How Virtual Pizza Academy Is Changing the Game — Insights from Our PMQ Feature

We’re thrilled to share that Virtual Pizza Academy was recently featured in PMQ Magazine and the Peel: A PMQ Pizza Podcast. It’s humbling and inspiring to see our journey, vision, and passion for teaching pizza-making being spotlighted by an industry-leading voice. Here’s what came out of the conversation — and why it’s such a big deal for us and our students.

Meet the Voices Behind the Academy

In Episode 41 of Peel: A PMQ Pizza Podcast, hosts sat down with our co-founders Jim Henry (aka “Jimmy Hank” / The Frico King) and Jim Mirabelli (founder of NEPA Pizza Review). SoundCloud

• Jim Henry brings deep technical mastery of pizza styles, precision, and flavor — you might know him from his frico edge experiments or his strong presence in the online pizza‐make scene.

• Jim Mirabelli contributes a storyteller’s heart — relentless enthusiasm, regional knowledge, and a knack for helping others see the art behind each pie.

Together, they share not just what makes a good pizza, but what makes pizza-making a journey.

What We Talked About

Here are a few of the key themes and insights from the interview / article:

1. Unlikely Origins, Complementary Paths
   Each of us came to this work from different places. Our stories aren’t ones straight from traditional pizzeria lineages, but they highlight that passion, experimentation, and community can be just as powerful teachers. SoundCloud+1PMQ+1

2. Why Virtual Learning for Pizza Makes Sense

   • Accessibility: Folks everywhere want to master pizza styles — from Detroit to Sicilian to Neapolitan — and they shouldn’t need to travel cross‐country to do it.

   • Flexibility: By offering virtual classes, people can learn at their own pace, revisit materials, experiment in their home kitchens, and connect with others in a growing pizza community.

   • Authenticity: We don’t believe in gloss or gimmicks. It’s about real dough, real fire, real technique — and real mistakes (learning from them is part of the fun). The authenticity factor came up repeatedly in the podcast: why people respond when you're genuine. SoundCloud

3. What Sets Our Courses Apart
   Some of the elements we’re proud to bring forward:

   • Two teaching styles: Jim Henry’s technical precision and Jim Mirabelli’s narrative‐driven approach complement one another. Learners get a mix of rigorous craft + context and culture. SoundCloud

   • Specialty styles: Styles like frico, Sicilian pan-fried, Detroit, etc., and focusing on what makes them distinct. We emphasize details like crust, edge, bake, ingredient sourcing.

   • Community & feedback: It’s not just lectures. We want interaction, questions, iterative improvement.

4. Why the Pizza Community Matters
   We frequently returned to the idea that pizza isn’t just food — it’s culture, connection, creativity. The PMQ feature “Opposites Attract: How Two Pizza Side Hustlers Teamed Up to Launch Online Pizza-Making Classes” reinforces the idea that collaboration and shared passion can build something meaningful. PMQ

What This Means Going Forward

Being featured gives us a renewed sense of responsibility and excitement. Here’s how it shapes what’s coming next:

• More course offerings & styles
  We’re inspired to expand our curriculum — diving deeper into regional styles, adding more advanced modules, maybe even master classes.

• Better learner support
  From more Q&A, feedback, demonstrations of common pitfalls, to community events so people can share their results (and even flops!).

• Continuing to refine authenticity
  As we grow, staying true to our roots—honest, transparent, technically sound, sweat the details—is a priority.

• Outreach & community growth
  We hope more people who listen to PMQ or read the magazine discover Virtual Pizza Academy. We believe pizza-making transcends borders, experience levels, and nationalities — we want to help as many aspiring pizzaioli as possible.

A Word of Thanks & Invitation

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this so far — early students, community members, those who’ve shared feedback, and PMQ for giving us a stage.

If you haven’t yet checked out the episode or read the article:

• Episode 41 of Peel: A PMQ Pizza Podcast (Jim Henry & Jim Mirabelli) for a warm, detailed and honest dive into our philosophy, laughs, and lessons. SoundCloud

• “Opposites Attract: How Two Pizza Side Hustlers Teamed Up to Launch Online Pizza-Making Classes” in PMQ magazine for a written take on our journey. PMQ

If you’re thinking about signing up — curious how far your dough can go, want to master edges, crusts, takes, or just want to make better pies for friends & family — we’d love to have you along.

Let’s keep pushing the bounds of what pizza can be — together.

Grazie,
Jim & Jim