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PODCAST

pplpod

pplpod is a podcast about people, places and lots of other stuff. Each episode takes a deep dive into the lives, choices, and legacies of fascinating figures from history, culture, music, and beyond. From icons who shaped entire generations to hidden stories that deserve the spotlight, pplpod brings you closer to the people behind the headlines and the legends.Thoughtful, engaging, and story-driven, pplpod explores what makes these lives extraordinary—and what we can learn from them today.

history music history

All Episodes

27:15

Elizabeth I: The Survivor Who Became Gloriana

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the remarkable life of Elizabeth I, the last and longest-reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. We trace her journey from a perilous youth—where she was declared illegitimate following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, and later imprisoned in the Tower of London—to her accession to the throne in 1558.Join us as we discuss how Elizabeth navigated a male-dominated world by cultivating the image of the "Virgin Queen," claiming to be married to her subjects

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27:01

Bread or the Bludgeon: The Rise and Fall of Porfirio...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Porfirio Díaz, the military hero who became Mexico’s longest-serving ruler and established the era known as the Porfiriato. We trace his journey from a liberal general fighting the French at the Battle of Puebla to his rise to the presidency via a coup based on the principle of "no re-election".Tune in to learn how Díaz stabilized Mexico through a policy of "pan o palo" (bread or the bludgeon), balancing modernization and foreign investment with

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28:38

Al-Khwarizmi: The Father of Algebra and the Namesake...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life and legacy of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a scholar from the Islamic Golden Age who worked at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad around 820 CE. We discuss why historians consider him the father or founder of algebra, a title earned by his treatise Al-Jabr, which presented the first systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations. You will learn how the English word "algebra" is actually derived from the title of his book, specifically the term

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24:29

The "Mother of Democracy": Corazon Aquino

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we profile Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who made history as the first female president of the Philippines and the first female president in Asia,. We trace her journey from a housewife supporting her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., to becoming the figurehead of the anti-Marcos movement following Ninoy's assassination in 1983,,.Join us as we discuss the dramatic 1986 snap election—where dictator Ferdinand Marcos dismissed Aquino as "just a woman"—and the

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30:12

Henry VIII: The Renaissance Tyrant

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the reign of Henry VIII, a monarch described as one of the most charismatic yet tyrannical rulers to sit on the English throne. We trace his transformation from an athletic, intellectual "Renaissance man" who composed music and excelled at jousting, into a severely overweight and paranoid king.Join us as we break down the defining events of his life, including:• The Six Marriages: We discuss his desperate quest for a male heir, the annulment of his marriage to

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31:50

David Ben-Gurion: The Pragmatic Revolutionary and...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life of David Ben-Gurion (born David Grün), the preeminent Zionist leader who became the primary founder and first Prime Minister of the State of Israel. We trace his journey from his childhood in Płońsk, Poland, to his immigration to Ottoman Palestine in 1906, where he worked as a laborer and rose to lead the Histadrut labor federation and the Jewish Agency.We explore Ben-Gurion’s decisive, often "Leninist" leadership style, which drove his acceptance of

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30:44

Otto von Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode, we explore the life of Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian statesman known as the "Iron Chancellor" who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890. Born into the Junker landowning class, Bismarck utilized a strategy of Realpolitik and "blood and iron" to provoke three decisive wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, successfully uniting the German states under Prussian rule,,. We discuss his complex domestic legacy, ranging from his

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30:56

Averroes: The Commentator and the Harmony of Reason

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

Join us on this episode of pplpod as we explore the life and legacy of the 12th-century Andalusian polymath Ibn Rushd, better known to the West as Averroes,. Born in Córdoba in 1126, Averroes was a jurist, physician, and philosopher whose influence spanned from the Islamic Golden Age to the European Renaissance,.In this episode, we discuss:• The Commentator: How his extensive commentaries on Aristotle reignited Western European interest in Greek thought and earned him the title "The Commentator"

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33:17

Mehmed II: The Boy Sultan Who Became Caesar of Rome

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Mehmed II, the Ottoman ruler who ascended to the throne at age 12 and went on to conquer Constantinople at just 21, ending the Byzantine Empire,. We discuss his military genius, including his use of massive artillery to breach city walls and his relentless campaigns against rivals like Vlad the Impaler and the Albanian leader Skanderbeg,,. Beyond the battlefield, we examine Mehmed’s intellectual pursuits, from his collection of Christian relics and

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27:57

Francis I: The Renaissance Knight-King

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the reign of Francis I (1494–1547), the monarch known as the "Father and Restorer of Letters" who is credited with bringing the Italian Renaissance to France. We discuss his role as a prodigious patron of the arts, notably his support of Leonardo da Vinci—who brought the Mona Lisa to France—and his construction of architectural marvels like the Château de Chambord and the expanded Château de Fontainebleau.We also dive into the "Knight-King's" military obsession

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28:48

Ferdinand II of Aragon: The Cunning King Who Built an...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Ferdinand II of Aragon, the ruler considered the de facto first king of Spain and the architect of a global superpower. Join us as we examine his legendary partnership with Isabella I of Castile, a marriage that united their kingdoms under the motto "Tanto monta, monta tanto"—signifying their equal power.We break down the pivotal year of 1492, which saw the couple complete the Reconquista by defeating Granada, sponsor Christopher Columbus’s first

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27:38

Ivan the Terrible: The First Tsar’s Descent from...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex and bloody legacy of Ivan IV Vasilyevich, the ruler who transformed Russia from a medieval state into a fledgling empire. We examine his journey from an orphaned boy mistreated by rival nobles to his coronation as the first "Tsar of All Russia" at the age of sixteen,.Join us as we break down the two distinct eras of his reign:• The Modernizer: We discuss Ivan’s early reforms, including the establishment of Russia’s first parliament, the introduction

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34:23

Wu Zetian: The Concubine Who Became China’s Only...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

From a low-ranking concubine to the only woman in Chinese history to officially hold the title of Huangdi (Emperor), Wu Zetian’s reign was unprecedented,. In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of the woman who interrupted the Tang dynasty to establish her own Wu Zhou dynasty.We dive into the complex legacy of a ruler who is viewed by history as both a brilliant administrator and a ruthless usurper,.Topics covered in this episode:• A Ruthless Rise: How Wu transformed from a concubine of

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29:02

The Liberator of the South: José de San Martín

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of "The Liberator of America," José de San Martín, the brilliant general who led the independence struggles of Argentina, Chile, and Peru,. Born in Yapeyú and trained in the Spanish military during the Peninsular War, San Martín returned to South America in 1812 to dedicate his life to the patriot cause,,.Join us as we break down his legendary military career and political legacy, including:• The Crossing of the Andes: How San Martín organized the Army

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31:35

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: The Father of Modern Turkey

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

Join us on this episode of pplpod as we profile Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the field marshal and statesman who dismantled the Ottoman Empire to found the Republic of Turkey. We trace his rise from the military academies of Constantinople to his pivotal role in the defense of Gallipoli and his leadership during the Turkish War of Independence, where he resisted the partition of Anatolia by Allied powers.We dive deep into the sweeping reforms known as "Kemalism," which aimed to transform a religious

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31:38

Vlad the Impaler: The Prince, The Prisoner, and The...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

Before Bram Stoker’s vampire, there was Vlad III, the 15th-century Voivode of Wallachia known as "Dracula"—meaning "son of the dragon",. In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the violent life of the man called Țepeș (the Impaler), exploring how a childhood spent as a hostage of the Ottomans shaped his brutal approach to leadership,. We discuss his legendary scorched-earth tactics against Sultan Mehmed II, including the infamous "Night Attack" at Târgoviște and the terrifying "forest of the

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25:50

Ho Chi Minh: Architect of Modern Vietnam

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the enigmatic life of Hồ Chí Minh, the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary who rose from humble beginnings to become the founding father of modern Vietnam. Born Nguyễn Sinh Cung, the man who would eventually be known as "Uncle Ho" used between 50 and 200 pseudonyms throughout his life. We trace his extraordinary global journey before taking power, from working as a kitchen helper on a French steamer and a pastry chef on the Newhaven–Dieppe ferry to his time in Harlem

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31:46

Frederick the Great: The Flute-Playing Warrior King...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the complex life of Frederick II, the monarch who transformed Prussia from a fragmented state into a major European military power. We explore his traumatic upbringing under his tyrannical father, Frederick William I, and the tragic "Katte affair" that forced him to watch the execution of his close friend and possible lover. Discover how this self-described "first servant of the state" balanced his aggressive military campaigns in the Silesian Wars with a

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30:25

The Man Who Waited: Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Long Road...

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the third "Great Unifier" of Japan and founder of a shogunate that ruled for over 260 years,. We trace his journey from a perilous childhood spent as a hostage of the Imagawa and Oda clans to his rise as a formidable samurai warlord,.Join us as we discuss:• Survival and Sacrifice: Ieyasu’s early alliances with Oda Nobunaga, a pact that eventually forced him to order the execution of his own wife and son to prove his loyalty,.•

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27:20

Xerxes I: The King of Kings Who Whipped the Sea

pplpod ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Xerxes I, the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, who reigned from 486 to 465 BC. Born to Darius the Great and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great, Xerxes inherited a massive, multi-ethnic empire and cemented his power by crushing revolts in Egypt and Babylon,,.We examine his complex legacy, which in Western history is defined by his massive invasion of Greece in 480 BC. We discuss the famous military campaigns, including his victory

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1,906 results

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