Italian Impact Weekly Podcast

This week I interview Paolo Saltarello. We have a spirited conversation about everything from immigration to celebrating Columbus day. He hosts the Carosello Italiano Podcast with Paolo which offers a variety of Italian American melodies and classic American songs in Italian along with sharing information on Italian culture, including historical stories of Italian American pioneers to present day stories. For more information, check out his site here: https://www.facebook.com/caroselloitalianoshow/

This week I interview the great Anthony Giacchino! Anthony is an Oscar® & Emmy® award winning filmmaker living in Brooklyn, NY. His film, COLETTE, won Best Documentary Short Subject at the 2021 Academy Awards. We have a wonderful discussion on why and how Italian-American film makers can reshape America's perception of the Italian community. He is also in work on a fascinating podcast detailing the life of an amazing Italian-American crime fighter named Joe Petrosino. I highly encourage you to check it out and support Anthony as this is one of those stories we shouldn't forget! You can find more here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anthony-giacchino_my-journey-to-preserve-petrosinos-story-activity-7238636669699043329-QQ6g

This week's guest is the great Joe Ingrassia! Joe is an Executive Board Member at the Columbus Piave Club, where he plays a vital role in welcoming new members and organizing memorable events. An avid foodie, Joe has a passion for culinary adventures, always on the lookout for new flavors and experiences. He's also a cocktail connoisseur, skilled in crafting both classic and innovative drinks. In this episode, we have a great discussion about how to revive social clubs. Obviously, we talk the usual stuff and get to know Joe but he provides some fantastic advice on how to revive the older social clubs. Again, we need to preserve it for we lose it.

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Stephen Riggio. Stephen is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Barnes & Noble (2002-2012). For over forty years he was a key leader transforming the single flagship New York location into a national retailer that expanded into e-commerce and book publishing. He has served on the boards of the National Book Foundation, the National Down Syndrome Society, and is a founding member of the AHRC New York City Foundation Board. In this week's episode, we discuss the importance of tracing one's roots and why this is important for everyone. We also discuss Stephen's voyage of truly immersing himself into the Italian language, culminating in his translation of Luigi Natoli's classic Sicilian novel, I Beati Paoli, into English for the first time. For more information on the novel feel free to visit: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sicilian-avengers-luigi-natoli/1145136699

In this episode, I had the chance to interview one of the greats in Italian-American radio: Mr. Tony Marotta! Tony and I had a great conversation on everything from family to Italian music. Tony has been on the radio for decades, operating out of Cleveland. Tony knows what it takes to last in radio and having started at a young age, he is truly one of the best with a lifetime of knowledge and well worth listening to! You can follow Tony here: https://www.facebook.com/italiansounds.tonymarotta

This week I am joined by Chris Vaccaro. Chris is a journalist, an author of 10 books, a professor, a two-time Emmy Award winner and nine-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner. In this episode, we discuss the importance of Italian culture and how Chris rediscovered his roots and made it a priority to instill those Italian values he learned growing up into his children. We also discuss how The Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF), of which Chris is a board trustee, is helping to grow the sport of baseball in Italy. This is a wonderful episode that really answers the question, why is understanding Italian culture so important? Lastly, Chris is the Executive Director of the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island. To learn more about IABF and Chris,. check out their website here: https://iabf.foundation/iabf-appoints-chris-r-vaccaro-to-advisory-board/

This week's guest is David Sciamanna. David is on the Board of Directors for the Historic Letterkenny Chapel and Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park Foundation. (https://www.veterantrailpa.org/) David and I discuss the story of the Letterkenny chapel in Chambersburg, PA. Built by Italian POW's during the second world war, it stands an important reminder for the importance of hope. We also discuss the importance of keeping this story alive as well as other history before it is lost to time. This is a fun and lively conversation!

This week we interview the very talented, Danielle Pastin, both an accomplished opera singer and business owner. We talk to Danielle about how her Italian roots and upbringing shaped her career choice. Coming from a military and musical family that was very close, Danielle developed her passion for music and love for family. As her bio notes, "With her “lovely demeanor and irresistible creamy timbre”, soprano Danielle Pastin is in demand nationwide and abroad. Her wide-ranging repertoire encompasses the classical as well as the contemporary and she is equally at home in opera and concert." To learn more about Danielle, check out her website here: https://www.daniellepastin.com/bio

This week I interview Ray Guarini, Director of the Italian Enclaves Historical Society. Ray and I had a wonderful discussion about how the old neighborhoods had a lasting impact on future generations, without even realizing it at the time. However, as the older generations have passed on, it is imperative the younger generations maintain and even start new traditions which celebrate Italian culture or whatever culture you are a part of. For more information in the Italian Enclaves Historical Society, visit their website: https://italianenclaves.org/ Or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianEnclaves

Finally! We have Philly Rich as our guest. A great guy with a sincere passion for the Italian culture and frankly, all things Italian. Join us this week for a very lively and passionate discussion about Italian culture, and even a little talk on 'Philly'.

This week in keeping with our theme of supporting small businesses, we interview Mike and Jenny Modugno, the owners of The Bridgeside Market. These two have a love for the Italian culture and it shows in how they operate their business and treat customers. Filled with family traditions, they are the epitome of Italian culture.

This week we had the opportunity to speak with Sean Stellato. Sean is a sports agent, motivational speaker, and author. It turns out, he is also a passionate family man and very proud of his Italian roots. Sean gives us a lot of insight into what makes him a very successful pro-athlete turned agent. Sean is also the author of 4th and Long The Odds: My Journey and No Backing Down, two books which are both about his life and sports. This is a another great guest and we know he will have tremendous impact in your life!

In this week's episode, we interview several small business owners. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, we encourage you to check them out: 1. Sam Tanner head of marketing the Juicery - check them out here at: https://www.juiceryatoakmont.com/ 2. Cassandra Ross owner of Wild Rosemary - https://www.instagram.com/wildrosemary_herbal/?img_index=1 3. Dr. Max Thomas & Dr.Mourad Jalloul of Maximum Health Center - https://maximumhealthcenter.com/about-us/ 4. Mark Wyland trainer at Pittsburgh Training and Fitness Center - https://www.pghtrainingandfitness.com/ 5. Jessie Renek of Project #1 Nutrition Sales Director - https://www.project1nutrition.com/ 6. Dr Kevin Pawlowicz owner the Juicery - https://www.juiceryatoakmont.com/

In this week's episode, we interview Tom Ficara. Tom is very proud of his Italian roots and has had a successful career in the entertainment business since the early 1970's. He has owned and operated the TVS Television Network, the fourth-oldest commercial broadcast network in the USA, since 1990. He also owns and has operated the RKO Unique Record Company since 1995. In this episode Tom will share stories from his past as well as give listeners some unique perspectives into his success.

This week we interview the great Italian-American author, Dr. Stephanie Longo. Stephanie shares her passion for the Italian culture and what inspired her to write several books. We also learn of the rich traditions of Italians in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her books include: Italians of Northeastern Pennsylvania (2004), Italians of Lackawanna County (2018) and Dunmore (2012). This is a fun and exciting episode with a lot of interesting points made about the state of the Italian community in America in both past and present times. To learn more about Stephanie, check out her website here: https://stephanielongowriter.com/

This week we interview Dr. Alan Perry a professor of Italian Studies at Gettysburg College. This interview provides a fascinating look into why we continue to celebrate our Italian heritage. We also discuss various facets regarding the Italian Prisoners of War who were kept here in the US. This is a very insightful and enjoyable interview that you will definitely want to share.

In this weeks episode we discuss the upcoming documentary - Fedeltà. A very inspiring look at the experience of Italian Prisoners of War who came to America as "prisoners" but left as soldiers! It has an expected release date of early July 2024: Catch the trailer and feel free to support this wonderful documentary: https://www.gofundme.com/f/documentary-on-letterkenny-italian-service-unit?copy-link=1

This week we interview Pat Pecora. With strong roots garnered through his Italian family traditions, Pat takes this approach to his players. As a result, he has been very successful. In fact, he is nine halls of fame: Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame-East Boro Chapter (1994), Cambria County Sports (1998) West Liberty State (W.Va.) College Halls of Fame (1998), Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (2001), NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame (2003), Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame (2015), Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (2016), Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2017), and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame (2021). This is a great interview where the importance of having a strong family background is shown to help make you successful in any endeavor.

This week we interview Bruce Wawrzyniak. Bruce is the host and creator of Catholic Sports Radio. He was born and baptized Catholic, has spent the majority of his professional career working in sports, and is a veteran broadcaster and podcaster. In fact, Bruce worked for ten seasons for a National Hockey League team doing public relations, the last six of which he served concurrently as the Director of Public Relations for the pro indoor lacrosse team that the organization also operated. ...and yes, Bruce is Italian too! :-) You can listen to Bruce here: https://catholicsportsradio.net/

In this week's episode, we interview Jack Teitz, the President of the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Jack is a former Big-10 referee with a lot of interesting stories, as well as being the President, Jack provides a lot of entertainment in this episode. As was mentioned in the show, if you are interested in learning more about the upcoming awards dinner, visit the website at: https://westernpasportshof.org/awards-dinner