The Documentary Podcast

Brazil is in trouble. Confronted with a massive downturn in the economy, its currency the Real has crashed, while its political class sinks in a quagmire of corruption allegations linked to the state oil company, Petrobras. But sleaze isn’t only the preserve of Brazil’s privileged, moneyed elite. In the northern state of Maranhao, a 25 year old former mayor is accused of skimming the budget of the municipality of Bom Jardim. Lidiane Leite – with a prolific presence on social-media - gained notoriety after it was revealed she ran council business remotely using WhatsApp. Prosecutors are investigating ten people and a potential fraud of $4 million. Meanwhile in Maranhao’s state capital, Sao Luis, a Governor with just a year in post, is attempting to bring a new broom to one of Brazil’s poorest regions – Flavio Dino claims to have cut expenses by thousands of Reals just by removing luxury items like seafood and champagne from state banquet menus. Linda Pressly reports from one of Brazil’s least known regions.

Produced and presented by Linda Pressly

Life as a refugee after fleeing the war in Syria to make a new life in Lebanon

Conductor Mario Tronco arrived in Rome from Sicily in 2002 and was immediately fascinated by the multi-ethnic Piazza Vittorio in the heart of the historical Esquiline district. Fascinated by the sounds and languages that, like music, rise through the courtyards outside his windows he dreamed of having an orchestra which would bring together all these sounds. This is the extraordinary story of the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio.

Having arrived in Germany, the Dhnie family's dramatic journey to their new home may be over, but the difficulties of adjusting to a new life are just beginning.

A fuzzy team photo from the 1980s sends Tim Whewell on a journey to track down football players from a small town in northern Syria who were once the champions of Aleppo province. In the last four years of war their hometown, Mare'a, has become a war zone – bombed by the Assad regime, besieged by Islamic State, subject even to a mustard gas attack. And the civil war has torn through what was once a band of friends – some now pro-rebel, some pro-regime. They’re scattered across Syria and beyond, some fighting near Mare'a, some in refugee camps abroad. What have they gone through since they won that cup? And do they think they can ever be reunited?

Shabnam Grewal producing.

The Dhnie family find themselves sleeping rough, getting caught up in riots and being detained as they try to reach Europe after their flight from Syria.

In 1974 the Martha Graham Dance Company toured south east Asia, to refute the image of Americans as military and materialistic. Dancers from this tour recall the response.

Shahidha traces the story of the sari, explores how it feels to wear one and asks what it meant for women like her mother. She discovers the unexpected ways in which clothing can be imprinted with feelings of nostalgia, love and loss.

Twenty three of Libya's finest technology graduates plan to rebuild their country

Meet the Dhnie family in Turkey as they prepare to make the journey to Greece, along with thousands of others, from Syria.