History Ignited: The Kids’ History Podcast Inspired by Billy Joel's We Didn’t Start the Fire

Mafia: How the Mob Infiltrated Mid-Century America

• History Ignited • Season 1 • Episode 70

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When Billy Joel sings "Mafia," he’s referencing a pivotal shift in the 1950s—the moment organized crime stepped out of the shadows and into the American consciousness. 

In this episode of History Ignited, we pull back the curtain on the Mob's "Golden Age," focusing on the disastrous 1957 Apalachin meeting that forced the FBI to finally admit the Mafia's existence. Join us as we explore the rise of the Five Families, the ironclad code of Omertà, and how a secret society managed to infiltrate everything from labor unions to Las Vegas. 

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About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.



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Amy Tenney Curren

Co-host
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Andrew Tenney Curren

Co-host
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Caroline Tenney Curren

Co-host
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Dave Curren

Co-host

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