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