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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BBC Trending: From a suspected smuggler’s TikTok to tragedy
Today
How one Pakistani suspected smuggler’s TikTok account revealed clues of his activities
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Assignment: Leaving Israel for Cyprus
Yesterday
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
Monday
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
Sunday
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
Saturday
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
Saturday
Sharing memories of how the Pope changed lives
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Bonus: Bridgerton actor’s interview on Dear Daughter
Friday
A bonus episode of Dear Daughter from the BBC World Service
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The call of Anastasia
Last Thursday
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
Last Wednesday
The history of the environmental movement, as told by the people who were there
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Francis, the rebel Pope
Last Tuesday
Following the death of Pope Francis, Edward Stourton explores his life and legacy
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Assignment: Dicing with democracy? Romania’s cancelled election
Last Tuesday
A cancelled election and a divided country - is Romania’s democracy under threat?
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In the Studio: Amin Gulgee - Heavy metal
Mon 21 Apr 2025
Amin Gulgee finds healing by curating a museum of his murdered father’s work in Karachi
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Make me perfect: Manufacturing beauty in China
Sun 20 Apr 2025
BBC Eye investigates one of China’s most notorious cases of botched cosmetic surgery
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The Fifth Floor: Inside the Taliban's surveillance network
Sat 19 Apr 2025
Why did the Taliban install over 90,000 hi-definition CCTV cameras in Kabul?
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BBC OS Conversations: Colourism
Sat 19 Apr 2025
Women share their experiences of discrimination because of the dark tone of their skin
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Heart and Soul: Our Sacred Harp
Fri 18 Apr 2025
Tim Eriksen explores the American choral tradition of shape note singing, sung a cappella
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Braille and me
Thu 17 Apr 2025
A celebration of braille from around the world, 200 years after it was invented
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Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League trailblazers
Wed 16 Apr 2025
How Olympique Lyonnais dominated Europe and fought for equality
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Assignment: New Zealand - what counts as Māori equality
Tue 15 Apr 2025
Protest against New Zealand’s moves to abolish Māori rights in the name of equality
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In the Studio: Steve Reich
Mon 14 Apr 2025
Composer Steve Reich reflects on six decades of musical innovation
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Defeated: How ordinary Germans experienced the end of World War Two
Sun 13 Apr 2025
In Germany, the end of World War Two in 1945 was a time of chaos, fear and soul-searching
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The Fifth Floor: Stranded in Panama
Sat 12 Apr 2025
After being stopped at the US-Mexico border, a group of Venezuelans try to go back home
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BBC OS Conversations: The impact of Trump's tariffs
Sat 12 Apr 2025
Business owners in the US and across the world on the impact of tariffs
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Heart and Soul: Guns, grief and god
Fri 11 Apr 2025
Edward Stourton visits a church community following a shooting at Alapachee High School
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Heart and Soul: Violence, children and Cambodia’s monks
Thu 10 Apr 2025
Rising from the ashes of genocide, Buddhist monks take to TikTok to end child violence
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The Cultural Frontline: South East Asian cinema - a love story
Wed 9 Apr 2025
How South East Asian cinema unexpectedly boomed with record-breaking blockbusters
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Assignment: Unidentified flying drones in Denmark
Tue 8 Apr 2025
Mysterious drone sightings in Denmark reveal a new era in UFOlogy
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In the Studio: Anna Clyne and Jody Elff
Mon 7 Apr 2025
Composer Anna Clyne and sound designer Jody Elff create a new piece inspired by colours
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Donald Trump’s new world order
Sun 6 Apr 2025
President Trump has upended the international order to promote his “America First” agenda
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The Fifth Floor: India's 'godwoman'
Sat 5 Apr 2025
Divya Arya on the flamboyant life of one of India's most influential 'godwomen'
