On Magnetic & Messy: Growth, Empowerment, and This is What New Yorkers Say
I recently joined Jazzy Luchini on her Magnetic & Messy podcast for a powerful and honest conversation about my documentary series This Is What New Yorkers Say , how media narratives shape us, and what it means to grow and reclaim your voice.
This Is What New Yorkers Say is a 5-part docuseries exploring the allegations against Andrew Cuomo through archival footage and in-depth interviews with New Yorkers.
FROM ITALY TO LA: A JOURNEY OF REINVENTION
Moving from Italy to Los Angeles wasn’t just a change of scenery, it was a full identity shift. On the podcast, I opened up about my journey and the personal growth that came from letting go of self-limiting beliefs and embracing uncertainty.
“One of the good things about starting from scratch is that you can be whoever you want to be.”
This journey is not something that ended as I adapted to my new reality in this country, but it is something that I had to immerse myself further in when I created This Is What New Yorkers Say.
When I decided to make This Is What New Yorkers Say, I was in no place to make a documentary. Before then, I was not even planning on making a movie. I was not in the monetary position to make a project like that, but I had decided that this was a worthy cause, so I started it and figured it out along the way.
But in order to take the project to the finish line, I had to leave behind my self-limiting beliefs.
You can watch the full episode here:
🎧 Watch on YouTube
THE CUOMO ALLEGATIONS AND WHO GETS TO SHAPE THE NARRATIVE
We dove into the controversy around Andrew Cuomo and how the allegations were handled by the media. We talked about how media narratives can influence public perception and why cancel culture creates a toxic environment for public discourse, especially when due process is ignored.
“My documentary is not about giving answers, but to raise questions.”
This is one of the central themes of the This Is What New Yorkers Say docuseries. It is not just about Andrew Cuomo, but about how easily public opinion can be shaped without proper context or complexity.
EMPOWERMENT VS. MOVEMENTS
The conversation naturally led into broader themes of women’s empowerment and how movements like MeToo have influenced society. We discussed how these movements can be empowering but also, at times, co-opted or misinterpreted by media and political forces.
“Everyone deserves due process.”
As a woman and a filmmaker these questions are deeply personal to me. Women’s empowerment isn’t just about speaking up. It’s also about questioning the narratives we’re given.
HOW IT CONNECTS TO THIS IS WHAT NEW YORKERS SAY
This Is What New Yorkers Say isn’t just a documentary about Andrew Cuomo and his allegations. It’s about encouraging people to have the hard conversations, to really listen to others who have different opinions than we do, and to confront how we deal with (or avoid) complex social issues.
This episode of Magnetic & Messy felt like an extension of that goal, unpacking hard topics with honesty rather than rigid ideologies.
🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast
Watch the Magnetic & Messy episode on YouTube
💬 If this conversation resonates with you...
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