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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

25:14

The "Harmless" Lie: The Murder of Lori Hacking

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

On this episode of pplpod, we unravel the tragic web of deception behind the 2004 death of Lori Hacking, a pregnant 27-year-old stock broker's assistant from Salt Lake City. While her husband, Mark Hacking, initially reported that she vanished during a morning jog, investigators soon discovered a life built on fabrication: Mark had lied to everyone about graduating from the University of Utah and being accepted to medical school in North Carolina.We discuss the fatal night Lori discovered her

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32:02

The Watts Family Murders: The "Perfect" Facade and a...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the harrowing August 2018 case in Frederick, Colorado, where the disappearance of pregnant mother Shanann Watts and her two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, captured global attention,. What began as a welfare check initiated by a concerned friend quickly unraveled into a tragedy of "family annihilation",.We discuss the timeline of events, starting with Christopher Watts’ initial media interviews pleading for his family's return, even as police grew suspicious

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28:15

Picture Perfect Lies: The Camera, and the Murder of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the brutal 2008 murder of Travis Alexander, a motivational speaker and salesman for Pre-Paid Legal Services (PPL). We explore the tumultuous relationship between Alexander and his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias, who met Alexander at a PPL work conference in Las Vegas.Join us as we break down the investigation that uncovered a gruesome crime scene in Mesa, Arizona, where Alexander was found in his shower with 27 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the

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31:09

Amanda Knox: Wrongful Conviction, Media Spectacle,...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In 2007, American exchange student Amanda Knox was thrust into the center of a global media firestorm following the brutal murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia, Italy. This week on pplpod, we unpack the sensationalized "Foxy Knoxy" narrative and the chaotic eight-year legal battle that saw Knox convicted, acquitted, retried, and finally definitively exonerated by Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation.We examine the forensic controversies that defined the case, including the "glaring

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26:48

The Van Life Tragedy: The Disappearance and Death of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the heartbreaking 2021 case of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, who was killed by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, while the couple was documenting their cross-country "van life" journey on social media,. We trace the timeline of their trip from New York to the American West, including the widely publicized domestic disturbance stop by police in Moab, Utah, just weeks before Petito’s disappearance,.We discuss the massive public interest and internet sleuthing that exploded

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25:42

The Sherri Papini Kidnapping Hoax

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In 2016, Sherri Papini gained national attention after vanishing during a jog, only to reappear weeks later with injuries and claims of being abducted by two women. However, a federal investigation eventually revealed that she had staged the entire disappearance while staying with a former boyfriend. Papini admitted to orchestrating the hoax in 2022, leading to a prison sentence and significant financial restitution for the costs of the search. The fallout from her lies resulted in a divorce from

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27:11

Elizabeth Smart: Surviving Captivity and Reclaiming...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the harrowing and inspiring journey of Elizabeth Smart. We revisit the headlines from June 2002, when 14-year-old Smart was abducted at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City bedroom and held captive for nine months by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. We discuss the brutal reality of her captivity, including daily assault and threats of death, leading up to her miraculous rescue in Sandy, Utah, in 2003.Beyond her survival, we examine Smart’s evolution into a

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34:02

The Vallow–Daybell Doomsday Murders Case History

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode details the vicious series of killings and criminal proceedings known as the Vallow–Daybell doomsday murders. At the center of the case are Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell, a couple whose radical, apocalyptic religious beliefs served as a justification for the deaths of multiple family members. The victims included Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, as well as the couple's previous spouses, Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell. Following a high-profile investigation that

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28:40

Amy Winehouse: A Life of Soul and Struggle

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode outlines the life and professional journey of Amy Winehouse, an acclaimed British singer known for her unique soul and jazz style. It details her rapid rise to fame with albums like Frank and the record-breaking Back to Black, which earned her numerous Grammy Awards. The sources also examine her personal struggles, including highly publicized battles with addiction and mental health issues. Her story concludes with her untimely death at age 27 and the subsequent creation of the Amy

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29:15

The Career and Life of Lindsay Lohan

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This biography chronicles the multifaceted life and career of American entertainer Lindsay Lohan, from her early success as a child model to her rise as a major Hollywood actress. The text details her transition from Disney star in films like The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday to a platinum-selling recording artist and teen idol in Mean Girls. It also addresses a decade of career setbacks, legal troubles, and tabloid scrutiny that began in the mid-2000s and hindered her professional momentum. Beyond

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27:34

It’s Britney, Bitch: The Rise, Revolt, and Freedom of...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

rincess of Pop" credited with reviving the teen pop genre in the late 1990s. We trace her journey from a child performing in The Mickey Mouse Club to her explosive debut with ...Baby One More Time, which became the best-selling album ever released by a teenage artist.We discuss her evolution into a more adult icon with hits like "I'm a Slave 4 U" and the Grammy Award-winning "Toxic", as well as the intense media scrutiny that accompanied her personal struggles in 2007. The episode details the

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32:59

Russell Brand: From Hollywood Star to Alt-Media...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the chaotic trajectory of Russell Brand, the English comedian and actor whose career has spanned stand-up, Hollywood blockbusters like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and controversial political activism,,. We trace his early days as an MTV presenter—where he was dismissed for coming to work dressed as Osama bin Laden after 9/11—to his resignation from the BBC following the infamous prank call scandal involving Andrew Sachs,,.We delve into Brand’s pivot from

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27:48

The Joe Rogan Experience: A Comprehensive Media History

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

The Joe Rogan Experience is a long-running, globally dominant podcast hosted by American comedian and commentator Joe Rogan. Launched in 2009, the show is recognized for its extended, unscripted conversations with a diverse array of guests, ranging from academics and politicians to entertainers and athletes. The program has transitioned through various distribution eras, including a period of Spotify exclusivity before returning to a multi-platform model that includes YouTube. Beyond its massive

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34:59

Anna Nicole Smith: The Life and Legacy of Vickie Lynn...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode is an encyclopedic overview of the life and legacy of Anna Nicole Smith, an American cultural icon who rose to prominence as a Playboy Playmate and high-fashion model. It details her high-profile and litigious marriage to oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall, which eventually led to significant legal battles reaching the United States Supreme Court. The documentation covers her multifaceted career in acting and television, including her namesake reality show and various film roles. Personal

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38:48

Alex Jones: The Conspiracy Empire, Sandy Hook Lies,...

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

In this episode of pplpod, we profile Alex Jones, the far-right radio host and founder of Infowars who became the most prolific conspiracy theorist in contemporary America,. We trace his origins from Austin public access television, where he was radicalized by the Waco siege, to his rise as a digital media mogul who built a massive audience promoting theories about the "New World Order" and government "false flags",,.We examine the business machinery behind the microphone, discussing how Jones

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34:10

Dennis Rader: The Life and Crimes of the BTK Killer

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode details the life and crimes of Dennis Rader, a notorious serial killer known as BTK who murdered ten people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. The text explores his modus operandi, which involved stalking, binding, and strangling his victims, alongside his history of sending taunting communications to the media and police. Despite a long hiatus, Rader was captured in 2005 after metadata on a floppy disk he sent to a television station linked him to his church. The sources describe his

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33:36

Aileen Wuornos: The Life and Crimes of a Serial Killer

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode details the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, a notorious American serial killer who murdered seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. The text traces her traumatic childhood marked by abandonment and abuse, which experts believe contributed to her later development of antisocial and borderline personality disorders. While working as a highway prostitute, Wuornos utilized a .22-caliber revolver to kill her clients, initially claiming self-defense before later admitting to robbery as

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29:36

Deal with the Devil: The Karla Homolka Case

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This biography documents the life and criminal history of Karla Homolka, a Canadian woman convicted for her involvement in the rapes and murders of three minors. The text details her collaboration with her then-husband Paul Bernardo, including the specific circumstances surrounding the deaths of Leslie Mahaffy, Kristen French, and Homolka's own sister. A significant portion of the source focuses on the controversial plea bargain, known as the "Deal with the Devil," which allowed Homolka to serve

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27:18

The Vallow–Daybell Doomsday Murder Case

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This episode details the Vallow–Daybell doomsday murders, a complex criminal case involving the deaths of Tylee Ryan, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, and Tammy Daybell. The narrative centers on Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell, a couple whose extremist apocalyptic beliefs and claims of spiritual "zombies" served as a justification for multiple homicides. Following the children's 2019 disappearance, a multi-state investigation uncovered a trail of violence, including the earlier shooting of Lori’s husband,

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29:22

Macaulay Culkin: The Evolution of a Cultural Icon

pplpod ·

2026/01/25

This biographical overview details the life and career of Macaulay Culkin, tracing his evolution from a 1990s child star to a multifaceted adult entertainer. The text highlights his breakout success in the Home Alone franchise and other early hits before documenting his mid-90s retirement and subsequent return to independent film and television. Beyond his acting roles, the source examines his musical ventures with the Pizza Underground, his work as a digital publisher for Bunny Ears, and his

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2,561 results

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