In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Linda Stasi delve into the rich history of Italian immigrants, exploring the themes of identity, struggle, and resilience. Linda discusses her new book, ‘The Descendants,’ which uncovers the untold stories of Italian immigrants in America, particularly focusing on the Ludlow Massacre and the impact of Prohibition. The discussion also touches on the changing landscape of New York City, the ongoing stereotypes faced by Italians, and the importance of recognizing the contributions of Italian Americans to society. Click here to join our group on Facebook Video Purchase on Amazon Contact: Angelle Barbazon angelle@booksforward.com ‘Yellowstone’ Meets ‘The Godfather’  ‘The Descendant’ is a family saga like no other Was this Colorado family the real inspiration for ‘The Godfather?’ The truth comes to life in Linda Stasi’s new based-on-actual-events novel NEW YORK CITY – Award-winning journalist, bestselling novelist, and former New York Daily News and New York Post columnist Linda Stasi – once named one of the “Fifty Most Powerful Women in NYC” – brings her trademark bold, fearless storytelling to her most ambitious work yet: “The Descendant” (Regalo Press, March 10, 2026). This based-on-real-events novel tells the story of the family that possibly inspired “The Godfather” – except this story doesn’t begin with a small robbery in New York. Instead, “The Descendant” begins with a big, blooming love in the tiny town of Lucca Sicula, Sicily. Told through the lives of the strong Italian immigrant women who fought against impossible odds after coming to the American West, this historically inspired narrative introduces a whole cast of fascinating characters. Mariano Barbera was a strong, powerfully built man who saw young Maria Ragusa at her family’s store and was struck dumb. He had to have her, and she wanted him just as badly. Their life together leads the couple and their children from earthquake-ravaged Sicily to bondage and massacre in the mines of Colorado, to cattle ranching in Pueblo to Mafia life on the mean streets of Red Hook, Brooklyn. This sweeping family saga centers around the Barberas’ 10 children—from their three cowboy bootlegging sons to their seven wildly different cowgirl daughters. First there’s little Flo – born on the night of the wolves, whose own alpha wolf never left her side–as she navigates life alongside her best pal and younger sister, Clara. Then there’s Flo’s many older sisters: Callie who loved and lost; Angie, who loved and left; gorgeous Laura, who loved the wrong man; grouchy but brilliant Helen, who loved many times; and tough-as-nails wrangler Mickey, who loved a woman more than the husband she was forced to marry. “The Descendant” is the story of how the Mafia began in the West by immigrants fighting to survive in the wilds of the wild west, told through the story of a real life family of scrappy, tough, smart folks who refused to let all the power in the world keep them down. Podcast  

In this engaging conversation, Graham Wingate shares his journey of exploring his Italian roots and family history, delving into the stories of his ancestors, particularly the Scotto and Sessa families. He discusses the challenges and discoveries in genealogy research, the impact of immigration on family identities, and the significance of cultural heritage. The conversation also touches on the use of modern technology and social media in uncovering family histories, as well as the personal connections that arise from understanding one’s lineage.takeaways Discovering your roots helps you find yourself. Genealogy research can uncover fascinating family stories. Names can change as families adapt to new cultures. The journey of immigration shapes family identities. Researching family history can reveal unexpected connections. Modern technology aids in genealogy research. Social media can be a valuable resource for family history. Understanding family history can provide insights into personal identity. Cultural heritage plays a significant role in family narratives. The search for truth in genealogy can be challenging but rewarding. Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

  Antonia Salerno Walking Tours She’s Back! After a few years off gallivanting through sun-soaked vineyards, getting lost in winding cobblestone streets, and sampling enough gelato to become a self-declared expert, our on-scene contributor is back with even juicier stories to share! Antonia will spill the espresso beans on the quirks, surprises, and delightful mishaps of relocating to and living in Italy as an Italian American expat. Get ready for laughter, adventure, and maybe a few pasta-related confessions! Click here to join Italian Genealogy Group on Facebook Buon Anno Nuovo da Salerno, Italia – Antonia Sparano – Salerno Walking Tours Ciao a tutti! Happy New Year! ANCIENT HISTORY Well, I’m finally back with the intention of continuing my Big Fat Blogs about life in Southern Italy. Like many others, life came to a slow stop after COVID hit in 2020. Instead, I focused on various healthy YouTube videos for exercise and spiritual growth. But nothing inspired me to write a blog. Most of my previous blogs were travel-oriented or observations as an expat in Salerno. Since then, I’ve traveled extensively across Northern Europe, Portugal, and as far south as the island nation of Malta, Croatia to the east, the U.K., Ireland, Switzerland, France, San Marino, and, of course, the entire country of Italy. In 2023, I spent an average of six months out of the year doing what I love most- traveling! I’d traveled to Italy many times before the move here and always felt so comfortable, like I really belonged, not like in the rambling city of Los Angeles, where I lived for many years. But vacations have a strange way of altering reality. For a number of reasons, I ended up in a small town and have gotten comfortable, for better or for worse. Here’s (most of) my up-to-date story  THE OPPOSITE OF LA DOLCE VITA…FROM MY REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE But enough of the fun stuff. Let’s backtrack for a moment. I moved to Salerno in March of 2019, feeling buoyed by my friends’ supportive comments like ‘you’re so brave! I could never have done that !’ But moving was the easy part. There’s a dark side to living in Italy that was so unexpected. I knew I would miss my friends, but I thought I would make new ones quickly because I’m very outgoing, and I thought I spoke enough Italian to navigate my way around town and maybe make some friends in the local yoga studio. Wrong. I did not acclimate as quickly as I thought I would. Actually, I never thought I would have problems acclimating because I’m Italian on both sides of my family, so it’s already in my blood, right? Wrong again. Where I did make friends initially was in the language school here in town, but the downside of that is those same friends were only here for a week or two (on a language study vacation) and returned to their home countries, leaving me with separation anxiety. We shared meals, homework, and some cultural adventures through the school, and then in a flash, it was over. REALITY I tried so hard to connect with the locals, but for a couple of good reasons, it just wasn’t happening. The most important reason was that my Italian was just not good enough to sustain a conversation beyond the weather and their favorite restaurant. When I put myself in their gorgeous Italian shoes, I realized that perhaps they just didn’t have the patience to speak with me in Italian with all the mixed-up verb tenses. ( This is what I told myself.) BUT…NEWS FLASH. I’ve read and heard about this many times over the years and refused to believe that it could be true, (especially because I’m so fabulous-hahaha) but the Italians who are not well traveled or who have not lived abroad, or who live in smaller cities were not open in the least to having a new friend who was a ‘stranieri’, a foreigner, an outsider. Their friends went back as far as kindergarten, maybe from the same building they currently lived in, through university, and beyond. And they have no room or reason for a new friend. It has been virtually impossible to break through that glass ceiling. There’s little curiosity beyond where I was born and lived before I came here. Many of my friends in the expat group have related the same stories. MY PEOPLE I will have my seventh year anniversary on March 1st of this year, never thinking I would stay longer than three months, which was the length of my visa, until I finally received my dual citizenship. We have a great group of expats from the U.S., U.K., Austria, Japan, Australia, Ireland, and a few from Italy who like to practice their English. It took five years to round up a good group like them. They’ve saved me from the loneliness that can accompany moving to a foreign country. I bring this up because it is an incredibly important aspect if you’re looking to settle into a new country. That said, my friends who came here with a partner may not have felt the rejection as much as a single woman. YOU NEED TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE. There’s discrimination here on many levels. (If they hear American accents, get ready for an inflated price.) Many stores and local coffee bars do not have prices listed, so we can get charged different prices depending on the mood of the owner, not all owners, but definitely many. No matter how good I think my Italian pronunciation is, the minute I open my mouth with ‘quanto costa’, I can assume it’s going to be more than a local’s price. In fact, I’ve had certain shopkeepers totally ignore me until I happened to mention that I live here and I’m a citizen. Apparently, they don’t want to spend time on shoppers who might be on vacation…again, not just my experience. Honestly, I grumbled to anyone who would listen about all the annoying things I encountered in southern Italy for about 6 years, and then it changed. Here’s a quick list of the dark side in no particular order: -Rudeness of people on the streets, sidewalks, and stores ( evidently, customer service was not in any training manual). Granted, the salaries are low in Italy, but the use of common courtesies, mostly in government or hospital offices, is non-existent ( mostly, but not all) -Trying to find, get, and keep a handyman, plumber, etc, to come to your house. Making an appointment is a waste of time because they rarely show up. Make as many calls/ texts as you want, but rolling your eyes won’t get them there any faster. This is where PATIENCE becomes a virtue. -The big highways have better roads than the streets in a smaller city/town. Same for sidewalks. Don’t look up or you might fall and twist an ankle! So many holes and uneven pavements. No country for older people with mobility issues. Also, no safety rails or general handrails on many staircases, interior or exterior. The cobblestones become so painful from walking several thousand steps a day unless you have great, comfortable rubber-soled shoes. -Behind the stunning scenery all over southern Italy lie side roads with illegal dumping everywhere. What an eyesore, not to mention a potential hygienic problem for people with respiratory issues. My local streets are missing trash receptacles, which explains the trash thrown in every direction. I’m actually embarrassed to have friends visit because of the dirty streets. -Another myth…. Gorgeous weather year-round. Because I live at the southern end of the Amalfi Coast, it’s assumed we have hot, sunny beach weather year-round. I’m writing this in January, and this morning we had a thunderstorm that brought hail and damp, super-cold temperatures. Salerno is on the coast, and I live about two blocks from Il mare, which means the wind is colder and damper than the areas further inland. But, as it is said, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. Same for the summer heat and humidity. Accept it or escape it! There’s so much more I could share, but I don’t want to scare everyone away. Plus, I did mention several other annoyances in a previous blog. Yes, I know these complaints are so minimal in the scheme of life, considering all of the horrible stories on the news every day, and I do keep it in perspective. Also, I want to spare you the hassle of finding out on your own. My advice is to come here for three months and see how you feel. Really experience day-to-day life. HUMBLED IN EVERY WAY To be fair to my beautiful ancestral homeland, I needed to make some changes in my own attitude. As I cleared out the last of my things in storage in L.A. last summer, I had an epiphany. The realization is that nowhere is perfect. Italy has some monumental ( no pun intended) problems that may not be resolved in my lifetime. But it is a country of wonder, with beautiful ruins from the mysterious canals of Venice to the elegant town of Taormina in Sicily. So, as I sealed the third and last box for shipment to Italy, I resolved to get serious and improve my Italian, once and for all. I’ll never be fluent, I’ll never be ‘one of them,’ and I may never get the humor in the theaters and films. But I’ve resumed my private lessons in Italian, I’ve been watching more Netflix in Italian, have re-joined my Italian conversation group, and will start an online group lesson with Italki. Also, I’m embracing the cultural differences and the illogical logic of why things don’t work the way they should. Good for a start. I already feel more connected and confident when I get my coffee, making small talk, and even getting a little smile out of my favorite grumpy barista. WILL SHE OR WON’T SHE? Will I buy a house here? No way. I’m a single woman and don’t own a tool belt. Get my license and buy a car- no, thank you…love the trains. Start some kind of design business – no, grazie! And why, you ask. The insane, illogical bureaucracy. Will I move back to the States at some point? It’s not in my plan. But I’ve learned to never say never. I like going to Venice for a long weekend during Christmas and seeing the gondolas decorated. I like visiting my cousins in southern Germany for the Christmas markets. I like taking a train to Rome for an hour and a half to see a great museum exhibit, have lunch, and come home, thinking how lucky I am. Let me know if I can answer any questions you may have about moving here, or if I can write on a topic of interest to you. I hope this has been informative and helpful. Best wishes to you all for a beautiful 2026. Safe travels! To book a tour contact me on Facebook – Salerno Walking Tours

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Angela Jackson explore the rich tapestry of Italian roots and genealogy. Angela shares her personal journey of discovering her Italian heritage, the migration stories of her ancestors, and the emotional experience of returning to her ancestral villages in Italy. The discussion also delves into the intersection of art and genealogy, as Angela expresses her passion for painting landscapes that connect her to her roots. They touch on the importance of family connections, the vibrant Italian culture in America, and provide encouragement for aspiring artists. takeaways Angela’s Italian ancestry comes from her father’s side, with roots in Campania. Her grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in 1885, part of the first wave of Italian immigrants. Angela emphasizes the importance of asking family members about their history. The conversation highlights the significance of returning to ancestral villages. Angela’s art reflects her connection to her Italian heritage and landscapes. Family connections are strengthened through shared experiences and meals. The vibrant Italian culture is alive in places like San Diego. Researching family history can lead to unexpected discoveries. Angela encourages aspiring artists to embrace their creativity and have fun. The conversation underscores the emotional ties to family and heritage Click here to join our group on Facebook Video

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Joseph Corso, author of ‘A Sicilian American Comedy.’ Joseph shares his rich background growing up in Brooklyn, his family’s Sicilian roots, and the cultural dynamics of Italian-American life. He discusses the culinary traditions of his upbringing, the influence of matriarchal figures in his family, and the importance of property ownership among immigrant families. Joseph also delves into the themes of his book, which explores the complexities of love, identity, and family through a comedic lens, while reflecting on the broader cultural significance of these experiences. Joseph Corso grew up in a Sicilian American family in Brooklyn. He has fond memories of family picnics in Forest Park. Joseph is allergic to garlic, which is unusual for a Sicilian. His book explores themes of family, love, and identity. The matriarchal influence in Sicilian families is significant. Property ownership was a key goal for immigrant families. Joseph’s mother had entrepreneurial aspirations that were not realized. Cultural traditions play a vital role in shaping identity. Joseph’s wife has a photographic memory of her childhood. Everyone has unique stories that reflect their heritage. Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! ???? https://vidiq.com/Italianroots Click here to join our group on Facebook Video