Mary Payne and her friend Doug Budin thought they were going to spend today’s episode recapping the hit podcast, Mob Queens. Instead, they got something better: a surprise entrance by Mob Queens co-host Michael Seligman. Mary Payne and Doug asked Michael their burning questions about the fascinating and mysterious Anna Genovese, a 20th-century New York mob wife and drag club maven.

The Hidden Story of a Mob Wife

Michael and his co-host, Jessica Bendinger, began researching Anna Genovese several years ago when they stumbled upon Anna’s name in numerous places across New York City. They began to research who she was--leading years of public records searches, followed by interviews with her surviving grandchildren and former mobsters.

Anna was the wife of Vito Genovese, a major player of the Genovese crime family in the 20th century. She also operated a speakeasy drag club in downtown New York, helping to solidify long-running ties between the drag community and mobsters. Anna eventually divorced her husband Vito and had a female romantic partner named Jackie (who herself was a drag king).

A woman ahead of her times, Anna is an adorned figure in some drag communities and the subject of rumors and speculation. During the Mob Queens podcast, Michael and Jessica separate fact from fiction and try to uncover the truth behind Anna’s folklore.

Questions, Answered

Mary Payne and Doug had A LOT of questions for Michael when he entered the conversation. Some include: Was Anna a CIA agent? Are her grandchildren in the mob? Why is her name excluded from her tombstone? Was it nerve-racking to interview former mobsters? Take a listen to hear Michael’s answers!

A Host’s Ancestral Journey

Another major aspect of Mob Queens was Michael’s journey to discover his family roots. While the results of his ancestral journey weren’t what he expected, Michael has received reassuring feedback from many of listeners who had gone through similar experiences.

Mary Payne and Doug agree that--albeit disappointing--Michael’s ancestral history search was touching and real. It didn’t need a fairytale ending.

You can catch up on all of the Payne in the Pod episodes, here. Become a patron to receive even more exclusive content from Mary Payne including in-depth conversations that you won’t find anywhere else!

Podcast Recommendations:

The Jungle Prince

The Shrink Next Door

Find Doug at:

Instagram – @dougbudin

Jeff Lewis Live on Radio Andy (SiriusXM Channel 102)

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