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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.

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All Episodes

30:06

Jordan Klepper: A Life in Satire and Late Night

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This biography profiles Jordan Klepper, a prominent American comedian and satirist recognized for his extensive work with The Daily Show. Born in Michigan and educated at Kalamazoo College, Klepper developed his comedic skills through elite improvisational troupes like The Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade. His career highlights include hosting his own satirical programs, such as The Opposition, and producing a docuseries that explores American politics and culture. Beyond television, he has

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24:32

The Life and Crimes of the Golden State Killer

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode of pplpod details the life and criminal history of Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer eventually identified as the Golden State Killer. Between 1974 and 1986, DeAngelo perpetrated a horrific series of murders, rapes, and burglaries across California under various aliases like the Visalia Ransacker and the East Area Rapist. The text outlines his personal background, his habit of taunting victims via phone calls, and the decades of investigative frustration that followed his

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27:18

Israel Keyes: The "Meticulous" Predator & The Buried...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the dark profile of Israel Keyes, a serial killer who terrified investigators with his lack of a victim profile and his strategic planning,. From a remote, white supremacist upbringing in Washington to his suicide in an Alaska jail cell, we examine how Keyes operated as a "meticulous" criminal who studied other serial killers to avoid their mistakes,,.Join us as we discuss:• The Evolution of a Killer: Keyes’s transition from a childhood isolated from society

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35:19

Jack the Ripper: The Whitechapel Murders and Legend

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we travel back to 1888 to investigate the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper, who was active in the impoverished Whitechapel district of London. We examine the brutal "canonical five" murders of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, noting the killer’s distinct modus operandi of throat cuts and abdominal mutilations. We discuss why the removal of internal organs from several victims led to speculation

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36:04

Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield & The Real-Life...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we uncover the gruesome true story of Edward Theodore Gein, the Wisconsin handyman known as the "Plainfield Ghoul" and the "Butcher of Plainfield". We examine the shocking 1957 discovery of Gein’s "house of horrors," where authorities found a collection of "keepsakes" fashioned from human skin and bones—including skull bowls, skin masks, and a "woman suit" created so he could literally crawl into his mother's skin.We delve into Gein's twisted psychology, his obsession with

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28:08

The Unabomber: How a Harvard Prodigy Declared War on...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the dark and complex life of Theodore Kaczynski, the mathematics prodigy who became America’s most notorious domestic terrorist. We trace his trajectory from a shy academic genius who entered Harvard at age 16 to a recluse living in a primitive cabin in Lincoln, Montana without electricity or running water,. Discover how Kaczynski’s desire for autonomy morphed into a deadly 17-year mail-bombing campaign targeting universities and airlines—earning him the FBI

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36:31

Lizzie Borden: The Sunday School Teacher, The...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Lizzie Borden took an axe… or did she? In this episode of pplpod, we step back into the sweltering summer of 1892 to investigate the life of Lizzie Andrew Borden, the woman at the center of one of America’s most enduring mysteries.Join us as we explore the dark timeline of August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts, where Lizzie’s father, Andrew, and her stepmother, Abby, were brutally murdered in their own home. We examine the stifling tension inside the Borden household, where despite Andrew

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29:36

The Paris Hilton Paradox: How the Original Influencer...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we deconstruct the life and legacy of Paris Hilton, the woman who defined the 2000s and "influenced the revival of the 'famous for being famous' phenomenon". We trace her evolution from New York’s "leading It Girl" and reality TV breakout star of The Simple Life to a polarizing figure once ranked as the "most overexposed" celebrity by Forbes.Join us as we analyze how Hilton parlayed a carefully crafted "dumb blonde" persona and the notoriety of a leaked sex tape into a

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33:34

Glenn Beck: From "Morning Zoo" DJ to Conservative...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This week on pplpod, we explore the volatile life and career of Glenn Beck, the polarizing commentator who transformed from a Top-40 radio host into a dominant force in conservative media. We trace his journey from his early days as a "morning zoo" DJ and his struggle with drug and alcohol addiction to his conversion to Mormonism and rise to national fame.In this episode, we cover:• The Rise to Power: Beck’s explosive tenure at Fox News, where he utilized his famous chalkboard to map out

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34:03

Andrew Huberman: The Life and Work of a Neuroscientist

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Andrew Huberman is a prominent American neuroscientist and an associate professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He gained widespread fame as the host of the Huberman Lab podcast, which has become one of the most popular global programs focusing on science-based health and wellness. His academic background includes degrees from several University of California campuses and specialized research into the visual system and stress mitigation. While his work is respected by many peers, he

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35:36

Gwyneth Paltrow and the Goop Wellness Empire

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Gwyneth Paltrow is a celebrated American actress and entrepreneur whose career spans from Oscar-winning film roles to the creation of the lifestyle brand Goop. While she achieved massive success in cinema and earned prestigious accolades like an Academy Award, she has increasingly shifted her focus toward her business ventures in fashion, wellness, and publishing. Her company, Goop, is recognized for its high-end retail collaborations and expansive media presence, yet it has faced significant legal

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31:09

Teal Swan: Spiritual Influencer and Controversial...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Teal Swan is a prominent American spiritual influencer and author known for her teachings on trauma recovery and mental health. While she has published several self-help books and a novel, her methods have drawn significant public controversy, particularly regarding her views on suicide and emotional processing. Media outlets and documentaries have explored her rise to fame, with some critics labeling her a cult leader while others focus on her claims of extrasensory abilities. Her early life was

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33:24

Uri Geller: The Life of an Illusionist

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode profiles Uri Geller, an Israeli-British entertainer famous for his televised displays of spoon bending and other alleged mental feats. While Geller attributes his abilities to extraterrestrial origins or psychic gifts, the text highlights that prominent skeptics and magicians have long dismissed his work as clever stage magic. The source chronicles his varied career, including a notable failure on The Tonight Show and claims of participating in government espionage projects. It further

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41:36

The Amazing Randi: Magician, Investigator, and...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

James Randi was a prominent Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic who dedicated his life to investigating and exposing fraudulent paranormal claims. Known professionally as "The Amazing Randi," he began his career as a world-record-holding escapologist before transitioning into a full-time investigator of the supernatural. He co-founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and famously offered a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who could demonstrate occult powers under controlled

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31:39

The Life and Controversies of Psychic Sylvia Browne

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Sylvia Browne was a prominent American author and self-proclaimed medium who gained widespread fame through frequent appearances on television and radio. Over her career, she published dozens of books on paranormal topics and founded a Gnostic Christian church, though she faced significant legal issues, including a conviction for investment fraud. She is frequently remembered for her high-profile false predictions, particularly regarding the fate of missing children such as Shawn Hornbeck and Amanda

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36:21

Warren Jeffs: The Fall of a Fundamentalist Prophet

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Warren Jeffs is the current leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous sect that split from the mainstream LDS Church. These records detail his rise to power as a "prophet" and his subsequent placement on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list after fleeing child sexual assault charges. He was eventually captured during a traffic stop in 2006 and is now serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for crimes involving underage victims. The text highlights his

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28:33

Marshall Applewhite and the Heaven's Gate Cult

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This biography covers the life of Marshall Applewhite, the leader of the Heaven’s Gate religious group. After meeting Bonnie Nettles in the early 1970s, Applewhite developed a complex theology merging Christian eschatology with beliefs in extraterrestrial salvation. The pair led a nomadic lifestyle, eventually establishing a highly disciplined community where members renounced worldly attachments to prepare for a physical or spiritual transition. Following the death of Nettles and the appearance of

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28:02

Heaven's Gate: The Next Level and the Hale-Bopp...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Heaven’s Gate was a UFO-centered religious movement founded in the mid-1970s by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, who merged elements of Christianity, New Age philosophy, and science fiction. The group's core theology suggested that members could ascend to a higher evolutionary plane by shedding their human identities and physical "vehicles." This belief culminated in a notorious mass suicide in 1997, where 39 followers took their lives in California to coincide with the passing of Comet

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31:16

The Unsolved Mystery of D. B. Cooper: The Man Who...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

On Thanksgiving Eve in 1971, a polite man in a dark suit boarded a plane in Portland, ordered a bourbon and soda, and handed the flight attendant a note that launched one of the greatest mysteries in American history. In this episode, we investigate the legend of "Dan Cooper," the unidentified hijacker who seized Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 by claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase. We recount the tense hours during which Cooper successfully demanded $200,000 in negotiable currency and

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32:43

Peter Attia: Architect of Longevity Medicine

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

Peter Attia is a Canadian-American medical professional and author who specializes in the science of human longevity. After studying engineering and medicine, he pivoted from a surgical residency into a career focused on metabolic health and preventative strategies. He is widely recognized for his bestselling book, Outlive, and his popular health podcast where he interviews scientific experts. Attia’s work emphasizes proactive wellness, using data-driven approaches to extend the period of life spent

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7,536 results

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