On the Hollywood Godfather podcast, hosts Gianni and Jeanie welcome back filmmaker Miles Stinson, who discusses his documentary The Real Godfather about Joe Colombo and how the making of The Godfather intersected with New York’s mafia. Gianni shares stories from his youth, including receiving a radio from Carlo Gambino while quarantined at Bellevue, killing a pedophile that led to his release, and being protected and supported by Frank Costello, who later gifted him a million dollars and left him an apartment. Miles describes his family’s emphasis on education, his mentorship experiences interviewing Jon Voight for a Robert Duvall documentary, and promotes his Instagram. He announces a novel in progress about the Romanian mafia’s origins under communist Romania, outlines his research approach, and the hosts caution him about safety and offer help and contacts.
Monthly Archives: April 2026
Apr
On the Hollywood Godfather podcast, Gianni and Jeanie welcome filmmaker Miles Stevenson, 26, a New York–born writer/producer of documentaries. Miles recounts meeting Gianni while producing The Real Godfather documentary about Joe Colombo and The Godfather’s real-life ties, and they discuss Russo’s connections to Frank Costello, Colombo, and on-set stories such as a stolen production van and Lenny Montana’s improvised moment. Miles explains his fascination with the 1967–1975 “New Hollywood” era when the failing studio system gave young directors like Coppola and Scorsese creative control, enabling riskier films shot on location. Russo promotes his books Hollywood Godfather and Mafia Secrets, claims James Patterson validated his Marilyn Monroe account, says Mafia Secrets has a proposed $50M film with director George Gallo, and shares stories involving the Vatican, CIA–mob plots against Castro, and Kennedy-era allegations. The episode ends announcing Miles will return for a second segment.
Apr
On a monthly episode of the Hollywood Godfather podcast, Gianni and Jeanie bring on executive producer Michael Austin to answer listener questions about online safety, scams, and AI. Mike advises never clicking email links, verifying issues by going directly to official websites, checking sender email addresses, and using name-brand security tools such as router-based services (e.g., Netgear Armor) and malware scanners. He warns about public Wi‑Fi, recommending VPNs or hotspots and avoiding banking on shared networks, plus using two-factor authentication, PayPal or protected cards, and being cautious of card skimmers. They discuss current scams involving fake citations, bogus threats, and gift-card overpayment schemes, recommend the YouTube channel Scammer Payback, and cover how AI-generated video and audio are becoming harder to detect, with telltale signs diminishing within a few years. Gianni promotes his book Mafia Secrets and mentions his live show is not filmed.
Apr
Gianni and Jeanie record the Podcast while on location at the Chill Out event in New Jersey and a racetrack, welcoming longtime friend Paul Anka as part of their “Legends” series. Anka discusses how his songs, including “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” are trending on TikTok, and promotes his HBO Max documentary “Paul Anka: His Way” and a planned Broadway show about his life. He shares family details, including five daughters, a 20-year-old son entering the publishing business, and his daughter’s marriage to Jason Bateman. Anka recounts writing “Diana” at 15 and launching his career via ABC-Paramount, outlines upcoming tour stops including Borgata in April and Vegas in May, and talks about staying healthy, avoiding stress, and staying active as he ages.
Apr
On the Hollywood Godfather podcast, Gianni and Jeanie welcome back actor and visual artist Federico Castelluccio, who was born in Naples and came to the U.S. in 1968. Castelluccio discusses early acting work in New York theater and soap operas, stressing theater as an essential foundation, and recalls returning to Italy to film The Sopranos. He describes his formal art training on a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts, his realist charcoal and painting techniques (often 100–130 hours per drawing), and explains how his “Duke and Duchess of North Caldwell” Sopranos-inspired painting was commissioned after he pitched it to TV Guide. He shares updates on his wife’s documentary, recent and upcoming films (Don Q, Cabrini, The Loophole, Into the Black, Bad News on the Doorstep), directing plans, and a prospective New York City gallery exhibition of large charcoal works.