Cover art for podcast Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

21 EpisodesProduced by Pure NonfictionWebsite

If you love documentary films, hear from the top storytellers on Pure Nonfiction. Host Thom Powers is well-connected in this world as a documentary curator for the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, and SundanceNow Doc Club. He leads conversations that are frank, funny and revealing. List… read more

21 Episodes | 2023 - 2024

Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

179: Alex Gibney on Paul Simon

March 21st, 2024

50:17

"In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon" covers the highs and lows of the musician's career as he goes into the studio to create his most recent …

178: Anand Giridharadas on "The Persuaders"

March 14th, 2024

48:19

In his book "The Persuaders," Anand Giridharadas profiles activists and organizers who seek to change people's minds in a time of divisiveness. Host Thom Powers interviews Anand about how he found optimism in the work …

177: Carla Gutierrez on "Frida"

March 7th, 2024

48:36

Carla Gutierrez is a renowned documentary editor, known for films such as "RBG" and "Julia." Now she makes her directorial debut with "Frida" about …

176: Alissa Wilkinson at The New York Times

February 29th, 2024

54:30

Alissa Wilkinson stands out amongst film critics for writing extensively about documentaries. She was based at Vox.com for many years, but a few …

175: S. Leo Chiang on "Island in Between"

February 15th, 2024

40:30

Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang reflects on the relations between Taiwan and China in the Oscar nominated short "Island in Between" streaming from The New York Times Op-Docs. Leo travels to the Kinmen Islands that belong to …

174: Oscar contenders, part 2

January 12th, 2024

43:17

Fifteen films have been chosen for the Oscars documentary short list, the round that comes before nominations. Pure Nonfiction partnered with The Ankler to spotlight seven of the Oscar contenders at a live event in Los …

173: Oscar contenders, part 1

January 11th, 2024

53:36

Fifteen films have been chosen for the Oscars documentary short list, the round that comes before nominations. Pure Nonfiction partnered with The Ankler to spotlight seven of the Oscar contenders at a live event in Los …

172: Nicole Newnham on “The Disappearance of Shere Hite”

November 30th, 2023

46:57

In "The Disappearance of Shere Hite," Oscar-nominated director Nicole Newnham ("Crip Camp") profiles the sex researcher who soared to success in the …

171: "Every Body" Profiles Intersex Activists

November 22nd, 2023

43:03

Filmmaker Julie Cohen ("RBG") profiles three intersex activists in her new film "Every Body," now streaming on Peacock. One of those activists is …

170: Raoul Peck on "Silver Dollar Road"

November 16th, 2023

42:01

In his new film "Silver Dollar Road," Oscar-nominated director Raoul Peck ("I Am Not Your Negro") focuses on the Reels family in North Carolina, who …

169: Mstyslav Chernov on “20 Days in Mariupol"

October 26th, 2023

36:21

Associated Press videographer Mstyslav Chernov won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of Russia's war against Ukraine. When the war escalated in …

168: Vinay Shukla on "While We Watched"

October 5th, 2023

40:42

"While We Watched" profiles the Indian TV journalist Ravish Kumar during a period when he's under extreme pressure including death threats for trying to do his job. The film is a cautionary tale over threats to …

167: Sébastien Lifshitz on "Casa Susanna"

August 24th, 2023

39:12

"Casa Susanna," playing on PBS Passport, tells the secret history of a Catskills resort in the late 1950s and early 1960s that was a safe haven for transgender expression. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews …

166: Maite Alberdi on "The Eternal Memory"

August 17th, 2023

36:51

Maite Alberdi has become Chile’s most prominent documentary maker. Her films include "Tea Time," about a monthly salon of women; "The Grown-Ups", …

165: D. Smith on "Kokomo City"

August 10th, 2023

39:29

No shade to Barbie, but our favorite summer film is "Kokomo City" that won audience prizes in Sundance and Berlin for its raw and raucous profile of four black transgender sex workers.

First time filmmaker D. Smith had a …

164: Asif Kapadia on Highs and Lows

June 22nd, 2023

37:35

Asif Kapadia has won renown for his biographical portraits in "Senna", "Diego Maradona" and the Oscar-winning "Amy". In this wide-ranging conversation, he speaks about the setbacks and breakthroughs in his career. The …

163: John Leguizamo Does America

June 8th, 2023

32:12

John Leguizamo has a versatile writing and acting career from Broadway to Hollywood. Now he hosts the series "Leguizamo Does America" that explores …

162: Roger Ross Williams on Donna Summer, "The 1619 Project" and "Cassandro"

May 30th, 2023

43:25

Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams has a bounty of new releases this year. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Williams at the CPH:DOX festival about three of those works: Love to Love You, Donna Summer …

161: Elvis Mitchell on "Is That Black Enough for You?!?"

May 18th, 2023

36:15

Elvis Mitchell explores the flourishing of American Black cinema from 1968 to 1978 in the documentary "Is That Black Enough for You?!?" (Netflix). Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers sat down with Elvis in their hometown …

160: Inside "Couples Therapy"

May 11th, 2023

33:02

Showtime's acclaimed series "Couples Therapy" is now in its third season. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers sat down with its star Dr. Orna Guralnik along with co-creators Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg and one of its …

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