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. 6 MIN AGO

    Folk Devils & Fear Factories: From Comic Books to QAnon, What Fuels a Moral Panic?

    Why do societies suddenly become terrified that "evil" forces are threatening their way of life? In this episode, we dive deep into the sociology of the moral panic, a phenomenon where public fear is whipped up by sensationalist media and politicians to target a specific group or behavior. We explore the origins of the term, coined by sociologist Stanley Cohen in his study of 1960s youth subcultures, to describe how "moral entrepreneurs" exaggerate threats to create "folk devils" out of those who deviate from the norm,,. We break down the mechanics of mass anxiety, looking at Goode and Ben-Yehuda’s five ingredients for a panic: concern, hostility, consensus, disproportionality, and volatility,. From the "Red Scare" of the 1950s to the hysteria over "the Devil's music" (jazz, blues, and rock), we trace how these cycles of fear repeat themselves,. Topics covered include: • The Media’s Role: How news outlets amplify deviance through symbolic rhetoric and exaggeration to set the public agenda,. • Historical Hysteria: The crackdown on comic books in the 1950s, the panic over switchblades, and the religious backlash against Dungeons & Dragons,,. • Stranger Danger: How high-profile cases like the murder of Adam Walsh fueled a panic over "predatory pedophiles," despite evidence that most abuse occurs within families,. • Modern Myths: The "Satanic Panic" of the 1980s, the "superpredator" crime myths of the 1990s, and contemporary fears surrounding violent video games and online "grooming" conspiracies,,. Join us as we analyze whether these reactions are about protecting society or simply controlling it.

    38 min

  2. 8 MIN AGO

    Going Viral: The Psychology of Sharing, From Hotmail to the Grimace Shake

    What makes content spread like a virus? In this episode of pplpod, we deconstruct the phenomenon of viral marketing, a business strategy that leverages existing social networks to promote products through exponential growth. We explore how this method has evolved from the early days of Hotmail’s email taglines to the complex algorithms of modern social media. Join us as we break down the science and stories behind internet fame: • The Psychology of the Share: We discuss Jonah Berger’s "STEPPS" framework (Social currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical value, and Stories) and why content that triggers positive emotions like joy and excitement is more likely to be passed along than negative content. • The Strategy: Learn about the "7I’s" of effective word-of-mouth campaigns, including Invisibility, Identity, and Instantaneity, and why the "environment" and "messenger" are just as critical as the message itself. • Influencers vs. Celebrities: We examine why consumers often trust social media stars and relatable influencers over traditional celebrities, and how this shift creates deep connections with audiences, as seen in Coca-Cola’s "Share a Coke" campaign. • Viral Wins and Fails: We revisit iconic moments in viral history, including the Dollar Shave Club’s low-budget launch video, Oreo’s "Dunk in the Dark" Super Bowl tweet, and the accidental, user-generated horror trend surrounding McDonald’s Grimace Shake. • The Risks: What happens when a company loses control of the narrative? We look at the dangers of targeting the wrong audience, as seen when a blender company accidentally targeted teenage boys rather than their actual customer base. Whether you are a marketer, a creator, or just someone who loves a good meme, this episode reveals why we feel the primitive urge to click "share".

    37 min

  3. 11 MIN AGO

    The Co-ed Killer: How Ed Kemper Manipulated the System and Inspired Mindhunter

    In this episode of pplpod, we dissect the chilling case of Edmund Kemper, a 6-foot-9 serial killer known as the "Co-ed Killer" who used his genius-level IQ to manipulate the justice system and terrorize California in the early 1970s. We trace Kemper’s dark timeline, starting with the murder of his grandparents at age 15, his deceptive "rehabilitation" at Atascadero State Hospital, and his release back into society where he targeted female college students as surrogates for his abusive mother. Join us as we explore: • The Double Life: How Kemper befriended local police officers as a "friendly nuisance" while actively hiding human remains in his trunk and apartment. • The Psychology: The toxic relationship with his mother, Clarnell, which culminated in her brutal murder and decapitation, an act Kemper claimed ended his homicidal urges. • The FBI Legacy: How Kemper’s interviews with FBI agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler helped define the "organized" killer profile and revolutionized criminal profiling. • Life Behind Bars: From narrating over 5,000 hours of audiobooks for the blind to his famous threat to an FBI agent about "snapping his head," we look at his time in the California Medical Facility. • Current Status: Details on his 2024 parole hearing, where the now wheelchair-bound Kemper was denied release and classified as a "high risk" to reoffend.

    35 min

  4. 23 MIN AGO

    From Burbn to Reels: The Rise, Risks, and Reinvention of Instagram

    In this episode of pplpod, we double-tap into the history and complex legacy of Instagram, the social networking giant owned by Meta Platforms. We trace the app's journey from its 2010 origins as a check-in prototype called Burbn to its massive $1 billion acquisition by Facebook just two years later. Join us as we break down how the platform has aggressively evolved to survive, shifting from its signature square photos to copying competitors with features like Stories (Snapchat) and Reels (TikTok). We also explore the controversies behind the aesthetic, including: • Mental Health: The internal research and external studies linking Instagram usage to anxiety, depression, and body image issues, particularly among teenage girls. • The Algorithm: The contentious shift from chronological feeds to algorithmic recommendations and the 2022 user backlash to "Make Instagram Instagram Again". • Censorship: How the platform handles content moderation, from the "Free the Nipple" campaign to political dissent in countries like Iran and Turkey. Tune in for a deep dive into the app that changed how we see the world—and ourselves.

    26 min

  5. 26 MIN AGO

    The Algorithm Episode: From Al-Khwarizmi to Ada Lovelace and Beyond

    In this episode of pplpod, we decode the history and mechanics of algorithms, defined as finite sequences of mathematically rigorous instructions used to solve problems. We explore how these "recipes" for computation differ from heuristics, particularly in how modern social media apps like Instagram and YouTube recommend content,. Join us as we discuss: • The Origins: How the 9th-century Persian scientist Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī gave the concept its name via the Latinization of his work, algorismi. • Ancient Roots: From Babylonian clay tablets in 2500 BC to codebreaking methods by Al-Kindi,. • The First Programmer: How Ada Lovelace designed the first algorithm intended for a machine—Charles Babbage’s analytical engine—making her history's first programmer. • Design & Efficiency: A look at design paradigms like "divide and conquer" versus "brute force," and how we measure efficiency using Big O notation,. • The Future: The shift toward quantum algorithms and the legal controversies surrounding software patents,. Whether you are interested in the "best case" or "worst case" scenarios, this episode offers a deterministic path to understanding the code that runs our world,.

    45 min

  6. 26 MIN AGO

    Unmasking Psychopathy: The PCL-R, the "Mask of Sanity," and Successful Predators

    What actually defines a psychopath? In this episode of pplpod, we look beyond the Hollywood stereotypes of serial killers to explore the clinical reality of psychopathy—a personality construct defined by impaired empathy, superficial charm, and bold, disinhibited behavior,. Join us as we break down the history and measurement of this condition, from Hervey Cleckley’s 1941 concept of the "Mask of Sanity" to Robert Hare’s widely used Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R),. We examine the debate surrounding the differences between "psychopathy" and "sociopathy," terms that are often used interchangeably but can imply different views on whether the cause is genetic or environmental,. We also dive into the mechanisms behind the mind, discussing: • The Triarchic Model: How boldness, meanness, and disinhibition interact to form the psychopathic personality,. • Nature vs. Nurture: The roles of genetics, childhood trauma, and brain injuries—specifically dysfunction in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex—in the development of these traits,,. • The "Successful" Psychopath: Why some individuals with these traits avoid prison and instead thrive in the corporate world as "snakes in suits," using their stress immunity to climb the ladder,. Whether they are violent offenders or corporate bosses, we explore why psychopathy remains one of the most difficult personality disorders to treat and manage,.

    42 min

  7. 40 MIN AGO

    The Candy Man: Dean Corll and the Houston Mass Murders

    In the early 1970s, Dean Corll was known in his Houston Heights neighborhood as the "Candy Man"—a friendly figure who gave free treats to local children from his family’s candy business,. But behind closed doors, Corll was the mastermind of the "Houston Mass Murders," a spree of abduction, torture, and sexual assault that claimed the lives of at least 29 teenage boys and young men. In this episode of pplpod, we examine the gruesome history of the "Pied Piper" and his two teenage accomplices, David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley,. We discuss: • The Accomplices: How Corll recruited teenagers Brooks and Henley to lure friends and hitchhikers to his home in exchange for money, turning them into active participants in his crimes,,. • The Method: The deceptive offers of parties and rides used to trap victims, and the sadistic torture board Corll used to inflict unimaginable cruelty before burying the bodies in a rented boat shed and local beaches,. • The Discovery: The fatal night of August 8, 1973, when a confrontation over a girl led Henley to shoot Corll six times, ending the spree and leading police to the horrors hidden within the boat shed,,. • The Aftermath: The excavation of remains that constituted the worst example of serial murder in U.S. history at the time, the life sentences handed down to Brooks and Henley, and the decades-long forensic effort to identify the victims,,,.

    58 min

  8. 41 MIN AGO

    Samuel Little: The 93 Confessions of America's Most Prolific Serial Killer

    In this episode of pplpod, we delve into the dark history of Samuel Little (born Samuel McDowell), the man identified by the FBI as the most prolific serial killer in United States history,. Although convicted of eight murders, Little confessed to taking the lives of 93 women across the country between 1970 and 2005, with authorities officially confirming over 60 of these cases to date,. Join us as we explore how Little utilized his background as a boxer to strangle his victims and how he evaded detection for decades by targeting marginalized women—often sex workers, substance users, or the homeless—believing that police would not search for them,. We also discuss the chilling role of art in this case, as Little provided the FBI with hand-drawn sketches of twenty-six victims to help identify the "Jane Does" he killed. Finally, we cover the investigation by journalist Jillian Lauren that helped elicit his confessions and Little's death in a California hospital in 2020,.

    43 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
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © pplpod
  • Show Website
    pplpod

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