Michael Franzese - Realities of the Mob and Life

Michael Franzese - Realities of the Mob and Life

Author: Jam Street Media December 13, 2022 Duration: 45:19
On this special episode of Deep Cover, Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone are joined by ex-Colombo crime mobster turned motivational speaker Michael Franzese. He shares his personal testimony about the ways in which “the life” negatively impacted him and his family. Son to the notorious former underboss, Sonny Franzese, Michael was not only born into the life but contributed for nearly 20 years prior to incarceration which prompted his uncharacteristic exit.  Michael and Joe met in their separate endeavors along the way and detailed the extent of their relationship then and now. Tune in for a true tale about the Mafia life from one of their very own. Have a question about this episode, a tape, or a past episode? Ask it here. Connect with us on social using the links below: Instagram: @deepcoverpodFacebook: @deepcoverpodcast Twitter: @deepcoverpodcast Episode Notes:[00:47] Intro with Leo Rossi and Joe Pistone [01:07] Introduction to Michael Franzese [03:09] Franzese speaks on his meeting with Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano [05:00] Joe remembers his first time meeting Michael Franzese in “the life” [06:32] Michael Franzese breaks down how he and his family were impacted by the mob life. [09:04] Franzese shares the story of his father, Sonny Franzese, who was imprisoned until 100 years old. [11:36] What defines a leader? [12:35] Franzese, Joe, and Leo discuss the relationship between crime mob and cops [15:03] Franzese shares his relationship with Bernard “Bernie” Welsh [16:47] Sonny Black’s girlfriend relays a message to Joe post-trial [18:14] Franzese gives Joe his flowers [20:09] How did Carmine “Junior” Persico run the family from prison? [23:22] Michael Franzese’s dad agreed with the mob's decision to put a contract on his son’s life [24:37] Nicky “Glasses” Marangello has a message for Donnie [26:52] Leo shares a story about Carlo Gambino and the new age of mobsters [29:47] The old neighborhoods just aren’t the same [31:26] Michael Franzese speaks on his recent book, “Mafia Democracy” [35:02] Franzese shares the similarities between the government and the mob [38:04] Franzese went into business with an Armenian vineyard [40:00] Outro [40:26] Questions from the motion lounge 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
Meeting with the Balistrieri Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:45
Now that Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco) has been helping Lefty Ruggerio do the bookkeeping and movement of stolen property for Nicholas Marangello, the underboss of the Bonanno crime family, for some time, he’s got a fa…
Joe Meets the Bonanno Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:32
So, Joe has left the Colombo family, he’s a free mobster… where to next? The Bonannno family. Utilizing his acquaintance with Anthony “Tony” Mirra, an American mobster, soldier and later caporegime for the Bonanno crime…
A Fight With a Colombo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:01
What can you do when a pistol is placed in front of you, and you’re given an ultimatum to prove yourself, or be killed? Well, Joe chose to go on the offensive with a made man of the mafia to maintain his respect and cred…
Joe Becomes Donnie Brasco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
When the head writer of the Sopranos and creator of Boardwalk Empire, Terence Winter, sees death in your eyes, you know you’re convincing enough for the mafia. From the Lucchese to the Colombo family, Joe walks us throug…
Who is the real Donnie Brasco? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
Rather than be attracted to the lifestyle of a gangster, Joe Pistone found himself drawn to a career in law enforcement. So how did a freshly recruited FBI agent go from routine undercover cases, to going deep undercover…
Deep Cover: The Real Donnie Brasco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:51
Did you see the movie “Donnie Brasco” starring Johny Depp and Al Pacino and wonder if all of that really happened? The true story is even more interesting than the movie. The real Donnie Brasco is Joe Pistone, and he spe…