Podcast Origins
The inspiration for the Milwaukee Mafia podcast comes from Gavin Schmitt’s book of the same name. Eric knew he had to get Gavin in front of a microphone to share stories he’s researched related to the Milwaukee Mafia and organized crime.
Hear tales of true crime and history from Milwaukee and beyond. As Gavin likes to say, “The crime is the dessert used to hide the history “vegetables”. The history is really interesting, but the element of crime is what leads people to learn the history.”
The Milwaukee Mafia relies on previously unseen police reports, FBI investigative notes, coroner’s records, newspaper articles, family lore and more to bring to light an era of Milwaukee’s history that has been largely undocumented and shrouded in myth. This is not only a story of organized crime. It is also about immigration, the American Dream, urban planning, law enforcement, and politics, and how all these elements come together to form a solid narrative.
Your Hosts
Eric and Gavin are lifelong friends – since kindergarten! Eric and Gavin knew the Milwaukee Mafia was the perfect topic due to the widespread fascination, and Gavin’s research and published works make him especially qualified to talk on the subject.
Eric’s passion for entrepreneurship and Gavin’s passion for researching the mafia led to the creation of The Milwaukee Mafia Podcast.
Gavin Schmitt
Gavin Schmitt co-hosts the Milwaukee Mafia Podcast with lifelong friend, Eric Wulterkens. The podcast is often tied to his book, The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland, and is presented in an educational as well as conversational format.
A lifelong resident of the Fox Cities, Gavin has also written on historical topics involving Kaukauna, Neenah, the Menominee tribe, and beyond.
Gavin loves researching and discussing true crime, and has been called the go-to expert on organized crime in Wisconsin. If you want the facts, Gavin has them.
When not digging through dusty archives and FBI files, Gavin spends his days drinking too much coffee, watching truly awful films, and being a local historian.
Interested in having Gavin come speak? He’d love to! He’s presented on topics such as the Milwaukee Mafia, organized crime, Wisconsin history, requesting records, genealogy, and his journey to becoming a published author. Send him an email or message him on Facebook.
Eric Wulterkens
Eric has been a long time fan of Podcasts and approached Gavin with the idea of taking his unique one of a kind research and taking to a platform of a podcast. Playing the role of the guy who knows nothing about True Crime, Eric and Gavin have created a strong dynamic within the podcast.