The Documentary Podcast

According to the World Health Organisation, 77% of Nigerian women have used skin-lightening creams. When BBC Hausa’s Madina Maishanu decided to look into this, she uncovered an even more worrying trend: mothers using potentially harmful products on their babies. Madina spoke to the campaigners trying to stop these practices. Plus, how human activities and climate change are threatening shea trees in Uganda with Njoroge Muigai from BBC Africa. Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Mark Lowen in Rome brings people together to share their memories of the Pope, who died on Easter Monday. In our conversations, Mark hears from Catholics in Argentina, including one of Pope Francis’ friends who knew him when he was a priest in Buenos Aires. We also bring together three people from Northern Ireland who had a private audience with the Pope, and three women who describe how he changed their lives. Mark sits down with Iraqi-American Pilgrims in a café just outside the Vatican to chat about what the Pope meant to them.

A bonus episode from Dear Daughter - the award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service. You can find more episodes by searching for ‘Dear Daughter’ wherever you get your BBC podcasts.Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh joins Namulanta in the studio to share the letter she’s written to her three children. She tells them the importance of trusting their bodies and following their instincts - a life philosophy which has sometimes led her into some unexpected situations, especially while pregnant…Dear Daughter is a podcast all about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life’ for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world.Each episode, a guest reads a letter they’ve written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they’d like to pass on.Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters.

Delve into the intriguing world of the Anastasia movement, a community with strong family values that’s taken root in Germany from Russia. Discover their eco-friendly façade that conceals deeper extremist ideologies, including racism and queerphobia. Hear personal accounts of migration and the cultural challenges faced by those seeking hope and connection. Explore tensions with local residents and concerns about far-right influences within the community, highlighting the importance of awareness and accountability in addressing extremism.

Dr. Kerry Fowler, a pioneer in seed preservation and global crop diversity for the UN, shares pivotal moments in the environmental movement. He recounts the impactful 1972 Stockholm conference that ignited international dialogue. The podcast highlights the establishment of the global seed vault, a vital step in protecting biodiversity. Listeners discover the alarming history of plastic pollution in oceans and grassroots initiatives like Isatou Sise's recycling project in Gambia, emphasizing the urgent call for change in addressing environmental challenges.

Paul Vallely, a writer and biographer of Pope Francis, delves into the transformative legacy of the late pope. He discusses Francis's push for greater inclusivity within the Church, especially regarding the LGBTQ+ community and divorced individuals. Vallely highlights the pope's focus on social justice and environmental advocacy, cementing the poor's place at the heart of the Church’s mission. The conversation also touches on the internal conflicts faced by Francis as he challenged long-held doctrines and aimed for a more compassionate Catholic Church.

Madalina Voina, a lead researcher at Expert Forum, dives into the dramatic implications of Romania's suddenly cancelled presidential election. She examines the rise of Calin Georgescu, a TikTok sensation with anti-EU sentiments, and the role of social media in shaping political narratives. The discussion reveals the shadowy influences of cyberwarfare and foreign interference, questioning the integrity of democracy in Romania. Voina highlights the urgent need for transparency as citizens confront corruption and push for change in a geopolitically tense environment.

Amin Gulgee defies easy categorisation: he’s a metal sculptor, a curator, and one of Pakistan’s most innovative and cherished artists, the beating heart of his home city of Karachi’s creative scene. His metalwork is as dramatic and eccentric as Amin is. He’s in your face, uncompromising, a living and breathing performance piece.Amin also comes from a prestigious family: his father, Ismail Gulgee, was one of Pakistan’s most famous modernists, creating abstract paintings that have been exhibited across the globe, and even sketching heads of state like Reagan and Gaddafi. In 2007, Ismail and Amin’s mother Zaro were tragically murdered by their driver. It was Amin who found their bodies, in their house which adjoins his own studio and gallery. Much of Amin’s work since has been an attempt to come to terms and heal from this most tragic of events.Presenter Harry Stott meets Amin on location in his Karachi studio-cum-gallery-cum-home, as he prepares to open a new museum of his father’s work – the ‘most momentous’ thing he has ever attempted. We listen in as Amin shows us the calligraphy adorned doors which he has created for the museum’s entrance. We go inside his studio to hear about his creative process more widely. And we hear Amin come to terms with the tragedy of his parents’ death and the solace that he finds in his workshop.Amidst the tumult of this momentous museum opening in the already tumultuous city of Karachi, this episode of In the Studio attempts to understand how Amin’s two year process of creation, curation and healing will change his creative process for the years to come.Presenter & Producer: Harry Stott Co-producer & Fixer: Adam Fahy-Majeed Exec Producer: Sandra Ferrari Sound Design & Engineering: Alan Leer, Lizzy AndrewsA Message Heard ProductionImage: Amin Gulgee (Credit: Humayun Memon)

In China, a booming cosmetic surgery industry is fueled by social media and beauty apps that promise perfection. Young women share their journeys, revealing the emotional and psychological toll of chasing unrealistic beauty standards. The dark side is exposed as unregulated clinics become commonplace, leading to disastrous results and financial struggles. The podcast highlights personal stories of botched surgeries and the societal pressures that drive individuals towards these risky enhancements, questioning the true cost of beauty.

Mahjooba Nowrouzi, a journalist with BBC Afghan Services, shares her eye-opening experience inside the Taliban's surveillance network control room in Kabul. With over 90,000 CCTV cameras scrutinizing citizens, she explores the implications for privacy and freedom, especially for women. William Márquez from BBC Mundo adds a lighter note, discussing Charles Darwin's legacy and his connection to a recent TikTok visit to Darwin's house, illustrating the crossover between history and modern media.