Rising From Deception: With Giovanni Rocco
This week, we sat down with our friend Giovanni Rocco, the undercover FBI agent who infiltrated the real-life DeCavalcante crime family—the same mob crew that inspired The Sopranos. But let us be clear: this episode is not just about mob takedowns and wiretaps. This is about what happens after the mission is over—when the badge comes off, the ring comes off, and the world you thought you were serving forgets your name.
From the moment Giovanni joined us, he pulled back the curtain—not just on the operation, but on the emotional wreckage that followed. He shared what it was like to live under five different identities, lie to the people he cared about most, and wake up years later unable to recognize the man he’d become. He talks about raising kids in hiding, being forced out of the home he loved, and watching the system he served treat him like a liability after his usefulness expired. If you’ve ever felt abandoned by the very thing you gave your life to—you’re going to feel this one deep in your chest.
Giovanni doesn’t just sit in the pain, though. He’s done with pity. Instead, he talks about what it means to invest in yourself—mentally, emotionally, and physically. He shares how he rebuilt himself using breathwork, reframing trauma, and staying connected to the people who could meet him where he was. He reminds us that the hardest switch isn’t going from undercover to civilian—it’s going from protector to partner, from armored up to emotionally available. And he tells us why, to this day, he still takes the ring off when he pulls into the driveway.
This is one of those conversations we’ll be thinking about for a long time. It’s gritty. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s funny in that dark, only-cops-and-clinicians-would-laugh kind of way. And most importantly—it’s real. Giovanni may have taken down the mob, but his real legacy is what he’s building now: honest connection, mental wellness, and the reminder that no one gets out of this job untouched—but no one has to heal alone either.Book
Title: Giovanni’s Ring: My Life Inside the Real S
🚨 4th Annual Tactical Tools for Thriving Symposium 🚨
Join us May 5th at St. Elizabeth Training Center, Erlanger, KY, for a day dedicated to first responder mental health. Hosted by Kentucky First Responder Peer Support Team and After the Tones Drop Podcast, this event delivers real talk, resources, and resilience. Mark your calendar and Register HERE!
DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.
ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):
- https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR
- https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM
- https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE
- https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS
- https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74
- https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus
License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR - https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough
License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE