Épisodes

  • vol.032:Walt Disney:Behind the Magic
    Feb 23 2026

    The provided text is an extensive biographical overview of Walt Disney, covering his life, career, and lasting influence. It chronicles his early years, including his humble beginnings and first ventures into animation, leading to the creation of Mickey Mouse and the establishment of the Walt Disney Company. The source details the "Golden Age of Animation" with features like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, his expansion into theme parks with Disneyland and later Disney World/EPCOT, and his eventual death from lung cancer in 1966. Finally, the text also addresses his personal life, complex character, political conservatism, and the evolving reputation surrounding accusations of racism or antisemitism, noting the numerous awards and honors he received.

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    6 min
  • vol.031:Joan of Arc:Forging a Nation
    Feb 19 2026

    The provided text offers an extensive, multi-faceted overview of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc), detailing her historical context, biography, and enduring legacy. It situates her brief military career within the complex backdrop of the Hundred Years' War and the French civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, highlighting the political crisis facing Charles VII before her arrival. The text thoroughly covers her life, from her uncertain birth date in Domrémy and her divine "voices," to her pivotal role in lifting the Siege of Orléans and securing the coronation of Charles VII at Reims. Finally, the source addresses her capture, her controversial trial and execution for heresy, the subsequent nullification of her sentence, and the long history of her representation, mythologization, and eventual canonization by the Catholic Church.

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    6 min
  • vol.030:Hokusai:Mad About Painting
    Feb 15 2026

    The source provides an extensive biographical and academic overview of the celebrated Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). It details his life, which was marked by frequent name changes and relocations, tracing his artistic evolution through distinct periods such as the Shunrō, Sōri, and Iitsu eras. The text highlights his most famous works, including the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and the instructional Hokusai Manga, while also noting his early training, adoption of Western techniques, and prolific output across various genres like painting, woodblock prints, and book illustrations. Finally, it discusses his enduring international influence, particularly on 19th-century European art (Japonisme), contrasting it with the slower pace of his critical recognition in Japan until modern times.

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    5 min
  • vol.029:Christie's 2B Book Secret
    Feb 11 2026

    This text provides an extensive overview of the life and career of Agatha Christie, detailing her biographical information, personal life, and immense literary output. It highlights her identity as a novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, and memoirist under her own name and the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, focusing on her genre as a master of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. The text documents significant life events, including her first marriage and famous 11-day disappearance, her second marriage to an archaeologist which influenced her work, and her notable creations Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, alongside her long-running play, The Mousetrap. Finally, the sources confirm her status as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, discussing the legacy of her adapted works and the management of her literary estate.

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    5 min
  • vol.028:Emperor Twice:Story of Puyi
    Feb 7 2026

    The provided source offers an extensive, biographical overview of Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last Emperor of China, drawing from a Wikipedia entry and related texts. It meticulously details his life across several distinct periods, including his initial reign as the Qing Dynasty's Xuantong Emperor (1908–1912) and his subsequent, brief 1917 restoration attempt. The document highlights his role as the Manchukuo "Emperor Kangde" (1934–1945), a Japanese puppet state, followed by his capture by the Soviets and eventual return to China for war criminal reformation (1950–1959). Finally, it covers his life as a citizen of the People's Republic of China until his death in 1967, listing his family, marriages, publications, and honors received from various nations throughout his turbulent political career.

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    5 min
  • vol.027:The Man Who Was Number 42:Jackie Robinson
    Feb 3 2026

    The source provides an extensive overview of the life and career of Jackie Robinson, focusing primarily on his monumental role in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It meticulously details his early life and multi-sport athletic career at Pasadena Junior College and UCLA, followed by his time in the United States Army where he faced a court-martial over a segregation incident, and his brief stint in the Negro leagues. The text comprehensively covers his ten-year MLB career, highlighting his statistics, numerous awards (including Rookie of the Year and NL MVP), and the racial hostility he endured and overcame, with the support of figures like Branch Rickey and Pee Wee Reese. Finally, the source documents his significant post-baseball life as a civil rights advocate, business executive, and political activist until his death in 1972, concluding with a list of the many honors and recognitions bestowed upon him posthumously.

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    5 min
  • vol.026:Zhuge Liang's Blueprint
    Jan 30 2026

    This lengthy source provides an extensive overview of the life, career, and legacy of Zhuge Liang, a pivotal figure from the Three Kingdoms period. The text includes detailed biographical information, such as his various official titles (e.g., Prime Minister, Marquis of Wu), birth and death details, and family relations within the prominent Zhuge clan. Crucially, the source outlines his major political and military achievements, including the strategic Longzhong Plan, the Southern Campaign, and his multiple Northern Expeditions against Cao Wei. Finally, the document covers his lasting impact, highlighting his reputation for wisdom and loyalty, his inventions (like the repeating crossbow and Wooden Ox/Flowing Horse), and his portrayal in literature and popular culture, especially in the romanticized Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

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    5 min
  • vol.025:The Middle Way to Enlightement:Buddha
    Jan 26 2026

    The provided text offers an extensive overview of the life, teachings, and historical context of the Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni. It details his personal life, including his birth in Lumbini, his family, and the uncertainty surrounding his exact dates of birth and death, presenting both "long" and "short" chronologies. The document explores his core doctrines, such as the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the concepts of dependent origination and Anatta (not-self). Furthermore, the text addresses the historical authenticity of early Buddhist teachings―noting scholarly debate on whether the oldest texts reflect the historical Buddha's actual words―and tracks the development and spread of Buddhism through various traditions like Theravāda and Mahāyāna, concluding with his depiction in art and other world religions like Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.

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    5 min