Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast

Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast celebrate Italians & Italian Americans contributing to art, culture, science, travel, community, and so much more throughout the U.S., Los Angeles, and beyond. Created and hosted by Deborah Zara Kobylt, award-winning journalist and proud Italian American living in Los Angeles, who grew up in NJ, NY, and Fla.

James Tumminia, Actor. Producer 10/29/2025

Gregg Schwenk, Creator, Newport Beach Film Festival 10/01/2025

Maura Fanti, PhD, Research Assoc. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC 10/01/2025

Vicky Carabini, NIAF Regional VP & Chair of the Italian Studies Council at Chapman University 10/01/2025

Vicky Carabini, NIAF Regional VP & Chair of the Italian Studies Council at Chapman University 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 #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here. @mammabini #italians #italianamerican #italianculture /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/38427040

Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, President, ISSNAF & Former Deputy Chief Scientist, NASA/JPL 09/24/2025

Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, President, ISSNAF & Former Deputy Chief Scientist, NASA/JPL ine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef at the Vatican for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like kings, royalty, and the spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery. I'm honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, sharing not only his experiences in the kitchen, but behind the scenes, too. He's cooked for the likes of Vadimir Putin, the Saudi Royal family, Muammar Gaddafi, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro and dozens of other world leaders, presidents, and celebrities. In fact, he's quoted as saying that after a meal, some high-profile guests will surprise him in the kitchen and thank him for a meal well served. Imagine! We'll talk about Chef Salvo's start in the culinary world, and how he ended up cooking at the Vatican after working around the world at top hotels and five-star Michelin restaurants. He says he does not get star-struck, because to him, every guest is treated like family. And no doubt, that's been part of his incredible success, along with his hand-crafted pastas and sauces. Chef Salvo says his ingredients are all fresh or from specialty farms with tradition in mind. He says he combines tradition with taste, and creativity with authenticity. Among his favorite dishes? His mother's meatballs, a recipe he cooks up to this day. For Chef Salvo, owning a restaurant in N.Y. is a dream come true. He first opened three espresso bars in the City which he still checks on each morning before riding down to his restaurant in Soho on his Vespa. He spends 18-hours a day there, which he calls home and his patrons invited guests. No doubt part of his success. We're thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly with Italian History Month upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here. @realchefsalvolocastro @casasalvonyc @casasalvorestaurant #italianfood #italianchef #italianamerican #littleItaly /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/38342890

Salvo Lo Castro, Former lead chef for the Vatican. Award winning Sicilian chef. 09/24/2025

Salvo Lo Castro, Former lead chef for the Vatican. Award winning Sicilian chef. Imagine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it's because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef at the Vatican for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like kings, royalty, and the spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery. I'm honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, sharing not only his experiences in the kitchen, but behind the scenes, too. He's cooked for the likes of Vadimir Putin, the Saudi Royal family, Muammar Gaddafi, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro and dozens of other world leaders, presidents, and celebrities. In fact, he's quoted as saying that after a meal, some high-profile guests will surprise him in the kitchen and thank him for a meal well served. Imagine! We'll talk about Chef Salvo's start in the culinary world, and how he ended up cooking at the Vatican after working around the world at top hotels and five-star Michelin restaurants. He says he does not get star-struck, because to him, every guest is treated like family. And no doubt, that's been part of his incredible success, along with his hand-crafted pastas and sauces. Chef Salvo says his ingredients are all fresh or from specialty farms with tradition in mind. He says he combines tradition with taste, and creativity with authenticity. Among his favorite dishes? His mother's meatballs, a recipe he cooks up to this day. For Chef Salvo, owning a restaurant in N.Y. is a dream come true. He first opened three espresso bars in the City which he still checks on each morning before riding down to his restaurant in Soho on his Vespa. He spends 18-hours a day there, which he calls home and his patrons invited guests. No doubt part of his success. We're thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly with Italian History Month upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here. @realchefsalvolocastro @casasalvonyc @casasalvorestaurant #italianfood #italianchef #italianamerican #littleItaly /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/38342670

Davide Fiore, Director, A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini 08/04/2025

Davide Fiore, Director, A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini Sometimes, there are films that stay with us, and A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini, directed by Davide Fiore, is one of those films, and I'm pleased to present Davide today on our #LittleItalyPodcast. Back in the day, banks were primarily for the wealthy, and the poor and working class immigrants often stashed their savings under a mattress. But at the turn of the 20th century, A.P. Giannini revolutionized the industry with his small bank in San Francisco. A first-generation Italian-American, his goal was to serve “the little fellow” and breed prosperity within his immigrant community. By building trust and giving loans on a simple handshake, he created one of the largest banks in the country – Bank of America. A LITTLE FELLOW tells his story, and it's remarkable. In addition, A.P. Giannini was also one of the first investors in Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hewlett-Packard. His forward-thinking helped the country through two World Wars and the Great Depression. Davide is a native of Torino, Italy, and has made a name for himself directing and editing in the Italian fashion and advertising industry. He eventually started filming music videos, working along side major Italian labels, singers, and DJ's, when he embarked on his first documentary, titled JUST US, about two Italian DJ's. That documentary gained worldwide distribution, and Davide went on to work in Germany, and London. His subsequent photo exhibition, I’VE ALREADY SEEN IT SOMEWHERE, showcased New York movie locations, and has been hosted in Torino, Rome, and Miami, and published by Vogue Italia. His latest film, A LITTLE FELLOW, is blowing up for its incredible vision and artistic expression. I simply loved it, and had no idea about the story of A.P. Giannini. Please join me in welcoming Davide Fiore on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here. /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/37669365

Marianna Gatto, Author, The Italian Americans Of Los Angeles & Museum Director, IAMLA 08/04/2025

Antonello Pierro, Attorney & Italian Real Estate Expert 05/28/2025

Barbara Pollastrini, Chef-owner, Da Barbara 05/21/2025

Valentina Castellani Quinn and Marvin Williams 04/09/2025

Debora Medici-Guetta, Visual Artist, Women’s Rights Advocate, Philanthropist 04/02/2025

Debora Medici-Guetta, Visual Artist, Women’s Rights Advocate, Philanthropist Debora Medici-Guetta has inspired me since the day I met her. I could feel her intense passion for her work, her support of women, and for being someone not afraid to talk about her journey in life. So won't you please welcome her to our show this incredibly talented photographer & photojournalist, graphic artist, and documentary filmmaker. Debora was born in Rome, and the first time she landed in Los Angeles, she felt at home among other creatives free to express their art unfiltered. She now divides her time between here and Italy. Debora took time off, like many women, to focus on family. Her husband is famed artist #MrBrainwash, aka Thierry Guetta, and that alone is a full time job managing that level of notoriety. But a decade ago, Debora decided to get back into the game and began the intuitive process of reframing who she was, one image at a time. A return to making art meant embarking, in Debora’s words, on “a big, long, introspective journey.” After several years refining her technique and honing her perspective, she would reveal a series of photographs aptly titled, “Out of The Shadow,” a haunting body of images that reflected Debora’s desire to shed the trappings of the past and position herself as an artist in the world. She followed this exhibition with “Landed”, a series of collages that capture the frenetic and freeing energy of the world’s great urban centers. As her vision grew, so did Debora’s interests, so she started working with, and eventually joined, the board of directors for We Do It Together (WDIT), a nonprofit that produces films, documentaries, TV, and new media uniquely dedicated to the empowerment of women. Recently, for International Women’s Day, the group launched “One of Us,” a documentary for which Debora served as honorary set photographer. The film, sponsored by Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, follows four Italian women who are challenging gender bias and discrimination in their fields of work. We will talk with Debora about her incredibly successful career, and how she encourages women to discover who they are. She says her work “prioritizes emotions over mere moments,” and we’ll talk with her about that, in addition to her life, and of course living with #MrBrainwash himself. Lots to ask there. Please join my interview with Deborah Medici-Guetta on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you with us. /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/35978870

Emanuele Amendola, Director at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles 03/26/2025

Emanuele Amendola, Director at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles Please welcome to our show, the director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di LosAngeles, AKA the Italian Cultural Institute, Emanuele Amendola, and he joins us to discuss the mission of the @iiclosangeles in bringing cultural, scientific, academic, and culinary experiences that highlight everything authentic direct from Italy. The programs are all free, engaging, and open to everyone. Emanuele works closely with our Consul General of Italy in LA, Raffaella Valentini, and together they have forged a partnership that brings us the best of everything from Italia, including products direct from Italy. Each exhibit, talk, and experience is unique. Recently, there was a showing and discussion about the film, Womeness, followed a few days later with the opening and lecture about the Volterra exhibit. There was a Q&A and demonstration with famed chef Nancy Silverton, and the list goes on. So we wanted to know, how does Emanuele select what to present to the public, because the Cultural Institite goes beyond the walls of their physical location in Westwood. Their work extends down to San Diego in addition to nine states, so in effect, they take their work on the road! Also, in addition to top exhibitions, musical performances and more, the @IICLosAngeles offers language courses and incentives for exchange programs. Before coming on board here in Los Angeles, Emanuele was appointed Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC, where his duties included fostering partnerships between Italian and American cultural institutions. He started his tenure at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles in January 2022. Please give a warm welcome to Emanuele, and join our interview on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, and the #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here. /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/35874090

Yvonne Scio, Writer & Director of Womeness; Actress & Model 03/26/2025

Yvonne Scio, Writer & Director of Womeness; Actress & Model As we continue to celebrate #InternationalWomensMonth, please welcome my guest, Yvonne Scio, actress, model, and the writer/director of the documentary, Womeness, which was just recently screened at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles to rave reviews! Yvonne, who was raised in Italy, is also known for her work in the 2006 version of The Pink Panther, in addition to Redline, and Rose Red. She’s appeared on TV in both Italia and the States, including The Nanny. In fact, here’s a bit of trivia for you - her best friend is Fran Drescher, who was in attendance at the screening of #Womeness. Yvonne’s film is a magnificent look into the stories of five extraordinary women, offering a portrait into female resilience, identity, and the evolution of feminism. Womeness unfolds in two parallel narratives: on one side, three women who lived through the formidable season of Italian feminism, who reflect on the battles fought, the victories won, and the challenges that remain. On the other side of the story, and the world, are the lives of two women who defied societal prejudice by following the painter Balthus to Italy, and embracing what became her silent revolution. Through music and performance, they turn art into resistance, amplifying the voices of women from Iran and beyond in their fight to reclaim control over their bodies. The film remains with me, it is extremely powerful. In addition, my dear friend, Lorenza Calamandrei, composed the music in the film. During our interview, we will ask Yvonne about the inspiration behind Womeness, and the impact the film is expected to create throughout the world. Now more than ever. Please find my full interview with Yvonne Scio on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you join us. Please invite your friends as well to this important conversation. /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/35873370

Christopher Gialanella, President/Publisher. Los Angeles Magazine|Orange Coast Magazine 03/12/2025

Tom Dreesen, Legendary Actor & Comedian; Italian Culture Enthusiast 03/05/2025

Valentina Castellani, President, Quinn Studios Entertainment and Malibu Fire Victim 01/22/2025

Valentina Castellani, President, Quinn Studios Entertainment and Malibu Fire Victim Valentina Castellani Quinn, president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, has been living the American dream, arriving from Florence and making a formidable mark in Hollywood as an award-winning producer and filmmaker, with films “One Rock, Three Religions,” “Wonderful Losers,” “Augie,” and others to her credit. She also recently signed a joint deal with Big M Entertainment Pictures and Sony Pictures Studios, but that’s been put on temporary hold because Valentina recently lost everything to the devastating fires in Malibu where she lives. And now, she faces the harrowing ordeal of finding a new place while trying to rebuild everything from clothing to work folders. Valentina joins us to talk about not just what it’s like to find your home and everything in it gone, but to discuss the long haul of dealing with insurance, price gauging, and more. She also wants answers as to how these fires got so out of control in Malibu, Palisades, Altadena and other parts of Los Angeles, and she talks about what she calls a lack of leadership that led thousands to homes to burn to the ground. We will also talk about the ramifications these horrendous fires could have on the Hollywood industry moving forward. And while many look at Los Angeles as a place of wealth and movie stars, it’s really a working class town much like any other, and right now, there’s a big struggle and huge hurdles to overcome. Please join me and Valentina on #DeborahKobyltLIVE, the #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms to hear our discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us. Please tune into #DeborahKobyltLIVE, the #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms to hear our discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us. @valentinaquinnstudios #losangelesfire #palisadesfire #losangeles #malibu /episode/index/show/69c7d54a-dccb-449e-bc10-442481081b15/id/34960810