Hollywood and Horsepower Show, May 21, 2026

Hollywood And Horsepower Show with Mark Otto Guest: Artist / Author - Christine Petrizzo, author of the book "The Sins of the Man I called Dad, My Father, The Mistress and the Mob" Behind the Story: Christine’s Life, Family Legacy, Art, and The Sins of the Man I Called Dad A Story Behind the Story Hollywood and Horsepower opens with its promise to uncover the lives behind public reputations, then introduces Christine, an author and artist whose family story is connected to Italian American life, business, and organized crime. The host frames the interview as an opportunity to understand not merely a public name, but the childhood, family relationships, and personal experiences behind Christine’s book. Growing Up in an Italian-American Family Christine recalls growing up in East New York in a close Italian American family, surrounded by grandparents and extended relatives. She describes her father as a tough, frequently absent man whose trucking work, street connections, and increasingly prosperous lifestyle gradually made the children realize there was more to his life than they had initially understood. She and the host also reflect on anti-Italian prejudice and the contributions of Italian American families and businesses. A Father Living Multiple Lives As the conversation develops, Christine describes her father’s trucking and steel businesses, his connection to the Colombo family, and the wealth that eventually brought the family to a large home in Dix Hills. She says that despite the material comforts, his absences and long-term relationship with a mistress deeply affected her mother and daughters. The host and guest discuss the social codes and public perceptions connected to organized crime, while Christine keeps the emotional cost to her family at the center of her account. Turning Pain Into a Book Christine explains that she had long believed her family history could become a compelling story, especially after her mother’s death, her father’s choices, and the loyalty that she and her sisters showed him during difficult years. After an initial collaborative effort with her sisters did not work, she completed the manuscript herself with assistance and published The Sins of the Man I Called Dad. She describes the publication process as emotionally difficult but meaningful and says readers have responded strongly to the honesty of her life story. Resilience, Motherhood, and Art The interview also covers Christine’s divorce after her husband’s infidelity and her belief that he had modeled some of her father’s behaviors. She describes raising three young daughters through hardship and becoming stronger through those experiences. Christine then speaks warmly about her artistic gift, her dog portraits, her self-taught painting ability, her past wine-and-paint studio in New Jersey, and her hope to continue creating after moving to Florida. Closing With Support and Appreciation The host closes by encouraging listeners to obtain Christine’s book and find her art through her Instagram presence. The episode also repeats its sponsor acknowledgment for Tony’s Steak and Seafood and mentions Old Friends Equine and No Fallen Heroes as causes the host supports. Christine expresses gratitude for appearing on the program, and the host invites her to return while expressing hope that her book might one day become a film.