Dominic & Junior

You asked. Dominic Chianese answered. In this special episode of Dominic & Junior, Dominic Chianese Sr. sits down with his son Dominic Chianese Jr. to answer questions sent in directly by fans. Nothing is off the table. He talks about finding major success later in life, what keeps him sharp at 95, the old New York music scene, his favorite memories of James Gandolfini, the Uncle Junior glasses he still owns, and whether he would ever play Junior again. And yes, we get into some Uncle Junior jokes. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions. We could not get to all of them, but there will be more. Hosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on. Subscribe for full episodes, guests, behind-the-scenes stories, and more conversations with Dominic and Junior. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Dominic & Junior Take Your Questions 01:21 Dominic’s Final Scene With James Gandolfini 02:19 How Dominic Played Uncle Junior’s Dementia 03:38 The Godfather Part II vs. The Sopranos 06:36 Finding Success Later in Life 08:36 Dominic’s Four P’s for Staying Sharp at 95 10:08 Old New York, Live Music & the Village 14:01 Dominic & Junior on Their Father-Son Bond 20:53 Dominic’s Favorite James Gandolfini Memory 27:53 Dominic’s Favorite Songs & Neapolitan Roots Follow Dominic & Junior: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialdominicchianese/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdominicchianese/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dominic-chianese Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dominic-Chianese/61591454796480/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI56ZJqj9jmnVVCJr5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dominic-chianese/id6802810880 Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations. #DominicChianese #TheSopranos #UncleJunior #JuniorSoprano #DominicAndJunior Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Steve Schirripa joins Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. for a conversation about Bobby Bacala, The Sopranos, James Gandolfini, David Chase, acting, family, and the years that changed his life. Steve looks back on joining The Sopranos in its second season and remembers how quickly the cast became something more than coworkers. They traveled together, celebrated together, and built friendships that lasted long after the show ended. He talks about working closely with Dominic as Bobby became Junior Soprano’s caretaker, why he believes the casting was one of the great strengths of the series, and what made James Gandolfini such a generous scene partner. As Dominic puts it: “There’s no love without respect.” Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for more conversations about The Sopranos, New York, acting, family, culture, music, and the stories worth passing on. Hosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on. From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective. Chapters: 00:00 Steve Schirripa Joins Dominic & Junior 03:01 How Steve Accidentally Caught the Acting Bug 04:11 Auditioning for Bobby Bacala 07:27 Beating 100 Actors for The Sopranos 09:07 How Dominic Helped Steve Find Bobby Bacala 14:09 The Pine Barrens Prank on James Gandolfini 17:29 Why The Sopranos Cast Became a Family 25:48 The Moment David Chase Told Steve “You’ll Be Back” 30:17 Why We Rooted for Tony Soprano 42:31 James Gandolfini, Respect & What Made the Set Special Follow Dominic & Junior: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialdominicchianese/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdominicchianese/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dominic-chianese Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dominic-Chianese/61591454796480/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI56ZJqj9jmnVVCJr5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dominic-chianese/id6802810880 Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations. #SteveSchirripa #TheSopranos #BobbyBacala #DominicChianese #DominicAndJunior Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aida Turturro joins Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. for a conversation about Janice Soprano, James Gandolfini, acting, family, and what she wants to do next. Aida looks back on knowing Jimmy before The Sopranos, working with him on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire, and later going to his apartment to prepare for her Sopranos audition. She reflects on why the show became something larger than any one performance, and how the cast eventually became a family both on and off screen. She also talks about creating Janice, trusting the writing, and allowing the character to develop organically rather than forcing it. The conversation goes beyond The Sopranos too. Aida opens up about the things that matter to her now, including organizing homes, helping people create space in their lives, and the possibility of building something new around that passion. A conversation about acting, friendship, reinvention, and one of the most unforgettable characters in The Sopranos. Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for more conversations about The Sopranos, New York, acting, family, culture, music, and the stories worth passing on. CHAPTERS 00:00 Aida Turturro Joins Dominic & Junior 01:43 Meeting James Gandolfini Before The Sopranos 04:10 Broadway, Acting & Aida’s Early Career 13:38 What Aida Really Wants to Do Next 15:01 Aida’s Idea for an Organizing Podcast 29:08 Preparing for The Sopranos With James Gandolfini 32:35 Why The Sopranos Worked 33:10 Becoming a Family Offscreen 42:29 What Janice Soprano Meant to Aida 43:49 How Aida Found Janice Organically Hosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on. From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective. Follow Dominic & Junior: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialdominicchianese/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdominicchianese/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dominic-chianese Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dominic-Chianese/61591454796480/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI56ZJqj9jmnVVCJr5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dominic-chianese/id6802810880 Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations. #DominicChianese #TheSopranos #UncleJunior #JuniorSoprano #DominicAndJunior Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Steven Van Zandt joins Dominic & Junior for a conversation spanning The Sopranos, Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band, acting, music, Italian family roots, education, and a lifetime spent learning from the masters.Steven tells the remarkable story of how David Chase discovered him while watching the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on television. Chase called and asked if he wanted to act in a new HBO series. Steven had never acted before.Then Chase wanted him to play Tony Soprano.When HBO was hesitant to put a first-time actor at the center of the series, Steven told Chase he did not want to take another actor’s job. Instead, Chase offered to create a role specifically for him. Steven reached back to an idea he already had for an independent hitman named Silvio Dante.Silvio was born.Steven explains how the character evolved through his relationship with James Gandolfini, how the Bada Bing became part of Silvio’s world, and the moment at his first Sopranos table read when he looked across the room and realized he was working with Johnny Ola from The Godfather Part II.The conversation also goes deep into music. Steven remembers meeting Bruce Springsteen when both were young musicians with no Plan B, the New Jersey scene that helped shape them, and why he still tells young artists to go back and study the masters instead of simply copying what is popular now.Steven also talks about TeachRock, the education initiative he helped create after arts programs began disappearing from American schools. He explains why music can be a gateway into history, culture, science and other subjects, and why keeping young people connected to art matters.Later, Steven reflects on learning acting from James Gandolfini, Dominic Chianese and the rest of The Sopranos cast, writing an entire biography for Silvio, learning guitar from his Calabrian grandfather, and his determination to turn the Sopranos cast into something closer to a rock and roll band.A conversation about craft, friendship, education, family, music and one of television’s most unforgettable characters.Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for new conversations about The Sopranos, New York, Italian-American culture, acting, music, family and the stories worth passing on.CHAPTERS00:00 Steven Van Zandt Joins Dominic & Junior03:31 Why Steven Created TeachRock09:44 How David Chase Found Steven Van Zandt11:14 Almost Playing Tony Soprano & Creating Silvio Dante15:11 Seeing Johnny Ola at His First Sopranos Table Read21:56 How Steven Met Bruce Springsteen27:53 Steven’s Advice to Young Artists: Study the Masters33:12 Why The Sopranos Was Steven’s Acting School36:03 Learning Guitar From His Calabrian Grandfather43:13 Turning The Sopranos Cast Into a Rock and Roll BandHosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on.From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective.Follow Dominic & Junior:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialdominicchianese/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdominicchianese/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dominic-chianeseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dominic-Chianese/61591454796480/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI56ZJqj9jmnVVCJr5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dominic-chianese/id6802810880Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations.#StevenVanZandt #TheSopranos #SilvioDante #BruceSpringsteen #DominicAndJunior Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Federico Castelluccio joins Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. for a conversation about The Sopranos, James Gandolfini, Italian identity, acting, painting, and a life spent moving between different forms of art.Dominic calls Federico a true Renaissance man, and his story explains why. Long before audiences knew him as Furio Giunta, Federico won a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts for painting. He talks about discovering acting as another art form, creating a portrait of George Burns as a teenager, and eventually expanding his work into acting, directing, and filmmaking.Then the conversation turns to The Sopranos.Federico remembers hearing about the show before most people knew what it would become and immediately recognizing something special in James Gandolfini. He first auditioned for Johnny Sack, but when the second season came around, his agent sent him a new role: “Furio, Tony Soprano’s cousin from Naples.”For Federico, the character hit close to home. Born in Naples and raised in New Jersey, he spoke Italian and grew up surrounded by the accents, language, and cultural differences the role demanded. He explains how Furio helped contrast an Italian from Italy with the Italian-American world of Tony Soprano and his crew, and how details from Federico’s own father and neighborhood found their way into the performance.Federico and Dominic also reflect on the cast becoming a family, the difficulty of leaving a character behind, and why Federico still considers The Sopranos a work of art.The conversation eventually comes back to Federico’s first love: painting. He discusses reconnecting with his Italian roots, teaching young actors in Italy, and the visual artwork he continues to create today. He also shares the story behind his striking portrait of James Gandolfini and Edie Falco as Tony and Carmela, inspired by a Renaissance painting he encountered while visiting the Uffizi in Florence.It is a conversation about Furio, Naples, New Jersey, acting, painting, family, and the different ways an artist can tell a story.CHAPTERS00:00 Federico Castelluccio Joins Dominic & Junior01:17 Winning a Full Scholarship for Painting02:02 Discovering Acting as an Art Form03:20 Painting George Burns as a Teenager05:24 Federico’s Unexpected Path Into Directing08:28 Hearing About The Sopranos for the First Time10:10 Federico Originally Auditioned for Johnny Sack11:24 The Role That Became Furio Giunta12:16 Italian vs. Italian-American Culture15:33 “We Were Dedicated Soldiers to The Sopranos”20:35 Was It Hard to Leave Furio Behind?23:15 Naples, Memory and Federico’s Life as an Artist36:04 Reconnecting With His Italian Roots44:58 What Federico Is Painting Today45:25 The Story Behind His Tony & Carmela PaintingHosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on.From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective.Follow Dominic & Junior:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialdominicchianese/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdominicchianese/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/dominic-chianeseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dominic-Chianese/61591454796480/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI56ZJqj9jmnVVCJr5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dominic-chianese/id6802810880Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations.#FedericoCastelluccio #FurioGiunta #DominicChianese #TheSopranos #DominicAndJunior Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.