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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

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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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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2,136 results

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