Word on the street is that Joey has a new podcast coming out called The Skinny where he'll be discussing sports, gambling, food, cigars, all sorts of stuff. This is not a joke. He's also back on IG

https://www.instagram.com/skinny_joey_merlino_

Its true by the way.

Like I said, it's not a joke. There's also a youtube channel coming up. Absolutely unbelievable that a boss is doing this, but it just goes to show you that the life is completely dead

He probably officially retired from the life. I mean, kudos to him in that case. Not many are able to get out of that life without going into hiding, dying in prison or ratting.
The interesting question would be who's running the Philly operations nowadays.

He's definitely out. There is no way he's still the boss at this point, but maybe there is no boss right now. There have been rumors that Borgesi is the last word, but what is he a boss of? 12 guys lol

Even as a former boss who never ratted, I would be too embarrassed and ashamed to do something as lame as a podcast. It's gotta be damaging to his legacy.

I wonder though if you have to necessarily be involved in criminal activity to be in the mob these days. LCN actually has quite a few guys who are very wealthy and don't really have to be out there committing crimes if they don't want to. But they are still there if needed. Joe Todaro, those two guys from the Colombo Family, the Avellinos to name a few. There was also that Gambino guy who went on a reality TV show. But I don't see any possible way a boss hosting his own podcast and still being in the life. Joe Colombo had that civil rights league and went on national television, but that's quite different.

If you tube was around in the 80s, Gotti would have done something similar.

The Mob is a laughing stock these days!

Joey always loved the spotlight and for him this is a dream come true lol.

Yeah it's all a fucking joke. Pisses me off. They did it to themselves, RICO my ass! I hate how other, less interesting organized crime groups are able to thrive while the most charismatic group that was once such a force goes to shit.

Why do you always get so upset about these issues? Honest question. You get very worked up over these silly mob issues.

Love him or hate him he was a real gangster. If he wants to leave the life and make money being an influencer on social media who cares?!

I agree it’s ridiculous when rats do this and act like they decided to leave the life because they wanted to and not because they got jammed up.

He may even still be the boss and just not care! Maybe the rumors of skinny helping Biden win PA are true and he knows they aren’t after him anymore lol

Why are you worried about why I'm worried about it? Maybe just ignore my post? Podcasting is lame. And I doubt he's doing it for money, that's just a side perk. He's doing it more for attention. In fact, any attention-seeking activity is lame. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to point out that it's not RICO that killed the mob, the mob killed itself.

"The machine-gunners didn't get him...twas beauty killed the beast!"

In the end there are about thirty (those known) without counting the associates so if Merlino has decided to retire whoever comes after him will lead the most active of the families outside NY.

Boss:
Joseph Merlino ~61
Acting Boss:
Michael "Mikey Lance" Lancellotti ~60
Underboss:
Steven Mazzone ~59 (IP/03/17/2027)
Consigliere:
Joseph Ligambi ~83

Capos:
• Martin "Marty" Angelina ~60
• George “Georgie Boy” Borgesi ~59
• John Ciancaglini ~67
• Domenic Grande ~43 (IP/2028)
• Joseph "Scoops" Licata ~81

Soldiers:
• Anthony Accardo ~63
• Anthony Borgesi ~58
• Damion Canalichio ~54
• Joseph "Joey Chang" Ciancaglini Jr ~64 (S)
• Martin "Marty Crutch" Curro ~74
• Eric Esposito ~53
• Louis "Big Lou" Fazzini ~57
• Vincent "Big Vince" Filipelli ~71
• Joseph Grande ~63
• Francis "Faffy" Iannarella Jr ~76
• Gaeton “Gate/The Big Guy” Lucibello ~70
• Joseph Massimino ~72 (RRM)
• Nicholas "Nicky Whip" Milano ~63
• Phillip Narducci ~61
• Nicholas "Nicky O" Oliveri ~77
• Robert Paleo
• David Pepicelli
• Paul Pepicelli ~63
• Anthony "Tony Pung" Pungitore Jr ~69
• Joseph "Joey Pung" Pungitore ~67
• David Salvo
• Salvatore "Tory" Scafidi ~62
• Anthony “Ant” Staino ~66
• Joseph “Joey” Stanfa ~53 (S)
• Paul Tanso ~59 (S?)
• Luigi “Gino” Tripodi ~85
• Shawn Vetere ~55

Imprisoned Members:
• Giuseppe Gallara ~56 (IP/L)
• Frank Martines ~69 (IP/L)
• Salvatore "Sonny" Mazzone ~58 (IP/09/13/2024)
• Anthony Nicodemo ~50
• Salvatore Piccolo ~71 (IP/11/02/2027)
• Joseph “Joey Electric” Servidio ~63 (IP/03/05/2033)
• John Stanfa ~82 (IP/L)

There is big money in the podcast game and if he can show that he knows what he is doing on college or pro football people will pay for his leans; legit gambling is basically what he is doing. Now he goes and opens up one of those pay day lending places down in Boca, so now he is legally doing what got him in trouble. ONLY IN AMERICA

I am curious as to what he will say when the mob questions pop up. He'll probably go the Michael Franzese route and claim that he's a changed, religious, legitimate man and preach about staying away from crime.

Next time we will see him on TikTok.
In Italy social media is also a big thing nowadays.

But in Italy the mob is using social media as a tool to further their illegal enterprises, in America once they go that route they're done with the mob

I am liking Joey's picks. Btw he's already posted a couple of videos already. Posted the same video twice, but I give him credit for being on there. It took me hours to show my mom how to use IG and she's still not sure how it works lol

Haha I forgot but Merlino is already 61 he looks still like a "Young Turk" lol.

I'm glad for him if he's no longer in the life and taking those risks, but I think he's risking his reputation with this. People are already bashing him in comment sections.

Who's bashing him? A few YouTube keyboard warriors who are probably among the very same people that are fawning over those Sammy and Alite videos.
The podcast game is a legitimate hustle that's capable of generating a lot of money these days and the Mob has always had legitimate hustles. I doubt he's going to spill the beans about the life in his videos. Only time can tell how it'll work out; maybe it won't work out at all or maybe it'll end up being a really smart move. Who knows at this point.
Most of those wiseguys we see around on the web with their podcasts are only out because they ratted to get out. That's not the case with Joey Merlino as far as anyone can tell. And if this legitimate business venture turns out to be a successful one...good for him.

What are the proofs that Merlino is retired?

He is not retiring or retired ! This is just another scam on the legal side for a minute .

Don’t believe what he is selling just like US president gangster Joe .

Its what I think,Merlino have his childhood friends to watch his back why retire now.

He cares about money, not "legacy" an I do think he's retired aside from an envelope at Christmas

Serpiente, Are you saying that Joey M and Joe B are now in cahoots together?

NY M NO ! Even Skinny would not stoop that low ! but in that life what he is doing is a huge no no … even if it’s totally on the up & up . The other families should black list him and his own family should kill him /or shelf him .

But the mob these days are not doing shit ! The only thing that will happen is NY will not do business with Philly if they don’t hit him or shelf him … if nothing happens the life as fathers before them is completely gone .

Remember you don’t retire “ you don’t get involved with anything like what he is doing even if its a scam he is wrong !

He might set a trend, maybe all the other mob bosses will follow him.