This is What New Yorkers Say . 10/1/25 This is What New Yorkers Say . 10/1/25

On Spirits & Stories: Media, Division and Why Listening Still Matters

I recently appeared on Spirits and Stories to discuss the themes behind my documentary series This Is What New Yorkers Say. We unpacked media coverage of Andrew Cuomo, the split within the Democratic Party and how that plays out in the NYC mayoral race, and the importance of listening across divides.

I was recently a guest on the podcast Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn where we explored the themes at the heart of my docuseries This Is What New Yorkers Say: media narratives, public trust, and what happens when we stop truly listening to one another.

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The New Yorkers Most People Don’t See

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was getting to celebrate just how incredible New Yorkers are. During the filming of the documentary and throughout the years that followed, including during the film festival run, New Yorkers made me feel at home.

What some might see as rudeness is actually honesty and directness. Coming from Italy, those are qualities I truly appreciate. Yes, New Yorkers are opinionated, but they’re also thoughtful, resilient, and full of wisdom.

That energy is what makes This Is What New Yorkers Say so powerful. Every person in the series is authentic, reflective, and their voice matters deeply.

When the Political Left Moves Further Left

We also discussed the growing tension within political parties, particularly how people who once identified as liberal are now seen as not progressive enough and how that plays out in the New York City mayoral race.

“Cuomo was always the hero of Democrats because he fought with Trump. Republicans hated him because he fought with Trump. But now people on the left consider him to be similar to Trump.”

This connects directly to the documentary, where New Yorkers talk about the internal split within the Democratic Party and how Andrew Cuomo, as a moderate, often found himself in conflict with the party’s more progressive wing.

Cuomo and the Media

As in many of my other interviews, the Cuomo allegations came up, particularly how they were handled by the media. I shared how this coverage was one of the main catalysts for creating the series.

“I would listen to what Cuomo said, and how the media interpreted that, and it was totally different from my understanding.”

The documentary doesn’t try to provide easy answers. Instead, it challenges the audience to think critically about how media narratives are formed and what gets left out.

The Dangerous Loss of Dialogue

A big reason I felt compelled to create This Is What New Yorkers Say is my growing frustration with how divided this country has become. On both the political left and right, people are struggling to engage with those they disagree with.

This series is about listening. And it’s about seeing the humanity in people even when we don’t share the same perspective.

Focus on the Vision, Not Just the Policies

In the episode, we also talked about how good intentions don’t always guarantee good outcomes. That’s why I tend to focus less on judging politicians solely by the outcomes of their policies and more on the broader vision they hold for society.

In the episode, I compare it to a modern phenomenon where kids can’t tie their shoelaces.

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Watch the Spirits and Stories episode on YouTube

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This is What New Yorkers Say . 9/17/25 This is What New Yorkers Say . 9/17/25

On Magnetic & Messy: Growth, Empowerment, and This is What New Yorkers Say

I sat down with Jazzy Luchini on the Magnetic & Messy podcast to talk about my docuseries This Is What New Yorkers Say about Andrew Cuomo, the Cuomo allegations, media narratives, and why women’s empowerment isn’t just about speaking up. It’s also about questioning the narratives we’re given.

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:
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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.

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Watch the Magnetic & Messy episode on YouTube

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