Conclusion - Life and Death Phone Call with Lefty and Donnie, Part 2

Conclusion - Life and Death Phone Call with Lefty and Donnie, Part 2

Author: Jam Street Media November 1, 2022 Duration: 44:51
In this conclusion to our two-part episode on the Lefty Tape, you will hear how Joe Pistone, as Donnie Brasco, talks his way out of a life-or-death situation with Left Ruggerio.  Listen to find out how Joe managed to not only save his skin but also kept his business running with the mob as the FBI built their case. It all ends with a sit down to find out if Joe lives or dies.  Numerous Mafia characters are mentioned and talked about in this episode including, The Bonannos and Trafficante families, Sonny Black, Tony Mira, Ceaser Bonventre, Frank Castellano, The Zips, and Mike Sabella.  All of season three we will be listening to the tapes that Joe carried undercover and were recently found and remastered. Joe Pistone, Leo Rossi, and you are hearing some of these for the first time. If you want more tapes and video of the show, you can sign up to become a member of the The Motion Lounge HERE. Thank you to our sponsor Killer Psyche Podcast!  Not ready to become a friend of ours? Stay connected via social using the links below: Instagram: @deepcoverpod Facebook: @deepcoverpodcast Twitter: @deepcoverpodcast Key Moments: [00:00:00] - Intro with Leo Rossi [00:00:48] - Show recap [00:01:28] - Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi recap the backstory between Lefty Ruggiero and Sonny Black [00:02:49] - Lefty interrogates Donnie (Joe) about Rocky: “think like me” [00:04:57] - Joe explains why he’s trying to save Rocky’s life [00:07:50] - The battle for Miami with Sonny, the Bonannos and Trafficante [00:09:46] - Lefty pressures Donnie (Joe) about letting Rocky in on the deal; and there’s another Tony [00:13:23] - “America’s Guest” Lefty talks money and being ambushed in Brooklyn [00:16:43] - What happened to Mike Sabella? [00:17:40] - “Do you have anything hidden, Donnie?” [00:19:05] - Leo’s Resume [00:20:36] - Lefty’s Mysterious Man [00:22:18] - The Demise of Cesare Bonventre [00:25:07] - Frank DeCicco sets up Frank Castellano [00:25:41] - Sonny Black’s crew [00:27:24] - “I’m treating you like a friend.” Lefty blows up on Donnie Brasco [00:30:07] - Who is The Gimp (Moe The Gimp)? [00:31:31] - Tony Mirrar frustrates Lefty [00:33:17] - Lefty almost gets whacked [00:36:36] - Sonny’s Deal Gone Bad [00:38:20] - The Hole in Mirrar’s Case [00:40:10] - It Ends with a Sit-Down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know the movie, but you haven't heard the story. Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco pulls back the curtain on the legendary undercover operation that inspired the classic film, moving beyond Hollywood to the raw, unfiltered truth. This isn't a narrated documentary; it's an intimate series of conversations where Joe Pistone-the actual FBI agent who lived as "Donnie Brasco" for six perilous years-finally tells his own story. He sits down with his friend, actor and host Leo Rossi, offering a level of detail and personal reflection that only a trusted confidant could draw out. Each episode delves into the daily realities of infiltration, the constant psychological tightrope walk, and the harrowing moments inside the Bonanno and Colombo families that the movie could only hint at. Produced by Jam Street Media, this podcast strips away the myth to reveal the cunning, the fear, and the calculated risks of a man who blurred the line between his own identity and his fabricated one. You'll hear firsthand accounts of trust forged in bad faith, the moral complexities of deep cover work, and the personal cost of a life lived in the shadows. For anyone fascinated by true crime, the inner workings of organized crime, or the profound human stories behind iconic cinema, this series is the definitive, ground-level account.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 47

Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco
Podcast Episodes
Joe and Leo sit down with Michael Franzese [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
This week Leo and Joe are joined by former member of the Colombo Crime Family, Michael Franzese. Being a gangster is one hell of a life to live. Michael, Joe and Leo discuss the ugly truth about what being a made guy can…
The Italian Mafia’s Ruthless Ways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
This week Joe and Leo discuss The Maxi Trial in Palermo, Sicily. The case was against the Sicilian Mafia, and, boy, were those some mean, cold-hearted gangsters. The Sicilians had their own murderous ways of doing things…
Never Cross a Mob Boss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:04
If there’s one thing you never want to do it’s cross a mob boss. Joe talks to us about what happened to the acting boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, Carmine Galante, when he decided to defy The Commission. Leo learns a l…
The Fall of the Mafia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:21
The case is finally closed and it’s time for Joe Pistone, a.k.a the real Donnie Brasco to face The Mafia in court. For six years, he rubbed elbows with some of the scariest gangsters alive and now he’s working with the t…
Donnie Brasco is Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:55
Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone are back and diving even further into the Donnie Brasco story. This week is all about mafia business and the cash-raking hustle of hijacking. From Sonny Black to John Gotti, these wise guys work…
Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco Season 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:20
Leo and Joe are back with even more jaw-dropping stories that will have you inching toward the edge of your seat. After spending six years undercover, it was time for Joe to take the stand against the mafia men that he s…
A Donnie Brasco Christmas, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:44
Happy Holidays! We have a gift for all of the listeners that have made this year special. It’s a two part holiday special with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone, the real Donnie Brasco. Joe tells us what it was like spending so…
A Donnie Brasco Christmas, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:00
Happy Holidays! We have a gift for all of the listeners that have made this year special. It’s a two part holiday special with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone, the real Donnie Brasco. Joe tells us what it was like spending so…
Life as a Prison Warden with Joseph Woodring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:40
We're back with another bonus episode! This time, with Joe and Leo's first interview where THEY ask the questions. Their guest, the interviewee, is Joseph Woodring, a retired prison warden and associate warden who oversa…
Joe Pistone and Leo Rossi Interviewed by Matty Staudt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:35
While we're waiting for Season 2... the president and founder of our favorite show's production company, Matty Staudt, is taking this opportunity to get to know Leo and Joe's story better. From Leo's days in radio to Joe…