In this episode of Renaissance Minds, we sit down with two icons of Italian and international baseball — Marco Mazzieri, President of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball, and Frank Catalanotto, current Hofstra manager, former MLB veteran, and Team Italy player.

They share their journeys from the dugout to leadership roles, reflect on the growth of baseball in Italy, and discuss the future of the sport on the global stage — a powerful conversation about teamwork, tradition, and the mindset it takes to build champions.

Renaissance Minds is sponsored by the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island and recorded in studio at Hofstra University's WRHU.

Tune into our latest Renaissance Minds podcast with Carlo Treviso, the author of Siciliana, a cinematic historical thriller novel set during the explosive 1282 Sicilian Vespers uprising.

The story follows Aetna Vespiri, a young woman whose life is shattered by French oppressors, driving her to ignite a rebellion that will change Sicily forever. Inspired by his Sicilian heritage,

Treviso weaves history, myth, and relentless action into a gripping tale of vengeance, resilience, and the fight for freedom – one that both honors the past and delivers an entertaining story on its own terms.

Renaissance Minds is sponsored by the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island and recorded in studio at Hofstra University's WRHU.

Dr. Andrea Fedi is the Director of the Center for Italian Studies at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Fedi has been a faculty member at Stony Brook since 1994, following the completion of his PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Toronto. His academic journey at Stony Brook has spanned multiple departments, including European Languages, Cultural Studies, Comparative Literature, and, most recently, Languages & Cultural Studies.

He joins Silvia Davi and Chris R. Vaccaro to talk about his research interests and Italian culture.

Renaissance Minds is sponsored by the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island and recorded in studio at Hofstra University's WRHU.