The Italian Radio Hour

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Italy is not just as a place of beauty, but as a way of thinking.Today’s guest invites us to rethink something we often take for granted: the true power of Italy - the way it creates beauty.Luca Cottini is an Associate Professor of Italian Studies at Villanova University, a scholar of literature and culture, but also something more unusual… a storyteller of innovation.As the creator of Italian Innovators, Luca explores a fascinating idea: that Italian excellence is not accidental but comes from a unique way of thinking—where even an object, a product, a simple everyday thing can carry meaning, memory, and imagination. From the story behind Nutella to the philosophy of design, from literature to business, he shows us how Italy doesn’t just produce things… it creates stories that last.And perhaps most beautifully, he reminds us that innovation doesn’t always mean moving faster— sometimes, it means going deeper.So today, we’re not just talking about Italy.We’re exploring a mindset… a way of seeing the world.https://www.youtube.com/@ItalianInnovators

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - With the NFL Draft just around the corner, today, we’re crossing the ocean—but not leaving Steelers Nation. Because believe it or not, thousands of miles away in Italy, there’s a passionate, growing community of fans who wake up at 2 in the morning… just to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers. How does that happen? Why the Steelers? And what does it mean to love a team from a place you’ve never been? Today, I’m joined by Mauro Giusti and Nicola Lucchi, founders of Italian Steelers Nation—a group that has turned fandom into community, culture, and identity. And with the NFL Draft just a week away… we’ll also find out what Italy thinks the Steelers should do next. #ItalianSteelersNation #SteelerNation #NFLDraft2026 #PittsburghSteelers#ItalyMeetsPittsburgh #AmericanFootballAbroad #NFLInternational#BlackAndGold #TerribleTowel #SportsCulture #ItalianAmericanJoin the Italian Steelers Nation FB Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880571820848120/ Read about the "5 e 5" sandwich mentioned by Mauro at: https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/gallery/panino-5-e-5-toscana-specialita-livorno/

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - There is a moment—quiet, almost sacred—when someone stands in front of a small stone house in a village they have never seen before… and yet, it feels like home.For millions of descendants of Italian immigrants, that moment is not tourism. It’s not sightseeing. It’s identity.Today we explore the powerful world of “Rooting” — a movement that goes beyond travel and into ancestry, language, memory, and even dual citizenship.My guest, Letizia Sinisi, founder of Rooting Experience and Italy Rooting Consulting, has helped redefine what it means to return — not just to a place, but to yourself.To learn more, visit: http://www.italyrooting.com/#ItalyRooting#TurismoDelleRadici#ItalianDiaspora#ItalianCitizenship#ItalianLanguage#GenealogyJourney#RootingExperience#IstitutoMondoItaliano#ItalianHeritage#IdentityAndBelonging

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Macaroni and cheese—creamy, comforting, and deeply American… or is it? What if this iconic dish actually tells a much older story—one that begins in ancient times, crosses continents, and reveals how food carries history, identity, and even myth? Today, we uncover the surprising journey of mac and cheese.We are joined by food historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi, whose work explores the deep connections between food, culture, and history. In her latest book, The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese from Ancient Rome to Modern America, she traces the journey of this beloved dish across time and geography—uncovering not just recipes, but the myths, migrations, and cultural forces that shaped it. Through what she calls ‘historiphagy,’ or eating history, she invites us to experience the past in a deeply human and sensory way.Learn more about Karima's work at: https://www.theeternaltable.com/#MacAndCheese#FoodHistory#ItalianCuisine#CulinaryHistory#FoodCulture#HistoryThroughFood#ComfortFood#ItalianAmerican#Gastronomy#FoodStories

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - We sit down with Brooklyn-born Italian American artist John Avelluto, who with his work playfully and provocatively explores Italian American identity, memory, and culture through painting, trompe-l’œil, and multimedia installations. John’s latest exhibition, “AI e IO: Recent Works by John Avelluto,” curated by Dr. Caterina Pierre at the Kingsborough Art Museum, examines the intersections of artificial intelligence, storytelling, and memory, presenting viewers with fictionalized narratives of Italian American life that are both whimsical and thought-provoking.From his earlier explorations in Impasta Handbags and his contributions to the book and project Italianità, to his reflections on food, gesture, and diasporic identity, John combines humor, history, and hyperrealistic artistry to engage audiences in questions of culture, heritage, and belonging. In our conversation, we’ll dive into his process, his inspirations, his ongoing work, and his new initiative, Piace, a progressive Italian American group shaping community and conversation today.To learn more about John Avelluto's work, visit: https://john-avelluto.com/#JohnAvelluto#Italianita#ItalianAmericanArt#ContemporaryArt#DiasporaArt#AcrylicArt#FoodInArt#CulturalIdentity#ItalianAmerican#Piace#ProgressiveItalianAmerican#BayRidge#CalandraInstitute#ArtAndIdentity

This week on The Italian Radio Hour, we explore thepower of theatre to cross cultures, languages, and histories. Our focus is the work of legendary American playwright August Wilson, whose extraordinary cycle of plays chronicles ten decades of African American life in the United States. Wilson’s stories are deeply rooted in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, yet their themes—family, identity, migration,struggle, and resilience—speak to audiences everywhere. One of Wilson’s most celebrated plays, Jitney, hasrecently been brought to the Italian stage through an internationalcollaboration known as The Wilson Project. And now, in a remarkable cultural exchange, this Italianproduction is traveling to Pittsburgh, where it will be performed May 8 through 10. What happens when a uniquely American story is reimaginedthrough an Italian theatrical lens? How do you translate not only the language, but also the rhythm, humor, and emotional depth of Wilson’s characters? To explore these questions, I’m joined by two extraordinaryguests. Professor Lina Insana from the University of Pittsburgh, whose work explores migration, cultural translation, and Italian studies. And Italian director Renzo Carbonera, who is bringingJitney to the stage with a cast that reflects the multiculturalrealities of contemporary Italian society. Together we’ll talk about storytelling, translation,migration, and why August Wilson’s voice continues to resonate across cultures and across continents. Listen to the full interview to find out how to access discounted tickets to the play. #ItalianRadioHour #AugustWilson #WilsonProject #Jitney #ItalianTheatre #TheatreAcrossCultures #Pittsburgh #ItalianCulture #BlackTheatre #CulturalDialogue

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - In Italy, cookies are more than sweets—they’re stories. They carry the fragrance of toasted almonds, the warmth of olive oil, and the quiet rhythm of hands shaping dough in kitchens where traditions have been passed down for generations.Today, on The Italian Radio Hour, we travel across Italy through its cookies with cookbook author and food writer Domenica Marchetti, whose work celebrates the people, places, and traditions that make Italian cooking so special.Born in New York to a family with deep roots in Abruzzo, Domenica spent her childhood summers in Italy learning recipes and traditions from her mother and aunts. After earning a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and working as a newspaper reporter, she turned her storytelling skills toward food.Today she is the author of nine cookbooks dedicated to Italian cuisine—from pasta and vegetables to preserving traditional flavors. Her newest book, Italian Cookies: Authentic Recipes and Sweet Stories from Every Region, takes readers on a delicious journey across Italy’s twenty regions, discovering the stories and traditions behind some of the country’s most beloved sweets.The book Italian Cookies is currently available on pre-order. Great Mother's Gift! https://a.co/d/03PeJzZe

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - What happens when Renaissance epic poetry leaves the page and begins to sing?What if the knights of Charlemagne had never left us — but simply changed stages?In this episode of The Italian Radio Hour, we travel from Renaissance courts to Sicilian puppet theaters, from the Apennine mountains to immigrant New York, guided by the luminous scholarship of Jo Ann Cavallo of Columbia University.Through the poetry of Matteo Maria Boiardo, Ludovico Ariosto, and Torquato Tasso, we discover how epic stories of love, madness, betrayal, and redemption still live — not as relics, but as voices carried by maggerini and pupari.From the handwritten scripts of Sicilian puppeteer Agrippino Manteo in early 20th-century New York to the vibrant Maggio performances of today, this conversation reminds us that culture survives through passion, community, and storytelling.Epic is not past.It is memory in motion.It is tradition that breathes.And it is still alive.#JoAnnCavallo#OperaDeiPupi#EpicMaggio#ItalianRenaissance#ItalianCulture#ItalianStudies#OrlandoFurioso#OrlandoInnamorato#RenaissanceLiterature#ChivalricEpic#TorquatoTasso#ItalianAmerican#CulturalHeritage#ItalianDiaspora#FolkTraditions#PodcastInterview#LiteraturePodcast#CulturalPodcast#TheItalianRadioHour

In Nazi-occupied Italy, carrying a loaf of bread could mean carrying a message. Riding a bicycle could mean transporting a bomb. And being underestimated could save your life.Today, we uncover a hidden chapter of Italian history — the women of the Resistance who fought Fascism and Nazi occupation from within everyday life itself.My guest is Suzanne Cope, scholar and narrative journalist, and author of Women of War: The Italian Assassins, Spies, and Couriers Who Fought the Nazis. Through meticulous research and gripping storytelling, she brings us the stories of women who carried messages, transported weapons, organized strikes, and committed acts of extraordinary courage — often because they were overlooked.This is a conversation about resistance, moral complexity, and why these women’s stories still matter today.https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747060/women-of-war-by-suzanne-cope/#WomenOfWar#ItalianResistance#HiddenHistory#WomenInWWII#Resistenza#ItalianWomen#FeministHistory#WWIIStories#HistoryMatters#TheItalianRadioHour#WomenInHistory#WorldWarII#Resistance#Fascism#HiddenHistory#WomenWhoLead#EuropeanHistory#HistoryPodcast#ItalianRadioHour

Most of us think we know Pinocchio. We think it’s a story about lying. But the original novel begins withhunger. Before the nose grows, before the fairyappears, before the moral lessons — there is poverty, injustice, and a childwho cannot learn because he cannot eat. Tonight, we’re stepping beyond theDisney myth and returning to 19th-century Italy — to a book that is far morepolitical, unsettling, and modern than we’ve been led to believe. And there is no better guide for thatjourney than Anna Kraczyna. Born and raised in Florence, bilingualand bicultural, with American and Italian roots and a background that spansinternational fashion, literature, and translation, Anna brings both livedcultural fluency and scholarly depth to this story. She is co-translator of thenew annotated Penguin Classics edition of The Adventures of Pinocchio, aversion that restores the novel’s sharp satire and social urgency.

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - “Venice doesn’t need souvenirs — she needs guardians.Today I’m inside a historic Venetian workshop to talk with Marco Jovon, from Eredi Jovon, a family operated Jewelry since 1934From the Mano Fico to the Gobbetto, from coral to hand-carved cameos, Marco Jovon explains why symbolic jewelry is more than decoration — it’s culture, protection, and identity.According to Marco, Venetian artisans must evolve into entrepreneurs, storytellers, and guardians of authenticity, using both tradition and digital tools to keep Venice alive, meaningful, and respected.Visit: www.eredijovon.com#Venice#MadeInItaly#ItalianCraftsmanship#AuthenticItaly#GeniusLoci#CulturalHeritage#ItalianArtisans#VenetianArtisans#RialtoBridge#VeniceCulture#VeniceAuthentic#LivingVenice#NotASouvenir#CulturalConversations#StoryOfCraft#BehindTheCraft#ItalianStories#VoicesOfItaly#TrueCameo#HandCarved#ArtisanMade#SlowCraft#HeritageCraft#SupportArtisans

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - The 1000 Miglia—often called “the most beautiful race in the world”—has written a bold new chapter in its legendary history.In this episode of The Italian Radio Hour, we go behind the scenes of the 1000 Miglia Experience USA, including its thrilling new edition and the unforgettable moment when historic Italian automotive excellence met the iconic Sebring International Raceway.🎙️ Our guest: Alessandro Comoglio, representing the vision and evolution of the 1000 Miglia ExperienceTogether, we explore:🏁 How the 1000 Miglia successfully crossed the Atlantic🇮🇹 Why this race is a symbol of Italian innovation, tradition, and lifestyle🛣️ What’s new in the latest edition, including the redesigned route🔥 The significance of driving on the legendary Sebring Raceway🚗 Fascinating stories, rare cars, passionate drivers, and behind-the-scenes moments🌎 How American audiences—and Floridians in particular—embraced this iconic Italian eventThis conversation is about more than speed. It’s about storytelling, heritage, engineering excellence, and the living soul of Italy—now experienced on American roads.📌 Whether you’re a motorsport enthusiast, a lover of Italian culture, or simply drawn to stories of innovation and beauty, this episode will take you on an unforgettable journey.🔔 Subscribe to The Italian Radio Hour for conversations that bring Italy to life—one story at a time.Follow the race and learn about the cars at: https://1000migliaexperienceflorida.us/events/#1000miglia #1000MigliaExperience #florida #1000MigliaUSA#frecciarossa #italianexcellence #madeinitaly #ItalianHeritage#automotivehistory #luxurylifestyle #InnovationMeetsTradition#italianradiohour #ItalyUSA #Sebring International Raceway#NIAF

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - “If you’ve ever been told: ‘Sit. Sit..Sit.’ — this episode is for you. Today, for you, I have Actor, writer, performer, and story teller Frank Ingrasciotta.With the acclaimed Off-Broadway solo play Blood Type: Ragu… things get very Italian, very fast.”With Blood Type: Ragu, Frank brings family, food, memory, and a lot of laughter to the stage — and today, right here, to The Italian Radio Hour!So, sit back and relax, be ready to laugh!Watch the entire Off-Broadway production on Broadway on Demand:https://www.broadwayondemand.com/rentals/7ebd5cb8-fbd6-41dc-aebc-7ca198ef4a4eShow’s website:www.bloodtyperagu.com #ItalianRadioHour #BloodTypeRagu #ItalianAmerican #ItalianAmericanStories #FoodIsLove #Mangia #ItalianFamily #Storytelling #SoloTheatre #ItalianRoots #CulturalIdentity #ItalianHumor #FamilyStories

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - I am joined by Prof. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President of the Italian American Museum of New York to discuss: Telling the Italian American Story—Ourselves.A scholar, educator, and lifelong advocate for cultural recognition, Dr. Scelsa transformed more than two decades of research, activism, and perseverance into the first permanent Italian American Museum in the United States, located in the heart of historic Little Italy on Mulberry Street.Together, they explore ongoing exhibitions at the Museum, major expansion project, the importance of telling our own story, and why Italian American history is essential to understanding America itself. This conversation is about truth, dignity, and the responsibility of building institutions when none exist.As Dr. Scelsa reminds us: “If you want to do it, just do it.”Museum HoursMonday: No public hoursTuesday: By appointment onlyWednesday: By appointment onlyThursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmFriday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmSaturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmSunday: No public hoursVisit the Museum:151 Mulberry StreetNew York, NY 10013(212) 965-9000The Italian American Museum of NY, • #JosephScelsa• #ItalianAmericanMuseum• #ItalianAmericanHistory• #LittleItalyNYC• #ItalianAmericanLegacy• #TellingOurStory• #CulturalJustice• #AmericanMosaic• #BeyondTheStereotype• #ItalianAmericanVoices• #TheItalianRadioHour• #ItalianAmericanExcellence• #HistoryMatters• #CulturalMemory

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - From the folk sounds of Abruzzo to the grand stages of Philadelphia 🎶 For our first episode of 2026, we could not have had a more special guest! If your childhood holiday memories are tied to the sound of "zampogna", meet Antonello Di Matteo — clarinetist, educator, innovator, and proud Abruzzese! 🇮🇹✨ Discover how this incredible young musician blends tradition, technology, and heart — and how a serendipitous 2011 tour in Pittsburgh brought our paths together! . 🎙️Abruzzese proverb: "Sta 'bbone Rocche, sta 'bbone tutta la rocche"Catch Antonello live by visiting his website at: https://antonellodimatteo.com/ #ItalianRadioHour#AntonelloDiMatteo#Abruzzo#ItalianMusic#ItalianCulture#Clarinet#Zampogna#FolkMusic#ClassicalMusic#WorldMusic#ItaliansAbroad#ItalianAmericans#FromAbruzzoToTheWorld#ItalianHeritage

In this episode, I welcome Giulia Scarpaleggia, Tuscan-born home cook, food writer, and founder of Jul's Kitchen, to explore the heart and soul of cucina povera" — Italy’s timeless tradition of transforming humble ingredients into unforgettable meals.Joining us from the Val d’Elsa countryside between Siena and Florence, Giulia shares how place, family, and memory shape her cooking philosophy. In her cookbook, Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients into Unforgettable Meals, is not just a collection of recipes, but a mindset rooted in sustainability, resilience, and creativity — what Italians call “l’arte dell’arrangiarsi.”Together we talk about: The cultural meaning of stale bread in Tuscan cooking Why cucina povera feels more relevant than ever today Seasonal cooking, sustainability, and zero waste Writing a cookbook during lockdown and pregnancy Preserving Italy’s regional food traditions through storytellingThis is a rich, heartfelt conversation about food as culture, memory, and love. Learn more about Giulia and her work:• Book: Cucina Povera and her LATEST available for Pre-order: Vegetables The Italian Way •Newsletter: Letters from Tuscany • Blog: Juls’ Kitchen Subscribe to The Italian Radio Hour on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Grazie for listening — and arrivederci! Photos excerpted from Vegetables the Italian Way by Giulia Scarpaleggia (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2026. Photographs by Tommaso Galli@followers @highlight #TheItalianRadioHour #ItalianPodcast #PodcastInterview #ItalianVoices #ItalianStories #ItalianCulture #italianlifestyle #cucinapovera #cucinaitaliana #italylovers #ItalianHeritage #LearnItalian #ItalianLanguage #MadeInItaly #LivingLaDolceVita #ItaliansOfAmerica #tuscany #ItalianInPittsburgh #culturalconnections #Storytelling #Inspiration #BehindTheScenes #MeetTheGuest #CultureAndConversation

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Susan Gravely, Founder of Vietri returns to The Italian Radio Hour with "Italy in a Glass", an exploration of the Italian ritual of aperitivo, where cocktails, mocktails, and small bites set the stage for festive gatherings. Inspired by her own experiences in Italy, Gravely shares the art of entertaining Italian-style, blending personal stories with time-tested recipes and tips from her Italian friends. With stunning photography that brings Italy’s vibrant spirit to life, Gravely invites readers to savor the joy of Italian hospitality and create their own memorable moments with loved ones.Italy on a Plate and Italy in a Glass make a perfect gift to anyone looking to embrace entertaining with class, Italian style.Visit: https://susangravely.com/to secure your copies

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - I have the privilege of welcoming one of the most influential voices in Italian American studies: Anthony Julian Tamburri.A scholar, educator, administrator, and cultural advocate, Anthony has dedicated decades of work to elevating Italian and Italian American literature, cinema, language, and identity on the national and international stage.He is Distinguished Professor and Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at Queens College, CUNY—an institution that has grown tremendously under his leadership. His scholarship spans more than 20 books, numerous edited volumes, and hundreds of essays on subjects ranging from semiotics to cinema, diaspora identity, and language politics. Anthony is also known for his work as a public intellectual—producing interviews, public programs, and cultural conversations that bridge academia and the broader Italian American community.Today we’ll explore his latest book, Gli Americani Italiani: cultura e società, a fascinating work—written entirely in Italian—that pushes us to rethink what we mean by “Italian identity” in today’s global, multilingual, and multicultural context. And of course, knowing Anthony, we can expect not only deep insights but also wonderful stories, vivid memories, and reflections on the past, present, and future of our community.To learn more about Anthony Tamburri's work, visit: http://www.anthonyjuliantamburri.org/#AnthonyTamburri #ItalianAmericanStudies #ItalianIdentity #DiasporaCulture #GliAmericaniItaliani#ItalianRadioHour #IstitutoMondoItaliano #ItalianAmericanCulture #StoriaItaloAmericana #Italianita #CulturaItaliana #ItalianAmericanHeritage #IdentityAndCulture #podcastinterview #AuthorInterview #ItalianBooks #LibriItaliani #CulturaESocietà #AcademicVoices #ItalianAmericanVoices #Storytelling #HeritageAndIdentity #ProudlyItalianAmerican #ItalianDiaspora #OurItalianStories #LaNostraStoria

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Welcome to a special edition of The Italian Radio Hour, presented in collaboration with Istituto Mondo Italiano in celebration of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. This year, we invite you to travel with us beyond the well-trodden tourist paths and into the heart of ancient Italian food traditions—those flavors, stories, and techniques that many first-time visitors to Italy might never encounter, yet are among the most precious treasures of our culinary heritage.Today, we bring you to the extraordinary island of Sardinia, a land of rugged beauty, deep silence, age-old rituals, and a cuisine that is as tied to its landscapes as it is to its people.In the first half of the episode, we welcome Luca Floris, a young artisan and explorer who is dedicated to preserving one of the rarest pastas in the world: Su Filindeu — “the threads of God.” Only a handful of people on Earth know how to make it, and I was fortunate enough to spend three days learning this extraordinary craft with him. Luca’s journey intertwines tradition, adventure, Sardinian identity, and a deep personal philosophy beautifully expressed in his book Sa Sebaba Mea, dalla tradizione alle Mucadores.In the second half, we continue our exploration of Sardinia with Alessandra Guigone, author of the newly published Enogastronomic Encyclopedia of Sardinia, a monumental work that captures the island’s flavors, stories, rituals, landscapes, and cultural soul.So sit back, relax, and let us guide you into a world of ancient pasta, unforgettable landscapes, and Sardinia’s culinary wisdom.

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: PUGLIA, a culinary journey through the land, the ingredients, and the people with Flavia Giordano. We are traveling to Italy’s sun-drenched heel — la Puglia! — a land of whitewashed villages, olive groves, colorful markets, and centuries-old culinary traditions. Joining me is Flavia Giordano, tour guide, food educator, founder of Spaghetti ABC, and author of PUGLIA – A cooking journey through a land and its unique ingredients. In her book, Flavia takes us beyond recipes, revealing the story of ingredients, the rhythms of the land, and the rituals that shape Pugliese cuisine. To learn more about Flavia's tours and order her book, visit: https://spaghettiabc.com/#italianradiohour #puglia #discoverpuglia #FlaviaGiordano#SpaghettiABC #pugliabook #pugliacuisine #pugliesefood#cucinapugliese #italiancooking #italianfoodculture #italianingredients #regionalitaly #VisitPuglia #PolignanoaMare#apuliancuisine #madeinpuglia #italianfoodlovers #foodstories#CulinaryJourney #MediterraneanLifestyle #foodpodcast#italypodcast #authorinterview #womeninfood #foodeducation#CulinaryHeritage #foodtraditions