How did a shy, orphaned girl who considered herself an "ugly duckling" become one of the most influential and controversial women of the 20th century? In this episode of pplpod, we dive deep into the extraordinary life of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Long before she was hailed as the "First Lady of the World" by President Harry S. Truman, Eleanor faced immense personal trauma—from the tragic early deaths of her parents to the devastating discovery of her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt's (FDR) affair with her social secretary. We explore how she turned this heartache into unprecedented political independence, forging her own path as a pioneering American diplomat and civil rights activist.

Join us as we chart her journey through the Great Depression and World War II, examining how she completely redefined the domestic, hostess-centric role of the ...