Italian American identity means different things to different people, and the “Italian American Experience” is oftentimes a very personal definition for each individual. At one point or another, it’s safe to say most of us have felt a certain “otherness” setting us apart from the mainstream. If you have felt this more frequently than others, we’v...
READ MOREFor many of us, looking ahead to the year 2021 represents a possible return to “normal”… but in the heart of one of Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhoods, a more than 40 old Italian American institution is gearing up to reclaim its rightful spot on the Italian American map! This week, host John Viola is sitting down with longtime friend, and newly-a...
READ MOREShop small and #SupportItalianAmerican Small Business! With Thanksgiving arriving this week, the unofficial start of the 2020 Holiday Shopping Season has arrived, and it’s sure to be one unlike anything we’ve seen before. With another lockdown seemingly looming on the horizon, and online shopping set to claim an even greater share of holiday spendi...
READ MOREThe Mal’Occhio… the Evil Eye… It’s a concept that lives deep in the collective psychology of Italian America, but is it science or superstition? The answer depends on what you believe, as you’ll hear in this week’s episode when we sit down with Italo-Canadian filmmaker and author Agata De Santis, whose documentary film and follow-up book “Mal’occhi...
READ MOREThis week we’re bringing you Part Two of our first ever “Live” question-and-answer episode direct from our “New Neighborhood” online membership group! The New Neighborhood is a place for all Italian Americans… a vibrant, close-knit community centered around our private Facebook group, where our most passionate listeners and supporters gather togeth...
READ MOREWith Election Day tomorrow, it’s a star-spangled celebration on this week’s episode as we’re joined by special guest Thom Woodley of the “Fail to the Chief” podcast to discuss the Italian American “Almost-Weres” of United States Presidential history. Sure, we have yet to see a Paesano or a Paesana take up residence in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but...
READ MOREAs Italian American Heritage Month draws to a close, we’re presenting our first ever “Live” question-and-answer episode direct from our “New Neighborhood” online membership group! The New Neighborhood is a Place for all Italian Americans… a vibrant, close-knit community centered around our private Facebook group where our most passionate listeners...
READ MOREDuring the XX Week of the Italian Language in the World, the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC, in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy, has launched a series of 12 read-along podcasts from the book "Telephone Tales" by Gianni Rodari (1920-1980). To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of this great Italian author, his “Telephone...
READ MOREDear friends, while I'm writing this editorial the coronavirus situation in Italy is dramatically worsening, and probably in a few days we will be in a full lockdown again. We are scared and angry, because we knew that a second wave would come and the Italian institutions were unprepared. The weeks to come will be difficult and hard, and we all hop...
READ MOREFor young Taylor Taglianetti, founder of the National Organization of Italian Americans in Film and Television (NOIAFT), her many encounters with the generosity of the Italian American community have made her life’s work about paying it forward. This week, we sit down with Taylor to discover how this philosophy drove her to found a new, booming org...
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