This week on The Italian Radio Hour - I am joined by Prof. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President of the Italian American Museum of New York to discuss: Telling the Italian American Story—Ourselves.A scholar, educator, and lifelong advocate for cultural recognition, Dr. Scelsa transformed more than two decades of research, activism, and perseverance into the first permanent Italian American Museum in the United States, located in the heart of historic Little Italy on Mulberry Street.Together, they explore ongoing exhibitions at the Museum, major expansion project, the importance of telling our own story, and why Italian American history is essential to understanding America itself. This conversation is about truth, dignity, and the responsibility of building institutions when none exist.As Dr. Scelsa reminds us: “If you want to do it, just do it.”Museum HoursMonday: No public hoursTuesday: By appointment onlyWednesday: By appointment onlyThursday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmFriday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmSaturday: 12:00 – 5:00 pmSunday: No public hoursVisit the Museum:151 Mulberry StreetNew York, NY 10013(212) 965-9000The Italian American Museum of NY, • #JosephScelsa• #ItalianAmericanMuseum• #ItalianAmericanHistory• #LittleItalyNYC• #ItalianAmericanLegacy• #TellingOurStory• #CulturalJustice• #AmericanMosaic• #BeyondTheStereotype• #ItalianAmericanVoices• #TheItalianRadioHour• #ItalianAmericanExcellence• #HistoryMatters• #CulturalMemory

This week on The Italian Radio Hour - From the folk sounds of Abruzzo to the grand stages of Philadelphia 🎶

For our first episode of 2026, we could not have had a more special guest! If your childhood holiday memories are tied to the sound of "zampogna", meet Antonello Di Matteo — clarinetist, educator, innovator, and proud Abruzzese! 🇮🇹✨ Discover how this incredible young musician blends tradition, technology, and heart — and how a serendipitous 2011 tour in Pittsburgh brought our paths together! .

🎙️Abruzzese proverb: "Sta 'bbone Rocche, sta 'bbone tutta la rocche"Catch Antonello live by visiting his website at: https://antonellodimatteo.com/

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In this episode, I welcome Giulia Scarpaleggia, Tuscan-born home cook, food writer, and founder of Jul's Kitchen, to explore the heart and soul of cucina povera" — Italy’s timeless tradition of transforming humble ingredients into unforgettable meals.Joining us from the Val d’Elsa countryside between Siena and Florence, Giulia shares how place, family, and memory shape her cooking philosophy. In her cookbook, Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients into Unforgettable Meals, is not just a collection of recipes, but a mindset rooted in sustainability, resilience, and creativity — what Italians call “l’arte dell’arrangiarsi.”Together we talk about: The cultural meaning of stale bread in Tuscan cooking Why cucina povera feels more relevant than ever today Seasonal cooking, sustainability, and zero waste Writing a cookbook during lockdown and pregnancy Preserving Italy’s regional food traditions through storytellingThis is a rich, heartfelt conversation about food as culture, memory, and love.

Learn more about Giulia and her work:• Book: Cucina Povera and her LATEST available for Pre-order: Vegetables The Italian Way

•Newsletter: Letters from Tuscany

• Blog: Juls’ Kitchen

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Grazie for listening — and arrivederci!

Photos excerpted from Vegetables the Italian Way by Giulia Scarpaleggia (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2026. Photographs by Tommaso Galli@followers @highlight

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