Rephonic
Artwork for Doc Walks
Documentary Filmmaking
Austin, United States
Documentary Film
South By Southwest
Austin Film Society
Austin
Park City, Utah
Sundance Film Festival
Kid Rock
Sam Now
Pavement
The Nonfiction Hotlist
Sing Sing
The Voyage Out
Middletown
Bucks Harbor
Sandbox Films
SXSW
Short Films
PBS

Documentary filmmakers, Keith Maitland (TOWER, DEAR MR BRODY) and Ben Steinbauer (WINNEBAGO MAN, CHOP & STEELE), host this lively walk & talk podcast featuring conversations with today's best non-fiction storytellers. DocWalks takes the conversation to the street (or nature trail), offering candid insight into the art & industry of documentary filmmaking for an audience of emerging filmmakers and ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes67Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmFilm Interviews

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Artwork for Doc Walks

Latest Episodes

Spark up a big cigar with Ben and filmmaker David Alvarado in honor of Luis Valdez, the central figure in Alvarado's new film AMERICAN PACHUCO (playing Austin's Cine Las Américas). A Dallas kid turned Brooklyn doc-maker, David found his calling twice... more

YouTube

We walk Austin's Boggy Creek Trail with acclaimed memoirist Lauren Hough — from a childhood spent in a cult to Air Force vet to ex-cable technician; and now, she's the writer whose viral essay about fixing people's cable got read 8 million times in a... more

YouTube

Take a spirited walk though East Austin, Black History, and the Texas State Cemetery with filmmaker, educator, and self-described activist-artist Ya'Ke Smith—on Juneteenth week, no less. We kick off our walk under a Moonlight Tower and basically neve... more

YouTube

We hit the streets of South by Southwest with Isaac Gale—director, artist, and one-half of the Minneapolis noise outfit Marijuana Deathsquads, in town to play the fest with his band. Isaac's the kind of guy who'd rather break a piece of software than... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Lauren Hough
Acclaimed memoirist, writer, Austin resident
Author
Episode: EP061 - Log Off and Hang Out w/ Lauren Hough
Ya'Ke Smith
Filmmaker, writer, director, educator, activist, published poet
Filmmaker
Episode: EP060 - Angels Watching Over Me w/ Ya'Ke Smith
Isaac Gale
Musician, director, visual effects artist
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted; Marijuana Deathsquads
Episode: EP059 - Don't Listen to Me About Anything w/ Isaac Gale
Juli Berwald
Marine biologist, science writer, author of Spineless and Life on the Rocks
Author and conservationist
Episode: EP058 - The Jellyfish Died w/ Juli Berwald
Luke Korem
Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Keep On Running Pictures
Episode: EP057 - Don't Make a Documentary (It'll Ruin Your Career) w/ Luke Korem
Barlow Jacobs
Documentary filmmaker and subject of The Voyage Out
Episode: EP056 - Walk to the Next Block w/ Barlow Jacobs
Alisa Payne
Chief Emotions Officer and producer with extensive documentary credits
Message Pictures / Geeta Gandbhir's team
Episode: EP055 - Chief Emotions Officer w/ Alisa Payne
Pete Muller
Photographer and filmmaker, director of Bucks Harbor
National Geographic photographer (former)
Episode: EP054 - Stories Are Everywhere w/ Pete Muller
Bradley Jackson
Documentary filmmaker
Episode: EP053 - I'm No Good on My Own w/ Bradley Jackson

Hosts

Ben Steinbauer
Host and creator/producer known for deep-dive conversations about documentary craft; frequently appears as co-host on walk-and-talk format.
Keith Maitland
Co-host and filmmaker, often guiding conversations with industry guests in walk-and-talk format.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 11 ratings
  • The Podcast I Have Been Craving

    Thanks to these self-described mid-career filmmakers and burgeoning podcasters for creating the podcast I have been craving for years. Keith Maitland and Ben Steinbauer are consummate storytellers, weaving audio doc style motifs and observational cinema flashes into the concept of well…walking and talking about documentaries. If ever it feels like the podcast is veering into self-indulgence or ‘splaining, the hosts deftly steer us back to the topic at hand or - during more satisfying moments - ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sally OG
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feels like a supportive community for filmmakers with a clear craft emphasis.
Great mix of guests and real-world storytelling insights; hosts keep the conversations focused.
Candid, street-level discussions that feel practical and grounded for working documentarians.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP058 - The Jellyfish Died w/ Juli Berwald
Q: What earlier work or experiences drew you into nonfiction storytelling?
Juli describes transitioning from pure science work to writing and textbooks, then to National Geographic pieces, which eventually led her to blend science with memoir.
EP015 - Do Your Thing with Kevin Willmott
Q: What led you to make Confederate States of America, and why did you choose a mockumentary approach?
I wanted to expose how Lost Cause storytelling shaped perceptions of the Civil War and continue to influence American culture, using a satirical docu-drama to reveal propaganda and spark discussion.
EP059 - Don't Listen to Me About Anything w/ Isaac Gale
Q: What was the documentary that was like the gateway drug that made you want to make documentaries?
He cites Chrome as the gateway, highlighting its vivid portrayal of unconventional characters and the beauty and difficulty of making an artist-focused documentary, with American Movie also noted as influential.
EP013 - Go To the Love with Sandi DuBowski
Q: What was the gateway film that convinced you that you wanted to spend your life making documentaries?
Tongues Untied by Marlon Riggs stood out as a groundbreaking, collective voice that pushed form and content in bold ways and inspired the guest to pursue documentary storytelling as a lifelong vocation.
EP025 - I'm Not Sure That's A Sculpture with Hillary Pierce
Q: What is the DPA and why is it important for documentary producers?
The DPA is a nonprofit that creates best-practice resources for producers, including guidelines on contracts, crediting, and distribution. It helps producers align on roles, streamline conversations with investors, and standardize expectations across projects.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Doc Walks

What is Doc Walks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Walk-and-talk conversations with prominent non-fiction storytellers that blend on-location fieldwork, studio-style craft chats, and behind-the-scenes business realities. Episodes cover topics like long-term documentary development, funding, collaboration, ethics, festival dynamics, and the evolving nonfiction landscape, often anchored by the hosts' practical, street-level storytelling approach. Notable elements include on-site discussions (e.g., walks through cities or at festivals), a focus on process and mentorship, and a tendency to spotlight independent projects, festival programming, and industry shifts in a candid, approachable manner.

Where can I find podcast stats for Doc Walks?

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How many listeners does Doc Walks get?

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What are the audience demographics for Doc Walks?

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How many subscribers and views does Doc Walks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Doc Walks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Doc Walks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Doc Walks:

1. The Daily
2. Radiolab
3. This American Life
4. Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker
5. The 404 Media Podcast

How many episodes of Doc Walks are there?

Doc Walks launched a year ago and published 67 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Doc Walks?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Doc Walks?

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What guests have appeared on Doc Walks?

Recent guests on Doc Walks include:

1. Lauren Hough
2. Ya'Ke Smith
3. Isaac Gale
4. Juli Berwald
5. Luke Korem
6. Barlow Jacobs
7. Alisa Payne
8. Pete Muller

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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