All Episodes
From the Tennis Court to New York: Exploring John McEnroe’s Life
John McEnroe is as well known for his explosive temper on the tennis court as he is for his many wins. Now, 31 years after the end of his singles career, and over the course of one night in New York, he explores his storied life in McEnroe, a documentary by Barney Douglas. In this episode of Factual America, Barney discusses his film, its star, and the ways in which it is not just another sports doc but a ‘cinematic experience’ – a unique film that reflects the one of a kind nature of McEnroe himself.
Mining Appalachia: Preserving the Story of King Coal
King Coal is a meditation on a world that is dying, and on another that is taking its place. Set in Appalachia, in the US, this “part documentary, part fable” explores what the end of the age of coal means to the people who have for 200 years lived under its influence. King Coal’s director, Elaine McMillion Sheldon, herself from Appalachia, joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss her film, which aims to preserve the memory of a time, place, and people who will one day fall silent forever.
Transforming the Planet: Discussing the Human Footprint
No species has influenced, altered, and dominated the world quite like humanity. Human Footprint, a new PBS docu-series directed by Nate Dappen and Neil Losin, explores how we have changed planet earth and what our actions say about us. Nate and Neil join Matthew Sherwood to discuss this important new series. Through them, we meet snake hunters, duck calling competitors, and lizards who are able to rapidly adapt to their environment. We also discover how the earth has in its turn influenced humanity.
Last Flight Home: The Death and Life of Eli Timoner
Last Flight Home is a documentary about life, love, and death. Eli Timoner was 92 years old when he died on 3rd March 2021. Despite his age and failing health, he did not die of natural causes nor due to illness. Instead, he used California’s End of Life Option Act to decide himself the date of his passing. Joining Matthew Sherwood is Last Flight Home’s director, and Eli’s daughter, Ondi Timoner. She discusses the making of the film, her father’s blessing for it, and how she and her family now help others by promoting the cause of greater bodily autonomy, specifically in relation to the right to die. Their conversation is poignant, but also hopeful and inspiring.
Masterclass: Discussing Maestra with Maggie Contreras
In Maestra, Maggie Contreras follows a group of women from all over the world as they prepare for and take part in a women only competition to find the best musical conductor among them. All the competitors have had to make sacrifices for La Maestra, but only one will be able to claim the life-changing prize. Maggie joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss her film, the male-centric past of conducting, its physical nature, and the loneliness of preparing to lead an orchestra. She also highlights the diverse and surprising backgrounds of some of the competitors. Together, she and Matthew shed light on a new and exciting aspect of classical music.
Arnold: Exploring Schwarzenegger‘s Three Lives
Whether it is as Mr Olympia, the king of 80s Hollywood action films, governor of California, or as a husband and father, Arnold Schwarzenegger has always striven to succeed. Often, he has been successful. Other times, however, he has not. In Arnold, Schwarzenegger himself opens up to Lesley Chilcott about both the amazing successes and bitter failures of his life. Lesley joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss her film, its iconic star, and how she peeled back his many layers to reveal the true Arnold.
Early 2000s New York: the Last Romantic Age of Rock’n’Roll
Experience the rise of iconic New York bands, such as The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs & LCD Soundsystem, and how 9/11 impacted their success. With archival footage and interviews with musicans themselves, meet them in the bathroom to explore their friendship-driven journeys.
Working: What We Do All Day featuring Barack Obama
Millions of us work for a living. How many of us, though, ask ourselves ‘what does this work mean? In Working: What We Do All Day, former US President Barack Obama speaks to people from three different industries – technology, hospitality, and home care – to find out what they think. Obama also explores changing work patterns, driven, for example, by AI, and their consequences. Director Caroline Suh joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss the making of Working: What We Do All Day, how they have approached jobs in the past, how President Obama became involved in the series, and even the famous illustrator, Richard Scarry!
32 Sounds: Exploring the Most Mysterious and Profound of the Senses
32 Sounds is both an exploration and meditation. In it, inspired by a conversation with composer Annea Lockwood, Sam Green goes on a journey that takes him from nature to film studios, the purring of cats to silence. Sound, he tells Matthew Sherwood, is mysterious and even ephemeral, but listening to it can be both intensely pleasurable and even ground you as a person. All the senses are wonderful. Sound, though, is a wonder. Listen, and find out why.
Reimagine Wildfire: An Elemental Threat That We Can Control
The world is getting hotter and fires more destructive. In Elemental, Trip Jennings explores how a wildfire destroyed the Californian town of Paradise in just a matter of hours. With the help of experts, Native Americans, and more he goes on a journey to understand how fires happen, and what we can do to stop them. For, as he tells Matthew Sherwood, fire presents a problem that can, in some cases, be solved by each one of us in as little as a weekend. All we have to do is decide to take action.
Jason Isbell: Portrait of the Musician as a Young Man
It’s 2019, and Jason Isbell is recording his latest album: Reunions. As he does so, he discusses his life and music with director, Sam Jones. The result is Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed, a documentary that explores Jason’s childhood trauma, his addictions, music, and marriage to fellow musician Amanda Shires, as well as the challenges of living through the Covid pandemic. Sam joins Matthew Sherwood to discuss the film, its star, and the importance of embracing the unexpected.
The Rise and Fall of America's Most Corrupt Police Squad
The Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force was created to fight crime. Instead its officers became criminals. In I Got A Monster, director Kevin Abrams explores how their reign of terror was finally ended by the FBI and a defence attorney named Ivan Bates. In his discussion with Matthew Sherwood, Abrams explores what happened, his interviews with the officers’ victims, and what it was like filming with minimal resources. Kevin also pays tribute to Baltimore’s beauty and brings an unexpected guest onto the podcast!
Waco: The Tragedy that Still Haunts America
In early 1993, law enforcement officers attempted to storm a compound belonging to the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas. The officers were met by a hail of gunfire. They retreated and a 51-day siege began. It ended when a number of fires began at the compound killing 82 members of the cult, including 28 children. Using previously unseen footage, Waco: American Apocalypse examines what happened, and why. In conversation with Matthew Sherwood, director and producer Tiller Russell calls the siege an ‘iconic American tragedy’ with roots that go all the way back to the USA’s origins.
Charles Starkweather: The Murder Victim Who Lived
Winter 1957-58. America is gripped by news of a killing spree taking place in the Midwestern states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The killers are 19 year old Charlie Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate. After being captured, both are put on trial. Charlie is executed and Caril sent to prison. The 12th Victim, a new docu-series from Showtime, investigates Caril’s role in the murders. As director Nicola Marsh tells Matthew Sherwood, it finds that she had none. Not only was she not even Charlie’s girlfriend, but he forced her to accompany him as he killed the victims. Caril is therefore the 12th victim. Convicted unjustly in the past, and searching for justice in the present.
Where the Truth Lies – Investigating MH370: The Plane That Disappeared
March 8th 2014. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappears while on a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Nine years later, the plane has still not been found. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared explores the facts behind one of the greatest mysteries in modern aviation history. The filmmakers also talk to those left behind: the families of the disappeared who, nearly a decade later, continue to grieve and search for the truth.
The Day Fatboy Slim Narrowly Avoided Disaster
In the summer of 2002, Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) decided to hold a free concert on the beach in Brighton, on the south coast of England. 50,000 people were expected to attend. By the time the iconic DJ took to the stage, however, 250,000 fans were waiting for him to begin. Using footage and photography from Cook’s own archive, and fans who were there, Right Here, Right Now tells the story of what happened on an unforgettable and never-to-be-repeated day in music and British history.
Oscar Nominations 2023: Three Tales from the Past and the Heart
In this special edition of Factual America, Matthew Sherwood meets the people behind three of the five nominations for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Oscars: The Martha Mitchell Effect, How Do You Measure a Year? and Stranger at the Gate. The films bring the past into the present, stripping away lies, showing the evolution of a relationship, and startling acts of love. They show humanity at its worst, and best.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Don’t be fooled. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck is not about not caring at all. The film takes the form of an extended interview with Mark Manson, author of the book on which The Subtle Art is based. Using the example of his own life, he talks candidly about the many mistakes he has made, and what he had to do to solve his problems; namely, give a f*ck, just about the right things, and the right people.
Moonage Daydream: David Bowie’s Impressionistic Life
Moonage Daydream is not just a film but a whole cinematic experience. It is a montage of memories conveyed through archival images and sounds that tell the story of David Bowie’s richly lived life. Working with the approval of Bowie’s estate, director Brett Morgen spent nearly seven years crafting, honing, and finally perfecting the film, which has been lauded across the world. It is a fitting tribute to one of music’s brightest stars.
Dog Days: The Truth Behind Gunther’s Millions
Gunther is a multi-millionaire. He owns mansions and yachts. Beautiful women surround him. He has everything – everything a dog could want. That’s right, Gunther is a German Shepherd, and Gunther’s Millions tells the true story of his stranger-than-fiction life. It is a four part docu-series that is both bizarre and, dare we say it, barking.