Exclusive Interview: Candice Guardino on ‘Italian Bred,’ Turning Family Into Comedy Gold, and Finding the Universal in the Personal

There’s something undeniably magnetic about the stories that stay closest to home—and in Italian Bred, Candice Guardino turns those moments into something both deeply personal and widely recognizable. Inspired by her upbringing, the special invites audiences into a world shaped by larger-than-life personalities, deep-rooted traditions, and the kind of memories that only reveal their meaning with time.

What sets Italian Bred apart is how fluidly Candice moves between those memories, slipping in and out of characters with a precision that feels almost instinctive. It’s less about reenacting the past and more about reliving it—capturing the cadence, the contradictions, and the humor that exists within those moments. There’s a rhythm to it that mirrors the way stories are passed down, shaped by perspective, timing, and the people telling them.

We caught up with Candice to talk about the evolution of Italian Bred, turning personal stories into something audiences connect with, and the journey of bringing her one-woman show from an intimate stage to a widely accessible comedy special.

PC: Your special, Italian Bred, has had such an evolution. What has been the biggest change from the original five-minute show to where it is today? And what has your family’s reaction been to seeing it?
Candice: The biggest change is really the scale of it. When Italian Bred first started, it was just a five-minute set at a small comedy club—a quick character story about growing up in my loud, loving Italian-American family. People responded so strongly that I started to think, maybe there’s something more here.

Over time, those five minutes grew into a full theatrical show with multiple characters, deeper storytelling, and a lot more heart. I began weaving in more real moments from my life—not just the funny ones, but the emotional ones too. What started as a small character bit became a love letter to family, culture, and the people who shape us. Seeing it evolve all the way into a filmed comedy special has been surreal.

As for my family, they’ve been incredible. They’re very proud, but they also love to remind me they know exactly which stories are about them. My mom especially will watch and say, “That’s not exactly how it happened!” But the truth is, the show really is a tribute to them—the big personalities, the chaos, the love. That’s what made it what it is. And the best part is when people come up to me after a performance and say, “That’s my family too.” It shows just how universal those experiences are.

PC: Your life and your family provide so much source material for your comedy. How early on do you know that a moment or story might turn into something you include in a set?
Candice: Growing up in my family, everything was a story. Dinner felt like a live comedy show—someone was always doing an impression, telling a dramatic story, or arguing about something we’d all be laughing about five minutes later. So I think I’ve always had an instinct for spotting moments that feel a little larger than life.

Usually, I know right away when something has potential because it makes me laugh first. If I find myself retelling it to friends and everyone around the table starts cracking up or saying, “Wait, your family actually did that?” I know there’s something there. Those are the moments that stick.

But sometimes it takes time. A moment might happen and I just tuck it away. Later, when I’m writing or building a set, I’ll realize it fits perfectly within a theme. Then it becomes about shaping it for the stage—finding the characters, the rhythm, and the heart. One of my favorite parts of performing is bringing those moments to life and watching audiences recognize their own stories in them.

PC: There’s such a relatability to your comedy that audiences see themselves reflected in it. What is the process of balancing specificity with universality? And how do you know when a story has that broader connection?
Candice: I’ve found that the more specific and honest a story is, the more universal it becomes. My comedy is rooted in my personal upbringing, but the emotions behind the stories—family, love, embarrassment, growing up—are things everyone can connect to.

When I’m writing, I start with the real moment and the details that made it funny or meaningful. Then I test it on stage. If the audience laughs, nods, or comes up afterward and says, “I know these people,” that’s when I know it has that universal quality. As we say—it’s “Italian Bred Approved!”

PC: There’s an immediacy when you’re performing on stage. How much do you use that environment to test new material? And has there ever been a time when a joke took on a new life because of that interaction with the audience?
Candice: The stage is my best testing ground. There’s an honesty to a live audience—you immediately know what’s landing and what needs work. I’ll try out new stories or moments during performances and pay close attention to how people respond, because their laughter really guides the rhythm of the piece.

There have definitely been times when a joke takes on a whole new life because of that interaction. Sometimes a line gets a bigger laugh than expected, or I improvise a moment in response to the audience and it ends up becoming part of the show. That back-and-forth energy is one of the things I love most about performing live.

PC: You’ve been incredibly open about the journey that led to this special on Prime Video and Apple TV. If you could share one piece of advice with the version of yourself performing for twelve people, what would it be and why?
Candice: I would tell that version of myself: being you wins every time. In this business, there are moments when people try to steer you in directions that don’t feel authentic, and it can be tempting to follow what you think the industry wants. I definitely had moments where I drifted.

But ultimately, what connected with audiences—and what led to this special—was leaning into my own voice, my own stories, and where I come from. So my advice would be: stay the course and trust who you are. Authenticity is what people connect to, and being yourself will always win.

PC: More than ever, the world needs to laugh, and your special delivers that. Have you had time to reflect on the impact it’s having on audiences? And when you’re looking for that same kind of escapism, where do you turn?
Candice: It’s been really special to see the response. I’ve heard from people all over who say the show reminded them of their own families, or that they sat down and watched it together—family watch night. It gives people a chance to laugh and escape for a little while, and that means everything to me. Comedy has always been such a powerful way for people to connect, especially during stressful times, so knowing the special is bringing joy into people’s homes is incredibly rewarding.

And when I need that same kind of escape, I turn to the things I love—live theater, a good book, a classic Mel Brooks film, and even a murder documentary or two—ha! I’m a lover of storytelling in all forms, so if it’s a compelling story I can lose myself in, I’m all in.

To keep up with Candice, follow her on on Instagram. Watch Italian Bred on Prime Video today.

Photo Credit: Dirty Sugar Photography