Once again, the operative word for this episode is Quest, as we welcome author, mentor, and game changer, Dr. Marc B. Cooper. Marc's mission and personal quest is to restore a sense of meaning and purpose for those of us who fall into the "senior citizen" bracket (but, really, it's a timeless mission for all of us regardless of age). The title of his new book. "Older to Elder," says it all, so I won't try to recap it for you here but, rather, encourage you to listen to this fascinating conversation that might very well transform your life. Marc is, like me, a Philly boy, so I plan to invite him back to talk pizza in a future episode, but in this episode, you will hear the culmination of a lifelong journey of wisdom-seeking that far surpasses the search for the perfect pizza (except in the metaphorical sense, of course).

For those who want to follow-up and get his book (and this is unsolicited, as I get no kickback from Amazon or anyone for promoting Marc's book), here's a link.

In the meantime, join Dr. Marc Cooper and me as we discuss why becoming an elder is far more important than simply becoming older.....

NOTE: This episode marks the end of our 2024 season, a year full of a number of fabulous conversations with fellow questers on pizza and other important matters. Our tagline, as you may know, is a "Journey of Self-Discovery Through Pizza," and this year's episodes have taken us deeper into the "self-discovery" aspect of that mission. Check out our archives for episodes you may have missed. We plan to return in early 2025 with a whole new season of thought-provoking and, of course, delicious explorations in our never-ending Pizza Quest, both literal and metaphorical. Have a joyous holiday season and we'll see you in the new year!

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As most of you know by now, for us it's as much about the Quest as it is about the Pizza, and this week's guest, author David Amadio, takes us on a deep dive into the quest of his father, Jerry Amadio, a master carpet installer and rug expert, who is just as dedicated to his own craft as any pizzaiolo that I know is to making the perfect pizza. Jerry Amadio is legendary in the carpet community, especially in Philadelphia, where he has been honing and expressing his skills for the past 50 years. David, as his (sometimes) dutiful son, worked alongside his father for a number of years, learning much (but not all) of what his father knew. But, then, he realized his own path was to be a writer and teacher, not a "rug man," so he instead wrote a book about what he learned from his dad, and called it "Rug Man." It is, technically, a work of fiction, a novel with fictional characters, but it is based on real occurrences in his father's life, dealing with high maintenance customers, arrogant foremen, slacker/stoner co-workers, and undocumented immigrants who are just as dedicated as he is to respecting this noble craft. The story unfolds while the "rug man" practices his fading art of proper carpet installation and antique rug restoration, all while racing the clock against a looming back injury that might lay him out at any moment.

I, like David Amadio, grew up in my family's carpet business, and both of my brothers earned their livelihood in it. My brother, Harry, actually still works for the same company as Jerry Amadio. It was Harry who told me about the book and connected me with David. His book is so well-written that one needs to have no knowledge of, or even interest in, carpet and rugs to fully enjoy the read, as it skillfully captures the universal and fathomless sense of quest that any dedicated artisan feels for his or her craft. It's no surprise that the book is so much fun to read, since David's day job is as a Professor of Creative Writing at Lincoln University, just outside of Philadelphia. He brings the same dedication to story-telling as his dad does to his beloved carpet work.

Learn all about the connection between between the art of creative writing and how closely it parallels the world of the "rug man." Please join us for this stimulating conversation, right here on Pizza Quest.

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Marco Pacelli is doing something wonderful in Redondo Beach, California at his pasta shop, Fatto a Mano. After a lifetime of working for Michelin-level fine dining restaurants, he and his wife Arlene decided to open a small pasta and Roman-style pizza shop showcasing the foods inspired by Marco's Aunt Concettina. She was the woman who shaped his culinary passion during the summers he spent with her as a youth on the Amalfi coast. The rest is history, as customers discovered that they could establish their own vivid taste memories through the amazing homemade pastas, sauces, and pizzas at Fatto a Mano.

Hear in this lively conversation with Peter how Marco shares his culinary vision by connecting his own passion to everyone who comes into his pasta shop by recreating the authentic flavors of his youth and his beloved Aunt Concettina.

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