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.

On this episode, Jen sits down with Vinny Minniti, also known as Vinny From South Philly, for a conversation about filmmaking, podcasting, social media, Italian-American culture, and chasing creative goals while balancing real life. Vinny opens up about building his podcast Inside Hollywood with Vinny, interviewing actors like Michael Madsen, writing and producing his award-winning film Washington Avenue, and working on new projects including a mob comedy and crime drama. Jen and Vinny also get into South Philly roots, old-school Italian neighborhoods, social media jealousy, online competition, sauce versus gravy, staying creative, working hard, manifesting opportunities, and why passion, luck, and persistence all matter when trying to make something happen.

On this episode, Jen sits down with celebrity psychic medium Phil Stallone for a wild, funny, and spiritual conversation that includes a live tarot card reading, family stories, old school Italian energy, and his connection to the Stallone name. Phil opens up about discovering his psychic abilities as a child, communicating with spirits, praying for protection, reading energy, and why he believes manifestation, faith, and the spiritual world are very real. Jen and Phil also get into animal rescue, SeaWorld, beagle breeding facilities, Gen Z sensitivity, New York changing after COVID, loyalty, social media fakeness, and the major life shifts that come through during Jen’s reading.

On this episode, Jen sits down with actress and comedian Nicole Travolta for a candid conversation about her one-woman show, Nicole Travolta Is Doing Alright, and the real-life struggles behind it. Nicole opens up about turning financial hardship, credit card debt, divorce, acting rejection, and spray tanning Hollywood’s elite into comedy and storytelling. Jen and Nicole also get into how social media has changed relationships, why people act differently online than they do in real life, the loss of human interaction in auditions and entertainment, handling rude audiences, women tearing each other down online, and why Nicole is ready to make New York City her new home.