"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 fo…

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…

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 …

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…

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 …

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/NGHgoGlYOgwPart Two: https://youtu.be/2h1ERPB0sCUIn this final installment of…

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…

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 …

In this episode, we discuss Roy Marcus Cohn (1927-1986) with professional attorney, Tony Taouk of Magna Carta Lawyers in Sydney, Australia.Tony and I walk through Roy Cohn's history, and Tony brings an attorney's perspective to some of Cohn's vicious tactics, personal life, as well as areas where he displayed both pure brilliance and borderline dia…

In this episode, we discuss Joseph Barbara Sr., the mobster who famously hosted the ill-fated Apalachin Mob Meeting in Apalachin, New York.In this first of a two-part series, we discuss the beginning of Barbara's mob career including: His birth in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy His immigration to the United States in 1921 His first jobs in …

Join me as a make a significant announcement about the future of this show and discuss my plans for 2024 and beyond.

In this episode, we finish the series on the Cerrito Crime Family of the American Cosa Nostra who operated in and around San Jose, California, and who were a significant entity controlling organized crime in the San Jose area for many decades beginning around the 1940’s and were in existence until at least the 1990’s or early 2000’s. While we cover…

In the second episode of this multi-part series, we cover Angelo Bruno, Boss of the Philadelphia Mafia during the "Golden Age" of the Philadelphia Cosa Nostra from the years 1960-1969.We recap Bruno's ascension to Boss of the Philly Mob during 1959 when a dispute between himself and Acting Boss Antonio "Mr. Mig" Pollina, along with support from Bru…

We cover instances of FBI wiretaps picking up mobster conversations related to both the FBI in the early 1960's and the Kennedy brothers pre-and-post JFK's assassination. We share and help you interpret excerpts from the 1978-1979 Senate report entitled, "House Select Committee on Assassinations: Investigation of the Assassination of President John…

In today’s episode, we’ve recorded an amazing interview with Jeff Canarsie, the host of Mob Talk Radio. I’m really excited and honestly very appreciative that this guest was able to take time out of their busy life to sit and talk with me for a few hours to talk about his life, his show, and much more. In the interview, we discuss a range of topics…

In this episode, we cover the Cerrito Crime Family of the American Cosa Nostra who operated in and around San Jose, California, and who were a significant entity controlling organized crime in the San Jose area for many decades beginning around the 1940’s and were in existence until at least the 1990’s or early 2000’s. My research will show that th…

In this video, we cover Angelo Bruno, the man known as the "Docile Don" and/or "Gentle Don" who ruled over the Philadelphia underworld as the city's Cosa Nostra don from around 1959 until his murder in 1980. Bruno presided over one of the most, relatively speaking, peaceful eras of the Philly mafia. In this video, we cover: Bruno's birth in Villalb…

In today's episode, I do my first-ever interview with author Sam Carlino, who is is in fact the Grandson of the infamous Colorado gangster Pete Carlino, dubbed in the late 1920's as the "The Al Capone of Southern Colorado" by the local media.The Carlino brothers (Pete and Sam) established a bootlegging empire beginning around 1916 until 1931 when t…

We cover the era of the Smaldone brothers including Clyde Smaldone, Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, and Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone. We dive into the history behind this family which ran most of the rackets in and around Denver, Colorado throughout the 1930’s through the 1980’s. We’re also going to touch on their connection to the Mafia in Pueblo, Col…

The first episode of a two-part series on the organization that would later become known as the Smaldone Crime Family, which ran organized crime in Denver and much of Colorado during the 20th century. We tell the story of the early days of organized crime in Colorado, how the area’s Mafia got its start, the bloody strife during the 1920’s and early…

In this episode, we explore the first and second Gallo Wars (also dubbed the Profaci and Colombo family wars) in an effort to solve the question of whether the alleged incident in which Aniello "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce was severely beaten by Joey Gallo during the original Profaci-Gallo conflict in 1961. Additionally, we provide a blow-by-blow of some …

In this episode, we tell the story of a man who once had a blossoming career as a professional ballplayer, and how he became a vicious and respected hitman for the Patriarca Crime Family. Maurice "Pro" Lerner grew up in Massachusetts and at just 18 years old, he signed his first professional baseball contract with the Washington Senators. He would …

In today’s episode, the second of a two-part series, we’re finally branching outside of New York to cover Raymond L.S. Patriarca, one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra. Raimondo "Raymond" Loredo Salvatore Patriarca was boss over the New England area for over 30 years (1952-1984). Basing his family's …

In today’s episode, the first of a two-part series, we’re finally branching outside of New York to cover Raymond L.S. Patriarca, one of the most feared and respected bosses in the history of the American Cosa Nostra. Raimondo "Raymond" Loredo Salvatore Patriarca was boss over the New England area for over 30 years (1952-1984). Basing his family's o…

In this episode, mob historian and history buff Jacob Stoops delves into the Wedding Scene from the Godfather. In this scene, which is one of the most important scenes of the movie, you're introduced to the Corleone family at large. He dives into the stories of the iconic characters, the actors, and even real life mafiosi including: Sonny Corleone …

In this episode, we cover a mobster who is probably most well-known for enjoying a good shoe shine. That’s right, we’re talking about none other than William “Billy Batts” Bentvena. “Billy Batts” was a soldier within the Gambino Crime Family from the 1950’s through the early 1970’s, and was one who rubbed elbows with some very famous Cosa Nostra me…

In this episode, mob historian and history buff Jacob Stoops delves into the Opening Scene from the Godfather.By Jacob Stoops

We tell the story of the murder of a low-level associate of the Luciano Crime Family, Ferdinand “The Shadow” Boccia.By Jacob Stoops

In this episode we cover one of the most powerful gangsters in New York City during the 1950’s and 1960’s, Michele “Big Mike” Miranda, one who had direct ties to some of the most infamous events in mob history and who was the right-hand man of one “Don Vitone”, aka Vito Genovese.By Jacob Stoops

We cover Vincent “The Executioner” Mangano, the the first “official” head of what eventually becomes known as the modern-day Gambino crime family.By Jacob Stoops

In this episode series, history buff and mob aficionado Jacob Stoops provides a high-level 101-style overview of the origins of the American mob dating back to its beginnings. In this episode we talk about mob-slang, biggest mob events since the 1930's, the process of an actual "making" ceremony, whether mob families have ever been infiltrated, and…

In this episode series, history buff and mob aficionado Jacob Stoops provides a high-level 101-style overview of the origins of the American mob dating back to its beginnings. We discuss the Castellammarese War, organizational structures, family positions and ranks, as well as basic rules and regulations.…

In this episode, history buff and mob aficionado Jacob Stoops provides a high-level 101-style overview of the origins of the American mob dating back to its beginnings.By Jacob Stoops

In our first mobster biography, we profile Gaetano “Tommy” Gagliano, the original boss of what the U.S. Federal authorities would later designate as the Lucchese crime family, one of the “Five Families” of New York City and probably the lowest-profile boss in the history of America Cosa Nostra.By Jacob Stoops

In this week’s episode – the Season #3 finale, we talk with Azeem Ahmad (you know him as Azeem Digital), award-winning digital marketer, international conference speaker, diversity advocate, and host of the Azeem Digital Asks digital marketing podcast. Azeem shares how he began as an aspiring sports journalist and when that didn’t work out he share…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Dawn Anderson, Managing Director at Bertey, International Technical SEO Consultant and Speaker. We talk about how she went from owning a construction company to transitioning into web development, digital marketing, and then becoming a self-taught SEO. We talk about what it’s like to go through the challenge of …

In this week’s episode, we talk with Chima Mmeje, Content Strategist, SEO Copywriter and Founder of Zenith Copy. We talk about growing up in Nigeria, going to college, working at hotels, working as a bartender, landing a government job (which she still works at today), why she decided to get a second job, how she became a copywriter at a content mi…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Kevin Indig, Director of SEO at Shopify and host of the Tech Bound Podcast. We talk about his beginnings living as a young gamer, his collegiate experience in the business space and his eventual transition into digital marketing as a trainee at The Reach Group, a former digital marketing agency in Germany. We ta…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Alina Benny, SEO & Content Lead at Nextiva. We talk about her background in engineering and as an aspiring astrophysicist, her transition away from that career path and her start in brand and product marketing, what led her to make the switch to SEO, as well as her journey from Freshworks to Saleshacker and even…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Hannah Bryce, SEO Manager at Holland & Barrett and former co-host of the SEO SAS podcast. We talk with Hannah about her beginnings in general digital marketing, and how that led her to SEO over a decade ago. She shares how she started at a software company and then moved into many different verticals including l…

In this week’s episode, we give you a double-header as we talk to not one but two amazing SEOs! We chat with Jaimie Clark, former Head of SEO at The Wirecutter (now VP of SEO at Centerfield), and also with Christine Liang, Director of SEO at The New York Times. We discuss our previously unknown digital marketing background crossover, and both Jaimi…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Mordy Oberstein, liaison to the SEO community for Wix. We talk about his background as a teacher, why he decided to get out of the education field, and how he got his start in digital marketing. We go into how he landed the job at Rank Ranger and his evolution from Marketing & Content Manager to CMO. We also dis…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Daniel K. Cheung, SEO team lead at Prosperity Media, an SEO and Content company based in Australia, and Host of the Make SEO Simple Again Podcast. We discuss his background in speech pathology and health, his career in wedding photography, and why he eventually transitioned to digital marketing and SEO. We discu…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Geoff Atkinson, Founder & CEO of Huckabuy, an SEO platform focused on a technology-based approach to SEO. We talk about Geoff’s evolution from ski-bum to SEO to CEO, his time and experience at Dartmouth College, how he went from Email Marketing Manager to leading all SEO & Digital at Overstock as marketplaces we…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Veruska Anconitano, a multilingual SEO expert and digital marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience. We discuss how she started her career in the early days of the web in Italy, how she went from a journalism background to a long-term career in SEO, what it’s like being a Google Quality Rater, as wel…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Paul Shapiro, Global Director of Technical SEO at Condé Nast and co-founder of TechSEOBoost, an advanced technical SEO conference. We discuss how he went from wanting to do social media marketing to SEO, his unique Twitter handle, agency vs. in-house, his funniest SEO story, the story behind the founding of Tech…

In this week’s episode, we welcome Jason Barnard (aka The Brand SERP Guy), Founder & CEO of Kalicube. Jason Barnard is a digital marketing consultant who specializes in Brand SERPs and knowledge panels. He also hosts The Kalicube Marketing Podcast in which he talks with the smartest people in digital marketing on topics they know inside and out. We…

In this week’s episode, we talk with Jackie Chu, Global Lead of Intelligence at Uber. We discuss how she started at a marketing agency out of college as an unpaid intern beginning in local SEO for franchises and backlinking for lawyers, and how she has worked her way into the tech industry with roles at Yahoo, Square, Dropbox, and Uber. We get into…

This week we talk to Kameron Jenkins, SEO & Content Lead at Shopify. We talk about her beginnings in the agency world as an SEO and digital marketer at Scorpion Design, her rise within the company to VP of SEO & Content Strategy, how she began working with Moz (and her first Whiteboard Friday episode), her transition to Botify, and finally how she …

In this week’s episode, we talk to Mark Alves, SEO Manager at GMMB. We discuss his beginnings growing up as a beach kid in Massachusetts, going to college for political science, and his first foray into digital marketing and SEO while experimenting on his wife’s church website in the 90’s. From there we talk about his time working as a jack-of-all-…