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
Follow the Italian American Stories Podcast on Instagram
Listen to the Italian American Stories Podcast on Spotify
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
Follow Mangia with Michele on Instagram
Follow Mangia with Michele on Facebook
Subscribe to Mangia with Michele on You Tube
Buy Michele’s Cookbook on Amazon
Connect with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Are you feeling lost, burned out, or stuck chasing success that doesn’t truly fulfill you? Tune in to discover how hitting rock bottom, surrendering control, and reconnecting with your inner voice can guide you toward a life of purpose, joy, and true alignment.
Evelyn Moon, an immigration attorney, born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, shares her story of immigrating to the US and how one decision to help her family led to a life changing accident that would inspire her path to become an attorney. Evelyn opens up about her personal journey through law school, burnout, postpartum psychosis, and how losing everything led her to surrender, rediscover joy, and ultimately awaken to her life’s mission.
Christina and Evelyn dive into the realities of immigration law, identity, and the intense pressure many high-achieving women face, especially in immigrant communities. Evelyn shares how she learned to pause, awaken her senses, and find her “why” after years of chasing success defined by others. If you’re searching for your path, your “why,” or a reminder that joy is still possible — this episode is for you. Evelyn’s story shows us that the most powerful transformations happen when we surrender and start listening to the voice within.
To work with Evelyn and her law firm: https://evelynmoon.com
Connect with Evelyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evelynmoonlaw/
Connect with Evelyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorneyevelyn/
Email Evelyn at: evelynm@evelynmoon.com
Connect with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Are you ready to embrace your passion and live a high vibe life? Tune in to discover how healing with food and connecting with the energy that nourishes you can lead to a life full of joy, fulfillment, and high vibe transformative energy.
Chef Whitney Aronoff is a Health Supportive Personal Chef who shares her inspiring journey of leaving a corporate career to pursue her true calling of inspiring healing through food which started with making her own spice blends in high school. After years of battling stomach issues and feeling unfulfilled, Whitney followed a calling to culinary school, where she learned the power of food to heal both the body and soul. She opens up about her bold career change, her struggles with self-doubt, and how she found the courage to bet on herself and follow her dream, even when it meant starting over in her 30s.
Christina and Whitney dive deep into the spiritual side of cooking and food where Whitney shares her practice of infusing high-vibration energy into her food while offering tips on how to build a high vibe life to find what lights us up. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to trust your passion and make a bold career change, Whitney’s story will inspire you to listen to your inner guidance and create a life that nourishes both your body and soul. Sometimes, the most transformative experiences come when we step into the unknown and embrace what truly lights us up.
To buy Whitney’s magical Starseed Kitchen spices to invite wealth, abundance, and good health: https://starseedkitchen.com
Follow Whitney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyaronoff/
Follow Starseed Kitchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starseedkitchen/
Listen to the High Vibration Living Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-vibration-living-with-chef-whitney-aronoff/id1591675394
Watch Whitney and Christina cook together on You Tube
Connect with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Are you ready to tap into the magic within and unlock your true potential? Tune in and get ready to embark on a journey that will guide you to your soul’s true desires!
Dani Margeaux is an empowerment coach who helps others reprogram their subconscious to attract what they truly desire. She shares her transformative journey from seeking traditional success to discovering a deeper, more fulfilling path of self-empowerment. Dani reveals how following the thread of curiosity—exploring Reiki and experiencing spiritual awakenings—helped her break free from limiting beliefs and achieve the big goals she once thought were unattainable. She shares the importance of listening to your inner knowing and how anyone can learn to tap into the energy around them with practice and training.
Christina and Dani dive into the concept of karma, soul evolution, and how surrendering can guide us to the life we’re meant to live. Dani talks about her experiences with manifestation, the importance of raising your vibration, and the power of aligning your energy with the universe to attract abundance and joy.
If you’re ready to co-create with the universe and live in alignment with your true purpose, this episode is for you.
Follow Dani on Instagram
Connect with Dani on her Website
Subscribe to Dani's You Tube
Follow Dani on TikTok
Listen to the Magic Exists Podcast
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you ready to explore your Italian roots, embrace new adventures, and tap into the magic of Southern Italy? Tune in to discover how following your heart can lead to a life full of joy, connection, and finding the magic in undiscovered places.
Sarah Pompei, a bespoke travel advisor in the Southern Italian village of Irpinia, shares her incredible journey of discovering her ancestral roots and following her intuition to create a life she never expected. After visiting the village her great-grandfather emigrated from 100 years later, Sarah felt an undeniable pull that would change the course of her life forever and made the bold decision to quit her job in the U.S. and help the villagers bring tourism to Irpinia, a place she found full of rich culture and authentic connections.
Sarah shares insights into navigating the journey of discovering your ancestral roots—how to uncover where you come from, how the people of Southern Italy go out of their way to help you connect with your family’s past, and how to find a deep sense of community in a small Italian village.
Christina and Sarah dive into the heart of Southern Italian village life, where food is shared, time slows down, and community is everything. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to walk the path of your ancestral roots and follow your heart, Sarah’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most magical experiences happen when we take a leap into the unknown and trust the journey.
Visit Sarah in Irpinia: https://www.theauthenticirpinia.com
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theauthenticirpinia/
Travel to Italy with Christina: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you curious on how to find more authenticity as you travel through life? Tune in to travel to an experience that will inspire authentic connections and a curiosity to discover your own ancestral heritage.
Danielle Oteri is the founder of Feast Travel, a curated travel experience rooted from her Italian history, cuisine, and traditions. Danielle shares her unique journey from studying art history in Florence to leading immersive food tours on the famous Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. She talks about the power of travel, especially when it’s linked to your family roots, and how reconnecting with your ancestral homeland can be a transformative experience.
Christina and Danielle talk about connecting with long-lost family in Italy and what an experience like that can invite into your life. Danielle also gives us tips on the best hidden gems to visit in Italy that will be sure to invite curiosity and deep connection into your life. This episode is full of ways on how to get curious as you travel through life to follow the breadcrumbs to what lights you up.
Feast Travel & Tante Belle Cose Podcast: https://www.feasttravel.com
Follow Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feast__travel/
Arthur Avenue Food Tours: https://www.arthuravenuefoodtours.com
Travel to Italy with Christina: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you looking for a reason to step out of your comfortzone? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to take that step towards an adventure that can change your life.
Allison Fleece is co-founder of WHOA travel, a unique combination of adventure travel and connection that has built a community of women high on adventure all around the world. Allison takes us on her life-changing trip to Kilimanjaro, a New Year goal she set for herself one year, and what that led her to build – a lifelong friendship, a career change, and a community of women around the world.
Christina and Allison talk about how climbing a mountain isa rare experience that invites a sense of accomplishment and inspires courage. This episode is full of advice on how to step out of your comfort zone to find your journey to what lights you up.
To find out more about WHOA trips: https://www.whoatravel.com
Follow WHOA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHOATravel/
Follow WHOA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoatravel/
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Is there a career change that has been in the back of your mind but you’ve been too afraid to go for it? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to say yes to trying something even before you are ready and that you can reinvent yourself at any age.
Julie Hartigan is a NYC based chef, media personality, brand consultant, and lifelong travel lover who is not only a professional travel advisor but also hosts culinary travel trips of her own all over the world. She talks about how she transitioned in her 40’s from a stable career in tech engineering to building a personal brand around her passion for food culture and what that career change has led her to creating and who’s she been able to meet in her life.
Christina and Julie connect over their love for culinary travel and how staying open to wherever or whomever we meet can light us up and give us memories that we will have for life. Julie even talks about starting a whole new path of her business in her 50’s. This episode is full of advice from someone who has walked the path that you can re-create yourself and your path at any age.
To collaborate with Julie or to book travel with her: https://juliehartigan.com
Follow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliehartigan/
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you craving more adventure in your life? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to embrace that inner calling to follow your heart to your greatest adventure.
Jacqueline De La Espriella is a wanderlust outdoor enthusiast with a life goal and dream to visit every continent on this planet and to hike some of the world’s highest peaks. She talks about how she found her path to solo travel by chance and what that chance decision helped her discover about herself and the world.
Christina and Jacqueline connect over their love for off the beaten path travel and how immersing ourselves in local culture as we travel can invite expansion into our life. This episode is full of tips on how to strategically create a plan so that you can walk your path to your greatest adventure whatever or wherever that may be.
Follow Jacqueline and her adventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delae810/
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Do you wonder what just saying yes will lead you to? Tune in to hear the kick you need to just say yes to any opportunity that comes your way because it may just lead you to your passion.
Cheryl Logsdon and Bianca Monreal Mattar are a mother-daughter duo behind the Southern California based salsa company, OC Salsa Rica. They talk about their journey from being laid off in their corporate careers to building a company from their salsa recipe after being discovered at a local farmers market by a big name grocery chain. They talk through the experience of having one door shut that led to another door opening which allowed them to create their own way to making something good happen.
Christina connects with the mother daughter duo about their mutual passion for food and what sitting around the table invites into our life. This episode is full of inspiration for what saying yes can invite into our life.
Taste OC Salsa Rica at: https://www.ocsalsarica.com/
Follow OC Salsa Rica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocsalsarica/
Follow OC Salsa Rica on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCSalsaRica/
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you feeling stressed and burned out from your everyday routine? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to make a change that invites physical and mental strength so that you can gain control of your mentality and life.
Gaia Mariani is a yoga therapist, helping people to transform through understanding their own physiology, energetics, and subconscious mind. She talks about her own journey of moving from Italy to the US and working in a corporate career that led her to physical burnout which shut her body down literally. She talks about how that burnout led her to following her joy in yoga and how yoga gave her the strength to heal her mind and body.
Christina and Gaia talk about the trend of retreats and the importance of experiencing the authentic culture of the location you travel to. They talk about the cultural differences between the US and Italy and connect over their shared experience of creating community around food. This episode is full of tips for ways to find joy in your everyday life so that you can turn stress into strength.
Connect with Gaia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellandwhole.life/
Book Gaia’s yoga services or retreats: https://www.wellandwhole.life/
Check out Gaia’s free yoga therapy content on you tube: www.youtube.com/@wellandwholelife
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
Are you feeling like you lost your identity after a relationship breakdown? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to start to get to know yourself so you can learn to love again.
Rachel Teeling is a women’s relationship and self-worth coach, helping women thrive after the breakdown of a relationship to help them find love again after heartbreak. She talks about her own story of moving from excruciating heartbreak from a relationship with a partner that owned her identity to an empowering relationship she built with herself after working with a life coach which inspired her to help other women like herself find love.
Christina and Rachel talk about spending time alone to get to know who you truly are and learn to manifest what you want to attract. This episode is full of ways to overcome heartbreak and learn to love yourself again.
Connect with Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelteelingcoaching/
Connect with Rachel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.teeling1
Check out Rachel’s The BeYou Blueprint: https://www.rachelteeling.com
Listen to the Healing with Teeling Podcast: https://www.rachelteeling.com/healing-with-teeling-podcast
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Travel to Italy with Christina at: https://christinaminutillo.com/retreat/
What do you see when you visualize five years from now or even at the end of your life? Did you do the things you wanted to do? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to travel (literally) on the path to living your most authentic self.
Shadi Sadeghi is a certified Jungian coach and emotion code practitioner helping people take a deep dive into their soul to uncover their most authentic selves while helping them manifest their deepest desires. She talks about how she was drawn to this work through her own journey of self-discovery and how she got her first client after taking the plunge to travel the world for a year, a life changing journey that was inspired from her own visualization experience.
Christina and Shadi talk about how travel can allow us to get out of our comfort zones and expand our minds to awaken our path to the truth of who we truly are. Shadi even coaches Christina on uncovering her own beliefs around taking a break from life to travel. This episode is full of inspiration on how we can take responsibility for our life so that we can start to uncover the layers to return to our authenticity to magnetize experiences, people, and opportunities that our soul desires.
Connect with Shadi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thislifefulfilled/
Connect with Shadi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadi-sadeghi/
Email Shadi at: shadi@intuit-coaching.com
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Need help with your project? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr
Are you feeling unfulfilled and wanting more from life? Tune in to hear the inspiration you need to find out exactly what you can do to best show up for yourself and design the life that you ultimately want to create.
Angie Wisdom is an award winning and master certified business and life coach who helps clients create meaningful success and a life they love. Angie talks about her journey from working in a field that she didn’t love to finding what her thing was that helped her create a life that she always wanted and that ultimately led her on a path to help others do the same.
Angie walks us through the exact steps of finding the thing that will help get us excited to wake up in the morning and how to design our day in a way that it leads us to creating a life that we want. Angie even coaches Christina on finding her own values for growing this podcast! This episode is full of intentional wisdom on how to find what lights you up and create the life you want.
Follow Angie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiewisdomlifecoach/
Connect with Angie at: https://angiewisdom.com
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Need help with your project? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr
Are you going to sit back and ingest what everyone else is creating or are you going to be the creator? Tune in to get that kick you always needed to get out there and start creating something.
Richard Podgurski Jr is the ultimate creator. He has been voted best DJ in the South Bay of Los Angeles for 7 years and frequently tours big name nightclubs all over the country. He is also known for his outstanding photography and was named top 7 fine art photographers in Los Angeles in 2023. He also created a mushroom extract product to boost creativity and is currently in the works of creating a video game of his life. You’ll hear his high vibe energy as he talks through how each one of these paths of creation came to be and how to find your own inspiration for doing what you want to create.
Christina and Richard talk about how our creations can create a ripple effect of energy that can create an experience that can last beyond our physical life. There is so much advice in this episode about how to actually get off your phone and go create something that generates income.
Follow Richard on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardpodjr/
Richard Podgurski Website: https://www.rp-photography.com
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Need help with your project? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr
Do you believe that we all have a destiny? Tune in to hear how following one idea can change the course of your life and how being clear on your own core values is what attracts people and things to us that can create a vibrational energy that can ripple out to anyone around us.
Marco Palazzo is a former water polo professional athlete turned coach who had a passion to bring his Italian food roots to Southern California by opening a restaurant with his childhood friend from Italy. The two friends saw an opportunity to create an environment built around team chemistry to bring friends and family together around the table to enjoy good Italian food made with love.
Marco talks about his experience of immigrating to the US and the values that he lives and runs his business by which is what attracts so many to the restaurant experience he curates. Listen to the end to hear how opening Trenta Pizza & Cucina changed Marco’s life, proof that when we follow a calling it leads us on a path to our destiny.
Visit Trenta Pizza & Cucina: https://www.trentapizza.com
Follow Trenta Pizza & Cucina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trentapizzacucina/
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Need help with your project? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr
Do you feel like the clock is ticking and want to make sure that your life is as joyous and celebratory as possible? Tune in to hear tips on how to find the stillness to discover your truest essence of who you really are.
Jessica Proulx is Co-Founding Director of the Direct Path Institute where she is a yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophy teacher. She is also a wellness coach where she finds passion in helping people find their truest essence of who they really are and what they want to become in their life. Jessica talks about how we can strip away the identity masks that are created throughout our life and instead learn to find love and light that ultimately lead us on a path to purpose and meaning.
Christina and Jessica connect over their love of creating community, connection, and transformation with travel. Jessica also gives advice on how to meditate when we don’t feel very good at it. This episode is packed with tips to live your best life and act as your compass to support you in finding your journey back to yourself to ultimately find more joy and peace.
Connect with Jessica for yoga, meditation, wellness, and life coaching at: https://jessicaproulxwellness.com
Check out the Direct Path Institute’s programs including their Costa Rica retreat at: https://yourdirectpath.com
Follow Jessica’s wellness journey and coaching on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaproulxwellness
Connect with the Direct Path Institute on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/yourdirectpath
Buy Jessica’s Whispers of Wisdom journal: Available on Amazon
Visit Christina’s website at: https://christinaminutillo.com
Need help with your project? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr