Barbara Pollastrini, Chef-owner, Da Barbara

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

Award-winning chef, @Barbara_Pollastrini, owner of @da_Barbara_P restaurant in
Hollywood, has been cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen since she was a little girl
in Rome. And dining at her restaurant here, it’s easy to see why Appetito and Los
Angeles Magazine named her one of the top Italian restaurants not to miss in LA. The
entire experience is like being in someone’s home. In fact, the kitchen at da Barbara is
literally part of the dining space, so you can watch your meal being prepared while
enjoying a glass of wine.

Please join me in welcoming Barbara to our #LittleItalyPodcast &
#DeborahKobyltLIVE, where we will dive into her early years studying in Rome and
her dream of coming to California, making a name for herself while competing in
shows on the Food Network and Discovery Channel. Clearly her dream came true, as
she is not just a famed chef, but also a female entrepreneur. Barbara also serves on
the board of the Italian-America Chamber of Commerce West @IACCW_LA, led by
president Genny Nevoso and a group of dedicated professionals – all women.

Please join our discussion with Barbara on all video and audio platforms of
@deborahkobyltlive, @littleitalypodcast, and @littleitalyoflapodcast. I’m your host,
#DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

Adrienne Youdim MD, Author, Hungry for More,3x Board Certified, TEDx.

Deborah Kobylt Live

Health and wellness has been all the talk for decades now, and Adrienne Youdim, MD
triple board certified physician, author, and Tedx Speaker, breaks down what people
are hungry for, and how to achieve better balance in our daily lives. Often, it’s about
simplicity.

Adrienne wrote, “Hungry for More,” which explores what’s really eating at us, why we
develop unhealthy habits, and how to break the cycle. She asks, “What are you
hungry for? Love? Connection? Belonging?” We’ll talk about that, but also the mental
drain so many are feeling now, whether it’s from world events, too much social media
where we mindlessly scroll for hours, or for those of us in LA, the aftereffects from the
fires here and the mental toll it’s taken on our health.

I often wonder if we’ve lost our way, and what’s a simple and organic way to get back
into balance. We’ll talk about that, too. Please join my conversion with Adrienne
Youdim, MD, on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your
friends. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you
here.

Heather Hackett, Founder, Local Relief

Deborah Kobylt Live

When disaster strikes, the chaos that follows can leave communities and individuals
feeling overwhelmed and struggling to connect with vital resources. Please welcome
Heather Hackett, founder of Local Relief, a nonprofit mobile app designed to connect
communities with essential help, services, and information once disaster strikes,
serving as a central hub for disaster preparedness, survival, and recovery.
Heather is from my home in Sarasota, Florida, which is no stranger to floods and
hurricanes, and 2024 proved to be one emergency followed by another, leaving
communities and individuals looking for information on how to recover and where to
find relief. The Local Relief app connects residents with local authorities and
organizations to access life saving resources during crises such as hurricanes,
wildfires, and floods. Residents can find food services, shelter locations, and recovery
assistance, all while communicating directly with neighbors and professional services
offering help. That’s the heart of Local Relief-turning chaos into connection and
resilience.

We will talk with Heather about her vision for Local Relief not just in Florida, but in
other communities as well, including here in SoCal, clearly no stranger to natural
disasters from fires to floods and earthquakes. Local Relief is a boots-on-the-ground
nonprofit, and local volunteers are strongly encouraged to get involved, because who
knows their community better than its residents?

Heather was named Humanitarian of the Year 2024 by the Lakewood Ranch
Community Foundation. Let’s just say this isn’t her first rodeo in the space of giving
back to her community, and we will discuss that as well. We’re stronger when we work
together, whether in Los Angeles, Sarasota, or anywhere else we call home.
Please join me in welcoming Heather to #DeborahKobyltLIVE &

#TheSarasotaPodcast 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.

Also, if you have a story idea, particularly in #Sarasota where we’re looking to grow
our podcast, please let us know💚

John Kobylt, Award-Winning Talk Show and Podcast Host on KFIam640 and iHeart Radio

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome my resident political analyst, John Kobylt of the award-winning
#JohnKobyltShow on #KFIam640 and #iHeartRadio, updating us on issues that
matter, from the massive gas price hikes expected in California, to Rick Caruso
and his incredibly effective Steadfast LA, which aims to help victims of the deadly
January 7th wildfires rebuild more efficiently without government red tape.
We’ll also talk about the #StayInLA movement to keep filming here in Los Angeles,
a city filled with creative minds and innovators, but in recent years companies
have been leaving due to the high cost of doing business in California.
We will also talk about the aviation disaster at some of our airports, namely
Newark, NJ, where air traffic controllers have walked off the job due to stress over
recent equipment failures. It is said that in some airports, floppy disks are still
being used, and equipment is severely outdated.

The there’s of course the tariffs. One day it’s up, next day it’s down. Where do we
stand, particularly with Asia? We’ll talk about that. Join us LIVE on all video and
audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and please invite your friends,
too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Valentina Castellani Quinn and Marvin Williams

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

It’s been just 100 years since silent films were all the rage in Hollywood, followed by talkies, moving color, digital, and now AI.

Please join me in welcoming two experts in the film world who join us to talk about the ever-changing world of Hollywood, Valentina Castellani Quinn, president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, and Marvin Williams, founder of Big M Entertainment Pictures, discussing their latest venture on the Sony Pictures Studios lot to combine the best of Hollywood with the latest technologies.

Valentina’s father-in-law was Anthony Quinn, and she talks about the timing of this venture with Sony, once Columbia Pictures, which produced one of Mr. Quinn’s greatest films, Lawrence of Arabia. The film’s poster hangs proudly in the halls of Sony to celebrate its 100-year anniversary making motion pictures. Marvin, best known for producing “The Jungle Book,” among other classics, said he plans to combine the past with the future of Hollywood projects by merging AI technology with art. He says much like Netflix, Apple, and Hulu, streaming is where it’s at. At least for now. Will they transform older films with AI technology? We be talking about that, too.

We’ll also discuss some new ventures, including involvement with the Canne Film Festival and a very “passionate” film development that’s in the works as well. Please tune into #DeborahKobyltLIVE, the #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms to hear our discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

John Kobylt, award-winning talk host on KFIam640 radio and iHeart podcast

Deborah Kobylt Live

The world has never been the same since January, 2025, not here in LA since the catastrophic fires, and not nationally since President Donald Trump took office. So we’re talking to @JohnKobyltRadio today about what’s happening both here and around the country. John hosts the number one local talk show in the country on @KFIam640 and @iHeart, talking with experts daily about what’s going on, what to expect, and what the heck is happening. We do NOT always agree politically, so our conversations are always interesting.

We’ll be talking about what’s been done since the fires in the Palisades/Malibu and Altadena. The cost, the efficiency, all of it. We’ll also delve into the homeless crisis in this city that seems to be an ever growing controversy in who is doing what, and where’s the money for it? Nationally, tariffs, 401k’s, and the growing concern so many Americans have over what’s next. It’s a lot to take in.

Please join @JohnKobyltOfficial and me, #DeborahZaraKobylt, when we discuss this and more on #DeborahKobyltLIVE, on all video and audio platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and iHeart. We look forward to having you join us. And invite your friends, too.

Debora Medici-Guetta, Visual Artist, Women’s Rights Advocate, Philanthropist

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

Debora Medici-Guetta has inspired me since the day I met her. I could feel her intense passion for her work, her support of women, and for being someone not afraid to talk about her journey in life.

So won’t you please welcome her to our show this incredibly talented photographer & photojournalist, graphic artist, and documentary filmmaker.

Debora was born in Rome, and the first time she landed in Los Angeles, she felt at home among other creatives free to express their art unfiltered. She now divides her time between here and Italy.

Debora took time off, like many women, to focus on family. Her husband is famed artist #MrBrainwash, aka Thierry Guetta, and that alone is a full time job managing that level of notoriety.

But a decade ago, Debora decided to get back into the game and began the intuitive process of reframing who she was, one image at a time.

A return to making art meant embarking, in Debora’s words, on “a big, long, introspective journey.” After several years refining her technique and honing her perspective, she would reveal a series of photographs aptly titled, “Out of The Shadow,” a haunting body of images that reflected Debora’s desire to shed the trappings of the past and position herself as an artist in the world.

She followed this exhibition with “Landed”, a series of collages that capture the frenetic and freeing energy of the world’s great urban centers.

As her vision grew, so did Debora’s interests, so she started working with, and eventually joined, the board of directors for We Do It Together (WDIT), a nonprofit that produces films, documentaries, TV, and new media uniquely dedicated to the empowerment of women.

Recently, for International Women’s Day, the group launched “One of Us,” a documentary for which Debora served as honorary set photographer. The film, sponsored by Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, follows four Italian women who are challenging gender bias and discrimination in their fields of work.

We will talk with Debora about her incredibly successful career, and how she encourages women to discover who they are. She says her work “prioritizes emotions over mere moments,” and we’ll talk with her about that, in addition to her life, and of course living with #MrBrainwash himself. Lots to ask there.

Please join my interview with Deborah Medici-Guetta on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you with us.

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

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

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

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

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

Deborah Kobylt Live

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.