Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast

If you love fine, Italian, hand-crafted jewelery, then you'll love our #LittleItalyOfLA Podcast today. We speak with Mario Aprile, founder of Aprile Jewelers, who designs some of the most unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of fine Italian jewelery in the world.  We talk about his early years studying electronics in Naples, until he quit to follow his dream of being a jewelery designer in Italy. His work...

Actress and entrepreneur Dina Morrone has certainly led an exciting life, and she joins us on our Little Italy of LA Podcast today. Dina has a fascinating story, growing up with her Italian immigrant parents in Canada, leaving for NY and back to Italy to find work as a model and actress.  Dina even met and worked with the famed Fellini and has many stories to share about her experiences working in...

She's cooked for some of the most famous celebs in the world, now Jillana Miller is giving back to community and her Italian roots. Joining us today on our Little Italy of LA Podcast, the co-founder of Miller Butler Pasta, providing unique experiences in authentic, Italian food from pop ups, to bagged pastas, cooking classes and even pasta making. Jillana formed Miller-Butler with her husband just...

Ale Gambini, former musician, current Italian food ambassador, blogger and author, "No Ketchup on Spaghetti,"joins us on our #LittleItalyOfLA Podcast, teaching us how to cook like a true Italian. And it's all in the ingredients. Ale grew up outside of Milan, and enjoyed a successful career as a musician, traveling the world as a renowned percussionist. But upon moving to the U.S. with her husband,...

Giada Valenti said growing up on the shores of Venice, Italy was an inspiration filled with art, culture and music. She shares her story with #DeborahZaraKobylt on our Little Italy of LA Podcast this week, about how she began singing as a little girl and was soon discovered as one of the finest vocalists in Europe. Giada's career eventually brought her to the U.S., where she was working with some...

On our Little Italy of LA Podcast today, we speak with Victoria Passarella, founder of the Italian American Leadership Network.⁠ ⁠ Victoria is the daughter of an Italian immigrant, holds two masters degrees from Columbia University, has been featured in Forbes and on the Today Show for her work as a career and brand strategist.⁠ ⁠ Now she's bringing her expertise to the Italian American community...

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with #Grammy and GoldenGlobe nominated artist Frank Stallone Official , about his life in music, acting, and yes as the younger brother of SylvesterStallone of Rocky fame.   Frank has a documentary film that premieres on 1/19/21 about his life, STALLONE, Frank That Is. The film includes interviews from various music and film stars, and takes us on a journey into his music...

Italians LOVE Christmas. And on our Little Italy of LA Podcast today, we're introducing you to some of our LILAA board members & staff, and sharing some of the ways we grew up celebrating Christmas, Italian style. Please join us, and leave any comments about how you celebrate. We'd love to hear from you. And Merry, Happy, Blessed Christmas to you and your families from all of us at Little Italy of...

Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast host, Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Joanne Mosconi, the daughter of the legendary Chef of Greenwich Village, Pietro Mosconi. The chef of Greenwich Village author Joanne Mosconi talks about her labor of love in collecting her father's best recipes. After four years in the making, Joanne Mosconi, has published this book, with all of the chef's secrets and most pr...

What is Italian Studies? Find out a bit more about this field of interdisciplinary studies from Associate Professor of Italian Studies at Chapman University, Dr. Federico Pacchioni . Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast Host, Deborah Zara Kobylt chats with Dr. Pacchioni about what the program at Chapman looks like, his love affair with Italian film and moving from Italy to the U.S. Support the show...

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Frank Licata VP of all operations for Il Fornaio since 1996 – responsible for managing over 20 locations in California, Nevada and Colorado. Frank talks about Il Fornaio's people being the secret for their longtime success and also chats about his Italian roots.  Check out one of Il Fornaio's restaurants: https://www.ilfornaio.com/

Joining us for our special edition of Little Italy of LA Podcast is Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia , whose grandparents were the King and Queen of Italy. Emanuele grew up in Switzerland, eager to visit Italy but was unable until the government granted the family permission in 2003.  He's spent his life working and involved in philanthropic ventures, in California, for example, he raises money...

On our Little Italy of LA Podcast today, we talk with Genny Nevoso, whose job with I taly-America Chamber of Commerce West is to bring business from Italy to the US markets.⁠ Genny lives in Southern California, but was born in a small town near the Adriatic coastline. She talks her upbringing in Italy, and how it prepared her for what's become a successful international career merging culture and...

On this week's Little Italy of Los Angeles podcast, Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with, beloved actor Michael Cavalieri, who wrote and directed his latest film, Ritornato , which tells the emotional story of a man who loses his loved ones, and sets off on a journey to revisit his past and fulfill a promise made to his dying mother. The film is shot in Sicily, and was recently chosen for a grant by the...

Little Italy of LA's Development Director, Shelby sits down with host, Deborah to chat about the happenings in Little Italy of LA. SP Farmers Market: https://www.facebook.com/pedrofarmersmarket/ Storia di Te Virtual Workshop - Oct 15th, 2020 Cinema Sotto le Stelle Drive in Weekend  - Oct 16-18, 2020 Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=GYVQXMPXJL9D4)

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Thomas P. Cacciatore, attorney at law as he discusses growing up Italian in Southern California and how things have changed from when his family first moved here.  ⁠ ⁠ Thomas offers perspective on what daily life was like⁠ growing up in his mostly Italian neighborhood.  He eventually became a successful lawyer and president of the Italian American Lawyers Assn.⁠ We h...

Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast host, Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with beloved Actor, Producer, and Director Joe Mantegna. Joe chats about how he feels lucky to have a strong Italian family background and support that he believes has carried him throughout his career, starring in over 100 films like Searching for Bobby Fischer, The Godfather Part 3, Celebrity, Forget Paris and Liberty Heights to...

Ep.11 features Diana Giovinazzo, author of The Woman in Red, which chronicles the life of #AnitaGaribaldi , warrior and wife of revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi. Diana said she first became interested in Garibaldi's story while investigating her own Italian roots, inspiring her to leave work as paralegal to write full time about this spirited, Italian woman in history. Tune in for more about Diana...

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Matthew Biancaniello, renowned Cocktail Chef and Founder of Eat Your Drink. Matthew creates adventurous cocktail experiences based on farm-fresh and unique, organic ingredients. Never working off a set cocktail menu, Biancaniello visits at least five different local farmers markets a week to source his ingredients, which inspire his imaginative cocktails. Experience...

Listen to Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast host, Deborah Zara Kobylt speak with Mark Spano about his life & documentary, Sicily: Land Of Love And Strife, available on Amazon Prime. The exploration of Sicily takes the viewer to a place of spectacular beauty, epic human struggle, depth and diversity of culture, philosophic insights, and historic sites. For more about: Little Italy of LA: https://...

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Giuseppe Marisani and Skyler Mapes about their company EXAU Olive Oil. Giuseppe is a 3rd generation olive oil producer from Calabria, South Italy. His family has been producing premium extra virgin olive oil from their seaside family estate for almost 100 years. Skyler is a 3rd generation Californian with a passion for design and agriculture. After a stint in the win...

Little Italy of LA Pod host, Deborah Zara Kobylt chats with Edoardo Marino, Co-Owner of brand new San Pedro and Little Italy favorite, La Siciliana to talk coming to America, growing up in San Pedro and working in film. Follow La Siciliana on IG & FB @eatlasiciliana Check out their menu  online or visit them 347 West 6th Street, San Pedro, California 90731 Keep up with Little Italy of LA @LittleIt...

Our host, Deborah Zara Kobylt chats with entertainment executive Douglas DeLuca , who talks about going from an #Italian kid in #NewJersey to a #Hollywood mogul. Doug talks about his Italian roots, strong work ethic, time in the biz and why he thinks LA needs a Little Italy. Find out more about Little Italy of Los Angeles and keep us with us on social media .

Burrata wasn't always a trendy item to top salads or pizzas in LA restaurants. Listen to Mimmo Bruno, founder and cheesemaker of DiStefano Cheese talk about his story immigrating from Puglia, bringing the traditions of cheesemaking with him and helping introduce Los Angeles to mozzarella's creamier cousin, burrata. Thanks to our wonderful host, Deborah Zara Kobylt & her production team at Deborah...

In this special edition episode of the #LittleItalyofLAPOD, our host, Deborah Zara Kobylt sits down for a phone call with Little Italy of Los Angeles Association Board Member and I talian-American Club Treasurer, Josephine Ciaramitaro. Josephine talks a bit about how the idea came about, trying to bring a smile during these isolating times and growing up in a community that gives back. Support the...