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Happy Italian American Heritage Month! In honor of that, I wanted to reair an incredible episode with my friend and Italian sister, December Rose aka Rosie! This episode is for anyone trying to heal generational trauma, find their voice and embrace the best parts of their roots. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me during my maternity leave. LOVE YOU! On The Guest: Today's guest is December Rose aka Rosie. She's a singer/songwriter, Italian culture content creator, vocal coach, and founder of December Rose Studios. Some of Rosie's career highlights include studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music, winning a New Artist Spotlight award from Blastro.com and getting awarded New Music Weekly's Top 40 Artist of the Year on the same ballot as Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes. I love how open Rosie is about everything: From how hard it is to stick with it as an artist when you don't feel successful, to calling out and putting a stop to unhealthy family dynamics…Rosie's just a really brave person and someone I am excited to share with you. From this conversation you'll learn:Why there are many ways to “make it” as a musicianHow to approach your artistry as a businessHow to reparent yourself and heal your inner childHow to write about your familyHow to TRULY have faithThe benefits in walking through open doorsAdvice for building self-love and self-trust
Elizabeth Wellington Rollins joins Zibby Owens to discuss her debut novel and Book of the Month Club Pick The Three Graces of Pearl Street, the story of an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter who must all live together again after years apart and what that collision stirs up. Elizabeth talks about the little threads of home she wove into this story, her inspiration from the Roman myth of the three graces, the story's intentional conversation with The Godfather, and distilling the big energy of her grandmother and great-aunts into her character Graziella. Elizabeth also shares about growing up in Westchester, her career journey from tech copywriter and travel writer to fiction writing, the impact of having gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter, and how living in a small Vermont town gives her the mental space to write. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethwellingtonrollins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are staying in Pompeii this week as we look at what may be the last offering left before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. And new studies also show that the eruption wasn't the only thing going on!But while reports have always stated the eruption occurred on August 24, 79, is that true? Well, a charcoal finding may change that!For this, I'm bringing in the help of a professional, Dr. Caitie Barrett, an archaeologist whose focus highlights the everyday lives of people and the cross-cultural exchange between Egypt and the larger Greco-Roman world. She currently serves as co-director of the Casa della Regina Carolina (CRC) Project, a joint Italian/American excavation project at the site of Pompeii. As a National Geographic Explorer, she hopes to capture the profound human aspects of Pompeii before the eruption, as seen in National Geographic's series Pompeii: Out of Time, streaming now. For more from Dr. Barrett, follow her on Instagram: @caitie_barrettCheck out her National Geographic Explorer page: https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/caitie-barrettFor more on her project she is co-directing: https://blogs.cornell.edu/crcpompeii/See her in action now on Pompeii: Out of Time, streaming now.-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
It's a little wild that we made it over 200 episodes without Chef Tony Mantuano on the podcast. The longtime chef and true legend behind Spiaggia and a partner in The Purple Pig, Tony has helped shape Chicago dining for more than four decades, mentoring an extraordinary generation of chefs along the way, including a handful of past Joiners guests. We talk about growing up in an Italian-American family in Kenosha, leaving music behind for the kitchen, the formative year Tony and his wife Cathy spent working throughout Italy before opening Spiaggia, and how that restaurant became both a Chicago institution and an incubator for talent. We also get into The Purple Pig's new Oak Brook chapter, building a culture people want to stay in, the Calabrian restaurant Tony still has in him -- and so much more.
Andre Archimbaud spent his life carrying three passports worth of heritage: a French surname, an Italian-American upbringing, and, buried a generation or two back, an Irish line he didn't know existed until a chance conversation set him straight. This episode, recorded at Ryan's Daughter on the Upper East Side, traces how Archimbaud built an identity by choice rather than inheritance.It started years earlier at a bar in Washington Heights, where a stranger, several drinks in, turned to him and said, "You are what your mother is," invoking a mitochondrial logic Archimbaud had never considered. Two weeks of digging into his maternal line turned up a great-grandfather from Sligo and a great-great-grandmother born in Dublin. From there, U2, a 1997 road trip through Killarney, and a growing engagement with Irish radio and Irish Twitter did the rest.Archimbaud's other education came from his father, a man who rose from a cramped East Orange apartment to sit on the US Olympic Committee, and who taught his son to network simply by being watched. "It imprinted in me the sort of how to do this," Archimbaud says, a skill that now underwrites Clearly Now Media, the digital agency he launched after nearly two decades in paid search and social advertising.Even the agency's name has an Irish thread: a Hothouse Flowers cover of "I Can See Clearly Now," framed on his living room wall, that his girlfriend pointed to when he needed a name.Archimbaud closes on a quieter note: two days alone on Inchydoney Beach in West Cork, sun and rain and a double rainbow, that stayed with him through a season of change.LINKSANDRE ARCHIMBAUDClearly Now Media LinkedInPodcastBlogIRISH STEW LINKSWebsite Home PageFacebookInstagramLinkedInMedia Partner: IrishCentralRYAN'S DAUGHTERWebsiteEpisode Details: Season 8, Episode 25; Total Episode Count: 166Send us Fan Mail
Columbus Day is a celebrated holiday for Italian Americans. But many do not know the story behind the holiday and why it was created. We cannot compare the struggle of Italian-Americans with the struggle of black Americans, but we can say that a black American today is far better off than an Italian immigrant in the late 19th century. But America is not a story of grievances, it is the story of a unique Republic, built o the idea and ideals of liberty. It is that ideal that I embrace, despite the actions of individuals and even local governments throughout our nation.The largest lynching in US history was of 11 Italian in 1891. The Tuskegee Institute reveal that about 27% of all lynchings in the US between 1882-1968 were of "white" people. Between 1890 and 1910 about 40% of all lynchings were of Italian-Americans. Italians made up about 4% of the population at that time. In many government statistical categories, Italians from southern Italy as well as Sicilians were not considered "white." They had their own category ("Italian, Southern").When Columbus Day was displaced in many places across the nation to make room for newer holidays, a part of history was lost. But I am a proud American who has embraced the idea that is America. As Ronald Reagan noted (quoting President Lincoln), America is 'the last, best hope of Earth.'If the powers within our borders that hate our Founding, our system, and our ideals succeed to destroy this nation, the world will enter a dark age it cannot imagine. There is reason the whole world is trying to come here by an means possible, and it's not because they've left homeland's Nirvana to try and make us better. Sources:Tuskegee InstituteLibrary of CongressBarbara Jackson, Jessica. "Before the Lynching: Reconsidering the Experience of Italians and Sicilians in Louisiana, 1870s-1890s"Opinion | How Italians Became 'White'". The New York Times. October 12, 2019DeLucia, Christine (2003). "Getting the Story Straight: Press Coverage of Italian-American Lynchings from 1856–1910"All sources listed with corresponding statements/facts in the video version (available at YouTube, Rumble and Bitchute).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/brooklyn-s-dad-talks-about-the-bible--4330982/support.
Gugs Mhlungu is joined by Dr Anna Trapido, Food Anthropologist, recent outing to My Cousin Vinnie. They unpack the restaurant’s playful menu, which names dishes after Italian-American celebrities, while exploring the missed opportunity to lean more heavily into its Sicilian inspiration and the iconic Sicilian dishes they wish had made it onto the menu. Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu. Listen live on Primedia+ on Saturdays and Sundays from 06:00 and 10:00 (SA Time) to Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/u3Sf7Zy or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/BIXS7AL Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us Fan MailHow does an Italian American raised on Sunday spaghetti become a Farsi-speaking food blogger in Dubai?David Marino, known online as David Shekamoo, talks about his father's Sunday lunches, volunteering with refugees in Greece, meeting his wife and learning Farsi. He also shares what working at Chick-fil-A and experiencing Persian hospitality taught him about welcoming people.David and Chef JKP discuss the spaghetti video that helped him go viral, exploring Persian food beyond kebabs, and building a community through Food Guys of Dubai. He also shares his advice on honest food reviews and staying consistent as a creator.WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE✔️ Italian American Sunday lunches and his father's influence✔️ How volunteering with refugees in Greece changed his outlook✔️ What Chick-fil-A taught him about hospitality✔️ Marrying into a Persian family and learning Farsi✔️ The spaghetti video that helped David Shekamoo go viral✔️ Exploring Persian cuisine beyond kebabs✔️ Bringing people together through Food Guys of Dubai✔️ Honest food reviews and consistency as a creatorCHAPTERS00:00 David Marino on Persian Food, Family and Connecting Cultures20:22 Volunteering in Greece and Discovering New Food Cultures35:47 What Chick-fil-A Taught Him About Hospitality41:09 Marrying Into a Persian Family and Learning Farsi01:01:04 Starting David Shekamoo and Going Viral01:10:48 The Problem With Instagrammable Food01:16:00 Building a Community Through Food Guys of Dubai01:38:58 Authenticity, Consistency and Advice for New Food BloggersFEATURED GUESTDavid MarinoFood Blogger, David Shekamoo & Food Guys of DubaiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidshekamoo/Food Guys of Dubai: https://www.instagram.com/foodguysofdubai/SEASON 13 PARTNERThis season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle East: https://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/AUDIO PARTNERRØDE: https://rode.com/SUPPORT THE SHOWChef JKP Thermos Flask: https://chefjkp.com/product/jkp-thermos-flask/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjkp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjkpWebsite: https://chefjkp.com/Food is Memories™️
Councilwoman Joann Ariola, representing District 32 in Queens, joins the morning show to talk about an invitation for Mayor Zohran Mamdani to march in Manhattan's annual Columbus Day Parade sparking sharp backlash from Italian-American leaders and community figures.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sid-friends-in-the-morning--7177409/support.
This week on The Chazz Palminteri Show, I sit down with Anthony Laurino from Phil's Pizza in Syosset, Long Island. Anthony has built a huge social media following by turning everyday restaurant experiences into hilarious viral videos. We talk about how Phil's Pizza got its name, Anthony's nearly 30 years in the pizza business, his viral videos, Dave Portnoy's 7.5 pizza review, and the support that helped his business survive COVID. Anthony also talks about entrepreneurship, helping other Italian-American businesses, Long Island Pizza Strong, his family, and his dream of using his platform to make a positive impact on people's lives. It's a funny and honest conversation about taking chances, following your instincts, building a business, and never being afraid to be yourself.
"Stretta la soglia e larga la via, dite la vostra ché ho detto la mia. . .” (Narrow the threshold and broad the way. Now you tell your tale, for I have told you mine)"- Gina M. Miele, Italian Folklore, Chapter 1 - What is Italian Folk Tradition?Welcome to Episode #151:Today we gather to share a conversation about keeping the traditions of ancient Italy alive. Dr Gina M. Miele, Professor of Italian studies at Montclair State University in the US is here to talk about her beautiful book Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations, and Ancient Traditions.Gina is a treasure trove of information and lived experience. Her book Italian Folklore is the perfect companion, providing us a synthesis of the history, the knowledge, the traditions, the secrets and yet celebrating the sacred and the daily, while honouring the folkloric traditions, the oral wisdom, the past, the ancestry and the spirit of the old ways in Italy. Gina is a wonderful story teller, she holds space for the old and the new and shares a way to walk the path between the mystical and the mundane in Italian culture; that many ways, many layers can co-exist, be honoured and celebrated.As a lover of books, the beauty of this work and the illustration is also an invitation. The design is by Italian artist and designer Sylvia Virgillo is another special layer to this book, you will want to hold this work in your hands and open to a page to see for yourself. Italian Folklore is on preorder and released on the 29th September and I thought I would publish this share on the Feast Day of Saint Gennaro of Naples, and there is a reason for that you will get to know at the end of our conversation, a little of that Italian magic is afoot.Enjoy this conversation and thank you Gina for sharing your work with us.About the Author:Dr. Gina Miele is a Professor of Italian at Montclair State University, where she also served as the founding director of the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America. She holds a PhD in Romance languages and Literatures from Harvard University.For many years, she has traveled throughout Italy and Italian - American communities, documenting living folklore traditions and the stories that continue to be shared across generations. The Book - Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations and Ancient Traditions by Gina M. Miele PhD*Visit Gina on Instagram @profgmmShownotes A Writer in Italy InstagramSubstack - At My TableMichelle's BooksMusical Scores by Richard JohnstonA Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way. Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast' to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.© 2026 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and lifeMusic Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026A Writer in Italy Podcast respectfully acknowledges that this work is created on the country of the Ngambri peoples and culture, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.A White Chalk ProductionSupport the show
Jo Reed talks with contributor Alan Minskoff about three memoirs shaped by home and the complicated question of where we belong. In All That's Unseen, Emilee Hackney narrates the story of her journey from an insular Pentecostal community in Southwest Virginia to Harvard University, with an Appalachian accent that keeps her connection to home unmistakably present, even as her world expands. Vincent Coppola's Gowanus Crossing, narrated by Paul Bellantoni, takes listeners to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Coppola's childhood, capturing its Italian American families, Catholic schools, street life, and the rough world surrounding the Gowanus Canal. Earphones Award winner Bellantoni particularly shines when he takes on the voices and rhythms of the neighborhood. And in Scavenging Beauty, Angelica Glass narrates her account of walking nearly 2,900 miles through Santa Cruz County, using the landscape and the act of walking to look back at a difficult childhood. Three lives become stories about the places that form us—and how we carry those places with us as we move on. Audiobooks Discussed: All That's Unseen, written and narrated by Emilee Hackney (Penguin Audio) Gowanus Crossing: A Brooklyn Boyhood by Vincent Coppola, read by Paul Bellantoni (Macmillan Audio) Scavenging Beauty, written and read by Angelica Glass (Penguin Audio) Support for Kirkus' Behind the Mic comes from Harper Audio, producer of audiobooks by HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Savannah Guthrie, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
She healed stage 3 Lyme disease with a cutting board and a laptop. Here's how.Amy Riolo is an award-winning chef, culinary anthropologist, and best-selling author of 26 books named Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy and called “The Ambassador of Italian Cuisine in the US.” But before any of that, she was legally disabled for three years, battling stage 3 Lyme disease with 42 medical symptoms and temporary paralysis. A therapist's question (not “if” but “when you survive this, what will you do?”) sent her back to the only two things she still loved: cooking and writing. Within a year, she'd healed completely.In this conversation, Amy and I talk about:* Growing up in an Italian-American household where food, family, and the garden were the whole world* Why a trip to her grandparents' hometown in Calabria upended everything she thought she knew about health and genetics* The health crisis that led her to heal herself through cooking and writing — and the promise she made if she survived it* Amy Riolo Selections, her line of imported Italian ingredients — a Calabrian olive oil, a Sofi Gold Award–winning pesto, a white balsamic, and a rare heirloom-wheat pasta* The one Mediterranean habit she believes could do more for American wellbeing than almost anything else: communal eatingFollow Amy Riolo:X & LinkedIn: @amyrioloInstagram: @aasrioloFacebook: @amyrioloofficialYouTube: @amyrioloPinterest: @amyrioloWhy Italians Live Well is a conversation series exploring the habits, culture, and mindset behind Italian wellbeing — from the passeggiata to the long lunch to the art of doing less, better.
In Episode 294 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I sit down with William DeMeo and his son Christian DeMeo for a conversation about Brooklyn, family, acting, filmmaking and the continued success of Gravesend. William talks about Season 3 of Gravesend, the incredible cast joining the series, growing up in Gravesend and Bensonhurst, and his mission to preserve the Brooklyn culture and memories that inspired the show. Christian discusses growing up around filmmaking, his role in Gravesend, working with legendary actors like Dominic Chianese, and creating his own first feature film, The Brotherhood. We also talk about independent filmmaking, fatherhood, persistence, faith, confidence, dealing with negativity and the importance of following your dream even when the odds are against you. A great conversation about family, Brooklyn, Hollywood, Italian-American culture and never giving up. In Episode 294 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I sit down with William DeMeo and his son Christian DeMeo for a conversation about Brooklyn, family, acting, filmmaking and the continued success of Gravesend. William talks about Season 3 of Gravesend, the incredible cast joining the series, growing up in Gravesend and Bensonhurst, and his mission to preserve the Brooklyn culture and memories that inspired the show. Christian discusses growing up around filmmaking, his role in Gravesend, working with legendary actors like Dominic Chianese, and creating his own first feature film, The Brotherhood. We also talk about independent filmmaking, fatherhood, persistence, faith, confidence, dealing with negativity and the importance of following your dream even when the odds are against you. A great conversation about family, Brooklyn, Hollywood, Italian-American culture and never giving up.
Brea and Mallory name their most anticipated books of September! Plus, they interview Mike Chen about his debut YA novel! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreThe Reading Glasses Book!Sponsor - ZocDocwww.zocdoc.com/GLASSESLinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupWish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership! Join us here!Mike ChenOf Sorcery and ScienceBooks Mentioned -The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. HackwithMurder Bimbo by Rebecca NovakHow the Story Always Ends by Wendy HeardSomeone Else's Daughter by Andrea Stewart SEPTEMBERThe Knave and the Moon by Rachel GilligRomantasy, sequel to The Knight and the MothExit Party by Emily St. John MandelLiterary sci fi, dystopian, time travelTrust Fall by Lynn PainterYA romance, contemporary, autumn, rom com, enemies to loversThe Witches of Cambridge by Alice HoffmanHistorical fantasy, witches, dark academia, 1950s BostonThe Wretched Divine by Adalyn GraceRomantasy, lady knight, demons, high fantasyTempest by Victoria AveyardHistorical romantasy, pirates, adventures, pirate queenMurder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy FoleyMystery in the Agatha Christie universe, cozy, Swiss AlpsGrim Tidings by B.K. BorisonParanormal romance, angel and reaper, enemies to lovers, grumpy/grumpyDead Beat by Leigh BardugoThird in Ninth House trilogyThreshing Day by Rebecca YarrosShort stories in the Empyrean universeTaipei Story by R.F. KuangLiterary fantasy, coming of age, summer, romance, TaipeiMorfran, Dark Lord Reformed by S.B. WestHigh fantasy, funny, romantasy, rebellion, found familyThe Pirate Queen by Ariel LawhonHistorical fiction, pirates, fantasy, Ireland, 16th centuryWe Chase Shadows by Richard OsmanMystery, sequel to We Solve MurdersBodies of Magic by Freya MarskeFantasy, dark academia, Grey's Anatomy meets A Deadly Education, queerSometimes I Scare Myself by Jeneva RoseHorror short storiesThe True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha PhilyawLiterary, wife of a megachurch pastor's secret comes to lightFree Falling by Lyla SageParanormal romance, haunted small town, fake relationshipHawk and Sparrow by Ayana GrayYA romantasy, mystery, magic, Gilded Age, historicalScion by James IslingtonSci fi thriller, cyberpunk, John Wick meets Blade RunnerIt's Not What You Think by Clare MackintoshThriller, woman attempting to catch cheating husband finds him deadKiss Slay Replay by Rachel HarrisonHorror, time loop, serial killer, romanceUnder Story by Chloe BenjaminSci fi, romance, time travel, Antarctica, near futureA Time of Witches by Madeline MartinHistorical fantasy, witches, parallel timelinesAmerican Hagwon by Min Jin LeeHistorical fiction, family epic, Seoul, Sydney, CaliforniaReign by Bethan CroomeRomantasy, found family, forbidden love, magic, adventureMazywood by Tananarive DueHistorical horror, female rage, Black Hollywood, filmmaking, California mountainsThe Black Orchid by Loreth Anne WhiteThriller, murder on a cruise through Aegean SeaSophie, Standing There by Meg MasonLiterary fiction, mental health, books about books, lonelinessCursed City by Kate GoldenHarker Academy #2, romantasy, dark academiaBig Bad Wolf by Laurie GilmoreParanormal romance, small town, Little Red Riding Hood retellingBuried in the Woods Below by Daniel G. MillerThriller, psychological suspense, isolated setting, secrets, MinnesotaNightjars by Michael WehuntHorror, Memento meets Dracula, man caught for crimes he doesn't rememberThe Commons by Rebecca IhimNew Adult romantasy, dystopian dark academiaSwitzy by Emma ClineLiterary fiction, aging man's last pilgrimagePaper Ghosts by Sarah Addison AllenMagical realism, romance, ghosts, parallel timelines, 1970s, North CarolinaThe Sweetest Fiend by Raven KennedyDark romance, fae, enemies to lovers, Pied Piper retellingMidnight Curfew by Penelope DouglasQueer dark romance, MLM, enemies to lovers, rivals from opposing familiesProtocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body by Andrew D. HubermanNonfiction, science, self helpThe Pumpkin Bride by Fiona ButtercupCozy romantasy, autumnal, second chance romance, Shrek meets Princess Bride with pumpkinsPly by Hernan DiazSci fi, dystopia, far future, humans reinventing societyBlightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci PattersonYA sci fi, space, dystopia, intergalactic mission to an alien worldTrad Wife by Sarah LanganHorror, trad wife influencers, social media, journalist's descent into evil world of influencingI Hope This Email Finds You in Hell by Mackenzie ReedHorromance, office worker accidentally witnesses her hot boss performing an exorcismThe Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington RollinsHistorical fiction, Italy, family saga, three Italian American generations of womenHarbinger by Geneva LeeNew Adult romantasy, magic, mythology, magicBones by K.L. SpeerDark romantasy, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, magicThe Disappearers by Marlon JamesHistorical fiction, 1980s Jamaica, murder of a gay manThe Siren by Tomi AdeyemiYA fantasy, dark academia, rage, yearning, woman's darknessUngrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir from the Child of a Mail-Order Bride by Katya SuvorovaNonfictionCrown of Crimson and Crows by Tessa HaleRomantasy, why choose, witches, vampires, enemies to loversLove Felt Like This by Julie OliviaRomance, small town, grumpy rock star + sunshine children's show creature working togetherEspiritu by Aiden ThomasSequel to Cemetery Boys!!!Kneel Before Me by Lindsay StraubeKiss of the Basilisk book #3The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate WestburyHistorical romance, mystery, post WWII Oxford University, undercover operativesEmpire by Sabaa TahirHeir Duology #2Doomsdate by Laura Piper LeeHorromance, rom com, zombie apocalypseI Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily ZinnikasHorror, invisible entity under a bed, return to small townFallow by Sarah AndersonSci fi, funny, young woman signs up to be the world's first in-house corporate surrogateOur Cut of Salt by Deena HelmHorror, haunted house, three generations of Palestinian women deal with haunting in ancestral homeWe Already Dug the Grave by Emma C. WellsThriller, Southern Gothic, Sharp Objects with a dash of Practical MagicKiss of the Black Flame by Helene ScheuererRomantasy, books about books, magic, found family, forced proximityBlacktail by Scott HawkinsDark fantasy, a wolf sets out on a journey of revengeThe Paradox Club by Charlie LovettSci fi mystery, secret society, woman uncovers truth about her father's death that could alter course of historyThe Velvet Knife by Maureen JohnsonTruly Devious #6The Lost Spectacular by Zoe DuhaimeFantasy, romance, Night Circus meets Midnight LibraryLive Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristin Kobes Du MezNonfictionThe Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany HuntGuides to Villainy and Love #2, romantasyWildwood by Ashley WooMystery, horror, gothic, family estate with secrets, creepy forestThe Birthing Tree by Amanda PetersHistorical fiction, family, legacy, small Nova Scotia town, Indigenous traditionsBeyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea by Kathleen KaufmanHorror, fantasy, gothic, mystery, microbial biology, witchcraftSo It Grows by Andie BurkeRomance, cozy, small town, business rivals to lovers, plant shopYou're the One That I Haunt by Katie JungParanormal romance, woman teams up with hot ghost to save her childhood crush from a curseThe Strangers by Naomi AldermanSci fi, grief, weird new animal spreading across AmericaA Snake Among Swans by Hannah KanerQueer romantasy, sapphic, epic fantasy, magic, warring kingdoms, female rageIf Not You by Ellen O'CloverRomance, rival copywriters, forced proximityThe Thief and the Traitor Bride by V.L. BovalinoRomantasy set in the world of The Second Death of LockeThe Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickleMystery, reluctant psychic, tarot, cold caseBaldur's Gate 3: Astarion by T. KingfisherHorror fantasy, vampiresIn the Dark by Shain RoseDark romance, secret society, enemies to lovers, ultra-private billionaire enclave The Sisters of Crimson House by Melissa Anderson SweazyHorror, gothic, mystery, ghosts, psychic, haunted house, evil entityIn the Woods They Wait by Carrie Lee SouthHorror, thriller, park ranger obsesses with case of missing child that mirrors disappearance of her brother Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latine Horror edited by Cynthia PelayoHorror short storiesWitch Daughter by Tanaz BhathenaHistorical fantasy, retelling of Tahmineh, Persian mythology, witchesAnger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth AcevedoYA, novel in verse, mental healthEVEN MORE BOOKS HERE!! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinglasses
YOLANDA CELLUCCI fashionista, philanthropist, trailblazer IN MEMORIAM Success is measured not by how long you have lived, but HOW you live. – Yolanda Cellucci I knew this day would come, but I dreaded it. Fashionista, philanthropist and trailblazer Yolanda Cellucci has died at 91. And as it turns out, one of her last full length interviews was with me, in November 2022. So, we've pulled this gem out of the archives for you this week, as a way of remembering and honoring a truly great human being. Trust me when I tell you: she was in a league of her own. I had the opportunity to interview Miss Yolanda multiple times through the course of my career, and every time I was in her presence, I was inspired. Her success story is a lesson in what it takes to make your dreams a reality. For starters, she had a passion for flash that included Swarovski crystal, feathers, sequins and fur, but behind the bling, Yolanda had plenty to say about life and how to live it. The interview you are about to hear was recorded in her swanky Watertown penthouse. I can still remember what she was wearing: a fitted white pantsuit with rhinestones. Her make-up and hair were done perfectly. She had on big long eyelashes, and white boots to die for. Beyond her stunning outfit, every single thing in Yolanda's penthouse was white…even the baby grand piano. Known as the “Goddess of Glitz” Yolanda had written the book Beyond the Glitz & Glamour which details her rise in the fashion industry. As a young mother, she began building her empire by selling wigs out of the back of her car, with her daughters in the back seat. A powerhouse with a heart of gold…Yolanda never had any doubt that she could do whatever she put her mind to. From her early life in the little Italian-American village of Nonantum, Massachusetts to the creation of her iconic fashion experience: “Yolanda's of Waltham where beautiful lifestyles begin” to her 65 year marriage to the love of her life, to being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend to many and philanthropist extraordinaire, this episode is a bow to one of the best women you will ever get the chance to listen to. To quote Miss Yolanda “pursue your dreams, even if someone says you are crazy. Do it anyway. “ #fashion #entrepreneur #trailblazer #philanthropist
Susan Van Allen grew up on the Jersey Shore with the food and drama of an Italian American household. Her maternal grandparents emigrated from southern Italy, and that inheritance became the compass for her life's work. For fifty years she's been returning to Italy, up and down the boot, chasing its beauty, its culture, and — always — its deliciousness.Her award-winning travel writing has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, BBC Travel, and AFAR, and she's the author of four books on Italian travel, including 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go. She also designs and leads Golden Weeks in Italy: For Women Only Tours, giving travelers an insider's, femme-friendly way into the Bel Paese.In this episode, Susan and I talk about what fifty years of returning to the same homeland has taught her — about roots, about women traveling on their own terms, and about why some places get under your skin and never let go.
#146Josh sits down with Jason Anello, better known as Janello, at Da Nico on Mulberry Street in Manhattan's Little Italy. Janello is an experience strategist on a mission to bring back dinnertime. That inspired him to create The Red Sauce Map and the Forking Tasty supper club so others can experience dinnertime through his Italian-American lense. They trace how Italian immigration and New World abundance turned scarcity cooking into stacked, saucy, unmistakably American plates, and why chicken parm has no Parmesan in it at all. Janello defines what actually qualifies a restaurant as a red sauce joint, from the antipasto and the tiramisu to the photos on the wall and the bottle of cheap Chianti, and runs down his top chicken parms and lasagnas across the country. The conversation moves through fresh versus dried pasta, the ricotta dishes he can live without, and a segment called In Memory Of, where the two of them eulogize the neighborhood spots that have closed. From there it turns to the new generation of chefs reinterpreting the genre, what Carbone understood about theater and hospitality, and the three reasons Janello thinks these restaurants really close. It is a warm, opinionated look at a category of restaurant that is equal parts food, memory, and cultural preservation. Links and resources
You know what this is...WOPBPatreon.com/spaceblood
Surviving September 11 took more than courage. It took preparation, trust, and the ability to manage fear. I share my experience escaping from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center with my guide dog, Roselle, and the lessons that shaped how I responded that morning. You'll hear how years of learning my surroundings, trusting my training, and understanding my role as a leader helped me stay focused during the evacuation. I also explore blindness, the limits society places on blind people, and the power of teamwork between a guide dog and handler. Most of all, this story is about focusing on what you can control, trusting the relationships you've built, and preparing yourself to act when fear shows up. Highlights: 00:10 – Why Michael is revisiting September 11, 25 years later. 11:45 – How Michael learned that blindness itself isn't the limitation. 32:50 – Why preparation inside the World Trade Center mattered when crisis hit. 36:40 – How staying calm helped Michael lead others toward safety. 44:46 – The lesson Michael heard while running from the collapsing tower. 51:59 – What Roselle taught Michael about fear, trust, and moving forward. About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Transcript: Michael Hingson 00:04 Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. I am your host, Mike Hingson, and today we're doing something a little bit different. This is Friday, september 4, 20/26, and this is the first of four episodes commemorating all of the events that happened in and around September 11, 2001. As many of you know, I was in the World Trade Center working for a company. I had opened an office for them on the 78th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center, and on September 11th, I was in my office because we were going to be doing some special sales training for people, and I was there getting prepared to do all of that when the terrorists attacked the towers, and then later the Pentagon. And as you may know, a fourth aircraft was crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, because people on the aircraft took it over from the terrorists or tried to anyway, so one of the things that we thought would be helpful would be for me to give you again a taste of what I actually went through and what occurred on September 11, 2001, when we started this podcast back in August of 2021, I played a speech that talked about some of what happened to me in the World Trade Center. But today we're going to do a different speech. In April of 2024, I was invited to be a speaker at the Marshfield, Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. Now that festival is a yearly event celebrating and commemorating different events in American history. In 2024, I was invited to come and speak and talk about my experience at the World Trade Center and to help put some of that into context. I thought it would be very relevant for all of you if we played that speech for you, so that you would again get a taste of what occurred with me, why I was able to survive and escape, and a little bit about the lessons that we should learn about not only September 11th, but frankly, from my perspective, being the fact that I have been blind since I was born in 1950, I want you to learn a little bit more about blindness. So we're going to present to you now my speech delivered in April on April 27, 2024, at the Marshfield, Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. I hope that you'll enjoy it. I hope that it will teach you some things, and don't forget that we have other episodes coming up. We have another episode occurring on the eighth of September where I'm going to be interviewed by Michelle Abraham from Amplify You. Amplify You is the company that I work with to get these podcasts out twice a week, and Michelle has her own podcast, and she's going to interview me to talk about lessons we've learned, to talk a little bit about what happened on September 11th. But we won't give anything away for what's going to happen later in this series of episodes. On September 11th, I will be talking with Bob Ellis. Bob was at the Pentagon on September 11th and literally just walked out the door just before the aircraft hit the Pentagon. We're going to talk about that and again, hopefully, put some of things in perspective for you. Then on the 15th of September, I'm going to come back on episode 475 of our podcast, and talk a little bit more in detail about the lessons that I've learned, and talk about things that I hope people will take away and remember from september 11. I know many of you weren't even born when the World Trade Center terrorist attacks occurred, and so this episode 472, especially, I hope will give you a little bit better sense of what occurred, and from my perspective, why things occurred the way they did, and and how we proceed. So I hope you'll enjoy this episode. Hope that you'll enjoy what it brings, and we will definitely be moving forward to talk about some other things later on. Speaker 1 04:24 There are moments in American history that changed the national conscience. Yesterday, we heard about the assassination of President Kennedy. Some of you might be old enough to remember the attack of Pearl Harbor, and for most recently in American history, of course, the terrorist attacks September 11th. Today, you're going to hear a riveting account, a a heroic story of a man whose story I believe will really pull at your heartstrings. And to moderate that panel today, or that interview, to do is conduct our interview. Today is Mary Acher, who's no stranger to this stage, good friend, presidential historian, and a great interviewer. If you'll put your hands together for Miss Mary, Speaker 2 05:11 I just am so honored to met Michael Hinkson and Alamo. You know by what you see that he came down on the 78th floor of the North Tower with his guide dog Brosel, but I have a friend named Doug Weed who always told me, "You don't brag on yourself; you get somebody else to brag on you. And I want to brag on Michael before we start this. Before I ask him to tell this story, Michael was a premature baby, and at the time when he was born, they put the babies in pre in a the premature babies in a incubator sealed with 100% oxygen, and the doctors didn't know that then, but it blinded the children, and Michael was blinded at birth. So Michael was very fortunate that he had parents that refused to allow him to even think about being disabled. They mainstreamed him before mainstreaming was even known, and they taught him to ride a bicycle. They let him drive a car, and later in his life, he actually piloted an airplane. Is that amazing? He loved mathematics. He loved physics. He was taught geometry. He solved math problems in his head. He's got a master's degree in physics and another-not a master's, but a regular in in teaching. So that is why he is such an amazing man. He's never ever let this what enough people call a disability stop him at all? As a matter of fact, he has been such an amazing gift to the unsighted community in in the Braille and things that technology that blind people can utilize to be online and be all kinds of of things that they wouldn't ever have been allowed to do even 50 years ago. So anyway, I'm just so honored to have met you, Michael. It's just been amazing. I'm going to take him to Lambert's tomorrow. He says I have to catch the rolls, or somebody else will catch them and they'll eat them and he won't get it. I promised him I'd catch the rolls. All right, my dear Michael, would you start telling us about that horrendous day? I am Michael Hingson 08:00 going to not do what I said I was gonna do. I'm gonna stand up, and I'm gonna be very interested to go to Lambert's to see what they do with me, since normally they would throw the rolls, as I understand it. And I'm gonna point out that doesn't really work. So now, what are you gonna do? Because if they all fall on the floor and the dog gets them, and the dog gets sick, you guys are in trouble. So I'll be interested to see exactly what happens. No, I'm sure it will work out. Mary, thank you for those those kind words. I'd like to start by defining a couple things to help us in all of this. Mary is absolutely right about what my parents did in their position, the doctors told my parents when it was discovered I was blind at about four months of age that I should be sent to a home because no blind child could ever grow up to amount to anything or contribute to society. If you think that's bad, it was worse in other parts of the world where, when children were born who were blind, were just drowned in a bucket of water. So, in a sense, it wasn't as bad. Not every child who was born premature and put in an incubator did go blind, and it's unfortunate, in a sense, that at the time that I was born. Dr. Arnold Papps at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University had discovered that, in fact, oxygen could cause blindness, and even a few minutes a day of a non-oxygen environment would drop the incidence of blindness down to zero. But medical science didn't believe him because they said, "Well, too much oxygen can't be a problem. And what Dr. Arnold Pats essentially really proved is that too much of anything can be a problem. So it is it is an issue. I finally actually some time ago got to meet Dr. Pats. Before he passed, it was it was fascinating to talk with him about that. The condition at the time when I was born was called retroenterial fibroplasia. If you want to know how to spell that, I wrote a book called Thunderdog: The Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero, which we plan to have here, but the publisher messed up, so it wasn't. But you can go buy Thunderdog anywhere, and you can learn how to spell retrolateral fibroplegia. It is now called retinopathyoprematurity. I guess that's a little easier to spell. I don't know still why they changed the name, but they did. So fine, I don't care. I am blind. I don't care. Blindness isn't the problem. I've learned from my parents and growing up and being alive now for yep 74 years, blindness isn't the problem. The problem is our perception of blindness, what we believe blind people can and can't do, as opposed to what they truly can and can't do. If you want to really see a story or something about a blind person driving a car, there is a website www.blinddriverchallenge.org. Blinddriverchallenge.org. The president of the National Federation of the Blind in October of 2001 challenged private industry and universities to create a vehicle that a blind person could drive, not an autonomous vehicle, but truly a vehicle that would transmit to the blind person the information necessary for them to drive the vehicle. What you will see at blinddriverchallenge.org is a video of a gentleman named Mark Riccobono. Too many marks. Mark Riccobono driving a vehicle independently without any assistance around the Daytona Speedway, right before the 2011 Rolex 24 race, he will go through an obstacle course. He will pass boxes that are being thrown out of a van to try to block his way. He will pass the van and a number of things like that. The reality is, what is driving? It's all about you having the information necessary for you to control your vehicle, and as far as I'm concerned, given what Mark Riccobono did, and given the reality that the information is available to us, given the way most sighted drivers drive, I'll take me any day, especially where I live in Victorville. My gosh! But the the reality is, blindness isn't the problem. I grew up believing that I went to public school. I went to college. Michael Hingson 12:26 I did get a master's degree in physics. As I love to tell people, I'm as good as Doc Brown from Back to the Future in building reactors and nuclear bombs. The only difference between me and Doc Brown is I won't go steal fissionable material from some source that might come after me later. So you know, I think I was a little smarter than Doc Brown, but the fact is, again, it's not the problem. I was also the program director of the campus radio station for a while, and I worked at the campus radio station KUCI 89.9 on your FM dial for seven years. I did a show playing old radio shows every Sunday night from six to nine. Didn't even know what 60 minutes was. I heard about it, and one day finally somebody from the show or from the the Orange County Jail called and said, "We really got a situation. We want you to know about it here at the jail. People who heard about you, they've heard about 60 minutes, and on Sunday nights we have to divide the jail in half. Half of the people go up to a television room to watch 60 Minutes, and the other half, which is the bigger half, want to hear your show playing old radio shows on Sunday nights. So you know we must be doing something right. That even at the jail, they liked us. I went to work in 1976 for the National Federation of the Blind. It's the largest organization of blind consumers in the country. I was offered a position because I was in in the science world, one of the few at the time in that world. And the president of the federation, Dr. Jernigan, told me in late 74, early 75, we got a situation. There's a guy named Ray Kurzweil. You may have heard of Ray. He's a futurist. He's an inventor. He's invented the singularity. I'm not totally sure I agree with everything that Ray says. You know, Ray once said the only problem with God is we haven't invented it yet. I don't agree with that. And the other part about it is Ray says that we're really going to all become part of the world when chips are created that will allow us to directly interact with computers. Well, we'll see. I don't want to chip in my brain yet. But Ray at that time had developed a piece of technology that would actually look at a printed page. It actually had to build it up line by line, so it wasn't like snapping a picture. But it would learn to recognize all the characters on that page, no matter what their type styles or print styles were, and it would read it out loud, called the Kurzweil Reading Machine for the Blind. Just like with blindness and retro-entral fibroblasia, the government didn't believe he could do it because nobody else had been able to do it, and so they wouldn't help fund it. He came to the federation, and the federation said, "Tell you what we're going to do." Ray, I'm not sure they said it quite that way, but tell you what we're going to do, Ray. We're going to send somebody up there with a bunch of material, and if your machine reads what we bring up, not what you want to read, if it reads what we bring up, then we're going to help you get funding. And Ray, I'm sure again it wasn't quite the way he said it, but he said, "Bring it on. They did. It did, and a relationship began that exists to this day-a machine that literally would read print out loud. And Ray wanted the first application of omnivore optical character recognition to be a machine that would read print out loud for blind people. We created a project where we purchased several machines, and then for 18 months, from 1976, in October through June of 1978, I lived in suitcases or out of suitcases in hotels, traveling around the country where we put machines at places like the New York Public Library, the Iowa Commission for the Blind, the San Francisco Public Library, and some other agencies for the blind around the country. Michael Hingson 15:59 The idea being that we wanted blind people to come and use the machine, read whatever they wanted to read, and then give us information about what needed to go into a final production model of the machine. I wrote training curriculum. I wrote the the technical manuals for teaching people how to use the machine. I taught people to use it. I observed people using it. Sometimes grabbed my old soldering gun and fix things that broke on the machines. These were $50,000, 400 pound machines. They weren't little things like an app on an iPhone today, right? So anyway, we finally wrote the final recommendations, and then Ray said, "I want to hire you to come and do the same sort of thing within the company. So I went to work for Ray, moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Actually, I learned I moved to Winthrop, Massachusetts, learned how to go from Winthrop to Cambridge every day, and we began a relationship. And I worked at Kurzweil Computer Products, in and that started in again October of 1978. In May of 1978, I was called into the office of the VP of Marketing, and Andrew Parson said, "We're laying you off. What? We're laying you off. Why? Oh, it's not that you're doing a bad job or anything, but unfortunately, like a lot of engineering startup companies, we've hired too many people who aren't revenue producers, and we have to have more revenue producers. And so, as important as your job is, it's not as important as making money for the company. So we have to lay you off. Then he paused and he said, "Unless you'll go into sales. Now, I'm a science guy. However, I thought about it for a micro nanosecond, and I said, "Sure, I'll go into sales. As I love to tell people, I decided I would lower my standards and go from science to sales, and did. I said I don't know anything about sales. He said we'll send you to a Dale Carnegie sales course and all that. Well, I started selling, but not the reading machine for the blind. Instead, I sold a new product they had called the Kurzweil Data Entry Machine, and unlike the reading machine for the blind that sold for $50,000, if you want one, we might be able to find one of the old machines for you for 49 995. Instead, I sold a new product called the Kurzweil Data Entry Machine, which was only $125,000. I guess they had confidence in my ability, and I was very grateful for it. The real reason that I didn't want to refuse the sales position is I knew that at that time, and it's still somewhat today, the unemployment rate among employable blind people is close to 70. That is seven 0% It's not because we can't do the work; it's because people think we won't be able to do the work and don't give us the opportunity. So the bottom line is, I lowered my standards and went from science to sales, and did that for a while. And then in 1981, while Xerox was considering and actually working toward buying the product, I was asked by Ray and the VP of Sales to move back to California, where I was from, to help integrate Kurzweil into the Xerox West Coast environment, including their research center called Palo Alto Area Research Center Park, and I did. And my thanks for that was that after the the whole sale was consummated and Xerox completely took over. I was the last salesperson in June of 1984 to receive a FedEx letter saying thank you for your service, but we don't want you anymore. Goodbye, because all Xerox wanted was the technology. They didn't want the people. Now I was confronted with the situation. How am I going to find a job? What am I going to do? 70% unemployment. and I went out and I wrote lots of cover letters, sent out lots of resumes, and I even got a headhunter who called me and said, "Love your resume. We're going to have you interview with this company up in San Jose, California. We'll send you a ticket. They sent me the ticket the night before the flight. The guy called. Back and he says, "You know, I was just looking at your resume again. I see you do a lot of things with blind people. Michael Hingson 20:04 Is there somebody in your family who's blind? You notice that? And I said, "Yeah, I'm blind. You're blind? Well, I'm going to have to call them. They're not going to want to talk to you. I said, "Nothing has changed. My resume is still the same, but you're blind. It's all changed. No, it hasn't. There were no laws to stand on. The reservation was canceled, and I didn't do the interview. Their loss. If Speaker 3 20:30 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson 21:02 Eventually, not finding a job, I started my own company selling computer-aided design systems to architects. A blind guy selling CAD systems? Why the heck not? I didn't need to work the machine. What I needed to know was how to work the machine, so I could describe it to architects, and I could sit them down in front of a machine and talk with them and talk them through it. We also hired people to demo CAD systems, and I did that for four years. And then I went back into the workforce. And when I went back into the workforce, my wife and I were talking one day, and she said, "You know, I got this great job I just discovered in the newspaper. It's selling high-end, new, revolutionary, hot, pluggable disc technology. It's perfect for you. You should apply. And I said to my wife Karen, who I had married in 1982. By the way, Karen also had a disability. She was in a wheelchair her whole life. She reads. I push. Worked out well. I said, so do I say in my cover letter I'm blind or not? Because typically, if you say you're blind, same thing will happen with the headhunter. You won't even get a call back if you don't say you're blind. You might get a callback, but then they're going to have all their defenses go up when you show up for the interview. And she said, "You're an idiot. Wives can do that, gentlemen, and it's fine. You're an idiot. Why? What's the most important thing you always said to every salesperson you ever hired, well, I wasn't quite sure which things she was thinking of. I had several things that I always said to salespeople I hired. She said, "You always told every salesperson you ever hired turn here's the operative word perceived liabilities into assets. You ever watch those little cartoons in the newspapers and all that, where the light bulb goes on over your head. Well, that's what happened, and I went and I wrote a cover letter to send with this resume to this company. And here are the last two paragraphs of the letter. The most important thing you need to know about me is that I am blind. As a blind person, I have had to sell all my life just to be able to function and survive. I've had to sell to take my guide dog on airplanes. I didn't tell them that we had to sue one airline because they violated their own policy because they wouldn't let me go on an airplane with my guide dog. I've had to sell to convince people to let me buy a house, move into apartments, sometimes take my guide dog into grocery stores, and do anything else because I was blind, I've always had to sell. So, second paragraph: When you're hiring someone for this job, do you want to hire somebody who comes in and works for eight or 10 hours a day, and then just goes home because the job is over, or do you want to truly hire somebody who understands sales for the science and art that it is, and who sells 24 hours a day as a way of life. Sent off the letter. Waited for two weeks, wondering if I'd get a call or an email. Well, no, not an email, not back then. But in late June 19 or May 1989, I got a call. This is Doug Cooper, head of marketing for Articon. We love your letter. Would you come for an interview? And I said sure. Next day we were down there. I was hired and started on july 2, 1989. Love to start on the second of July, or actually the third of July, because then I got the next day off. It was great. So I went to work for them, and we moved from where we were living in Mission Viejo down to Vista, California. The company was in Carlsbad. I began selling to the East Coast, selling our technologies and other technologies, Sun Microsystems products, and so on. And then in 1996, the owner of the company asked me to move to New York for them because we were selling to Wall Street. Michael Hingson 24:37 Wall Street was always good at getting and demanding and getting what they demanded, and they always said, "If you are a manufacturer and you're selling products to us, we want a representative, not an agent, but we want the company in Wall Street Arena to be able to to hold responsible and deal with. So we moved to New York. And I went to work on the 23rd floor of Tower Two of the World Trade Center, and was there for about a year, and then was recruited away by another company, and it wasn't hard because Articon did not figure out how to support a branch operation. So I was recruited away, and then in 1999 I was recruited away by Quantum Corporation, and now we're getting to what Mary asked about. But I needed to give you the background. Hope it was okay. So in 1999, I was hired to open an office for Quantum Corporation on well in New York City. Quantum was a company that made products called tape libraries. They were big boxes that consisted of tape drives and lots of tape cartridges, and you would attach them to computer networks, and then you would use software like one called Veritas, which is still used today. And what you would do is you would back up all of your data over the network into these tape libraries, onto tape cartridges, and then you would take the tape cartridges out and store them off-site. Now I gotta stop and be spiteful because in New Jersey they love to say that they stored them in a town called Mountainside Under a Mountain. You ever see a mountain in northern New Jersey? I came from California where we had mountains that were eight, 910, 1000 feet tall. They didn't even have decent hills, but they still called it a mountain. That was fine, whatever. They still were able to store the tapes in safe places. But the point is that all the data was backed up off-site, which is what they needed to do. We opened the actual office on august 1, 2000. I hired a staff, and we had a staff that came in and and sold, and we also worked with resellers. And in August of 2001, our main distributor Ingram Micro said, "You know, we got a lot of resellers who are selling your products, but they don't really know how to do it. Can we hold some seminars to teach our your reseller partners, our customers, the resellers, how to sell your product? I said, "You bet. We worked it out with the folks at Quantum. David Frank, who was in charge of pricing and distribution, said he wanted to come back to be a part of the seminars, and we set up doing the seminars. The idea was that we would teach them. I would be their main point of contact since I worked and lived there. David would be the person that I or they would contact without with any pricing issues, but I would be the technical point of contact contact. Master's degree in physics helps, and so we set up the seminars. And wouldn't you know it, we set them up to be held on september 11, 2001. The evening before, or the morning of September 11th, about 12:30, Roselle, my guide dog at the time, woke me up. She was very nervous and fidgety. I knew what it was like when she was fidgety. It was usually because it was a thunderstorm. She didn't like thunder, and we went down to my office. And of course, a thunderstorm did happen, and the storm literally came right over our house. I've never been in an environment where bombs went off around me, but I got to say that in this case, the thunder claps were, as I said, literally right over us, and it had to be like what a bomb sounds like going off. Anyway, it went on till about two, and then we went back up and got a couple more hours of sleep, three more hours of sleep. I got up. We went in and got to the office at about 7:40 in the morning on September 11th. As I came to the door, somebody came up with a cart. It turns out it was a guy from the Port Authority cafeteria. Michael Hingson 28:33 We were going to be providing breakfast and snacks for the first and second seminarians. We had seminars going all day, so we went in. I showed him where I wanted to set up everything in the conference room. I went in, got my laptop computer out of my backpack briefcase. I got my PowerPoint projector, and I went into the conference room and set everything up because I was going to be doing a PowerPoint show that day to give people all the information they needed about the ATLP 3000, the ATLP 1000, and so on. Yes, blind people can do PowerPoint, folks. It's not magic. You sighted bigots. So I had a script, and my wife and I had created the script, and I'd used it many times. The script was in Braille. I knew what was on every slide. We put a couple of things in addition on the script. We put all the wording from the slides on the script, and we also put on the script descriptions of the pictures, as well as where the picture would show up on the screen. So I would, for example, when we showed this to other customers around the city, I'd blow their minds because I would be doing the presentation. My sales guys loved it when I went out and did PowerPoint presentations because I could just point over my shoulder. On the left side of your screen, you'll see the ATLP 3000 with 16 cartridge, 16 drives, 326. Cartridges, and you see the label that says Prism Technology. We could hook five of them together. On the right side of your screen, you'll see the ATLP 1000, which was a single unit with 30 cartridges and one tape drive. And people would come up to me afterwards, and they say, "You know, we're ticked at you. I go, "Why? Well, first of all, your presentation was not boring, which usually they are. But second of all, you never turned and looked at the screen. You kept looking at us, even though you were pointing right to where everything was with your laser pointer. We didn't dare fall asleep. We forgot you were blind. And my response was, "You don't get it. My dog was down here taking notes. If you'd fallen asleep, we would have got you anyway. But that was what it was about. My responsibility was to be the leader of that office, and I had to do what anyone else would do. One of the main things that I did was spend hours, days walking around the World Trade Center, learning what the kiosks were in the shopping mall on the first floor, learning where different offices were, consulting with the Port Authority police and the fire prevention people learning what to do in case of an emergency because sometimes I might be in the office all by my little self. There would be nobody else around. I didn't want my staff in the office. I wanted them out selling and working and supporting customers. Not being in the office, of course, they did usually come in at least once a week. And and so I learned never watched The Sopranos, but I got to tell you, I learned more about the Sopranos from all the Italian Americans on my staff who talked about the Sopranos constantly. Bada bing, bada boom, and I learned a whole lot about Tony Soprano without ever watching the show. But the point is that I needed to know all that stuff. I needed to know where the restaurants were. Customers come into the office. Oh, you want to go out to lunch? What kind of food do you want? There's a great deli downstairs called Fine and Shapiro. Let me take you there. How would it have looked if I didn't know how to do that, and I had to say to someone, "You're going to have to let me take your arm and lead me there because I don't know how to get there, and two hours later we're supposed to be negotiating multi-million dollar contracts? No, I needed to know it. I didn't have the luxury, and I don't regard it as a luxury. I regard it as a disability of reading signs. I needed to know all of that stuff. What I didn't realize is that was creating a mindset in me, which I'll talk about in a moment. Michael Hingson 32:15 Anyway, got all the laptop projectors and everything set up. The only thing I knew I didn't know how to do extremely well is to get it exactly aimed right, but about 8o'clock, David Frank came in and I said, "Say, David, this is all set up, but let's aim the projector just exactly where you want it on the screen. And we did have to turn it just a little bit, but not too much. But anyway, at 845, I was in my office and David was with me. We were creating a final list of all the people who were going to be attending the seminars, because the Port Authority police, the security people, needed to know who was coming. There were two ways you could get into the building: either we faxed on letterhead a list of people who were coming on any given day, and then the people coming in would show their photo IDs, and it would be verified against the list. And if they were allowed in, then they would be given a badge that they would put over their neck, and they would carry that, and they could scan barcode and go into the appropriate elevator to come onto our floor, or they'd have to call us every time somebody came in. And I didn't want a lot of phone calls coming in, so we were faxing the list. I was reaching for Letterhead to fax to to print the list on Letterhead when suddenly I heard and felt kind of a muffled thump and a vibration. And then literally, if you any blind people in the room, well, I'll do it anyway. I'm holding up my hand, and what happened was that literally, as I'm now tipping my hand toward you, the building began to tip. We probably moved about 20 feet. The building kept tipping and tipping. David and I said together, "What's going on? I don't know. What's going on? What do you think? Was it an explosion? I said. David said, "Didn't sound like it. Is it an earthquake? David was from New York, and now he's living in California. He didn't know about earthquakes. I said, "No, the building wasn't shaking around. It was going in one direction. And finally, and I went over and I stood in the doorway between my office and the the outside lobby of our our offices, and I stood there. Roselle was asleep under my desk. David was just on the other side of my desk, holding it near our windows, looking out over Manhattan, the south side of Manhattan. And finally, David and I both said goodbye to each other because we thought we had moved so far that the building was going to take a 78 floor plunge to the street. And then the building slowed down, and it stopped, and it moved back. As soon as it got vertical, I started walking back into the office. I met Roselle coming around from under my desk. I took her leash. I said "heel, which meant to come around behind me to sit and lie down, which is what I would normally have Alamo do, but he's comfortable, so we'll just leave him there. Roselle sat down, and about that time. The building dropped straight down about six feet. Why did it drop down? Because tall buildings like that literally are springs. They're made to flex in windstorms and other things like that. An Empire, an airplane hit the Empire State Building in the 1940s because it got lost in a fog bank. Tall buildings are flexible. They have expansion joints, and when the building was hit, the expansion joints took up all of the the things that were going on. And then when the building got straight again, the expansion joints dropped back down to their normal configuration. I knew that because I had talked to people about stuff like that. I'd forgotten it until later, but I knew it. What I hadn't realized is that what was happening when I was learning so much stuff was that a mindset was being developed in me that said, "You know what to do in an emergency. And as soon as the building dropped, David turned and looked out the window and started shouting, "Oh my God, Mike! There's fire and smoke over us! There were millions of pieces of burning paper falling outside the windows. Michael Hingson 35:59 We got to get out of here right now! Slow down, David. No, we got to get out of here. The building's on fire. I could hear things rushing and brushing outside our windows, and now I knew what they were. David told me millions of pieces of burning paper, right? And I didn't smell any smoke. Roselle wasn't doing anything to indicate any concern, and David kept saying, "We got to get out of here. The building's on fire. And I kept saying, "Slow down. Our guests began to scream. We had like five or six who were in our conference room. Early arrivals. They started coming out, but then they heard me say, "Slow down, stop, David. Just wait. And they waited to see what was going to happen. And finally, David used the big line: "You don't understand. You can't see Speaker 4 36:37 it. The Michael Hingson 36:38 problem wasn't what I wasn't seeing, the problem was what David wasn't seeing-a dog sitting next to me, wagging her tail, yawning, going, "Who the heck woke me up? I was comfy, not giving any indication of fear. And I eventually got David to focus, and I said, "David, get our guests to the stairs. Don't let them take the elevators, because I knew if there's fire, especially because if there's fire, the elevators could become fire traps. The fire could get into the elevator shafts, which it did, and anybody in the cars would be burned. David left with our guests, got them to the stairs. Meanwhile, I called Karen and told her that there had been an explosion or something. We had no clue. There was no way to know. I love it. Reporters, even today, and other people say, "Well, of course you didn't know you couldn't see it. Excuse me, you numbskulls. The last time I checked, Superman and X-ray vision were fiction, and the airplane hit 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. No one knew. All the way down the stairs, we didn't know because no one saw it. No one knew. Anyway, I called and told Karen she wanted to know more. I said, "I don't know anything else. I've got to go because we're not staying here. We knew instantly that we had to leave, but we got our guests out. Then David came back. We swept the offices one last time. Went to the stairs and we started down. If I knew it was the last time I was going to be in the building, I would have taken a couple of things that I didn't take. Like I had a really neat talking scientific calculator that I couldn't replace. And if I had known that I wasn't coming back, I would have taken it. It would have been a little heavier, but I would have taken it anyway. We started down the stairs. There were other people, of course, on the stairs. We got down about four floors, and I was smelling an odor. I couldn't quite figure it out, and suddenly I realized I'm smelling the fumes from burning jet fuel. I traveled 100,000 miles a year for my company. I knew what the odor of jet fuel was like. I knew the kerosene smell, but it took a while to associate it with the World Trade Center because no one would have ever thought you would have smelled it there. When I realized what it was, I observed to the other people around me on the stairs, "I'm smelling the fumes from burning jet fuel. And they said, "Yeah, you're right. That's what it is. We must have been hit by an airplane. You understand? Nobody knew. We must have been hit because of what we're smelling, so we all accepted that that was what was going on, but we had no clue. We continued down the stairs, about 10 floors down. At one point, a woman stopped right behind me, and she said, "I can't go on. I can't breathe. We're not going to make it out. And I stopped and turned around and said, "Sure, we are. Come on, this is my guide dog Roselle. He's guiding me, and and she'll encourage you. Roselle gave her kisses, and this lady gave Roselle a few pets, and so on. And other people surrounded her, and we had a group hug, and the lady was able to keep going. A few burn victims passed us on the stairs as we went down. At about the 50th floor, David, who had gotten a little quiet. Suddenly said, "Mike, we're going to die. We're not going to make it out of here. Now you heard that I have a teaching credential. What you don't know, and teachers won't generally acknowledge it, but I'm going to tell you anyway. There's a secret class we take called Voice 101: How to Yell at Students. Didn't know that, did you? And anyway, as soon as David. Said Mike, "We're going to die. We're not going to make it out of here. I just said as sharply and with a snap into my voice that I could, "Stop it, David! If Rosella and I can go down these stairs, so can you. And David told me later that that brought him out of his funk. Michael Hingson 40:12 What he then said is, "I got to keep my mind off this. I want to walk a floor below you and shout up to you what I see on the stairs. Is that okay? And I said, sure. Did I really need him to do that? No. Did it matter? No, but it did to David. However, what I came to realize over time was, David doing that was one of the most important things that I experienced on that day. So I'm going down the stairs. I get to floor 49. David, I'm on the 48th floor. All's clear here, Mike. Going on down. I get to 48 floor, 47. We keep going down. Finally, I get to the 45th floor, David. I'm on the 44th floor. This is where the Port Authority cafeteria is. Not stopping. So David was obviously doing better, and he kept going down. Why do I say what I did about David and doing that? Because David became a focal point for anyone within the sound of his voice who could hear him say, "43rd floor, all's clear, everything is good. He had to have helped 1000s of people stay focused and not panic going down the stairs, and I think that was so cool that he did that all the way down 42nd floor, all good. We kept going down the stairs. We met firefighters on the 30th floor. They wanted to escort me down, and I finally convinced them that I was capable of going down without them. And I did it by playing the sight card. I said, "Look, my friend David is here. He can see we're good, and the firefighters let us go. I didn't want them to escort me. First of all, they don't know how to work with a blind guy and do sighted guide. But second of all, I didn't want to break up their team because I knew that each of those people were carrying the equipment that they had to use to fight the fire. You couldn't store it somewhere. Where would you store it? Oh, the 34th floor. And what happens if a fire broke out on the 33rd floor, you couldn't get to it. You had to carry the equipment, so we kept going down the stairs. Finally, got to the first floor. David got there, and I was at floor two. And he said, "Hey, there are water sprinklers running. You're going to have to run through a waterfall or a down torrent of water to get out of the stairwell. Why was there all that water? Because it wanted to keep fire either in or out of the stairs, if fire was around. David ran through. Then I got to the bottom. Roselle stood there, and I picked up her harness and said, "Rosel, forward, hop up, which is a command to speed up. We went through this torrential downpour. It was a waterfall, and we came out the other side, soaking. David was there, and there were voices. Hey, don't go outside! No, no, don't go that way. Go this way. A PA system, a guy on a bullhorn. No, no, no! Don't go outside. Don't go to the outside. Go this way. What we didn't know is, if they had let people go out, they might have been right below where people were jumping. And so that was one of the reasons they didn't want anyone out. They wanted people to go through the complex and get out at the far side, as far away from where everything was occurring that they could. This guy comes up to us and he goes, "I'm with the FBI. I'll get you where you need to go. And of course, I'm sitting there with my warped sense of humor, going, "I'm sorry, I only talked to McGarrett, and I didn't do it. I'm innocent. I just thought that I didn't say any of it out loud. Anyway, he got us through out to the outside of Tower One. We passed now the empty Ben and Jerry's ice cream kiosk that was there. Darn didn't get a chance for a scoop. Kept going. Finally, went up an escalator and got outside into the sunshine outside of Tower. Well, of the whole complex, as far away from the towers as we could be, we got outside. Michael Hingson 43:44 We were told to leave the area, but David looked around and he said, "Mike, I see fire in Tower Two. And I said, "What are you talking about? There's fire in Tower Two, really? What's that all about? We didn't feel a thing going down. We were in our own little cocoon, our own little cave. We had no clue. Anyway, we were told to leave, so we went to Broadway. We walked across the plaza to Broadway, turn left, going now north on Broadway. There was a building on my left. Broadway was on my right. We crossed several streets, crossed Fulton Street, finally got to Vetsy Street. David said, "I want to stop because I can see the fire in Tower Two really clearly from here, I want to take some pictures, and I said, "Great, I'll try to call my wife. I got out my phone. David was taking pictures, which I have today. I tried to call Karen. I couldn't get through. Later, of course, we learned that people were saying goodbye to loved ones, and that was why the circuits were busy. I had just put my phone away, and a police officer, and while David was putting his camera away, and a police officer yelled out of here! It's coming down now. We heard this rumble that became this deafening roar. I describe it as kind of a combination of a freight train and a waterfall. You could hear glass breaking and tinkling, and metal crashing down, and then this white noise sound as Tower Two, 100 yards away from. Pancake down. Everyone turned and ran. David ran. He was gone. I literally lifted Roselle by the harness, turned her 180 degrees, and started running back the way we came. And the first thing I remember saying in my mind was, "God, I cannot believe that you got us out of a building just to have it fall on us. And as soon as I thought that, I heard in my head as clearly as you hear me now, a voice that said, "Don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on running with Roselle, and the rest will take care of itself. Who is God? Absolutely no question. Don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on running with Roselle, and the rest will take care of itself. And so I also had this incredible sense of peace and calm that came over me. That said, you're okay if you work together. We kept running. We got back to Fulton Street, turned right on Fulton Street, and ran about 25 yards. And suddenly we caught up to David, who had apparently gone the same way. And David suddenly realized that he had left us behind and he was going to come back, but we caught up to him first, and he apologized. I said, "David, don't worry about it. Let's just keep going. The building's coming down, you know. And we both just started to run with Roselle, and suddenly we were engulfed in all the dirt and debris and the dust cloud from Tower Two. It was so thick that David said he couldn't see his hand six inches in front of his face, and all I can tell you is that every breath I took, I felt dirt and debris and junk going down my throat into my stomach, and we knew we had to get out of that. So I started telling Roselle, "Go right, right. There was a building on our right side, and I wanted her to find the nearest opening if she could even hear me, see my hand signals, or whatever. And I was also listening for openings. Yes, I can hear when I pass an opening, and I and I can tell it's there and deal with it accordingly. Like during a time when you're running away from a collapsing building, run into it. Suddenly, I heard an opening on the right, and Roselle must have known what I wanted. She must have been able to see my hand signals or something because she turned right, she took one step, she stopped, and she would not move. Come on, Roselle, keep going. She wouldn't move. Come on, Roselle. Nope, wouldn't do it. And I realized, focus on running with Roselle, and the rest will take care of itself. So I stuck out a foot. Michael Hingson 47:13 I trailed a hand along a wall, and realized that we were at the top of a flight of stairs. Roselle had done exactly what she was supposed to do, and I knew what I was supposed to do if I wanted to get her to move. But before I did that, I gave her a big hug, good girl, and then I said, "Roselle, forward! That's the command. And we went down the stairs into an arcade area that was the entrance to the Fulton Street subway station. There were a few other people down there. Then a guy came up from the subway system and saw about eight or nine of us there. He introduced himself as Lou, an employee of the subway system, and he took us down to an employee locker room where we could sit down and and kind of hack and cough and get the dust out of our lungs. There was a water fountain and there were fans. We were there about 10 minutes. Then a police officer came, and he said, "You got to get out of here right now. The air's clear up above. You can't stay here. And so we followed him. Of course, he probably had already been told that Tower One was going to collapse. the The officials knew that each building was going to collapse probably about a half hour before it actually did. At least that was their presumption, and that's what I've been told. Anyway, we followed him back up the stairs, through the arcade, up the last two flights of stairs. We got outside. David looked around and he goes, "Oh my God, Mike, there's no Tower Two anymore. And I said, "What do you see? And he said, "All I see are pillars of smoke, hundreds of feet tall. We stood there for a moment, and then we just turned, and we kept walking. Now west on Fulton Street, we walked about 10 minutes, and we were in this little plaza area when we heard that freight train waterfall sound again, and we knew it must be our tower collapsing. We saw a little retaining wall David did, and we got behind it and ducked down, and we waited until everything stopped, and then we stood back up. And David looked around and he said, "Oh my God, Mike, there's no World Trade Center anymore. And I said, "What do you see? And he said, "I just see fingers of fire and flame, hundreds of feet tall. We see, I see pillars of smoke. It's gone. Are you sure? Yeah, it's gone. It's not there. We stood there a moment, then I tried to call my wife Karen again. That was kind of my first thought. I need to tell her we're okay. This time I did get through because clearly the circuits were were free. And after some tears on both sides of the phone, she is the one who told us how two aircraft had deliberately been hijacked and crashed into the towers, one into the Pentagon, and a fourth at that time was still missing over Pennsylvania. Who would have thought? We spent the rest of that day getting up toward Midtown Manhattan, and eventually I got to Penn Station, learned that the trains were running, and went back. Out to New Jersey, David wanted to go back up to be with his sister, who he who he was staying with. She lived on the Upper East Side, so I got on trains and I went back over toward New Jersey. I called Karen and told her what was going on, and a friend of ours, a friend that Karen had known since high school out in California, Tom Painter, was also living in New Jersey, he had come down to be with her, not even knowing at the time whether I was in the World Trade Center or working from home that day or whatever. But he drove her to the station in our accessible van, and as I came off the train, I heard the van show up. I went downstairs, climbed and went up the ramp into the van, and got to hug Karen about 7o'clock that night, for the first time since leaving home, we got home. Tom drove us home. We all went inside. I was going to take Roselle outside because she hadn't been out since like five that morning. Michael Hingson 50:53 Well, I take that back about six that morning, and I took her harness off. But before I could do anything else, she was off like a shot. She went to her toy box, found her favorite tug bone, and started playing tug of war with my retired guide dog Linny. Why? Because it was over for her. And I talked to the guide dog people later, and I said, "Will any of this affect her? And they said, "Was she threatened? Did anything hit her or injure her in any way, and I said no. They said then no. It was over for her because dogs don't do what if. It was over. It was done. She was fine. Lesson to be learned. Lesson you will learn more about if you buy our new book, Live Like a Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and His Guide his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity, and walking in faith. That that book is available for pre-order, and I've been signing bookmarks all day. I still even have a few with me. But the point is, you can pre-order it, and and it's about something that I learned later. I thought about during the pandemic. I've talked a lot about escaping and not being afraid because I developed a mindset that said you know what to do, but what I've not done is to teach others how they can learn to recognize that fear is not something that needs to blind or overwhelm you. You can use fear as a very powerful tool to guide you and steer you in the right direction if you know how to control it, and live like a guide dog is all about that. So I hope that you'll all get that when it comes out in August. But again, you can pre-order it now if you go to michaelhinkston.com. There's a link there where you can go to a web page to get information and to go to a link where you can pre-order it. And like I said, I have some bookmarked with a QR code on it, and and I'm and I yes I am plugging the book, but I'm also saying, look, folks, the bottom line is we operate in so many ways with misconceptions about things. I've talked about blindness. Anybody could have been in the World Trade Center, and and a lot of people were. The reality is, though, if you learn what to do and how to prepare for situations in general, when it becomes something specific, you'll know what to do. People have asked a number of times, "Well, wasn't your guide dog trained to operate in an emergency like the World Trade Center? How are we going to do that? No, the dog isn't trained to do that. The guide dog's job is not to lead. Guide dogs do not lead blind people. Guide dogs' jobs are to make sure that we walk safe. It's my job to know where to go and how to get there to give the dog direction. The dog depends and relies on me to give it direction. The dog's job, as I said, is to make sure we walk safely. It's a team effort. We each have a job to do, and we develop a trusting relationship when we learn to trust each other and respect the job the other member of the team is doing, which is what it's all about. Which is what happens on any team, trust is all around us. Trust is under attack in so many ways from our politicians, and in so many ways. But the reality is, trust is all around us. I think we all trust that the roof isn't going to fall in on the church. I think that we trust that the PA system is going to continue to work, and so on. Trust is all around us. The difference between dogs and people is that dogs, while they do love unconditionally, do not trust unconditionally. But dogs are open to trust unless some incredibly traumatic thing has happened to them where they lose that ability. But dogs are open to trust, dogs want humans to give them direction to establish rules, and all too often with our pets and so on, we don't do that. We don't really develop the relationship that we should and can with them. Michael Hingson 54:54 If we would, we would have so much stronger bond and relationships with them. It would be. Amazing for for all of us, but the bottom line is that's the relationship that I get with each guide dog. That's the relationship I have with Alamo. He trusts that I am going to feed him before too awfully long. He trusts that you guys are going to buy books, so he'll have kibbles for me to feed him. Just saying, but but seriously, the the trust has to be earned with a dog or with people or whatever, and if you find that you you discover you can't trust someone, don't wish them ill will, forgive them and move on. So you don't trust them, but you know what you have, and you go off and make new friends and learn other trusting relationships that you can develop. Focus on running with Roselle; the rest will take care of itself. The reality is, we worry so much about so many things. We are always doing what if we create most of the fears that we face in our lives, and we Don't need to do that. If we would focus on just the things that we have some control over and leave the rest alone, well, we might want to be aware of them, but we don't have to worry about them. We don't have control over them. Trust and deal with the things that you have to deal with, and let the rest take care of itself. And that was what I learned on September 11th, listening to the voice of God, absolutely, and that is something that I pass on to all of you, and I think that's the most important thing that I can leave you with. Hi again, everyone. This is Mike Hingson. I hope that you found that speech to be helpful and relevant and interesting. I hope that you learn some things from it. From a personal standpoint, I hope that you learn that blindness isn't really the big problem that I face. The challenge that I face really comes from the fact that people who have eyesight tend to believe that blind people are not capable of doing much because they can't see. Wrong thing to believe. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that because we did it during the speech, but I just wanted to thank you for being here today, for listening and watching this episode. I hope that you will also tune in for our episode on Tuesday, where I'm in conversation with Michelle Abraham on next Friday, the 11th of September, that you will tune in to hear the conversation with Bob Ellis, and then episode 475, which will occur on the 15th of September, where we will talk about lessons to be learned and and give you some things to hopefully take away that maybe you haven't thought about. Thanks very much for being here with us. I really very much appreciate all of your support. If any of you have any questions or want to reach out to me, you are welcome to do so. Please feel free to email me at speaker@michaelhinkson.com. That's s p e a k e r at m i c h a e l h i n g s o n.com speaker@michaelhingson.com hope to hear from you and as you gather I do speak I continue to speak publicly I've been a keynote speaker since September 11 if anybody knows of anyone that needs a keynote speaker or you can use us in events that you have please reach out to me at speaker@michaelhingson.com let's talk about it. Let's see how we can help. I'm always looking for ways to inspire, but also to teach and help. And I'd like to be part of your world in that regard. Thanks again for being here. Thanks for listening, and come back next time for another episode of Unstoppable Mindset.
Stacy and Sharon are back with another cup of Long Island Tea! #ShowUsYourLongIslanderThis week's spotlight shines on Steven McKenna, CEO & President of Tasting Long Island Events, the team behind some of Long Island's biggest food, wine and beverage celebrations. Steven is passionate about bringing together the Island's restaurants, chefs, wineries, breweries and hospitality community while creating memorable experiences that showcase what makes Long Island's culinary scene so special. #HiddenGemsUncorkedWe're heading off the beaten path to discover Viking Fleet Montauk, where whale watching, dolphin sightings and deep-sea fishing offer a whole new way to experience Long Island from the water.#LongIslandLifeLong Island is celebrating a record-breaking year for tourism, with visitors spending $8.4 billion in 2025, up 6.3% from the year before and supporting more than 80,000 local jobs. Suffolk County led the way with roughly $5 billion in tourism spending, while the Island generated nearly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue, reinforcing Long Island's role as a tourism powerhouse.A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way!September 1 is National Hotel Employee Day, and we're celebrating the hardworking people behind every check-in, fresh towel, clean room and welcoming stay while reminding everyone that a smile, a thank you and a little patience can go a long way.Celebrating 30 Years of Long Island Dining!Stone Creek Inn in East Quogue is celebrating 30 years of fine dining in 2026, continuing its legacy of French-inspired cuisine, seasonal ingredients and memorable East End dining, with a special two-course $30 prix fixe menu on Monday nights.Long Island Has Been Serving Up Some Serious Pizza History!September 5 is National Cheese Pizza Day, and we're serving up some Long Island pizza history, from the Island's Italian-American roots and legendary Grandma slice to longtime neighborhood pizzerias and LA PORTA's new By the Slice concept in Northport.Raise a Glass to Long Island's Craft Beer Scene!National Beer Lover's Day is September 7, so we're raising a pint to Long Island's thriving craft beer scene, from longtime favorites like Blue Point Brewing Company and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company to breweries such as Six Harbors, Jamesport Farm Brewery and Long Island Farm Brewery.Dolly Parton's Legacy Is Making an Impact Right Here on Long Island!Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is helping nearly 50 children in the Wyandanch School District develop a love of reading by receiving a free book in the mail every month, showing how her legacy continues to make a difference for Long Island families.#WildThingsOfTheWeekWildlife Is All Around Us on Long Island!National Wildlife Day is September 4, and we're celebrating the incredible animals found across Long Island, from capybaras and wallabies at Long Island Game Farm and giraffes and monkeys at White Post Farms to wild deer, foxes, birds, dolphins, whales, seals and other wildlife found throughout the Island.Another Rare Wildlife Sighting Right Here on Long Island!A possible American mink sighting in Northport could mark the animal's return to Long Island after more than three decades, offering another reminder that surprising wildlife encounters can happen right in our own backyard.#ThisWeekendOnLongIslandFriday, September 4• LI Cares Farm to Truck Fresh Food Distribution Event | Patchogue• Spend Labor Day Weekend at Splish Splash | Calverton• Hellenic Film Festival | North Fork Arts Center• Live Music | Saylor Beach House• Standup Comedy Night | Riverhead Ciderhouse• 80th Annual Shinnecock Powwow | Southampton (Through September 7)Saturday, September 5• Tasting, Talk & Tour | Peeko Oysters• Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts | Westhampton Beach (Through September 6)Sunday, September 6• Debra Lynn | Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Stony Brook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Italian Catholic belief, the saints are not simply figures from they are spiritual guides and intercessors who can pray on our behalf, accompany us through difficult times, and help guide us closer to God. Within Italian folk practices, devotion to the saints has also become deeply woven into everyday life, family traditions, rituals, prayers, and spiritual practices passed down through our families.I'm sharing a deeply personal story about my own encounter with the Madonna in a dream, and how that experience became part of my journey back to Italian folk practices. For me, reconnecting with these traditions became a way of reclaiming my family's culture, spirituality, and ancestral heritage.If you feel disconnected from your own cultural or spiritual traditions, I hope this reminds you that finding your way back can begin with something very simple - listening, learning, praying, and being open to where that path may lead you.The saints can be guides but, finding our way home begins with simply answering their call.Chapters:intro: 0:00italian folk protection charms for the villa members: (1:50)the purpose of saints: (2:36)my journey back into italian folk practices, saints and spiritual advice: (9:06)✨ Book a session (astrology, mediumship, Italian evil eye + traditional cures):https://tinyurl.com/4c399c9s
Justin Devillier has been running the award-winning New Orleans restaurant La Petite Grocery for around two decades, and he's about to branch out for the first time.Although born into a Navy family in California, his family has been in Louisiana for generations and he moved to New Orleans in the early 2000s, before every city in the country had an interesting culinary scene, to pursue his career as a chef. He eventually landed at La Petite, as he calls it, and worked his way up through the kitchen and, eventually, bought a majority stake in the restaurant and has been running it with his wife, Mia Devillier, ever since.He won the 2016 James Beard Restaurant and Chefs Award for best chef in the South, but the restaurant was an institution long before that, and it remains one.Now the Devilliers are getting ready to open Daughters Neighborhood Italian about eight blocks away from La Petite Grocery in the space formerly occupied by Upperline Restaurant. It will be an Italian-American place, obviously with a bit of a Creole accent. Devillier recently discussed his approach to running restaurants and his plans for the new restaurant, possibly including a limited daily run of New Orleans' signature Italian-American food, the Muffuletta sandwich.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe on Spotify.Menu Talk is a collaboration between Restaurant Business Senior Menu Editor Pat Cobe and Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor of Nation's Restaurant News. You can subscribe to it wherever you listen to podcasts.
In Episode 291 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I sit down with legendary actor Dominic Chianese, best known for his unforgettable role as Uncle Junior on The Sopranos. Dominic shares stories from his career, including working with James Gandolfini, Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Anthony Quinn, and other legendary performers. We discuss The Sopranos, The Godfather Part II, acting technique, and the importance of being authentic on camera. Dominic also reflects on growing up in the Bronx, his Italian-American roots, his lifelong passion for singing, his grandfather's musical influence, and his experiences working alongside some of Hollywood's greatest actors. It's a warm, funny, and fascinating conversation between two Bronx actors about acting, music, family, friendship, and a lifetime in show business.
A bilingual Italian-American anthology of poems with some of america's favorite poets.
Welcome back to the Villa Fortuna! Today we're opening up the villa doors with a conversation with Dr. Gina Miele on her new book Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations, and Ancient Traditions! Dr. Miele takes us through her research, her own story of reconnection to her families Italian folk practices, why keeping our traditions, superstitions and mysticism is so important, how Italians and Italian Americans view saints and the importance of women as healers in the community in both past, present and future. I hope you enjoy her work and this conversation with Dr. Gina as much as I did and please consider supporting her work! You can pre-order her book Italian Folklore: Rituals, Celebrations, and Ancient Traditions here:https://geni.us/ItalianFolklore?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bioFollow Dr. Gina Miele on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/profgmm/
Why This Episode MattersWhy wine may not be losing younger drinkers so much as failing to introduce itself to them wellHow small, independent producers can offer something industrial wine cannot: place, history and storyWhy wine education works better through tasting, comparison and discovery than scores and intimidationHow restaurants, retailers and wine lovers can make wine more approachable to people just beginning to explore itBanterFrancis returns from the Russian River Valley with a deeper appreciation for Pinot Noir and plenty to say about what he learned. The Guys talk about how tasting wines side by side reveals the differences between vineyards, soils and winemaking choices, why visiting wine country can teach you what books can not and the considerable injustice of Francis losing a toga contest to a baby.The ConversationTony Margiotta, founder of Gladiator Wine Distribution, joins Mark and Francis to talk about wine as culture, place and connection not just what's in the glass.Tony traces his path from Italian-American family dinners and summers in Molise to discovering small Italian producers whose wines rarely made it to the U.S. That curiosity eventually became Gladiator Wines and a mission to tell the stories behind independent producers.The conversation then turns to Tony's book Wine in Your 20s and the challenge of bringing a new generation into wine. Tony argues that wine hasn't necessarily lost younger drinkers: it hasn't introduced itself to them well. He and The Guys explore how approachable wines, tastings, good storytelling and less intimidation can help new drinkers discover wine on their own terms.Guest BioTony Margiotta is the founder of Gladiator Wine Distribution, specializing in independent Italian wine producers with a strong connection to place, culture and tradition. He is also the creator of Gladiator Wine TV and the author of Hidden Gems of Italy and Wine in Your 20s.Timestamps00:00 — Russian River Pinot Noir, side-by-side tasting and learning wine through experience05:00 — Francis buys a real toga—and loses the contest to a baby09:00 — Tony Margiotta and the philosophy behind Gladiator Wines11:30 — Growing up with wine, Italian-American family dinners and Molise17:00 — Why wine seems to taste better in Italy20:30 — Discovering Italy's small producers and creating Gladiator Wines22:00 — “Real wine tastes like a place”: story, context and terroir28:00 — Learning to love wine in your 20s32:00 — Why younger generations aren't connecting with wine40:30 — How to introduce new drinkers: approachable wines, tastings and low-risk discovery44:00 — Backyard vineyards, homemade wine and keeping traditions aliveInfoTony Margiotta / Gladiator Wine DistributionGladiator Wine TV https://www.youtube.com/@GladiatorWineTVWine in Your 20sHidden Gems of ItalyStage Left Wine Shopstageleftwineshop.comSubscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com
Today we're exploring the world of italian american folk magic - it's deep and rich cultural history, the belief behind the magic and mysticism and how catholicism is synchronized and a main focus of the practice - citing and using the work of Dr. Sabina Magliocco. Chapters:intro: (0:00)join the villa extra members content for more!: (0:51)italian american folk magic vs. italian folk magic explained: (1:48)origins, oppression and the belief system: (7:22)catholicism and italy: (19:00)catholic mysticism, saints and folk magic: (27:19)italian folk magic and community: (33:08)✨ Book a session (astrology, mediumship, Italian evil eye + traditional cures):https://tinyurl.com/4c399c9s
In this powerful and uplifting conversation, author Christopher LaFalce joins us to share the true story behind his inspirational memoir When Life Deals You Lemons, Eat Ice Cream: Choosing Joy When Life Had Other Plans. Raised in a close-knit Italian-American family filled with music and love, Chris takes us from the vibrant nightlife of South Florida to the life-altering diagnoses of Parkinson's disease and cancer. With raw honesty, humor, and unwavering faith, he reveals how family, perseverance, and a conscious choice to embrace joy helped him transform adversity into purpose. Join us as Chris discusses the chapters of his journey—from childhood roots and big dreams to facing the storm of chronic illness and discovering peace amid the chaos—and offers hope and practical wisdom for anyone navigating life's toughest challenges. #faith #hope #icecream
With the Feast of the Assumption kicking off in Little Italy, Ken and Anthony rib John, who's Italian American but has never attended, giving him tips on which pricier food stands to skip and pointing him toward the raffles and Benny Romance, a local entertainer he's told he must meet. They compare notes on John's limited exposure to Italian culture while calling games in Minnesota, Iowa, and Massachusetts, and reminisce about Anthony's own history at the feast, including his "back to back" Italian American Man of the Year titles (with a COVID year asterisk Ken jokes rivals LeBron's). The conversation turns to plans for a live show from Cleveland's Columbus Day parade and Little Italy festivities in October, with John invited to play bocce ball and get his mom and grandmother's shore-town team to sponsor a squad in Cleveland.
Wine Road: The Wine, When, and Where of Northern Sonoma County.
Italian Wines in Sonoma County with Mark Orsi | Festa Italia di Healdsburg Wine When and Where Podcast Guest: Mark Orsi, Orsi Family Vineyards What Italian grape varieties grow in Sonoma County? Why are grapes like Sangiovese, Barbera, Aglianico, Negroamaro and Sagrantino finding a home in Northern California? And where can wine lovers taste Italian varietal wines from dozens of California producers in one place? In this episode of the Wine When and Where Podcast, we sit down with Mark Orsi of Orsi Family Vineyards in Healdsburg, California, to explore Italian wine in Sonoma County, the region's Italian-American wine heritage and the story behind Festa Italia di Healdsburg, an annual celebration of Italian grape varieties, wine, food and culture. In This Episode Mark shares why Sonoma County is particularly well suited to Italian grape varieties and how his own Italian heritage inspired the wines grown at Orsi Family Vineyards. We talk about: Why Sonoma County has become an unexpected home for Italian grape varieties The Italian immigrant families who helped shape Healdsburg and Sonoma County wine history The 13 Italian grape varieties grown by Orsi Family Vineyards Familiar Italian wines including Sangiovese and Barbera Lesser-known grapes including Biancolella, Schioppettino, Negroamaro and Aglianico Why Italian wines are so naturally suited to food Which Italian wines might appeal to Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers Why Mark believes Aglianico deserves more attention The story behind Festa Italia di Healdsburg and Mark's goal of introducing more wine lovers to Italian varietal wines grown in California What Is Festa Italia di Healdsburg? Festa Italia di Healdsburg is an Italian wine festival held at Orsi Family Vineyards in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Founded by Mark Orsi, the event brings together California wineries producing Italian grape varieties for an afternoon of wine tasting, Italian food, music and wine education. The third annual Festa Italia di Healdsburg takes place: Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026 Time: 11:00 AM–3:30 PM VIP Access: Begins at 10:00 AM Location: Orsi Family Vineyards in Healdsburg, California, approximately half a mile from downtown Healdsburg Tickets: $75-$85 Guests can taste Italian varietal wines from approximately 25–30 wineries, enjoy live music, pizza from Shelley Lindgren of A16 San Francisco, Gio Gelato and additional Italian food vendors. The event also includes a wine panel hosted by wine expert Chris Sawyer, with Mick Unti and Shelley Lindgren, focusing on Italian white wines. Participating wineries include Orsi Family Vineyards, Kokomo, Ramazzotti, Colagrassi, Seghesio, Unti Vineyards, Jupiter Wine Co, Benessere, Saini, Graziano, Buonguido, Solo Nostro, Muscardini Cellars, Idlewild, Martha Stoumen, Massican, Hawley Winery, Tansy and other California producers working with Italian grape varieties. Festa Italia tickets and information: festaitaliahbg.com Orsi Family Vineyards: orsifamilyvineyards.com Italian Wine Rapid Fire with Mark Orsi Pineapple on pizza? Hard pass. Favorite pasta pairing? Cacio e pepe with...anything. Most underrated Italian grape? Aglianico. What Italian wine could convert a Cabernet drinker? Sagrantino. Most overrated wine trend? Orange wines — the hype, not necessarily the wine itself. Dream celebrity spokesperson for Italian wine? George Clooney. Consider this his official invitation. Mark Orsi's Cacio e Pepe Recipe Looking for a simple pasta to pair with Italian wine? Mark shares his recipe for cacio e pepe, the classic Roman pasta made with Parmigiano-Reggiano and black pepper. Ingredients 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 4 1/2 cups finely grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving 1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 1 pound dried tonnarelli Directions1) Bring a large pot of water to a boil. (Do not add salt) 2) Meanwhile, in a very large nonstick skillet or pot set over high heat, toast the peppercorns just until fragrant. Let cool, then grind or crush very coarsely. Reserve 1 teaspoon for serving. 3) In the same skillet or pot, combine the cheeses and remaining pepper. Add 1 ½ cups warm water and stir to make a thick pecorino cream. 4) Add the pasta to the boiling water and stir. Keep the heat very high until the water returns to a boil, then stir again and adjust the heat as needed to keep the water bubbling. Set a timer for 8 minutes. 5) Set the pecorino cream over very low heat. 6) When the timer goes off, scoop out about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside. Taste the pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is done to your liking. 7) Drain pasta very well (this is important, as adding too much hot water can cause the cheese to clump) and add to the pecorino cream. Use tongs or two forks to stir, turn and toss the pasta in the sauce over low heat until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes sticky. Don't add any water yet, just keep tossing. To test, squeeze a drop of sauce between your thumb and finger. When the sauce is thick and forms strings like glue, it is ready. 8) If it starts to dry out, add cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and toss thoroughly before adding more. Twist the pasta into a nest, if desired. 9) Dust with additional pecorino and the reserved pepper. 10) Serve immediately with a glass of Italian wine, preferably Orsi Hugo Spritz Recipe For another taste of Italy at home, make a refreshing Hugo Spritz with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur and fresh mint. Ingredients 4–5 fresh mint leaves ½–1 ounce elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain 4 ounces chilled Prosecco 1 ounce club soda or sparkling water Ice Lime wheel or lemon slice for garnish Instructions Place the mint leaves in a large wine glass. Gently press the mint with a muddler or spoon to release its aroma. Fill the glass with ice. Add elderflower liqueur, followed by Prosecco and club soda. Stir gently. Garnish with lime or lemon and serve. About Orsi Family Vineyards Orsi Family Vineyards is a Healdsburg winery specializing in Italian grape varieties grown in Sonoma County. Its estate vineyards feature 13 Italian varieties, offering visitors an opportunity to explore both familiar and lesser-known Italian wines without leaving California wine country. Learn more at orsifamilyvineyards.com. Listen to Wine When and Where Wine When and Where is the podcast of Wine Road Northern Sonoma County, exploring the wineries, winemakers, food, people and experiences of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California. Follow along for more conversations about Sonoma County wineries, wine tasting, food, events and things to do in Northern Sonoma County.
No bigger way to kick off another thousand years than to revisit the man behind all the calendar hijinks himself - Jesus, airing on CBS in May of 2000! From its wild casting choices to its place in the grand run of biblical TV films of the era, Sarah & Joe dive into a freewheeling dissection of the Italian-American co-production. Were we cheated out of a much bigger career for titular portrayer Jeremy Sisto? How in the world did they get Gary Oldman to appear in this thing? Is Jacqueline Bisset too historically hot to play Mary, the mother of God? Is Debra Messing's makeup the true MVP of the film? There is a lot to get into, and a lot to avoid, in any religious conversation between the hosts, and they don't always succeed. You should expect no less from an It Happened One Year discussion!
Rizzuto is back from France, which means it's finally time to answer the question nobody asked: Can one man visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world and still come home with enough complaints to fill a morning show? Oui.Episode 114 begins back home in St. Louis with an Amber Alert that woke up half the city before taking a bizarre turn, plus Scott's live music adventure at Copper Fire, where the performance went great once the minor technical issue of the speakers actually producing sound was finally addressed. We also learn that Rizzuto is approaching the end of age 47, supposedly the happiest year of his life. Great news to discover right before it expires.Then comes important local Italian-American business: the world's oldest ravioli maker is opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility in St. Charles. Naturally, Rizzuto immediately begins wondering why his invitation to the ribbon cutting hasn't arrived. If there's a giant ravioli involved and this man isn't allowed to emerge from it holding an oversized pizza cutter, then frankly, what are we even doing here?But the main event is Rizzuto's triumphant return from Paris.He kept notes.A lot of notes.There are positives. The Paris Catacombs were incredible, featuring the bones of millions of people and the mildly unsettling realization that apparently enough tourists try to steal human remains that bags need to be checked on the way out. A nighttime river cruise delivered gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower. There were baguettes. There was an absolutely elite steak sandwich. And yes, Paris itself occasionally managed to impress our extremely difficult international correspondent.Unfortunately for France, this is a comedy podcast, so we also need to discuss the complaints.Why is getting cold water apparently an international negotiation? Where is the ice? Why won't restaurants bring the check? Why does everything close when Rizzuto needs something? Is air conditioning merely a rumor Europeans started to make Americans feel comfortable booking flights? Is the Mona Lisa overrated? Is the Eiffel Tower overrated? Is the food overrated? And why did an Airbnb leave the family sweating in a hallway for 45 minutes while they tried to figure out how to get inside?Then there's transportation.One cab driver allegedly takes the scenic interpretation of “wrong direction,” keeps the meter running, and eventually gets into a heated French argument with Rizzuto. Rizzuto attempts to hold firm on the fare and ultimately negotiates himself a breathtaking discount of roughly fifteen bucks. International diplomacy is alive and well.The crew eventually tallies Rizzuto's Paris complaints, because apparently his vacation needed independent auditing.Travel chaos continues with a kid refusing to buckle a seatbelt and helping get an entire flight canceled overnight. From there, we examine airport security and the long-running liquid restrictions that have forced generations of travelers to choose between personal hygiene and bringing enough shampoo to survive Tuesday.Somehow this becomes a discussion involving Die Hard with a Vengeance, Jeremy Irons, TSA logic, confiscated hairspray and the exact amount of liquid apparently required before civilization collapses.And after all the monuments, bones, baguettes, questionable air conditioning, transportation drama and French customer service, Rizzuto finally lands back in St. Louis and realizes something important:He loves it here.Nothing makes home look better than an international vacation and a lukewarm glass of water.It's travel stories, St. Louis nonsense, weird news, daily humor and several completely unnecessary arguments packed into another comedy podcast from The Rizzuto Show.Come for the Paris vacation recap. Stay for the debate over whether holding a perfect French sandwich like a newborn baby is an acceptable response to lunch.This comedy podcast may not improve international relations, but at least we have ice.Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Rizzuto is back from France, which means it's finally time to answer the question nobody asked: Can one man visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world and still come home with enough complaints to fill a morning show? Oui.An Amber Alert that woke up half the city before taking a bizarre turn, plus Scott's live music adventure at Copper Fire, where the performance went great once the minor technical issue of the speakers actually producing sound was finally addressed. We also learn that Rizzuto is approaching the end of age 47, supposedly the happiest year of his life. Great news to discover right before it expires.Then comes important local Italian-American business: the world's oldest ravioli maker is opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility in St. Charles. Naturally, Rizzuto immediately begins wondering why his invitation to the ribbon cutting hasn't arrived. If there's a giant ravioli involved and this man isn't allowed to emerge from it holding an oversized pizza cutter, then frankly, what are we even doing here?There are positives. The Paris Catacombs were incredible, featuring the bones of millions of people and the mildly unsettling realization that apparently enough tourists try to steal human remains that bags need to be checked on the way out. A nighttime river cruise delivered gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower. There were baguettes. There was an absolutely elite steak sandwich. And yes, Paris itself occasionally managed to impress our extremely difficult international correspondent.One cab driver takes the scenic interpretation of “wrong direction,” keeps the meter running, and eventually gets into a heated French argument with Rizz.Travel chaos continues with a kid refusing to buckle a seatbelt and helping get an entire flight canceled overnight. From there, we examine airport security and the long-running liquid restrictions that have forced generations of travelers to choose between personal hygiene and bringing enough shampoo to survive Tuesday.A golfer allegedly fakes a hole-in-one for thousands of dollars using a sick-grandma phone call as cover, and somehow that's only the beginning of today's nonsense.Hill's Brazilian jiu-jitsu confidence gets the Rizz Show treatment as the guys debate martial arts, celebrity bravado, Michael Cera's hypothetical fighting abilities and why the people who could actually fold you into a carry-on bag are usually the least interested in telling everybody about it.We also celebrate Missouri's birthday with a rundown of inventions, foods and famous names tied to the Show-Me State. Toasted ravioli? Obviously. Gooey butter cake? Put some respect on it. The microchip? Apparently Missouri has been doing a little more than deep-frying carbohydrates this whole time.Crap on Celebrities arrives with another truckload of entertainment gossip and pop culture commentary. Mark Zuckerberg's massive yacht gets dragged into controversy after a stranded boat reportedly needed help in Alaska. Britney Spears warns fans about a bad Botox experience. The crew gets into movie box-office numbers, Spider-Man, Super Troopers, Bugonia, Weapons and The Dink, because apparently nobody can simply say “I liked the movie” without turning it into a federal hearing.There's also Harry Potter actress Jessie Cave discussing the surprising money she's making on OnlyFans without nudity, Blink-182 heading back into the studio, Five Nights at Freddy's becoming an actual immersive restaurant experience, and a debate over the greatest new wave singers that quickly proves nobody is completely sure where “new wave” begins or ends.A study suggesting people are speaking 30% fewer words per day than they did 20 years ago. Texting, remote work, apps, online ordering, and our collective desire to avoid asking strangers how their day is going may be slowly murdering small talk. Naturally, this turns into a debate over whether small talk is an important social skill or just an obstacle standing between you and the salad you ordered downstairs.Moon admits that talking to strangers has basically become his personal training regimen, Rafe defends the lost art of actually communicating with another human being, Scott brings the small-town friendliness, and Rizz is patiently waiting for telepathy so he can stop participating altogether.First up: is having roommates a romantic deal breaker? A dating trend suggests some singles see living alone as proof that you've got your life together financially and personally. That raises the obvious question: do men and women judge this the same way? Rafe has some thoughts, including exactly how much questionable housekeeping a man might overlook when he finds someone attractive. We regret to inform you the answer is: quite a bit.A 29-year-old comedian and influencer went viral after canceling a first date with a 38-year-old finance guy because his restaurant selection was too casual. Her argument? The restaurant a potential partner chooses says something about compatibility, lifestyle, and effort. The show's counterargument quickly becomes slightly less scientific: what exactly qualifies someone as “Chili's material”?Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.Fabricated report triggered Amber Alert, 1-year-old boy was never in dangerWorld's oldest ravioli maker opening first US facility in St. CharlesWinter Weather Predictions 2026–2027: What's Shaping Winter So Far?Porter Flight Canceled After Toddler Blocked by YYJ Curfew: What Stranded Passengers Are OwedHe faked a hole in one. Now he's paying for itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A dynamic communicator and transformational speaker, Nicole Stephenson, IOM empowers audiences to rethink success and step boldly into their full potential. Known for blending real-world experience with compelling storytelling and practical strategies, she delivers content that inspires immediate action and lasting growth. As Founder of Narrativa Consulting and a part-time Lecturer at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Nicole equips leaders, teams, and emerging professionals with the communication and organizational tools needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Her passion for building meaningful relationships and creating opportunities for connection drives her mission to help others succeed. Her first book, Unapologetic: Boldly Lead the Life and Career You Deserve, is a roadmap to authenticity, courage, and sustainable personal and professional development and growth. With more than 15 years of experience across marketing, promotions, sales, operations, and events, she brings a rare combination of strategic insight and human-centered leadership to every engagement opportunity. She has been widely recognized for her influence and impact, including being named one of Main Line Today Magazine's 2024 Power Women, receiving the Woman's Achievement Award from the Delaware County Women's Commission, the Rebecca Gross Alumni Award from Lock Haven University, and Sigma Kappa Sorority's 35 Under 35 Award. Proudly shaped by her Italian American upbringing in Philadelphia, Nicole brings authenticity, tenacity, and heart to everyone she serves. As the mother of her daughter, Lilliana, she is deeply committed to building a brighter, more inclusive future for all. Nicole inspires people not just to imagine what is possible, but to confidently pursue it.Nicole Stephenson!Website – https://narrativaconsulting.com/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-stephenson/Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/_nicole_stephenson/Amazon -- Unapologetic -- https://www.amazon.com/UNAPOLOGETIC-Boldly-Lead-Career-Deserve/dp/B0GP3RZ4SR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18RIW6SLLEJVT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z0jcrR9h-bxTHpyIGMVsqQ.D3BuwZcy9ngAsOWQTyhCzPPJCggnO4PTVie0zMTyTHg&dib_tag=se&keywords=nicole+stephenson+unapologetic&qid=1786239228&sprefix=nicole+stephenson+unapologic%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1Anne Zuckerman!Website -- https://annezuckerman.com/ Website -- https://justwantedtoask.com/Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/AnneInPinkInstagram -- https://www.instagram.com/annezuckerman/LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annezuckerman/Bezi Woman -- https://beziwoman.com/ | https://www.beziwoman.shop/two-step-order1591558404525Bezi Bra Discs - Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/bezibradiscs
Italians and Italian Americans believe heavily in the evil eye, and today we're going to uncover why.Where does this belief come from?Who is most likely to get the evil eye?What is the evil eye?How can we protect ourselves from it, and how do we remove it if we get hit?I'm sharing everything I know about the malocchio—personal stories of how my family taught me about it, the history behind the belief, protection, and so much more.Chapters:Intro: (0:00)The Time I Was Hit with the Evil Eye: (1:54)The Evil Eye, the Quiet Curse: (6:30)Who Gives You the Evil Eye?: (10:42)Evil Eye Protection Amulets and Symbols: (19:14)How Do We Remove It?: (24:27)✨ Book a session (astrology, mediumship, Italian evil eye + traditional cures):https://tinyurl.com/4c399c9s
Knock knock! Who's there? MARTY, THAT'S WHO! Welcome to the first installment in PODCASTFELLAS - our supersized series on the films of short king and Italian-American asthmatic Martin Scorsese. This guy made some pretty good movies, huh. This week, Griffin, David, and Ben discuss Scorsese's Little Italy upbringing and his two first features - 1967's Who's That Knocking at My Door? and 1972's Boxcar Bertha. One feels like a film school parody of Scorsese movie. The other, a not-scuzzy-enough exploitation picture. Neither really feel like his true debut. Check out Mostly True: The West's Most Popular Hobo Graffiti Magazine by Bill Daniel Author Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/nq66a4tb #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement, for the Sutton debit flex card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton and for the Bancorp debit flex card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp. Savings and Offers provided by Cash App, a Block Inc. brand. Offers may not be affiliated with third party merchants. Parents and legal guardians can open a managed account for kids 6-12. Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn interest on your Cash App savings balance, you need to have sponsor approval. Exceptions may apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Sign up for Check Book, the Blank Check newsletter featuring even more “real nerdy shit” to feed your pop culture obsession. Dossier excerpts, film biz AND burger reports, and even more exclusive content you won't want to miss out on. Join our Patreon for franchise commentaries and bonus episodes. Follow us @blankcheckpod on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook! Buy some real nerdy merch Connect with other Blankies on our Reddit or Discord For anything else, check out BlankCheckPod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matthew Cutolo is a third-generation chef at Gargiulo's, the Coney Island restaurant his family has run since 1965 and that has fed Brooklyn since 1907. In 1977, The New York Times gave it three stars, unheard of at the time for a restaurant outside Manhattan.He learned to bake from Mike the Bake, the restaurant's pastry chef of over forty years, who refused to write down a single recipe, including for family. Matthew asked to learn anyway. Mike's answer was, "If you want to learn, you have to watch." For the first two months, Matthew stood at the mixing bowl and watched Mike add ingredients with no measurements at all, a scoop of this, a lap around the kitchen, a conversation with someone else, back to the bowl. Only after two months did Mike start telling him what was actually going in.Why the same holiday recipe came out different every year, because it was never really written down, it was feelWhy Matthew never uses a thermometer frying cannoli, and the one thing his uncle said that changed his mind about tradition versus evolutionHow a summer internship on The Chew turned into a decision to go all in on content, and why cooking videos never worked for him but talking to the camera didAndré Natera and Matthew Cutolo cover the difference between Italian food and Italian American food and why that argument goes back to Ellis Island, the family's daily 2:30 lunch that nobody is allowed to skip, guys' night and the right way to make a negroni, the meatball debate settled once and for all, sauce versus gravy, dried pasta versus fresh, Parmigiano versus Pecorino, what actually makes a video do well on YouTube versus Instagram, and why toxic kitchens exist in family restaurants too.It ends where every episode ends, with the Mount Rushmore, and the correct cannoli filling.Guest@matthewcutolohttps://www.matthewcutolo.com/Gargiulo's on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/gargiulosrestaurant/LinksLead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachefGet the Books → https://chefspsa.com/booksShop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Get Episodes Early on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Follow Chef's PSA on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chefspsa/
welcome to my new podcast the Villa Fortuna Podcast with your host - Chelsea Guagliardo! This podcast will be dedicated to teaching about Italian American culture, folk magic and superstition - it will be a place where the diaspora can gather and share stories, research and a place to uplift our community!I'll be featuring different guests here on my channel, while also talking about the old forgotten ways of the past from the evil eye to saint feast days.In today's video I'm introducing you to my new podcast name, the tea on how the community has been stealing my content and churning into AI generated classes to sell to you, supporting Italian American artists and more!Drop a comment below to let me know what you're most excited to see on this channel and any questions you have!Welcome to the Villa Fortuna!Chapters:intro: (0:00)what this space is for +: major changes: (2:23)the tea on AI content stealing: (3:45)fortuna and the italian american artist cara mia lab: (9:45)shop cara mia lab: https://www.caramialab.com/book a reading with me (astrology,mediumship, tarot, italian evil eye, italian cures + more):https://tinyurl.com/4c399c9smy store:Villa Fortuna | my italian folk magic storehttps://tinyurl.com/3khs3nbmfollow me on instagram for more italian american folksuperstitions, mysticism, healing and more:https://www.instagram.com/highpriestesschelsea/
Italian-American podcaster Gianna Coplaguysi (Ty) facilitates a conversation between Joey “The Square” Cacciatore (Branson) and Carmy Parm (Charles) about their experience in the mafia, which does not exist. Subscribe to E1 on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/e1podcast Join the E1 Discord: discord.com/invite/xTBVk23
Author Elizabeth Wellington Rollins joined us at our headquarters to discuss her debut novel, The Three Graces of Pearl Street. What followed was a cozy conversation about nonnas, neighbors, and the relationships that carry us home. Three generations of Italian American women find themselves under one roof again, after years of growing apart. As a grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter confront old tensions and new secrets, they navigate the love and friction of family. Get The Three Graces of Pearl Street at bookofthemonth.com. Learn more about Book of the Month LIVE at bookofthemonth.com/botm-live.
VR39 - Vapid Response Wednesday returns with a tasteful pairing of stories about alleged anti-Italian discrimination that go together like chianti and red sauce. Today's specials include: Aperitivo: a tasteless morsel from the least deserving recipient in the history of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Primo: a chef's kiss Washington Examiner oped on how NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani “erased” Little Italy Secondo: a spicy molto grosso meatball of a Boston lawsuit over alleged anti-Italian-American discrimination gives a federal court indigestion Dolce: our patrons! Listen ad-free and support the show at patreon.com/law “Mayor Mamdani, Why Did You Erase Little Italy?” Anthony Colombo Jr., Mike Crispi, Gerard Marrone, Washington Examiner (7/10/26) Second Amended Complaint in North End Chamber of Commerce et al v. City of Boston, filed 3/7/24 Order on Defendant's Motion to Dismiss in North End Chamber of Commerce et al v. City of Boston(12/20/24) North End Chamber of Commerce et al v. City of Boston, No. 25-1063 (1st Cir., 7/30/26) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!
Key Topics History of coffee milk and coffee syrup Cultural significance of coffee milk in Rhode Island Origins of coffee milk in Italian-American communities Comparison of state drinks across the US Ingredients and production of coffee syrup Historical figures like Roger Williams and their legacy Regional coffee culture and identity Part of The Covoya Coffee Podcasting Network TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY Visit and Explore Covoya!
In Episode 288 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, Chazz welcomes back his longtime friend, bodyguard, and retired NYPD officer Sandy Blue Eyes. The two share stories from more than 40 years of friendship, traveling together, meeting fans, working live shows, and experiencing life on the road. Sandy reflects on his years in law enforcement, growing up in New York, Italian-American family traditions, and some unforgettable moments from both his personal and professional life. Filled with humor, nostalgia, and the chemistry that only lifelong friends can have, this episode is a celebration of loyalty, friendship, and the stories that come from a life well lived.
High Profile Criminal Defense Attorney Gerard Marrone makes his debut on Sid & Friends in the Morning to offer his thoughts on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's vilification of certain cultural enclaves in our diverse city, including Marrone's in the Italian-American NYC community.
Anthony Rodia is a stand-up comedian and content creator best known for his viral Italian-American character sketches, sharp family humor, and energetic crowd work. After building a large online following through Facebook and YouTube, he became a nationally touring headliner and has appeared on television and major comedy specials. His next special will be out soon and go to rodiacomedy.com to see him on tour now! IN THE NEWS: Trump Roasts Kaitlin Collins During Correspondents Dinner, New Fauci Diaries Reveal Celebrity Obsession At Height Of COVID Crisis, Sophie Cunningham Digital Blackface?FOR MORE WITH ANTHONY RODIA:SPECIAL: Laugh Till It HurtsOut Early August (Announcement Coming Soon) TOUR: Insanely Funny Comedy Tour (rodiacomedy.com)July 31- Perth, Australia- Churchland Concert HallAug 1- Sydney, Australia- The Concourse TheaterAug 2, Brisbane, Australia- Tivoli FOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS:WEBSITE: elishakrauss.comYOUTUBE: Elisha Krauss INSTAGRAM: @elishakrauss TWITTER: @elishakrauss LIVE SHOWS: July 30 - Freehold, NJ (2 Shows)July 31 - New York, NY (2 Shows)August 1 - Uncasville, CTAugust 2 - Albany, NYThank you for supporting our sponsors:BetOnlinehttps://hometitlelock.com/adamcarolla oriellyauto.com/ADAMSimpliSafe.com/ADAMpluto.tvPodcastOneSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In Episode 286 of The Chazz Palminteri Show, Chazz welcomes singer and entertainer Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti. Known for his breakout success on America's Got Talent, Sal discusses his journey from performing in local venues to becoming a nationally recognized entertainer. The conversation explores family, Italian-American culture, music, perseverance, and the importance of remaining authentic in the entertainment industry. Sal also shares stories about receiving the Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum, how that moment transformed his career, and his growing interest in acting through a new film project. Filled with humor, inspiration, and classic New York energy, this episode is a celebration of hard work, family values, and following your passion.
They talk about Mayor Mamdani's immigration map and Andre's frustration that Little Italy and other communities were left off, even though Mamdani said he would make changes. Andre also discusses what he sees as Mamdani's history of targeting certain ethnic groups and how it affects people's culture, background, and history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Livinia hears explosions every time her Dodge minivan hits a pothole. In an effort to zero in on the source, Click and Clack have to suss out the possibilities: one of which, it seems, has to do with an Italian-American neighborhood somewhere. Join us for this episode of the Best of Car Talk.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
The "eating the cats and dogs" blood libel worked so well that SCOTUS agreed to end humanitarian protections for Haitians. Justice Alito, who complained about the way Italian-Americans were depicted in "The Sopranos" just couldn't see any racism in Trump's repeated disparagement of Haiti or its immigrants. By the way, Megyn Kelly: You didn't do anything to build this country. And while JD thinks Nixon's Watergate crimes are now no big deal, the federal government just sentenced an American to 30 years in prison for moving anarchist zines out of his home. Plus, Jane's nostalgia theory explains why Vanilla Ice thinks the early 90s were the best era, the white male obsession with Caitlin Clark, and the men who can't quit blaming the 19th Amendment for the country's ills.Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.show notes Jane's pod, “What A Day” Roy Cooper's new ad The reporting on Rep. Hamadeh Tim's playlist