The Documentary Podcast

Shark attacks on humans are rare, but they are slowly on the rise in Australia where all our guests are from. In this episode, they share the terrifying moment when they realised they were under attack. For Brett Connellan in New South Wales, it was an encounter with a Great White. “Out of nowhere I get hit with this immense force from my right side and this force was so strong it threw me off my surf board,” he says. “I landed in the water and before I could even look around and figure out what had happened I look down and see this shark biting into my right leg. This for me is that distinct moment when time just stops.” Brett is joined by fellow survivors Justine Barwick and Dave Pearson. Together the share their stories and discuss life, death and why they ultimately feel lucky. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from BBC OS Conversations, bringing together people from around the world to discuss how major news stories are affecting their lives.

Megan Garcia, a mother campaigning after the loss of her 14-year-old son Sewell, speaks about his deep attachment to an AI companion. She recounts how the chatbot blurred reality, conversations that grew darker, and her turn to prayer and devotion for comfort. She now pursues legal action and pushes for stronger safeguards to protect children from harmful AI interactions.

A portrait of the Agariyas who harvest salt in Gujarat's brutal salt marsh and the seasonal cycle that shapes their lives. The piece explores new tech like solar pumps and green linings alongside grassroots campaigns for land rights, schools and healthcare. It highlights income struggles, erratic weather threats and the tense crossroads between tradition and survival.

Jeffrey Kane, author and Samsung expert, gives concise historical context of the conglomerate and its family power struggles. He unpacks the strange $19 million equestrian deal, how a controversial merger concentrated control, and the political and investor battles that followed. Short, sharp stories about money, influence, and dynastic survival.

Stephanie (Chaya), an intercountry adoptee raised in France who returns to India to search for her birth mother. She explores adoption paperwork, an orphanage file that reveals her birth name, visits convents and hospitals, and traces cultural roots in Maharashtra. The journey uncovers gaps, warm welcomes, and a decision to pause the search while feeling closer to her origins.

Kubra Khademi, an Afghan multidisciplinary artist known for confrontational performances and bold paintings. She discusses wearing her steel Armour in Kabul and the hostile reaction that forced her into exile. She describes creating the Origin of the Universe series, women birthing animals as a challenge to patriarchy, and the studio process of painting a living bee.

Elana Meyers Taylor, American bobsledder and multi-time Olympic medallist who won monobob gold and advocates for diversity and disability rights. She recalls celebrating with her deaf sons using sign language. She talks about juggling elite sport with motherhood, pushing for greater access and representation in winter sports. She also addresses climate change’s impact on bobsleigh and her plans to recruit and support diverse talent.

Oleg Boldyrev, BBC Russian Service journalist who traced his love of shortwave into a career reporting from London and Moscow. Lesthia Kertopati, BBC Indonesia reporter covering coral restoration led by young female divers. They discuss BBC Russian’s 80-year history, censorship and jamming tactics in Russia. Then the Makassar Strait’s coral decline and grassroots underwater gardening to rebuild reefs.

Tasnim, a Beirut resident coping with repeated displacement, and Kareem, a PhD student whose family home was destroyed, share personal accounts. They describe evacuation struggles, destroyed homes, and the emotional strain of living under frequent airstrikes. Conversations also cover community solidarity, nearly a million people on the move, and how families and businesses try to plan amid recurring conflict.

A UK group of deaf pilgrims travel to Mecca with British Sign Language support. The programme explores how rituals tied to sound are experienced visually. It follows preparations, crowd navigation during Tawaf and Sa'i, and makes space for friendships formed. It highlights projects translating the Quran into sign and how accessibility reshapes belonging.