The Documentary Podcast: Archive 2014

Can Indonesia break its old reliance on exporting raw materials to realise the potential of a huge, growing and rapidly urbanising population?

Nigeria is a nation of young, vibrant and natural entrepreneurs. Can they overcome the country's terrible legacy - decades of corruption, crime, and mismanagement?

What does the popularity of controversial comedian Dieudonné tell us about France today? Helen Grady meets some of his supporters and those who think he's a dangerous anti-Semite.

meet Ruhan Jia one of the young hopefuls in the world of state-manufactured pop. After decades of being closed off to western pop culture, the pressure is on for China to find a state-endorsed popstar, a fun and cool ambassador who can command the global stage.

Why and how illegal migrants from Burma and Cambodia are being forced onto Thai fishing boats to work, unpaid, for months.

Nick Thorpe reports from Hungary where the government has adopted controversial laws to clear the homeless off the streets. But can you legislate away a social problem?

Natalia Antelava profiles Gulnara Karimova, the socialite, pop star and philanthropist daughter of Uzbekistan's dictatorial president.

It has taken scientists almost 50 years to cure rare diseases through gene therapy. The risks are still great but the field is developing fast, bringing hope to those with untreatable conditions. Now there are growing concerns that athletes will abuse this pioneering technology. Tim Franks speaks to American journalist and sports enthusiast David Epstein, and geneticist Philippe Moullier about the issue of gene doping.

Prostitution is said to be one of the world's oldest professions, and one which has traditionally been the domain of women, but today it is common for men to also sell sexual services. Mobeen Azhar meets some of the many male sex workers doing business in London - now seen by many as the number one destination to ply their trade.

For centuries, Turkish traders have exploited their location on the historic Silk Road between east and west, selling to merchants travelling in both directions. As Jim O'Neill reports, Turkey's geography remains important to this day as the country becomes an aviation hub, a conduit for gas and oil, and a unique visitor destination. Yet Turkish plans go much further too. So can this ambitious country combine its deep-rooted trading skills with ultra modern technology to develop world-beating manufacturers? Or will its much lauded potential remain just that?