When we think of the mob today, most Americans think of New York City -- and why not? After all, films, books and TV shows often depict New York as the heart of mob country. Yet, as the guys discover in today's episode, the story of the Italian-American mafia has a surprisingly different (and often forgotten) origin point.

When we think of the mob today, most Americans think of New York City -- and why not? After all, films, books and TV shows often depict New York as the heart of mob country. Yet, as the guys discover in today's episode, the story of the Italian-American mafia has a surprisingly different (and often forgotten) origin point.

History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

Ridiculous History

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

CLASSIC: Did the US Mafia actually start in New Orleans?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a2cd3e61-76a5-422f-8f2b-b4e4011f61e9/transcript

In 1969, the Zombies had a song hit No. 3 on the Billboard charts. There was just one problem: the band had broken up two years earlier, and most people in the US had no idea. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max explore how a deeply sketchy promo company created multiple fake versions of the Zombies... and sent them across the country.

In 1969, the Zombies had a song hit No. 3 on the Billboard charts. There was just one problem: the band had broken up two years earlier, and most people in the US had no idea. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max explore how a deeply sketchy promo company created multiple fake versions of the Zombies... and sent them across the country.

The Weird Afterlife of The Zombies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/986adc1e-9027-4e2f-baf5-b4e4011be9f8/transcript

Nowadays, most people take pens for granted. They're always around if a business needs you to sign something, and people accidentally steal or lose them constantly. Yet the humble pen has a backstory thousands of years in the making. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max trace explore the rise of the fountain pen, from the old school quill to the modern day.

Nowadays, most people take pens for granted. They're always around if a business needs you to sign something, and people accidentally steal or lose them constantly. Yet the humble pen has a backstory thousands of years in the making. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max trace explore the rise of the fountain pen, from the old school quill to the modern day.

The Fascinating History of Fountain Pens

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3b007308-b8ac-41c7-9458-b4e200ebe57b/transcript

Born as Jennie Hodgers with a female sex assignment on December 25th, 1843, Albert Cashier emigrated to the United States lived as a man from his early teens on through the rest of his life. Despite the massive prejudices of the time, he managed to find support in his local communities, his friends and his fellow soldiers from the 95th Illinois Infantry both during and after the war, when the US government temporarily tried to revoke his pension.

Born as Jennie Hodgers with a female sex assignment on December 25th, 1843, Albert Cashier emigrated to the United States lived as a man from his early teens on through the rest of his life. Despite the massive prejudices of the time, he managed to find support in his local communities, his friends and his fellow soldiers from the 95th Illinois Infantry both during and after the war, when the US government temporarily tried to revoke his pension.

CLASSIC: Meet Albert Cashier, the Trans Man Who Fought for the Union in the Civil War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0a89e829-1ce7-43b7-b9e3-b4de00e7493e/transcript

CLASSIC: Did the US Mafia actually start in New Orleans?

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