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Artwork for The Documentary Life

The Documentary Life

The Documentary Life
Documentary Funding
Ondi Timoner
Grants
Crowdfunding
Hybrid Funding
Sustainability
Tax Write-Offs

The Documentary Life is a podcast about building a life in nonfiction storytelling. Hosted by documentary filmmaker Chris G. Parkhurst, the show explores what it really means to make documentaries—not just as a craft, but as a way of moving through the world with greater curiosity, observation, and empathy. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with filmmakers, editors, cinematographers, ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes144Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmArtsVisual Arts

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Latest Episodes

Episode Summary

What happens when the money runs out—but the film isn't finished?

For many documentary filmmakers, securing initial funding feels like the biggest hurdle. But as the months stretch into years, a different challenge begins to emerge:... more

Episode Summary

How do documentary films actually get funded? It's one of the most common questions filmmakers ask—and one of the least honestly answered. While conversations often focus on grants, pitch decks, and crowdfunding campaigns, the realit... more

Episode Summary

Episode 141 marks the beginning of a new chapter for The Documentary Life — not as a relaunch or reboot, but as a recommitment to the questions that matter most. After a five-year hiatus, host Chris G. Parkhurst reflects on the reali... more

Can you believe that it was over four years ago that we first began producing episodes of The Documentary Life?? Well, neither can we.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end!

It has been a great ride this here podcast over the past f... more

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Recent Guests

Liz Nord
Head of Programs and Creative Development at the NYU Production Lab; seasoned film programmer and producer
NYU Production Lab; Sundance; No Film School
Episode: Episode 142 | How Do I Fund My Film? | With Liz Nord
Ondi Timoner
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker with films like DIG and We Live in Public
Ondi Timoner (Filmmaker)
Episode: Episode 141 | Building a Sustainable Documentary Life | With Ondi Timoner

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 210 ratings
  • The Documentary Life podcast

    I’m a relative latecomer to The Documentary Life podcast, but I am plowing through every episode from the beginning and absolutely love it. With no community or colleagues near me, the podcast makes me feel connected to filmmaking and storytelling and opens my eyes to new concepts while validating discoveries I’ve made on my own through trial and error.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doug Baum
    United States2 years ago
  • Wow! This podcast is exactly what I needed to hear!

    I was searching for podcast to learn more about story telling in the documentary filmmaking world and “The Documentary Life” hit the spot! I have my first doc coming up this year, beyond excited but also a little freaked out since I’ve never done anything within that realm and listening to all these filmmakers in the podcast really calmed me down and took away a lot of my “fear”. Thank you, thank you, thank you! One of the best podcast channels I’ve listened to in a while!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Miriam Joanna Art
    Austria4 years ago
  • A Great Perspective

    Chris' show is really refreshing. He gets down to the details of documentary filmmaking based on his own experiences and he always has knowledgable guests on who share such awesome insights. Thanks for spoiling us with free advice on how to live our documentary lives, Chris!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    graysole
    United States5 years ago
  • Learning a ton!

    Keep them coming please…really helpful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kris Pina
    United States5 years ago
  • Great show

    I’m mainly a concert videographer but now I’ve shot a few short documentaries and one feature length doc. I want to really get into this genre as a really want to “Live the documentary Life” I’m about ready to stArt editing down 30 years of concert into a documentary/ compilation dvd with interviews and location videography of the places I filmed etc etc. your ep. 119 Editing for the doc. has really inspired me to start. I have until summer of 2022 to get this done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Redbeard1970
    United States5 years ago

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#247
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#179
Colombia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#190
Philippines/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#240
Denmark/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 142 | How Do I Fund My Film? | With Liz Nord
Q: What does someone like you hear beneath the question, 'How do I fund my film?' that filmmakers may not be seeing out loud?
Funding isn't just about money; it's about relationships, timing, and the broader ecosystem. Understanding the underpinnings helps filmmakers map multiple paths and think long-term, not as a one-off grant award.
Episode 141 | Building a Sustainable Documentary Life | With Ondi Timoner
Q: What usually forces reinvention in your life—ambition, exhaustion, necessity?
Reinvention is driven by a mix of exhaustion, necessity, and a shift in how choices align with family and personal well-being, leading to new formats and collaboration styles rather than sticking to one path.
Episode 141 | Building a Sustainable Documentary Life | With Ondi Timoner
Q: So Ondi, to start the arc of this particular episode, my first question I like to call naming the gap. Why do so many filmmakers reach mid-career before realizing that we're never taught how to sustain a life in documentary?
The guest explains that the industry has long prioritized finishing films over sustaining a life around the work, and that true sustainability comes from rethinking balance, access, and the personal costs of making documentaries.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Documentary Life

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Which podcasts are similar to The Documentary Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Documentary Life:

1. The Treatment
2. On with Kara Swisher
3. A Slight Change of Plans
4. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
5. Team Deakins

How many episodes of The Documentary Life are there?

The Documentary Life launched 10 years ago and published 144 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 The Documentary Life?

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What guests have appeared on The Documentary Life?

Recent guests on The Documentary Life include:

1. Liz Nord
2. Ondi Timoner

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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