In this lively episode of the Italian American Podcast, John and Marcella welcome designer and entrepreneur Oriana Lamarca, whose deep Sicilian roots shape both her life and work. Together, they share heartfelt stories of family traditions, holiday memories, and the culture that defines Sicily. Oriana recounts the journey behind Oriana LaMarca Designs and her Sicilian-inspired collection, My Sicilian Love Affair.

Crafted with semi-precious stones and handmade Sicilian ceramics, her pieces are more than accessories—they are modern talismans that connect wearers to heritage and memory. The conversation underscores the enduring value of authenticity, artisanship, and quality amid today's fast-fashion culture, and reflects on the renewed appreciation for true "Made in Italy" craftsmanship.

The episode closes with a look at Oriana's latest ventures, including intimate guided tours in Sicily and family collaborations that keep tradition alive. Filled with laughter and personal stories, this conversation captures the timeless pull of heritage, family, and the simple joys that bind us to our roots.

HER SOCIALS:

Instagram:

@orianalamarca (personal)

@orianalamarcadesigns (business)

@mysicilianloveaffair (business)

TikTok:

@orianalamarcadesigns

@mysicilianloveaffair

Facebook:

@orianalamarcadesigns

@mysicilianloveaffair

X:

@orianalamarcadesigns

@mysicilianloveaffair

Threads:

@orianalamarcadesigns

@mysicilianloveaffair

HER WEBSITES:

www.orianalamarcadesigns.com

www.mysicilianloveaffair.com

Italian collection:

https://orianalamarcadesigns.com/collections/italian-chic

Sicilian Collection:

https://orianalamarcadesigns.com/collections/my-sicilian-love-affair

My Sicilian Love Affair

orianalamarcadesigns.com

HOSTS:

John Viola

Dr. Marcella Martin

SPECIAL GUEST:

Oriana Lamarca

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

Step into the heart of New York's culinary history in this episode of the Italian American Podcast. Hosts John and Patrick welcome special guest Max Tucci, scion of the legendary Delmonico's, for a spirited conversation rich with Italian heritage and behind-the-scenes stories that helped shape American dining. From Gilded Age grandeur to the rise of iconic dishes like Baked Alaska, they explore how food, family, and culture converged in one of the nation's most storied dining rooms.

Max shares how his family revived Delmonico's and sustained a hospitality dynasty rooted in excellence and tradition. The conversation ranges from speakeasies and celebrity guests to the finer details that define true hospitality—why crystal glassware matters and how even the right espresso cup elevates the experience. Along the way, the hosts reflect on Italian-American pride, storytelling, and the art of gathering around the table.

For anyone who loves Italian food, family legacy, or classic New York stories, this episode is a tribute to resilience, beauty, and the enduring power of hospitality.

HIS SOCIALS

Instagram: @maxtucci

TikTok: @maxtucci

Facebook: @maxtucci

X: @maxtucci

HIS WEBSITE: www.maxtucci.com www.thedelmonicoway.com

Any Events that are coming up to note:

2026 Celebrates The Tucci Family's 100 Years in Hospitality The Delmonico Way Cookbook

https://a.co/d/8KJLyJt New link for villa rental in Firenze airbnb.com/h/villatucci

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Dr. Maria Giura, acclaimed poet and memoirist, joins Marianne and Patrick for an intimate conversation centered on her new poetry collection, If We Still Lived Where I Was Born. Reading selected poems aloud, she evokes childhood memories above her family's Brooklyn pastry shop and the rituals of Sunday gatherings that shaped her imagination.

The discussion moves beyond nostalgia to the delicate art of writing about family while respecting privacy. Dr. Giura reflects on the weight of Italian American cultural expectations, the instinct to "keep things in the family," and the resolve required to tell one's story with honesty. She also speaks about the guidance of her mentor, poet Maria Mazziotti Gillan, and the particular challenges and rewards of working as both memoirist and poet within a close-knit community.

At its heart, the conversation considers the universal tension between loyalty and self-expression. Through memory, tradition, and careful craft, Dr. Giura demonstrates how personal history can be transformed into art that resonates across generations and cultures.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Maria Giura PhD, Poet, Author, Workshop Leader

HER SOCIALS:

Instagram: @mariagiurawrites

Facebook: maria.giura.3975/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgiura/

HER WEBSITE: Website: https://www.mariagiura.com/

HER EVENTS COMING UP:

Monday, February 23, 6:30 pm: Co-featuring with poet Linda Kleinbub. Phoenix Poetry Series, Shades of Green Pub, 125 E. 15th Street, New York, NY. See socials below.

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 pm. Reading, Big Red Books, Nyack, NY https://www.bigredbooks.net/events/3930820260325

Thursday, May 14, 6 pm. Co-featuring. Italian American Writers Association @ Calandra Italian American Institute, 25 W 43rd St Suite 1700, New York, NY https://iawa.net/events/

SOCIALS FOR THE EVENTS SEE BELOW:

Feb 23 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076398760395 AND https://www.instagram.com/the_phoenix_reading_series/ https://www.instagram.com/the_phoenix_reading_series/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/lindakleinbub AND https://www.instagram.com/lindakleinbub/

March 25 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092635875093 AND https://www.instagram.com/bigredbooks/ May 14 Event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071063499667 AND https://www.instagram.com/italianamericanwritersassoc/

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

Marianna Gatto

SPECIAL GUEST:

Maria Giura

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

On this episode of the Italian American Podcast, host Patrick O'Boyle convenes a distinguished panel at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York to explore the often-overlooked world of Neapolitan Renaissance art. Claudio, the Institute's director, outlines its mission to promote Italian culture across New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, strengthening ties between Italy and the Italian American community. Patrick shares the story of restoring forgotten masterpieces in Buccino, Salerno—an initiative sparked by an unexpected American connection and dedicated to reviving sacred works of art.

The discussion turns to innovation in preservation. Ivan describes how virtual reality and artificial intelligence are expanding access to cultural heritage, including the creation of digital twins of the Annunciation statues damaged in the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. These tools allow audiences to follow the restoration process step by step, illustrating how collaboration between Italian and American institutions can protect historic treasures.

Art historian Danielle Oteri offers a perspective on the Neapolitan Renaissance's neglected legacy, recalling how aristocratic patrons once commissioned major works for rural churches, bringing artistic excellence to everyday communities. Reflecting on emigration, loss, and renewal, the episode underscores how the Italian diaspora can help restore ancestral towns, making the past not only remembered but rebuilt.

LOCATION: Italian Cultural Institute, 686 Park Avenue, New York, NY.

THEIR SOCIALS:

Antonio Vincente Amendola

Instagram: @antoniovicenteamendola

Danielle Oteri

Her Website: https://www.feasttravel.com/

Instagram: @danielleoteri_italy

Youtube: @danielle-oteri

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

Danielle Oteri

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Antonio Vincente Amdenola

Claudio Pagliara

Ivan Allevi

PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In part 2 of episode 404, the conversation widens beyond personal history into the ethical, health, and cultural implications of plant-based Italian American cooking. Tara Punzone and the crew discuss industrial farming, ingredient integrity, and how modern food systems have altered both taste and tradition.

The episode touches on heritage-grain pasta, the role of quality olive oil and vegetables, and the generational shift toward more conscious eating—especially among younger Italian Americans reexamining what authenticity really means. Rather than nostalgia alone, the focus is on continuity: how tradition survives by adapting.

Thoughtful, funny, and candid, part 2 explores how Italian American cuisine can evolve responsibly—honoring its roots while responding to contemporary concerns—without losing its soul.

HER CREDENTIALS:

Tara Punzone

Author Vegana Italiana

Chef & Owner of Pura Vita

www.puravitalosangeles.com

HER SOCIALS:

Instagrams:

@cheftarapunzone

@puravita_la

ORDER HER BOOK VEGANA ITALIANA :

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

John Viola

Marcella Martin

SPECIAL GUEST:

Tara Punzone

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, the crew explores the intersection of Italian American heritage and vegan cuisine with Tara Punzone, chef, author, and the force behind Pura Vita, Los Angeles' first 100% vegan Italian restaurant and wine bar.

The conversation blends family history, cultural memory, and the challenge of preserving tradition while removing animal products from classic dishes. Punzone reflects on her path to veganism, shaped by an early empathy for animals and a childhood spent in a family of devoted home cooks.

Rather than rejecting Italian foodways, she reframes them, pointing out how much traditional Italian cuisine is naturally plant-based—born of frugality, seasonality, and vegetable-forward regional cooking long before modern food labels existed.

HER CREDENTIALS:

Tara Punzone Author Vegana Italiana Chef & Owner of Pura Vita www.puravitalosangeles.com

HER SOCIALS:

Instagrams:

@cheftarapunzone

@puravita_la

ORDER HER BOOK VEGANA ITALIANA :

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769027/vegana-italiana-by-tara-punzone-with-gene-stone/

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

John Viola

Marcella Martin

SPECIAL GUEST:

Tara Punzone

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, Patrick, Mariana, and Marcella are joined by guest Umberto Mucci for a live conversation recorded at IAFL4 (Italian American Future Leaders 4), a national gathering of young Italian Americans. The discussion explores cultural identity, community building, leadership, nostalgia, and what it means to belong across generations and borders.

The conversation deepens as the group addresses longstanding tensions between Italians in Italy and their American descendants. Drawing on his experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Mucci offers a candid perspective on why Italian American pride can sometimes meet resistance in Italy, and how history, perception, and unresolved misunderstandings continue to shape those dynamics. The episode also previews a forthcoming podcast spinoff aimed at bridging that divide, featuring Italian journalists reporting from the United States for audiences in Italy.

Balancing humor with intellectual seriousness, the hosts dismantle stereotypes, share family stories, and respond directly to online critics. The result is an honest, engaging dialogue—and a call for greater empathy between communities bound by shared history, memory, and culture on both sides of the ocean.

THEIR SOCIALS:

UMBERTO-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umberto.mucci/

Instagram: umbertomucci

MARIANNA-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAmarianna.gatto/

Instagram: @gattolosangeles

Website: https://www.iamla.org/staff/staff-marianna-gatto/

MARCELLA-

Instagram: Marcella_martinphd

Website: https://www.marcellamartin.com/

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

Marianna Gatto

Marcella Martin

SPECIAL GUEST:

Umberto Mucci

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John, Patrick, and Mariana welcome pipe enthusiast and business owner Michael Curcio for a lively conversation on Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet rituals that bind generations. What begins with pipe smoking opens into a broader exploration of restoration, bespoke artistry, and the unexpected revival of Italian pipe culture—where utility, beauty, and memory converge.

The discussion moves easily between humor and reflection, touching on immigrant family histories, old-world habits carried into modern life, and the meaning embedded in everyday objects. From Curcio's ancestors arriving in Harlem to stories of homemade wine, copper pots, ashtrays, and pipe clubs, the episode reveals how ordinary items become vessels of identity and continuity. Mariana adds personal texture with candid reflections on motherhood and domestic life, grounding tradition in the present.

Warm, thoughtful, and often funny, this episode explores how heritage is kept alive not by nostalgia alone, but by everyday use, care, and shared experience. Italian pipes emerge not as mere accessories, but as enduring symbols of community, craftsmanship, and legacy.

HOSTS:

Patrick O'Boyle

Dolores Alfieri Taranto

SPECIAL GUEST:

Michael Curcio

PRODUCED BY:

Nicholas Calvello-Macchia