Author and journalist Lara Brenckle Malmont joins Italian American Stories Podcast to share her search for the grandfather she never knew. What began as a family history mystery uncovered the remarkable story of Filippo Arturo Venezia—later Philip Leo Brenckle—and a forgotten chapter of early 20th-century Pittsburgh history that inspired her novel, Three Rivers Home.

Meet George Noce, the Italian American gardener whose thousands of tulips transformed Denver’s Civic Center—and whose generosity brought flowers, goldfish, and happiness to children throughout the city.

Follow the Marasco family’s journey from Italy to Grand Junction, Colorado—a powerful story of sacrifice, discrimination, heartbreak, resilience, and the determination to build a better life in America.

During World War II, more than 1,200 Italian nationals were held at Fort Missoula in Montana. In Episode 102 of Italian American Stories Podcast, discover the forgotten story of Bella Vista—a remarkable community built behind barbed wire that reveals a little-known chapter of American and Italian history.

Long before Grand Junction became the city we know today, an Italian immigrant named Nunzio Grasso helped shape Western Colorado—one stone at a time. Discover the remarkable story of the Italian stonemason whose craftsmanship still stands more than a century later.

For Episode 100 of Italian American Stories, author Chris Massari shares the heartbreaking true story of his great-aunt, Augustina Massari, and how her family's history inspired his upcoming graphic novel, The Mafia vs. The Klan. A conversation about Italian American heritage, genealogy, resilience, and preserving our ancestors' stories.

What started as a search for family history became a life-changing journey. Kris Rini shares how researching his Italian roots led to finding relatives in Calabria, restoring his family's original surname, and ultimately earning Italian citizenship.

At 14 years old, Marcella Flanagan left New York and returned to post-war Bari, Italy. In Episode 98, Marcella and her niece, Phyllis Orlowski, share an extraordinary story of family, resilience, and living between two cultures.

In 1911, Sicilian immigrant Concetto Formica was murdered while working as a musician with a traveling carnival in North Carolina. What happened next is one of the strangest stories we've ever researched. His embalmed body remained in a funeral home's garage for 61 years, where generations of locals came to know him as "The Italian Mummy." Join Stephanie and Sandy as they revisit this remarkable true story with new research and fresh conversation.

After years of dreaming about it, we finally made the journey to Italy. Join us as we travel through Rome, Matera, Potenza, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii while exploring our family's roots in Basilicata. Along the way, we share unforgettable moments, incredible food, local festivals, and the emotional discovery of the Smaldone family tomb in Potenza.

In Episode 95 of Italian American Stories, we tell the tragic and often overlooked story of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca — the forgotten victims of the Manson murders. We explore their Italian American roots, the horrifying events inside their Los Angeles home, and the strange details that still haunt this case today.

A mysterious fire in Denver… and a strange Ouija house in California. In this episode, we uncover two bizarre Italian American stories filled with unanswered questions, obsession, and events that still don’t make sense.

A DNA test in her 50s revealed a life-changing truth—Christine McBurney was half Italian. What followed was a powerful journey into family secrets, identity, and the discovery of a father she never knew.

In 1906 Denver, a young Italian immigrant named Carmelina Fiorino shot and killed her husband—but was it murder or self-defense? This shocking case of love, control, and survival captivated the city and still raises questions today.

A powerful Italian immigrant story of resilience, hardship, and the American Dream—following Joseph Benvenuti who started working at just six years old and built a life that shaped generations.

Nick Guardione, professional strongman and Arnold Strongman Classic competitor, shares his journey from his Italian roots in Sicily to competing on one of the biggest stages in strength sports.

In this episode, we dive into the mindset, discipline, and family values that shaped his path—from everyday beginnings to performing in front of thousands alongside the world’s strongest athletes.

Nick recently competed in the Arnold Strongman Classic, one of the most elite competitions in the world, and shares what it’s like to step onto that stage alongside legends of the sport. From the pressure of performing in front of thousands to hitting personal records, he gives us an inside look at the life of a professional strongman.

But this story goes far beyond competition.

Nick opens up about his Italian heritage, his family’s journey from Italy to the United States, and the deep influence of his father—whose legacy continues to drive him every time he steps onto the competition floor. What began as a way to cope with loss turned into a passion, and ultimately, a career.

We also dive into:

• His journey from cross country runner to elite strongman

• The mindset required to compete at the highest level

• The culture and camaraderie within the strongman world

• His connection to Italy, including family vineyards and summers abroad

This is a story about strength—but also about identity, purpose, and carrying your family name with pride.

In this episode of the Italian American Stories Podcast, Stephanie welcomes writer and historian Brian D’Ambrosio, author of the book Italian-Americana: Explorers, Entertainers, and Eccentrics.

Brian’s book highlights more than forty fascinating individuals whose lives helped shape the Italian American experience across centuries—from early explorers and Revolutionary War patriots to entertainers, athletes, and unforgettable personalities.

During the conversation, Brian discusses several figures featured in the book, including legendary bodybuilder Charles Atlas, football player Brian Piccolo, and other notable Italian Americans whose stories reflect the wide range of accomplishments, struggles, and contributions within the Italian American community.

Rather than focusing only on immigration through Ellis Island, Brian’s work explores a much broader timeline, revealing how Italian heritage has been woven into the fabric of American history long before and long after the great waves of immigration.

If you enjoy discovering lesser-known stories and unique personalities from Italian American history, this episode offers a brief look into the many remarkable individuals featured in Italian-Americana.

You can find Brian’s book Italian-Americana: Explorers, Entertainers, and Eccentrics through major booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

A Wednesday in Boston’s Little Italy.
January 15th, 1919 began like any other day in the North End.

Children walked home from school.
Delivery drivers made their usual rounds.
Families went about their daily routines.

But by the afternoon… everything would change.

Episode 88 of the Italian American Stories Podcast is now available.

Before there was a restaurant, there were coal mines.

In the early 1900s, Italian immigrants from southern Italy and Sicily settled in southeastern Oklahoma, building a tight-knit community rooted in family, food, faith — and hard work. In the small town of Krebs, Oklahoma, one young immigrant named Pietro Piegare followed his father into the mines at just eleven years old.

But a mining accident would change his life forever.

After crushing his leg in a cave-in, Pete reinvented himself — first by brewing a unique wheat beer inspired by the Choctaw people, and then by cooking heaping plates of spaghetti and ravioli for his fellow miners. What began as friends stopping by for “some of that stringy stuff” and a cold Choc beer would eventually become one of Oklahoma’s most beloved Italian restaurants: Pete’s Place.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Italian coal mining communities of Krebs and Pittsburg, Oklahoma

• Oklahoma’s 52-year prohibition era

• Basement brewing and jail time

• A 1950s automatic spaghetti fork invention (yes, really)

• The Italian ambassador’s visit to Krebs

• Two sons who served in WWII — one wounded in Italy and awarded a Purple Heart

• And the lasting legacy of a red sauce joint that still thrives nearly 100 years later

From Campania, Italy to Little Italy of Oklahoma, this is the story of Pete Prichard, Choc Beer, and the rambling old house hidden by trees that became a cornerstone of Italian American life in Krebs.

At 17 years old, Rick Futia’s life changed in an instant.

What began as a summer day at the lake ended in a devastating accident that left him paralyzed. But that is only the beginning of this story.

In Episode 86, we sit down with Rick and his nephew, Jag Jefferson — author of Rickicello — to talk about survival, reinvention, and what it truly means to live boldly after everything changes. From Rick’s bodybuilding days and teenage confidence… to the shocking accident that altered his future… to the unexpected “rockstar” comeback that followed, this episode is filled with honesty, humor, and heart.

We also dive deep into Rick’s Italian American roots — from Calabria to upstate New York to San Jose — and the remarkable story of his grandmother, who left her family behind in Italy and crossed an ocean alone, pregnant and unable to speak English, to build a new life in America.

This is a story about:
• Family loyalty
• Immigrant sacrifice
• Reinvention after tragedy
• Confidence, charisma, and resilience
• And a life that refused to be defined by one moment

If you’d like to read the full story, Rick’s biography Rickicello is available at rickbio.com, where you can purchase the book, audiobook, and special editions directly.

Some stories fade with time. Others demand to be told.

This is one of them.

🎧 Listen now to Episode 86 of the Italian American Stories Podcast.