Little Italy Of LA Podcast

Little Italy Of LA Podcast 🇮🇹Highlighting Italian & Italian American stories in art, culture, & heritage in LA & beyond🇮🇹

10/08/2025

When people think of Italian contributions to society, it is often art and excellence in cuisine that comes to mind. But Italy produces some of the leading scientists in the world, and as part of , we're highlighting some of those accomplishments.

During my recent interview with Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, former deputy chief scientist at and president of Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation, we spoke about some of the contributions to science made by Italians, which includes Dr. Zaffada as well. The list is long, but as an example, the founder of Logitech, Pierluigi Zappacosta, is an innovator from Italy, as are dozens if not hundreds of scientists who have literally changed so much in our world from medicine and healthcare, to arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences and much more.

And now, ISSNAF works to encourage the next group of innovators. It was founded with 36 members and now spans more than 3000 members, including four Nobel Prize recipients. Their goal? To grow the next generation of leaders by connecting students with universities and professional experiences to continue into the next generation. The group also works strongly with the Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Consulate to promote programs throughout the year, in addition to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.

Won't you please join me in welcoming Dr. Cinzia Zuffada to all of our video and audio platforms of , , and . I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

10/07/2025

Women in science have made huge strides in recent decades, and we recently spoke with Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, former deputy chief scientist at about this and the work she is known for around the globe and at JPL. Dr. Zuffada is also president of aka Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation, supporting the next group of leaders and innovators in science, particularly those trained in Italy, which produces some of the top scientific talent in the world. And we highlight the work of Dr. Zuffada today as we continue our coverage of .

I believe in the mission of and support the next generation of innovators, and I'm honored to highlight all they do here. Won't you please join me in welcoming Dr. Cinzia Zuffada to all of our video and audio platforms of , , and . I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

The first photo in this rotation looks like a painting, but it's actually a narrow street in Venice, one of many I've ta...
10/05/2025

The first photo in this rotation looks like a painting, but it's actually a narrow street in Venice, one of many I've taken in my travels there.

I LOVE trying to find my way around this magnificent City. It's always an adventure and so beautiful here. Just a few steps away from the tourist area and you'll find magnificent local eateries and espresso bars. I felt so welcome here when I went to speak at the Venice Film Festival. I chose to spend part of my time away from the hustle and bustle of the festival and instead immerse myself in the local culture here. I love it.

The next to last photo is with my friend, international supermodel Petra, whom I've since become friends with after meeting at the Festival. She's a true force aging as we wish. The final photo is with my husband, .

I hope you enjoy these photos as part of my collage.



For , we begin with my heritage from the picturesque San Barbato and Manocalzati communities tucked away in the mountai...
10/04/2025

For , we begin with my heritage from the picturesque San Barbato and Manocalzati communities tucked away in the mountains Avellino.

It is absolutely breathtaking here, with family-run restaurants and shops. This is where my family originates from on both my mother and father's side. I've spent time with many family members here, and I feel as though I've known them for all my life each time I visit. And every morning, we welcome the day with a "Bongiorno" message on what's app.

This area is an easy drive to Naples and the coast. There are wineries and olive farms, local concerts and lots of family gatherings late until the evening. My cousin Salvatore has a magnificent pizzeria restaurant that seems to be a favorite. My family says my grandfather, John Zara, made sure the property stayed with the family. And it's amazing to me that 100 years ago my relatives came to America in search of work and an easer life. Now, so many are returning to their roots and communities like this one. One day, I'd like to be a resident here, too🇮🇹

Enjoy this weekend, and a little slice of my Italian heritage.



10/03/2025

Talk about living the American dream! That would be , who came from a small town in Sicily not speaking much English, but in just a few years he learned the language and opened his first restaurant in New York City, something he dreamt about since he was a young boy.

Chef Salvo says he wakes up at 5am every day, checks on his three espresso bars throughout the City, then zooms down to SoHo on his Vespa to check on his restaurant, , already considered one of the finest in this great City. How did he do this? He talks about that during our interview, in addition to his rise to culinary fame, having cooked at some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world, and leading the menus at the Vatican. Now he's living his dream in NYC, saying he loves the American people who have welcomed him with open arms. Perhaps it's his mother's famous meatballs he serves up nightly, or his warm smile and genuine happiness to welcome his guests each day. He talks about that in this clip with me.

We're thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly with upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video and audio platforms of , , and , and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

10/02/2025

As we welcome , we begin by highlighting our friend, , who has taken NYC by storm with his espresso bars and Soho restaurant, & . Chef Salvo started his culinary career from his small town in Sicily and quickly moved on to cook in some of the finest restaurants around the world. I was particularly curious about his time serving his creations as lead chef at the for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. So naturally, I asked him about that experience, and his answer was quite touching, and he gave high praise to one of the Popes he came to know well.

I'm so honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, who has cooked for many notables from Kings to DiCaprio, yet he insists all of his guests are treated the same, because he considers them like family in his home. Please find my full interview with Chef Salvo on all video and audio platforms of , , and , and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

10/01/2025

We're so excited about this year's Newport Beach Film Festival from October 16-23, featuring over 100 film and 250 shorts from 32 countries.

The festival opens with a screening of Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon” starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Canavalle and Andrew Scott. The closing night film will include a screening of Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein," starring Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac & Christoph Waltz. And for the International
Film category, the Italian film, "When Mom Is Away...With The In-Laws" is already said to be a show stopper.

We will be speaking with the creator of the NBFF, Gregg Schwenk, who joins us to talk about what's become one of the industry's most exciting festivals, including some of the special events over the week-long event. Make sure to go on the website for details, but Gregg will give us an inside peek during our interview.

Please join us on all video and audio platforms of , , and . I'm your host,
, and it's my pleasure to welcome you.



10/01/2025

Want to live longer? It's all about our food. In fact, "we are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a break.

Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn't just help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to be educated to make healthy decisions because our lives literally depend on it.
Maura is from Italy and studied at the University of Cagliari before joining USC, and she points to how the American diet is so radically different from the Italian diet, and how incorporating proper fasting with certain foods can drastically reduce inflammation, which we all know is the culprit to declining health and weight gain. And
we don't have to fast all day. Maura gives us practical tips on the best way to achieve a healthy fast without feeling famished.

I met Maura at an event sponsored by and , and we spent some time discussing how to get people to make healthy, which is often difficult, but perhaps approaching from a clinical perspective might be more beneficial. We'll talk about that, in addition to her early work in Italy, eventually leading her to Los Angeles. And she's one of our featured guests as part of Italian Heritage Month.

Please welcome Maura Fanti to our , , & . I'm your host, , and I thank you for joining us.

10/01/2025

Italians are known for their vibrant culture worldwide, and when I hear the term, "it
takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own
village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California. Please give a warm
welcome to Vicky as one of our featured guests for Italian Heritage Month.
Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capistrano’s
Sister City, Capestrano, Italy. She is Chair of the Italian Studies Council and Board
Member of the Ferrucci Institute at Chapman University, which has one of the most
active Italian Studies programs in the country. Vicky is also Regional VP for the
National Italian American Foundation, aka NIAF, which promotes Italian heritage at its
highest level through programs based out of D.C., and she's working hard to ensure
California has a large presence within the organization. Vicky is also forever hosting
fundraisers, Italian film nights, parades and food drives to keep the Italian community
actively involved in Orange County where she lives. And if you're looking for
something to do, check out her newsletter that keeps So Cal peeps informed on all
things Italian.

Why does this all matter? Because to keep our culture, or any culture alive and active
within a community, it requires committed involvement, and that's Vicky. In 2003, Vicky
and her husband, Michael, purchased a farmhouse in southern Tuscany and have
been producing olive oil ever since. She and her family have since attained Italian
citizenship and are now residents of Sarteano, where the farmhouse is located.
In recognition of her work in 2020, Silvia Chiave, then Consul General of Italy in Los
Angeles, knighted Vicky Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order
of the Star of Italy) on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This honor is one
of Italy’s highest recognitions for Italians abroad and is awarded to those who
distinguish themselves through philanthropy, cultural advocacy, research, and
strengthening international ties. Bravo, Vicky!

The world is such a complicated place, and the more we give and get involved in our
communities, the better place it will be. Being of Italian heritage myself, I wanted to
open this discussion with Vicky about how we can all be better stewards to our
heritage and community, and we'll talk about that. Please welcome Vicky Colarossi
Carabini on all video and audio platforms of ,
, and .

I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

October begins the celebration of , first recognized in 1989 by a special proclamation from Congress and the President,...
10/01/2025

October begins the celebration of , first recognized in 1989 by a special proclamation from Congress and the President, dedicated to recognizing the significant contributions Italian Americans have made our country and throughout the world.

Over five million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000, including my family from both my mother and father's side. And are currently over 17 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the U.S. We have made our mark in science, culture, the culinary arts, and in spirit.

Please join me in welcoming this magnificent achievement throughout the month, where there will be celebrations throughout our nation. And thank you, as always, for tuning in to our & . It's an honor to tell your stories.

We are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. In fact, Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has...
10/01/2025

We are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. In fact, Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life.

Please give a warm welcome to Maura, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn't just help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to be educated to make healthy decisions because our lives literally depend on it.

Maura is from Italy and studied at the University of Calgary before joining USC, and she points to how the American diet is so radically different from the Italian diet, and how incorporating proper fasting with certain foods can drastically reduce inflammation, which we all know is the culprit to declining health and weight gain. And we don't have to fast all day. Maura gives us practical tips on the best way to achieve a healthy fast without feeling famished.

I met Maura at an event sponsored by and , and we spent some time discussing how to get people to make healthy, which is often difficult, but perhaps approaching from a clinical perspective might be more beneficial. We'll talk about that, in addition to her early work in Italy, eventually leading her to Los Angeles. And she's one of our featured guests as part of Italian Heritage Month.

Please welcome Maura Fanti to our , , & . I'm your host, , and I thank you for joining us.

When I hear the term "it takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own village pr...
10/01/2025

When I hear the term "it takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California, and I thought it appropriate to highlight her as part of our Italian Heritage Month.

Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capistrano’s Sister City, Capestrano, Italy. She is Chair of the Italian Studies Council and Board Member of the Ferrucci Institute at Chapman University, which has one of the most active Italian Studies programs in the country. Vicky is also Regional VP for the National Italian American Foundation, aka NIAF, which promotes Italian heritage at its highest level through programs based out of D.C., and she's working hard to ensure California has a large presence within the organization. Vicky is also forever hosting fundraisers, Italian film nights, parades and food drives to keep the Italian community actively involved in Orange County where she lives. And if you're looking for something to do, check out her newsletter that keeps So Cal peeps informed on all things Italian.

Why does this all matter? Because to keep our culture, or any culture alive and active within a community, it requires committed involvement, and that's Vicky. In 2003, Vicky and her husband, Michael, purchased a farmhouse in southern Tuscany and have been producing olive oil ever since. She and her family have since attained Italian citizenship and are now residents of Sarteano, where the farmhouse is located.

In recognition of her work in 2020, Silvia Chiave, then Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, knighted Vicky Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This honor is one of Italy’s highest recognitions for Italians abroad and is awarded to those who distinguish themselves through philanthropy, cultural advocacy, research, and strengthening international ties. Bravo, Vicky!

The world is such a complicated place, and the more we give and get involved in our communities, the better place it will be. Being of Italian heritage myself, I wanted to open this discussion with Vicky about how we can all be better stewards to our heritage and community, and we'll talk about that. Please welcome Vicky Colarossi Carabini on all video and audio platforms of , , and . I'm your host, , and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

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