About The Hollywood Godfather Podcast

Gianni Russo, host of The Hollywood Godfather Podcast, is a captivating storyteller with a life as dramatic as the films he’s known for. Best recognized for his iconic role as Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather, Russo brings firsthand Hollywood and Mafia tales to the mic, blending celebrity encounters with real-life underworld experiences.

With deep ties to the entertainment industry and a storied past that spans Sinatra to Gotti, Gianni delivers an unfiltered insider perspective on fame, crime, power, loyalty, betrayal, and everything in between.

Every episode becomes a masterclass in charisma, controversy, and classic storytelling — the kind you don’t get from a press release. You get it from someone who was actually in the room.

Jeanie Raymond, co-host of The Hollywood Godfather Podcast, brings sharp insight, wit, and balance to the show’s bold storytelling. With a background in media and a deep passion for true crime and classic cinema, Jeanie is the perfect counterpart to Gianni Russo.

She guides conversations from the listener’s perspective — asking the questions we’re all thinking and offering thoughtful commentary that grounds the podcast’s larger-than-life stories.

Her dynamic presence adds intelligence, curiosity, and style, helping listeners navigate the blurred lines between Hollywood legend and underworld reality.

Mike Austin is the creative engine behind The Hollywood Godfather Podcast — not just the producer, but the one-man media army who helps make it all happen. At XMLA, Mike wears every hat with style and precision: producer, editor, promotions graphics designer, AI prompt engineer, audio sorcerer, IT wizard, and webmaster.

If it’s got sound, visuals, tech, or creative fire, Mike had a hand in it — whether that’s sculpting the perfect mix, crafting show-stopping graphics, tuning every waveform, or making sure the backend doesn’t fall apart like a low-budget heist.

With technical mastery, LA-style flair, and a refusal to settle for “pretty good,” Mike helps keep the podcast sharp, polished, and unmistakably cinematic.

In short: Mike Austin doesn’t just help make the show — he helps make it look, sound, and feel like Hollywood first class.

Co-host Mike Di Stasio grew up in Boston. A lover of classic movies since childhood, Mike immediately fell in love with the characters he saw on the big and small screen.

“Films back then were simple and the characters they played were complex and you felt bad for them. I’ll always love Bogart, Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and all the players during Hollywood’s Golden Age. That’s why I try to promote the classics whenever I can, and teaming up on this podcast with Gianni Russo is a match made in Showbiz heaven.”

The friendship between Gianni and Patrick did not have the usual beginnings of boyhood camaraderie. Both Gianni and Patrick were born and raised in New York’s Little Italy and lived a scant short block from each other, but that’s where the similarities end.

Gianni sought his future with the Mafia, while Patrick became a New York cop. Their paths crossed a few times, and each was on the other’s radar, with distrust and wariness always hovering. However, they became friends and later discussed the many complexities surrounding two very different worlds: organized crime and police work.

Julia Claire Schweitzer graduated from Monash University in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, with a double degree in Business Management and Design Communication.

She later concluded her studies in Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, where she currently resides. A bubbly yet determined young actress making her way in the industry, Julia brought a Gen Z outlook to the show, asking the questions her generation is interested in regarding Old Hollywood, the Italian Mafia, and true crime.