The Documentary Podcast Podcast
Hear the voices at the heart of global stories. Where curious minds can uncover hidden truths and make sense of the world. Documentary storytelling 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. The best of documentary storytelling from the BBC World Service.
From conflict in the Middle East to the advance of AI, to the front line of the climate emergency, we go beyond the headlines. Each week we dive into the minds of the world’s most creative people, take personal journeys into spirituality and connect people from across the globe to share how news stories are shaping their lives.
Episodes to download
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The Global Jigsaw: The Trump effect on global media
Sun 18 May 2025
Exploring the changes to media around the world caused by cuts to USAGM and USAID
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The Fifth Floor: Ukraine, the war and TikTok
Sat 17 May 2025
How the war in Ukraine is portrayed on social media
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BBC OS Conversations: Living in Kashmir
Sat 17 May 2025
What is it like to live in one of the most disputed regions on Earth?
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Heart and Soul: Malcolm X and his Letter from the Hajj
Fri 16 May 2025
Malcolm X’s Hajj was one of many transformations as his daughter Ilyasah discovers
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Autism, empathy and psychopaths
Thu 15 May 2025
Why society must rethink the damaging stereotypes about autistic people and low empathy.
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BBC Trending: Are we dating the same person?
Wed 14 May 2025
How a Facebook group for exposing cheating boyfriends triggered an explicit retaliation
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Assignment: Syria - return to ruins
Tue 13 May 2025
After 13 years of civil war, what awaits Syrians returning to their homes?
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In the Studio: Luke Black
Mon 12 May 2025
Creating music inspired by video games, and life after Eurovision
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The Fifth Floor: The Russian grandma who went to jail
Sat 10 May 2025
Russian activist Natalya Filonova was arrested in 2022. What happened to her?
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BBC OS Conversations: Inside Gaza
Sat 10 May 2025
Residents and aid workers share their experiences amid warnings of mass starvation
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Heart and Soul: Praying for healing?
Fri 9 May 2025
When his wife developed ME, theologian Prof David Wilkinson found his faith tested
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Educating Nigeria
Thu 8 May 2025
Yemisi Adegoke discovers what is being done to get children into school in Nigeria
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BBC Trending: The TikTokers inside an election fire-storm
Wed 7 May 2025
BBC Trending speaks to influencers implicated in the cancellation of Romania's election
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Conclave: How will the next Pope be chosen?
Tue 6 May 2025
A special podcast answering your questions on the conclave which will select the new Pope
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Assignment: Russia's Church in Texas
Tue 6 May 2025
The Americans converting to Orthodox Christianity in Texas...
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In the Studio: Bishwajit Goswami
Mon 5 May 2025
Artist Bishwajit Goswami creates a new installation celebrating Bangladesh’s rivers
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The Cultural Frontline: Taiwan
Sun 4 May 2025
How trailblazing Taiwanese artists are exploring politics and history through their work
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The Fifth Floor: Education against the odds
Sat 3 May 2025
How the BBC's Dars Arabic show is trying to reach children who are out of school
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BBC OS Conversations: Protecting children from online harm
Sat 3 May 2025
Three parents on why they believe social media contributed to their children’s deaths
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Heart and Soul: After Francis, what do Catholics want next?
Fri 2 May 2025
After Pope Francis' death, Catholics look to Rome as the Church elects a new leader
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BBC Trending: From a suspected smuggler’s TikTok to tragedy
Wed 30 Apr 2025
How one Pakistani suspected smuggler’s TikTok account revealed clues of his activities
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Assignment: Leaving Israel for Cyprus
Tue 29 Apr 2025
Thousands of Israelis are making a new home in Cyprus in the wake of 7th October
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In the Studio: Madeleine Thien
Mon 28 Apr 2025
Author Madeleine Thien's long path to creating her novel The Book of Records
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Bonus: Good Bad Billionaire: Minecraft’s maker
Sun 27 Apr 2025
A bonus episode from Good Bad Billionaire about Minecraft creator Markus Persson
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The Fifth Floor: Tackling Nigeria's skin bleaching problem
Sat 26 Apr 2025
Skin-lightening creams are popular in Nigeria, but some can be harmful
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BBC OS Conversations: Remembering the life of Pope Francis
Sat 26 Apr 2025
Sharing memories of how the Pope changed lives
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Bonus: Bridgerton actor’s interview on Dear Daughter
Fri 25 Apr 2025
A bonus episode of Dear Daughter from the BBC World Service
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The call of Anastasia
Thu 24 Apr 2025
What is behind the Russian new age movement of Anastasia that has taken hold in Germany?
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Witness History: The Environment Movement
Wed 23 Apr 2025
The history of the environmental movement, as told by the people who were there
