In this strange-but-true tale from 1949 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two Italian American women—Angelina Farrina and Mary Sanfelippo—find themselves at the center of a courtroom drama involving ghosts, burned money, and a fortune-telling scheme. When Mary believed spirits were haunting her tavern, she turned to Angelina, a so-called "sorceress," for help. What followed was nearly two decades of weekly payments meant to appease the dead... or so she was told.

Was Angelina truly communicating with troubled spirits—or running an elaborate con? Join us as we explore this eerie and emotional story of faith, fear, and the deep bond of family caught in the middle of the supernatural and the suspicious.

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredibly talented Bob Spiotto—actor, director, producer, and passionate Italian American storyteller. Bob shares his personal story growing up in a tight-knit Italian American family in Queens, NY, and how those roots still influence him today.

From performing one-man shows as historical icons like Giuseppe Garibaldi, Michelangelo, and PT Barnum, to founding cultural clubs and paying tribute to unsung Italian American heroes, Bob uses theater as a powerful way to bring history—and heritage—to life.

We talk about humor, heritage, storytelling, and the special kind of magic that happens when passion meets purpose.

🪑 Plus, you’ll hear about the special table from his childhood holidays that still sits in his office!

This episode is full of laughs, wisdom, and inspiration—and a reminder that storytelling keeps our culture alive.

In this special episode, we sit down with Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist with deep Italian American roots. Born to immigrant parents from Naples and Sicily, Dr. Ignarro shares how his upbringing in Brooklyn shaped his journey into the world of science. He reflects on his family’s traditions, his mother’s incredible cooking, and how curiosity led him from experimenting with firecrackers as a child to groundbreaking medical discoveries.

Dr. Ignarro takes us through his fascinating career, including his research on nitric oxide—a molecule that plays a crucial role in heart health—and the moment he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine. We also talk about his love for model trains, fast cars, and the scientific approach he brings to cooking (his cannoli, he promises, is out of this world!).

Join us as we celebrate an Italian American success story that proves that curiosity, determination, and a little bit of red sauce can take you far.

Listen now and be inspired by Dr. Ignarro’s incredible journey!