In this episode, we’re joined by actress, writer, and storyteller Christine McBurney, whose life took an unexpected turn when, in her 50s, a DNA test revealed something she never imagined… she was half Italian.

What began as a search for answers about her father quickly turned into something much deeper uncovering family secrets, long-hidden truths, and a completely new understanding of who she is.

Christine shares her incredible journey of discovering her Italian roots, connecting with relatives she never knew existed, and piecing together a story that had been kept from her for decades. Along the way, she reflects on identity, family, and the emotional impact of finally learning the truth.

Now, she’s bringing this powerful story to life through her solo show DNA Doesn’t Lie, But My Mother Did and an upcoming short film, Tutto inspired by her experience.

✨ If you’d like to support Christine’s film project Tutto (Everything) or learn more about her work, check out the links below:

🎬 Film Fundraiser: https://seedandspark.com/fund/tutto-everything#story
🌐 Website: https://www.christinemcburney.com/
📸 Instagram: @christinemcbc

In 1906 Denver, a young Italian immigrant named Carmelina Fiorino stood in her kitchen and made a decision that would change her life forever.

After leaving Calabria at just 15 years old, Carmelina found herself in a troubled marriage with a much older man who had abandoned his family in Italy to pursue her. What followed was a relationship marked by control, jealousy, and alleged abuse—one that would ultimately end in violence.

When Carmelina shot and killed her husband, the question quickly became: was this murder… or self-defense?

As newspapers sensationalized her story and the courtroom filled with conflicting testimonies, Carmelina’s case forced a jury to decide whether she was a cold-blooded killer—or a young woman pushed to her breaking point.

In this episode, we explore the life of Carmelina Fiorino, the events leading up to that tragic night, and the trial that captivated Denver in the early 20th century.

In this episode, I sit down with Deron Benvenuti, author of The Land of Milk and Honey An Immigrant Tale of Rags to Riches In America, to talk about the incredible life of his grandfather, Joseph Benvenuti. An Italian immigrant who built a life in America through grit, resilience, and determination.

From shining shoes at just six years old…
to supporting his family during the Great Depression…
to starting over and chasing opportunity out west…

This is a powerful, multi-generational story of hardship, faith, and the true meaning of the American Dream.

We also dive into the deeper layers of family history—what gets passed down, what gets left out, and why these stories matter more than ever.

Buy the book and follow Deron at

gowestmyboy.com

Instagram @landofmilkandhoney2025

Facebook - The Land Of Milk And Honey 2025

In this episode of the Italian American Stories Podcast, we sit down with professional strongman Nick Guardione, a first-generation Italian American with roots in Sicily and a powerful story of strength, resilience, and family.

Nick recently competed in the Arnold Strongman Classic, one of the most elite competitions in the world, and shares what it’s like to step onto that stage alongside legends of the sport. From the pressure of performing in front of thousands to hitting personal records, he gives us an inside look at the life of a professional strongman.

But this story goes far beyond competition.

Nick opens up about his Italian heritage, his family’s journey from Italy to the United States, and the deep influence of his father—whose legacy continues to drive him every time he steps onto the competition floor. What began as a way to cope with loss turned into a passion, and ultimately, a career.

We also dive into:

• His journey from cross country runner to elite strongman

• The mindset required to compete at the highest level

• The culture and camaraderie within the strongman world

• His connection to Italy, including family vineyards and summers abroad

This is a story about strength—but also about identity, purpose, and carrying your family name with pride.

Italian American, strongman, Arnold Classic, Nick Guardione, fitness, strength training, heritage, family story, World’s Strongest Man

In this episode of the Italian American Stories Podcast, Stephanie welcomes writer and historian Brian D’Ambrosio, author of the book Italian-Americana: Explorers, Entertainers, and Eccentrics.

Brian’s book highlights more than forty fascinating individuals whose lives helped shape the Italian American experience across centuries—from early explorers and Revolutionary War patriots to entertainers, athletes, and unforgettable personalities.

During the conversation, Brian discusses several figures featured in the book, including legendary bodybuilder Charles Atlas, football player Brian Piccolo, and other notable Italian Americans whose stories reflect the wide range of accomplishments, struggles, and contributions within the Italian American community.

Rather than focusing only on immigration through Ellis Island, Brian’s work explores a much broader timeline, revealing how Italian heritage has been woven into the fabric of American history long before and long after the great waves of immigration.

If you enjoy discovering lesser-known stories and unique personalities from Italian American history, this episode offers a brief look into the many remarkable individuals featured in Italian-Americana.

You can find Brian’s book Italian-Americana: Explorers, Entertainers, and Eccentrics through major booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In 1919, Boston’s North End—often called Boston’s Little Italy—was home to thousands of Italian immigrants building new lives in America. Families lived close together in crowded tenements, neighbors shared meals, and children filled the narrow streets while their parents worked along the busy waterfront.

Among them were people like Caesar, a delivery driver who guided his horse and wagon through the neighborhood each day… Flaminio, a hardworking immigrant raising a young family… and two children, Maria Distasio and Pasquale Iantasco, who spent their days going to school and helping their families.

For them, Wednesday, January 15th, 1919 began like any other ordinary day in Boston’s North End.

But by the afternoon, everything would change.

In this episode of the Italian American Stories Podcast, we explore the lives of the Italian immigrants who lived in Boston’s Little Italy and the tragic event that would later become known as The Great Molasses Flood—one of the most unusual disasters in American history.

Join us as we uncover the human stories behind a day Boston would never forget.

Before there was a restaurant, there were coal mines.

In the early 1900s, Italian immigrants from southern Italy and Sicily settled in southeastern Oklahoma, building a tight-knit community rooted in family, food, faith — and hard work. In the small town of Krebs, Oklahoma, one young immigrant named Pietro Piegare followed his father into the mines at just eleven years old.

But a mining accident would change his life forever.

After crushing his leg in a cave-in, Pete reinvented himself — first by brewing a unique wheat beer inspired by the Choctaw people, and then by cooking heaping plates of spaghetti and ravioli for his fellow miners. What began as friends stopping by for “some of that stringy stuff” and a cold Choc beer would eventually become one of Oklahoma’s most beloved Italian restaurants: Pete’s Place.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Italian coal mining communities of Krebs and Pittsburg, Oklahoma

• Oklahoma’s 52-year prohibition era

• Basement brewing and jail time

• A 1950s automatic spaghetti fork invention (yes, really)

• The Italian ambassador’s visit to Krebs

• Two sons who served in WWII — one wounded in Italy and awarded a Purple Heart

• And the lasting legacy of a red sauce joint that still thrives nearly 100 years later

From Campania, Italy to Little Italy of Oklahoma, this is the story of Pete Prichard, Choc Beer, and the rambling old house hidden by trees that became a cornerstone of Italian American life in Krebs.

At 17 years old, Rick Futia’s life changed in an instant.

What began as a summer day at the lake ended in a devastating accident that left him paralyzed. But that is only the beginning of this story.

In Episode 86, we sit down with Rick and his nephew, Jag Jefferson — author of Rickicello — to talk about survival, reinvention, and what it truly means to live boldly after everything changes. From Rick’s bodybuilding days and teenage confidence… to the shocking accident that altered his future… to the unexpected “rockstar” comeback that followed, this episode is filled with honesty, humor, and heart.

We also dive deep into Rick’s Italian American roots — from Calabria to upstate New York to San Jose — and the remarkable story of his grandmother, who left her family behind in Italy and crossed an ocean alone, pregnant and unable to speak English, to build a new life in America.

This is a story about:
• Family loyalty
• Immigrant sacrifice
• Reinvention after tragedy
• Confidence, charisma, and resilience
• And a life that refused to be defined by one moment

If you’d like to read the full story, Rick’s biography Rickicello is available at rickbio.com, where you can purchase the book, audiobook, and special editions directly.

Some stories fade with time. Others demand to be told.

This is one of them.

🎧 Listen now to Episode 86 of the Italian American Stories Podcast.