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. 3 HR AGO

    Transit to Sirius: The Apocalyptic Saga of the Order of the Solar Temple

    In this episode of pplpod, we investigate the Order of the Solar Temple (OTS), a neo-Templar secret society that shocked the world with a series of mass murders and suicides in the 1990s. Unlike the typical profile of vulnerable cult members, the OTS was composed of affluent, cultured professionals—including mayors, journalists, and business leaders—who sought a return to the spiritual heritage of the Knights Templar. We examine the group's dual leadership: the charismatic recruiter and homeopath Luc Jouret, and the shadowy financier Joseph Di Mambro, who claimed to be a reincarnation of ancient figures. Listen in as we explore their eclectic mix of beliefs, which included "cosmic coupling," communication with "Ascended Masters," and the preparation for a "transit" to the star Sirius to escape a coming environmental apocalypse. We also trace the group’s descent into paranoia following gun scandals and internal dissent, leading to the ritual murder of an infant believed to be the Antichrist and the fiery deaths of 74 members across Switzerland, France, and Quebec. Join us as we discuss the "mystical mood" of their rituals, the controversial trial of conductor Michel Tabachnik, and the conspiracy theories that still surround this deadly movement.

    31 min

  2. 3 HR AGO

    "God Socialist": The Rise, Power, and Tragedy of the Peoples Temple

    In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex and tragic history of the Peoples Temple, tracing its evolution from a progressive religious movement in Indiana to a destructive cult in the jungles of Guyana. We examine how founder Jim Jones blended Pentecostal healing practices with Marxist ideology to build a congregation focused on racial equality and "Apostolic Socialism". Episode Highlights: • Origins and Ideology: How Jim Jones founded the church in 1955 to infiltrate the religious landscape with communist ideals, using faked faith healings to gather funds and followers. • Expansion to California: The Temple’s migration to Ukiah and San Francisco, where Jones amassed significant political power, becoming chairman of the SF Housing Authority and courting figures like Harvey Milk and George Moscone. • The Theology of Control: We discuss Jones’s rejection of the "Sky God" of traditional Christianity in favor of his own divinity as "God Socialist," and the implementation of strict communalism and behavior modification among his followers. • The Horror of Jonestown: The exodus to the "socialist paradise" in Guyana to escape media scrutiny, culminating in the assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan and the "revolutionary suicide" of 909 members on November 18, 1978. Join us for a deep dive into the organizational structure, the abuses of power, and the catastrophic end that marked the greatest single loss of American civilian life prior to September 11, 2001.

    30 min

  3. 3 HR AGO

    The Hillbilly Heist: The $17.3 Million Loomis Fargo Robbery

    In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the chaotic true story of the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery, which was the second-largest cash heist on U.S. soil at the time. We explore how vault supervisor David Ghantt conspired with his girlfriend Kelly Campbell and her friend, Steve Chambers, to load a company van with $17.3 million in cash before Ghantt fled to Cozumel, Mexico. You’ll hear about the gang’s immediate and extravagant spending, including the purchase of a luxury home, a BMW Z3, a $600 cigar store Indian, and a velvet painting of Elvis Presley, which led locals to nickname the crime "the hillbilly heist". We also discuss the dark turn the plot took when the FBI discovered Chambers had hired a hitman to kill Ghantt while he was in hiding. Tune in to learn how a traced phone call finally brought down the group, leading to the conviction of 24 people and the recovery of 88% of the stolen money. Finally, we touch on the crime's legacy in pop culture, including the 2016 comedy film Masterminds starring Zach Galifianakis.

    33 min

  4. 3 HR AGO

    The Heist of the Century: The School of Turin, The $100 Million Vault, and the Salami Sandwich

    In February 2003, the world watched in disbelief as thieves infiltrated the heavily guarded Antwerp Diamond Center, pulling off what was dubbed the "heist of the century". In this episode, we break down how a crew of Italian thieves known as "The School of Turin" bypassed infrared heat detectors, seismic sensors, and a lock with 100 million possible combinations to vanish with over $100 million in loose diamonds and gold. We profile the mastermind, Leonardo Notarbartolo, who rented an office in the building for two years to prepare for the job, and his specialized team, including accomplices known only by aliases like "The Genius," "The Monster," and "The King of Keys". Listen in to learn about the sophisticated yet surprisingly low-tech methods they used to beat the system—from blinding sensors with hairspray and tape to using a polystyrene shield to mask body heat. Finally, we discuss the team’s undoing: a garbage bag dumped in the woods containing a partially eaten salami sandwich that provided the DNA evidence needed to arrest Notarbartolo. We also examine the aftermath, including Notarbartolo’s prison sentence, his dubious claims that the robbery was actually insurance fraud, and the fact that most of the stolen loot remains unrecovered to this day.

    37 min

  5. 3 HR AGO

    The Hatton Garden Heist: "One Last Job" for London's Elderly Thieves

    In this episode of pplpod, we descend into the details of the "largest burglary in English legal history"—the audacious 2015 Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary. We explore how a gang of experienced, elderly thieves worked over the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend to infiltrate an underground vault in London's jewelry district. Tune in to hear how the crew, including ringleader Brian Reader, entered through a lift shaft and utilized a Hilti DD350 industrial power drill to bore through 50 cm of concrete. We track the timeline of the heist, from the moment "Mr Ginger" entered the building to the release of sensational CCTV footage by the Daily Mirror. Finally, we discuss the aftermath: the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad investigation, the sentencing of the men to years in prison, and the mystery of the millions in stolen goods that remain unrecovered to this day. We also look at how this real-life drama inspired films like King of Thieves and The Hatton Garden Job.

    33 min

  6. 3 HR AGO

    Robert Hansen: The "Butcher Baker" of Anchorage

    In this episode of pplpod, we descend into the chilling double life of Robert Hansen, a mild-mannered bakery owner in Anchorage, Alaska, who harbored a terrifying secret. Known to his neighbors as a record-holding hunter and well-liked local businessman, Hansen was actually a prolific serial killer who abducted women and flew them into the Alaskan wilderness to hunt them like game,. Join us as we examine the disturbing case of the "Butcher Baker," covering: • The Predator: How Hansen, a man diagnosed with an "infantile personality" and a history of resentment toward women, utilized his Piper Super Cub airplane to transport victims to remote locations accessible only by air or boat,. • The Most Dangerous Game: Hansen’s horrific modus operandi of releasing his victims into the woods before stalking them with a Ruger Mini-14 rifle and hunting knives. • The Escape: The harrowing survival story of 17-year-old Cindy Paulson, who escaped Hansen’s car while he loaded his cockpit at Merrill Field in June 1983, providing the testimony crucial to his downfall. • The Profile: How Alaska State Trooper Glenn Flothe collaborated with FBI Special Agent John Douglas to build a criminal profile—predicting a stuttering, experienced hunter with low self-esteem—that perfectly matched Hansen,. • The Evidence: The discovery of a hidden aeronautical chart behind Hansen's headboard, marked with over thirty "x"s that corresponded to the grave sites of his victims. We conclude with Hansen’s 1984 conviction and sentence of 461 years for the murders of at least 17 women, closing the chapter on one of Alaska's darkest periods,.

    31 min

  7. 3 HR AGO

    The Wilseyville Nightmares: Charles Ng, Leonard Lake, and the $20 Million Trial

    In this episode of pplpod, we delve into the disturbing crimes of Charles Ng and his accomplice, Leonard Lake. Between 1983 and 1985, the pair targeted men, women, and infants from a remote cabin in Calaveras County, California, where authorities later uncovered a cinder-block bunker containing a hidden cell,. We explore how the duo was driven by a twisted fantasy Lake called "Operation Miranda"—inspired by John Fowles' novel The Collector—and the "M-Ladies" videotapes that captured their brutal torture of victims,. We trace the collapse of their spree, which began when Ng was caught shoplifting a vise, leading to Lake’s suicide by cyanide capsule and Ng’s flight to Canada,,. Finally, we examine the legal circus that followed: a years-long extradition battle and the most expensive trial in California history,. Hear how Ng used delay tactics—ranging from firing lawyers to demanding the right to practice origami—before finally being convicted of eleven murders and sentenced to death,.

    31 min

  8. 3 HR AGO

    The Green River Killer: The Double Life and Dark Confessions of Gary Ridgway

    In this episode of pplpod, we examine the chilling case of Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, who is responsible for more confirmed murders than any other American serial killer. We discuss his early life and how a man described by friends as "friendly but strange" lived a double life as a truck painter and a predator targeting vulnerable women and runaways in the Pacific Northwest,,. Tune in as we detail Ridgway’s terrifying modus operandi of strangulation and his disturbingly casual return to dump sites to engage in necrophilia,. We explore the massive manhunt that included the Green River Task Force and unexpected insights from incarcerated serial killer Ted Bundy, who accurately predicted the killer’s behavior. Finally, we cover the forensic breakthrough linking DNA evidence from 1987 to Ridgway in 2001, leading to a controversial plea bargain that spared him the death penalty in exchange for locating the remains of his victims,.

    28 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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