"Everyone says traditions are dying, but they didn’t die—life just got too loud for them."

In this episode of the BOH Podcast, Rocco the Comic gets real about the "social media version" of Italian-American life versus the reality. From growing up in a rented apartment in Bensonhurst without a "museum kitchen" to the realization that the unannounced "visite" is officially dead, Rocco explores why we romanticize a past that we can’t—and maybe shouldn’t—recreate.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Second Kitchen" myth: Why not all Italian families were raised with money.

• The death of the neighborhood: From living with people to just living next to them.

• Why "Toughness" isn't a tradition: Raising kids for 2026, not 1996.

• The "Panettone Economy": Why nobody actually gives them anymore (unless you steal them from your aunt).

• The "Last Time": A deep reflection on how traditions fade without us even realizing it.

This episode is a little different.

My kids were home, I couldn’t record a normal episode, so instead of talking about my family, I sat down and talked to them.

We talk about what they think being Italian actually means, what kind of dad they think I am, what it’s like having a comedian for a father, video games, soccer, Italy, the World Cup, and why trying to have a normal conversation with kids is basically impossible.

It’s chaotic, honest, unintentionally funny, and probably explains exactly why I couldn’t record a normal episode.

Welcome to the BOH Podcast with Giuseppe and Gio.

In this episode of the BOH Podcast, I talk honestly about something I struggle with every single day as a content creator and comedian, knowing exactly what works online, and choosing not to do it.

Rage bait works. Exaggeration works. Anger works. I know that if I leaned harder into stereotypes, caricatures, or divisive content, my views and growth would skyrocket. But that’s not who I am, and I pay the price for that choice.

I talk about slow growth, fear of being judged, growing up bullied, why I avoided showing my face online for years, and how losing my parents changed the way I approach comedy, content, and comfort.

This episode is about talent versus attention, nostalgia versus outrage, and why the algorithm rewards anger far more than honesty. It’s also about choosing to be yourself, even when it’s the slower, harder road.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit into the system you’re trying to succeed in, this one’s for you.

New episodes weekly.
RoccoTheComic.com