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Top 42 Documentary Podcasts

Jun 10, 2023

The Best Documentary Podcasts from millions of podcasts available on the Goodpods platform and ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions and shares.

34 Episodes

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Avg Length 58m

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Latest episode 4 days ago

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The truth is stranger - and darker - than fiction.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5741034/advertisement

9 Episodes

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Avg Length 42m

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Latest episode 5 days ago

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1/4 Of The Premiere Boyz Podcast Own "The Star" Roddy Rod Will Be Discussing Personal Life Stories Relating To Topics Of The Culture In His Opinion. New Episode Of Star Talk Podcast Every Mondays At 12am Contact Me Ig: @thestarroddyrod Website: https://linktr.ee/Thestarroddyrod

32 Episodes

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Avg Length 22m

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Latest episode 14 days ago

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An exciting History podcast for lovers of history in a rush!
Also featuring longer episodes with Historians , Veterans and more.
I am also on YouTube with a lot of content - https://youtube.com/@afewminutesofhistory
Email me at - afewminutespod@oulook.com
Twitter - @afewminshistory
If you’d like me to chat about anything, just drop me a message on these platforms.

6 Episodes

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Avg Length 40m

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Latest episode 5 days ago

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Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian. A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest. But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know. She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world. Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret. Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and left a community in shock. Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret. New episodes every Monday. Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.

91 Episodes

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Avg Length 47m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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Best Friends Amanda and Courtney deep dive into true crime cases with an empathetic standpoint. They focus awareness mainly on lesser known crimes and crimes against those deemed extra vulnerable. Occasionally, the hosts will cover more well known cases due to relevance or a particularly fascinating element. The bees (the honeybee) is seen as synonymous with victims and survivors. We must always protect the bees. We must always let their voices be heard. We must not stifle the buzz of the bees, so bee vigilant, for when you mess with the bees, you get the hive. Welcome to A Nefarious Nightmare.

232 Episodes

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Avg Length 32m

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Latest episode 1 day ago

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Criminal is the first of its kind. A show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

118 Episodes

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Avg Length 39m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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Clarence Thomas is one of the most powerful figures in America today. Nearly every issue of national consequence has his fingerprints all over it, from voting rights to gun rights and from abortion access to affirmative action. But nothing about his journey from rural Georgia to the Supreme Court was inevitable.In the eighth season of Slate’s Slow Burn, host Joel Anderson traces Justice Thomas’ surprising path from youthful radical to conservative icon. You’ll hear about why he came to despise the race-based admission policies that personally benefitted him, how he credited his political rise to the Black self-sufficiency preached by Malcolm X, and what the American people didn’t hear during his explosive confirmation hearings.

373 Episodes

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Avg Length 37m

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Latest episode 4 days ago

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What if you were trafficked into a cult...or were mauled by a grizzly bear...or were stabbed 27 times by a serial killer - what would you do? This is Actually Happening brings you extraordinary true stories of life-changing events told by the people who lived them. From a man who woke up in the morgue to a woman stranded in a Mexican desert fighting to survive, these stories will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to hear what happens next.

New episodes come out every Tuesday for free. Listen 1-week early and to exclusive past episodes - all ad-free - with Wondery+ or Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

271 Episodes

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Avg Length 44m

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Latest episode 1 day ago

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Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.

39 Episodes

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Avg Length 39m

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Latest episode 1 day ago

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We’re taught the Supreme Court was designed to be above the fray of politics. But at a time when partisanship seeps into every pore of American life, are the nine justices living up to that promise? More Perfect is a guide to the current moment on the Court. We bring the highest court of the land down to earth, telling the human dramas at the Court that shape so many aspects of American life — from our religious freedom to our artistic expression, from our reproductive choices to our voice in democracy.

21 Episodes

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Avg Length 15m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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A show that goes beyond the diagnoses and treatments, with real life stories and real life battles, to give you the listeners, a glimpse into the reality of what it’s like for these kids and their families..So join me, as we go on this journey together, through the world of childhood cancer...

70 Episodes

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Avg Length 34m

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Latest episode 15 days ago

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100 Years of the BBC, Radio and Life as We Know It. Be informed, educated and entertained by the amazing true story of radio’s forgotten pioneers. With host Paul Kerensa, great guests and rare archive from broadcasting’s golden era. Original music by Will Farmer. www.paulkerensa.com/oldradio

113 Episodes

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Avg Length 37m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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Ear Hustle brings you the daily realities of life inside prison shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration. The podcast is a partnership between Nigel Poor, a Bay Area visual artist, and Earlonne Woods, formerly incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and was co-founded with former San Quentin resident Antwan Williams. The Ear Hustle team works in the San Francisco Bay Area, both in San Quentin State Prison’s media lab and from offices on the outside, to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny and always honest. Episodes offer a nuanced view of people involved with the American prison system and those reintegrating into society after serving time.

1256 Episodes

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Avg Length 38m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior.

122 Episodes

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Avg Length 45m

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Latest episode 14 days ago

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What’sHerName global women’s history podcast is hosted and produced by academic sisters Olivia Meikle and Dr. Katie Nelson. We interview experts and weave vivid, nuanced biographies of women you’ve never heard of (but should have). Fascinating and funny, thought-provoking and thoughtful. New episodes biweekly Wednesdays.

62 Episodes

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Avg Length 38m

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Latest episode 5 days ago

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The ODDentity Podcast: Janine Mercer discusses tales of the paranormal, urban legends, folklore, and (occasionally) true crime, with just the right amount of sarcasm and humor. Send me your paranormal stories! theoddentitypodcast@gmail.com. Available wherever you binge.

239 Episodes

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Avg Length 33m

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Latest episode 10 months ago

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Host Moxie LaBouche brings you a weekly half-hour of things you didn't know, things you thought you knew, and things you never knew you never knew. Topics range from the history of nursing to the Balinese funeral rite David Bowie requested, from the origin of the Vulcan salute to the theft of Canada's strategic maple syrup reserve. This is your brain on facts. yourbrainonfacts.com

11 Episodes

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Avg Length 42m

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Latest episode 1 day ago

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From the creators of Up and Vanished and Radio Rental, host Payne Lindsey attempts to break the stigma surrounding the topic of UFOs. In this new investigative series, Lindsey shines light on real-life coverups, and infamous cases, all while leaving the tinfoil hat at the door. In the last few years, dozens of Navy pilots have come forward with compelling video evidence of objects in the sky that defy our current understanding of physics. The Pentagon has since confirmed the validity of these accounts and stated, “We don’t know what they are.” Can we finally have a healthy conversation about the possibility of intelligent life beyond our planet? With a refreshing approach to the topic, Lindsey aims to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the strange happenings way up high. Do you want to believe?

147 Episodes

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Avg Length 46m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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Twisted true crime tales of dark deeds and despicable people. New episodes every Thursday. Join our Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes here: https://www.patreon.com/badactspod

11 Episodes

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Avg Length 31m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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MySpace was the first major social media company. And it was the first major social media company to collapse. But what happened on MySpace would have broad implications for all the platforms to follow. What was this internet sensation in aughts? Log on with Joanne McNeil and revisit MySpace through the people who lived it.

21.

Cold

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105 Episodes

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Avg Length 50m

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Latest episode 19 days ago

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Cold is a narrative podcast series focused on missing persons cases. Investigative journalist and host Dave Cawley takes on a single story with each season.

Season 3: The Search for Sheree follows two suspects in the 1985 disappearance of Sheree Warren while examining the dangerous escalation of domestic abuse and sexual violence. The Cold team seeks to answer the question: what really happened to Sheree Warren?

Season 2: Justice for Joyce Yost delves into the details of a murder-for-hire plot and attempts to find justice for Joyce – a woman who bravely reported her kidnapping and rape only to vanish without a trace.

In Season 1: Susan Powell Case Files, the Cold journey begins with Dave’s investigation into the unsolved disappearance of Susan Powell... and the man with the most to gain from her death.

Follow Cold Season 3: The Search for Sheree wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all 10 episodes ad-free only on Amazon Music. Or you can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App.

129 Episodes

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Avg Length 28m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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DR's krimipodcast. Hver uge undersøger vi nye og gamle kriminalsager og går bag om opklaring, forbrydelse og straf. Skriv til detaljen@dr.dk Produceret for DR af Filt Cph.

104 Episodes

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Avg Length 54m

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Latest episode 3 days ago

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America's Top Paranormal Podcaster interviews the best known names in the paranormal about UFOs, Ghosts, Bigfoot, and everything paranormal! Guests have included Josh Gates, Chip Coffey, George Noory and the biggest names in paranormal studies. This feed reflects the last 90 days of content, The Paranormal Podcast has been in production since 2005 with over 690 episodes. Hosted by Jim Harold.

228 Episodes

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Avg Length 41m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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Something Was Wrong is an Iris Award-winning true-crime docuseries about the discovery, trauma, and recovery from shocking life events and abusive relationships.

160 Episodes

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Avg Length 41m

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Latest episode 4 days ago

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Albuquerque-based true crime and mystery podcast with stories from New Mexico and the American desert Southwest. Hosted by Eric Carter-Landin and brought to you by True Consequences Productions.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4347262/advertisement

10 Episodes

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Avg Length 24m

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Latest episode 8 months ago

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Kathleen Goldhar was so happy her friend Arya had finally found someone after a bad divorce. Mordechai Horowitz seemed perfect. Smart. Rich. Creative. But like so many things that seem to be perfect - it was too good to be true.

Credits:

Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio

Josh Bloch- For USG Audio

Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio

Kathleen Goldhar- Host, Executive Producer, Producer

Stuart Coxe- Executive Producer

Michelle Shephard- Producer

Alexis Green- Associate Producer

Abhi Rahaja- Associate Producer

Dania Ali - Associate Producers

Mitchell Stuart- Editor & Sound Design

queitype - Theme song composition

279 Episodes

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Avg Length 75m

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Latest episode 8 days ago

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Two women. Half the population. Several thousand years of history. About an hour.

273 Episodes

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Avg Length 40m

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Latest episode 5 days ago

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Navigating Advocacy, formerly known as Cults, Crimes, & Cabernet, is a true crime podcast that seeks to use the power of storytelling to raise awareness about unsolved crimes and bring justice to victims and their families through action-oriented advocacy. Hosted by Melissa and Whitney, who themselves started as true crime enthusiasts and have since become passionate advocates, their podcast aims to inspire action and promote positive change in the criminal justice system.
Our mission is to provide a platform for victims and their families to share their stories and be heard while offering practical guidance on how listeners can make a difference in their communities. In each episode, we will explore a different unsolved case in depth, highlighting key details and potential leads in an effort to spark new interest and help advance the investigation.Through our work, we hope to create a community of like-minded individuals who are committed to making a real difference in the fight for justice.
Whether you are a seasoned true crime fan or a newcomer to the genre, we invite you to join us on this journey of discovery and advocacy.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5007362/advertisement

244 Episodes

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Avg Length 47m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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The past is never past. Every headline has a history. Join us every week as we go back in time to understand the present. These are stories you can feel and sounds you can see from the moments that shaped our world.
Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughline

5 Episodes

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Avg Length 7m

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Latest episode 6 days ago

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Bienvenidos a 'Dato anula relato', el podcast donde exploramos el poder de los datos para descubrir la verdad, desacreditar la desinformación y cambiar la forma en que vemos el mundo. Soy Jesús, analista de datos, y estaré aquí con vosotros en cada episodio para desentrañar las historias que los datos nos cuentan. ¿Por qué este podcast y por qué ahora? Bueno, vivimos en una época donde la información es abundante, pero la verdad a veces puede ser difícil de discernir. Con la proliferación de las noticias falsas y la manipulación de la información, nunca ha sido más importante entender cómo interpretar y analizar datos correctamente.

30 Episodes

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Avg Length 29m

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Latest episode 25 days ago

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Committable is a podcast about involuntary commitments. We focus on stories from people with lived experience as a window into complex conversations with attorneys, physicians, psychologists and more.

14 Episodes

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Avg Length 38m

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Latest episode 2 years ago

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In West Cork, it’s simply known as ‘the murder’. In 1996 French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier is found dead near her holiday home. There are no witnesses and no known motive. The police suspect one man in this community but they can’t make a charge stick and he refuses to leave, living under the glare of suspicion ever since.


This series brings together an incredible cast of characters, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. The family of the victim bring to life a woman lost; the suspect puts forward his defence; and local people explain what it’s like to have the living embodiment of their unsettled nerves still resolutely among them. Reported and hosted by Jennifer Forde and Sam Bungey.


To be first to listen to bonus episodes of West Cork and Sam and Jennifer's incredible next series, sign up at www.westcorkpodcast.com

  • “The hosts beautifully communicate how a tragedy can impact a town and its people in devastating ways.” Time magazine
  • “Meticulous and thoughtful ... The podcast is vastly more soulful than so many of its peers, in large part by functioning as an exploration of how a tragedy, mixed with spectacle, can redefine and consume the terms of a place, a person, and a time." Nick Quah, Vulture
  • “One of the few podcasts that caused us to drive in pointless extra loops in total silence, just so we could hear another episode. West Cork is the new Serial. It may even be better.” India Knight, The Times
  • "Knocked me out like no other podcast since S-Town. A masterpiece." Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Episodes

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Avg Length 28m

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Latest episode 2 days ago

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Welcome to Sword and Scale Nightmares! True Crime for Bedtime. Your nightmare begins now...
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5863198/advertisement

59 Episodes

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Avg Length 42m

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Latest episode 4 days ago

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Picture The Scene - A true crime podcast Turn up the sound, close your eyes, open your mind and picture the scene.

245 Episodes

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Avg Length 65m

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Latest episode 12 days ago

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Sword and Scale is an internet radio show and website covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it. The first episode launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape, and even more bizarre forms of crime. It’s the purest form of true-crime where the raw uncensored audio tells the story. Everything from 911 calls to court testimony, interviews with victims and sometimes with perpetrators give listeners a 360 degree look at the seedy underbelly of human nature and so-called civilized society. Told from an everyman's point of view, Sword and Scale goes beyond the news clips and the sensationalist headlines to hold up a mirror to the audience and ask, "Is it us versus them? Or are we just like 'them' too?" Sword and scale proves that the worst monsters are real.

136 Episodes

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Avg Length 52m

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Latest episode 6 days ago

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Each week hosts Kona and Ethan go beyond the headlines and social media posts to do a deep dive into a different missing persons case. Do you hold the key to bringing someone home?
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5360779/advertisement

1021 Episodes

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Avg Length 26m

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Latest episode 1 day ago

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Living Corporate centers and amplifies Black and brown voices at work through facilitating authentic dialogues with executives, entrepreneurs, activists, authors. influencers, elected officials and more.

51 Episodes

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Avg Length 10m

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Latest episode 5 days ago

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If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you want them to get the best treatment from the best doctors. In 2013, patients in Michigan thought Farid Fata was that doctor. Between his prestigious education, years of experience and pleasant bedside manner, Fata was everything you could want in a doctor. But he was not who he appeared to be. From Wondery, this is the story of hundreds of patients in Michigan, a doctor, and a poisonous secret.

Laura Beil, returns with a second season of the award-winning series “Dr Death.”

All episodes are available now. You can binge the series ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

281 Episodes

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Avg Length 35m

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Latest episode 4 days ago

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Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.

Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.

New episodes come out every Tuesday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Get all episodes - including exclusive seasons - ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

9 Episodes

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Avg Length 36m

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Latest episode 2 months ago

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The story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, is often recounted as a conclusion to a powerful era of civil rights in America, but how did this hero’s murder come to be the stitching used to tie together a narrative of victory? The week that followed his killing was one of the most fiery, disruptive, and revolutionary, and is nearly forgotten. Over the course of eight episodes, Holy Week brings forward the stories of the activists who turned heartbreak into action, families scorched by chaos, and politicians who worked to contain the grief. Seven days diverted the course of a social revolution and set the stage for modern clashes over voting rights, redlining, critical race theory, and the role of racial unrest in today’s post–George Floyd reckoning.

129 Episodes

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Avg Length 45m

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Latest episode 10 days ago

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Your Highness is about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, having conversations not widely discussed, and honoring those who are making this space and plant available to everyone in a fair and equitable way.

133 Episodes

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Avg Length 154m

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Latest episode 4 months ago

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Classic Art Bell. Find the back catalog at https://www.patreon.com/ArtBell

Documentary Podcasts

Documentary podcasts have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering listeners a deep dive into a wide range of topics and issues. These podcasts explore real-life stories, events, and people, using audio to transport listeners to different places and times and allowing them to experience the world in a new and fascinating way. Documentary podcasts can cover a broad range of topics, from history and politics to culture, science, and beyond. They often feature interviews with experts, witnesses, and those directly involved in the events being discussed, offering listeners an intimate and often emotional perspective on the subject matter.

Top Documentary Podcasts

Our listeners have taken the liberty of rating the top documentary podcasts for you. Documentary podcasts offer a valuable resource for those who are looking to learn something new, broaden their horizons, or simply be entertained. With their engaging storytelling and immersive soundscapes, they provide a unique and powerful listening experience that can leave a lasting impact on listeners.

What's the best documentary podcast now in 2023?

Goodpods aggregates the best documentary podcasts people are choosing to right now. From documentary-favorites to new releases, these shows are guaranteed to be entertaining and informative. Check out the top-rated documentary podcasts in 2023 according to the Goodpods list. Explore our popular categories like Society & Culture Podcasts, Sustainability Podcasts, and Pop Culture Podcasts.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a documentary podcast?

A documentary podcast is a podcast that tells a non-fiction story, often through interviews, archival footage, and narration. The topics of documentary podcasts can range from true crime, politics, history, science, and more.

What are some popular documentary podcasts?

Some popular documentary podcasts include "Serial," "Radiolab," "This American Life," "S-Town," and "The Daily."

Can documentary podcasts be educational?

Yes! Documentary podcasts can provide an educational and informative experience by exploring topics in-depth and providing insights from experts or those involved in the story.

What makes a good documentary podcast?

A good documentary podcast has a compelling story, interesting and well-researched subject matter, a clear and engaging narration, and a unique perspective or angle on the topic. It should also have high-quality production values and use a variety of audio elements to enhance the listening experience.

How can I find documentary podcasts to listen to?

You can find documentary podcasts on Goodpods by searching with relevant keywords such as "documentary," "true crime," "history," or "investigative journalism." Many documentary podcasts are also featured in "best of" lists, curated playlists, or on social media by fans and podcast networks.