The Documentary Podcast Podcast
A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and telling true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism and global issues.
A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism, unheard voices, amazing culture and global issues.
From Trump’s new world order, to protests in Turkey, to the headphone revolution, The Documentary investigates major global stories.
We delve into social media, take you into the minds of the world’s most creative people and explore personal approaches to spirituality. Every week, we also bring together people from around the globe to discuss how news stories are affecting their lives.
A new episode most days, all year round. From our BBC World Service teams at: Assignment, Heart and Soul, In the Studio, OS Conversations, The Fifth Floor and Trending.
Episodes to download
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Malawi: Life in your years
Wed 26 Mar 2025
What does increased life expectancy mean in one of the poorest countries in the world?
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Assignment: Who is Alice Guo?
Tue 25 Mar 2025
The small town Philippines mayor with the million dollar secret
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Encore: Rejecting public education in Arizona
Mon 24 Mar 2025
The parents opting out of American public education for their children
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In the Studio: The Line
Mon 24 Mar 2025
In Saudi Arabia, NEOM are building a futuristic new city - The Line
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Do we need a new Nato?
Sun 23 Mar 2025
Europe’s leaders are considering whether they could go it alone without US military aid
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The Fifth Floor: Behind Georgia's political turmoil
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Why does Georgia find itself in a time of political turmoil?
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BBC OS Conversations: Ukraine: What do Russians think about the war?
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Russian citizens share their views and experiences of the Ukraine-Russia war
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Heart and Soul: The mosque for Bangladesh’s transgender women
Fri 21 Mar 2025
A community giving intersex and transgender individuals in Bangladesh a place to worship
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What’s your poison: The methanol crisis
Thu 20 Mar 2025
How methanol poisoning from illicit alcohol affects victims around the world
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Assignment: Georgia - keeping the protest alive
Tue 18 Mar 2025
With a growing clampdown, how long can anti-government protests continue in Georgia?
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In the Studio: Himali Singh Soin and David Soin Tappeser
Mon 17 Mar 2025
Exploring the histories and myths around Britain’s salt monopoly in India
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LOUD: Is noise an invisible killer?
Sun 16 Mar 2025
How our noisy world is increasing health problems from heart attacks, to sleep and anxiety
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The Fifth Floor: The Kenyan women saying no to motherhood
Sat 15 Mar 2025
Why are more women in Kenya opting for a child-free life?
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BBC OS Conversations: Cuts to US foreign aid funding
Sat 15 Mar 2025
US aid staff and the people they work with describe the impact of cuts to USAID
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Heart and Soul: Ayahuasca and the new spiritual tourism
Fri 14 Mar 2025
A new wave of spiritual tourism is reshaping sacred ayahuasca practises in Peru
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The village of sex offenders
Thu 13 Mar 2025
Conor Garrett visits a community of convicted sex offenders in Florida
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Assignment: Guatemala’s ‘Indigenous Spring’
Tue 11 Mar 2025
Is life improving for the country’s indigenous population?
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In the Studio: Kwaku Bediako
Mon 10 Mar 2025
How Ghanaian fashion innovator Kwaku Bediako is redefining luxury
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Witness History: Women's History Month special
Sun 9 Mar 2025
Extraordinary stories from women's history, told by the people who were there
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The Fifth Floor: Russia’s gymnastic drama
Sat 8 Mar 2025
The head of Russian rhythmic gymnastics has fallen from glory
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BBC OS Conversations: Three months after the fall of Assad
Sat 8 Mar 2025
Women, tour guides and reunited families share their experiences of life in Syria
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Heart and Soul: The race to break the glass
Fri 7 Mar 2025
Amie Liebowitz interviews matchmaker and dating coach Aleeza Ben Shalom
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Boxing Sisters: Yazidi women boxing back to health
Thu 6 Mar 2025
Can boxing help traumatised Yazidi women and girls heal from all they have been through?
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What in the World: How have older reality tv shows aged?
Wed 5 Mar 2025
The reality TV shows that continue to court controversy and the scandals behind them
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Assignment: Russia’s new war elite
Tue 4 Mar 2025
How huge payouts to soldiers and their families are creating a new middle class in Russia
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TikTok and the digital pimps: Eye Investigates
Mon 3 Mar 2025
Debula Kemoli investigates the sexual exploitation of girls on TikTok live streams
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In the Studio: Marcin Dudek
Sun 2 Mar 2025
Marcin Dudek uses recordings of a Premier League football crowd to make a sonic sculpture
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The Fifth Floor: Are Korean beauty products too light?
Sat 1 Mar 2025
How global demand is reshaping the Korean beauty industry
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BBC OS Conversations: Polyamorous relationships
Sat 1 Mar 2025
Four men and women discuss their lifestyle with multiple partners
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Heart and Soul: Becoming a Buddhist Bhikshuni in Bhutan
Fri 28 Feb 2025
The first Western Buddhist nun to be fully ordained in Bhutan tells us her story
