The Italian Radio Hour

• The Bride’s Journey: Hidden Wedding Traditions of Molise

  Today, I have the great pleasure of welcoming AntonioScasserra, Director of the MUVES – Museo delle Vestimenta inCampobasso, Molise. Unlike most museums, MUVES is not housed in an officialinstitution, but rather within the private residence of Antonio and his wife—atrue labor of love and preservation.The museum safeguards an extraordinary collection of traditional dresses,antique photographs, jewelry, and accessories, with a particular focus onthe symbolism and rituals surrounding the bride’s preparation for marriage,known as the Parentezza.Antonio and his wife themselves followed this tradition when they married,making their project not just cultural but also deeply personal. Their passionhas brought Molisan traditions to an international stage, most recently at the 2025Expo in Osaka, Japan, where the beauty and symbolism of these garmentsfascinated audiences far from Italy.We’ll explore how Antonio’s journey began, the meaning behind these traditions,and the importance of preserving them for future generations.Visit MUVES at: https://muves.it/#MUVES #Molise #ItalianTraditions #ItalianWedding #Parentezza#MuseoDelleVestimenta #ItalianCulture #ItalyUncovered #OsakaExpo2025#PreservingHeritage

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• Espresso, drama, and The Italians with Michelle Darren

  Think you know Italians? Michelle Darren—actress, director, acting coach, and the creative force behind The Italians. Born to a Milanese mother and raised between cultures, Michelle has lived in New York and brings a unique lens to stories of identity, family,and what it means to be Italian and Italian American. She not only directed but also starred in The Italians, blending personal inspiration with universal themes. The Italians is available on Prime https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DZRDR5G2/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r#MichelleDarren #TheItaliansFilm #IndieFilm #WomenInFilm #DirectorLife #ActingCoach #BehindTheScenes #italian #milano #ItalianStories #ItalianAmerican #prosecco #spaghetti #betrayal #forgiveness #love #lifeBetweenCultures #HeritageAndIdentity #ItaliansBeyondClichés#MilanToNYC #ProudlyItalian

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• The "Fruit Detective" Isabella Dalla Ragione

  This week on The Italian Radio Hour: Isabella Dalla Ragione, known as Italy’s “Fruit Detective,” has spent her life uncovering forgotten varieties of pears,apples, figs, and cherries—sometimes by reading the brushstrokes of Renaissance paintings as botanical clues. Through her foundation Archeologia Arborea,she has revived hundreds of ancient fruit trees, safeguarding biodiversity and cultural memory for future generations.Today, we talked about your journey, the origins of Archeologia Arborea, and why preserving these ancient varieties matters not only to our past, but also to the future of food, and how everyone, especially the communities of Italians living outside Italy have an important role in preserving tradition, memory, and saving heirloom varieties.https://archeologiaarborea.it/

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• Marcella Hazan, the cook, the author, the woman with filmmaker Peter Miller

  This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Today, I am joined by award-winning filmmaker Peter Miller, whose work has consistently brought stories of cultural icons, history, and the human spirit to the screen. In his documentaries from Sacco & Vanzetti, to Frank Lloyd Wright to the most recent “Marcella”, Peter often spotlights subjects whose lives resonate far beyond their own fields. In his latest work "Marcella", a documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Marcella Hazan, the Italian cook and teacher who revolutionized the way Americans understood and cooked Italian food, Peter captures not just Marcella’s extraordinary career, but also the warmth, determination, and passion that made her a beloved figure around the world.In our conversation, Peter shares more about the making of the documentary, the many layers to Marcella from her background as a scientist in Italy to her move to NYC and her reengineering Italian food with the ingredients available to her in the new world.Peter and his wife did have a personal encounter with Marcella. How did that work out for them?Tune in and find out yourself! You can watch "Marcella" at home on several streaming platforms. Please, visit: https://marcellafilm.com/watch/

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• The Italian Garden Project & FIG FEST with Mary Menniti

  BUON FERRAGOSTO a tutti from The Italian Radio Hour!In this week's episode, The Italian Garden Project and FIG FEST (Sept 14th) with Mary Menniti.Today, I’m especially excited to welcome someone I not only admire for her work but also know personally — Mary Menniti, the founder of The Italian Garden Project. Mary has made it her mission to celebrate and preserve the traditions of Italian-American backyard gardening, where food, family, and culture are all deeply rooted in the soil. Through her work, she has documented countless gardens, shared stories that connect generations, and inspired many to rediscover the joy of growing their own food. She’s also the mastermind behind Pittsburgh’s beloved Fig Fest, a delicious celebration of one of Italy’s most treasured fruits. Today, we’ll talk about Mary’s background, how this beautiful project began, how it has blossomed, and what’s next — along with a few memories from her own Italian-American upbringing.If you are in the Pittsburgh area, you can purchase tickets to FIG FEST on Sept 14th online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/figfest-2025-tickets-1474749347999

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