The Pizza That Built a Family: Erica D’Arcangelo’s Real Food Story

What if a humble pizza shop could hold the history of an entire family?

In this heartwarming episode, Erica D’Arcangelo shares the extraordinary legacy of her Italian immigrant grandfather, who began working in Pennsylvania coal mines at just nine years old—and went on to found a beloved pizzeria that became the cornerstone of a three-generation family story.

Erica brings us inside the walls of that 65-year-old institution, where the scent of fresh dough meets decades of resilience, love, and reinvention. From folding pizza boxes as a child to launching viral TikToks to support the business during her father’s heart surgery, Erica’s journey reflects a powerful blend of tradition and transformation.

We explore how her Italian and Polish roots shaped her understanding of food—where one side said “Eat! Eat! Eat!” and the other whispered restraint and discipline. Erica’s honest reflections on family, food, and identity offer a rich, relatable lens into the complexities of eating well while staying connected to our cultural roots.

You’ll meet the pizzeria itself—almost like another family member—complete with grandmother’s rocking chair, “Coach’s Corner,” and produce straight from the garden. And you’ll learn how Erica is keeping the story alive through her book A Story About Pizza, her podcast, and a potential film celebrating her grandfather’s immigrant journey.

This episode is a celebration of legacy, love, and the power of food to hold us together.

Find Erica’s book and more at astoryaboutpizza.com.