Italian American Stories Podcast

Episode 75: Veterans Day – John Basilone In honor of Veterans Day and the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, this episode pays tribute to one of the greatest heroes in Marine Corps and Italian American history —  Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone . Join  Stephanie  and her husband  Jared , a proud U.S. Marine veteran, as they share the incredible story of a man whose courage, humility,...

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with the remarkable  Pat Benincasa  — an artist, author, educator, and podcaster whose life and work beautifully bridge creativity, heritage, and history. From her early years in Detroit’s Italian American community to her breathtaking glass and steel sculptures, Pat has always seen her life as a canvas — each experience a brushstroke honoring the past. She sha...

In this episode of Italian American Stories, Stephanie sits down with author Don Ladolcetta, whose heartfelt novels preserve the legacies of his family on both sides of the Atlantic. Don shares the inspiration behind his books, Hannah, the Lighthouse Girl of Newfoundland and A Brooklyn Tale, stories that weave together family history, immigrant struggles, cultural heritage, and a touch of fiction...

🎙️ Bonus Episode: Mamma, That’s All Right — Italians in the American South In this bonus episode of Italian American Stories, Stephanie sits down with director Valentina Signorelli and Italian musicians Luca Chiappara and Mario Monterosso to discuss their new documentary, Mamma, That’s All Right, which debuted at the National Italian American Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C....

 In this heartfelt episode of Italian American Stories, Stephanie welcomes Cindy Hollenbeck, a Navy veteran, writer, and proud Italian American who takes us on a deeply personal journey through her family’s past. From uncovering long-hidden truths in old newspapers and genealogical records to growing up in her father’s leather shop in Binghamton, Cindy shares how family secrets, resilience, and ha...

In the dramatic conclusion of our four-part series, we follow the twists and turns of Angelina Garramone’s murder trial in early 20th-century Denver. From shocking testimony about cruelty in Concetta Forgione’s past, to accusations of witchcraft, forged checks, and family betrayals, this final chapter brings the story of Maria LaGuardia’s death into sharp focus. We uncover how witnesses, including...

The story of  La Diavola Rossa  takes a darker turn in Part 3 of our Angelina series. After years of scams, trials, and whispers of violence, Angelina becomes entangled in the disappearance and murder of Maria LaGuardia—a 65-year-old woman from Denver’s Little Italy who spent her life searching for her missing husband. In this episode, we follow Maria’s tragic final days, the chilling details of h...

In this second installment of Angelina Garramone’s story, we unravel the darker side of a woman whose schemes went far beyond fraud and forgery. When two Italian women, Dorinda Cellante and Maria LaGuardia, disappeared from Denver’s Italian colony in 1910, suspicion began to swirl around Angelina. This episode dives deep into the shocking murder of Dorinda, her tumultuous life, dramatic divorces,...

In this special re-release, we return to the story that first sparked the creation of the  Italian American Stories Podcast , the scandalous and fascinating life of Angelina Garramone. Born in Potenza, Basilicata, Angelina arrived in Denver’s Little Italy as a young girl and grew into one of the most talked about figures in the community. Known both as a fortune teller and the “Queen of Little Ita...

🎙️  Christina and the Whitefish with Author & Filmmaker Stephen Vittoria In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and author  Stephen Vittoria  to explore his powerful new novel,  Christina and the Whitefish . Set in 1994 Asbury Park, the story follows  Christina, a young Gulf War veteran , and  the Whitefish, a disabled Vietnam veteran , as their lives intersect in a tale of trauma, resilie...

In this edition of  Tales from the Archives , Stephanie and Sandy share a collection of fascinating, quirky, and heartfelt Italian American stories pulled from old newspapers across the country. From a young immigrant girl mistaking New York’s Trinity Church doors for a saint’s shrine, to six unfortunate monkeys lost in a Nashville fire, to the hidden talent of a sculptor in Riverside, California—...

In this episode of  Italian American Stories Podcast , Stephanie and Sandy step up to the plate with the trailblazing story of  Lucille Colacito , a Colorado-born Italian American who made history in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. From her childhood in Denver’s Little Italy to her days as a catcher for the  Kenosha Comets , Lucille broke barriers and becam...

In 1929, Detroit was rocked by the brutal  Evangelista Massacre . Italian immigrant and mystic healer Benny Evangelista was found beheaded in his basement beside a bizarre shrine, while his wife and four children were murdered upstairs. Cults, curses, and countless theories followed—but the case remains unsolved to this day. Join us as we uncover the strange life, mysterious practices, and hauntin...

In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Richard Leto, author of  My Italian American Roots . Rich shares the remarkable story behind a dusty cardboard box filled with family documents and photos—a box that sat untouched for decades until it revealed a priceless family legacy. From Philadelphia’s historic Little Italy to the villages of Calabria and Puglia, Rich takes us through his journey...

In this special episode, we sit down with the incredibly talented Michelle Danner—acclaimed actress, director, acting coach, and the creative force behind the heartfelt new film  The Italians . Michelle opens up about the making of this beautiful and deeply personal movie, inspired in part by her own fiery and unforgettable Italian mother. We dive into how  The Italians  came to life—from its orig...

In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Sorrentino, host of the  Italian Roots and Genealogy  podcast and author of  Farmers and Nobles . Bob shares his incredible journey tracing his Italian ancestry—from humble farming origins in Bari to a noble lineage that includes dukes, princesses, and even a pope! We talk about how a simple calling card sparked years of genealogical research, the powerful forces...

In this special episode, we’re joined by Marianna Gatto — historian, educator, and Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. Marianna shares stories from her remarkable book  Italian Americans of Los Angeles , offering a deep dive into the overlooked history of Italian immigrants in California. We talk about her personal ties to Colorado’s Italian roots, the surprising earl...

In this episode of the  Italian American Stories Podcast , we’re joined by bestselling author and former CIA officer Carmen Amato for a conversation that weaves together heritage, history, and heart. Carmen shares the incredible story of her family’s roots in Serra San Bruno, Calabria, and how their journey to Rome, New York shaped her upbringing and inspired her historical fiction series,  The Ga...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Louis G. Bruno Jr., author of  The Love of San Demetrio , a powerful family memoir that spans continents and generations. Lou takes us on a journey from a small Italian village to the steel towns of western Pennsylvania, sharing the unforgettable story of his family’s immigration, perseverance, and the deep mysteries that lingered for nearly a century. To...

In this episode of  Italian American Stories , we explore the inspiring life of Denver’s own Kate Ferretti—an Italian American milliner who left her mark on the city’s fashion scene with creativity, grit, and heart. Born Henrietta Malnati to Italian immigrants who helped build the Colorado State Capitol, Kate grew up watching her mother sew Easter outfits and learned the value of hard work from a...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most unusual and stories we've come across —the case of little Alice Minto. In 1909 San Francisco, a young Italian American girl was found living in a Chinatown basement, speaking only Chinese, and clinging to a half-starved puppy. Newspapers called her a kidnapped child, a “white girl held captive,” but the truth was far more complicated. Was she stole...

In this strange-but-true tale from 1949 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two Italian American women—Angelina Farrina and Mary Sanfelippo—find themselves at the center of a courtroom drama involving ghosts, burned money, and a fortune-telling scheme. When Mary believed spirits were haunting her tavern, she turned to Angelina, a so-called "sorceress," for help. What followed was nearly two decades of...

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredibly talented Bob Spiotto—actor, director, producer, and passionate Italian American storyteller. Bob shares his personal story growing up in a tight-knit Italian American family in Queens, NY, and how those roots still influence him today. From performing one-man shows as historical icons like Giuseppe Garibaldi, Michelangelo, and PT Barnum, to founding...

In this special episode, we sit down with Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist with deep Italian American roots. Born to immigrant parents from Naples and Sicily, Dr. Ignarro shares how his upbringing in Brooklyn shaped his journey into the world of science. He reflects on his family’s traditions, his mother’s incredible cooking, and how curiosity led him from experimenting with fire...

In this episode, we continue the incredible and dramatic story of Maria Barbella, the first woman in America sentenced to die in the electric chair. After public outcry and support from a determined countess, Maria was granted a second trial—one that would take a very different turn. Join us for the conclusion of Maria Barbella’s story—one filled with courtroom drama, surprising twists, and an unb...