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The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service
China
Long COVID
Beauty Pageants
Brazil
Lightning Process
Esports
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Denmark
Miss Great Britain
Miss Universe
United States
Hong Kong
Myanmar
Mental Health
Neuroscience
Psychological Treatments
Education
Counter-Strike
Personal Development
Cybersecurity

Hear the voices at the heart of global stories. Where curious minds can uncover hidden truths and make sense of the world. The best of documentary storytelling from the BBC World Service. From China’s state-backed overseas spending, to on the road with Canada’s Sikh truckers, to the front line of the climate emergency, we go beyond the headlines. Each week we dive into the minds of the world’s mos... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2000Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Pink tomato ice cream decorated with edible poppy flowers feature on the summer menu created by chef Rodolfo Guzman for his celebrated Santiago restaurant Borago. Jane Chambers hears how the menu celebrates native Chilean plants like wild mountain co... more

M People star Andrew Lovell’s home life hid a terrible – yet beautiful – secret. It would take him decades to find out the truth. At the height of his fame, drummer Andrew ‘Shovell’ Lovell had everything he’d dreamed of: sex, drugs and regular appear... more

The global activities of the Islamic State group are now believed to be run from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in the north-east of Somalia, where IS fighters are entrenched in the caves and harsh mountainous terrain of the area. But many lo... more

Shark attacks on humans are rare, but they are slowly on the rise in Australia where all our guests are from. In this episode, they share the terrifying moment when they realised they were under attack. For Brett Connellan in New South Wales, it was ... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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The InterviewBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Dave Pearson
Shark attack survivor from New South Wales, Australia
Bite Club founder
Episode: Surviving a shark attack
Brett Connellan
Shark attack survivor, professional surfer from Australia
Episode: Surviving a shark attack
Justine Barwick
Shark attack survivor from Queensland, Australia
Episode: Surviving a shark attack
Megan Garcia
Mother of Sewell Setzer III, advocate for AI safety
Becomes public advocate after Sewell's death
Episode: God, grief and the chatbot
Jeffrey Kane
Author of Samsung Rising
Author
Episode: Inheritance Samsung: 1. My kingdom for a horse
Kubra Khademi
Afghan artist, activist, and exile
Independent artist
Episode: Kubra Khademi: Art of strength and survival
Elana Meyers Taylor
American bobsleigh pilot and Olympic gold medalist
United States bobsled team
Episode: Elana Meyers Taylor: A 20-year journey to gold
Oleg Boldyrev
BBC Russian Service journalist
BBC
Episode: Eighty years of the BBC Russian Service
Hadi Nili
BBC Persian journalist
BBC
Episode: Eighty years of the BBC Russian Service

Hosts

Most frequent BBC World Service documentary hosts
A core set of BBC World Service documentary hosts who anchor on-the-ground reporting, international analysis, and narrative storytelling across geopolitics, culture, and humanitarian topics.
Additional recurring hosts and contributors
Contributors and on-the-studio hosts who have appeared across episodes in varying capacities.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 7.3k ratings
  • Kentucky Radio

    Heartwarming interviews from the people who keep voting for McConnell and Trump, without an unkind word for the politicians who made their families sick.

    Isolation truly does enable exploitation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Terrilynr
    Canada2 months ago
  • Godawful voice acting

    The Greece NGO/trafficking trial doc has execrable voice acting overdubbing the Greeks. Hammed up screeching and caricature and nothing else.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NickMcName82
    Ireland3 months ago
  • No Man’s Land

    What an imaginative question to ask and the research and time to research and find expertise on the content truly inspirational. Really enjoyed learning about theses unknown worlds.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    =====WWWW;
    Canada3 months ago
  • Ruined by loud advertisements

    Mostly good content albeit sometimes biased. The problem is that ads are so much louder than the actual broadcast. Really shouldn’t happen but very annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    bm4488
    Australia3 months ago
  • BBC?

    Would you seriously believe anything that the BBC informs you on???propaganda,disinformation and deception.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Downusa
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback is mixed, with strong appreciation for insightful reporting and some criticisms of balance.
Some reviews note ad volume and perceived bias; others call out bias or propaganda concerns.
Listeners praise in-depth interviews and global perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Elana Meyers Taylor: A 20-year journey to gold
Q: How has motherhood changed your approach to the sport?
She says her priority is the kids' safety and happiness, she has become more risk-aware, and she emphasizes taking care of herself to take care of them, which has influenced training and competition.
Elana Meyers Taylor: A 20-year journey to gold
Q: What does the Olympic gold medal mean to you right now?
Elana explains that the medal stands for immense hard work by her and her support system, represents twenty years of striving, and symbolizes the sacrifices of her family, making the achievement feel both unbelievable and shared.
Bangladeshi newspapers attacked by mob
Q: How did the journalists escape and what happened inside the building during the siege?
Journalists, including Zyma Islam, finished their reports, evacuated to the roof as the mob advanced, used a single tap for water, and relied on the army to create a safe passage after several hours on the roof.
Bangladeshi newspapers attacked by mob
Q: First of all, what were the signs of trouble in Dhaka on the 18th of December?
The correspondent explains that threats were building online, with people discussing a mob heading toward the offices, and that the city was already feeling tense due to the political climate and the earlier, high-profile death of a youth leader.
Iran war: What's life like inside Iran?
Q: What are people inside Iran saying about the possibility of protests and regime change?
Opinions are divided; some fear another crackdown and prefer not to risk, while others are willing to take risks if international support remains, highlighting a spectrum of sentiment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Documentary Podcast

What is The Documentary Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently covers global affairs through in-depth, documentary-style reporting and expert commentary. Recent samples span humanitarian crises (Al-Hol camp, displaced families, and rehabilitation debates), frontline war reporting (Ukraine mobilization, civilian impact), and cultural perspectives (diaspora life, graffiti as social commentary, and the interplay between art, faith, and identity). Noteworthy are on-the-ground voices from journalists and local insiders, plus guests who illuminate personal journeys within larger political or cultural narratives. The show often blends rigorous reporting with intimate storytelling, making complex global issues accessible to curious listeners while highlighting human resilience, ethica... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Documentary Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Documentary Podcast:

1. The Inquiry
2. The Audio Long Read
3. Witness History
4. Lives Less Ordinary
5. The Interview

How many episodes of The Documentary Podcast are there?

The Documentary Podcast launched 21 years ago and published 2000 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 Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Documentary Podcast?

Recent guests on The Documentary Podcast include:

1. Dave Pearson
2. Brett Connellan
3. Justine Barwick
4. Megan Garcia
5. Jeffrey Kane
6. Kubra Khademi
7. Elana Meyers Taylor
8. Oleg Boldyrev

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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