The Italian American Podcast

The Italian American Podcast is the first and most engaging podcast dedicated to helping Italian Americans learn about and celebrate their brilliant heritage. We're obsessed with our heritage, and each week we'll discuss all things Italian American- including history and family traditions, genealogy, recipes, language, and more with smarts, heart, and a lot of laughs!We'll be joined by celebrity guests, experts, authors, and everyday Italian Americans for honest and thoughtful conversations digging deep into the "hows and whys" of who we are, and sharing the heart of the Italian American experience with the 25 million Americans lucky enough to have been born Italian! And, like all the best Italian American conversations, ours take place around the kitchen table- meaning every time you tune in you'll be entertained, educated, and brought right back to where you belong… amongst family!

The Italian American Podcast is a society podcast hosted by Red Sauce Studio, with 447 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Red Sauce Studio hosts The Italian American Podcast, a society show with 447 episodes published.

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  Episode #434

  IAP 434 More Than a Restaurant: Preserving Italian American Tradition at Gargiulo's

  Sep 22, 202648 min

  In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, John, Pat, and Marcella are joined by chef Matthew Cutolo for a lively conversation about Italian American food, family, and tradition. From sauce season and classic Jersey tomato varieties like Rutgers to Sunday dinners and family routines, they reflect on the customs that have connected Italian American families for generations. Matthew is the third-generation chef at Brooklyn's historic Gargiulo's Restaurant, an Italian American institution whose roots stretch back to 1907. He discusses the challenges of balancing tradition with modernity, preserving family recipes and hospitality, and keeping a century-old business thriving as neighborhoods, customers, and family celebrations continue to change. The conversation explores why heirloom restaurants like Gargiulo's are more than simply places to eat: they are living repositories of Italian American identity, hospitality, and shared memory. From changing neighborhoods and social media to sauce season and Sunday dinner, the episode celebrates the families keeping Italian American traditions alive while finding new ways to carry them into the future. HIS SOCIALS: Insta: @matthewcutolo Youtube: @MatthewCutolo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefmatthewcutolo/ TikTok: @matthewcutolo HIS WEBSITE: GARGIULIO'S SOCIALS Instagram: @gargiulosrestaurant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GargiulosNY/ GARGIULIO'S WEBSITE: https://gargiulos.com/ WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON PATREON https://www.patreon.com/italianamericanpodcast/posts/more-than-at-iap-170283225?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle Marcella Martin SPECIAL GUEST: Matthew Cutolo PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

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  Episode #433

  IAP 433 The Women of Bari Vecchia: Keeping the Orecchiette Tradition Alive

  Sep 15, 202650 min

  In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts Pat, Rosella, and Marianna welcome guests Nonna Nunzia Caputo, and Alessia to the Red Sauce Studio in New York City for a conversation about the beloved tradition of handmade orecchiette and life in Bari Vecchia. Nonna Nunzia recalls learning to make pasta as a young girl under the watchful eye of her grandmother, when orecchiette was not simply a regional specialty but part of the rhythm of everyday family life and, for many, a means of survival. The conversation traces the remarkable transformation of Bari Vecchia from a poor and sometimes rough neighborhood into an international destination celebrated for its food, culture, and distinctive street life. Nunzia and Alessia reflect on how tourism and social media have brought worldwide attention to the women making pasta along its narrow streets, while also discussing the importance of preserving the authenticity of a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. The episode concludes with Nonna Nunzia demonstrating the art of making authentic orecchiette by hand, sharing the techniques and instinctive feel for the dough that come from a lifetime of experience. Through stories of family, hardship, hospitality, and change, the conversation celebrates the women of Bari Vecchia and a culinary tradition that continues to connect generations across Italy and the Italian diaspora. NONNA NUNZIA SOCIALS: Instagram: @leorecchiettedinunzia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nunzialapastaia/ TikTok: @nunzialapastaia Youtube: @NunziaLaPastaia HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Rosella Rago Marianna Gatto SPECIAL GUEST: Nonna Nunzia PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

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  Episode #431

  IAP 431 Italian Americans and the Fight for Civil Rights with Jeffrey Louis Decker

  Sep 1, 20261h 16m

  In this episode of the Italian American Podcast, hosts John and Patrick are joined by Professor Jeffrey Louis Decker, author of Rebel Girl and the Godfather: New York City's Italians and the Fight for Civil Rights, for a fascinating exploration of Italian American involvement in the struggle for civil rights. At the center of the conversation are two compelling and very different figures: Mary Sansone, the formidable labor organizer and community activist, and Joe Colombo, the controversial founder of the Italian American Civil Rights League. Through their stories, Professor Decker examines competing visions of Italian American identity, activism, and advancement in twentieth-century New York. The conversation explores the stereotypes that shaped perceptions of Italian Americans, the role of labor and community organizing, and the political and cultural changes that transformed Italian American life from the Great Depression through the Reagan era. Along the way, John, Patrick, and Professor Decker consider questions of assimilation, coalition-building, ethnic identity, and what civil rights meant to different generations of Italian Americans. HIS WEBSITE: Website: https://english.ucla.edu/people-faculty/decker-jeffrey-louis/ LINK: Read an excerpt from Jeffrey Louis Decker's Rebel Girl and the Godfather: New York City's Italians and the Fight for Civil Rights at https://www.book2look.com/book/hYftxSzwIK HOSTED BY: John Viola Patrick O'Boyle SPECIAL GUEST: Jeffrey Louis Decker PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

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  Episode #430

  Al Di Meola: Performing in Italy and Reconnecting with His Roots | IAP 430 Pt. 2

  Aug 21, 202634 min

  In Part 2 of our conversation with legendary guitarist Al Di Meola, we explore some of his most memorable performances in Italy. Di Meola recalls playing on Mount Vesuvius, giving intimate concerts in private homes, and experiencing the extraordinary warmth and hospitality of Italian audiences. He also reflects on emotional visits to his family's ancestral towns, where performing became a deeply personal way to reconnect with his Italian heritage. Through stories of music, family, food, and tradition, Di Meola reveals why his experiences in Italy remain among the most meaningful of his remarkable career. The episode closes with laughter, gratitude, and an impromptu kazoo duet. HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @official_aldimeola Facebook: / aldimeolamusic Youtube: ‪@OfficialAlDiMeola‬ X:@aldimeolamusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bBWK... HOME EVENTS: https://aldimeola.com/pages/private-e... HIS MERCH: https://elusivedisc.com/search/?omnis... HIS TOUR: https://aldimeola.com/pages/tour HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Jenna Esposito SPECIAL GUEST: Al Di Meola PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

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  Episode #430

  IAP 430 Pt. 1 Al Di Meola: Music, Memory, and Italian Roots

  Aug 16, 20261h 4m

  Grammy-winning guitarist Al Di Meola joins Jenna and Pat for a wide-ranging conversation about Italian heritage, family history, and his extraordinary musical career. They explore regional identity, genealogy, dual citizenship, and the immigration stories that connect generations of Italian Americans to their ancestral towns. Along the way, they reflect on the food and traditions rooted in Southern Italy that continue to shape Italian American life. Di Meola shares stories from a remarkable career, including collaborations with Luciano Pavarotti, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. He discusses the importance of melody and rhythm in Italian music, his early influences, the life-changing impact of The Beatles, and the golden age of vinyl and record stores. He also offers candid thoughts on how streaming has transformed the relationship between musicians and their audiences. The conversation turns especially personal as Di Meola recalls emotional visits to his family's ancestral towns in Italy and the hospitality he encountered there. From performing on Mount Vesuvius to intimate concerts in private homes, his stories reveal how music, family, food, and tradition carry memory across generations. The episode closes with laughter, gratitude, and an impromptu kazoo duet. HIS SOCIALS: Instagram: @official_aldimeola Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlDiMeolaMusic/ Youtube: @OfficialAlDiMeola X:@aldimeolamusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bBWKHfpepPOychRNFzg4q?autoplay_ok=1 HOME EVENTS: https://aldimeola.com/pages/private-events HIS MERCH: https://elusivedisc.com/search/?omnisendContactID=673f6ef97594f17470dcb8dc&tag=clearaudio-al-di-meola&utm_source=email&utm_medium=social+media&utm_campaign=DiMeola-table-intro&utm_id=DiMeola-Table HIS TOUR: https://aldimeola.com/pages/tour HOSTED BY: Patrick O'Boyle Jenna Esposito SPECIAL GUEST: Al Di Meola PRODUCED BY: Nicholas Calvello-Macchia

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