The Documentary Podcast Folgen

What does it mean to inherit a sacred tradition? Alam Khan was born into one of the most revered lineages in Indian classical music - his father, Ali Akbar Khan, was hailed as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century and brought the spiritually rich sarod and rāga music to the West. But Alam's journey has not been one of simple inheritance. Presenter Rajeev Gupta follows Alam across California, from his father's grave to the family music school and into the quiet spaces where Alam seeks refuge. For Alam, it is a deeply personal wrestle: growing up American, immersed in rock and hip-hop, Alam resisted the weight of legacy. But after his father's death, something changed. Going through his father’s recordings, he felt a cosmic calling - one that was more spiritual than familial. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

In July 2024 Bangladesh was rocked by protests. They were sparked by anger at widespread corruption, and the reinstatement of a quota system that reserved 30% of civil service jobs for families of war veterans. An estimated 1400 people were killed in the protests which led to Bangladesh’s leader of 15 years, Sheikh Hasina, fleeing the country. After months of painstaking investigation, BBC Eye can now reveal how the police response to the protest unfolded and has verified a leaked audio recording in which Sheikh Hasina is heard authorising her security services to use lethal weapons against the protesters. We follow the story of one young man in particular, struggling to find justice for his 19-year-old brother who was among those killed.

On 26 April 26, this year, 11 people were killed after a car was driven into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver. Dozens more were injured, making it the deadliest attack in the city’s history. The youngest victim was just five years old. The accused, 30-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo, remains in custody while facing numerous charges of second-degree murder. Shortly after the attack, authorities confirmed that he was ‘being supervised under the Mental Health Act’ at the time of the attack.This case has sparked a conversation about mental health and the way it is dealt with, or not, in the city. Sam Gruet travels to Vancouver, British Columbia to ask if the city, and wider province, is facing a mental health crisis, exploring how a mixture of cuts and a worsening opioid crisis has led some to call for drastic action. This episode of The Documentary comes to you from Assignment, investigations and journeys into the heart of global events.