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
Feb 23, 2024 • 31min
Three Million: 4. The tapes
Discover rare interviews with Indian civil servants detailing the Bengal famine. Explore the challenges of relief efforts during wartime. Uncover the colonial responses and failures to alleviate the crisis. Delve into the forgotten history of the famine and Churchill's role.
Feb 23, 2024 • 30min
Three Million: 3. The f-word
Explore the shocking truth of the 1943 Bengal famine, where Indian writers and artists defied censorship to document the humanitarian catastrophe. British government pressured the BBC to tone down coverage. Unveil the emotional impact of famine illustrations and the importance of preserving memory.
Feb 23, 2024 • 27min
Three Million: 2. The cigarette tin
A boy gives rice from a cigarette tin to hungry people. Missionary sets up relief hospital. Starvation testimonies highlight food crisis. Thousands migrate to cities. Indians face life-or-death decisions during Bengal famine.
5 snips
Feb 23, 2024 • 29min
Three Million: 1. War
The podcast delves into the overlooked history of the Bengal Famine during World War II, where three million lives were lost. It explores contrasting lives in British India in 1942, wartime transformation in Calcutta, cultural contrasts amidst social elite and troops, and the horrifying impact of the famine on the impoverished. The stories of survivors shed light on the societal divisions exacerbated by British colonial rule.
Feb 23, 2024 • 27min
Heart and Soul: Ladino - Saving Greece’s ancient Jewish language
Exploring the endangered Ladino language in Thessaloniki, Greece, and efforts to preserve it. Delving into the Sephardic Jewish community's history and resilience in Salonica. Highlighting the challenges and initiatives of preserving Ladino in the face of extinction.
Feb 22, 2024 • 26min
Assignment: Pakistan - journalists under fire
Journalists in Pakistan face threats of abduction and death when criticizing authorities. Press freedom advocates report 140 journalists attacked in one year. Stories of captivity, legal battles, and seeking justice for targeted killings shed light on the challenges and risks journalists endure in Pakistan.
Feb 21, 2024 • 18min
Trending: The new fight for land rights
Indigenous people in Malaysia Borneo are using new mapping technology to fight for their land rights against timber and palm oil companies. The podcast explores the challenges they face, the role of social media in their advocacy, the tactics used by companies, and the importance of community strength in protecting their traditional lands.
Feb 20, 2024 • 27min
Two Years of War: Voices from Russia
Exploring the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on ordinary Russians, including economic and social challenges. Stories of missing soldiers' wives, propaganda's influence on beliefs, activism against the Russian government, and personal struggles with war and patriotism. Uncertainty and emotions surrounding the ongoing conflict are highlighted.
Feb 19, 2024 • 27min
In the Studio: Vik Muniz
Brazilian artist Vik Muniz shares how being shot led him to move to New York and kick-start his successful art career. He creates art using unconventional materials like sugar and chocolate. The podcast explores his unique creative process and inspiration, including working in a sunlit studio filled with quirky objects.
Feb 18, 2024 • 50min
World Wide Waves '24
Women around the world use radio to make a difference: from empowering Afghan women under Taliban rule, amplifying voices in Fiji, to advocating for farmworkers in Yakima Valley and protecting indigenous rights in Ecuador.
