Documentary First
The Making of Films You'll Love
A weekly podcast from Documentary First Productions,
makers of The Girl Who Wore Freedom.
Newest conversation
What All the President's Men Didn't Show You About Watergate
With Shane O'Sullivan · November 5, 2026
Discover how documentaries actually get made, paid for and seen
with filmmaker Christian Taylor.
Plus DocuView Deja View, where every guest recommends a documentary worth watching.
Our Mission & Vision
DocuView Deja View
Need a documentary to watch tonight?
200+ documentaries recommended, each linked to the episode where it came up.
Picked again and again
Searching for Sugar Man
Picked by Alex Ivany, Andrew Gans and Jonathan de Jong
Three Identical Strangers
Picked by Josh Lindsay, Yvette Amirian and Eric Gardner
Undefeated
Picked by Robbie Davis and Andre N. Jackson
The Thin Blue Line
Picked by Josh Lindsay and Erik Ewers
What people are saying
Listeners keep coming back
Guests have included Ken Burns and PBS American Masters creator Susan Lacy.
“The best film podcast out there.”
Joe Amodei, Virgil Films
Documentary First is one of the most useful resources out there for anyone making docs or thinking about it. Christian is a generous, well-prepared host who gets her guests talking about craft and the business side with a candor that’s hard to find elsewhere, and I had a great time being on the show. Highly recommended for filmmakers at any stage.
Nicholas Bruckman, Emmy-nominated director (Not Going Quietly) and Documentary First guest · Apple Podcasts review
Documentaries are far from my own line of work, but I gain insight into story telling, enjoy the variety of perspectives and come away feeling that listening to Christian and her guests was a terrific investment of my time.
Salsa In The MtnsApple Podcasts review
The shorter deep dive episodes are my favorite, because we get to hear how Christian takes something that she heard in the longer interviews and talks about how it applies to her everyday life. Highly recommend this podcast!
Lura B PriebeApple Podcasts review
I loved so much about this! I think that people are crying out for “real” in a world where we are trying to figure out what is real and what isn’t.
@jdstein45YouTube comment
Ratings and reviews help new listeners find the show. Thank you. More ways to support the show
Free guides from the people who make documentaries
Each free guide gathers the lessons one guest shared on Documentary First into a single guide you can keep and come back to. Browse every lesson in the Lessons Library, then get the newest guide free with your email.
Our films
True stories of real people: what they remember, what they overcome, and what they leave behind.
So They Might Live Freeworking title
Directed by Christian Taylor
Learn more about So They Might Live Free
How to Support a Project
Our films are proudly fiscally sponsored by Living Stories Ltd, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting meaningful storytelling. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation to support one of our films, please visit their website and designate your gift to the film you'd like to support, or give through that film's own page.