Podcasts about top docs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Perry is redefining emotional wellbeing in perimenopause- Connect with women in the same stage of life. Chat. Find validation. Join the live experts. Simplify things by downloading the Perry App on either Apple or Android.  Welcome to the Perimenopause Awareness Month , an initiative by Perry and the National Menopause Foundation. Learn more!  Tune in to today's talk, “What The Heck Happened To My Libido & Orgasms in Perimenopause”, with Dr. Lauren Streicher & Dr. Fenwa Milhouse both medical advisors for MyUTI. The MyUTI test kit is a convenient, easy-to-use at-home PCR test that delivers accurate results within 24 hours. Today they discuss what medications might help with a waning libido, what tools will get that blood flow going, and so much more! And if you want access to some incredible perry resources, curated especially in honor of Perimenopause Awareness month, just click the link to download our Toolbox. Perimenopause WTF! brought to you by perry!  A safe space for connections, support, new friendships & occasional laughs during the menopause transition. A #1 perimenopause app where you will meet other warriors who understand.  Sharing experiences will help to feel ‘normal' again. No, you're not crazy and no, you are not alone. With our network of wonderful menopause experts, we have gathered an abundance of  evidence-based knowledge, articles, podcasts and book: The Perry Menopause Journal. Learn more: www.heyperry.com https://perry.app.link/perimenopausewtf The Perimenopause Journal Are you looking for a meaningful way to prioritize your well-being during this crucial phase of your life? Do you crave self-care practices tailored specifically to the ups and downs of perimenopause? The journal offers: 1️⃣ Thoughtful Prompts: 2️⃣ Progress tracking: 3️⃣ Evidence-based knowledge 4️⃣ Community Support Grab a journal today!  About Dr. Lauren Streicher:  Dr. Streicher is an author, public speaker, physician, podcast host, educator & a media figure. She was the 2019 recipient of the North American Menopause Society Media Award. Dr. Streicher has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN & more. She has her own Podcast: Dr. Lauren Streicher's Inside Information: THE Menopause Podcast. She also films and produces her own short videos which can be seen on social media and her YouTube channel, DrStreicher TV  Learn More: https://www.drstreicher.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drstreich/ https://twitter.com/drstreicher About Dr. Fenwa Milhouse  Dr. Fenwa Milhouse is a board-certified, fellowship-trained urologist and specialist in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (also known as Urogynecology). She treats all adult individuals with a focus on the treatment of sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and cosmetic genital enhancement, including PhalloFILL™ girth enhancement, vaginal perineoplasty, labia majora surgery, G-spot amplification and labiaplasty in Chicago, Il.  Dr. Milhouse is a distinguished recipient of the 2023 Healthcare Impact Award by Top Docs.  Additionally, she was named Top Urologist in Chicago in 2023 by Women in Medicine. Dr. Milhouse is known by the world as “Your Favorite Urologist” and has been featured on several media outlets including Yahoo Style, HuffPost, Essence Magazine, CNN and more. Also Check out our new feature! ⁠perry guides⁠. For guidance with up-skilled peers with the same lived experience & dedicated perimenopause training. Learn More: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmilhouse/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fenwa-f-milhouse-4505b919/ Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, it does not take the place of medical advice from your physician, and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Patients should see a qualified medical provider for assessment and treatment.

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.

West Point Graduates and War Heroes, connect with USARF LT.GEN Thomas McInerney (Ret) and US-Army MAJ. GEN Paul E Vallely (Ret), plus order their books, donate, and access their weekly published articles at

Follow Scott LoBaido on X https://x.com/ScottLoBaido  Browse Scott's Patriot Artwork https://ScottLoBaido.com  .

FREE Pastor Artur on his Sept 10th Appeal and FREE the Coutts 2 on Sept 9th! Let Them Hear You! FLOOD the PHONES 4 Freedom as they want to throw them all in Maximum Security Prison for 10 years on September 9th! *Canadian Crown Corporation Prosecutor Steven Johnston Call now

⚡️Laugh at the Rothschild's IRS minions by allocating your IRA or Savings to Silver or Gold Without Penalty ⬇️ Patriots GRAB a chance to score up to $10,000.00* or more in FREE SILVER

Sherri Divband is a multi-time best-selling childrens author, Reiki Master, Intuitive, and mother of 3.  She and her husband have launched Aramais Learning Centers, putting the creativity and soul-level empowerment first with the children.  She joins THE SOVEREIGN SOUL SHOW host Brad Wozny to discuss the future of our children's education, shifting in the cosmic timelines and how we can learn from the kids as adults to aid our ascension.  .

Dan Oke of the LakeShore Sovereign Assembly in Canada, an original member of all rallies and freedom convoys back to 2020, in 2022 formed one of the world's 1st Grand Juries leveraging Common Law to investigate, indict, and prosecute tyrannical justices, mayors, medical tyrants, and members of law enforcement and military who commit war crimes, joins Scotty Saks, Kim Yeater and Eddie Cornell of Veterans 4 Freedom to discuss their Take Our Border Back initiative.  Many unvaccinated, freedom-loving Canadians on the front lines still speaking out today have confirmed they had not seen Veterans 4 Freedom nor Police On Guard present during the horrific arrests of Pastor Artur Pawlowski and the Coutts 4 during Freedom Convoy in Alberta, nor in Ottawa, nor after the fact during the National Citizens Inquiry.  Dan claims on multiple occassions he and his organization reached out to Police On Guard with thousands of pages of evidence and it was never acted upon.  Will V4F, POG, and others stand up on Sept 9th, 13th, the 28th and 29th for what they claim to uphold? Join a conversation for We The People.  . ⚡️Laugh at the Rothschild's IRS minions by allocating your IRA or Savings to Silver or Gold Without Penalty ⬇️ Patriots GRAB a chance to score up to $10,000.00* or more in FREE SILVER

⚡️Laugh at the Rothschild's IRS minions by allocating your IRA or Savings to Silver or Gold Without Penalty ⬇️ Patriots GRAB a chance to score up to $10,000.00* or more in FREE SILVER

⚡️WestPoint Grad 1961 and a decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran, US Army (ret.) Major General Paul E. Vallely served America for 31 years in uniform and is still serving the American Constitution and his oath at West Point of Duty, Honor, Country. ⚡️He is the co-founder and Chairman of Stand Up America Foundation, author or co-author of multiple books, including “America's End Game for the 21st Century: A Blueprint for Saving our Country” and his newest release “Dismantling of America” To connect with MG Vallely, order his books, donate, or review their weekly published articles on SubStack visit

Cutoff by from disability pay and refused his pension, Donate to Minted National Canadian Hero Fire Fighter, the ONE MAN ARMY of Norman Traversy, whom had only $0.61 (cents) in his bank account last month

Cutoff by from disability pay and refused his pension, Donate to Minted National Canadian Hero Fire Fighter, the ONE MAN ARMY of Norman Traversy, whom had only $0.61 (cents) in his bank account last month

⚡️Laugh at the Rothschild's IRS minions by allocating your IRA or Savings to Silver or Gold Without Penalty ⬇️ Patriots GRAB a chance to score up to $10,000.00* or more in FREE SILVER!!

Links to our guests or the organizations they support: AJ Roberts, UK Combat Veteran

Leverage the Peace Treaty per Law of War Manual for your Freedom & Ascension at https://TGPeaceTreaty.com  Listen to the Show as Sensei Phil explains the free Download (below) of CIC Trump's UCC Filings which Won his NYC Court Case showing his StrawMan Account and the Deep State bond on his trial https://www.transfernow.net/dl/20240811n4hJhFDo   .

✨Join the Mastering Ascension Community now at http://www.HoneyCGolden.com/masteringascension   

Visit Michele Lowry's website at  https://www.NikoeNaturalTherapies.com  Connect with Lisa Schermerhorn's healing services at http://www.LisaMindset.com   

Follow retired US Navy SEAL