Factual America

00:00:00 – Intro to the Poster War 00:01:08 – Synopsis 00:03:40 – Posters for the Forgotten Hostages 00:09:34 – The Inevitable Backlash 00:18:02 – Roots in Social Media and the Education System 00:29:58 – The BDS Movement 00:34:29 – Is Anger Rooted in Antisemitism 00:38:46 – America's Culture of Violence on the Rise 00:51:00 – The Line Between Anitsemitism and Fair Criticism 00:55:19 – Were th...

In this episode, we dive into the making of Nightmares of Nature , the hit Netflix nature documentary that turns the lens toward the eerie, emotional, and often terrifying side of the natural world. We speak with Charlotte Lathane to explore how the filmmaking team blended horror aesthetics with real wildlife stories, creating a show that challenges how we see the planet. Timecodes:  00:00 – Intro...

The Perfect Neighbor documentary tells the shocking true story of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a Black mother of four who was fatally shot by her neighbour Susan Lorincz in Florida. In this exclusive interview, director Geeta Gandbhir and Pamela Dias, Ajike’s mother, discuss how the film reconstructs the tragedy through police body-cam footage, 911 calls, and interrogation tapes. They unpack how a neighbourh...

This documentary with the Dalai Lama, Wisdom of Happiness, takes us inside His Holiness’s powerful message for a world in crisis. In this exclusive interview with director Barbara Miller , we explore how compassion, peace, and emotional resilience can guide us through climate change, conflict, and chaos — and why happiness might be humanity’s most radical act.

Explore the shocking truth behind the Afghanistan War in our deep dive into Bodyguard of Lies. We uncover decades of government deception and falsehoods, featuring never-before-seen insider testimonies that reveal how the public was misled. We speak with director Dan Krauss about making the documentary and exposing the cover-up behind one of the longest wars in U.S. history. If you’re interested i...

In this Letter From Britain episode of Factual America, our host Matthew reflects on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it means for free speech, political extremism, and the state of democracy in America and beyond. We examine the rise of political extremism, the media’s role in shaping the narrative, and how leaders from Bernie Sanders to Robert Redford have spoken out about the...

This interview was recorded before the news of Charlie Kirk’s murder, but its insights into political violence and radicalisation remain highly relevant. Max Horder discusses the phenomenon of 'Luigi-ism', a term he coined to describe a troubling trend of left-wing violence and its cultural implications. He explains how Luigi Mangione became a cultural icon to the far left, reflecting a gr...

Political cartoons, satire, and US presidents collide in the new documentary A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant. We interview Bill Banowsky on how one of the world’s most fearless cartoonists shaped politics and public opinion across five decades and ten presidencies. In this episode of Factual America, we look at the power of satire in American democracy, Oliphant’s lasting inf...

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, dives into one of the most disturbing high school “catfish” scandals ever exposed. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with director Skye Borgman to uncover how a teenager was lured into a devastating web of lies and manipulation by an online predator. If you’re obsessed with Netflix true crime, catfishing scand...

The Dallas Cowboys, Netflix, America’s Team, the NFL, Jerry Jones, and the (un)making of a modern football dynasty – we dive into all these topics in this episode featuring Chapman and Maclain Way, the Emmy-winning filmmakers behind Netflix’s new sports docuseries America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys . Known for Wild Wild Country , Kings of Tupelo and Untold , the Way brothers break down ho...

The Biggest Loser, Netflix, reality TV, weight loss, fitness culture, diet industry, TV scandal. Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, a Netflix docuseries directed by Skye Borgman, exposes the dark side of one of television’s most controversial shows. We dive into the harsh truths behind the cameras, the toll on contestants’ lives, and how the series reshaped America’s ideas about weight...

Storm Area 51 – viral meme, US military, internet conspiracy, aliens, UFOs, Nevada desert, Facebook event, true story. In 2019, a joke Facebook post about storming Area 51 went viral and triggered a full-scale media frenzy that put the US military on high alert. What started as an internet meme turned into a real-world phenomenon that captured the world’s attention. In this episode, we speak with...

This episode uncovers the explosive story behind P.I. Moms, an early 2000s reality TV show about everyday mothers working as private investigators. Through a tell-all documentary, we investigate the drug scandal that rocked the series and ultimately led to its downfall. Join us as we reveal how the scandal sabotaged the show and impacted the lives and careers of its stars, including Carl Marino of...

As an American living in the UK, Matthew Sherwood unpacks what Independence Day really means from across the pond—and what it reveals about the growing divide between the US and UK. From political chaos to economic stagnation, he explores why the two nations feel increasingly out of sync. The episode also dives into the rise of political disruptors like Nigel Farage and Elon Musk, before teasing w...

In 2009, the world stopped to watch a homemade UFO float across the Colorado skies – with a 6-year-old boy believed to be trapped inside. The “Balloon Boy” story gripped a nation…and then the shocking truth came out. In this episode, we speak with Gillian Pachter, director of the hit Netflix documentary Trainwreck: Balloon Boy, to uncover what really happened behind the scenes of one of the most b...

Shark conservationist Ocean Ramsey is world-famous for swimming with sharks to challenge fear and promote marine conservation. In this episode, we speak with JP Stiles and Harrison Macks, directors of the Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer, about Ramsey’s mission to protect sharks, the power of viral ocean activism, and why these apex predators are so misunderstood. Subscribe to Factual America:...

Poop Cruise. Disaster. Documentary. In this unmissable episode, we sit down with the director, James Ross, behind the new Trainwreck episode diving into the infamous 2013 Carnival cruise from hell. With raw insight and behind-the-scenes revelations, we explore how an engine fire left 4,000 passengers stranded at sea with no power, no plumbing, and nowhere to go – transforming a dream vacation into...

Rob Ford, Toronto mayor, and scandal – we dive deep into the chaos of the new Netflix documentary Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem, with director Shianne Brown. From political rise to crack-smoking infamy, this episode unpacks how a beloved yet controversial figure shook Canadian politics – and why his story still matters today. Subscribe to Factual America: https://linktr.ee/FactualAmerica Timestamps:...

One of the deadliest music festivals in recent history, the 2021 Astroworld tragedy left 10 dead and thousands traumatised. Now, a powerful new documentary uncovers what really happened – with first-hand accounts from survivors, paramedics, and festival staff. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the film with director Yemi Bamiro and executive producer Kari Lia, as they reveal how they nav...

In this exclusive interview, we speak to Yotam Guendelman and Ari Pines, the directors of the latest Netflix true crime documentary, which uncovers the chilling details behind the 1982 Tylenol poisonings – a case that shook America. With cyanide-laced pills, and a suspect who was never charged, the Chicago Tylenol murders remain one of the most disturbing unsolved crimes in US history. We explore...

Osama bin Laden, CIA, and the manhunt that changed history. In this interview with award-winning directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan of American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, we uncover the untold truths behind one of the most intense and dangerous global manhunts. Explore rare footage, insider interviews, and shocking revelations about the CIA’s pursuit of Osama bin Laden. How did the mission unfol...

The Liver King built a supplement empire by devouring raw meat on social media. And he had the muscles to prove it. But how did the Liver King get so huge? Netflix director Joe Pearlman tells all. In this interview, we dig into the raw truth behind the man, the myth, and the meat-fueled machine that captivated millions. From viral fame and ancestral living to steroids, scandal, and supplement sale...

Vietnam War secrets, untold stories, and hidden history - revealed by Netflix director Brian Knappenberger and renowned historian Lien-Hang Nguyen. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, this interview uncovers new accounts from the war - from suppressed footage to shocking revelations about U.S. involvement and North Vietnam's internal strategy. A must-watch for an...

In this chilling episode, filmmaker Liam Le Guillou takes us deep inside A Cursed Man - his harrowing real-life journey into the world of black magic and satanic rituals. What begins as a sceptical social experiment soon spirals into a terrifying descent, as Liam invites powerful practitioners to place real curses on him. Facing nightmares, unexplained anxiety, and even a blood pact with a Satan-w...

"One of the deadliest tornadoes in US history is headed directly for their high school graduation…” In this episode, filmmaker Alexandra Lacey takes us inside her powerful new Netflix documentary, Twister: Caught in the Storm, a raw and moving look at life in Joplin, Missouri, after a catastrophic natural disaster. Alexandra shares how the disaster reshaped a generation of young people and re...