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. 56 MIN SITTEN

    Exploring The Angry Beavers: 90s Nickelodeon Cartoons, Nicktoons Nostalgia & Scrapped Episodes

    Welcome back to another episode of pplpod! Today, we are taking a trip back to Wayouttatown, Oregon, to dive deep into one of the most beloved 90s Nickelodeon cartoons: The Angry Beavers. Created by Mitch Schauer, this classic Nicktoon follows the hilarious, bachelor-lifestyle antics of two young beaver brothers, Daggett and Norbert. If you are a 90s kid craving some nostalgic animation, this is the ultimate episode guide for you! We break down the series' entire run, which officially premiered on April 19, 1997, and spanned 62 episodes across 4 memorable seasons. In this episode of pplpod, we cover: The Origins: A look at the rare 1994 test pilot episode, "Snowbound," and how Mitch Schauer brought the beaver brothers to life.Fan-Favorite Characters & Moments: From Norb's romance with Treeflower and Daggett's superhero alter-ego "Muscular Beaver", to side characters like the inanimate woodblock Stump, the clingy lizard Bing, and the annoying trucker Truckee.Lost & Scrapped Episodes: We uncover the fascinating retro TV trivia behind the episodes that never aired, including the infamous "Bye Bye Beavers". Discover how the creators planned to break the fourth wall and call out the network for ending the show without paying the voice actors for reruns—a move that violated Nickelodeon's rules against finale episodes!Nicktoons History: Details on the show's delayed episodes that didn't premiere in the United States until 2006 on the Nicktoons network.Tune in to get your dose of retro television and classic animation history. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you love looking back at classic Nickelodeon cartoons!

    18 min

  2. 1 T SITTEN

    The True Story of "First They Came" | Martin Niemöller & The Cost of Silence

    In this episode of pplpod, we uncover the fascinating and complex history behind "First They Came" (Als sie kamen), the famous 1946 postwar confessional prose piece that condemns the complicity and silence of German intellectuals and clergy during the incremental purges of Nazi Germany. We explore the life of its author, German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller. Niemöller was a highly complicated historical figure who initially supported Adolf Hitler, but later became a vocal opponent when the state tried to claim supremacy over religion. As a leader of the Confessing Church, Niemöller's fierce opposition to the Nazification of Protestant churches led to his 1937 arrest and years of imprisonment in the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps. He was ultimately released by the Allies in 1945 and spent the rest of his life as a leading voice of penance and reconciliation. We also dive into the controversy surrounding the poem's different translations and adaptations. We discuss how Cold War-era anti-communism in the United States led to the deliberate omission of "communists" in favor of "socialists" in popular versions—including the widely known text displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Join us to understand the true origins of this powerful message about the bystander effect, social privilege, and the deadly cost of looking the other way.

    22 min

  3. 1 T SITTEN

    The Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle Scandal: Early Hollywood's Biggest True Crime Story

    In this episode of pplpod, we dive deep into the life, meteoric rise, and tragic downfall of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, one of the highest-paid silent film comedians of the 1910s. Discover how Arbuckle, a pioneering American silent film actor and director, went from discovering and mentoring comedy legends like Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, and Buster Keaton to becoming the center of 1920s Hollywood's most notorious scandal. We break down the dark events of Labor Day 1921 at San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, which resulted in the tragic death of aspiring actress Virginia Rappe. Explore the sensationalized true crime media circus fueled by William Randolph Hearst's yellow journalism, which Hearst boasted sold more newspapers than the sinking of the Lusitania. We detail the grueling legal battle and three highly publicized trials that ended in a rare, unanimous acquittal and an unprecedented formal written apology from the jury. Despite his complete exoneration, Arbuckle faced the wrath of early cinematic censorship when his films were banned by industry censor Will H. Hays. This move effectively destroyed his on-screen career, forcing the once-beloved star to direct in the shadows under the pseudonym William Goodrich. Join us as we examine this foundational case of public trial by media, the legacy of a lost slapstick genius, and his heartbreakingly brief acting comeback just before his untimely death in 1933.

    20 min

  4. 1 T SITTEN

    The Snowshoe Itinerant: John Lewis Dyer & The Wild History of Colorado Mining Towns

    Welcome back to pplpod! In today’s episode, we are exploring the fascinating pioneer history of the American West through the life of John Lewis Dyer (1812–1901), a legendary Methodist circuit rider who became famously known as "The Snowshoe Itinerant". After the tragic loss of his wife and infant daughter, Dyer dedicated his life to the ministry and traveled to the rugged Colorado mining camps in 1859. We dive deep into his incredible frontier journeys, exploring how he traversed treacherous winter storms and high altitudes—including the grueling 13,188-foot Mosquito Pass—using 10-foot "snowshoes" (which were actually Norwegian skis) to reach remote settlements. Discover how Dyer earned the affectionate nickname "Father Dyer" while preaching in tents, on street corners, and in rough-and-tumble saloons, where miners often paid his offerings in raw gold dust. We also discuss his side hustle carrying mail between Alma and Leadville over the mountains to make ends meet, and his efforts to build a chapel in Breckenridge with his own money. Finally, we look at Father Dyer's monumental legacy in Colorado history. From serving as the first chaplain of the Colorado Senate to being honored as one of the 16 founders of the state with a stained glass window in the state capitol, Dyer's impact is undeniable. Tune in to hear about his autobiography, The Snow-Shoe Itinerant, and his modern-day inductions into the Colorado Ski & Snowboarding Museum Hall of Fame.

    19 min

  5. 1 T SITTEN

    "Fast" Eddie Clarke – The Heavy Metal Guitarist Behind Motörhead & Fastway

    In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the life and legacy of British rock guitarist Edward Allan Clarke, better known to hard rock and heavy metal fans as "Fast" Eddie Clarke (1950–2018). Discover how Clarke earned his famous nickname—which he claimed wasn't about his overall speed, but rather his skillful tremolo picking that allowed him to play a single note incredibly fast! We explore his early career in the 1970s with bands like Zeus and Continuous Performance, leading up to his fateful introduction to drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and Lemmy Kilmister. As a crucial piece of Motörhead's classic lineup, Clarke's blistering guitar work helped define a new era of heavy metal on legendary albums like Overkill, Bomber, Ace of Spades, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, and Iron Fist. We also uncover rare trivia, including his reluctance to sing lead vocals despite performing on tracks like "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" and "Step Down". Following his departure from Motörhead during their 1982 US tour, Clarke didn't slow down. We track his formation of the hard rock band Fastway with former UFO bassist Pete Way, their successful tours alongside AC/DC, and their soundtrack work for the 1986 film Trick Or Treat. Finally, we honor his later collaborations, his return to his blues roots, his solo work, and his passing in 2018.

    16 min

  6. 1 T SITTEN

    The Many Meanings of "Hotwire" – From Hot-Wiring Cars to Travel Deals

    Welcome back to another episode of pplpod! Have you ever thought about how many entirely different concepts share the exact same name? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating Wikipedia disambiguation of the term "Hotwire" (and "hot wire"), exploring its diverse definitions across technology, music, and pop culture. First, we tackle the tech and utility side of the term. We discuss the infamous automotive trick of hot-wiring a car to start it without a key, alongside specialized scientific and industrial tools like the hot-wire foam cutter (used for cutting polystyrene) and the hot-wire anemometer, a device used to measure airflow speed. We also explain the literal hot wire (electricity)—a conductor with non-zero potential used in electric power distribution. Then, we shift gears into entertainment and business. We look at Hotwire's footprint in music, spotlighting the Hotwire band, the 1974 Trapeze album, the 1991 Kix album, and Roy Buchanan's 1987 release, Hot Wires. We wrap up the episode by exploring the popular internet-based travel agency Hotwire.com, the pioneering 90s internet magazine HotWired, and even the Radical Comics series Hotwire created by Warren Ellis and Steve Pugh. Tune in to discover how one single word connects auto theft, cheap flights, classic rock, and electrical engineering!

    15 min

  7. 1 T SITTEN

    "Follow the Money" – Uncovering Political Corruption, Watergate, and the Truth Behind the Catchphrase

    In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the fascinating history of "follow the money," a catchphrase that has become the ultimate mantra for uncovering political corruption and examining shady money transfers. Popularized by the classic 1976 docudrama All the President's Men, the phrase is famously attributed by screenwriter William Goldman to the Watergate informant Deep Throat. But did Deep Throat actually say it? We reveal why this legendary piece of investigative journalism lore never actually appeared in Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's original non-fiction book or any official documentation of the Watergate scandal. Instead, we trace the true origins of the phrase back to Henry E. Peterson during the 1974 Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, as well as its appearance in the 1975 book Crime in Britain Today. We also explore how "follow the money" has evolved in modern political finance and campaign finance debates. From the Trump campaign weaponizing the phrase in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, to Carl Bernstein urging reporters in 2017 to investigate President Donald Trump's own financial conflicts of interest, the phrase remains deeply relevant. (Trump was later ordered to pay a $2 million settlement for misusing his own foundation). Tune in to discover why tracing secret campaign cash remains the ultimate key to exposing hidden motives in Washington!

    18 min

  8. 1 T SITTEN

    Clara Ward & The Famous Ward Singers – Revolutionizing American Gospel Music

    Welcome back to another episode of pplpod! Today, we dive into the life, career, and enduring legacy of Clara Ward (1924–1973), a trailblazing American gospel singer. As the driving force and leader of the Famous Ward Singers, Clara achieved massive artistic and commercial success throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In this episode, we explore how Ward revolutionized gospel music by adopting the lead-switching style—a technique previously dominated by male gospel quartets. This innovative approach allowed for spontaneous improvisation and gave virtuoso vocalists like Marion Williams the chance to shine on legendary, million-selling gospel hits such as "Surely, God Is Able," "How I Got Over," and "Packin' Up". In fact, we discuss how their album Surely God Is Able made history as the first gospel group record to exceed 500,000 in sales. Listeners will get an inside look at the group's monumental milestones, including their 1950 Carnegie Hall appearance alongside gospel pioneer Mahalia Jackson, and Clara’s historical role as the musical director and a performer in Langston Hughes' Broadway play Tambourines to Glory. We also cover her broader cultural impact, from singing with a 100-piece symphony orchestra to touring Vietnam for the U.S.O. in 1968. But it wasn't all harmony behind the scenes. We break down the controversial management of the group by Clara's mother, Gertrude Ward. Discover how financial disputes and meager pay led to the departure of powerhouse singers like Marion Williams and Henrietta Waddy, who went on to form a rival group, "the Stars of Faith". Tune in to learn about the triumphs, the behind-the-scenes family drama, and the ultimate legacy of Clara Ward, a 20th-century music icon who was posthumously honored in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and commemorated with a United States Postal Service stamp.

    17 min
Näytä kaikki (2 t.)

Tietoja

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.

Tiedot

  • Tekijä
    pplpod
  • Julkaisuvuodet
    2025 - 2026
  • Jaksot
    2 t.
  • Luokitus
    Lapsille sopimaton
  • Copyright
    © pplpod
  • Ohjelman sivusto
    pplpod

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