The Documentary 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.

World Service,2257 episodes

Episodes

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Assignment: Leaving Israel for Cyprus
Thousands of Israelis are making a new home in Cyprus in the wake of 7th October
29 Apr 2025,26 mins
In the Studio: Madeleine Thien
Author Madeleine Thien's long path to creating her novel The Book of Records
28 Apr 2025,25 mins
Bonus: Good Bad Billionaire: Minecraft’s maker
A bonus episode from Good Bad Billionaire about Minecraft creator Markus Persson
27 Apr 2025,47 mins
The Fifth Floor: Tackling Nigeria's skin bleaching problem
Skin-lightening creams are popular in Nigeria, but some can be harmful
26 Apr 2025,24 mins
BBC OS Conversations: Remembering the life of Pope Francis
Sharing memories of how the Pope changed lives
26 Apr 2025,24 mins
Bonus: Bridgerton actor’s interview on Dear Daughter
A bonus episode of Dear Daughter from the BBC World Service
25 Apr 2025,26 mins
The call of Anastasia
What is behind the Russian new age movement of Anastasia that has taken hold in Germany?
24 Apr 2025,26 mins
Witness History: The Environment Movement
The history of the environmental movement, as told by the people who were there
23 Apr 2025,52 mins
Francis, the rebel Pope
Following the death of Pope Francis, Edward Stourton explores his life and legacy
22 Apr 2025,49 mins
Assignment: Dicing with democracy? Romania’s cancelled election
A cancelled election and a divided country - is Romania’s democracy under threat?
22 Apr 2025,33 mins
In the Studio: Amin Gulgee - Heavy metal
Amin Gulgee finds healing by curating a museum of his murdered father’s work in Karachi
21 Apr 2025,27 mins
Make me perfect: Manufacturing beauty in China
BBC Eye investigates one of China’s most notorious cases of botched cosmetic surgery
20 Apr 2025,26 mins
The Fifth Floor: Inside the Taliban's surveillance network
Why did the Taliban install over 90,000 hi-definition CCTV cameras in Kabul?
19 Apr 2025,26 mins
BBC OS Conversations: Colourism
Women share their experiences of discrimination because of the dark tone of their skin
19 Apr 2025,23 mins
Heart and Soul: Our Sacred Harp
Tim Eriksen explores the American choral tradition of shape note singing, sung a cappella
18 Apr 2025,26 mins
Braille and me
A celebration of braille from around the world, 200 years after it was invented
17 Apr 2025,26 mins
Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League trailblazers
How Olympique Lyonnais dominated Europe and fought for equality
16 Apr 2025,49 mins
Assignment: New Zealand - what counts as Māori equality
Protest against New Zealand’s moves to abolish Māori rights in the name of equality
15 Apr 2025,27 mins
In the Studio: Steve Reich
Composer Steve Reich reflects on six decades of musical innovation
14 Apr 2025,26 mins
Defeated: How ordinary Germans experienced the end of World War Two
In Germany, the end of World War Two in 1945 was a time of chaos, fear and soul-searching
13 Apr 2025,49 mins
The Fifth Floor: Stranded in Panama
After being stopped at the US-Mexico border, a group of Venezuelans try to go back home
12 Apr 2025,20 mins
BBC OS Conversations: The impact of Trump's tariffs
Business owners in the US and across the world on the impact of tariffs
12 Apr 2025,26 mins
Heart and Soul: Guns, grief and god
Edward Stourton visits a church community following a shooting at Alapachee High School
11 Apr 2025,26 mins
Heart and Soul: Violence, children and Cambodia’s monks
Rising from the ashes of genocide, Buddhist monks take to TikTok to end child violence
10 Apr 2025,26 mins
The Cultural Frontline: South East Asian cinema - a love story
How South East Asian cinema unexpectedly boomed with record-breaking blockbusters
09 Apr 2025,25 mins
Assignment: Unidentified flying drones in Denmark
Mysterious drone sightings in Denmark reveal a new era in UFOlogy
08 Apr 2025,26 mins
In the Studio: Anna Clyne and Jody Elff
Composer Anna Clyne and sound designer Jody Elff create a new piece inspired by colours
07 Apr 2025,26 mins
Donald Trump’s new world order
President Trump has upended the international order to promote his “America First” agenda
06 Apr 2025,49 mins
The Fifth Floor: India's 'godwoman'
Divya Arya on the flamboyant life of one of India's most influential 'godwomen'
05 Apr 2025,26 mins
BBC OS Conversations: Adolescence
Boys, girls, parents and teachers discuss the issues raised by the hit series
05 Apr 2025,23 mins