The Documentary Life
The Documentary LifeThe 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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 149 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TV & FilmArtsVisual Arts | |||
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Episode Summary
What if getting a lawyer involved in your documentary earlier could actually give you more creative freedom—not less?
For many documentary filmmakers, the legal side of filmmaking is something we'd rather deal with later. Releases, ... more
Episode Summary
What if documentary filmmakers thought about sound with the same intention they bring to images?
We spend enormous amounts of time thinking about cameras, lenses, lighting, and composition. But sound is more than something we need t... more
Episode Summary
What does it really take to make a documentary when you’re the entire crew?
Working as a one-person crew can offer documentary filmmakers an extraordinary kind of freedom. With less equipment and a smaller footprint, we can move qui... more
Episode Summary
How can documentary filmmakers actually use AI—and where does it belong in the creative process?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the filmmaking toolkit, but beneath the hype and anxiety are practical questions: W... more
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- 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 Podcasts5Doug Baum
United States3 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 Podcasts5Miriam Joanna Art
Austria5 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 Podcasts5graysoleUnited States5 years ago - Learning a ton!
Keep them coming please…really helpful!
Apple Podcasts5Kris PinaUnited 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 Podcasts5Redbeard1970United States6 years ago
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Documentary Life
What is The Documentary Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A thoughtful show centered on documentary storytelling, craft, and sustaining a life in nonfiction work. Across episodes, listeners hear practical guidance on funding, editing, research, and distribution, as well as ethical considerations and personal stories from seasoned filmmakers. The conversations often explore how technology (including AI), long-form projects, and career navigation shape creative decisions, collaboration, and resilience. Notable strengths include access to veteran practitioners, actionable tips, and a willingness to discuss both the art and the realities of the documentary life, making it appealing to aspiring and established nonfiction filmmakers alike.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Documentary Life?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Documentary Life. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Documentary Life and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Documentary Life get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Documentary Life?
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How many subscribers and views does The Documentary Life have?
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Which podcasts are similar to The Documentary Life?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Documentary Life:
1. The No Film School Podcast
2. How I Built This with Guy Raz
3. The Interview
4. The Daily
5. The Town with Matthew Belloni
How many episodes of The Documentary Life are there?
The Documentary Life launched 10 years ago and published 149 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Documentary Life?
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What guests have appeared on The Documentary Life?
Recent guests on The Documentary Life include:
1. Lisa Califf
2. James LeBrecht
3. Dandan Liu
4. Philip Shane
5. Jilann Spitzmiller
6. Liz Nord
7. 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.