E109 - Inside The Mafia: Violent Stories & Most Feared Bosses | Michael Franzese

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Michael Franzese was pulling in $10 million a week from a gas tax scheme that made him one of America's most powerful mobsters. Then he did something almost nobody survives: he walked away alive.In this conversation, Franzese strips away the Hollywood mythology and breaks down what real power looks like when your life depends on reading people correctly. We unpack the brutal stress of criminal operations, why most "tough guys" don't last, and how the negotiation tactics that kept him alive now close business deals.00:00 Introduction to Michael Franzese03:49 First arrests and early surveillance from law enforcement06:08 Building businesses and the multimillion-dollar gas tax scam08:00 Knowing it wouldn’t last and how the scheme eventually collapsed11:04 What he misses about mob life and the lifestyle12:40 Cleaning millions in cash and dealing with foreign banks15:30 Whether the mob still operates in New York and Italy today18:10 Reputation, respect, and fearing the people above you19:33 Reflections on Frank Costello and doing business without violence22:02 Applying mob skills to legitimate business and negotiation23:31 Taking a plea deal and liquidating assets before prison26:30 Solitary, diesel therapy, and finding faith behind bars29:06 Rumours, witness lists, and suspicion after leaving the life32:14 The few mobsters who actually walked away successfully34:49 Becoming a global speaker and finding purpose in storytelling39:20 Pizza, vending machines, and building a new empire51:05 How the Armenian wine business unexpectedly took off57:16 Delegation, treating people well, and earning respect01:02:51 Missed opportunities, like skipping Starbucks stock early on01:05:46 Wanting peace, purpose, and more freedom in his 70s01:11:36 The weight of regret, purpose, and giving advice to youth01:16:44 Faith, fear of hell, and the path to redemption01:29:47 Beating the odds while nearly everyone else ends up dead or jailed» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join @WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow Michael«YouTube: @michaelfranzeseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelfranzese_/?hl=enWine: https://franzesewine.com/Community: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/