Sit Down with Michael Franzese

By Michael Franzese

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, Michae... more

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How many episodes does Sit Down with Michael Franzese have?

The podcast currently has 104 episodes available.

Sit Down with Michael Franzese episodes:

January 07, 2026 Former Mobster Breaks Down Minnesota Somali Scam
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
In this one, I’m looking at the Minnesota Somali daycare and food‑program fraud through the eyes of somebody who actually ran Mafia scams for a living. I ran one of the biggest gas‑tax scams this country had ever seen, so I know what an organized operation looks like.What I see in Minnesota isn’t “sloppy paperwork.” It’s a Somali mafia‑style network: shell companies, fake centers, recycled addresses, money moved into cars, houses, and businesses, all built on weak government oversight and politicians who looked the other way. It’s the same mentality we had in the Italian Mafia—different product, different players, same playbook.I’m not saying every Somali in Minnesota is a criminal. But when billions of dollars are sitting on the table with almost no controls, mob guys, fraudsters, and crooked officials—Italian, Somali, or anybody else—will show up to rob you blind. The names change. The mafia doesn’t.
Former Mobster Breaks Down Minnesota Somali Scam
🤝 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? [email protected]
Backbone Media Group

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26min
January 02, 2026 Top 20 Mamalukes of the Year (2025 Dumbest People)
🍷Get your ReMade bottle here: https://franzesewine.com/remade
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
You’ve heard me say “mamaluke” for years. Today I’m finally handing out the official “Mamaluke of the Year” awards.

We run through 20 contenders—from Hollywood to politics to sports—and then I give you my top 3, plus a couple of honorable mentions that absolutely earned their spot. Some of you are going to agree, some of you are going to be furious… either way, it’s going to be fun.

I also share a bit about my 50‑year anniversary “remade” bottle and why your circumstances don’t define you—your decisions do. Drop your own Mamaluke of the Year in the comments.
Top 20 Mamalukes of the Year (2025 Dumbest People)
🤝 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? [email protected]
0:00 What “mamaluke” means and why I use it
0:32 Introducing Mamaluke of the Year + 50‑year bottle
3:12 How this Mamaluke of the Year list works
3:25 Rachel Zegler – Snow White disaster
4:07 Whoopi Goldberg and “life in Iran”
5:31 Kathy Griffin and “internment camps”
6:09 Dylan Mulvaney and the Bud Light fallout
6:39 Diddy – “Mamaluke is being polite”
6:56 Mayor Mamdami – socialist rhetoric
7:39 NBA gambling scandal – Rozier & Billups
8:01 Jimmy Kimmel and late‑night “political hacks”
8:45 Ilhan Omar – fraud, Somalia and worse than a mamaluke
9:29 Governor Tim Walz – fraud in Minnesota
10:26 Nick Fuentes – Holocaust denial and controversy
10:58 Gavin Newsom – “biggest mamaluke there is”
11:31 Tyler Robinson – Far Worse than a Mamaluke
11:51 AOC – luxury optics and getting rich in Congress
12:30 Letitia James – running on “get Trump”
13:06 Jasmine Crockett – “police aren’t there to stop crime”
14:16 Kamala Harris – not competent for high office
14:43 Stephen Colbert – from jokes to partisan hack
15:19 Jennifer Welsh – attacks on Erica & Charlie Kirk
16:04 Candace Owens – conspiracies and Charlie Kirk accusations
17:12 My top three mamalukes setup
17:30 Mamaluke #1 – goofball governor and fraud questions
18:27 Mamaluke #2 – “total mamaluke” in public office
19:20 Mamaluke #3 - California, missing money, rail boondoggle
20:32 Let him run for president and answer for California
20:37 Honorable mention – Rachel Zegler, talent vs. mouth
21:09 Honorable mention – Whoopi Goldberg and TDS
21:24 Closing and invite for your Mamaluke votes
Backbone Media Group

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24min
December 30, 2025 WTH Happened in 2025? Former Mob Boss Recaps the Years Biggest Stories
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
2025 is just about in the books… and what a year it’s been. From Trump’s second term and a socialist mayor in New York, to the Diddy scandal, the Epstein “files,” and the murder of Charlie Kirk, a lot has changed in this country—and not always for the better.
In this sit down, I’m giving you my honest take on what really happened this year, what nobody’s telling you, and what I think is coming in 2026. Agree or disagree, hear me out and then weigh in.
WTH Happened in 2025? Former Mob Boss Recaps the Years Biggest Stories
🤝 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? [email protected]
Backbone Media Group

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1h 7min
December 25, 2025 Why Are People Offended by Christmas?
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
Merry Christmas, my friends. Today I want to talk straight about why no one should be offended by Christmas and why we should never stop celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
This country was built on biblical Christian principles, and you’re going to hear it from the mouths of our own founders and presidents – men like Washington, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln, Jackson, Reagan and others who all spoke about the Bible and its importance.
I also share more of my journey: from a prison cell, throwing the Bible against the wall, to digging into the evidence and becoming convinced that Jesus is exactly who He said He is.
If you’re of another faith, this isn’t an attack on you. I’m not offended by Hanukkah, Ramadan or any other holiday – and no one should be offended by Christmas. This season exists because of the birth of Jesus, and we should never be afraid to say “Merry Christmas.”

God bless you all. Enjoy the day with your families and never forget what – and who – we’re really celebrating.
Why Are People Offended by Christmas?
🤝 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? [email protected]
0:00 Intro - Why do people hate christmas?
0:48 Christmas Day intro and gratitude
2:13 Is Christianity the one true faith?
3:11 Why “Merry Christmas” shouldn’t offend
4:21 America founded on Christian principles
5:19 What the Founding Fathers said about the Bible
7:07 “We can’t celebrate Christmas, it’s offensive”
9:22 Presidents on the Bible and American life
10:17 Jesus’ teachings and “A Man’s Man” book
11:02 Michael’s prison story and finding faith
13:12 Studying the evidence for Christianity
14:43 What kind of man was Jesus?
15:10 No compromise: Jesus as Son of God
16:20 Eyewitnesses, prophecy, and the early church
17:31 “If I follow Jesus, I’ll be better”
18:41 New ministry platform announcement
19:00 Never deny Christmas or Easter
19:36 Why he doesn’t want anyone in hell
21:21 “Father, forgive them…” and our attitude
22:17 Our responsibility: preach the gospel
23:12 Don’t ever be offended by Christmas
23:30 Gavin Newsom, politics, and “Merry Christmas”
24:23 Christmas is for the whole world
24:57 America, the greatest country and its foundation
25:47 Wine, business, and gratitude to supporters
27:04 New products, end-of-year thanks
27:40 Christmas blessing and prayer for viewers
29:00 Final encouragement and Christmas sign‑off
Backbone Media Group

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32min
December 16, 2025 I Was There When the Castellano Hit Shook the Mafia – 40 Years Later
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
Forty years ago today, December 16th, 1985, Paul “Big Paul” Castellano was shot and k*lled in front of Sparks Steak House in Manhattan. It sent shockwaves through New York and through every crime family, and I remember it like it was yesterday because I was deeply entrenched in that life – and three days later I was indicted on a major racketeering case myself.
In this sit down, I walk you through what that hit meant to us on the street, what we really thought about Castellano as a boss, how John Gotti ended up taking over the Gambino family, and why the FBI pressure exploded after that night. I explain why I don’t buy the line that “Gotti alone caused the downfall of the mob,” and why I believe it was the RICO statute – pushed hard by Giuliani and the feds – that did the real damage.
I also share my personal history with Castellano from my early days as a recruit driving top Colombo guys to meet him, how he was viewed as a businessman more than a street guy, the resentment over his money policies, and why a lot of men quietly weren’t sad to see him go. And I’ll show you how the Castellano hit fit into a much bigger story: the government’s war on the mob, corrupt prosecutions, and why even now I’m getting ready to expose cases where good men got railroaded.
I Was There When the Castellano Hit Shook the Mafia – 40 Years Later
🤝 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? [email protected]
0:00 Chickens, Castellano, “I’ll prove it”
1:07 Intro, Christmas and today’s anniversary
1:47 December 16, 1985 – Castellano hit
2:29 Indicted three days after hit
3:49 1996 HBO “Gotti” recommendation
4:27 RICO starts destroying the mob
5:25 Sonny’s Market on Long Island
6:11 Bad chicken order, refund dispute
7:00 Summoned to Brooklyn sit down
7:52 Sit down with Castellano over disrespect
9:24 Gotti’s crew and drug rule
10:11 Wiretaps, damaging tapes, Paul pressing
11:15 Gotti decides to strike first
12:19 Setting up Sparks Steak House hit
13:19 Hit goes down, media explodes
14:32 Shockwaves, FBI intensity skyrockets
15:11 RICO, not Gotti, ruined mafia
16:33 Castellano seen as business guy
17:22 Heavy taxes, “White House” resentment
17:52 Support inside Gambinos for k*lling
19:09 Neil passed over for Castellano
19:51 Gotti “Teflon Don” vs Michael
20:16 Tease: upcoming corruption revelations
23:55 DOJ corruption worse than mafia
24:44 Reflecting on Castellano anniversary today
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29min
December 09, 2025 Ranking The Dumbest Purchases Gen Z and Millennials Make (Ultimate Tier List)
I look around at what young people are spending money on today and I just shake my head. Food delivery every night, $7 coffees, “content trips” they can’t afford, sports betting apps, crypto coins some influencer pumped… then they wonder why they’re broke.
So I decided to rank the dumbest money habits I see Gen Z and millennials falling for — from “I Get It” all the way up to full‑blown “Mamaluke” tier. We’re talking Uber Eats, designer sneakers, iPhone upgrades, giant weddings on credit, sports betting, crypto gambling, and more. If you land in one of these categories, don’t take it personal; take it as a warning.
I used to run gambling operations, I’ve watched guys bury themselves in debt, and now I watch a new generation do it with apps and subscriptions instead of bookies. If you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck, start by cutting this nonsense out of your life and put that money into something that actually builds your future.
Ranking the Dumbest Ways Young People Spend Money
Ranking How Gen Z and Millennials Waste Their Money
Ranking The Dumbest Purchases Gen Z and Millennials Make (Ultimate Tier List)
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/

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32min
December 04, 2025 How Did Mobsters Celebrate Christmas? | Former Mobster REVEALS
Today, I’m breaking down what the holidays were really like in every season of my life: growing up with a mob underboss for a father, living as a made guy, doing hard time in prison, and now as a free man, husband, father, and grandfather.
I share how Thanksgiving and Christmas looked in an Italian mob household in New York, from endless food, soldiers dropping by, and seven fishes on Christmas Eve, to wild New Year’s Eve nights at places like the Copacabana. Then I take you inside the eight Christmases I missed with my family while I was in prison, including one Christmas Eve where a simple Christian song reminded me how blessed I still was to be alive and have a future.
Finally, I talk about what our holidays look like now: my Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve cooking, the big tree, the traditions my wife and I keep with our kids, and why, after everything, the holidays are all about faith, redemption, and family.
How Did Mobsters Celebrate Christmas? | Former Mobster REVEALS

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27min
December 02, 2025 Candace Owens Has a Hit on Her and Her Husband Is Silent? | Former Mob Boss Reacts
In this video, I respond to the firestorm over my recent X posts about Candace Owens and her husband, and why I still believe he should have stepped in long before things got this dangerous.
Candace has built a massive platform and, like her or not, you have to respect the work it took to get there. But when your own words say you’d stop if your husband told you to, and you’re now dealing with hate, vitriol, and even alleged death threats, I believe a husband has a duty to protect his wife, his marriage, and his kids.
In this sit-down, I walk through my original X videos, read some of the wild comments, clarify what I meant by “control,” and explain why real love sometimes means saying, “Enough.” We talk about social media, danger, manhood, and what it really means to be a protector in today’s world.
Candace Owens Has a Hit on Her and Her Husband Is Silent? | Former Mob Boss Reacts
🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
🤝 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? [email protected]
Backbone Media Group

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...more
33min
November 27, 2025 My Wife Finally REVEALS The Truth About Living With A Former Mobster (Thanksgiving Special)
⚡ Black Friday Wine Deals (Up to 50% OFF): https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
Every year you hear me talk about my family, my faith, our food… but you’ve never really heard it from the one person who’s lived it all with me: my wife, Cammy. In this Thanksgiving special, I finally got her to sit down on camera and tell you what life was really like being married to a former mob boss — from the early days when she wasn’t even attracted to me, to finding out I was in the Life, to traveling the country with three kids to visit me in prison. We talk Italian vs. Mexican families, massive holiday dinners, the battles over turkey, pasta, and pumpkin pie, and why our house is all about God, family, and food. She shares the Bible verse that held our family together, exposes the goofiest things I’ve ever done, and even calls me out on my wine habits. This is the most honest look you’ll get at the real Michael Franzese, straight from the woman who knows me best.
My Wife Finally REVEALS The Truth About Living With A Former Mobster (Thanksgiving Special)
First Sitdown With My Wife: Family, Food, and Life After The Mob
My Wife Finally Sits Down With Me To Talk Food, Family & 40 Years Together
🤝 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? [email protected]
00:00 - Intro & Thanksgiving greeting
01:16 - Special Thanksgiving sit-down announced
02:11 - 40 years of marriage
02:31 - Italian vs Mexican cultures
03:30 - Pasta pomodoro video success
04:13 - Crazy large Mexican families
05:22 - Thanksgiving food traditions
06:04 - Stuffing recipe from grandmother
06:51 - God, family, food focus
07:20 - Politics dividing families
08:03 - Childhood Thanksgiving pasta tradition
08:34 - Cammy's favorite Mexican dishes
10:35 - Wine pairing recommendations
11:48 - Wine taste preferences evolving
12:36 - Fruit wine obsession
14:24 - Favorite Italian dishes
17:20 - First time on camera
17:45 - How marriage has changed
19:05 - How they met
20:35 - Not initially attracted
21:06 - Visiting prison with kids
22:31 - Favorite wine: Areni
24:24 - Favorite Bible verse
27:00 - Favorite travel destination: Italy
30:00 - Favorite books recommendations
33:06 - Goofiest thing: curtain incident
34:44 - Mexican food preferences
40:00 - Thanksgiving stuffing recipe
41:02 - Never argue about food
43:39 - Leaving kids at table
44:19 - Staying behind the camera
45:40 - First Italian family dinner
50:00 - Early misconceptions about Italians
52:21 - Dad's favorite foods
55:00 - Dream destinations: Greece, Mexico
57:14 - Happy Thanksgiving message
58:19 - Being thankful for freedom
59:39 - Grace and kindness reminder
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1h 4min
November 25, 2025 Ex-CIA Agent EXPOSES Epstein, Charlie Kirk, and Mossad’s Influence Over America
00:00:🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://yt.franzesewine.com/
💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/
What happens when I sit down with a former CIA operative? In this intense, no-holds-barred interview, I compare my world in the Mob to Andrew Bustamante’s world in the CIA—and you’ll be shocked by the similarities. We talk about everything: Jeffrey Epstein, Mossad and Israel, deep state conspiracies, economic chaos, corruption, and why in this life “hero” or “villain” often depends which side you’re on. Andrew reveals espionage tactics, covert manipulations, and what really goes on behind government secrecy. I ask him the toughest questions nobody else will, and he delivers the kind of answers you won’t hear anywhere else. This isn’t Hollywood—this is the real spy game, from the inside.
Ex-CIA Agent EXPOSES Epstein, Charlie Kirk, and Mossad’s Influence Over America
🤝 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? [email protected]
Backbone Media Group
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:59 Was Epstein CIA, FBI, Or Mossad?
00:10:31 Was The Kennedy Hit The Mob and Why Still Classified?
00:15:42 Are Politicians From The Left and The Right the same?
00:20:15 Is There a Deep State That Controls Everything? (and how they do it)
00:28:27 CIA Alcohol Trick
00:31:42 How Did CIA/FBI Miss 9/11?
00:40:01 US Government Disconnected From Modern American
00:42:42 Is the US Government too far gone?
00:47:28 Andrew's Stance On Foreign Policy
00:48:28 Andrew Childhood Story (never shared before)
00:55:20 Circular Reporting (CIA Term)
00:57:54 Mossad and Israel on Charlie Kirk
01:01:52 Israel or Netenyahu At Fault?
01:04:06 Why So Much Anti-Semitism in US? (Israel vs Jews)
01:06:35 Incompetence In Government and Failed Socialist Countries
01:10:24 We Need To Trigger A New Depression (Failing Economy)
01:14:40 Andrew Bustamante CIA Inspired Business Advice
01:19:54 Run A Business Like A Criminal (Legally)
01:23:37 Why Is Michael Successful?
01:33:34 Is There Hope For The Future of America?
01:39:44 Conclusion

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1h 48min

FAQs about Sit Down with Michael Franzese:

How many episodes does Sit Down with Michael Franzese have?

The podcast currently has 104 episodes available.

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