Send us a text Curious about the origins of Santa Claus and the man behind the legend? Join us as we journey through the life of St. Nicholas of Myra, a figure whose acts of kindness and miracles have enshrined him in history as much more than just a festive icon. From his early life in ancient Myra to his enduring legacy as the patron saint of sailors, each story of his generosity, such as the iconic tale of the three dowries, offers a glimpse into his profound impact on Christian traditions an...
Dec 06, 2024•3 min•Season 5Ep. 37
Send us a text Summary In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Dawn Matera-Corsi delve into the significance of heritage and family roots, particularly focusing on Italian culture. Dawn shares her family's journey from Ischia to America and discusses her book, 'Redeem Your Roots,' which outlines seven keys to connecting with one's heritage. The discussion emphasizes the importance of family stories, traditions, and the role of food and language in maintaining cultural connections. They...
Dec 05, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 39
Send us a text Discover the transformative journey of Bill Sallurday as he uncovers his Italian roots, tracing his family lineage back to the picturesque village of San Cipriano Picentino. With a passion for genealogy, Bill's relentless research has revealed his family's true surname, Sabato, and connected over 8,000 individuals through a comprehensive genealogical database. His dedication not only reconnected him with his heritage but also earned him honorary citizenship from the village, highl...
Nov 21, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 38
Send us a text Apologies for the first few minutes of echo, it clears up. Reflecting on the resilience of our ancestors, this episode journeys through the vibrant narratives of Sicilian heritage and its cultural echoes in the Italian-American communities across the United States. Join us as we hear from Francesca and Manuel, whose roots connect them to Gela, Sicily, with Manuel sharing his role in preserving Italian culture as the president of the historic Italian Athletic Club in San Francisco....
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 37
Send us a text Join us for an enlightening conversation with Lou Paioletti as we uncover the rich legacy of Italian-American heritage in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Lou takes us on a heartfelt journey, sharing his family's migration story from Tuscany to Hershey, a town renowned for its chocolate but also a beacon of hope for countless Italian immigrants drawn by industrial opportunities. We explore how these families, including Lou's ancestors, contributed significantly to Hershey's industrial evolu...
Nov 15, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 36
Send us a text Imagine uncovering your family’s history through a single photograph. That's the journey we embark on with Maureen Taylor, the renowned "photo detective," as we explore the powerful intersection of history and photography. From the meticulous art of traditional photography to the instant gratification of digital captures, we uncover how these images serve as portals to the past. Through personal anecdotes and insights, I reflect on how my father's career as a New York Daily News p...
Nov 08, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 35
Send us a text Lorraine LoRusso never imagined her sister's volunteer work would lead to an extraordinary reunion with long-lost family in Italy. Join us as Lorraine shares her heartfelt story of tracing her roots back to the charming town of Vallesaccarda. These discoveries, sparked by ship records and naturalization papers, not only rekindled family ties but also brought to life the enduring legacy of her grandfather, who bravely set sail for America in 1914. We also explore the broader narrat...
Oct 25, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 34
Send us a text Imagine discovering that your family's story spans centuries and continents, connecting you to people and places you never knew existed. That's precisely the journey Rich Di Palma embarked upon, and he shares his remarkable experiences tracing his Italian roots in our latest episode. Rich recounts how his grandfather's Italian songs ignited a lifelong passion for genealogy, leading him to uncover long-lost relatives and delve deep into family records dating back to the 1500s. It's...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 33
Send us a text Francesca La Torre, a first-generation American with deep Sicilian roots, brings a tapestry of fascinating stories that illuminate the Italian American experience. Raised in Oakland, California, Francesca shares the vibrant contrasts she encountered between her American upbringing and her family's rich Sicilian traditions. From her father's sense of belonging within San Francisco's Italian community to enchanting tales of her parents' whirlwind romance, Francesca offers a heartfel...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Send us a text What if a single journey could unravel years of forgotten history? Join us as we uncover the mesmerizing tale of Italian immigrants in America with Joe Tucciarone, the insightful co-author of "Italians Swindled to New York." You'll be captivated by the story of nearly 3,000 Italians deceived into coming to the United States in 1872, only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable in New York City. Their subsequent journey to Richmond, Virginia, to fill a labor gap left by the Civi...
Sep 26, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Send us a text Could DNA testing revolutionize your understanding of family history? Join us as we uncover this fascinating topic with Andrew Martin, host of the Family Histories Podcast. Andrew’s unique show format, born out of the UK's lockdown in 2021, includes an interview, a life story, and a genealogical brick wall challenge. He shares how his creative process turned isolation into an opportunity for connection within the genealogy community. We also explore the joys and hurdles of guest i...
Sep 18, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 30
Send us a text What if you discovered a hidden chapter in your family's history that changed the way you see yourself? This episode features Joseph Walls, whose journey into genealogy was sparked by the emotional discovery of his grandfather's experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II. We explore how this revelation led Joseph to delve into his mother's Italian heritage, uncovering the rich cultural traditions passed down through generations by his great-grandfather Nando, and how the...
Sep 11, 2024•53 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Send us a text Ever wondered how far back your family roots can go? Join us for a remarkable journey into Italian ancestry and family history with our special guest, John Clarkin. After retiring in 2020, John embarked on a mission to honor his grandfather by tracing his lineage back to the early 1800s. Through civil and church records, John discovered distant relatives and unearthed historical connections even dating back to the 1400s. He shares the heartfelt and often surprising revelations of ...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 28
Send us a text Have you ever wondered what hidden stories lie in your family's past? In this emotional episode, we sit down with Gina Ciambella as she takes us on a poignant journey of discovery, tracing her Italian heritage from Michigan back to a small village near Naples. Gina unveils her father’s harrowing experiences during World War II, including his escape from a concentration camp truck and the tragic fate of her grandfather, Antonio, at the hands of German soldiers. Through meticulous r...
Aug 30, 2024•45 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Send us a text Ever wondered how tracing your roots could change your life? Our latest episode promises a captivating journey into ancestral migration and the unique stories of entrepreneurship that blossom from it. Rich takes us on an emotional adventure, sharing how his grandfather transitioned from coal mining in Calabria and Puglia to a thriving hat-making business in Philadelphia's Little Italy. You'll discover the fascinating concept of chain migration, which brought many families from Bic...
Aug 26, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Send us a text Have you ever wondered how discovering your family’s hidden past can shape your identity? Join us for an emotional and enlightening conversation with Steve Bruno as he takes us on his extraordinary journey of uncovering his Italian roots. Steve shares the poignant story of his grandfather and great aunt, orphaned at a young age, and the meticulous research that unearthed family members previously unknown. Through his quest, Steve brings to light the early immigration of his great-...
Aug 23, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Send us a text Have you ever wondered how your DNA connects you to ancient civilizations and far-off lands? Join us as we chat with Sal Provino from Australia, who shares his incredible journey of tracing his Italian roots. From his father’s courageous migration from Sicily to Australia in the 1950s to escape post-World War II hardships to his mother's origins in Calabria, Sal paints a vivid picture of his family's resilience and the cultural nuances that shape their identity. This episode promi...
Aug 16, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 34
Send us a text Have you ever wondered how your last name might reveal fascinating details about your past? In this episode, we dive into the world of Italian surnames, exploring their origins and meanings, divided into four main categories. Discover how patronymics and matronymics, derived from the father's or mother's name, have deep roots in the Middle Ages. We analyze the differences between the "di" and "de" variants, with examples such as the famous singer Pino Daniele, and the role these s...
Aug 10, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Send us a text In part 1 Raffaele Fontanella explains the origins of surnames from the renaissance, how dialects impacted first names and surnames based on his book "Cognomi di Stabia". How the Romans used first names, surnames and nicknames. How the Germans named people and how that impacted Italian names. And an introduction to part 2 where he will explain the 4 naming conventions in Italy. Could you imagine a country with more surnames than most nations have people? Join us as we uncover the ...
Aug 09, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Send us a text Nicola DiGuglielmo's journey from Andretta, Italy to New Jersey is nothing short of remarkable. Picture a family driven by love and determination, uprooted from their small Italian hometown in search of a brighter future in America. Nicola reflects on his father's struggle to create opportunities in a land where none existed, and how this relentless spirit paved the way for Nicola's successful medical career spanning nearly four decades. In this episode, we uncover the layers of h...
Jul 31, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Send us a text How can one family's compassion and resolve shape the destiny of an entire community? Join us as we sit down with Vincent Magano to uncover the awe-inspiring tale of Solomon and Esther Ueberall, whose extraordinary acts of kindness not only saved St. Lucy's Church but also saved lives during the darkest days of World War II. Through Vincent's vivid recollections and his compelling book, "The Third Attic," we journey back to mid-20th century Brooklyn and explore how the Uberalls' g...
Jul 29, 2024•9 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Send us a text Could you imagine uncovering your roots halfway around the world? This episode brings you the heartfelt story of Santo Marabella, who was born in Aosta, Italy, and adopted by a loving family in America. Santo sheds light on his early life at the Instituto Asistenza Materna e Infantile and the touching way his adoptive parents, Anna and Sam Marabella, revealed his adoption to him. We also dive into the historical context of the "baby scoop" era, during which thousands of Italian ba...
Jul 26, 2024•48 min•Season 5Ep. 30
Send us a text When John Vallillo lost his mother in 2005, he had no idea it would ignite a passionate journey into uncovering his Italian roots. Join us as John takes us through the meticulous process of tracing his great-grandfather Giovanni Vallillo's story, including the surprising discovery that Giovanni's name was altered at a cemetery in Cleveland. John’s emotional connection to his heritage and thrilling moments of discovery—likened to the adventures of Indiana Jones—will captivate anyon...
Jul 19, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Send us a text What happens when you mix age-old traditions with the passion of modern entrepreneurs? Join us as we uncover the inspiring story of Miriam Pugliese, co-owner of Nido di Seta, who left the bustle of Milan to breathe new life into Calabria’s ancient silk industry. Miriam, along with her partners Domenico and Giovanna, transformed a forgotten silk museum and mulberry orchard in San Floro into a thriving hub of traditional silk production, blending historical techniques with sustainab...
Jul 04, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 28
Send us a text Unlock the secrets of Italian genealogy with our guest, John Ruscigno, whose passion for family history was sparked by the remarkable legacy of his 102-year-old grandfather. Faced with language barriers and misinformation, John shares his inspiring tale of perseverance, detailing how he turned to a research company and Ellis Island records for his breakthrough. Experience the thrilling moments of discovery at the Family History Center and learn how John transitioned from physical ...
Jun 28, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Send us a text Unlock the secrets within your emotional DNA and transform your life with Judy Wilkins-Smith, our esteemed guest, as she guides us through the intricate layers of inherited emotional patterns. You'll discover how thoughts, feelings, and actions passed down through generations shape your decisions and behaviors today. By understanding and tracing your family tree, significant family events, and their influence on your current life, you gain the power to reshape your destiny and alt...
Jun 20, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Send us a text What if unraveling your family's past could lead you on an unexpected adventure across oceans and through centuries? Join us as Chris Francese, a passionate member of the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean, recounts his incredible journey into his Italian lineage, all sparked by a simple school project. Through heartfelt conversations with his grandparents, Chris traces his roots back to towns like Tremonti, Pietro da Fusi, Salerno, and Sessa Aurunca, highlighti...
Jun 16, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Send us a text Ready to uncover the rich tapestry of Italian and American genealogy? Join us as we embark on a fascinating journey with Jack and Mary Ciaccia, tracing Jack’s roots back to the regions of Taranto and Messina in Sicily, and Mary’s lineage to the early American settlers of Jamestown in 1608. Discover connections to notable figures like Daniel Boone and President Polk shape their family stories. We promise you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of our ...
Jun 14, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Send us a text Ever wondered what it takes to trace your family roots across continents and eras? Join us on an enthralling journey with our special guest, Stephanie Larimore, as she uncovers the layers of her multicultural heritage. From starting her genealogical quest with 23andMe to delving deep into Ancestry, Stephanie's adventure reveals riveting tales of her Italian war bride grandmother, an American soldier grandfather, and their unique blend of Italian and Chinese ancestry. Her storytell...
Jun 06, 2024•53 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Send us a text What if your family's immigration story bypassed the iconic Ellis Island, heading straight to the sunny shores of San Diego? Join us as we sit down with Tom Cesarini, founder of Convivio , who uncovers his rich Sicilian heritage and shares his family's unique journey to America. From working in a macaroni factory to establishing a vibrant enclave in Little Italy, Tom's memories paint a vivid picture of the immigrant experience, filled with both challenges and triumphs. Explore the...
Jun 02, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 22
