Italian Impact Podcast

IIW - Episode 58 - Bruce Wawrzyniak

This week we interview Bruce Wawrzyniak.  Bruce is the host and creator of Catholic Sports Radio.  He was born and baptized Catholic, has spent the majority of his professional career working in sports, and is a veteran broadcaster and podcaster. In fact, Bruce worked for ten seasons for a National Hockey League team doing public relations, the last six of which he served concurrently as the Director of Public Relations for the pro indoor lacrosse team that the organization also operated.   
...and yes, Bruce is Italian too!  :-)
You can listen to Bruce here:  https://catholicsportsradio.net/

IIW - Episode 57 - Jack Teitz

In this week's episode, we interview Jack Teitz, the President of the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.  Jack is a former Big-10 referee with a lot of interesting stories, as well as being the President, Jack provides a lot of entertainment in this episode. 
As was mentioned in the show, if you are interested in learning more about the upcoming awards dinner, visit the website at:  https://westernpasportshof.org/awards-dinner
 

IIW - Episode 56 - Anna Harsh

This week we interview Anna Harsh.  Anna is an expert on traditional Italian folk dances, among other dance styles.   As she states, "I am a dancer, writer and a creative soul."   In this interview we talk about how she travels throughout Italy to learn various dance styles and then shares this knowledge through classes, her books, and instruction.  This is a wonderful interview and you will be very surprised to learn about the true differences among Italian and Italian -American dance styles.
Feel free to visit her website to learn more:  https://www.annaharsh.com/
...and tell her, Claudio and Steve sent you!

IIW - Episode 55 - AJ Raggs

AJ is back with his latest song, "Lucky Loser".  One we think is heading to the charts...check it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOrO8ac1ZisAnd, 
And, as usual, this is a wonderful interview with a true up and coming star who is passionate about both his faith and his Italian culture.  Enjoy the interview, then go enjoy the song!

IIW - Episode 54 - Coach John Gaetano

John took over Quaker Valley basketball in 1987.  However, he was more than just a coach.  He was a mentor and leader with a real goal of making better people, not just better basketball players.  John shares his winning strategy and some great insight into how to lead.  He shares memorable experiences about his Italian heritage as well as his coaching career.  John is a winner in every sense.

IIW - Episode 53 - Coach Andrew DiDonato

Coach DiDonato is the head football coach for Grove City College.  He is very passionate about Italian culture, his faith, and his family.  He is also a very powerful motivational speaker.  In this interview, Andrew gives the listeners a real perspective on how to stay grounded regardless of the circumstances.  Andrew is a true winner, not just on the field, but in life!

IIW - Episode 52 - 1 Year Later

In this episode, we review our 1 year anniversary and make a special announcement for our loyal radio listeners...

IIW - Episode 51 - Nick Redondo

Nick Redondo is the owner of Friendship Perk and Brew.  A local Pittsburgh guy and veteran, Nick is bringing back the small business/community appeal via his family-friendly business.   This is a great interview which can hopefully inspire others to start thinking in a new light about the kind of businesses we want to see more of.  For more information, check out Nick's site:  https://perkandbrew.net/

IIW - Episode 50 - Pat Mendicino

In this week's episode, Steve and Claudio interview Pat Mendicino.  Pat is the owner of Mendicino Foods located in the heart of Pittsburgh, PA.  This interview presents a lot of fun topics but really, what is your favorite style sauce?  We know you're going to enjoy this week's episode!

IIW - Episode 49 - John Perrotto and Karen Ionta

John Perrotto is a journalist who has written for The Beaver County Times, the Baseball Prospectus, DKPittsburghsports.com, and the Basketball Prospectus. He is a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and a voter in the Baseball Hall of Fame election. 
Karen Ionta is the school president for Kennedy Catholic Schools.  In this interview, Karen provides wonderful insight into the power of Catholic education.  This is a don't miss interview to better understand what a Catholic education actually means.