BBC World Service · News

The Documentary Podcast

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. From Australia's relationship with China, to Turkey's sinkhole problem, to understanding the behaviour of dictators, we go beyond the headlines. Each week, all year round, we bring you the stories shaping our world. From the personal voices behind the headlines to perspectives on faith and spirituality and how work and money impact our lives. Discover how people find solutions to global problems and look at the world through the lens of its media. Powered by the BBC World Service’s global network, The Documentary Podcast is about the people living the story – helping you see the world with greater clarity.

Episodes

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s proposed luxury resort development in Albania has ignited intense debate over land rights, environmental preservation, and government corruption. The project, situated on the ecologically sensitive Nata Lagoon and the former military base of Sazan Island, threatens habitats for endanger...

Chef Rodolfo Guzman: Chilean summer menu

06 Apr 2026

26m

Growing up black in a white family – the truth behind my birth

05 Apr 2026

39m

The woman fighting IS in Somalia

04 Apr 2026

25m

AI processed

The Islamic State group maintains a stronghold in Somalia’s Puntland region, utilizing hit-and-run tactics, public bombings, and extortion to destabilize the area and generate millions in revenue. Local resistance, led by the Puntland Defence Force, includes rare female combatants like Muna Ali Dahir, who fight to secu...

Surviving a shark attack

04 Apr 2026

23m

God, grief and the chatbot

03 Apr 2026

26m

The Saltmakers

02 Apr 2026

26m

Inheritance: Samsung: 1. My kingdom for a horse

01 Apr 2026

25m

AI processed

The arrest of Samsung heir J.Y. Lee in 2017 marked a historic shift in South Korea, signaling that the nation's powerful corporate dynasties were no longer untouchable. This investigation examines the complex web of corruption surrounding his succession, specifically the controversial 2015 merger between Samsung C&T an...

India’s Shadow Children

31 Mar 2026

27m

Kubra Khademi: Art of strength and survival

30 Mar 2026

26m

Elana Meyers Taylor: A 20-year journey to gold

29 Mar 2026

21m

Eighty years of the BBC Russian Service

28 Mar 2026

26m

AI processed

The BBC Russian Service’s 80-year evolution reflects the persistent struggle between state censorship and the flow of independent information. From the Cold War era of shortwave radio and Soviet jamming to the modern digital landscape, the service has remained a vital, albeit contested, source of news for millions. Mea...