Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Thom Zimny (“Springsteen on Broadway”, “Springsteen: Letter to You”) can tell you a lot about Bruce Springsteen. Through the course of Thom's many documentaries featuring Bruce and the E Street Band, including his latest film, “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” Thom has delved deeply into the music, personalities, and rollicking performances that have made the band one of the most beloved rock-and-roll acts of all time. Thom joins Ken for a return visit to the pod (“Sly”) to discuss his 25-year collaboration with Bruce and the rich cinematic body of work that Thom has created over the course of Bruce's many albums and tours. With “Road Diary,” Thom documents the band's first tour in six years. At first, the question hangs in the air: “Does the band still have it?” But, once the tour begins, the rust falls away quickly. Soon, the band, which features new musicians as well as returning veterans, is rocking stadiums from Tampa to Barcelona. Thom is there to capture not only what is happening on stage but to show the profound impact that Bruce and the band continue to have on multiple generations of fans. It's the kind of special relationship that endures. “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band” is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.   Hidden Gem: “Zappa”   Follow: @tzimnyc on Instagram and @ThomZimny on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   

As explained by director Liz Garbus ( Bobby Fisher Against the World),  ”Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer is, “A documentary series that follows  the case of young women who went missing from New York City and Long Island.  Ultimately, it's a story about what victims are valued and how when justice fails, people have to step up and demand it for their loved ones.”  You can watch the series on Netflix.   This documentary follows on the success of her docudrama “Lost Girls”, which features a fiery Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert, the mother of a young woman, Shannan Gilbert, last heard on a 911 call pleading for help from the danger she believed threatened her life. Mari insistently sought justice for her lost child, a crusade which subsequently led to the discovery of the bodies of several other young women on the Southern shore of Long Island.  In the wake of the recent identification of a likely killer of these women (and eventually others), Garbus felt compelled to return to tell the story afresh.  What she reveals is one of a police department that went wrong, and an investigation that long lay fallow, only to be brought to a seeming revelation when key evidence and an indicted killer are recognized for what they truly are.   Hidden Gem:  No Other Land   Follow: @lizfgarbus on Instagram @lizgarbus on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

More than 50 years after the conviction of Charles Manson and members of the Manson Family for the shocking Tate-LaBianca murders, acclaimed filmmaker Errol Morris takes aim at the case. Inspired by author Tom O'Neill, whose book (“CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties”) attempts to debunk the thesis of famed prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, Errol dives deep into Bugliosi's “Helter Skelter” theory that convinced the jury — and then captivated the world as chronicled in his true crime bestseller.   Errol joins Ken on the pod to talk about what attracted him to O'Neill's skepticism of the Helter Skelter scenario in which Manson's apocalyptic vision of inciting a race war allegedly compelled his followers to carry out the massacre. But, even as the film delves into O'Neill's alternative theory involving the CIA's Project MKUltra (the subject of Errol's earlier Netflix series “Wormwood”), the narrative shifts once again, as Errol's nose for the truth leads him to Manson associate and convicted murderer Bobby Beausoleil. It's a convoluted path that may lead to the truth or, more likely, to more questions. It's just the kind of quest that Errol Morris fans and true crime buffs have been waiting for.   “CHAOS: The Manson Murders” is streaming on Netflix.   Hidden Gem: “

As Director Matt Wolf shows in his  insightful and fun 2-part HBO series “Pee-wee as Himself”, in Pee-wee, Paul Rubens found a persona that allowed him to both reveal and yet hide some core truths about who he was.     Fascinated with television and show business since he was a boy, Rubens combined elements of his childhood's pop culture with the art world of Southern California in the 70s and early 80s to craft a character that would both conquer the then punkish milieu of Melrose Avenue as well as create a nationally televised children's TV show.  To achieve this, Wolfe delineates how Rubens deliberately foreclosed both his potential love life as well as cast aside long-held friendships.  Wolfe's series demonstrates both the costs as well as the benefits of outsized talent and ambition.   You can watch “Pee-wee as Himself” on HBO and HBO Max starting Friday, May 23rd.   Follow: @mattpwolf on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

On the pod today, Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro return to discuss their latest for Netflix, American Murder: Gabby Petito.   Mike previously had Julia and Michael on to talk about Murdaugh Murders, and like that effort, this series both fulfills the expectations of the true crime genre, while finding deeper themes to explore.  While in Murdaugh Murders, Julia and Michael turned their lens on the socioeconomic fissures in the heart of a Southern county, here, in telling the story of Gabby Peitio–a young woman who was killed by her fiance Brian Laundie, who later killed himself–Julia and Michael both explore how a seemingly normal relationship between young people can go terribly wrong. And they do so while depicting how this relationship–as well as others Gabby had with friends and family–are intermediated by social media and influencer culture.    Hidden Gems: Becoming Led Zeppelin Into the Fire   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In March 1988, when the Board Chair of Gallaudet University, the world's only Deaf university, announced Gallaudet's new president, she had no idea what was about to happen. As chronicled in Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim's riveting new documentary, “Deaf President Now!”,  the students revolted against the decision to hire yet another hearing person to lead the university and took over the campus. In the span of just over one week, their struggle would not only transform Gallaudet but write a powerful new chapter in the history of the Civil Rights Movement.   Nyle and Davis join Ken on the pod to describe this remarkable protest movement and their own dynamic creative partnership. The result is a film that combines thrilling archival footage with moving contemporary interviews and deep insights into the Deaf experience. The film's original use of the Deaf POV and innovative sound design demonstrate that the revolution that began at Gallaudet has profoundly changed the culture and, now, the documentary form itself.   “Deaf President Now!” premieres on Apple+ on May 16.   Hidden Gems: Davis: No Other Land, Black Box Diaries Nyle: Crip Camp   Follow: @nyledimarco on Instagram X @davisguggenheim on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Our guest today is  Garret Price, who Mike speaks to about his HBO Series “Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary.” In addition to editing dozens of narrative and documentary series and films, Garret directed “Love, Antosha”. This is his second directorial effort for “Music Box”, the previous being, “Woodstock 99: Peace Love and Rage.”  In “Yacht Rock”, Garret not only burnishes his archival and editorial chops, but digs in for simply charming interviews with the creators of this putative outgrowth of the 70s Southern California sound.   This was a fun one folks!  Garret was game for the sort of back and forth jousting that comes when you try to nail down just what comprises this retrospectively imagined subgenre of music. And, in the process you'll hear that Mike outed himself as a Steely Dan fan. Despite that, we hope you'll take a listen!   Hidden Gems: Documentary: “Finders, Keepers” Yacht Rock: “Hey Nineteen”   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.  

As we continue Season 5, Mike speaks with Alex Gibney (Agents of Chaos, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Taxi to the Dark Side)  about his documentary series for HBO Max, “Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos”.   If you are familiar with Gibney's work, you will know that his documentaries often have a political topic or a political edge, so it won't surprise you that while he doesn't overly focus on it, he does explore the ways in which the legendary HBO series was a commentary on America. But the true pleasure of this documentary is to witness the incredibly deep ways that Chase's own life informed his work and–this may actually be connected–the ways that Chase used techniques that he learned from directors like Polanski, Lucci, and Kubrick to shape his own cinematic language.   Follow: @alexgibneyfilm on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

We're kicking off our 5th Season and the beloved Netflix doc series “Chef's Table” is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the new release of “Chef's Table: Legends,” a special four-part series spotlighting the achievements and life lessons of four extraordinary pioneers of the kitchen who have changed the food world and culture writ large.   Joining Ken on the pod for the kickoff of Top Docs Season 5, “Chef's Table” creator, EP and director David Gelb (“Jiro Dreams of Sushi”) and cinematographer/DP Adam Bricker (“Hacks”) describe what drew them to visionaries Jamie Oliver, José Andres, Thomas Keller and Alice Waters, and how they got these much-celebrated icons to open up about their lives and careers. In addition, David and Adam engage in a bit of introspection themselves as they reflect on the incredible cinematic edible journey that “Chef's Table” has taken over the course of the last decade. Keep the courses coming.   Hidden Gems: David: The Fog of War, Baraka Adam: Parts Unknown – Singapore (Season 10, Episode 1)   Follow: @thisisdavidgelb on Instagram and X @realadambricker on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

While we gear up for Season 5, we hope you enjoy this re-release from July of 2023.  Since we spoke with Fisher, "Beckham" went on to win several Emmys including Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Directing of a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for Fisher.   From the opening moments when David Beckham strolls through a country field wearing a beekeeper's outfit, you know you'll be witnessing another side to one of the world's most famous people.  In “Beckham”, a 4-part series on Netflix, director Fisher Stevens (producer of  “The Cove” and “Tiger King”, and an actor on stage and screen for 40 years, most recently playing Hugo Baker on “Succession”) reveals the life and career of a man whom he says has a unique disposition:  Craving love, but determinedly individualistic.     Fisher speaks with Mike about some of Beckham's most important relationships: his father; his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson; and his wife, Victoria, aka Posh Spice.  They discuss what control means for David, from his father's early invocations of its importance, to Beckham's midnight ramblings through his London home scrubbing surfaces and trimming the wicks of candles.  And they share stories of what it means to be an American fan of soccer… er, um… football.   Our "Anatomy of a Scene:  Beckham"... again, with Fisher Stevens.   Hidden Gems: Burden of Dreams   Follow: @fisherstevens and on Instagram and @fisherstevensbk on twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix

As we gear up for Season 5, please enjoy one of our favorite shows.  Since we released this pod first in July of 2023, "20 Days in Mariupol" won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.   The letter “Z” seems innocent enough – until you see a Russian tank painted with that mark slowly turn its turret in your direction. For AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov, who, at the time, was covering the Ukrainian war from behind enemy lines in Mariupol, this was the moment when the Russians were closing in. As seen in his harrowing new documentary “20 Days in Mariupol”, in the period leading up to this, Mstyslav and his team had filmed graphic scenes of destruction and carnage at the hands of Russian bombs and shells. Contrary to Putin's claims, civilians were being targeted by the Russian military and this team, the only international journalists left in the city, had managed to get the images out to the world.   Joining Ken on the podcast, Mstyslav discusses his frightful on-the-ground experience in Mariupol and the remarkable film that came out of it. How did Mstyslav find himself on the front lines of the propaganda war being waged by the Putin regime? Who was the enigmatic Vladimir, a kind of sage and protector, who ultimately led Mstyslav and his team to safety? And why does Mstyslav feel that, notwithstanding the terrible suffering documented in the film, there are also glimmers of hope?   Released by PBS Distribution, “20 Days in Mariupol” opens theatrically in NYC on July 14 and in LA and SF on July 21.   Hidden Gem: Sans Soleil   Follow: @mstyslav.chernov on Instagram and @mstyslav9 on twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

To finish out Season 4, we're revisiting some telling moments from 4 of our most popular shows of the season: Rob Reiner: "Albert Brooks: Defending My Life" Lucy Walker: "Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa" Sam Lipman-Stern & Adam Bhala Lough: "Telemarketers" Ibrahim Nash'at & Shane Boris: "Hollywoodgate" The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

“Stand Your Ground” became a part of the cultural lexicon over a dozen years ago when a Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman of murder in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin under the Florida self-defense law. Director Geeta Gandbhir takes a probing look at Stand Your Ground laws in her searing new documentary “The Perfect Neighbor,” which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Directing Award in the U.S. Documentary section.   Joining Ken for a conversation in Park City during the festival, Geeta discusses her personal connection to Ajike Owens, who was fatally shot through a locked metal door in Florida, and the tragic consequences that result all-too-frequently from Stand Your Ground laws. Using a vast trove of police body cam footage, as well as interrogation interviews with the woman who killed Ajike, “The Perfect Neighbor” does something remarkable: repurposing dispassionate found footage to tell a story that is deeply personal, moving and unforgettable.   Follow: @geetagandbhir on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Forget about the original “The Dating Game,” not to mention “The All-New Dating Game” and “The Celebrity Dating Game.” This is director Violet Du Feng's “The Dating Game,” which just had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Of course, this is a documentary not a Chuck Barris game show and, like Violet's previous film, the sublime “Hidden Letters,” which was shortlisted for an Academy Award, her version explores the topic with depth, insight, and humor.   Joining Ken for another of our in-person Sundance Film Festival interviews, along with the film's Academy Award-winning producer, Joanna Natasegara (“The White Helmets”), Violet discusses the similarities and differences between “Hidden Letters” and “The Dating Game.” The film delves into the world of dating for young Chinese men, who face immense challenges in a country where there are 30 million more men than women due to China's former One Child Policy. The film's compelling participants include the highly sought after but somewhat cheesy dating coach Hao and his three clients, as well as Hao's wife, Wen, also a dating coach. When, in one scene, Wen confronts Hao about their own marriage, the plot thickens. No game show can match that drama.   Follow: @violetdufeng and @joanna_film on Instagram and @VioletFilms @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

To unwind, Dr. Maurizio Bini, who runs a clinic in a public hospital in Milan, takes long walks in the mountains and picks mushrooms. But even in these calming moments, work is not far from his mind. In “Gen_”, director Gianluca Matarrese's thoroughly entrancing new documentary portrait (a world premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival), Dr. Bini and his colleagues run a clinic that serves two kinds of patients: women seeking IVF treatments, as well as those seeking gender affirming care. At first, these seem like disparate realities, but over the course of the film, we see that these two worlds, both caught in political crosswinds, are seamlessly and expertly navigated by the good doctor.   Joining Ken on the pod, live and in-person at the “Top Docs” condo in Park City, Gianluca and Dr. Bini discuss the challenges of the clinic's work in the context of contemporary Italian law and politics, which put barriers between patients and the care they so desperately seek. It turns out that Dr. Bini's true specialty is to listen intently as his patients share their pain and dreams. And, with Gianluca's camera there to capture these intimate moments, we witness the difference that a doctor can make when he puts the welfare of his patients above all else.   Follow: @gianlumata on Instagram and @GianLuke on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Continuing our coverage live from Sundance, we are once again joined by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss (Boys State, Girls State, The Mission) to discuss their new film, “Middletown”, which depicts a charismatic high school teacher in Upstate New York who in the 1990s led a “Breakfast Club”-like group of his students to investigate the town dump–which almost certainly had stored dangerous refuse without proper care–and ultimately to challenge the town leaders in a televised program recorded in a homemade studio they had built in their high school.    The film is certainly about the power of education, but it also explores the ways that the early-stage personal video technology that would come to define our own times had once opened an aperture of empowerment for young people, one that now seems almost naive.  And it implicitly presents a case in these dark times for the necessity for investment in civic engagement and local democracy.   Follow: @djessemoss on twitter/X @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix. 

Joining us for the 4th year in a row, Variety's Senior Awards Editor Clayton Davis is back on “Top Docs” to break down this year's Oscar races for Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short and to offer his predictions for who will walk away victorious on March 2nd. With this year's feature doc race the closest thing to a real toss-up in years, you don't want to miss Clayton's analysis and final picks.   And be sure to catch up on all of the Oscar-nominated films in the documentary feature and shorts categories by listening to our “Top Docs” interviews with all ten of the nominees.   Clayton Davis is Variety's Senior Awards Editor. He is also one of the hosts of the "Variety Awards Circuit Podcast" and the video web series, "The Take." He's been an awards, film and television analyst and critic for more than 15 years and has co-hosted the Oscars Pre-Show on ABC. Clayton is also co-founder and president of the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association and is a board member of the Critics Choice Association.   Follow: Clayton Davis on Instagram @awardscircuit and on X @ByClaytonDavis @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of “Top Docs” is Netflix.

Rounding out our coverage of the 2025 Academy Award nominees, we are joined by producers Bill Morrison (“Decasia”, “The Dockworker's Dream”, Dawson City: Frozen Time) and Jamie Kalven (of the Invisible Institute) to discuss their Oscar-nominated short, “Incident,” which depicts the police shooting of Harith “Snoop” Augustus and it's immediate aftermath from several angles.     Using body camera and other footage (and only that footage) that the Chicago Police–as required by law, one that Jamie had advocated for in the wake of the coverup of the shooting of Laquan McDonald–Bill has crafted a film which draws upon editing skills built through years of working with archival material, but one which is significantly more immediate and urgent than his previously beautiful and implicitly philosophically profound works.  What we witness is two narratives being formed about what happened, and to whom:  One from the police, the other from the Southside Chicago community that witnessed the events.  And we can see at work the deep causes of what happened embedded in American gun culture and the resulting police policies and practices.   “Incident” can be seen on the New Yorker Website.   Follow: @emaexplorations on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Ema Ryan Yamazaki attended Japanese elementary school, then an international school before heading to New York for her college education.  In “Instruments of a Beating Heart”, her Academy Award Nominated short, edited down from her feature “The Making of a Japanese”, she reveals some of the differences she found between national pedagogies, and some of the key learnings which have made her who she is.   Told through the efforts of 1st-grader Ayame to pass the audition to play the cymbal, an important part of the percussive ensemble at the heart of Ode to Joy, Yamazaki's film reveals the impact that the interplay of individuation and acculturation has on this exuberant, expressive girl.  And she paints the outlines of how she is being brought into a society that values collective harmony.   “Instruments of a Beating Heart” can be seen on The New York Times website and Youtube.   Hidden Gem:  Puffling   Follow: @emaexplorations on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In Smriti Mundhra's (“St. Louis Superman,” “Indian Matchmaking”) recently Oscar-nominated documentary short, “I Am Ready, Warden,” John Henry Ramirez speaks direct to camera and says, “If you all are seeing this, it means the state of Texas has murdered me…” For the audience, it's a punch to the gut, a spoiler, and an announcement of what's at stake in this life-and-death story.   Director Smriti Mundhra and producer Maya Gnyp join Ken on the pod to discuss their thought-provoking and nuanced film, which brings together multiple perspectives on Ramirez and the death penalty. The result is an unexpected and moving portrait of people grappling not just with a horrific crime, but its aftermath, and with the ramifications of what happens after the death penalty is carried out. When Aaron Castro, who was 14 when his father was killed by Ramirez, hears the news of Ramirez's execution, the impact is every bit as powerful as the opening scene. It's not necessarily what you expect to hear — and that's the point.   “I Am Ready, Warden” is released by MTV Documentary Films and is currently streaming on Paramount+.   Hidden Gems: Smriti: “Junun” “Flipside” “Three Songs for Benazir” “Dahomey”   Follow: @smritimundhra on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

When documentary filmmaker Kim A. Snyder began her directing career, she didn't set out to make a string of films about school shootings and their aftermaths. But, from “Newtown” (2016) to “US Kids” (2020), and now with her Oscar-nominated short documentary “Death by Numbers,” Kim has brought critical attention to the issue and built deep relationships with the young survivors of those shootings. For “Death by Numbers,” Kim partners with Sam Fuentes, a survivor of the Parkland, FL shootings, who has written powerfully about the horrors of that day and the traumas that followed.   Kim and Sam join Ken on the pod to discuss Sam's journal writings that are the basis for the film and to reflect on the events surrounding the sentencing trial for the shooter who killed 17 students and staff and now faces a possible death sentence. Asked by her former teacher to speak on her classmates' behalf at the trial's conclusion, Sam, through her ongoing pain, delivers a victim impact statement of undeniable power and eloquence. The Parkland high school students who lived through those terrible events in 2018 are now in their early 20's, and they will be heard.   Hidden Gems: Kim: “Zurawski v Texas” Sam: “Dovecote”   Follow: @kasnyderfilms on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

One of the most haunting moments in director Mstyslav Chernov's harrowing new documentary “2000 Meters to Andriivka” — a follow up to his Oscar-winning “20 Days in Mariupol” — is a rather prosaic conversation about handmade cigarettes between the filmmaker and a Ukrainian soldier as they huddle in a foxhole while artillery shells explode around them. What makes this scene so chilling is its very ordinariness, and the fact that, by the end of the conversation, we will learn from the director's voice over that this soldier will be killed on another battlefield several months later.   Joining Ken for a live, in-person interview at Sundance 2025 just after the film's world premiere, Mstyslav shares his experience of embedding with soldiers in Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade as they set out, on one long day during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, to plant the Ukrainian flag in the recently recaptured village of Andriivka, Running alongside this saga is the story, told through footage recorded by the Ukrainian soldiers' helmet-mounted cameras, of how these brave soldiers fought one meter at a time to reclaim Andriivka. By the end of “2000 Meters,” it's clear that there's nothing left to save of the village except its name. How Andriivka — and those who died along the way — will be remembered is but one of the lingering questions that this unforgettable film dares to ask.   Mstyslav Chernov was awarded the Jury Award for Directing, World Cinema Documentary, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.   Also, check out our “Top Docs” conversation with Mstyslav about “20 Days in Mariupol.”   Follow: @mstyslav.chernov on Instagram and @mstyslavchernov on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

The 15th UN General Assembly of September 1960 may not seem like the most avant-garde topic for a cinematically adventurous documentary, but don't tell that to director Johan Grimonprez. His stunningly creative “Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat,” recently named to the Oscar Shortlist for Best Documentary Feature, is a cinematic high point of 2024 and also one of the year's most thoroughly engaging historical/political dramas.   Johan joins Ken on the pod to discuss the events surrounding the truncated political independence that was “granted” to the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in June 1960 by the Belgian government. Soon after, Belgium (Johan's home country) and the US joined forces with the UN leadership to undermine the Congo's newly elected prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, who had emerged as a dynamic leader of the nascent united Africa movement. Lumumba's downfall plays out in the bitterly divided 15th UN Assembly. Nikita Khruschev, Malcolm X and Fidel Castro appear alongside jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln and others, who also play a key role in the story… and in the soundtrack.   “Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat” is released by Kino Lorber.   Hidden Gem: “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey” “Close-Up”   Follow: @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Continuing our Academy Award coverage, today we speak with Alexis Bloom about her documentary, "The Bibi Files," which has been Oscar-shortlisted.     "The Bibi Files" features never-before seen police interrogations of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, his wife Sara, their son Yair and many of their friends, associates, and people who have sought their influence. The results of these interviews led to Netanyahu being indicted for breach of trust, bribery, and fraud in 2019.  As you'll hear, the consequences of Netanyahu's legal troubles go far beyond his own freedom–they very much feed into the rightward turn in Israeli politics over the last few years, may have played a role in Israeli's complete unpreparedness for the Hamas attacks on Oct 7 of 2023, and almost certainly are extending the tragic conflict in Gaza and Lebanon.    You can stream "The Bibi Files" on Jolt.   Hidden Gem: “War Game”   Follow: @thebibifilesdoc on Instagram and X @topdocspod on Instagram and X

Road trips — and road trip movies — are as American as apple pie. And now, currently streaming on Netflix, we have director Josh Greenbaum's poignant and very funny documentary “Will & Harper,” which tags along on a cross country road trip with close friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as the two navigate Harper's recent transition as a woman. Since meeting during their first week on staff together at “Saturday Night Love,” they've been tight ever since. But when Harper sends Will an email coming out as a trans woman, she can't be sure how her famous comedian friend will react. In short order, Will proposes a road trip so that they can ask all those questions that arise after such a big change.   Director Josh Greenbaum joins Ken on the pod to discuss all the joys and bumps on the road that transpired over the course of Will and Harper's epic 16-day journey to such noted tourist destinations as the Grand Canyon… and a dive bar in Meeker, Oklahoma. Along the way, the two tackle such questions as, “What are the new ground rules for the friendship, if any?” “Can Harper still feel safe and comfortable in the same kind of places she used to visit as a man?” And “How are your boobs??” The laughs and the tears come in equal measure. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.   “Will & Harper” has recently been named to the Oscar Shortlist for Best Documentary Feature, and “Harper and Will Go West,” the theme song for the trip written by Kristin Wiig, has been named to the Oscar Shortlist for Best Original Song.   Hidden Gem: “Anvil! The Story of Anvil”   Follow: @josh.greenbaum on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Due to a rare form of autism, 14-year-old Makayla has grown up with plenty to say but lacking the ability to say it — until  now. Thanks to a groundbreaking therapy, she has found her voice and is making up for lost time. In Julio Palacio's deeply moving Oscar-shortlisted documentary short, “Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World,” Makayla uses a letter board to communicate with her family and to share her amazing writings.   Julio joins Ken on the pod to discuss how he first met Makayla when he was working on an earlier film about her father (a very successful music producer) and then recently found out about Makayla's remarkable breakthrough. What followed was a beautiful collaboration between Makayla, her family and the film team. The result is a joyful celebration of a young woman's difficult but inspiring journey and a truly special voice that can finally be heard.   “Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World” is now streaming on Netflix.   Hidden Gem: “When There Are No Words”   Follow: @jpalpictures on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

The first thing you should know about double bassist Orin O'Brien is that she doesn't think she's anything special. The second thing you should know — as director Molly O'Brien's thoroughly endearing Oscar-shortlisted documentary short “The Only Girl in the Orchestra” makes perfectly clear — is that Orin O'Brien is very special, indeed. The first female musician hired full time by the New York Philharmonic in 1966, Orin has gone on to have a brilliant and unparalleled 55-year career playing the double bass in the Philharmonic.     Molly joins Ken on the pod to talk about this remarkable musician, teacher and pathbreaker — who also happens to be Molly's beloved aunt. Set in the magical world of Manhattan and taking place as Orin begins a new chapter in her life, this heartfelt documentary shows us that talent, dedication, and a pure enjoyment of playing in the orchestra can make for a deeply fulfilling life. Now, isn't that special?   “The Only Girl in the Orchestra” is now streaming on Netflix.   Hidden Gem: “The Children's Storefront”   Follow: @mobworks on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

“Hello, 2025!” And as the doc calendar turns to a new year, we turn our attention to the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The 41st edition runs from January 23 – February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah (and online from Jan. 30 – Feb 2). To help get us fired up, we welcome back Basil Tsiokos, Sundance Senior Programmer, Nonfiction, for his fourth visit to “Top Docs” to preview this year's stellar documentary lineup.   Basil offers his insights and tips on the three dozen documentary features and episodics having their world premieres at this year's festival across multiple sections. Whether you are headed to “the mountain” yourself, hope to catch some Sundance docs online, or just want to get the jump on what are sure to be some of 2025's most talked about documentaries, our conversation with Basil is the perfect way to start the new year. And don't miss Basil's take on the Oscar Shortlist and his predictions for the final nominees!   For more info about the Sundance Film Festival program, go to festival.sundance.org.   Follow: @1basil1 on X, @sundancefest on X and @sundanceorg on Instagram and @topdocspod on X and Instagram   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Frida Kahlo is everywhere. From pajamas imprinted with her likeness to exhibitions of her work, Frida's image and art are omnipresent. But what about Frida's own perspective on life, art, politics and love? Taking inspiration from Frida's letters, illustrated diary and other writings, filmmaker Carla Gutiérrez's stunning documentary portrait “Frida” offers a new perspective on this remarkably durable 20th Century icon by letting Frida speak for herself.   Joining Ken on the pod, Carla discusses how she was influenced and inspired by Frida. What did Carla hope to achieve by animating Frida's paintings in the film, and how did the creative team go about pulling off this ambitious feat? In what ways did Carla bring her skills as an experienced editor of such films as “RPB” and “Julia” to her first project as a feature documentary director? And how did several life-changing events leave their indelible mark on Frida, while at the same time, fuel her determination to create art that “completed her life”? By not just looking at what she created, but by listening, too, we get a pretty good idea.   Recently named to the Oscar Shortlist for Best Documentary Feature, “Frida” is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.   Hidden Gem: “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”   Follow: @carlargutierrez on Instagram and @CarlitaGu on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Welcome to our Anne-ual Top Docs Holiday Special featuring the one-and-only Anne Thompson, Editor-at-Large at IndieWire! Anne joins Mike and Ken to tackle this year's Best Feature Documentary Oscar Shortlist, released on December 17th. One day following the release of the list, Anne is already fired up and ready to go. How competitive is this year's race? Who are the Frontrunners, Runners Up and Dark Horses? Which film will win it all? Park yourself in front of a roaring fire and pop in those earbuds. It's Oscar time!   IndieWire Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson has been a contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, The Observer, and Wired. She has served as film columnist at Variety, and deputy editor of Variety.com, where her daily blog, Thompson on Hollywood, launched in March 2007.    Follow: @akstanwyck on Instagram and twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Today's pod features one of our special “Anatomy of a Scene” episodes.  Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat join us once again to discuss their feature documentary, “Sugarcane”.   Emily & Julian were first on the show when we recorded them live from Sundance.  We wanted to have them back on to dig in deep on a scene from the movie that spans continents, involves world leaders, and features some of the most stark revelations of the film.     One note on the audio:  Some of my spoken explanations for what we are seeing on the screen didn't come out so well.  But that's really besides the point.  The real heart of this pod are the incredible explications from Julian & Emily, founded in how they got some of these shots, the creative decisions they took to achieve their ends, and, notably, their engagements with the most telling moral issues of their film, rooted in the inadequacies of explanations for past crimes from everyone from a leader of a religious order, to a Canadian Prime Minister, to a Pope. Sugarcane has just started streaming on Disney+.  Follow: @emilykassie on Instagram & twitter @jnosiecat on Instagram & twitter @topdocspod on Instagram and X The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

For Palestinian villagers in the rural southern West Bank community of Masafer Yatta, life under the Israeli occupation is terrifying. The Israeli military can show up, without warning, waving orders to demolish your house; those resisting can be arrested or even shot. Among the Palestinians who call Masafer Yatta home is filmmaker Basel Adra. Basel's extraordinary new documentary “No Other Land” — made by a Palestinian/Israeli collective that includes Basel, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor — demonstrates how Basel, like his father before him, has relied on the power of the camera to document and protest the community's treatment under the Israeli army's orders to demolish Palestinian homes, schools and infrastructure.   Basel and Yuval join Ken on the pod to discuss the history of Masafer Yatta, the community's efforts at resistance, and the enduring on- and off-camera alliance between the two of them built over the course of making the film. Recently awarded three IDA awards, including Best Documentary and Best Directors, “No Other Land” is screening at film festivals and in select theaters.   Follow: @yuval_abraham and @baselaladraa on Instagram and @yuval_abraham on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

RJ Cutler (“The War Room”, “The September Issue”, “Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry”) joins Mike and Ken once again to talk about his latest documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late.”   As RJ tells us, the film “ Tells the story of two monumental decisions in the life of Elton John. The first, a decision he makes [to come out] in an interview in 1976 to Rolling Stone Magazine. And the second, a decision he makes in the middle of his seventies to give up touring In order to spend more time with his family and his young sons.”  The result is a film filled with denial, drug dependency, and despondence, but ultimately also music, joy, and love as well.   “Elton John: Never Too Late” begins streaming on Disney+ on December 13th.   Follow: @rjcutler928 on Instagram and @rjcutler on X @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Today our guests are Errol Morris, director of the new MSNBC documentary “Separated”, and Jacob Soboroff, executive producer, upon whose 2020 book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” the documentary was based.    We had Errol on the show last year to discuss his Oscar-shortlisted portrait of John le Carré, “The Pigeon Tunnel”, which with its implicitly self-reflective focus on the ability of representation to capture reality, can be read as a career-culminating masterpiece. “Separated” is a bit of a departure, one the topic of which has been made ever more urgent by the return of Donald Trump to the white house. In it, Errol draws upon Jacob's reporting–for which he was awarded the Walter Cronkite award for individual achievement by a national journalist as well as the Hillman Prize for broadcast journalism–on the child separation policy at the border in the first half of the first Trump administration. Jacob and Errol, with the help of the hero of this story, Captain John White, demonstrate this policy was not a “byproduct” of a tighter immigration approach, but an abusive tool used to terrify migrants by deliberately harming their children. Cruelty as the saying goes, was the point.    “Separated” will first air on MSNBC on December 7th.     Follow: @jacobsoboroff on Instagram and twitter/X  @errolmorris on twitter/X  @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

We invited directors Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev back to “Top Docs” to discuss the unique art that animates their Sundance award-winning documentary “Porcelain War,” an intimate portrait of three Ukrainian artists and their responses to the Russian invasion of their country. Brendan and Slava analyze one of the film's magical moments, about halfway through the film, in which Anya (Slava's creative partner and wife) transforms memorable experiences from Slava and Anya's lives in Kharkiv into scenes and characters that she paints on small porcelain figurines.   Over the course of this extraordinary three-minute scene, Brendan and Slava discuss the highly imaginative animation that brings Anya's drawings to life on the surface of a small porcelain owl. The scene brilliantly encapsulates the filmmakers' idea that art and metaphor can be used as a powerful expression of empathy in time of war.   “Porcelain War” is playing in select theaters. You can listen to our original interview with Brendan and Slava from earlier this year.   Follow: @brendanbellomo and @anyaslavaporcelain on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

The message from some of the most powerful forces in Japanese society was clear: “Don't talk about it.” But, over the course of a yearslong journey depicted in her powerful new documentary “Black Box Diaries,” Japanese journalist Shiori Ito does all she can to expose the facts and tell her story of how she was raped in 2015 by a prominent journalist. After the Tokyo Metropolitan Police decided not to pursue the investigation, Shiori made her accusations public at a press conference and never looked back.   Joining Ken on the pod, Shiori describes the many cultural, political and legal obstacles that stood in her way as she refused to do what even her own family was advising, which was to remain silent. Relying on her skills as a journalist, Shiori interviews multiple witnesses and confronts the powers that be. She files a civil lawsuit. She writes a best-selling book. The result is the stirrings of a Japanese #MeToo movement, a quest for justice, and the reclaiming of her chosen profession. “Black Box Diaries” is the harrowing, disturbing, and, ultimately, inspiring story of what happens when one woman decides to talk — and to fight back.   Follow: @shiori_ito.films and @blackboxdiariesdoc on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X   “Black Box Diaries” is being released by MTV Documentary Films.   Hidden Gem: “Intercepted”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Today we speak with Nanfu Wang, about her new documentary, “Night is Not Eternal,” a portrait of the Cuban struggle for democracy, with a focus on Cuban human rights activist Rosa Maria Payá.   Nanfu was previously on the pod discussing her last documentary “In the Same Breath”, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2022.  In that film, Nanfu found the focus of her previous work, which had been situated firmly on her native China slipping a bit, and found herself examining the way the  America that she had immigrated to dealt with the COVID crisis as well as the Chinese response.     In a similar manner, “Night is not Eternal”, as you'll hear, was meant at first to be a portrait of Cuban Activist Rosa Maria Payá, as well as of Rosa's father, Oswaldo, in a sense a legendary advocate of democracy for Cuba, and one who was killed by the security services of the nation he had refused to leave. But the portrait of Rosa and the focus on Cuba spawned an almost mirror-like depiction of Nanfu herself, and her own wishes for an end to authoritarianism in her home county.  And, over the years that she shot and edited the film, she found that she was beginning to recognize some early warnings of authoritarianism in her adopted country, one that, especially upon becoming the mother of a Chinese-American child, she had grown to love.   You can watch "Night is Not Eternal' on HBO and Max.   Follow: @nanfu on Instagram and @wangnanfu on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

To his “real” family, Mats Steen was a loving brother and son, rather shy and reserved; to his World of Warcraft family, Mats — known by his avatar Ibelin Redmoore — was bold, outgoing, and something of a ladies' man. Both families were devastated by Mats' tragic passing from Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was only in his mid-20s. In his deeply moving, brilliantly constructed new Netflix documentary “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” director Benjamin Ree (“The Painter and the Thief”, “Magnus”) illuminates all aspects of Mats' life in a profound way that neither of his families could possibly have imagined.   Benjamin joins Ken on the pod to discuss his own remarkable creative journey as he set out to give full measure to Mats' story — both in real life and inside the World of Warcraft universe. How did Benjamin animate the 42,000 pages of texts from the game to recreate Ibelin's adventures and relationships within the World of Warcraft community that he was a part of? In what ways was telling this film comparable to writing a symphony, with its innovative, repetitive structure building over time? And, finally, what has been the startling and legacy of Mat's life on those who knew him and on the thousands of gamers who never met him? There's no avatar for that kind of impact.   “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” is streaming on Netflix.   Follow: @benjaminree_ on Instagram and @Benjamin_Ree on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   Hidden Gems: “Brothers” “The Overnighters” “The Arbor”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In their first foray outside the context of American history and culture, Ken Burns (“The Brooklyn Bridge”, “The Civil War”, Jazz) and Dave McMahon (“The Central Park Five”, “Jackie Robinson”, “The War”) take on Leonardo da Vinci.  As they tell Mike, casting themselves deep into the past, Burns and McMahon explore the world that Leonardo found himself–first the Tuscan countryside, then Florence at the height of its commercial and cultural powers–and in an era that turned back both to the classic authors, as well as outward towards the natural world.  To adequately represent Leonardo's art, as well as the “prophetic” sketches of his notebook, Burns and McMahon embraced new forms of showing and telling themselves.  The result is a documentary that may well make you see the world if not through Leonardo's own eyes, then yet once again, anew.   “Leonardo da Vinci” will first air on PBS November 18 & 19.   Follow: @kenlburns on Instagram & @KenBurns on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   Hidden Gems: “Night Mail” “How to Survive a Pandemic”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Probably the last place you want to have a lover's quarrel is during an illegal climb up one of the world's tallest buildings — especially when your goal is to perform a death-defying acrobatic duet on the tiny platform at the top of the building's spire. But in Jeff Zimbalist's (“The Two Escobars,” “ReMastered”) harrowing, breathtaking documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” that's exactly where things are headed after Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, two uniquely gifted “rooftoppers/skywalkers,” reach the upper floors of the world's second tallest building and can't seem to agree on what to do next.   Joining Ken on the pod, Jeff describes how these two remarkable “artists of the sky” combine forces to perform some of the most extraordinary feats you've ever seen, from heights that will make your head spin. But while the footage of these achievements may make your palms sweaty (as they did mine), it is the growing intimate relationship between Vanya and Angela that proves every bit as complicated as the plotting required to pull off one of their amazing stunts. With his sharpened focus on this fascinating true romance, Jeff pulls off a pretty impressive stunt of his own: how to tell a story that is thoroughly relatable to those of us who will never do more than climb a 10-foot ladder or take an elevator ride to the top of some really tall building. It turns out that love may be the scariest climb of all.   “Skywalkers: A Love Story” is streaming on Netflix.   Follow: @jeffzimbalist on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X   Hidden Gem: “The Hour of the Furnaces”

In his highly engaging new Netflix documentary “Martha,” Emmy award-winning filmmaker RJ Cutler (“Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry”, “Big Vape”) calls Martha Stewart the original influencer. Throughout the 80s and 90s, on her TV show and with her Kmart retail line and publishing empire, Martha defined good taste as it related to virtually every aspect of the American home. Her magazine and brand were called “Martha Stewart Living” for a reason.   RJ joins Mike and Ken on the pod to provide further insight into this groundbreaking entrepreneur and cultural icon, whose advice on all things related to the American home gave her legions of fans something to aspire to, but who couldn't always fix everything in her own life. From her difficult upbringing, through the highpoint of her career, and then with her downfall and eventual, triumphant comeback, “Martha” offers a fascinating and comprehensive portrait that leaves no decorative stone unturned.   “Martha” is currently streaming on Netflix.   Follow: @rjcutler928 on Instagram and @rjcutler on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X     The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

If you don't want to get burned in American politics, “Lean into the fire.” So says James Carville, the world's most famous presidential campaign manager, in award-winning filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer's thoroughly engaging and refreshing new documentary, “Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid.” Carville's sharp-edged political commentary has, for years, provided a constant stream of content for cable shows and podcasts. But it wasn't until mid-2023, when Carville became one of the first mainstream voices in Democratic circles to call for Biden to quit the 2024 campaign, that he achieved a level of prominence that he hadn't experienced since the early 90s, when he helped Bill Clinton become president.   Joining Ken on the pod, Matt talks about what led him to James as the subject of his latest film even before the stuff hit the fan with Carville and Biden — and what it was like to be filming when the Biden-Trump debate changed everything. As with all master filmmakers, Matt's approach goes beyond the present tense moment. He deftly navigates Carville's poignant backstory and inner life, his upbringing and the public/private moments of his marriage to former Republican campaign consultant Mary Matalin. It turns out that leaning into the fire is sound advice for documentary filmmakers, too.   “Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid” is playing in select theaters.   Follow: @tyrnauer on Instagram and @mtyrnauer on X @topdocspod on Instagram and X   Hidden Gem: “Paul T. Goldman”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

“The Last of the Sea Women” sounds like it might be a B movie classic in the mold of “King Kong vs. Godzilla.” But while Sue Kim's fascinating and sui generis feature directorial debut shares very little in common with that movie genre, it does spotlight a group of extraordinary women from South Korea who have been living like real-life superheroes for centuries.   Sue joins Ken on the pod to talk about the remarkable haenyeo divers, who for many generations have been free diving off the coast of Jeju Island and other places in South Korea to harvest seafood and live as successful independent entrepreneurs. In the process, the haenyeo, most of whom are in their 60s and 70s, have formed a powerful bond and created a culture that has become legendary. Now, due to climate change, pollution and other factors, the haenyeo's way of life is under threat. As the haenyeo become active in the fight to preserve their culture and protect the environment, a new generation of haenyeo has emerged. But, with most haenyeo aging out of the profession, can this way of life survive? If this sounds like the plot of a superhero movie, then you wouldn't be far off.   “The Last of the Sea Women” is currently streaming on Apple+   Follow: @suebacca on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X   Hidden Gem: “Liquor Store Dreams”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Like many parents of young children who run around the house wreaking havoc, Montrealers Edith Lemay and Sébastian Pelletier have their hands full. But in their case, what concerns them most is that three of their four children suffer from a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which is gradually robbing Mia, Colin and Laurent of their eyesight. In their deeply moving new documentary, BLINK, filmmakers Edmund Stenson (“Finding Fukue”) and Daniel Roher (who won the Oscar® for “Navalny”) observe how this diagnosis has created a shockwave through the family, but also led to new adventures and personal growth.   Ed and Daniel join Ken on the pod to talk about how they came to know the Pelletiers and bear witness to the family's yearlong journey around the world. Designed to help the children create strong visual memories that will last a lifetime, the trip is guided by an epic bucket list that also serves to drive the film's narrative. As we witness the family traverse the globe, checking off items on the list, we find ourselves seeing the world through different sets of eyes. Scenes of delight and awe alternate with moments of uncertainty and fear. Ultimately, BLINK is a story of opening up and finding your place, including in your own family.   BLINK is being released by National Geographic Documentary Films in select theaters starting October 4th.   Follow: @daniel_roher on Instagram and @DanielRoher on twitter/X @edmund.stenson on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   Hidden Gems: Edmund: “A Man Vanishes” Daniel: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 5 – 15, 2024, promises, once again, to be one of the world's premier showcases for documentaries. TIFF's renowned Documentary Programmer and DOC NYC co-founder Thom Powers (Pure Nonfiction, WNYC's Documentary of the Week) joins Ken to break down the TIFF DOCS lineup and discuss what are sure to be some of the Fall awards season's most talked about and acclaimed documentaries.   Featuring 21 feature documentaries from 24 countries, the TIFF DOCS section is more international in scope than ever, covering a wide range of topics, from highly topical political docs (“The Last Republican”, “From Ground Zero”) to deeply intimate personal stories (“Mistress Dispeller”, “A Sister's Tale”) and awe-inspiring cinematic experiences (“Space Cowboy”, “The Last of the Sea Women”). The Fall doc season is here, and Toronto is ground zero.   Follow: @thompowers1 on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X/twitter   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

At one time, being “Slimed” on Nickelodeon was seen as the ultimate television rite of passage and a harmless bit of fun. But as “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” — Mary Robertson (“Framing Britney Spears”) and Emma Schwartz' (“Elon Musk's Crash Course”) devastating investigation of the warped culture at Nickelodeon in the 90s and 2000s — reveals, the atmosphere both on and off the set at Nickelodeon could be anything but harmless, fun, or safe.   Joining Ken on the pod to discuss their Emmy-nominated, 5-part Investigation Discovery docuseries, Mary and Emma detail the rise and fall of Nickelodeon “Golden Boy” Dan Schneider. His oversight of some of the most successful shows on the network left some staffers, young actors and the actors' parents deeply upset or worse. In the case of Nickelodeon star Drake Bell, who comes forward for the first time to tell his story on camera in the series, he was sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck. “Quiet on Set” pulls back the curtain on what went wrong at Nickelodeon and gives these young actors a chance to finally tell their side of the story.   “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program.   “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is streaming on Discovery Plus, Hulu and Max   Follow: @_rmaryr_ on Instagram and @mkrobertson on twitter/X @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   Hidden Gems: Mary: “To Be and to Have” Emma: “Jacinta”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

Director Bao Nguyen returns to “Top Docs” to illuminate the creative process behind his captivating, and now multi-Emmy nominated, Netflix doc “The Greatest Night in Pop” about the behind-the-scenes studio recording of the iconic 1980s famine relief song “We Are the World”. Bao takes us deep inside his approach to characterization and tension-building in the fascinating and compelling sequence in which the legendary Bob Dylan struggles to record his part of the song.    When producer Quincy Jones and musical genius Stevie Wonder come to his aid, the scene takes on a deeper meaning. Bao explores what makes this moment so magical and such an enticing creative challenge.   “The Greatest Night in Pop” is nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Sound Editing.   “The Greatest Night in Pop” is streaming on Netflix. You can listen to our original interview with Bao Nguyen from earlier this year

Fisher Stevens returns to the pod bearing 5 Emmy Nominations for his 4-part Netflix Series about the British football legend. He digs in deep with us on the opening sequence of Episode 3 of the series: "Golden Balls". And his delight is evident in meeting his old friends once again--Victoria and David, certainly, but Luís Figo, Gary Neville, and even Sir Alex Ferguson as well.   You can also listen to our original interview from October of last year!   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix

We continue our Emmy coverage with a conversation with the filmmakers behind the Netflix series, “Escaping Twin Flames”:  director Cecilia Peck as well as executive producer and editor Inbal Lessner (both of “Brave Miss World,” and “Seduced: Inside the Nexium Cult.”)  Here is how Cecilia describes the series:   “Escaping Twin Flames is a three part Netflix doc series investigating ‘Twin Flames Universe', which is a purported online relationship coaching school. This series follows former members of the group and family members, and focuses on the methodology used by this group to attract and indoctrinate and then control the lives of its members. It does pay particular attention to how, under the guise of being LGBTQ-friendly, Twin Flames Universe recruited within the gay, bi, and trans communities and then forced a heteronormative ideology onto its members.”   With the series nominated for Outstanding Editing, Cecilia, Inbal, and Mike dig into a sequence that leverages precisely chosen and deftly edited clips from the trove of materials from social to demonstrate exactly how the leaders of this group, Jeff and Sheleia, attracted, indoctrinated and integrated new members.  They then go on to explore the ramifications that the group's strict gender ideology has had on both the participants in the group, as well as their family members.   Follow: @ceciliapeck on Instagram and twitter/X @inballessner on Instagram and @inbal_lessner on twitter/X   Hidden Gems: “Harlan County, USA” “Victim/Suspect” “Stormy” “Fire of Love”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

  It's been 34 years since the stunning, untimely death of Jim Henson at the age of just 53. But, in the years since, Henson's creations (aka The Muppets) have continued their reign on “Sesame Street”, at theme parks and in the movies. Jim Henson's coterie of lovable characters is as present as ever. Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”, “Frost/Nixon”) takes on the legacy of the brilliant puppeteer and filmmaker in his deeply researched, playful and heartfelt documentary, “Jim Henson Idea Man”.   Ron joins Ken on the pod to discuss how, years ago, a conversation with the late director Jonathan Demme spurred him on to start making documentaries, and why he finds it so challenging and rewarding. With his latest documentary, Ron has found a subject that both piques his curiosity and dovetails with some of the themes of his own life (early success on television followed by a successful career directing movies; the challenges of balancing one's passion for work with commitment to family; and the excitement of the next project that always beckons). The result is one of Ron Howard's most personal and fascinating documentaries to date.   “Jim Henson Idea Man” is nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.   Follow: @RealRonHoward on Instagram and twitter/X @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   Hidden Gem: “Agents of Chaos”   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

9 years after the debut of his remarkable docuseries “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst”, which included a stunning confession by Durst on a hot mic, acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Jarecki (“Capturing the Friedmans”) is still at it. In April 2024, HBO released the first of his new six-episode series, “The Jinx - Part Two”, an investigation every bit as chilling and riveting as Part One... and maybe even more disturbing.   Joining Ken on the pod to talk about his epic saga of the New York real estate tycoon turned murderer, Andrew explores the backstory of Durst's now famous five-word confession (“Killed them all, of course”) and takes us through the Los Angeles trial that found Durst once again trying to beat a murder charge. Along with a fascinating cast of characters, Part Two explores the dark theme of complicity by Durst's family and friends who, time and time again, chose money and loyalty over doing the right thing. One might say about Andrew's quest, “Exposed them all, of course”.   “The Jinx - Part Two” is nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series   Hidden Gems: “Darwin's Nightmare” “Screwball”   Follow: @andrew.jarecki on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and twitter/X   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.