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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

27:20

Orson Welles: The Boy Wonder, The Ultimate Auteur,...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the titanic life of George Orson Welles, a man voted the greatest film director ever by the British Film Institute. We trace his journey from a child prodigy in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to the "Boy Wonder" of New York theatre and radio, where his 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds famously panicked listeners who believed a Martian invasion was real,,.We delve into his arrival in Hollywood, where he secured an unprecedented contract with RKO that granted him

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36:17

The Wizard of Woz: Pranks, Plane Crashes, and the...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life of Stephen "Woz" Wozniak, the engineering genius and prankster who co-founded Apple Computer. We explore his early partnership with Steve Jobs, which began with building "blue boxes" for free long-distance calls, and how his technical innovations led to the creation of the Apple I and the mass-market success of the Apple II,.Beyond the circuit boards, we discuss Wozniak’s playful side—including the time he fooled Jobs with a brochure for a fake

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34:18

Dennis Ritchie: The Quiet Architect of the Digital World

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we profile Dennis Ritchie, the pioneering computer scientist whose passing in October 2011 was largely overshadowed by the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. We explore Ritchie's career at Bell Labs, where he created the C programming language and co-developed the Unix operating system alongside his long-time colleague, Ken Thompson,. Listen in to learn how Ritchie’s "under the radar" work provided the "DNA" for effectively every modern software product, including the

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34:39

Frances Allen: The Math Teacher Who Became the First...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the groundbreaking life of Frances "Fran" Allen, an American computer scientist who revolutionized the way software speaks to hardware. Join us as we trace her journey from growing up on a farm in Peru, New York, to becoming a titan of the tech industry.We discuss how a high school math teacher joined IBM in 1957 merely to pay off student loans, only to stay for a 45-year career that defined modern computing. Discover how Allen taught herself the brand-new

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25:10

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: The "People’s Leader," The...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the turbulent life and legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the charismatic founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who served as both the fourth president and ninth prime minister of Pakistan. We trace his rise to power following the tragic 1971 civil war and the separation of East Pakistan, where he became the country’s first civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator.We explore Bhutto's major political contributions, including his role as the architect of the

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32:58

Jane Jacobs: Eyes on the Street and the Battle for...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

This week on pplpod, we dive into the life of Jane Jacobs, the journalist and activist who revolutionized our understanding of how cities work without ever earning a college degree. We explore how her seminal 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, challenged the "pseudoscience" of mid-century urban planning and introduced enduring concepts like "mixed primary uses" and "eyes on the street".In this episode, we cover:• The Battle for Greenwich Village: How Jacobs organized grassroots

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36:52

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life and career of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian writer widely recognized as a central figure in postcolonial feminist literature. We trace her journey from her childhood in Nsukka, Nigeria, to her education in the United States and her rise as a literary star with novels like Purple Hibiscus and the Orange Prize-winning Half of a Yellow Sun, which depicts the trauma of the Biafran War,,.We discuss how Adichie uses storytelling to examine themes of

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31:27

Gabriela Mistral: The Rural Teacher Who Became Latin...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Lucila Godoy Alcayaga—better known to the world as Gabriela Mistral—the Chilean poet and educator who became the first Latin American author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.Join us as we trace her journey from a poverty-stricken childhood in the Andean village of Montegrande to her rise as a world-renowned diplomat and writer,. We discuss how a rural schoolteacher with no formal degree was invited to reform Mexico’s education system and how

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25:30

The King of Swing Goes to War: The Life, Music, and...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Alton Glenn Miller, the legendary trombonist and bandleader who defined the Swing Era. We discuss how Miller developed his signature "Miller Sound"—a unique arrangement featuring a lead clarinet over harmonizing saxophones—which helped his orchestra become the best-selling recording band from 1939 to 1942. You’ll hear about his chart-topping hits like "Moonlight Serenade," "In the Mood," and "Chattanooga Choo Choo," the latter of which became the

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25:55

Eric Clapton: The Triumph, Tragedy, and Controversy...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex life of Eric Clapton, the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the most influential guitarists in history,,. From the graffiti in London declaring "Clapton is God" to the heartbreaking tragedy that redefined his later career, we dive into the music and the man behind the nickname "Slowhand",.Topics covered in this episode include:• The Rise of a Guitar God: Clapton’s early dominance in the British blues scene with The

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28:13

The Kid from Red Bank: Count Basie & The Kansas City...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the swinging legacy of William "Count" Basie, the legendary pianist and bandleader who fronted one of the most influential jazz orchestras in history for nearly 50 years. We trace his journey from Red Bank, New Jersey—where he took his first piano lessons from his mother for 25 cents a session—to the vibrant jazz scene of Harlem and the vaudeville circuit.Discover how a move to Kansas City and a stint with Bennie Moten’s band helped Basie develop the "Kansas

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30:52

Benny Goodman: The King of Swing

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode, we profile Benjamin David Goodman, the iconic American clarinetist and bandleader widely known as the "King of Swing". Born into poverty as the ninth of twelve children in Chicago, Goodman took up the clarinet through free music classes at a local synagogue, hoping music would provide an escape from his difficult upbringing. We discuss his rise to fame, specifically the 1935 engagement at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles that is credited with launching the swing era, as well as

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28:48

Jacques Cartier: The French Mariner Who Named Canada

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

Join us as we chart the voyages of Jacques Cartier, the explorer from Saint-Malo who became the first European to map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and travel inland in North America. In this episode, we follow Cartier’s three expeditions commissioned by King Francis I, where he sought a western passage to Asian markets and precious metals.Topics covered in this episode include:The "Country of Canadas": How Cartier applied the Huron-Iroquois word for village (kanata) to the entire territory,

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29:41

Amelia Bloomer: Trousers, Temperance, and The Lily

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

While her name became synonymous with the controversial "Bloomer" pants, Amelia Bloomer’s legacy extends far beyond fashion. In this episode, we explore the life of the pioneering activist who became the first woman to own, operate, and edit a newspaper for women, The Lily. We discuss how The Lily evolved from a temperance journal into a vital platform for women's rights and suffrage.We debunk the myth that Amelia created the "Bloomer Costume"—an innovation actually adopted from Elizabeth Smith

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28:38

Harry Houdini: The Handcuff King, The Aviator, and...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

He was born Erik Weisz, but the world remembers him as the Great Houdini. Join us as pplpod dives into the life of the legendary "Handcuff King," tracing his journey from an impoverished childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin, to his reign as the highest-paid entertainer in American vaudeville.In this episode, we break down the mechanics behind his most death-defying stunts, including the Milk Can Escape, the suspended straitjacket, and the terrifying Chinese Water Torture Cell—also known as the "Upside

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27:22

Doc Holliday: The Deadly Dentist of the Wild West

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the turbulent life of John Henry "Doc" Holliday, the Georgia-born gentleman who traded his dental instruments for a six-shooter after a life-changing diagnosis of tuberculosis. Join us as we trace his journey from a reputable dental school graduate to a feared gambler in the American Southwest, where he forged a legendary friendship with lawman Wyatt Earp after reportedly saving his life in a Texas saloon.We dissect the true story behind the Gunfight at the O.K

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28:21

Buffalo Bill Cody: The Scout, The Showman, and The...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we ride alongside one of the most famous figures of the American Old West: William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. Join us as we separate the man from the legend, tracing his journey from a teenage teamster and Army scout to the international superstar who defined the world's image of the American frontier,.We dig into the fascinating details of Cody’s life, including:• The Making of a Name: How an 8-hour shooting match and a contract to supply meat to

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24:32

Charlie "Yardbird" Parker: The Virtuoso Who Invented...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode, we profile Charles Parker Jr., the legendary saxophonist better known to the world as "Bird" or "Yardbird". A leading figure in the development of bebop, Parker transformed jazz from dance music into an intellectual art form characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. We trace his journey from a humiliating early jam session—where a cymbal was thrown at his feet—to his obsessive "woodshedding" period where he practiced up to 15 hours a day to master

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29:11

P. T. Barnum: The Prince of Humbugs and the Greatest...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

Step inside the ring with pplpod as we examine the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the legendary American showman who blurred the lines between entertainment, education, and exploitation. While best remembered today for the circus that bears his name, Barnum actually did not enter the circus business until he was 60 years old. In this episode, we trace his journey from a small-business owner in Connecticut to the proprietor of Barnum’s American Museum in New York City, where he attracted millions

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33:27

Whitfield Diffie: The Iconoclast Who Democratized...

pplpod ·

2026/02/02

In this episode of pplpod, we decode the life of Whitfield Diffie, the American mathematician and cryptographer who fundamentally changed digital privacy. A self-described "iconoclast," Diffie spent his career prioritizing individual privacy over government secrecy.Join us as we explore:• The "New Direction": How Diffie and collaborator Martin Hellman published their groundbreaking 1976 paper, New Directions in Cryptography. We discuss how their invention of public-key cryptography solved the

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2,561 results

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