Rephonic
Artwork for The Documentary Podcast

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service
China
Artificial Intelligence
BBC World Service
Belarus
Climate Change
United States
Russia
Ebola
Brexit
Penalty Shootout
Israel
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Beyonce Knowles
South Africa
Jamaican Revivalism
Shark Attacks
DNA Testing
Sierra Leone
Hong Kong

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 the fightback against big surveillance in the US, to Ukraine’s “hell jumpers” to the story of life-saving peanut paste, we go beyond the headlines. Each week, all year round, we bring you the stories shaping our world. Fr... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2000Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Documentary Podcast

Latest Episodes

Economic unease is growing among Russian workers as fuel shortages and Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt key sectors of the economy.

Ed Butler examines the pressures facing businesses, workers and consumers, from damaged refineries to attacks on Wild... more

In May, the Chief Justice of India unwittingly gave a name to a generational protest. He called unemployed young people “cockroaches” and the mass youth movement that had begun in the wake of the sudden cancellation of a national exam took on the tit... more

Evidence suggests that millions around the world are ditching the most popular dating apps to pursue alternative options. Users complain that swiping is not leading to dates or meaningful relationships, just admin and fatigue. In our conversations, o... more

On 11 September 2001, suicide attackers hijacked two passenger planes flying over the eastern United States and crashed them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing both buildings to collapse. The attack killed 2,753 peopl... 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
The Interview
The InterviewBBC World Service
Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Richard Eichen
Professional who worked at PASS Consulting Group on the 90th floor of the North Tower
PASS Consulting Group
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
Jill Pila
Wife of a man who worked in commercial real estate on the 86th floor
Family member of a victim
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
Judy Castro
Former NYPD officer who helped evacuate the buildings
New York Police Department
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
Jimmy Dobson
St John's Hospital paramedic who helped the wounded
St. John's Hospital
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
Joseph Pfeifer
Fire Department Battalion Chief coordinating evacuations
New York Fire Department
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
AM Homes
Novelist and witness to the day from the Windover apartment
Author
Episode: The Reunion: The 9/11 Attacks
Judith Toppin
Survivor who traveled with Paul Carris during the 9/11 escape
None stated
Episode: The Woman Who Saved Me on 9/11
Fatih Şük
Farmer in Konya Karapınar region
Local farming community
Episode: Turkey's growing sinkhole problem
Muhammed Gülbahar
Farmer in Konya Karapınar
Local farming community
Episode: Turkey's growing sinkhole problem

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
  • 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 States3 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
    Australia4 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Epstein apologists?

    Really?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Groomieswkris
    United States4 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.

Hong Kong's bookstore raids
Q: Do we know which books they are? What are the contents of them?
There is no official list confirmed; media reports point to titles including The Troublemaker and Let Only Red Flower Bloom, which discuss pro-democracy themes and Xi Jinping's governance, raising questions about what content attracts police attention.
Hong Kong's bookstore raids
Q: So Abel, I'm going to start with you in Hong Kong. What's been happening to bookstores and booksellers this year?
Arrests have occurred as authorities invoked national security provisions, with several independent bookstores raided and staff detained, signaling a new level of enforcement around perceived seditious materials.
Kirk Franklin: Gospel music and my own faith journey
Q: Could you unpack that moment when you put your faith in Christ and what changed for you afterwards?
He describes a decisive turning point in 1985 when he prayed a salvation prayer, felt authentic change, and began to write music that expressed honest conversations with God, including moments of fear, love, and grace.
Lucy Sparrow: Nostalgic supermarket made of felt
Q: Why choose the 1980s and nostalgia as a theme for the show?
The 1980s represent a peak era of consumerism and a time when people associated food and home life with bright, playful aesthetics, which aligns with my goal of making the felt installations feel approachable and joyful.
Lucy Sparrow: Nostalgic supermarket made of felt
Q: What about the reception of the public in a museum setting, given this is more of a showroom than a traditional gallery?
In this setting, contact with the audience is managed through a petting zoo concept and governed by the museum, ensuring that the works stay intact while still offering an engaging, participatory experience.

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?

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?

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

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. Richard Eichen
2. Jill Pila
3. Judy Castro
4. Jimmy Dobson
5. Joseph Pfeifer
6. AM Homes
7. Judith Toppin
8. Fatih Şük

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