Former Mafia boss reveals the 'three words' that helped him survive prison

A former Mafia capo has disclosed the "three words" vital for survival in prison on The Diary Of A CEO podcast.

In a recent episode, host Steven Bartlett interviewed Michael Franzese, an ex-member of the Colombo crime family who shared insights from his time behind bars, including a 29-month stint in solitary confinement.

Michael opened up about the need to "navigate the system" in prison and adhere to certain unwritten rules, reports the Mirror.

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He recounted advice from his father: "You know, my father taught me again. He said, 'Mike, I'm gonna tell you three things that are gonna help you when you go to prison because you're gonna go one day'."

His father's words were simple yet powerful: "He said three words that are gonna go a long way - please, thank you, excuse me. And he said the reason for that, he said all these guys in prison that never got respect on the street, they want it all in there."

He elaborated on the importance of politeness: "They want to show they're people, you know, that they're tough guys or whatever. You bump into somebody, 'Excuse me'; you wanna cut somebody on the line, go to eat whatever, said, 'Do you mind?'"

He stressed the significance of courteous behaviour: "You know, 'Excuse me; please, if I can come in front of you?' Don't ever just get in front of them, you know, and somebody hands you... 'Hey, thank you, thank you very much'. Be cordial."

Franzese also mentioned how some inmates, like John Gotti of the Gambino crime family, attempt to dominate in prison but ultimately fail, as such tactics "don't work" on the inside.

Michael opened up further about his time behind bars,