Bring Your Guard Down

Bring Your Guard Down

With no guards up and no filters, we explore what it takes to rise to the top while staying true to family, culture, and heritage. Tune in for real, unguarded conversations that inspire, empower, and celebrate the spirit of Italian perseverance!

Episodes

June 30, 2025 63 mins

Send us a text

Long before Eataly and others, there was Nino D’Aversa Bakery. Established in 1969, they've been committed to delivering top-quality breads, pizzas, pastries, and more. In this special first on-location episode of the BringYourGuardDown podcast, Rocco and Tony sit down with Elio, the owner of the Thornhill location. Elio shares insights into the bakery's daily operations and the evolving demographics of the ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony discuss all things fitness, health and other oddities with Trainer Drew.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode, Rocco and Tony catch up with Joey D from Buon Giorno Caffe and Panini, a local gem in Etobicoke. Joey shares the incredible journey of his family business, which began in the mid-1960s as an Italian grocery store and butcher shop started by his father. Together, they explore how the neighbourhood has changed over the decades—socially, culturally, and economically—through the unique lens of the Italian...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony do a deep dive on the effects of the Italian Marijuana on the Italian population.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony touch on a variety of interesting subjects including Mexican Waffles, Hot Tubs and Italian Backyard Farms in the city.

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony sit down with the famous DBG.  Comedian and Mintest Guido & DJ on the Planet.  


RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode, we speak with Michael Sarracini, one of the original members of the comedy group The Impalites. Alongside Vito Rezza, Michael helped bring to life the unforgettable character Rocco Rompamuro—a name that’s become synonymous with outrageous humor and cult classic sketches.

Michael and Vito (Rocco Rompamuro) recounts some of the wildest behind-the-scenes moments from their recordings and live shows, inclu...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco reads the Italian Version of the famous bed time story Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony take you back to the Italian Wedding Scene in Toronto during the 70's and 80's.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Tune in for the original interview that introduced the world to Rocco Rompamuro on the Punjabi Power Hour. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting a classic, this 12-minute journey offers an inside look at the rise of the legendary boxer from Calabria.

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony go back to the archives and present one of the early podcasts with Frank the Tank Vessio and Josh Boni.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode, JT and the boys dive into a wide range of engaging topics—from the latest in the sports world to insights on business moves and entrepreneurship. They also get personal, sharing thoughts on family life and what the future might hold. Whether you're here for the laughs, the lessons, or a little of both, this conversation has something for everyone.

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode, we take a closer look at how governments use various tactics to craft agreements in ways that keep the average person in line. One of the key tools in this process is legalese—a dense, technical form of language filled with jargon, old-fashioned terms, and complex sentence structures.

Legalese is often intentionally confusing. It’s written in a way that makes it difficult for everyday people to fully u...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

The 1970s was the best decade ever for music, fashion, and cultural change. It was a time of rebellion, creativity, and freedom.  Claudio masterfully captures the essence of an Italian teenager's life in Willowdale during the late 70s and early 80s. No one tells a story quite like him, adding sound effects for extra flair. Rocco and Tony struggle to hold it together as Claudio recounts his various part-time jobs ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Hear Tony share his journey through years of experience in the luxury menswear market, starting in Italy and later in Toronto, Canada, where he managed and worked as a fashion buyer in the stylish Yorkville district. From working with icons like Elton John, Prince, and Rod Stewart to engaging with successful local Italian businessmen, Tony's stories are truly unforgettable.

From his base in Toronto, Tony consults ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Step into the world of a legend as we go beyond the ring to uncover the incredible origins of the world-renowned Italian boxer, Rocco Rompamuro. In 2003, Rocco didn’t just make his mark in boxing—he sparked an entirely new genre of comedy with a performance so iconic, it’s still talked about 22 years later. Discover the man who revolutionized both the fight game and the comedy scene, leaving an unforgettable legacy!

RI...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Rocco and Tony sit down with the legendary drummer Chuck Stone. Join them as they trace Chuck's journey from jamming at the Auto Body Shop on Wednesday nights to his retirement. It’s an open conversation that will have you wondering, “Why did they even book this guy for the podcast?”

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Send us a text

Bob Bozic talks about his tumultuous childhood to his challenging return to Serbia and his efforts to reclaim his roots.   As a legendary bartender at Finelli's in Soho New York, his narrative is a rollercoaster of highs and lows involving disparate subjects such as prizefighting, smuggling and some major brushes with the law.  We invite you to ponder the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of rede...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In 1917 Chico's cafe opened on Beaver Street in the Dufferin and Davenport area and for over 80 years was the place where the whos who of the Italian community hung out.   Hear the stories of Sweet Pete, Jonny Jumper, Bobby Slack and Jesse James.  

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played
February 20, 2025 6 mins

Send us a text

Rocco Rompamuro and Tony Incomparable introduce their new Bring Your Guard Down Pod Cast 

RIng The Bell

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.