In this gripping, brutally honest episode of I'm an Artist, Not a Salesman, Luis Guzman sits down with reality TV icon Renee Graziano—and nothing is off limits. Best known from Mob Wives, Renee has lived through a storm of public scrutiny, personal battles, and deeply private traumas. But today? She’s standing in her truth. This episode is not about the glamor of TV. It’s about the real woman behind it all—the one who’s fought addiction, heartbreak, betrayal, and years of internal struggle just to sit here and tell the story.

If you're looking for a surface-level conversation, this ain’t it.
This is a raw, reflective, and surprisingly hilarious deep-dive into the life of a woman who’s been through hell and decided to redecorate.

Renee opens up about how she went from champagne and cocaine to a quiet life of sobriety, celibacy, and self-awareness. She shares how trauma shaped her identity, how she lost nearly everything—including her sense of self—and how she’s rebuilding her life brick by brick with therapy, God, and a little bit of Prozac-fueled peace.

We talk about:

• The unexpected addiction that started long before drugs: power

• Growing up with a father in the mob and what that really looked like behind closed doors

• Why her title as Anthony’s daughter felt more important than being a mother

• The toxic relationships that almost destroyed her—and the moment she finally said enough

• How losing 50+ pounds and gaining clarity helped her fall back in love with herself

Through laughter and tears, Renee reflects on the harsh lessons that came from being on reality TV while quietly spiraling behind the scenes. She gets real about the damage that Xanax, secrecy, and shame did to her—and why she’s finally done running from the mirror.

You’ll hear stories of violence, betrayal, mental breakdowns, and—somehow—still walk away feeling hope. Luis creates a space where Renee opens up like never before, from the trauma of a sexual assault while hospitalized to the pain of losing her father’s letters and keepsakes to someone she once trusted.

Highlights from the episode include:

• The chilling story of Renee’s ex-husband wearing a wire while sleeping in the same bed as her

• What it’s like dating as a well-known mob daughter—and why Renee’s over it

• The immersive mob-themed dinner show “Married by the Mob” and why it’s her way of taking power back

• Why she believes God kept her alive—and what she’s doing with her second (okay, maybe eighth) chance

There’s no performance here. Just one woman, unfiltered, unpolished, and unapologetically transparent about the mess, the beauty, and the weird in-between of survival and self-discovery.

Whether you’re an artist, a recovering perfectionist, or just someone who’s ever felt like a mess in a world that rewards masks, this episode will hit you in the gut and maybe even make you laugh while you're crying.

Want more from Renee Graziano? You can catch her performing in Married by the Mob—an immersive wedding experience like no other—February 13–15 at the Avenel Performing Arts Center. And if you're in the skincare game, check out her brand Bad Body Butter—because healing is an inside and outside job.

Let’s keep this conversation going:

• Follow Luis Guzman on all platforms: @imanartistnotasalesman

• Subscribe to the I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman YouTube channel for more raw and real episodes.

• Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded that they’re not alone—and that starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

If this conversation moved you, challenged you, or made you think differently about your own story, drop us a review or a DM. We read them all. This podcast is for the misfits, the creatives, the comeback kids—and the ones still finding their way back home.