The FRONTLINE Dispatch

GBH

4.5 (1.1K)
NEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath sits down with journalists and filmmakers for probing conversations about the investigative journalism that drives each FRONTLINE documentary and the stories that shape our time. Produced at FRONTLINE’s headquarters at GBH and powered by PRX. The FRONTLINE Dispatch is made possible by the Abrams Foundation Journalism Initiative.

DEC 19

The Rise of RFK Jr., Part 4: From Protest to Power

RFK Jr. ascends to the top ranks of government. Raney Aronson-Rath and filmmaker Michael Kirk examine his alliance with President Donald Trump, his rise to Secretary of Health and Human Services, and his efforts to turn his long-held beliefs into federal policy—concluding FRONTLINE’s serialized adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr.

26 min
DEC 15

The Rise of RFK Jr., Part 3: A Movement Finds Its Moment

As COVID-19 upends daily life, RFK Jr. emerges as a leading voice of dissent. Continuing FRONTLINE’s serialized audio adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr., Raney Aronson-Rath and filmmaker Michael Kirk examine how the pandemic unified his beliefs, expanded his audience, and propelled him from the fringes into the national spotlight.

45 min
DEC 11

The Rise of RFK Jr., Part 2: Public Purpose, Private Turmoil

RFK Jr. emerges from a turbulent adolescence determined to reclaim his legacy. Raney Aronson-Rath and filmmaker Michael Kirk trace his rise as an environmental advocate—and the private contradictions that complicated his public mission—continuing FRONTLINE’s serialized audio adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr.

40 min
DEC 8

The Rise of RFK Jr., Part 1: From Hickory Hill to Heartache

How did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. evolve from Democratic political heir to MAGA-aligned power player? Host Raney Aronson-Rath and filmmaker Michael Kirk trace his path from Hickory Hill to the Trump administration and introduce FRONTLINE’s serialized audio adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr.

37 min
NOV 26

Inside Germany’s Far-Right Surge

In this episode of The FRONTLINE Dispatch, host Raney Aronson-Rath speaks with longtime FRONTLINE correspondent Evan Williams, director of The Rise of Germany’s New Right. Together, they unpack how the hardline Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has surged in popularity, drawing young voters on TikTok, capitalizing on economic anxiety, and reframing nationalism for a new generation.

25 min
OCT 16

Born Poor: A 14-Year Journey into Childhood Poverty and its Consequences

What happens when you grow up poor in America—and stay in touch with the same filmmaker for more than a decade? FRONTLINE filmmaker Jezza Neumann and documentary participant Kaylie Hegwood reflect on “Born Poor,” a film following three children, including Kaylie, from their lives as “Poor Kids” into young adulthood. Fourteen years after filming began, Neumann and Hegwood discuss poverty, perseverance, and what it really takes to break the cycle. Produced by Joel Patterson. Hosted by Raney Aronson-Rath. Watch the full documentary, Born Poor, on FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel and PBS.org. Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? Sign up for The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter.

33 min
JUN 14

'Unprepared, Part Two: There is No Plan’ (from NPR’s Up First)

From The Sunday Story on NPR’s Up First, hosted by Ayesha Rascoe. As North Carolina struggles to build back after Hurricane Helene, NPR correspondent Laura Sullivan travels to New York and New Jersey years after Superstorm Sandy to find how recovery efforts fell short. And we learn special interests are shaping how we put communities back together. This episode was produced by Graham Smith and Andrew Mambo. It was edited by Jenny Schmidt and Robert Little. Kwesi Lee mastered the episode. This series was co-reported with NPR and FRONTLINE, Jonathan Schienberg, Kate McCormick, Dana Ervin, Lauren Ezell Kinlaw and Refael Kubersky. You can watch Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning on FRONTLINE’s website, FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel, and the PBS App.

27 min
JUN 14

‘Unprepared, Part One: Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning’ (from NPR’s Up First)

From The Sunday Story on NPR’s Up First, hosted by Ayesha Rascoe. NPR correspondent Laura Sullivan examines how the nation is failing to rebuild after major storms in a way that will protect them from the next one. As climate-related storms become more frequent and severe, NPR and FRONTLINE investigate the forces keeping communities from building resiliently, and the special interests that profit when communities don’t. Despite billions in federal aid, outdated policies, weak building codes, and political resistance are putting lives and homes at continued risk. This episode was produced by Graham Smith and Andrew Mambo. It was edited by Jenny Schmidt and Robert Little. Kwesi Lee mastered the episode. This series was co-reported with NPR and FRONTLINE, Jonathan Schienberg, Kate McCormick, Dana Ervin, Lauren Ezell Kinlaw and Refael Kubersky. You can watch the documentary Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning on FRONTLINE’s website, FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel, and the PBS App.

24 min

See All (133)

TRAILER

Coming September 14th

Some stories are meant to be heard. A new narrative podcast from the producers and reporters of the PBS investigative documentary series FRONTLINE. New episodes biweekly. Subscribe now.

S1

•

2 min

4.5

out of 5

1,057 Ratings

Objective and fact-based

Oct 2

VacaCarolina

Appreciate the thoroughness of these stories
Informative

10/12/2024

Bkm2

Good production value, strong reporting. While every media outlet has a bias (this one clearly leans left of center for U.S. audiences) the reporting is fact-based. Good journalism.
Well done!

11/08/2022

5891Jonathan

Excellent in-depth examination of important issues.
Sound quality is consistently terrible/variable

06/29/2023

Tall Culinary Vet

I’m a longtime listener but I get incredibly frustrated when I have to constantly adjust my volume. The problem has a considerable impact on the quality of the podcast quality. Great stories that are poorly engineered.

FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath sits down with journalists and filmmakers for probing conversations about the investigative journalism that drives each FRONTLINE documentary and the stories that shape our time. Produced at FRONTLINE’s headquarters at GBH and powered by PRX. The FRONTLINE Dispatch is made possible by the Abrams Foundation Journalism Initiative.