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Videos

Sept. 11, 2025

Episode 67: Interview with Stephen Vittoria

šŸŽ™ļø 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 Asbury Park, the story follows Christina, a young Gulf War veteran, and the Whitefish,…

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Sept. 4, 2025

Six Burning Monkeys

šŸ”„šŸ’ Six Burning Monkeys?! šŸ’šŸ”„ This bizarre headline from 1902 opens a surprising window into Italian immigrant life at the turn of the century. From New York’s crowded streets to small towns in Tennessee and even out west in California, stories like these show us just how unusual—and fascinating—our ancestors’…

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Sept. 2, 2025

In 1929, Italian immigrant and mystic healer Benny Evangelista was found beheaded in his basement.

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Sept. 2, 2025

Check out our episode on Lucille Colacito, an Italian American Woman baseball player during WW2!

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Sept. 2, 2025

When Benny Evangelist’s body was found in his Detroit home in 1929, the scene was beyond horrifying.

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Aug. 27, 2025

Episode 65: Lucille Colacito

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 Professional Baseball League during World War II. From her childhood in Denver’s Little Italy to her…

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Aug. 20, 2025

Episode 64: The Evangelista Massacre

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 upstairs. Cults, curses, and countless theories followed—but the case remains unsolved to this day. Join…

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July 30, 2025

Episode 63: Richard Leto

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 for decades until it revealed a priceless family legacy. From Philadelphia’s historic Little Italy…

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July 23, 2025

Storytelling

Storytelling is in my blood.ā€ In this clip, award-winning director and acting coach Michelle Danner shares her passion for storytelling—whether it’s through film, theater, or the classroom. From her upcoming rom-com Starstruck to a thrilling new sci-fi project, Michelle’s creative journey is nonstop. šŸŽ­āœØ Catch this inspiring moment from our…

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July 16, 2025

Episode 62: Michelle Danner

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 making of this beautiful and deeply personal movie, inspired in part by her own fiery and unforgettable…

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July 16, 2025

Discovering Ancestry Is It Fate or Something More

✨ Is it fate… or something more? ✨ Have you ever felt an invisible pull toward your ancestry—like you were meant to find something? In this clip, Bob Sorrentino talks about the mysterious, sometimes magical feeling that comes with discovering your Italian roots. From growing up with nine sets of…

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July 11, 2025

The Italians

Actress and director, Michelle Danner @michelledannerla joined me yesterday for a great conversation about her movie, The Italians. @theitaliansmovie Full episode will be posted next week! šŸ‡®šŸ‡¹šŸŽ„ #italianamerican #proudtobeitalian #podcast #italianamericanstories #italianamericanexperience #theitalians #italianactress #michelledanner #movie

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July 10, 2025

Episode 61: Bob Sorrentino

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 Bari to a noble lineage that includes dukes, princesses, and even a pope! We talk…

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July 9, 2025

Connected

šŸ‡®šŸ‡¹ In this clip from last week's interview, we explore the cultural disconnect—and deep emotional ties—that still linger more than 150 years later. @gattolosangeles šŸŽ™ļø #ItalianAmericanStories #CulturalIdentity #ItalyVsItalianAmerica #HeritageMatters #itlalianamerican

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July 3, 2025

Episode 60: Marianna Gatto

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 Angeles, offering a deep dive into the overlooked history of Italian immigrants in California. We talk…

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July 2, 2025

Galliano Club Book Series by Carmen Amato

Murder. Blackmail. Revenge. Author Carmen Amato gives us the juicy origin story behind Road to the Gallo Club—and the characters you won’t forget: Luca the bartender, Benny the Bootlegger, and Ruth Cross from the dance studio upstairs. šŸ‘€āœØ This is just a sneak peek from our interview—full episode now streaming!…

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June 26, 2025

Episode 59: Camren Amato Interview

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 incredible story of her family’s roots in Serra San Bruno, Calabria, and how their journey to Rome,…

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June 24, 2025

The Timeless Virtues of Italian Immigrants

In this clip from last week's interview, Louis G. Bruno Jr. reflects on the courage of Italian immigrants and the timeless virtues that carried them through: love, faith, and unwavering perseverance. šŸ‡®šŸ‡¹šŸ’Ŗ His book is more than a story — it’s a down payment on a debt of gratitude we…

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June 19, 2025

Episode 58: Interview with Louis G. Bruno Jr.

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 steel towns of western Pennsylvania, sharing the unforgettable story…

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June 11, 2025

Episode 57: Kate Ferretti

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 Henrietta Malnati to Italian immigrants who helped build the Colorado State Capitol, Kate grew up…

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June 5, 2025

Episode 56: Alice Minto

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 Chinese, and clinging to a half-starved puppy. Newspapers called her…

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April 25, 2025

Episode 55: Two Women and a Ghost

In this strange-but-true tale from 1949 Milwaukee, 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-telling scheme. When Mary believed spirits were haunting her tavern, she turned to Angelina, a so-called "sorceress," for help. What followed…

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April 10, 2025

Episode 54: Interview with Bob Spiotto

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 Queens, NY, and how those roots still influence him today. From performing one-man shows as historical icons like…

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April 10, 2025

Episode 54: Interview with Bob Spiotto

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 Queens, NY, and how those roots still influence him today. From performing one-man shows as historical icons like…

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