Emanuele Amendola, Director at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles

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Please welcome to our show, the director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Los Angeles, AKA the Italian Cultural Institute, Emanuele Amendola, and he joins us to discuss the mission of the @iiclosangeles in bringing cultural, scientific, academic, and culinary experiences that highlight everything authentic direct from Italy. The programs are all free, engaging, and open to everyone.

Emanuele works closely with our Consul General of Italy in LA, Raffaella Valentini, and together they have forged a partnership that brings us the best of everything from Italia, including products direct from Italy.

Each exhibit, talk, and experience is unique. Recently, there was a showing and discussion about the film, Womeness, followed a few days later with the opening and lecture about the Volterra exhibit. There was a Q&A and demonstration with famed chef Nancy Silverton, and the list goes on. So we wanted to know, how does Emanuele select what to present to the public, because the Cultural Institite goes beyond the walls of their physical location in Westwood.

Their work extends down to San Diego in addition to nine states, so in effect, they take their work on the road! Also, in addition to top exhibitions, musical performances and more, the @IICLosAngeles offers language courses and incentives for exchange programs.

Before coming on board here in Los Angeles, Emanuele was appointed Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC, where his duties included fostering partnerships between Italian and American cultural institutions. He started his tenure at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles in January 2022.

Please give a warm welcome to Emanuele, and join our interview on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, and the #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Yvonne Scio, Writer & Director of Womeness; Actress & Model

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As we continue to celebrate #InternationalWomensMonth, please welcome my guest, Yvonne Scio, actress, model, and the writer/director of the documentary, Womeness, which was just recently screened at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles to rave reviews!

Yvonne, who was raised in Italy, is also known for her work in the 2006 version of The Pink Panther, in addition to Redline, and Rose Red. She’s appeared on TV in both Italia and the States, including The Nanny. In fact, here’s a bit of trivia for you – her best friend is Fran Drescher, who was in attendance at the screening of #Womeness.

Yvonne’s film is a magnificent look into the stories of five extraordinary women, offering a portrait into female resilience, identity, and the evolution of feminism. Womeness unfolds in two parallel narratives: on one side, three women who lived through the formidable season of Italian feminism, who reflect on the battles fought, the victories won, and the challenges that remain. On the other side of the story, and the world, are the lives of two women who defied societal prejudice by following the painter Balthus to Italy, and embracing what became her silent revolution. Through music and performance, they turn art into resistance, amplifying the voices of women from Iran and beyond in their fight to reclaim control over their bodies. The film remains with me, it is extremely powerful. In addition, my dear friend, Lorenza Calamandrei, composed the music in the film.

During our interview, we will ask Yvonne about the inspiration behind Womeness, and the impact the film is expected to create throughout the world. Now more than ever.

Please find my full interview with Yvonne Scio on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you join us. Please invite your friends as well to this important conversation.

Eden Alpert, Partner, Vibrato Grill Jazz

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Please welcome to our show, Eden Alpert, partner at Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air, which remains one of the most outstanding places in LA to hear LIVE music while enjoying amazing food and drink. But it’s the story behind Vibrato that really steals the show, and it’s all about Eden.

Eden grew up in LA, the adopted daughter of jazz great Herb Alpert and his then wife, Sharon. She was adopted through Vista Del Mar, an all Jewish Family and Child non-profit service agency at the time. But as Eden tells it, her early years were far from perfect, describing her mother as a raging alcoholic and drug addict, while her dad was on the road. Which was a lot. Her parents divorced when she was three.

But Eden decided she didn’t want to be a victim to her past, she did A LOT of therapy to find peace and balance. She also went on a journey to find her birth mother, but that didn’t quite work out as expected, and we’ll talk about it.

When her father opened Vibrato, Eden worked as a hostess, but after her dad saw how customers gravitated towards her, she not only managed the place, she eventually became partner. Let’s just Eden is who people ask for when they walk through the door, she keeps it going as the vibrant, A-list venue that it’s known for. Yet it’s tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, so locals love it, too.

Eden has one daughter, the light of her life, and when we spoke she was busy planning her wedding. And she was also on her way to a board meeting. She is big into philanthropy, and serves on four boards. Yet she still found time to call me for a preinterview, because that’s how Eden rolls.

Please find my full conversation with Eden on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.