Merlino knows a lot of things, but he will never tell, to avoid being labelled as a rat. Since he doesn't want to share any information about the mob, what's the appeal of his podcasts to people interested in the subject? No idea...

I'm interested just by the nature of this being pretty significant with the only "active" made member to speak publicly. He's probably never going to say anything of any real substance but I'll give it a listen now and again in case he slips up lol. Some people are loving on him, in my opinion because they dream of being gangsters and idolize him.

. Honestly I don’t know why some would pick Joey to idolize. I mean two of his “highlights” was getting shot in the ass and that his wife was banging other street guys in full view. Not exactly a great legacy

Stanfa is still alive at 83 now serving at FCI Schuylkill in Minersville, Pennsylvania.

Most recent pic of Giovanni.

I don’t know if it’s specific to Joey or if any mobster on the planet started a podcast they would lap it up. No opinion on him from me one way or the other but I do find him funny, got that quick wit you’d expect

I see the word "Idolize" is the key word of the haters. Go ahead, but the Merlino podcast is great. I don't worship anyone, but I love the interviews. I don't know why others like it too, but for me I like seeing the view from the other side,
WHICH WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO HEAR. We hear form rats who work for the government, we hear from reporters and podcasters who get everything they know from prosecutors and rats, but this time we hear the other side, and it reveals plenty.

Why do people hate it? Do you all want to go on through life hearing only one side, or are you on that side yourself. I think many people have swallowed anything the government told them and it's gotten into their heads so strongly they can't deal with the truth.

But Merlino doesn’t actually say anything about the “other side” he belongs to. He doesn’t admit being a mafioso, he doesn’t say what he thinks about the mafia, he doesn’t try to defend their positions and the points his fellow gangsters may or may not have. I agree it would be interesting to actually learn something about the “other side” and its positions. But he doesn’t reveal anything.
That he hates rats and the situations when they tell lies about others, we all get it. But if those rats/informants are lying about their co-defendants, then what would be the true facts instead, according to Merlino? He can’t answer that question and describe the facts though, without risking to be labeled as a rat.

So, you can admire him if you want (that’s your business after all), but you can’t deny that Merlino’s podcasts don’t contribute to our knowledge of the mafia, other than letting us know that he hates informants, which was already clear from the beginning.

To me, any new information or insight into the workings of the mafia and the mentality of the mafiosi by Merlino would be welcome. The problem is, he isn’t going to provide it, because that would make him a “rat”.

Dwalin, you totally missed my points. He gives the side of a defendant up against a prosecution where the judges side with he prosecution (Not allowing tapes non ben introduced by the defendant is an example) He tells how informers lie, ma nd get away with it. He explains how witnesses were coached to lie in testimony.n He shows all off this, and you want him ton say he's in the mafia, nothing more?