The Italian Radio Hour

Viviana Altieri

Join The Italian Radio Hour every week as we share hidden gems of Italy, from food, to culture to travel to interesting stories of Italians. Ascoltaci anche tu! Proudly sponsored by Istituto Mondo Italiano, your gateway to anything Italian! www.istitutomondoitaliano.org Video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJ1yaVcxq7BOrLlKylTDRQ #Italy #Italian #madeinitaly #italian #italiano #italoamerican #notizie #curiosita #entertainment #Food #travel #culture

  1. Places of Origin: Wines of Southern Italy: Campania, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia

    May 28

    Places of Origin: Wines of Southern Italy: Campania, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia

    What do Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Puglia have in common?Volcanoes. Ancient vines. Greek history. Rugged landscapes. And some of the most extraordinary wines in Italy — wines that, for far too long, have remained overlooked outside their own territories.While much of the wine world continues to focus on Tuscany and Piedmont, Southern Italy has quietly preserved something deeply authentic: indigenous grapes, ancient farming traditions, dramatic volcanic terroir, and a profound connection between wine, culture, and identity.Our guest today has dedicated more than twenty years to documenting that world.Maria Christina Liotta is the author of the newly published Places of Origin: Wines of Southern Italy — Campania, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia, an extraordinary journey through the vineyards, villages, volcanic slopes, and hidden wine territories of Italy’s South.Through years of travel, hundreds of producer interviews, and visits to all 65 protected wine appellations of Southern Italy, Maria has created one of the most comprehensive explorations ever written on the wines and cultures of the Italian South. Today we’ll explore not only wine, but also the deeper meaning of place, heritage, resilience, and what Southern Italy can still teach us about authenticity in a rapidly globalizing world.#MariaChristinaLiotta#PlacesOfOrigin#WinesOfSouthernItaly#ItalianWine#SouthernItaly#CampaniaWine#CalabriaWine#BasilicataWine#PugliaWine#ItalianCulture#WineStories#ItalianHeritage#Terroir#IndigenousGrapes#VolcanicWine#WineTravel#TheItalianRadioHour#MadeInItaly#ItalianWineCulture#DiscoverSouthernItaly

    52 min
  2. Bridging Italy and America: A Conversation with Consul General Nico Frandi

    May 14

    Bridging Italy and America: A Conversation with Consul General Nico Frandi

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - It is my great pleasure to welcome the Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia, Nico Frandi.Since beginning his mandate in the fall of 2025, Consul General Frandi has focused on strengthening the ties between Italy and the Italian-American communities throughout the region, promoting Italian culture and language, supporting business and academic collaborations, and highlighting the enduring friendship between Italy and the United States.With a diplomatic career that has taken him from multilateral economic negotiations to public diplomacy here in the United States, he brings a global perspective — but also a deep appreciation for local communities and cultural connections.🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations celebrating Italian culture, heritage, food, language, travel, and community.#TheItalianRadioHour #NicoFrandi #ItalianAmerican #italianculture #ItalianAmerican #ItalianHeritage #ItalyUSA #ItalianLanguage #MadeInItaly #RootsTourism #Diplomacy #ItalianIdentity #Philadelphia #Pittsburgh #ItalianCommunity #culturaldiplomacy

    49 min
  3. The Hidden Mysteries of Calabria: Templars, Megaliths & Lost Civilizations

    May 7

    The Hidden Mysteries of Calabria: Templars, Megaliths & Lost Civilizations

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Today we’re traveling to Calabria—not only the Calabria of beautiful landscapes and family roots, but a hidden Calabria.A Calabria of caves, megaliths, forgotten civilizations, sacred symbols, ancient astronomy, and mysteries carved into stone.My guest today is Giuseppe Oliva, president of the cultural association Mistery Hunters, a group dedicated to researching and documenting the hidden historical and symbolic heritage of Calabria and beyond.Through documentaries, field research, photography, and storytelling, they explore places that seem suspended between archaeology, memory, myth, and mystery.To learn more about the Association and/or to donate, visit: https://misteryhunters.it/#Calabria #Italy #ItalianHeritage #ItalianAmerican #MisteryHunters #GiuseppeOliva #Templars #KnightsTemplar #AncientMysteries #LostCivilizations #Megaliths #AncientHistory #Archaeology #HiddenItaly #SouthernItaly #Castrovillari #Zungri #SacredGeometry #ItalianCulture #CalabrianRoots #HistoryMystery #AncientCivilizations #TravelItaly #DiscoverCalabria #ItalianPodcast #TheItalianRadioHour #CulturalHeritage #Mystery #AlternativeHistory #italytravel

    1h 6m
  4. (Re)Covering America, Two Italians, One Epic Roadtrip, From New York to the Pacific

    May 2

    (Re)Covering America, Two Italians, One Epic Roadtrip, From New York to the Pacific

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - We are going on a journey across America—but not the America you think you know.Our guests are two Italian journalists who have lived in New York for over 25 years, writing for Corriere della Sera and La Stampa. But instead of staying in the familiar world of big cities, they decided to do something radical: they left it.Maria Teresa Cometto and Glauco Maggi took a 105-day journey—over 30,000 kilometers—through what many call ‘flyover country,’ the America that is often ignored, misunderstood, or simplified. Their book, “Qui non è Nuova York”, now in English as (Re)Covering America, is not just a travel diary—it’s a sociological, political, and deeply human portrait of a country that may be far more complex—and far more united—than we are led to believe.But today, we’re not here for the usual questions.We’re here to go beyond the postcard—and maybe challenge a few assumptions along the way.”Order you copy here: https://asterismbooks.com/product/recovering-america-two-italians-one-epic-roadtrip-from-new-york-to-the-pacific-105-days-breaking-stereotypes-maria-teresa-cometto-glauco-maggi?fbclid=IwY2xjawRgrl1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlc0VsS1MzcVAyTlV6dGhFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkzXpuORg84xENyQ7XAgFKSlgRbtouT6nSmZYmy-OQ_OzMtpi5v8Ma4w2UjD_aem_Hu62yjvIKiFTqfksyki8-w

    59 min
  5. The Italian Way: Where Culture Becomes Innovation with Luca Cottini

    Apr 23

    The Italian Way: Where Culture Becomes Innovation with Luca Cottini

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Italy is not just as a place of beauty, but as a way of thinking.Today’s guest invites us to rethink something we often take for granted: the true power of Italy - the way it creates beauty.Luca Cottini is an Associate Professor of Italian Studies at Villanova University, a scholar of literature and culture, but also something more unusual… a storyteller of innovation.As the creator of Italian Innovators, Luca explores a fascinating idea: that Italian excellence is not accidental but comes from a unique way of thinking—where even an object, a product, a simple everyday thing can carry meaning, memory, and imagination. From the story behind Nutella to the philosophy of design, from literature to business, he shows us how Italy doesn’t just produce things… it creates stories that last.And perhaps most beautifully, he reminds us that innovation doesn’t always mean moving faster— sometimes, it means going deeper.So today, we’re not just talking about Italy.We’re exploring a mindset… a way of seeing the world.https://www.youtube.com/@ItalianInnovators

    1h 1m
  6. Steelers Nation Has No Borders: Italy Bleeds Black & Gold

    Apr 20

    Steelers Nation Has No Borders: Italy Bleeds Black & Gold

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - With the NFL Draft just around the corner, today, we’re crossing the ocean—but not leaving Steelers Nation. Because believe it or not, thousands of miles away in Italy, there’s a passionate, growing community of fans who wake up at 2 in the morning… just to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers. How does that happen? Why the Steelers? And what does it mean to love a team from a place you’ve never been? Today, I’m joined by Mauro Giusti and Nicola Lucchi, founders of Italian Steelers Nation—a group that has turned fandom into community, culture, and identity. And with the NFL Draft just a week away… we’ll also find out what Italy thinks the Steelers should do next. #ItalianSteelersNation #SteelerNation #NFLDraft2026 #PittsburghSteelers#ItalyMeetsPittsburgh #AmericanFootballAbroad #NFLInternational#BlackAndGold #TerribleTowel #SportsCulture #ItalianAmericanJoin the Italian Steelers Nation FB Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880571820848120/ Read about the "5 e 5" sandwich mentioned by Mauro at: https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/gallery/panino-5-e-5-toscana-specialita-livorno/

    58 min
  7. Beyond Tourism: Reclaiming Italian Identity Through Roots

    Apr 11

    Beyond Tourism: Reclaiming Italian Identity Through Roots

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - There is a moment—quiet, almost sacred—when someone stands in front of a small stone house in a village they have never seen before… and yet, it feels like home.For millions of descendants of Italian immigrants, that moment is not tourism. It’s not sightseeing. It’s identity.Today we explore the powerful world of “Rooting” — a movement that goes beyond travel and into ancestry, language, memory, and even dual citizenship.My guest, Letizia Sinisi, founder of Rooting Experience and Italy Rooting Consulting, has helped redefine what it means to return — not just to a place, but to yourself.To learn more, visit: http://www.italyrooting.com/#ItalyRooting#TurismoDelleRadici#ItalianDiaspora#ItalianCitizenship#ItalianLanguage#GenealogyJourney#RootingExperience#IstitutoMondoItaliano#ItalianHeritage#IdentityAndBelonging

    50 min
  8. The Epic Journey of Macaroni and Cheese: from Rome to America

    Apr 3

    The Epic Journey of Macaroni and Cheese: from Rome to America

    This week on The Italian Radio Hour - Macaroni and cheese—creamy, comforting, and deeply American… or is it? What if this iconic dish actually tells a much older story—one that begins in ancient times, crosses continents, and reveals how food carries history, identity, and even myth? Today, we uncover the surprising journey of mac and cheese.We are joined by food historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi, whose work explores the deep connections between food, culture, and history. In her latest book, The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese from Ancient Rome to Modern America, she traces the journey of this beloved dish across time and geography—uncovering not just recipes, but the myths, migrations, and cultural forces that shaped it. Through what she calls ‘historiphagy,’ or eating history, she invites us to experience the past in a deeply human and sensory way.Learn more about Karima's work at: https://www.theeternaltable.com/#MacAndCheese#FoodHistory#ItalianCuisine#CulinaryHistory#FoodCulture#HistoryThroughFood#ComfortFood#ItalianAmerican#Gastronomy#FoodStories

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Join The Italian Radio Hour every week as we share hidden gems of Italy, from food, to culture to travel to interesting stories of Italians. Ascoltaci anche tu! Proudly sponsored by Istituto Mondo Italiano, your gateway to anything Italian! www.istitutomondoitaliano.org Video interviews on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJ1yaVcxq7BOrLlKylTDRQ #Italy #Italian #madeinitaly #italian #italiano #italoamerican #notizie #curiosita #entertainment #Food #travel #culture

Information

  • Creator
    Viviana Altieri
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Viviana Altieri
  • Show Website
    The Italian Radio Hour

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