The Italian American Podcast
The Italian American Podcast is the first and most engaging podcast dedicated to helping Italian Americans learn about and celebrate their brilliant heritage. We're obsessed with our heritage, and each week we'll discuss all things Italian American- including history and family traditions, genealogy, recipes, language, and more with smarts, heart, and a lot of laughs! We'll be joined by celebrity guests, experts, authors, and everyday Italian Americans for honest and thoughtful conversations digging deep into the "hows and whys" of who we are, and sharing the heart of the Italian American experience with the 25 million Americans lucky enough to have been born Italian! And, like all the best Italian American conversations, ours take place around the kitchen table- meaning every time you tune in you'll be entertained, educated, and brought right back to where you belong… amongst family!
Episodes
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, John, Pat, and Marcella sit down with Museo Italo Americano president David Cincotta for a focused discussion on art, heritage, and community. The conversation opens with light banter about running a cultural podcast before turning to the museum's roots in North Beach and its evolution over nearly fifty years. Sincotta outlines plans for a move into a larger donated warehouse, enabli...
In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, Pat and Brandon are joined by Luke Petronella for a thoughtful discussion on Italian American identity across generations. They reflect on upbringing in New York and Philadelphia, touching on family traditions, changing forms of communication, and how events like AIDS and COVID shaped cultural perception. The contrast between analog childhoods and today's social media-driven world hi...
In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, hosts Pat and Brandon sit down with Peter Francis Battaglia—self-described "Italian American Encyclopedia" and creator of the Food Obsession blog—for a nostalgic look at Italian American life in Staten Island during the late 1960s and '70s. He recalls the rhythm of traditional Sundays—church, cemetery visits, and large family meals marked by pastries and anizette coffee—capturing a c...
In this lively episode of the Italian American Podcast, Maria Aiello joins hosts John, Pat, and Dr. Marcella Martin in the heart of Little Italy to explore the craft and culture behind modern hairstyling. An entrepreneurial stylist with over 8 million followers, Maria shares how her Italian roots and innovative approach carried her from vocational training to opening her own salon in Westchester, reflecting a blend of tradition and...
DISCLAIMER: We had audio issues with this podcast and apologize for the inconvenience.
In this lively episode of the Italian American Podcast, Sal Valentinetti joins John and Pat for a humorous, nostalgic conversation on Italian American identity, music, and tradition. Valentinetti reflects on organizing community festivities and the enduring spirit of Little Italy, while the hosts share vivid anecdotes about neighborhood life and ...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Danielle and Pat welcome acclaimed playwright and performer Frank Ingrasciotta to share the inspiration behind his one-man show, Blood Type: Ragu. The conversation explores Frank's experience growing up as the child of Sicilian immigrants, caught between two cultures while navigating the complexities of family, identity, and forgiveness. He reflects on how transforming his family's c...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, John and Marcella welcome Dena Fenza for a lively conversation about the evolving world of Italian American culture. Together they reflect on the importance of community, the preservation of tradition, and the ways modern platforms—especially social media—are helping reconnect people to their cultural roots. From memories of celebrations like St. Joseph's Day to stories of family lif...
In this lively episode of the Italian American Podcast, John and Marcella welcome designer and entrepreneur Oriana Lamarca, whose deep Sicilian roots shape both her life and work. Together, they share heartfelt stories of family traditions, holiday memories, and the culture that defines Sicily. Oriana recounts the journey behind Oriana LaMarca Designs and her Sicilian-inspired collection, My Sicilian Love Affair.
Crafted with semi-...
Step into the heart of New York's culinary history in this episode of the Italian American Podcast. Hosts John and Patrick welcome special guest Max Tucci, scion of the legendary Delmonico's, for a spirited conversation rich with Italian heritage and behind-the-scenes stories that helped shape American dining. From Gilded Age grandeur to the rise of iconic dishes like Baked Alaska, they explore how food, family, and culture converg...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Dr. Maria Giura, acclaimed poet and memoirist, joins Marianne and Patrick for an intimate conversation centered on her new poetry collection, If We Still Lived Where I Was Born. Reading selected poems aloud, she evokes childhood memories above her family's Brooklyn pastry shop and the rituals of Sunday gatherings that shaped her imagination.
The discussion moves beyond nostalgia to t...
On this episode of the Italian American Podcast, host Patrick O'Boyle convenes a distinguished panel at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York to explore the often-overlooked world of Neapolitan Renaissance art. Claudio, the Institute's director, outlines its mission to promote Italian culture across New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, strengthening ties between Italy and the Italian American community. Patrick shares the story...
In part 2 of episode 404, the conversation widens beyond personal history into the ethical, health, and cultural implications of plant-based Italian American cooking. Tara Punzone and the crew discuss industrial farming, ingredient integrity, and how modern food systems have altered both taste and tradition.
The episode touches on heritage-grain pasta, the role of quality olive oil and vegetables, and the generational shift t...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, the crew explores the intersection of Italian American heritage and vegan cuisine with Tara Punzone, chef, author, and the force behind Pura Vita, Los Angeles' first 100% vegan Italian restaurant and wine bar.
The conversation blends family history, cultural memory, and the challenge of preserving tradition while removing animal products from classic dishes. Punzone reflects on her p...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Patrick, Mariana, and Marcella are joined by guest Umberto Mucci for a live conversation recorded at IAFL4 (Italian American Future Leaders 4), a national gathering of young Italian Americans. The discussion explores cultural identity, community building, leadership, nostalgia, and what it means to belong across generations and borders.
The conversation deepens as the group addresses...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Patrick, and Mariana welcome pipe enthusiast and business owner Michael Curcio for a lively conversation on Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet rituals that bind generations. What begins with pipe smoking opens into a broader exploration of restoration, bespoke artistry, and the unexpected revival of Italian pipe culture—where utility, beauty, and memory conver...
In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, John and Pat welcome Erma Camporese —the self-styled "Queen of Graham Avenue" and "Love Doctor"—for a wide-ranging conversation steeped in neighborhood humor, inherited customs, and the unmistakable rhythm of Italian American life. What begins with tenants, cash rent, and "favorite tenant status" quickly becomes a vivid portrait of how close-knit communities transmit culture through ...
This holiday episode finds hosts John Viola, Patrick O' Boyle, Dr. Marcella Martin welcoming "La Befana" for a funny, warm conversation about the Epiphany gift-giver and Italian holiday traditions. The banter centers on coal, "naughty lists," and the idea that Befana—not Santa—was historically the one who brought gifts in many Italian homes.
Befana explains her roots in older seasonal and pagan imagery—sweeping out the old year and...
This episode of the Italian American Podcast offers a rich and intimate look at the enduring legacy of women religious through a conversation with Sister Helen Sanchez, with hosts Patrick O'Boyle and Marianna Gato. Centered on the Religious Teachers Filippini—an Italian-founded order devoted to the education of girls and women—the episode blends personal vocation, immigrant history, and Catholic education into a single, compelling ...
In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Pat and co-host Mariana Gatto share a lighthearted and engaging conversation with actor and producer Antonio Cupo. A Canadian who spent ten years working in Rome, Cupo is best known for his roles in Hallmark Christmas films and is in the New York area for Christmas Con in New Jersey, where he is connecting with fans and celebrating the holiday film season.
Cupo explains that while he...
In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Castelvecchi to explore the Italian diaspora across the globe, with a particular focus on Latin and South America, where Italian immigration left a lasting mark on cultural identity. The conversation looks at how these migration waves influenced language, social customs, food, and community life, shaping identities far beyond Italy's borders.
The discussion highlights core values that emerg...
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