The Christmas Tree Mafia - Snap Classic
Snap Judgment
Snap Judgment and PRX
4.7 • 11.5K Ratings
🗓️ 25 December 2025
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Scott Lechner is the king of Christmas trees in Manhattan, nicknamed the “Pontiff of Soho.” But when his business runs afoul of the mob, he gets an offer that he can’t refuse. And a covert operative is assigned to extract a high-level target from Russia, and it’s about to ruin his holiday plans.
STORIES
The Christmas Tree Mafia
Scott Lechner is the king of Christmas trees in Manhattan, nicknamed the “Pontiff of Soho.” But when his business runs afoul of the mob, he gets an offer that he can’t refuse. The crazy true story of the New York Christmas tree industry, full of turf wars, karate fights, and the mafia.
This story contains explicit language, sensitive listeners please be advised.
This story is dedicated to the memory of Scott Lechner, the pontiff of Soho and the emperor of New York city treemen. Thanks as well to Russ and Little Scott.
Produced by Ilana Strauss, John Fecile & Annie Nguyen, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo Ducot.
Secrets in Siberia
Mike Ramsdell is a covert operative for the federal government. He’s assigned to capture and extract a high-level target from Russia, but the mission goes horribly wrong.
Find Mike’s book here.
Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Renzo Gorrio.
Snap Classic - Season 16 – Episode 60
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| 0:00.0 | We are so grateful to you for your support over the years. |
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| 0:38.9 | KQED.org slash snap survey. |
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| 0:49.2 | It means a lot. |
| 0:51.8 | KQED.org slash snap survey. Thank you. Every year, right around the start of the |
| 1:03.3 | holidays, we have a ritual. I tell my kids, all right kids, we're off the target to pick up one of |
| 1:10.2 | those prefab Christmas trees that got in the box there. |
| 1:14.2 | And you don't have to worry, it comes already decorated in everything. |
| 1:19.0 | Then they start screaming. Bloody murder. |
| 1:22.4 | No! No! You can't get a fake tree! |
| 1:26.8 | What do you mean fake? |
| 1:29.0 | I just spray a bottle of some of that pine smell stuff for aroma. |
... |
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