We had so much fun recording this week's episode as our guests are two of our Aunties, Aunty Grace and Aunty Mimma, sisters of our Dad Melo. We are very close with our Aunties and loved chatting with them about the importance of family, especially in Italian Australian culture. We heard some of their stories about growing up Italian Australian, their experiences at the family business, a fish and chip shop and they also shared some great tips for budgeting and running a household.

This episode will bring you the motivation you need to start speaking Italian. Our guest this week is Melissa Monteleone, a proud Italian Australian from Melbourne. We loved hearing Melissa describe her passion for her culture and we bonded over a shared Southern Italian heritage. We chatted about the way of life in Italy and the relaxed way of life over there. Melissa told us about what she has discovered about the value of studying Italian through the studies she is currently doing. If you have been thinking about improving your Italian language skills we hope this chat will bring you the inspiration you need.

This week we are talking about raising Italian Australian children, our guest Marco Petta is a new father but he isn't new to our podcast, having joined us in many previous episodes. It was wonderful to chat with him about this exciting new chapter in his life.

Find Marco on Insta:

Marco Petta (@marcopetta_doesthings) • Instagram photos and videos

More episodes with Marco:

Episode 18: From Milan to Adelaide featuring Marco Petta - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Episode 31: Marco Petta talks Sanremo 2024 - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Episode 57: Marco Petta always in the action - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Episode 64: Marco Petta talks Adelaide Italian Festival 2024 - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Our guest this week is Josephine, founder of Sydney based travel company Irpinia Escapes. We had a fantastic time chatting about visiting Italy and having an authentic travel experience, one that takes you beyond the usual hot spots. In addition to being a travel company, Irpinia Escapes provides assistance to travelers to reconnect to their relatives in Italy. Irpinia Escapes will take you to the Southern Italian region of Campania, close to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Irpinia offers a peaceful break from the crowds. Listen to the episode to hear more and you can also click the links below:

Irpinia Escapes on Instagram:

Irpinia Escapes (@irpiniaescapes) • Instagram photos and videosIrpinia Escapes website:

Irpinia Escapes | Discover ancient cultures and new experiences

Our guest this week is Angie Mastrippolito, daughter of Italian Immigrants from Abruzzo who grew up among the sugar cane fields of far North Queensland. Le Seconde Inheriting the Unspoken A Second-Generation Immigrant Story is the book Angie has written about her story and the story of her family. It is fascinating and one that many Italian Australians will relate to. This story is deep and speaks of that which has remained unspoken, even to this day, in many families. This is a book every Italian Australian should read. It is available via the links below. Buy it for your mum, your brother, yourself, just make sure you get a copy!

Angie's website:

HOME | Le Seconde Inher 1

Amazon:

Amazon.com.au : le seconde inheriting the unspoken

Angie on Instagram:

Angelina Mastrippolito - Author of Le Seconde (@angelina_mastrippolito) • Instagram photos and videos

In this episode we talked about immigration, mental health and in particular how it affects teenagers. Our guest is Federica Zamboni a psychologist and psychotherapist who immigrated to Perth as a teenager. We chatted about Federica's own experience and how her practice- Tailoring Therapy- has developed a program which focuses specifically on the needs of adolescents immigrating from Italy to Australia. Click on the links below for more details.

Tailoring Therapy on Instagram:

Perth Psychology✨Sexology✨Relationship Therapy✨ (@tailoringtherapy) • Instagram photos and videos

Tailoring Therapy website:

Tailoring Therapy | Relationship Therapy | Sex Therapy | Perth

We were thrilled to have Italian Australian icon and comedy legend Joe Avati join us for his second episode on the Italian Australian Podcast. It was great to catch up and hear what Joe has been up to, in particular the recent work he has been involved in with Italea, a platform dedicated to helping people rediscover their Italian origins.

Italea on Instagram:

Italea (@_italea) • Instagram photos and videos

This episode is proudly sponsored by 'Famous Biscuits.' Since 1992 Famous Biscuits has been a family business with three generations manufacturing and wholesaling premium Italian style sweet treats around Australian and New Zealand. Find them at your local independent supermarket.

Famous Biscuits on Instagram:

Famous Biscuits (@famousbiscuits) • Instagram photos and videosFamous Biscuits Website:

FAMOUS BISCUITS - Home

Music featured in this episode is by the incredibly talented Melbourne based musician Michael Cristiano. These tracks are from his recent album 'Mai Finira'

Web: Michael Cristiano | Official Website Michael Cristiano 24

Facebook: Michael Cristiano | FacebookInstagram: Michael Cristiano (@themichaelcristiano) • Instagram photos and videos

Spotify:⁠⁠⁠ Mai Finirà - Album by Michael Cristiano | Spotify⁠⁠⁠

Apple Music: ‎Michael Cristiano - Apple Music

We are excited and proud for this milestone!! For this episode we wanted to go back to where it all started, a brother and sister having a chat. We share some memories of our experiences since starting the podcast, the good, the bad and what we have learned along the way. It was great to look back at some of our previous guests, people we have met and friends and connections made. Thankyou to everyone who has been a part of the podcast and thanks to everyone who has provided support and encouragement. And, of course, a massive thank you to our listeners, without you all there is no podcast.

This episode is proudly sponsored by 'That Little Gelato Cart' They will bring the taste of Italy to your next event with real Italian gelato scooped fresh from their beautiful blush pink cart. Weddings, birthdays, corporate events- they make every moment sweeter.

Find them on Instagram:

That Little Gelato Cart (@thatlittlegelatocart) • Instagram photos and videos

And also at:

That Little Gelato Cart

This was an incredibly fun episode to record with fellow a very proud Italian Australian, Perth's favourite real estate agent Justin Merendino!! We have a lot in common with Justin and hearing about his Italian heritage, being both Calabrese and Sicilian. Justin's passion for his culture is so strong and his regard for the language, including both dialects, is inspiring. We shared our thoughts of how important it is for ourselves and future generations to learn the traditions of their parents and Nonni so they can be passed down and carried on in the future. We also heard about Justin's personal story and how he started his successful career in real estate and how he incorporates his culture into his work.

Justin's instagram:

Justin (Giustino)Merendino (@justin_merendino_raywhite) • Instagram photos and videos

Tickets for La Dolce Vita:

Buy La Dolce Vita - Etta D’Elia Quintet tickets, WA 2025 | MoshtixWHAT'S ON | Duke Of George

We had a lovely time chatting with our guest in this episode Taysha Farrugia. Taysha is a young Italian Australian based in Melbourne who at just 14 years old is already on her way to becoming a successful singer and actress. You will hear 2 of her songs in this episode and you can find her music on Spotify via the links below. We love chatting with the next generation of Italian Australians and we are certain there are big things coming up in Taysha's career as a performer.

To follow Taysha on Instagram:

TAYSHA (@tayshafarrugia) • Instagram photos and videos

Dance take a chance on Spotify:

DANCE TAKE A CHANCE - song and lyrics by TAYSHA Farrugia | Spotify

Fearless on Spotify:

FEARLESS • TAYSHA FARRUGIA