Cats & Pudding with Jennifer Dilandro

This week on Cats & Pudding, Jen, Tony Cannoli, Sal and Pep sit down for a hilarious, completely unfiltered conversation packed with wild rock-and-roll stories, crazy tour adventures, celebrity encounters, family stories and social media drama.

From touring with major rock bands and playing guitar with Poison, to crazy backstage stories, outrageous pranks, stalkers, hecklers and unforgettable moments on the road, the crew has plenty of stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

The conversation also gets personal, diving into Italian-American family traditions, immigrant parents, growing up in New York, social media influencers, online trolls and the reality of dealing with internet haters.

And the crew has a big idea: a Cats & Pudding variety show featuring their unique group of personalities, comedy and stories.

Jen welcomes Anthony Pepe of Pep’s Got Answers to Cats and Pudding for a hilarious conversation about Brooklyn roots, social media, family, fatherhood, comedy and following your dreams.

Pep shares how a viral snow-shoveling video helped reignite his social media presence, his journey from Brooklyn to New Jersey, his career as a DJ and elevator constructor, and why he’s now pursuing stand-up comedy.

The conversation also gets into old-school parenting, growing up in New York before smartphones, school trouble, family traditions, friendships and the ever-growing social media community.

Sal Costa joins Cats and Pudding for a wide-ranging and hilarious conversation about rock music, Italian heritage, family, social media, and his unexpected rise as a viral creator.

Costa shares stories from his music career, including signing with Def Jam, touring with major rock acts, working on new music, and even performing onstage with Poison. He also explains how a simple Instagram video about his Italian roots went viral and inspired a new direction in comedy and content creation.

The conversation goes deep into Italian-American culture, preserving heritage, family traditions, community, and Costa's goal of bringing Italians together across the country. He also talks about his life as a husband and father, homeschooling, raising chickens, and balancing family life with music and social media.

Costa opens up about his future plans, his interest in acting and entertainment, and the creative projects he hopes to pursue as his online audience continues to grow. The episode also tackles relationships, marriage, fatherhood, work ethic, masculinity, and changing cultural attitudes.

Momma Jackie joins the podcast for a fun and heartfelt conversation about her Food Network experience, becoming a TikTok sensation, traditional Italian cooking, family, friendship, and the hard work behind social media success. She shares her journey to 100 Cooks, her famous eggplant Parmesan, homemade tomato sauce, and what’s next—including another cookbook.

Alexia DiGiglio-Mancini's You Had Me at Kitchen joins Cats & Pudding for a fun and inspiring conversation about food, family, and following your passion. She shares the story behind her Italian-American cooking brand, her incredible experience competing on Food Network’s 100 Cooks, and the emotional story behind cooking her late father’s favorite dish. From her days as a teen rapper and indie recording artist to becoming a cookbook author, TV personality, and food creator, Lexi explains how every twist and setback ultimately led her to where she is today. Plus, she talks Sunday dinners, Italian traditions, her new cookbook, live TV, and her dream of having her own cooking show.

Jennifer Graziano, creator of Mob Wives, joins the podcast alongside stars Lauren Updike and Jackie Kraft to talk about Married by the Mob, the immersive theatrical experience bringing Italian mob culture, comedy, music, drama and audience interaction together. They discuss the show's evolution, behind-the-scenes chaos, improvisation, authentic New York accents, and what's next for Graziano—including a slate of new TV projects.

Vinnie Medugno joins Cats & Pudding for a fun, candid conversation about freestyle music, radio, friendship, Beatstock, unforgettable club memories, and the songs that became the soundtrack to a generation. From his radio journey to the people and music that have shaped his career, Vinnie shares plenty of laughs, nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes stories.

This week on Cats and Pudding, Jen and co-host Candace Giordano welcome legendary New York radio personality and comedian Goomba Johnny for a hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unfiltered conversation. From his iconic days on 103.5 KTU to his successful stand-up comedy career, Goomba Johnny shares unforgettable stories about interviewing celebrities like Britney Spears, Luther Vandross, Olivia Newton-John, RuPaul, and Derek Jeter, along with the surprising origin of his famous nickname. The conversation dives into growing up in a tight-knit Italian family, marriage, loyalty, comedy, radio, modern relationships, and the lessons he's learned through decades in entertainment. Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, touching memories, and classic New York humor, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Jake Botch Gets Real About Going Viral, Fame & Staying Authentic What does it really take to go viral, build an audience, and stay true to yourself in the age of social media? In this candid conversation, Jake Botch opens up about his journey from creating content to becoming a viral internet personality, sharing the highs, lows, and lessons that come with online fame. Jake discusses how viral moments can change your life overnight, the pressure of maintaining relevance, dealing with criticism, navigating social media algorithms, and why authenticity remains his biggest advantage. Whether you're an aspiring content creator, influencer, entrepreneur, or simply fascinated by internet culture, this episode offers an honest look behind the scenes of what success online actually looks like. You'll hear insights on building a personal brand, growing an engaged audience, creating content that resonates, handling public attention, and balancing real life with an online presence. Jake also reflects on the mindset, discipline, and creativity required to thrive in today's digital landscape. In this episode:

• Jake Botch's journey to viral success
• The reality of internet fame and social media influence
• Building an authentic personal brand
• Content creation strategies that drive engagement
• Dealing with criticism and online pressure
• Lessons for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs
• The future of social media and digital storytelling

If you're interested in viral content, influencer marketing, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcast interviews, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and creator economy insights, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Jen is joined by Candice as co-host for a hilarious and honest conversation with the ladies of Mid-Life Mafia. Kristy, Marietta, and Elle open up about how their podcast started, menopause, hormone replacement, motherhood, divorce, adult children, dating after a certain age, social media rules, and why midlife does not mean slowing down. The group also gets into hot pudding, the story behind the Cats and Pudding name, old-school phones, club life, karaoke, improv, friendship, and why getting older can also mean finally caring less about what everyone else thinks.