Documentaries
An indepth look at stories and issues from around the world. This podcast offers you the chance to access landmark series from our archive.
The Fifth Floor: Ukraine, the war and TikTok
What do Ukrainian soldiers eat on the frontline? And what's the latest meme trending on Ukrainians' TikTok channels? Zhenya Shidlovska from the BBC Ukrainian social media team will talk about the stories they've been covering, and how she adapted her presenting style to connect with a younger audience. Plus, is…
BBC OS Conversations:Living in Kashmir
What is it like to grow up and live in one of the most disputed regions on Earth? After 26 tourists were killed by militants in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, many feared that the series of cross-border clashes between India and Pakistan that followed would lead to a wider conflict…
Heart and Soul: Malcom X - Letter from the Hajj
Malcolm X is one of the most iconic and complex figures of the 20th Century. Known globally for his fiery speeches and radical advocacy for Black empowerment, he was often portrayed as a fierce separatist and controversial figure during his years with the Nation of Islam. But his life was…
Autism, empathy and psychopaths
Autistic people have been thought to all lack empathy by both science and society for decades. But after receiving an extremely low empathy score as part of a recent autism assessment, science journalist Sue Nelson decided to confront these damaging stereotypes and question the experts who work in this area…
BBC Trending: Are we dating the same person?
At the start of 2025, a chat appeared on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. It was named Are We Dating The Same Girl? At first only a few hundred people joined. Soon that was thousands, and its content went from details of young women’s dating history, to revenge porn -…
Assignment: Syria - return to ruins
Thirteen million Syrians - half the population - left their homes during their country's 13-year civil war. Seven million were internally displaced. Six million fled abroad. Bringing them home is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Syria's new rulers. But many can’t return, because their homes are in ruins, and jobs…
In the Studio: Luke Black
Luke Black is a Serbian singer-songwriter who represented his country at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, the world’s largest live music event, with an audience of over 160 million. Performing his song Samo Mi Se Spava, his set and choreography, with its special effect giant robot, were inspired by…
Women warriors
n the last few decades western militaries have been training more women for combat than ever, yet female recruitment and retention is stalling. But with warfare changing, new technologies and new threats, women soldiers are a vital resource. Victoria Hollingsworth talks with different women around the world, some on the…
The Fifth Floor: The Russian grandma who went to jail
Natalya Filonova is a former kindergarten teacher, a mother, a grandmother. But she’s also an activist and in 2022 she was arrested during a demonstration against the war in Ukraine. Nina Nazarova from BBC Russian has been trying to find out what happened to her. Plus, how a homeless bumblebee…
BBC OS Conversations: Inside Gaza
After 19 months of war, Israel says it is preparing to expand its military campaign in Gaza. The aim is to defeat and dismantle Hamas, regarded as a terrorist organisation by many countries and bring home the remaining 59 hostages. They have been held in captivity since Hamas gunmen attacked…
Heart and Soul: Praying for healing?
Throughout his life as a theologian, Christian minister and cosmologist, Prof David Wilkinson has been asking - what does God do when I pray? The question became acutely personal after his wife, Alison, developed first ME and then crippling rheumatoid arthritis. As everyone prayed for her recovery, but no healing…
Educating Nigeria
Every Nigerian child has the constitutional right to free and compulsory primary education, and free secondary education, yet there remains a huge gap between that law and the reality. One in every five of the world’s out-of-school children lives in Nigeria. In a nation with one of the world’s youngest…
The TikTokers inside an election fire-storm
In the days before the presidential elections, influencers watched comments and content pour across TikTok in support of obscure far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu. Georgescu’s victory was annulled and he has been banned from running in May's elections. Influencers at the heart of the story explain how it happened and…
Conclave: How will the next Pope be chosen?
How is a new Pope chosen? How long could the conclave last? In a special edition of the Global News Podcast, the BBC’s Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool answers listener questions on the conclave at the Vatican.
Assignment: Russia's Church in Texas
Not that long ago many church-going Americans saw Russia as a godless place, an “evil empire” in the words of Ronald Reagan. But in President Trump’s second term, US-Russia relations have been turned on their head. The White House sided with the Kremlin at the United Nations, voting against a…
In the Studio: Bishwajit Goswami
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, artist Bishwajit Goswami creates a powerful new installation that captures the spirit of his homeland’s rivers, lifelines darkened by pollution, yet still full of energy, beauty, and memory. Reporter Sahar Zand follows Bishwajit as he prepares for a major international exhibition in Paris. From his artist-led rooftop…
The Cultural Frontline: Taiwan
Presenter Elaine Chong speaks to trailblazing Taiwanese artists about exploring history and politics through their work. She hears from the producer Hsin-Mei Cheng of TV series Zero Day in which a fictional Chinese invasion of Taiwan plays out over 10 episodes. Heavy metal frontman and former politician Freddy Lim explains…
The Fifth Floor: Education against the odds
At least 30 million children are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa, with many displaced by conflict in Sudan and Gaza. Today we’ll hear from Hanan Razek and Georgina Pearce, who are part of the team behind Dars Arabic, the BBC show that aims to connect…
BBC OS Conversations: Protecting children from online harm
***Contains upsetting content about suicide*** Hundreds of parents who believe social media played a part in the death of their children gathered in New York recently. Standing outside the offices of Meta, owners of Facebook and Instagram, they had a simple demand. Protect our children. Showing incredible bravery, three mothers…
Heart and Soul: After Francis, what do Catholics want next?
Following the death of Pope Francis, Catholics around the world look to Rome and the Vatican as the Church prepares to elect its next leader. But what do Catholics around the world hope to see in their future pontiff? Colm Flynn is in Rome to speak to Catholics gathered from…