of all of his works, the Mentoris Project best represents Robert’s legacy. A series of novels and biographies about extraordinary Italian and Italian American men and women, Barbera sees the books that form this series as an inspiration to all those who are seekers, trying to find enduring principles to guide them on their own life’s journey, while sharing many untold stories of the countless contributions Italians have made in every field of human history.

As inspired as you will be by the dozens of stories the Mentoris Project has shared with the world, perhaps none will affect you as much as that of  this indefatigable champion of the Italian culture.

For more information, visit www.mentorisproject.org.

This episode was sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Ciao paesani… and Greetings From Italian CALIFORNIA!

This past July, we made our way out West to explore the Italian side of the Golden State, as we set out to film four brand-new episodes of our popular YouTube web series, “Greetings From Italian America."  Joined by our amici from the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), we took a whirlwind trip throughout the West Coast, visiting four Italian American enclaves in just five days!  From the “hip and historic” Little Italy in San Diego, to the America's newest Little Italy of San Pedro, across the vast geographies that make up Los Angeles, and into the heart of one of the oldest and strongest Italian communities in America at San Francisco’s North Beach, we went non-stop to see and experience as much of Italian California as we could!

Although these episodes won’t make their way to video for a little while, we were so excited by the places and paesani we met out West, we decided to get together and recap some of our favorite experiences so we could share a little behind the scenes insight with you!

We’ve got recommendations for our favorite meals and Italian American delicacies, advice on the people you need to know when visiting these vibrant communities, and reflections on our deep dive into a part of Italian America far different than any of us could have expected!

Join us as we digest this incredible Italian American adventure, and keep your eyes peeled for these awesome new videos over the coming months!

To watch past episodes of "Greetings from Italian America," click here for a full playlist!

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

When our Paesani at ‘Growing Up Italian’ invited us to join them in celebrating their two millionth follower on Instagram, little did we know we’d end up in a conversation as enjoyable as the one we had with Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti!  One we enjoyed so much that we decided to share it with you, our loyal listeners, as the last audio-only episode of the Italian American Podcast! 

By the time this episode is released, we will have cut the green-white-and-red ribbon on our brand-new home Red Sauce Studio.  The fully integrated audio and video podcasting studio at the corner of Mulberry and Grand Streets at the heart of Manhattan’s Little Italy is going to allow us to bring you an all-new video version of our show beginning next week, but in the meantime, we hope you’ll enjoy this laugh-filled conversation with one of Italian America’s most talented, and likable, personalities! 

Join us as we sit down with the one-and-only Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti and our friends at ‘Growing Up Italian’ in this unexpected and unplugged episode!

For author Christopher Castellani, the proud son of Italian immigrants, the desire to tell the Italian American story through his writing has been a constant motivation. Yet, despite his abundant talent, irrepressible passion, and keen sense of his ethnic experience in America, upon entering the literary world, Christopher encountered one deep-seated -- and often discouraging -- preconception about Italian Americans: that we are people who don’t read!

So, Christopher set out to dispel that myth with a body of work in which the Italian American experience is a driving force behind his story. The first of his five critically-acclaimed novels, "A Kiss from Maddalena," winner of the Massachusetts Book Award in 2004, was inspired by the story of his Italian immigrant mother. His newest novel, "Leading Men" (for which he received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council) tells the true-life tale of Frank Merlo, partner and soothsayer of playwright Tennessee Williams and an unknown Italian American whose steady presence might just be what helped Williams achieve his greatest fame and literary success. Set to become a major motion picture, this award-winning novel is the result of decades of work by this passionate Italian American.

Join us as we sit down with Christopher Castellani and discuss whether or not Italian Americans really are literary people, and how it is we can provide more opportunities for our story to be told. Of course, since this is the Italian American Podcast, we’ll cover everything from exploring the impact of Elena Ferrante's “Neapolitan Novels” on Italian American culture to debating the merits of the movie “Fatso." Get ready for another wonderful conversation with a brilliant Italian American novelist!

When sitting down with a singer of the caliber of Michéal Castaldo, one would expect the conversation to center around the long list of accomplishments he’s racked up during his celebrated career.  But, in the tradition of Italy’s countless “Renaissance Men," this proud Calabrian proves himself to be much more than just a stellar voice!

In fact, his music isn’t even discussed until the halfway marker of this week’s episode of the Italian American Podcast, as the famed musician first shares many other facets of his incredible story with us.

From his take on Italian wedding traditions, to his experience rebuilding and commercializing his ancient family homestead in Calabria, to his career importing rare olive oils and balsamic vinegars, we are sharing the often-unseen sides of a man known the world over for his incomparable musical gifts!  We’ll discuss the different traditions that took hold in the Italo-Canadian community, discover the secrets of the world’s finest olive oils, and learn how many types of wood go into making the perfect balsamic vinegar barrel!

But, of course, our conversation did bring us back to Michéal's love for music. From discovering it as a child singing in his church choir, to training with renowned musical experts in Italy and North America, to his vast musical body that spans everything from bel canto to classical, jazz, and pop, Michéal shares the passion for storytelling that drives his creative endeavors… and why, in his opinion, the pop hits you love sound even better when sung in the Calabrese language!

In this episode, this much-loved tenor shows that he’s so much more than just his beautiful voice, so if you know Michéal Castaldo the singer, or if you’re meeting him for the very first time, get ready to meet Michéal Castaldo the entrepreneur, the historian, and the man in this fascinating look into the life of one very passionate Italian American!

To learn more about Michéal Castaldo and his works, click here.

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

How is the Italian American experience defined for a person with disabilities? In this week’s episode, we close out the month of July by paying tribute to National Disability Awareness Month with our special guest, Dominique Sessa.

Dominique is a disability advocate and proud Italian American who created “The Girl in the Pink Wheelchair,” which is an advocacy project geared toward helping women and young girls unite, uplift, and support each other as they navigate life with disabilities.

Dominique has been a full-time wheelchair user since she was 17 due to having an unspecified neuromuscular disease-neurological disease of genetic origin. Showing her unstoppable sprit, Dominique says that because her disability is unspecified, it just means she doesn’t know what her personal superpower is yet, as there are people the world over, including babies, with undiagnosed diseases due to genes still being researched.

Determined to help as many people as possible in her own situation, Dominique has brought her platform all the way to Annapolis, Maryland, where she was named Commissioner for the Maryland Commission on Disabilities. She is also the Director of Accessibility and Inclusion for the Water’s Edge Museum in Oxford, Maryland.

When not working on her disability advocacy efforts, Dominique serves the Italian American community at large as the founder of the Facebook group “Old Imagery of Italian Americans, which has more than 2,200 members and grows daily!

Join us as we get to know Dominique in this week’s episode! For more information about her and her work, visit www.thegirlinthepinkwheelchair.com.

This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.