
Hear the world's top storytellers talk all things documentary film. Host Thom Powers is as well-connected as it gets in this world as a documentary curator for TIFF and other renowned festivals. He wrote the book "Mondo Documentary" that is “required reading for fans of nonfiction cinema,” says Judd Apatow. Our podcast guests range from documentary legends to emerging talent. Follow us on Instagra... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 255 | Founded | 11 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TV & FilmDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||

Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler collaborate for a live recording of Documentary Spotlight at the Culver Theater in Los Angeles. Host Thom Powers interviews the teams behind "Seized" (director Sharon Liese, producer Sasha Alpert), "Rehearsals for a Rev... more
Pure Nonfiction and The Ankler collaborate for a live recording of Documentary Spotlight at the Culver Theater in Los Angeles. Host Thom Powers interviews the teams behind "American Doctor" (director Poh Si Teng, participant Dr. Thaer Ahmad), "Time a... more
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney delivers the most ambitious documentary of his career in "Musk." How did one person amass so much power in Tesla, Space X, Starlink, Twitter, Grok, DOGE and more? Host Thom Powers interviewed Gibney about the chall... more
Fergie Chambers, the American multi-millionaire supporter of far left causes, is currently imprisoned in Spain as the U.S. Department of Justice seeks his extradition. He’s profiled in the documentary “All About the Money” that premiered at Sundance.... more
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Thom knows so much and knows just what to ask to get the story behind the story. Awesome show.
Thom is my hero. As well as the incredible filmmakers he artfully interviews.
The best documentary podcast. Love the stories. Would love to hear from less well known docs too including shorts. Thanks for your hard work!
I like all kinds of films, and there are MANY film podcasts to choose from. But if you LOVE documentaries as I do, Thom Powers’ PURE NONFICTION is one of the few podcasts (the only one?) that focuses on documentary films. Powers interviews superb filmmakers, both new and familiar, and often highlights docs before they find distribution. This is an excellent show, and with documentaries appearing to be increasingly popular, here’s hoping PURE NONFICTION will increase in popularity, too.
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Apple Podcasts | #222 |
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A deep-dive interview series centered on documentary filmmaking, exploring storytelling craft, ethics, archival strategies, and the industry's landscape. Conversations frequently cover interview techniques, access challenges, funding, and the impact of documentaries on culture and policy. Notable traits include a high-profile roster of directors, producers, and editors, with a focus on long-form, investigative, and biographical projects. The host's industry connections and insider perspective often yield revelations about funding, distribution, and editorial decisions, making it a valuable resource for practitioners, students, and potential guests alike.
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Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film launched 11 years ago and published 255 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film include:
1. Sharon Liese
2. Sasha Alpert
3. Pegah Ahangarani
4. Nana Adwoa Frimpong
5. Ethan Lewis
6. Douglas Tirola
7. Poh Si Teng
8. Thaer Ahmad
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