Rephonic
Artwork for Top Docs:  Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Top Docs: Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

michaellouismerrill
Lhakpa Sherpa
Mount Everest
Women's Rights
Lucy Walker
Documentary Filmmaking
Martha Stewart
Nepal
Telemarketing
Twin Flames Universe
Mountain Queen, the Summits Of La Cpa Sherpa
Stax Records
2022 Everest Summit
Fraternal Order Of Police
The Jinx
Robert Durst
Jim Henson
David Beckham
Nickelodeon
Quiet On Set: the Dark Side Of Kids TV
Toronto International Film Festival

Mike and Ken talk to award-winning documentary filmmakers about their art, their subjects, and their process.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes277Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Top Docs:  Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers

Latest Episodes

When Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, their families were not only devastated by the news but also at a loss of what to do next.  In Brandon and Lance Kramer’s (The First Step”) brilli... more

In Marshall Curry’s (“Street Fight,” “A Night at the Garden”) new Netflix documentary, “The New Yorker at 100”, the magazine’s editor, David Remnick, calls its very existence “a miracle”: in a typical issue you might find  a long profile of a museum,... more

When Suuna Hassan and Madinah Babirah founded Masaka Kids Africana in the Masaka District of Uganda, they hoped to help a handful of orphaned children and other young people living on the streets. They had no way of knowing where their efforts would ... more

Who really took the photo widely known as “Napalm Girl”?  And does it really matter over a half-century later?

In his new Netflix documentary “The Stringer”, Bao Nguyen (“The Greatest Night in Pop”) follows a journalistic team lead by Anglo-American... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Democracy Now! Audio
Democracy Now! AudioDemocracy Now!

Recent Guests

Rob Reiner
Renowned director discussing the documentary on Albert Brooks
Episode: Our Most Popular Pods, Season 4
Lucy Walker
Documentary filmmaker discussing Lhakpa Sherpa
Episode: Our Most Popular Pods, Season 4
Sam Lipman-Stern
Filmmaker focused on the telemarketing industry
Episode: Our Most Popular Pods, Season 4
Adam Bhala Lough
Filmmaker collaborating on the telemarketing documentary
Episode: Our Most Popular Pods, Season 4
Shane Boris
Filmmaker discussing Hollywoodgate and Taliban encounters
Episode: Our Most Popular Pods, Season 4
Violet Du Feng
Emmy-winning filmmaker and director of The Dating Game
Independent Filmmaker
Episode: "The Dating Game" with Violet Du Feng & Joanna Natasegara
Joanna Natasegara
Academy Award-winning producer and founder of Violet Films
Violet Films
Episode: "The Dating Game" with Violet Du Feng & Joanna Natasegara
Clayton Davis
Senior Awards Editor at Variety
Variety
Episode: Academy Awards Breakdown 2025 with Clayton Davis
Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Director of "Instruments of a Beating Heart"
Independent Filmmaker
Episode: "Instruments of a Beating Heart" with Ema Ryan Yamazaki

Hosts

Mike Merrill
Host of a podcast featuring conversations with award-winning documentary filmmakers.
Ken Jacobson
Host of a podcast engaging with award-winning documentary filmmakers about their narratives and processes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Two Brilliant Guys

    It is clear from their insightful questions and their knowledge of the subject matter that these guys know intimately the process of docmaking and can take the listener to a deeper understanding of the challenges filmmakers face and why they make the creative choices to meet them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deadfun.
    United States4 years ago
  • Great podcast

    Very well structured and informing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sebmundo
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners commend the insightful questions and deep understanding of the documentary-making process. The content is well-structured and is rated highly for being informative.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#188
Ireland/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Last of the Sea Women" with Sue Kim
Q: What about the future? Will the HENYU survive?
It's uncertain whether the HENYU culture will survive due to environmental threats, but as long as there are HENYU, they will continue their relationship with the ocean.
"Last of the Sea Women" with Sue Kim
Q: When did you decide that the documentary form was going to be the way that you were going to help tell this story?
Su Kim began making documentaries about seven years ago and realized the urgency of documenting the Hanyo's story when she learned they were facing extinction.
"Last of the Sea Women" with Sue Kim
Q: Did you know about the Hanyo, the Sea Women? How did you first learn about them? And then what brought you to want to make a film about them?
Su Kim first learned about the Hanyo community when she was eight, during a trip to Korea and was struck by their boldness and strength. They became role models for her, leading to her desire to document their culture.
Classic: "20 Days in Mariupol” with Mstyslav Chernov (from July 2023)
Q: Do you think you were prepared for the war?
Mstyslav indicated that while they planned as best as they could, the intensity and rapidity of the situation in Mariupol meant they were unprepared for some aspects, especially being targeted due to the lack of other journalists.
"Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid" with Matt Tyrnauer
Q: How did you feel when James started calling for Biden to step aside?
It was extraordinary and illustrated Carville's insightful analysis; there were many pressures for him to self-censor, which made the conflict even more compelling for the film.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the art and craft of documentary filmmaking, discussions center on the journeys, experiences, and perspectives of award-winning documentarians. Each episode features insights into the creative process behind notable films, illustrating the challenges and triumphs filmmakers face while trying to convey compelling narratives. Topics cover a diverse range of subjects, from sociopolitical issues to personal stories that resonate profoundly with audiences, providing an engaging exploration of both the filmmaking process and the profound impact of documentaries on society.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. On the Media
3. Fresh Air
4. The Daily
5. Democracy Now! Audio

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 277 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Rob Reiner
2. Lucy Walker
3. Sam Lipman-Stern
4. Adam Bhala Lough
5. Shane Boris
6. Violet Du Feng
7. Joanna Natasegara
8. Clayton Davis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days