Lorenzo Lisi & Celestino Drago – Made In Italy Expo

Love Italian food, wine, fashion, accessories and more? Then you MUST listen to our show today, featuring Lorenzo Lisi, creator of the Nexxt – Made in Italy Expo, happening this week Oct. 19-22 at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. This is an extraordinary event featuring 120 of the finest vendors from Italy, there will be food tastings and more, and it’s FREE!

Also joining us will be the legendary Celestino Drago, owner of Drago Centro, where he will presenting and evening of Italian elegance and fine dining to end the Expo and celebrate the Nexxt Foundation, which we will be discussing on our show. Celestino is a LEGEND, and we are honored to have him on our show to talk about his incredible career and life in the culinary arts, running one of America’s finest restaurants in downtown LA.

Please tune into our show on #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio platforms, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I’m excited to have you here and hope to see you at the #Expo🇮🇹

Eleonora Granata Jenkinson & Andrea Pallaoro – The Film MONICA

#Monica is a film worthy of an Oscar nomination, and I recently interviewed Eleonora Granata-Jenkinson, producer, and Andrea Pallaoro, director, about the making of this this beautiful movie. Monica is played Trace Lysette and Patricia Clarkson stars as her mother. The film is about a trans woman who was driven out of her home decades earlier because her family would not accept her life choice. But Monica returns to care for her ailing mother, and the humanity and emotions that evolve throughout this film are nothing short of extraordinary.

Here’s a clip from our interview with Eleonora and Andrea, representing Italian-American filmmaking at its finest. They talk about making this movie, and the choices made to depict the story with such beauty.
Monica is also getting Oscar nods, and the team will be fundraising to raise money for an Oscar campaign, and we also talked about that during our interview. Please find our full conversation with Eleonora and Andrea on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I’m honored to have you joining us

Carlo Ponti , Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra

I’m thrilled to welcome our friend, Maestro #CarloPonti, joining us to discuss the opening of his Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra 2023/2024 Season this month.

I’m passionate about music education, and Maestro Ponti has dedicated his time to raise money and awareness to bring music education to young people in schools through the work of his LAV Orchestra. All proceeds from the Los Angeles Virtuoso Orchestra funds musical education programs so young people have the opportunity to study music in schools throughout Los Angeles, regardless of economics.

Of course, we will also talk about Mr.
Ponti’s early days, growing up with legendary mom, #SophiaLoren, his dad, film producer Carlo Ponti, Sr, and younger brother, Eduardo, also a filmmaker. Carlo tells us his home was filled with music and arts growing up. I can only imagine!

The Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra
premieres its upcoming season on Friday, October 20, at the Theater Raymond Kabbaz in West LA, one of my favorite theaters in the City of Angels. Carlo Ponti and the Orchestra look forward to sharing an exciting lineup of performances, featuring emerging young soloists who will make their debut with LAV’s world-class musicians, LIVE.

Please join us on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I hope you invite your friends to listen to our interview AND attend the upcoming LAV performances with Maestro Carlo Ponti.


@maestrocarloponti @lavirtuosiorchestra

Lynne Deutch, Evelyn Joan and Piero Addis

Today we celebrate Italian food and excellence in art.

Please welcome to our show Evelyne Joan, owner of the infamous Mauro Cafe on Melrose, whose restaurant is as well known for its Italian cuisine as it is for supporting artists, which brings us to Lynne Deutch, also featured on our program.

Lynne’s photography of her travels throughout the island of Capri will be featured at Mauro’s cafe beginning tomorrow. We speak with her about her work and her love of Capri, which is captured through her work.

The exhibit was carefully executed by Italian artist and internationally acclaimed curator, Piero Addis, who will join us from Italy to discuss the exhibit and how he designed it to compliment the restaurant.

We’re thrilled to be interviewing such a dynamic and talented team for our #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #DeborahKobyltLIVE as part of our #ItalianHeritageMonth series of interviews.

Please join us, invite your friends, and come see the show at Mauro’s, which runs through November. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I’m happy to have you as part of our family 🇮🇹
@lynnedeutchart @maurocafe_la @pieroaddis

Ashley Penner & Robyn Towt, Founder, No Double Bogies Foundation & Global patient Advocacy Coalition

Please welcome Ashley Penner, creator of the upcoming No Double Bogies Charity Golf Tournament, and Robyn Towt, global patient advocate for women the many who have had breast implants that have given them a variety of serious health issues. This is an important show.

The NoDOUBLEbogies Foundation brings awareness about the dangers of many types of breast implants, and their upcoming golf tournament raises money to help those who need care the many health issues associated with leaky breast implants, and there are many.

An estimated 15 million women have breast implants worldwide, and a study by MDAnderson in 2018 said many implants have been associated with cancer, autoimmune illness, and other rare disease. And these brave women join us today to talk about their journey into getting help.

The No Double Bogies Charity Golf Tournament takes place on 10/16 in Rancho Santa Margarita at the Dove Canyon Country Club, and we’ll be talking more about that. Please join #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio platforms, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and we’re happy to have you here for this important discussion.

Pat Lalama, Award-Winning Journalist

Kicking off Italian American Heritage Month with ABC’s 20/20 Correspondent and friend, Pat Lalama, who joins our #LittleItalyPodcast to talk about growing up Italian, and how one talk from her dad, Nunzio, convinced her that she could do anything she set her sights on.

Pat’s family is from both northern and southern Italy, which she says was always complicated growing up. Life wasn’t always easy, her dad left her mom when Pat was just 17, and she learned to accept a blended family. There were lots of laughs, complications, drinking, and then there was Uncle Johnny. She’ll explain all of that.

Pat says she was always independent, had no interest in getting married, until she met famed attorney Tony Brooklier. She was widowed unexpectedly, and she’ll talk about that, too, because she wants to discuss the incredible grief associated with family and friends who take their own lives.

Pat has had an enormously successful career as a TV correspondent, working in LA and nationally on Inside Edition, 20/20 where she works now, and more more. She credits her Italian upbringing for making her tough, but at the same time, loving. And can she cook?? She’ll talk about that, too!

Please join us on @LittleItalyPodcast, @LittleItalyOfLAPodcast & @DeborahKobyltLIVE, and tell your friends, too! I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and welcome to #ItalianHeritageMonth!🇮🇹

Dr. Frieda Birnbaum, Author, “Life Begins at 60:

Life begins at… any age? I believe life is what we make of it, there’s no age restriction, at least not any more. Please welcome to our show world renowned psychologist Dr. Frieda Birnbaum, whose book, “Life Begins at 60” has literally changed views around the globe about aging, particularly for women.

Dr. Frieda holds the record for giving birth to twins at the age of 60! We talk about that, how she’s ignored criticism for decades, living life on her terms, and helping us do the same.

We will talk about changing views on aging, marriage, and motherhood. “Ageism needs to be redefined. Middle age? That sounds like it’s completely down hill! NO, I call it ‘Peak age.’ ‘Grandma’ is now someone who travels and goes on trips, not sitting home in a rocking chair waiting for her kids to call. ‘Retirement’ is now a second career, not sitting in a home waiting for visitors.”

We’ll discuss this, and explore more about healthy aging, particularly for women. And this couldn’t come at a better time, as I’ll be attending and speaking at the @InfluencersOfMidlife summit this week in Vegas! I’ll be channeling Dr. Frieda.

Please find our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too.

There’s so much we can learn from one another to live long, thriving, healthy lives. Im your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt.

Treva Brandon Scharf, Author, “Done Being Single, A Late Bloomer’s Guide To Love.”

Any late bloomers out there when it comes to love, relationships, and dating? Then meet guest Treva Brandon Scharf, author, “Done Being Single, A Late Bloomer’s Guide To Love.”

Treva was born and raised in Beverly Hills by two Hollywood talent agents who divorced. She admits to having been a commitment-phobe, serial dater who tried marriage for the first time at 51. Did it work out? You’ll have to tune in to find out.

There’s a lot to talk about, like her advice about dating pre and post 40, we’ll be talking the best dating apps for any age, simple ways to meet significant your other, and much more.

Treva is a gifted blogger and writer, and also talks about her own dating life, which is quite interesting to say the least! This is part self-help/dating advice, part memoir and definitely part research to help you in your search for love.

Please join us on #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio platforms, and invite your friends, too. Have a question for Treva? Leave it in the comments below or DM me and I’ll get them to her. Thanks for joining us! #DeborahZaraKobylt

Kelly Anne Manuel, Author

Imagine writing 27 books, with illustrations, in 14 days, having never published anything before. Meet Kelly Anne Manuel, author, who joins us today to talk about a pivotal moment in her life where she decided to start writing, and couldn’t stop!

Kelly Anne is also an eternal optimist who worked at a preschool, in the corporate world, and as a property manager before trying her hand at writing. Her books are now published as poems, primarily for children, with a beautiful message in each read. Let’s just say her books capture her inner child, and they’ve caught on globally.

Kelly Anne will talk about her inspiration, and how writing has changed the direction in her life, in more ways than one! Please tune in to our discussion on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too.

I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt. Thanks for tuning in!

Marianna Gatto, Taste of Italy & Founder,Italian American Museum of Los Angeles

Taste of Italy is back! Join us in DTLA on Sept. 23 for THE premiere Italian Food and Wine event in Los Angeles, featuring award-winning restaurants & wineries, fantastic LIVE entertainment, and some celeb guests, too! This is on of my favorite events in LA all year!

Today, we speak with Taste of Italy creator and founder of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Marianna Gatto, telling us all about this upscale food and wine tasting event, which also benefits arts and educational programming for youth at #IAMLA.

According to Marianna, #TasteOfItaly provides an opportunity to connect with some of SoCal’s most interesting, well-traveled, cross-cultural audiences, including philanthropists, celebs, influencers, and dignitaries. Not to mention some of the top restaurants and award-winning wines in the world. Tickets available at IAMLA.org

Please find our full interview with Marianna on all #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, & #DeborahKobyltLIVE video and audio platforms. And please invite your friends, too. Looking forward to chatting with my friend, and talking all about this magnificent event that bring the entire city a little closer.