Pop Cultivation

The controversial 100th episode of Pop Cultivation in it's entirety.   Giancarlo Dittamo sits down in his living room to an audience of the most interesting people in his life.   Returning to the show is Zach Garb and Dave Tanis to discuss the time they gave all that pizza to those homeless people. A happening that eventually led to the creation of this podcast.   Giancarlo honors Regina Santorella for her service as a memorable cast member of the podcast. They talk about their favorite moments from her appearances.   Rob Guizio (who actually hosted two episodes of the podcast) and Victoria Matthews talk about their experiences on the podcast.   Then we go behind the scenes to talk about the BOOSAW MOVEMENT. Giancarlo talks to Dave Weinbrecht and Louis Maldarelli about what it is, what we do and how it brought us together as friends.   Plus appearances from Mario Bokara, Francesco Paladino, Colt Cabana and many more!

Sat down this week to have 4 different conversations with 4 different guests. First I sit and chat with Alex Lee, a musician from New Jersey who I've known for the past few years. I haven't seen Alex in a while and we catch up with what he's been up to recently. We talk about our local music scene what it was and what he's doing to revive something that was once very cool. Then Eric Martens stops by to chat and announce something to our listeners. Martens, known as the unofficial cohost has appeared more times than any other guest. This episode will be his most important appearance. Also, last year I sat down to try and talk to my grandfather, Al Dittamo. That episode didn't work out too well. But whatever I got will be heard for the first time today in this episode. Finally, we head to Westwood, NJ to Hollywood Heroes a collectable toy store. Finally, Toy Hunter's Jordan Hembrough makes his appearance on Pop Cultivation. People have been asking for this for years and it's finally being delivered. Check it ou

Sat down this week with Jennie Stormes. The mother of Jackson Stormes. Jackson and his mom are from New Jersey. Jackson suffers from a form of epilepsy called Dravets Syndrome. After years of finding what can help her son, finally two years ago Jennie turned to cannabis to relieve him of his seizures. Hear her incredible story about her struggle and what she's going to do now to help her son live. Plus I call Lefty Grimes, a medical marijuana patient and activist from New Jersey. Lefty runs a YouTube/blog called Sative Cross where he brings awareness to medicinal marijuana laws. PLEASE SUPPORT JACKSON STORMES MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY: http://www.gofundme.com/MovingJacksonStormes

Sat down this week with the man who created LP (Latin Percussion). A percussion company that was formed in 1964 (WOW that's 50 years ago!). Martin Cohen (father of former guest Matt Cohen) sits down with me this week to discuss being an entrepreneur. How he was sick and tired of working for someone else so he made a company for himself. This conversation is inspiring and also carries a lot of untold stories from the vault of Mr. Cohen's history. Plus, we talk to New York City based Singer/Songerwriter Jodi Valentin. She stops by to disect a couple songs and plays them live for me on the show. You're going to really like this mixed episode, because I definitely did. So check it out!

Sat down last week with Kyle, Javier and Eric. Three people who've been on this podcast before to do another Birthday podcast. This was last minute but turned out great. I sorta brought back the old style of a group podcast and mixed it with the new idea of having people call in. We'll hear from guests from the past as they call in to wish me a happy birthday and say hi. I'm 26, it was a Wednesday, what was I supposed to do? Oh just record this all star podcast. FOLLOW US: @yeahgiancarlo // @popcultpodcast // popcultpodcast.com

Sat down this week with the second in command, the second banana of the Uncle Floyd Show, Scott Gordon. I've known Scott since I was just a young kid. He much like my guest last week, Pancakes O'Malley is a friend of my fathers. Scott takes us back in time to talk about playing characters on the NYC/NJ Market Television show The Uncle Floyd Show. But takes us even further back in time to when he was just a kid who wanted to be a magician and a musician. He shares other interesting encounters with guitar father Les Paul who lived near him in Mahwah, New Jersey and a shocking tale of getting into a wrestling ring with The Iron Shiek. Check it out! FOLLOW US: @garagesalesongs // @popcultpodcast // popcultpodcast.com

Sat down this week on a bench in front of the Stop and Shop in Waldwick, NJ with this week's guest. I can remember seeing Pancakes O'Malley in town since I was a young kid. He grew up in Waldwick, a few years older than my dad. Usually you can catch Pancakes sitting on the various benches around town admiring a unique view and that's pretty much what we did in this episode. Ever since I met Pancakes I found him to be a fascinating character and couldn't wait for others to experience him perform or do his impressions. This week, you'll get that. FOLLOW US: @yeahgiancarlo // @popcultpodcast // popcultpodcast.com

Sat down this week with not only one, but two guests involved in the crazy world of professional wrestling. First we talk with Kansas based artist Rob Schamberger who is on the mission to paint every superstar of wrestling. Through the power of the internet and Rob's hard work, he recently landed a freelance gig with the WWE. Now you can purchase his paintings from WWEShop.com or see him painting in person like at this past year's Wrestlemania Fan Access Convention. We also hear an emotional tale of working with the recently passed Ultimate Warrior. About the coat Rob painted for him, that he wore in his final appearance. - Then we talk to wrestling ring announcer David Adams. When you see me in a crowd at a local wrestling show booing your favorite wrestlers and David Adams is in the ring introducing them you would never think the two of us have any connection. But we do. A quite bitter one in fact. Hear about the year long feud David and I had in Allentown, PA promotion EPWE. And hear who came out on top. A

Sat down this week to produce another bonus episode of Pop Cultivation. This time we highlight "Look What I Started" an 11 song album I created over 4 years ago. This album is one of my biggest accomplishments. For a while I've hidden it so much I forgot I made it. We listen to the album and break down what the songs are about and how they were made.

Sat down this week with not one but two different guests, to discuss to different topics to give to the first 2hr+ episode in a while. First, I travel to Brooklyn, NY to talk with street performer Matthew Silver. Who has recently been making noise in the viral section of the internet with his love movement. The day earlier to our conversation Matthew injured his back while performing the worm in a performance. Which led him to being laid up on his couch with an ice pack during this episode. He is an amazing dude with an amazing movement. Check out his videos when you get a chance. Next I talk to Stephen Kellner. Someone who I've known for almost a decade now. Stephen and I's bands have been playing shows together for years. At one time he was in a band called Van Atta High. While I was in a band called Off Broadway. We were both the same age, rising to the top of the NJ scene together and there always seemed to be a silent rivalry between our two teams. I finally get the chance to ask Steve about this and hea

Sat down this week to produce another "Best Of" episode of Pop Cultivation. This time we highlight one of the greatest guests in the history of this podcast. Francesco Paladino has appeared in episode 15, 22, 31,34, 37, 40, 83, 88 and in this special bonus episode we hear the best moments from those appearances.

Sat down this week with not one, but two seperate, totally different, brand new guests. Peter Appel is an actor based in NYC. Whos been seen in movies and television for over 25 years. This episode kicks off with a story about how Peter wasn't originally this week's guest. I actually didn't even know Peter before this episode. Listen how my conversation with comedian Rick Shapiro quickly, (ok not quickly) became a conversation with Mr. Appel. PLUS, I talk with J.V. Bastard of the band Darrow Chemical Company. He's the heart, the soul, the brains behind the group. We talk about his history of playing with The Misfit's Michael Graves, his DIY lifestyle, I call him a "Marketing Junky" and we listen to a few tracks off their lastest EP "Plastic Smile". Check it out! FOLLOW US: @popcultpodcast // @darrowchemco // @appletti // darrowchemicalcompany.com // actorpeterappel.com

Welcome to another bonus episode of Pop Cultivation. Welcome to the Bonus Episode 3 if you’ve been keeping a tally. Today’s bonus content is from the other night where I took this show live on the internet. So lets figure out what happens if you take two of the most significant characters in the history of this podcast and have them both as guests together on the same show, at the same time. Check it out.

Sat down this week with up and coming hip hop artist Un-Ez. We talk about his passion for his art and why he's ready to make a career out of it. We talk about the genre of hip hop. We discuss his campaign #FreeMusicFridays. Where he produces a new track every week that he posts to his Soundcloud page for his follows to download. Oh and we also talk about Lil Terrio. Also I talk with Colin Billings the VP of Growth at Stitcher Radio. We talk about one of my favorite apps. I ask him why they changed their logo from black to white. It's a great conversation for users of the application or people interested in using it. FOLLOW US: @theworldisunez (twitter/ig) // @yeahgiancarlo // popcultpodcast.com // stitcherradio // soundcloud.com/unez

Sat down this week with the very talented Thomas De Vinko. I thought I met Tom when he started taking drum lessons from my dad, but I was quickly reminded of another scenerio of when we first met. Which I find to be completely hilarious. We talk about how he loops and samples vinyls to create sounds to play drums over which ultimately become songs on solo albums he produces in his basement. Tom plays actually all of the music in this episode. Like you're going to hear him drum over the theme song of the show. Plus I also talk to Pro Wrestling Syndicate stars Bonesaw (BOOSAW) and the PWS Champion Mario Bokara before they go one on one this Saturday at Supercard in the mainevent. Check it out. FOLLOW US: @yeahgiancarlo // @popcultpodcast // popcultpodcast.com // @BonesawPWS // @BokaraJr // ThomasDevinko.com

Sat down this week with "east coast godfather of skateboarding". If you live in the "tristate" area you've probably seen his sticker before. You might of even thought it was something else. Years ago my friends owned a skateboard DVD entitled "Vinny Raffa has a posse". With us being obsessed with skateboarding at the time, we loved it. Especially since some of it was filmed right in the next town over. Never would I of thought that years later I'd be sitting down with Vinny Raffa for a one on one interview. Also in this episode I talk with a former band mate, Mike Steenstra about his appearance in Raffa's DVD. Also Eggs returns to the show so I can return something of his that I had for over ten years. FOLLOW US: @yeahgiancarlo // @PopCultPodcast // PopCultPodcast.com // facebook.com/vinny.raffa.3

Sat down over past few weeks with various guests that I've previously sat down with before for this podcast. Over 20 guests return to Pop Cultivation this week. Some to catch up. Some to say hi. Someone plays us a sample of their new song. We head to the Francesco show and something weird happens. Someone who has only appeared once but created a giant splash in the Pop Cultivation river returns to the show. We hear stories of how friendships have started because of this podcast. Plus somebody drops in unannounced. Check it out. FOLLOW US: PopCultPodcast.com // @PopCultPodcast // @yeahgiancarlo

Sat down with this week's guest from his studio in Union City, New Jersey. A studio that I recorded a 3 song EP at with my band Off Broadway... 7 years ago. Jesse Cannon worked in nearly every aspect of the music business. Music producer and owner of Cannon Found Soundation, runs the blog Musinformation.com, artist management, author of the over 700 page book "Get More Fans: The DIY Guide to the New Music Business" and many more titles. We talk about our history of how we know eachother. We talk about podcasts. We also talk about something that hits close to home and I'm sure to a few of my listeners, we touch on the topic of depression. Something that Jesse suffered with in his teens that he has now overcome. This is a great episode. There's so much you'll learn from this. FOLLOW US: @JesseCannon // Musinformation.com // @popcultpodcast // @yeahgiancarlo

Sat down this week to produce another "Best Of" episode of Pop Cultivation. This time we highlight one of the greatest guests in the history of this podcast. Regina Santorella has appeared in episode 10, 62, 65, 70, 73, 78 and in this special bonus episode we hear the best moments from those appearances.

Sat down this week with the lead singer and guitarist of the new defunct band Off Broadway, the former keyboardist of Action Item, the co-founder of the clothing line Tandem Label and starting next month, his own jewelry store The M located in New York City... Are you getting all this? This week's guest is Mark Shami. Someone who I once was quite close to. Someone who I once had differences with. Following last week's episode with Jesse DeFlorio, who also was a member of Off Broadway, Mark and I sit down to run through the history of our band. Mark also shares why his left his most recent music endeavor Action Item. This might be one of the greatest episodes in this show's almost 2 year history. FOLLOW US: @MarkShami // @PopCultPodcast // TheMJewelersNY.com // @yeahgiancarlo