Pizza Story Podcast

About Pizza Story Podcast

Join host & best-selling author Erica D'Arcangelo as she steps behind the counter and into the lives of world-class pizzaiolos, master chefs, celebrities, influencers, and passionate artisans from around the world. These heroes, alongside pizza icons from across the globe, are keeping rich cultural traditions vibrant and thriving. This podcast encompasses everything that makes you fall in love with food, family, Italian culture, and deep-rooted history. Best of all, you will get exclusive insider access to the greatest pies on Earth and learn exactly where to find them.

Publisher

Erica D'Arcangelo

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Jan 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

87 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Chef Joe Youkhan’s Live Fire Journey From Chopped Champion to Pizza Mastery | Episode 87

   Growing up in the Bronx and Yonkers, Chef Joe Youkhan didn’t just enter the restaurant industry. He was born into it. From folding boxes and standing on milk crates to earning his stripes opening tomato cans, his foundation was built on old-school New York pizzerias 🍕. But touching the dough? That took nearly a decade of earned trust. In this episode of The Pizza Story Podcast, I sit down with triple-threat TV champion Chef Joe Youkhan (Food Network's Chopped, Cooking Channel's Fire Masters, and Hulu's Best in Dough). We talk about his pivot from classic New York slice shops to high-end fine dining at the Ritz-Carlton, navigating the 2008 recession, and his realization that live fire changes everything, especially when it comes to pizza dough 🔥. Plus, Chef Joe pulls back the curtain on his newest passion project, Kalakikis, an island-inspired artisan pizza and pastry concept blending Caribbean, Samoan, and live-fire flavors 🌺. Whether you're an aspiring chef, a live-fire fanatic, or just love a great story of persistence, this conversation is packed with heart, hustle, and hard-earned culinary wisdom 🙌🏽. 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Triple-Crown TV Champion Chef Joe Youkhan ✅ 01:04 – Raised in Pizzerias: Standing on Milk Crates & Grating Cheese in the Bronx ✅ 04:24 – Old School New York Slices & The Red Sauce Legacy ✅ 05:28 – Earned, Not Given: Why it took 9 years just to touch the pizza dough ✅ 06:35 – From Pizzerias to Fine Dining: Sneaking Pizza onto French Menus ✅ 08:17 – The 2008 Recession: How Hardship Built Executive Leadership ✅ 10:17 – The Live-Fire Epiphany: Why Radiant Heat Beats Standard Ovens ✅ 13:50 – Underrated Grill Science: What Live Fire Does to Dough & Fruit ✅ 16:18 – The "Spicy Samoan": Rethinking Sweet, Spicy, & Smoky Toppings ✅ 17:35 – Kalakikis: Building a Pizza & Luau Brand from the Ground Up ✅ 24:22 – Behind the Scenes of High-Stakes TV Cooking Competitions ✅ 26:40 – Chef Joe’s 10-Year Rule for Aspiring Culinary Creators 🔗 Connect with Chef Joe Youkhan: Instagram: @chefjoeyoukhan (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/chefjoeyoukhan&authuser=2) Kalakikis Catering: @kalakikiscatering (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/kalakikiscatering&authuser=2) 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza, and food, into a lifestyle. From local artisans and celebrities to legendary pizzerias keeping Italian culture alive, we're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ #pizza #livefirecooking #chopped #foodnetwork

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Saving 70 Acres, Farm Pizza & Nourishing AC: The Story of Reed’s Farm & Cookie Till | Ep 86

   This week I’m sitting down under the porch at Reed’s Farm with the visionary Cookie Till. She’s the co-founder of A Meaningful Purpose at Reed’s Organic Farm and the heart behind South Jersey icons like Steve & Cookie’s, Ventnor 7311, and Florida Cuts 🙌🏽. Cookie takes us back to her roots, growing up in Atlantic City and working her first boardwalk job at age 14. We dive into how her background in nutrition eventually brought her back to hospitality, and the exact moment she realized her calling was bigger than running a single successful restaurant. It was to nourish a community 🫶🏼. You’ll hear the story of how she saved the historic 70+ acre Reed’s Farm from housing developers to create a sanctuary of agroforestry, complete with a food forest, alley cropping, therapy animals (including Violet the mini donkey 🫏!), and wood-fired farm pizza 🍕. We also talk about our obsession with sourdough, local heritage grains, and bringing back the legendary Florida Cuts with a fresh focus on wild-fermented breads, ugly tomato salad turkey sandwiches, and burrata 🍅🌿. Beyond the food, Cookie breaks down how Reed’s Farm is changing lives through workforce development for adults with special needs, launching "Farmers Row" to build a regional food system, and cooking fresh farm soup every Monday for senior communities across Atlantic City. This episode is a masterclass in community, passion, and what happens when you choose to build a bigger table ❤️. 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 86! Meeting Cookie Till ✅ 00:52 – Boardwalk Roots & Returning to Hospitality ✅ 03:20 – The Awakening: Food Insecurity & Edible Gardens ✅ 05:09 – Saving Reed’s Farm & Building a Food Forest ✅ 08:23 – Ventner 7311 & Reimagining Florida Cold Cuts ✅ 11:58 – The Art of Real Sourdough & Heritage Grains ✅ 17:32 – Ugly Tomatoes, Clam Pies & Sandwich Innovation ✅ 19:43 – Wood-Fired Farm Pizza at Reed's Farm ✅ 24:31 – Special Needs Workforce Programs & Monday Soup Project ✅ 28:50 – Building "Farmers Row" & Transforming Regional Food Systems ✅ 34:23 – Nature School & Hands-On Food Education ✅ 36:33 – Supporting a Working Farm & Closing Thoughts 🔗 CONNECT & SUPPORT 🌾 Learn More About Reed's Farm: https://www.reedsorganicfarm.org/ (https://www.reedsorganicfarm.org/) 📸 Follow Reed's Farm on Instagram: @reedsfarm 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza and food into a lifestyle. From local artisans and celebrities to legendary pizzerias keeping Italian culture alive, we're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ #pizza #reedsfarm #farmtotable #organicfood

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   An American Dream: The Story of Puglia Pizza Philly, Roman Slices & Italian Soul | Ep 85

   Welcome back to The Pizza Story Podcast! In this episode, I’m sitting down with Chef Cosimo, the mastermind behind Puglia Pizza on South Street in Philadelphia 💚🤍. Chef Cosimo’s story is the true embodiment of the American Dream mixed with deep-rooted Italian heart 🇮🇹. Thirty-three years ago, he arrived in the Philly area from Puglia, Italy, speaking no English and starting at the absolute bottom as "the best dishwasher on Horsham Road." Through decades of relentless work, he went on to open 13 successful restaurants, pizzerias, and cafes across Philadelphia, from Rittenhouse Square to South Philly 🙌🏽. After retiring to Italy for six years to raise his young family, Cosimo realized he missed the fire, the community, and the food. Returning to Philly, he took over a shop on 911 South Street to launch Puglia Pizza, a hybrid Roman-style pizzeria and traditional Italian market (complete with imported glass-jar Nutella, Bronte pistachios, Kimbo coffee, and house-grown tomatoes and basil on the sidewalk 🍅🌿!). In this passionate conversation, Chef Cosimo opens up about why he rejects the commercial "science" of 72-hour doughs and world champion titles in favor of pure, natural ingredients, no bleached/bromated flours, and the simple, loving methods passed down by his grandmother. We talk about why Philly and New York style pizza reign supreme, his stand against paying food bloggers for fake reviews, and how a random customer interaction led him to build an entire gluten-free market line. Grab a slice, turn up the volume, and join us around the table for an unforgettable story of grit, family heritage, and true Italian hospitality! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:40 – From Puglia Dishwasher to Philly Restaurant Owner: The 33-Year Journey & Opening 13 Spots ✅ 01:36 – Retiring to Italy vs. The Hunger to Cook: Why Cosimo Returned to Open Puglia Pizza ✅ 02:53 – Roman-Style Slices & Why Philly/New York Pizza Beats Most Pies in Italy ✅ 04:48 – "Pizza Is Food for the Poor, Not a Science Experiment": Rejecting 72-Hour Doughs & Chemical Flours ✅ 07:26 – Taste Memories & Palate: Why True Italian Cooking Comes from Love, Not AI or Books ✅ 08:30 – Keeping It Real: The Problem with Paid Food Bloggers vs. Real Customer Reviews ✅ 12:13 – Walking the Market: Imported Nutella, Bronte Pistachios, Gelato, and Sidewalk-Grown Basil ✅ 22:07 – From Garlic & Olive Oil Spaghetti to Potato-Rosemary Roman Slices & Vegan Puttanesca ✅ 24:30 – Accidental Gluten-Free Haven: How One Customer Changed the Puglia Pizza Menu ✅ 28:23 – A Message to Pizza Makers: Stop Using Bromated Flours & Put Health First ✅ 30:44 – Hardships, Gratitude, and Delivering Pizza in a Smart Car: The Passion Behind the Craft 🍕 Connect with Chef Cosimo & Puglia Pizza: Address: 911 South St, Philadelphia, PA Instagram: @pugliapizzaphilly (https://www.instagram.com/pugliapizzaphilly/) Website: Order directly at pugliapizza.com (https://www.pugliapizza.com/) Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and leave a review on YouTube! What's your take on Chef Cosimo's view on Italian vs. New York style pizza? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 👇 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ #pizza #pugliapizza #romanpizza #italianmarket

Who has been a guest on Pizza Story Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ian Madan
• Sarah Correa
• Jim Mumford
• Angel Solis
• Scott Deley

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,073,784,408

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 79 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

91

YouTube

93

Engagement

32

Contact Pizza Story Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Pizza Story Podcast