Italian Roots and Genealogy

Send us a text Apologies for the first few minutes of echo, it clears up. Reflecting on the resilience of our ancestors, this episode journeys through the vibrant narratives of Sicilian heritage and its cultural echoes in the Italian-American communities across the United States. Join us as we hear from Francesca and Manuel, whose roots connect them to Gela, Sicily, with Manuel sharing his role in...

Send us a text Join us for an enlightening conversation with Lou Paioletti as we uncover the rich legacy of Italian-American heritage in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Lou takes us on a heartfelt journey, sharing his family's migration story from Tuscany to Hershey, a town renowned for its chocolate but also a beacon of hope for countless Italian immigrants drawn by industrial opportunities. We explore ho...

Send us a text Imagine uncovering your family’s history through a single photograph. That's the journey we embark on with Maureen Taylor, the renowned "photo detective," as we explore the powerful intersection of history and photography. From the meticulous art of traditional photography to the instant gratification of digital captures, we uncover how these images serve as portals to the past. Thr...

Send us a text Lorraine LoRusso never imagined her sister's volunteer work would lead to an extraordinary reunion with long-lost family in Italy. Join us as Lorraine shares her heartfelt story of tracing her roots back to the charming town of Vallesaccarda. These discoveries, sparked by ship records and naturalization papers, not only rekindled family ties but also brought to life the enduring leg...

Send us a text Imagine discovering that your family's story spans centuries and continents, connecting you to people and places you never knew existed. That's precisely the journey Rich Di Palma embarked upon, and he shares his remarkable experiences tracing his Italian roots in our latest episode. Rich recounts how his grandfather's Italian songs ignited a lifelong passion for genealogy, leading...

Send us a text Francesca La Torre, a first-generation American with deep Sicilian roots, brings a tapestry of fascinating stories that illuminate the Italian American experience. Raised in Oakland, California, Francesca shares the vibrant contrasts she encountered between her American upbringing and her family's rich Sicilian traditions. From her father's sense of belonging within San Francisco's...

Send us a text What if a single journey could unravel years of forgotten history? Join us as we uncover the mesmerizing tale of Italian immigrants in America with Joe Tucciarone, the insightful co-author of "Italians Swindled to New York." You'll be captivated by the story of nearly 3,000 Italians deceived into coming to the United States in 1872, only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable in...

Send us a text Could DNA testing revolutionize your understanding of family history? Join us as we uncover this fascinating topic with Andrew Martin, host of the Family Histories Podcast. Andrew’s unique show format, born out of the UK's lockdown in 2021, includes an interview, a life story, and a genealogical brick wall challenge. He shares how his creative process turned isolation into an opport...

Send us a text What if you discovered a hidden chapter in your family's history that changed the way you see yourself? This episode features Joseph Walls, whose journey into genealogy was sparked by the emotional discovery of his grandfather's experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II. We explore how this revelation led Joseph to delve into his mother's Italian heritage, uncovering the...

Send us a text Ever wondered how far back your family roots can go? Join us for a remarkable journey into Italian ancestry and family history with our special guest, John Clarkin. After retiring in 2020, John embarked on a mission to honor his grandfather by tracing his lineage back to the early 1800s. Through civil and church records, John discovered distant relatives and unearthed historical con...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered what hidden stories lie in your family's past? In this emotional episode, we sit down with Gina Ciambella as she takes us on a poignant journey of discovery, tracing her Italian heritage from Michigan back to a small village near Naples. Gina unveils her father’s harrowing experiences during World War II, including his escape from a concentration camp truck an...

Send us a text Ever wondered how tracing your roots could change your life? Our latest episode promises a captivating journey into ancestral migration and the unique stories of entrepreneurship that blossom from it. Rich takes us on an emotional adventure, sharing how his grandfather transitioned from coal mining in Calabria and Puglia to a thriving hat-making business in Philadelphia's Little Ita...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how discovering your family’s hidden past can shape your identity? Join us for an emotional and enlightening conversation with Steve Bruno as he takes us on his extraordinary journey of uncovering his Italian roots. Steve shares the poignant story of his grandfather and great aunt, orphaned at a young age, and the meticulous research that unearthed family memb...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how your DNA connects you to ancient civilizations and far-off lands? Join us as we chat with Sal Provino from Australia, who shares his incredible journey of tracing his Italian roots. From his father’s courageous migration from Sicily to Australia in the 1950s to escape post-World War II hardships to his mother's origins in Calabria, Sal paints a vivid pictu...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how your last name might reveal fascinating details about your past? In this episode, we dive into the world of Italian surnames, exploring their origins and meanings, divided into four main categories. Discover how patronymics and matronymics, derived from the father's or mother's name, have deep roots in the Middle Ages. We analyze the differences between th...

Send us a text In part 1 Raffaele Fontanella explains the origins of surnames from the renaissance, how dialects impacted first names and surnames based on his book "Cognomi di Stabia". How the Romans used first names, surnames and nicknames. How the Germans named people and how that impacted Italian names. And an introduction to part 2 where he will explain the 4 naming conventions in Italy. Coul...

Send us a text Nicola DiGuglielmo's journey from Andretta, Italy to New Jersey is nothing short of remarkable. Picture a family driven by love and determination, uprooted from their small Italian hometown in search of a brighter future in America. Nicola reflects on his father's struggle to create opportunities in a land where none existed, and how this relentless spirit paved the way for Nicola's...

Send us a text How can one family's compassion and resolve shape the destiny of an entire community? Join us as we sit down with Vincent Magano to uncover the awe-inspiring tale of Solomon and Esther Ueberall, whose extraordinary acts of kindness not only saved St. Lucy's Church but also saved lives during the darkest days of World War II. Through Vincent's vivid recollections and his compelling b...

Send us a text Could you imagine uncovering your roots halfway around the world? This episode brings you the heartfelt story of Santo Marabella, who was born in Aosta, Italy, and adopted by a loving family in America. Santo sheds light on his early life at the Instituto Asistenza Materna e Infantile and the touching way his adoptive parents, Anna and Sam Marabella, revealed his adoption to him. We...

Send us a text When John Vallillo lost his mother in 2005, he had no idea it would ignite a passionate journey into uncovering his Italian roots. Join us as John takes us through the meticulous process of tracing his great-grandfather Giovanni Vallillo's story, including the surprising discovery that Giovanni's name was altered at a cemetery in Cleveland. John’s emotional connection to his heritag...

Send us a text What happens when you mix age-old traditions with the passion of modern entrepreneurs? Join us as we uncover the inspiring story of Miriam Pugliese, co-owner of Nido di Seta, who left the bustle of Milan to breathe new life into Calabria’s ancient silk industry. Miriam, along with her partners Domenico and Giovanna, transformed a forgotten silk museum and mulberry orchard in San Flo...

Send us a text Unlock the secrets of Italian genealogy with our guest, John Ruscigno, whose passion for family history was sparked by the remarkable legacy of his 102-year-old grandfather. Faced with language barriers and misinformation, John shares his inspiring tale of perseverance, detailing how he turned to a research company and Ellis Island records for his breakthrough. Experience the thrill...

Send us a text Unlock the secrets within your emotional DNA and transform your life with Judy Wilkins-Smith, our esteemed guest, as she guides us through the intricate layers of inherited emotional patterns. You'll discover how thoughts, feelings, and actions passed down through generations shape your decisions and behaviors today. By understanding and tracing your family tree, significant family...

Send us a text What if unraveling your family's past could lead you on an unexpected adventure across oceans and through centuries? Join us as Chris Francese, a passionate member of the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean, recounts his incredible journey into his Italian lineage, all sparked by a simple school project. Through heartfelt conversations with his grandparents, Chris...

Send us a text Ready to uncover the rich tapestry of Italian and American genealogy? Join us as we embark on a fascinating journey with Jack and Mary Ciaccia, tracing Jack’s roots back to the regions of Taranto and Messina in Sicily, and Mary’s lineage to the early American settlers of Jamestown in 1608. Discover connections to notable figures like Daniel Boone and President Polk shape their famil...