Little Italy Podcast & Little Italy of LA Podcast

If you love fine, Italian, hand-crafted jewelery, then you’ll love our #LittleItalyOfLA Podcast today.

We speak with Mario Aprile, founder of Aprile Jewelers, who designs some of the most unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of fine Italian jewelery in the world.  We talk about his early years studying electronics in Naples, until he quit to follow his dream of being a jewelery designer in Italy. His work, and love, eventually brought him to Los Angeles, where he had a shop in DTLA, crafting jewelery as unique as the people he designed for. Now Mario has thriving shop in Redondo Beach, close to our Little Italy in San Pedro.

Hear all about Mario’s remarkable life and journey to America, and how he has become one of the most sought-after jewelers with his stunning masterpieces. LIVE on on Facebook, YouTube, IGTV, and all podcast platforms on @LittleItalyOfLA and #DeborahKobyltLIVE 🇮🇹

Actress and entrepreneur Dina Morrone has certainly led an exciting life, and she joins us on our Little Italy of LA Podcast today. Dina has a fascinating story, growing up with her Italian immigrant parents in Canada, leaving for NY and back to Italy to find work as a model and actress.  Dina even met and worked with the famed Fellini and has many stories to share about her experiences working in Italy. Eventually Dina made her way to Los Angeles, wrote and starred in two highly-acclaimed one woman shows, “Moose on the Loose,” and “The Italian in Me.” Out host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, says Dina is quite a storyteller and has lived a large life. We hope you enjoy some of the stories she shares with us today.

She’s cooked for some of the most famous celebs in the world, now Jillana Miller is giving back to community and her Italian roots. Joining us today on our Little Italy of LA Podcast, the co-founder of Miller Butler Pasta, providing unique experiences in authentic, Italian food from pop ups, to bagged pastas, cooking classes and even pasta making. Jillana formed Miller-Butler with her husband just last year, and it’s already taken off with not just members of the community in Sant Pedro, but with A-list culinary experts. Hear how Jillana started cooking with her chef dad, and how her early roots growing up Italian inspired an entire lifestyle and career. In addition, Jillana will be partnering with us these next few weeks, offering cooking classes and more.

Classes here: https://millerbutler.com/collections/classes/products/lila-healthy-italian-class
Follow her socials @millerbutlerpasta & @chefjillananadine

Ale Gambini, former musician, current Italian food ambassador, blogger and author, “No Ketchup on Spaghetti,”joins us on our #LittleItalyOfLA Podcast, teaching us how to cook like a true Italian. And it’s all in the ingredients.

Ale grew up outside of Milan, and enjoyed a successful career as a musician, traveling the world as a renowned percussionist. But upon moving to the U.S. with her husband, she followed her passion for food, pivoted her career, and focused on writing about Italian food, inspired of course by her grandma in Italy. She shows us makes Italian food so unique, and illustrates how anyone can cook like an Italian grandma. it’s in the simple details, she says, and its all in her sell-out book. Here’s a clip from our interview with Ale and #DeborahZaraKobylt.  

Happy cooking🇮🇹

Giada Valenti said growing up on the shores of Venice, Italy was an inspiration filled with art, culture and music. She shares her story with #DeborahZaraKobylt on our Little Italy of LA Podcast this week, about how she began singing as a little girl and was soon discovered as one of the finest vocalists in Europe.

Giada’s career eventually brought her to the U.S., where she was working with some of the finest musicians from Mancini to Clive Davis, singing with Bocelli and other great masters of this generation.  Yet she remains humble, living in Vegas with her manager husband, and continuing to perform around the world, when permitted during COVID.

Hear Giada’s story, what it was like the first time she performed at Carnegie Hall, and so many memories from Venice and her years on tour. Here’s a clip from our show, and hear the full program on our Facebook, YouTube, IGTV, and wherever you get your podcasts.  #LittleItalyOfLA #DeborahZaraKobylt

On our Little Italy of LA Podcast today, we speak with Victoria Passarella, founder of the Italian American Leadership Network.⁠
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Victoria is the daughter of an Italian immigrant, holds two masters degrees from Columbia University, has been featured in Forbes and on the Today Show for her work as a career and brand strategist.⁠
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Now she’s bringing her expertise to the Italian American community to connect them with work, educational, and even social opportunities through the Italian American Leadership Network. ⁠

Victoria’s cousin is actor John Turturro, best known for his role in Spike Lee’s, “Do The Right Thing.” She talks about growing up in Brooklyn and going on the set to watch him work.

Check out the Italian American Leadership Network 

Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with #Grammy and GoldenGlobe nominated artist Frank Stallone Official , about his life in music, acting, and yes as the younger brother of SylvesterStallone of Rocky fame.  

Frank has a documentary film that premieres on 1/19/21 about his life, STALLONE, Frank That Is. The film includes interviews from various music and film stars, and takes us on a journey into his music career, his more than 75 films he’s acted in, and the many legendary people he’s worked with.  Available on Google, Amazon, and other streaming platforms.  

Enjoy our interview for Little Italy of Los Angeles Association. It was a real honor, so thank you, Frank.

Italians LOVE Christmas. And on our Little Italy of LA Podcast today, we’re introducing you to some of our LILAA board members & staff, and sharing some of the ways we grew up celebrating Christmas, Italian style.
Please join us, and leave any comments about how you celebrate. We’d love to hear from you. And Merry, Happy, Blessed Christmas to you and your families from all of us at Little Italy of Los Angeles Association. #DeborahKobyltLIVE🇮🇹  #LittleItalyofLA

Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast host, Deborah Zara Kobylt talks with Joanne Mosconi, the daughter of the legendary Chef of Greenwich Village, Pietro Mosconi. The chef of Greenwich Village author Joanne Mosconi talks about her labor of love in collecting her father’s best recipes. After four years in the making, Joanne Mosconi, has published this book, with all of the chef’s secrets and most prized recipes. 

What is Italian Studies? Find out a bit more about this field of interdisciplinary studies from Associate Professor of Italian Studies at Chapman University, Dr. Federico Pacchioni. Little Italy of Los Angeles Podcast Host, Deborah Zara Kobylt chats with Dr. Pacchioni about what the program at Chapman looks like, his love affair with Italian film and moving from Italy to the U.S.