So what about a major public figure who's sort of a big mouth, but who has to be allowed to say what he or she thinks?

It happens all the time, right? That's democracy.

Well, what about a guy who most of us have heard of who's an icon noted as the father of Western philosophy?

We're talking about Socrates, who was so stubborn about being right, he calmly faced execution even when he could have escaped.

I'm Patty Steele, the bizarre life and really bizarre death of a know-it-all genius.

Next on the backstory.

We think of Franklin as the doddery dude flying a kite in a rain, but those experiments are the most important scientific discoveries of the time. I'm Evan Ratliff.

Last season, we tackled the ingenuity of Elon Musk

with biographer Walter Isachson.

This time, we're diving into the story of Benjamin Franklin, another genius

who's desperate to be dusted off from history. His media empire makes him the most

successful self-made business person in America.

I mean, he was never early to bed and early to rise type person.

He's enormously famous.

Women start wearing their hair in what was called the Quaffour-Ala-Franklin.

And who's more relevant now than ever.

The only other person who could have possibly been the first president would have been

Benjamin Franklin. But he's too old and

wants Washington to do it. Listen to on Benjamin Franklin with Walter

Isakson on the I-Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your

podcasts.

For decades the mafia had New York City in a stranglehold

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