Lifestyle Contributor Anji captures the love and passion for lifestyle-related topics like parenting, money, travel, relationships and food!

August Wilson’s national renown and profile have reached new heights in recent years, as celebrities like Denzel Washington have brough the Century Cycle to the big screen. However, his legacy achieved a new milestone last year when “Jitney” made its debut in Vicenza, Italy.

The effort was the first-ever Italian translation and stage performance of Wilson’s 1982 work and spearheaded by award-winning Italian director Renzo Carbonera. On Oct. 30, the filmmaker visited the University Library System (ULS) to discuss what it took to bring the project to life.

The event featured recorded excerpts from the Italian production, which illuminated contemporary social and cultural commentary on challenges like increased immigration and subsequent racism in Italy. Carbonera also participated in a Q&A with Chris Rawson, a retired Pitt English professor, theater critic and early champion of Wilson’s work.

Lina Insana, Pitt’s director of Italian graduate studies and lead organizer of Pittsburgh’s Italian Film Festival USA, has long been familiar with Rawson and his efforts to amplify Wilson’s work. She also first introduced Carbonera to the famed Pittsburgh playwright in 2019 when she invited Carbonera to be the film festival’s closing night director. Upon returning to Italy, Carbonera was committed to honoring Wilson and worked with the Teatro Astra in Vicenza to make “Jitney” his first play production.

The next step was translation. That’s where Insana — and her translation students — came in. The students spent part of the semester reviewing Carbonera’s translation and offering input during Zoom calls with the director.

“My American students know Italian, about August Wilson and the cultural context of Pittsburgh,” said Insana. “They did a great job giving input on many translation choices the translator in Italy made as she tried to evoke August Wilson’s ‘Jitney,’ set in Pittsburgh in the ’70s, for an Italian audience.”

The production was significant for Wilson’s legacy and Pitt, as much as it was for Italian theater, given the cast was composed entirely of Italian actors of African origin. Film and media studies professor Carl Kurlander, students and team members from University Communications and Marketing, traveled to Italy to document the experience and Pitt's involvement.

“As far as anyone in Vicenza could tell, and I know they did a lot of digging to figure this out, it’s the first all-Black cast in contemporary Italian theater,” she said.

And it won’t be the last. The Wilson Project — launched by Pitt, Italian theater company La Piccionaia Centro Produzione, the August Wilson Legacy LLC and the University of Padua’s Department of Linguistic and Literary Studies — was created after the Vicenza production to promote knowledge and understanding of Wilson and his work and present “Jitney” on more Italian stages.

Insana described the progress that has already occurred as incredible and essential.

“Something I teach in my classes at Pitt is the very complicated legacy of Italian colonialism,” she said. “Many Black Italians do not have citizenship. There is racism. … Renzo knew that when he became interested in Wilson. He understood that if he could put excellent Black actors on stage telling a story about everyday lives, that this could be an important pivot point for the Italian arts and the way Black Italians are seen in Italian society.”

By Kara Elyse Henderson

Robin Roberts is co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Under her leadership, the broadcast has won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team.

Roberts has been honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame as well as the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year. She was voted the “Most Trusted Person on Television” by a Reader’s Digest poll in 2013.

Roberts founded her own production company, Rock'n Robin Productions, which creates original broadcast and digital programming for ABC and other networks, ranging from informational shows and documentaries, to live special events.

Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2007, and five years later, she was diagnosed with MDS. Roberts underwent a bone marrow transplant; her sister Sally-Ann was a perfect match. Her story triggered an outpouring of support from across the nation. She joined forces with Be the Match to inform the public about the need for more donors, and since her diagnosis, the bone marrow registry has seen a tremendous increase.

Her battle has been recognized with awards and honors from organizations around the country, including The Susan G. Komen Foundation and The Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program. Roberts was also honored with a George Foster Peabody Award and Gracie Award. Additionally, Roberts was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s in July 2013 for the strength and courage she has displayed throughout her life and career.

Roberts was named co-anchor of “Good Moring America” in May 2005. She began contributing to the morning program in June 1995, and prior to that, she was a contributor to ESPN as a host on “SportsCenter” and contributing to “NFL PrimeTime.” Roberts has worked in broadcasting for more than 30 years.

Roberts graduated cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. She was a standout performer on the women’s basketball team, ending her career as one of the school’s all-time leading scorers and rebounder. In 2012, Roberts was named an inductee to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Roberts is the author of From the Heart: 7 Rules to Live By and her memoir, “Everybody’s Got Something,” in which she tells the story of her battle against a life-threatening illness, learning life’s hardest lessons, and her inspiring return to the GMA anchor desk.

Roberts is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently resides in New York City. Follow Robin on Twitter: @RobinRoberts.

As Hurricane Milton is set to hit landfall Wednesday night, PUM Lifestyle Contributor, Anji Corley, who lives in the Tampa Bay area tells us more about how she is preparing for one of the most destructive storms on record. PUM caught up with Anji as she rushes through one of the few grocery stores left open in the area to buy some much needed food and items.  She shares her thoughts on this very important historic weather moment and why she is staying put until the storm passes over. Anji is also a radio personality on 101.5 the VIBE in the Tampa Bay area where she is helping to spread the word about preparing for the looming storm. 

HOW IS IT GOING FOR YOU TODAY ANJI?

The weather is beautiful right now, blue skies and it is in the 80’s, there is a light breeze, basically you can say there is a calm before the storm that is about to hit Florida hard. When you look at all the destruction from Helene, there is a constant reminder of the storms menacing approach, look at all the destruction all over our city.  Endless families’ homes boarded up and the streets are covered in piled up belongings. Many businesses are closed, the streets are lined with debris. This is confusing, if you look over there, another neighbor’s house is still standing, and the yards look beautiful it’s confusing and it’s hard not to get emotional. I couldn’t even find a drive through restaurant opened today as I left my on-air job at 101.5 the VIBE. They are still cleaning up from Helene, that process is going to continue for years. On top of that we are just patiently concerned about what Milton will leave in its path of destruction. 

I get excited when I see a location that has not been destroyed, but it is a constant reminder that people are more important than things they own. There is a special comradery amongst neighbors to work together to support each other through these devastating storms. It’s very heartwarming to see neighbors and citizens work together, even while there is a sense of despair and hope in the air at the same time.

ARE YOU ARE GOING TO EVACUATE? 

No, I will not be evacuating. 

Thank goodness, I do not live is an evacuation zone, and with that said, it is your personal choice. I am part of the emergency team at Cox Media group, helping as an on-air personality to keep people updated on the latest information regarding Hurricane Milton. As broadcasters we are  providing critical emergency information, while also providing resources so that our audience is prepared for the path of Milton. 

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS? 

There is a famous repeated phrase in Florida, emergency managers want us to run from the water and hide from the wind.  Basically, water becomes deadly with the storm surge, they are predicting with Hurricane Milton there can possibly be up to 18 inches of rain. Depending on where it makes landfall, this is no doubt going to be one of the most deadliest storms to hit and for many living in the danger zones they better take heed and evacuate as soon as possible. 

It is still important to make sure you are preparing, secure your important documents, boarding up your homes and for some of us deciding to stay, we are no doubt bunkering down with concern and safety plans. 

THE STORM IS 24 HOURS AWAY AND YOUR FEELINGS?

My faith is strong, thank goodness I am not living in an evacuation zone, but I defiantly have an evacuation plan. I’m going to be fine, I’m prayerfully hopeful that this storm will pass without much lost and destruction. But I will tell you, hearing the wind, is very unsettling at times, there is a loud dark whistling sound in the air. I have my emergency preparations, I have my food and supplies, I put out sandbags and I secured important items. I am thankful I will be surrounded by family, friends and neighbors as we prepare to support each other during the storm and we will gather in strong faith and prayer that this deadly storm will to pass. 

Award-winning Multimedia/TV + Travel Host, Actress, Series Host: “Oh Baby!” weekends on  

@ABC, Host: HSN Guest/Style Podcast, Brand Ambassador + Energizer Bunny!

As a University of Pittsburgh Grad, Anji feels right at home in the Burgh having spent so many years working in the region cultivating relationships and developing her talent as an actress and on air host for radio and television stations in the region. 

Anji Corley. Originally from New York and relocated to the Tampa Bay area as it show host at HSN for the last 20 years. Anji has 25 years in broadcasting and covered red carpet events, award shows, White House and daytime live in syndicated television, radio personality, special events host and a life-long committed members to mentoring.

She’s an award-winning host, radio and TV personality, global brand ambassador and a travel and fashion expert. She was the cohost of national ABC series Vacation Creation, traveling around the world to give deserving people vacations of a lifetime. She also hosted Oh Baby! with Anji Corley on ABC, talking about baby animals in an educational format for families. 

“Every day, I am excited for what’s in store. Even if I have nothing going on, I am always planting seeds and meeting people,” she says. “I love that my range is broad: brand ambassador/actress/artist/creative and party starter. It just depends on what day, what time and what Anji is doing.” 

As a fashion expert, Corley knows how to represent products. She is a full-time show host and brand ambassador on the Home Shopping Network for Naturalizer/SOUL, Rhonda Shear, Beats by Dre, Serena Williams’ line and many others. She lets her personality lead her, connecting with everyone she meets. 

“One thing I learned a long time ago was that I can’t be anyone but me,” Corley says. “Sometimes, my energy might be too much. But at the end of a shoot, before they yell, ‘This is the martini shot,’ which means it’s the last shot of the day, you’d love to have my energy on staff. It’s infectious, and it brings people together.”

Corley’s first job in radio was promotions director of a radio station in Pittsburgh. She says, “I used to adore when TV networks, news shows or a movie premiere would give us merch. I made no money, but I had 50,000 – and still do – T-shirts and pens. Some of my favorite items are a Martin TV show jacket, a Nickelodeon denim jacket and New York Undercover merch. These are now classics, and I’ve still kept them. I have some things that don’t even work anymore that I love. I was a lover of promotional products since college.”

Whether you’re visiting a destination for the first time or moving to a new country to start an exciting new chapter of your life, the friendliness of the people you meet can make such a difference to your experience and leave a lasting impression on your time there.
 

If you’re moving to a new country for a new job or to study, finding like-minded, open, and welcoming people to make friends with is a great way to help you feel more settled within the local community, and less lonely—should you be missing home.
 

With this in mind, we wanted to find out which nations are considered to be the ‘friendliest’ and most welcoming, so we asked over 3,000 participants from around the globe to answer a series of questions from the ‘agreeableness’ section of the Big 5 Personality Test.

• South Africa tops our list of the friendliest nations, scoring an impressive 34.63 out of 40 on the ‘agreeableness’ trait of the Big 5 Personality Test. 
• Greeks were found to be the second-friendliest people in the world, scoring 33.71 on the test.
• The UK ranked as the 18th friendliest nation in our study but is perceived as the second friendliest by residents of other nations.

Discover More about the Study and the Worlds Friendliest Nations

The 11th restaurant in the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group portfolio.

Pittsburgh, PA [September 9, 2024] We are excited to announce the grand opening of Golden Gai, an Izakaya-inspired restaurant in the vibrant Bakery Square, on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024. Golden Gai offers a unique culinary journey that blends the rich traditions of Japanese dining with a modern twist. The carefully curated menu features a variety of small plates, sushi, signature cocktails, and an extensive sake selection.

At the helm is Executive Chef Michael Taylor, a master of Japanese cuisine renowned for his innovative approach to flavor and presentation. With a background honed at the esteemed Gi-Jin, Chef Taylor brings his passion for culinary excellence to every dish, infusing each bite with creativity and precision.

Reservations are now available via Open Table, offering guests the chance to secure their spot ahead of time. The restaurant provides full-service indoor dining, where patrons can enjoy a warm and inviting atmosphere and a menu inspired by a traditional Japanese Izakaya.

Hours of operation will be: 

Tuesday-Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM
Saturday-Sunday: 5 PM – 10 PM

About Golden Gai:

Golden Gai is an Izakaya-inspired restaurant located in Bakery Square, PA. With a focus on traditional Japanese small plates, sushi, signature cocktails, and a diverse selection of sake, Golden Gai is committed to offering an authentic and unforgettable dining experience. For more information, visit goldengaipgh.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook, @goldengaipgh.

About Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group:

Established in 2011, the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group is owned and operated by Chef and Pittsburgh-native, Richard DeShantz. The doors of the group’s flagship restaurant, Meat & Potatoes, opened in 2011. With additional locations in Downtown to follow- täkō, Butcher and the Rye, Gi-Jin, and Sally Ann’s. Expanding outside of the immediate Downtown area, the group opened Coop de Ville in the Strip District, Poulet Belu in Lawrenceville, Fish nor Fowl in Garfield/ East Liberty, and Tako Torta in Bakery Square. 

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While there will not be a dedicated press day, we warmly invite everyone to make a reservation online via Open Table and experience Golden Gai for themselves. Chef Taylor will be available on a limited basis for comment while he facilitates his transition from Gi-Jin to Golden Gai. 

One of the biggest perks of traveling the world and experiencing new cultures is the ability to try new things, namely new cuisines. Foodies travel far and wide across the globe to find some of the world’s best food internationally. 

From fried tarantulas in Cambodia to cheesy wood fired pizza in Italy to chili-covered grasshoppers in Mexico to spicy curries in Morocco, local foods can be both delicious and unusual.

Traveling to Morocco? Here are 5 Essential Tips to Survive the Souks of Marrakech

Of course, food is always subject to the taster’s preferences, but below is a brief list of some of the world’s best foods.

These are just some of the most exquisite foods from around the world and their countries of origin. 

You should definitely taste all of these at your first opportunity—your taste buds will definitely thank you.‍

Go ahead and DARE yourself to Travel the Globe to Taste Some of the Worlds Best Food, find out what makes these foods the BEST in the world from Nomad Yoga. Read More...

Radio talk show host Bev Smith was born March 4, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Smith is the eldest of six children born to Isabel and John Sloan. She was raised in the Homewood neighborhood of Pennsylvania, and graduated from Westinghouse High School. In 1961, Smith entered beautician school, to raise money for college, and a year later enrolled in Clark’s Business School. In 1963, she took classes at Robert Morris Junior College.

Bev Smith began her television and radio career in 1971 when she was named Pittsburgh’s first African-American Consumer Affairs Investigative Reporter for WPXI Television. In 1975, she was named News and Public Affairs Director for Sheridan Broadcasting and hosted a lively talk show on Sheridan's flagship station, WAMO. Since then, Bev Smith has taken her “fire brand” style of talk shows to KDKA and WTAE Radio in Pittsburgh, WNWS in Miami, WKIS in Orlando and WRC in Washington DC. Bev also worked at Black Entertainment Television for over thirteen years, as the host of the popular national television talk show "Our Voices." 

Bev hosted "The Bev Smith Show" heard on the American Urban Radio Networks, where she was fondly known as "The Queen of Late Night Talk." She has hosted the show since 1998, and at one time was the only African American woman radio talk show host who has a nationally syndicated show in the country. 

Never afraid to tackle issues, she has lived with the homeless, walked the streets investigating prostitutes, raised money for babies with AIDS and talked with inmates on death row. She has interviewed personalities such as Bill Cosby, Vice President Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters, Al Sharpton and a host of guests, many of whom she now refers to as her “special 20 friends. ”The Bev Smith Show" offers a "Unique Community Connection," African-Americans know and trust her to deliver critical information and entertainment news.

Smith is especially passionate and devoted to educating the public about literacy, she has worked with a number of organizations focused on improving literacy in the nation, including "Reading is Fundamental" and "Head Start." Frequently on "The Bev Smith Show" Bev chats with a number of experts, educators and guests to find solutions to help improve literacy in America. Additionally, Bev has been honored for her work fighting AIDS, The Black Aids Institute has awarded her on numerous occasions for her contributions to educate the public about this disease.

Over the years, Bev has received nearly 300 awards, citations and trophies for her contributions in radio and television. Among them the 1990 Radio Air Crystal Award for her live radio town meeting, “Children Killing Children Over Drugs.” Mayors from Pittsburgh, PA; Jacksonville, NC; Cincinnati and Columbus, OH have declared special Bev Smith Days. For the past four years, Bev Smith has been selected by Talkers Magazine as one of the “Talkers 250, Featuring the Heavy Hundred” – and is recognized nationally as one of the most important radio talk show hosts in America

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CATCHING UP WITH PITTSBURGH'S OWN MS. BEV LIVING HER LIFE AT 80 LIKE IT IS GOLDEN

PUM: MS. BEV WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE YOU LEFT PITTSBURGH IN 2017. 

BEV: I have been taking care of my 101 year old mom, in October 2017 I left radio and moved to Harrisburg, PA to join my siblings to help out with the care of my mom so she would not have to move into a nursing home. In terms of my broadcast and journalism career, every Wednesday I host a show with Reverend Joe Williams, of the Mount Airy, United Fellowship Church located in Philadelphia. Rev. Joe Williams, is the last surviving member of the iconic Gospel group, The Dixie Hummingbirds. During COVID a lot of folks stopped going to church, so ministers started to buy toll free phone lines so people could call in and listen to church. Rev. Joe called me about two years ago to be a guest on his show, and later I became an interviewer. You know interviewing is what I do best. I am also working on writing two books. On the show we discuss everything, recently we tackled the question “Do Black people really want to be free?” I donate my time to be a part of this show because I so missed having a voice. I like the fact that we are free to discuss anything we want and not be censored by white ownership. We have open phone lines and this is a great way the churches can get to the public and have a captive audience. 

PUM: MS. BEV YOU JUST TURNED 80, ON MARCH 4, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

MS. BEV: My family is the most important thing to me. My daughter, granddaughter, my mama, mama Sloan, to be able to take care of my mom is very cathartic. This has been the best way that I have been able to deal with anger and get rid of it, to see pure love and get rid of pain of people who have hurt me in the past, this is true mercy of God and how God is forgiven. Every situation God has healed me, I just had a surgery where I fractured a bone under my eye after falling, and God has healed me, there’s no lost of sight or bruising, God has healed me. 

PUM: TAKING CARE OF YOUR 101 YEAR OLD MOM YOU HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HOW WE TREAT OUR ELDERLY IN THIS COUNTRY. 

MS. Bev: I moved to Harrisburg in 2017, when I got off the air as the host of a radio show in Pittsburgh. What I learned is the fact that caretakers do not get enough credit for their hard work. I am working on the aging project because of the way we treat our elderly in this country is horrendous. Other countries honor their elderly, but here we as black people turn them away, and we need to do better when it comes to our elderly. 

I have learned through everything to trust God, if you decide to quit it is over. It is not over for me, I still want to be involved in my community, God blessed me to be able to use my voice on this show, which has been wonderfully received with our audience. We have good guests, and there is not the pressure of having white management scrutinizing and criticizing. I know something about being a Black woman working in this industry where they want to pay you less than your white counterparts and not open up opportunities for you.  

PUM: THE RADIO AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED GREATLY SINCE YOUR DAYS OF REPORTING AND HOSTNG TOP NATIONAL SHOWS. 

Ms. Bev: I don’t feel the pressure I use to have working in the radio and television business. I am humbled from my experience. Our business was about stardom, how do you keep it, you are only as good as your last show. The show I am hosting now once a week, has humbled me, it is not about stardom now, every minute, hour, day, month and year I hold on to and thank God for the opportunity to connect with my community. In this business you can be very busy chasing stardom, I was dedicated to getting information that could change black people’s lives. I didn’t announce that I was gone from my long radio and television career, because the industry left me. It has humbled me, and as a result I  am satisfied with a freeing spirit. If you don’t watch it the industry makes you competitive, creates enemies especially if you don't fall into line.   

Black radio has failed us, you to have no gospel shows, we need better news shows. Give me the name of a national talk show host talking to me, as a black woman. White media is back to where they use to be, especially thanks to Donald Trump. Back in our day, if advertisers didn't  spend money with us, we would boycott them. There is no Ebony or Jet, the way it used to be, black newspapers are gone. 

We are just seeing images, black person hosting a show, are they really connecting to US? Are they really for Black people? I am not suggesting that many of the new talent is not doing a good job, but what is the real impact they are having with their black audiences? We are big consumers, we buy more products than any other ethnic group, we need shows like the one I hosted 30 years ago, “Our Voices,” because the information resonates with our communities. I hosted that show on BET and people are still pulling up old tapes for the information and that kind of show really meant something to our communities.  

PUM: OUR BLACK COMMUNITY HAS SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

MS. BEV: Right now is a golden opportunity to organize politically, but do we want to be free? I am not sure black people are free. We like to buy all the designer labels, shoes with red soles, names on the purses, we are advertising for folks who care less about us and yet we continue to try and mimic white people. We have run away from our communities, we do not have drug stores or grocery stores in our neighborhoods, the doctors have moved out. We don’t live in our communities any more, do we want to be free? We don’t have strong communities where people care like when I was growing up in the Hill district and Homewood, we are still fighting some of the same battles with crime and drugs. We got black police killing us, we don’t have the anger in 2023 to say not in our communities. We need to stand up be counted and Get Involved!

In 2023,  many black people still can’t read, when black folks were taking books out of the library back in the day it made white people feel bad. 

In 1952,  my family left the Hill District and moved to Homewood, this was a different time for black people and their families, we seemed to care about each other.  I don’t  know what happened to Homewood,  I can’t believe young black men and older ones are running through our communities killing babies, killing each other. There is no respect for each other, these are colored folks not black people of African descent or they would have a better appreciation of their history. When you tap into your African American spirit, you can appreciate the history and the fact that our people built this country. Young black kids need to understand their history. I say to our new Black Mayor Ed Gainey in Pittsburgh, pray. He needs the democrats to show their support for him, pray for him and his beautiful wife. You are in a city that cares more for football than these black kids going to bed hungry. Stay on your knees, pray for our first Black mayor, support him. Where is the black family? Back in our day it was not just about your biological family as black people, we understood the importance of representing the family of Africans in America. 

PUM: AS A TRAILBLAZER IN THE RADIO AND TELEVISON BUSINESS WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY?

MS. BEV:  My legacy. I don’t think of it as a legacy. I am reminded of using my voice to get black people out of prison, help them get housing. When Katrina hit, how do we help save a community? Black people living in slave quarters in Mississippi, because the foundations to their houses not constructed right. My goal was to use the eye of the microphone and turn it on. Shine brightly the light on the plight of black people and let America know what is really happening to us. I have been shot at, marching against the Klan, slept with the homeless, but I had special moments to meet important people like the my late mentor Dick Gregory. My experiences have allowed me not to concentrate on the haters but think about all those people who have been kind to me. If there is a legacy I would want it to be one of leaving kindness. Bev Smith was kind to me. Bev Smith donated 3,000 books to a library in Garfield. My legacy would be “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is also known as the "Golden Rule”.

PUM: CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH FOR YOU. 

I think the contributions of black women in America is significant, and more attention needs to be paid to every day hard working black women who are often forgotten. We appreciate the hard work of Harriet Tubman, and she should be celebrated but there are so many hard working women we need to acknowledge. You use to see so many black women in movies and now they are gone, how are they making a living, ask me I know what it is like to not get a phone call when you are black. During my time, as a black advocate, it was hard to make Oprah money. I say this Women's History Month, thanks to all the black women who dared to open up opportunities for others because they were not satisfied with the status quo and they appreciated their blackness every step of the way. 

You can catch Ms. Bev dial in on here Wednesday show hosted with Rev. Joe Williams: 

11AM-12 NOON  Phone:  945-218-0120

ACCESS CODE: 865218 (POUND.)