welcome to our show an extraordinary woman, filmmaker, and human rights activist, Jihan K, whose documentary, "My Father and Qaddafi," unravels the disappearance of her dad, Mansur Rashid Kikhia, a peaceful opposition leader to Muammar Qaddafi who vanished when she was just six-years-old. The film seeks to piece together her mother's 19-year search to find her husband. Without any memory of her father, Jihan tries to reconnect with him and reconcile with her Libyan identity, taking on a reflective journey as she tries to piece together the memory of a man she barely remembers. Mansur Rashid Kikhia served as Libya's foreign minister, ambassador to the United Nations, and was a human rights lawyer. For many, he was a rising star who could have been the next leader of Libya. After serving under Qaddafi, he defected from the government and became an opposition leader. In 1993, he disappeared from his hotel in Egypt, never to be seen again. Jihan's mother, Baha Al Omary, a strong-willed Syrian-American artist, began searching for him, launching the family into an international political maze. Nineteen hears later, his body was found in a freezer near Qaddafi's palace. Through encounters with family, her father's colleagues, and historical archives, Jihan's search for truth evolves into a deeper curiosity, and we'll talk about that. Please find my full interview with Jihan on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

If you've got issues with your gut, including chronic bloating and pain, it could signify an overgrowth of candida. What's that? Tune into our show with immunologist specialist and author Dr. Dean Mitchell, who wrote, "Conquering CANDIDA, The 30-DAY PROTOCOL for Restoring Your Microbiome and Health." This is a comprehensive look into what might be going on in your gut, more specifically, the overgrowth of candida.

What is candida, what are the symptoms, how is it diagnosed, and how to get relief? Dr. Mitchell will cover all the bases, discuss the four stages of candida, and offer a 30-day nutritional plan to alleviate issues associated with candida, which can often go undiagnosed. In a nutshell, candida overgrowth is an imbalance in the normal levels of candida in the body, caused by a variety of things including antibiotics.

Symptoms include a weakened immune system, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, and more. During our interview, we'll get to the bottom of it so people can get answers and ultimately relief. Dr. Mitchell is a board-certified immunologist and a pioneer in holistic immunology. He is the founder of Mitchell Medical Group, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of candida overgrowth, mast cell activation syndrome, in addition to toxic mold exposure. Please join my conversation with Dr. Dean Mitchell on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

David Goldblum's short film, "Big Rock Burning," is creating a lot of good heat for the pointed questions it's raising since the devastating fires that charred thousands of properties in Malibu and the Palisades (not to mention Altadena), and he joins our program LIVE to talk about his film and the harrowing experiences so many have had since leaving their homes on January 7th, returning to the ashes of a life that so many are struggling to put back together.

The film depicts the stories of 49 Malibu residents impacted by the fires, and chronicles the resilient spirit of the residents of Big Rock, and their intent to rebuild. But little has happened in the months that have followed, and while people are still grieving, they want action and accountability. David says residents have been left to fend for themselves to sort through government red-tape and insurance nightmares, and they're growing weary. Their stories have attracted some celeb residents as well, such as Mark Hamill and Ricki Lake, who talks about losing her home and the emotional impact it's had on her and her friends and neighbors.

Malibu is a multi-generational community and so many have lived in their homes since childhood. And while it's a peaceful community, it's not without its challenges, too, and the fire dangers are one of them. People know the risks, but many say they don't expect the lack of help and resources from local government, and the film addresses that.

Please join our full interview with David Goldblum on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and please encourage your friends to join, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here. The film is currently in the middle of its Oscar-qualifying theatrical run through 9/18 at the Laemmle in Santa Monica, so if you're close by, here's your opportunity to see it.

@davidgoldblum @consciouscontactentertainment #filmmaker #movies

Please welcome to our show James Tumminia, award-winning actor, producer, and lover of all things Italian, beloved for his role as Angelo in the TV series, "Melissa & Joey" and much more. And we'll be talking with James about his work and how he gets his fix of Italian food and culture in this great city of LA. As a kid growing up in an Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, James Tumminia knew two things: he loved all things Italian, and he wanted to be an actor. And he's living both. I first met James at an event at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, and noticed he seemed to be at every Italian gathering throughout the city - and there's many. So I thought it appropriate to invite him to talk about all things Italian, in addition to his life and career, as part of Italian-American Heritage Month. James studied Italian at Georgetown, which led him to living, studying, and working in Florence. He played Mario in "Two Scoops of Italy" a Hallmark film, and has been involved on the producer side of many projects, including, "Love, Guilda," "1st Strike," and many more. James said he feels the guidance of his ancestral grandparents, all four born in Italy, and he became an Italian citizen in 2009. He's currently working on a project he's super excited about, "PER CHI," a short doc he's producing. We'll be talking about that. And while James hails from NY and moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment, he says Italy always feels like home, which is why he frequents so many Italian events in this great city. Please welcome #JamesTumminia on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

Please welcome to my show Dr. Sherry Ross, an expert on menopause from her years in practice as a beloved obstetrician and gynecologist practicing in Santa Monica. Dr. Ross is also a two-time author, "she-ology: The Definitive Guide To Women's Intimate Health. Period" and "she-ology, the she-quel," both tackling just about any question one might have about women's bodies. And there's a lot.

For starters. Menopause. It used to be that word people whispered in the corner. No more. Because ladies, we all go through it, and gents, your significant others, mom, sister, daughters will go through it too. So let's understand it better, shall we?

During our conversation, I'll be speaking with Dr. Ross about hormones and hormone replacement therapy. Is it safe (yes), when to start, and how to know what dosage is right for you. Of course there's estrogen and progesterone replacement, and testosterone, too. But for many women, hormones still remains a mystery, and we'll dive deep to clear up any myths about what's safe, recommended, and the benefits, too.

Dr. Ross will soon be launching a podcast the first of the year, "Paradox" with renounced sex therapist Tammy Nelson. She's also in the wellness space, recommending products that she thinks have been tested to help women at various stages in their womanhood. We'll discuss. And men, this conversation is for you, too. Let's all get on the same page about women's health for better clarity and understanding.

Please find my full conversation with #DrSherryRoss on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

@drsherryr #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #obgyn #gynecology

#sexualwellness #sexualwellnessproducts #drsherry

Please welcome Puran and Susanna Bair, authors of "Living from the Heart," a book that approaches meditation from a different perspective - the heart. The duo will discuss how using heart-based meditation can completely transform our well-being, benefiting both the mind and body, and they'll explain exactly how to do it.

The husband and wife team also founded the Institute for Applied Meditation, and have been working in this space for decades by improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of those who practice this type of mediation. Puran and Susanna say by coordinating our heartbeat with breathwork, we can achieve a level of meditation and relaxation like nothing else, which is ultimately healthier. They incorporate the energy of the four elements - air, fire, water, and earth - and will explain further how it's done during our interview.

Please welcome Puran and Susanna Bair to our show, #DeborahKobyltLIVE, available on all video

@iheartmeditation #iheart #PuranBair #SusannaBair

We're so excited about this year's Newport Beach Film Festival from October 16-23, featuring over 100 film and 250 shorts from 32 countries.

The festival opens with a screening of Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon" starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Canavalle and Andrew Scott. The closing night film will include a screening of Guillermo Del Toro's "Frankenstein," starring Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac & Christoph Waltz. And for the International Film category, the Italian film, "When Mom Is Away...With The In-Laws" is already said to be a show stopper.

We will be speaking with the creator of the NBFF, Gregg Schwenk, who joins us to talk about what's become one of the industry's most exciting festivals, including some of the special events over the week-long event. Make sure to go on the website for details, but Gregg will give us an inside peek during our interview. Please join us on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you.

@newportbeachfilmfest @nbffitalianspotlight #newportbeachfilmfestival #nbff

#nbffitalianspotlight #nbff2025 #italiancuisine

Want to live longer? It's all about our food. In fact, "we are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a break.

Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn't just help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to be educated to make healthy decisions because our lives literally depend on it. Maura is from Italy and studied at the University of Calgary before joining USC, and she points to how the American diet is so radically different from the Italian diet, and how incorporating proper fasting with certain foods can drastically reduce inflammation, which we all know is the culprit to declining health and weight gain. And we don't have to fast all day. Maura gives us practical tips on the best way to achieve a healthy fast without feeling famished.

I met Maura at an event sponsored by @ItalyInLA and @IICLosAngeles, and we spent some time discussing how to get people to make healthy, which is often difficult, but perhaps approaching from a clinical perspective might be more beneficial. We'll talk about that, in addition to her early work in Italy, eventually leading her to Los Angeles. And she's one of our featured guests as part of Italian Heritage Month. Please welcome Maura Fanti to our #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, & #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

@maurafanti #food #italianheritage

Italians are known for their vibrant culture worldwide, and when I hear the term, "it takes a village," I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California. Please give a warm welcome to Vicky as one of our featured guests for Italian Heritage Month. Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capistrano's Sister City, Capestrano, Italy. She is Chair of the Italian Studies Council and Board Member of the Ferrucci Institute at Chapman University, which has one of the most active Italian Studies programs in the country. Vicky is also Regional VP for the National Italian American Foundation, aka NIAF, which promotes Italian heritage at its highest level through programs based out of D.C., and she's working hard to ensure California has a large presence within the organization. Vicky is also forever hosting fundraisers, Italian film nights, parades and food drives to keep the Italian community actively involved in Orange County where she lives. And if you're looking for something to do, check out her newsletter that keeps So Cal peeps informed on all things Italian.

Why does this all matter? Because to keep our culture, or any culture alive and active within a community, it requires committed involvement, and that's Vicky. In 2003, Vicky and her husband, Michael, purchased a farmhouse in southern Tuscany and have been producing olive oil ever since. She and her family have since attained Italian citizenship and are now residents of Sarteano, where the farmhouse is located. In recognition of her work in 2020, Silvia Chiave, then Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, knighted Vicky Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This honor is one of Italy's highest recognitions for Italians abroad and is awarded to those who distinguish themselves through philanthropy, cultural advocacy, research, and strengthening international ties. Bravo, Vicky!

The world is such a complicated place, and the more we give and get involved in our communities, the better place it will be. Being of Italian heritage myself, I wanted to open this discussion with Vicky about how we can all be better stewards to our heritage and community, and we'll talk about that. Please welcome Vicky Colarossi Carabini on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE.

I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

@mammabini #italians #italianamerican #italianculture

Do you enjoy travel, particularly to historical destinations around around the world? Then you must tune in to my interview with Jackie Lapin, founder of TheHistoricTraveler.com and creator of "20 Great International Cities Where You Can Immerse Yourself In History."

Jackie has been to more than 50 countries and has explored more than 500 historical sites there, and she introduces travelers to historic hotels and B&B's while combining the history of the area by recommending historical fiction as well as historical TV shows and films. It's a super immersive experience, and she's now expanding into helping clients book hotels and pair readings from the region. Her services are FREE, and soon she said she's going to welcome guests to join her on some of her favorite trips, too!

I absolutely love this idea, and thought it was a terrific way to get to know an area intimately and feel you're a part of its historical past. Please enjoy my interview with Jackie on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.