The Documentary Podcast

Dec 02 2024 2000 ep. 30 mins 77.6k

The Documentary Podcast artwork

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 the plight of young women in Afghanistan, to Syria’s water wars, to keeping African languages alive, 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.

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Assignment: France - Trouble on the vine

Dec 02 2024 31 mins

Low harvests, economic and climate batterings, changing tastes - is French wine in crisis? The French wine harvest has dropped 18% in one year. For some famous French wine-making regions the reduction has been much more. A combination of factors, including climate, finances and changing drinking habits has brought some wine-makers to the brink. Thousands of hectares of vineyards ar

Blood on the shelves

Dec 01 2024 37 mins

A year-long BBC Eye investigation has uncovered that Chinese tomato paste produced using forced labour in Xinjiang is likely to be being sold in major UK and German supermarkets. Runako Celina has teamed up with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, Alison Killing, to find out the nature and scale of forced labour in the tomato fields of Xinjiang, and follow a trail that shows the res

In the Studio: The rebuilding of Notre Dame

Nov 30 2024 51 mins

The cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is one of France’s most famous landmarks. It has stood on the Île de la Cité in the heart of France’s capital since the 12th Century. On 15 April 2019, it was engulfed by flames, but thanks to the bravery of hundreds of firefighters, Notre Dame remained standing. The devastation was, however, immense. The spire collapsed into the nave and

The Fifth Floor: Russia's runaway soldiers

Nov 30 2024 20 mins

There has been a record number of cases this year of Russian soldiers deserting their units. Amaliya Zatari from BBC Russian has spoken to one young man who managed to get to France along with five others. Nina Nazarova, also from BBC Russian, offers a unique insight into the price many ordinary Russian families are paying when they try to hide or protect their relatives. Produced

BBC OS Conversations: Life in Ukraine after 1000 days of war

Nov 29 2024 23 mins

It is a grim milestone, more than 1000 days have passed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the past week, attacks on the country have once again intensified. As winter approaches and temperatures drop, Russia is targeting Ukraine’s energy system to leave millions of people without power. In our conversations, Ukrainians discuss their daily lives and resilience af

Heart and Soul: At the end of the wall

Nov 28 2024 26 mins

At the end of America’s southern border wall with Mexico, James Naughtie meets the people helping recently-arrived migrants survive in the extreme conditions. Beginning his day's journey at a church in Tucson, Arizona, James hears how members of the congregation support a programme helping migrants find work. And at the end of the border wall with Mexico, he meets recently-arrive

The Cultural Frontline: James Baldwin centenary

Nov 27 2024 26 mins

Born in 1924 in Harlem, New York, James Baldwin's novels, essays and speeches articulated the racial oppression facing African-Americans. In works like Notes on a Native Son and The Fire Next Time, Baldwin expressed how colour is not a human or personal reality, but a political one. In Giovanni’s Room, a frank portrayal of a gay relationship, he draws on his own life as a gay man

Bonus: The Conflict

Nov 26 2024 49 mins

A bonus episode from The Conflict. Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region. They assess what has happened in history to lead us to this point. And, look at what history can teach us about what might happen next.

Assignment: Afghanistan - our whole life is a secret

Nov 25 2024 28 mins

The Taliban edict that women's voices should not be heard aloud renders women up and down Afghanistan inaudible as well as invisible in public. Women are already denied most forms of education and employment. They are not allowed to go outside without a male guardian, and have to be completely covered up, including their faces. Now the new rules say they should be quiet too. Women

In the Studio: Brian Eno

Nov 24 2024 26 mins

Legendary musician, composer and producer Brian Eno has turned his attention to the climate crisis. In 2021 he founded the ground-breaking organisation EarthPercent, a charity which aims to raise $100m by 2030. The money - from royalties of partner artists - is being used to reduce the environmental impact of the music industry, as well as restoring nature, advancing policy change