What if your roots held the key to your passion—and your path forward?

In this heartfelt episode, recorded inside the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Christina sits down with historian, author, and museum director Marianna Gatto, whose lifelong love for her Italian heritage has fueled decades of work preserving the stories of Italian Americans in LA—stories often left untold.

Marianna shares how growing up in a diverse Los Angeles neighborhood sparked a deep curiosity about her family’s past—one that ultimately became her calling. That calling led her to restore a crumbling historic building and transform it into a vibrant cultural institution, honoring the legacies of those who came before her. Her journey from educator to historian and cultural advocate is a testament to what happens when we follow the spark within.

Christina and Marianna explore the power of reconnecting with your roots, the magic of storytelling, and how honoring the past can illuminate your purpose. Marianna shares powerful insights about resilience, faith, and the unseen hands that guide us when we step into our purpose.

If you're looking for inspiration to create something meaningful, reconnect with your heritage, or rediscover what lights you up—this conversation is a heartfelt reminder that our past often holds the key to our future.

Visit the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles: https://www.iamla.org

Follow the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles on Instagram @italianamericanmuseumofla

Follow the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles on Facebook @iamofla

Buy a signed copy of The Italian Americans of Los Angeles: https://losangeleslittleitaly.com

Find the book at I AM BOOKS in Boston

Follow Marianna Gatto on Instagram @gattolosangeles

Connect with Christina: https://christinaminutillo.com

Ever wonder how stories from the past can guide your path today? Tune in to discover how uncovering buried family histories, long-forgotten newspaper clippings, and everyday heroes can spark your sense of connection, curiosity, and courage to follow what lights you up.

Stephanie Detton, host and creator of the Italian American Stories Podcast, is on a mission to bring forgotten stories of Italian Americans—past and present—back to life. What started as a personal passion for exploring her own family history has grown into a living archive of voices that honor ancestors, preserve heritage, and help families rediscover their roots.

Christina and Stephanie dive deep into what it means to celebrate those who came before us, the joy of breathing new life into forgotten stories, and the power of human connection that bridges generations. They even bond over the quirks of being only children and the shared pride they find in Italian American culture.

If you’re searching for your creative spark, curious about your heritage, or simply need a reminder that storytelling connects us all, this episode will inspire you to slow down, listen, and share the stories that bind us together.

Explore the Italian American Stories Website

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Connect with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com

Ever wonder what the secret ingredient to finding joy is? Tune in to feed your soul and get the inspiration you need to reconnect with your roots, follow your creative calling, and rediscover joy in everyday moments.

In this episode, Christina sits down with Michele Di Pietro—better known to her followers as Mangia with Michele—a cookbook author, food writer, recipe developer, professional chef, and culinary consultant who shares her journey from a successful career in public accounting and how that led to a transformative international assignment that became the spark that led her to embracing her true passion in the culinary world and ultimately to building a brand centered on heritage, heart, and flavor.

Together, Christina and Michele explore the deep emotional power of food—the way it connects us to our past, our people, and ourselves. They dive into the Italian tradition of gathering around the table, the joy of sharing meals, and how scents and flavors can bring back powerful memories.

Michele’s story is a reminder that joy often begins with a single choice to listen to your inner voice. When we pause, share, and savor life—one bite at a time—we find the recipe for something truly meaningful.

Mangia with Michele and Get on the List: https://mangiawithmichele.com

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Subscribe to Mangia with Michele on You Tube

Buy Michele’s Cookbook on Amazon

Connect with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com