The Documentary Podcast Podcast
Hear the voices at the heart of global stories. Where curious minds can make sense of the world. Home of the best documentaries 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. Home of the best documentaries from the BBC World Service.
From the impact of drought on crops, tourism and trade, to Africa's first film city, to the Romanian teenagers who built a DIY internet...we go beyond the headlines.
Each week we look at the stories shaping our world and hear voices connecting people from across the globe, asking how news stories are shaping their lives. We also follow spiritual journeys, examine the world through the lens of its media and focus on solutions to global problems.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
When Africa meets China
Sun 28 Jul 2019
Linda Yueh uncovers the trend of Africans moving to live in China
-
![]()
The Spy in Your Pocket
Thu 25 Jul 2019
How sophisticated spy-ware can be used to track our everyday activities. Who's watching?
-
![]()
The Superlinguists: Monolingual societies
Tue 23 Jul 2019
Is there even something sinister and oppressive to the idea of monolingualism?
-
![]()
Music to land on the Moon by
Sun 21 Jul 2019
The history of the space race told through music and lyrics
-
![]()
-
![]()
Bitter brew
Thu 18 Jul 2019
The harrowing story of rape, murder and violence on a Kenyan tea plantation
-
![]()
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?
-
![]()
The Dyatlov Pass mystery
Sun 14 Jul 2019
How the death of nine Russian students has fuelled conspiracy theories for 60 years
-
![]()
Germany’s climate change frontline
Thu 11 Jul 2019
A German forest is disappearing; devoured by a coalmine. Can the trees be saved?
-
![]()
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?
-
![]()
Denmark's Migrant Ghettos
Thu 4 Jul 2019
Denmark's immigration policy is among the most controversial in western Europe.
-
![]()
The Superlinguists: The polyglots
Tue 2 Jul 2019
Meet the people who speak many languages. How do they do it, and why?
-
![]()
Interview with the Dalai Lama
Sun 30 Jun 2019
The Dalai Lama shares his thoughts on President Trump, Brexit, the EU and China
-
![]()
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
-
![]()
Marching to the coolest beat
Sat 29 Jun 2019
Students throw sabers and rifles in the American Sport of the Arts
-
![]()
Marseille: France’s Crumbling City
Thu 27 Jun 2019
As its city centre falls apart, Marseille is facing a crisis.
-
![]()
The magic fingers of Rashid Khan
Tue 25 Jun 2019
The life behind the magic fingers of Afghan spin bowler Rashid Khan
-
![]()
Training to save the treasures of Iraq
Sun 23 Jun 2019
Eight female archaeologists from Mosul travel to London to train with the British Museum
-
![]()
Dying from mistrust in Ukraine
Thu 20 Jun 2019
How mistrust of vaccine has brought a forgotten disease back to Europe
-
![]()
Vaccination: The global picture
Wed 19 Jun 2019
Why do people hesitate over vaccinations around the world?
-
![]()
Destination education
Tue 18 Jun 2019
Liyang Liu talks to Chinese school students studying in the UK
-
![]()
Remembering Afghanistan's Elvis
Sun 16 Jun 2019
Ahmad Zahir died in 1979 yet his music still unites generations of Afghans
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
Ticket to a new life
Sun 9 Jun 2019
Many Pacific Islanders enter New Zealand’s visa lottery. What happens to the winners?
-
![]()
Praying for petrol
Sat 8 Jun 2019
How Mexico’s illegal petrol trade is creating a new culture through film, song and prayer
-
![]()
Turkey’s political football
Thu 6 Jun 2019
How has rivalry on the football field reflected the political divisions in Turkey?
-
![]()
Don't hide my son
Tue 4 Jun 2019
The Tanzanian mothers forced to hide their children with Down syndrome due to stigma
-
![]()
Sudan’s white-coated uprising
Thu 30 May 2019
Sudan’s doctors on the frontline. The white-coated men and women who defied a president
-
![]()
After the boats
Wed 29 May 2019
What happened to the Nigerian women trafficked to Europe during the migrant crisis?
