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: anthonyruggianojr@gmail.com

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

#AnthonyRuggiano #SeanMartin #REALMentorsPodcast #GambinoFamily #ReformedGangsters #AddictionRecovery #SecondChances #MobLife #TrueRedemption #RealOnes #BreakTheCycle #Transformation #ServeOthers #RealStories #FaithAndCourage #BeyondTheMob #NeverTooLate

Tim Kittelstad shares how blowing out his knee ended a soccer dream but opened a door to martial arts—and how a chance meeting with a stunt performer led him into the world of film and live-action storytelling. From showing up on set for free to training under legendary fight masters, Tim built a life rooted in faith, family, and relentless curiosity.

They talk about:

• How to start from zero and build trust in a niche, high-stakes industry like stunts
• Why "never stop being a white belt" is the mindset that drives every part of his life
• The power of humility—and how ego can be your biggest enemy (or your greatest teacher)
• Balancing fatherhood, family, and a career that demands risk and constant travel
• His upcoming Star Wars short film—and why he believes you have to create what you want to see in the world
• How martial arts philosophy translates into business, leadership, and storytelling

This episode is about showing up first, serving before asking, and embracing discomfort as the path to mastery— on set, at home, and in life.

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🔗 Connect with Tim Kittelstad

Instagram: @timkittelstad

🔔 Follow us on Instagram!

🕶️ Podcast: @REALMentorsPodcast

🎙️ Host: @theseanmartin

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⭐️ About the REAL Mentors Podcast

The REAL Mentors Podcast is all about bringing authentic stories, inspiring messages, and valuable lessons straight to you. Our mission is simple: alter lives with real examples and provide actionable advice to empower the next generation of leaders, creators, and visionaries. If you’re looking for real-talk and real impact, this is the place for you.

🔥 About the Guest – Tim Kittelstad

Timothy Kittelstad is a stuntman, fight choreographer, and Wing Chun instructor who believes that humility and service are the keys to growth—whether you’re in front of the camera, running a business, or raising a family.

After a career-ending sports injury, Tim rebuilt himself through martial arts, eventually becoming a head instructor and a sought-after stunt performer. He’s performed live shows in China and Orlando, trained under world-renowned sword masters, and now helps build the next generation of film fighters through community training in Florida.

Beyond stunts, he leads digital marketing initiatives at Torch Designs, mentors young performers, and brings his family into his creative world—turning backyard "action!" calls into lifelong memories.

Tim’s story is proof that when you lead with integrity and stay a lifelong student, you can craft a life far beyond what you imagined.

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Tags & Keywords:

Tim Kittelstad, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, stunts, fight choreography, martial arts, Wing Chun, digital marketing, lifelong learning, humility, fatherhood, Star Wars fan film, sword training, action design, community building, never stop being a white belt, purpose-driven storytelling, servant leadership, faith and creativity, mentorship in film, raising strong families, integrity in business, Florida stunt community, entrepreneurship through martial arts, living your passion, building trust, real stories of transformation, from setback to impact, Ip man, jackie chan, star wars, bruce lee, MMA, real fight

#TimKittelstad #SeanMartin #REALMentorsPodcast #StuntLife #WingChun #MartialArts #NeverStopBeingAWhiteBelt #FaithAndFamily #ActionDesign #LeadWithIntegrity #PurposeDriven #Storytelling #FilmIndustry #MartialArtsPhilosophy #RealOnes #BreakTheCycle #ServeFirst...

Coss shares how he ran a multi-million dollar drug business by 19, got sentenced to prison, and lost 70 pounds in a cell using nothing but bodyweight workouts. After getting out with $40 to his name, he started training people in a park with a stick and a fence—eventually turning that hustle into ConBody, a prison-style bootcamp staffed entirely by formerly incarcerated trainers. Then, he did it again—launching ConBud, a legal cannabis dispensary, as someone who was once locked up for selling weed.

They talk about:

- What it’s really like to come home with no money, no help, and no chances

- The moment in solitary confinement that changed his life forever

- Starting a business from nothing—and how to keep going when no one believes in you

- Why he only hires people with records—and why that’s his biggest strength

- Opening three dispensaries in 15 months and beating the system at its own game

- What second chances really look like—and why purpose hits different when you’ve been through hell

This episode is about how you turn rock bottom into a foundation—and prove the world wrong by staying true to who you are.

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🔗 Connect with Coss Marte

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

https://www.conbody.com

https://www.conbud.com

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Follow REAL Mentors Podcast

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

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

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🔥 About the Guest – Coss Marte

Coss Marte is the founder and CEO of ConBody, a New York City fitness studio that employs formerly incarcerated trainers, and ConBud, a cannabis dispensary built on equity and second chances. Once running a $2M drug operation and serving time in prison, Coss turned his life around through faith, fitness, and purpose.

Today, he’s helped thousands transform their lives through his programs, created jobs for dozens of returning citizens, and built multiple businesses from the ground up—all while advocating for criminal justice reform and equity in the industries that once excluded him.

Coss’s story is a testament to what’s possible when hustle meets healing—and when you stop running from your past and start building with it.

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Tags & Keywords:

Coss Marte, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, ConBody, ConBud, prison to CEO, formerly incarcerated entrepreneur, second chances, reentry programs, cannabis equity, legal weed NYC, prison reform, redemption stories, ConBody workouts, NYC fitness, criminal justice reform, cannabis licensing, social equity cannabis, passive income, hiring people with records, bodyweight workouts, legacy through impact, prison business ideas, real stories of change, entrepreneurship after prison, faith and transformation, LES success story, from the system to success

#CossMarte #SeanMartin #REALMentorsPodcast #ConBody #ConBud #SecondChances #PrisonToPurpose #JusticeReform #LegalWeedNYC #FitnessAfterPrison #HustleAndHeal #RealOnes #BreakTheCycle #LeadWithPurpose #FromCellToCEO #EntrepreneurAfterPrison #NYCCannabis #OwnYourStory #RealMentorRealTalk