Rephonic
Artwork for The Documentary Podcast

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service
China
Russia
Music
Ukraine
Islamic State
United States
BBC World Service
Iran
Belarus
Ebola
Harrison Okene
Tourette Syndrome
Brexit
Penalty Shootout
Israel
Climate Change
United Kingdom
Beyonce Knowles
Christianity
South Africa

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 Sierra Leone's cocaine trail, to victims' voices in Europe's wildfires, to the extremist "Jihadi cool" content spreading on social media...we go beyond the headlines. Each week we dive into the minds of the ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2000Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Documentary Podcast

Latest Episodes

Antonia Quirke goes behind the scenes of Bookish, the murder mystery series written by Matthew Sweet and Mark Gatiss, who plays an amateur detective and bookshop owner called Book. Antonia hears from Matthew as he works on the script, crafting a clif... more

In 2025, Voice of America was thrust into the spotlight when the bulk of its funding was taken away. But in an era shaped by the internet and social media revolutions and with the West's funding priorities changing, it was not the first international... more

More than four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, the war continues to shape almost every aspect of life in both countries, including the challenge of finding enough people to serve on the front line. In... more

It’s been several weeks since there has been any significant rainfall in many parts of the world. Across Europe, a prolonged heatwave and little rain have dried-up waterways, hit crop production and have contributed to the wildfires that continue to ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Inquiry
The InquiryBBC World Service
Witness History
Witness HistoryBBC World Service
Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service
The Interview
The InterviewBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Beth Pratt
California Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
Episode: The world's largest wildlife crossing
Robert Rock
Lead architect on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing
Architect/Project Lead
Episode: The world's largest wildlife crossing
Kylie Soanes
Urban biologist and road ecologist
University of Melbourne
Episode: The world's largest wildlife crossing
Ted Hartzig
Senior soil scientist
Olson Inc.
Episode: The world's largest wildlife crossing
Larry Norton
Zimbabwean artist researching and opposing development near the falls
Independent/Artist
Episode: Victoria Falls: An environment on the edge
Teresa Meshiba
Coordinator of Livingston-Victoria Falls International Volunteer Program
Livingston-Victoria Falls International Volunteer Program
Episode: Victoria Falls: An environment on the edge
Namo Tjuma
Representative from Environment Africa promoting sustainability
Environment Africa
Episode: Victoria Falls: An environment on the edge
Evans Mbanga
Permanent Secretary at Zambia's Ministry of Tourism
Zambia Ministry of Tourism
Episode: Victoria Falls: An environment on the edge
Colonel Paulina Sekopela
Mathipa's commanding officer
Hawks
Episode: Special forces on trial

Host

Multiple BBC World Service Hosts
Hosts and correspondents from the BBC World Service presenting documentary-style investigations and interviews across global affairs, culture, science, and society.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 7.4k ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States3 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
    Australia3 months ago
  • When it hits, it hits hard

    The variety in this podcast makes it hit and miss by its nature. The hits are truly great - "Last Dancefloor in Chernobyl" will forever haunt me.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kate HSEQ
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Epstein apologists?

    Really?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Groomieswkris
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A few episodes are praised for depth and global perspective, while some listeners feel coverage can be biased or polemical on controversial topics.
Listeners appreciate the thorough investigations and human-interest angles that connect global events to personal stories.

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 engineers: Flying at the edge
Q: What is the core idea behind experimental test pilots and how do they interact with engineers?
Experimentation is the operational edge where pilots test models, collect data, and validate simulations, providing real-world feedback that engineers use to refine performance and reliability.
Bonus: Forgiving a killer - from Lives Less Ordinary
Q: What did you learn from meeting former extremists, including a man who shared Breivik's views previously?
That people can change, that there is genuine regret, and that understanding and humane engagement can help others move away from violence.
Bonus: Forgiving a killer - from Lives Less Ordinary
Q: Why did you want to read Breivik's manifesto after the attack?
To understand who Breivik was and what drove someone like him to commit such acts, and to gain context for healing and preventing future violence.
Older women and the challenge of IVF
Q: What is your medical analysis of that research, and how should clinicians communicate these findings to patients considering donor eggs and advanced age?
The doctors emphasize that while age is a major factor, individual health, ovarian reserve, and other conditions matter; they advise honest, nuanced conversations with patients about realistic outcomes, including the possibility that donor eggs may not fully overcome age-related risks.
Tom Bailey: Can a walk across the Arctic be art?
Q: What personal experiences inform this project?
Bailey recounts cancer battles and recovery, using nature as a partner and grounding force that deepens the emotional resonance of the journey.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Documentary Podcast

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

A BBC World Service documentary program that brings firsthand voices and expert context to complex global stories. Recent episodes spotlight online movements and their real-life consequences, large-scale cultural events, and long-form investigations into geopolitics, science, and humanitarian issues. The show frequently blends on-the-ground reporting with interviews from researchers, policymakers, activists, and creatives, offering nuanced perspectives that connect personal experiences to broader social and political dynamics. Notable strengths include in-depth storytelling, diverse guest rosters, and a willingness to tackle ethically fraught topics with careful observation. Potential listeners who enjoy rigorous, global storytelling and co... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Documentary Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Documentary Podcast. 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 Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Documentary Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Documentary Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Documentary Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Documentary Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Documentary Podcast have?

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. Global News Podcast
4. The Interview
5. The Audio Long Read

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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Documentary Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Documentary Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Documentary Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Documentary Podcast?

Recent guests on The Documentary Podcast include:

1. Beth Pratt
2. Robert Rock
3. Kylie Soanes
4. Ted Hartzig
5. Larry Norton
6. Teresa Meshiba
7. Namo Tjuma
8. Evans Mbanga

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days