Escaping the Mob and Beating Addiction | Anthony Ruggiano Jr. & Sean Martin

Anthony Ruggiano Jr. shares how growing up as the son of a feared Gambino crime family captain shaped his early identity—leading him from neighborhood dice games to violent crime, addiction, and ultimately prison. But after decades in the mob and battling cocaine addiction, a single phone call to a hotline sparked a journey of sobriety and redemption.

They talk about:

- The dangerous allure of the mob lifestyle—and why it feels like a "family" you can’t escape

- How addiction and ego fueled his most destructive years

- The turning point that forced him to choose between life or death

- The challenge of rebuilding his identity after leaving organized crime

- Why service and helping others became his true path to freedom

- How he's now using his story to mentor, counsel, and save lives

This episode is about the power of choice, the courage to walk away from an identity that once defined you, and the belief that no one is too far gone to change—if they’re willing to do the work.

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🔗 Connect with Anthony Ruggiano Jr.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyRuggiano

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reformedgangsters

Website: https://www.anthonyruggiano.com/ | https://www.reformedgangsters.com/

Email: [e-mail]

Follow REAL Mentors Podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast/

Host: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin/

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🔥 About the Guest – Anthony Ruggiano Jr.

Anthony Ruggiano Jr. is a former proposed member of the Gambino crime family who turned his life around after decades of addiction and crime. The son of "Fat Andy" Ruggiano, Anthony grew up in the shadows of Brooklyn’s underworld, idolizing mob figures and absorbing a dangerous code of survival.

After years spent chasing fast money, drugs, and street status, he found himself facing long prison sentences—and his own mortality. A call to a cocaine hotline saved his life, setting him on a path to recovery and self-reinvention.

Today, Anthony is a substance abuse counselor, speaker, and host of the Reformed Gangsters Podcast, where he shares raw lessons on transformation, accountability, and hope. His story proves that no matter how deep your past runs, there is always a way forward if you’re brave enough to choose it.

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Tags & Keywords:

Anthony Ruggiano Jr., Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, Gambino family, mafia, organized crime, addiction recovery, sobriety, redemption stories, second chances, true crime, mentorship, substance abuse counselor, reformed gangster, Reformed Gangsters Podcast, Brooklyn mob, transformation, faith, fatherhood, rebuilding your life, 12 steps, resilience, real stories of change, life after crime, overcoming ego, service to others, living beyond the past, healing generational wounds, New York underworld, mob insiders, personal growth, breaking the cycle, proof you can change

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