Mobsters are often romanticized in film and fiction -- but that doesn't mean they're always geniuses. In the first part of this series, Ben and Noel are joined by Matt Lieb and Vince Mancini, the hosts of Pod Yourself A Gun, to explore some of history's dumbest mobsters.
Jul 30
Who was the real John Henry?
For well over a century, schoolchildren across the United States learned the story of John Henry. According to the legend, John was a formerly enslaved man who found work with a railroad after the Civil War. Widely known as the best steel driver in the area, John wins a Phyrric v ... Show More
35m 13s
Jul 28
From Slaves to Superpower: The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Janissaries
While often forgotten by the global West, the Ottoman Empire was an absolute superpower in its heyday. As the Empire expanded across three separate continents, they also practiced mass enslavement -- and used it to power their army. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore t ... Show More
38m 58s
Jul 25
CLASSIC: The Nature of Ephemera, with Alex Williams
Whether we’re talking yesterday’s newspaper, pamphlets from museums, or even old lottery tickets and straw wrappers, the world is chock full of things that were not meant to last. Today the guys join Alex Williams, the creator of the new podcast Ephemeral, to explore the strange, ... Show More
40m 7s
Jul 2024
Two Idiots On Vacation
Are you fascinated by gangster movies? The Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, Pulp Fiction have no more secrets for you? Do you know all there is to know about Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel? Well, get ready to hear the most...how shall I say...well, the most embarrassing, the most app ... Show More
3m 53s
Nov 2020
The Yakuza Part 1: The Rise and Fall of Japan's Feared Mafia
Is there an organized crime group more iconic than Japan's Yakuza? In part one of two episodes on the group-or web of groups-we plunge into their ancient history, traditions, and how the Second World War made gangs of thieves into multi-billionaire magnates. Oh, and we'll unpack ... Show More
31m 42s
Jul 2024
The Reluctant Accomplice
Are you fascinated by gangster movies? The Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, Pulp Fiction have no more secrets for you? Do you know all there is to know about Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel? Well, get ready to hear the most...how shall I say...well, the most embarrassing, the most app ... Show More
3m 57s
Jun 2023
Dumb and Disorderly: History’s Ridiculous Riots
Group think. Collective acts of violence. Humans can get each other pretty riled up. Sometimes that can be for a good cause, but not on this podcast. Aeronauts, magic tricks, seasonal beverages. You never know what will set people off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info ... Show More
48m 2s
Jun 2024
The Disgruntled Drug Addict
Are you fascinated by gangster movies? The Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, Pulp Fiction have no more secrets for you? Do you know all there is to know about Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel? Well, get ready to hear the most...how shall I say...well, the most embarrassing, the most app ... Show More
3m 42s