The Italian Radio Hour

In this episode, I welcome Giulia Scarpaleggia, Tuscan-born home cook, food writer, and founder of Jul's Kitchen, to explore the heart and soul of cucina povera" — Italy’s timeless tradition of transforming humble ingredients into unforgettable meals.Joining us from the Val d’Elsa countryside between Siena and Florence, Giulia shares how place, family, and memory shape her cooking philosophy. In her cookbook, Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients into Unforgettable Meals, is not just a collection of recipes, but a mindset rooted in sustainability, resilience, and creativity — what Italians call “l’arte dell’arrangiarsi.”Together we talk about: The cultural meaning of stale bread in Tuscan cooking Why cucina povera feels more relevant than ever today Seasonal cooking, sustainability, and zero waste Writing a cookbook during lockdown and pregnancy Preserving Italy’s regional food traditions through storytellingThis is a rich, heartfelt conversation about food as culture, memory, and love. Learn more about Giulia and her work:• Book: Cucina Povera and her LATEST available for Pre-order: Vegetables The Italian Way•Newsletter: Letters from Tuscany• Blog: Juls’ Kitchen Subscribe to The Italian Radio Hour on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Grazie for listening — and arrivederci!Photos excerpted from Vegetables the Italian Way by Giulia Scarpaleggia (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2026. Photographs by Tommaso Galli@followers @highlight#TheItalianRadioHour #ItalianPodcast #PodcastInterview #ItalianVoices #ItalianStories #ItalianCulture #italianlifestyle #cucinapovera #cucinaitaliana #italylovers #ItalianHeritage #LearnItalian #ItalianLanguage #MadeInItaly #LivingLaDolceVita #ItaliansOfAmerica #tuscany #ItalianInPittsburgh #culturalconnections #Storytelling #Inspiration #BehindTheScenes #MeetTheGuest #CultureAndConversation

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Susan Gravely, Founder of Vietri returns to The Italian Radio Hour with "Italy in a Glass", an exploration of the Italian ritual of aperitivo, where cocktails, mocktails, and small bites set the stage for festive gatherings. Inspired by her own experiences in Italy, Gravely shares the art of entertaining Italian-style, blending personal stories with time-tested recipes and tips from her Italian friends. With stunning photography that brings Italy’s vibrant spirit to life, Gravely invites readers to savor the joy of Italian hospitality and create their own memorable moments with loved ones.Italy on a Plate and Italy in a Glass make a perfect gift to anyone looking to embrace entertaining with class, Italian style.Visit: https://susangravely.com/to secure your copies

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - I have the privilege of welcoming one of the most influential voices in Italian American studies: Anthony Julian Tamburri.A scholar, educator, administrator, and cultural advocate, Anthony has dedicated decades of work to elevating Italian and Italian American literature, cinema, language, and identity on the national and international stage.He is Distinguished Professor and Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at Queens College, CUNY—an institution that has grown tremendously under his leadership. His scholarship spans more than 20 books, numerous edited volumes, and hundreds of essays on subjects ranging from semiotics to cinema, diaspora identity, and language politics. Anthony is also known for his work as a public intellectual—producing interviews, public programs, and cultural conversations that bridge academia and the broader Italian American community.Today we’ll explore his latest book, Gli Americani Italiani: cultura e società, a fascinating work—written entirely in Italian—that pushes us to rethink what we mean by “Italian identity” in today’s global, multilingual, and multicultural context. And of course, knowing Anthony, we can expect not only deep insights but also wonderful stories, vivid memories, and reflections on the past, present, and future of our community.To learn more about Anthony Tamburri's work, visit: http://www.anthonyjuliantamburri.org/#AnthonyTamburri #ItalianAmericanStudies #ItalianIdentity #DiasporaCulture #GliAmericaniItaliani#ItalianRadioHour #IstitutoMondoItaliano #ItalianAmericanCulture #StoriaItaloAmericana #Italianita #CulturaItaliana #ItalianAmericanHeritage #IdentityAndCulture #podcastinterview #AuthorInterview #ItalianBooks #LibriItaliani #CulturaESocietà #AcademicVoices #ItalianAmericanVoices #Storytelling #HeritageAndIdentity #ProudlyItalianAmerican #ItalianDiaspora #OurItalianStories #LaNostraStoria

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Welcome to a special edition of The Italian Radio Hour, presented in collaboration with Istituto Mondo Italiano in celebration of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. This year, we invite you to travel with us beyond the well-trodden tourist paths and into the heart of ancient Italian food traditions—those flavors, stories, and techniques that many first-time visitors to Italy might never encounter, yet are among the most precious treasures of our culinary heritage.Today, we bring you to the extraordinary island of Sardinia, a land of rugged beauty, deep silence, age-old rituals, and a cuisine that is as tied to its landscapes as it is to its people.In the first half of the episode, we welcome Luca Floris, a young artisan and explorer who is dedicated to preserving one of the rarest pastas in the world: Su Filindeu — “the threads of God.” Only a handful of people on Earth know how to make it, and I was fortunate enough to spend three days learning this extraordinary craft with him. Luca’s journey intertwines tradition, adventure, Sardinian identity, and a deep personal philosophy beautifully expressed in his book Sa Sebaba Mea, dalla tradizione alle Mucadores.In the second half, we continue our exploration of Sardinia with Alessandra Guigone, author of the newly published Enogastronomic Encyclopedia of Sardinia, a monumental work that captures the island’s flavors, stories, rituals, landscapes, and cultural soul.So sit back, relax, and let us guide you into a world of ancient pasta, unforgettable landscapes, and Sardinia’s culinary wisdom.

This week on The Italian Radio Hour: PUGLIA, a culinary journey through the land, the ingredients, and the people with Flavia Giordano. We are traveling to Italy’s sun-drenched heel — la Puglia! — a land of whitewashed villages, olive groves, colorful markets, and centuries-old culinary traditions. Joining me is Flavia Giordano, tour guide, food educator, founder of Spaghetti ABC, and author of PUGLIA – A cooking journey through a land and its unique ingredients. In her book, Flavia takes us beyond recipes, revealing the story of ingredients, the rhythms of the land, and the rituals that shape Pugliese cuisine. To learn more about Flavia's tours and order her book, visit: https://spaghettiabc.com/#italianradiohour #puglia #discoverpuglia #FlaviaGiordano#SpaghettiABC #pugliabook #pugliacuisine #pugliesefood#cucinapugliese #italiancooking #italianfoodculture #italianingredients #regionalitaly #VisitPuglia #PolignanoaMare#apuliancuisine #madeinpuglia #italianfoodlovers #foodstories#CulinaryJourney #MediterraneanLifestyle #foodpodcast#italypodcast #authorinterview #womeninfood #foodeducation#CulinaryHeritage #foodtraditions