The Italian American Podcast

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...

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, we talk to former Mets pitcher John Franco about his childhood years and the sacrifices that his parents made for him which contributed to his success in his career.  John also discusses his involvement in the Italian American Baseball Foundation. About our Guest John Anthony Franco  (born September 17, 1960) is a former Major League Baseball left-h...

Ciao paisani! Gear up for an all new episode of the Italian American Power Hour with a brand-new segment we're calling Greetings from Italian America!  Let's face it, even though everyone in the Power Hour Team calls New York and New Jersey home, we know that in every inch of this great country of ours, from sea to shining sea, we Italian Americans have created vibrant and distinct communities and...

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, we welcome back our good friend  Mickela Mallozzi, four-time Emmy® Award-winning Host and Executive Producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi , through which she travels around the world and learns the dances of different regions. In this episode, we talk about the importance of DNA testing and heritage travel and how engaging in these endeavors c...

Buon Anno and Happy 2019 to all of our paisani out there!  This first episode of the New Year is the fourth and final part of our four-part Power Hour series on Italian American history.  John, Pat and Dolores reunite to reveal the books behind their knowledge of the Italian American experience. We bet you can't listen to this episode without adding at least one of these amazing works to your home...

In this final episode of 2018 for "The Italian American Podcast," we recap this past year and discuss some of our favorite episode highlights. We also talk about the launching of "The Italian American Power Hour" and some of our favorite posts in our private Facebook Group - "The New Neighborhood - A Place for Italian Americans." In our stories segment, we once again feature Mallorie Vaudoise, a B...

Chingedy ching, hee haw, hee haw! Christmas Eve is right around the corner and there's no better way to kick off the holiday than joining us back at the table for Part Two of the Italian American Power Hour Christmas Eve Spectacular.  As we wind down our incredible fish feast and polish off the last drops of far too much homemade vino, our conversation starts anew as we explore some of the non-cul...

A great big Buon Natale to all of our paisani out there because this is Part One of the Italian American Power Hour Christmas Eve Spectacular!  Join the Fab Five (and some of their spouses) as we sit down for a very special pre-Christmas Eve fish feast and dig into the ins and outs of what makes the Italian American Christmas Eve fish feast so special. We'll talk about our family menus, the histor...

This is the Italian American Podcast, and in this episode, Dolores Alfieri Taranto talks to Dr. Christopher Fasano, who is our co-host Anthony Fasano's brother. We talk about a subject called "blood memory", otherwise known as "genetic memory," and how this influences who we are today. Today' segment features Mallorie Vaudoise, a Brooklyn-based spiritualist and author of the blog, ItalianFolkMagic...

The moment you've all been waiting for is finally here! Part Three of the Power Hour's Four-Part History of the Italian American Experience has arrived.  This week, our entire team reassembles for a boisterous meal at one of our favorite Italian American restaurants to bring you 'Americans of Italian Descent: 1941 – Present'. We will dig into the latest chapter in the Italian American story with t...

In this episode, we're speaking with Italian American comedian Mike Vecchione, who has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon , Comedy Central and more. We talk about how his family supported his journey to comedy and how this love and support helped him to become the man he is today. About our Guest Mike Vecchione was born in Youngstown, Ohio and graduated High School in Boca Raton, Flori...

Hot on the heels of Part 1,  Before We Were Italians: 1492 – 1890, of our four-part Power Hour series on Italian American history, join John, Pat, and Dolores as they delve into Part 2 with "Italians in America: 1890-1941." If you enjoyed Part 1, you won't want to miss this next chapter in the Italian American story, covering the Great Migration, the New Orleans lynchings, the Italian American rol...

Put on your history hats paisani, and gear up for the Power Hour's version of Italian American history!  This week, in part one of a four-part series, John, Pat, and Dolores hunker down to disseminate their take on the major moments and movements on the Italian American story. In what is sure to be some of the most scholarly episodes the Power Hour will ever produce, we seek to dig out some lesser...