The Italian American Podcast

New Jersey native Cara Di Falco is a woman who knows that success is born of passion.  In just three short years, she's made her online series  ' Cara's Cucina' YouTube's first and ONLY Emmy Nominated cooking show! Di Falco's distinguished career on TV and radio (at News 12 NJ, Good Day NY on Fox5, and 1010 WINS radio) set the table for her expertly produced and highly entertaining foray into the...

Linda R. Carlozzi is known to many for her stellar legal career (she's even included on Crain's NY's list of 100 Leading Women Lawyers in New York City). But, to those of us in the Italian American community, her ubiquitous presence amongst the leadership of countless Italian American organizations might make one wonder exactly how this "Wonder Woman" finds the time for anything but being Italian....

It's mid-September in The Big Apple, and the air is filled with the smell of sausage and peppers and fresh frying zeppole, because 'a festa 'e tutte 'e feste'—'The Festival of All Festivals' has arrived! For eleven days each September, thousands descend on Mulberry Street in Manhattan's Little Italy for the Feast of San Gennaro, and this week, Rossella and John are invited to share a unique view i...

As the summer draws to a close, and the school year begins anew, co-hosts Rossella Rago and John Viola take their first crack at sharing hosting duties by welcoming Italo-Canadian MC, comedian, and social media superstar Giuseppe the MC to the show! If you haven't seen Toronto's #1 Paesan yet, you'll get a rundown of some of our favorite videos that made Giuseppe Meleca famous- his hilarious imper...

Labor Day is here, and with it comes not just the end of summer, but also the close of the "Italian American Feast Season", so join co-hosts John Viola and Pat O'Boyle as they decamp for the Sicilian American enclave of Lodi, New Jersey to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and to discuss the Italian American contributions to the US Labor Movement. What begins as a thoughtful reflection...

On August 20, 2019, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned from his office, bringing to an end the strange fourteen-month experiment that was Europe's first "Populist Government".  So, on this week's Italian American Podcast, co-hosts John Viola and Pat O'Boyle attempt to tackle the timeless challenge of explaining Italian politics for the uninitiated. They'll discuss how Italy's "Second R...

ATTENTION FELLOW ITALIAN AMERICANS!  This week marks the first emergency broadcast for the Italian American Podcast.  Although the team was planning to take a week of rest and relaxation to celebrate the ultimate Italian vacation of Ferragosto, the wider world just wouldn't let us rest because during the week leading up to the holiday the Italian American community was in the news for a host of re...

On this week's episode of the Italian American Podcast, host John Viola sits down for an intimate one-on-one with filmmaker Robert Bruzio to discuss his much-talked-about new independent film "Bottom of the Ninth"- a very personal tale of an Italian American ball player taking a last shot at redemption, both on the diamond and in the old neighborhood. Bruzio's film- his feature-length writing debu...

Amore  is in the air on this week's episode of the Italian American Podcast, as our panel of co-hosts are joined by a special guest to explore the ins-and-outs of Italian American courtship! Rachel Russo- Dating and Relationship Expert, Professional Matchmaker, Relationship Coach, and proud Italian American- is the author of  The FabJob Guide to Become a Matchmaker  and  How to Get Over Your Ex: A...

On this week's episode of the Italian American Podcast, when one of the co-hosts makes a special announcement, the rest of the gang ponder what it would take to raise a "certifiably Italian American" child in the wild world of 21st century America.  Listen in on the secretly recorded telephone calls revealing the big news, then get down to the important questions, like whether or not to name a chi...

The one-and-only, often imitated never duplicated, original Italian American Podcast presents: the Centenario Spettacolore - 100th Episode Supershow! The Italian American Podcast is celebrating 100 episodes of Italian Pride, as Dolores, Rossella, Pat, and John gather around the table to share a few memories, a lot of laughs, and a sneak-peek at the ALL NEW Italian American Podcast coming your way!...

In our 99th episode of The Italian American Podcast we highlight some of our favorite clips from our first 98 episodes. We also discuss some of the new and exciting developments which have been going on with The Italian American Podcast. It's an episode full of fun, laughter, and heartwarming reflections that you should definitely check out. We both picked a few clips from some of our favorite epi...

This week's episode of the Italian American Power Hour is one for the ages, when most of the gang reassembles in New York City for the chance to spend an incredible day with America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani.  Known for leading one of the most transformative eras in the history of America's great metropolis, Mayor Giuliani sat down with us for over two and a half hours of honest, contemplative, and (...

In this week's episode, Pat and John sit down with Jeanne Abate Allen, the Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform.  Considered one of the nation's most accomplished and relentless advocates for education reform, and a recognized expert, speaker and author in the field, she is also an incredibly proud and active Italian American. While the conversation eventually turns to the challenges...

In this week's episode of the Italian American Power Hour, Pat and John sit down with Italian American artist Steven Mairella, a proud paisano enjoying a second successful career as an artist.  The son of a sign painter, and the grandson of  Italian immigrants from the Calabria, Basilicata, and Campania regions of Italy, this New Jersey native spent 33 years as a successful attorney before trading...

Ciao paisani! With Memorial Day come and gone, summer vacation season is upon us and on this week's episode our Power Hour panel of Italian travel experts share some of their top-secret destinations, deals, and detours to give you an insider's guide to your trips to Southern Italy. With tips in all 7 regions of the South, find out which region is best for Donkey braciole and what's Calabria's best...

This is the Italian American Podcast, and in this episode, we talk to PBS-TV Star and Tenor Christopher Macchio about using your talent to serve your community. This is a fun-filled episode with a lot of stories, laughs and humor that might just make you reconsider your mission in life. About Christopher Macchio Christopher Macchio is a PBS-TV Star & well-known Tenor. His performances range from f...

In this episode of the Italian American Power Hour, John scores a one-on-one interview with Marina Di Guardo, one of Italy's best-selling authors and the mother of the most influential influencers in il bel paese!  They'll discuss the author's early life as a "Nordic Sicilian" and just what inspired her to become one of Italy's most renowned writers of her best selling noir thrillers, and emotiona...

This is the Italian American Podcast, and in this episode, we talk to Candice Guardino, star of the one-woman show "Italian Bred" about her upbringing in an Italian American family and the dream she had to become an actress. Candice shares some very interesting and funny stories, and also talks about how her acting career has brought so much fulfillment for her in life. About our Guest Candice Gua...

In this week's special edition of the Italian American Power Hour host John Viola, just back from the Big Easy, presents a special travel journal sharing his multi-year relationship with one of his favorite Italian American events of the year, the Annual St. Joseph's Day Weekend in New Orleans, LA. This year, John had the honor of serving as the events honorary Grand Marshal and through interviews...

In this episode we talk to scholars and researchers Laura Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra about the history of Italian migrations to the United States and their work surrounding this topic. We also discuss the two books they edited, New Italian Migrations to the United States: Vol. 1: Politics and History since 1945  and New Italian Migrations to the United States: Vol. 2: Art and Culture since 1945  A...

What do you do when three attempts at recording a Power Hour episode fail? You're about to find out when you listen to "The Greatest Podcast Never Made!" This week, Pat and John set out to record an episode while making one of Pat's signature dishes,  Sanguinaccio ... a Neapolitan chocolate and pig's blood pudding traditionally prepared for Carnevale – the feast day on the eve of Lent.  But, when...

Do you keep a list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket"? If you're a true believer in Italian Power, you'll want to hear this week's episode of the Italian American Power Hour, as Rossella, Dolores, and Pat reunite to dissect John's take on the ten must-see monuments, events, and institutions that constitute his "Italian American Bucket List". Of course, since this is the Power Ho...

This is the Italian American Podcast, and in this episode, we will answer some questions from our listeners on a variety of topics including Italian American food traditions, the Italian culture, Little little Italys as well as genealogy and ancestral research.  Andiamo!

On this week's episode of The Italian American Power Hour, co-host John Viola heads down to the capital of Sicilian American culture- New Orleans, Louisiana- to sit down with renowned singer and proud Italian American, Lena Prima. This special episode offers a sneak peak into Lena's new chart-topping album Prima La Famiglia- a Big Band journey into the Italian American songbook. The two share memo...