Best Steve Mancini Podcasts (2025)

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IIW - Episode 117 - Suzie Jackson 40:21

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2h ago40:21

40:21

This week we interview a very wonderful guest, Suzie Jackson. Suzie is a few generations removed from her family in Italy but that doesn't stop her from being passionate about the Italian culture. In fact, Suzie's sister currently lives in Rome and sings opera! Suzie is also passionate about helping others and in this episode we are going to talk a…

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#25 My Daughter HATES AI - Here's Why She's Wrong (And Right) 58:44

5d ago58:44

58:44

🎭 Proffesional dancer Jordan thought AI was going to ruin her career - until her tech expert dad Steve showed her the truth. In this eye-opening father-daughter debate, we dive deep into AI's real impact on creative industries, careers, and daily life. What You'll Learn: ✅ How AI can actually HELP performers and artists ✅ The lazy vs. smart ways to…

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IIW - Episode 116 - Nick Fiorentino 36:09

5d ago36:09

36:09

This week we interview a very special guest, Nick Fiorentino. Nick has a passion for Italian culture and shows it by running one of the most popular social media campaigns to promote Italian culture in the Pittsburgh area. This is a great episode and Nick's passion and exuberance really shine through! Follow Nick here on Instagram: https://www.inst…

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What Landscape Designers Actually Want to Specify with Emily Bell 26:46

23h ago26:46

26:46

In this episode of Rooted in Innovation, the team sits down with Emily Bell, a landscape designer and founder of Emily Bell Landscape Design, to talk about real-world challenges—and smart solutions—in site planning. From stormwater management to tree stabilization, Emily shares the tools she actually specifies, including TreeStaple, Silver Cells, C…

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#24 Are We Living in a SIMULATION? Father-Daughter Debate on Afterlife, Reincarnation & Reality 54:04

18d ago54:04

54:04

🎮 What if life is just a cosmic video game where we chose our characters before birth? In this mind-bending episode, Steve and his 22-year-old daughter Jordan explore simulation theory, reincarnation, and whether reality is what we think it is. 🔥 KEY TOPICS COVERED: Why believing in afterlife = believing in simulation theory The "Masters" from past…

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#23 The APM Revolution: One More Thing... It Actually Works 15:19

13d ago15:19

15:19

Tired of application monitoring that creates more problems than it solves? This episode breaks down why traditional APM approaches are fundamentally broken—and how one company completely reimagined what's possible. In this deep dive, I explore how Dynatrace revolutionized application performance monitoring through three core principles: radical sim…

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IIW - Episode 115 - Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini 1:05:53

16d ago1:05:53

1:05:53

This week Claudio and I interview the great Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini. Ray reflects on everything from his multiple careers to current projects. He also provide some very powerful insight on how to be successful and it has nothing to do with luck.By Italian Impact Weekly

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#22 Inside NASTD 2025: Digital Wellbeing, AI Guardrails, and State IT Lessons from Nashville 14:50

29d ago14:50

14:50

In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I share my firsthand experience at the 2025 NASTD Annual Conference in Nashville. From Scott Klososky’s powerful keynote on digital wellbeing in the AI era, to candid panels on citizen experience, women in IT, and upskilling the workforce—the event was packed with insight and energy. I dive into the highs (…

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IIW - Episode 114 - Kevin Glavin 44:43

20d ago44:43

44:43

This week I interview international opera singer and Pittsburgh native, Kevin Glavin. Kevin dreamt of smoking cigars and singing in lounge acts in Vegas but ended up performing opera with the world's best opera singers, including the great Luciano Pavarotti. We have an absolute fantastic time and in fact, you may even hear a little singing in this …

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#21 AI’s Growing Pains: My Take on GPT-5 7:42

1M ago7:42

7:42

Sam Altman promised GPT-5 would be “more reliable, with a lower likelihood of hallucinating.” But after trying it myself — like asking it to turn a photo of my daughter playing softball into anime (and it gave her two gloves) — I’m left asking: is this really progress? In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I break down: Why GPT-5 feels like a n…

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IIW - Episode 113 - Paul Cosentino and Claudio Reilsono 1:27:43

27d ago1:27:43

1:27:43

This week, the great Claudio Reilsono returns for a very wonderful conversation but first, I start with Paul Cosentino. Paul has been a musician for over 30 years and currently plays with the fantastic and very talented Boilermaker Jazz Band. We have a wonderful time talking everything from Sicily to music! Check out Paul and the Boilermaker Jazz B…

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#20 Dynatrace Gen 3: Letting AI Redefine What’s Possible in IT 20:28

2M ago20:28

20:28

Dynatrace just changed the game. 🚀 I wasn’t even planning this episode—I’m in the middle of my series on the Dynatrace Platform—but last week, Dynatrace dropped a huge nugget: Gen 3 is here, and AI is at the forefront. I couldn’t wait to break down what this means for IT teams and share real-world examples of how AI is transforming what’s possible.…

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IIW - Episode 112 - Nick Ferraro 57:04

2M ago57:04

57:04

This week I am joined by the very successful entertainer, Nick Ferraro. Nick is known for many things, a talented musician, actor, screen writer and much more but he was also dubbed "The Philly Elvis" by none other than Bruce Springsteen on October 19th, 2009 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia PA. In fact, in the 2013 documentary titled "Springsteen &…

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IIW - Episode 111 - Don Aliquo Sr. 54:28

2M ago54:28

54:28

This week we come back from our break with an absolute music legend, Don Aliquo Sr. Don has been doing this for nearly 80 years! He's played with some of the greats and shares some incredible stories and advice from his very storied career. You can still catch Don out there entertaining so be sure to check him out at: https://donaliquo-sr.com/…

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#19 No Capes Required: How Kroger’s Captain America Team Got Superpowers 24:32

2M ago24:32

24:32

What do you get when you combine 16 monitoring tools, constant war room calls, and app chaos? For Kroger, it was a nightmare—until they flipped the script with Dynatrace. In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I walk you through Kroger’s real-world transformation, featuring insights from Jay Cotton, their lead performance engineer. You’ll hear h…

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#18 Get Your Team Back on Track – How AI and Dynatrace Restore Control to IT 14:32

3M ago14:32

14:32

Welcome to Thriving in Ambiguity, the podcast where we break down complex tech—ideally without losing our minds. In this first episode of our Dynatrace series, I’m diving into Infrastructure Observability, the foundation of proactive IT operations. And we’re starting with a real-world nightmare: TD Bank, a $1.4 trillion financial institution, found…

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What have I been up to and what’s coming up? 11:46

3M ago11:46

11:46

What has Stop Italian Sounding been up to lately? What's coming up? Tune in to find out!By Robert Campana

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IIW - Episode 110 - Marco Fiorante 42:40

3M ago42:40

42:40

This week I am joined by international singer and professional tour guide, Marco Fiorante. Marco and I have an absolutely wonderful conversation on how to appreciate your culture while accepting your new home country. We also discuss his singing career...what a great voice! Check him out here on his website: https://www.marcofiorante.com/videos/ or…

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IIW - Episode 109 - Richard Graziano 49:29

3M ago49:29

49:29

This week I interview the co-President of the Italian Genealogical Group, Richard Graziano. In this episode Richard shares several personal stories as well as some great advice on how to research one's roots. The past is a true definer of who we are now, so it is very important to know it. In addition, it is very important that we start now before …

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#17 Observability 101: Why Your IT Tools Are Failing You - And What to Do About It 19:34

3M ago19:34

19:34

Welcome to Episode #17 of Thriving in Ambiguity — the podcast where we cut through the chaos of modern tech without losing our minds. This week, we’re talking observability — not the buzzword version, but the real deal. From my days in the war room to what I’ve learned working with state agencies, Fortune 100s, and SaaS-heavy stacks, I’m breaking d…

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IIW - Episode 108 - Samuele Bozzolla 42:43

3M ago42:43

42:43

This week's guest is the great Samuele Bozzolla. Samuele is grandson of the late opera singer Ezio Fortunato Pinza, famous for his starring role in the Broadway hit, "South Pacific", and son of the great opera singer and Claudia Pinza Bozzolla. In this episode we talk everything from Luciano Pavarotti, his mothers work with various opera singers, t…

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#16 The Secret Tech Behind Iron Man? Uncovering the Dynatrace - J.A.R.V.I.S. Connection 11:11

4M ago11:11

11:11

Welcome back to Thriving in Ambiguity, the podcast where we break down the complexities of technology — ideally without losing our minds. In this episode, we dive into a story you definitely haven’t heard before: the secret link between Stark Industries, the rise of J.A.R.V.I.S., and the unexpected tech platform that made it all possible — Dynatrac…

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IIW - Episode 107 - Glenn Beech 48:22

4M ago48:22

48:22

What a wonderful episode! Glenn and I have a very good conversation about memories and what the difference is between living in the past and remembering the past. Glenn has been slowly gathering memories and writing them down so he can pass them on to his family, what a great idea! Tune in to understand more about why we need to record and pass dow…

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#15 Crazy IT Stories - Porn Loopholes, Laptop Scandals & Surveillance Secrets! 23:22

4M ago23:22

23:22

Welcome to Thriving in Ambiguity, the podcast where we unpack the complexities of technology—ideally without losing our minds. In our new series, Anonymous or Not: Crazy Stories in IT, veteran tech leader Steve Mancini shares jaw-dropping, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable real-world stories from over 20 years in IT. From bizarre security loop…

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What makes Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI so unique? 11:19

4M ago11:19

11:19

Not all balsamic vinegar is created equal—and most people don’t realize there are two protected types. In this episode, we focus on Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP (Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI)—the more widely available, yet often misunderstood version. You’ll learn how it’s made, what the PGI seal really means, and how to spot authentic bottles f…

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IIW - Episode 106 - Marco Permunian 35:16

4M ago35:16

35:16

Wanted to get your Italian citizenship but worried about changes in the law? Never fear! This week I was able to interview Marco Permunian. Marco is an attorney and founder of the Italian Citizenship Assistance group. In this interview he provides invaluable assistance and clarity on the new laws. You can also check out his podcast which focuses on…

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IIW - Episode 105 - Lou Ignarro, Melissa Marinaro, and Mary Ferro 1:07:03

4M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Nobel Prize winner, Louis Ignarro, is my guest this week. Lou and I discuss how a first generation Italian-American can grow up to win a Nobel Prize! What a tremendous story. Learn more about Lou and his research which is literally saving lives here: https://www.drignarro.com/ I am also very blessed to have Melissa Marinaro, Director, Italian Ameri…

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Celebrating Italian Heritage in Action 22:48

5M ago22:48

22:48

In this episode, I’m reporting from the Filitalia International Convention—an event dedicated to preserving Italian heritage, language, and culture across generations. Join me as I connect with passionate members of the Italian American community, explore the mission behind Filitalia, and reflect on the role organizations like this play in promotin…

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IIW - Episode 104 Lou Bruno and Lauren Ronayne 1:14:27

4M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

This week's episode has two very special guests. Lou Bruno, author and proud Italian-America. His most recent work, The Love of San Demetrio, is an absolutely wonderful story of his experience in connecting the past to the present. Please check out his book here: https://www.byloubruno.com/ Lauren Ronayne is a driving force behind the San Rocco Fou…

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#14 2025 NASCIO Recap: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next for State CIOs 21:34

5M ago21:34

21:34

Just returned from the NASCIO 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Philadelphia, and there’s a lot to unpack. In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I delve into the key takeaways from the event, shedding light on the evolving landscape of state IT leadership. Key Highlights: Cybersecurity remains the top priority for state CIOs, marking its 12th consecu…

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IIW - Episode 103 - Michael Troiani 39:25

4M ago39:25

39:25

This week I interview Michael Troiani, owner of PaPa Js Twin Plaza Restaurant in Pittsburgh. Michael is passionate about Italian culture but his dedication to authentic Italian cooking is above reproach. Michael and I talk a lot but you can tell his passion and knowledge about Italian cooking are something he holds very dear. This is a great episod…

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How to Launch a New Product in an Old-School Industry with Taron Young 40:21

5M ago40:21

40:21

What does it take to bring a brand-new building product to market and actually make it stick? In this episode, veteran market developer Taron Young shares insights from 20+ years in the construction and building materials industry. From code compliance to product education, distribution channels to holding spec, Taron breaks down what it really tak…

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#13 Tragedy at School - True Story: What We Got Wrong and What You Must Get Right 14:36

5M ago14:36

14:36

A tragedy no school ever expects — and the hard lessons we learned too late. In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I share the real story behind a crisis at Howard High School that changed everything. As the IT Director at the time, I thought we were ready. We weren’t. And today, I’m revealing what we got wrong — and what you must get right bef…

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The Rhythm of Tradition 31:25

5M ago31:25

31:25

We explore the surprising connection between two powerful expressions of Italian culture: food and dance. Our guest, Anna Harsh—award-winning choreographer and founder of Allegro Dance Company—has spent her life preserving traditional Italian dances that, like regional recipes, are passed down through generations. We talk about how movement and mea…

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#12 Move Fast or Die Slow: How AI Is Coming for Complacent Companies 1:05:28

5M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

AI isn’t just disrupting industries—it’s coming for companies that move too slow. In this no-fluff episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I sit down with AI strategist and keynote speaker Chris Carr to pull back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes with generative AI. Spoiler: it’s not a “someday” problem. It’s a right now problem. H…

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Preserving Food Heritage with NIAF President & CEO Robert Allegrini 30:58

5M ago30:58

30:58

I’m joined by Robert Allegrini, President and CEO of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). With a dedication to promoting Italian heritage, Robert shares how his roots shaped his passion for authentic Italian cuisine. We discuss the evolving perception of Italian food in America, the role of NIAF in preserving culinary traditions, and th…

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IIW - Episode 102 - Tony Colega 33:55

5M ago33:55

33:55

In this week's episode, I interview the great voice man and vice-president of the United Lodges of Pittsburgh, Tony Colega. Tony and I talk about his work with the United Lodges, everything from bocce in the mountains to the Italian restaurant tour. If you are looking for some ideas to revitalize your group, this is a great episode to tune into.…

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#11 Shadow AI: The Hidden Threat No One Is Talking About (Yet) 17:06

5M ago17:06

17:06

🚨 Shadow AI is here—and it’s not just a buzzword. Employees are bypassing IT to use generative AI tools in secret, often exposing sensitive data in the process. In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, Steve Mancini breaks down what Shadow AI is, why it’s exploding, and what organizations can do to get ahead of it. 👉 Featuring insights from AI str…

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IIW - Episode 101 - Mary Menniti 52:56

6M ago52:56

52:56

This week I interview Mary Menniti. Mary enjoyed a close relationship with both her maternal and paternal immigrant grandparents. As a result, she learned to cherish the memories of gardening! This week's interview is very powerful as we discuss this dying experience of simple gardening but also how the advent of large corporations has changed ever…

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Inside Bono Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive oil 30:23

6M ago30:23

30:23

We’re joined by Bianca Bono, Marketing and Sales Manager of Bono and proud member of the Bono family. Bianca shares her personal journey growing up in the family business and how her passion for olive oil led her to combine technical expertise with innovative marketing strategies. We explore what makes Sicilian olive oil so unique, the challenges o…

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#10 LEADING PUBLIC SECTOR IT: LESSONS FROM THE INSIDE WITH FORMER PA DEPUTY CIO JASON HEBBE 43:19

6M ago43:19

43:19

In Episode 10 of Thriving in Ambiguity, I sit down with Jason Hebbe, former Deputy CIO for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to talk shop about what it really takes to lead IT in state government. We cover everything from: Multi-cloud strategies that actually work How to rein in rogue tools across agencies Why partnerships fail (and how to fix them…

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A Conversation with Santi & Dara 28:28

6M ago28:28

28:28

This episode features the social media duo Santi and Dara, husband and wife blending Sicilian heritage with an Italian-American perspective. They discuss the emotional connection to food, underappreciated Sicilian dishes, and memorable meal experiences rooted in tradition. They also share insights on social media reactions and tease upcoming projec…

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IIW - Episode 100 - Nick Vizzoca 55:24

6M ago55:24

55:24

The big 100 and what a guest to have for it! This week, I interview author, businessman, philanthropist, and basically all around great guy, Nick Vizzoca. Nick is a Pittsburgh native, first-generation son of Italian immigrants, and survivor of childhood cancer but more importantly, he is a leader and someone who understands people. Nick and I talk …

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Gaetano Mina di Sospiro: The Cheese Maestro 44:32

6M ago44:32

44:32

In this episode, we talk with Gaetano “Tano” Mina di Sospiro, a passionate food expert and ONAF Cheese Maestro, about Italy’s rich micro-regional gastronomy. Raised between Italy and the U.S., Tano shares how his bicultural background shapes his approach to food travel, emphasizing the importance of eating like a local. He recounts his visits to sm…

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#9 - Mike Shelborn Inside Zerto on Resilient IT for State & Local Government 37:19

6M ago37:19

37:19

In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, I sit down with Mike Shelborn from HPE’s Zerto team to talk about how state and local government agencies can radically rethink disaster recovery and ransomware resilience. We break down: ✅ Why traditional backup isn’t cutting it anymore ✅ What Continuous Data Protection (CDP) actually means ✅ How Zerto hel…

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IIW - Episode 99 - Stephanie Detton 41:32

6M ago41:32

41:32

This week I interview the co-host of the "Italian American Stories Podcast", Stephanie Detton. Stephanie and I have an absolute wonderful time talking about a myriad of things. When she is not researching stories, she is busy teaching and spending time with friends and family but she absolutely entertains us with some incredible stories from histor…

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#8 - What is Agentic AI? From Annoying Assistants to Autonomous Action 5:49

6M ago5:49

5:49

We all know Siri kinda sucks—but what if your AI could actually get things done for you, without even asking? That’s the promise of agentic AI, and it’s not sci-fi anymore. In this episode of Thriving in Ambiguity, host Steve Mancini breaks down how agentic AI takes things to the next level—planning, reasoning, and acting autonomously. From NVIDIA’…

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Tradition & Innovation at Settepani 28:56

6M ago28:56

28:56

Bilena Settepani, an entrepreneur and pastry chef, has been involved in Settepani since childhood, blending tradition with innovation. With a background in fashion and pastry arts, she leads Settepani’s marketing, e-commerce, and dessert development. Passionate about community engagement, she organizes cooking classes and collaborates with local sc…

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IIW - Episode 98 - Stephen 'Stefano' Pishner 1:02:26

6M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

This week, I interview the great musician Stephen 'Stefano' Pishner of the band AMICI. Stephen has been doing this for a long time, beginning his exciting musical voyage of artistic discovery at the early age of 9 years old. Having played to a million listeners, you will definitely appreciate the passion and talent he brings to his work. To follow …

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Exploring Italian Impact with Steve Mancini 41:35

6M ago41:35

41:35

In this episode of Uncovering Authentic Italian Food, I sit down with Dr. Steve Mancini—cybersecurity expert, award-winning filmmaker, and host of The Italian Impact Podcast. We discuss his journey from tech to storytelling, his passion for Italian culture, and his acclaimed documentary Fedeltà Soldier Prisoner, now streaming on Amazon Prime. Plus,…