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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Afghan Star 2: Music, tradition and the Taliban
Wed 28 Aug 2019
Talent show finalist Zahra Elham and the musicians defying the Taliban
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Maria Ressa: The Filipino-American journalist combating fake news
Tue 27 Aug 2019
As a critic of President Duterte, her arrest this year was seen as politically motivated.
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My very extended family
Sat 24 Aug 2019
When Julia discovers she has more than twenty siblings, she must redefine her family
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Romania's killer roads
Thu 22 Aug 2019
Can one man's campaign for motorways in Romania make a difference and save lives?
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Afghan Star 1: A TV talent show
Wed 21 Aug 2019
The TV talent show at the forefront of the continuing struggle in Afghanistan
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Her Story 2: Betty Bigombe, Ugandan peace negotiator
Tue 20 Aug 2019
Betty Bigombe spent much of her career trying to negotiate peace with warlord Joseph Kony
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Barbuda: Storms, recovery and ‘land grabs’
Thu 15 Aug 2019
Who will shape the future of the hurricane-hit, tropical isle of Barbuda?
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Peterloo: The massacre that changed Britain
Wed 14 Aug 2019
On 16 August 1819, troops charged the crowds in St Peter's Field in Manchester
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Her Story 1: Vaira Viķe-Freiberga, the first female president of Latvia
Tue 13 Aug 2019
Vaira Viķe-Freiberga became president of Latvia in 1999 and re-elected in 2003
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Genoa's Broken Bridge
Thu 8 Aug 2019
An icon of Italian design; a centrepiece of a community; a tragedy waiting to happen?
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Black girls don't swim
Tue 6 Aug 2019
Does maintaining good hair stop black girls from getting into the water?
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America's Hospital Emergency
Thu 1 Aug 2019
A small town goes on life-support after its lone hospital closes
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The spy of Raspberry Falls
Tue 30 Jul 2019
A former CIA officer begins 20 years in prison for selling secrets to the Chinese
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When Africa meets China
Sun 28 Jul 2019
Linda Yueh uncovers the trend of Africans moving to live in China
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The Spy in Your Pocket
Thu 25 Jul 2019
How sophisticated spy-ware can be used to track our everyday activities. Who's watching?
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The Superlinguists: Monolingual societies
Tue 23 Jul 2019
Is there even something sinister and oppressive to the idea of monolingualism?
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Music to land on the Moon by
Sun 21 Jul 2019
The history of the space race told through music and lyrics
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Bitter brew
Thu 18 Jul 2019
The harrowing story of rape, murder and violence on a Kenyan tea plantation
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The Superlinguists: Multilingual societies
Tue 16 Jul 2019
What is it like to live in a place where you have to speak several languages to get by?
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The Dyatlov Pass mystery
Sun 14 Jul 2019
How the death of nine Russian students has fuelled conspiracy theories for 60 years
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Germany’s climate change frontline
Thu 11 Jul 2019
A German forest is disappearing; devoured by a coalmine. Can the trees be saved?
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The Superlinguists: How to learn a language
Tue 9 Jul 2019
Meet the people who speak many languages. How do they do it, and why?
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Denmark's Migrant Ghettos
Thu 4 Jul 2019
Denmark's immigration policy is among the most controversial in western Europe.
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The Superlinguists: The polyglots
Tue 2 Jul 2019
Meet the people who speak many languages. How do they do it, and why?
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Interview with the Dalai Lama
Sun 30 Jun 2019
The Dalai Lama shares his thoughts on President Trump, Brexit, the EU and China
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Training to save the treasures of Iraq - part two
Sun 30 Jun 2019
Iraq’s female archaeologists return to Mosul to work on restoring their ancient heritage
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Marching to the coolest beat
Sat 29 Jun 2019
Students throw sabers and rifles in the American Sport of the Arts
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Marseille: France’s Crumbling City
Thu 27 Jun 2019
As its city centre falls apart, Marseille is facing a crisis.
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The magic fingers of Rashid Khan
Tue 25 Jun 2019
The life behind the magic fingers of Afghan spin bowler Rashid Khan
