Choose Carefully
EPISODE 10 -- As Italy sweeps Fascism's failures under the rug, the "King of the Books" considers reclaiming his throne. Post-war, Franco and his family revisit the question that could come for us, now, again: flee or stay? David uncovers new letters from his Nonna Serena, with blessings for a love…
A Thousand Hopes
EPISODE 9 -- As Franco listens from New York, and his family listens from safehouses inside Rome, the radio broadcasts the Allies' decisive attack to free the city. David's cousins recall the day of liberation - and those who didn't make it. Split apart by war, the two Modigliani brothers, Franco a…
The Rope Game
EPISODE 8 -- Squeezed from every angle, Franco's family fights to survive. From a hill town safehouse to the Roman underground, Giorgio teaches his young children escape drills and false identities. Franco's cousin Piero faces a shakedown gang of Italian cops, with deportation to Germany hanging in…
Wolves' Weather
EPISODE 7 -- The Nazis come for the Jews of Rome -- and the family Franco left behind. Heart-pounding twists of fate determine who's captured and who survives. David's cousin Sara connects us to the moment through music. For more, tap to follow @packonebag on Instagram, TikTok and X and visit the …
The Brother Left Behind
EPISODE 6 -- Trapped inside Italy, Franco's brother, Giorgio, fends for his young family as the war comes for them - and Mussolini falters. After a near-death experience, Giorgio keeps his ears glued to the radio: will the descending Nazis take Rome? For more, tap to follow @packonebag on Instagra…
Enemy Aliens
EPISODE 5 -- Aboard a famous ocean liner, Franco, Serena and the "King of the Books" brave a gauntlet of German submarines just days before the outbreak of World War Two. Soon, the United States turns Italian immigrants like them into "enemy aliens," leading to a whole new persecution - and an enco…
One Step Ahead
EPISODE 4 -- The Fascist regime spies on Giulio, who's on the run in Paris - and blocks his fortune inside Italy, just as his best friend performs a dramatic act of defiance. In Rome, David's cousin reveals a haunting dilemma: who has the privilege to actually flee -- and who gets left behind? For…
Bonus: La Mamma Fascista and The Missing Baby
BONUS 3 -- David shares the tale of how his controversial great-grandmother, La Mamma Fascista, used her position of power within the Fascist party to change one woman's life - and the shape of her own family - forever. For more, tap to follow @packonebag on Instagram, TikTok and X and visit the s…
The Lucky Ones
EPISODE 3 -- On the ground in Italy, David visits the Prime Minister and digs into the Fascist upbringing of his Nobel-winning grandfather, Franco. Mussolini's "Racial Laws" raise the stakes of his grandparents' budding romance and lead their families to confront the hardest question: do you stay o…
Mussolini's Friend
EPISODE 2 -- David discovers a surprising personal relationship between his great-grandfather and Benito Mussolini. Stanley Tucci brings this great-grandfather to life, revealing how he witnessed Mussolini's rise to power - and what happens when a dictator turns against you. For more, tap to follo…