Pia Baroncini on Italian-American Culture, Authentic Entrepreneurship, and Rooting Life in Connection

Tembi Locke is joined by creative force and entrepreneur Pia Baroncini – founder of fashion label LPA, co-founder of Baroncini Import & Co., podcast host, and mother – for a heartfelt conversation about culture, loss, identity, and building a life that holds it all. Pia opens up about how her Italian-American heritage, her early years in New York’s downtown art scene, and her deep connection to family shaped her creative path and business philosophy. Together, she and Tembi explore what it means to root your life in love and legacy while still navigating grief, motherhood, and the complexities of public life. From the loss of her father and her mother-in-law to the birth of her daughter, Pia shares how family, food, and ritual help her stay grounded. She reflects on building a business that feels personal, creating a public-facing brand without losing herself, and how travel – especially to Italy – is both a cultural homecoming and a space for clarity and reflection. Key themes: authentic entrepreneurship, grief and family loss, personal branding, motherhood, Italian-American identity, Italian culture, food and ritual, family legacy, supportive partnerships, the intersection of brand and identity, public vulnerability Mentioned: LPA (fashion brand), Baroncini Import & Co. (olive oil company), Pia’s podcast (Everything is the Best), Ghiaia Cashmere  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices