Sit Down with Michael Franzese

Michael Franzese
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From a high-ranking member of the Colombo crime family to a man transformed by faith, Michael Franzese shares his extraordinary journey like no one else can. In Sit Downs with Michael Franzese, Michael dives into raw, unfiltered stories from his life in the mob, his path to redemption, and the lessons he’s learned about faith, family, and overcoming life’s struggles. With gripping interviews and practical insights, this podcast will inspire, challenge, and entertain

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Mexican Presidential Insider Reveals How Cartels Really Run the Country

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ Today I sit down with Enrique De La Madrid – son of a former Mexican president and one of the few people who actually understands how deep the corruption runs. We get into the cartels’ new gas tax scam that mirrors the exact gasoline hustle I ran back in the life, how cartels kidnap opposition and rig elections, why parts of the Mexican government are effectively in business with organized crime, and what that really means for your safety, tourism, and the future of the drug war. This one will change the way you look at Mexico, the cartels, and our own government on both sides of the border. Mexican Presidential Insider Reveals How Cartels Really Run the Country 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com 0:00 – Cartels rigged Mexico's elections. Real facts.1:05 – Welcome & introducing Enrique De La Madrid2:11 – Son of a president, ran for office himself6:32 – Mexican government is in bed with cartels7:00 – The cartel gas tax — straight from my playbook9:37 – Witnesses who knew the truth were killed10:14 – Cartels moved way beyond just drugs19:27 – Did Mexico's president take $20M from El Mencho?20:43 – Fentanyl is 1,000x more profitable than cocaine22:43 – Cartels kidnapping politicians to steal elections25:29 – Trump labeled cartels terrorists — was it smart?28:47 – El Mencho dead — what happens to CJNG now?30:35 – Is Mexico actually safe to visit right now?33:19 – Cartels launder money through Puerto Vallarta businesses35:07 – The "narco peace" — what it really means36:26 – I recognize this — it's the mafia's old extortion playbook40:00 – Should US troops operate inside Mexico?43:34 – Why aren't we teaching kids about drugs instead?46:04 – Will Enrique run for president of Mexico again?47:03 – Michael's closing thoughts: this is happening here too Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    54 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    Ex-Mob Boss & Ex-CIA Agent: Iran, Israel, and Epstein Are All Connected

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ I thought I understood Epstein, Israel, and the war in Iran… until this conversation. In this sit down, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou walks me through why he believes Epstein was working as an access agent, how Israel and Mossad might sit at the center of more than we think, why the Kennedy files still aren’t fully released 60 years later, and what’s really behind the Iran war and Trump’s decisions. I don’t say this lightly: this one actually made me rethink some things. Ex-Mob Boss & Ex-CIA Agent: Iran, Israel, and Epstein Are All Connected 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com 00:00:00 – Introduction: Epstein Was A Mossad Spy?00:01:03 – Meet Ex-CIA Agent John Kiriakou00:06:15 – How Epstein's Spy Network Worked00:14:07 – 3 Million Documents Still Being Hidden00:20:09 – The CIA's Secret Kill List00:22:55 – Is The Iran War Israel's War?00:25:15 – Netanyahu Threatened Trump With Nukes00:27:47 – Iran Never Had A Nuclear Program00:32:25 – Why They Won't Release The Documents00:36:12 – JFK Files They're Still Hiding00:41:31 – 10,000 Documents All Point To Israel00:42:40 – Why Israel Wanted Kennedy Dead00:43:06 – How Israel Controls American Politics00:49:00 – Inside The Prison Epstein Died In00:55:23 – Mossad's Blackmail Files On Everyone00:57:47 – CIA Agent: Epstein Was Murdered00:58:20 – Did America Bite Off Too Much?01:02:20 – Why NATO Won't Join The War01:05:04 – Bill Clinton & The Epstein Deposition01:06:52 – The Truth They'll Never Tell Us Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 14min

  3. 19 MAR

    Ex-Mob Boss cooks chicken Parmesan (Secret Franzese Family recipe)

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/👨🏻‍🍳 Get The Exclusive Mafia Apron Here: https://franzesewine.com/apron 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ I’m back in the kitchen people. And today I’m making one of my favorite old-school Italian-American dishes: chicken parmesan. This is the kind of meal that brings back memories of family, tradition, and the simple way we used to eat at home, and I’m showing you how I make it step by step the way it should be done. I’m keeping it simple, fresh, and delicious — just like the best family recipes always are. Along the way, I share a few stories, a few tips, and a little of the history behind the food, the wine, and the way we grew up around the table. Get The Chicken Parmesan Recipe Here: https://franzesewine.com/chicken-parm-recipe Ex-Mob Boss Cooks Real Chicken Parmesan (Secret Franzese Family Recipe) 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com 00:00 – Introduction: I’m back! 02:27 – Cooking brings back memories 03:16 – My grandfather made wine 05:00 – My onion trick in sauce 06:03 – Fresh basil brings memories 08:20 – Organic is the way to go 08:56 – My grandma’s meatballs set the bar 10:28 – Step 1: Always Pound the chicken thin 11:47 – The Paul Castellano chicken story 15:47 – Flour, eggs, breadcrumbs 16:48 – Stories of My Grandparents 18:03 – My grandfather Was A Racist? 21:11 – Tootie the Lion: My Other Grandfather 22:23 – Step 2: Fry The Chicken 23:14 – Chicken parm isn’t from Italy 23:34 – Mozzarella, not parmesan 24:00 – I always drink wine with food 24:42 – Our 50th anniversary wine 25:28 – Europe makes healthier wine 27:54 – Step 3: Pasta has to be al dente 29:27 – Step 4: Sauce, cheese, and oven 31:20 – Food brings people together 34:19 – Step 5: Into the oven it goes 35:48 – My made-man anniversary 38:04 – The pairing is perfect 39:27 – Cherry wine grew on me 42:27 – Which Wine Pairs Better? 44:56 – Whats Next on Cooking With Michael? Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  4. 17 MAR

    Anabel Hernández: The Woman the Cartels & Mexican President Want Dead

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ The rule of law doesn’t exist in the shadows. We’ve all seen the headlines about El Mencho, El Chapo and the cartels, but the headlines are just the “front.” For twenty years, Anabel Hernández has been digging into the basement of the Mexican government—and what she found is a virus that’s reached the highest levels of power. She’s survived raids, assassination attempts, and a life in exile for one reason: She knows where the bodies are buried. And more importantly, she knows who gave the order to dig the graves. In this sit-down, we aren’t talking about “street crime.” We’re talking about the business of a failed state. This is the reality they don’t want you to see. This is the truth that costs lives. Anabel Hernández: The Woman the Cartels & Mexican President Want Dead 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 5min

  5. 12 MAR

    John Gotti: The Reason We Still Talk About the Mob

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ John Gotti turned murder into a media moment and a crime family into his personal stage. From the shots outside Sparks Steakhouse to a life sentence in a concrete box, this doc walks you through how a kid from Brooklyn with a chip on his shoulder became the last great “celebrity gangster” – and how that fame turned into a loaded gun pointed at his own head. You’ll see the real power struggle with Castellano, the truth behind the “Teflon Don” trials, what it meant when Sammy flipped, and why the old‑school mob quietly died in Gotti’s shadow. This isn’t about glorifying the life. It’s about showing you exactly how it ends. John Gotti: The Reason We Still Talk About the Mob 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com 00:00 – The Sparks Steakhouse hit on Paul Castellano 00:35 – John Gotti seizes the Gambino family 01:00 – From mob boss to folk hero 01:41 – Michael’s intro and purpose of the series 02:22 – Why John Gotti and Al Capone stand above the rest 03:32 – “He was who he was” – Gotti’s attitude toward being a mobster 03:52 – Why RICO, not Gotti, really killed the Mafia 05:05 – The best Gotti movie Michael recommends 05:38 – Gotti’s hungry beginnings: Bronx and Brooklyn 06:03 – Seeing wiseguys as “the way out” 07:05 – Young Gotti’s brutality, charisma, and explosive temper 08:22 – First big step into the Gambino family under Carmine Fatico 09:09 – Carlo Gambino orders the McBratney hit 09:31 – Gotti shoots in public and gets caught 10:05 – Neil Dellacroce becomes Gotti’s powerful mentor 10:40 – Gambino picks Castellano over Neil – the family splits 11:24 – Gotti the neighborhood hero and the tragedy of his son Frank 12:31 – White‑collar Paul vs blue‑collar John – two mobs in one family 14:07 – Tapes, drugs, and why Gotti knew it was “him or Castellano” 15:28 – December 16, 1985: Castellano and Bilotti are murdered 16:22 – Gotti becomes boss and embraces full‑blown celebrity 17:36 – Beating RICO and becoming the “Teflon Don” 19:22 – FBI bugs the Ravenite – the beginning of the end 21:39 – Sammy the Bull flips and the government’s case locks in 23:01 – Guilty on all counts – the Teflon is gone 24:04 – Life in Marion: 23‑hour lockdown and losing control 26:00 – Throat cancer, Springfield, and Gotti’s final years 27:30 – Death, funeral, and the end of the celebrity gangster era 29:34 – How Gotti’s fall helped transform organized crime 30:10 – Michael’s final warning: no glory in this life Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  6. 10 MAR

    Former Mob Boss Sits Down with the Narcos Agents Who Took Down Pablo Escobar

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ Two DEA agents helped bring down Pablo Escobar, the man who once supplied up to 80% of the world’s cocaine and may have ordered 50,000 murders. Their real‑life story became the basis for Narcos, but Hollywood didn’t show everything. In this sit‑down, Steve Murphy and Javier Peña tell me what it was really like to hunt Escobar with a $300,000 bounty on their heads, what Los Pepes actually did on the ground, and why they call him the most violent narco‑ter*orist in history. Then we fast‑forward to today: the kil*ing of El Mencho, the CJNG’s terror tactics in Mexico, and the fentanyl and counterfeit pill wave killing almost 100,000 Americans a year. Steve and Javier explain why Mexican cartels are “meaner” than Escobar’s, how they adapt when we bomb drug boats or close one route, and what actually has to change in the U.S. if we want to stop burying our kids. ​Real Narcos Agents EXPOSE the Truth About Mexico’s Cartel War Former Mob Boss Sits Down with the Narcos Agents Who Took Down Pablo Escobar From Pablo Escobar to El Mencho: What the Real Narcos Agents See Coming Next 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 25min

  7. 5 MAR

    Iran: It’s Not Over Yet – Insider Warns What Comes Next

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ Trump hit Iran’s nuclear sites and the world moved on, but people who know the regime are saying one thing: it’s not over. Ashkan is an Iranian insider with deep family ties to the Shah’s old security apparatus, and he lays out what Tehran is planning next – from hypersonic missiles and cheap killer drones to “missing” enriched uranium and how fast they could rebuild a bomb. We get into the IRGC’s Nazi‑style takeover of Iran’s economy, the brutal crackdowns that left tens of thousands dead in days, and whether this ends with collapse, a counter‑strike on the U.S. and Israel, or a new revolution backed by Reza Pahlavi and the opposition. If you want to know what could actually happen next in Iran – not the sanitized version on the news – watch this to the end. Iran: It’s Not Over Yet – Insider Warns What Comes Next Iranian Insider REVEALS the Most Terrifying Secrets of the Regime 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 15min

  8. 3 MAR

    DEA Legend Reveals the Most Disturbing Cartel Rituals You’ve Never Heard Of

    🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/ 💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/ I’ve sat with mob bosses, cartel associates, and killers, but I have never been this educated on the Mexican cartels as I was in this sit down with DEA legend Mike Vigil. Mike spent 31 years with the DEA, rose to chief of international operations, worked undercover across Latin America, and has gone head‑to‑head with cartels from Colombia to Mexico. ​ In this interview he breaks down how groups like CJNG and Sinaloa really operate, what changed after El Mencho was taken out, and why retaliation spread across multiple Mexican states. He explains “terror schools,” disappearances, paramilitary tactics, and why killing one kingpin often makes the violence even worse. ​ We also get into something I’ve said for years: the mafia I was part of is not on the same level as today’s cartels – not in scale, not in weapons, not in how they treat civilians. If you care about what’s happening in Mexico, travel safety, the drug trade, or just want an honest look from someone who’s been on the front lines, watch this one from beginning to end. ​ Former Mob Boss Interviews DEA Legend: Inside the Mexican Cartels DEA Legend Reveals the Most Disturbing Cartel Rituals You’ve Never Heard Of 🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/ 🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/ 🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb 📧 Interested in partnerships? partnerships@michaelfranzese.com Backbone Media Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 6min
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About

From a high-ranking member of the Colombo crime family to a man transformed by faith, Michael Franzese shares his extraordinary journey like no one else can. In Sit Downs with Michael Franzese, Michael dives into raw, unfiltered stories from his life in the mob, his path to redemption, and the lessons he’s learned about faith, family, and overcoming life’s struggles. With gripping interviews and practical insights, this podcast will inspire, challenge, and entertain

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Franzese
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Michael Franzese. All Rights Reserved. "Sit Down with Michael Franzese".
  • Show Website
    Sit Down with Michael Franzese

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