The Italian Radio Hour

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - With the NFL Draft just around the corner, today, we’re crossing the ocean—but not leaving Steelers Nation. Because believe it or not, thousands of miles away in Italy, there’s a passionate, growing community of fans who wake up at 2 in the morning… just to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers. How does that happen? Why the Steelers? And what does it mean to love a team from a place you’ve never been? Today, I’m joined by Mauro Giusti and Nicola Lucchi, founders of Italian Steelers Nation—a group that has turned fandom into community, culture, and identity. And with the NFL Draft just a week away… we’ll also find out what Italy thinks the Steelers should do next.

#ItalianSteelersNation #SteelerNation #NFLDraft2026 #PittsburghSteelers#ItalyMeetsPittsburgh #AmericanFootballAbroad #NFLInternational#BlackAndGold #TerribleTowel #SportsCulture #ItalianAmericanJoin the Italian Steelers Nation FB Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880571820848120/

Read about the "5 e 5" sandwich mentioned by Mauro at: https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/gallery/panino-5-e-5-toscana-specialita-livorno/

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - There is a moment—quiet, almost sacred—when someone stands in front of a small stone house in a village they have never seen before… and yet, it feels like home.For millions of descendants of Italian immigrants, that moment is not tourism. It’s not sightseeing. It’s identity.Today we explore the powerful world of “Rooting” — a movement that goes beyond travel and into ancestry, language, memory, and even dual citizenship.My guest, Letizia Sinisi, founder of Rooting Experience and Italy Rooting Consulting, has helped redefine what it means to return — not just to a place, but to yourself.To learn more, visit: http://www.italyrooting.com/#ItalyRooting#TurismoDelleRadici#ItalianDiaspora#ItalianCitizenship#ItalianLanguage#GenealogyJourney#RootingExperience#IstitutoMondoItaliano#ItalianHeritage#IdentityAndBelonging

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Macaroni and cheese—creamy, comforting, and deeply American… or is it? What if this iconic dish actually tells a much older story—one that begins in ancient times, crosses continents, and reveals how food carries history, identity, and even myth? Today, we uncover the surprising journey of mac and cheese.We are joined by food historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi, whose work explores the deep connections between food, culture, and history. In her latest book, The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese from Ancient Rome to Modern America, she traces the journey of this beloved dish across time and geography—uncovering not just recipes, but the myths, migrations, and cultural forces that shaped it. Through what she calls ‘historiphagy,’ or eating history, she invites us to experience the past in a deeply human and sensory way.Learn more about Karima's work at: https://www.theeternaltable.com/#MacAndCheese#FoodHistory#ItalianCuisine#CulinaryHistory#FoodCulture#HistoryThroughFood#ComfortFood#ItalianAmerican#Gastronomy#FoodStories

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - We sit down with Brooklyn-born Italian American artist John Avelluto, who with his work playfully and provocatively explores Italian American identity, memory, and culture through painting, trompe-l’œil, and multimedia installations.
John’s latest exhibition, “AI e IO: Recent Works by John Avelluto,” curated by Dr. Caterina Pierre at the Kingsborough Art Museum, examines the intersections of artificial intelligence, storytelling, and memory, presenting viewers with fictionalized narratives of Italian American life that are both whimsical and thought-provoking.From his earlier explorations in Impasta Handbags and his contributions to the book and project Italianità, to his reflections on food, gesture, and diasporic identity, John combines humor, history, and hyperrealistic artistry to engage audiences in questions of culture, heritage, and belonging. In our conversation, we’ll dive into his process, his inspirations, his ongoing work, and his new initiative, Piace, a progressive Italian American group shaping community and conversation today.To learn more about John Avelluto's work, visit: https://john-avelluto.com/#JohnAvelluto#Italianita#ItalianAmericanArt#ContemporaryArt#DiasporaArt#AcrylicArt#FoodInArt#CulturalIdentity#ItalianAmerican#Piace#ProgressiveItalianAmerican#BayRidge#CalandraInstitute#ArtAndIdentity

This week on The Italian Radio Hour, we explore thepower of theatre to cross cultures, languages, and histories.
Our focus is the work of legendary American playwright August Wilson, whose extraordinary cycle of plays chronicles ten decades of African American life in the United States. Wilson’s stories are deeply rooted in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, yet their themes—family, identity, migration,struggle, and resilience—speak to audiences everywhere.
One of Wilson’s most celebrated plays, Jitney, hasrecently been brought to the Italian stage through an internationalcollaboration known as The Wilson Project.
And now, in a remarkable cultural exchange, this Italianproduction is traveling to Pittsburgh, where it will be performed May 8 through 10.
What happens when a uniquely American story is reimaginedthrough an Italian theatrical lens?
How do you translate not only the language, but also the rhythm, humor, and emotional depth of Wilson’s characters?
To explore these questions, I’m joined by two extraordinaryguests.
Professor Lina Insana from the University of Pittsburgh, whose work explores migration, cultural translation, and Italian studies.
And Italian director Renzo Carbonera, who is bringingJitney to the stage with a cast that reflects the multiculturalrealities of contemporary Italian society.
Together we’ll talk about storytelling, translation,migration, and why August Wilson’s voice continues to resonate across cultures and across continents.

Listen to the full interview to find out how to access discounted tickets to the play.

#ItalianRadioHour
#AugustWilson
#WilsonProject
#Jitney
#ItalianTheatre
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#Pittsburgh
#ItalianCulture
#BlackTheatre
#CulturalDialogue