Pure Nonfiction
Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film
Hear the world's top storytellers talk all things documentary film. Host Thom Powers is as well-connected as it gets in this world as a documentary curator for TIFF and other renowned festivals. He wrote the book "Mondo Documentary" that is “required reading for fans of nonfiction cinema,” says Judd Apatow. Our podcast guests range from documentary legends to emerging talent. Follow us on Instagram and Substack at @purenonfiction.
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Pure Nonfiction
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Latest episode
Jul 1, 2026
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Episodes
93: Astra Taylor on “What is Democracy?” 17.01.2019 40:52
This interview was recorded at SVA’s MFA Social Documentary department . On Twitter: @astradisastra @thompowers @PureNonfiction
92: Aretha Franklin in “Amazing Grace,” Lost and Found 06.12.2018 42:56
On Twitter: @TheRevAl @RevDrBarber @nelsongeorge @TirrellWhittley @thompowers @PureNonfiction
91: Mr. Rogers, Quincy Jones, Jane Fonda & Pope Francis Walk Into a Bar 29.11.2018 57:09
Related Pure Nonfiction episodes: 11: Morgan Neville 46: Rashida Jones 77: Wim Wenders 90: DOC NYC Short List filmmakers on “Getting Political” On Twitter: @ThePopeMovie @QuincyDJones @MrRogersMovie @TremoloDocs @HBODocs @thompowers @PureNonfiction
90: Michael Moore, Julie Cohen, Annie Sundberg & Stephen Maing on “Getting Political” 15.11.2018 46:01
On Twitter: @MMFlint @FilmmakerJulie @anniesundberg @mainmaing @thompowers @purenonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
89: Opal H. Bennett on Short Documentaries 08.11.2018 34:03
On Twitter: @oh_benn @docnycfest @thompowers @purenonfiction
88: DOC NYC Preview 2018 01.11.2018 1:01:41
On Twitter: @DOCNYCfest @Raphaellochka @1basil1 @thompowers @PureNonfiction This episode was recorded at the School of Visual Arts MFA Social Documentary Department . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
87: Sandi Tan on “Shirkers" 25.10.2018 30:01
On Twitter: @ShirkersFilm @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
86: Alex Gibney & Trevor Birney, Wanted in Belfast 18.10.2018 37:04
On Twitter: @alexgibneyfilm @trevorbirney @Barry_TheDetail @PureNonfiction @thompowers
85: Maxim Pozdorovkin on Trump, Putin & Pussy Riot 02.08.2018 47:41
On Twitter: @maximpoz @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
84: Matt Tyrnauer on “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” 26.07.2018 44:53
On Twitter: @mtyrnauer @scottythemovie @ScottyBowers @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview took place at the School of Visual Arts in the MFA Social Documentary Program . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network. Note: This episode contains explicit content.
83: Jason Kohn on "Love Means Zero" 19.07.2018 53:27
On Twitter: @jasonkilo @thompowers @PureNonfiction Related: Errol Morris interviewed on episode 51 and episode 62 . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
82: Kevin MacDonald on Whitney Houston 12.07.2018 34:23
On Twitter: @Whitneythefilm @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview was recorded at SVA’s MFA Social Documentary program .Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
81: Tim Wardle on “Three Identical Strangers” 05.07.2018 31:37
On Twitter: @ttwardle @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
80: Jonathan Safran Foer & Christopher Quinn on “Eating Animals” 28.06.2018 41:58
On Twitter: @EatingAnimalsUS @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview was recorded at SVA MFA Social Documentary Program . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
79: Judd Apatow on Garry Shandling 14.06.2018 38:04
The conversation touches upon the #MeToo movement and references two articles by Janis Hirsch: Comedy Writer Reveals Lurid Details of Sexual Harassment on Set - And Why it Cost Her a Job (October 2017) I Worked for Garry Shandling, and Judd Apatow’s Doc Shows a Man I Never Knew (March 2018) On Twitter: @JuddApatow @HBODocs @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podc...
78: Liz Garbus on The New York Times in "The Fourth Estate" 31.05.2018 19:49
On Twitter: @lizgarbus @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
77: Wim Wenders on Pope Francis 24.05.2018 33:58
On Twitter: @ThePopeMovie @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
76: Filming Ruth Bader Ginsburg 10.05.2018 45:57
On Twitter: @betsywest @filmmakerjulie @RBGmovie @thompowers @PureNonfiction . This interview was recorded during the Miami Film Festival at the offices of Rakontur . Thanks to sound recordist Khaleel Bailey. Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
75: Dawn Porter on “Bobby Kennedy for President” 03.05.2018 30:58
This interview was recorded during the Montclair Film Festival . On Twitter: @dawnporterm @purenonfiction @thompowers Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
74: Joe Berlinger from "Brother's Keeper" to "Intent to Destroy" 26.04.2018 43:30
On Twitter: @joeberlinger @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview was recorded at the School of Visual Arts MFA Social Documentary Program. Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
73: Sophie Fiennes on Grace Jones 19.04.2018 36:01
On Instagram: @bloodlightandbami @thompowers1 @purenonfiction This interview was recorded at SVA’s MFA Social Documentary program . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
72: Jed Rothstein on “The China Hustle” 05.04.2018 25:01
The film’s executive producers have appeared on past episodes of Pure Nonfiction. Hear Alex Gibney on episode 16 (touching upon “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”) and episode 60 (focusing on Rolling Stone) ; and Frank Marshall on episode 44 . On Twitter: @boerumhillfilm @TheChinaHustle @thompowers @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
71: Amanda Micheli on “Vegas Baby” & IVF Treatment 22.03.2018 21:20
On Twitter: @RunawayFilmsSF @vegasbabyfilm @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview was recorded at SVA MFA Social Documentary Program . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
70: Mark Duplass, Chapman & Maclain Way on “Wild Wild Country” 15.03.2018 33:47
Wild Wild Country executive producer Josh Braun was interviewed on Pure Nonfiction #33 . On Twitter: @WildCountryDoc @MarkDuplass @raphaellochka @PureNonfiction Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network. Parental guidance: This episode contains adult language and subject matter.
PN 69: Remembering Chris Hondros 08.03.2018 33:06
Read Thom’s tribute to Chris Hondros from 2011 . On Twitter: @greg_campbell @hondrosfilm @thompowers @PureNonfiction This interview was conducted at SVA MFA SocDoc program . Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.
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