Deborah Kobylt LIVE: James Pierre and Ken Atchity

Growing up in NJ, stories about the mob often led the news. It was terrifying, but peaked one’s curiosity at the same time. And being of Italian decent, it was the topic of many conversations.

Today on my #LittleItalyPodcast and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, I speak with James Pierre, author, “GAMBINO: The Rise,” and also Ken Atchity, film producer and literary manager who’s turned many best sellers into successful films.

Pierre got the idea for the book when he witnessed something as a child – a mob hit – and told no one until he decided to write about it as an adult. He talks about growing up in NY, and calls himself “a student of all things mafia,” and his knowledge past and present is astounding, as is his story.

Ken has been behind some of the Hollywood’s most successful films, and says this story has “Godfather” potential with its rich history and cultural perspective.

James and Ken both join us for our interview. I hope you’ll tune in, and invite your friends, too, available on all video and audio podcast platforms. #DeborahZaraKobylt

Deborah Kobylt LIVE: Nick Rimedio

“This isn’t a job. Hospitality is a vocation,” says #NickRimedio, GM of the trendy #LaPeerHotel in #BeverlyHills, and soon, Nick will join the #WHollywood.

We spoke with Nick on #DeborahKobyltLIVE and our #LittleItalyPodcast, and he told what what’s helped him become a success: his NONNA (and of course hard work!) Nick credits his #Italian #grandma with giving him the discipline and confidence to do anything in life, and we talk about some of the non-traditional routes he’s taken to get to where he is today, and it started in the kitchen.

Join us for our conversation with Nick, LIVE on all of our video and audio platforms, and invite your friends, too. Sometimes, the path to success isn’t an Ivy business school, but it’s the schooling we get from our families that give us the edge. #DeborahZaraKobylt