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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Heart and Soul: Istanbul’s church of wishes
Fri 27 Sep 2024
The sacred spring that unites people of all faiths in hope
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Bonus: The Inquiry - How are the Taliban governing Afghanistan?
Thu 26 Sep 2024
What changes have the Taliban made to Afghanistan in their 3 years of power?
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BBC Trending: An (online) storm in a Philippine rainforest
Wed 25 Sep 2024
How a nature reserve in the Philippines got caught in an information battle
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Assignment: Reproductive rights: A divided flock
Tue 24 Sep 2024
How the debate over abortion and IVF has divided evangelical Christians in the US
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In the Studio: Erdem Moralıoğlu
Mon 23 Sep 2024
Designer Erdem Moralıoğlu on taking inspiration from powerful women in culture
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The new Germans
Sun 22 Sep 2024
Damien McGuinness talks to a generation of refugees in Germany now becoming citizens
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The Fifth Floor: The silent death of an anti-Putin pianist
Sat 21 Sep 2024
Pavel Kushnir: a classical pianist or a dangerous dissident?
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BBC OS Conversations: Talking to someone with suicidal thoughts
Sat 21 Sep 2024
Stories of how strangers have been able to help when they’ve seen a person in distress
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Heart and Soul: I became a Muslim after the Taliban kept me hostage
Fri 20 Sep 2024
Jibra’il Omar, formerly Timothy Weeks, spent three years in captivity in Afghanistan
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Stories from the New Silk Road: Space
Thu 19 Sep 2024
How does a controversial ground station in Argentina help China land the space race?
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BBC Trending: Woman, life, surveillance
Wed 18 Sep 2024
We speak to women targeted by the Iranian government after posting on social media
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The great dolphin release
Wed 18 Sep 2024
Freeing Johnny, Rocky and Rambo, the dolphins of the world's last travelling circus
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Assignment: Ageing without a safety net in Malaysia
Tue 17 Sep 2024
How Malaysia failed to plan for its fast-growing elderly population
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In the Studio: Lenin Tamayo and Q-pop
Mon 16 Sep 2024
Peruvian singer Lenin Tamayo, creator of Quechua pop, works on his next EP
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Solutions Journalism: The African 'Babelfish'
Sun 15 Sep 2024
How Bonaventure Dossou's translation app is increasing accessibility to African dialects
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The Fifth Floor: Exam nightmares
Sat 14 Sep 2024
Stories from India and China about the exams that shape the lives of millions
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BBC OS Conversations: Are we still in love with dating apps?
Sat 14 Sep 2024
We hear from people who ditched their dating apps and from those who found love on them
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Heart and Soul: Indigenous healing on the party island of Ibiza
Fri 13 Sep 2024
Indigenous spirituality on the modern island of Ibiza
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Trending: Can we live without our phones?
Thu 12 Sep 2024
Marianna Spring investigates the impact of smartphones and social media on teens
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Flying high: The return of the peregrine falcon
Thu 12 Sep 2024
The fastest animal on earth – the peregrine falcon – is thriving alongside us
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The Midwife’s Confession: Eye Investigates
Tue 10 Sep 2024
‘Now another girl has been born, kill her’ – Indian midwives make a shocking confession
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Assignment: Ivory Coast's cocoa crisis
Tue 10 Sep 2024
The journey from cocoa to chocolate in Ivory Coast
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In The Studio: Tuan Andrew Nguyen - The healing power of art
Mon 9 Sep 2024
Using film, sculpture and installations, Tuan explores how memories haunt the present
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Bonus: Lives Less Ordinary
Sun 8 Sep 2024
Indiana Jones: the kids who remade a blockbuster — Lives Less Ordinary
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The Fifth Floor: Pakistan's internet mystery
Sat 7 Sep 2024
People in Pakistan are struggling to use social media. Why?
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BBC OS Conversations: What's it like to have mpox
Sat 7 Sep 2024
Mpox sufferers and doctors share their experiences
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Heart and Soul: Synagogue for sale
Fri 6 Sep 2024
Polish anthropologist Alexandra Janus deliberates buying back a piece of her heritage
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Bonus: CrowdScience - How do fish survive in the deep ocean?
Thu 5 Sep 2024
What allows fish to cope with the immense water pressure of the ocean depths?
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West Bank: Settlers, guns and sanctions
Wed 4 Sep 2024
Extremist settlers are supported by “state-linked” organisations, BBC Eye reveals
