The Sicilian Inheritance podcast

The Sicilian Inheritance

Every family has an origin story – for author Jo Piazza (Under the Influence, Wilder) her family's is a murder mystery.  For as long as she can remember the Piazzas have told the story of their Sicilian roots going back over a hundred years ago: one by one the sons and then their father sailed off to America to carve out a better life. Their mother, Lorenza Marsala was supposed to join them – but she never made it. She was murdered by the Sicilian mafia, they said.  The truth of what happened has morphed like a game of telephone through the generations. Various versions of the story claim she was killed by the Black Hand, others insisted she was a witch, killed over a bad spell. Now, Jo is determined to untangle the twisted narrative which just might bridge the gap from cinematic mob fantasies to an unexpected reality.  Join her in Sicily on a family vacation/fact finding mission in which she goes to the scene of the crime, confronts mafia experts, consults mediums, and tracks down Italian officials, determined to set the record straight on her great, great grandmother’s mysterious disappearance.

Every family has an origin story – for author Jo Piazza (Under the Influence, Wilder) her family's is a murder mystery.  For as long as she can remember the Piazzas have told the story of their Sicilian roots going back over a hundred years ago: one by one the sons and then their father sailed off to America to carve out a better life. Their mother, Lorenza Marsala was supposed to join them – but she never made it. She was murdered by the Sicilian mafia, they said.  The truth of what happened has morphed like a game of telephone through the generations. Various versions of the story claim she was killed by the Black Hand, others insisted she was a witch, killed over a bad spell. Now, Jo is determined to untangle the twisted narrative which just might bridge the gap from cinematic mob fantasies to an unexpected reality.  Join her in Sicily on a family vacation/fact finding mission in which she goes to the scene of the crime, confronts mafia experts, consults mediums, and tracks down Italian officials, determined to set the record straight on her great, great grandmother’s mysterious disappearance.

 

#10

A STRONG-MOUTHED WOMAN

No stone unturned. We pull out all the stops to get to the bottom of what happened to Lorenza.  Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

27 Jun 2024

32 MINS

32:56

27 Jun 2024


#9

IN THE MOUTH OF THE WOLF

The clock is ticking. We rush to Sicily to dig into the mafia and homicide records from 1916 before they are destroyed. Jo’s best friend comes along for the adventure as the archives reveal two massive holes in the Piazza family legend. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

31 May 2024

36 MINS

36:58

31 May 2024


#8

MY BIG FAT SICILIAN FAMILY

DNA results rock Jo’s world as she continues to search through more and more branches of the Piazza family tree. New revelations lead her to the world’s leading genealogy influencer, The Barefoot Genealogist who has some new plans for how to solve this murder. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

16 May 2024

36 MINS

36:09

16 May 2024


#7

IN SEARCH OF MY STREGA NONA

One of the leading theories of Lorenza’s murder is that she was killed because she was a witch who crossed the wrong person? A strega, in Sicilian. What exactly is a Sicilian witch and what would she have done if she were one? What does it mean to call a woman a witch and why has it been used throughout history to put women in danger?  Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

02 May 2024

39 MINS

39:44

02 May 2024


#6

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

Five kilometers outside town, around a bend, near the monument of the fallen masses near a landslide is where we are told we will find the place Lorenza died. En route, we simply cannot outrun the mafia lore - from the caves in the craggy hills above us that were used as hideouts for bandits to the alleged pizza shop where the last don of Sicily was finally arrested.  Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

26 Apr 2024

36 MINS

36:16

26 Apr 2024


#5

Intermission

This week we're going to have a brief intermission in the investigation. Trust us, there are so many more twists and turns to come. But first, we want to share a little snippet of the book that's inspired by this story. It's a novel. It's fiction. Jo made it all up. Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

18 Apr 2024

11 MINS

11:27

18 Apr 2024


#4

THE BOOK OF DEATH

Every death in the village of Caltabellotta is handwritten in a massive book stored in the heart of the village. What we uncover inside of the book of death shifts the entire investigation. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

11 Apr 2024

32 MINS

32:01

11 Apr 2024


#3

SUMMER VACATION

Most families send their kids to summer camp in July. Jo has packed up her entire brood of five to travel to Sicily to solve this century-old murder. Travel with us across the Atlantic to the gorgeous and dangerous island of Sicily. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

04 Apr 2024

33 MINS

33:02

04 Apr 2024


#2

LORENZA

Journalist Jo Piazza’s family has been playing a hundred year long game of telephone about the murder of her great great grandmother Lorenza Marsala. Family members who have gone back to Sicily to discover the truth, including Jo’s dad have been shut down by authorities and threatened by seemingly supernatural forces.  But Jo is determined, maybe even a little obsessed, to cut through the stories, the lies and the mythologies to find out the truth, even if her family members don’t want her to. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://cardenastaproom.com/products/sicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil?_pos=1&_sid=57cad97c8&_ss=r) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://www.instagram.com/kscope_nyc/) on Twitter and Instagram.  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

28 Mar 2024

32 MINS

32:57

28 Mar 2024


#1

Introducing: The Sicilian Inheritance

Jo Piazza is on a mission to solve the 100 year old murder mystery of her great great grandmother, but she is also trying to connect with her family’s heritage and transport all of us to the beautiful and sometimes dangerous island of Sicily. Want your own taste of Sicily – grab a bottle of [The Sicilian Inheritance inspired OLIVE OIL ] (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcardenastaproom.com%2Fproducts%2Fsicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil%3F_pos%3D1%26_sid%3D57cad97c8%26_ss%3Dr&data=05%7C02%7CKatrinaNorvell%40iheartmedia.com%7Ca4e80cee65854d85a59308dc437586fd%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638459419643256542%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=F03byAraxgCrll6j8VteQuQWA%2B3FJXMyXX2fMmKo8oM%3D&reserved=0) direct from Sicily to [BUY - GO HERE ] (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcardenastaproom.com%2Fproducts%2Fsicilian-inheritance-extra-virgin-olive-oil%3F_pos%3D1%26_sid%3D57cad97c8%26_ss%3Dr&data=05%7C02%7CKatrinaNorvell%40iheartmedia.com%7Ca4e80cee65854d85a59308dc437586fd%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638459419643270537%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=M5RxxT32ymGwhnfp3O9CuRTE%2BUQlElAp%2BtEMnZ7i2TY%3D&reserved=0) .  Snag your copy of [ THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE] (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza%2Fdp%2F0593474163&data=05%7C02%7CKatrinaNorvell%40iheartmedia.com%7Ca4e80cee65854d85a59308dc437586fd%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638459419643281157%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=c4SAJ473JB8S5Jnc%2F3A9bXh%2FUgFpas81HuwX%2BVUohW0%3D&reserved=0) , the novel!  Like what you hear? Follow us [@kscope_nyc] (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkscope_nyc%2F&data=05%7C02%7CKatrinaNorvell%40iheartmedia.com%7Ca4e80cee65854d85a59308dc437586fd%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638459419643289723%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=H3uV54UTgrD9700mjM%2FAEjsZlfdcy1swJXS%2Fc0PT6bI%3D&reserved=0) on Twitter and Instagram. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

18 Mar 2024

02 MINS

02:59

18 Mar 2024