The Chicago & New York accent in one room. So great 🤣🤙

“Some days I don’t feel like I survived.” What a deep conversation. This program is second-to-none. I hope it lasts forever.

You can see the pain in his expression. May the Lord bless Kurt with inner peace.

This was very moving. You can see that Kurt is still traumatised by the way his father treated him, and all the pain in his family life. He seems like a good man. I hope he manages to find some peace.

GET HIM BACK ON, MICHAEL., THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SIT DOWNS YOU’VE EVER DONE.

a new york guy and a chicago guy i love it!!!

Hi Michael! This was a fantastic interview. ❤️Kurt is a close and long time friend of mine. I’m so proud of him for doing this interview. His side of the story truly needs to be told. Great to see him out here in California. Another fantastic show of yours as usual ⭐️🎥🇮🇹

I truly pray this man can stand up from this conversation and embrace the world with a new light. He got all that darkness out. Went through so much and never looked at it selfish. We need more like him.

Abuse is a weird monster. Drugs and abuse together is nearly impossible to navigate. Good on both of you for come out of it as well as you have; and I pray for your healing.

Great interview Michael, this was more of a intervention than a interview. I can see you’re trying to help him and I hope he finds peace. Happy thanksgiving

You can feel the pain coming off this man. I have my own issues with my father, but they don't rate in comparison. It's a strange thing in the brain, that someone can treat you so badly and you'll fight to defend them against anyone saying anything about them. I wish it didn't work that way.

When I see videos like these,it makes me feel more happy and grateful that I had lovely childhood, and that my parents are the best people in the world for me

This is an INCREDIBLE conversation. So authentic and engaging. It doesn't get any more real than this. Thanks for all you do Michael. I have taken a lot of your advice on becoming less "chatty" with co-workers, new people I meet, anybody really. It's helpful. I can't tell you how many times my overly talkative style used to bite me and cause me grief and headache. I still have to guard against it because it's my instinct to talk, but the awareness is key to halting that practice. Sorry to ramble but I wanted to say thank you and I admire the way you conduct yourself.

Great interview. Mr. Calabrese really opened up. Aside from the valuable and interesting content, it was cool to hear such legit Chicago and New York accents in conversation with each other.

Ive just left a really bad narcissistic abusive relationship and there is so much scope that fits this interview. Peace and love 🇬🇧❤🇺🇸

I really feel for Kurt. All this time an he is still very bothered by things. I could be wrong but my gut feeling is that he needed you Mike. He needed another good guy that he can relate to an talk about things with. I’m glad you were there for him ❤

As a youngster I used to believe the life was glamorous and amazing. But as Michael and Kurt explained here, you realize how destructive it is. I hope Kurt can find a happy place in his life. Michael I enjoy everything you do. I'm a big fan. And I admire how open , honest , and understanding you are. God bless

This interview really spoke to me. I’m shaking. My parents never had a civil conversation. Constant screaming and yelling. Discipline for me and my youngest brother was generally pretty hard beatings from both parents. I do not remember them treating my older brother, younger brother and younger sister that way. As a youngster i don’t remember my dad ever hitting my mom. But one time when i was older (maybe 20), i came home on leave from the military to surprise everyone. My first night home my mom and dad got into it. For the first time ever i saw him hit her. That was it. I grabbed him by the throat, threw him down to the ground and raised my fist prepared to beat him. Was able to regain my composure and escorted him out of the apartment. Thankfully they divorced soon after. Just like Kurt, i had trouble disciplining my children. All this affects me to this day.

This sit down has Really got to me. Because my life was in between the two of you guys. My father had connections with the mob.. just saying, Dad was extremely honorable person, I was daddy’s favorite… dad gave us everything we wanted pretty much “ good childhood “ I covered, helped, stood up for them… etc. unfortunately after we lost dad, my siblings really did aweful things & I helped my siblings… slowly but surely my siblings I was so close to, have Betrayed me in horribly ways!!! Listening to you guys Sooo makes me feel so good, my siblings still doing bad things even to each other, I…. Took myself out of my family, I know their still talking crap about me, but I know for a FACT I’m the happiest one of all of them! Listening to this just validates I know I’m a better person 😊. It does saddens me what a couple of them done to me. But I took the High road instead of being in their web. Thx you for reminding me I’m a good person & Dad IS Proud of me. Because I listened to stuff “ life lessons “ and I followed through!!! I’m still my father’s daughter!!!!! 😊😊😊❤❤❤

Mob life is not the romanticized life you see in the movies. Kurt Calabrese explained the real Mob life.

Thank you guys for sharing and a special thanks to Kurt as well. Never easy to try to balance out talking about a father like that. You wanna show that you've moved on but you also wanna voice out your anger.

I grew up a few blocks from Kurt,mutual friends,nice guy...everyone in the neighborhood knew his dads rep,he was real deal

I think you couldn't be more of a man of honor than you've become today. Im captivated by your sitdowns.

I tell you one thing Michael you are always consistent with your quality of your videos they're always great and informative as a disabled veteran I salute you Sir and I hope that you and your entire family have a awesome thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Mr.Franzese! I commute to work at UPS every morning around 2:30am and I love listening to your stories on the way.

God bless you Michael. It is always enjoyable to hear a story of success that we owe to Him, and those that care for us.

Grew up with Kurt in the same neighborhood Always a gentleman and one of the nicest, most respectful ( and respected )guys you’ll ever have the pleasure to know.

Great interview. What I took away was the fact that when you go along with a certain lifestyle that isn’t you, you eventually push back, no matter what the consequences. The fact that you live through it all is an honour to your spirit.

PLEASE put this guy in touch with Dr. Peterson 🙏🙏😢 I could FEEL the hurt, distrust, bitterness, regret, sadness and brokenness as soon as he started talking about his dad 😭 I don’t know if your ppl will read this Michael but I’m only asking for his own good 😔 This guy needs help and I mean ZERO disrespect to say so. PS - I wrote my comment before Michael talked about JP!!! 👏☺️👍That REALLY made my day!!!

I'm still Baffled that your old man knew Scarface and the Chicago outfit and also crossed paths with Lucky Luciano, those guys go back to the Mano Nera era of the US

The simple answer to who you think you are or become, you become a product of your surroundings.

Great conversation. Appreciate Kurt being open about this. A lot of families go through what he and his family went through. I’m very thankful to have had a loving family.

Thanks Michael, so much for being such an inspiring figure, a voice of reason, family, and faith. God bless you and your family

Michael you’re a great interviewer. Most interviewers ask a question and talk over the person while they’re answering.

Mr Franzese has a way of talking that is so compelling and thoughtful. A fan from South Africa.. keep up the good work sir

So nice to hear that Chicago accent. It's almost gone in the city 😢

Thank you Michael for the extended version of this sit down with Kurt. Very interesting and super engaging the way you guys bounced off each other with your stories and upbringing. Happy thanksgiving to you and you family!

I can see the amount of sad 😥 in his eyes. Thanks for the interview MICHAEL. KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK 👍

There is a certain nostalgia from the 90s in Chicago. I can’t even describe it it was beautiful and terrifying too. This interview brought back a lot of the nostalgia.

Michael, I can really appreciate the message you convey in explaining to people how that life hurts and destroys so many people, including ourselves. I to thank god for giving me a chance to redeem myself,it’s a process,but I’ve never gave up. May the Almighty guide you and Kurt to what’s best in this life and the next. Amin

The way you seamlessly engage in this man's story and are able to use your own experiences to subsequently let him know he's not alone and still captivate us as viewers is truly inspiring. Thank you for yet another great interview and video.

He is a very likeable guy and i feel like he is very genuine. Love this sit down.

Man, I really feel for Kurt. It's so so sad. Hang in there Kurt... Your a stand up human being and have some battle scars. I get it... I hear a sadness in your voice... Your a survivor even if sometimes you don't feel like one. Your the true man and sometimes that's harder than anything! God bless you and your loved ones.. You have learned from your father... Don't treat your children like he treated you...

Excellent sit down Michael. It was very moving to see how you want to help this man , God bless to you both 🙏

Happy Thanksgiving, Michael! It's such a shame Kurt had to endure that. My heart goes out to him. Great video, and keep up the great work 👍

so rough, very touching, what a cruel father. Kurt i wish you all and nothing but the best sir!

Best documentary on media, today. As a former cop in another country, bless you, Michael. Probably the best learning series for young people today. Long may you share your wisdom.

I don't know how you're not up to 100 million subscribers already. Always amazing stuff, keep up the good work.

Fascinating interview. What a nice guy Kurt is - pains me to see how he is still haunted by the past.

I want to see more Chicago wise guys on your show. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving. 😊 🦃

You are a complete natural at these interviews. I watch lots of similar podcast, Micheal is on the different level.

Amazing and inspiring interview. I'm so very sorry that you both had to live in those situations. Thoughts and prayers for both of you.

Interesting to see the parallels between Kurt and Michael. The family dynamics aren't exactly the same, but the love the both of you had for your fathers, despite being flawed is something few can understand. Because I deal with it too. But it's also glaring the relationship the both of you share about your siblings. All the glory of the mob, and like Michael says. No one gets anything glorious in terms of how much the family unit decays. Glad to watch this one between two people that understand each other.

Incredible conversation. Thanks to both of you for sharing.

I think this is the most hard-hitting, completely honest of interviews that I've ever seen. It underscores your advice to young men, Michael, to stay clear of the seductions of organized crime. Kurt fell into it by process of birth, but what a thing for others to choose; a legacy of never-ending pain for families. God bless you both!

Oh my goodness, I feel so bad for this man! I see that brokenness and trauma in his demeanor, and for him to lament on his feelings and personal tragedies is healing for him, I thank you Mr Francese for allowing him to talk and share his testimony! Even tho I have not grown up in this lifestyle, my Mother and I have suffered great tragedy, but you know, in all of this pain and suffering we as believers that put our trust in Christ our all in all, our very substance, in him we have great hope ,great joy, and a great future with him, this life is passing, and as a Christian that lost half of my family to tragedy by the time I was 7, Christ has been my everything, now at 64 in remission for pancreatic cancer I have to totally rest in him , because my future here is uncertain, please, if you could contact this man your interviewing and tell him their is total complete healing in Christ Our Savior and King! Love you all! And please remember, our mission in life is to know Christ and make him known! ❤❤❤

Thankyou for the content Michael. We appreciate it.

I live by Melrose Park IL which is just outside Chicago - you can still feel the past there of the notorious Chicago gangsters and the family names still live there

Hi Michael this is probably the best sit down you ve done I really felt for Kurt and such an interesting sit down keep up the great work

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁 my friend God Bless you and your family

Thank you Mr. Franzese. I'm going through a hard time and maybe in denial on certain things what's happening in my life and family. This video helped me to realize what I truly feel about it and how I want to live my life. I wish one day I'm able to meet you in person and talk to you. I wish you, your family and your guest here a wonderful life. - Big fan from Malaysia

Nothing but respect for both of you men telling your stories.. Honesty is always so important..

God bless Sir, you are truly doing the lord's work all praise and glory to him for where you are and how you got your family away from that lifestyle.

A family is all about relationships. You have a different relationship with each member. It’s not better or worse just a different relationship. I’ve struggled with this idea my step kids and biological because I didn’t want to make any of them feel lesser. In the end I’ve come to the conclusion that I have individual connections with them each as special as the next but for different reasons.

What a inspiration you are mr franzese. With love and respect from all of Australia

This has been my favorite interview you’ve done. Well done. 🎉

Happy thanksgiving from Glasgow Michael hope you and your family have a good one

Not only an excellent interview but a really enjoyable listen with these vintage NY and Chi accents

Love watching Michael franzese Such a cool customer . It’s mad what he’s actually been through and to come out the other end is incredible. Not seen this one yet soon as I finish work I’ll watch straight away . God bless Mike keep up the great work sir .

This was deep. I feel bad for this man. I had a bad relationship w my dad. Mean, abusive, his way or the highway kind of guy. I always had a chip on my shoulder but he was my dad, so I dealt with it. It wasn't until I had children, and he started acting like that towards them, then we had a big problem. I hope this man finds comfort and peace.

Excellent sit down Michael, and as a man who grew up with abuse, I truly appreciate hearing how someone else handled it and grew up. Two things that I will never do is hurt a woman in anger and never more than a spanking on a kids ass, which I never had to do. Thank you for your interviews. They have been very inspirational and helpful to me as I try to make a better life for my wife and I

Sometimes a parent will treat a child differently if he/she looks like the husband or wife . Typical they hate their spouse , or themselves.

Michael...Happy Thanksgiving & good health to You & Your Family. ✌

Right on Michael, thanks for giving us more on this story, it just felt like he had more to say last time but thank you again and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your familia

Michael, if I may, I am a Pastor here in Chicago who also works as a Mental Health Professional. You were talking about Jordan Peterson's question about who is the "real you." The answer to that question obviously starts with your identity in Christ but I can see very clear and definite gifts and talents in you for counseling and pastoral ministry. It rather "emanates" from your character and personality.........for whatever that's worth, brother. Keep serving God and doing the great work!

This is awful to hear, abusive and troubled people shouldn’t have family. Glad you stand up men are talking about this because there’s ppl that deal with this in the past and present. Happy Thanksgivings to all.

Great interview Micheal. Very honest. Keep up the great content. It’s very helpful for people. 👍

Great interview. Thanks for shining a light on this other side of the mob life aside from what we see in the movies.

I've grown up knowing and respecting you for a lot of years. I have my story, you have yours. I, nor ANYONE ELSE, has the right to pick and sort through you or your decisions. Me, growing up in Philly, doing cigarette and money runs for the guys at 12-13 years old, is not even close to the realm that you lived in. I understand what EVERYONE SAYS AND WHY. But you are a commendable man, husband, and father who made some big scary changes. I will ALWAYS look to you like the man's man that I learned about. My opinion has no affect on you or anyone else, I'm not anyone special, but I know what I know and I see what I see. Thank you, for all of the things that you don't even know about, but has helped so many. YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE A GREAT MAN OF INTEGRITY. God bless 🙌 🙏

Well said God bless you both . Some carry the scars of violence forever.

Great interview Mike. Great to hear Kurt’s side of things.

Thanks Michael. Lots of insight into what happens inside the Mob family. Drugs and the "easy money" is definitely one of the main reasons for the decline of the original Cosa Nostra. As a LEO of 4 decades, I dealt with many different aspects of organized crime. there were many times we would sit around and talk about how we wished the Mob was still in the "sin businesses" instead of the evil of narcotics. Before the Cartels and MS13 etc We were able to approach almost any made guy and talk to him. Not so much the gang punks of today. God Bless You, keep telling your story.

Thank you Mike and Kurt for being opened and aiding others to leave the criminal life.

People forgot, Chicago built America.

What a thanksgiving treat!!

This was so intriguing Kurt could have gone the other way and carried on the abuse to his family, but he chose not to that’s a real man - love Michael also such an intelligent and interesting guy, always makes me laugh when he says “ let me ask you this” 😂

Finally Michael does a video on the Chicago Outfit.

This is the best interview ive seen! god bless to both of you !

He really wanted to share his story. Thanks to both of you.

In Chicago, there are so many different street gangs. And in Chicago, there was a Italian gang called the C Notes,which is now mixed. But the Outfit would have the C Notes do things on the streets, like selling EX, running afew night clubs in the Western burbs,like Zero Gravity. But alot of Outfit guys are ex C Notes. On my moms side, I had alot of family that were C Notes in the late 70s n 80s. The Outfit had a Grand Ave crew, which was right by the C Notes Motherland. I grew up not that far from Chicago/Damen were the Notes had sets,all over there, but were I grew up, it was all Latino, I was the only white kid,in my school, most of the area.

Great interview Really enjoyed seeing g you two gentlemen exposed your selves to a depth that you did. It helps tell the story behind you both and helps us understand similarities in life. Not the same life but we can see your stories and parallel them to ours and find a way to cope, grow and overcome. God bless you both

Real life lessons here from two very wise guys. 🧐👍 Thanks for sharing.

Wanting to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁 Thanks for all the good work you do and the great videos you put out!

People are hearing a Chicago accent and a New York City Italian American accent in this interview. You can hear the differences. Kurt talks like Frank Culotta but his a less thick accent

Who ever thought we'd find such a father-figure like Michael this way...Happy Thanksgiving

This is one of my favorite sit downs you uploaded .

Poor Kurt. Chicago was so violent. They literally tortured people many many times.

Chicago in the house 🌃

Hey Mike, great interview. I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. God bless

What a sweet and tough guy, thanks for this Michael.