Episodes

  • Episode 11: Lars Smith: From Local Chef to Global Pizza Legend: The Journey of a Pizza Master
    Dec 24 2025

    Tee Public Site
    Pizza Therapy Dashery Store
    https://pizzatherapy.dashery.com/ (Affiliate Link)
    More T-shirts
    https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=2728 (Affiliate Link)
    Tee Public Pizza Therapy Store
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/pizzatherapy (Affiliate Link)

    In this episode, World Pizza Champion Lars Smith shares the incredible story of his pizza journey—one filled with passion, persistence, and the rise of his award‑winning State of Mind Pizzerias. Lars explains how his path began at the legendary Pizza My Heart, a place he left more than once… but always returned to. Each time, the dough called him back.
    He talks about the moment everything changed: his decision to attend the International Pizza Expo. That experience didn't just inspire him—it confirmed that he had what it takes to make truly great pizza. And he's proven it ever since.
    Lars discusses the mentors who shaped his craft, including pizza icons John Arena and Leah Scurto, whose influence continues to guide his approach to dough, flavor, and creativity. He also gives a shout‑out to the California Milk Advisory Board, a partner he proudly supports.
    And of course—because this is Pizza Therapy—Lars closes with practical, heartfelt tips for the home pizza maker. Whether you're stretching your first dough or chasing the perfect bake, he's got wisdom you can use tonight.
    This is the story of a champion, a craftsman, and a man who lives and breathes pizza.

    Lars Smith Sites and Related Links
    https://www.stateofmindslicehouse.com/
    https://www.stateofmindpublichouse.com/restaurant
    https://www.instagram.com/lboogiesmith/?hl=en
    Pizza My Heart
    https://www.pizzamyheart.com/
    Leah Scurto
    https://www.pizzaleah.com/
    Pizza Expo
    https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/
    Chris Bianco Book
    https://amzn.to/3XQLOwU (Affiliate Link)
    John Arena
    https://metropizza.com/
    California Advisory Board
    https://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/
    Check out new designs on TeePublic! Get high-quality tees featuring my original artwork - every purchase directly supports independent creators like me. Click the link to browse the collection! #SupportArtists #TeePublic
    https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=2728 (Affiliate Link)
    “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
    Albert Grande Links: https://sleek.bio/pizzatherapy
    Albert Grande More: https://sleek.bio/albertgrande
    Subscribe to the Pizza Therapy YouTube Channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/PizzaTherapy?sub_confirmation=1.
    Albert Grande's Amazon Influencer Page
    https://www.amazon.com/shop/pizzatherapy (Affiliate Link)
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


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    17 mins
  • Episode 10: Michael Kalanty, Sourdough Bread Baking, Making, the firewithin.com and Wood Fired University
    Dec 21 2025

    Fire Within and Wood Fired University sponsor this episode. For more information, go to:
    https://firewithin.com/
    https://firewithin.com/wood-fired-university/

    Michael Kalanty shares his entire journey with bread, beginning as a graduate student in architecture and discovering his passion for breadmaking in France. He explains how he started his sourdough journey, evolving from a student to a master bread baker. He describes his methods for teaching sourdough making. He is the author of two books on bread making. His starter, named Lucky Lady, is in the Sourdough museum in Belgium. He explains how he is an advanced instructor for Wood Fired University and his relationship with Firewithin.
    For more about Michael Kalanty, click on the links below.

    Michael Kalanty
    https://www.michaelkalanty.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kalanty-83563713/
    https://www.instagram.com/chefmikebreads/

    Sour Dough Museum
    https://sourdoughlibrary.puratos.com/en/virtual-sourdough-library

    Glycemic index
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index

    How to Bake Bread
    https://amzn.to/3FNtZc1 (Affiliate Link)
    How to Bake More Bread
    https://amzn.to/4l5Cn73 (Affiliate Link)
    How to Bake Sour Dough Bread
    https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/bake70655c01s001ss001sss002r003/sourdough-starter-day-2-refresh-the-environment-for-the-yeast

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    42 mins
  • Episode 9: Mike Pintera’s Pizza Journey: From Struggles to Success at Pizza A Mia Modo
    Nov 22 2025

    Albert Grande's Amazon Influencer Page
    https://www.amazon.com/shop/pizzatherapy (Affiliate Link)
    Mike’s story began the way many great careers do: on the floor. He started as a dishwasher on Long Island and worked his way through every station—front counter, prep, kitchen, and, finally, pizza maker. That early immersion taught him two vital lessons for running a pizza business: absorb knowledge from every role, and build relationships with customers who become family.
    Pizza Therapy Dashery Store https://pizzatherapy.dashery.com/
    (Affiliate Link)
    Pizzamodomio
    https://modomiopizza.com/
    https://www.scpizzatruck.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/pizzamodomio/?hl=en
    https://www.facebook.com/mike.pitera/
    Our Little Italy
    https://www.ourlittleitalypizzapasta.com/
    Culinary Institute of America
    https://www.ciachef.edu/cia-new-york/
    Galbani Cheese
    https://galbanicheese.com/
    Stanilaus
    https://stanislaus.com/
    Slice Out Hunger
    https://sliceouthunger.org/
    U.S. Pizza Team
    https://uspizzateam.com/
    Albert Grande Links: https://sleek.bio/pizzatherapy
    Albert Grande More: https://sleek.bio/albertgrande
    Subscribe to the Pizza Therapy YouTube Channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/PizzaTherapy?sub_confirmation=1
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Pizza T-shirts; https://www.teepublic.com/stores/pizzatherapy?ref_id=2728
    (Affiliate Link)
    General T-shirts https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=2728
    (Affiliate Link)
    Check out The Pizza Therapy Pizza Book: https://amzn.to/2MIFC79 (Affiliate Link)

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    30 mins
  • Episode 8: Pizza, Passion, and Solamente: Ethan Spiezer’s Artisan Journey in Las Vegas
    Oct 9 2025

    Pizza Therapy and Everyday Wonders (Affiliate Link)
    https://amzn.to/4h8qQSY
    "As an Amazon Influencer, I may be compensated if you purchase through my link, at no additional charge to you.
    Ethan Speizer
    https://solamentepizza.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/solamentepizzalv/?hl=en
    Yukon Pizza
    https://yukonpizza.com/
    Ethan’s journey began during the pandemic, a time when many sought new hobbies and passions. Like numerous others, he was inspired to try something new, but his focus quickly honed in on the craft of sourdough pizza. Starting in his backyard with a simple rock box oven, Ethan encountered the first challenge that many face: the sourdough pizzas he made tasted excessively acidic, almost as if someone had squirted lemon juice all over them.
    Please review the Pizza Therapy Store, including T-shirts, apparel, and merchandise.
    https://pizzatherapy.dashery.com/u.”
    Albert Grande Links: https://sleek.bio/pizzatherapy
    Albert Grande More: https://sleek.bio/albertgrande
    Subscribe to the Pizza Therapy YouTube Channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/PizzaTherapy?sub_confirmation=1.
    Albert Grande's Amazon Influencer Page
    https://www.amazon.com/shop/pizzatherapy (Affiliate Link)
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Pizza T-shirts; https://www.teepublic.com/stores/pizzatherapy?ref_id=2728
    (Affiliate Link)
    General T-shirts https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=2728
    (Affiliate Link)
    Check out The Pizza Therapy Pizza Book: https://amzn.to/2MIFC79 (Affiliate Link)
    If you want to learn to make pizza, please check out:
    https://kit.co/pizzatherapy/pizza-therapy-pizza-making-kit (Affiliate Link)
    If you love eating pizza, you are going to love making pizza…
    “You Will Learn How to Have Family Fun*, Save Tons of Money, and Make Pizza.”
    Learn easy step-by-step methods to make pizza. The book explains the notion of
    Pizza Therapy and why pizza is more than flour, salt, yeast, and water.
    Describes ingredients you should use, pizza tools, and how to use them.
    Kindle version here:
    https://amzn.to/2uBiXhF (Affiliate Link)

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    24 mins
  • Episode 7: Tony Palombino’s Pizza Journey: From Startup to Boombozz Pizza Success, Pizza Expo and More
    Oct 3 2025

    Pizza Therapy & Everyday Wonders on Amazon
    https://amzn.to/46OGf5N
    “As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.”
    Tony Palombino discusses his pizza adventures, Boobozz Pizza, and Pizza Expo.
    Tony attended the early days of Pizza Expo.
    Tony's Boombozz https://boombozz.com
    Woodstone Ovens https://woodstone-corp.com/
    Pizza Today https://pizzatoday.com/
    Pizza Expo https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/
    Green Chile Jam https://greenchilijam.com/
    Ed La Dou
    https://pizzatherapy.blogspot.com/2008/01/ed-ladou-dies-pizza-community-grieves.html
    Chris Bianco in PMQ Magazine https://www.pmq.com/chris-bianco-james-beard-award/
    Albert Grande Links: https://sleek.bio/pizzatherapy
    Subscribe to the Pizza Therapy YouTube Channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@pizzatherapy?sub_confirmation=1
    Tony Gemignani Pizza Bible Review
    https://youtu.be/1Yf34eh9kko?si=7zihia7J0D2LSa7V
    How to Make Pizza Dough with a Kitchenaid Mixer
    https://youtu.be/SMKBKRYpbpc?si=6I7oR2xwCjIuyvzL


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    33 mins
  • Episode 6: From Dough to Glory: The Lee Hunzinger Pizza Story
    Oct 1 2025

    Pizza Therapy T-Shirts, Apparel, and Merchandise
    https://pizzatherapy.dashery.com/
    If you love pizza, learning from Lee Hunzinger is like discovering a secret ingredient: it makes everything better. In this YouTube interview with Pizza Therapy (please subscribe), Lee Hunzinger walks through a life shaped by dough—starting at 13, learning from "Uncle Joe," moving across the country to Texas, battling personal struggles, and ultimately becoming a respected pizza master, consultant, and teacher.
    Lee Hunzinger
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pizzalee33/?hl=en
    LinkedIn
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-hunzinger-3878a5109/
    Baking Steel, the Best Tool for Making Pizza
    https://amzn.to/46HHrbc (Affiliate Link)
    "As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you."
    Episode From Dough to Glory with video and audio
    https://apizzapodcast.com/lee-hunzinger-pizza-journey/
    Uncle Joe's Pizza
    https://unclejoes.com/
    The Boardy Barn
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boardy_Barn
    Scotto Brothers
    https://www.anthonyscottorestaurants.com/our-story/
    Ferrari's Pizzeria
    https://ferrarispizzeria.com/
    Viva 313
    https://www.via313.com/
    Shawn Randazzo
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-randazzo-05654869/overlay/photo/
    Thunderbird Pies
    https://www.thunderbirdpies.com/
    Pizza Master
    https://pizzamasterusa.com/
    IBIE Baking Show
    https://www.bakingexpo.com/
    Leaven Foods
    https://www.leavenco.nyc/
    John Arena
    https://www.instagram.com/johnnypizzaguy/?hl=en
    Tony Troiano
    https://www.jbalbertos.com/
    World Pizza Champions
    https://www.worldpizzachampions.com/
    History of the Baking Steel with Andris Lagston
    https://youtu.be/eAmgTeo5v9Q?si=srWJ8vvm980EsXlM
    Tony Gemignani Pizza Bible Review
    https://youtu.be/1Yf34eh9kko?si=7zihia7J0D2LSa7V
    How to Make Pizza Dough with a Kitchenaid Mixer Video
    https://youtu.be/SMKBKRYpbpc?si=6I7oR2xwCjIuyvzL
    Lee Huzinger, Pizza Master, Makes Pizza Step by Step at Pizza Expo
    https://youtu.be/s2ore0SYsfc?si=dHKxfyEWA8uLMj0k
    Subscribe to Pizza Therapy YouTube Channel for expert tips and inspiration on wood-fired pizza trailers.

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    38 mins
  • Episode 5: The $25,000 Pizza with Gail Churrinnetz
    Apr 29 2018
    Additional show notes are available at https://apizzapodcast.com
    This episode is sponsored by The Pizza Therapy Pizza Kit which you can find at https://kit.com/pizzatherapy as well as the bottom of our homepage at https://apizzapodcast.com
    Hello and welcome to Episode 5 of the pizza therapy podcast. I call this the 25,000 Dollar pizza interview.
    The following interview with Gail Churrinnetz is from a few years ago and is one of my favorite pizza conversations. Gail had just won the Food Networks Ultimate Recipe Showdown, hosted by Guy Fieri. She won by creating a crawfish and andouille Sausage Pizza.
    The incredible thing is that in the middle of filming here episodes in New York she drove to Sally’s Apizza in New Haven to use the water in her award-winning pie.
    This interview adds fuel to the endless debate over whether water does make a difference in making great pizza.
    Gail is a professional chef, as well as an instructor. She also worked at ACH Food companies helping to develop and refine recipes She was the winner of Pizza Therapy’s Pizza Competition, as well a regular chef guest on local CBS affiliate morning show and food writer for Germantown News in Tennessee
    Currently, she has an “in-home” pizza party business. Which you can find at her website
    https://gailspizzaparties.com/
    Her other website is https://foodsinthefastlane.me/ and you can discover her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gailspizzaparties/
    The Hearth Kit which is mentioned in this episode is no longer available.

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    23 mins
  • Episode 4: The Pizza Blonde
    Apr 6 2018
    Show Sponsor: https://kit.com/pizzatherapy
    All show notes and resources can be found at: https://apizzapodcast.com/episode-4-the-pizza-blonde/


    In this episode of the Pizza Therapy Podcast, I speak with one of the Rising Stars of the Pizza World. Her name is Monica and she is known as the Pizza Blonde. Her Instagram account is Pizza Blonde. She also has a website called pizzablonde.com
    Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pizzablonde/
    Pizza blond website: http://www.pizzablonde.com/

    Monica talks about her earliest pizza memories and how she took her pizza taste from ordinary to extraordinary. She explains how moving to the New Haven area ramped up her love for pizza and she even adds fuel to one o the biggest rivalries in the area: the Pepe’s / Sally’s pizza debate. For those of you who are not familiar with Pepe’s or Sally’s, they are located at opposite ends of Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut.
    Santarpio’s
    http://www.santarpiospizza.com/
    Pepe’s
    https://pepespizzeria.com/
    Bar
    https://www.barnightclub.com/
    Dalegnio’s
    http://www.dalegna.com/
    Aniellios
    http://www.aniellos.com/
    Galleria Umberto’s
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Umberto-Galleria/121498671193473
    Slice / Serious eats
    https://slice.seriouseats.com/
    Pizza Making
    https://www.pizzamaking.com/
    Baking Steel
    https://amzn.to/2IjCYyD
    The Baking Steel Story with Andris Lagston
    https://youtu.be/eAmgTeo5v9Q
    Max and Leo’s near Fenway Park
    http://www.maxandleospizza.com/fenway/
    Oath Craft Pizza
    http://oathpizza.com/

    Windy City Pizza
    https://www.windypizza.com/

    Pizzeria Michele
    https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=https://www.damichele.net/&prev=search
    Julia Robert’s Eat Pray Love
    https://amzn.to/2Gu6ykB
    https://amzn.to/2Eb57p5
    Sorbillo Pizza
    http://www.sorbillo.it/
    Translation
    https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.sorbillo.it/&prev=search

    Antiqua Pizza Port Alba
    http://www.pizzanapoletana.org/en/associati/140-antica_pizzeria_port039alba
    DiFara’s Pizza
    http://www.difarany.com/
    My review of Difara’s:
    https://youtu.be/0Ih9Q-RLNP8
    Paulie Gee’s
    https://pauliegee.com/
    Lil Frankie’s
    https://www.lilfrankies.com/
    Featured Pizzeria by the Pizza Blonde:
    Max and Leo’s
    http://www.maxandleospizza.com/fenway/

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    59 mins