Dumb Blonde – Throwback: Renee Graziano – Family Business
Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Bunnie XO
Guest: Renee Graziano
Episode Overview
This emotionally raw and unfiltered episode welcomes Renee Graziano, famously known from “Mob Wives,” as the “fairy mob mother.” Hosted by Bunnie XO, the discussion delves into Renee’s turbulent family history, addiction struggles, the dark reality behind mob life, recovery, and what it means to reclaim one’s identity after trauma. The episode oscillates between dark humor, vulnerability, and candid moments about overcoming adversity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introduction & Setting the Tone
- [02:00] Bunnie introduces Renee as her "fairy mob mother," emphasizing Renee’s powerful presence, beauty, and the demand for attention she brings to any room.
- [02:41] Renee describes her “addiction” to attention and alludes to a life shaped by extremes and early trauma.
"I think that's where my addiction comes from."
— Renee ([02:55])
Family & Mob Roots
- [03:48] Renee’s father, Anthony Graziano, was the "consigliere" of the Bonanno crime family; raised in stark poverty, his childhood trauma heavily influenced Renee's upbringing.
- [04:44] Explains the strict, protective rules of her childhood, shaped by her father's obsession with safeguarding his daughters after his own family history of abuse.
"Growing up with, like, a mob boss as a father... it was the perfect storm for me."
— Renee ([03:07])
- [06:04] Mob association was “never spoken about” at home; Renee learned the truth as a teenager in a Brooklyn nightclub.
"I go, my father doesn't drive a boat... I didn't know what the words were."
— Renee ([06:36])
- [07:48] Her father’s notoriety made her a target of bullying, isolation, and complex trauma.
Sibling Dynamics & Early Trauma
- [10:57] Gripping stories of near-fatal sibling abuse, body image struggles, and being labeled by her sisters as “ugly and dumb,” shaping her self-worth and fueling early promiscuity.
"I became ugly and dumb in my—that's what I saw... I automatically became promiscuous."
— Renee ([12:29])
- [13:27] Detailed recounting of abusive teenage relationships and hiding her suffering from her father.
"He stabbed me in the side of my leg with a fork as I was coming down the stairs."
— Renee ([14:26])
Survival in Abusive Relationships
- [15:07] Renee shares the harrowing experience of her father retaliating against her abuser and the implications it had on her sense of guilt, secrecy, and emotional self-protection.
"That's exactly where everything started—that's really where it all started."
— Renee ([17:39])
- [17:58] Introduction to drugs at 13, prompted by sibling influence and wanting to fit in; escalating to cocaine and relationships with older, predatory men.
"You’re warped in the brain that you want to be with a little girl."
— Renee ([19:37])
Patterns of Love, Addiction & Family Cycles
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[20:57] Marrying AJ’s father against her family’s advice; details on racial prejudice and family conflict.
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[24:23] Outpouring on her lifelong search for unconditional love, emptiness she calls a “hole in her soul,” and hope for future self-love.
"I would have done anything, anything in the world... for someone to say I love you."
— Renee ([24:23])
- [25:19] The solace and healing found in her grandchildren’s love.
Addiction, Overdose & Medical Trauma
- [28:00+] Detailed stories about her abusive marriage and the impact this had on AJ.
- [40:51] Renee’s first overdose in 2007, resulting from doctor-prescribed OxyContin and other pills.
"Doctor gave me... that's enough to kill you. It did, obviously."
— Renee ([41:19])
- [41:37] Traumatizing experience of being sexually assaulted by a fellow patient while held in a mental institution post-overdose, and the deep mental scars left behind.
"I was sexually assaulted in the mental ward by a man named Stanley..."
— Renee ([42:30])
- [44:39] Details her battle with lingering trauma, memory flashes, and survival coping mechanisms.
"If I didn’t do the drugs, I wouldn’t have OD’d. If I didn’t OD, he couldn’t have done that."
— Renee ([45:10])
Mob Wives & Public Struggles
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[51:02] Renee’s sister Jennifer is the creator and EP of “Mob Wives.” Initially, she didn’t want Renee on the show but relented.
-
[51:27] Details dangers of plastic surgery gone wrong (MRSA, neardeath experience), playing out on television.
"I lose 6.3 pints of blood... and they said I’ve defied medical history."
— Renee ([52:36])
- [57:00] Explains how her ex-husband “came back” solely to set up her father and the devastating betrayal she felt.
Betrayal, Wiretaps, and Loss
- [64:01] Shocking discovery that her ex gave her a Rolex with a wire inside while she was near death, in attempt to gather evidence against her father.
"The watch he gave me in the hospital had a wire in it."
— Renee ([64:01])
- [65:50] Grapples with “snitch” culture, stigma, self-defense, and reasons for going public about her abuse.
Life After Mob Wives
- [70:14] Reflections on show dynamics, jealousy, betrayal among cast members, and “mob wife” pop culture resurgence on TikTok.
"Not my fault I’m the North Star and you’re not."
— Renee ([74:51])
- [77:55] Current relationships with cast—speaks with Karen and Ramona, but not Drita or Carla. Open about past fallouts, making amends, and ongoing personal growth.
Survival Beyond Reality TV
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[78:31] Post-show, Renee did “Celebrity Big Brother” and “Marriage Boot Camp”—shares an explosive story about her “fake” TV boyfriend’s drunken racist tirade and her own reaction.
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[82:18] Hilarious yet dark tale about the latest failed relationship, discovering a boyfriend cheating with another man, and a string of con artists and heartbreakers.
"He wasn’t just cheating on me with a girl—he was cheating on me with a Russian guy."
— Renee ([82:17])
Loss, Relapse & Rebirth
- [90:18] In 2023, Renee accidentally overdosed on fentanyl-dosed cocaine, leading to a near-death experience and several days intubated.
"I died in a restaurant in Florida... I was intubated for three days, and no one in my family came."
— Renee ([90:46])
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[93:00] Describes undergoing electroshock therapy after her father’s death, which led to memory loss, worsened her addiction, and offered little relief.
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[96:22] Renee’s brush with death in a horrendous car accident in 2022, which she credits surviving to her late loved ones “pulling her out.”
Healing, Recovery & Moving Forward
- [97:09] Now working in addiction recovery, focusing on giving others the love and guidance she yearned for—particularly at Lamar Odom’s Vanity Wellness in California.
"My objective is to help someone realize that they are special and you don’t have to have a hole in your soul."
— Renee ([97:19])
- [99:44] Rebuilding her relationship with son AJ has become essential to her healing and sobriety; now speaking daily and sharing a sense of hope.
"My son and I have spoken every single day since then... and he’s proud of me."
— Renee ([99:44])
- [101:48] On her ex-husband’s public interviews and continuous threats: “He’s a twat... he sounds like a jerk off... just go the fuck away.”
Reflections on Strength & Identity
- [106:28] Both Bunnie and Renee affirm the lifelong journey of surviving abuse, discovering self-worth, and not caring about public perception anymore.
"I'm so tired of caring about what other people think."
— Renee ([107:17])
- [108:23] Renee looks towards the future: working on her jewelry brand “Mob Candy,” a fun Mob Wife AI app, TV projects, and most importantly—focusing on her own healing and advocacy.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On trauma:
"Trauma starts at the moment of conception."
— Bunnie ([07:59]) - On love:
"I would have done anything in the world for someone to say I love you."
— Renee ([24:23]) - On betrayal:
"The watch he gave me in the hospital had a wire in it."
— Renee ([64:01]) - On mob wives:
"No one will ever do the things you do. You pay people’s bills before your own."
— Jennifer Graziano (quote relayed by Renee) ([26:23]) - On recovery:
"I'm now a grandmother. I'm an advocate for people in addiction, mental health. I'm way more than a mob wife."
— Renee ([68:44]) - On social media/fandom:
"I love watching Khloe Kardashian... Joan Collins did the Mob Wives aesthetic. I wanted to be Joan Collins, and Joan Collins wants to be us now."
— Renee ([71:12])
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Family & Mob Roots: 03:48–08:10
- Sibling Trauma & Early Abuse: 10:57–14:26
- Addiction, Drugs, and Relationships: 17:58–20:56
- Father’s Death & Identity Loss: 24:23–25:55
- Abusive Marriage & Mob Wives Fallout: 28:00–66:17
- Show Dynamics & Jealousy: 70:14–76:42
- Failed Relationships & Overdose: 82:18–90:18
- Current Recovery & Advocacy: 97:09–110:24
- Closing Affirmations: 109:27–110:24
Closing Thoughts
This episode offers an unfiltered, deeply human glimpse into the cycles of trauma, enduring abuse, addiction, and the journey toward healing. Renee Graziano exemplifies survival, dark humor, and honesty—refusing to reduce herself to victimhood or the “mob wife” trope. The conversation is a potent blend of pain, resilience, and hope, meant for listeners seeking both the shock value of true crime drama and insights into overcoming life’s hardest battles.
Follow Renee:
Instagram: @renee_graziano
TikTok: @therealrenee_graziano
Mob Candy Jewelry & Mob Wife AI App: Referenced throughout
⚡ For anyone struggling with addiction or abuse, reach out—Renee’s story is living proof that “you don’t have to have a hole in your soul forever.”
