The Italian Radio Hour

08/30/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/BNV6L4HwDrg5Lj2m/?mibextid=oFDknk

08/25/2024

A little laughter while driving. The top 10 most pronounced Italian foods.

What do you think? Do you have more words to add to this list?

Grazie ragazzi di RDS 100% Grandi Successi

08/24/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: REV UP your engines! The iconic 1000 Miglia race is coming to the US!

FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://youtu.be/ug27Tf9yF1s

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and EGA, the Italian official licensee for 1000 Miglia Experience in Florida recently announced a partnership to promote and support the first-ever "1000 Miglia Experience USA Florida," a prestigious road rally for classic and exotic cars.

We caught with Mario Liguori, Executive Director di EGA to get first-hand information on the when, where, and how to best enjoy the race.
The event will take place from February 22-25, 2025, across Florida. The multi-day road rally will feature a route across Florida showcasing beautiful cars, distinguished guests, and glamorous lifestyle experiences.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) 1000 Miglia Experience Florida Lamborghini Ferrari Maserati

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - NIAF and EGA, the Italian official licensee for 1000 Miglia Experience in Florida recently announced a partnership to p...

08/21/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: Nido di Seta
After this episode initially aired in May, I had made a promise that this summer I would go and see this beautiful initiative that three young people from Calabria, who had moved away, decided to pursue when return3d to their homeland.
They brought back the silk making tradition that made Calabria famous in the XV and XVI century, before completely disappearing.
Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon, as some of you commented, to see great grandmothers growing silkworms at home, and every home had a loom.
Nido di Seta has also an exclusive partnership with Gucci so a little secret was revealed to us!

This story was fascinating to tell through Italian Radio Hour, and even more spectacular to see in person.
So, give it a listen, subscribe (it's FREE), share, and continue to enjoy this journey thru hidden gems Italy!

In this week's episode of The Italian Radio Hour: Calabria, the ancient tradition of silkworm breeding, and the story of Nido di Seta.WATCH THE INTEVIEW: htt...

08/16/2024

When I say that Romans love "their" Rome, we mean it.
Among the thousands of "sanpietrini" (coblestones) in the Vatican square, there is one that is shaped like a heart.

Nicknamed "Er core de Nerone" (Nero's heart), over the years, it has also been called Bernini's heart or Michelangelo's heart.
WHY?
A legend links this fascinating cobblestone to Bernini, as a sign of a love never found. Another, instead, says that the heart-shaped cobblestone was created by Michelangelo as a symbol of a broken love.
But there is yet another legend regarding the special bas-relief: it is said that it was a woman who created it as a tribute to her husband who was unjustly condemned to death.

Next time you are in Rome, I am sure, you too, will leave your ❤️ in the Eternal City!
❤️ ❤️ ❤️

08/12/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - All about food, food trends, pasta shapes, and Rome with this week's guests: Dan Pashman and Katie Parla.
Both Dan and Katie are internationally known best selling authors, journalists, podcasters (and much more!). With their books, articles, and respective award winning podcasts have been keeping informed and educated on what's going on in the food scene.
As many know Dan is also the inventor of a new pasta shape, (Cascatelli), and during this interview, he shares some of his journey with us. (You can listen to our episode with Sfoglini, Dan's partner in the production of his new pasta shape and The Sporkful with Dan Pashman Podcast "Mission ImPASTABLE).
Katie Parla is my #1 person to explore Foods of the Italian Islands, and my favorite to-go person while in Rome for many delicious recommendations. Her website provides a wealth of information that travelers will find useful to secure accommodations, amazing restaurants, her books and how to book a food tour with Katie, while in Rome.
As if she wasn't busy enough, she is working on her next book that is currently under the nickname of "The Untitled Rome Book" as she will be sharing her own approach and research of a city that never sleeps, Rome!
Dan and Katie are also collaborating on Dan's Pasta Tour in November. There are only a couple of spots left.
Check out all the necessary info here!
Dan Pashman: https://www.sporkful.com/
Katie Parla: https://katieparla.com/
Our episode with Sfoglini: https://youtu.be/qtv5iFvR0sY?si=FZ3hUEYfZmCjgAlO
https://youtu.be/7QsjH2ROBs8

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - No one better to talk about food, food trends, pasta shapes, and Rome than this week's guests: Dan Pashman and Katie P...

08/05/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: "Our Return to Italy with filmmakers Marylou Bongiorno and Jerome Bongiorno.

Emmy nominated, award-winning, husband and wife filmmakers, Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno and Jerome Bongiorno sit with us this week to talk about their the 3Rs trilogy of documentaries on urban America: Revolution '67 on the 1967 Newark riots/rebellion; The Rule, on the highly successful urban school model of Newark Abbey and Saint Benedict's Preparatory School (screened by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans at the U.S. Department of Education, both broadcast nationally on PBS, and Rust, on solutions to inner city poverty.

Additionally, they share interesting anecdotes around their Emmy-nominated documentary Mother-Tongue: Italian American Sons & Mothers featured Martin Scorsese, John Turturro, Rudy Giuliani and Pat DiNizio, their documentary about Mother Cabrini and "Our return to Italy" production.

If you'd like to support their projects, visit the Bongiorno Productions website at:
http://www.bongiornoproductions.com/index.html
https://youtu.be/vY9eXoIx5jg

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Emmy nominated, award-winning, husband and wife filmmakers, Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno and Jerome Bongiorno sit with us ...

08/02/2024

Istituto Mondo Italiano - Centro di cultura italiana Summer picnic will be Sunday August 18th at 11:30am.
Here is the link to join us! Come numerous! You are ALL INVITED!

Looking forward to seeing you all for our annual Scampagnata di Ferragosto. This is a family friendly event where you'll make lots of new friends. Everyone is welcome! Please, use the form below to...

07/29/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: Pittsburgh Italian Scholarship Fund Golf Classic (August 13th) and Basil M. Russo "Man of the Year".

The Pittsburgh Italian Scholarship Fund was established 40 years ago with the mission of assisting academically qualified local high school graduates of Italian ancestry with their college education. Additionally, they honor a local Pittsburgh professional of Italian descent who has demonstrated meritorious distinction in his or her profession. And this year’s recipients will be Mr. and Mrs. Basil and Pat Russo.
Ticket are still available, visit:: http://pisf.us/contact-us/

Tune in to enjoy our conversation with the President of the PISF, a scholarship recipient as well, the upcoming Golf Classic and Scholarship Award Dinner on Tuesday August 13th at the Valley Brook Country Club, honoring the 2024 Husband and Wife of the Year, Mr. & Mrs. Basil and Pat Russo.

Cav. Basil M. Russo has served as national president of both the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), and its affiliate, ISDA Financial Life, since 2014. As ISDA president he developed the largest Italian American social media platform in the country, which currently has more than 725,000 followers. He also created the organization’s outstanding monthly newspaper, La Nostra Voce, and he has established many new lodges and districts nationwide, while increasing the organization’s membership by more than 20%. As the ISDA Financial Life president, he directed the growth of the organization’s insurance, IRA, and annuity company from $60 million in assets to over $391 million in assets, making it the largest Italian American fraternal insurance company in America.

Additionally, in 2017, Basil, his wife Patricia (Gallupoli) and their children created the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum, which provides grants to aspiring filmmakers who depict the Italian American experience in a positive way. To date, 48 films have been awarded $400,000 in grants with several of the films being aired and acclaimed in prominent film festivals throughout the U.S. and Italy.
https://youtu.be/te3v0ppPo3A

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - The Pittsburgh Italian Scholarship Fund was established 40 years ago with the mission of assisting academically qualifi...

07/18/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Inclusive Italy. From coffee to opera to poetry reading, the world of inclusivity in Italy.
WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://youtu.be/PgOdCP9Mohk

Whether you are in Bologna ordering a coffee or at La Scala Opera House in Milan, many are the spaces and initiatives in Italy that cater to the blind, deaf & mute, or people with different learning abilities and create a safe and inclusive space.

Joined in conversation by Sara Longhi, co-founder of the coffeeshop and Cultural association Senza Nome, the first inclusive coffeeshop in Bologna managed by deaf people open to anyone, and Prof. Elena Di Giovanni, Full Professor of English Translation at the University of Macerata, creator and coordinator of accessibility projects for major theatres and opera festivals across Italy. These include Arena di Verona, Teatro alla Scala in Milano, Teatro Grande in Brescia, Teatro Pavarotti-Freni in Modena, Macerata Opera Festival, Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, etc.

In 2023, the accessibility projects coordinated by Elena Di Giovanni brought over 1,600 persons with disabilities to theatres and festivals across Italy.
The episode is also interpreted in Italian Sign Language by Tiziana Santoro.

07/09/2024

A history-making trio 🇮🇹

The first time three Italians have been in the quarter-finals at the same Grand Slam! 👏

07/08/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Do you know what it takes to become the next MasterChef?
Thousands of thousands of applicants try every year to make it to prepare their best dish in front of the most "honest" chefs to earn an apron to get into the actual competition.
Meet Luca Manfé, the only Italian competitor so far who has succeeded to not only enter the competition, work his way up the palate of the judges and the hearts of the viewers as one of the fairest competitors so far but he also won the title of America's Masterchef, took home the coveted MC Trophy and had his cookbook published.
Luca, originally from Aviano (Friuli Venezia Giulia), was turned down in Season 3 but was told by the judges to come back the following year.
Luca spent the next year getting ready for the competition and his work paid off.
Now, 10 years after his win, we go back to his life prior to MasterChef, during MC (with some of the insights on the show and the judges ON and OFF camera - Is Gordon Ramsey really that harsh? How about Joe Bastianich? His favorite judge?), and after MC, including his organized trips to his beloved region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Want an amazing Frico recipe? Try Luca's from his cookbook.
Buona visione e buon appetito!
Follow Luca on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucamanfe/?hl=en
or go to Italy with Luca: https://www.italywithluca.com/
https://youtu.be/fCr2u2GdgbE

This week on the Italian Radio Hour - Do you have what it takes to become the next MasterChef?Thousands of thousands of applicants try every year to make it ...

07/01/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - The Making of "Cabrini" with Executive Producer J. Eustance Wolfington.

From Alejandro Monteverde, award-winning director of 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮, comes the powerful epic of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who arrives in New York City in 1889 and is greeted by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing and healthcare for society's most vulnerable. With broken English and poor health, Cabrini builds an empire of hope unlike anything the world had ever seen.

But, how many of you are familiar with the story of the man who has made it all possible? Join me in conversation with J. Eustace Wolfington, a Philadelphia businessman and the executive producer of the movie "Cabrini" as we discuss the film, and the very personal inspiration that drove him to make this epic production about the life of the first Italian-American saint.
Learn about the casting choices, cinematography and much, much more.
Eustace is the first to ever be honored with "Son of Cabrini: award, in recognition of the commitment of his time, energy, and financial resources to produce this film, with the confidence that his legacy represents a story worth telling that will resonate with the young women of today, tomorrow, and the future.

This films offers a universal message for people of all ages and faiths. At a time when the world is filled with anxiety about the future, J Eustace Wolfington wants people to be lifted by her example and knows their fears will be replaced with the courage to go out into the world and make it better.

The movie will also be released in Italy in September with great anticipation.
https://youtu.be/bK1dzWoHjKM
Angel Studios

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - From Alejandro Monteverde, award-winning director of 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮, comes the powerful epic of Frances...

06/24/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - MEI - National Museum of Italian Emigration.
WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://youtu.be/tuNMIk3r2K0
Genoa is a city with a strong link to emigration: it was from here that millions of Italians left for the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.
It also houses The MEI - National Museum of Italian Emigration, housed in the Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè, which lies onto 3 floors divided into 16 areas where it is possible to retrace many stories of Italian migration, from the Unification of Italy (and even before) to the present.
The life stories of migrants are told through first-hand sources such as diaries, letters, photographs, newspapers and archival documents.
It is an empathetic and interactive museum, where you can "do experience" . See, hear, learn and get involved in the scenic setting of one of the city's oldest medieval buildings, which originally provided hospitality to pilgrims.
In conversation with us, Paolo Masini, President of the MEI Foundation, and and actor, producer, testimonial for the MEI, and Ambassador of "gestualita' italiana" Luca Vullo that will tell us more not only about the exhibit but a great opportunity to get on the Amerigo Vespucci, approaching Los Angeles in July and learn more about the immigration stories of that area.
The museum is in close relationship with Mu.MA - Maritime and Migrations Museum and, in particular, with the nearby Galata Maritime Museum, which houses the section on transoceanic voyages "Memoria e Migrazioni" (Memory and Migrations) and the section on immigration, "Italiano anch'io".

06/22/2024

Some people call the "olive ascolane". I call them "little pieces of heaven" on a plate.
Join Regions of Italy Cooking Club this Sunday at 3pm at Istituto Mondo Italiano - Centro di cultura italiana.
We will be preparing foods of Le Marche region.
Get your ticket at: https://www.istitutomondoitaliano.org/store/p1722/NEW%21_REGIONS_of_ITALY_Cooking_Club.html

06/21/2024

Our first Italian Camp has just finished. So many new friends and memories made with our "Avventure di Pinocchio" around Italy: Bologna, Napoli, Genova, Roma, with lots to discover, from tortellini, to active volcanoes 🌋 to Luca lookalikes, planting 🍅 a d much, much more!
Mire camps on June 24th-28th, and July 8-12th.
Sign up at: www.istitutomondoitaliano.org

06/19/2024

Little pastaio in the making with The Pasta Fairy!
Only at Italian camp at Istituto Mondo Italiano - Centro di cultura italiana 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 🇮🇹
Two more camps (June 21-24th), and July 8-12th).
Sign your child up for an amazing experience at: www.istitutomondoitaliano.org

06/15/2024

Arrivavano dal fiume Liri vestiti come pecorai, capaci di suonare il piffero o il flauto. Accompagnati da cantanti e da altri artisti dotati di zampogna o cornamusa, i “pifferai di Roma” giungevano il 25 novembre, giorno di S. Caterina, per

06/11/2024

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - A Touch of Class with Kevin J Glavin and Samuele Bozzolla.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://youtu.be/4L-Zacy2dSk

Kevin Glavin is a world-renowned and critically acclaimed Bass-Baritone singer, actor, and opera singer with over forty years of experience specializing in Italian Opera. Kevin has the great talent to make you laugh even while singing in a language you do not understand!
His performed with notable artists such as Luciano Pavarotti and Marvin Hamlisch, and collaborates with major international opera stars, directors, and conductors from around the world.

In this interview, Kevin and Samuele Bozzolla, long time friend of Kevin but most importantly the son of late Opera singe Claudia Pinza, Kevin's voice teacher for many years, "MRS. PINZA" as Kevin always respectfully refers to her, provide great insides and funny anecdotes on Kevin's professional and personal journey, without sparing even friendly imitations of Maestro Luciano Pavarotti.

But Kevin had a secret desire growing up! Since he was a little kid, dreamt of Vegas, ci**rs and comedy. In his first CD, Kevin takes us a very personal musical journey, where he "does it his way" and makes you dream about being back in the Rat Pack area, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and company.
Kevin Glavin will perform at Istituto Mondo Italiano on Saturday Sept. 21st, 2024. Tickets will go on sale soon but we have a treat for you. Subscribe to The Italian Radio Hour YouTube Channel and leave us a comment on the interview. Five lucky listeners will receive an authographed CD of Kevin's "A Touch of Class".
www.istitutomondoitaliano.org
To learn more about Kevin Glavin, visit: https://www.kevinglavin.org/

P.C. for the CD cover, the amazing, talented John Altdorfer

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Kevin Glavin is a world-renowned and critically acclaimed Bass-Baritone singer, actor, and opera singer with over forty...