pplpod

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.

  1. 4 HR AGO

    The "Canadian Psycho": The Murder of Jun Lin and the Manhunt for Luka Magnotta

    In this episode of pplpod, we examine the horrific 2012 murder of Jun Lin, a 33-year-old engineering student at Concordia University in Montreal. We discuss the crimes of Luka Rocco Magnotta, a failed model and porn actor who sought internet notoriety by filming the killing and dismemberment of Lin and posting the video online under the title 1 Lunatic, 1 Ice Pick. We detail the grisly discovery of Lin’s body parts, which Magnotta mailed to Canadian political party offices and elementary schools, sparking an international manhunt that led authorities from Montreal to Paris and finally to Berlin. The episode also covers Magnotta’s 2014 trial, where the defense argued diminished responsibility due to schizophrenia, while the Crown depicted Magnotta as an organized narcissist inspired by the film Basic Instinct. Magnotta was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

    29 min

  2. 4 HR AGO

    The Peterborough Ditch Murders: The "Moreish" Crimes of Joanna Dennehy

    In this episode of pplpod, we uncover the chilling details of the Peterborough ditch murders that shocked Cambridgeshire in March 2013. We explore the violent spree of Joanna Dennehy, a woman who stabbed three men—Kevin Lee, Lukasz Slaboszewski, and John Chapman—and dumped their bodies in ditches, driven by a twisted desire for "entertainment" and "fun". Tune in as we discuss: • The Spree: How Dennehy targeted men she knew before traveling to Hereford with accomplice Gary Stretch to stab two strangers at random, attempting to emulate "Bonnie and Clyde". • The Motive: Dennehy’s disturbing confession that she found killing "moreish" and her specific decision to dress her lover, Kevin Lee, in a black sequined dress after his death. • The Trial: Her lack of remorse, seen when she laughed during court proceedings and pleaded guilty to ensure she wasn't "controlled" by lawyers. • The Sentence: Why Dennehy became only the third woman in the UK to receive a whole life order, with the judge describing her as a "cruel, calculating, selfish and manipulative serial killer". • Life Behind Bars: Her violent prison escape plot involving the planned amputation of a guard's finger and her subsequent time in solitary confinement.

    33 min

  3. 4 HR AGO

    The Yorkshire Ripper: Peter Sutcliffe, Misogyny, and the Manhunt That Failed

    In this episode of pplpod, we examine the dark history of Peter Sutcliffe, the English serial killer known to the world as the "Yorkshire Ripper". Between 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe murdered thirteen women and attempted to kill seven others across Northern England, often targeting sex workers in a mission he claimed was ordained by God,. We dig into the details of one of the largest and most expensive manhunts in British history, exploring how Sutcliffe evaded capture for five years despite being interviewed by police on nine separate occasions. Key topics in this episode include: • The Attacks: Sutcliffe’s brutal use of hammers and screwdrivers, beginning with assaults in 1969 and escalating to a murder spree that terrorized West Yorkshire and Manchester,,. • Investigative Failures: How an overwhelmed manual filing system and the infamous "Wearside Jack" hoax recording led police to ignore vital forensic evidence and survivor testimony,. • Institutional Sexism: We discuss the misogynistic attitudes of the 1970s police force, which focused heavily on the victims' lifestyles and ignored the fact that Sutcliffe attacked women from all walks of life,. • The "Byford Report" & Unsolved Crimes: While Sutcliffe was eventually caught by chance in 1981, a secret government report later revealed he was likely responsible for many more attacks than those for which he was convicted,. Sutcliffe died in custody in 2020, but the shadow he cast over the justice system and the families of his victims remains,.

    28 min

  4. 4 HR AGO

    The First Genetic Fingerprint: The Crimes and Capture of Colin Pitchfork

    In this episode of pplpod, we examine the landmark case of Colin Pitchfork, a baker and sexual predator who became the first person in history convicted of murder using DNA profiling,. We recount the tragic brutalization and strangulation of teenagers Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire during the 1980s, crimes that initially left police with few leads,. Discover how a revolutionary mass DNA screening of thousands of local men ultimately cornered the killer, despite Pitchfork’s elaborate attempt to cheat the system by paying a coworker to provide a blood sample in his place,. We also discuss the dramatic tip-off from a pub conversation that led to his arrest and subsequent life sentence in 1988,. Finally, we cover the ongoing controversy surrounding Pitchfork’s incarceration, including his brief release in 2021 and subsequent recall to prison for approaching young women,.

    39 min

  5. 4 HR AGO

    The Victory Road Fire: The Shameless Life and Crimes of Mick Philpott

    In this episode of pplpod, we investigate the disturbing case of Mick Philpott, a man who transitioned from a tabloid caricature of the "benefits lifestyle" to a convicted mass killer. Known publicly for fathering 18 children and maintaining a polygamous household with his wife Mairead and mistress Lisa Willis, Philpott’s desire for control culminated in a tragedy that shocked the nation. We break down the events of May 11, 2012, when a petrol-fueled fire at the family’s Derby home took the lives of six of Philpott's children. While the Philpotts initially held emotional press conferences portraying themselves as victims, police surveillance and forensic evidence revealed a cynical plot to frame Philpott's ex-mistress in a bid to win custody and maximize state benefits. Key topics in this episode include: • The Media Persona: Philpott’s history of defending his lifestyle on programs like The Jeremy Kyle Show and Ann Widdecombe Versus, where his domineering behavior toward women was already on display. • A History of Violence: A look at Philpott's 1978 conviction for the attempted murder of a teenage girlfriend—whom he stabbed over a dozen times and shot with a crossbow—establishing a long-standing pattern of violence and misogyny. • The "Rescue" Plot: How Philpott, his wife Mairead, and friend Paul Mosley planned the fire as a stunt to frame a rival and emerge as heroes, only for the blaze to spiral out of control. • The Verdict: The investigation that exposed Philpott as a "psychopath" and "exhibitionist," resulting in a life sentence for manslaughter.

    26 min

  6. 7 HR AGO

    Calamity Jane: Sharpshooter, Storyteller, and Legend of the West

    In this episode of pplpod, we ride into the American frontier to explore the raucous and tragic life of Martha Jane Canary, known to the world as Calamity Jane. Born in 1852, Jane became one of the most celebrated figures of the Wild West, famous for wearing men’s attire, her skills as a sharpshooter, and her captivating storytelling. We separate the woman from the myth, examining the conflicting stories of how she acquired her famous nickname—was it bestowed upon her after saving a captain during an ambush, or was it a warning to those who dared to offend her?. We also dive into her time in Deadwood and her infamous connection to Wild Bill Hickok. While Jane claimed they were married and even produced a daughter, we discuss why many historians—and Hickok’s own friends—viewed these claims as the fabrications of a storyteller. Beyond the tall tales, we look at the complexities of her character: a hard-drinking daredevil who struggled with alcoholism yet showed immense compassion by nursing victims of a smallpox epidemic. From her alleged days as an army scout to her later years performing in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, join us for the story of a true American pioneer who died as she lived—surrounded by the legends of the Black Hills.

    23 min

  7. 7 HR AGO

    V. S. Naipaul: Rage, Precision, and the Enigma of a Literary Giant

    In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the complex life and controversial legacy of Sir V. S. Naipaul, the Trinidadian-British writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. Born in Chaguanas to the son of an indentured labourer, Naipaul traveled to Oxford on a scholarship determined "at last to write," only to face depression and a "nervous breakdown". Join us as we explore: • The Masterpieces: How Naipaul transformed his childhood memories into his breakthrough novel, A House for Mr Biswas, a book he later described as the "happiest years" of his life. We also look at his Booker Prize-winning In a Free State and his bleaker novels of alienation. • The Controversy: From his "unflattering" travel writing in The Middle Passage to accusations of racism and misogyny by critics like Edward Said and Robert Harris. We discuss why the Swedish Academy praised him for "incorruptible scrutiny" while others viewed him as a witness for the "Western prosecution". • The Private Life: The stark contrast between his literary success and his turbulent personal relationships. We examine his reliance on his first wife, Patricia Hale, whose diaries reveal a life of "chronic physical abuse" involving his mistress, Margaret Murray Gooding. From his "comic early novels" to his later "vigilant chronicles," discover the man whom the Nobel committee called the heir to Joseph Conrad.

    28 min

  8. 7 HR AGO

    Joseph Conrad: The Polish Orphan Who Mastered the English Sea

    How did a Polish orphan from the Russian Empire, who didn't speak English fluently until his twenties, become one of the greatest prose stylists in English literature? In this episode of pplpod, we navigate the turbulent life of Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski). We chart his journey from a tragic childhood marked by his parents' political exile and early deaths to his adventurous years in the French and British merchant marines. We discuss the pivotal moments that shaped his worldview, including a suicide attempt in Marseille and his harrowing time in the Congo, which inspired his masterpiece, Heart of Darkness. Join us as we explore how Conrad transformed his experiences at sea into profound meditations on the human psyche, colonialism, and moral isolation. We also delve into his personal struggles with debt and depression, his writing process in a third language, and the modern controversies surrounding his work, including Chinua Achebe’s famous critique of his depiction of Africa.

    25 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    pplpod
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © pplpod
  • Show Website
    pplpod

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