This week we are chatting with Tony Guseli.
Born in Australia to Italian immigrant parents, Tony has discovered a strong passion into family research. He shared with us some of the interesting stories he has uncovered, particularly in relation to his Grandfather’s story of being abandoned at birth in Italy.
Tony also told us some fascinating details about the Snowy Scheme, a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex located in New South Wales. With work on the scheme commencing in 1949, it is the largest engineering project ever undertaken in Australia. The Snowy Scheme employed hundreds of migrant men from several places, including Italy. Many people don’t know the story of the Snowy Scheme and of its many accidents which claimed the lives of 121 men, 27 of whom were Italian. One of those men was Tony’s uncle Antonio. Tony is on a mission to tell the story of these men and has already spent countless hours on research. It’s a huge task and without Tony’s efforts these stories will not be told.
If you have any details which can be added to Tony’s research he asks that you please reach out, you can do this getting in touch with us or by clicking the links in the show notes.
Tony’s email:
guselitvg@bigpond.com
Italian Australian Podcast email:
italianaustralianpodcast@gmail.com
Our good friend, the one and only Frank Miranda, AKA Mr Accordion Man is back for another episode. We always love chatting with Frank and it was great to hear about all the exciting things he has been getting up to. We were also excited to chat about the Perth Italian Festival 2026 which is happening April 11th, it's going to be an amazing day, and we cannot wait to be a part of it.
Mr Accordion Man on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mr_accordion_man?igsh=aXJvNG1mZW1hZmp6
Previous episodes with Mr Accordion Man:
Episode 30: Everything you need to know about the Perth Italian Festival
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IifVp460H3Y0GaS49IV1r?si=wUr3-VDaTweMLCPB55PjHQ
Episode 54: The story behind Mr Accordion Man
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3P5zSA4xzIGZ94L6ciWy1z?si=2crJSjOjQAmU-tsN8XD4hw
In this episode we had so much fun chatting with Benita from Due Baci Publishing. Benita is our first ever guest from the Gold Coast and she is a busy mum of 3 young children, we loved hearing her describe her life as having ‘lots of love and chaos!’ Yet somehow Benita has found the time to create several bilingual children’s books born out of finding a gap in the market. We chatted about these books and other practical ways to keep your kids interested in Italian language.
These books are so beautiful and colourful, with Christmas coming up they will make fantastic gifts so be sure to head to the website and get yours!
Due Baci Publishing website:
https://www.duebacipublishing.com.au/
Due Baci Publishing on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/duebaci.publishing?igsh=eXlkajZlcXV4cDJu
The Family of Valletta on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=the+family+of+valletta&crid=16YM9XEAGP2E1&sprefix=the+family+of+%2Caps%2C384&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ww-ranker-t1_2_14
Episode 110:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/53VVNt3OgtBHSBqyQmkb5v?si=8Bb40hJTQ9GoYeeZEGtlyw
This week we were excited to talk to Belinda, or the Artisan Bread Mamma, as she is known on instagram. This was an incredible conversation, Belinda is deeply connected to her Italian heritage and We were interested to hear about what inspired her to bake bread and to hear her advice for people making their own sourdough at home. Bel also told us about her family’s immigration story and we chatted about her recent trip to Italy.
Follow Bel on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/artisanbreadmamma?igsh=MWNyNTlmdmxzYW5reg==
We have another guest from Adelaide this week, we had a delightful time chatting with Laura Di Martino.
Laura was Born in Belgium to Italian parents and immigrated to Australia as a child. She is a retired languages and history teacher and is proud and passionate about her Italian heritage. Laura is actively involved in the Italian community and has a wealth of knowledge and we learned so much during this fascinating conversation, in particular about the history of the glory box in Italy and the experiences of immigrants who were intervened in Australia during World War Two.
Her passion for her heritage inspired her to write 2 novels Cremona house and Working it Out, with her 3rd book coming out in 2026. Her books are available via her website and on Amazon, click the links in the show notes for more details.
Follow Laura on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lauradimartino.author?igsh=MXd6MG5uNzMzZmNobQ==
Laura’s website:
https://lauradimartinoauth.wixsite.com/author-blog
Laura’s linktree:
https://lauradimartinoauth.wixsite.com/author-blog/copy-of-buy-the-book
Italian Glory Boxes of Love:
http://www.italiangloryboxes.com/
Ascolta women on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ascoltawomen?igsh=MnptYTF0d3l3aHFq
Our guests in this episode are a father and son from Adelaide, Adrian and Tom Crescitelli. We were very interested to chat to them about how their family is keeping our culture alive and we enjoyed getting teenage perspective from Tom. We also loved hearing Tom's interesting story of becoming a talented drummer, Tom plays regularly with his band in pubs and at other events. He also teaches younger kids and has great advice for young people starting out learning an instrument.
Tom on Instagram:
Tom (@tomzo_10) • Instagram photos and videos
In this episode we chat with Italian Australian author Holly Cardamone. This was one of those times where we had so much to talk about like family and visiting Italy. We were also so excited to talk with Holly about her new book 'Summer, in between.' This is a story everyone will enjoy, especially young adults as the main character, Cat, a 17 year old Italian Australian faces her summer ahead before her final year in high school. For details on purchasing the book and to learn more about Holly listen to the episode or you can click the links below:
Holly's website:
Holly on Instagram:
Holly Cardamone (@holly_cardamone_author) • Instagram photos and videos
Our guests this week are brothers, AJ and Justin Mosca from Sydney, in this episode they shared with us their amazing journey to becoming international cricketers and how they will represent Italy in the 2026 T20 tournament. We loved hearing of their traditional Italian Australian childhood surrounded by family, and how special it is for them to honour their Italian heritage by representing the Italian international team. These guys were very friendly and easy to talk to and we wish them and the team all the very best in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
A reminder to our Perth listeners that the Italian Theatre of WA presents their new show 'I Maneggi Per Maritare Una Figlia' at the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth. This show is a hilarious comedy not to be missed.
Tickets:
I Maneggi per maritare una figlia Tickets, Old Mill Theatre, South Perth | TryBooking Australia
Italian Theatre of WA on Instagram:
This week we are chatting about learning the Italian Language and experiencing an immersion into Italian culture with our guest Jessica, an Italian Australian who is finishing her experience in Italy with 'Italian for a while.' 'Italian for a while' is a travel company that assists people of all ages to spend time in Italy and learn Italian. They provide support and assistance for all parts of the journey. In this episode you will hear about Jessica's personal experience with 'Italian for a while' we loved hearing Jessica's stories of life in Italy in 2025, what has changed and what has stayed the same. You can find out more about 'Italian for a while' by clicking the links below:
Italian for a while website:
Your life-changing gap year in Italy | Italianforawhile
Italian for a while on Instagram:
Italianforawhile (@italianforawhile) • Instagram photos and videos
It's that time of year when the St Ali Italian Film Festival is happening across Australia. We were thrilled to have Italian Australian film director Angelo Pricolo as our guest in this episode. Angelo is the director of the very successful 2013 documentary 'Lygon Street Si Parla Italiano', narrated by Anthony LaPaglia. Angelo's new documentary is Signorinella: Little Miss, narrated by Greta Scacchi and is screening as part of the 2025 festival. We loved hearing about Angelo's inspiration to create this documentary which focuses on the experiences of Italian women who immigrated to Australia. This is a film that all Italian Australians will enjoy, definitely one to take your Mum, Zia or Nonna to.
For more details about the St Ali 2025 Italian Film Festival click the link below:
The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is coming soon to cinemas!
Italian Film Festival on Instagram:
Italian Film Festival (@italianfilmfest) • Instagram photos and videos
Our guest this week is Tony Gorgone AKA DJ Gorgz. Tony is very well known in the Perth Italian Community and the Perth music scene. Tony is non stop, a busy father, he has his own hair salon 'Trenz' and he is the resident DJ at the Universal Bar where La Musica, a special night of Italian music happens regularly. It's a fantastic night and great for our community.
Thanks to this week's sponsor Antipasti Deli Cafe where Fabian and his team bring you your local slice of Italy in the heart of Yarraville. Specialising in homemade honest Italian food Antipasti Deli Cafe are known for their amazing coffee, mouthwatering panini, focaccia, salads, homemade gnocchi, arancini and more. With their range of high quality local products as well as incredible products straight from Italy, including wine, liquors, kitchen items and fresh flowers, Antipasti Deli Cafe has everything you need.
DJ Gorgz on Instagram:
DjGorgz Perth Dj (@djgorgz) • Instagram photos and videos
La Musica on Instagram:
(@lamusica_australia) • Instagram photos and videos
DJ Gorgz on Spotify:
Sotto Le Stelle - song and lyrics by DjGorgz, Donatella | Spotify
Antipasti Deli Cafe on Instagram:
Antipasti Deli Cafe (@antipastidelicafe) • Instagram photos and videos
This week we are chatting about the Mediterranean island country of Malta. Our guest Anthony Gauci is a Maltese Australian and we discussed the shared histories of Italy and Malta, as well as the many similarities Malta has with Italy, especially Sicily, such as cuisine, architecture and religion. Anthony is also the author of 'The Family of Valletta', a historical fiction novel set in Malta. You will hear more about the book in the episode and you can also click the links below:
Anthony of Instagram:
Thefamilyofvalletta (@thefamilyofvalletta) • Instagram photos and videos
Find the Family of Valletta on Amazon:
We have a very fun episode for our listeners this week! In this episode Massimo Corrente meets Justin Merendino. Both of these guests are well known passionate and proud Italian Australians in their 20's and each have joined us on the podcast previously, but with Massimo in Melbourne and Justin in Perth this was their first time chatting together! It won't be a surprise to hear that these guys become instant friends. We had a lot to talk about and a lot of laughs.
A big thanks to our sponsors for this week's episode- Melbourne Arancini. In 2016 husband and wife team Paul and Laura Muscara started Melbourne Arancini, supplying Melbourne and regional Victoria with handmade, delicious arancini made with the freshest ingredients. Arancini flavours range from traditional Bolognese Ragu, Four Cheese Broccolini, Pizzaiola, Arrabiata and fan favourite Chicken, Leek and Mushroom. They even do special flavours for the holiday season like Garlic Prawn Arancini. They really are Melbourne's best, made fresh. To hear more about Melbourne Arancini listen to the episode or click the links below.
Melbourne Arancini on Instagram:
Melbourne Arancini (@melbournearancini) • Instagram photos and videosMelbourne Arancini Website:
Massimo on Instagram:
Massimo Corrente (@masscorrente) • Instagram photos and videos
Justin on Instagram:
Justin (Giustino)Merendino (@justin_merendino_raywhite) • Instagram photos and videos
Previous episodes with Massimo:Episode 68: The Fully Sickest of Them All featuring Massimo Corrente - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Previous episode with Justin:
Episode 99: Remember the name Justin Merendino - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
This week we are chatting about the region of Calabria. Our guest Francesco lives in Calabria and is a content creator who is passionate about bringing exposure to this beautiful region of Italy and assisting tourists to experience Calabria. Be sure to check out his page Akalabria, see the link below. With our Calabrese heritage this was an especially valuable chat for us and we loved getting an insight into Calabria in 2025.
Akalabria on Instagram:
Akalabria ®️ | Calabria Cultura Storie Turismo (@akalabria) • Instagram photos and videos
We had so much fun recording this week's episode as our guests are two of our Aunties, Aunty Grace and Aunty Mimma, sisters of our Dad Melo. We are very close with our Aunties and loved chatting with them about the importance of family, especially in Italian Australian culture. We heard some of their stories about growing up Italian Australian, their experiences at the family business, a fish and chip shop and they also shared some great tips for budgeting and running a household.
This episode will bring you the motivation you need to start speaking Italian. Our guest this week is Melissa Monteleone, a proud Italian Australian from Melbourne. We loved hearing Melissa describe her passion for her culture and we bonded over a shared Southern Italian heritage. We chatted about the way of life in Italy and the relaxed way of life over there. Melissa told us about what she has discovered about the value of studying Italian through the studies she is currently doing. If you have been thinking about improving your Italian language skills we hope this chat will bring you the inspiration you need.
This week we are talking about raising Italian Australian children, our guest Marco Petta is a new father but he isn't new to our podcast, having joined us in many previous episodes. It was wonderful to chat with him about this exciting new chapter in his life.
Find Marco on Insta:
Marco Petta (@marcopetta_doesthings) • Instagram photos and videos
More episodes with Marco:
Episode 31: Marco Petta talks Sanremo 2024 - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Episode 57: Marco Petta always in the action - The Italian Australian Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Our guest this week is Josephine, founder of Sydney based travel company Irpinia Escapes. We had a fantastic time chatting about visiting Italy and having an authentic travel experience, one that takes you beyond the usual hot spots. In addition to being a travel company, Irpinia Escapes provides assistance to travelers to reconnect to their relatives in Italy. Irpinia Escapes will take you to the Southern Italian region of Campania, close to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Irpinia offers a peaceful break from the crowds. Listen to the episode to hear more and you can also click the links below:
Irpinia Escapes on Instagram:
Irpinia Escapes (@irpiniaescapes) • Instagram photos and videosIrpinia Escapes website:
Irpinia Escapes | Discover ancient cultures and new experiences
Our guest this week is Angie Mastrippolito, daughter of Italian Immigrants from Abruzzo who grew up among the sugar cane fields of far North Queensland. Le Seconde Inheriting the Unspoken A Second-Generation Immigrant Story is the book Angie has written about her story and the story of her family. It is fascinating and one that many Italian Australians will relate to. This story is deep and speaks of that which has remained unspoken, even to this day, in many families. This is a book every Italian Australian should read. It is available via the links below. Buy it for your mum, your brother, yourself, just make sure you get a copy!
Angie's website:
Amazon:
Amazon.com.au : le seconde inheriting the unspoken
Angie on Instagram:
In this episode we talked about immigration, mental health and in particular how it affects teenagers. Our guest is Federica Zamboni a psychologist and psychotherapist who immigrated to Perth as a teenager. We chatted about Federica's own experience and how her practice- Tailoring Therapy- has developed a program which focuses specifically on the needs of adolescents immigrating from Italy to Australia. Click on the links below for more details.
Tailoring Therapy on Instagram:
Perth Psychology✨Sexology✨Relationship Therapy✨ (@tailoringtherapy) • Instagram photos and videos
Tailoring Therapy website:
Tailoring Therapy | Relationship Therapy | Sex Therapy | Perth