National Podcast Day

In a way, we've been preparing our whole lives for this episode, proudly waving our Italian flags and wearing our oversized Sons of Italy t-shirts, all the while waiting for an opportunity to make sense of our mustaches, our emotional eating, our befuddling last name. On this episode, we discuss it all: the hairgel, pride, and idiosyncacies that make up the ball of tangled capellini that is an Italian-American heritage. We also reconnect with some of the Italian-Americans whose careers in showbiz made our rise to fame as renowned podcasters possible. Asta la pasta! Thanks to all of the Italian-Americans who contributed to this episode: Alyssa Capozziello, Steven Rauzi, Beth Tripi, Sue Capozziello-Horton, Evan Miglorie, Vito Capozziello, Joe Capozziello, Natalia Capozziello, Adria LaMorticella, Toni Blesy, Tony Capozziello, John Santomieri, and Lacee O'Brien. If you have any infomation in the missing person's case of Mario Spumoni, please contact this week's sponsor, VH2's Behind the Magic.

Happy National Podcast Day to one and all! Enjoy this re-release of our award-winning National Podcast Day episode. The You Norker called it "perplexing... from the brain of a 12-year-old who's been fed a steady diet of orphan autobiographies, bubble tea, and John Waters." The National Day Calendar said, "While we know we are the main source for this podcast, it does not represent our opinions or values in any way." And critic Renee Capozziello deemed it, "WEIRD. The whole thing is just WEIRD."

National Podcast Day returns, with hosts bronze and sticky from the summer sun (and definitely not excessive maple syrup consumption). For our 42nd episode, recorded a mere 95 miles from Sandwich, IL, we take on the questions that plague our time: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is a breakfast burrito in a different class than a burrito? Should you feed your newborn breast milk OR coldcuts? We hope you enjoy this episode at least as much as we enjoyed making it, but not as much as Elvis loved peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Buck & Sons Sandwich Mongers.

109 years ago, the RMS Titanic tragically struck an iceburg and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, taking more than 1,500 of its passengers with it. While we can never bring back the many lost, among the detritus recovered was the journal of a very speical 9-year-old First Class Passenger, Teddy Bigglesby, who on last year's episode, Dominic and Nicole had the honor of introducing to the world. For this year's observance of National Titanic Remembrance Day, we bring you one of our most inspired episodes with a BONUS lost journal entry from young Teddy himself.

On April 6th, 2020, we embarked on a life-changing journey: National Podcast Day, a podcast celebrating national days at this uncertain time to be alive. Times remain uncertain but we take solace that we've taken another trip around the sun (moon? cheesemoon?) and National Caramel Corn Day has returned again. Enjoy a brand-new introduction followed by our very first episode, oh, Dom and Nicole, you were so young and innocent and inexperienced at editing.

After a pulse-quickening editing process, the latest National Podcast Day masterpiece is at last out. On the National Heart Month episode you didn't know you were waiting for, Dom and Nicole dive into six classic songs about everyone's favorite muscle (it's the heart!). Enjoy all the love we put into this, instead of Valentine's Day. This episode brought to you by the American Heart Assiocation (North Michigan Chapter).

1 metal kazoo w/ carrying pouch: $8.99. 24 multicolored metal kazoos + shipping to WI: $17.94. Hearing your nephew play Queen's Greatest Hits on his kazoo(s) on National Kazoo Day: priceless. On this episode of National Podcast Day, we're joined by special guest kazooist Brother Simon of the Kazoo Sanctuary, who sheds light on the teachings and lifestyle of followers of The Great Kazoo. If you are interested in joining him at the Sanctuary, they are always looking for disciples with a tune in their heart and property to sign away. Thanks to this episode's sponsor Zurpleberry Kazoo Industries (would love if they could share some of their budget with us).

On this episode of National Podcast Day, we come to you again from WI- truly the center of America's breadbasket, but sadly not its bagel heartland. Here, people of course consume bagels but generally without the passion or emphasis on authenticity that defines true bagel lovers. This material and cultural vacuum has also created a population wandering around with its own pronunciation of the "b-word," which you will come to thoroughly understand throughout this episode, celebrating National Bagel Day. Hope we inspire you to support your local bagel place and/or make your own bagels, as we did TWICE for this episode. Thanks to this week's eager contributors: Emily, Kaelie, Ellen, Alfred, Rachel, Janet, Jenna, Eddie, Lance, Kristie, and Taylor. Thanks also to this week's sponsor, Right Way Bagels (formerly Anything Goes Bagels).

While the end of December is awash with national holidays and celebrations, it severely lacks in national days. So, for our 36th episode of National Podcast Day, recorded on location together in Wisconsin, we had no choice but to celebrate National Tie Month. While others might shy away from an episode dedicated to men's fashion, we went all in: taking all of my dad's ties and laying them out on the bed, carrying them around with us saying we were going to learn to tie them, leaving them strewn around the house (and almost at Grandma's house), attempting to learn to actually tie them, and then, returning to our strengths, writing our own song, "Ain't No Neckties." WARNING: this episode contains numerous mispronunciations of the word "cravat." Thanks to this week's sponsor, Sillysworth’s Magical NeckTie Factory.

National Podcast Day returns with a celebration of marmosts, titis, langurs, macaques, mandrakes, tamarins, and monkeys of all kinds for International Monkey Day. Special guest Erin, animal lover and primatologist, charms and educates with her wellspring of primate passion, stories, and knowledge, despite one host's claim of "not liking monkeys." The podcast is particularly grateful to have secured this special guest, who disclosed that this is NOT her first podcast appearance; apparently she has been on a lesser known show called "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" two times. Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Master Course.

There are things in life that are inevitable: oven burns, occasionally being pooped on by a bird, JoAnn Fabrics coupons in the mail. Add to this list celebrating World Toilet Day on your educational/comedy podcast. Not since the Titanic Remembrance Day episode have we felt more like mere vehicles of a greater force working through us, guiding our every decision, joke, and flush. This National Podcast Day episode serves as a humble reminder that in these uncertain times, poop is a sure bet, and there are always toilets to be grateful for. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode: Alfred, Julia, Elle & Sean, Chris, Natalia & Paul, Erin, Kristie & Ian, Soren, Alden, Ellen, Kaelie, Gwen & Megan, Lance, and David.

Buongiorno! And-a happy-a National Calzone Day! Special guests Vincenzo and Maria join us from their cucina for the long-awaited 33rd episode of National Podcast Day, a podcast celebrating national days at an (increasingly) uncertain time to be alive. Questions abound on this episode, including, is it a calzone or panzerotti? Are calzones for sharing? Who was the unnamed busboy who brought about the Great Calzone Incident of 1997? And will Vincenzo and Maria ever be allowed on the program again? Thanks to this episode's sponsor Calzones Xtreme.

For World Post Day, Nicole and Dominic receive arguably the greatest gift of all: mail! It's an exciting mail day, with packages varying from delightful to truly unsettling, all thoughtfully sent by mail-lover, podcast mentor, and talented artist Alden, host of a highly recommended mail-centric YouTube series called Zero Bids. This episode is dedicated to the United States Postal Service, one of our country's greatest institutions and ranked as the best postal service in the world (ahead of Japan!).

"On National Podcast Day's much-anticipated National Podcast Day episode (also known as Self-titled), all-star podcasting pair Dominic and Nicole Capozziello take their project to new heights. While they've demonstrated their wide range of talent, knowledge, and volume over their 30 previous episodes, THE National Podcast Day installment shows that they can go not just to roadside attractions around Wisconsin and questionable websites but the scariest destination of all: inward. And the pay-off is big, illuminating why they're winning hearts and topping charts - AND the inspiration for First Lady Michelle Obama joining the world of podcasting." -You Norker Review, September 2020

Ahoy, mateys and batten down the hatches for another episode of National Podcast Day! On this (very belated) episode, Dominic and Nicole interview seadog Scurvy Steve, on break from Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Hear about Steve's childhood at sea and his current adventures on land as a pirate-bowler and a member of the Actors' Equity Association. Hope you're inspired to talk like a pirate and find yer booty, me hearties! Our deepest thanks to Scurvy Steve, who may or may not be a real pirate, but definitely has scurvy.

A love of honey and honey-related puns does not a bee expert make . . . is not something that we would ever admit, and we're stung by the accusation. On this episode of National Podcast Day, we celebrate September with National Honey Month. We share honey facts and revelations about evolution while one of us consumes honey and the other merely gets their head caught in a honey jar.

Waffles, coming in at slot #1 on Nicole's favorite breakfast foods and #3 for Dominic, have always been a staple in the Capozziello household, which takes all meals very seriously. On this episode of National Podcast Day, we make and serve waffles for the family, and forgo a trip to Belgium, opting instead for a virtual trip to Waffle House, its jukebox, and its diasaster preparation plan. Now break out that waffle iron and make some waffles!

You know how most mothers have totally average-sized babies, coming in around the 7 lb 5 oz mark? And then, down the line, they're taken by surprise when they give birth to an 11 lb child? The National Tell-a-Joke Day episode is like that- maybe a little too developed, and definitely bigger than we could have anticipated- but we love it just the same (really!). We are honored to have Rick Dugby, the Knock Knock King himself, come on to nurture the creativity of aspiring comedian Dominic. Thanks to Alden Eagle, Erin Keaton, and David Feaman for their contributions to this episode and Grandpa Vito for his dark comedic influence.

National Middle Child Day comes but once a year, if anyone bothers to remember it. On this episode of National Podcast Day, youth psychologist Dominic gets out his clipboard and clip-on tie to evaluate two actual middle children for the threatening condition Middle Child Syndrome. Thanks to special guests, middle children Alyssa Capozziello and Sophie Schmidt.

This episode took us to the shores of Lake Michigan, returned us to a childhood fave (the Pete's Dragon soundtrack), and led us deep into the genre of lighthouse keepers' poetry. Turns out Wind Point Lighthouse is prettttty windy for on-location recording so this one really flexed our editing muscles. Hope you enjoy and have a chance to visit a lighthouse, wherever you may be (hopefully not living in a lighthouse)!

We are watermelon-pink in the cheeks that this episode of National Podcast Day is coming so late- please accept our sincere apologies. We hope you celebrated National Watermelon Day with a perfectly ripe $5 watermelon and those nearest and dearest to you. Dominic and Nicole held the first Capozziello family seed-spitting competition, on location in our driveway in Janesville, Wisconsin. Competiton was high, symptoms of adult ADD were higher.

On this episode of National Podcast Day, Nicole makes a surprise trip to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, New York, where she takes a carousel ride, patronizes the gift shop, and shows enough curiosity for both hosts. Dom contributes by proclaiming that taping a straw on a horse does a unicorn make.

We each contain multitudes and July contains... National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day (the 1st), National Peach Ice Cream Day (the 17th), National Ice Cream Day (the 19th), and National Vanilla Ice Cream Day (the 23rd). Rather than pick a team, we chose to cover National Ice Cream Month, which conveniently is also July. While we don't go to any of Wisconsin's ice cream shops or ride in an ice cream truck, on this episode, we do take a virtual trip to Two Rivers, Wisconsin (population: 11,702, area: 6.5 sq. miles, pride: off the charts) AND hear about Dominic's homemade ice cream making "process."

In celebration of World UFO Day, we bring on ufologist and abductee survivor Dougie Coogan (name changed for identity protection purposes). Nicole and Dominic hear from Dougie about his first UFO encounter as just a youth, and the daily lifestyle of a ufologist. Sadly, Dougie has not been seen since his appearance on the podcast; if you have any information, contact the Western New York chapter of A.S.S. (Abduction Survivor Society) immediately.

The legend of Paul Bunyan looms large around the Midwest, in the literal form of roadside attractions and the more pervasive effects of eating at his namesake Cook Shanty in the Wisconsin Dells. In this episode (our 20th!), we discuss just a small selection of the bizarre Paul Bunyan art out in the world, read a tall tale, and somehow avoid giving those annoying modern-day lumberjacks even an ounce of the attention they so seek.

If you're like 82% of dogs, 100% of the residents of Duluth, or 33.33% of the Capozziello daughters, storms rank among your greatest fears. On this episode of National Podcast Day, hosts Nicole and Dominic welcome special guest Natalia, enneagram 6 and avowed storm-fearer, to process her anxieties and their roots, and talk about lightning safety awareness. We're entering peak lightning danger time-we'd tell you all to be safe if safety was more than a comforting illusion.

This week, Dominic learns all about etiquette, starting with the word 'etiquette.' And the more he learned, the more he asked "Why?," about everything from wearing white after (or is it before?) Labor Day to placing one's teaspoon in front of one's teacup on the saucer. His co-host did not have usually have a good answer and also generally believes it to be bad etiquette to lie to children. Etiquette National Podast Day believes in: not eating cookies in front of someone without offering them one, not wearing larger eyeglasses than the host, not ever insulting someone's podcast.

When you come from America's Dairyland, cheese is in your bloodstream- often medically speaking. So, how could we pay tribute to this unparalleled creation (that we also happen to be absurdly knowledgeable on) in only 10 minutes?! Well, we gave up on doing it in 10 and aimed for under 12. We also spent a lot of time crowdsourcing ideas for "Cheese Alterego Names" only to remember to use them just once on the actual show. In observance of National Cheese Day, join your hosts Baby Swiss and Lil' Chedda for an extra sharp cheese tasting and a heartfelt dedication to their home state of Wisconsin, which, though often disappointing politically, is ever-cheese-filled.

This episode, for National Paper Airplane Day, marks the first one recorded with your podcast hosts not together. While we are more spiritually connected than ever before, the actual technological connection proved to be a challenge. But we didn't let that stop us from engaging in a cut-throat paper airplane competition from 700 miles away, or inventing a highly usable, needed pneumonic device. You're welcome.

Sorry for the long wait, dedicted listeners! Did we spend the extra time singing Dean Martin? Long-caramelizing onions? Going on a pizza party bender? You decide! Hope you enjoy the National Pizza Party Day episode as much as we did making it.

In part, bringing a special guest on a show can help the host or hosts look cool. This certainly isn't what happens on this episode, in which Dom bears witness to Nicole's friend, the dangerously witty Alden, airing her dirty laundry. Gather 'round for the famous Lost Sock Story of 2013 and light a few dozen candles for National Lost Sock Memorial Day.

Teacher Appreciation is every day in our household but nationally gets this one measly week. On this episode, we chat with special guests Mr. C and Mrs. C, teachers in the Beloit School District, about what motivates them to keep doing God's work. Students and fellow teachers beware.

Six minutes: it's a fraction of the time Harry Potter spent in a closet under the stairs, nothing compared to the 12 years Sirius Black was locked away in Azkaban, certainly not sufficient time to take an Occlumency exam, not even enough time to really enjoy a glass of butterbeer. And yet we attempt to make a six-minute episode on the greatest series of our generation. The making if this episode contained many ideas, lots of outtakes, and not an insignificant number of consumed chocolate frogs. Happy International Harry Potter Day!

We cashed in some favors and booked superhero Incredi-Man as a special guest for our National Superhero Day episode. From humble beginnings on a farm to being a guest on the foremost aunt-nephew collabortive comedy education podcast of our era, Incredi-Man has really done it all. Recipe for Incredi-Man's Bologna Rosettes coming soon.

For National Audubon Day, we master hyper-realistic bird calls, hear Nicole's favorite bird memories, and head out on a couple of family bird watching outings to complete our Bird Bingo sheets. Thank God this is one of multiple annual bird days.

We know what makes really good radio: hearing people smell things. On this episode of National Podcast Day, we celebrate National Sense of Smell Day and all that our sniffers (honkers, schnozzes, secondary face holes) are capable of, which as humans is about 1/5 as much as the African Elephant. But who's keeping track?

Late April hardly seems like the ideal time to picnic but that won't stop us. For National Picnic Day, we head into the unknown: Janesville, Wisconsin's Park Place, to daringly read plaques, eat snacks, and review picnicking conditions at five parks. Excuse all the munching while we do this serious work.

For Record Store Day, we pay homage to record stores and music with special guest Papa (Nicole's dad, Dominic's grandfather), the man that sherpherded us to many a concert and gave us our love of music. Despite our guest receiving the questions ahead of time, we still all managed to be surprised. Take a trip down memory lane, as we dig out Papa's old vinyls, discover where to find the most "kickbutt" barbeque beef the Chicago area had to offer in 1978, and deepdive into the drama behind the lyrics of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Oh, and please support a record store!

We cashed in some favors and booked superhero Incredi-Man as a special guest for our National Superhero Day episode. From humble beginnings on a farm to being a guest on the foremost aunt-nephew collabortive comedy education podcast of our era, Incredi-Man has really done it all. Recipe for Incredi-Man's Bologna Rosettes coming soon.

For National Audubon Day, we master hyper-realistic bird calls, hear Nicole's favorite bird memories, and head out on a couple of family bird watching outings to complete our Bird Bingo sheets. Thank God this is one of multiple annual bird days.

We know what makes really good radio: hearing people smell things. On this episode of National Podcast Day, we celebrate National Sense of Smell Day and all that our sniffers (honkers, schnozzes, secondary face holes) are capable of, which as humans is about 1/5 as much as the African Elephant. But who's keeping track?

Late April hardly seems like the ideal time to picnic but that won't stop us. For National Picnic Day, we head into the unknown: Janesville, Wisconsin's Park Place, to daringly read plaques, eat snacks, and review picnicking conditions at five parks. Excuse all the munching while we do this serious work.

For Record Store Day, we pay homage to record stores and music with special guest Papa (Nicole's dad, Dominic's grandfather), the man that sherpherded us to many a concert and gave us our love of music. Despite our guest receiving the questions ahead of time, we still all managed to be surprised. Take a trip down memory lane, as we dig out Papa's old vinyls, discover where to find the most "kickbutt" barbeque beef the Chicago area had to offer in 1978, and deepdive into the drama behind the lyrics of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Oh, and please support a record store!

There comes a certain point in any creative endeavor where you wonder if you've gone too far. Ours came one and a half hours into a dramatic visual reenactment of the sinking of the Titanic in our bathtub. And then, we thought, perhaps we hadn't gone far enough. We pretty much started this podcast so we could celebrate this day. With more history and compelling storytelling than a Ken Berns documentary and more drama than the James Cameron film, we bring you our swansong, the National Titanic Remembrance Day episode.

There comes a certain point in any creative endeavor where you wonder if you've gone too far. Ours came one and a half hours into a dramatic visual reenactment of the sinking of the Titanic in our bathtub. And then, we thought, perhaps we hadn't gone far enough. We pretty much started this podcast so we could celebrate this day. With more history and compelling storytelling than a Ken Berns documentary and more drama than the James Cameron film, we bring you our swansong, the National Titanic Remembrance Day episode.

4/12 apparently equals National For Twelves Day...? On this episode of National Podcast Day, we celebrate the ubiquitous and mystical number 12, while somehow failing to mention both the Twelve Disciples and a dozen bagels. Which is probably for the best as the "b-word" is Nicole's great Midwestern accent trigger word.

For National Siblings Day, only child Dominic interviews sisters Nicole and Alyssa about the essentials of siblinghood: favorite childhood games, family vacations throught the great American south, and memories of sibling-related PTSD. We finished the episode without any hairpulling. Dedicated to youngest sister, Natalia, who is in California. 

4/12 apparently equals National For Twelves Day...? On this episode of National Podcast Day, we celebrate the ubiquitous and mystical number 12, while somehow failing to mention both the Twelve Disciples and a dozen bagels. Which is probably for the best as the "b-word" is Nicole's great Midwestern accent trigger word.

For National Siblings Day, only child Dominic interviews sisters Nicole and Alyssa about the essentials of siblinghood: favorite childhood games, family vacations throught the great American south, and memories of sibling-related PTSD. We finished the episode without any hairpulling. Dedicated to youngest sister, Natalia, who is in California.

This episode, we celebrate National Cherish an Antique Day with very special guest, Renee (my mom, Dominic's Mimi). You never know what version of Renee you're going to get, and we got the second grade teacher model. Forgive any volume level issues- next time Renee will be placed across the street. 

This episode, we celebrate National Cherish an Antique Day with very special guest, Renee (my mom, Dominic's Mimi). You never know what version of Renee you're going to get, and we got the second grade teacher model. Forgive any volume level issues- next time Renee will be placed across the street.