Episodes

🎙️ Christina and the Whitefish with Author & Filmmaker Stephen Vittoria In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and author Stephen Vittoria to explore his powerful new novel, Christina and the Whitefish . Set in 1994 Asbur...

In this edition of Tales from the Archives , Stephanie and Sandy share a collection of fascinating, quirky, and heartfelt Italian American stories pulled from old newspapers across the country. From a young immigrant girl mis...

In this episode of Italian American Stories Podcast , Stephanie and Sandy step up to the plate with the trailblazing story of Lucille Colacito , a Colorado-born Italian American who made history in the All-American Girls Prof...

In 1929, Detroit was rocked by the brutal Evangelista Massacre . Italian immigrant and mystic healer Benny Evangelista was found beheaded in his basement beside a bizarre shrine, while his wife and four children were murdered...

In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Richard Leto, author of My Italian American Roots . Rich shares the remarkable story behind a dusty cardboard box filled with family documents and photos—a box that sat untouched...

In this special episode, we sit down with the incredibly talented Michelle Danner—acclaimed actress, director, acting coach, and the creative force behind the heartfelt new film The Italians . Michelle opens up about the maki...

In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Sorrentino, host of the Italian Roots and Genealogy podcast and author of Farmers and Nobles . Bob shares his incredible journey tracing his Italian ancestry—from humble farming origins in B...

In this special episode, we’re joined by Marianna Gatto — historian, educator, and Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. Marianna shares stories from her remarkable book Italian Americans of Los An...

In this episode of the Italian American Stories Podcast , we’re joined by bestselling author and former CIA officer Carmen Amato for a conversation that weaves together heritage, history, and heart. Carmen shares the incredib...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Louis G. Bruno Jr., author of The Love of San Demetrio , a powerful family memoir that spans continents and generations. Lou takes us on a journey from a small Italian village to the...

In this episode of Italian American Stories , we explore the inspiring life of Denver’s own Kate Ferretti—an Italian American milliner who left her mark on the city’s fashion scene with creativity, grit, and heart. Born Henri...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most unusual and stories we've come across —the case of little Alice Minto. In 1909 San Francisco, a young Italian American girl was found living in a Chinatown basement, speaking only...

In this strange-but-true tale from 1949 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two Italian American women—Angelina Farrina and Mary Sanfelippo—find themselves at the center of a courtroom drama involving ghosts, burned money, and a fortune-te...

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredibly talented Bob Spiotto—actor, director, producer, and passionate Italian American storyteller. Bob shares his personal story growing up in a tight-knit Italian American family in ...

In this special episode, we sit down with Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist with deep Italian American roots. Born to immigrant parents from Naples and Sicily, Dr. Ignarro shares how his upbringing in Brookly...

In this episode, we continue the incredible and dramatic story of Maria Barbella, the first woman in America sentenced to die in the electric chair. After public outcry and support from a determined countess, Maria was grante...

Today, we dive into one of the most dramatic cases in Italian American history—the story of Maria Barbella , the first woman in America sentenced to die in the electric chair. Maria's story is one of love, betrayal, and justi...

Happy Valentine’s Day! In this special episode, we’re bringing you a collection of historical love stories—some sweet, some dramatic, and some downright scandalous! First, we take you back to 1879 with a New York Herald artic...

In this special episode, we welcome the entire band Amici ! While we previously spoke with lead member Stephen Pishner, this time, the whole group joins us to share their journey. We dive into how they came together, their ex...

In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Joseph Bona, a prominent Italian American mortician in Denver, Colorado. From his humble beginnings in Chicago to becoming the trusted undertaker for Buffalo Bill Cody, ...

In this episode, we uncover the story of Julius Cesar Carrera, or JC—a brilliant and largely overlooked figure in American history. An educator, mineralogist, professor, and pioneer in the mining industry of the western Unite...

It’s time for another installment of Tales from the Archives ! In this mini-episode, we dive into quirky and unexpected stories from old articles about Italian Americans. Hear about a man chased up a tree by a bull, two women...

In this deeply personal episode, we share a story brought to us by Chris Massari, a follower on Instagram, about the tragic murder of his great-aunt Augustina Massari. Witnessed by her younger brother, Mario—Chris’s grandfath...

Step back in time to 1930s North Denver’s Little Italy, where a shocking murder tested a family's strength. In this episode, we unravel the tragic story of Theresa Spanarella, who was killed by her jealous brother-in-law, Ale...