Podcasts about Italian

Ciao to all of our listeners, and benvenuto to our next guest, the fabulous Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli! We're so excited to be part of Giorgio's big announcement that he is set to be the new judge on Celebrity Masterchef on BBC One later this year! Mum took up the challenge of cooking for this Michelin star chef, and she even had a helping hand from the master himself. Not only is Giorgio an incredible chef, but he definitely needs his own Italian travel series too - we heard all about the very best places to visit in Italy, food spots in Sicily, where to find the very best olive oil, that his grandparents lived past 100 and you won't want to miss his tip on how to find the best tinned tomatoes in the supermarket! Thank you for a gorgeous evening Giorgio, we can't wait to see you in action on Masterchef later in the year.Listen & watch Table Manners here - https://tablemanners.komi.io/Follow Table Manners on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tablemannerspodcast/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tablemannerspodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/tablemannerspodcastYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TableMannersPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blend in more easily in Italy by following Italian etiquette. Learn about the dos and don'ts for eating and socialising, plus some practical phrases. Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school Subscribe to our new YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1 Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/Italian-etiquette Today's Italian words: Salute! = Cheers! Vorrei provare un piatto tipico = I'd like to try a typical dish Vorrei prenotare per le otto = I'd look to book for eight o'clock Grazie per la bella serata = Thank you for the lovely evening Sono vegetariano, cosa mi consiglia? = I'm vegetarian, what do you recommend for me?

La DoubleJ founder and creative director JJ Martin joins the podcast this week with lots to celebrate. She just opened The Lighthouse, her new five-story Upper East Side flagship, which houses not only fashion and homewares but also a dedicated "Light Temple" for meditation, sound healing, and community gatherings. Martin describes the mission behind the space as creating "raise your vibration stations," where people can connect with something beyond commerce. That philosophy has become inseparable from La DoubleJ itself. Looking back, she describes the company's origins simply: "I was just kind of following the joy rocket." Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is equally straightforward: "Follow the joy crumbs. Anything that you would do for free at night and on the weekends has value."Martin also explains how she transformed her hobby of collecting vintage clothing into one of fashion's most recognizable print-driven brands, beginning with a single silk swing dress made with historic Lake Como manufacturer Mantero. Along the way, she became an enthusiastic ambassador for Italian craftsmanship and culture.For anyone considering a career pivot, dreaming of starting a business, or simply looking for a reminder that fashion can still be joyful, this conversation offers plenty to meditate on. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Last week was a wild one. We witnessed two of the most controversial models from Ferrari and Mercedes ever to be debuted - none other than the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door and the Ferrari Luce. In case you're not familiar: - The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door is Mercedes' replacement to the outgoing version, which has now gone full EV and straight to battle with the Porsche Taycan. It debuts many new design elements in a slippery 0.22 drag coefficient package, doing 0-60 in as low as 2.0 seconds with an 186 MPH top speed. - The Ferrari Luce is Ferrari's first all-electric vehicle and first true five-seater. It also launches a new and unfamiliar interior and exterior design language from ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive and his collective, LoveFrom. Given that everyone has an opinion on these new EV modes of rapid transport (including your favorite and least favorite journalists, the Italian government, your grandmother, and the pope, to name a few) - we decided to ask, why? What attributes about the Luce and the AMG-GT really make people feel shaken at their core, and why? Would we feel differently if the Ferrari was rebadged as another make? Is the AMG-GT as controversial as the W201 was when it launched in 1982? We explore all of the above in depth, all on this episode of The Carmudgeon Show with Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recipes I'm making in class today: Beef & Veggie Stew Crockpot | 4–6 servings 1.5 lbs stew beef 2 cups baby potatoes, halved 2 cups carrots 2 cups celery 2 cups beef broth 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 tsp dried thyme Directions: Add all ingredients to the Crockpot. Cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours. Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan 400°F | 4–5 servings 3–4 chicken sausages, sliced 1 bag frozen cubed sweet potatoes 2 cups frozen peppers & onions Drizzle of avocado oil 1½ tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper ½ tsp smoked paprika Directions: Toss everything on a sheet pan. Roast at 400°F for 30–35 minutes, flipping at the 15-minute mark. Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Bowl No cook | 1 serving 1 cup cottage cheese 2 tbsp tzatziki, stirred in ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered ¼ cucumber, chopped ¼ orange bell pepper, chopped Olives to taste 1 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds Sea salt & black pepper to taste Directions: Mix tzatziki into cottage cheese. Top with vegetables, olives, and pumpkin seeds. Serve with crackers or toast. If you think eating healthy means spending hours in the kitchen,  this episode is going to change everything. Registered dietitian and mom of 3, Brooke Miller is busting the biggest myth in nutrition: that healthy meals have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. In this episode, she shares her go-to high-protein meals that have 8 ingredients or less, take under 10 minutes of actual effort, and leave you with barely any dishes. In this episode you'll learn: The simple 4-part formula for every balanced, satisfying meal Why decision fatigue, not laziness, is the real reason dinner feels so hard How crockpot and sheet pan meals can save your weeknights Why frozen vegetables are just as nutritious (and so much faster) 3 actual go-to meals Brooke makes on her hardest, most chaotic mom days Eating well doesn't require a Pinterest-worthy kitchen or a culinary degree. It just has to be simple enough that you'll actually do it, even on the hard days.

Every year on June 2, Italy pauses to celebrate one of the most important moments in its modern history. Across the country, Italian flags appear on balconies, official ceremonies take place in cities and towns large and small, and in Rome the skies are filled with the colors of the national flag as the Frecce Tricolori soar overhead. For many Italians, it is a welcome holiday that signals the arrival of summer, but Italian Republic Day is far more than a day off from work. It commemorates a decision that fundamentally changed the nation and shaped the Italy we know today. What makes Italian Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) particularly fascinating is that it is not a celebration of the country's founding, nor does it commemorate a military victory or a declaration of independence. Instead, it marks the anniversary of a democratic choice made by ordinary citizens in the aftermath of World War II. On June 2 and 3, 1946, Italians went to the polls and voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. In doing so, they helped define the future direction of their nation at a moment when the country was still struggling to recover from one of the most difficult periods in its history.

Dan, Manny, & Billy welcome Actor, Producer, and Musician Alisa Reyes to discuss how she went from being on Nickelodeon's All That, to evolving into a high-powered multi-hyphenate talent, and being the voice of LaCienega Boulevardez on the award-winning show The Proud Family.   “It is all about uplifting humanity during Mother Earth's ascension right now, and we just gotta ride this wave gracefully, and we all gotta just stay connected and keep uplifting the vibration of humanity [...] that's why we all do what we do.” -Alisa Reyes   This is a special episode of Nostalgia 101, because Alisa Reyes has been part of so many of the pop-culture moments in all our lives, so it was an honor to have her on the podcast to talk about her time on All That, Teen NBC's  One World, what it's like to keep evolving and transitioning so successfully in such an ever-changing industry, and her recent time on the award-winning show The Proud Family. We also got to hear about some of the fun things she's been able to do, like being on Celebrity Family Feud with  Soleil Moon Frye, Keke Palmer, Paula Jai Parker, and Kyla Pratt, to face Salt-N-Pepa and Kid 'n Play, producing documentaries like The Orange Years and Butterfly in the Sky, being on Reading Rainbow, and what it was like to be on one of the most unhinged soap operas ever, Passions. The guys also got to ask some fun Nostalgia Test Podcast pop-culture questions, and Alisa reveals that she watched a very random sitcom that floored Dan because he's never heard anyone, ANYONE, say they watched this show.   Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode!     Alisa Reyes is a born and raised New Yorker who is Irish, Italian and Dominican and now resides in California. She is known for her role on Nickelodeon's "All That" as a series regular season (1-3) & season 11 where she played herself and multiple roles. Alisa is also a series regular on the Emmy & NAACP Award Winning Disney Plus cartoon "The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder" with new episodes airing now. Alisa plays the bossy, but oh so lovable "La Cienega Boulevardez". You can also check out Alisa as "Lacienega" on Disney's "Broken Karaoke" & "Theme Song Take Over". She has also starred in NBC's "One World" as the Cuban-born entrepreneur of the group. Peter Engel created the TNBC show. Alisa received the coveted Hollywood Young Star Award for her role of Marci Blake in "One World". Thinking you may recognize her from some other show? Well check out her credits on "Without A Trace" (CBS), "Strong Medicine" (LIFETIME), "NYPD Blue" (ABC), "ER" (NBC), as well as the controversial Trina on "Boston Public" (FOX) and "Six Feet Under" (HBO) and on the Emmy nominated PBS series "The American Family", portraying the younger Vangie. The list is endless, with lots more to come. Alisa was also on NBCs "Passions", where she joined the cast as the beautiful and exotic singer Sydney Valentine causing nothing but heartache for the lovelorn super couple Chad and Whitney, but also making her mark as a strong recording artist. She also was a recurring on CBS's "The Bold & the Beautiful" as the sassy Ginger. Check out Alisa's latest film "Sisters" written and directed by Jahmar Hill. She plays the role of Elise in this crime/thriller airing currently on BET and BET Plus. You can also see Alisa star in "Break Even" which is out now. The film is written by CJ Walley and directed by Shane Stanley. This will be Alisa's 4th project with Shane Stanley. Alisa plays Rosie in the film. "Break Even" is an action, adventure, love story you will not want to miss. Alisa also starred in films such as "Daze", "The Biz" and "FreezerBurn"to name a few. Along with other films such as "A Trip to the Dark Side" and "My Trip Back to the Dark Side" directed by Shane Stanely. Alisa is also in a film called "Heavenly Deposit" which is supported by The Dove Foundation as the role of Jenny. You can also make it a movie night and watch her movie "Players" she stars in with Freddie Rodriguez. Along with her latest documentary that she is producing alongside Scott Barber and Bill Parks starring as herself called "The Orange Years" about 80s & 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia which is out on Hulu and most platforms. You can also see Alisa in a documentary called "Butterfly in the Sky" which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix Alisa's latest music single " Back & Forth" featuring and produced by Linnie King Twigg and mixed & mastered by DJ EVIL DEE, along with her single "Sexy Hot" are now available on all media platforms through TuneCore, iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify and more. Alisa prior to her solo music career was in a girls group called "3G's" signed with Hollywood Records. The group had a song on "The Princess Diaries Soundtrack" called "Second Chance".   Approximate Rundown 00:00 Back to School Intro 01:54 Meet Elisa Reyes 03:00 New York Roots 04:13 Elisa's Career Snapshot 05:50 All That Origins 08:39 Auditions and Set School 10:46 Mom's Support System 13:13 Parenting and Balance 16:03 From All That to One World 20:28 Big Roles and Industry Legends 22:17 Winning An Award for One World  24:22 Voice Acting and Self Tapes 31:17 Proud Family Reboot and Relevance 34:37 Celebrity Family Feud Stories 36:43 Blossom Hats Influence 38:47 Soap Opera Wildness 42:29 Reading Rainbow Memories 47:16 Nickelodeon Nostalgia Shift 49:02 Phones Algorithms Parenting 51:55 Social Media Cringe Culture 55:07 Cartoon Universe Picks 57:46 90s Fashion Comeback 59:38 TGIF Favorites Trauma TV 01:03:06 Kids Shows Vibes Wrap 01:05:10 Plugs Farewell Outro   Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events!  The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC!       Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook   The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

Cioccolato di Torino terza parte#Livello B1Learn italian with an easy but interesting crime story - take a look at Luisa's murder mistery on Amazon: Gianduiotti e Delitti, i misteriosi casi del Commissario DalmassoStoria e curiosità sui cioccolatini torinesi e ripasso della forma passiva Buongiorno cari amici e amanti dell'italiano e benvenuti al nostro nuovo episodio.Vi ricordate che alcune settimane fa abbiamo parlato dei „cri-cri“, i cioccolatini di Torino ricoperti di palline di zucchero e incartati come caramelle in carta colorata? E poi abbiamo parlato del gianduiotto? Beh vi avevo promesso di parlare di un altro cioccolatino tipico della mia città e adesso è arrivato il momento.Oggi vi parlerò di un cioccolatino che fa parte della tradizione dolciaria torinese, vi parlerò del cremino; ma non voglio dimenticare la grammatica e quindi prenderò la storia del cremino per farvi ripassare la forma del passivo. Cominciamo però con la storia dei cremini....- The full transcript of this Episode (and excercises for many of the grammar episodes) is available via "Luisa's learn Italian Premium", Premium is no subscription and does not incur any recurring fees. You can just shop for the materials you need or want and shop per piece. Prices start at 0.20 Cent (i. e. Eurocent). - das komplette Transcript / die Show-Notes zu allen Episoden (und Übungen zu vielen der Grammatik Episoden) sind über Luisa's Podcast Premium verfügbar. Den Shop mit allen Materialien zum Podcast finden Sie unterhttps://premium.il-tedesco.itLuisa's Podcast Premium ist kein Abo - sie erhalten das jeweilige Transscript/die Shownotes sowie zu den Grammatik Episoden Übungen die Sie "pro Stück" bezahlen (ab 20ct). https://premium.il-tedesco.itMehr info unter www.il-tedesco.it bzw. https://www.il-tedesco.it/premiumMore information on www.il-tedesco.it or via my shop https://www.il-tedesco.it/premium

Kelly Brownell interviews Jon-Paul Bianchi, Director of Systems Change at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, about the foundation's systems-change approach linking food, health, early childhood, and family economic security to address inequities affecting children and families. Bianchi describes his path from PhD research to policy work and then to Kellogg, and explains how integrated grantmaking focuses upstream on policies, practices, resource flows, narratives, and long-term investment in people and relationships rather than isolated programs. He highlights Vermont's inclusion of food quality in childcare ratings and the foundation's Farm to Early Childhood efforts connecting procurement, regional food systems, and state policy, with examples from states like North Carolina, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and notes Brazil's national local purchasing policy as a model for success. Transcript As I was mentioning before we got started, I've long admired the work of the Kellogg Foundation. Working with the concept of food systems or connecting agriculture with nutrition and thinking about regenerative agricultures. There are a lot of places where your foundation was out front. So, I salute you and your colleagues for that. And it'll be interesting to find out what's happening right now. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how did you get into the philanthropic work and your work with Kellogg in particular? I'm Jon-Paul Bianchi. I'm the director of the Systems Change team at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. And what that essentially means is I'm the director of national programs at the foundation. But we call it systems change because we really do see in the different areas of work that we focus on- health, family economic security, food, and early childhood- that these things are all interconnected by some distinct systems. But also, common systems that overlap across them. And so, that's the approach that we take. And I'll spend some time sort of diving into that today. You know, to answer the question of how I got here... you know, a master stroke of luck. I was set to be an academic researcher. I was working on my PhD at the University of Wisconsin. I was ABD and decided that I didn't want to be a researcher and I wanted to work in policy. And I moved to Colorado to take a job sort of sight unseen, being the policy director of an organization that worked in K-12 and children's health, and food and early childhood education. And did that for a few years and learned to translate research into practice; into policy. And was giving a presentation and got a tap on a shoulder from somebody that worked at the Kellogg Foundation who was interested in what I was saying. And we had one conversation, and six months later, I wound up having a new job and leaving Colorado and moving to Michigan. That was 15 years ago. Well, you went into this with a great background having done the science as a graduate student and then into the policy world. And you're right, the intersection of those two is really where the magic can occur. You began talking about this, but let's talk about it a little bit more. So, when you say that there are systems that cut across different problems like food and health and economic security, etc., and I know you structured your team to reflect that cross-cutting kind of view of things. But tell us a little bit more about that. And how is this different than what's usually done, and how does it affect the way your work gets carried out? So, big picture at the Kellogg Foundation, we envision a society where every child can thrive. But we know that there's too many kids and families that still can't access good food or quality childcare, or their parents can't find quality jobs because of inequities that are embedded in the policies and the practices and narratives that shape our systems. And so, having a multi-issue integrated grant making team, it's made us more effective by better understanding the points of intersection and collaboration across those bodies of work. So, our food systems program officers are in the same team, and they work closely with our program officers in early childhood and family economic security and health. And those collaborations strengthen the work in a variety of ways. We have experts in each of those areas, but because they're spending time with each other and working in the same team, they're exposed to, and they learn about each other's work and each other's worlds. And that creates powerful collaborations in the foundation, but more importantly, out in the field. And it helps us to see that we can't fix any of these systems, including food systems, with surface level or patch kinds of solutions. We really have to work together to get upstream and focus on policies, focus on practices, focus on resource flows and narratives that really sustain the inequities that we see. And so, the foundation partners with organizations to dismantle barriers in food systems in the other areas so that children and families can access quality food. But I think we also recognize that's about investing in people. And it's about investing in people over time to drive transformational change in any of these systems, including food. For people listening to this who aren't in the world of philanthropy or academics or science or policy they might be saying, "Well, this kind of makes common sense. Isn't this the way it's usually done?" And in fact, it's not usually done to have this cross-cutting work accomplished the way you're doing it. It's actually a pretty impressive thing. Yes, thank you. And I have a lot of respect for our philanthropic partners and peers, and we work very closely with a lot of large and small foundations. And I think the adage in philanthropy is you know one foundation you know one foundation. So, we do it this way and somebody else will do it differently. And I think there's a lot of connection for us back to our founder. You mentioned Will Keith Kellogg at the top of the call. He was ahead of his time in terms of understanding the interconnectedness between food and the land and opportunity and people's education. And a lot of that came out of his tradition as a Seventh Day Adventist. But also, I think just as a person coming up in the Depression and seeing what happened afterwards and really beginning to understand in his own community of how these things were sort of connected to one another. And so, for us, both inside and outside the foundation, systems change really means betting on people long term to reshape those systems from the outside in. But also, from the inside out. And that's really what we're striving for. You mentioned the history of Dr. Kellogg. The history of that family is so interesting, and what went on in, you know, the sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, and how the concept of breakfast cereals came about. And how the focus on natural foods was so important. It's worth spending a little time even on just Wikipedia to try to find out what that history is, because I find it fascinating. So, let's go back to food and go a little bit deeper and talk about what this systems approach looks like in practice. You're a philanthropic organization. You exist in the context of a capitalist society where businesses are out to do as well as they can. How is the foundation's work different from, say, funding a food pantry, launching a single nutrition program somewhere, which is what typically might be done? Yes, I think what we intend to do and how I think our systems approach is a little different from, say, you know, funding a single nutrition program, is that we mean to design and redesign practice and policy based on how kids and families actually live their lives. Right? So, where food and health and early childhood and family economic security show up together in a community, right? Families experience these things simultaneously in their everyday lives. They don't experience these things in silos. And so, we try to have our team and our work reflect that. So, instead of treating food as a narrow problem to fix with one program, we try to think about how the entire system around a child and their caregivers works or doesn't work and find those opportunities and levers to move that whole system. I'll give you a concrete example that will bring in our colleague Linda Jo Doctor, who you mentioned at the top of the conversation. Early in my time at the foundation, I was a reviewer for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant. This was an Obama era competitive grant process for building early childhood systems in states. And the state of Vermont did something really interesting that I had the good fortune to review as part of that team. They included the quality of food and access to fresh, healthy food in childcare centers as part of their quality rating and improvement system for childcare. They didn't just talk about teacher quality or curriculum or reflective practice. They actually said, "If we care about child development, then what children are eating every day in those childcare centers is part of what quality means." That's a systems approach. They connected food policy and procurement directly into early childhood policy and practice so that nutrition and education and child wellbeing were all being advanced simultaneously. I brought that back to the foundation and brought it back to Linda. And we had a really great conversation about it, and then another, and then another, and then another. And that experience helped shape how I think and how many people think about our work at the foundation. And it led to things like the expansion of our Farm to Early Childhood work, which again, leans heavily on procurement as the strategy to drive systems change, but connects it into early childhood policy. Tell us about that. You know, the Vermont example you gave is a terrific one. And you talked about Farm to Early Childhood. What does that mean in practice? In practice for the foundation, it really leaned heavily first on, sort of, understanding the landscape of where there was capacity to connect regional food hubs, farmers and producers and growers to systems of early childhood. At the same time that you have these burgeoning and developing systems of early care and education with regard to financing and sophistication, you have something similar going on in them in the food system movement, depending on the state that you're in. And so, we work diligently in a subset of states to really connect those policy levers, pull them together, and try to create essentially more situations like Vermont, you had partnership at the local community level, at the regional level, and then at the state systems level. So, syncing up the actual practice on the ground, syncing up how the relationships between different organizations are formed and maintained with regards to better food and early childhood. But then also trying to codify that into state policy and practice. And we did that for a number of years and had remarkable success in places like Iowa and Wisconsin and even in North Carolina, and a handful of other states. And we very much saw this as a build off our successful farm-to-school work, but doing it in a system that comparatively in terms of early childhood, was a little more fragile, right? And it wasn't necessarily as easy to do it, but all the more important and helpful because of the age and the vulnerability of the kids and families that we're talking about. The systems approach is very powerful, and so I'm going to ask a question not to be challenging, but to in some ways give you a softball for proving the systems approach. If at the end of the day, the most important thing in a childcare setting is to get healthy food into the bodies of the children so they can thrive intellectually and medically and everything else. Couldn't you accomplish that by just giving a good shopping list, a Costco shopping list to the daycare directors, and they could go buy good foods? And why does it need to be connected with farmers and, you know, the broader connection into the community at large, why is that important? Yes. Well, backing up, I wouldn't want to state, as an early childhood person, that the only thing that, you know, makes an early childhood program high quality would be the quality of the food and that that would, you know, lead to optimal child development and school readiness. I think, you know, there's other things in there that actually matter too. But this is definitely a key component. I would say, you know, to your question, that that system that you named already exists. We have the Child and Adult Care Food Program. We have the ability to subsidize the cost of food, and to have that good shopping list in play. But, I think, what the systems approach does is it asks different questions, right? It seeks to say, where does the food come from? How is it grown? Who is benefiting economically, right? How are schools and childcare centers and farmers and communities connected? And how do we strengthen those, connections and relationships so that we can begin to shift policy and practice so that children and families can reliably have access to good food. And they know that it's coming from the community in which they're situated. And the people on the side that are actually producing the food, the farmers and the folks doing procurement and others, that they're actually connected to it too. And they know where the food is going. And so there is this social kind of interstitial benefit to connecting those systems in a way that I think brings value beyond just you get a healthy meal today. I think it begins to shift culture. And if you could shift culture in the institutions that people are participating in, you can actually shift culture in people. So, you could see if a parent that potentially wasn't exposed to that before, or maybe didn't have access, or didn't know how to get access to that kind of food, if their expectations suddenly shifted because in their childcare program they're getting access to quality food, that then becomes an opportunity to engage in a different way. But it also becomes an opportunity for that parent to become empowered and to come together with other parents and other community members and begin to insist that's a reality in everyday life for them. That becomes a norm rather than an exception. I really like your answer because, you know, in some ways, people in our country have become distant from their food. You know, it used to be you could just go to the store, and there might've been one agent between you and who grew the food. The farmer would deliver it to, and now there are factories and machines that process the food, and 10 steps, and it comes from different countries, and all that kind of thing. And what you're talking about is shrinking that gap again to decrease the distance, so people are more in touch. And you could easily see that if the food is coming from farmers and the daycare providers know that they're going to feel better about the food. They're more likely to tell a story about it to the children. The farmer might come to the daycare center, or the children go to the farm. And you could see there's a lot more going on here than nutrition, and that's the beauty of this systems approach, isn't it? I mean, the children want to have a garden, right? I mean, how many times have we seen that? It seems like a small thing in early childhood, but just that simple act of having a garden and being able to understand how things are cultivated and grown. Even for a small child, and I have two small kids, we have a small garden in our backyard: it's meaningful. And it also, I think, establishes a norm that the tomato that you pick off the vine or the pole bean that you pick off, that you eat, that you find just unbelievably delicious, then that becomes normative for them. That's a normative experience, and kids are not as frightened by things when they encounter it. And I think we have a real opportunity in the early childhood space to link up those two systems to say, "Yes, we can affect change." And I think that, again, back to this notion of investing in people long term, the investment in those kids long term and what they come to expect will be the norm matters very much to how we think about our work at the Kellogg Foundation. So you're talking about both practices and policies and a cross-sector approach to these things. And let's talk about policy for a moment. Where does policy typically break down? And what kind of people need to be at the table, and what sort of partnerships need to be established in order to have better food policy? I think if we take seriously that food policy is cross-sector, I believe that we need to build tables that look like the food system. And that means not just public health experts or nutrition advocates or academics, but farmers and food workers, and those childcare providers and teachers, and leaders in K-12, and tribal leaders, community organizers, local state government officials, right? And the funders, right? The funders who are willing to invest in the long slow work of doing systems change. And, you know, one place I would highlight is in your home state of North Carolina. For years, there was significant investment that helped really build a dense ecosystem. You established regional food hubs and meat processing infrastructure, and anchor institutions into schools and early childhood centers. And a really strong network of organizers and philanthropic partners. And that made it possible to fully integrate farm to early childhood in your state's definition of early childhood. And as an aside, I would say North Carolina was also one of the leading states back when I was first coming into the field of building out a high-quality system of childcare. North Carolina led that. And so, these two things converging is a very powerful example, but again, we're getting back to local sourcing. We're getting back to bigger things than just doing food education, right? Those things are now built into the system. And they're not just a side project of the system. They actually are the system. So, you're talking about a foundation doing a lot more than getting proposals, seeing what needs to be funded, and then sending money out the door. You're talking about connecting people in innovative and unique ways. And building bridges that didn't exist before. And getting people to understand the systems change approach. And it just can lead to so many interesting and innovative things that just weren't possible using traditional models. So, really my hat's off to the work you do, and I can see why it's creating such powerful outcomes. One piece I would be remiss if I didn't say this, right? What makes all those partnerships work or fall apart? Usually, it's not the brilliance of a single policy idea or practice idea. I. Sort of. Sound like a broken record, but I'm going to come back to this. Investing in that people infrastructure that sits underneath it is really important. And the places that we find that make progress in any of the issues we're talking about, family economic security, food, health, Medicaid, early childhood, K-12, right? The places that make progress really do have varied and diverse voices at the table, and they're able to build real trust. And they're able to cultivate champions and also the next generation of champions and the next generation of champions who can move between those sectors, right? And the funders are involved, but they really understand that they're financing relationships and governance and people. They're not financing programs. And I think as a grant maker, that's an interesting distinction to think about. Think we know it implicitly and we know it when we see it. It's a lot harder to stick it in a white paper and define it and disseminate it in Stanford Social Innovation Review, for example. No, I totally agree. In the work that we've done over the years with, uh, community partners in Durham, it's been my impression that they get this systems thing from the very get-go. That they understand that if poverty is too severe, then nothing else is going to work, and if housing is a problem, then these other things are going to be affected in pretty serious ways. And they understand the importance of these. And in a way you're letting the flowers bloom. You're taking, I think, what some people understand intuitively and would like to accomplish, but they've been forced into silos. And then once a funder comes along and can allow this to prosper, I think it's sort of a natural thing that occurs. I think so. And I think the tricky thing there is to not be seduced by the programmatic solution. Like, do you remember several years ago when the notion of collective impact was this very popular term that folks talked about? And it's a good thing. I mean, I think the framework and the model is powerful, and it's a useful thought exercise. But what I found in a lot of collective impact work was that it focused very much on aligning the programs. Sufficiently funding the programs and aligning the programs, but not the human side of design and redesign of how do those programs function, right? Who do they serve? Who's at the table when building them or rebuilding them? Do you have the ability to change them midstream if you feel that you need to? And I think a slightly different approach with systems change is you're sort of engaging in a loose hold of the policies and the practices and the issues to give people and the people infrastructure and the relationships time to come together and figure out how they want to move them individually, and how they want to move them collectively. And that's a subtle difference. That's a nuance that I think has really worked in our particular corner of the world. One thing I bet some people are interested in is how the Kellogg Foundation might be distinct from Kellogg as a company. You've described beautifully the innovative work you're doing. The company is off doing what it does commercially. How do these two things intersect? And what's been the history of the connection between the foundation and the company? Yes. So, when the foundation was founded in the 1930s, Will Keith Kellogg, as you said, he endowed the foundation and created it separate and apart from the company. So, it's an independent philanthropic organization. And so, while we bear the name of Will Keith Kellogg, the foundation does not have a formal connection or stake in the company any longer. As you may know, the company split into two companies a few years ago, one called Kellanova and one called the W.K. Kellogg Cereal Company. And since then, I believe both companies have been acquired. I think Mars now owns Kellanova, and Ferrero, an Italian company, owns W.K. At present, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation does not have any connection to either of those companies because they've been acquired by other groups. And aside from having some stock with the foundation, that was sold to support our endowment, we don't have any formal connections anymore. But I think the proximity of the foundation to the company in Battle Creek, and I think the shared history of Battle Creek and the shared history of Mr. Kellogg's vision is actually important to note. And I think it does matter to how the two institutions are connected. I said this a little while ago in the conversation, but in the 1930s, Mr. Kellogg knew that you couldn't separate food from health and education, family economic security, and he knew this while he was making cornflakes, right? And so he helped make sure in the late 1930s that children in Battle Creek had access to fresh milk in schools at the same time that he was doing work in soil conservation and in building healthy land. And he had a sense of knowing that how the food is grown and how kids are nourished, it's part of the same story. And I think that DNA has pulled forward into the foundation, and it makes it a really special place to work because we still carry that memory of him, and we still carry that vision of him into the work that we do. Thanks. You know, a long time ago, when I first became familiar with the Kellogg Foundation, I wondered about the history and the independence of the foundation from the company. And I pretty quickly came to learn that the foundation, as you said, is quite independent from the company. But you've enriched my knowledge even beyond what I've known over the years, so thank you. That's a fascinating history. So, let's end with one final question. If you fast-forward and kind of look ahead, what do you think is on the way? And what does success look like to you and your colleagues? Yes, it's a good question. I mean, I think if we got this right, you know, 10- 20 years from now, success would look like children and families living in communities where good food is just a part of everyday life. It's normal and reliable and not something that folks are lucky to find. I talked a little bit about how Mr. Kellogg thought about this in the '30s, but we also see what's possible in other places, right? When that vision can become a reality in terms of policy and practice. So, we had done some work in the country of Brazil. And we see now that national policy in the country of Brazil now requires that at least 50% of school food be purchased from local sources, grown with high-quality standards, right? That one decision reshaped incentives all along the food chain. What farmers grow, what institutions buy, what kids eat. That's a powerful example of institutions using their everyday purchasing power to build healthier and a more just system. So, you know, 10- 20 years from now, if we've done our job, it would mean that the kinds of innovations in places like Brazil or North Carolina or even in Michigan with our 10 Cents a Meal program, that those types of things would have become the norm. That schools and early childhood centers and hospitals and tribal and local governments would be routinely buying good, locally rooted food. And that workers and farmers are earning a fair and stable wage, and they have incomes. And the communities most affected by hunger and inequity are actually at the core of leading and designing new systems. And food policy would no longer be a patch on top of the inequity. It would be one of the main ways that we build healthier and more equitable futures for kids and families. BIO Jon-Paul Bianchi is the Director of Systems change at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, he leads WKKF's national grantmaking strategy focused on early childhood care and education, health equity, employment equity and food systems. As a longtime philanthropic leader and national expert with a focus on early childhood education, Bianchi provides strategic oversight to the foundation's national programmatic work to support thriving children, families and communities. Bianchi holds a doctorate of Education from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development, a master's degree in child development and a bachelor's degree in child and family studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He helped found and currently serves on the board of Valley Settlement in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

George De Stefano is an author, journalist, and critic. In my show, Anti-Fascist Pasta Night, I make reference to MAGAroni, a new moniker for right-wing Italian-Americans. I knew I needed to find the inventor of this hysterical slogan. Well, George is the inventor! Please welcome to the show, the creator of the MAGAroni tag, among so many other amazing things.

Buongiorno Italia. Podcast di cultura e lingua italiana.Il nostro libro: qui. Vuoi fare lezione di italiano con me? QuiVuoi 10$ di crediti su Italki? QuiVuoi la trascrizione di questo podcast? - QuiVuoi sostenermi con una piccola mancia? QuiFacebookYouTube InstagramEmailDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/buongiorno-italia-podcast-di-cultura-e-lingua-italiana--5962623/support.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Crafting Firenze: An Ice Cream Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-06-02-07-38-19-it Story Transcript:It: La piazza Santa Croce a Firenze era in fermento.En: La piazza Santa Croce in Firenze was buzzing with activity.It: Il calore estivo avvolgeva la città, e la musica dei violinisti di strada riempiva l'aria.En: The summer heat enveloped the city, and the music of street violinists filled the air.It: I turisti con gelati colorati in mano osservavano le celebrazioni della Festa della Repubblica, mentre l'aroma delle specialità fiorentine si mescolava a quello dei fiori nei balconi.En: Tourists with colorful ice creams in hand watched the celebrations of the Festa della Repubblica, as the aroma of Fiorentine specialties blended with that of the flowers on the balconies.It: Luca, con gli occhi brillanti di passione, guardava fuori dalla vetrina del suo piccolo negozio di gelato.En: Luca, with eyes bright with passion, looked out from the window of his small ice cream shop.It: Aveva sognato per settimane un nuovo sapore.En: For weeks, he had dreamed of a new flavor.It: Doveva catturare l'essenza di Firenze: la dolcezza dell'arte, la bellezza storica, e un pizzico di modernità.En: It had to capture the essence of Firenze: the sweetness of art, historical beauty, and a touch of modernity.It: Non era un compito facile.En: It wasn't an easy task.It: E c'era un motivo in più per la sua determinazione: un famoso critico gastronomico, Giovanna, era in città e lui voleva impressionarla.En: And there was an additional reason for his determination: a famous food critic, Giovanna, was in town, and he wanted to impress her.It: Ma la realtà del negozio lo portava con i piedi per terra.En: But the reality of the shop kept him grounded.It: La fila di clienti non finiva mai.En: The line of customers never ended.It: I turisti desideravano assaggiare il gelato artigianale di Luca.En: Tourists wanted to taste Luca's artisanal ice cream.It: I rumori delle risate e delle voci erano contagiosi, ma anche travolgenti.En: The sounds of laughter and voices were contagious but also overwhelming.It: Alessio, il suo fedele assistente, correva da una parte all'altra cercando di aiutare tutti.En: Alessio, his loyal assistant, ran back and forth trying to help everyone.It: Tuttavia, Luca sapeva che al ritmo attuale, non avrebbe mai trovato il tempo per sperimentare il suo nuovo sapore.En: However, Luca knew that at the current pace, he would never find the time to experiment with his new flavor.It: Inoltre, uno degli ingredienti chiave, una rara essenza di lavanda, era in ritardo a causa delle festività.En: Moreover, one of the key ingredients, a rare lavender essence, was delayed due to the holiday festivities.It: Luca dovette prendere una decisione difficile.En: Luca had to make a difficult decision.It: "Chiuderò il negozio per qualche ora," decise ad alta voce, sorprendente Alessio e i clienti all'interno.En: "I'll close the shop for a few hours," he decided aloud, surprising Alessio and the customers inside.It: Alcune persone mormorarono deluse, ma Luca era determinato.En: Some people murmured in disappointment, but Luca was determined.It: Sapeva che il rischio era grande, ma altrettanto lo era la possibile ricompensa.En: He knew the risk was great, but so too was the potential reward.It: Con Alessio che controllava la porta, Luca si mise al lavoro nel retrobottega.En: With Alessio managing the door, Luca got to work in the backroom.It: Tra scaffali pieni di ingredienti e pentole di acciaio, sperimentava sapori e consistenze.En: Among shelves filled with ingredients and stainless steel pots, he experimented with flavors and textures.It: Dopo ore di tentativi, trovò un sostituto per l'essenza di lavanda: il miele di acacia, dolce e profumato.En: After hours of trials, he found a substitute for the lavender essence: acacia honey, sweet and fragrant.It: Con il sole al tramonto, la porta del negozio si riaprì.En: With the sun setting, the shop door reopened.It: I clienti curiosi tornarono, attratti dalla promessa di un nuovo sapore.En: Curious customers returned, drawn by the promise of a new flavor.It: Giovanna, il critico, provò il gelato con una piccola esitazione, ma il suo viso si illuminò all'assaggio.En: Giovanna, the critic, tried the ice cream with a little hesitation, but her face lit up upon tasting it.It: "Delizioso!En: "Delicious!It: Riesco a sentire Firenze in ogni cucchiaio!"En: I can feel Firenze in every spoonful!"It: esclamò.En: she exclaimed.It: Le voci si diffusero rapidamente.En: Word spread quickly.It: Il gelato di Luca diventò il nuovo must della città.En: Luca's ice cream became the new must-have in the city.It: Il successo non solo portò nuovi clienti, ma anche un profondo insegnamento per Luca.En: The success not only brought new customers but also a profound lesson for Luca.It: Capì che a volte vale la pena fermarsi e seguire il cuore.En: He understood that sometimes it's worth stopping and following your heart.It: La piazza era ancora viva, piena di luci e musica, e Luca, con un sorriso sereno, si godette la vista del suo negozio vivace.En: The square was still alive, full of lights and music, and Luca, with a serene smile, enjoyed the sight of his lively shop.It: Sapeva di aver trovato il suo posto nel cuore di Firenze e nel cuore della sua gente.En: He knew he had found his place in the heart of Firenze and in the hearts of its people. Vocabulary Words:activity: l'attivitàheat: il calorearoma: l'aromaflower: il fiorepassion: la passionewindow: la vetrinaflavor: il saporeessence: l'essenzamodernity: la modernitàtask: il compitofoot: il piedeline: la filaartisan: artigianalelaughter: la risatavoice: la vocepace: il ritmoingredient: l'ingredienteholiday: la festivitàreward: la ricompensabackroom: il retrobottegashelf: lo scaffalesteel: l'acciaiohoney: il mielesunset: il tramontocurious: curiosospoonful: il cucchiaiomust-have: il mustlesson: l'insegnamentoheart: il cuoresight: la vista

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Dreaming Green: An Unlikely Collaboration Transforms a City Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-06-02-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore di una città futuristica, dove il passato e il presente si uniscono in un armonioso intreccio di vetro e verde, Alessia e Luca si incontrano su un caffè sul tetto.En: In the heart of a futuristic city, where the past and present unite in a harmonious blend of glass and greenery, Alessia and Luca meet at a rooftop café.It: È una tiepida giornata di primavera, e la Festa della Repubblica aggiunge un tocco di gioia nell'aria.En: It's a mild spring day, and the Festa della Repubblica adds a touch of joy to the air.It: Il cielo è di un azzurro intenso e dalle vetrate del caffè si scorge il mare in lontananza, come un dipinto che abbraccia la città.En: The sky is a deep blue, and from the café's glass windows, the sea can be seen in the distance, like a painting embracing the city.It: Alessia è seduta al tavolo con una pila di documenti e un tablet.En: Alessia is seated at the table with a stack of documents and a tablet.It: I suoi occhi brillano di passione mentre osserva il panorama.En: Her eyes shine with passion as she observes the scenery.It: A lei piace immaginare come la città potrebbe diventare un esempio di sostenibilità.En: She likes to imagine how the city could become an example of sustainability.It: Luca arriva con il suo solito passo sicuro.En: Luca arrives with his usual confident stride.It: È un ingegnere talentuoso, sempre alla ricerca del modo più efficiente per realizzare qualsiasi progetto.En: He is a talented engineer, always in search of the most efficient way to complete any project.It: Non crede molto nei sogni a occhi aperti.En: He doesn't have much faith in daydreams.It: "Buongiorno, Alessia," saluta Luca, prendendo posto.En: "Good morning, Alessia," Luca greets, taking a seat.It: "Ciao, Luca," risponde Alessia con un sorriso.En: "Hello, Luca," replies Alessia with a smile.It: "Ho trovato qualcosa di speciale da mostrarti."En: "I found something special to show you."It: Luca incrocia le braccia, un po' scettico.En: Luca crosses his arms, a bit skeptical.It: "Sai che mi piacciono i numeri, non i sogni."En: "You know I like numbers, not dreams."It: "Lo so," risponde Alessia, "ma questa volta ho entrambi."En: "I know," Alessia responds, "but this time I have both."It: Comincia a mostrare il suo progetto: spazi verdi integrati nelle strutture urbane, giardini verticali su grattacieli, e parchi sopraelevati che uniscono i quartieri.En: She begins to show her project: green spaces integrated into urban structures, vertical gardens on skyscrapers, and elevated parks connecting neighborhoods.It: Lei parla della bellezza e dei benefici di questi spazi: aria più pulita, maggiore benessere per i cittadini, e una città che respira.En: She talks about the beauty and benefits of these spaces: cleaner air, greater well-being for citizens, and a city that breathes.It: "È tutto molto bello," dice Luca, "ma il costo?En: "It's all very nice," says Luca, "but what about the cost?It: E la tecnologia?En: And the technology?It: È davvero possibile?"En: Is it really possible?"It: Alessia prende un respiro profondo.En: Alessia takes a deep breath.It: "Lascia che ti faccia vedere qualcosa," dice, attivando il tablet.En: "Let me show you something," she says, activating the tablet.It: Sullo schermo appare un'animazione 3D, un tour virtuale del futuro che lei immagina.En: A 3D animation appears on the screen, a virtual tour of the future she imagines.It: Il progetto prende vita davanti agli occhi di Luca.En: The project comes to life before Luca's eyes.It: Inizia a vedere non solo i costi, ma il valore aggiunto.En: He begins to see not just the costs, but the added value.It: Gli spazi verdi che raffreddano la città, riducono l'inquinamento e creano un ambiente sereno per tutti.En: The green spaces cool the city, reduce pollution, and create a serene environment for all.It: Vedendo le persone che sorridono e ragazzi che giocano nei parchi in cima ai tetti, qualcosa dentro di lui cambia.En: Seeing people smiling and children playing in the rooftop parks, something within him changes.It: "Wow," dice finalmente Luca.En: "Wow," Luca finally says.It: "Forse c'è più di quanto non avessi considerato."En: "Maybe there's more to it than I had considered."It: Alessia sorride, sentendosi sollevata.En: Alessia smiles, feeling relieved.It: "Voglio che lavoriamo insieme, Luca.En: "I want us to work together, Luca.It: Possiamo trovare una soluzione, anche se sembra difficile."En: We can find a solution, even if it seems difficult."It: Luca annuisce lentamente, guardando oltre i numeri.En: Luca nods slowly, looking beyond the numbers.It: "D'accordo, lavoriamoci.En: "Alright, let's work on it.It: Mi hai convinto."En: You've convinced me."It: Con un nuovo entusiasmo, iniziano a discutere dei dettagli, scambiandosi idee su come tecnologia e natura possono convivere.En: With new enthusiasm, they begin discussing the details, exchanging ideas on how technology and nature can coexist.It: Da qui, parte una collaborazione che trasforma il sogno in realtà.En: From here, a collaboration starts that transforms the dream into reality.It: Mentre la città festeggia la Repubblica, Alessia e Luca celebrano una nuova alleanza.En: As the city celebrates the Republic, Alessia and Luca celebrate a new alliance.It: Il progetto non solo cambierà l'aspetto della città, ma anche il modo di pensare di Luca.En: The project will not only change the city's appearance but also Luca's way of thinking.It: Ora vede il futuro con nuovi occhi, pronto a percorrere strade inesplorate dove innovazione e sostenibilità si incontrano.En: Now he sees the future with new eyes, ready to explore uncharted paths where innovation and sustainability meet. Vocabulary Words:the rooftop: il tettothe greenery: il verdeto unite: unirethe harmony: l'armoniosothe stack: la pilathe skyline: l'orizzontethe stride: il passothe skepticism: lo scetticismothe daydream: il sogno a occhi apertithe vertical garden: il giardino verticalethe skyscraper: il grattacielothe citizen: il cittadinoto breathe: respirarethe pollution: l'inquinamentothe environment: l'ambienteto take a deep breath: prendere un respiro profondothe 3D animation: l'animazione 3Dthe value: il valoreto play: giocarethe relief: il sollievoto nod: annuireto coexist: conviverethe collaboration: la collaborazionethe appearance: l'aspettothe uncharted path: le strade inesploratethe innovation: l'innovazionethe sustainability: la sostenibilitàto observe: osservarethe technology: la tecnologiathe republic: la Repubblica

Nikki & Brie are embracing their European era as Brie heads overseas for Spain, Italy, and France while Nikki makes the tough choice to stay home for one very important reason: Mateo's kindergarten graduation. The twins open up about balancing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities with family milestones, the reality of travel delays, and why sometimes saying “no” is the most meaningful decision you can make. They also dream about Tuscany, wine tastings, Italian culture, and all the adventures waiting abroad, while sharing hilarious travel stories, airport mishaps, and a fun round of Italian True or False. Along the way, Nikki reflects on romanticizing everyday life, creating beauty in the little moments, and why your wardrobe, playlists, friendships, coffee rituals, and even grocery lists can all be works of art. Trust us, you don't want to miss this one. Press play. Call Nikki & Brie at 833-GARCIA2 and leave a voicemail! Follow Nikki & Brie on Instagram, follow the show on Instagram and TikTok and send Nikki & Brie a message on Threads! Follow Bonita Bonita on Instagram Book a reservation at the Bonita Bonita Speakeasy To watch exclusive videos of this week's episode, follow The Nikki & Brie Show on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok! You can also catch The Nikki & Brie Show on SiriusXM Stars 109! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a luxury ocean liner sinks... but refuses to stop claiming victims? And why do communities around the world crown queens of hot dogs, herring, pumpkins, and wild turkeys? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro dive into the haunting legacy of the Andrea Doria, the glamorous Italian ocean liner that collided with another ship in dense Atlantic fog and slipped beneath the waves off Nantucket in 1956. What should have been the end of the story became the beginning of a deadly obsession. Decades later, the wreck remains one of the most dangerous dive sites on Earth, earning a chilling reputation as the "Everest of Wreck Diving" and claiming the lives of experienced divers drawn to its dark corridors and ghostly remains. Then, Kat explores the surprisingly bizarre world of festival queens. From ancient fertility traditions and May Queens to modern-day Sausage Queens, Herring Queens, and Wild Turkey Queens, discover how centuries-old rituals evolved into some of the strangest community celebrations in history. Luxury shipwrecks, underwater mysteries, pagan traditions, hot dog royalty, and the weird ways humans celebrate themselves—it's all waiting inside The Box of Oddities. #AndreaDoria #ShipwreckMystery #Nantucket #OceanLiner #WreckDiving #FestivalQueens #SausageQueen #WeirdHistory #StrangeTraditions #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins sits down with author Frank Hayde to explore his latest book, Hoffa's Connection. Hayde, a Kansas City native and noted mob historian, brings forward a largely overlooked figure in organized crime history—Sylvia Pagano. The conversation centers on Pagano's rise from Kansas City to Detroit, where she operated at the intersection of organized crime and labor unions under Jimmy Hoffa. Known for her effectiveness as a union organizer, Pagano infiltrated workplaces, signed up members, and quietly maintained ties to powerful mob figures. Her ability to navigate both worlds made her a key behind-the-scenes operator during a volatile era in American labor history. Hayde details Pagano's role in helping broker alliances between the Mafia and the Teamsters during a turbulent strike, marking a turning point in the relationship between organized crime and labor. Drawing from FBI wiretaps, he reveals candid conversations that shed light on her relationships with influential mob leaders like Tony Giacalone and Moe Dalitz, emphasizing her strategic importance across multiple crime families. The episode also explores the life of Chucky O’Brien, who grew up surrounded by Hoffa and organized crime figures. Through Hayde's research and interviews, listeners gain insight into the generational impact of mob ties, as well as the strict code of silence that governed both mother and son. Beyond individual stories, the discussion expands to the broader national network connecting crime families and labor unions. Pagano's reach extended well beyond regional boundaries, illustrating how organized crime leveraged union influence across the country. This episode offers a fresh perspective on the enduring mystery surrounding Hoffa's disappearance by examining the deeper historical context—and the overlooked players like Sylvia Pagano who helped shape it. It's a detailed look at power, loyalty, and survival within the American Mafia. The book is Hoffa’s Connections:The Story of Sylvia Pagano: the Kansas City Girl at the Center of the Mafia’s Alliance with the Teamsters Union  xxx [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers out there, good to be back here in the studio of Gangland [0:03] Wire. This is Gary Jenkins. I’m a retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective, later sergeant. I have this podcast, Gangland Wire. I’ve got a website. If you want to go check my website out, I’ve got a few things for sale on there. And you can go rent the documentaries I’ve done about the Kansas City mob on Amazon. Just search my name. I’m all over the internet. Just search my name and mafia and you’ll find more you ever wanted to know about me and the mob and what I’ve done. And today I have a really a former Kansas City boy, a Kansas City native who has done several books on the mob, particularly the Kansas City mob. And he’s got a most recent one that I find just really fascinating. It’s a little known story that will help shed the light on Jimmy Hoffa, a little bit more light than most of you ever knew. There’s some questions that I had myself that’s not really in the in the popular culture about Jimmy Hoffa. It’s Frank Hayde. Welcome, Frank. Thanks, Gary. Great to be with you again. All right, Frank. We’ve done Mafia Dreams and Mafia and the Machine. So tell the guys a little bit about yourself and your books. [1:13] I grew up in Kansas City. My family stretches way back in Kansas City, and they were involved in the political machine under Pendergast, and so I heard a lot of stories about those days growing up. Later in my career with the National Park Service, I worked a short stint at the Harry Truman National Historic Site, where I learned more about local history, more about the political machine and the mob in Kansas City. So that’s where my interest started. [1:39] And then many years later, I wrote The Mafia and the Machine, and then followed that up with some of these other books, including this most recent one, Hoffa’s Connection, the story of Sylvia Pagano, the Kansas City girl at the center of the Mafia’s alliance with the Teamsters. You know, that’s the mouthful, I know. You know how it is with the subtitle. You can try to get the, summarize the entire book in your subtitle. So, that’s what that is. Yeah. When you look up a book or you see it online or whatever, you want to know quickly what it’s about. So I see that title, Hoffa. Oh, that’s interesting. I thought everything was done about Hoffa. Then you got this subtitle in here and you say, oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t know about this. And I didn’t myself, this Sylvia Pagano. And the story starts in Kansas City. It’s a fascinating story, guys. I want to tell you, it is a fascinating story. [2:31] But before we get started, Frank was a park ranger, a law enforcement park ranger for the National Park Service for 20 years. And he has a really interesting mob interaction when he was in, I believe you run a temporary assignment out in California. Tell the guys about your mafia interaction as a law enforcement officer. [2:53] Yeah. So I was actually at the park service 32 years. 20 of those were law enforcement and just retired. But in the summer of 2024, I got to go out to Redwood National Park on what we call a detail, which is a temporary assignment. They were shorthanded and needed a little extra help. And I knew the place pretty well because I had worked there earlier in my career. So I went out there and it’s a beautiful place. And I was on patrol and I came upon a campsite and there was some violations going on. Nothing major, just the typical stuff that we see as park rangers. And I contacted the occupants of this campsite and I got their licenses and I was back in my vehicle running the licenses. There was a male and a female and the female, I noticed it was a New York license and Brooklyn address and last name is Scarpa. I said, no, that can’t be. That’d be too much of a coincidence. And ran the information, recontacted the subject. And I asked the female, I said, by any chance, are you related to Greg Scarpa? She said, oh, yeah, that was my grandfather. And Greg Jr. was my father. [4:02] And I guess I had to laugh. And by then, I had already written a ticket or two, I think, for just petty offenses. And so I handed her ticket and then asked her if she’d take a picture with me. But she was real nice. She understood that people don’t mind, and she was great. She took a picture with me, and she was more than happy to talk about her father and her grandfather. And it was all very interesting and just quite the coincidence. Yeah, really. That was quite a coincidence. Not only the main coincidence was that you knew her. And then a lot of people might know the name. You really knew the name. Yeah, no. And you had this whole interest in it to talk about. Yeah, I can tell you that 99% of park rangers, you have no idea. Now, if you’re a Brooklyn cop, that’s different. But I was probably the only park ranger alive that would have made that connection because of my interest in the topic. I’ve been trying to get Greg Scarlett Jr. to come on. He’s made some intimations to somebody else. He followed my Facebook group, and I followed his. And so I don’t know. I reached out indirectly. I don’t know exactly how to get a hold of him. Maybe I’ll package this little story up and I’ll send that to him. Maybe that’ll get him to come on the show. Except you wrote the tickets, damn it. That’s the problem. I hope he won’t come after me to write in his daughter’s tickets. Yeah. [5:25] All right, Frank. So let’s go in this most recent book, Hoffa’s Connection. How did you, Sylvia Pagano, how did you even get onto that name other than, did you start, she’s Chucky O’Brien’s mother, who most guys know if you’re really into Hoffa at all, or even on the little bit, Chucky O’Brien was, everybody thought he was like his illegitimate son a lot of times or his surrogate son. And he was really close to Hoffa and drove him around. I was going through your book. He was a guy that Hoffa could send around to other mob people because he was half Italian himself and both sides trusted him to carry messages and do meetings and things like that. So how did you get onto this originally? So I got a call from Jack Goldsmith, who’s a very interesting man because he is the learned hand professor of law at Harvard University, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, former assistant attorney general under President Bush. But for me, the most interesting thing about him was that he is Chucky O’Brien’s stepson. [6:29] And he was working on his book, Inhofe’s Shadow, when he contacted me. It’s a great book. I would recommend it to all the wiretappers. But it’s about Chucky. And he wanted to know if I had come across any information on Chucky O’Brien in my research for the Mafia and the Machine, because Chucky was from Kansas City. I said, what? Chucky O’Brien was from Kansas City? Because I knew all about Chucky O’Brien, but I had no idea he was from Kansas City. So that shocked me. And I don’t think very few people knew that. His Kansas City roots were scarcely known. Everybody just thought of Chucky as a Detroit guy. But when I finally read Goldsmith’s book, it’s about Chucky, but he touches on Sylvia. And I found what he wrote about Sylvia to be completely fascinating, especially because she was Kansas City. And so I thought, shoot, she’s in my wheelhouse. I thought, wow, she would make a great subject for a book. But I balked at it because she was so secretive that she left hardly anything information, hardly any documents exist about Sylvia. It’s just she wasn’t like the men that she associated with who were so extensively documented. There was just very little known about her, not even very many photographs in existence. [7:44] But fortunately, I got together with Pat Faisal in Kansas City. He’s a terrific researcher. You’ve worked with him a lot, Gary. You’ve had him on your show, I think. I think he’s written a couple of really important books on local history, and he had come across her independently of me, and through his own research, he had stumbled on just a brief mention or two of Sylvia Pagano in various FBI documents. [8:09] And so we decided to put our heads together, and Pat helped me with the research, did the lion’s share of the research, fed it to me, and then I would write the story. And that’s how it came together. [8:21] Interesting. And Frank, one of the coolest things, the research that Pat found was those wiretaps or bugs that the illegal bugs the FBI had in her house. And so they got a lot of really great conversations and they’re all transcribed and out there for somebody to find. So to me, that was fascinating. [8:45] Yes, that was probably our best source are these transcripts from the illegal microphones that the FBI placed in homes and businesses of organized crime associates all over the country back in the 60s. Got some great information from those. Sylvia talking freely in her apartment. Candidly, because she doesn’t know anybody’s list. And they had him in Tony Giacalone’s home juice company in Detroit also. And Sylvia was often a topic of conversation over there as well. By the way, Tony Giacalone was Sylvia’s paramour for many years. They had a long affair. People who think that Sylvia had an affair with Hoffa that produced Chucky O’Brien, [9:28] And that is not accurate. Chucky, we know who Chucky’s father was. He was a criminal out of St. Louis from the time he was a boy and went to prison when he was a young guy, was recruited from prison to come to Kansas City and work as a driver, for none other than Charlie Banagio. And so that put him right at the center of the action. [9:53] And Sylvia, having married the young man that put her right, she was already at the center of the action because she knew all the movers and shakers in the North End at that time already from the time she was a girl. But they became very much a part of Banagio’s network. And this was one fact that really blew me away that I didn’t know. And I don’t think you know it or Owsley or O’Malley or really anybody in Kansas City that Charlie Banagio was Chuckie O’Brien’s godfather. Yeah, I didn’t know that. Yeah. That is interesting. So Sylvia Pagano, she lives down there in the North End, what we call the North End folks, which is our little Italy. There’s a big church that anchors that neighborhood. And that’s where all the people came from Southern Italy and Sicily, moved into Kansas City and were associated with the church down there. After them, the Vietnamese came in and the church sponsored a lot of the Vietnamese and settled in that same neighborhood as it became a shifting neighborhood. So she’s down over there in Little Italy or the North End. And she meets a guy named Michael. Was it Three Fingers? [11:03] Oh, yeah. Frankie. Frankie Three Fingers. Coppola. Coppola, yeah. So tell us about that relationship. Yeah, that’s really interesting because Frankie Three Fingers… Hasn’t really been chronicled much as part of the Kansas City family. Because he was a roving guy, he had a lot of clout in both Italy and the U.S., and he had memberships in multiple families, and he was a high-ranking status too. So wherever he went, whether it was Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York, New Orleans, he was all over the place, and he was well-respected wherever he went. But he was in Kansas City for quite a long time. He was strongly associated with Padagio. And it appears from all the evidence, as well as testimony from organized crime experts in Detroit, that Frankie Three Fingers escorted Sylvia to Detroit after her marriage with Charles O’Brien ended in about 1941 in Kansas City. [12:13] So Sylvia arrives in Detroit on the arm of Frank Coppola, and that put her on the fast track to getting to know the upper echelon of the Detroit family and mobsters, top mobsters beyond Detroit. Coppola was associated with Costello in his slot machine racket down in New Orleans. [12:36] And later, after he got deported back to Italy, He worked with Lucky Luciano to put together the whole narcotics syndicate network that included the French Connection. So tremendously influential as a mobster. Sylvia could really not have picked a more influential and well-connected guy as a boyfriend. That really put her on the fast track to getting to know a lot of the most powerful guys in the country. Really interesting guy. Frank Copeland. I’ll just say it and maybe someone else can run with it. I don’t know if it’ll be me or not, but he would make a great subject for a book. Yeah, he’s not very well known. And the mob used to have this guy, Nikolai Gentile. He traveled around to different families and brokered different deals. I think back before communication was so fast and you didn’t fly from one city to the other, you had to take a train. That’s a whole day on the train to get one city to the other. Telephone communication wasn’t that good. You didn’t hardly make long distance phone calls back there in the 20s and 30s. I don’t think they were hard. So you have guys like this that then travel around and take messages that are trusted by the different cities. And so he had to be one of those guys. [13:52] You’re exactly right. In fact, he knew Nicola Gentile. [13:58] Gentile is also, I speak about him in this book also. He plays a role, a pretty important one, and he describes some events that are really fascinating. This story actually doesn’t begin in Kansas City. It begins in Pueblo, Colorado. There’s three geographic areas that are really emphasized in this story. Pueblo, Colorado, Kansas City, and Detroit. But Nicola Gentili and Frank Coppola knew each other in the United States, and they knew each other in Italy. And you’re exactly right, they had a similar role as traveling diplomats within the mafia. Very interesting. Not too many other guys, especially later on. They had Johnny Roselli, who was really well-traveled, and some others. But in those early days, a couple of these guys, Coppola, Gentile, I don’t know if there was any others or not, but that was what they did. They were all over the place, and they were so well-connected, and they really had memberships in multiple families. And that seems to have faded away later. You didn’t hear too much about guys that had more than one member. So occasionally somebody would switch families, but yeah, they were really interesting, [15:11] real, what you would call international mystery men, I think. Interesting. So she had an affair with him, and he brought her up to Detroit and started making connections in Detroit, if I remember the story right, with the Jackalones. And so what. [15:27] Take us on from there. How does she then move in with Hoffa? And she’s like in the middle between the Peckerwood truck drivers and the Italian mob, which they both needed each other and they worked well together for a long time. So how does she end up in the center of that? Yeah, she’s still quite young when she gets to Detroit. She’s just early 20s, maybe mid 20s at that point. But and here she is she’s immediately meeting all of the wise guys but she was still she needed a job she needed work i’m sure coppola helped her out to some extent but he had his own wife he had his own he probably had another mistress or two as well i mean she needed to make a she needed to make a living and raise her son chucky and um she got a job with the teamsters at that time in In Detroit, unions were strong. There was a lot of unions, and it was the capital of industrial unionism at that time. And so that just became a natural choice. She ended up meeting Burke Brennan initially, actually, even before Hoffa. Brennan was Hoffa’s right-hand guy. [16:36] And he gave her a job with the Teamsters as a salter. She was an organizer, and a good one, and a legit organizer. But her specialty was salting. Now, what’s that? So she was a union representative, and she would get a job in a factory or a warehouse, just an ordinary job. And she would go to work, just like everybody else, punch the clock. But while she was there, her real objective was signing other people up to join the union. So she’s like a secret agent in a way, buried into the normal workforce, but with a real different agenda. And she was real good at it. And the union guys noticed that she worked really hard and she was loyal and that she would keep her mouth shut. And so those were the same qualities that the mob guys admired. So this was at the time, though, and this is very important, when most of the unions and the mob were still at odds with each other. Back then, the gangsters were getting hired by companies to break strikes and to oppose unions. [17:47] And there was a particularly bad strike going on. It lasted a long time. The Teamsters were striking the Detroit Lumber Company. This was at about 42. And it was violent. And Hoffa could see the writing on the wall that the Teamsters were losing the battle. It went on and on. It was violent. And that’s where Sylvia Pagano stepped in. Burt Brennan told Jimmy Hoffa he should talk to Facci. Facci was Italian for face. And that was Sylvia’s nickname that she got when she was young back in Kansas City. Had a very pretty face. And so they called her the face. So Hoffa talked to Fauci and she set up a basically like a summit meeting peace conference, more or less. And they brokered a deal where the mob switched sides and became allies with the Teamsters against the Detroit Lumber Company. So that was really the moment that changed history, brought the mafia into the Teamsters orbit and vice versa. And that’s all traceable right back to Sylvia Pagano. [18:55] Wow. That’s interesting. I always wondered what the genesis of that was with Hoffa and the mob. And of course, we can see how it developed, but what that actual birth of that was. I think you’ve stumbled across the birth of it. You also… [19:11] We’re able to stumble across the birth of the Eastern families and New York families connection to Hoffa, which that that gets even bigger. Tell us a little bit about that. She was involved in that, believe it or not, guys. And just like in Detroit, back in New York, there’s Johnny Dio. He was busting up labor union strikes for the companies. Yeah, I think that to some degree in New York, New Jersey, that some Teamsters locals had already been infiltrated by the mafia independently and maybe unbeknownst to Hoffa in Detroit. But it really became a big thing with Hoffa and with Sylvia’s brokering that alliance. Little isolated examples of mob infiltration, I think, were already happening in Detroit. But once again, as Hoffa’s progressing in his career, moving up the ranks, he always had his eye on the top job. He wanted to be the president of the IBT. And of course, he knew he needed help in the Northeast for that, to realize that goal. And so with Sylvia helped set up meetings with Tony Ducks Corral Johnny Diagordi Tony Provenzano and Sylvia had gotten to know Provenzano in Detroit because he had strong connections to Detroit let’s see his cousin was married to. [20:39] Tony Giacalone’s cousin was married to Tony Pro, I believe, or vice versa. That’s your book. Yeah. I’d have to go back and read my own book. Yeah, it’s hard to keep up. Hard to remember all the details. All these players. Giacalone’s cousin was married to Provenzano. And so Sylvia had already met Provenzano in Detroit. And Chucky, her son, had already started calling him Uncle Tony. And so she had this great connection to Provenzano. And so she helped facilitate the Teamsters Mob Alliance in New York and New Jersey, just as she had in Detroit. And then it goes on from there. Then she later, we’re moving forward now, but she would later become the link between Hoffa and his closest contact in Cleveland, which was Moe Daylitz. She became the link between Hoffa and Alan Dorfman in Chicago. And she became the link between Hoffa and the Sevilla brothers in Kansas City. So she really was, and this is all, they taught, there’s a, from those FBI tapes, those illegal FBI tapes, we have Tony Zarelli and Nick Sevilla in Florida speaking about Sylvia Pagano and her relationship as a liaison between the Detroit family and between the Kansas City family. Like, there’s your proof right there. Not that you need it. She was really… [22:09] The guys, a lot of them really liked, adored her in the sense of she did have an affair with a couple of them, and she was a good-looking woman. A lot of them had, Moe Dalitz was known to have a crush on Sylvia, possibly an affair with Sylvia. But she was more than your mob mole, right? She was a dealmaker. She was an advisor. She was a liaison. She brought money to the table. She did deals with the guys. She helped broker some pension fund loans, all these things. So what I like to say about Sylvia is that we all know that the mob never inducted women into their ranks. But if they had, Sylvia Pagana would have been their first choice because she worked hard. She was loyal. [22:56] She kept her mouth shut. And she really lived truer to the code than some of the men did. She was 100% omerta. She really was. and she learned that in the north end of Kansas City, where Umerta was extremely strong even up into this century after it wasn’t so strong in other places and so she passed that on to Chucky O’Brien. He was also a real strong adherent to the code of silence. Yeah, I think we have to remember Chucky O’Brien was half Italian. His father was Italian. No. [23:33] So his mother, Sylvia, was the Italian. Mother, Sylvia, yeah. Yeah, his dad was Irish. Yeah, I got that mixed up. Exactly, asked backwards. But yeah, he was half Italian. And so he really talked the talk, and he moved right in. All these guys were like his uncle, Uncle Nick, Uncle Quirk, and that kind of thing. So he came back to Kansas City. Tell a little bit about Chuckie O’Brien and Kansas City. Yeah, so in 1950, he’d been in Detroit for about nine years by that point. 1950, he’s getting into high school age, and Sylvia sent him back to Kansas City to live on Independence Avenue with his grandparents, and he went to Cardinal Glennon High School. [24:13] And became a good athlete, started dating a gal from the old neighborhood who was a lot like Sylvia. I think that’s really interesting because Chucky really idolized his mother, but he never really, when he was young at least, got to spend as much time with her as he wanted. He spent a lot of time back in Kansas City. He spent a lot of time at his uncle’s house in Detroit because Sylvia was so busy with Hoffa and with the mob. So here’s Chucky in Kansas City. He meets a gal from Sylvia’s old neighborhood who has other things in common with Sylvia and who even looks, in my opinion, quite a lot like Sylvia. And he would eventually take her back to Detroit and marry her and have a family together. But his main objective, it really in Kansas City wasn’t so much going to school. It was becoming a truck driver. He wanted to become a truck driver so that he could put himself on the path to becoming a union organizer like his hero and surrogate father, Jimmy Hoffa. And according to Chucky, Uncle Nick and Uncle Cork got him his first job as a driver and got him his first union card with local 541. [25:23] And this was right at the time when Local 541 was becoming ground zero for labor strife and union corruption in the United States. And Gary, you said a key word earlier, which was Peckerwood. And that’s who was running the Kansas City Teamsters at the time. It was dominated by Peckerwood guys, country boys, basically, and like Hoffa. And these guys were just as bad as the Italian gangsters who were more famous. They ran those locals with intimidation and terror, and they were violent, and they were very ambitious. They had political power. [26:08] Make a long story short, in 1953 in Kansas City, we had an inter-union labor war. And it was the Teamsters versus almost every other union in town. And Teamsters were trying to dominate a lot of these other unions is what it was. And so you had a complete paralysis of the entire construction industry for three months. Imagine just all construction stopping for three months in any metro area and how devastating that is to the economy. 23,000 Kansas Citians were out of work. The Teamsters were refusing to pick up or deliver supplies. And that eventually morphed into violence and sabotage. You had guys going into battle at construction sites. People were getting badly injured. People were getting kidnapped. It was, and then furthermore, we had four military defense projects centered in the Kansas City area, and this is right at the height of the Korean War. So these military installations were suffering work stoppages also. So this was unacceptable in Washington. And Congress swooped in with hearings and an investigation. [27:17] And they called this, basically, it was, I think the exact language was something like the most forbidding chapter in the history of American unions, something like that. It was a big deal. This history has been mostly forgotten. But Kansas City was [27:32] completely paralyzed for about three months. And that was the union that was the local mainly primarily local 541 which chucky was a young member of he was too young at that time to get drawn into the politics of the union i don’t believe that he was on the front lines of these these battles and violence that was happening he was just a brand new truck driver at the time but he was part of that in the sense that he was a local a member of the local at the time this stuff was happening so yeah that’s that’s what happened when Chucky came back to Kansas City. [28:07] Interesting. And that must have been the time when Roy Williams started moving up the ladder and the mob was moving in and they moved this auto ring and some of his people out. And Roy Lee Williams must have, with the support of Nick Civella and the local mob, must have moved right on in. Yeah, that’s exactly what happened. The main guy behind all the strife and violence I was just talking about was Orville Ring, classic quintessential Peckerwood guy and then after all this happened Hoffa swooped in and helped negotiate an end to these conflicts in 1953 and, And Nick Civella and his crime family, they were all watching all this from the wings, planning and scheming. Wow, there’s a lot going on here. How can we capitalize on this? [28:50] So in the aftermath of it all, the Savellas basically intimidated Orville Ring out of the Union. He went back to his farm. Later, he was killed in an accident on his farm, which a lot of people thought was the mob, that the mob did it. But it looked probably just an accident. And I think a tractor rolled over on him or something like that. But yeah, Roy Williams. So at this time, just basically the Italians were taken over from the Peckerwoods. There were still some useful Peckerwoods, and they worked together. And Roy Williams was the key guy there. This is when Nick Civella and he started working together to take over the Teamsters in Kansas City. You’re exactly right. And the rest is history. Really? really. Roy Williams is an interesting guy. He was a war hero from World War II. He had several bronze stars and he was a huge war hero, but he knew which side of the bread got the butter. And so he went with that and he went with Nick Civella. And he did, he bucked up to him a few times, but Nick Civella, actually in a famous scene, Nick Civella had him picked up and driven somewhere and shined a bright light in his eyes and said, you will go along with this scheme. [30:05] So it’s, but he kept going along to almost, he almost, he did become the president of the union for a short period of time, almost right there at the end of his life and when everybody was going to jail. But he was Nick Civella’s protege and Nick Civella’s puppet for his whole life and the whole Teamsters union was. [30:24] Yeah and that story you mentioned with the white spotlight shining in his eyes they kidnapped him and took him into this empty warehouse and i always point to that as just one of those. [30:34] Terrifying stories about how the mob used to work and yeah man and that wasn’t the only time that they intimidated roy williams in that manner so he like you said he was this tough guy war hero He was a big guy, and yet even a guy like that can get intimidated into doing whatever these guys tell him to do because his tactics that they used were just terrifying. Yeah. I read one thing where he later on, he claimed when he turned and gave evidence and talked to the Bureau that he claimed that they also threatened his wife and children during one of these sit downs with him. I mean, they did the same thing to Alan Glick out in Las Vegas. Tuffy DeLuna was out there, and he read off Alan Glick’s name of his wife and his children. He said, you may find yourself expendable, but I don’t think you’re going to find your family expendable and read off their names. So there’s two good examples of them. Say that Bob never messes with your family. There’s two good examples of them using the family and family as threats. Yeah. [31:40] It’s very tough. Yeah, it is. I heard knowing Mo Dalitz, to me, that was key because he was such a mover and an operator. Talk a little more about that. He had been in Cleveland. He had to set her up with Bill Presser. And that was primarily Jewish mobsters in Cleveland, seemed to me like. And then he also had all those connections to Chicago to get to Red Dorfman, his son, Alan Dorfman. Talk a little more about that relationship with Mo Dalitz. In Mo Dalitz’s biography, I can’t think of the name of the author at the moment, but that author states that Sylvia was one of Mo Dalitz’s lovers. I’m not sure if that’s true or not. I do think that Mo Dalitz, at the very least, had a crush on Sylvia, but also respected her very much. And she, just as she had with the Detroit family before, she brokered an alliance with Daylitz. What happened was Daylitz had a laundry empire, was a rum runner and a racketeer and a leader in the Jewish mob. But he also had a lot of legitimate businesses, including a laundry empire in Detroit and Cleveland. [32:53] And while he was still in Detroit, before he really made his move to Cleveland, his permanent move to Cleveland, his laundries, along with other laundry owners, they bonded together in an association. And they were very anti-union. And they were basically at odds with the Teamsters. And until Sylvia swooped in. And Sylvia had her own connections by now to the Laundry Workers Union also. So she’s working for the Teamsters, and she’s very close to Hoffa, but she then married a guy named John Paris, who was the head of the Laundry Workers Union. [33:32] So Sylvia knows Hoffa, and she knows the head of the Laundry Workers Union very closely, and she knows Dalitz. So she’s the one who’s positioned to bring these people together, sit them down at the same table, and start working together, start negotiating. And that’s what she did with Daylitz. And so that led to Daylitz paying off Hoffa, basically, to settle this contract on terms that were favorable to Daylitz and the other laundry owners. [34:07] But you could say that Hoffa, in that case, sold out his members, at least at that time. Now, I do want to make it clear that most rank-and-file teamsters for many decades loved Hoffa because he definitely did negotiate some great contracts that brought truck drivers into the middle class, got them very good pay and benefits. And it’s only fair, it’s only right to give him credit because as somebody once said about Hoffa. [34:33] He was always a criminal, but also always a teamster. And he worked very hard for his membership. He never stopped working. And it was sincere, I do believe. But there were times when he, the ends justified the means and he did whatever he had to do to keep the union alive, but also to serve himself and enrich himself. And that was one of those cases where the membership lost out a little bit when Hoffa and Daylitz formed their alliance with the initiation and the help of Sylvia Pagano. Interesting. So let’s go back to Chucky O’Brien for a minute. He goes back up from Kansas City. He ends up back up in Detroit and working very closely with Jimmy Hoffa. And you talked to his son. Yeah. And to make that, and he was probably a huge help and some insight into what his father was like. So talk about Chucky O’Brien when he got back with Hoffa. Yeah, so he goes back to Detroit. [35:31] And he steps right back into the Hoffa family circle because Sylvia became part of the Hoffa family. She was Josephine Hoffa’s best friend. Jimmy Hoffa relied on her not only for important work in the union and for important connections to the mob, but he also relied on her heavily as Josephine’s personal assistant and caretaker. Sylvia worked extremely hard serving other people. And she was an excellent caretaker to Josephine who needed a lot of care, had very poor health, made worse by severe alcoholism. And Sylvia was a wonderful caretaker. But Chucky stepped right back into that family orbit. Later, when his own kids were small, Chucky and his wife and his kids moved into the Hoffa house. They’d all lived under the same roof for quite a few years. But Sylvia was really the glue that kept it all together and Chucky’s son who’s also named Chuck O’Brien he was a young boy at this time so his memories of his grandmother. [36:42] And Jimmy Hoffa started when he was a young boy and continued up until Sylvia died when he was in his late teens, but he was a great source for the book helped out a lot I really appreciate him And it was interesting to have direct access to someone who actually lived under the same roof with Jimmy Hoffa. So he was not privy, young Chuck was not privy to any inside information or any mob dealings or anything like that. But he later moved to Kansas City and went to work in the River Key for his uncle at the Godfather Lounge, which just a couple of years later was torched in the River Key War. And then young Chuck had worked in professional hockey for a while. And then he became a truck driver and joined Local 41. And so all this history just comes full circle and repeats itself. And I was a little fascinated by these Sylvia’s grandkids who were born and raised in Detroit. They both ended up back in Kansas City in the land of their parents and their grandparents. And they ended up in the same neighborhoods that Sylvia had been born in many years before. [37:57] Interesting. And Chucky O’Brien, then he’s kind of Hoffa’s driver sometimes. And Aaron Renner on up to the end of Hoffa’s life was even implicated at the very end. Some people claim that he helped set Hoffa up because he was the one person that Hoffa trusted. And that one movie, The Irishman or whatever, really threw a lot of shade on Chucky O’Brien. So how did you deal with that. [38:21] Yeah, I think Chucky got a real bad rap, and as I used to study Hoffa and read all the Hoffa books, I always thought, I always had a very low opinion of Chucky O’Brien, and he became the butt of a joke, and he was portrayed as this blundering, not-too-bright guy who either helped kill his surrogate father or was duped into giving him a ride to where he was killed without knowing what was going on and without being able to, realize it to the point where he could have maybe helped Hoffa. I think Jack Goldsmith put all that to rest. He really changed my opinion of Chucky in his book, but I realized that Chucky had been misunderstood in many ways. Was he involved in Hoffa’s disappearance or not? I think Goldsmith basically vindicates Chucky. [39:15] However, I do believe that there’s still some evidence that could strongly suggest that even in light of what Goldsmith wrote, that Chucky could still have known more than he let on. But he was so committed to Emerita that he took a lot of secrets to his grave, I believe. What’s interesting is some of the other co-conspirators in the Hoffa thing ended up dead, like Sally Buggs, and got killed in Little Italy a few years later, and the prevailing wisdom, at least, was to, keep him quiet about the Hoffa case. And they would have probably done the same thing to Chucky if Chucky could have pointed the finger at anybody or implicated anybody. And I’m sure he could have. I’m sure he knew some things about that. He was so close to Giacalone. Chucky was very close to Tony Giacalone and to Tony Provenzano. [40:07] And I think that Chucky survived because Giacalone trusted him 100% just as Sylvia Pagano’s son. Giacalone’s trust in Chucky to not give anybody up was just so rock solid. And he loved Chucky. And I think that he was also honoring Sylvia by allowing Chucky to stay alive. So I know I’m straying from your initial question, Gary. There’s so much going on with the whole Chuck O’Brien thing and his involvement. It gets very interesting. You have to get really down in the weeds with it to understand all of it. But I think that Goldsmith’s book is a great read for anybody who’s interested in Hoffa and the whole case. I definitely would recommend it. So it may come down to Chuck O’Brien. And was he more loyal to the mob, to the mafia and their code? Or more loyal to Hoffa and the Teamsters? as Hoffa as an individual, not to the teams or his union, but Hoffa as an individual. Was he more loyal to Hoffa or more loyal to the union or more loyal to the mob? And giving up those guys, he has to turn his back on everything. [41:21] The union and the mob. And so I can see where he, whatever he knew, [41:25] he was not going to say a word. It would be to his advantage. He has no, they didn’t have a hammer on him. Wasn’t a criminal. They didn’t have a life sentence hanging over his head for anything. They did have, they did prosecute Chucky on a federal case. It was a small time thing. He took some, maybe took some gifts from a, from an employer in his role as a union guy, some small gifts. And then he had also got caught up in a cargo theft case, which is all documented in the book, Office of Connection. But the law enforcement did have a couple of cases that they could apply pressure onto Chucky. But he didn’t say a word, and he just went to prison and served his time. He didn’t have to serve too much time. He was only in for about a year, I think. It was a low-level felony. But he just, he’d never thought once about turning state’s witness. He just went and served his time and got back out and went on with his life. [42:25] Yeah. It’s those 50 and 75-year sentences that’ll make the right attorneys. You get even, I used to say, when they came up, those sentencing guidelines for cocaine dealers, you could make a guy talk about his mother when he’s looking. He’s 40 years old and he’s looking at a 50, 75-year sentence. Yeah. I do have to say, though, if there’s one guy that might, and there was a few of them who went and served a hard time. Yeah, a long time until they’re old. Rather than give anybody else up. And I think Chucky would have been one of those guys. I do. Yeah. [42:57] Having been raised by sylvia pagano he was just so committed to that culture and those traditions and that way of life and and omerta yeah sylvia even had almost a kind of a halfway making ceremony for chucky she arranged for the top guys in detroit when he came back to detroit from kansas city in the early 50s tony giacalone put together a little event where chucky walked into the back room of grecian gardens restaurant in detroit and all the top guys were sitting around a table and he made a pledge of loyalty to them at that time and then he sat down and broke bread with them and he didn’t prick his finger and burn a card and he wasn’t made into the family but it was all halfway a little bit and they did that for sylvia and because they just valued her so much they respected her and they needed her they she was the connection to their most valuable asset, which was Jimmy Hoffa. So that tells you a little bit about how much respect they had for Sylvia and also for Chucky’s unique role. Here he is. [44:05] He’s he’s the son of charlie banagio’s low-level chauffeur yeah and yet he’s sitting down with guys like meyer lansky in florida he’s sitting down with all the top guys in detroit chicago inu acardo rica rosanova all these top guys in chicago then he would sit down with them on behalf of jimmy hoff he was he probably i say in the book that he probably had more chucky o’brien the son of, Banagio’s chauffeur probably had more sit-downs with high-level mobsters than Nick Civella did. As Hoffa’s representative, that was the life. And he knew how to handle that kind of thing because he was raised by Sylvia. So he knew how to say, what not to say, how to behave himself in those types of meetings. So that came naturally to him. And he was Hoffa’s gopher. He drove in places. He took Hoffa’s wife to her medical appointments. He did low-level stuff like that, but he also did more important work, more sensitive stuff, like sitting down with mob bosses and relaying information back and forth, just like as Sylvia had taught him to do. [45:16] That’s fascinating. I tell you what, guys, Frank Hayde, Hoffa’s Connection, the story of Sylvia Pagano, the Ken City girl at the center of the mafia’s alliance with the Teamsters Union. I might have links in here. You better get this book. This is untrod territory. Unplowed ground, as we used to say on the farm. This is fresh stuff that you’ve read. There’s so many books out there about Hoffa and his disappearance that they just want to, come on, we can’t do this. I can’t do this again, Hoffa’s disappearance. You’re never going to find his body. You’re never going to figure out exactly who killed him. Nobody’s going to talk, and anybody that could is dead. But this unearthed some really fresh, interesting information about Hoffa and his connection with the Italian La Cosa Nostra in the United States, the entire United States, really. Yes. Thank you, Gary. That was a very nice little summary of it. And I really appreciate you. You’ve had me on your show before, my other books, and I listened to your podcast. Can’t get enough of it. You do terrific work. All us wire trappers love you, man. And we all appreciate you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Are you still doing the, are we still buying you cups of coffee and that kind of stuff? Yeah, you can always buy me a cup of coffee and hit the donate button. [46:29] I forget about doing that. I’ve been doing this so long and I got a few guys that hit it regularly and some never do. I do this for the pure joy of it anyhow, but it helps to have a little extra money coming in now and then. When you were selling books yesterday, you love writing this book. You love all that research and putting it together and educating people, but it’s nice to get paid for it too. [46:50] It’s a small-time racket, but hey. It’s a small-time racket. Another interesting thing, Frank, we were talking about people doing time, getting so much time, and trying to force them to talk. Yesterday, Frank had a program at the library, and we had a local guy who was a subject of his last book, Mafia Dreams, who was a mob hanger-on guy when he was a young guy. And he got caught up in a murder, an accidental murder in a way. That it’s a long story and you have to get mafia dreams to learn about it. The next generation of the wannabe. [47:25] Italian mafia guys in kansas city and so that guy was there he did 25 years 25 years for what we call felony murder another guy he transported a friend of his to a drug by only the guy killed the man was selling the or tried to kill the man that was selling the drugs and the fbi had it set up and ran in and shot and killed the kid who almanese had carried up to the drug ripoff and And so they charged this driver with felony murder, and he did 25 years, just got out about four or five years ago. He could have talked. He had enough to buy him a lot of grace on that 25-year sentence, and he did every minute of it. He never said a word, and it was hard time. It was state time here in Missouri. Yeah, I think that’s true. I think he is representative of Kansas City in a way, because I do believe that in Kansas City, the Code of Emerita persisted longer than most places. And yeah, when you’re 24 years old, I think he was 24 at the time that he was sentenced. Maybe he was 25 and you get sentenced to 25 and a half years. [48:38] And you have the chance to whittle that down by giving up information on your friends. And you don’t take it, and you choose to do the 25 and a half years, that’s hardcore. And he did, and those are the best years of his life that he’ll never get back. But he is out now, and he’s making a legitimate living and keeping his nose clean and just trying to make up for a lot of lost time. Yeah, he is. 25 years will straighten your mind out, won’t it? Yeah. Man. All right, Frank. Thanks so much for coming on the show. Hey, thanks again, Gary. Don’t forget to donate Bob the Bob Gary cup of coffee, y’all. Thank you. Okay, Gary. Okay, Frank. That was great. Talk to you later.

Today's guests will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on June 29th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Eric Eden is a co-owner and restaurateur behind some of Washington, D.C.'s most talked-about dining concepts, including L'Ardente, Love, Makoto, and Unconventional Diner. With a focus on creating memorable guest experiences and distinctive restaurant brands, Eric has helped shape a portfolio that ranges from glam Italian to contemporary Japanese and modern American dining. Join RULibrary: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/RULibrary Join RULive: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/live Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/restaurantunstoppable Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/ Today's sponsors: - Workstream is the #1 payroll, hiring, & HR platform built for restaurants. 46 of the top 50 restaurant brands trust Workstream to hire faster, stay compliant, and run payroll accurately across every location. Visit http://workstream.us/unstoppable for 3 months of FREE payroll. - Restaurant Technologies — the leader in automated cooking oil management. Their Total Oil Management solution is an end-to-end closed loop automated system that delivers, monitors, filters, collects, and recycles your cooking oil eliminating one of the dirtiest jobs in the kitchen.. Automate your oil and elevate your kitchen by visiting rti-inc.com or call 888-779-5314 to get started! - US Foods®. Running a restaurant takes MORE than great food—it takes reliable deliveries, quality products, and smart tools. US Foods® helps you make it. Ready to level up? Visit: usfoods.com/expectmore. - Guest contact info:  Website: https://www.gardenhospitality.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 

Hello Ohio Mysteries Backroads listeners. Before the bombings, power struggles, and notorious crime bosses that would make Cleveland infamous, there was a small but determined network of Italian immigrants building a criminal empire in the shadows. In this episode, we explore the origins of the Cleveland Mafia, tracing its roots from the late 19th and early 20th centuries as immigrant communities established themselves in Northeast Ohio. Discover how early organized crime figures Joe Leonard and Joe Morello leveraged gambling, bootlegging, extortion, and political connections to create the foundation of what would become one of America's most influential Mafia families. We'll uncover the key personalities, pivotal events, and social conditions that allowed the Cleveland crime syndicate to emerge and grow. From the challenges faced by immigrant neighborhoods to the rise of Prohibition-era opportunities, this episode reveals how the Cleveland underworld evolved from a loose collection of street gangs into a structured criminal organization that would shape the city's history for decades. Join us as we examine the origins of the Cleveland Mafia and the beginnings of a story that would leave a lasting mark on both organized crime and Cleveland itself. Tune in and found out! Check out our Facebook page!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558042082494¬if_id=1717202186351620¬if_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please check other podcast episodes like this at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ohiomysteries.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dan hosts a Youtube Channel called: Ohio History and Haunts where he explores historical and dark places around Ohio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5x1eJjHhfyV8fomkaVzsA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're chatting with Lexis Zenobia , a full-time artist and vintage dealer, the owner of Ladies of the Loon — which is doing something really unique – this is a vintage brand that has taken a truly singular path in the resale world, one paved entirely in vintage mohair. A little background, Lexis grew up in Wisconsin, and came of age in Milwaukee's vintage scene. She launched a fashion photography business at 18, and spent several years on the road in an RV, selling vintage out of the back and collecting pieces across the American West.  But it wasn't until she became the steward of a one-of-a-kind vintage mohair collection that everything changed for Lexis. Today, you're going to hear the story of a find beyond her wildest dreams: thousands of vintage and hand-knit mohair pieces, spanning from the 1920s onward, capes, gowns, skirts, sweaters — including a collection of nearly 200 hand-knit Italian cardigans from the 1950s and 60s. This is a collection so significant, it should be shown in a gallery. On today's episode, we get into all of it: how a sleepless night and a full moon set this whole thing in motion, why Lexi made the bold decision to sell off her entire existing inventory and go all in on mohair, what makes this textile so special to photograph and to wear, and the pieces — that sold in minutes which she still thinks about. All that and more! Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [5:16] Early memories of Lexis vintage shopping with her mom, including an antique store in a rural barn. [7:50] Her career in vintage actually started with fashion photography. [11:04] She originally became a vintage dealer because she needed to do a big closet cleanout, and it accidentally launched a decade-long career.  [14:31] How COVID reshaped the business  [18:16] How she became the steward of a one-of-a-kind vintage mohair collection, spanning from the 1920s onward. [26:35] Why vintage mohair is a special textile, nicknamed "the diamond fiber" [29:39] The Italian handknit mohair cardigans  [31:08] On the decision to wholesale her existing collection and focus singularly on vintage mohair.  [37:44] Her dream to show the mohair collection in a gallery  [41:05] How to care for vintage mohair  [47:18] The two mohair pieces that sold in minutes and that she still thinks about  [52:46] On her personal style and memorable pieces EPISODE MENTIONS:  Ladies of the Loon Midwest Vintage Flea SUDESTADA Gallery "Wool Skirts," an exhibition of one woman's 40-year thrift-store collection, reveals a rich tapestry of clothing manufacturing and feminist history. – The New York Times The Black Web dress Bleu Boy Vintage Thank You Vintage   LET'S CONNECT: 

Good Morning, Fake or For Real, and Jeff's Italian Word of the Day: June... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's story: Beneath the streets of Paris is a huge network of underground tunnels filled with the bones of millions of former residents. Originally built as limestone quarries, the tunnels became a burial site in the 1700s after Paris's cemeteries became overcrowded and unhealthy. The city recently completed a major renovation project to preserve the catacombs and improve conditions for visitors. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/869Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/869--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Now in video, we culminate the focus on ethnic identity in the context of the so-called racial "whiteness." We look at Italian culture through the lens of seasoned educator and friend of the VABB Nation, Nicole Lusiani. Now educating in Portland, Nicole has over 25 years of experience teaching in the Bay area, in namely the San Lorenzo schools. She has worked as a key team key member of the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning. Nicole walks the thin line of racial whiteness and ethnic Italian-ness very carefully and mindfully as you will hear, all the while realizing that perhaps that line could (or should be) thicker. Dr. Hollie culminates the series with his two cents. Nicole's podcast, Copy Room Conversations, is available anywhere you get your podcasts and her most recent book, Nothing's Missing: A Year of Reckoning, Release, and Remembering Who I Am can be found at any online book retailer. Learn more about Nicole at nicolelusiani.com.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Live from Fort Worth, Texas! The Bardtenders head to Fort Worth for the third annual Heard House to bring you live episodes with some amazing hospitality professionals. The Bardtenders had the chance to stay at the Heard House sponsored by Heard Card Game where bartenders from around the country came together to share their stories, gain access to education opportunities, and create some amazing memories along the way. Join us over the next several weeks as these bartenders share their experiences in the hospitality industry!In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Tobias Steeves discusses his journey in the world of hospitality, building a customer base in a small community in South Dakota, and The Flying Spaghetti Monster. ------------Tobias Steeves grew up as a Military Brat across the country with his 8 siblings, but started his hospitality and bartending journey in downtown Colorado Springs, CO, at The Archives (an underground cocktail bar) where he cut his teeth as a barback/bartender and was there for several years.Tobias has worked at several other bars over the years and is a member of the US Bartenders' Guild.  He has competed in numerous cocktail competitions and won the 2021 Fernet Branca Barback Games. He was also the runner up in 2022's Patron Perfectionist, 2021's Hampton Water Rocking Rose by Bon Jovi, and has had multiple World Class by Diageo top 10 /and top 30 placements. In 2021 Tobias moved to Spearfish, South Dakota, and after 6 months of living there he took ownership of a small local Italian restaurant where he began building up the local cocktail and beverage scene through the restaurant. In July of 2025 he built and opened his first cocktail lounge in the basement of the building where my restaurant is located. Tobis is also a self-proclaimed massive nerd and loves Fernet!----------Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well-being, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to!Support the show

In this episode, we're joined by Brett Friedman, the owner of DTC Slice, a beloved pizza joint. As we sit down to chat with Brett, the aroma of freshly baked crust and the sound of sizzling sauce fill the air, making our mouths water in anticipation. But it's not just the pizza that's got us excited – it's the story behind DTC Slice's success, and the valuable lessons Brett has learned along the way. Brett shares with us the journey of opening his own business, from his initial passion project to the challenges he faced as a first-time restaurateur. We dive into the details of what makes DTC Slice's crust so unique, from the imported Italian flour to the precise temperature control. But it's not just about the food – we also discuss the business side of things, including the importance of customer service, labor costs, and food costs in the restaurant industry. One of the most striking takeaways from our conversation is Brett's honesty about the difficulties of owning a restaurant, particularly in a competitive market like Denver. He shares his insights on why he's been able to maintain his prices and keep his customers loyal, despite the rising costs of doing business. It's a refreshing perspective on a industry that's often plagued by razor-thin margins and high overhead. If you're an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for inspiration and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we chat with Brett about the highs and lows of running a successful restaurant, and learn how he's navigated the challenges of the industry. Tune in to hear the full conversation and discover the secrets behind DTC Slice's success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Espresso and Emotions: Navigating Love and Careers in Firenze Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-06-01-22-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: In una fresca mattina di tarda primavera, il sole splendeva sul piccolo caffè accanto alla vivace Piazza della Signoria a Firenze.En: On a cool late spring morning, the sun shone on the little café next to the lively Piazza della Signoria in Firenze.It: L'aria era piena del profumo del caffè appena fatto e del suono delle conversazioni soffuse.En: The air was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of soft conversations.It: Era un luogo familiare per Giulia e Matteo, un rifugio tranquillo per le loro conversazioni passate.En: It was a familiar place for Giulia and Matteo, a quiet refuge for their past conversations.It: Quella mattina, Giulia si sedette al loro tavolo preferito, un angolo accogliente sotto un lampadario antico.En: That morning, Giulia sat at their favorite table, a cozy corner under an antique chandelier.It: Guardava fuori dalla finestra, osservando i turisti scattare foto e gli artisti di strada dipingere scene di vita fiorentina.En: She looked out the window, watching tourists take photos and street artists paint scenes of Florentine life.It: Il cuore di Giulia era un po' pesante, colmo di incertezze e domande.En: Giulia's heart was a bit heavy, full of uncertainties and questions.It: Matteo arrivò poco dopo, il suo viso illuminato da un sorriso nervoso.En: Matteo arrived shortly after, his face lit up by a nervous smile.It: Si sedette di fronte a Giulia, ordinò un espresso e cercò di rompere il ghiaccio.En: He sat across from Giulia, ordered an espresso, and tried to break the ice.It: "Ciao, Giulia. Sei raggiante come sempre," disse, cercando di alleggerire l'atmosfera.En: "Hi, Giulia. You're as radiant as ever," he said, trying to lighten the mood.It: Giulia sorrise debolmente, ma il suo sguardo tradiva l'incertezza.En: Giulia smiled weakly, but her gaze betrayed her uncertainty.It: "Ciao, Matteo. Mi sei mancato," rispose, cercando di mascherare la preoccupazione nella sua voce.En: "Hi, Matteo. I've missed you," she replied, trying to mask the worry in her voice.It: Dopo qualche chiacchiera, Giulia prese un respiro profondo.En: After some small talk, Giulia took a deep breath.It: "Dobbiamo parlare, Matteo. Questo silenzio tra di noi... non posso più ignorarlo."En: "We need to talk, Matteo. This silence between us... I can't ignore it anymore."It: Matteo annuì, il suo cuore accelerato.En: Matteo nodded, his heart racing.It: "Lo so. Ho qualcosa da dirti," disse con esitazione.En: "I know. I have something to tell you," he said with hesitation.It: "Ho accettato un nuovo lavoro. Richiederà viaggi frequenti."En: "I've accepted a new job. It will require frequent travel."It: Giulia sentì un nodo allo stomaco.En: Giulia felt a knot in her stomach.It: Era esattamente ciò che temeva.En: It was exactly what she feared.It: "E cosa significa questo per noi?" chiese, cercando di mantenere la voce ferma.En: "And what does this mean for us?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.It: Matteo la guardò negli occhi, consapevole della gravità del momento.En: Matteo looked into her eyes, aware of the gravity of the moment.It: "Non voglio perderti, Giulia.En: "I don't want to lose you, Giulia.It: Ma la mia carriera... è un'opportunità che non potevo rifiutare."En: But my career... it's an opportunity I couldn't turn down."It: Il silenzio tra loro era carico di tensione.En: The silence between them was laden with tension.It: Finalmente, Giulia trovò le parole.En: Finally, Giulia found the words.It: "Capisco l'importanza del tuo lavoro.En: "I understand the importance of your work.It: Ma dobbiamo essere onesti l'uno con l'altra.En: But we have to be honest with each other.It: Io sto pensando di trasferirmi qui a Firenze.En: I'm thinking of moving here to Firenze.It: Devo sapere se c'è ancora un futuro per noi."En: I need to know if there's still a future for us."It: Matteo prese la sua mano, il suo sguardo sincero.En: Matteo took her hand, his gaze sincere.It: "Possiamo trovare un equilibrio.En: "We can find a balance.It: Prometto di essere più aperto sui miei piani.En: I promise to be more open about my plans.It: Ho bisogno che tu faccia lo stesso."En: I need you to do the same."It: La tensione cominciò a sciogliersi, sostituita da una nuova speranza.En: The tension began to dissolve, replaced by a new hope.It: Parlare apertamente era stata la chiave.En: Speaking openly had been the key.It: Si sposarono con i loro cappuccini, promettendosi di affrontare questi cambiamenti insieme.En: They toasted with their cappuccinos, promising to face these changes together.It: Alla fine, i due decisero di darsi una possibilità, pronti ad affrontare le sfide future con unità e comunicazione.En: In the end, the two decided to give themselves a chance, ready to face future challenges with unity and communication.It: Giulia aveva imparato a esprimere meglio i suoi bisogni, mentre Matteo comprese il valore della trasparenza.En: Giulia had learned to better express her needs, while Matteo recognized the value of transparency.It: Lasciando il caffè, la loro connessione sembrava più forte, come se un vento primaverile avesse spazzato via le nuvole del passato, lasciando spazio a un nuovo, luminoso inizio.En: Leaving the café, their connection felt stronger, as if a spring breeze had swept away the clouds of the past, leaving room for a new, bright beginning. Vocabulary Words:the chandelier: il lampadariouncertainty: l'incertezzathe knot: il nodothe gaze: lo sguardoto betray: tradireto lighten: alleggerireto sweep away: spazzare viathe refuge: il rifugiosoft: soffusoto require: richiederefrequent: frequenteto be aware: essere consapevolethe opportunity: l'opportunitàthe secret: il segretoto find out: scoprireto nod: annuirethe spring: la primaverato promise: promettereto replace: sostituirebright: luminosothe artist: l'artistathe balance: l'equilibriofamiliar: familiaregrave: graveto face: affrontareto express: esprimerethe need: il bisognoto toast: brindarethe past: il passatothe change: il cambiamento

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Lovers Unite: Overcoming Distance on Venice's Canals Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-06-01-07-38-19-it Story Transcript:It: Luca camminava lentamente lungo le calli di Venezia.En: Luca walked slowly along the calli of Venezia.It: I suoi pensieri erano come le onde del Canal Grande: andavano e venivano, senza fermarsi mai.En: His thoughts were like the waves of the Canal Grande: they came and went, never stopping.It: Veniva da Roma e aveva preso il treno presto, con il cuore colmo di dubbi e speranze.En: He had come from Roma and had taken the train early, his heart filled with doubts and hopes.It: Arrivato in Piazza San Marco, Luca si fermò un momento.En: Arriving in Piazza San Marco, Luca paused for a moment.It: La piazza era viva con i colori e i suoni della primavera.En: The square was alive with the colors and sounds of spring.It: I turisti scattavano foto, i piccioni volavano in cerchio e il sole brillava sopra il campanile.En: Tourists were taking photos, pigeons flew in circles, and the sun shone above the bell tower.It: Ma Luca non riusciva a godersi la bellezza del luogo.En: But Luca couldn't enjoy the beauty of the place.It: Aveva un nodo allo stomaco.En: He had a knot in his stomach.It: Pensava ad Elena.En: He was thinking about Elena.It: Luca ed Elena si erano conosciuti l'estate scorsa, quando Luca era venuto a Venezia per una breve vacanza.En: Luca and Elena had met last summer when Luca had come to Venezia for a short vacation.It: L'intesa era stata immediata.En: The connection was immediate.It: Si erano innamorati, nonostante la distanza tra le loro città.En: They had fallen in love, despite the distance between their cities.It: Ma ora la distanza sembrava un muro difficile da abbattere.En: But now the distance seemed like a wall difficult to tear down.It: Luca era venuto per trovare risposte, per parlare con Elena del loro futuro.En: Luca had come to find answers, to talk to Elena about their future.It: Elena arrivò puntuale.En: Elena arrived on time.It: Il vento le muoveva i capelli, e il suo sorriso era più luminoso del sole stesso.En: The wind blew through her hair, and her smile was brighter than the sun itself.It: Luca la abbracciò forte, sentendo per un momento che tutti i suoi timori si dissolvevano.En: Luca hugged her tightly, feeling for a moment that all his fears melted away.It: Insieme, si incamminarono verso il Canal Grande, passeggiando mano nella mano.En: Together, they started walking towards the Canal Grande, strolling hand in hand.It: Giunti al margine del canale, si fermarono.En: Once they reached the edge of the canal, they stopped.It: L'acqua scintillava sotto i raggi del sole.En: The water sparkled under the rays of the sun.It: Il momento era arrivato.En: The moment had come.It: Luca prese un respiro profondo.En: Luca took a deep breath.It: "Elena," iniziò, "questa distanza... è difficile."En: "Elena," he began, "this distance... it's difficult."It: Elena annuì, i suoi occhi cercavano quelli di Luca.En: Elena nodded, her eyes searching for Luca's.It: "Lo so," rispose lei, "ma io ti voglio bene.En: "I know," she replied, "but I care about you.It: Voglio che troviamo una soluzione insieme."En: I want us to find a solution together."It: "Ci sono giorni in cui mi sembra di non farcela," ammise Luca.En: "There are days when it seems I can't do it," admitted Luca.It: "Ma poi penso a te, e voglio lottare per noi."En: "But then I think of you, and I want to fight for us."It: Parlarono a lungo, il mormorio dell'acqua a fare da sottofondo alle loro parole.En: They talked for a long time, the murmur of the water serving as the background to their words.It: Discuterono dei loro sogni, delle loro paure.En: They discussed their dreams, their fears.It: Erano sinceri, aperti, e per la prima volta Luca si sentì sollevato.En: They were sincere, open, and for the first time, Luca felt relieved.It: Capì che non era solo.En: He realized he was not alone.It: Elena era con lui, pronta a combattere.En: Elena was with him, ready to fight.It: Decisero di provare a vedersi più spesso.En: They decided to try to see each other more often.It: Decisero di pianificare il futuro insieme.En: They decided to plan the future together.It: Non sarebbe stato facile, ma erano disposti a provarci.En: It wouldn't be easy, but they were willing to try.It: Questa volta, mano nella mano, tornarono verso la piazza, sentendosi più vicini, nonostante i chilometri che di solito li separavano.En: This time, hand in hand, they returned to the square, feeling closer, despite the kilometers that usually separated them.It: In Piazza San Marco, il sole tramontava, tingendo il cielo di colori caldi.En: In Piazza San Marco, the sun was setting, painting the sky with warm colors.It: Luca ed Elena, insieme, guardavano quel tramonto, consapevoli che l'amore aveva il potere di superare qualsiasi distanza.En: Luca and Elena, together, watched that sunset, aware that love had the power to overcome any distance.It: Con il cuore più leggero, Luca sapeva che il loro legame era forte abbastanza per reggere la sfida del tempo e dello spazio.En: With a lighter heart, Luca knew that their bond was strong enough to withstand the challenge of time and space. Vocabulary Words:the calli: le callithe waves: le ondethe knot: il nodothe stomach: lo stomacothe distance: la distanzathe wall: il muroto tear down: abbattereto hug: abbracciarethe edge: il margineto sparkle: scintillaredeep breath: respiro profondoto nod: annuirethe murmur: il mormoriothe background: il sottofondothe fears: i timorito melt away: dissolversithe solution: la soluzioneto fight: lottaresincere: sinceriopen: apertirelieved: sollevatoto plan: pianificareto withstand: reggerethe challenge: la sfidathe bond: il legameto overcome: superarethe solution: la soluzioneto admit: ammettereto discuss: discuterethe sunset: il tramonto

At some point during the 2025–26 season, it became completely inaccurate to look at Federico Dimarco as just a wing-back. The 27-year-old Milan native didn't just have a great campaign for Inter Milan—he put together one of the most statistically staggering, historic seasons in the history of Italian football.In this episode, we break down how a lifelong Inter fan turned the left flank into his personal playground and spearheaded the Nerazzurri's charge to their 21st Scudetto:A deep dive into his record-shattering 18 assists, a number that broke a Serie A single-season record spanning nearly a century of football.ow tracking data and advanced metrics crowned Dimarco as the making him the first defender in history to claim the seasonal MVP award.Dissecting that lethal left foot, his league-high 24 direct goal contributions, and the 93 chances created that turned every single set-piece into an existential threat for opponents.From academy graduate and loanee survivor to the undisputed king of Italian football, we trace the poetic journey of a boyhood supporter who made Inter's title march absolutely inevitable. Federico Dimarco, Inter Milan podcast, Serie A MVP 2026, football analytics, Scudetto.

Back in 2014, a woman called Stephanie contacted me at The Rialto Report. She described herself as ‘a designer of erotic costumes' and shared some memories of the old days when she said she'd made garments for many people in the early adult film business. Vanessa del Rio, Gloria Leonard, Bambi Woods, and others, she said. I must admit I didn't follow up very quickly – after all, I reasoned, isn't the point of erotic films just to take your clothes off? A dumb reaction, I know, but a little while later, I did pick up the phone and called her, and the conversation we had was as surprising as it was entertaining. Yes, she had made extravagant costumes for porn stars and sex films, and strippers, sex-club members, cross-dressers, hookers, and drag queens – but that was just the tip of the iceberg. She told me how she'd emerged from a difficult childhood to become a successful, Black burlesque dancer in the seedy Times Square bars and theaters of 1960s and 1970s New York. In fact, she'd used the stage name, Tanqueray. She'd been part of numerous illicit schemes to sell stolen goods. She'd had a regular column called ‘Tattle Tales' in the men's magazine, High Society that detailed her outrageous sexploits. It was a fascinating life story populated by mobsters, pimps, thieves, and dancers, and even Donald Trump's coke dealer (allegedly) made an appearance. “It was a time when 10,000 men in New York City knew my name,” she said. When I spoke to her she was in her 70s, long retired, and suffering from ill-health, money issues, and the feeling that she'd been long forgotten. I liked her: she was always smart, often filthy, invariably rude, and usually hilarious. She called me ‘White Boy' and told me I needed to be fashionable. And after many years of being taken advantage of, she was also suspicious and short-tempered – which she readily admitted. After our first call, we kept in touch, exchanging greetings cards and sometimes meeting up in Madison Square Park. She was lonely she said, but not enough to make any new friends. Very few people were worth the effort. And then in 2019, something unexpected happened. A hugely popular social media account called Humans of New York, which features interviews with everyday New Yorkers, ran into Stephanie in the street in her Chelsea neighborhood and featured her in a post. Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York, was initially struck by her style but was drawn in by the same crazy stories that she'd told me. “My stripper name was Tanqueray,” Stephanie told Brandon. “Back in the seventies, I was the only Black girl making white girl money and I danced in so many mob clubs that I learned Italian.” That first post went viral, with millions following her life story over the next weeks as it unfolded on Facebook and Instagram posts. And so began the third act in Stephanie's life: suddenly she was an overnight sensation – after over 70 years of waiting. People from all over the world wanted to get in touch with her. In truth, the least surprised person was Stephanie herself. She took her newfound fame in her stride, remaining as unfiltered, coarse, and caustic as she'd always been. Stephanie and I recorded many of our conversations, and this is her story. This podcast is 39 minutes long. Photos courtesy of Humans of New York. ——————————————————————————————————————————————– Stephanie and Carmine * The post Tanqueray – I've Always Been Different, Part 1: Podcast 163 appeared first on The Rialto Report.

In this episode, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Anthony Mongiello⁠, Founder & CEO of Formaggio Italian Cheese Specialties. Anthony shares his entrepreneurial journey, discusses building a nationally recognized cheese brand, and explains how quality, innovation, and authentic Italian traditions continue to drive Formaggio's success. Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: ⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://missionmatters.com/⁠ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is something almost unfair about a player who has already rewritten the record books deciding he isn't finished yet. After a devastating Champions League heartbreak, Lautaro Martínez entered the 2025–26 season carrying the captain's armband, a new manager in Cristian Chivu, and a burning desire for redemption. What followed was a masterclass in leadership and the methodical dismantling of Italian football.In this episode, we unpack an unforgettable season for the Nerazzurri and their talismanic captain: How Lautaro unified the dressing room through a critical managerial transition, setting the tone for an unstoppable campaign.A look at the staggering numbers behind Inter's 21st Scudetto—cantering to the title with 85 points and a ruthless plus 54 goal difference.Breaking down Lautaro's second Capocannoniere title, an achievement that places him alongside the absolute icons of Inter Milan history. Celebrating the domestic double secured at the Stadio Olimpico with a clinical 2–0 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.We also discuss his unwavering loyalty to the club and why the Argentinian forward has officially built a permanent monument at San Siro. Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan, Serie A 2026, Inter Milan podcast, Capocannoniere, Cristian Chivu Inter.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Harvesting Harmony: Mending Family Ties in Toscana Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-05-31-22-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole primaverile splendeva nel cielo azzurro sopra il frantoio di famiglia in Toscana.En: The spring sun shone in the blue sky above the family olive mill in Toscana.It: Gli ulivi si estendevano a perdita d'occhio con tronchi nodosi e foglie verdi polverose.En: The olive trees stretched out as far as the eye could see, with gnarled trunks and dusty green leaves.It: L'aria profumava di terra fresca e olive.En: The air smelled of fresh earth and olives.It: Giulia osservava l'oliveto con la speranza che questo incontro di famiglia potesse portare pace.En: Giulia watched the olive grove with the hope that this family gathering could bring peace.It: Giulia aveva organizzato il raduno come occasione di riconciliazione.En: Giulia had organized the gathering as an occasion for reconciliation.It: Matteo, suo fratello, era ancora arrabbiato con Luca, il cugino che cercava di riconquistare il rispetto perduto.En: Matteo, her brother, was still angry with Luca, the cousin trying to regain lost respect.It: L'ultima discussione familiare aveva lasciato cicatrici, e Giulia desiderava ardentemente ripararle.En: The last family argument had left scars, and Giulia was eager to mend them.It: Decise di iniziare con un'attività semplice: la raccolta delle olive.En: She decided to start with a simple activity: olive harvesting.It: Tutti si ritrovarono sotto gli ulivi.En: Everyone gathered under the olive trees.It: "È tempo di lavorare insieme," propose Giulia con un sorriso.En: "It's time to work together," proposed Giulia with a smile.It: Matteo sbuffò ma acconsentì, mentre Luca annuiva, speranzoso.En: Matteo snorted but agreed, while Luca nodded, hopeful.It: La giornata procedeva tranquilla.En: The day proceeded peacefully.It: Le risate calme si mescolavano con il suono delle olive che cadevano nei cestini.En: Calm laughter mixed with the sound of olives falling into baskets.It: Ma presto, la tensione tra Matteo e Luca riemerse.En: But soon, the tension between Matteo and Luca resurfaced.It: Matteo, con un ramo d'ulivo in mano, si avvicinò a Luca.En: Matteo, with an olive branch in hand, approached Luca.It: "Ancora credi di poter risolvere tutto così facilmente?"En: "Do you still think you can resolve everything so easily?"It: domandò con tono accusatorio.En: he asked with an accusatory tone.It: Luca abbassò lo sguardo, le sue mani tremavano leggermente.En: Luca looked down, his hands trembling slightly.It: "Sto cercando di dimostrare che sono cambiato," rispose con voce sincera.En: "I'm trying to show that I've changed," he replied sincerely.It: Gli occhi gli si riempirono di speranza.En: Hope filled his eyes.It: Giulia accorse rapidamente.En: Giulia quickly intervened.It: "Aspettate," disse, mettendosi tra i due.En: "Wait," she said, putting herself between the two.It: "Luca sta cercando di fare la cosa giusta.En: "Luca is trying to do the right thing.It: Matteo, non possiamo rimanere prigionieri del passato.En: Matteo, we can't remain prisoners of the past.It: Facciamo un passo avanti insieme."En: Let's take a step forward together."It: Matteo sospirò profondamente, osservando il volto genuino di Luca e il calore negli occhi di sua sorella.En: Matteo sighed deeply, observing the genuine face of Luca and the warmth in his sister's eyes.It: Un momento di silenzio cadde sul gruppo.En: A moment of silence fell over the group.It: Poi, piano piano, Matteo lasciò cadere il rancore come le olive nei cestini.En: Then, slowly, Matteo let go of the resentment like olives dropping into baskets.It: "Va bene," ammise alla fine, continuando a guardare Luca.En: "Alright," he admitted in the end, continuing to look at Luca.It: "Proviamoci."En: "Let's give it a try."It: La giornata terminò mentre il sole calava, dipingendo di rosso il cielo sopra le colline.En: The day ended as the sun set, painting the sky red above the hills.It: Giulia si sentì sollevata, sapendo di aver aiutato a ricucire almeno una parte del legame familiare.En: Giulia felt relieved, knowing she had helped mend at least part of the family bond.It: Matteo si avvicinò a Luca, battendogli una pacca sulla spalla, mentre entrambi sorridevano.En: Matteo approached Luca, giving him a pat on the shoulder, while both smiled.It: Nel cuore di Giulia, un nuovo senso di fiducia nasceva.En: In Giulia's heart, a new sense of trust was born.It: Aveva messo un seme di unità e perdono in quella giornata primaverile tra gli ulivi.En: She had sown a seed of unity and forgiveness on that spring day among the olive trees.It: Mentre tornavano verso casa, Giulia sapeva che la loro famiglia era più forte di prima.En: As they returned home, Giulia knew their family was stronger than before. Vocabulary Words:spring: la primaverasun: il solefrantoio: the olive milltrunks: i tronchignarled: nodosiearth: la terragrove: l'olivetoreconciliation: la riconciliazionerespect: il rispettoargument: la discussionescars: le cicatriciharvesting: la raccoltabaskets: i cestinibranch: il ramoaccusatory: accusatorioresolve: risolverehands: le manitrembling: tremavanosincerely: con voce sinceraprisoners: i prigionieriresentment: il rancorepeacefully: tranquillahopeful: speranzosogathering: l'incontrotrust: la fiduciaunity: l'unitàforgiveness: il perdonohills: le collinebond: il legamepat: la pacca

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Artistic Inspirations and Practical Choices in Forsyth Park Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2026-05-31-07-38-19-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole splendeva alto nel cielo blu di primavera.En: The sun shone high in the blue spring sky.It: Forsyth Park era un caleidoscopio vivente di colori e suoni.En: Forsyth Park was a living kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.It: Giulia e Luca camminavano lungo i sentieri lastricati, incantati dall'energia del mercato degli artigiani.En: Giulia and Luca walked along the paved paths, enchanted by the energy of the artisans' market.It: Giulia era un'artista con gli occhi sempre pieni di meraviglia.En: Giulia was an artist with eyes always full of wonder.It: Osservava ogni bancarella con attenzione, alla ricerca di qualcosa che accendesse la sua ispirazione.En: She observed each stall carefully, searching for something that would ignite her inspiration.It: Luca, il suo amico più caro, camminava accanto a lei.En: Luca, her dearest friend, walked beside her.It: Era pragmatico, ma sosteneva sempre Giulia, anche quando le sue idee sembravano irrealistiche.En: He was pragmatic but always supported Giulia, even when her ideas seemed unrealistic.It: "Guarda questo set di colori ad acquarello," disse Giulia, fermandosi davanti a una bancarella coperta da un telo bianco.En: "Look at this watercolor set," said Giulia, stopping in front of a stall covered by a white cloth.It: I colori erano brillanti, sembravano danzare sotto la luce del sole.En: The colors were bright, appearing to dance under the sunlight.It: "Sono perfetti per il mio prossimo progetto."En: "They are perfect for my next project."It: "Sembrano costosi," osservò Luca, scrutando l'etichetta del prezzo.En: "They look expensive," observed Luca, scrutinizing the price tag.It: "Ricorda, hai bisogno di risparmiare anche per le tue spese quotidiane."En: "Remember, you need to save for your daily expenses too."It: Le parole di Luca erano come un dolce promemoria della realtà.En: Luca's words were like a gentle reminder of reality.It: Giulia sentiva il peso della decisione sul cuore.En: Giulia felt the weight of the decision on her heart.It: Aveva i soldi, ma erano limitati.En: She had the money, but it was limited.It: Dubbi e incertezze le si accalcavano in testa.En: Doubts and uncertainties crowded in her head.It: Continuarono a passeggiare, Luca parlava dei suoi progetti per il weekend, mentre Giulia rimuginava in silenzio.En: They continued to stroll, Luca talking about his weekend plans, while Giulia pondered in silence.It: Mentre il sole cominciava a calare, una luce dorata avvolse il mercato.En: As the sun began to set, a golden light enveloped the market.It: Improvvisamente, Giulia vide qualcosa che catturò la sua attenzione.En: Suddenly, Giulia saw something that caught her attention.It: Era un piccolo dipinto, appeso discretamente tra altri.En: It was a small painting, hung discreetly among others.It: Rappresentava un tramonto sopra un mare calmo, i colori vivevano sulla tela con una tale intensità che sembrava essere dipinto con la luce stessa.En: It depicted a sunset over a calm sea, the colors lived on the canvas with such intensity it seemed to be painted with light itself.It: "È... magnifico," sussurrò Giulia.En: "It's... magnificent," Giulia whispered.It: Sentiva che quel dipinto parlava direttamente al suo cuore.En: She felt that painting spoke directly to her heart.It: "Ecco il dilemma," disse Luca, notando lo sguardo della sua amica.En: "There's the dilemma," said Luca, noticing his friend's gaze.It: "Quel dipinto, o i colori?"En: "That painting, or the colors?"It: Giulia chiuse gli occhi per un momento, respirando profondamente.En: Giulia closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.It: Poi, sorrise.En: Then, she smiled.It: "Acquisto il dipinto," decise.En: "I'll buy the painting," she decided.It: "È un simbolo di ispirazione.En: "It's a symbol of inspiration.It: E poi cercherò colori più economici."En: And then I'll look for more affordable colors."It: Luca annuì, un sorriso sul volto.En: Luca nodded, a smile on his face.It: "Sei sulla strada giusta.En: "You're on the right path.It: L'ispirazione non ha prezzo."En: Inspiration is priceless."It: Quel giorno, mentre il parco si immergeva nelle luci della sera, Giulia capì che le sue passioni potevano convivere con la realtà.En: That day, as the park was bathed in the evening lights, Giulia realized that her passions could coexist with reality.It: Con il dipinto tra le mani, e il cuore leggero, ritrovò una nuova fiducia nel suo viaggio artistico.En: With the painting in her hands, and a light heart, she found new confidence in her artistic journey. Vocabulary Words:the spring: la primaverathe artisan: l'artigianothe path: il sentieroenchanted: incantatothe wonder: la meravigliato ignite: accendereunrealistic: irrealisticoto scrutinize: scrutarethe tag: l'etichettathe expenses: le spesethe uncertainty: l'incertezzato stroll: passeggiareto ponder: rimuginarethe sunset: il tramontoto envelop: avvolgerethe canvas: la teladiscreetly: discretamenteto depict: rappresentareintensity: intensitàmagnificent: magnificothe dilemma: il dilemmathe inspiration: l'ispirazioneaffordable: economicothe confidence: la fiduciathe journey: il viaggiothe heart: il cuoreto breathe: respirareto coexist: conviverethe project: il progettopriceless: prezioso

This week on Tales From a Luxury Yacht Chef with Lisa Mead, I catch up with Chef Andrea Brunelli, a celebrated pizzaiolo (Pizza Chef) from North Beach, Perth, Western Australia.Originally from Italy, Maestro Sourdough Pizza serves up incredible sourdough Pizzas using high quality Italian ingredients. His restaurant was named in the prestigious 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific rankings.Listen to his story here.Socials:Insta: maestrosourdoughpizzaWebsite: www.maestropizza.com.au

(16) Lorenzo Fiori reports on a record-breaking Italian heat wave and the poor market reception of Ferrari's new electric vehicle, while noting that affordable Chinese EVs are rapidly becoming the top-selling cars in Italy.1900 VENICE

SCHEDULE THE JBS, 5-29-26.457 THE AMBROSIAN ILIAD.(1) Jeff Bliss discusses the Los Angeles mayoral race between incumbent Karen Bass, who faces criticism over homelessness and crime, and unconventional candidate Spencer Pratt, who utilizes social media and "guerrilla campaigning" to gain traction.(2) Jeff Bliss highlights Las Vegas's pursuit of an NBA team to complete its status as a global sports capital, while the Fertitta family acquires Caesar's Palace, consolidating power among the city's casino billionaires.(3) Professor Richard Epstein analyzes the legal history of birthright citizenship and Donald Trump's executive order, arguing that the 14th Amendment has been misinterpreted and that the child's status should depend on the parent's.(4) Professor Richard Epstein describes the Trump administration's $1.776 billion "slush fund" as a fraudulent private agreement, noting that despite its likely illegality, legal standing requirements make it difficult for anyone to successfully challenge.(5) Jim McTague reports on Lancaster County's economy, noting record-breaking gasoline sales at Costco despite rainy weather, the rise of retirement-driven healthcare, and local "Luddite" opposition to a proposed data center in Columbia.(6) Veronique de Rugy discusses a proposed California tax on billionaires, warning it will drive high earners away and reduce state revenue, while a competing initiative seeks to protect regular citizens' savings from taxation.(7) Bob Zimmerman examines a massive Blue Origin rocket explosion that has grounded the New Glenn program and delayed NASA's Artemis missions, leaving SpaceX as the only viable private partner for immediate lunar goals.(8) Bob Zimmerman discusses mysterious subsurface changes in the sun and conflicting data regarding water ice at the lunar South Pole, while highlighting Mars' "brain terrain" as evidence of significant near-surface ice deposits.(9) Francis Rose details the Department of Veterans Affairs' ambitious rollout of a new electronic health record system in Michigan, aiming for a seamless "enlistment to grave" digital history for every member of the military.(10) Francis Rose explores the security risks of electronic health records, explaining how nation-states like China seek bulk data for espionage and how the government utilizes "zero trust" technology to deter sophisticated machine-speed hacks.(11) Gene Marks reports from Nashville that mid-market companies are aggressively adopting AI to supplement labor shortages rather than replace workers, while also navigating the complexities of receiving refunds for previously paid tariffs.(12) Gene Marks questions surveys claiming 93% small business growth and dismisses claims that AI will eliminate white-collar jobs soon, asserting that human workers will naturally adapt to new technology as they have historically.(13) Henry Sokolski argues that no inherent "right to enrichment" exists under the NPT, warning that Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional power plants create dangerous targets and risk a "hot spot" of nuclear-armed nations.(14) Henry Sokolski discusses Russia's "gray warfare" tactics against NATO, including drone provocations and sabotage of European infrastructure, warning that the United States is not taking these threats seriously enough compared to Europe.(15) Conrad Black discusses Alberta's threat to secede from Canada if the federal government blocks oil pipelines, detailing the political maneuvering between Premier Danielle Smith, indigenous groups, and Prime Minister candidate Mark Carney.(16) Lorenzo Fiori reports on a record-breaking Italian heat wave and the poor market reception of Ferrari's new electric vehicle, while noting that affordable Chinese EVs are rapidly becoming the top-selling cars in Italy.

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(00:00:00) Marc is back in Mugello. But is he...BACK? ItalianGP Preview! (00:00:01) Welcome to Motoweek (00:00:17) Marquez's Return to Racing (00:04:16) Mugello Circuit Overview (00:08:09) Favorites: The Championship Contenders (00:15:00) Watch List: Riders to Watch (00:22:33) Hot Seat: Riders Under Pressure (00:29:00) Predictions for Mugello (00:32:54) Closing Remarks Marc Marquez is making his return to action in Mugello - but how competitive will he be? And will the Italian riders step up to the challenge in the ItalianGP to make this weekend a free-for-all for the podium? I preview what I'm optimistic will be an exciting round!The Rundown:- The ItalianGP: My preview of Round 7 of the 2026 MotoGP Championship- The Favorites: Aprilia has the top two spots, but one Ducati rider is primed to make a run at the leaders- The Watch list: Just what can we realistically expect from Marc this weekend?- The Hot Seat: Now is the time for a few Italian riders that have derperately need results- My picks! For the Sprint and MotoGP racesSorry for the show being late this time - I explain in the episode!Find all of the latest episodes at Motoweek.net, follow on Bluesky and Instagram – and you can support the show on Patreon!Thanks for listening!

Italian rap legend DJ Baro jumps in the mix with a blast of hip-hop bangers followed by a secondo of Italian rare groove and library records. Plus a smokin' funk workout by Eramus Hall, killer mashups from Flipout & Mighty Mi and another soulful anthem from New Orleans rising star La Reezy. View the full playlist for this show at https://www.wefunkradio.com/show/1296 Enjoying WEFUNK? Listen to all of our mixes at https://www.wefunkradio.com/shows/

I'm back with another episode of Team Tiger Radio, sharing a selection of tracks I've been playing and loving lately, including my new track, which is my take on a classic Britney Spears song. This month I've invited one of my favourite Italian producers, Gabry Ponte, to take over the guest mix, and he's delivered a huge mix packed with energy and his signature sound. Hope you enjoy it x

This week, it's the moment we've been waiting for at last… and it's even more gay Matts! The one and only Matt Steele finally makes his debut appearance on the pod to talk about meeting Hillary Clinton, performing in Messy White Gays, and acting on Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. There's no shortage of chatter about how much younger Steele and Rory are than Matt Palmer. Plus, Carol Channing, bad takes, and Italian men in pizzerias. Subscribe and follow us at @superexcitedpod Follow Rory: @itsRORYjames Follow Matt Steele: @itsmattsteele

Nicole Taylor went through a phase where she rejected the soul food she grew up with. She called it all "slave food." Truth is, we all make judgments about what food is for which people, whether or not we realize it. Why are we willing to pay more for Italian and Japanese food than Chinese and Mexican? As we find out in this week's Reheat, it has nothing to do with the ingredients. And in the second episode of this Reheat doubleheader, we talk with the actress Rosie Perez live on stage. She says she's fed up with stereotypes of her and her food. And she tells the story of eating in Puerto Rico for the first time and thinking, "This is me." These episodes originally aired on March 28, 2016, and March 30, 2016. They were produced by Dan Pashman and Anne Saini. The Sporkful team now includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Kameel Stanley, and Jared O'Connell. This update was produced by Gianna Palmer. Every Friday, we reach into our deep freezer and reheat an episode to serve up to you. We're calling these our Reheats. If you have a show you want reheated, send us an email or voice memo at hello@sporkful.com, and include your name, your location, which episode, and why. Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. Get all your favorite podcasts, more than 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era, and live sports coverage with the SiriusXM app.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adam, Phil, and Nicholas chat about all the big wrestling talking points this week...Clash In Italy PREDICTIONS!Can MJF make it to Wembley?Which celebrity did you learn about through wrestling?!What is the best wrestling gag?Would you ever get a wrestling tattoo?!We answer all these questions and more, and there's a bloody good quiz all about Italian wrestlers!Follow us on Twitter:@AdamWilbourn@PhilMyChambers@ItsAdamNicholas@WhatCultureWWEFor more awesome content, check out: whatculture.com/wwe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! We open today's show discussing the recent news that USA manager Mauricio Pochettino has been in contact with AC Milan to potentially join the Italian side after the coming World Cup. Was the hire a mistake from the beginning or should USA fans have known this was bound to be a short-term relationship? After, Alexi and Mosse break down Chris Richards and Crystal Palace winning the UEFA Conference League, the Champions League final this weekend between Arsenal and PSG, and the all Liga MX CONCACAF Champions Cup final as well. Then, the pair jump into superlatives for the World Cup this summer: who is going to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, their hottest takes entering the tournament, who is this year's dark horse and much more. In #AskAlexi, we discuss how Alexi would approach managing the USA team and then break down Jesse Marsch's contract extension with the Canadian national team. Finally, in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse react to Tom Brady and Zlatan Ibrahimović's one-on-one sit down. Presented by Zillow #Zillow Mauricio Pochettino linked to AC Milan (2:04)Arsenal and PSG meet in UCL final (10:20)World Cup Superlatives: Golden Boot (13:53)World Cup Superlatives: Golden Ball (16:55)World Cup Superlatives: Most fun Group Stage match (18:16)World Cup Superlatives: Dark horse of the tournament (20:06)World Cup Superlatives: USA player that will surprise fans (21:52)World Cup Superlatives: Hottest take (24:10)World Cup Superlatives: Final predictions (27:27)#AskAlexi: How would Alexi coach the USA team (30:00)One for the Road: Tom Brady and Zlatan (38:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The end of this week finds the 3WHH crew in situ in Enna, up in the highlands of Sicily, visiting the University of Kore for a conference on, well, everything, though it is hard to tell since half the speakers are speaking in Italian and the rest of us are speaking in English. John Yoo's […]

The end of this week finds the 3WHH crew in situ in Enna, up in the highlands of Sicily, visiting the University of Kore for a conference on, well, everything, though it is hard to tell since half the speakers are speaking in Italian and the rest of us arenspeaking in English. John Yoo's incoming plane was delayed—again—but it gave us the prompt we needed to have in John place R.J. Pestritto, the Dean of graduate education at Hillsdale College, but above all one of the most treachant critics of the Progressive revolution of the early 20th century, and the insidious administrative state it birthed. If ever you want to throw down on Woodrow Wilson—and what sensible person doesn't?—R.J. is your man.For this episode we consider R.J.'s recent short monograph for the Claremont Institute's "Provocations" series, Government by the Unelected: How It Happened, and How It Might Be Tamed. Settle in with your favorite chianti for this one, as "D.J.—R.J" as I like to call him when he gets rolling on this subject, really gets rolling on this subject with us.For this episode, recorded in a hotel lobby with some visitors wandering by our "field recording studio (which included Michael McConnell listening in for some of it), we decided to keep the "authentic feel" of the background noise, in case you get to wondering.

Chef Gabe Bertaccini joins the pod to talk about his latest Food Network adventure, Chopped Castaways, a wild new spin on Chopped that drops elite chefs onto a remote island where strategy, survival, and cooking skills all collide. Gabe breaks down what made the experience so intense, what surprised him most about judging in that environment, and why the show pushes chefs in completely different ways than a traditional kitchen competition. Gabe also dives into his digital series Cook Like an Italian, sharing how the show became a way to make Italian cooking feel approachable, relaxed, and rooted in joy rather than perfection. He talks about teaching techniques in a more specific, practical way for home cooks, why simplicity matters so much in Italian food, and how creating digital content allows him to connect with audiences differently than competition television. Follow Food Network on Instagram: HERE Follow Jaymee Sire on Instagram: HERE Follow Gabe on Instagram: HERE Learn More about Chopped Castaways: HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we uncover a forgotten SAS mission straight out of a war thriller: an elite unit jumps the chain of command and hijacks a 'pirate train', turning it into a weapon against fascist Italy. Their goal? To launch a surprise attack deep behind enemy lines on an Italian concentration camp and free its prisoners.Historian Damien Lewis joins us to reveal the breathtaking tale of WWII's most cinematic untold raid. Damien is the author of 'SAS: The Great Train Raid' and 'SAS Great Escapes 5'.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.We need your help! Let us know what you want from Dan Snow's History Hit by filling in our anonymous survey here: https://forms.gle/PvgayWLkWGjYT4St6Dan Snow's History Hit is now available on YouTube! Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/@DSHHPodcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.