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The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service
China
BBC World Service
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Russia
Belarus
Ukraine
Ebola
Brexit
South Africa
Penalty Shootout
United Kingdom
Beyonce Knowles
Jamaican Revivalism
DNA Testing
Sierra Leone
Beirut, Lebanon
Preparedness
Chernobyl
Jeffrey Epstein

The best documentaries from the BBC World Service. Hear the voices at the heart of global stories. Where curious minds can uncover hidden truths and make sense of the world. From Australia's relationship with China, to Turkey's sinkhole problem, to understanding the behaviour of dictators, we go beyond the headlines. Each week, all year round, we bring you the stories shaping our world. From the p... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2000Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

With perpetrators in exile, closure is out of reach. As Syria’s new authorities seek to hold figures of the former regime accountable, questions remain over the fate of Bashar al-Assad. The former president and members of his inner circle were grante... more

We bring people together from around the world who are struggling to find somewhere affordable to live. We hear from Spain where the eviction of an 87-year-old woman has led to widespread protests, highlighting the country’s housing crisis. Young peo... more

The French town of Lourdes is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics – this year even welcoming the Pope. This shrine in the Pyrenees Mountains is the site of miracles and Christian fervour, where the young shepherdess Bernadette Soubirous saw 18 appari... more

Ten years on from the Ebola outbreak which tore through West Africa, journalist Tulip Mazumdar reconnects with survivors, healthcare workers and volunteers she met when reporting extensively from the frontline. The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak killed ove... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

David Subgir
Cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio
Episode: The joy of walking
Borbala Stern
Head of local Walk with a Doc branch in Hungary
Walk with a Doctor / Hungarian branch
Episode: The joy of walking
Dan Raven Ellison
Founder of Slow Ways, a walking-network project in the UK
Slow Ways / Goodways (project)
Episode: The joy of walking
Arun Shrestha
Senior climate change specialist and glaciologist from Kathmandu
Nepal research institutions
Episode: Nepal: In the shadow of a glacier
Angel Delgadillo
Legendary Route 66 advocate, often credited with saving Seligman from abandonment
Route 66 community advocate
Episode: Can Route 66 towns survive on nostalgia?
Corey Cart
Museum director in Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton Route 66 Museum
Episode: Can Route 66 towns survive on nostalgia?
Roman Rich Dinkela
Lifelong Route 66 enthusiast and property owner (Wagon Wheel Hotel)
Private entrepreneur / Route 66 enthusiast
Episode: Can Route 66 towns survive on nostalgia?
Sonal Desai
Demographer, National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi
National Council of Applied Economic Research
Episode: Mapping India: The world's largest count
Ganesh Devi
Linguist who led the largest independent survey of India's languages
People's Linguistic Survey of India
Episode: Mapping India: The world's largest count

Host

BBC World Service Hosts
Diverse BBC World Service reporters and program hosts who contribute to the documentary and current affairs slate.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 7.4k ratings
  • Blah-blah

    Let’s talk about anything under the sun other than the fact of a genocide for which we manufactured consent.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    here-to-read
    South Africa14 days ago
  • Terrific series, but COMMERCIALS!

    Love this series, but as a paying subscriber to BBC World Service, why am I hearing annoying commercials? Minus 4 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Saurolophus
    United Statesa month ago
  • Informative but sadly all the ads seem to be from ARAMCO (big oil) lately

    Great episodes about protecting wildlife, nature, etc. …sponsored by big oil and hacksawed journalists. #BRAVO !!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tolga M
    United States4 months ago
  • Classic British propaganda.

    Always well produced but sadly subtle petite bourgeois pro western propaganda that the British craft so well.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Thanos in Soho
    United States4 months ago
  • Return to Khartoum

    This was such a different take than the usual western media portrayal of Sudan. The amazing strength and determination of the people shone in this excellent documentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MagpieMedia
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews critique perceived propaganda or imbalance in certain topics.
Mixed feedback about ads and perceived bias in some episodes.
Many highlight global relevance and diverse voices as strengths.
Listeners praise in-depth storytelling and credible sourcing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The joy of walking
Q: What has been learned from the Hungarian Walk with a Doc branch about accessibility and language barriers?
We created a Hungarian registration form connected with the central organization and launched a Hungarian social media account to reach more people, addressing English-language resource barriers and enabling broader participation.
The joy of walking
Q: How did Walk with a Doc grow from a local initiative to an international movement?
It started with a physician inviting a patient and family for a walk, then expanded to many doctors volunteering and creating standardized support like insurance, web pages, and paperwork, which helped it scale to thousands of physicians and 735 chapters in 42 countries.
From Mao and Nixon to Xi and Trump: A history of China-US trade
Q: What is the rationale behind bringing China formally into the WTO, and does it create a framework that helps reform both economies?
Chad explains that bringing China into the WTO was seen as a way to channel reform through established rules, though there was ongoing debate about whether China would continue reforms inside or outside the system and how that would align with long-term strategic goals.
From Mao and Nixon to Xi and Trump: A history of China-US trade
Q: This week, then, your level of hope, Chad, for what actually can be achieved, I mean, is it good news, I suppose, at least that the two sides are at least meeting again?
Chad expresses guarded optimism about the high-level meeting but emphasizes that leverage is asymmetric at present, with China controlling essential inputs and the U.S. having limited bargaining power, suggesting only modest progress is likely on deeper issues.
Can we live without our phones?
Q: Alex, tell us your story and what addiction looked like for you.
Alex describes a long history with internet use beginning in 1998, escalating to near-constant online activity, impaired relationships, and a failed attempt at self-regulation until joining a recovery program that helped him reorient his life and connections.

Audience Metrics

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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?

The episode catalog suggests a documentary-style program that covers global issues through on-the-ground reporting, expert interviews, and human-interest voices. Topics span global health, technology, climate, culture, and international affairs, with a strong emphasis on firsthand storytelling, corroborated context, and investigative framing. Standout elements include deep dives into underreported crises, ethical debates around technology and power, and rich narratives that connect policy to personal lives. The show appears to mix scholarly analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics approachable for curious, civically engaged listeners who value credible journalism and global perspectives.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Documentary Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Documentary Podcast get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Documentary Podcast 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 The Documentary Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Documentary Podcast:

1. The Inquiry
2. Witness History
3. The Audio Long Read
4. Global News Podcast
5. The Global Story

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?

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 The Documentary Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Documentary Podcast?

Recent guests on The Documentary Podcast include:

1. David Subgir
2. Borbala Stern
3. Dan Raven Ellison
4. Arun Shrestha
5. Angel Delgadillo
6. Corey Cart
7. Roman Rich Dinkela
8. Sonal Desai

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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