The Documentary Podcast
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 China’s state-backed overseas spending, to on the road with Canada’s Sikh truckers, 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.
From China’s state-backed overseas spending, to on the road with Canada’s Sikh truckers, 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
Mentioned books
May 28, 2020 • 27min
Belarus: Masking the virus
Belarus's President Lukashenko downplays COVID, promoting vodka and tractors. Medics speak out on poor conditions and inaccurate death certificates. Resilient Belarusian women sew masks for healthcare workers. Controversy surrounds military parade amidst pandemic. Growing dissent against the regime as elections approach.
May 26, 2020 • 27min
The Death Row book club
Former death row inmate Anthony Ray Hinton shares his experience creating a book club in prison during his 28 years of solitary confinement. The podcast explores life on death row, reflections on James Baldwin's work, book club discussions, wrongful convictions, and the survival of original book club members.
May 24, 2020 • 28min
Coronavirus Global Conversations: Giving birth during a pandemic
This podcast delves into the challenges and emotional experiences of giving birth during the pandemic, including insights from new mothers in different cities and the unique struggles of pregnant inmates in overcrowded prisons. It also discusses personal accounts of battling COVID-19, navigating stigma, and the emotional journey of resilience amidst adversity.
May 23, 2020 • 51min
Recycling Chile, recycling Spain
Leena Vuotovesi explores recycling practices in Chile and Spain. She visits La Pintana, Chile, a poor town excelling in recycling, then contrasts it with Spain's lagging rates. The podcast discusses community-led initiatives such as recycling cooking oil for biodiesel and addressing challenges in waste management. It showcases the commitment of individuals in both countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 23, 2020 • 24min
Don't log off - part seven
In Mumbai, Chinu has been has been providing food to the city’s migrant and daily labourers who have been unable to work since the country’s lockdown. Getting up at 4.30am each day, he has served over 415,000 hot meals so far. In Nigeria, optometry student Ismail has been sleeping in a mosque since his college closed its doors three and a half months ago, but is holding on to his dreams of working for the WHO or UN. And deep in the Amazon rainforest, Tatiana, a state politician and academic forecasts trouble ahead.
8 snips
May 23, 2020 • 49min
New York stories with Joe Pascal
Chef Marcus Samuelsson, born in Ethiopia, shares his journey to New York cuisine. Harlemite Jaylene discusses her play on neighborhood changes. Cultural historian John T Reddick gives a tour of Harlem. Musical tribute to Harlem by Martina da Silva and John Thomas.
May 21, 2020 • 27min
SOS from the Mediterranean
Migrants in the Mediterranean face peril as ports close during Covid-19. Distress calls, rescue missions, and allegations of pushbacks to Libya unfold. The struggle for solidarity, army rescues, and harrowing survivor stories paint a grim picture of the ongoing migrant crisis.
May 20, 2020 • 28min
Migrant medics
Dr Adil El Tayar, a British-Sudanese doctor, tragically became the first working medic to die of coronavirus in the UK. The podcast delves into the ethical dilemmas of foreign-born doctors in wealthy countries, the disparities in healthcare resources, and the impact of migrant medics on developing nations. It raises questions about the fairness of rich countries benefiting from skilled professionals from poorer countries.
May 19, 2020 • 28min
Lockdown: Tales from Lebanon, Australia, Atlanta and India
In this podcast, Lina Mounzer discusses the protests in Lebanon during lockdown. John McRae shares good news from Australia, while Matthew Krupczak expresses worries about easing restrictions in Atlanta, Georgia. Rajesh Kumar Shaw provides insights from The Sundarbans in India regarding migrant laborer returns during Covid-19.
May 17, 2020 • 49min
Seven dead, 46 injured: One Chicago weekend
A gripping narrative of a violent weekend in Chicago unfolds, portraying the tragic reality of gun violence. From a five-year-old boy shot to chaos in a park, the harrowing experiences of victims and their families are intricately explored. The emotional toll on black men, the urgency of paramedics, and the struggles of the Englewood community shed light on the devastating impact of ongoing violence.
