Podcasts about Italian Americans

In this episode of Big Blend Radio, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Linda Stasi discusses her powerful new historical novel The Descendant, arriving March 10, 2026 and available now for pre-order. Inspired by real family history, the book uncovers a sweeping Italian immigrant saga that stretches from Sicily to the coal mines and ranchlands of the American West. Linda shares how deep journalistic research led her to shocking discoveries about labor exploitation, early Mafia networks, and the overlooked role of immigrant women in shaping the West. The conversation explores the tragic legacy of the Ludlow Massacre, the roots of cultural stereotypes, and why stories of resilience and reinvention still matter today. From rebellious cowgirls to bootlegging empires, The Descendant challenges the myth of the “John Wayne West” and re-centers the multicultural reality of American history.

From Corporate Boardrooms to Small Business Breakthroughs: Ingredients for Success with James OrsiniStay On Course Podcast | Host: Julie Riga | Guest: James OrsiniWhat does it really take to build a thriving small business and how do the lessons of the Fortune 500 world translate to the entrepreneurial journey? In this candid and inspiring conversation, Julie Riga sits down with seasoned executive James Orsini to unpack the mindset shifts, operational disciplines, and leadership principles that separate businesses that scale from those that stall. Whether you are a founder, a corporate executive ready to pivot, or a small business owner in the thick of the grind, this episode is packed with transformative insights to help you stay on course.From Corporate Boardrooms to Small Business Breakthroughs: Ingredients for Success with James OrsiniAbout James OrsiniJames Orsini is a seasoned executive leader with more than 35 years of experience as President, CEO, COO, and CFO across high-growth organizations. After an 11-year run at VaynerX alongside Gary Vaynerchuk, where he helped grow the company from $42M to $350M and 2,000 people across 15 offices, James now advises founders and small business leaders through Vyve, Factotum, and J & J Consulting Services, co-founded with his wife Joanne.Fun Fact: James is a proud Italian-American whose ultimate comfort food is his wife's Sunday pasta sauce, slow-cooked for hours every single week.Ingredients for SuccessFocus and Strategic Prioritization Entrepreneurs rarely run out of ideas; they run out of focus. James advocates for working backwards from your endgame and using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize what truly moves the needle each quarter.Knowing When to Hire and Delegate Founders who hold on too tight risk choking their own growth. Tracking yellow hustle time versus green paid time on your calendar reveals exactly when it is time to bring in your first hire and step fully into your leadership role.Integrity Above All Doing the right thing with your employees, vendors, and partners, even when nobody is watching, creates a reputation that outlives any single business venture. James calls this the most enduring ingredient for success.Community and Accountability Leadership can be lonely. Investing in a mastermind, coaching program, or peer group compresses your learning curve and gives you the sounding board every leader needs. Iron sharpens iron.Culture as Your Competitive Advantage VaynerMedia maintained a 17% voluntary turnover rate in an industry averaging over 35%. Hire for kindness and empathy first, then teach the skills. Culture is your most sustainable edge.Memorable Quotes"Doing the right thing is always the right thing, even when people are not looking.""Some founders squeeze the baby so tight, they choke it. Know when to let go and move to the work only you can do.""Work backwards from the legacy you want to leave. That clarity drives every decision."Key TakeawaysTransition from operator to leader. Work on the business, not in it. This mindset shift is the turning point for every founder ready to scale.Build your network with gratitude and empathy. Relationships cultivated with care become your greatest long-term asset.Stay open to pivoting. The business you build two years from now will look nothing like what you imagined today, and that is a strength.Connect with James OrsiniLinkedIn: James OrsiniVyve: @Revive (social handles)Factotum: factotum.comJ & J Consulting Services (LinkedIn)Connect with Julie RigaStay On Course PodcastBefore I Lead Programjulieriga.com/leadSubscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts and share this episode with every founder and leader who is ready to build something that lasts.#StayOnCourse #LeadershipMindset #SmallBusinessSuccess #PurposeDrivenLeadership #BeforeILead

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Dr. Maria Giura, acclaimed poet and memoirist, joins Marianne and Patrick for an intimate conversation centered on her new poetry collection, If We Still Lived Where I Was Born. Reading selected poems aloud, she evokes childhood memories above her family's Brooklyn pastry shop and the rituals of Sunday gatherings that shaped her imagination. The discussion moves beyond nostalgia to the delicate art of writing about family while respecting privacy. Dr. Giura reflects on the weight of Italian American cultural expectations, the instinct to "keep things in the family," and the resolve required to tell one's story with honesty. She also speaks about the guidance of her mentor, poet Maria Masiotti Gillin, and the particular challenges and rewards of working as both memoirist and poet within a close-knit community. At its heart, the conversation considers the universal tension between loyalty and self-expression. Through memory, tradition, and careful craft, Dr. Giura demonstrates how personal history can be transformed into art that resonates across generations and cultures.   ABOUT THE GUEST: Maria Giura PhD, Poet, Author, Workshop Leader HER SOCIALS: Instagram: @mariagiurawrites Facebook: maria.giura.3975/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgiura/   HER WEBSITE: Website: https://www.mariagiura.com/   HER EVENTS COMING UP: Monday, February 23, 6:30 pm: Co-featuring with poet Linda Kleinbub. Phoenix Poetry Series, Shades of Green Pub, 125 E. 15th Street, New York, NY. See socials below. Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 pm. Reading, Big Red Books, Nyack, NY https://www.bigredbooks.net/events/3930820260325 Thursday, May 14, 6 pm. Co-featuring. Italian American Writers Association @ Calandra Italian American Institute, 25 W 43rd St Suite 1700, New York, NY https://iawa.net/events/ SOCIALS FOR THE EVENTS SEE BELOW: Feb 23 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076398760395 AND https://www.instagram.com/the_phoenix_reading_series/ https://www.instagram.com/the_phoenix_reading_series/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/lindakleinbub AND https://www.instagram.com/lindakleinbub/ March 25 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092635875093 AND https://www.instagram.com/bigredbooks/ May 14 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071063499667 AND https://www.instagram.com/italianamericanwritersassoc/   HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto   SPECIAL GUEST: Maria Giura   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

ENTERTAINING SHORT FILMS is a new category on the RPA Network, which features indie short films for your enjoyment! We applaud these creators! Meatball is a dramatic comedy that follows Cece as she comes out to her traditional Italian-American family during a Sunday dinner.

Send a textIn today's episode, I'm chatting with Lindsay Marie Morris, a novelist and journalist based in Los Angeles whose work is deeply rooted in her Sicilian-American heritage. Lindsay's debut novel, The Last Letter from Sicily, was inspired by her grandmother's story and explores love, resilience, and long-held family secrets during World War II. Her second novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars, returns to this era, following a family divided between California and Sicily as the war forces them to confront questions of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice.Episode Highlights:The often-overlooked history of Sicilians and Italian Americans during World War II, including the impact of the Alien Enemy Act and the internment of Italian Americans, history rarely taught in American schools.How family stories are often passed down in fragments, and the role fiction can play in uncovering the fuller, more complicated truth.Exploring Sicilian culture through food, including why arancini are shaped differently depending on where you are on the island.A Sicily-focused book flight, plus additional reading recommendations on Italian and Italian-American history.How Lindsay connects with readers through her newsletter, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, upcoming events, and travel notes from the road.Connect with Lindsay:WebsiteFacebookInstagramShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Una Storia Segreta by Lawrence DiStasiLaura Ingalls Wilder booksNeopolitan Quartet by Elena FerranteEternal by Lisa ScottolineRenata Tebaldi: The Voice of an Angel by Carlamaria CasanovaBook FlightThe Peoples of Sicily by Louis Mendola & Jacqueline AlioThe Leopard by Giovanni Di LampedusaSicily on My Mind by Joseph Cione✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

Send a texthttps://www.bookclues.comTell a friend about CROSS WORD BOOK Podcast-the podcast for the serious readerThink misinformation started with the internet? We rewind five centuries to watch it form in real time. With historian Matthew Restall, we separate the historic Christopher Columbus from the patriotic mascot and the Italian American symbol, and we track how printing presses, royal propaganda, immigration waves, and modern media each remixed one navigator into many icons. The result isn't a takedown or a hagiography—it's a sharper lens for seeing how belief sneaks in where evidence thins.We start by reframing Columbus within the bustling Atlantic world of the late 1400s: thousands of mariners, evolving ship design, and trade winds honed by experience. The first voyage made headlines; the second changed history by hardwiring Europe and the Americas together. Along the way, we challenge the empty-ocean myth, revisit the Barcelona court moment, and follow the often-misunderstood roles of the Pinzón brothers. Restall explains why loaded terms like genocide demand precision and how catastrophic disease spread complicates tidy moral scripts without erasing responsibility.Then we open the myth factory. Columbus's own ambition—rebranding Cristoforo Colombo as Don Cristóbal Colón—set the stage for centuries of speculation about origins and loyalties. The “biography” credited to his son turns out to be a stitched, translated palimpsest that fueled later legends. We map the rise of Columbiana in 1892, link patriotic rituals like the Pledge of Allegiance to that wave, and show how statues and holidays became proxies for debates over identity, nationhood, and migration. By disentangling the historic sailor from the symbols built atop him, we model a way to trade faith history for evidence—and to read today's culture wars with cooler eyes.If you're ready to move beyond hot takes and into clear context—without losing the drama of discovery—press play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review telling us which Columbus you were taught and which one you see now.Find Professor Restall.     https://matthewrestall.com/W. W. Norton & Company  https://wwnorton.com/

Adam Ferrara on Comedians, Carburetors & Carnegie Hall: A Working-Class Hero's Guide to Showbiz In this heartfelt and hilarious conversation, veteran stand-up comedian and actor Adam Ferrara joins hosts Sarah J. Halstead and Rich Chassler for a deep dive into the entertainment industry, family influences, and the art of survival in show business. From performing at mobster-run comedy clubs in Brooklyn to landing recurring roles on major network shows, Adam shares candid stories about his Italian-American upbringing, his father's life-changing advice, and why being funny in the office doesn't make you a comedian. The episode touches on everything from vintage cars and Carnegie Hall to the emotional reality of watching your parents age while pursuing your creative dreams. About Adam Ferrara Adam Ferrara is a veteran stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster who has spent over three decades mastering authentic storytelling across every entertainment platform. Best known for his recurring roles on Nurse Jackie (Netflix), NCIS as "Sloppy Joe Sammy," and Rescue Me, Adam represents the last generation of comics who cut their teeth in mob-run Brooklyn clubs before graduating to Carnegie Hall. His podcast "The Adam Ferrara Podcast" features intimate conversations with guests like Nathan Lane, Ann Wilson, and Billy Gibbons, capturing the warmth of friends laughing around a dinner table. A Long Island native splitting time between LA and NYC's West Village, Adam brings blue-collar authenticity and hard-won wisdom to everything he does—whether sharing his father's life-changing advice ("Do it now, before your life gets complicated"), discussing vintage cars, or explaining why being funny in the copy room doesn't make you a comedian. Connect:  @AdamFerrara on all platforms  AdamFerrara.com ... http://adamferrara.com/  for tour dates The Adam Ferrara Podcast ... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adam-ferrara-podcast/id1473543128 on all platforms Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the New Year 02:42 Celebrating Growth and Community 05:27 Bagels and Lox: A Culinary Surprise 08:23 The Life of a Stand-Up Comedian 11:02 Navigating the Acting World 14:03 Memorable Experiences in Comedy 16:47 The Importance of Mentorship 19:29 The Evolution of Podcasting 22:15 Connecting with Celebrities 24:58 Family Influence and Personal Growth 27:39 The Journey of a Stand-Up Comedian 30:23 Reflections on Life Choices 33:17 The Role of Comedy in Coping 36:01 Advice for Aspiring Comedians 38:48 The Changing Landscape of Entertainment 41:50 Final Thoughts and Farewell FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler    #adamferrara #topgear #ncis #standupcomedy #comedian

On this episode of the Italian American Podcast, host Patrick O'Boyle convenes a distinguished panel at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York to explore the often-overlooked world of Neapolitan Renaissance art. Claudio, the Institute's director, outlines its mission to promote Italian culture across New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, strengthening ties between Italy and the Italian American community. Patrick shares the story of restoring forgotten masterpieces in Buccino, Salerno—an initiative sparked by an unexpected American connection and dedicated to reviving sacred works of art. The discussion turns to innovation in preservation. Ivan describes how virtual reality and artificial intelligence are expanding access to cultural heritage, including the creation of digital twins of the Annunciation statues damaged in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. These tools allow audiences to follow the restoration process step by step, illustrating how collaboration between Italian and American institutions can protect historic treasures. Art historian Danielle Oteri offers a perspective on the Neapolitan Renaissance's neglected legacy, recalling how aristocratic patrons once commissioned major works for rural churches, bringing artistic excellence to everyday communities. Reflecting on emigration, loss, and renewal, the episode underscores how the Italian diaspora can help restore ancestral towns, making the past not only remembered but rebuilt.   LOCATION: Italian Cultural Institute, 686 Park Avenue, New York, NY.    THEIR SOCIALS: Antonio Vincente Amendola Instagram: @antoniovicenteamendola   Danielle Oteri Her Website: https://www.feasttravel.com/ Instagram: @danielleoteri_italy Youtube:  @danielle-oteri    HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle Danielle Oteri   SPECIAL GUESTS: Antonio Vincente Amdenola Claudio Pagliara Ivan Allevi   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

We speak with Martina Mondadori, founder and editor in chief of ‘Cabana’. Plus: Jamila Robinson from ‘Bon Appétit’ on the new issue celebrating Italian-American cuisine and Stephanie Madewell on ‘Heartbeat’, a new title exploring the emotion of sound. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Réécoutez le FG Chic invite Louis de Manchester by Julien Jeanne du jeudi 12 février 2026Welcome to Louis, check your coat, take a booth, sip a glass, savour the food. We'll set the stage! Let us transport you to the Golden Age, to enjoy timeless live music, delicious Italian American cuisine, fine world wines and classic cocktails poured straight up.Louis, 3 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EBMusic by Julien JeanneTracklist: 1/ GOLDSMOKE Love Come Down2/ SMOMA Georgy Porgy3/ TOM TOM CLUB Love To Love You Baby (TOM NOVY & THE GRAN' FLOW Remix)4/ ITUANA He's the Greatest Dancer5/ M PEOPLE Don't Look Any Further (SATIN JACKETS & CHRIS JYLKKE Haircut Remake)6/ CASIO SOCIAL CLUB Justin Illusion7/ HARBER Stayin Alive8/ ESCORT Cocaine Blues9/ SUNLIGHTSQUARE I Believe in Miracles10/ ALDO BERGAMASCO, RONNIE JONES & ISA VIS Why Did You Do It 11/ YAM WHO? & LARAE STARR Taste of Bitter Love12/ SHOVELL & THE LATIN HOOLIGANS Soul Makossa13/ HOTMOOD Copacabana14/ EZIRK Upside Down15/ DJ POPE Bad Girls (Funkhut Disco Latin Vocal)16/ JAY CARUSO Always There 17/  LOS CHARLY'S ORCHESTRA, JUAN LAYA & JORGE MONTIEL FEAT NOLITA GOLDING Fever18/ 6INHO Stomp!19/ DJ SPEN, CLEVELAND & P. JONES Nights (You Feel Like Getting Down) (DJ SPEN & MICHELE CHIAVARINI Original Reproduction)20/ T. MARKAKIS FEAT ELLIOTTE WILLIAMS N'DURE You Got the Love21/ SEAN SCANLAN Boogie 22/ ANANE Let Me Be Your Fantasy (MOPLEN Remix)23/ RICCARDO FIORI I'll Be There24/ SEDUTIVE SOULS FEAT ONITA BOONE Ain't Nobody (MOUSSE T's Ain't No Good Man Mix)25/ REVIVAL & KATHY BROWN FEAT GEO GOSPEL CHOIR Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher26/ NARI & NABUK Give Me The Night27/ DAMES BROWN You're The One For Me (ALAN DIXON Remix)28/ LOUIE VEGA, ANANE & TONY TOUCH Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (LOUIE VEGA Remix)29/ SUKI SOUL FEAT YAM WHO & JAEGEROSSA Wear It Out30/ ANTONELLO FERRARI & SULENE FLEMMING Music Of Life (MICHAEL GRAY Mix)31/ REVIAL HOUSE PROJECT Best Of My Love (DANNY KRIVIT Edit) 

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Linda Stasi delve into the rich history of Italian immigrants, exploring the themes of identity, struggle, and resilience. Linda discusses her new book, 'The Descendants,' which uncovers the untold stories of Italian immigrants in America, particularly focusing on the Ludlow Massacre and the impact of Prohibition. The discussion also touches on the changing landscape of New York City, the ongoing stereotypes faced by Italians, and the importance of recognizing the contributions of Italian Americans to society.https://amzn.to/4r2iwYL

Why You Should ListenFrom television and advertising to building Asheville's restaurant sceneHow fine dining, farm-to-table thinking, and wine culture shaped a food townThe 2008 crisis and a pivot to neighborhood Italian that lastedWhat Hurricane Helene revealed about restaurants as community lifelinesThe BanterRestaurateurs Mark Pascal and Francis Schott set the table with stories starting with Mark's Uber Eats account taking a hit when his kids order Papa John's. The banter detours into “taste credit scores,” childhood jobs, and practical tips on chopping onions without the tears.The ConversationEric Scheffer, a defining voice in Asheville's food scene, shares how he left Los Angeles for a then-sleepy mountain town with few restaurants, buying a modest space and transforming it into The Savoy—white tablecloths, a serious wine program, and a dining scene energized by transplants and early farm-to-table momentum. The Guys explore what made Asheville fertile ground prior to the 2008 financial crisis and Eric's pivot toward affordable, nostalgic Italian-American comfort that resonated deeply, along the way touching on Cindy Lauper, a makeover for a bank loan, and why collaboration beats competition.The Inside TrackHurricane Helene becomes the proof point: restaurant people feed people. Eric describes coordinating water, reopening kitchens, helping operators get online, and leaning on relationships to mobilize quickly. The Guys connect this to their core belief that independent restaurants aren't food dispensaries; they're community infrastructure.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to The Restaurant Guys 02:00 – Uber Eats scandal & childhood hustles 08:00 – Introducing Eric Scheffer: from Brooklyn and LA to Asheville 17:45 – Cindy Lauper and fitting in North Carolina 20:25 – Hurricane Helene: restaurants feeding the community 32:21 – Wrap-up and the Guys' take on “B markets”Guest BioEric Scheffer is a restaurateur and hospitality leader based in Asheville, North Carolina. Originally from Brooklyn, he left a career in television and advertising to build The Savoy into a nationally recognized fine-dining destination with a serious wine program. After the 2008 financial crisis, he shifted toward neighborhood-driven concepts and became a founding force behind the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.Infohttps://www.thescheffergroup.com/Become a Restaurant Guys' Regular!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribeMagyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Withum Accounting https://www.withum.com/restaurantOur Places Stage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/ Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/ To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguysReach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**Click Below!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

What happens when motherhood unfolds thousands of miles from home without your village, your culture, or your familiar rhythms of life?In this honest, globally rich conversation, I sit down with Rosamaria Mancini, an Italian-American mother, author, and expat who shares her journey from growing up in New York to building a life across Europe. In a life of moving to Rome for work, marrying her Italian husband, and later raising two children in Germany, Rosamaria found herself wrestling with loneliness, identity shifts, and the emotional weight of motherhood abroad.During one of her most isolating seasons, podcasts became an unexpected lifeline, offering connection, companionship, and a reminder she wasn't alone. That experience ultimately inspired her to write a book exploring how listening to podcasts helped preserve her mental health and sense of self while living far from home.This episode is an engaging listen for expat moms, military spouses, mothers navigating isolation, and anyone who has ever felt unseen during a vulnerable season of motherhood.In This Episode, We Discuss:What it's really like raising children as an expat motherThe loneliness and identity loss many moms experience living abroadCreating emotional connection when your support system is far awayTurning personal survival into a story that helps other mothers feel less aloneWho This Episode Is For:Expat and internationally living mothersMoms navigating loneliness, isolation, or major life transitionsWomen searching for connection while raising children far from familyPodcast lovers curious about the emotional power of audio storytellingRosamaria's story is a reminder that even in the quietest, loneliest moments of motherhood, connection is possible and sometimes it arrives through a pair of headphones when you need it most!

Jesse Ortiz is a med student and activist. He is the founder of the Instagram account, Italians for Zohran, an account in support of the election of Zohran Mamdani. It remains active post-Mamdani's victory, as an outlet for leftist and progressive Italian-Americans (and everybody else, too) to gather and exchange ideas, and pushback against the commonly held generalization that Italian heritage in the US automatically means right-wing conservative.

This week on the podcast, I'm joined once again by Kathrine Narducci and Tara Cannistraci for a fun, light episode where we try to guess Gen Z slang terms — and quickly realize how far apart generations really are. We break down modern slang, react in real time to the meanings, and laugh at how language, humor, and culture continue to change. Along the way, we talk about growing up Italian-American, generational differences, social media influence, and how comedy adapts as times change. This episode is all about perspective, not taking yourself too seriously, and being willing to laugh at what you don't understand. Special thanks to my producer John (NYVideoGuy) for keeping the show moving. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe, and let us know which slang terms completely lost you.

In part 2 of episode 404, the conversation widens beyond personal history into the ethical, health, and cultural implications of plant-based Italian American cooking. Tara Punzone and the crew discuss industrial farming, ingredient integrity, and how modern food systems have altered both taste and tradition. The episode touches on heritage-grain pasta, the role of quality olive oil and vegetables, and the generational shift toward more conscious eating—especially among younger Italian Americans reexamining what authenticity really means. Rather than nostalgia alone, the focus is on continuity: how tradition survives by adapting. Thoughtful, funny, and candid, part 2 explores how Italian American cuisine can evolve responsibly—honoring its roots while responding to contemporary concerns—without losing its soul.   HER CREDENTIALS: Tara Punzone Author Vegana Italiana Chef & Owner of Pura Vita www.puravitalosangeles.com   HER SOCIALS: Instagrams: @cheftarapunzone @puravita_la   ORDER HER BOOK VEGANA ITALIANA : https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...   HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle John Viola Marcella Martin   SPECIAL GUEST: Tara Punzone   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Faiyaz Kara, restaurant critic for the Orlando Weekly, shares his reviews of local eateries, including Desi Bistro, which features Bangladeshi cuisine in the UCF corridor, Osteria Ester, with refined spins on Italian-American staples, Sushi Saint moving into the Bar Kada space in Winter Park, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of So You Want to Run a Restaurant, we sit down with Natalia Lepore Hagan, founder of Midnight Pasta Philadelphia, an immersive, experience-driven pasta concept redefining what dining can be.Midnight Pasta isn't a traditional restaurant, it's a ticketed pasta-making experience where guests arrive for cocktails, jump into a high-energy, hands-on pasta class, and then gather for a five-course, family-style dinner made from the pasta they create themselves. It's part dinner, part performance, and part community event.Natalia shares her journey from growing up in a big Italian-American family to performing on Broadway, and how theater, music, movement, and storytelling are intentionally built into every Midnight Pasta experience. She opens up about how the pandemic shutdown of Broadway led her back to pasta-making, enrolling in culinary school, and launching Midnight Pasta - not to fit into a traditional restaurant model, but to create something entirely new.Natalia also shares her perspective on chefs, creators, and influencer partnerships, and why Midnight Pasta operates outside the traditional restaurant category.In this episode, we cover:Building an immersive dining experience outside the restaurant modelPivoting careers and launching during the pandemicGoing viral without losing control of your brandScaling experiential hospitality without sacrificing authenticity

In this episode of Gangland Wire, host Gary Jenkins talks with author Linda Stasi about her historical novel, The Descendant, inspired by her own Italian-American family history. Stasi traces her ancestors' journey from Sicily to the Colorado mining camps, revealing the brutal realities faced by immigrant laborers in the American West. The conversation explores the violent labor struggles surrounding the Ludlow Massacre and the role of powerful figures like John D. Rockefeller, as well as the diverse immigrant communities that shaped Colorado's mining towns. Stasi challenges stereotypes about Italians in America, highlighting their roles as workers, ranchers, and community builders—not just mobsters. Jenkins and Stasi also discuss Prohibition-era bootlegging and the early roots of organized crime in places like Pueblo, weaving together documented history with deeply personal family stories of survival, violence, and resilience. Drawing on her background as a journalist, Stasi reflects on loss, perseverance, and the immigrant pursuit of the American dream, making The Descendants both a historical narrative and an emotional family legacy. Click here to find the Descendant. 0:04 Introduction to Linda Stasi 3:12 The Role of Women in History 7:05 Bootlegging and the Mafia’s Rise 9:31 Discovering Family Connections 14:59 Immigrant Struggles and Success 19:02 Childhood Stories of Resilience 24:04 Serendipity in New York 26:19 Linda’s Journey as a Journalist Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here.  [0:00] Well, hey, all you wiretappers out there, glad to be back here in studio, Gangland Wire. This is Gary Jenkins, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective, and I have an interview for you. This is going to be a historical fiction author. This is going to be a historical fiction book by a writer whose family lived the life of, whose family, This is going to be a real issue. This book is going to, we’re going to talk about a book. We’re going to talk with an author about the book. We’re going to talk with the author, Linda Stasi. We’re going to talk with the author, Linda Stasi, about her book, The Descendants. Now, she wrote a historical fiction, but it’s based on her actual family’s history. [0:50] From Sicily to New York to California. The wild west of colorado now get that you never heard of many italians out west in colorado but she’s going to tell us a lot more about that and how they were actually ended up being part of the pueblo colorado mafia the corvino family and then got involved in bootlegging and and then later were involved in ranching and different things like that so it’s uh it’s a little different take on the mob in the United States that we usually get, but I like to do things that are a little bit different. So welcome, Linda Stasey. Historical fiction, how much of it is true? Is it from family stories? All the stories are true. I’ll ask you that here in a little bit. Okay, all the stories are true. All right. All the stories are true. [1:41] It’s based on not only stories that were told to me by my mother and her sisters and my uncles and so forth, But it’s also based on a lot of actual events that took place while they were living in Colorado. And it’s based on the fact that, you know, people don’t know this. We watch all these movies and we think everybody who settled the West talk like John Wayne. There were 30 different languages spoken right in the minds of Colorado. So my uncles rode the range and they were, drovers and they were Italian. I mean, they were first generation. They were born in Italy and they made their way with all these other guys who were speaking Greek and Mexican and you name it. It wasn’t a lot of people talking like, hey, how are you doing, partner? How are you doing, bard? Talking like I do. Right. [2:46] But it took a long time for you you can blame the movies for that and the dominant uh uh caucasian culture for that right and you know there was that what was the movie the the martin scorsese movie killers of the flower moon oh yeah all the uh native americans spoke like they were from like movie set in color and oklahoma so he was like what. [3:13] Yeah, well, it’s the movies, I guess. [3:25] Unlike any women that I would have thought would have been around at that time. They were rebellious, and they did what they wanted, and they had a terrible, mean father. And I also wanted to tell this story. That’s what I started out telling. But I ended up telling the story of the resilience of the immigrants who came to this country. For example, with the Italians and the Sicilians, there had been earthquakes and tsunamis and droughts. So Rockefeller sent these men that he called padrones to the poorest sections of Sicily, the most drought-affected section, looking for young bucks to come and work. And he promised them, he’d say, oh, the president of America wants to give you land, he wants to give you this. Well, they found themselves taken in the most horrific of conditions and brought to Ellis Island, where they were herded onto cattle cars and taken to the mines of Colorado, where they worked 20-hour days. They were paid in company script, so they couldn’t even buy anything. Their families followed them. They were told that their families were coming for free, and they were coming for free, but they weren’t. They had to pay for their passage, which could never be paid for because it was just company script. [4:55] And then in 1914, the United Mine Workers came in, and there were all these immigrants, Greeks and mostly Italians, and they struck, and Rockefeller fired everyone who struck. So the United Mine Workers set up a tent city in Ludlow. [5:14] And at night, Rockefeller would send his goons in who were—he actually paid the National Guard and a detective agency called Baldwin Feltz to come in. And they had a turret-mounted machine gun that they called the Death Squad Special, and they’d just start spraying. So the miners, the striking miners, built trenches under their tents for their women and children to hide. when the bullets started flying. And then at some point, Rockefeller said, you’re not being effective enough. They haven’t gone back to work. Do what you have to do. So these goons went in and they poured oil on top of the tents. And they set them on fire. [6:00] And they burnt dozens of women and children to death. They went in. The government claimed it was 21 people, but there was a female reporter who counted 60-something. and they were cutting the heads and the hands off of people, the children and women, so they couldn’t be identified. It all ended very badly and none of Rockefeller’s people or Rockefeller got in trouble. They went before Congress and Rockefeller basically said they had no right to strike. And that was that. So here are all these men and women now living wild in the mountains of Colorado, not speaking the language, not. Being literate, not able to read and write. [6:44] And living in shacks on mountains in the hurricane, I mean, in the blizzards and whatnot. And then it’s so odd. In 1916, Colorado declared prohibition, which was four years before the rest of the country. [7:00] So these guys said, well, we need to make booze. We need to make wine. What do you mean you can’t have booze and wine? So that’s how bootlegging started in Colorado. And that’s how the mafia began in the West. with these guys. [7:18] It’s kind of interesting. As I was looking down through your book, I did a story on the more modern mafia. This started during bootlegging times in Pueblo, and I noticed in your book, I refer to Pueblo, this was the Corvino brothers. So did you study that? Is that some of the background that you used to make, you know, use a story? You used real stories as well as, you know, the real stories from your family, real stories from history. Well, the Carlinos are my family. Oh, you’re related to the Carlinos. Well, what happened was I didn’t know that. And my cousin Karen came across this photo of the man who was her son. [7:59] Grandfather that she never met because he was killed in the longest gunfight in Colorado history when she was 10 days old. And he was Charlie Carlino. So she came across it and we met, we ended up meeting the family. Sam Carlino is my cousin and he owns like this big barbecue joint in san jose california and uh we’ve become very friendly so i i said i look i’m looking at this and i think wait a minute vito carlino is the father he has three sons and one daughter the youngest son charlie who was the the handsome man about town cowboy, they had a rival family called the dannas in bootlegging and charlie carlino and his bodyguard were riding across the baxter street bridge driving in one direction and the dannas were coming in the other direction and the dannas got out and and killed them and it’s exactly what I’m thinking to myself, Vito Corleone, three sons, Charlie gets killed on the bridge while the two cars are… I thought, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I mean. [9:26] It can’t be that coincidental, right? No. No, it can’t be. Even the bridge. Somebody was doing their research. [9:46] And had baby Charlotte, who was only 10 days old at the time. So all these stories are true, and it started other gunfights and so forth and so on. But I thought, holy shit. That’s my family. I had no idea. I mean, I knew my aunt was married to a guy whose name was Charlie Carlino, And I should show you the picture because he looks like the missing link from the village people. He’s got big fur chaps on and a cowboy hat. I mean, he’s got his holsters on and he’s got his long gun over his shoulder. It’s like, wow. Yeah, so that story is true. And my mom was a little girl when the Pueblo flood happened. And she always recalled the story to me about watching in horror as the cows and the horses and people were floating away, dead. [10:54] So now the name of your book is A Descendant, which is you, of course. And you kind of use the situations that you just described and the real life people in this book. So then how does this book progress and what other situation do you use? Well, I used many of the acts. I used the Ludlow massacre, the flood, the bootlegging, the prohibition. I also uncovered that the governor of Colorado said. [11:30] Assigned all these guys to become prohibition agents, but they were all KKK. Yeah. So they actually had license to kill the immigrants, just saying they had a still. They had a still. And they were wholesale killing people. So there’s that story. There’s the story of the congressional hearing of Rockefeller after that. And um the the book ends up with my mother um beating my father um who was not in colorado she met him at my aunt’s wedding and avoided him and avoided him and they finally got together and it ends up the book ends up at the start of world war ii and my father was drafted into the air Force, or the Army Air Corps, as it was called that time, and his was assigned to a bomber. He was a co-pilot or a bombardier or something, I forgot. And my grandfather on my father’s side said, well, wait a minute, where are you going to do this? And he said, well, we’re going to Italy. And he said, you’re going to bomb this? Your own country? And my father said, no, no, Bob, this is my country. [12:47] So the book comes full circle. Yeah, really. You know, I, uh, uh, sometimes I start my, I’ll do a program here for different groups or for the library once in a while. And I always like to start it with, you know, first of all, folks, remember, uh. [13:03] Italians came here after, you know, really horrible conditions in southern Italy and Sicily and they came here and they’re just looking for a little slice of American pie the American that’s all they want is a some of the American dream and you know they were taking advantage of they had they were they were darker they had a different language so they didn’t fit it they couldn’t like the Irish and the Germans were already here they had all the good jobs they had the businesses and so now the Italians they’re they’re kind of uh sucking high and tit as we used to say on the farm they’re they’re uh you know picking up the scraps as they can and form businesses. And so it sounds like, you know, and they also went into the, I know they went in the lead mines down here in South Missouri, because there’s a whole immigrant population, Sicilians in a small town called Frontenac. And it also sounds like they went out to the mines in Denver, Colorado. So it’s based on that diaspora, if you will, of people from Southern Italy. And they’re strapping, trying to get their piece of the American pie. Right. And I think that I also wanted very much to change the same old, same old narrative that we’ve all come to believe, that, you know, Italians came here, they went to New York, they killed everybody, they were ignorant slobs. And my family had a ranch! They were ranchers! They had herds of cattle! It’s like, that’s just been dismissed as though none of this existed because. [14:30] Yes, they were darker, because they had curly hair. [14:34] There’s a passage in my book that’s taken actually from the New York Times, where they say that Southern Italians are. [14:43] Greasy, kinky-haired criminals whose children should never be allowed in public schools with white children. Yeah. They used to print stuff like that. I’ve done some research in old newspapers, and not only about Italians, but a lot of other minorities, they print some [14:57] horrible, horrible, horrible things. Well, every minority goes through this, I guess. Everyone. I think so. Part of it’s a language problem. You hear people say, well, why don’t they learn our language? Well, what I say is, you know, ever try to learn a foreign language? It’s hard. It is really, really hard. I’ve tried. It is really hard. I got fired by my Spanish teacher. Exactly. You know how hard it is. I said, no, wait, I’m paying you. You can’t fire me. She said, you can’t learn. You just can’t learn. My grandkids love to say she got fired by her Spanish teacher. [15:36] But it’s such a barrier any kind of success you know not having the language is such a barrier to any kind of success into the you know american business community and that kind of a thing so it’s uh it’s tough for people and you got these people young guys who are bold and, they want they want to they end up having to feel like they have to take theirs they have to take it because ain’t nobody giving it up back in those days and so that sounds like your family they had to take however they took it they they had to take what they got how did that go down for them, start out with a small piece of land or and build up from there how did that go out well from what i understand um. [16:21] They first had a small plot, and then that they didn’t own. They just took it. And then as the bootlegging business got bigger, they started buying cattle and sheep. And they just started buying more and more land. But my grandfather was wanted because he killed some federal agent in the Ludlow Massacre. So he was wanted. So it was all in my grandmother’s name anyway. So she became, in my mind and in my book, she becomes the real head of the family. And my grandfather had a drinking problem, and she made the business successful and so forth. And then I do remember a story that my mother told me that—. [17:16] Al Capone came to the ranch at some point, and all the kids were like, who’s this man in the big car? There was other big cars. And then they moved to New York shortly after that, although they were allowed to keep the ranch with some of my aunts running it. I think there was a range war between the Dana family and the Carlinos and the Barberas, and they were told, get out of town, and they got out of town. And then they made a life in Brooklyn. And then my mom went back to Colorado and then came back to Brooklyn. [17:54] You think about how these immigrants, how in the hell, even the ones who come here now, how in the hell do you survive? I don’t know. Don’t speak the language. You don’t have the money. How do you survive? I don’t know. I truly don’t know. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t either. I couldn’t either. I don’t even want to go to another country where I don’t speak the language unless I can hire somebody to do stuff for me, you know, try to scuffle around and get a job, work off the books. You know, you got to work off the books, so to speak, and take the lowest, hardest jobs that they are, that there are. I don’t know. It’s crazy. I don’t really understand. Yeah. But, uh, so this, uh, it’s really interesting this, uh, the whole thing with the ranches and, and building up the ranches out there. I know we spoke, talk about Al Capone. Well, his brother, I think it was, it was not Ralph. There was another Capone brother. Which one? Well, another Capone brother who became, came a revenuer and I’ve seen some pictures of him and he looks like a cowboy with a hat and everything. He was in Nebraska or something. [19:02] It’s so funny. And I just, when I was growing up and I would tell people that my mom rode her donkey and then her horse to school, and they’d always say to me, but aren’t you Italian? [19:19] That’s Italian. Italian. Yeah, it’s interesting. Now, of course, your mom was, I noticed something in there about being in Los Animas in that area. Yes. Was there some family connection to that? And I say that because my wife’s grandfather lived there his whole life in Los Animas. Well, Los Animas County takes in Pueblo, I believe. Oh, okay. That’s the northern, that’s the far northern edge of Pueblo. The whole big area. I didn’t realize it was that close to Pueblo. I think my mom’s birth certificate actually says Los Animas County. Uh-huh. Something like that, yeah. Okay, all right. I didn’t realize Los Andemos was that close. I think. I might be wrong. Oh, it could be. It had those big counties out west, a great big county, so it would probably do. [20:10] So let’s see. Tell us a couple other stories out of that book that you remember. Well, there’s a story of my mother and her sister, Clara. Clara was a year what do they call Irish twins you know Italian twins she was like 14 months younger than my mom and um, When my mom had to start school, she was very close to my Aunt Clara, and they refused to go to school without each other. So my grandmother lied and said they were twins. And the teacher said, I don’t think they’re twins. This one’s much littler than the other, and I’m going to send the sheriff to that guinea father of yours and make sure. Well, unfortunately, the town hall burnt down with all the records that night. So they were never able to prove that Aunt Clara was a year younger. [21:14] Interesting. And also there’s a story of how they were in school when the flood hit. And my mother did have a pet wolf who was probably part wolf, part dog, but it was her pet named Blue. They got caught in the flood because they were bad and they had detention after school. And um had they left earlier they would have um so the dog came and dragged them was screaming and barking and making them leave and the teacher got scared because of the wolf and so they left and the wolf was taking them to higher and higher ground and had they stayed in that schoolhouse they would have been killed the teacher was killed everybody was washed away Wow. Yeah, those animals, they got more of a sense of what’s going on in nature than people do, that’s for sure. But she had always told me about her dog wolf named Blue. When they went back to New York City, did they fall in with any mob people back there? They go back to Red Hook. They had connections that were told, they were told, you know, you can, like Meyer Lansky and a couple of other people who would help them, um. [22:33] But my mom—so here’s an absolutely true story, and I think I have it as an epilogue in the book. So a few years ago, several years ago, my daughter had gotten a job in the summer during college as a slave on a movie set that was being filmed in Brooklyn. And she got the job because she, A, had a car, and B, she could speak Italian. And the actress was Italian. So every night she’d work till like 12 o’clock and I’d be panicked that she’d been kidnapped or something. So she’d drive her car home. But then every night she was coming home later and later and I said, what’s going on? She said, you know, I found this little restaurant and right now we’re in Red Hook where the, and it wasn’t called Red Hook. It was called, they have another fancy name for it now. [23:32] And she said and I just got to know the owner and he’s really nice and I told him that when I graduated from college if I had enough money could I rent one of the apartments upstairs and he said yes and she said we’ve got to take grandma there we’ve got to take grandma there she’ll love the place she’ll love the place and so my mother got sick and just came home from college, and she was laying in the bed with my mother, and she said, Grandma, you’re going to get better, and then we’re going to take you to this restaurant, [24:03] and I promise you, you’re going to love it. So my mother, thank God, did get better, and we took her to the restaurant. [24:12] The man comes over, and it’s a little tiny Italian restaurant, and the man comes over, and he says, Jessica, my favorite, let me make you my favorite Pennelli’s. And my mother said, do you make Pennelli’s? And he said, yes. She said, oh, when we first came to New York, the man who owned the restaurant made us Pennelli’s every day and would give it to us before we went to school. And he said, really, what was his name? And she said, Don, whatever. And he said, well, that’s my grandfather. She said, well, what do you mean? He said, well, this is, she said, where are we? And he said. [24:53] They called it Carroll Gardens. And he said, well, it’s Carroll Gardens. She said, well, I grew up in Red Hook. He said, well, it is Red Hook. She said, well, what’s the address here? And he said, 151 Carroll Street. And she said, my mother died in this building. [25:09] My daughter would have rented the apartment where her great-grandmother died. What’s the chances of that of the 50 million apartments in New York City? No, I don’t know. And the restaurant only seats like 30 people. So… My mother went and took a picture off the wall, and she said, this is my mother’s apartment. And there were like 30 people in the restaurants, a real rough and tumble place, and truck drivers and everything. And everybody started crying. The whole place is now crying. All these big long men are crying. Isn’t that some story? Full circle, man. That’s something. Yeah, that is. Especially in the city. It’s even more amazing in a city like New York City. I know. That huge. That frigging huge. That exact apartment. Oh, that is great. So that restaurant plays a big part in the book as well, in the family. Okay. All right. All right. Guys, the book is The Descendant, Yellowstone Meets the Godfather, huh? This is Linda Stasi. Did I pronounce that right, Stasi? Stacey, actually. This is Linda Stasi. And Linda, I didn’t really ask you about yourself. [26:17] Tell the guys a little bit about yourself before we stop here. Well, I am a journalist. I’ve been a columnist for New York Newsday, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post. I’ve written 10 books, three of which are novels. [26:34] And I’ve won several awards for journalism. And I teach a class for the Newswomen’s Club of New York to journalists on how to write novels, because it’s the totally opposite thing. It’s like teaching a dancer to sing, you know? It’s totally opposite. One of my mentors was Nelson DeMille, my dear late friend Nelson DeMille, and I called him up one night after I wrote my first novel, and I said, I think I made a terrible mistake. He said, what? I said, I think I gave the wrong name of the city or something. He said, oh, for God’s sakes, it’s fiction. You can write whatever you want. [27:17] But when you’re a journalist, if you make a mistake like that, you’re ruined. Yeah, exactly. So I have. We never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Go ahead. I’m sorry. I said I have a daughter and three grandsons. My daughter is the only female CEO of a games company. She was on the cover of Forbes. And my husband just died recently, and he was quite the character. He got a full-page obit in the New York Times. He’s such a typical, wonderful New York character. So I’m in this strange place right now where I’m mourning one thing and celebrating my book. On the other hand, it’s a very odd place to be. I can imagine. I can only imagine. Life goes on, as we say, back home. It just keeps going. All right. Linda Stacey, I really appreciate you coming on the show. Oh, thank you. I appreciate you talking to me. You’re so much an interesting guy. All right. Well, thank you.

This week on the podcast, I sit down with comedian, actor, and radio legend Joe Piscopo for a long, honest conversation about work ethic, legacy, family, and the responsibility that comes with having a voice. Joe talks about what it really takes to do four hours of live radio every day, why preparation still matters, and how radio keeps you accountable in a way nothing else does. We get into Italian-American roots, respect for the older generation, Frank Sinatra's lasting influence, and why World War II stories should never be forgotten. We also talk about discipline, fatherhood, faith, and what young performers need to understand if they want longevity in this business. This is a thoughtful, funny, old-school conversation about showing up, doing the work, and honoring where you came from. Special thanks to my producer John (NYVideoGuy) for keeping the show running every week. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss future conversations.

James Naughtie continues his look at the ideas tying America's founding to the modern United States, as he looks at what it means to be an American.In Chicago, he joins the Columbus Day parade - an exuberant celebration of Italian-American identity - and hears about the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to northern cities like Chicago. In Wisconsin, he visits the birthplace of the Republican Party, and in Ohio the Governor shows him the spot where Abraham Lincoln heard he had been formally confirmed as President-Elect. James considers how the social movements of the 1960s moved the centre of gravity of American politics from economic to social issues, with all that meant for political polarisation.Producer: Giles Edwards

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, the crew explores the intersection of Italian American heritage and vegan cuisine with Tara Punzone, chef, author, and the force behind Pura Vita, Los Angeles' first 100% vegan Italian restaurant and wine bar. The conversation blends family history, cultural memory, and the challenge of preserving tradition while removing animal products from classic dishes. Punzone reflects on her path to veganism, shaped by an early empathy for animals and a childhood spent in a family of devoted home cooks. Rather than rejecting Italian foodways, she reframes them, pointing out how much traditional Italian cuisine is naturally plant-based—born of frugality, seasonality, and vegetable-forward regional cooking long before modern food labels existed.   HER CREDENTIALS: Tara Punzone Author Vegana Italiana Chef & Owner of Pura Vita www.puravitalosangeles.com   HER SOCIALS: Instagrams: @cheftarapunzone @puravita_la ORDER HER BOOK VEGANA ITALIANA : https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769027/vegana-italiana-by-tara-punzone-with-gene-stone/   HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle John Viola Marcella Martin   SPECIAL GUEST: Tara Punzone   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Italian cuisine and Italian American cuisine share the same roots—but they are not the same thing.In this episode, I explore how Italian American cuisine was born from immigration, adaptation, and abundance, and how it became a cultural ambassador that introduced millions of Americans to Italian flavors. I also explain why it's important to distinguish Italian cuisine from Italian American cuisine, so we can respect both traditions without confusing their history or identity.A short reflection on food, migration, and why understanding the difference matters.

Nel 1989, George H. W. Bush e il suo governo dedicarono il mese di ottobre alla cultura, alle radici e alla storia taliane. Un mese che non parla solo di lingua e tradizioni, ma soprattutto di partenze, di valigie leggere e di cuori pesanti. È il tempo della memoria di chi ha lasciato l'Italia, dall'Ottocento fino a oggi, in cerca di una speranza oltre l'oceano. È la storia del 14 marzo 1891, segnata dal dolore e dall'incomprensione. È la ferita dei 600.000 italo-americani dichiarati "stranieri nemici" e internati durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale. È anche la storia di successo del 1934, quando Fiorello La Guardia divenne il primo sindaco italiano di New York, simbolo di riscatto e orgoglio. E poi ci sono loro, quelli che partono ancora oggi, con lo stesso nodo alla gola, lo stesso sogno, ma con altre motivazioni. Persone come noi, intrappolate tra i desideri di due mondi. Buon ascolto! Dani & Lia ~~~ In 1989, George H. W. Bush proclaimed October Italian Heritage Month, a time that honors not only language and traditions, but also departures, light suitcases, and heavy hearts. It remembers those who left Italy, from the 19th century to today, in search of hope across the ocean. It recalls the tragedy of March 14, 1891, the internment of 600,000 Italian Americans labeled "enemy aliens" during World War II, and moments of pride, like Fiorello La Guardia's election as New York City's first Italian American mayor in 1934. And it speaks to those who still leave today, carrying the same dream, living between two worlds.  

In this episode, we feature Michael Parenti, who passed away this week at the age of 92. A prominent political scientist and cultural critic, he delivers a powerful lecture at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1986. Parenti discusses the intricacies of US interventionism, the dynamics of capitalism, and the historical exploitation of the developing world. He challenges conventional narratives about poverty in the Global South, asserting that these nations are not poor but rather over-exploited. Join us as we unpack his insightful analysis of imperialism, capitalism, and the ongoing struggles for social justice that our oligarchs and their political class have not seemed to learn the lessons from 40 years ago, as the stature of the U.S. erodes daily on the world stage, supporting endless war in Ukraine and Palestine, disastrous trade policies, and ongoing hegemonic and regime change operations in multiple countries. Support the Podcast via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url Born to a working class Italian American family in New York City, he earned his doctorate at Yale and taught political science despite being blacklisted for his political views. We re-air this Yellow lecture - referring to the poor 1980s video quality – because after the U.S war machine goes after Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, who's next, this desire for hegemonic control from this failing empire will not stop until we all step up and make it stop. And this Imperial Boomerang, what Chalmers Johnson called Blowback, it's hitting us in Minnesota, on the streets here in Los Angeles all the way to Maine. The violent methods to control and subdue smaller weaker countries, disappearing intellectuals, activists, political leaders Like I saw in Guatemala in the 90s; where activists are unalived without any fear of accountability. Minneapolis. We did it to Vietnam, we did it in Iraq, now we're doing it in…where next? For an extended interview and other benefits, become an EcoJustice Radio patron at https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio Sources: Michael Parenti speaks at the University of Colorado, Boulder: "US interventionism, the 3rd world, and the USSR" April 15, 1986 Yellow Lecture: https://youtu.be/W10QEs-TkhU?si=ZP_D5JNOWpJ_xvuC Michael Parenti Library: https://www.youtube.com/@themichaelparentilibrary/videos Michael Parenti [https://www.michael-parenti.org/] is a U.S. political scientist, academic historian and cultural critic who writes on scholarly and popular subjects. He is the award-winning author of twenty-four books, including The Face of Imperialism (2011) and Democracy for the Few originally written in 1974 with a 9th edition published in 2010: He has taught at universities and has also run for political office. Parenti is well known for his Marxist writings and lectures, and is an intellectual of the U.S. Left. Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He writes for an Artbound project on PBS SoCal called High & Dry [https://www.pbssocal.org/people/high-dry]. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://wilderutopia.com], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs. Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/ Support the Podcast: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url Executive Producer and Host: Jack Eidt Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats Episode 259 Photo credit: Michael Parenti

In this episode of Gangland Wire, Gary Jenkins sits down with author Craig McGuire to discuss his gripping book, Empire City Under Siege, a deep dive into three decades of FBI manhunts, mob wars, and organized-crime investigations in New York City. Craig explains how the project grew out of his collaboration with retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson, whose career spanned the most violent and chaotic years of New York's Mafia history. From Nelson's early days as a radio dispatcher in 1969 to his transition into undercover and frontline investigative work, the book captures the gritty reality of law enforcement during the 1970s and 1980s. We explore how Nelson's career mirrored the evolution of organized crime and law-enforcement tactics, including the rise of undercover stings, inter-agency cooperation, and the increasing role of technology. Craig highlights the close working relationship between Nelson and NYPD detective Kenny McCabe, whose deep knowledge of Mafia families and quiet professionalism led to major breakthroughs against organized crime. He tells how these two investigators wathced and uncovered the Gambino Family Roy DeMeo crew under Paul Castellano and Nino Gaggi. Throughout the conversation, Craig shares vivid, often humorous slice-of-life stories from the book—tense undercover moments, dangerous confrontations, and the emotional toll of living a double life. These anecdotes reveal not only the danger of the job but also the camaraderie and resilience that sustained agents and detectives working in the shadows. The episode closes with a reminder that Empire City Under Siege is as much about honoring unsung law-enforcement professionals as it is about mob history. Craig encourages listeners to support true-crime storytelling that preserves these firsthand accounts before they're lost to time. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. 0:02 Welcome Back to Gangland Wire 2:14 The Journey to Anthony John Nelson 4:46 The Life and Work of Law Enforcement 15:00 Inside Anthony Nelson’s Early Career 26:49 The Dynamic Duo: Nelson and McCabe 30:16 Tales from the Underworld 35:55 The Tragedy of Everett Hatcher 39:12 The High-Stakes World of Undercover Work 40:56 Closing Thoughts and Inspirations transcript [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers. Good to be back here in studio of Gangland Wire. I say the same thing every time. I hope it doesn’t bore you too much, but I am back here in the Gangland Wire studio. And I have today an author who interviewed and wrote a book with an FBI agent named Anthony John Nelson, who was one of the premier FBI agents in New York City that was working the mob. And even more interesting about him to me was he formed a partnership with a local copper named Kenny McCabe, who you may know the name. I had read the name before several times as I started researching this and looking at the book, but he was a mob buster supreme and Agent Nelson really formed a dynamic duo. But first, let’s start talking to Craig, your book, Empire City Under Seize, Three Decades of New York FBI Field Office Manhunts, Murders and Mafia Wars. How did you get involved with Anthony John Nelson? [0:55] Hi, Gary. Thanks for having me on your show. Big fan. Appreciate the opportunity. Very interesting and winding path that led me to Anthony’s doorstep. I also previously wrote another book, Carmine and the 13th Avenue Boys, which was about an enforcer in the Colombo family during the Third Colombo War. And I was introduced to Carmine Imbriali through Thomas Dades. Tommy Dades, he’s a famous retired NYPD detective. So after the success of that book, Tommy introduced me to another member of law enforcement. I started to work on a project that sort of fell apart. And one of the sort of consultants, friends that I met with during that was Anthony Nelson. And then one day as that, due to my own fumbling, as that project was falling apart, I had a delightful breakfast with Anthony and his wonderful wife, Sydney, Cindy, one Sunday morning. And Anthony’s pulling out all these clips of all these investigations and all these Jerry Capiche gangland clips. And it was just fascinating. And so I started to realize that there’s something here because I’m also a true crime fan and I remember many of these cases. [2:08] So it took a while to get Anthony to agree to write a book. He’s not one for the spotlight. He’s really your sort of quintessential G-man, modern G-man. It’s also somewhat of a throwback. But he eventually was interested in doing a book if we didn’t just shine the spotlight on him. Gary, you should know the original, the working title of the book was In the Company of Courage. And that’s really the theme that Anthony wanted to bring forth. You’ll notice throughout the book, there are some vignettes and some biographical information about many of the members of law enforcement that I interviewed, but then we also covered and who are no longer with us. It was my privilege to write this book sharing Anthony’s amazing history, 30 years at the FBI and then several years at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. And just like one of the themes is just to really shed some light on the valuable work that members of law enforcement, including you, sir. Thank you for your service. And we think too often these days, members of law enforcement are maligned and there’s a negative light cast on them. It’s the most difficult job in the world. And we just want to make sure that we’re shining some light on that valuable work that the thousands of members of men and women in law enforcement do every day protecting us. [3:24] I appreciate that. I’ll tell you what, all the way from the rookie on the street making those domestic violence calls and party armed calls and armed robbery alarms calls that are, there’s nothing there the first five times you go. And then all of a sudden there’s a guy running out with a gun all the way up to the homicide detectives. And even the people that handle the budget, they all paid their dues out on the streets and organized crime investigators, of course, and narcotics. I really appreciate that. It’s a thankless job for the most part. Once in a while, you get a little thanks, but not much. As we used to say, it was fun. I can’t believe they pay us to do this. [4:01] Gary, it’s like you’re repeating some of the lines of Frank Pergola to Al King, just like that. And that’s key, that thankless piece. I remember interviewing Frank Pergola, just famous New York City detective, worked on Son of Sam. He also worked on solving 79 homicides related to the Gambinos and the DeMeo family. And he echoed those same sentiments. While you’re investigating a case, it’s the victims’ families and the victims, their nerves are so fraught. It’s such a stressful situation. And the members of law enforcement bear the brunt of a lot of that frustration. [4:41] And too often, there’s no thank you at the end. And it’s not that they want to thank you. It’s just that they want the sort of closure, not even the recognition, just some sort of realization that they did a great job. And it’s unfortunate that they don’t, that doesn’t happen as often as it should. I appreciate it. Let’s talk about Anthony Nelson. He sounds like a very interesting character. Talk a little bit about what you learned from him about his early career. And I want to tell you something, that recalcitrance, I believe that’s the word, $25 word if I’ve ever heard one. His refusal to really make himself a hero or the center of attention. That’s pretty common among cops and FBI agents. I’ve noticed we’ve got, I’ve got a good friend here in Kansas City, wrote a book about the mafia in Kansas City called Mopsers in Our Mist, but he refused to put himself into the book. He had a publishing company that wanted him to do it and was going to pay him to do it, but it had to have him as a hero. He said, we have to have a hero in this book. He says, I won’t do it. So that Mr. Nelson, Agent Nelson, that’s not that uncommon. So tell us a little more about some of his early cases. [5:49] Anthony Nelson, interestingly enough, his career trajectory and really his life tracks with the latter half of the last century. And a lot of the technological evolution, the rise of organized crime post-prohibition, these themes of urbanization, radicalization that came out from the starting in the middle of the century. But really heating up as a young Anthony Nelson joins the FBI in 1969, really mostly in administrative roles, radio dispatcher first, eventually he’s an electronics technician. So I’m sure, Gary, you can reflect on, and some of this will resonate with you, just how archaic some of the technology was. Oh my God, yeah. Yeah. Back then, we have some fantastic anecdotes and stories in the book, but just also like, for example, when you’re responding to a hostage crisis and you don’t have a cell phone, you don’t have minimal communications and talking about, you better make sure you have a pocket full of dimes and knocking on a neighbor’s door because time is of the essence and to establish contact. So just some of this great, really interesting material there. Eventually, Anthony was sworn in as an agent in 1976, and he entered the FBI Academy at Quantico, graduated in 77. [7:13] And interestingly enough, Anthony reflects like some of his fellow graduates, perhaps were not as keen on going to New York, one of the larger field offices, perhaps wanting to cut their teeth at a smaller office, but he obviously wanted to go home. So he was, and he jumped right into the fray, really assigned to hijacking. And he was an undercover operative in Red Hook during the 1970s, like the really gritty. And from the stories and from the various folks I interviewed, this really was gritty New York back then with the economy failing, crime on the rise. [7:48] Gary, you look, I heard an interesting stat last week where you had, there was almost a record setting that New York City had not reported a homicide for a record 12 consecutive days. And that had not happened in decades. So when Anthony joined the FBI, they were recording five homicides in New York City. And also during the 70s, you also had this, when you talk about radicalization, with 3,000 bombings nationwide, corruption was rampant. You had credit card fraud was just kicking off. You had widespread bread or auto theft and hijacking. Again, at the street level, Anthony was the front for a Gambino-affiliated warehouse where he had first right of refusal, where some of the hijackers would bring in the loads. And he was doing this on an undercover basis. So he jumped right in. They set him up in a warehouse and he was buying like a sting, what we called a sting operation. He was buying stolen property. They thought he was a fence. [8:50] Yeah, they started doing that in the 70s. They hadn’t really done, nobody had done that before in the 70s. ATF kind of started sting operates throughout the United States. We had one here, but they started doing that. And that was a new thing that these guys hadn’t seen before. So interesting. He was that big, blurly guy up front said, hey, yeah, bring that stuff on. Exactly. If you look on the cover, there are three images on the cover, and one of them is following one of the busts afterwards where they tracked down the hijacked goods. I believe it was in New Jersey. So you could get the sense of the volume. Now, think about it like this. So he’s in Red Hook in the mid-70s. This was actually where he was born. So when Anthony was born in 49, and if you think about Red Hook in the early 50s, this was just a decade removed from Al Capone as a leg-breaking bouncer along the saloons on the waterfront. And this was on the waterfront, Red Hook eventually moved to Park Slope. [9:49] And this was where Crazy Joe Gallo was prompted, started a mob war. And this was when any anthony is coming of age back then and most of his friends is gravitating so to these gangster types in the neighborhood these wise guys but this was a time pre-9-1-1 emergency response system so the only way to report or get help was to call the switchboard call the hospital directly call the fire department directly so you had the rise of the b cop where it wasn’t just the police they were integral part of the community and there’s this really provocative story Anthony tells the first time he saw a death up close and personal, an acquaintance of his had an overdose. And the beat cops really did a sincere effort to try to save him. And this really resonated with the young Anthony and he gravitated towards law enforcement. And then a little bit, a while later as a teenager, they’re having these promotional videos, these promotional sort of documentary style shows on television. And Anthony sees it, and he’s enamored by it, especially when they say this is the hardest job in America. So he’s challenged, and he’s a go-getter. So he writes a letter to J. Edgar Hoover, and Hoover writes him back. [11:03] So it’s a signed letter, and now Anthony laughs about it. He says it was probably a form letter with a rubber stamp, but it really had an amazing impact. And this is at the time when, you know, in the 50s, you really had J. Edgar really embrace the media. And he actually consulted on the other famous, the FBI television show, several movies, the rise of the G-Man archetype. So Anthony was fully on board. [11:28] Interesting. Of course, J. Edgar Hoover wanted to make sure the FBI looked good. Yes, exactly. Which he did. And they were good. They had a really high standards to get in. They had to be a lawyer or accountant or some extra educated kind of a deal. And so they always think, though, that they took these guys who had never been even a street policeman of any kind and they throw them right into the DPN many times. But that’s the way it was. They did have that higher level of recruit because of that. So, Anthony, was he a lawyer or accountant when he came in? Did he get in after they relaxed that? Oh, that’s spot on. I’m glad you brought that up. So now here’s a challenge. So Anthony needs that equalizer, correct? So if you’re a CPA, obviously a former member of the military, if you’re a successful detective or a local police force, one of these type of extra credentials. [12:20] Anthony’s specialty was technology. Now, when you think of technology… Not the ubiquitous nature of technology nowadays, where you have this massive processing power in your phone, and you don’t really have to be a technologist to be able to use the power of it. This is back in the 1960s. But he always had an affinity for technology. And he was able to, when he, one of the other requirements was as he had to hit the minimum age requirement, he had to work for a certain amount of time, he was able to get a job at the FBI. So he was an electronics technician before he became an agent. [12:59] And he had all of the, and back then this was, it was groundbreaking, the level of technology. And he has some funny story, odd, like man on the street stories about, I’m sure you remember Radio Shack when there was a Radio Shack on every other corner, ham radio enthusiasts. And it was cat and mouse. It was, they had the members of organized crime had the police scanners. And they were able to, if they had the right scanner, they had the right frequency. They were able to pick on the bugs planted really close to them. And he tells some really funny stories about one time there was a member of organized crime. They’re staking out, I believe it was the cotillion on 18th Avenue. And then I believe he’s sitting outside with Kenny McCabe. And then one of this member of organized crime, he’s waving a scanner inside and he’s taunting them saying, look, I know what you’re doing. And so it was that granularity of cat and mouse. [13:55] Rudimentary kind of stuff. Yeah. We had a guy that was wearing what we called a kelk kit. It was a wire and he was in this joint and they had the scanner and so but they had to scan her next door at this club And all of a sudden, a bunch of guys came running and there’s somebody in here wearing a wire. And my friend’s guy, the guy I worked with, Bobby, he’s going, oh, shit. And so he just fades into the background. And everybody except one guy had a suit on. Nobody had a suit on except this one guy. So they focused on this one guy that had a suit on and went after him and started trying to pat him down and everything. Bobby just slipped out the front door. So amazing. I mean, you know, Anthony has a bunch of those slice of life stories. I also interviewed a translator from the FBI to get a sort of a different perspective. [14:42] It’s different. Like the agents a little bit more, they’re tougher. They’re a tougher breed. They go through the training. Some of the administrative professionals, like the translators. So this one translator, it’s a pretty harrowing experience because remember the such the insular nature of the neighborhoods and how everyone is always [14:59] looking for someone out of place. So she actually got a real estate license and poses a realtor be able to rent apartments and then she spoke multiple dialects and then just to have to listen in and to decipher not only the code but also the dialects and put it together when you have agents on the line because remember you have an undercover agent if they get discovered more often than not the members of organized crime are going to think they’re members of another crew so you’re dead either they’re an informant if they think they’re an informant you’re dead if they think you’re an agent yeah just turn away from you say okay we don’t deal with this guy anymore if you think you’re informant or somebody another crew or something trying to worm their way in then yeah you’re dead exactly so interviewing maria for this you get that sense from someone who’s not in like not an agent to get true how truly harrowing and dangerous this type of activity was and how emboldened organized crime was until really the late 90s. And back then, it truly was death defying. [16:02] Oh, yeah, it was. They had so many things wired in the court system and in politically in the late 70s and early 80s and all these big cities. No big city was immune from that kind of thing. So they had all kinds of sources. They even had some clerks in the FBI and they definitely had all the court. The courthouses were just wired. And I don’t mean wired, but they had people in places and all those things. So it was death to find that you got into these working undercover. Ever. Hey, you want to laugh? I don’t want to give away all the stories, but there was a great story. I remember Anthony saying, they set up a surveillance post in an apartment and they brought in all the equipment while they were, then they got the court orders and the surveillance post actually got ripped off twice. So while they try, like after hours, someone’s going, yeah, ripping off all the FBI equipment. So you have this extra level of, so that gives you like, It really was Wild West then. Really? [17:00] So now he gets into organized crime pretty quick, into that squad and working organized crime pretty quick. I imagine they put him in undercover like that because of his accent, his ability to fit in the neighborhood. I would think he would have a little bit of trouble maybe running into somebody that remembered him from the old days. Did he have any problem with that? I spot on, Gary. I tell you, this was he. So he’s operating in Red Hook and actually throughout the next several years, he’s periodically flying down to Florida as a front for New York orchestrated drug deals. So he’s going down to Florida to negotiate multi-kilo drug deals on behalf of organized crime. But at the same time, he’s an agent. He eventually rose to be supervisory special agent. He’s managing multiple squads. So there did come an inflection point where it became too dangerous for him to continue to operate as an undercover while conducting other types of investigations. [18:02] Interestingly enough they opened up a resident agency office the ras are in the major field offices in the fbi they have these they’re called ras i’m sure you’re familiar these like mini offices with the office and they’ll focus on certain areas of crime more geographically based so they opened up the brooklyn queens ra and that really focuses heavily on organized crime but also hijacking because you had the, especially with the airport over there and a lot of the concentrations of, especially in South Brooklyn, going into Queens. So he worked there. Also the airport. Also the mass, you have this massive network of VA facilities. You have the forts. So you need these other RA offices. So you have a base of operations to be able to investigate. But Anthony has such a wide extent of case history, everything from airline attacks to art theft heists to kidnappings, manhunts, fugitives. There was Calvin Klein, the famous designer, when his daughter was kidnapped by the babysitter, it did do it. Anthony was investigating that. So it’s just, and while he has this heavy concentration in organized crime. I mentioned that. What’s this deal with? He investigated a robbery, a bank robbery that was a little bit like the dog day afternoon robbery, a standoff. What was that? [19:30] This was actually, it was the dog day afternoon robbery. They based a dog day afternoon on this. Exactly. What you had, and this was before Anthony was when he was still in his administrative role. So he had a communications position. So he was responsible for gathering all the intel and the communications and sharing it with the case, the special agents on site. So what you had was like, he’s with the play by play of this really provocative hostage. It was a bank robbery that quickly turned into a hostage crisis. And then, so throughout this whole, and the way it eventually resolved was the perpetrators insisted on a particular agent. I apologize. It slips my mind, but he’s a real famous agent. So he has to drive them to JFK airport where they’re supposed to have a flight ready to fly them out of the country. And what happens is they secrete a gun into the car and he winds up shooting the bank robbers to death. And there were so many different layers to this bank robbery. It eventually became the movie. And a funny story aside, the movie, while they’re filming the movie, Anthony’s at his friend’s house in downtown Brooklyn. It may have been Park Slope. And they’re calling for extras. His friends run in and say, hey, they’re filming a movie about this bank robbery that happened on Avenue U. You want to be an extra? And he said, nah, no thanks. The real thing was enough for me. [20:55] I’ll tell you what, it wasn’t for a New York City organized crime and New York City crime. Al Pacino wouldn’t have had a career. That’s the truth. [21:05] Now, let’s start. Let’s go back into organized crime. Now, we’ve talked about this detective, Kenny McCabe, who was really well known, was famous. And during the time they worked together and they were working with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Is that correct? Were both of them working for it? Was he at the FBI and Kenny was with the Brooklyn DA’s office? [21:26] When you think about thematically, in the company of courage, Kenny McCabe was really close. This was a career-long, lifelong, from when they met, relationship, professional relationship that became a deep friendship between two pretty similar members of law enforcement. [21:46] Kenny McCabe had a long career in the NYPD as organized crime investigator before he joined the Southern District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. So the way they first crossed paths was while Anthony was working a hijacking investigation. So he gets a tip from one of his CIs that there’s some hijacked stolen goods are in a vehicle parked in a certain location. So he goes to stake it out. Like they don’t want to seize the goods. They want to find out, they want to uncover who the hijackers are and investigate the conspiracy. So then while he’s there, he sees a sort of a familiar face staking it out as well. Then he goes to the, he goes to the NYA, a detective Nev Nevins later. And he asks about this guy. And so this detective introduces him to Kenny McCabe and right away strike up with his interesting chemistry. And they’re like, you know what? Let’s jointly investigate this. So they wind up foiling the hijacking. But what starts is like this amazing friendship. And I’ll tell you, the interesting thing about Kenny McCabe is almost universally, he’s held in the highest regard as perhaps law enforcement’s greatest weapon in dismantling organized crime in the latter half of the 20th century. For example, I interviewed George Terra, famous undercover detective who eventually went to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. [23:12] And he had a great way. I hope I don’t mangle. Kenny knew all the wise guys and they all knew Kenny. And when I say he knew all the wise guys, he knew their shoe sizes. He knew who they partnered with on bank jobs years ago. So he knew who their siblings were, who their cousins were, who they were married to, who their girlfriends were, what clubs they frequented. For example, during the fatical hearings, where they would do sentencing, often the defense attorneys would want the prosecutors to reveal who their CIs are for due process, for a sense of fairness. And they refused to do that, obviously, for safety reasons, and they want to compromise ongoing investigations. So in dozens, perhaps so many of these cases, they were bringing Kenny McCabe. He was known as the unofficial photographer of organized crime. [24:07] For example, I think it was 2003, he was the first one who revealed a new edict that new initiates into Cosa Nostra had to have both a mother and a father who were Italian. Oh, yeah. I remember that. Yeah. He was also, he revealed that when the Bonanno family renamed itself as Messino, he was the one who revealed that. And then when Messino went to prison for murder, his successor, Vinnie Bassiano, Vinnie gorgeous. When he was on trial, that trial was postponed because so many of law enforcement leaders had to attend Kenny McCabe’s funeral, unfortunately, when he passed. So this is such a fascinating thing. Now, why you don’t hear more about Kenny McCabe, and I interviewed his son, Kenny McCabe Jr. Duke, is like Kenny McCabe like really issued the media spotlight. He would not, he wasn’t interested in grabbing the microphone. So you have almost no media on Kenny McCabe. If you do a Google search for him, I believe the only thing I ever found was a picture in his uniform as an early career police officer. [25:19] So it’s really hard to even do a documentary style treatment without having any media because B-roll is just going to get you so far. So really what Duke has been doing over the last two decades or more is really consolidating all of these as much material as he can. And I think eventually when he does put out a book, this thing’s going to explode. It’s going to be like true Hollywood treatment. But now going back to the mid-70s, so these two guys hook up. You have the FBI agent and you have the police detective. [25:49] Craig, what you always hear is that the FBI is suspicious and doesn’t trust local authorities. And local policemen hate the FBI because they always grab all the glory and take everything, run with it. And they’re left out. And I didn’t have that experience myself. They’ve got the case. They’ve got the laws. We don’t locally, county and statewide, you don’t have the proper laws to investigate organized crime. Yes, sir. But the feds do. So that’s how it works. This really blows that myth up that the local police and the FBI never worked together and hated each other. [26:25] I’m so glad you brought that up because this was very important to Anthony. He has so many lifelong friends in the NYPD, and I’ve interviewed several of them. And just this sincerity comes across, the camaraderie. In any walk of life, in any profession, you’re always going to have rivalries and conflict, whether healthy conflict or negative conflict. [26:46] Even more, you’re going to find that in law enforcement because the stakes are so high. But it’s a disservice to… And what we want to do is sort of dispel the myth that there was no cooperation. Why there were very well-publicized conflicts between agencies prosecuting certain cases. This was the time where technology was really enabling collaboration. Remember, and you had a time, if you had to investigate a serial crime, you had to go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and you had to interview investigators. You had to comb through written records to piece this together. So it really was not conducive for collaboration. [27:22] So what you saw was the rise of, and then you had these investigative tools and these legal tools like RICO, while they were still trying to figure out and to build. So now you had the litigious tools where you could build conspiracies and prosecute them. So this sort of helped ferment this sort of collaborative interagency, which eventually led to these joint task force that were very successful. What I really love is this microcosm of Anthony Nelson and Kenny McCain. Now, Anthony Nelson was issued a Plymouth Grand Fury with the full police interceptor kit. If you’re familiar with that make and model, no automobile ever created screams cop-mobile like the Grand Fury. And so what you had was after hours, Anthony and Kenny would join up and they would go prowling the underworld with the Grand Fury on purpose. They wanted to be as conspicuous as possible. to the point where they would park in bus stops across the street from these social clubs. And when I say social clubs, they were… [28:29] Everywhere. There were dozens of them all over Brooklyn and Queens. And these are cafe, social clubs, bars, restaurants with heavy OC presence, blatantly conducting their business. So you have these two, Anthony’s always driving. Kenny’s always riding shotgun with his camera. I assume it was some sort of 35 millimeter hanging out the side, taking down names, license plates. Just a great story. You had Paul Castellano in front of Veterans and Friends on 86th Street when he had Dominic Montiglio start that social club so he could have more of a presence in Brooklyn on the street so that he actually crosses the street and he goes to Kenny and Anthony. And he’s saying, guys, you don’t have to sit out here. You could come down to Ponte Vecchio in Bay Ridge. I have a table there anytime you want to talk to me. So it’s that level of bravado. But pretty soon it changed. Once more of this intel started to build these real meaningful cases, Castellana put an edict, don’t talk to these two, don’t be photographed. What came out of that was an amazing partnership where they gathered so much intelligence and Anthony is very. [29:46] Quick to have me point out, give more credit to the investigators, to the agents, to the detectives. They gathered a lot of the intelligence to help with these investigations, but you had so many frontline folks that are doing a lot of the legwork, that are doing the investigations, making the arrests, that are crawling under the hoods. So it’s pretty inspiring. But then you also had some really good, and I don’t want to share all the stories [30:12] in the book. There’s a great story of Kenny and Anthony. They go into Rosal’s restaurant because they see this. [30:21] There may have been a warrant out on this member of law enforcement. So they had cause. So they go in and there’s actually some sort of family event going on. And they’re playing the theme song of The Godfather. As they go in and then they have to go into the back room to get this member of organized crime who’s hiding. So it’s these kind of really slice of life kind of stories that just jump out, jump out of the book. Really? I see, as I mentioned, they had some kind of a run-in with Roy DeMeo at the Gemini. You remember that story? Can you tell that one? Yeah, there’s, so Kenny and Anthony, throughout the hijacking investigations. [30:59] Were, they were among the first to really learn of this mysterious Roy. And his rise. And then also Nino. Remember Nino Gadgi was the Gambino Capo who took over Castellano’s crew, Brooklyn crew, when he was elevated. And then Roy DeMeo was really this larger than life maniac serial killer who formed the Gemini crew, which was a gang of murderers really on the Gemini Lounge in Flatlands, which is really close to Anthony’s house. And Kenny’s not too far. Didn’t they have a big stolen car operation also? Did they get into that at all? Yes. Stolen cars, chop shops. Remember, this is when you had the introduction of the tag job, where it was relatively easy to take the vehicle identification numbers off a junked auto and then just replace them with the stolen auto, and then you’re automatically making that legitimate. And then, so they’re doing this wholesale operation where they’re actually got to the point where they’re shipping hundreds, if not thousands of these tag jobs overseas. So it was at scale, a massive operation. Roy DeMay was a major earner. He was such an unbalanced, very savvy business for the underworld, business professional, but he was also a homicidal maniac. [32:22] Some say they could be upwards of a hundred to 200 crimes. Frank Pergola alone investigated and So 79 of these crimes associated with this crew. And it got to the point where, and he had a heavy sideline in drugs, which was punishable by death in the Gambino family, especially under Castellano. So then what you had was all these investigations and all this intelligence that, and then with this collaboration between the FBI and NYPD. Oh, wow. It is quite a crew. I’m just looking back over here at some of the other things in there in that crew in that. You had one instance where there was a sentencing hearing and of a drug dealer, I believe, a member of organized crime. And Kenny McCabe is offering testimony to make sure that the proper sentencing is given because a lot of times these guys are deceptive. [33:16] And he mentions DeMeo’s name. So DeMeo in a panic. So then maybe a couple of nights later, they’re parked in front of veterans and friends. And DeMeo comes racing across 86th Street. Now, 86th Street is like a four-lane thoroughfare. It’s almost like, oh, I grew up in the air a few blocks away. So he’s running through traffic. And then he’s weaving in and out. And he’s screaming at Kenny McCabe, what are you trying to kill me? Putting my name into a drug case? They’re going to kill me. And so it’s that kind of intimate exchanges that they have with, with these key members of organized crime of the era. [33:52] Wow. That’s, that’s crazy. I see that they worked to murder that DEA agent, Everett Hatcher, that was a low level mob associate that got involved in that. And then supposedly the mob put out the word, but you gotta, we gotta give this guy up. But you remember that story? Now, this is another instance where I remember this case. And I remember afterwards when they killed Gus Faraci. So what you had was, again, and this is very upsetting because you had DEA agent Everett Hatchard, who is a friend of Anthony’s. To the point where just prior to his assassination, they were attending a social event together with their children. And he would also, they would run into each other from time to time. They developed a really beyond like camaraderie, like real friendship. So then, so Hatcher has, there’s an undercover sting. So there’s Gus Faraci, who’s, I believe he was associated with the Lucchese’s, with Chile. [34:55] So he gets set up on the West Shore. And so he’s told to go to the West Shore Expressway. Now, if you’ve ever been on that end of Staten Island, that whips out heading towards the outer bridge. This really is the end of the earth. This is where you have those large industrial like water and oil tankers and there’s not really good lighting and all this. It’s just like a real gritty. So he loses his surveillance tail and they eventually, he’s gunned down while in his vehicle. So then Anthony gets the call to respond on site to investigate the murder. He doesn’t know exactly who it is until he opens up the door and he sees it’s his friend. And this is the first assassination of a DEA agent. It was just such a provocative case. And the aftermath of that was, again, like Gus Faraci, who was, he was a murderer. He was a drug dealer, but he did not know. He set him up. He thought he was a member of organized crime. [35:53] He was just another drug dealer. He did not realize he was a DEA agent. And then all hell broke loose. And you had just the all five families until they eventually produced Gus Faraci, set him up, and then he was gunned down in Brooklyn. [36:06] Case closed, huh? Exactly. Yeah. And as we were saying before, I don’t remember it was before I started recording or after that. When you’re working undercover, that’s the worst thing is they think that you’re an informant or a member of another crew and you’re liable to get killed. At one say, I had a sergeant one time. He said, if you get under suspicion when you’re like hanging out in some of these bars and stuff, just show them you’re the cops. Just get your badge out right away because everything just, all right, they just walk away then. It’s a immensely dangerous thing to maintain your cover. Yes, sir. Anthony was always good at that because tall gentleman has the right sort of Italian-American complexion. He’s passable at Italian. So with some of these folks, especially from Italy that come over, he could carry a conversation. He’s not fluent. [36:56] And he just walks in and talks in. It’s a different… George Terror was a fantastic undercover detective. And you talk to some of these undercovers, it’s like you have to be… There’s sort of this misperception that the organized crime members are like these thugs and flunkies. These are very intelligent, super suspicious, addled individuals that are able to pick up on signals really easy because they live on the edge. So you really can’t fake it, the slightest thing. And again, they’ll think that their first inclination is not that you’re a member of law enforcement. Their first inclination is that you’re a member of a rival crew that’s looking to kill me looks at looking to rip me off so i’m going to kill you first it’s just it’s just a wild and imagine that’s your day job oh man i know they could just and i’ve picked this up on people there’s just a look when you’re lying there’s just a look that just before you catch it quick but there’s a look of panic that then you get it back these guys can pick up that kind of stuff just so quickly any kind of a different body language they’re so good with that. [38:02] And he’s also, he has to be able to say just enough to establish his connection and credibility without saying too much that’s going to trip him up. And that’s like being able to walk that line. He tells, again, I hate giving away all these stories because I want readers to buy the book, but he has this fantastic story when he’s on an undercover buy and he’s, I don’t know if it’s Florida, if it’s Miami or it’s Fort Lauderdale and he has to go into a whole, like the drugs are in one location and he’s in that with the drug deals in one location and he’s in this location and, but he knows the money’s not going to come. [38:42] So he has to walk into this hotel room with all these cartel drug guys who are off balance, knowing that he’s got to figure out, how do I get out of this room without getting killed? And once I walk out, will the timing be right that I could drop to the floor right when the responding FBI agents, again, these are FBI agents from a different [39:08] field office that he perhaps doesn’t have intimate working. knowledge of. I got to trust that these guys got my back and they’re not distracted. So I can’t even imagine having to live with that stress. No, I can’t either. All right. I’ll tell you what, the book, guys, is Empire City Under Siege, the three decades of New York FBI field office man hunts, murders, and mafia wars by Craig McGuire with former retired FBI agent Anthony John Nelson. I pulled as many stories as I could out of the book from him. You’re going to have to get the book to get to the rest of. And believe me, I’m looking at my notes here and the stuff they sent me. And there are a ton of great stories in there, guys. You want to get this book. [39:50] I also want to say there’s something special going on at Wild Blue Press. My publisher specializes in true crime. And it’s just, they’re so nurturing and supportive of writers. Just fantastic facilities and promotions. And they just help us get it right. That’s the most important thing, Anthony, accuracy. So if there’s anything wrong in the book, that’s totally on me. It’s really hard to put one of these together, especially decades removed. But then I’m just thankful for the support of nature of Wild Blue and Anthony and all the remarkable members of law enforcement like yourself, sir. Thank you for your service. And Anthony, and I’m just so inspired. I just have to say, they’re like a different breed. And you folks don’t realize how exciting. Because there are so many stories like Anthony would come up with and he would say, do you think readers would be interested in this story? And I fall out of my chair like, oh my God, this could be a whole chapter. So it was as a true crime fan myself of this material, it’s just, it was a wild ride and I enjoyed it. [40:56] Great. Thanks a lot for coming on the show, Craig. Thanks, Gary. You’re the best.

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Patrick, Mariana, and Marcella are joined by guest Umberto Mucci for a live conversation recorded at IAFL4 (Italian American Future Leaders 4), a national gathering of young Italian Americans. The discussion explores cultural identity, community building, leadership, nostalgia, and what it means to belong across generations and borders. The conversation deepens as the group addresses longstanding tensions between Italians in Italy and their American descendants. Drawing on his experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Mucci offers a candid perspective on why Italian American pride can sometimes meet resistance in Italy, and how history, perception, and unresolved misunderstandings continue to shape those dynamics. The episode also previews a forthcoming podcast spinoff aimed at bridging that divide, featuring Italian journalists reporting from the United States for audiences in Italy. Balancing humor with intellectual seriousness, the hosts dismantle stereotypes, share family stories, and respond directly to online critics. The result is an honest, engaging dialogue—and a call for greater empathy between communities bound by shared history, memory, and culture on both sides of the ocean. THEIR SOCIALS:   UMBERTO- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umberto.mucci/ Instagram: umbertomucci   MARIANNA- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAmarianna.gatto/ Instagram: @gattolosangeles Website: https://www.iamla.org/staff/staff-marianna-gatto/   MARCELLA- Instagram: Marcella_martinphd Website: https://www.marcellamartin.com/   HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto Marcella Martin   SPECIAL GUEST: Umberto Mucci   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Send us a textIn this high-energy and entertaining episode, Joey Pinz sits down with cybersecurity founder and unabashed Italian-American storyteller Tony Pietrocola. From stomping grapes as a child to running an AI-driven security operations platform, Tony brings a rare blend of toughness, humor, and entrepreneurial clarity.They jump from wine, cooking, and massive NFL bodies to college football, concussions, and how elite athletes are built differently. Tony shares what makes college football the real American spectacle—and why private equity is about to reshape the sport.On the cybersecurity front, Tony breaks down the challenges MSPs face, why most still struggle with security, and how AgileBlue helps them build profitable, white-label practices without the overhead of running a SOC. He explains the three questions every MSP should ask a vendor, the rise of AI-assisted attacks, and why consolidation and greenfield opportunities are the biggest missed revenue streams.The conversation ends with health, habit, and personal transformation—discussing Joey's 130-lb weight loss, Tony's daily 5 a.m. workouts, and the childhood structure that forged their work ethic.

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Rofrano, founder of MASA Chips and Vandy Chips, to unpack why seed oils are so controversial and how “science” is often used as marketing. We explore the differences between seed oils and vegetable oils, the ways oils are extracted from nature, and how saturated versus unsaturated fats affect metabolism, mitochondria, and oxidative stress. Steven explains the role of linoleic acid, body temperature, calorie burning, and why eating in alignment with your climate may matter more than we've been taught. We also discuss whether seed oils need to be avoided entirely, their long half-life in the body, and practical strategies for reducing exposure in everyday life. The conversation wraps with a reimagined food pyramid, cooking methods that impact health, and how MASA and Vandy Chips are setting a new standard for cleaner, more satiating snack foods.Steven Rofrano grew up in New Jersey in an Italian-American family that instilled a deep respect for food quality and old-world traditions. Steven struggled with chronic health issues growing up, until he discovered that eliminating seed oils and processed foods made him feel truly healthy for the first time.Fueled by years of obsessive research, Steven became convinced that classic American foods can be both healthy and delicious—if made without toxic ingredients. Determined to prove this, he quit his big tech software job in 2022 to launch Ancient Crunch, starting with MASA Chips, the first nixtamalized tortilla chips cooked in grass-fed beef tallow. Next came Vandy Crisps, tallow-cooked potato chips that restore the 'Great American Snack' to its original seed oil-free glory.Today, Steven remains on a mission to rebuild America's pantry with real, nourishing ingredients—and, of course, to spread a little anti-seed oil “propaganda” along the way.SHOW NOTES:0:40 Welcome to the show!2:53 About Steven Rofrano3:59 Welcome him to the podcast!5:04 Why are seed oils so polarizing?8:47 Is “science” just marketing?11:35 Seed oils vs Vegetable oils13:35 3 ways to get oil from nature17:04 Unsaturated vs saturated fats in the body20:11 Eating per your climate22:25 Linoleic acid, oxidative stress and your mitochondria28:22 How we burn calories & energy33:46 *ELLIE MD*35:36 Lower body temperatures37:04 Do we need to avoid seed oils 100%?40:17 Advice on avoiding seed oils44:07 Half-life of seed oils in the body47:39 Cleaner potato & tortilla chips49:57 Satiation factor of saturated fats51:38 Frying vs baking vs sauteeing55:29 The new Food Pyramid57:09 Where to find MASA & Vandy Chips58:02 His final piece of advice58:40 Thanks for tuning in!ELLIE MD PeptidesRESOURCES:IG: reallytanmanX: reallytanmanMasa Chips - code: BIOHACKERBABES for 20% offIG: masa_chipsX: Masa_ChipsVandy Crisps: IG: https://www.instagram.com/vandy_crispsX: https://x.com/Vandy_CrispsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/biohacker-babes-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Healing Rhythms Why the next generation should try Tarantella dances.Host: Anna Harsh, MA, BA degree in Dance, E-RYT200, Pilates Certified. Artistic Director /Founder Allegro Dance Company. Guest: Salvatore Guglielmo, Dancer, Percussionist, Italian- American preservationist. Sal shares details about the Italian drums and various tarantellas from southern regions of Italy. Visit Sal's website: https://salvatoreguglielmo.comIG: @SalvatoreGuglielmo_ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAzD-cCNkZU84rY7eIMnDLQ⁠Anna's Website: www.AnnaHarsh.com IG: @TambourineChronicles www.AllegroDanceCompany.net Like, Share & Subscribe so you won't miss any episodes! #ItalianCulture #ItalianDrums #Tammurriata #Pizzica #tarantella #ItalianDance #DrumLessons #DanceLessons

Some stories shape your life before you are old enough to remember them. In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh shares his Iranian origin story and how the Iranian Revolution changed the course of his family's life. Born to a Persian father and Italian American mother, Darius reflects on his family's forced exit from Iran, growing up disconnected from half of his identity, and the lasting impact that displacement had on his father and his upbringing. As Iran faces renewed unrest today, Darius explains why speaking up matters and how personal stories can shine light on what is often ignored. This episode is a reminder that freedom should never be taken for granted and that awareness begins with empathy. In this episode, Darius will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to My Story (01:17) My Iranian Heritage and Family Background (04:49) The Iranian Revolution and Its Impact (09:45) Life in America: Growing Up with a Dual Identity (16:50) The Aftermath of the Revolution on My Family (21:26) A Call to Action: Supporting Freedom in Iran Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Patrick, and Mariana welcome pipe enthusiast and business owner Michael Curcio for a lively conversation on Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet rituals that bind generations. What begins with pipe smoking opens into a broader exploration of restoration, bespoke artistry, and the unexpected revival of Italian pipe culture—where utility, beauty, and memory converge.   The discussion moves easily between humor and reflection, touching on immigrant family histories, old-world habits carried into modern life, and the meaning embedded in everyday objects. From Curcio's ancestors arriving in Harlem to stories of homemade wine, copper pots, ashtrays, and pipe clubs, the episode reveals how ordinary items become vessels of identity and continuity. Mariana adds personal texture with candid reflections on motherhood and domestic life, grounding tradition in the present.   Warm, thoughtful, and often funny, this episode explores how heritage is kept alive not by nostalgia alone, but by everyday use, care, and shared experience. Italian pipes emerge not as mere accessories, but as enduring symbols of community, craftsmanship, and legacy.     HOSTS:  Patrick O'Boyle Dolores Alfieri Taranto   SPECIAL GUEST: Michael Curcio   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Yet another week of Sky annoying us with her picky eating. This week we spin the wheel and present her with a very common dish for Italian-Americans, WHICH SKY IS, sausage and peppers. You can guess how that went down

Yet another week of Sky annoying us with her picky eating. This week we spin the wheel and present her with a very common dish for Italian-Americans, WHICH SKY IS, sausage and peppers. You can guess how that went down

This is a Vintage Selection from 2005Episode DescriptionMary Ann Esposito, pioneering host of PBS's Ciao Italia, the longest running cooking show, joins the Restaurant Guys to discuss authentic Italian cooking before it was trendy. The conversation explores traditional Italian cuisine, regional cooking, food television, and how Italian food in America drifted from its roots.The BanterThe Restaurant Guys open with a candid—and humorous—discussion of dieting culture in America, demonized foods, and what happens after a few months of eating sausage and whipped cream. The ConversationThe Guys welcome Mary Ann Esposito, the host of PBS's Ciao Italia and one of the earliest voices of authentic Italian cooking on American television. Mary Ann reflects on teaching traditional Italian cuisine, the foundations of regional cooking, and how Italian-American food evolved away from its origins. She also shares practical insights on bringing authenticity back into everyday cooking—without turning weeknight dinner into a chore.The Inside TrackMark and Francis reconnect with Mary Ann, recalling a memorable visit at their New Brunswick, NJ restaurant in 2005. They revisit her long-running culinary tours to Italy—and discover she's still hosting them in 2026—proving that some food traditions don't just endure, they keep evolving.Timestamps01:12 – What's Wrong with a Pasta Dinner? 02:07 – Bad Diet Trends and Misunderstood Italian Food 06:35 – Mary Ann Esposito and Family Recipes 12:15 – The Cuisine of Sicily and Regional Italian Cooking 20:00 – The Quest for the Perfect Cannoli 24:30 – Preserving Authentic Italian Cuisine 29:30 – Finding Time to Cook Well at Home 32:00 – Leaving a Legacy in FoodBioMary Ann Esposito is the longtime host of PBS's Ciao Italia and a leading voice in Italian cooking in America. An award-winning author and teacher, she has spent decades sharing traditional Italian cuisine and shaping how home cooks understand regional Italian food.InfoMary Ann's recipes, tours and other infohttps://www.ciaoitalia.com/Become a Restaurant Guys' Regular!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribeMagyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Withum Accounting https://www.withum.com/restaurantOur Places Stage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/ Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/ To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguysReach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**Click Below!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

Wine branding is slow. It is different than other products; more rules, a limited set of consumers, and big brands standing in your way. These are the typical headwinds; unless your Samvel Hakobyan. I am convinced, despite the current tone of nah sayers and industry pundits looking for some kind of magic bullet to ease the woes of the trade, that proper and tested principles of business are more important now than ever—Persistance, perseverance, and passion; if you do not have these principles in your quiver, you are done. Where do these principals come from? are you born with them? Can you learn them? Can you read them in a book? The answer to these questions lies in this podcast with Samvel Hakobyan. I have to tell you, hosting Samvel Hakobyan on Wine Talks was one of those moments that reminded me why I'm addicted to these stories—especially when they connect so many worlds you wouldn't expect. But today, I want to linger on the Michael Franzese thread, because that's where grit, fate, and transformation collided like a flash in the cellar. Let's set the scene: Samvel, a young Armenian immigrant whose family had just clawed its way out of a bankrupt pizza shop in Sacramento, grows up idolizing one of the mob's most notorious figures—Michael Franzese. Not for the notoriety, mind you, but because Franzese's story is one of transformation. Here's a man who was the biggest earner in the mob after Capone, who finds God in a prison cell, and emerges not just clean, but on fire with a completely different purpose. So, how does a nineteen-year-old kid in California, hustling in door-to-door roofing, go from being a fan to actually sitting across the table from Michael Franzese? It's pure Armenian inspiration. Samvel told this story with the kind of detail that gives you goosebumps: Challenges at every step, flights canceled, Uber rides missed, and yet, by sheer persistence, Samvel finds himself pulled up to a hotel in Texas at the exact moment Franzese steps out to get into the very Uber they just exited. I mean, come on—if you wrote it, nobody would believe it! What kind of young man sidles up to a former mob boss and asks for his phone number? Only one who expects more out of himself and the world around him. And Michael, ever the seasoned reader of people, tells him, "If you have the guts to ask, I'll give it to you." There's a lesson in that right there: Opportunity doesn't knock; you do. Fast-forward through a winding road—Samvel helping his family, digging out of debt, building a marketing agency, and yet never dropping that thread with Michael. When the time came to link Michael's story with Armenian wine, Samvel saw it instantly: Combine a narrative of personal transformation with the oldest wine culture in the world. Who better to front a wine about rebirth, legacy, and endurance than a man who lived the mob life and now stands in the pulpit? Michael wasn't just a celebrity face. He became a real partner—a man who insisted the wines were as good as his redemption story, who put his thumbprint on the bottle and packed the aisles at Costco in person, shaking hands and turning heads on social media. When Samvel talked about getting Michael to speak at his events, launching wine, and explaining to skeptical Armenians why an Italian-American's name is on the label, I saw something much deeper: the courage to look outside your own comfort zone, to make new friends, and to tell a bigger, bolder story. Samvel's partnership with Michael Franzese is not just branding—it's building a bridge, and showing that the best of Armenia's wine tradition is strong enough to carry a narrative of transformation all the way to American shelves. What I took away from Samvel, and from Michael's improbable turn from mobster to mentor, is that you can't underestimate the power of reinvention—or of simply reaching out in the moment the universe opens the door. These are the stories that get passed along a hundred tables, over a hundred bottles, making us all believe just a bit more in second chances—and in the boldness it takes to ask for them. Cheers to that.   YouTube:  https://youtu.be/QaLEcGd-gC8 #WineTalks #ArmenianWine #MichaelFranzese #Entrepreneurship #ImmigrantStories #WineMarketing #Resilience #ChristianFaith #ArmenianHeritage #Transformation #BusinessStorytelling #PapaJohns #Salesmanship #SocialMediaMarketing #WineIndustry #Kroger #OvercomingAdversity #BrandBuilding #AncientVineyards #FamilyLegacy  

In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, John and Pat welcome Erma Camporese —the self-styled "Queen of Graham Avenue" and "Love Doctor"—for a wide-ranging conversation steeped in neighborhood humor, inherited customs, and the unmistakable rhythm of Italian American life. What begins with tenants, cash rent, and "favorite tenant status" quickly becomes a vivid portrait of how close-knit communities transmit culture through stories, sayings, and shared memory. Erma explores the world of malocchio as she learned it from her mother—its gestures, warnings, and protective rituals—arguing that the "evil eye" is more than superstition, with roots in Southern Italy and Eastern Christian tradition. Told with warmth and wit, these stories balance laughter with a serious respect for practices often misunderstood or dismissed. The conversation then turns to Italian American mourning culture: "doom patrol" phone trees, funeral flower hierarchies, chapel politics, and ritual phrases like "she looks like she's sleeping." Along the way, Irma reflects on how her corner-of-the-neighborhood presence evolved into matchmaking and advice-giving, and why being the "Love Doctor" is ultimately about tending to souls, not just romance.    HER SOCIALS Instagram: @ermacamporese TikTok: @ermacamporese   HOSTS: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle   SPECIAL GUEST: Erma Camporese   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Drew and Roth ring in the new year with Kalyn Kahler, and go long about the NFL post-season. First and foremost, what the hell is going on with the Raiders? Has Tom Brady been an awful shadow president for the team? And then, to the Playoffs: How is Kalyn liking the Bears' chances? What would be the most interesting matchup? Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!Stuff We Talked About€30 Plane WiFiGrinding the press conference tapesNepotism at its finestWaking up with Dave PortnoyTurtle death pactSponsors- Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first orderCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Brandon Grugle- Editor: Mischa Stanton- Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jennifer Sontag discusses the bureaucratic challenges faced by the Italian government in modernizing its systems, particularly in relation to citizenship rights. She highlights the ongoing legal battles concerning the recognition of citizenship for descendants and the implications of EU law. The conversation also touches on recent victories in these legal challenges, indicating a potential shift in the recognition of citizenship rights in Italy. Jennifer Sontag, a serial entrepreneur, is the founder of ViaMonde, an agency that helps Italian Americans gain citizenship in Italy. Currently living in Terrasini, Sicily, Jennifer sets out to help her clients gain a new outlook on life in Italy. Jennifer grew up in a big Italian American family where her nonna and 9 sisters would spend their days preparing delicious meals to share with family. Mamma to 2 beautiful adults, and nonna to adorable Oliver. Jennifer has a passion for all things Sicilian and loves to enjoy good food and wine with friends. Get In Touch With Jennifer Sontag:ViaMonde | European Relocation & CitizenshipInstagram: Via Monde (@viamonde.eu) • Instagram photos and videosLinkedIn

This holiday episode finds hosts John Viola, Patrick O' Boyle, Dr. Marcella Martin welcoming "La Befana" for a funny, warm conversation about the Epiphany gift-giver and Italian holiday traditions. The banter centers on coal, "naughty lists," and the idea that Befana—not Santa—was historically the one who brought gifts in many Italian homes. Befana explains her roots in older seasonal and pagan imagery—sweeping out the old year and welcoming renewal—later blended with the Christian Epiphany story of the Magi on January 6. John and the gang touch on the liturgical calendar, modest stocking traditions of tangerines, sweets, and "sugar coal," and the Italian notion of bella figura as respect and preparedness rather than mere fashion. The episode turns hands-on as Befana makes pasta, shares regional lore from Puglia and Sardinia, and swaps gifts with the hosts. It closes with a call for Italian Americans to keep their language and traditions alive through family rituals, children's activities, and community—using Befana as a joyful way to carry culture forward.   HOSTS: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Dr. Marcella Martin   SPECIAL GUEST: La Befana (Viviana Altieri)   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

This episode of the Italian American Podcast offers a rich and intimate look at the enduring legacy of women religious through a conversation with Sister Helen Sanchez, with hosts Patrick O'Boyle and Marianna Gato. Centered on the Religious Teachers Filippini—an Italian-founded order devoted to the education of girls and women—the episode blends personal vocation, immigrant history, and Catholic education into a single, compelling narrative. Sister Helen recounts her path to religious life as a Puerto Rican woman entering an Italian order, and her years teaching in Italian-American parishes across New Jersey, Ohio, and beyond. The discussion explores how ethnic religious communities shaped Catholic schooling—preserving language, music, and devotion while adapting to new immigrant populations. These institutions emerge not merely as schools, but as cultural anchors for successive generations. The conversation also honors the often-unseen heroism of the Filippini Sisters, from their educational mission to their wartime courage, including efforts to shelter Jews during World War II and the scholarly legacy documenting that work. Personal stories of sisterhood, aging communities, and vocational discernment are woven together with festive traditions, underscoring how faith, culture, and memory endure. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply human, this episode is a tribute to women religious and their quiet but lasting imprint on the Italian American story.   HOSTS: Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto   SPECIAL GUEST: Sister Helen Sanchez   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Vinny DelGuidice teaches us how to build a sustainable food blogging workflow using batching, planning ahead, and reusing what already works. Vinny DelGiudice is the creator of Always From Scratch, an Italian-American family food blog he started six years ago. He is a professional photographer, dad, and husband who focuses on developing nostalgic family recipes from his and his wife's childhood, meals that make it easier for families to sit down at the table and enjoy time together. Burnout is not a requirement for success. Vincent shares how he stopped forcing creativity, built a repeatable workflow, and learned to do less while growing more. This episode is a reality check for food bloggers who feel overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck in constant decision mode. Key points discussed include: Choose your creative time: You will make better content faster when you stop forcing creative work into the wrong hours. Batching saves your sanity: Planning shoots and tasks in advance removes decision fatigue and keeps momentum going. Plan tomorrow before today ends: Knowing exactly what you will work on next eliminates wasted mental energy. Reuse what already works: Series content and proven formats outperform constant reinvention. One shoot multiple assets: Shooting photo and video together cuts production time in half. Not every platform deserves you: Focus on where your audience actually is and outsource or skip the rest. Comparison kills momentum: Staying in your own lane protects creativity and consistency. Connect with Vinny DelGuidice Website | Instagram

Special re-release! To close out the year, we're counting down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. Coming in at #9: Zibby's interview with Adriana Trigiani. Enjoy!New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani returns to the podcast to discuss her effervescent and big-hearted new book, THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO. The two dive into the novel's surprising New Jersey setting (yes, that Lake Como) and the emotional journey of protagonist Jess Capodimonte Baratta, an Italian-American woman rebuilding her life and identity after divorce, family loss, and unearthed secrets. They explore themes of self-love, legacy, and the delicate strength of women—likened to marble that can endure anything but shatter with one wrong tap (Adriana even shares some insights on the Italian marble trade).Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4eEOMfmShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!** Follow @totallybookedwithzibby on Instagram for listening guides and more. **(Music by Morning Moon Music. Sound editing by TexturesSound. To inquire about advertising, please contact allie.gallo@acast.com.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Restall is an historian and author of over forty books, focusing on the Spanish Conquest era in the Americas; on Aztec and Maya history; on the history of colonial Mesoamerica, primarily Yucatan but including Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; on the historical African diaspora in the Americas; and on the history of popular music. Matthew is most recently the author of The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus, the topic of and inspiration for this conversation. Finally, he is Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of History and Anthropology, and Director of Latin American Studies, at Pennsylvania State University. We discussed the phenomenon of “Columbiana,” the vast mythology that has befogged the history and biography of Christopher Columbus, the man, almost entirely for purposes that he himself would not have understood.  His book, which I quite recommend, addresses nine such “lives” and the historical mysteries around them.  We touch on the four of those that I thought would most appeal to longstanding and attentive listeners – his early life and his pitching for the funding for the “Enterprise of the Indies” – which are the first two lives, and the curious resurrection of Columbus in the 19th century as the founding “grandfather” of the United States, followed by his last “life” – so far – as the great hero of Italian-Americans. This last leads to a discussion of the perception of Columbus today.  Along the way we go down numerous rabbit holes, including that there is, even today, a direct descendant of Columbus who bears the title “Admiral of the Ocean Sea.” Other relevant links Matthew Restall, The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus History Impossible Podcast, “War for the Frontiers of History and America (w/ Jack Henneman of The History of the Americans)”: Apple and Spotify Samuel Eliot Morison, Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus X – @TheHistoryOfTh2 – https://x.com/TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfTheAmericans

12-11-25 - Thursdays w/Former Dallas Cowboy OLineman Dale Hellestrae - PT2 - Dale Would Have To Pay More For Drinks At Italian American Center - Picks For Week 15 NFL GamesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's guest is Dan Pelosi, the beloved cook, creator, and entertaining expert known for his comforting Italian American dishes, cozy kitchen content, and vibrant community of followers. Over the past few years, Dan has become one of the most recognizable and adored figures in the world of home cooking. He's also the bestselling author of the cookbooks “Let's Party” and “Let's Eat.” Dan joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about his food life, his previous life in fashion retail at places like Gap and Nike, self-care, dating, baby food as an ingredient, his NYT Cooking recipes, the HBO show “Heated Rivalry,” and what he's up to for the holidays. He also shares why he and Ina Garten should never be trapped on a desert island with each other. Order The Cake IssueTickets for our Working Lunch event in Charleston tomorrow, Thursday, December 11th, hereSubscribe to our SubstackJubilee NYC 2026 tickets hereCheck out Cherry Bombe on ShopMyMore on Dan: Instagram, website, “Let's Party” cookbookMore on Kerry: Instagram

Picture this: you're navigating the lively streets of Rome, reflecting on the friendships, quirks, and unexpected encounters that have colored our travels and conversations over the years. From memorable moments abroad to the stories that marked our earliest episodes, we trace the path that brought us to our podcast's 10-year milestone and the approach of our 400th show. It's a whirlwind of anecdotes, insights, and nostalgia for how it all began. Amid the laughter, we turn to the heart of Italian American life with co-hosts John Viola, Patrick O'Boyle, and Dolores Alfieri Taranto. Our unscripted conversations span family traditions, the quest for the perfect rum cake, and the small but meaningful rituals that keep cultural identity alive. From humorous community stories to reflections on media portrayals, we explore how Italian American heritage continues to evolve while staying rooted in what matters most. Whether you love the bustle of dinner dances or prefer quiet nights at home, there's something here for every listener charting their own path through a changing cultural landscape. From unexpected anniversary interruptions to the deep gratitude we feel for the bonds forged along the way, this episode becomes a celebration of resilience, humor, and shared experience. We revisit family dynamics, societal observations, and a fair share of comedic mishaps, marveling at the journey that carried us to this moment. As we toast to a decade of podcasting, we offer heartfelt thanks to our listeners and the vibrant community that continues to grow with us—proof that the adventure is far from over.   HOSTS: John M. Viola Patrick O'Boyle Dolores Alfieri Taranto   PRODUCER: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia   DOLORES SOCIALS: Instagram: @dolores_alfieri_taranto

In this two-part patreon only series about a 24 year old plant scientist named Michael whose life is turned upside down by a strange series of paranormal events and a chance encounter with a mysterious Italian-American man named Rafael. I am putting out an extra-long preview for all of you in hopes of luring you behind the paywall. If you like what you hear, both episodes are out this week! Listen at www.patreon.com/otherworld To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it take to blend the rich traditions of jazz with contemporary pop influences? Join us on this episode of takin' a walk as host Buzz Knight dives deep into the world of music with the incredibly talented Italian American jazz pop artist, Niia.. In this captivating conversation, Niia unveils the heartfelt journey behind her fifth studio album, "V," sharing insights that resonate with anyone passionate about music history and the creative process. As we explore Naya’s musical evolution, she reflects on her inspirations from legendary figures like Ella Fitzgerald and how their legacies continue to shape her artistry. This episode of takin' a walk offers a unique glimpse into the balance she strikes between honoring traditional jazz roots and embracing modern sounds, creating a bridge that connects diverse genres. Naya emphasizes the importance of collaboration and trusting her instincts, revealing the emotional depth that fuels her work. Listeners will appreciate Niia's candid discussion about her unique experiences navigating the music industry, her cultural identity, and her ambitious aspirations, including her dream of scoring films. Buzz Knight, as always, brings his signature style to the table, guiding the conversation to uncover the inside music stories that make Niia's journey so compelling. This episode is not just an interview; it's a heartfelt exploration of what it means to be an artist in today's world. Whether you're a fan of jazz, pop, or simply love musician interview podcasts, this episode of takin' a walk is sure to inspire and entertain. Tune in as we delve into the emotional and artistic layers of Niia's music, and discover how she navigates the complexities of her craft, all while staying true to herself. Don't miss out on this enriching episode filled with insights, passion, and the essence of creativity. Join us on takin' a walk with Buzz Knight, and immerse yourself in the stories that shape our musical landscape. Available now on iHeartPodcasts and wherever you get your podcasts! Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WHAT'S UP FOOL? EP 552Felipe and Rizo welcome special guest - Cristina Mariani, an Italian-American stand-up comedian known for her appearances on the Kill Tony podcast and for touring with comedians like Theo Von. Check her out at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas.Connect with us on InstagramFelipe - @FelipeesparzacomedianMartin - @comicmartinrizoCristina - @criimariiHear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They're Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix's “Gentefied”, NBC's “Superstore” and Adultswim's “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What's Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.