About this episode

Joey Merlino discusses his life as a mob boss, his time in prison, and the challenges of public perception in a candid conversation with Rachel Uchitel.

For decades, Joey Merlino has been one of the most controversial and recognizable figures in America. Federal prosecutors called him the boss of the Philadelphia crime family. He's spent years behind bars, fought some of the biggest federal cases of his life, and recently became the subject of renewed public attention through a Netflix documentary. In this candid conversation with Rachel Uchitel, Joey opens up about prison, solitary confinement, loyalty, betrayal, gambling addiction, family, second chances, and how he navigates a world where everyone seems to have an opinion about him. Whether you view him as a mob boss, businessman, survivor, or something else entirely, this conversation reveals a side of Joey Merlino that rarely makes the headlines. --- --- --- PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!:  ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood  Become a Patreon Member: https://www.patreon.com/c/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel Shop Miss Understood Merch https://missumerch.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/?hl=en Follow Rachel on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@itsracheluchitel…

People in this episode

Host: Rachel Uchitel

Guest: Joey Merlino

Topics covered

• mob culture
• crime
• prison life
• loyalty
• betrayal
• second chances
• media representation

Keywords

• Joey Merlino
• mob boss
• Philadelphia crime family
• prison
• solitary confinement
• gambling addiction
• loyalty
• betrayal
• Netflix documentary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Netflix, Miss Understood, Patreon, Simplecast

More episodes of Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel

• What It Means To Be A Man | Therapist Trey Tucker Explains · July 21, 2026 · 53 min
• This $150,000 School Promises Kids Will Make $1 Million… Or Your Tuition Back | Nat Eliason · July 14, 2026 · 45 min
• Reality Steve EXPOSES Reality TV's Biggest Secrets | Taylor Frankie Paul, Love Island & Bachelor Bombshells · July 7, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Inside the Las Vegas Massacre: The Survivors Who Refused to Give Up · June 30, 2026 · 46 min
• How Would YOU Know If You Were In a Cult? Sarah Edmondson On Escaping NXIVM #380 · June 23, 2026 · 1h 8m
• I Was In Prison With Mackenzie Shirilla: The Real Story Behind Netflix's The Crash | Miss Understood #378 · June 1, 2026 · 57 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel podcast page.