x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

23:38

Daniel Craig: Shaken, Stirred, and Reinvented—From...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This week on pplpod, we explore the dynamic career of English actor Daniel Craig. We trace his journey from his breakthrough television role in the BBC drama serial Our Friends in the North to his international superstardom as James Bond. We discuss the initial controversy surrounding his casting as the first "blond" 007 and how he silenced critics with the massive success of Casino Royale and Skyfall.Beyond the tuxedo, we dive into Craig’s celebrated pivot to comedy as Detective Benoit Blanc in

en

27:52

Stevie Nicks: The Reigning Queen of Rock & Roll

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode, we explore the mystical and tumultuous life of Stephanie "Stevie" Nicks, the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. From her early days singing duets with her grandfather in Arizona to her fateful high school meeting with Lindsey Buckingham, we trace the journey that led to them joining Fleetwood Mac as a "package deal" in 1974.Join us as we break down the creation of the band’s masterpiece, Rumours, where Nicks transformed her deteriorating

en

24:40

Carole King: From Brill Building Prodigy to Tapestry...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we weave through the extraordinary life of Carole King, one of the most prolific and celebrated figures in music history. Join us as we explore how a girl from Brooklyn with absolute pitch transformed into the voice of a generation.We trace King’s early career at 1650 Broadway where, alongside her first husband Gerry Goffin, she defined the sound of the 1960s by penning over two dozen chart-topping hits for artists like The Shirelles, The Monkees, and Aretha Franklin. We

en

24:41

Joni Mitchell: "Weird Chords," Blue, and the Miracle...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the sprawling legacy of Roberta Joan Anderson, better known as Joni Mitchell. We trace her journey from the coffeehouses of Saskatoon to becoming one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century,.Discover how a childhood battle with polio weakened her left hand, forcing her to invent the unique open tunings and "weird chords" that defined her sound,,. We discuss her artistic evolution from the confessional folk masterpieces of Blue—often cited as one

en

26:48

Bob Seger: The Voice of the Heartland

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the six-decade career of Bob Seger, the raspy-voiced icon of heartland rock known for his powerful narratives about blue-collar life. We trace his roots in the Detroit music scene, from his early days with The Decibels and The Last Heard to his initial national breakthrough with "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" in 1969.Discover the story of Seger’s resilience as we discuss:His struggle to maintain momentum in the early 70s with The Bob Seger System and the commercial

en

24:07

Title Etta James: The Matriarch of the Blues

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the turbulent life and enduring legacy of Etta James, the "Matriarch of the Blues" whose deep, earthy voice bridged the gap between R&B and rock and roll. Born Jamesetta Hawkins to a mother she referred to as "the Mystery Lady," James overcame a traumatic childhood involving absent parents and abusive foster care to become a musical icon,.We discuss her discovery by Johnny Otis and her early success with "The Wallflower" before diving into her legendary

en

22:27

Jhumpa Lahiri: The Life and Works of a Transcultural...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This biography profiles Jhumpa Lahiri, a distinguished Pulitzer Prize-winning author recognized for her exploration of the Indian-immigrant experience. Born in London to Bengali parents and raised in the United States, Lahiri’s early literary success includes acclaimed works like Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake. The text details her academic background, including multiple advanced degrees from Boston University and her current role as a professor at Barnard College. A significant portion of

en

27:21

How Louis Armstrong Revolutionized Jazz and Charmed...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the extraordinary life of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, the foundational jazz figure who shifted the genre from collective improvisation to the art of the soloist. We trace his journey from a childhood in the poverty-stricken "Battlefield" of New Orleans and the Colored Waifs' Home to his emergence as the "World's Greatest Trumpet Player".Join us as we discuss:• The Hot Five & Hot Seven Era: How recordings like "West End Blues" and "Potato Head Blues" redefined

en

26:14

Liam Neeson: From Ballymena Boxer to Hollywood Action...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life and career of Liam Neeson, regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest film actors. Born in Northern Ireland to a school caretaker and a cook, Neeson transitioned from amateur boxing and forklift driving to a film career spanning over forty years. Join us as we track his journey from the Belfast stage to becoming a global box-office force whose films have grossed over $11 billion.Topics covered in this episode include:The Breakthrough: His rise to

en

25:08

Neil Young: From Heart of Gold to the Chrome Hearts —...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the restless, decades-spanning career of rock icon Neil Young. Born in Toronto and raising himself on the rock and roll of Elvis and Link Wray, Young eventually drove a Pontiac hearse to Los Angeles to help define the folk-rock genre with Buffalo Springfield,,,. We explore his journey from the chart-topping success of "Heart of Gold"—his only No. 1 hit—to his deliberate turn away from stardom and into the "ditch," resulting in some of his most raw and

en

29:59

Arthur Rimbaud: The Teenage "Seer," The Scandalous...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the explosive and contradictory life of Arthur Rimbaud, the French poet whose transgressive themes prefigured surrealism and modern literature. We trace his journey from a brilliant but rebellious student in Charleville, where he chafed under the rule of his strict mother, to his days as a vagabond in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.Join us as we discuss:• The Philosophy of the Seer: How a teenage Rimbaud sought visionary power through a "long, immense and

en

23:49

The High Priestess of Protest and Soul: The Life of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the turbulent genius of Nina Simone, the "High Priestess of Soul" whose music bridged classical, jazz, blues, and gospel. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, she originally aspired to be a concert pianist but was denied admission to the Curtis Institute of Music, a rejection she attributed to racial prejudice. We discuss how she adopted the pseudonym "Nina Simone" to hide her career playing "the devil's music" in Atlantic City bars from her religious

en

24:45

The Little Sparrow: Glory and Tragedy in the Life of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

In this episode, we dive into the turbulent life of France’s greatest popular singer, Édith Piaf. Born Édith Giovanna Gassion, she rose from a childhood of extreme poverty—raised in a Normandy brothel and temporarily blinded by keratitis—to become an international cultural icon. We explore how a nightclub owner discovered the 4'8" street singer and christened her "La Môme Piaf" (The Sparrow Kid), launching a career defined by her signature black dress and powerful voice.Join us as we discuss the

en

27:47

Leonard Bernstein: The Maestro of American Music

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

He was the genius behind West Side Story, the face of the New York Philharmonic, and the first American-born conductor to achieve international acclaim. This week on pplpod, we explore the explosive career and complex life of Leonard Bernstein.From his childhood in Massachusetts as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants to his stunning, last-minute conducting debut at Carnegie Hall that made him famous overnight,, we track the rise of a musical prodigy. We discuss how Bernstein bridged the gap between

en

28:13

J. D. Salinger: The Art of Enigmatic Seclusion

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This biography covers the life and literary legacy of J. D. Salinger, the American author of the classic novel The Catcher in the Rye. It explores his early years in New York, his traumatic service during World War II, and his subsequent rise to fame through short stories published in The New Yorker. The text highlights his sudden shift into a reclusive lifestyle in New Hampshire, where he pursued diverse spiritual interests and strictly guarded his privacy. It also details his complex personal

en

27:43

Aaron Copland: The Dean of American Music

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This biography profiles Aaron Copland, a seminal 20th-century figure famously regarded as the "Dean of American Music." The text details his evolution from a student of Nadia Boulanger in Paris to a definitive voice in American nationalism, creating iconic works like Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man. It explores his transition from modernist abstraction to an accessible "populist" style designed to reach broader audiences during the Great Depression. Beyond his compositions, the

en

24:37

Henrik Ibsen: The Father of Modern Drama

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This episode is a comprehensive biographical entry on Henrik Ibsen, the nineteenth-century Norwegian playwright widely celebrated as the father of modern drama. It details his patrician upbringing in Skien and clarifies how his family’s complex social standing and merchant background deeply informed his later literary themes. The sources outline his transition from writing lyrical verse to pioneering theatrical realism, highlighting iconic plays like A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler. These works were

en

26:42

George Gershwin: Master of the American Musical...

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

George Gershwin was a transformative American composer and pianist who redefined the musical landscape by merging classical traditions with jazz and popular styles. Born to Jewish immigrants, he rose from a teenage "song plugger" on Tin Pan Alley to a celebrated creator of Broadway musicals and symphonic masterpieces like Rhapsody in Blue. Alongside his brother Ira Gershwin, he produced enduring standards and the landmark opera Porgy and Bess, which is now considered a cultural classic. Despite a

en

28:39

Igor Stravinsky: Life and Works of a Modernist Icon

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This episode examines the life and professional evolution of Igor Stravinsky, a seminal figure in modernist music who held citizenship in Russia, France, and the United States. The text outlines his biography, starting with his musical education under Rimsky-Korsakov and his subsequent rise to global fame through collaborations with the Ballets Russes. His diverse creative output is categorized into three distinct eras: the Russian period, the neoclassical period, and his late adoption of serialism

en

29:13

Paul Verlaine: The Prince of Decadent Poetry

pplpod ·

2026/01/20

This episode details the life and artistic contributions of Paul Verlaine, a foundational figure in French Symbolism and the Decadent movement. The text traces his history from a middle-class upbringing to a tumultuous adulthood marked by a violent relationship with fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud. Despite periods of imprisonment and poverty, Verlaine achieved immense literary fame, eventually being named the "Prince of Poets" by his contemporaries. His work is noted for its lyrical musicality and

en

7,536 results

Similar Podcasts

The History on Film Podcast

Ross Lennon

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

pplpod

pplpod

Based on a True Story

Dan LeFebvre