EPISODE · Sep 7, 2026 · 10 MIN

Godparents of the Underworld: How Baptisms Wove Mafia Families Together

from A History of the American Mafia Podcast: Organized Crime, Mob Families, Bosses, Gangsters, Prohibition, Criminal Trials, and the Rise of La Cosa Nostra · host Podily & Josh Linsk

This episode dives into how Italian‑American churches served as informal membership bureaus for organized crime, using godparent ceremonies to cement loyalty across generations. We explore documented court cases, FBI files and New York Times accounts that reveal the practical power of these rituals in binding crews, solidifying alliances, and shaping family structures within the Mafia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 7, 2026

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Godparents of the Underworld: How Baptisms Wove Mafia Families Together

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This episode was published on September 7, 2026.

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