Deborah Kobylt Live

Knowing when to unplug from the noise in life is critical, and lately in Los Angeles, it's survival. The stress from the recent fires and political unrest is a lot to take on, but we have to find a way to stay balanced and healthy. Please welcome to our show, #SuzeYalofSchwartz, founder of #Unplug meditation and wellness center and the Unplug app. And let me tell you, if you're not near Los Angeles and cent get to her studio, the app is a MUST! First off, it's reasonable, and it's packed with daily practices of breathing and relaxation exercises that are easy, relaxing, peaceful, and critical to bringing us to a place of feeling calm and centered. And if we feel calm and centered, we can tackle almost anything in life, because we're of a clear mind. And that's when the magic happens. Suze lost her home in the #Palisades #fire, and it her daily meditation retreat that's pulled her through. In fact, when I saw her posts almost immediately after the fires, I was stunned at her sense of calm, and she says it's be

Please welcome to our show, my friend Marla Tellez, award-winning newscaster at Fox11 Los Angeles, who joins us to talk about career, personal struggles growing up, and becoming a mama a few months ago at the age of 48! Growing up, Marla said she never dreamed of becoming a news anchor or reporter. She had other ideas, but when the opportunity presented itself, she grabbed it and never turned back. Now, she anchors along side an incredible team at FoxLA that includes my friends Elex Michaelson and Christine Devine, arguably one of the best newscasts in town (of course I worked there, so I’m biased). Marla has an incredible story of her own, and wait until you hear it. Not an easy childhood, she worked hard to keep strong while navigating some pretty challenging hurdles, particularly with her dad. We’ll ask her about that and what kept her going. Marla is also a runner, which not only keeps her sane, but also fit. Now 49, she had her first baby just a few months ago - Sloane - and I’m so in love with this litt

Please welcome to our show my friend, Jake Steinfeld, founder of Body By Jake, the phenom fitness lifestyle routine that’s changed bodies from flabby to fit worldwide. But that’s just part of his story. Jake is also a successful entrepreneur and he’ll be talking about a new product that he’s launching. He is also an established actor, and is one of my all-time favorite movies (think Eddie Murphy). In a town rumored to be transactional, he’s anything but, having been married for decades to my beautiful friend, with whom he shares four children. Jake is a family guy, and often referred to as the “Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades,” and yes his home, and just about everything in it, burned to the ground in the January fires. But perhaps it’s his resilience that I most admire, always looking ahead, creating new business opportunities, remaining positive, and focusing on rebuilding. And I thought, there’s a lot we can learn from Jake Steinfeld about how to keep going even when the world seems to be going up in s

May is #MentalHeath Awareness Month, and I’d like to welcome to our show mental health advocate and author Tracey Yokas, whose book, “BLOODLINES, A Memoir Of Harm And Healing,” is gaining attention for its raw portrayal of tackling mental health issues so they don’t consume your life. I met Tracey at a writer’s group I’m a part of, and I was instantly drawn to her story. There are so many struggling with past wounds and aren’t sure how to heal or even where to turn. BLOODLINES shows us it’s possible to recover and lead a healthy life. She talks about her family’s journey with mental illness and healing so people don’t feel they’re alone. We will also discuss Tracey’s early years that led her to this point, and what fuels her. When she isn’t writing about mental health and wellness, Tracey can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue, and she says it’s art that fuels her passion for connection in community. She is also dedicated to supporting women by creating safe spaces where art, words, and vulnerabil

Whenever I return from Italy, where my family is from, I wonder why I don’t get a place there for my family to enjoy. But I have no idea where to start, who to call, or what it involves. Please welcome Antonello Pierro, attorney and Italian real estate expert to our show, who can walk us through the steps on how it done. First up, purchasing property in Italy is different than buying a place in the states. So you need to know the rules so that you don’t run around in circles wasting time and spending money you don’t need to spend. Also, once you find that coveted property, what’s involved in terms of contracts, and you need to be fully protected. For example, there’s different types of properties to purchase, and Antonello can walk us through those steps, too. Please join #deborahkobyltlive, #LittleItalyPodcast & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here. Please invite your friends to listen, too!

Please welcome to our show a woman I’ve long admired, Lavinia Errico, co-founder/owner of the powerhouse gym #Equinox, in addition to the founder of MOVEJOY, a platform that guides women through movement to heal, rise up, and feel more joy. And that it does! But it’s not just Lavinia’s business chops that are impressive, it’s her sincere mission to help others, whether it’s in the fitness space, spiritual, or change-of-life. Lavinia walks her talk when it comes to building others up so we can all be mentally and physically healthier. I recently attended one of MOVEJOY’s events in Malibu, not sure what to expect. But I came away feeling understood, like there was a genuine sisterhood in that space, acknowledging we were all there to learn and grow. There were interesting speakers with real take-aways, physical movement, art therapy, and friendship. And I mean it when I say people were there from every walk of life to learn, and we did. We will also journey into Lavinia’s background that ultimately led her to

Health and wellness has been all the talk for decades now, and Adrienne Youdim, MD triple board certified physician, author, and Tedx Speaker, breaks down what people are hungry for, and how to achieve better balance in our daily lives. Often, it’s about simplicity. Adrienne wrote, “Hungry for More,” which explores what’s really eating at us, why we develop unhealthy habits, and how to break the cycle. She asks, “What are you hungry for? Love? Connection? Belonging?” We’ll talk about that, but also the mental drain so many are feeling now, whether it’s from world events, too much social media where we mindlessly scroll for hours, or for those of us in LA, the aftereffects from the fires here and the mental toll it’s taken on our health. I often wonder if we’ve lost our way, and what’s a simple and organic way to get back into balance. We’ll talk about that, too. Please join my conversion with Adrienne Youdim, MD, on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends. I’m your host, #

Award-winning chef, @Barbara_Pollastrini, owner of @da_Barbara_P restaurant in Hollywood, has been cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen since she was a little girl in Rome. And dining at her restaurant here, it’s easy to see why Appetito and Los Angeles Magazine named her one of the top Italian restaurants not to miss in LA. The entire experience is like being in someone’s home. In fact, the kitchen at da Barbara is literally part of the dining space, so you can watch your meal being prepared while enjoying a glass of wine. Please join me in welcoming Barbara to our #LittleItalyPodcast & #DeborahKobyltLIVE, where we will dive into her early years studying in Rome and her dream of coming to California, making a name for herself while competing in shows on the Food Network and Discovery Channel. Clearly her dream came true, as she is not just a famed chef, but also a female entrepreneur. Barbara also serves on the board of the Italian-America Chamber of Commerce West @IACCW_LA, led by president Genny Nevo

Please welcome my resident political analyst, John Kobylt of the award-winning #JohnKobyltShow on #KFIam640 and #iHeartRadio, updating us on issues that matter, from the massive gas price hikes expected in California, to Rick Caruso and his incredibly effective Steadfast LA, which aims to help victims of the deadly January 7th wildfires rebuild more efficiently without government red tape. We’ll also talk about the #StayInLA movement to keep filming here in Los Angeles, a city filled with creative minds and innovators, but in recent years companies have been leaving due to the high cost of doing business in California. We will also talk about the aviation disaster at some of our airports, namely Newark, NJ, where air traffic controllers have walked off the job due to stress over recent equipment failures. It is said that in some airports, floppy disks are still being used, and equipment is severely outdated. The there’s of course the tariffs. One day it’s up, next day it’s down. Where do we stand, particularl

When disaster strikes, the chaos that follows can leave communities and individuals feeling overwhelmed and struggling to connect with vital resources. Please welcome Heather Hackett, founder of Local Relief, a nonprofit mobile app designed to connect communities with essential help, services, and information once disaster strikes, serving as a central hub for disaster preparedness, survival, and recovery. Heather is from my home in Sarasota, Florida, which is no stranger to floods and hurricanes, and 2024 proved to be one emergency followed by another, leaving communities and individuals looking for information on how to recover and where to find relief. The Local Relief app connects residents with local authorities and organizations to access life saving resources during crises such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. Residents can find food services, shelter locations, and recovery assistance, all while communicating directly with neighbors and professional services offering help. That's the heart of Loc

It’s been just 100 years since silent films were all the rage in Hollywood, followed by talkies, moving color, digital, and now AI. Please join me in welcoming two experts in the film world who join us to talk about the ever-changing world of Hollywood, Valentina Castellani Quinn, president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, and Marvin Williams, founder of Big M Entertainment Pictures, discussing their latest venture on the Sony Pictures Studios lot to combine the best of Hollywood with the latest technologies. Valentina’s father-in-law was Anthony Quinn, and she talks about the timing of this venture with Sony, once Columbia Pictures, which produced one of Mr. Quinn’s greatest films, Lawrence of Arabia. The film’s poster hangs proudly in the halls of Sony to celebrate its 100-year anniversary making motion pictures. Marvin, best known for producing “The Jungle Book,” among other classics, said he plans to combine the past with the future of Hollywood projects by merging AI technology with art. He says much like

Debora Medici-Guetta has inspired me since the day I met her. I could feel her intense passion for her work, her support of women, and for being someone not afraid to talk about her journey in life. So won't you please welcome her to our show this incredibly talented photographer & photojournalist, graphic artist, and documentary filmmaker. Debora was born in Rome, and the first time she landed in Los Angeles, she felt at home among other creatives free to express their art unfiltered. She now divides her time between here and Italy. Debora took time off, like many women, to focus on family. Her husband is famed artist #MrBrainwash, aka Thierry Guetta, and that alone is a full time job managing that level of notoriety. But a decade ago, Debora decided to get back into the game and began the intuitive process of reframing who she was, one image at a time. A return to making art meant embarking, in Debora’s words, on “a big, long, introspective journey.” After several years refining her technique and honing

Please welcome to our show, Eden Alpert, partner at Vibrato Grill Jazz in Bel Air, which remains one of the most outstanding places in LA to hear LIVE music while enjoying amazing food and drink. But it’s the story behind Vibrato that really steals the show, and it’s all about Eden. Eden grew up in LA, the adopted daughter of jazz great Herb Alpert and his then wife, Sharon. She was adopted through Vista Del Mar, an all Jewish Family and Child non-profit service agency at the time. But as Eden tells it, her early years were far from perfect, describing her mother as a raging alcoholic and drug addict, while her dad was on the road. Which was a lot. Her parents divorced when she was three. But Eden decided she didn’t want to be a victim to her past, she did A LOT of therapy to find peace and balance. She also went on a journey to find her birth mother, but that didn’t quite work out as expected, and we’ll talk about it. When her father opened Vibrato, Eden worked as a hostess, but after her dad saw how custome

Please welcome to our show, the director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di LosAngeles, AKA the Italian Cultural Institute, Emanuele Amendola, and he joins us to discuss the mission of the @iiclosangeles in bringing cultural, scientific, academic, and culinary experiences that highlight everything authentic direct from Italy. The programs are all free, engaging, and open to everyone. Emanuele works closely with our Consul General of Italy in LA, Raffaella Valentini, and together they have forged a partnership that brings us the best of everything from Italia, including products direct from Italy. Each exhibit, talk, and experience is unique. Recently, there was a showing and discussion about the film, Womeness, followed a few days later with the opening and lecture about the Volterra exhibit. There was a Q&A and demonstration with famed chef Nancy Silverton, and the list goes on. So we wanted to know, how does Emanuele select what to present to the public, because the Cultural Institite goes beyond th

As we continue to celebrate #InternationalWomensMonth, please welcome my guest, Yvonne Scio, actress, model, and the writer/director of the documentary, Womeness, which was just recently screened at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles to rave reviews! Yvonne, who was raised in Italy, is also known for her work in the 2006 version of The Pink Panther, in addition to Redline, and Rose Red. She’s appeared on TV in both Italia and the States, including The Nanny. In fact, here’s a bit of trivia for you - her best friend is Fran Drescher, who was in attendance at the screening of #Womeness. Yvonne’s film is a magnificent look into the stories of five extraordinary women, offering a portrait into female resilience, identity, and the evolution of feminism. Womeness unfolds in two parallel narratives: on one side, three women who lived through the formidable season of Italian feminism, who reflect on the battles fought, the victories won, and the challenges that remain. On the other side of the story, and

Petra van Bremen is one of the most beautiful and elegant women I’ve ever met. We were introduced at the Venice Film Festival, and sat next to one other during the gala dinner honoring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. That’s where I got to know her, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Petra was born a beauty and has been modeling since she was a young girl in Europe. Last year, she was featured in Vogue, and it seems the older she gets, the more work she gets, too. It’s no longer taboo to tell your age or let your hair go gray or white. Look at Andie MacDowell or Maye Musk. They’re fashion icons, owning this time in life and feeling more empowered than ever, inspiring the rest of us to do the same. And that’s what Petra is doing, too. Working the clothes from top fashion designers, showing the world that there’s beauty in aging. And we talk about that, about her book on beauty, which is currently published only in German, and how we can all feel empowered at any age or size. We just have to believe there’s no ru

Dr. Ira Dewitt inspires me. And a lot of other people, too. Ira grew up a sickly kid, but she clearly had some devine intervention because she’s healthy now, traveling the globe, and is the founder of something not only beautiful, but truly inspirational, SAINT Candles. And recently, she founded the SAINT app, and she also hosts her beyond SAINT Podcast. Oh, and her husband is Bill Dewitt, President of the St. Louis Cardinals. On top of that, Ira is the proud mama of three children. How does she do it all? She credits her faith, and determination to live life to the fullest. In fact, she lives part-time in Rome, and says she embraces Italian life and culture as if she were born Italian. She’s wasn’t, but she has the spirit of one. We’ll talk about Ira’s faith and how it guides her, also her infamous SAINT candles have became the “it” candles in Hollywood, inspiring a place many say doesn’t embrace faith, but it does. I’ve experienced it firsthand. Her SAINT app offers daily devotionals and inspiring messages,

For a woman who never wanted to be a singer, international sensation Maria Elena Infantino has certainly made her mark. And we’re thrilled to welcome her to our show today. Maria grew up in Rome to a famously talented family of opera singers. In fact, Maria is  working on a documentary about her father, tenor Luigi Infantino, and we’ll talk about that. Maria was schooled in London and studied drama, but upon graduating, her first job wasn’t acting, instead, she sang a rendition of “Do You Want To Know A Secret” for the 50th Beatles Anniversary with Shirley Bassey at the Royal Albert Hall. She debuted as a professional actress on the ITV British series “Emmerdale.” She’s hosted and produced a one woman show in London as a tribute to her father, and that same year, she was nominated for the 21st annual L.A. Music Awards as best International artist. Maria eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she lives in addition to Europe. There, she created another one woman show based on legendary French Icon Edith

ove LA Magazine? I don’t miss an issue. How about Orange Coast, Pasadena, and SoCal Magazines for those folks living there? Well, the brains behind all of them is President and Publisher Christopher Gialanella, and I’m thrilled to welcome him to our shows today. Chris is from Livingston, New Jersey, and when I found that out, the two of us couldn’t stop chatting about it because I went to the Livingston Mall all the time as a kid, shopping at Spencer’s and all kinds of stores we both loved. After working in PR in New York, Chris made his way to LA, and quickly rose within the ranks of publishing, working for Modern Luxury and LA Confidential. And who doesn’t get these magazines in their mailboxes, oohing and aahing at the gorgeous home and fashion spreads on the inside. Well, that’s Chris’ vision, too. And these days, we can’t go anywhere without seeing Chris on the red carpet, including at the Oscars this year, and just about anywhere that’s relevant in SoCal, you’ll find Chris front and center. And he’s a m

Please join me in welcoming one of the most talented comics of a generation, Tom Dreesen, who’s appeared on Carson over 60 times, toured with Sinatra for nearly 15 years, was half of the comedy team Tim and Tom (with Tim Reid), and has written a best-selling book, “Still Standing...My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra,” that talks about it all, including when he found out he was Italian because who he thought was his dad, actually wasn’t! There’s so much to cover in our interview, including how he started along the Sunset Strip, appearing with comics such as Billy Crystal and Leno, performing with Sammy Davis Jr., and so much more. We’re so honored to have Tom join our show and share his many experiences about life and career. Please join us and invite your friends, too. It’s a pleasure to have you here, and share one of the greatest entertainment stories of a generation, and particularly about Tom’s life as an Italian American, too. You’ll find our show on all video and audio platfor