The Gangland History Podcast: An Organized Crime & Mafia History Podcast explores the mob. Host Jacob Stoops examines the lives of notable Mafia members. Each episode gives a fascinating account of real mobsters from history. Some may be familiar to Mafia enthusiasts. Others are lesser-known but also captivating figures. Episodes start with an overview of their early lives. Stoops then explores their impact on the history of organized crime.
Stoops is a self-proclaimed lover of mob movies. He has a genuine passion for the facts behind famous mobsters. He shares his prolific knowledge of how the Mafia fits into pop culture on this show. Beyond this series, he is an expert on SEO (search engine optimization). He serves as SEO director for a consulting business. He also cohosts a second show with Jeff Louella. The Page 2 Podcast examines SEO professionals and the state of the industry.
Stoops started this series as The Members Only Podcast: A Mafia History Podcast. The title was a clever reference to The Sopranos, a popular series among mob movie fans. "Members Only" was both a clothing brand and an episode of the show. In January of 2024, Stoops decided to change the show's title. Stoops worried, with good reason, that the title may give the impression that the show wasn't for everyone. After the rebrand and some slight restructuring, he continued the show under its new name.
Episodes cover broad topics as well as specific people. One explored the FBI's involvement with the Mafia during the Kennedy administration. Some episodes discuss different crime families like the Cerrito and the Smaldone families. Stoops has also invited expert guests to sit down with him on the podcast. Sam Carlino, grandson of the infamous Pete Carlino, has even been a guest.
Specific figures discussed on the show include Angelo Bruno, Maurice Lerner, and Roy Cohn. Fans of mob movies may enjoy learning the real stories behind them. New episodes of The Gangland History Podcast: An Organized Crime & Mafia History Podcast are available once a month.
Episodes