Michael doesn't interrupt people when they're talking. Some interviewers cut people off, but Michael lets people talk which is a good characteristic trait
He was raised that way. That's the best way to be. Respectful and patient. But into what the other person is saying. You cant hear the other person if you're talking...
This is without a doubt the most epic conversation ever between 2 guys on the opposite sides of Law and Order.It's crazy to even think something like this could ever happen but it has.
@@Warrickomega never said he wasn’t; like he has said, he’s one of the only guys of his era/crew that is still alive, so that’s a win in itself. But he has a successful RU-vid channel that doesn’t glamorize the life, has written books, does community outreach, etc. If he ever feels guilty or regretful of his past, I think anyone would agree he has at least made the best possible attempt at rectifying his wrongs with his positive character arc. That being said, I think the original comment was just saying he would have had a successful if he never joined the Colombo family, and I agree
@@clamcrewcarclub6017 I question that. I think a lot of the enlightenment and insight he has no he has BECAUSE he walked in the Mafia life for a period. Admittedly other paths may offer SIMILAR insights, but still.. Now. If he still had a lot of the same attitudes that LET him survive in the Mafia, then you're probably onto something!
A lot of good investigators are like that. It's a quality that really lends itself to their jobs. I was reading an interview with David Toshi, the San Francisco Inspector that worked the Zodiac, and he was very old at the time but was able ro remember what clothes he was wearing on a certain day in the 1960s.
Even cooler, it's like a Nazi and a US marine trading stories. Soldiers from polar opposite sides, who were probably responsible for hurting a lot of people the other knew. And yet they're sitting and having a friendly chat, 40 years on. Totally nuts.
Love how Michael doesn’t interrupt, which is hard to do on Zoom. Parents raised him well. Love your stories and I love how today, you guys can bond over the things you do have in common.
"Parents raised him well"... Are you being humourous or not? His Father was an evil mafioso who literally brought him into organised crime to be surrounded by murderers, thieves and extortionists. Lol
@@k9ninjaworld557sadly there are a lot of impressionable young men who look up to this sort of thing. They romanticise it. But crime hurts people. Organised crime is a cancer.
Two guys who lived lives you can only imagine...and still living! Great to see them chat and ultimately agree that the code was flawed and only existed with the old guys. Brilliant to watch and see genuine mutual respect!
The ex mob and ex fbi agent are able to talk after years with respect. Two politicians from opposing parties never. What does this mean about politicians? Greetings from Polish
The politicans in poland really hate each other? Its not really the case in germany. I think 99% of the politicians are cordial with each other and do talk. they dont hold no real grudges and dont get really heated. But thats a bad thing in my opininion it doesnt really seem like they would do a whole lot, when they are friendly with each other 99% of the time.
@@darioartmagic7743 not really, even if so what? there are no rules in this game, either you'll end up in a grave or behind bars. no one sticks to the code when you facing life sentence
Watching this makes me giddy like a little kid on Christmas morning. Two legends from opposite sides of a war coming together. Epic is a word that comes to mind.
Who would ever have thought that I'm 2021 we'd be seeing Sammy The Bull, Michael Franzese and Donnie Brasco having RU-vid channels and telling stories about their lives! I genuinely think we slipped into an alternate dimension somehow!!!
All things aside, Michael is probably the most well rounded mafia guy that talks about it. I’m glad you found a better way. I’m also glad that you have the ability to tell us these stories without all the tough guy fluff. 💪
@@craigcrawford6749 He has no incentive to make anything up at this point. I've seen a dozen Pistone interviews. He may forget a name here and there, but the stories are always very consistent. There's also audio tapes of him on the phone while undercover around that backs up plenty.
@@Cenot4ph former criminal. You can do bad things in your past and become reformed and do good things like he's doing now, just because he was a different years ago doesn't mean he can't still be respected in the present, he does a lot of good work giving speeches to people in gangs or delinquent kids to convince them not to go into the criminal life because of the regrets he has from his criminal past.
@@vikingkrigare5329 it is its weird how that works. My best friend like a brother to me hangs out and is pretty close to a guy I cant stand and he cant stand me.
At times during this podcast when I was listening and not watching I thought Johnny Depp was talking...He even had Pistones voice just about down packed...Great Actor...
It had to be a hell of a rush. He's got to have some of the biggest balls ever. I respect the hell out of him. It's amazing he was able to pull this off and live to tell about it. It nearly destroyed his family life though.
cops and gangsters are actually made out of the same material, they come from the same pool young men with certain traites of toughness. Its not that big of a difference.
This interview is journalism gold. Here is a former FBI Agent who actually infiltrated the Mafia, and a former made man from the Mafia, having a conversation like a couple guys. Absolute respect for both of you guys, Michael Franzese and Joe Pistone..! God Bless you both.!
As a former history student, who studied American and Japanese mafia's. Can honestly say I'm addicted to seeing interviews like this, it adds to what I wish I had once over when writing my essays. If this interview happened few years back I'd of aced it alot easier. Love the channel !
@@tence_6965 you need to be tough to be a gangster any era. they aren’t gonna pick up little skinny teenagers as enforcers. they want big, strong scary looking guys that would pull the trigger without a second thought. now that takes a lot of balls and strength if you ask me
@@blanketdtf you dont have to be physically strong to pull the trigger. Most thugs I see here in my country are small to medium size, many of them skinny minors 🤷🏻♂️
He would be burnt at some point especially after Sonny Red and the other 2 capos were killed and the Bonanno family erupted in civil war. The Miami thing was also creeping up on him and it was endangering a police undercover called Rocky as well. To make it worse, to be made he would likely have to kill someone-completely against FBI rules
I have seen Joe several times interviewed and he is a very intelligent and courageous gentleman. I'm amazed every time I imagine the kind of pressure he was under. In the movie the greatest irony was the $500 check... not much reward for his risk and sacrifice but that's what a hero does. God Bless.
I'm confused because everything says he's still in witness protection under alias, how is that possible when he's out doing book tours and interviews lol.
This was awesome! Thank you very much for doing this. It is kinda unreal, like you said in the beginning. All these years later, alive, on a thing that became the internet, where we can sit down with each other and all that...what a trip. Thanks!
@@michaelfranzese Yo Mr. Franzese, I love the way you present and carry yourself. I’ve seen you Hotboxin’ with Mike over on his channel too. Brilliant stuff. Respect from UK. Scotland 🏴 Have an awsome Christmas with your family man. Happy holidays. 👍✌️
It’s interesting how Franzese’s experiences with a lot of “mean” gangsters compare (Mirra, Scarfo). I think his father’s reputation might have made others wary of disrespecting him.
@@briandunlap3243 Maybe? It’s seems like scarfo and Mira were widely disliked by other mobsters including made guys. (E.g., Bruno handing Scarfo a paper clip).
@@edward7835 theres a difference though nicky scarfo and mir were tough guys and Angelo bruno and castellano were earners. But they still had the same mentality Scarfo bled cosa nostra, he would never disrespect a boss even if he hated bruno
This conversation left me with the chills. I could never ever live like that. I quit drinking 9 years ago just so I could live an honest, meaningful life for my family. I've been blessed beyond what I deserve for doing that. Glad you both are alive and well. God bless you both. Did I mention my wife put my ass in jail on my birthday 9 years ago? Lol!
I'm at 10 years way to go! I didn't need to drink I just went to parties and what not at least every other day sometimes every night others just the weekends. It depended who I was around. Then I just traded alcohol for painkillers, my body was hurting a lil bit by that time. After working at the same job of 10 years. I got laid off but still took pills still. I ended up going with a small group of my friends who worked for a guy with a big reputation and ran the illegal gambling in our state so I went with him and made a lot of money. He let my friend who brought me in go and made me take him home and gave me his route of slots. I fixed it up to make alot and was in good then and lived like a Rockstar. I made a little empire of knowing different people getting different pills and had the money and bought em all up with a full blown opioid addiction I'm still fighting. We ended up getting raided my best friend took over he got greedy and lost my best friend and left on bad terms too. Now I'm happy with my ol lady and my dogs living legit, having gotten out of that with no charges luckily! I'm still battling with that addiction every day but living and thanking God for that second chance!
@HidanVenom it’s as they said it, they joined the life knowing that the were enemies outside and certainly from within, I always think was the life really that good ???? Money power ? The was a awful lot of associates and even made men who lived from day to day finally and certainly with the safety of there lives
@HidanVenom yeah I was once part of a gang in Liverpool England, money come power over weak but never respect only fear, but better a hard worker which I am now. But yeah I think I would of joined there life , it’s actually so interesting
You are an incredibly clever person, i just saw your talk with sammy about omerta on the interview. Your language is clean no swears you keep your calm and control with ease and are respectful. Quite admirable qualities.
I just wanted to say: My god this was a great interview. Here you got two guys who couldn't possibly be further apart from each other in the spectrum of life but as they sit and talk each of their perspectives and sides of the same stories, they have an incredible common ground. This is almost something out of a great crime movie but as real as it gets. First time in my memory that i sat thru an entire 30min + youtube video, never fast forwarding and just glued to what both had to say. Obviously, im now switching over to part II. Incredible channel, sir.
This is THE most fascinating, tremendous interview (SIT DOWN) that i could ever have imagined…it’s like a sequel to Donny Brasco. Amazing how life unfolds. God Bless you both 🙏
Yes this would have never happened 30 or 40 years ago. Just imagine talking about this stuff in the open like this. It was unheard-of back then. Great video Michael may God bless you and your family Salute 🍷🍝☕
@@lotatude you keep your fuckin mouth shut about me btw ive heard lefty talk on the wire taps, i think you can find it on youtube and al pacino NAILED IT. he sounds EXACTLY like him. i think it is probably his best role ever.
Excellent sit down. Just discovered this channel. I got to meet Mr. Pistone and what both of you say about Respect is absolutely true. I always respected the people I had to deal with. It's great to be retired. Thank you both.
Great to see two legends from different sides talk to each other with respect and hold no animosity for the past. This is a real sit down with two well known individuals with class and respect.
@@Angelo-qz3qj Ange now thats Funny 👍 got a ? For you . Maybe you know . Old Itialian Eatery In little Italy been there over 100 Years. Makes their own Pastromi .. To flippin Die for . I am a long haul trucker and have not been back to NYC since 85 . When they found 3 Stiffs on meat hooks in a reefer trailer , Musta took them a week to thaw them out .. talk about puttin someone on Ice .. LOL
I notice Joe answers nearly everything with a story. He succeeds at entertaining you without directly answering the thing he was asked. This guy should be studied in psychology classes.
To think a sit down between a famed mafia Capo and an FBI undercover agent could ever happen like this, decades after the initial case or not, is incredible. This is stuff of legends.
This is one of many interviews I've seen with Joe and to be honest he's a lot more relaxed talking to Michael then any others I believe. Just because Michael can relate to him he's not some journalist trying to get an exclusive. Great sit down so far!
Well said Michael. I think there are more people in this country who agree with you than disagree. Everyone needs to start speaking out just as you're doing. May God bless you and your family.
Fascinating interview. Joe is so direct and candid. Interesting how emotional he became at one point. Two old adversaries with a lot of mutual respect. Incidentally I think a lot of modern day tv interviewers could learn something from Michael here. He asks the right questions and just as importantly he listens to the answers. Can’t wait for Part 2.
@Alan he had a great interview with Patrick Bet-David from Valuetainment. PBD is probably the best interviewer out their n breed interviewed ex mob guys, fbi, cia, military guys n president. Should check it out.
@@djhonz45 He doesn’t Mention it but Joe Pistone still lives in a assumed identity.when he visited Montreal they went through great effort to protect him
I just cant stop laughing man...like literally the men from exact opposite worlds chatting like homies and genuinely respect each other.. these gentlemen 👌🏼
@@MrAitraining yeah crazy to think that way both are street smart, both are smart smart i guess Pistone could also be ruthless if need be the only thing that separated them was their path of life choices but at the end of it all Pistone is still in witness protection while Franseze is a rock star ... kind of ironic end of that tale.
@@shunakiyama6275 if you steal from people who stole their money to begin with, is it really stealing? The fed gov has stolen from every human being who worked inside America since 1913. The gov doesn’t make money, the only money they have is stolen
Michael was boss material. Had an FBI agent around him for 8 months and didn't slip up once. Even now hes so measured with everything he says. Hes like a ivy League type racketeer
This was excellent Michael. Well done! Loved the respect and admiration for each other. I was about to say, how can this only be 37 minutes?! So glad there is a part 2, can’t wait.
Michael, you are preserving history for those coming up in a time when history is being destroyed or hidden. Thank you for all you’re doing sir. Hope your family is doing well!
I’m totally blown away by Mr. Pistone’s bravery. I wouldn’t even make eye contact, let alone infiltrate these crime families undercover for the feds the way he did and for as long as he did. Absolutely incredible!
And with wild cards like Tommy Desimone (Joe pesci's character from good fellas) around you, I can't imagine the courage and resolve it took. I imagine most of those wise guys from that era weren't a hot head like that, but some of these guys were some real psycho's.
An actual sit down makes a GREAT interview! Had me glued to the screen all the way through. Good editing as well. Much respect for both sides, who are willing to share their experiences of a past from not so long ago. Thanks Michael.
@@michaelfranzese that interviewer was so good it felt short. I was listening to it with 1 Bluetooth headphone on shopping and driving. When is part 2 coming out?
This is incredible. A real testimony to Michael and Joe’s faith. Being able to sit down together in friendship is a joy to witness. Nobody is better than anyone else. We’re all broken and have fallen short. Everyone of us need Gods forgiveness, but we must forgive and love one another first for His sake, because that’s what He wills. God bless
Absolutely loved this sit down Michael with Joe, no interruptions both listened to each other speak, how conversations should be done. You've done it again well done thank you 👏🏼.
Wow! Just an incredible interview. Two men on total opposite sides of the life come together as friends years later for a sit down. Both with respect for each other. Great interview! Ty
20 years ago you never would have predicted that these two would be sitting down having a friendly chat. It’s actually mind blowing. Cant wait for part 2. I can listen to him talk for hours. Never gets old ....I even have both of his books.
I've had a lot of Italian American friends, some in the Mafia, and the majority hated the mob. The people that ran small businesses hated the extortion imposed on them. Keep up the good work explaining to people that crime doesn't pay, especially if you go to prison or get wacked.
Just discovered this series after seeing Michael’s interview on Pierce Morgan. Fantastic and fascinating stuff - can’t wait to work my way through previous episodes. I have a ton of respect for these guys - especially Michael with his switch of life focus, pivot to his faith etc. It’s not where you’re from it’s where you’re at