“CRAVE is more than just a show; it is a storytelling platform—a space where every heart finds a home, every dream takes shape, and every passion is celebrated.”
– Samantha Ferro, Founder, Executive Producer & Host

Born in Milan, Italy, Samantha Ferro is a journalist, storyteller, and media professional dedicated to sharing Italian and Italian-American culture with audiences worldwide. She believes in the power of storytelling to transcend borders and bring communities together.

Holding a BA in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts from San Francisco State University, Samantha has honed her expertise in media influence and narrative storytelling, ensuring that culturally rich stories resonate beyond mainstream American discourse.

As the executive producer, host, and lead journalist behind CRAVE—now entering its sixth season—Samantha continues to expand the platform’s reach by celebrating culture, fostering meaningful conversations, and connecting communities. This season, she is excited to partner with new collaborators and launch L’Angolo della Lingua Italiana, a new segment presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.
Samantha is devoted to empowering diverse voices and building a strong community fueled by passion, storytelling and shared dreams.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alex Lopez earned her B.A. in Broadcast Electronic Communication Arts from San Francisco State University, further fueling her passion for sports media. Now back for Season 6 on CRAVE, Alex delivers passionate, in-depth coverage of the San Francisco 49ers—a team with which she shares a lifelong connection, as her family has been season ticket holders for over 25 years. She never misses a home game and hopes to start traveling to away games soon.

Beyond CRAVE, Alex actively engages with the 49ers community on social media, particularly on Twitter, where her insights and enthusiasm have garnered a strong following. With the 2024 season in the books, she now shifts her focus to providing essential offseason updates, keeping fans informed and excited as the 49ers gear up for 2025. Whether breaking down key moves, discussing player extensions, or sharing behind-the-scenes moments, her segment is a must-listen—and must-watch—for the 49er faithful, NFL enthusiasts, and newcomers to the sport alike.

A well-known journalist and Chief Director at Corriere della Sera, Iacopo Gori brings his passion for storytelling, music, art, and all things Italian to CRAVE. With a degree in philosophy from the University of Florence, he has built an illustrious career while living between Milan and Florence. Specializing in video and multimedia, Iacopo leads live broadcasts and video investigations for CorriereTv, delivering real-time updates that connect audiences with Italy’s rich culture.
 

Now returning for Season 6, Iacopo is thrilled to continue his role on CRAVE Italy alongside Samantha, offering his unique perspective and expertise to our growing community.

Born and raised in Venice, Vania earned her degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Law from the University of Padua. With a lifelong passion for languages and cultures, she traveled extensively throughout Europe, mastering French, German, and English while exploring diverse professional opportunities. After relocating to Milan, she gained valuable experience in Human Resources at a staffing firm serving clients across Italy. Upon moving to the Bay Area, Vania expanded her career by working with Google and serving as a medical interpreter at Stanford Hospital, before embracing her passion for Italian heritage through teaching Italian language and cooking.

Now joining CRAVE for Season 6, Vania is thrilled to share her expertise and passion through "L’Angolo della Lingua Italiana" (The Italian Language Spotlight), guiding us as we explore the rich beauty of the Italian language.

It is a tremendous honor for me to represent Italy in the city of San Francisco and the US Northwest.

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San Francisco and the Bay Area are a surprising, marvelous reality, growing and changing continuously, which daily stimulates technological and scientific innovation across the globe. I am strongly convinced that these characteristics are a perfect match for the genius, innovation, and advanced scientific and technological know-how of Italy and her enterprises. We must reinforce and multiply opportunities for friendship and equal exchange of ideas and projects to further expand the possibility of collaboration in these strategic sectors. The brand-new Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in San Francisco will serve as an extraordinary accelerator and aggregator for innovative ideas and projects.

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I would also like to offer my best to the Italian and Italian-American community of San Francisco and the whole Consular jurisdiction, a famous and well-rooted community, to which we owe thanks for growing the bond of friendship and collaboration between San Francisco and Italy, together with my predecessors, of whom I would especially like to thank Mauro Battocchi and Lorenzo Ortona.

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Born in Cagliari, Alberta Lai graduated in Classical Studies at the University of Cagliari and earned a doctorate in Greek Philology from the University of Urbino. She studied Greek paleography and codicology at the Vatican School of Paleography and completed a Master’s in Didactics of Italian as a Foreign Language at Ca' Foscari University in Venice. Alberta has taught Latin and Greek in classical high schools in Cagliari and Italian language and literature at the Universities of Reykjavik (as a lecturer appointed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and British Columbia (UBC, Vancouver) as a visiting professor.

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She has served as cultural attaché at the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) in Oslo and later directed the IIC in Vancouver, Chicago, and Prague. Since Fall 2023, she has been the director of the Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco. Alberta has published numerous articles on Greek theatre, particularly on Aeschylus, and on Alexandrian poetry in Italian classical philology journals. In 2007, she was awarded the Knight’s Medal by the King of Norway.
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She is thrilled to partner with CRAVE again for Season 6, passionately supporting Italian heritage, culture, and language.

"Infinitely open to the surprising, the unusual, to questioning even in the utmost uncertainty. Searching is immensely more important than finding: listening." – Luigi Nono.

Simone Mazzetto is a visionary architect and designer whose work is fueled by curiosity, innovation, and a profound commitment to storytelling through space and form. His philosophy embraces the unexpected, valuing exploration and collaboration as the keys to crafting environments that harmonize beauty, functionality, and human connection.

Born in Padova in 1969, Simone graduated with honors in Architecture from IUAV in Venice, where he developed a deep appreciation for artistic heritage and design as a language of cultural expression. Inspired by architectural masters such as Carlo Scarpa, Giò Ponti, Le Corbusier, and Frank Lloyd Wright, his work bridges tradition and contemporary vision, blending meticulous craftsmanship with cutting-edge creativity.

Throughout his career, Simone has collaborated with renowned architecture and design firms, leading restoration, interior design, and creative direction projects for prestigious clients in Italy and abroad. His expertise spans residential and commercial spaces, luxury hospitality, artistic direction for events, and advertising campaigns, always with a focus on material integrity, spatial harmony, and sustainability.

In 2024, Simone spearheaded the remodeling of the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, a project that redefined the space through innovation and sustainability while preserving its cultural identity. Supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this initiative reinforced Italy’s creative excellence on an international stage.

Now, as Creative Director for Season 6 of CRAVE, Simone brings his architectural vision, artistic sensibility, and passion for design to elevate the platform’s creative direction. His role is to ensure that CRAVE continues to inspire, innovate, and foster a dynamic community where passion and creativity thrive. 

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🔗 Discover more: www.simonemazzetto.com/bio

Daniela Mazza, Director of the Education Office at the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, joined CRAVE Season 6 and is excited to be part of the journey.
Her presence brings a valuable perspective on Italian language and culture in the U.S.

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For more information, click here.

Mario B. is a radio broadcasting veteran with extensive expertise in audio engineering, voiceover artistry, and podcast production. His illustrious career includes work at renowned stations, and he has produced hundreds of radio commercials and podcasts—most notably, Gas Station Radio, where his voice reached over 1,200 gas stations nationwide.

Happy to be back on Season 6 of Crave, he continues to channel his passion for radio, podcasts, and storytelling into crafting immersive audio experiences that truly resonate with our audience.

Tara Burke is an award winning graphic designer located near beautiful Lake Tahoe. A graduate of the Reynold’s School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, she has over 25 years of experience and a reputation for excellence. As the owner of Computer Artistry Graphic Design, Tara specializes in website design, SEO, graphic design, and marketing for businesses and nonprofits. She takes pride in her attention to detail, personalized approach, and commitment to client satisfaction. Tara is also excited to be part of the CRAVE team, contributing her expertise to its mission.

Jarod is a soon-to-be graduate pursuing a B.A. in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts and a Minor in Video Game Studies. He has a passion for video production and editing, and is excited to join the CRAVE team on their sixth season. Just recently returning from a trip to Italy to document a folk dance festival, he is eager to be more involved with Italian culture and facilitate the sharing of unique stories with the use of digital media. Jarod can’t wait to help CRAVE’s social media platform give fans a bite-sized look at the wonderful people who make the show possible.