Dr. Sherry Ross, Award-winning OB/Gyn, Author & Health Expert.

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Please welcome to my show Dr. Sherry Ross, an expert on menopause from her years in practice as a beloved obstetrician and gynecologist practicing in Santa Monica. Dr. Ross is also a two-time author, “she-ology: The Definitive Guide To Women’s Intimate Health. Period” and “she-ology, the she-quel,” both tackling just about any question one might have about women’s bodies. And there’s a lot.

For starters. Menopause. It used to be that word people whispered in the corner. No more. Because ladies, we all go through it, and gents, your significant others, mom, sister, daughters will go through it too. So let’s understand it better, shall we?

During our conversation, I’ll be speaking with Dr. Ross about hormones and hormone replacement therapy. Is it safe (yes), when to start, and how to know what dosage is right for you. Of course there’s estrogen and progesterone replacement, and testosterone, too. But for many women, hormones still remains a mystery, and we’ll dive deep to clear up any myths about what’s safe, recommended, and the benefits, too.

Dr. Ross will soon be launching a podcast the first of the year, “Pair-a-Docs” with renowned sex therapist Tammy Nelson. She’s also in the wellness space, recommending products that she thinks have been tested to help women at various stages in their womanhood. We’ll discuss. And men, this conversation is for you, too. Let’s all get on the same page about women’s health for better clarity and understanding.

Please find my full conversation with #DrSherryRoss on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

James Tumminia, Actor. Producer

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Please welcome to our show James Tumminia, award-winning actor, producer, and
lover of all things Italian, beloved for his role as Angelo in the TV series, “Melissa &
Joey” and much more. And we’ll be talking with James about his work and how he
gets his fix of Italian food and culture in this great city of LA.

As a kid growing up in an Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, James
Tumminia knew two things: he loved all things Italian, and he wanted to be an actor.
And he’s living both.

I first met James at an event at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, and
noticed he seemed to be at every Italian gathering throughout the city – and there’s
many. So I thought it appropriate to invite him to talk about all things Italian, in
addition to his life and career, as part of Italian-American Heritage Month.
James studied Italian at Georgetown, which led him to living, studying, and working in
Florence. He played Mario in “Two Scoops of Italy” a Hallmark film, and has been
involved on the producer side of many projects, including, “Love, Guilda,” “1st Strike,”
and many more.

James said he feels the guidance of his ancestral grandparents, all four born in Italy,
and he became an Italian citizen in 2009. He’s currently working on a project he’s
super excited about, “PER CHI,” a short doc he’s producing. We’ll be talking about that.
And while James hails from NY and moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment,
he says Italy always feels like home, which is why he frequents so many Italian events
in this great city.

Puran & Susanna Bair, Authors, “Living from the Heart,” & Founders, Institute for Applied Meditation

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome Puran and Susanna Bair, authors of “Living from the Heart,” a book
that approaches meditation from a different perspective – the heart. The duo will
discuss how using heart-based meditation can completely transform our well-being,
benefiting both the mind and body, and they’ll explain exactly how to do it.

The husband and wife team also founded the Institute for Applied Meditation, and
have been working in this space for decades by improving the physical, emotional,
and spiritual health of those who practice this type of mediation. Puran and Susanna
say by coordinating our heartbeat with breathwork, we can achieve a level of
meditation and relaxation like nothing else, which is ultimately healthier. They
incorporate the energy of the four elements – air, fire, water, and earth – and will
explain further how it’s done during our interview.

Please welcome Puran and Susanna Bair to our show, #DeborahKobyltLIVE,
available on all video

Gregg Schwenk, Creator, Newport Beach Film Festival

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

We’re so excited about this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival from October
16-23, featuring over 100 film and 250 shorts from 32 countries.

The festival opens with a screening of Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon” starring
Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Canavalle and Andrew Scott. The closing
night film will include a screening of Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” starring
Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac & Christoph Waltz. And for the International
Film category, the Italian film, “When Mom Is Away…With The In-Laws” is already
said to be a show stopper.

We will be speaking with the creator of the NBFF, Gregg Schwenk, who joins us to
talk about what’s become one of the industry’s most exciting festivals, including
some of the special events over the week-long event. Make sure to go on the
website for details, but Gregg will give us an inside peek during our interview.
Please join us on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE,
#LittleItalyPodcast, and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host,
#DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you.

Maura Fanti, PhD, Research Assoc. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC

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Want to live longer? It’s all about our food. In fact, “we are what we eat” isn’t just a
phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC’s longevity institute, has been
connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a
healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a
break.

Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn’t just
help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to
our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to be
educated to make healthy decisions because our lives literally depend on it.
Maura is from Italy and studied at the University of Cagliari (Italy) before joining USC, and
she points to how the American diet is so radically different from the Italian diet, and
how incorporating proper fasting with certain foods can drastically reduce
inflammation, which we all know is the culprit to declining health and weight gain. And
we don’t have to fast all day. Maura gives us practical tips on the best way to achieve
a healthy fast without feeling famished.

I met Maura at an event sponsored by @ItalyInLA and @IICLosAngeles, and we
spent some time discussing how to get people to make healthy, which is often difficult,
but perhaps approaching from a clinical perspective might be more beneficial. We’ll
talk about that, in addition to her early work in Italy, eventually leading her to Los
Angeles. And she’s one of our featured guests as part of Italian Heritage Month.
Please welcome Maura Fanti to our #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, &
#DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining
us.

Vicky Carabini, NIAF Regional VP & Chair of the Italian Studies Council at Chapman University

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

Italians are known for their vibrant culture worldwide, and when I hear the term, “it
takes a village,” I think of Vicky Colarossi Carabini, a woman who serves as her own
village promoting Italian culture throughout Southern California. Please give a warm
welcome to Vicky as one of our featured guests for Italian Heritage Month.
Since 2007, Vicky Carabini has served as Ambassador to San Juan Capistrano’s
Sister City, Capestrano, Italy. She is Chair of the Italian Studies Council and Board
Member of the Ferrucci Institute at Chapman University, which has one of the most
active Italian Studies programs in the country. Vicky is also Regional VP for the
National Italian American Foundation, aka NIAF, which promotes Italian heritage at its
highest level through programs based out of D.C., and she’s working hard to ensure
California has a large presence within the organization. Vicky is also forever hosting
fundraisers, Italian film nights, parades and food drives to keep the Italian community
actively involved in Orange County where she lives. And if you’re looking for
something to do, check out her newsletter that keeps So Cal peeps informed on all
things Italian.

Why does this all matter? Because to keep our culture, or any culture alive and active
within a community, it requires committed involvement, and that’s Vicky. In 2003, Vicky
and her husband, Michael, purchased a farmhouse in southern Tuscany and have
been producing olive oil ever since. She and her family have since attained Italian
citizenship and are now residents of Sarteano, where the farmhouse is located.
In recognition of her work in 2020, Silvia Chiave, then Consul General of Italy in Los
Angeles, knighted Vicky Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order
of the Star of Italy) on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This honor is one
of Italy’s highest recognitions for Italians abroad and is awarded to those who
distinguish themselves through philanthropy, cultural advocacy, research, and
strengthening international ties. Bravo, Vicky!

The world is such a complicated place, and the more we give and get involved in our
communities, the better place it will be. Being of Italian heritage myself, I wanted to
open this discussion with Vicky about how we can all be better stewards to our
heritage and community, and we’ll talk about that. Please welcome Vicky Colarossi
Carabini on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast,
#LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE.

I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Jackie Lapin, Founder, “The Historic Traveler”. Photojournalist, award-winning author.

Deborah Kobylt Live

Do you enjoy travel, particularly to historical destinations around around the world? Then you must tune in to my interview with Jackie Lapin, founder of
TheHistoricTraveler.com and creator of “20 Great International Cities Where You Can Immerse Yourself In History.”

Jackie has been to more than 50 countries and has explored more than 500 historical sites there, and she introduces travelers to historic hotels and B&B’s while combining the history of the area by recommending historical fiction as well as historical TV shows and films. It’s a super immersive experience, and she’s now expanding into helping clients book hotels and pair readings from the region. Her services are FREE, and soon she said she’s going to welcome guests to join her on some of her favorite trips, too!

I absolutely love this idea, and thought it was a terrific way to get to know an area intimately and feel you’re a part of its historical past. Please enjoy my interview with Jackie on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, President, ISSNAF & Former Deputy Chief Scientist, NASA/JPL

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Some of the greatest innovations in modern history are from Italy, and today, we welcome Dr. Cinzia Zuffada, former deputy chief scientist at NASA/JPL and president of ISSNAF, the Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation, to discuss the incredible achievements in science, engineering, and innovation from Italy in recognition of the upcoming Italian History Month.

Did you know the founder of Logitech, Pierluigi Zappacosta, is an innovator from Italy, as are dozens if not hundreds of scientists who have literally changed so much in our world from medicine and healthcare, to arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences and much more.

ISSNAF was founded with 36 members and now spans more than 3000 members, including four Nobel Prize recipients. Their goal? To grow the next generation of innovators by connecting students with universities and professional experiences to continue into the next generation. The group works strongly with the Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Consulate to promote programs throughout the year, in addition to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.

I believe in the mission of ISSNAF, and am honored to highlight all they do in the name of progress and excellence as we celebrate Italian Heritage Month. Won’t you please join me in welcoming Dr. Cinzia Zuffada to all of our video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you here with us. And please check out ISSNAF and join!

Salvo Lo Castro, Owner, Casasalvo in NYC and Former Vatican Chef

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Imagine growing up in a small town in Sicily, dreaming of coming to America to open a restaurant, and surpassing all of your dreams? Chef Salvo Lo Castro did just that, where he began his culinary career at a young age in Sicily and now feeds the world from his NYC Soho restaurant, Casasalvo, considered a truly divine experience for the senses. Perhaps it’s because Chef Salvo was formerly the lead chef at the Vatican for Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now, we can eat like kings, royalty, and the
spiritual leaders, too, at his magnificent new eatery.

I’m honored to welcome Chef Salvo to our show, sharing not only his experiences in the kitchen, but behind the scenes, too. He’s cooked for the likes of Vadimir Putin, the Saudi Royal family, Muammar Gaddafi, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro and dozens of other world leaders, presidents, and celebrities. In fact, he’s quoted as saying that after a meal, some high-profile guests will surprise him in the kitchen and thank him for a meal well served. Imagine!

We’ll talk about Chef Salvo’s start in the culinary world, and how he ended up cooking at the Vatican after working around the world at top hotels and five-star Michelin restaurants. He says he does not get star-struck, because to him, every guest is treated like family. And no doubt, that’s been part of his incredible success, along with his hand-crafted pastas and sauces. Chef Salvo says his ingredients are all fresh or from specialty farms with tradition in mind. He says he combines tradition with taste, and creativity with authenticity. Among his favorite dishes? His mother’s meatballs, a
recipe he cooks up to this day.

For Chef Salvo, owning a restaurant in N.Y. is a dream come true. He first opened three espresso bars in the City which he still checks on each morning before riding down to his restaurant in Soho on his Vespa. He spends 18-hours a day there, which he calls home and his patrons invited guests. No doubt part of his success.

We’re thrilled to welcome Chef Salvo into our home, particularly with Italian History Month upon us. Please find my full interview with him on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Randy Thomas, Announcer for The Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, & Professional VO Actor

Deborah Kobylt Live

The voice over business is NOT an easy one to break into, but don’t tell that to
award-winning VO artist Randy Thomas, who’s worked the Academy Awards seven
times throughout her career, and is the first person to announce the Oscars, Emmys,
and Tonys in the same year. Randy is also the first woman ever to announce the
Oscars.

Her resume is as long as the state of California, including when she made history as
the half-time announcer for Super Bowl 44, introducing The WHO. She’s been the
voice of ABC’s Nightline, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors,
Democratic Nomination, and more. Please give a warm welcome to Randy Thomas,
who joins our show today to talk about her legendary career and sometimes
complicated life.

Randy grew up listening to NY radio as a kid, and that’s exactly where she started her
career, on the radio. Needless to say, she’s had one of the most successful
announcing careers in the business, but as one of the first women, she says it wasn’t
always easy. And neither was her personal life. Randy’s youngest brother was
murdered, which turned her family up side down. On top of that, she describes her
early years as deeply dysfunctional. She talks about it, and how her career kept her
grounded. Today, she continues to work, and is starting her own VO company, too.
Unfortunately, she lost her home this year in the Palisades fire, and we’ll talk about
how she’s coping with that, too.

Please join #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio podcast platforms, and invite
your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome
you here.