Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
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Lauriehc6Back to my rootsThis podcast is excellent! My family and I are hooked on it! I’m Italian/Lebanese from Youngstown, but am raising my kids in Atlanta. This is everything I remember Youngstown to be, including the characters and places, so having my kids join in is even better. I know some of the people involved and their families, and can’t get enough. The layout of the stories, voices, interviews, timelines, music, sound…. It’s all done very well. I am impressed! Thank you for doing this!!
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whynotpugsLate getting here, but glad I found it!Glad this was available to binge, because binge I did! The storytelling, the people, the circumstances and the interviews are riveting. The music is the perfect soundtrack to put a bow on a timeless true story about corruption.
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WV_PatriotTop shelfI consume a lot of content on this platform and “Crooked City” is about as great of a podcast as I’ve ever heard. Fantastic!
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utahredrockFantastic!Wow, this is so compelling. I'm an Ohio native and rust belt refugee. I had no idea about the mob's influence in a place like Youngstown. I knew it was one of the worst hit rust belt towns because of the quick collapse of the old school steel mills, but not much more. The Trafficant part of this podcast is fantastic (all I knew of him previously is that he was a crackpot). He's definitely that! But it's the story telling about organized crime that was truly next level. The sources the producers got to cooperate for this, plus the archive audio . . . wow, wow, wow. Highly recommended!
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Hi B yHi ByeSo good like it I would tell it to my friends
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Cash splatCrooks and history what a comboLoved Crimetown and this show equally enthralling. Can’t wait for the next town full of crooks and mobsters as well as the history lesson.
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MidwestguytryingAbsolutely great HistoryWe are fighting the same demons here in this country.. this was a fantastic listen
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EjayzAlso a great listen!The podcast space is crowded with so much noise and nonsense. However Crooked City and it’s predecessor Crime time are the gold standard for storytelling. What an amazing story of of place I never thought much about. So much history and so many colorful characters! Thank you for sharing this with the rest of the world!
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Kenny2TimerCrooked City- Y—townSo growing in Youngstown for 19 years, and having to move out after 1979, I wasn’t happy to do so. The history has always been around this town, but I could see it in the 60s in the 70s, it was a great time to be in, good money, great family, pretty good schools and a great sense of community. For me, it was family, sports and friends. After listening to this podcast, everything came into focus, having been downtown, east side, south side, now, everything makes sense. You did a great job here, getting excellent sources to make the story in the truth come alive. You never really leave this town, and you hope that one day it can be revitalized, but being frank, I don’t see that ever happening. excellent podcast, music everything and thank you.
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DSTDiva498Captivating seriesI lived in Youngstown in the late 80s-early 90s. This series brought back memories and also filled in blanks of information that I was totally unaware of but lived through. Excellent show. Bravo!
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Lords79Very well doneI’m not from Youngstown but I have family there and I’ve been there many times. I was even at the Calamar for New Year’s Eve and saw Jimmy Prato sitting up front with people kissing his ring.
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1353333Seriously one of the best.Good stuff I loved it!
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Cassandra LouiseRomanticizes Organized Crime in the Best Way PossibleThis is a great season about organized crime: fun, outrageous, and absolutely addicting. I highly recommend for anyone who is a true-crime buff, a local history buff, and all Ohioans. Our state has a lot more fun history than we are given credit for. Thoroughly enjoyed the show and cracked up several times throughout!
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BrooklynBounceFabulousGreat piece of work and a must listen for those in Northeast Ohio.
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aperson2peopleQuality quality qualityA well-produced immersive work of journalism.
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KJMcEnteeBrilliant!I grew up in Ohio but still had never heard all the details in this podcast. I am a bit late to the party but I’m so glad I found this. I kept thinking of the similarities with Trump every time I listened to the recordings of Jim and I love the way you simply tied all that together at the end. The question now is, did Trump study these recordings?? I highly recommend this podcast but done a strong one before you listen to the scenes from the Cleveland-Pittsburgh mob.
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LindsSavageGet ready to binge!Loved Crimetown and tried Crookedtown … so great!
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Arslush11awesome to bingeI was on a 30 hour car ride and sampled tons of series, trying to find anything that would captivate me and entertain me for the last leg of the drive and this was the only show that I could get into! Was really disappointed when I finished the last episode and have to go hunt for something similar!
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head ofknucklesJaw DroppingI grew up in NE Ohio in the 80’s and 90’s and I heard plenty of stories about the Valley. I never knew it was this wild. Exceptionally well done podcast from start to finish.
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HarryHooksThe Very Best Podcast I’ve Ever ExperiencedIncredible from start to finish. A story that needs to be heard by everyone….not just regarding the characters involved but the state of our nation for the last 40+ years. And…now I know who Donald Trump modeled himself after.
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COWBOY68CTGreat interviews , great stories , very well written and produced …. loved it
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FineappleJohnsonAwesome podcastThe history and storytelling was superb. I hope there is a season 2 for another city.
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😘JazzyJaz😘CVery entertaining, well produced, and immersive.
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S in SF CACompelling storytellingMr. Smerling really gives you a great sense of place. It’s amazing how one medium sized city could be so incredibly corrupt.
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DrshammasiWell doneHighly recommended. Full of facts and interviews with people who lived during that era in Youngstown. Very entertaining and informative.
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Durpy whalePerfectionMarc Smerling is the Scorsese of podcasts
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ksubsnIncredibleListening to this for the 2nd time. Freaking incredible podcast. Awesome to hear it all again, listening to all the things I had forgotten about. I will listen to ANYTHING Marc Smerling produces.
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friendly woodsone of the best podcast in a long timei struggled to listen to it in order, but it's so good i might listen to again. it was very very good. Like a good mob movie but in serial form and it's a podcast.
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BloodhoundofJusticeSo, so, SO good!An amazing podcast that is a must listen! I grew up near Youngstown, so it was particularly interesting to learn more about stories and legends with which I was only vaguely familiar; however, it’s incredible that Youngstown’s history is so intertwined with America’s in so many ways. Kudos to Marc Smerling and his team for a job well done!
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capalkFascinating!I loved this podcast. I grew up in the Y-town area, so much of this story resonated. It is well done. The story unfolds beautifully. I recommend it to everyone I know who listens to podcasts.
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Victoria in CAWhat about the women?I’ve enjoyed listening to the stories and think the podcast is done well. That said, it’s almost entirely. about. men. And maybe that is a story in itself, but **surely** there were women around—behind the scenes, in the scenes, suffering because of what the stories describe, benefitting from what was going on. I really wanted to hear more about them to balance out the hours of stories about, and interviews with, men. Something for the creator to consider.
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ask Wii call ifInteresting storyThis is an interesting story from many views and pi together very nicely.
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Vincents Ferrari 17Binge-Worthy Podcast You Won’t Be Able to Stop ListeningFor a mafia enthusiast this podcast is a fresh story thats as interesting and entertaining as the “The Irishmen” or “Kill The Irishmen”. I grew up just outside of Youngstown and have always know it was a mob town buy never realized to what extent until listening to this podcast. It takes a lot to get me interested in a podcast or show and this was successful. It painted a great picture of what life was like in Youngstown and mob culture in the 70’s and 80’s. Loved it. This should be made into a movie or a series!
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jodiK!Part of the American StoryThis show was straight up gangster. If you liked the Sopranos, Godfather, etc and want a version from The Heartland, this is it. The story is compelling and tied closely with our current political and economic climate. Great reporting and love the theme song.
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jengun1976Great showSo impressed with this podcast. My husband and I could not wait to listen to the next episode. Growing up in Youngstown area in 80’s and 90’s I heard stories of things going on but never truly understood the extent of it. Can’t believe that was all actually going on. Seems like it could of been a fictional movie. Would love to hear more!!!
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herewegoagsinThe best!!If you were hooked to the podcast, CRIMETOWN, this is where they migrated to. Another incredible story put together perfectly. I can’t wait for the next season!!!!. If you haven’t listened this should be on the top of your list.
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AetshCaptivatingAbsolutely glued to my headphones! You will be too!
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KauaiGirlNowStill HomesickThank you Marc and your team for producing an amazing podcast I grew up in Hubbard Youngstown was in my backyard I was very young when most of the nefarious activities took place but remember stories being told - never knowing how true they were until now - feeling blessed I made it out alive 😆 I moved many years ago but will always consider it Home
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BankerJudyAmazing StoryIncredible that this is based on fact. Intriguing. I got hooked early on! Highly recommend!
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Sillycat92GreatJust love everything Marc Smerling does, loved Crimetown and The Jinx, and now this. While I don’t understand l why the first 3 episodes are there, I love the podcast. This era of Youngstown, Ohio it’s politicians and gangsters are fascinating. Thanks for the binge of 15 episodes. Highly recommend.
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SopheezAnother hit!I loved Crimetown and this is another excellent story of corruption, politics and the mob!
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JoeAHallGREAT podcastAmerican politicians and lobbyists have sold us out and sent OUR jobs overseas. Trafficant and Trump BOTH echoed feelings of Americans that have been fd over by our ALL TOO POWERFUL government. We NEED to take OUR 🇺🇸 BACK
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TeamTornadoFascinating storiesI grew up in the area, still live in the area, and work in Youngstown. I’m amazed that there was really so much mob activity and it fascinates me that I was never threatened by it. This story is certainly worth a listen.
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Kkicks5Mind blownAs a, now 35 year old citizen of the city, I was vastly unaware of the extreme influence of the mob throughout the years. This was so eye-opening that I want more! This was very articulate, thorough, and well documented, that I want to listen to the information that was provided now. Once I started listening, I couldn’t stop. I never realized this was happening in the valley I grew up in. This was amazing! Continue.
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MDT65AwesomePicked up where Crimetown left off. Glad to see this come back.
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Like WAmazing productionThis series is awesome. Listen to episode 1 and you will be hooked. Finishing the series you will be satisfied in the closure yet still want more.
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Gr2323Fantastic!Never thought I’d listen to the whole thing, not sure what rabbit hole I went down to get here but Wow! Great series—- super engaging, educational, great fun episode-turning piece of audio magic!
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Wookie299Incredibly Good PodcastMy wife and I grew up in the Mahoning Valley. She grew up on the south side of Youngstown. What an incredibly good podcast of the area and of Traficant. He spoke at my high school and they captured him perfectly. They also captured the fullness of the mob and how deep it ran in the valley. One quibble is that they said Traficant brought “only crumbs”. Yes he was corrupt and he deserved prison. But those crumbs kept the valley afloat while so many other politicians just helped corporations screw all the working class over. Traficant tried to actually help the average person in his district. Unlike Trump, the republicans and most of the democrats now. He also helped bring Tim Ryan up and Ryan has been a great rep for the people without the mob ties. But still just an excellent look at Youngstown and what the rust belt effect has been like.
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