On the Hollywood Godfather Podcast, hosts introduce former federal agent Joseph Occhipinti, outlining his career from Army MP and Customs to INS special agent, undercover work, and major cocaine seizures, followed by his later clemency from President George H.W. Bush (1993) and full pardon and apology from President Donald J. Trump (2020), plus his founding of the National Police Defense Foundation, Safe Cop, and Operation Kids. Occhipinti describes growing up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, missing the NYPD height requirement, joining Customs, then becoming an INS agent specializing in Dominican organized crime in Washington Heights. He recounts posing as a corrupt official in FBI-monitored stings, meeting Rudy Giuliani during a bribery approach that led to a large cocaine seizure, and creating the multi-agency Project Bodega to target bodega-based drug operations tied to an NYPD officer’s murder. He explains the task force’s consent-search tactics, major seizures, political backlash involving Mayor Dinkins, and a cartel plan to frame him with federal civil rights charges, setting up the next episode.

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On the Hollywood Godfather Podcast, Gianni Russo, Patrick Piccirilli, and Megan Horan welcome actor and real estate developer Brandon Williams, cast to play Russo in Paramount+’s limited series The Offer about the making of The Godfather. After a comedic “top 10 ways to become Gianni Russo,” Williams describes growing up on the streets of Los Angeles, his love of mob films, his Italian wife and son named Gianni, his shift from acting to successful Los Angeles real estate, and how casting director John Papsidera offered him the role and quickly cast him from a self-tape. Williams says he appears in three episodes, including scenes involving James Caan and delivering a tape to producer Al Ruddy, and notes the series largely centers on Ruddy with a strong cast. After a brief book promo and event plug, the hosts answer listener emails about Sinatra Jr.’s kidnapping, Rat Pack entertainers, The Many Saints of Newark, other podcast appearances, and Joe Silvestri of Shelton Health Clubs, then close the show with contact and subscription info.

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Gianni Russo opens the Hollywood Godfather podcast by promoting a new membership program at hollywoodgodfatherfamily.com, then welcomes longtime friend Larry Manetti to discuss their 50-year friendship. Manetti recounts meeting Russo at his Chicago restaurant, their move as roommates to Brentwood in Los Angeles, and the celebrity-filled lifestyle they shared. The conversation ranges through friends and figures in entertainment and organized crime, including Alan Smiley, Robert Conrad’s help getting Manetti cast on Baa Baa Black Sheep, Steven Cannell, and experiences in mob-era Las Vegas with comps, gambling stories, and characters like Gene Cimorelli and Yale Cohen. Russo also shares anecdotes involving Sidney Korshak, Teamsters loans, JFK and Marilyn Monroe allegations, and Mario Puzo. They plan to continue the stories in a second episode.

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Gianni Russo, Pat Piccirilli, and Megan Horan discuss how New York City’s private carting (garbage) industry emerged around 1953 and became heavily infiltrated by the mafia, including price undercutting and shakedowns of restaurants and businesses, with the Gambino family said to dominate. They focus on Vincent Squillante, a very short made member and major earner who worked closely with Albert Anastasia and was reportedly near him during Anastasia’s 1957 barber-shop assassination; after Anastasia’s death, Squillante lost protection and vanished in 1961, with theories ranging from Gambino having him killed to a story of women stabbing him. They mention Squillante’s extortion arrest and cellmate Rudolf Abel, Giuliani-era crackdowns that hurt Angelo Ponte’s carting business, Russo’s own near-indictment, a Corleone Fine Italian Foods sponsor spot, and a mailbag covering cookbooks, Little Italy’s changes, football, recent films, and Russo’s relationships with Godfather castmates.

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A Rebroadcast of episode 140

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Gianni Russo, Pat Picirelli, and Megan Horan discuss a New York Post article claiming the five families worry younger mobsters are too tied to phones and social media, citing a fugitive Colombo consigliere, Ralph DiMatteo, caught after his son posted a poolside photo, and another extortionist who sent threats by text. The main topic is Vito Genovese: after the 1957 Apalachin meeting embarrassed the mafia, narcotics chief Harry Anslinger targeted Genovese for heroin trafficking. They describe an informant used to link Genovese to heroin meetings and argue he may have been framed by rivals like Costello and Gambino; Genovese’s conviction led to prison where he marked Joe Valachi for death, prompting Valachi to testify and expose La Cosa Nostra. In the mailbag, they answer questions about Russo’s delayed clothing line, Corleone Fine Italian products, Mort Downey Jr., mafia depictions, Harlem numbers king “Spanish Raymond” Marquez, Greg DePalma, top bosses, and continuing the podcast.

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On the Hollywood Godfather Podcast, Gianni Russo, Patrick Picciarelli, and Megan Horan discuss Richard Kuklinski (“The Iceman”), describing him as a New Jersey criminal convicted of five murders (plus a confessed, unsolved police officer killing) who later claimed involvement in major mob hits to profit from interviews and an HBO special that reportedly paid his wife nearly $500,000. Pat argues many of Kuklinski’s famous confessions (Hoffa, DeMeo, Castellano, Galante) were fabricated, noting organized-crime experts and mob figures denied knowing him. They cover his methods (freezing bodies, cyanide spray), domestic abuse, and how an undercover ATF operation helped catch him; he died in 2006 of natural causes per an autopsy by Michael Baden. The episode includes a sponsor read and a mailbag covering mob initiation, San Francisco, Oscar Goodman as a guest suggestion, Judy Garland/Costello, Bar Rescue’s Jon Taffer, Whitey Bulger LSD rumors, the impact of the Castellano hit, and Seabiscuit, then plugs an online petition to reopen Marilyn Monroe’s case.

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On the Hollywood Godfather Podcast, hosts Gianni and Patrick Piccirilli interview Chicago private investigator Paul Ciolino about Operation Greylord, a 1980s federal undercover probe into corruption in the Cook County court system that led to 93 indictments, including 17 judges, 48 lawyers, and multiple law enforcement and court officials, with many convictions; Ciolino describes entrenched political and organized-crime influence, routine bribery, and notorious courtroom abuses, and notes fallout such as controversial prosecutions like the “Marquette 10.” Piccirilli recounts dealings with ex-cop/lawyer Bob Cooley, calling him untrustworthy and describing a theft incident, while discussing informants and jailhouse snitches. The episode includes a sponsor spot for Corleone Fine Italian Foods and a mailbag segment covering Times Square prostitute murders, favorite foods and travel, Vegas changes, a planned fictional book series, and Russo’s projects, including rap music and a Kansas City TV series.

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In this flashback episode, Gianni Russo, Patrick Piccirelli, and Megan Horan discuss the Bilotti family, focusing on Tommy Bilotti’s role as Paul Castellano’s trusted driver/bodyguard and the planning and execution of the Sparks Steakhouse hit, including disguises, multiple shooters, and later identification through cooperators and FBI bugs. Russo recounts personal stories about Bilotti, Tommy Ernst, and a Jersey shootout, explains why Castellano was targeted (including perceived disrespect to Neil Dellacroce), and describes how fear, money, RICO, and seized assets eroded mob loyalty. They note Bilotti’s brother Joey was brought in and warned after the murder. The episode includes an ad for Corleone Fine Italian products and a mailbag covering hidden mob wealth, Russo’s shoe style (influenced by Dean Martin), his Prison Break experience and residuals, favorite Las Vegas Italian restaurant (Piero’s), the Joe Valachi testimony, and favorite traits of Brando and Sinatra.

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In the final episode of the year, We look into the controversial death of Marilyn Monroe. Co-hosts Gianni and Jeanie discuss the release of Russo's latest book, 'Mafia Secrets,' and James Patterson's 'The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe,' which both address the circumstances surrounding Monroe's death. Russo shares personal recollections from 63 years ago, emphasizing his role as an informant for Frank Costello. He reveals that Monroe's death was a cover-up involving figures like Bobby Kennedy and the Chicago mob, contradicting her official suicide verdict. The hosts reflect on the implications of Patterson's findings, which validate Russo's long-held assertions and recount Monroe's relationships and final days. They also share future plans for the podcast and Russo’s upcoming events, while highlighting their determination to have Monroe’s cause of death reclassified from suicide to homicide by her 100th birthday.

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