The Documentary Podcast

Homosexuality in Namibia and the LGBT community's struggle for social acceptance

In the aftermath of 9/11, the United States approved ‘enhanced’ interrogation methods that have been condemned as torture. The most notorious was controlled drowning, known as waterboarding. For Assignment, Hilary Andersson hears from those who approved, ran and suffered the programme in secret CIA prisons around the world. And she experiences some of the techniques herself. Does harsh interrogation yield reliable intelligence in the fight against terror? And what impact has the interrogation programme had on on-going conflicts – did it fuel support for ISIS?

Produced by Linda Pressly

(Photo: A man sits in a prison cell. Credit: Shutterstock)

In under a decade, Macau leapfrogged Las Vegas to become the world's most lucrative gambling centre. But after a decade of unparalleled growth Macau now faces both an economic downturn and a crackdown from mainland China, where gambling is banned. How will this impact on its residents?

Nearly 40 years ago, French polymath Jacques Attali wrote a book called Noise which predicted a "crisis of proliferation" for recorded music – in which its value would plummet. As music sales went into freefall at the turn of the century, his prediction seemed eerily resonant. Singer-songwriter Sam York, now struggling to earn a living as a musician, visits Attali to help get an insight into his own future, and learns that music itself may hold clues to what is about to happen in the wider world.

In 2005 a plan was launched to improve education, health, housing and jobs for the Roma – Europe’s poorest minority. But did it succeed? Ten years later Delia Radu travels across Eastern Europe to find the Roma she spoke to when the plan was launched, to see if it has delivered its promise.

Why Edward Snowden exposed the mass surveillance by American and British intelligence

Two pioneers in AI discuss their work and describe the way in which machine led intelligence is set to remake our world. Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research and Cynthia Breazeal, chief scientist of the Robotics firm Jibo join the BBC’s Rory Cellan Jones to discuss the rewards and challenges of AI with an audience in Silicon Valley.

India Rakusen travels to the city of Hamburg to find out why Germany has become the destination of choice for so many of the thousands of refugees heading across Europe.

Should a city owing $18 billion sell its prestigious art collection? The Detroit Institute of Arts' collection is world famous, and includes the first Van Gogh to be owned by an American arts museum, dazzling works by Matisse and Rembrandt, a distinguished selection of German Expressionist paintings, African Art, Native American Art, art from Asia and the Islamic world. Is art still relevant even when you are broke?

The story of how Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the place of women in American politics. Naomi Grimley looks at how life’s disappointments shaped Mrs. Roosevelt and how she learnt to cope with the scrutiny and fascination of the mass media.