Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast

Idanna Pucci's latest book, "Emilio Pucci: The Astonishing Odyssey of a Fashion Icon," is a biography co-authored by the niece of the famed designer along with her husband, Terence Ward. The narrative moves beyond Emilio Pucci's vibrant prints to uncover his harrowing experience during World War II and his role in postwar Italian reconstruction. Carefully detailed and researched by Idanna Pucci an...

Linda Stasi is synonymous with NY media royalty. She's a well known critic and columnist for the NY Post. She is also a familiar face on the NY1 News Channel, and has appeared on the Today Show, The View, CBS Morning Show, among others. And we're thrilled to have her join us to talk about her latest book The Descendant: a historical family saga based on her own Sicilian-American ancestors, followi...

James Conlon is known as one of the most versatile and respected conductors of a generation, and throughout his career, has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. Today, we are honored to welcome him to our show. Since his 1974 debut with the NY Philharmonic, he has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra with precision. Needless to say, Mr....

LA Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt means business. He's pissed and wants to turn the city he grew up in to a city that functions without debilitating crime, drugs, homelessness, in addition to helping thousands of Angelenos cut through red tape so they can rebuild after losing their homes in the LA fires of 2025. It's a tall order, and he says he's fired up and wants the job. And he's working the...

California and Los Angeles are at a crossroads, and it's up to each of us to determine the future of both our state and beloved city. Please welcome #JohnKobylt, host of the award-winning #JohnKobyltShow on #iheart radio and #kfiam640 powerhouse station, who joins us to talk about the gubernatorial and mayoral races here. Last week, candidates duked it out during scheduled debates, and everyone se...

Please welcome acclaimed actress Monica Guerritore to our show, who joins us to talk about her magnificent film, "Anna - The Untold Story" - about the life of legendary actress Anna Magnini, specifically set on the night of 1956 when Anna won the Academy Award for Best Actress for "The Rose Tattoo." She was the first Italian actress to win an Oscar. The film portrays Anna as a woman of immense str...

Please welcome one of the funniest guys in comedy today, Mike Marino, who hails from New Jersey, next to the town where I was born. Mike manages to turn circumstances from everyday life as a proud Italian-American into something we can all relate to - funny, relatable, ridiculous. He went on a campaign to "Make America Italian Again" which attracted a cult following. He hosts the popular podcast,...

Today, I present an extraordinary true story for Women's History Month, written by Suzanne Cope, "Women Of War: The Italian Assassins, Spies, and Couriers Who Fought the Nazis." This is the untold story of the women who risked their lives to secretly pass messages, ammunition, and other secrets to help fight the Nazis who were occupying Italy in the 1940's. The book focuses on four women - in thei...

Bruno Serato, owner of the Anaheim White House Restaurant and founder of Caterina's Club, feeds literally thousands of children and families every day, and he's raising money so his Caterina's foundation can continue feeding literally thousands every day who would otherwise go hungry. And he joins us today to talk about it. Just last week, SoCal powerhouse radio station #KFIam640 (where my husband...

There's a lot of talk about the changes in Hollywood, a city that has been at the center of moviemaking and TV production for nearly a century. So we invited producer and writer Alexia Melocchi, who co-authored the book, "The Heart of Show Business," to talk about what's really happening in this city of dreams. Alexia will discuss in detail a road map to navigating how work is getting done in this...

Got high cholesterol? There's ways to manage it, and I'll be speaking with nutrition expert Amy Riolo & Dr. Simon Poole about their latest book, "Managing Cholesterol for Dummies." This is a comprehensive look into how we can manage cholesterol, inflammation, and oxidation levels in our bodies, in addition to addressing who might be at cardiovascular risk and how to safely manage it. The duo will...

Please welcome to our show internationally-acclaimed photographer, artist, and author Claudio Santini, whose thought-provoking work has inspired much reflection. When I visited Claudio in his Los Angeles studio recently, I felt I was in the presence of a true genius. His work spoke to me, including his latest collection, focused on capturing a quiet mental state to inspire a better humanity. Today...

When famed tenor and songwriter Pasquale Esposito was growing up in Naples, Italy, the music of Enrico Caruso would play throughout his house, inspiring him to sing at the local church in town. His dream was to come to America, to study and eventually perform. And that's exactly what he did. Fast forward twenty-five years, and Pasquale is now performing internationally to critical acclaim, and on...

Please welcome to our show James Tumminia, award-winning actor, producer, and lover of all things Italian, beloved for his role as Angelo in the TV series, "Melissa & Joey" and much more. And we'll be talking with James about his work and how he gets his fix of Italian food and culture in this great city of LA. As a kid growing up in an Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, James Tumminia kne...

We're so excited about this year's Newport Beach Film Festival from October 16-23, featuring over 100 film and 250 shorts from 32 countries. The festival opens with a screening of Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon" starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Canavalle and Andrew Scott. The closing night film will include a screening of Guillermo Del Toro's "Frankenstein," starring Jacob Elordi, Mia...

Want to live longer? It's all about our food. In fact, "we are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a break. Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to disc...

Italians are known for their vibrant culture worldwide, and when I hear the term, "it takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California. Please give a warm welcome to Vicky as one of our featured guests for Italian Heritage Month. Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capis...

ine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead che...

Imagine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead...

Sometimes, there are films that stay with us, and A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini, directed by Davide Fiore, is one of those films, and I'm pleased to present Davide today on our #LittleItalyPodcast.  Back in the day, banks were primarily for the wealthy, and the poor and working class immigrants often stashed their savings under a mattress. But at the turn of the 20th century, A.P. G...

Italians have shaped the culture of America throughout this great nation, and particularly here in Los Angeles. Please welcome to our show an expert in this field, Marianna Gatto, Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles & Author, The Italian Americans Of Los Angeles. And let me tell you, this book is incredible and comprehensive. Marianna seems to have uncovered every inch of Italia...

Whenever I return from Italy, where my family is from, I wonder why I don't get a place there for my family to enjoy. But I have no idea where to start, who to call, or what it involves. Please welcome Antonello Pierro, attorney and Italian real estate expert to our show, who can walk us through the steps on how it done. First up, purchasing property in Italy is different than buying a place in th...

Award-winning chef, @Barbara_Pollastrini, owner of @da_Barbara_P restaurant in Hollywood, has been cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen since she was a little girl in Rome. And dining at her restaurant here, it's easy to see why Appetito and Los Angeles Magazine named her one of the top Italian restaurants not to miss in LA. The entire experience is like being in someone's home. In fact, the kit...

It's been just 100 years since silent films were all the rage in Hollywood, followed by talkies, moving color, digital, and now AI. Please join me in welcoming two experts in the film world who join us to talk about the ever-changing world of Hollywood, Valentina Castellani Quinn, president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, and Marvin Williams, founder of Big M Entertainment Pictures, discussing the...

Debora Medici-Guetta has inspired me since the day I met her. I could feel her intense passion for her work, her support of women, and for being someone not afraid to talk about her journey in life. So won't you please welcome her to our show this incredibly talented photographer & photojournalist, graphic artist, and documentary filmmaker. Debora was born in Rome, and the first time she landed in...