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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

24:01

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989): The NC-17 Rom-Com &...

pplpod ·

2026/02/16

This week on pplpod, we dive into the colorful, controversial world of Pedro Almodóvar’s 1989 classic, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (¡Átame!). We break down the breakout performance of a young Antonio Banderas as Ricky, a released psychiatric patient who kidnaps an actress (Victoria Abril) with a plan to force her to fall in love with him so they can marry and have children.Join us as we discuss:• Genre-Bending: How Almodóvar blends elements of horror and thriller with romantic comedy to create what he

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27:12

"Big John" Merritt: The Loyal Architect of a Football...

pplpod ·

2026/02/16

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of John "Big John" Merritt, the College Football Hall of Fame inductee who dominated the gridiron from the 1950s through the 1980s. We dive into his legendary tenure at Tennessee State (formerly Tennessee A&I), where he secured seven black college national championships and four undefeated seasons.Join us as we discuss:• The Record: Merritt’s staggering career record of 235–70–12 across his time at Jackson State and Tennessee State.• The Talent: How

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29:23

Decodin' the DOCTYPE: Quirks Mode, Syntax, and the...

pplpod ·

2026/02/16

In this episode, we break down the Document Type Declaration (DOCTYPE), the specific instruction that associates a web page with a document type definition. We discuss the critical role this line of code plays in browser "sniffing," determining whether a site renders in "Quirks Mode" or "Standards Mode". We also analyze the specific syntax of a declaration—including PUBLIC versus SYSTEM identifiers and internal subsets—and trace the evolution of the web from the complex DTDs of HTML 4.01 and XHTML

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31:48

The $250 Million Password: The Rise and Fall of...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

What happens when the CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange dies with the only keys to the vault? In this episode, we dive into the spectacular collapse of QuadrigaCX, once Canada’s largest crypto exchange. When 30-year-old founder Gerald Cotten died suddenly in India in 2018 due to complications from Crohn's disease, he reportedly took the passwords for C$250 million in customer funds to the grave,.We explore the unraveling of the mystery, from the discovery that Cotten’s co-founder, Michael Patryn, was

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24:41

¡Amigos! (S2E3) – Gene Parmesan’s Debut, Ice the...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

On this episode of pplpod, we dive into the critically acclaimed Arrested Development episode "¡Amigos!"—the third episode of Season 2. Join us as we break down the introduction of private investigator Gene Parmesan, a character whose first appearance elicits an iconic, squealing reaction from Lucille.In this recap, we discuss:• The Hunt for George Sr.: Michael heads to Mexico to track down his father, unaware that his brother Gob has hired a bounty hunter named Ice to track him.• Buster’s Escape:

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14:31

Blues Traveler: ¡Bastardos! (2005)

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into ¡Bastardos!, the eighth studio album by the American jam band Blues Traveler. Released on September 13, 2005, and recorded in Austin, Texas, this record features production by Jay Bennett, formerly of the band Wilco.Join us as we discuss:• The origin of the album's aggressive title, which manifested from the band's long-standing desire to name a record "Those Bastards!".• Key tracks from the 14-song collection, including the single "Amber Awaits" and the

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32:50

The Collapse of Voyager Digital: Bankruptcy, Failed...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the turbulent timeline of cryptocurrency brokerage Voyager Digital. Founded in 2018, the firm’s fortunes unraveled in June 2022 when Three Arrows Capital failed to repay loans totaling $666 million.Join us as we break down the key events of Voyager’s downfall:• The Freeze: How the company suspended trading and withdrawals before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2022.• Regulatory Action: The joint order from the Federal Reserve and FDIC demanding the

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28:38

Big John McCarthy: The Cop Who Wrote the Rules of MMA

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we step into the cage with John "Big John" McCarthy, widely considered one of the greatest and most recognizable referees in combat sports history. We explore his journey from serving as an officer in the Los Angeles Police Department to officiating the lawless early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, starting with UFC 2 in 1993.Join us as we discuss how McCarthy helped save the sport by creating the Unified Rules of MMA and the story behind his iconic

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31:09

Jimmy Uso: Bloodlines, Betrayals, and The Longest Reign

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we step into the ring to profile Jonathan Fatu, better known to the world as Jimmy Uso. As a member of the legendary Anoa'i family and son of Hall of Famer Rikishi, wrestling was in his blood, but his journey to the top was anything but a straight line.Join us as we break down the career of one-half of the greatest tag team of the modern era. We discuss:• The Rise of The Usos: From their debut in 2010 to reinventing themselves with the "Day One Ish" attitude, eventually

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14:56

Big Bill Lister: Radio's Tallest Singing Cowboy & The...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of "Big Bill" Lister (Weldon E. Lister), the honky-tonk singer nicknamed "Radio's Tallest Singing Cowboy" for standing over 6-foot-7.Tune in to hear the incredible story of Lister’s relationship with country legend Hank Williams, Sr., for whom he served as an opening act in 1951. We detail how Lister was given a demo recording of "There's a Tear in My Beer" by Williams, only for Lister's wife to discover the long-lost tape in their attic nearly 40 years

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10:41

Satire, Stereotypes, and "Dear Gabacho": The Rise and...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

On this episode of pplpod, we look back at ¡Ask a Mexican!, the syndicated satirical column that transformed from a 2004 spoof in the OC Weekly into a cultural phenomenon. We discuss how author Gustavo Arellano tackled reader questions regarding Mexican-American customs, labor, and immigration with a politically incorrect wit, famously addressing his readers as "Dear Gabacho". Tune in to learn about the column's critical acclaim—ranging from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies awards to a

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30:13

¡Basta Ya!: When Spain Said "Enough is Enough"

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

What happens when citizens decide that moral criticism of terrorism isn’t enough? This week on pplpod, we dive into the history of ¡Basta Ya! (Enough is Enough!), the Spanish grassroots organization formed to oppose ETA terrorism and defend the rule of law.Join us as we explore how this diverse civic initiative united people across political ideologies to support victims of violence and uphold the Spanish Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country. We cover the group's massive

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14:00

Catching the Beat: The Story of T-Ski Valley’s 1981...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode, we explore the history behind T-Ski Valley's "Catch the Beat," a groundbreaking 1981 track that captures the post-disco Bronx era of rap. We discuss how the artist—originally known as Tyrone—went from setting up a breakbeat section in Brad Osborne's store to recording at Blank Tape Studios, the same location used by disco acts like the Salsoul Orchestra.Join us as we break down:• The Production: How producer Brad Osborne and T-Ski Valley utilized a sample from Taana Gardner's

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31:13

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!: How ABBA’s Dark Disco Anthem...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

"There’s not a soul out there" who hasn't heard that opening synthesizer riff. This week on pplpod, we are diving deep into ABBA’s 1979 disco masterpiece, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)."Join us as we explore how a demo originally titled "Rubber Ball Man" transformed into a gothic tale of loneliness and sexual frustration, heavily inspired by Donna Summer’s "Hot Stuff." We discuss the song's complicated release history, including why it topped the charts in Europe and Japan but was

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28:55

Ron Reis: The Man Behind The Yeti, The Ninja, and The...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

On this episode of pplpod, we unwrap the career of Ron Reis, a 7'2" giant who had one of the most memorable—and bizarre—runs in WCW history. We trace his journey from playing NCAA basketball at Santa Clara University to the squared circle, where he was trained by legend Big John Studd.Join us as we break down his infamous 1995 debut at Halloween Havoc, where he broke out of a block of ice as "The Yeti" to apply a double-bearhug on Hulk Hogan. We also discuss his confusing repackaging as The Super

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13:44

XXL – ¡Ciaütistico! (feat. Xiu Xiu & Larsen)

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

In this episode of pplpod, we explore ¡Ciaütistico!, the 2005 debut album from XXL—a collaborative project between the Italian experimental rock band Larsen and the American band Xiu Xiu. Recorded in Turin, Italy, this post-rock album features vocals from Caralee McElroy and Jamie Stewart, including a notable cover of Adam and the Ants' "Prince Charming". We take a look at the tracklist, from "Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw Paw" to "Distorted Duck," examining this unique experimental rock effort released

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31:36

Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953): Fake Flamenco,...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

This week on pplpod, we travel to the small Castilian town of Villar del Río to discuss Luis García Berlanga’s 1953 satirical masterpiece, Welcome Mr. Marshall! (¡Bienvenido, Mister Marshall!).Join us as we unpack how a village decided to don fake Andalusian costumes and hire a flamenco star to impress visiting American diplomats, hoping to secure a piece of the Marshall Plan pie. We explore how this absurdist comedy managed to slip biting anti-Francoist social criticism past the censors by

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37:02

The Evolution of the Entrepreneur: Risk, Innovation,...

pplpod ·

2026/02/15

What distinguishes a true entrepreneur from a small business owner? Is it the willingness to bear risk, or the drive to innovate?. In this episode of pplpod, we take a comprehensive look at the history, theory, and psychology behind entrepreneurship.Join us as we explore:• The Origins: How the term evolved from 18th-century French economic theory—where economists like Richard Cantillon defined the entrepreneur as a risk-taker—to the modern "merchant adventurer".• Creative Destruction: We break down

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38:01

The ARM Guide: Teaser Rates, Caps, and the Risk of...

pplpod ·

2026/02/14

In this episode of pplpod, we dive deep into the complex world of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs), exploring how they differ from standard fixed-rate loans. We break down the mechanics of how interest rates fluctuate based on economic indices like the Treasury or LIBOR, and explain the critical terminology every borrower needs to know—from "margins" to "adjustment periods".Join us as we discuss:• The Appeal vs. The Risk: Why borrowers are drawn to lower initial "teaser" rates, and the potential

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40:18

Real Estate Investing 101: The Capital Stack, BRRR,...

pplpod ·

2026/02/14

Description Real estate is the largest asset class in the world, surpassing both the stock and bond markets—but how does it actually generate wealth? In this episode of pplpod, we break down the fundamental mechanics of real estate investing.We cover:• Valuation: How investors calculate value using the "Capitalization Rate" (CAP rate), replacement costs, and market "comps".• The Capital Stack: A deep dive into the hierarchy of financing, explaining the difference between low-risk Senior Debt and

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7,536 results

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