In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, we talk with Fred Gardaphé, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of English and Italian American Studies at Queens College/CUNY and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute. Fred lost his father, grandfather, as well as his godfather to violence at a very early age and tells us the story of how that lead him to not only become a professor, but to become passionate about educating Italian Americans.

In our Stories Segment, Dolores talks to Christian Piazza, director and producer of Waiting, a documentary that features three Italian Immigrants in New York.  It’s a tale about second chances and giving up old habits to thrive in a new cultural environment.