The Gangland History Podcast: An Organized Crime & Mafia History Podcast
The Gangland History Podcast, hosted by history buff and mob aficionado, Jacob Stoops. He tells the true crime biographies of real life mobsters and dives deep into the plots, sub-plots, and real facts behind Cosa Nostra as well as popular mob films and television shows. Formerly called The Members-Only Podcast.
Episodes
In this episode of The Gangland History Podcast, host Jacob Stoops interviews acclaimed author and Mafia historian Scott Deitche, one of the nation’s foremost experts on organized crime in Florida and the Trafficante crime family.
Together, they trace the full evolution of the Tampa Mafia — from its earliest days under Ignazio Italiano, through decades of bloody rivalries, Cuban connections, and political intrigue, to its quiet decl...
In this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by author Ron K. Fried for a deep dive into one of the most compelling figures in organized crime history: Frank Costello, the mob boss who rose to power during Prohibition and later became known as the “Prime Minister of the Underworld.” We discuss Ron’s novel Frank Costello: A Novel—a carefully researched work of historical fiction that vividly brings Costello’s complex character to life...
In late August 1979, the FBI's Brooklyn-Queens Metropolitan Resident Agency (the BQ) received a significant tip from a top-echelon informant within the Genovese crime family. This informant, known as "Bob," reported that Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino crime family, had mentioned an upcoming major meeting at Gurney's Inn in Montauk, New York. The anticipated attendees included prominent figures such as Frank ...
In today's episode, we wrap up one of the most detailed and historically rich series we’ve ever done. In Part Three of our special deep dive into the FBI’s 1967 report on La Cosa Nostra, we close the book on an era where the mob’s influence was at its peak across the United States.This final installment takes us beyond New York’s Five Families and paints a broader picture of organized crime’s national footprint — from the power...
In Part Two of our deep-dive biography on Paul "The Waiter" Ricca, we chronicle his ascent to the top of the Chicago Outfit from the late 1940s through the early 1970s — a reign that cemented his legacy as one of the most powerful and influential mob bosses in American history.
Listen to Part One: https://youtu.be/D2S-22pslCA
This episode picks up with Ricca serving time in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary following his convict...
We’re diving deep into the life and legacy of one of the most notorious figures in the history of the Genovese Crime Family—Thomas “Tommy Ryan” Eboli. And who better to tell that story than his own son, Xavier Eboli?
Xavier Eboli, a Marine Corps veteran and author ofThe Boss in the Shadows: The Life and Death of Thomas ‘Tommy Ryan’ Eboli, joins me for an incredible two-hour conversation.
Together, we explore what it was like growing ...
We talk with Nicholas "Nick" Parisi, award-winning author and Springfield, Massachusetts mob expert.
Nick has written two books on the Springfield mob including:
- City of Betrayal: The Genovese Family's Springfield Crew
- Mafia Confession: King of Bootleggers Murder
Why should you trust Nick?
First, Nick is the grandson of a man named Giuseppe "Joseph" Parisi, who was deeply involved in one of the most infamous events th...
In this episode, we talk with Ray Franze author of ‘The Heights.’
The Heights is a historical mob fiction novel based upon the early days a very real and powerful crew of Italians in Chicago Heights, Illinois that became one of the most powerful, but least well-known, crews in the Chicago Outfit (as well as nationally).
Fox News Chicago has called The Heights “A masterful dive into mob history.”
- Buy the book: https://www.ama...
In this episode, we continue the “State of the Mafia (1967)” series. If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to go back and watch ‘The State of the Mafia: Part One’ “The rules that hold us together” as it will be a very good primer for this episode’s content.
I’m calling this show ‘The State of the Mafia (1967): Part Two’ “Life or Death Obligations.” Like the first part of this series, this report will jump around a lot, but...
We talk with Giovanni Rocco, a former deep cover agent for the FBI, is responsible for taking down the American Mob organization commonly referred to by the media as “The Real Sopranos.”
During Operation Charlie Horse, Giovanni infiltrated the DeCavalcante crime family based in New Jersey and personally gathered enough evidence to prosecute and convict several high-ranking members and associates of the crime family. This action, wh...
In this episode, special guest Tony Taouk and myself discuss the career of infamous Philadelphia mob lawyer, Robert "Bobby" Simone (1933 - 2007).
Robert F. Simone was known for winning a string of difficult cases for clients that included members of Philadelphia's organized-crime family such as Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, Philip "Crazy" Phil Leonetti, Frank "The Baracuda" Sindone, un...
In this episode, the first of a two-part series, we discuss the life and times of Paul "The Waiter" Ricca, who was born Felice De Lucia in Apricena, Italy in 1898.
Paul Ricca was one of the most powerful underworld figures in the history of Cosa Nostra in this country, his career spanning from the Capone Era into the 1970's. For over 30 years, Ricca co-ran The Chicago Outfit with his friend and contemporary, Anthony &...
"To the rules that hold us together"
In this episode, we discuss a comprehensive 1967 FBI Intelligence Report distributed across all FBI field offices within the United States.
This report provided an overall picture of the American Cosa Nostra across the entire country and provided reports, taken from the accounts of 190+ informants, around the following:
The Existence of the Organization
Historical Background &a...
In this episode, the third of this series, we cover several mob hits that occurred in and around Philadelphia's Bruno Crime Family of LCN during the 1960's. This video focuses on the battle that occurred for control of Philadelphia's Teamsters Local 107, between the Mafia and law-abiding members of the union.
Our goal of these episodes is to dispel the myth that Angelo Bruno—"The Docile Don"—was a non-violent ...
In this episode, the second of this series, we cover several mob hits that occurred in and around Philadelphia's Bruno Crime Family of LCN during the 1960's.
Our goal of these episodes is to dispel the myth that Angelo Bruno—"The Docile Don"—was a non-violent Boss. In fact, evidence will show that he likely handed down many hit contracts, which we will go over in detail over the course of Volumes I and beyond.
For...
In this episode, we cover several mob hits that occurred in and around Philadelphia's Bruno Crime Family of LCN during the 1960's.
Our goal of these episodes is to dispel the myth that Angelo Bruno—"The Docile Don"—was a non-violent Boss. In fact, evidence will show that he likely handed down many hit contracts, which we will go over in detail over the course of Volumes I and beyond.
For Cosa Nostra Bosses in th...
In this episode, featuring myself and Australian lawyer Tony Taouk, we discuss the life and times of George Remus who was famously dubbed, "The King of the Bootleggers" in the 1920's.
George Remus, born in 1878, was a German-born American lawyer who was probably most famously well-known as a bootlegger during the early days of Prohibition, and who later became even more infamous for the murder his wife Imogene, for wh...
In this episode, we again discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York. Part Three covers the events leading up to the disastrous Apalachin meeting in 1957 and the fallout. Part One: https://youtu.be/NGHgoGlYOgw Part Two: https://youtu.be/2h1ERPB0sCU In this final installment of a three-part series, we discuss: 00:00 Start 01:27 Opening Remarks 05:38 Event...
We sat down to talk with Gary Jenkins, who is a retired Kansas City Police Detective, lawyer, as well as the host of the extremely popular mob podcast, Gangland Wire. In this episode, we discuss the following topics:
- His early years, family, and upbringing
- What made him want to join the Kansas City Police Department
- His promotion to Detective within the KCPD
- The composition of the Kansas City Mafia in the 1970's
- ...
In this episode, we again discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York.
In this second of a three-part series, we discuss:
- Barbara's move towards legitimate business and establishment of several bottling companies including the Endicott Beverage Company, the Mission Beverage Company, and the Canada Dry Bottling Company
- Barbara's ascension withi...
Popular Podcasts
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!