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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

24:13

Dragon Blade: Jackie Chan, John Cusack, and Romans on...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we break down the 2015 historical action film Dragon Blade, written and directed by Daniel Lee. We discuss the film’s eclectic casting, featuring Jackie Chan as Huo An, a peacekeeper for the Silk Road Protection Squad, alongside John Cusack as the Roman general Lucius and Adrien Brody as the ruthless villain Tiberius,.Tune in as we recap the story of Huo An, who is framed for corruption and sent to the ruined fortress of Wild Geese Gate, only to find himself in a duel—and

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35:01

The General’s Shadow: Augusto Pinochet’s Rise,...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This episode examines the controversial legacy of Augusto Pinochet, who seized power in Chile through a violent military coup on September 11, 1973, toppling the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. We investigate the brutal human rights violations that defined his seventeen-year dictatorship, including the execution of over 3,000 people, the torture of tens of thousands, and the international terror campaign known as Operation Condor. The discussion explores how Pinochet’s

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26:40

The Longest Presidency: François Mitterrand’s Power,...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode, we profile François Mitterrand, the first left-wing politician to assume the presidency under the Fifth Republic and the longest holder of that office in French history. We trace his complex political evolution, starting from his early days on the nationalist right and his service as a functionary for the Vichy regime—where he was awarded the Order of the Francisque—to his eventual pivot to the Resistance and leadership of the Socialist Party.Listeners will learn about Mitterrand’s

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35:38

The Chancellor of Unity: Helmut Kohl’s Rise, Fall,...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode, we profile the colossal life of Helmut Kohl, the "Chancellor of Unity" who governed Germany for 16 years—the longest tenure in the nation's post-war history. From his rise as a young reformer in Rhineland-Palatinate to becoming the architect of a reunited Germany and a modern Europe, we explore how a man once mocked as provincial became a defining statesman of the 20th century,,.Key topics discussed include:• The Architect of Reunification: How Kohl seized the historical window

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39:12

Charles Babbage: Architect of the Analytical Age

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This biographical espisode profiles Charles Babbage, an influential English polymath widely recognized as the pioneer of programmable computing. The text chronicles his life from his Cambridge education to his tenure as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, highlighting his diverse contributions to engineering, cryptography, and political economy. Central to the source is his work on the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine, mechanical precursors to modern computers that featured separate

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36:59

Johannes Kepler: Architect of Celestial Physics

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This episode covers the life and intellectual legacy of Johannes Kepler, a pivotal figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution. The text details his professional journey from a mathematics teacher in Graz to the Imperial Mathematician in Prague, where he succeeded Tycho Brahe. It highlights his fundamental discovery of the three laws of planetary motion and his groundbreaking work in optics, geometry, and infinitesimal mathematics. Beyond his scientific rigor, the sources explore how his

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36:18

James Clerk Maxwell: Architect of Modern Physics

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This episode details the life and immense scientific contributions of James Clerk Maxwell, a pioneering Scottish physicist and mathematician. His most significant achievement was the development of Maxwell's equations, which unified electricity, magnetism, and light into the single field of electromagnetism. Beyond this, the text highlights his foundational work in statistical mechanics, his creation of the first durable colour photograph, and his accurate theories regarding the composition of

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33:33

Michael Faraday: The Bookbinder Who Electrified the...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Michael Faraday, a man born to a blacksmith’s family who rose from a bookbinder's apprentice with little formal education to become one of the most influential scientists in history. We break down how Faraday’s experiments established the concept of the electromagnetic field and how his invention of the homopolar motor formed the foundation of modern electric motor technology.Join us as we discuss his vast scientific legacy, from discovering benzene

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35:39

Gregor Mendel: The Monk, The Peas, and The "Too Good...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we dig into the life of Gregor Mendel, the 19th-century Augustinian friar who escaped a life of farming to become the posthumous "father of modern genetics". We explore how Mendel utilized the 2-hectare experimental garden of St. Thomas' Abbey to cultivate some 28,000 plants—mostly peas—identifying the "invisible factors" we now recognize as genes.Join us as we discuss:• The Struggle: How Mendel joined the monastery to avoid "perpetual anxiety" about money, only to fail

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36:55

Louis Pasteur: The Microbe Hunter’s Secrets

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the life of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist revered as a "father of microbiology" alongside his rival Robert Koch. We cover his monumental shift from studying molecular asymmetry in crystals to revolutionizing medicine by establishing the germ theory of disease and disproving the long-held doctrine of spontaneous generation. Listen in as we detail his lifesaving inventions, from the pasteurization of wine and milk to the development of

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43:49

Benazir Bhutto: The Triumph, Tragedy, and Complexity...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the turbulent life of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. Born into the aristocratic Bhutto family and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Benazir’s life was irrevocably changed by the execution of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and her subsequent struggle against the military dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq.We explore her historic rise to power in 1988 as the youngest elected leader in the Islamic world

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24:48

Golda Meir: The Iron Lady of Israeli Politics

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

From a carpenter's daughter in Kiev to the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, this episode profiles Golda Meir, Israel's first and only female prime minister. Join us as we trace her journey from her upbringing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to her life as a kibbutznik in Mandatory Palestine. We discuss her critical role in raising millions of dollars for Israel's independence and her emotional tenure as the first ambassador to the Soviet Union. The episode also examines the controversies defining her

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35:26

Indira Gandhi: The Iron Lady of India

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the rise, rule, and assassination of Indira Gandhi, India’s first and only female prime minister. As the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, she served for nearly 16 years, transforming from a leader initially dismissed as a "dumb doll" into the "Iron Lady of India".We discuss the defining moments of her premiership, including:• The 1971 War: How Gandhi led India to a decisive victory against Pakistan, resulting in the liberation of Bangladesh and cementing India as a

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30:50

Yitzhak Rabin: The Soldier Who Waged Peace

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

From the battlefields of 1948 to the lawn of the White House, Yitzhak Rabin’s life mirrored the history of modern Israel. In this episode, we profile the first native-born Israeli Prime Minister, a man who evolved from a career soldier into a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Join us as we examine:• The Military Commander: His rise through the Palmach and his leadership as IDF Chief of Staff during the pivotal Six-Day War.• The "Iron Fist": His controversial tenure as Defense Minister during the First

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37:34

El Comandante: The Rise, Rule, and Polarizing Legacy...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode, we explore the complex life of Fidel Castro, the longest-serving non-royal head of state in the 20th century. We trace his journey from a law student and activist born to a wealthy farming family to the revolutionary leader who directed the 26th of July Movement from the Sierra Maestra mountains to overthrow Fulgencio Batista.Join us as we examine how Castro transformed Cuba into the first one-party communist state in the Western Hemisphere. We break down the geopolitical storms

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34:28

Dmitri Mendeleev: Dreams, Bigamy, and the Periodic Table

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

In this episode, we explore the volatile life of Dmitri Mendeleev, the Russian chemist who famously organized the universe's building blocks. Born the youngest of a massive Siberian family, Mendeleev’s rise to scientific stardom began with a desperate journey across Russia led by his determined mother.We discuss the legend of the dream that revealed the "Periodic System" to him and his bold move to leave gaps in the table, accurately predicting the discovery of elements like gallium and germanium

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33:12

Carl Sagan: The People's Astronomer

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This biography chronicles the life and immense professional legacy of Carl Sagan, a prominent American astronomer and educator. The text details his scientific contributions to planetary research, including his pivotal work on the atmosphere of Venus and his involvement with NASA’s robotic missions. Beyond academia, Sagan is highlighted as a preeminent science communicator who gained global fame through the television series Cosmos and numerous popular books. He was a dedicated advocate for

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31:42

Jane Goodall: Pioneer of Primatology and Global...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

This biography chronicles the life and career of Dame Jane Goodall, a legendary English primatologist known for her six-decade study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her groundbreaking research at Gombe Stream National Park proved that non-human animals use tools and possess complex social structures, fundamentally changing the scientific definition of humanity. Beyond her fieldwork, Goodall became a prominent global activist for environmental conservation and animal welfare through her namesake

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35:10

Rachel Carson: Architect of the Modern Environmental...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

Rachel Carson was a pioneering American marine biologist and author who sparked the modern environmental movement. Her early career focused on aquatic science for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, but she achieved global fame through her sea trilogy and her landmark 1962 book, Silent Spring. This influential work exposed the ecological dangers of synthetic pesticides like DDT, leading to significant changes in national policy and the eventual creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Despite

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37:19

Photo 51 & The Wronged Heroine: The True Story of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/18

Was Rosalind Franklin the "Sylvia Plath of molecular biology" or the "dark lady of DNA"? In this episode, we peel back the layers of history to explore the life of the brilliant English chemist whose work was central to understanding the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, and coal.Join us as we examine Franklin’s journey from a "delicate" child doing arithmetic for pleasure to a pioneering X-ray crystallographer,. We discuss the controversy that defines her legacy: how her landmark "Photo

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1,906 results

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