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What does a 127-year-old street organ have to tell us about Italian-American history? More than you might imagine! In this fascinating episode of the Italian American Podcast, we welcome Tony Gangi, proprietor of the Great American Street Organ, who is bringing an almost-forgotten Italian-American tradition back to life. Tony joins us to share the incredible story of the Italian immigrant organ grinders who once filled the streets of America with music, entertaining passersby and making a living through this unique form of street performance. At the heart of the conversation is a remarkable 1899 C. Maserati street organ, originally brought to Boston by Italian immigrant Marino Persichini. This extraordinary instrument helped support a family for generations and has now been restored by Tony so future generations can experience its music and history. We explore the history of Italian immigration, the struggles and discrimination faced by Italian Americans, and the controversial 1935 ban on street organs imposed by New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.   🎬 IN THIS EPISODE: What exactly is a street organ, and how does an organ grinder operate? The story behind Tony Gangi's incredible 1899 street organ. How Italian immigrants made a living playing music on America's streets. The 1935 New York City ban on street organs and its connection to anti-Italian prejudice. The history of the organ grinder's famous monkey. The restoration of a historic mechanical musical instrument. The fascinating mechanics of musical barrels and how they produce melodies. Preserving Italian-American traditions for future generations. Why schools, libraries, festivals, and Italian-American organizations should experience this living piece of history.  Website: https://greatamericanstreetorgan.com  Email: [email protected]  Instagram: @NorthEndOrganGrinder

In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Pat, and Marcella welcome guests Joe Nasello and Anthony Marucci to discuss the launch of Insieme, a new youth initiative by UNICO, the nation's largest Italian American service organization. Amid declining membership in Italian American organizations, the conversation explores how partnerships with high schools, student clubs, and local communities can cultivate a new generation of leaders dedicated to their cultural heritage. The discussion also examines UNICO's founding in 1922, when Italian Americans faced discrimination and exclusion from established civic organizations, and its longstanding commitment to charitable service and cultural preservation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of cooperation among educational institutions, the Italian government, and organizations such as the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the Order Sons of Italy in America. Through cultural activities, community service, and educational events, Insieme aims to complement classroom instruction while fostering a stronger sense of identity and belonging among young Italian Americans. The participants also address the challenges facing Italian language programs in American schools, stressing the need for continued advocacy and recognizing language education as a vital link to Italy's cultural and historical legacy. The episode concludes with an invitation to the inaugural Insieme Congress and a call for greater unity and participation throughout the Italian American community. Above all, the conversation highlights the responsibility of each generation to pass on its heritage, ensuring that the traditions, values, and institutions of Italian America endure and flourish. To learn more about UNICO visit: https://www.unico.org/ HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle John Viola Marchella Martin SPECIAL GUESTS: Joe Nasello Anthony Marucci PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Pat, and Marianna welcome memoirist Julianna Forlano for a lively conversation about Italian American heritage, family traditions, and cultural identity. From treasured seeds brought from Italy to the familiar practice of reusing ricotta containers and glass bottles, they explore the resourcefulness and customs passed down through generations.  Julianna Forlano reflects on her return to Sicily and the experience of reconnecting with her ancestral homeland. The conversation explores assimilation, working-class roots, social mobility, and the complicated relationship between cultural pride and the pressures of fitting into American society. As firsthand memories of the immigrant experience begin to fade, the hosts emphasize the importance of preserving family histories through storytelling and literature. Highlighting the Italian American Writers Association, they encourage listeners to reclaim their heritage and ensure that the stories of earlier generations are not forgotten.   HER SOCIALS: Instagram: @juliannaforlano Youtube:  @JuliannaForlano   HER PODCAST: https://oliveontheappletree.com/ HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto SPECIAL GUEST:  Julianna Forlando   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this part 2 of podcast episode 436,  Dr. Marcella Martin shares how Mount Etna's eruption forced her family to reroute their travel plans through Rome and Pompeii before finally reaching Sicily with three young children. The group also talks about the extreme summer heat and crowds, with temperatures in Rome climbing above 100 degrees and destinations like Taormina beginning to lose their local feel. Still, there were plenty of memorable moments, from hunting down portable air conditioners to finding authentic arancini and honey cookies in local markets. The conversation then turns to how overtourism, globalization, and climate change are transforming Italy. John Viola explains how the line between tourist destinations and local communities is disappearing. The group considers whether tourism's economic benefits are worth the rising prices, crowded towns, strained infrastructure, and loss of local character. They also discuss the growing American influence on Italian life, including packaged foods, larger portions, air conditioning, and changing eating habits. Despite the travel problems, the episode is ultimately about the resilience and sense of community that make Italy so special. Stories about volcanoes, wildfires, and frightening car rides are balanced by family reunions, shared meals, and emotional returns to ancestral towns. Whether neighbors are calmly drinking coffee while fires burn nearby or Italian American friends are organizing a "Paisan Express" rescue mission, every disaster somehow becomes a story that will be told for years.   HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marcella Martin  SPECIAL GUEST:  Matthew Cutolo PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this lively episode with, John Viola, Dr. Marcella Martin, and Patrick O'Boyle recount the highs and lows of spending summer in Italy, weaving personal anecdotes with broader observations about Italian culture and the evolving travel experience. The conversation begins lightheartedly with tales of dramatic near misses and concludes with reflections on the deeper meaning of returning to ancestral roots. Their summers were marked by challenges: Dr. Marcella Martin had to reroute her family through Rome due to an eruption of Etna and later survived a wildfire in Sicily, while one of their companions endured both a norovirus and a terrifying allergic reaction in Calabria, underscoring the unpredictability of travel. Despite these adversities, the group highlights how Italy's communal spirit often emerges during times of crisis, turning even emergencies into collective affairs involving neighbors, restaurant owners, and, sometimes, entire towns.  A significant topic of discussion is the impact of intensifying tourism, with the group lamenting how once-sleepy villages like Latoyanni have become overrun, sometimes straining infrastructure to breaking points as evidenced by overwhelmed sewer systems and the displacement of local culture by global trends. They debate tourism's economic benefits against the loss of authentic local life, observing how places like Florence and Venice risk becoming shells of themselves as mom-and-pop shops disappear, replaced by businesses catering solely to tourists. Simultaneously, they notice the creeping Americanization of Italy—from air conditioning to portion sizes and prepackaged foods in supermarkets, even to American-style donuts at local festivals—while still celebrating the distinctiveness that lingers in specific regional products like Calabria's bergamot soda and honey cookies.  Amidst these changes, the hosts underscore the unchanging magic of Italian communal life, family connections, and spiritual traditions, sharing stories of late-night feasts, local festivals, and moments of profound personal meaning found in unexpected reunions with old family friends or spiritual pilgrimages. Ultimately, they see both the chaos and the charm of contemporary Italian summers as formative, especially for their children, reaffirming the privilege of maintaining a living connection to their heritage and the resilience that ties them to the ever evolving Italian landscape. HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marcella Martin  SPECIAL GUEST:  Matthew Cutolo PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John Viola and Dr. Marcella Martin broadcast from the heart of New York City's Little Italy during the 100th anniversary of the Feast of San Gennaro. They are joined by Naples-born singer-songwriter Livio Cori for a conversation about music, cultural identity, and the enduring ties between Italy and its diaspora. Against the backdrop of one of America's most iconic festivals, the conversation explores how traditions often take on new life within immigrant communities. While certain customs have evolved or faded in contemporary Italy, Italian Americans continue to preserve them through festivals, family traditions, and a deep sense of cultural pride. Livio reflects on a similar revival taking place in Italy, where younger generations are increasingly embracing their Southern Italian roots and Neapolitan music and culture are reaching audiences far beyond Naples. Drawing from his own career, Livio discusses the growing appreciation for regional culture and the challenge of remaining authentic in a fast-moving digital music industry. The conversation also considers how language, music, and community can bridge the distance between Italy and Italian Americans, connecting generations shaped by different experiences but united by a shared cultural heritage. HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @liviocori Youtube:  @LivioCoriOfficial   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivioCoriOfficial/ TikTok: @liviocori HIS MUSIC: Website: https://heartist.app/product/luntano/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67ZKaYOA7fXtnWve33FcSX Youtube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC05sNuq-HGGExjDVgenCgQw Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/livio-cori/601184193 HOSTED BY: John Viola Marcella Martin SPECIAL GUEST:  Livio Cori PRODUCED BY Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, John, Pat, and Marcella are joined by chef Matthew Cutolo for a lively conversation about Italian American food, family, and tradition. From sauce season and classic Jersey tomato varieties like Rutgers to Sunday dinners and family routines, they reflect on the customs that have connected Italian American families for generations. Matthew is the third-generation chef at Brooklyn's historic Gargiulo's Restaurant, an Italian American institution whose roots stretch back to 1907. He discusses the challenges of balancing tradition with modernity, preserving family recipes and hospitality, and keeping a century-old business thriving as neighborhoods, customers, and family celebrations continue to change. The conversation explores why heirloom restaurants like Gargiulo's are more than simply places to eat: they are living repositories of Italian American identity, hospitality, and shared memory. From changing neighborhoods and social media to sauce season and Sunday dinner, the episode celebrates the families keeping Italian American traditions alive while finding new ways to carry them into the future. HIS SOCIALS: Insta: @matthewcutolo Youtube:  @MatthewCutolo   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefmatthewcutolo/ TikTok: @matthewcutolo HIS WEBSITE:  GARGIULIO'S SOCIALS Instagram: @gargiulosrestaurant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GargiulosNY/ GARGIULIO'S WEBSITE: https://gargiulos.com/   WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON PATREON https://www.patreon.com/italianamericanpodcast/posts/more-than-at-iap-170283225?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marcella Martin  SPECIAL GUEST:  Matthew Cutolo PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts Pat, Rosella, and Marianna welcome guests Nonna Nunzia Caputo, and Alessia to the Red Sauce Studio in New York City for a conversation about the beloved tradition of handmade orecchiette and life in Bari Vecchia. Nonna Nunzia recalls learning to make pasta as a young girl under the watchful eye of her grandmother, when orecchiette was not simply a regional specialty but part of the rhythm of everyday family life and, for many, a means of survival. The conversation traces the remarkable transformation of Bari Vecchia from a poor and sometimes rough neighborhood into an international destination celebrated for its food, culture, and distinctive street life. Nunzia and Alessia reflect on how tourism and social media have brought worldwide attention to the women making pasta along its narrow streets, while also discussing the importance of preserving the authenticity of a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. The episode concludes with Nonna Nunzia demonstrating the art of making authentic orecchiette by hand, sharing the techniques and instinctive feel for the dough that come from a lifetime of experience. Through stories of family, hardship, hospitality, and change, the conversation celebrates the women of Bari Vecchia and a culinary tradition that continues to connect generations across Italy and the Italian diaspora.   NONNA NUNZIA SOCIALS: Instagram: @leorecchiettedinunzia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nunzialapastaia/ TikTok: @nunzialapastaia Youtube:  @NunziaLaPastaia   HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Rosella Rago Marianna Gatto SPECIAL GUEST:  Nonna Nunzia   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts Pat and Marianna sit down in the heart of Little Italy with Cav. Dr. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari and Dr. Mary Rorro, a remarkable mother-daughter duo whose work has advanced Italian American culture, education, and heritage. At the center of the conversation is The Universality of Italian Heritage, an innovative K–16 curriculum developed by Cav. Dr. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari for the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission. She shares how a promise made to the Pope at just 13 years old inspired a lifetime of advocacy and discusses the need for a broader understanding of Italian contributions to world culture beyond familiar figures and stereotypes. The conversation also explores family, cultural identity, the challenges facing educators, and the accomplishments of women in academia and diplomacy. Through personal stories, international experiences, and advice for younger generations, Cav. Dr. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari and Dr. Rorro offer a thoughtful look at the importance of preserving Italian heritage while ensuring its enduring place in education and culture. HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Marianna Gatto SPECIAL GUEST:  Cav. Dr. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari and Dr. Mary Rorro   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John and Patrick are joined by Professor Jeffrey Louis Decker, author of Rebel Girl and the Godfather: New York City's Italians and the Fight for Civil Rights, for a fascinating exploration of Italian American involvement in the struggle for civil rights. At the center of the conversation are two compelling and very different figures: Mary Sansone, the formidable labor organizer and community activist, and Joe Colombo, the controversial founder of the Italian American Civil Rights League. Through their stories, Professor Decker examines competing visions of Italian American identity, activism, and advancement in twentieth-century New York. The conversation explores the stereotypes that shaped perceptions of Italian Americans, the role of labor and community organizing, and the political and cultural changes that transformed Italian American life from the Great Depression through the Reagan era. Along the way, John, Patrick, and Professor Decker consider questions of assimilation, coalition-building, ethnic identity, and what civil rights meant to different generations of Italian Americans.   HIS WEBSITE: Website: https://english.ucla.edu/people-faculty/decker-jeffrey-louis/ LINK:  Read an excerpt from Jeffrey Louis Decker's Rebel Girl and the Godfather: New York City's Italians and the Fight for Civil Rights at  https://www.book2look.com/book/hYftxSzwIK HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle SPECIAL GUEST:  Jeffrey Louis Decker   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In Part 2 of our conversation with legendary guitarist Al Di Meola, we explore some of his most memorable performances in Italy. Di Meola recalls playing on Mount Vesuvius, giving intimate concerts in private homes, and experiencing the extraordinary warmth and hospitality of Italian audiences. He also reflects on emotional visits to his family's ancestral towns, where performing became a deeply personal way to reconnect with his Italian heritage. Through stories of music, family, food, and tradition, Di Meola reveals why his experiences in Italy remain among the most meaningful of his remarkable career. The episode closes with laughter, gratitude, and an impromptu kazoo duet. HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @official_aldimeola Facebook:   / aldimeolamusic   Youtube: ‪@OfficialAlDiMeola‬  X:@aldimeolamusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bBWK... HOME EVENTS: https://aldimeola.com/pages/private-e... HIS MERCH: https://elusivedisc.com/search/?omnis... HIS TOUR: https://aldimeola.com/pages/tour   HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Jenna Esposito SPECIAL GUEST: Al Di Meola PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Grammy-winning guitarist Al Di Meola joins Jenna and Pat for a wide-ranging conversation about Italian heritage, family history, and his extraordinary musical career. They explore regional identity, genealogy, dual citizenship, and the immigration stories that connect generations of Italian Americans to their ancestral towns. Along the way, they reflect on the food and traditions rooted in Southern Italy that continue to shape Italian American life. Di Meola shares stories from a remarkable career, including collaborations with Luciano Pavarotti, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. He discusses the importance of melody and rhythm in Italian music, his early influences, the life-changing impact of The Beatles, and the golden age of vinyl and record stores. He also offers candid thoughts on how streaming has transformed the relationship between musicians and their audiences. The conversation turns especially personal as Di Meola recalls emotional visits to his family's ancestral towns in Italy and the hospitality he encountered there. From performing on Mount Vesuvius to intimate concerts in private homes, his stories reveal how music, family, food, and tradition carry memory across generations. The episode closes with laughter, gratitude, and an impromptu kazoo duet. HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @official_aldimeola Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlDiMeolaMusic/ Youtube:  @OfficialAlDiMeola   X:@aldimeolamusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bBWKHfpepPOychRNFzg4q?autoplay_ok=1 HOME EVENTS: https://aldimeola.com/pages/private-events HIS MERCH: https://elusivedisc.com/search/?omnisendContactID=673f6ef97594f17470dcb8dc&tag=clearaudio-al-di-meola&utm_source=email&utm_medium=social+media&utm_campaign=DiMeola-table-intro&utm_id=DiMeola-Table HIS TOUR: https://aldimeola.com/pages/tour   HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Jenna Esposito SPECIAL GUEST: Al Di Meola PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, John, Pat, and Mariana welcome wine writer and researcher Maria Liotta for a journey through the rich and often overlooked world of Southern Italian wine. Inspired by her encyclopedic work, Places of Origin: The Wines of Southern Italy, the conversation explores the wine traditions of Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Puglia, highlighting their native grape varieties, 65 Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) appellations, and centuries-old winemaking practices—many with roots stretching back to Magna Graecia. The discussion traces the remarkable transformation of Southern Italy's wine industry. Once known primarily for bulk production and table wines, the region has become one of Italy's most exciting centers of quality winemaking. Along the way, the hosts examine the lasting impact of the phylloxera epidemic, the role of volcanic soils in preserving ancient vines, and the distinctive terroirs that set Southern Italian wines apart. They also encourage listeners to look beyond familiar labels like Pinot Grigio and Chianti to discover the extraordinary diversity of regions such as Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, and Campania. Blending history, travel, and personal experience, Maria shares stories of remarkable producers, including the last winemaker on Capri, while reflecting on her own path from ophthalmologist and finance professional to respected wine researcher. Together, the hosts celebrate the hospitality of Southern Italian vintners, the importance of supporting small producers, and the enduring connection between wine, place, and cultural identity, inviting listeners to experience Southern Italy one bottle at a time. HER SOCIALS: Instagram: @drinksouthernitaly HER WEBSITE: https://www.winesofsouthernitaly.com/ HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle SPECIAL GUEST: Maria Liotta   PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Pat, Marcella, and Brandon welcome musician and content creator December Rose for a lively conversation about Italian Canadian and Italian American identity, family traditions, and the evolving experience of the diaspora. Drawing on her upbringing in Montreal to Sicilian and Abruzzese parents, December shares humorous stories about strict family rules, generational dynamics, and the cultural quirks that unite Italian communities across North America. The discussion explores December's unexpected rise on social media after a viral video about her Sicilian heritage, leading to a broader conversation about preserving language, culture, and identity in the digital age. The hosts also compare Italian communities across Canada and the United States, examining language retention, immigration, and regional differences. Blending humor with thoughtful reflection, the episode celebrates the enduring strengths of Italian family life while considering how younger generations can honor tradition, embrace personal growth, and build healthier futures without losing sight of their roots. HER SOCIALS: Instagram: @decemberrosemusic TikTok: @decemberrosemusic Facebook: @decemberrosemusic Threads: @decemberrosemusic HER WEBSITE: https://www.decemberrosemusic.com EVENTS UPCOMING FOR HER: Socials for event(s): @italfestmtl on IG HER MERCH: https://shop.decemberrosemusic.com/?srsltid=AfmBOornmsUV4eGTFTNgMjRdFU7Dk6Rnj14B4_PR9PEBq0XXY6X-iXvl HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Brandon Ficara Marcella Martin SPECIAL GUEST: December Rose PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Marcella, and Pat sit down with Louis Lacarbonara, owner of Direct Kicks, a buy, sell, and trade sneaker store in Westchester County, New York. Louis shares how his entrepreneurial mindset was shaped by working in his family's pizzeria and launching small ventures as a kid, from selling pizza slices and gum to classmates to reselling sneakers online while attending Oklahoma State University. He reflects on the challenges of growing from an online business to multiple brick-and-mortar locations, overcoming obstacles such as flooding, legal disputes with landlords, and the constant demands of running a retail business. The conversation also explores the explosive growth of the resale market and the changing perception of secondhand goods. Louis explains how terms like "used," "pre-owned," and "vintage" influence consumer behavior, while discussing the appeal of collectible sneakers, Pokémon cards, Legos, and other hobby markets. The hosts examine how social media, limited releases, and scarcity fuel demand, and why collecting has become as much about identity and community as ownership. Throughout the episode, Louis emphasizes the importance of adaptability, persistence, and staying personally involved in every aspect of the business, from cleaning shoes to negotiating large collections. Drawing on lessons learned from family, college, and years of entrepreneurship, he offers practical insights into building a business that thrives through hard work, strong relationships, and a willingness to evolve with the market.   HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @DirectKicks Facebook: Facebook.com/DirectKicks HIS WEBSITE: www.DirectKicks.com STORE ADDRESS: 236 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck NY 10543  HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marcella Martin Special Guest: Louis Lacarboncara