The Documentary Podcast

Over the last 10 years, Dr Jane Orton has visited the remote Spiti Valley in the Himalayas to speak to the local Bhoti people about their lore and spiritual beliefs. In the many villages across the valley, stories about the deities are consistent from place to place but also transfigured. She hears about deities like Lhas, powerful beings that have been incorporated into Buddhism. Lhas serve many purposes from protection and curing illnesses to ensuring water security by bringing snow. Jane hears about Biyuls – hidden lands – where people are like those of Spiti valley, except they have no salt and only certain people can see and hear them. And she chases stories of the figure of Balu Thukangbu, a wish granting entity. Spiti Valley is rapidly changing, but its hidden deities remain a part of the spiritual life of the region.

A national debate over sexualised violence online has erupted in Germany, and been seized on by Germany's feminist movement. As AI-generated deepfakes and other forms of online abuse against women become increasingly widespread, young activists are demanding stronger legal protections and putting violence against women at the centre of the political agenda. Reporter Jeanny Wasielewski meets the campaigners leading this movement, alongside survivors, politicians and legal experts, to explore whether Germany can close the gap between rapidly evolving technology and outdated legislation.
(Photo: Feminist Fight Club hold up a placard which reads 'sexualisierte und digitale gewalt stoppen' Credit: Lukas Stratmann)

Wular and Dal lakes are among Kashmir's most famous natural treasures, but decades of pollution, encroachment and neglect have taken their toll. Chhavi Sachdev follows conservationists, farmers and local communities as they attempt an ambitious restoration effort. Along the way, she discovers migratory birds returning, lotus flowers reappearing, and a circular economy transforming ecological waste into a valuable resource.

When President Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland opened its doors and their hearts to Ukrainian refugees. Millions of Ukrainians passed through Poland, getting all kinds of help from local people and from the Polish government. Many stayed. But there has been a dramatic change in feelings towards Ukrainians, particularly in recent months. From over 80% of Poles feeling positive about Ukrainians four years ago, that figure has fallen to 40%, according to opinion polls, while around half of Polish people express anti-Ukrainian sentiment. Cases of Ukrainians receiving verbal and physical abuse, both online and in real life have risen significantly. Polish military support for Kiev remains vital. So why has this downturn happened and what could the consequences be? John Murphy travels to Warsaw and to south-east Poland, close to the Ukrainian border, to speak to Poles and Ukrainians about how and why things are getting worse.

American journalist Austin Tice, vanished in Syria, but the US president says he’s alive. For more than a decade Austin's mother Debra has been leading the search for her son. As Josh Baker and Sara Obeidat travel to Syria to help Austin’s mother’s search, a source gives Josh information that might unlock where he is.