
Bring Your Guard Down
With no guards up and no filters, we explore what it takes to rise to the top while staying true to family, culture, and heritage. Tune in for real, unguarded conversations that inspire, empower, and celebrate the spirit of Italian perseverance!
Episodes
8 episodes
Chris T. – Episode 7 – Legal Definitions and how they are used against you.
In this episode, we take a closer look at how governments use various tactics to craft agreements in ways that keep the average person in line. One of the key tools in this process is legalese—a dense, technical form of language filled...
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1:29:22

Claudio Coppola - Episode 6 - Being an Italian teenager in the 1970's and early 80's.
The 1970s was the best decade ever for music, fashion, and cultural change. It was a time of rebellion, creativity, and freedom. Claudio masterfully captures the essence of an Italian teenager's life in Willowdale during the late 70s and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:21:07

Tony G - Episode 5 - Tony Giallonardo is known by OTTO simply as “the Curatore."
Hear Tony share his journey through years of experience in the luxury menswear market, starting in Italy and later in Toronto, Canada, where he managed and worked as a fashion buyer in the stylish Yorkville district. From working with icons lik...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:06:47

Vito Rezza - Episode 4 - The Origins of the world famous Rocco Rompamuro
Step into the world of a legend as we go beyond the ring to uncover the incredible origins of the world-renowned Italian boxer, Rocco Rompamuro. In 2003, Rocco didn’t just make his mark in boxing—he sparked an entirely new genre of comedy with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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57:50

Chuck Stone - Episode 3 - 28 Piece Drum Kits
Rocco and Tony sit down with the legendary drummer Chuck Stone. Join them as they trace Chuck's journey from jamming at the Auto Body Shop on Wednesday nights to his retirement. It’s an open conversation that will have you wondering, “Why did t...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:11:49

Bobby Bozic - Episode 2 - So what happens is......
Bob Bozic talks about his tumultuous childhood to his challenging return to Serbia and his efforts to reclaim his roots. As a legendary bartender at Finelli's in Soho New York, his narrative is a rollercoaster of highs and lows invo...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:07:36

Michael Ciccone - Episode 1 - Chico's Cafe 80 Years of Italian History
In 1917 Chico's cafe opened on Beaver Street in the Dufferin and Davenport area and for over 80 years was the place where the whos who of the Italian community hung out. Hear the stories of Sweet Pete, Jonny Jumper, Bobby Slack and Jesse...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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1:06:12
