Are you wanting to learn more about uk documentary? Well you’ve come to the right place. This is a curated list of the best uk documentary podcasts of 2021.
We have selected these podcasts for a variety of reasons, but they are all well worth a listen. We tried to select a variety of podcasts across the spectrum from hosts with a wide breadth of experience.
Best UK Documentary Podcasts 2021
With thanks to ListenNotes, Crunchbase, SemRush and Ahrefs for providing the data to create and rank these podcasts.
The Town That Didn’t Stare
- Publisher: Podot
- Total Episodes: 7
A podcast documentary about Britain’s Twin Peaks: East Grinstead, the home of alternative religions and spirituality in the UK. “Arch and funny, but… deeply serious in trying to understand the peculiar history of the town” – Financial Times “Facinating… mysterious, it really hooks you in” – BBC “Brilliantly arch” – Sunday Times “Hilton is an engaging narrator, tip-toeing the lines between nostalgia, comedy and truth-telling” – The Big Issue
True Crime Investigators UK
- Publisher: The True Crime Investigators UK
- Total Episodes: 8
Welcome to ‘True Crime Investigators UK’, a new ‘True Crime’ documentary podcast which will be looking at unsolved crimes, important criminal cases and delving further into the procedural process. The show is presented and researched by two former police officers, John and Sally. Now they are both retired and after nearly 28 years of marriage together, they review cases of interest, some solved, some undetected. Throughout this series they will be discussing the cases they are reviewing and interviewing relevant parties including Police Officers, suspects, witnesses and experts. So come with us on this journey, and let’s see where it takes us…
Biker Radio Rodcast
- Publisher: Biker Radio Rodcast
- Total Episodes: 81
Biker Radio Rodcast is a podcast on motorcycling in India, celebrating its heroic riders, legendary mechanics and iconic builders through stories told by members of the community, one legend at a time. Each episode cradles an interview with a rider, a ride report, an expert advisory and a road safety meme that conjure up the very popular Biker Radio Rodcast. Winner of The Whickers award in the UK and with a BBC World Service audio documentary to boot, the RODcast (Radio On Demand) is a proven example in “narrowcasting”, a ‘community’ domain expertise of Soundboard Media #ListenConnectRideon
Scene on Radio
- Publisher: Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
- Total Episodes: 78
Scene on Radio asks, How’s it going out there? And leaves the studio to find out. It tells stories that explore human experience and American society. Produced and hosted by John Biewen, Scene on Radio comes from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University (CDS).
A Photographic Life
- Publisher: The United Nations of Photography
- Total Episodes: 162
“To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It’s a way of life.” Henri Cartier-Bresson. Whatever your level of engagement with photography The Photographic Life Podcast explains the realities of working with and learning about the medium. Each week photographer, writer, lecturer, filmmaker and BBC Radio contributor Grant Scott reflects on news, discussions, themes and issues surrounding the photographic community. He also asks a photographer to supply him with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which they answer the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ This is a podcast for those who do not want kit reviews, photoshop techniques, marketing babble or camera talk. It is for those who want informed conversation about photography and life. Grant Scott is the founder/curator of www.unitednationsofphotography.com, a Senior Lecturer in Photography at Oxford Brookes University, UK, a working photographer, and the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained, The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography and New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography. A book of the podcast contributions to What Does Photography Mean to You? is available now from www.bluecoatpress.co.uk price £9.99 plus p&p. His documentary film, Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay has been screened across the UK, and in Canada and the US. Podcast music: Written and performed by Laura Ritchie.
The Compact Camera Podcast
- Publisher: Robert Law
- Total Episodes: 5
Join us for a compact, easily digestible chat about contemporary photography in Wales, the UK and beyond. Think of it as a chat with a photo-friend over a coffee! Focussing mainly on documentary photography, we outline calls for entry, new photo books, exhibitions and have a chat with one of our photo-buddies in each carefully-packaged podcast that won’t have you committed for the length of a feature film.
Heavier! Faster! Louder! The Story of Tyneside Heavy Metal
- Publisher: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
- Total Episodes: 7
Heavier! Faster! Louder! The Story of Tyneside Heavy Metal is a six-part audio documentary series narrated by renowned hard rock DJ Alan Robson.Hear new interviews from Venom, Raven, Tygers of Pan Tang, Atomkraft and many more. New episodes on Thursdays. All tracks licensed courtesy of BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd except for ‘The Power’ which is used with permission from Bernadette Mooney (War Machine)
Mind If I Join You?
- Publisher: Lundbeck
- Total Episodes: 7
Mind If I Join You? is a podcast series for anyone affected by mental health problems, whether through personal experience, professional life or helping loved ones living with conditions like anxiety or depression. Over the course of the series, Professor Green and psychologist Professor John Harrison cover a variety of topics: dealing with media overload, maintaining relationships, facing external pressures and the unexpected, asking for help and what life is like on the ‘other side’ when you’re managing a mental health condition. Both Professor Green and Professor Harrison share their own experiences and advice on developing coping strategies, in the hope of encouraging people to recognise when they’re struggling and when to ask for help.About Professor GreenFirmly established as one of the crossover superstars of British music, the Hackney born and raised rapper otherwise known as Stephen Manderson has released two Top 3 albums and amassed a career tally of over 2.5 million combined sales in the UK alone. He has completed five headline tours and performed on the main stages of countless festivals such as Glastonbury, V Festival and Wireless.Over the past couple of years Professor Green has presented five critically acclaimed BBC documentaries and his first documentary series for Channel 4 called “Working Class White Men” which transmissioned January 2018. He’s also published his autobiography ‘Lucky’ and continues his ongoing work as patron of anti-suicide charity CALM. He is also ambassador for My Online Therapy. About Professor John HarrisonProfessor John Harrison is an Associate Professor at the Alzheimer Center at the VUmc in Amsterdam, and a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. John holds PhDs in both Neuroscience and the Classics, is a Chartered Scientist and has Chartered Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society, of which he is an Associate Fellow.Places to look for helpThe organisations listed below are not affiliated with the Mind If I Join You? podcast Mind – a mental health charity that provides advice and support to those experiencing a mental health condition www.mind.org.uk/Anxiety UK – a national charity that helps people living with anxiety www.anxietyuk.org.uk/Every Mind Matters – NHS support hub www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/Heads Together – an organisation aimed at tackling mental health stigma www.headstogether.org.uk/Young Minds – a charity that focuses on the mental health of children and young people www.youngminds.org.uk/Samaritans – an organisation providing emotional support to anyone in distress. www.samaritans.org/ Helpline: 116 123 The Mind If I Join You? podcast has been organised and funded by Lundbeck UK. You should seek specialist help from a healthcare professional if you are experiencing problems with your mental health.UK-NOTPR-0290 July 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Docu Two
- Publisher: Christi and Luke
- Total Episodes: 15
Docu Two is a documentary recap podcast dedicated to giving you an insightful, educational and (hopefully) entertaining summary of documentaries. We review documentaries that maybe you have seen or maybe have been on your watchlist for years. Even if you have seen the documentary, you may just find we provide a new prospective. We want to make you laugh and hope you learn something too! Music: Happy Clappy Ukulele by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com/ Produced By: Atalanta Productions (@atalantaproductions on Instagram)
Give Social
- Publisher: Give Social
- Total Episodes: 11
How can we make the most of what life throws at us? Growing meaningful relationships, building your business or developing yourself, join Rob and Jen for an honest, funny and down-to-earth take on growing through a lifetime of change. Now you can share, learn and develop with Rob and Jen directly through the podcast and website.Rob is a qualified coach with over 20 years experience of social entrepreneurship, public service and innovation. Jen brings ideas to life with her straight forward, marketing and communication experience. Both of them lead national projects and enjoy running their own agency to support people, charities and businesses who put purpose first.Each week, you’ll hear conversation and debate about the way we can all learn new skills and techniques for shaping our lives, business or careers. There’s guest interviews providing new insights or inspiration and regular features such as “A couple of opinions”, where Rob and Jen go head to head reflecting on important events, news stories or even the latest documentary or film.For a couple who spend most their professional time working together, it has always been the “side hustles” that have given Rob and Jen their own voice and a truly unique approach to loving their work, family and each other. Their only purpose is to help others, so join them today through Give Social.www.givesocial.co.uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
213 Things About Me
- Publisher: Non-Normative Network
- Total Episodes: 7
213 Things About Me tells the true story of ‘Rose’, who was diagnosed with autism aged 36 and took her own life six months later. 213 Things About Me is told through a list of Rose’s traits, which she made immediately after being diagnosed with Autism. She possessed numerous talents, teaching herself 12 instruments, a bunch of languages, complex mathematics and other extraordinary things. Ultimately she was unable to find a place in the world. 213 Things About Me is written, directed and narrated by award-winning, disabled documentary filmmaker, photographer, artist, published writer and investigative journalist Richard Butchins, who was a close friend of Rose. Richard is also on the autistic spectrum. Trigger warning 213 Things About Me contains issues of a sensitive nature with references to suicide, which may trigger an anxiety response, especially in those who have a history of trauma. If the podcast causes distress talk to a friend, family member or someone you trust about how you are feeling. There are people who would like to help and will listen to you on confidential phone line services. You can call the following numbers in confidence Samaritans – call 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/ Papyrus (for people under 35) – call 0800 068 4141 https://papyrus-uk.org/ The Autism Helpline enquiry service provides impartial, confidential information along with advice and support for autistic people and their families and carers. https://www.autism.org.uk/services/helplines/main.aspx Autism.org.uk has helpful advice about anxiety in autistic adults. Starring: Rosa Hoskins as Rose, Abigail Thaw as the voice of Rose’s mother and Patrick Knill as the voice of authority. Editing/sound engineering: Patrick Knill. Commissioned by: Disability Arts Online www.disabilityarts.online Additional funding: Unlimited www.weareunlimited.org.uk
The Culturewise Podcast
- Publisher: Culture Wise Productions Ltd
- Total Episodes: 6
Diverse stories on history, society and culture from former BBC documentary maker Mukti Jain Campion
The Big Idea
- Publisher: RTHK.HK
- Total Episodes: 170
Our presenters Douglas Kerr, Vanessa Collingridge and guests explore the history, meaning and significance of ideas in contemporary society. ********************************************************************************* The whole series of the Big idea is available in our podcast station Podcast: Weekly update and available after its broadcast. ********************************************************************************* Douglas Kerr Douglas Kerr is Professor in the School of English at the University of Hong Kong, where he teaches courses in literature and rhetoric. He has lived in Hong Kong since 1979. He was born and brought up in Scotland, but went to Cambridge University in 1969 to read Modern Languages and English, and then moved on to the University of Warwick, where he studied English and French literary responses to the First World War, leaving with a PhD in Comparative Literature. During this time, a penurious year working in the French National Library in Paris gave him a taste for living some distance from home. He satisfied this taste by moving to Hong Kong, and has been here ever since. A continuing scholarly interest in the literature of the Great War eventually produced a book on the English war poet Wilfred Owen, and this was published by Oxford University Press in 1993. This was followed by George Orwell, published by Northcote House in their Writers and their Work series. Living first in colonial and then in postcolonial Hong Kong, it is no surprise that he became deeply interested in the way Asia (or the East, or the Orient) was experienced by foreigners, and this became the subject of his next book, Eastern Figures: Orient and Empire in British Writing, published by Hong Kong University Press in 2008. Like many others, Douglas had first encountered the Sherlock Holmes stories as a child, but it was a lot later that he began working on their author, Arthur Conan Doyle. Though he is best known for his detective fiction, Conan Doyle was a prolific writer in all sorts of genres and subjects, and an important figure in the cultural history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Douglas's book Conan Doyle: Writing, Profession and Practice, to be published by Oxford University Press in 2013, is a “cultural biography” of Conan Doyle and a study of all his writing. Douglas is a regular book reviewer for the South China Morning Post, and was on the Board of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival for five years; he still acts as an Advisor to the Festival. Though Hong Kong is a small place and he has been a resident here for more than thirty years, like other professors he still has a tendency to get lost. Vanessa Collingridge Vanessa graduated from Oxford University in 1990 with a first class honours degree in Geography and started working in television, quickly moving into the field of science, environment and history which remain her passion both on and off screen. Since then, she has been a regular face on all the major UK TV channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5), along with Discovery and The Learning Channel (USA) and The History Channel (worldwide). In Spring 2007, she took over the chair of the long-running weekly series Making History, the flagship history series for BBC Radio 4. Her 4x1hr documentary series, Captain Cook – Obsession and Discovery (2007-8) based on her best-selling book, has now won five major international awards including a Canadian “Gemini” (“Oscar”) for Best History Programme, Australia’s prestigious National Culture Award and the Sydney Morning Herald Readers’ Award for Best History Programme. The series has so far been screened in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, North & South America, North Africa and most of Europe. A former columnist for the Daily Telegraph, The Scotsman and BBC History magazine, she writes a monthly column for BBC Who Do You Think You Are magazine along with features for the national newspapers, particularly the Daily Mail, Scotsman and Sunday Herald. A reviewer for The Literary Review, her own books include Captain Cook (2002), Boudica (2005) and The Story of Australia (2008) plus multiple chapters for Thames & Hudson’s Seventy Greatest Journeys in History and The Greatest Explorers in History (2010). Vanessa is currently researching her PhD on the history of cartography of the Great Southern Continent (Antarctica), based at Glasgow University and Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute. She lectures on science, history, geography, presentation skills and the media across the UK, including at Cambridge, Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities, the RGS and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. She is a Fellow of the RGS and RSGS and co-founder & host of Glasgow’s Café Scientifique to stimulate debate between the scientific community and the general public. She is a regular speaker at Book Festivals including Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cheltenham and Christchurch (New Zealand). She is director of her own production company, Monster Media Productions, which makes radio and television programmes for broadcast and corporate clients; the company also provides a range of training for media and presentation skills. She moved to Hong Kong in November 2010 with her husband and four young sons from where she continues to write and broadcast, and research her PhD.
History Means Business®
- Publisher: Rod Lance and Helena Morton/Morton Imagine Company
- Total Episodes: 12
Rod is an author, award winning-documentary film director and a former stockbroker. Join him on this thoughtful journey. Each episode is about living in the moment and planning for the future, as we learn, honor and respect the past. American pioneers paved the way for all of us. Looking at history through their lens and imagining solutions for today’s challenges. Special thanks: Robert Abraham – Soul Burning Away, Scott Holmes – Happy Ukulele, Cambo – Alba, Audio Binger – Pre-game Warm-up
Real Rover
- Publisher: John Craig
- Total Episodes: 46
John Craig, (a.k.a. Echan deravy) born in Scotland, has lived multiple lives as an expat in Japan. He has been an entrepreneur in the West and the East, has written over 40 books on new paradigm science, spirituality, travel and ancient civilization as well as translated works on consciousness, health and ecology. As a documentary film maker he has recently produced ‘Why on Earth’ about a barefoot walk across Iceland as well as ‘Earth Pilgrims’ filmed in six different countries. He has interviewed dozens of individuals from both the East and the West and published their talks in Japanese. He has been a corporate adviser, adventure tour leader, interpreter, free lance journalist, lecturer and television commentator in Japan. His ground breaking lecture series Echan Juku has close to 200 eighty minute lectures in Japanese with an eclectic following of people who crave solid, different and empowering information. As a disaster relief worker he has been inside Japan’s worst tsunami devastation as a truck driver as well as built a typhoon bunker with earthship volunteers on Leyte island in the Philippines. He has practised zen all his adult life and has a penchant for arcane mysticism especially from the 13th century. He introduced earthing to Japan and has begun a substantial movement under the banner of Earthling. It is the intention of this podcast to explore Why on Earth we , as humans, have gotten so far off track in our relationship to our planet, each other and thus to ourselves. This podcast will therefore decidedly not focus on only one topic but will certainly zoom in on one vital balance, that between the East and the West, the Inner and the Outer, the Male and the Female, the spiritual and the material. He will interview people you will discover have been tackling the Pacific Rim Divide, the Samurai curtain, the communication gulf that actually does exist between our left brains and our right. Intuition and reason will thus be conjoined! You can watch his documentary here: https://youtu.be/I7y9JPvxe9w
MAKING
- Publisher: Luke and Ajan
- Total Episodes: 7
Luke and Ajan are currently undergraduate students at Ithaca College who major in Documentary Film. They are both passionate creators interested in telling their own stories as well as the stories of other people. In this podcast you will find two types of episodes; discussions between the two of them about their own creative process and careers, and interviews that take a deep dive into the creative mindset and process of other “makers.”
Tales from the Ring Road
- Publisher: BBC Radio 4
- Total Episodes: 3
Documentary series. Anne-Marie Duff narrates stories of life and death on the UK’s ring roads.
Finding Your Place College Podcast Series
- Publisher: Finding Your Place College Podcast Series
- Total Episodes: 22
Finding Your Place is an open-access college podcast series produced for college students, by college students. College is challenging, and students who go it alone often don’t achieve their educational goals. That’s why we’re here to guide you through some of the most common barriers to success. As the series grows, more and more episodes featuring the authentic voices of college students – talking about the issues that matter most to you – will be made available right through this channel. So stick with us, and let us help you find your place in college. 2018-2019 Production Team: Students Emily Albright, Sontiana Brandts, Monte Brown, Tanita Cronk, Ana Leyva, Marko Milosevic and Faculty Dave Engen and Robert Jersak. Finding Your Place has been created with the support of Minnesota State “Shark Tank” grant funding for innovation in higher education. Many thanks also to our colleagues and mentors at Century College, Minnesota State University Mankato, The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and Minnesota Public Radio. Finding Your Place is an extension of Dreaming by Degrees, a traveling multimedia project on the college experience as seen through the eyes of first-generation students. For more details on the Dreaming by Degrees installation exhibit and Educator’s Guide, please contact Dave Engen (david.engen@mnsu.edu) or Robert Jersak (robert.jersak@century.edu).
#BestOfGaryVee
- Publisher: BestOfGaryVee
- Total Episodes: 145
Thank you for listening to the #BestOfGaryVee Series!!! DAILYVEE (on YouTube & Facebook Watch) is a documentary on Gary Vaynerchuk’s journey 2 legacy as he tries to secure the ability to own the N.Y. Jets ✈
Two Brothers Two | HD | ENGLISH
- Publisher: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Total Episodes: 13
In the unique new documentary series Two Brothers Two, director Rick Stevenson takes us on a 10-year journey through the lives of the Nelson brothers, Sam, Luke, Tommy, and Joseph, as they struggle to find love for each other and for themselves.
