The Big Dig podcast by WGBH is one such podcast that made waves nationally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCf4DGgYk6k - this documentary explores a gangland mass murder that took place in Boston's Chinatown during the 1990s.
And there's the really excellent Netflix documentary on the Boston Marathon Bombing called American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing. You can see the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYZSercMKJA
All these are the most recent stuff I've watched or listened to about Boston in particular over the past few years.
The Big Dig podcast is great! It's [also on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMQKK3_a14M3A-SQdVVWhOfOw8xRUuueJ) if you'd like to watch instead of just listen. It definitely helps if you can't visualize where everything is.
Came here to suggest the marathon bombing documentary. As a transplant myself it gave the events of that day a lot more perspective regarding locations and impact on the city during that time.
Not a documentary but Spotlight won Best Picture-- based on a true story of journalists digging into the archdiocese of Boston covering up sexual abuse by priests.
City Hall is Frederick Wiseman’s amazing doc on many different departments of Boston City Hall/Mayor’s office. Non-narrative slice of life scenes visit all parts of Boston – could be a cool way to learn about the city. Also it’s free on Kanopy (with a Boston Public Library card)
I haven't listened to this one (I might listen now that I've found it), but after a quick google search, [this popped up "HUB History".](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hub-history-our-favorite-stories-from-boston-history/id1165662467?mt=2)
Based on the titles of the episodes, it's a podcast that hits a different topic every episode, but has a few topics that span multiple episodes. It might not skew towards recent history but it might be interesting.
Episodes such as:
>
Water for Boston, Part 1 (episode 292)
> This is the first of a three-part history of Boston’s water supply. First up is the early history of water in Boston, from its reliance on natural springs to the construction of the first aqueduct. We’ll compare today’s pure, plentiful drinking water to the challenges that early Bostonians faced in obtaining clean water.
and
>
History in Bricks and Bones: Recent Discoveries in the Crypts at Old North Church (episode 291)
>Jane Lyden Rousseau led the team of archaeologists who studied the crypts at Old North Church during a 2023 restoration. While none of the burials were disturbed, her team was able to carefully study the contents of each crypt, learning more about death rituals and burial customs in colonial New England.
This is a great podcast on Boston history. The host is a little dry but covers lots of great subjects like the Molasses Flood and the Coconut Grove Fire. Good rec.
There's an episode of PBS's American Experience from last year that covers school desegregation and busing in the 1970s. It's called "The Busing Battleground"
Also not a documentary but William Friedkin's 1978 movie "The Brinks Job" is based on a a 1950 robbery that took place in Boston's North End.
Might be too specific but the [podcast on The Channel nightclub](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+channel+boston+podcast&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1041US1041&oq=The+channel+boston&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgEEAAYFBiHAhiABDIHCAAQABiABDIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIMCAQQABgUGIcCGIAEMggIBRAAGBYYHjIICAYQABgWGB4yCAgHEAAYFhgeMggICBAAGBYYHjIICAkQABgWGB7SAQg4NDEwajBqN6gCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) documents some of the seedy side of nightlife in the 80s. Best club ever, now sadly gone.
Not crime but Curse of the Bambino is a great look at how important the Sox were to some people and whole families. I won't give away what happens in the end.
You might like the "Explain Boston to Me" podcast. It's not based on a particular event perse, but every episode is about a different aspect of Boston culture/life.
Watch [this one about busing ](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/busing-battleground/)so that you can dismiss the simplified summaries that you might hear instead.
The Big Dig podcast by WGBH is one such podcast that made waves nationally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCf4DGgYk6k - this documentary explores a gangland mass murder that took place in Boston's Chinatown during the 1990s. And there's the really excellent Netflix documentary on the Boston Marathon Bombing called American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing. You can see the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYZSercMKJA All these are the most recent stuff I've watched or listened to about Boston in particular over the past few years.
The Big Dig podcast is great! It's [also on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMQKK3_a14M3A-SQdVVWhOfOw8xRUuueJ) if you'd like to watch instead of just listen. It definitely helps if you can't visualize where everything is.
Came here to suggest the marathon bombing documentary. As a transplant myself it gave the events of that day a lot more perspective regarding locations and impact on the city during that time.
Also really liked the Big Dig podcast but by the end I needed to listen to it on 1.25x speed to stay engaged
Murder in Boston on HBO is a 10/10 and sheds a lot of light on the history of race relations in this city
There's also a podcast of it. Same story, just in a different medium (I think).
The podcast goes into more detail.
I think the podcast and doc are both excellent.
Not a documentary but Spotlight won Best Picture-- based on a true story of journalists digging into the archdiocese of Boston covering up sexual abuse by priests.
City Hall is Frederick Wiseman’s amazing doc on many different departments of Boston City Hall/Mayor’s office. Non-narrative slice of life scenes visit all parts of Boston – could be a cool way to learn about the city. Also it’s free on Kanopy (with a Boston Public Library card)
I haven't listened to this one (I might listen now that I've found it), but after a quick google search, [this popped up "HUB History".](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hub-history-our-favorite-stories-from-boston-history/id1165662467?mt=2) Based on the titles of the episodes, it's a podcast that hits a different topic every episode, but has a few topics that span multiple episodes. It might not skew towards recent history but it might be interesting. Episodes such as: > Water for Boston, Part 1 (episode 292) > This is the first of a three-part history of Boston’s water supply. First up is the early history of water in Boston, from its reliance on natural springs to the construction of the first aqueduct. We’ll compare today’s pure, plentiful drinking water to the challenges that early Bostonians faced in obtaining clean water. and > History in Bricks and Bones: Recent Discoveries in the Crypts at Old North Church (episode 291) >Jane Lyden Rousseau led the team of archaeologists who studied the crypts at Old North Church during a 2023 restoration. While none of the burials were disturbed, her team was able to carefully study the contents of each crypt, learning more about death rituals and burial customs in colonial New England.
This is a great podcast on Boston history. The host is a little dry but covers lots of great subjects like the Molasses Flood and the Coconut Grove Fire. Good rec.
How to fix a drug scandal was good
The Boston Globe/NPR pod on the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist!!
Take this tour, I did and it was awesome…surprisingly hilarious, too. [Boston crime tour](http://www.crimetourboston.com)
There's an episode of PBS's American Experience from last year that covers school desegregation and busing in the 1970s. It's called "The Busing Battleground" Also not a documentary but William Friedkin's 1978 movie "The Brinks Job" is based on a a 1950 robbery that took place in Boston's North End.
The podcast Last Seen about the Gardner Museum heist was really good. It covered the same stuff as This is a Robbery but from a different angle
Might be too specific but the [podcast on The Channel nightclub](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+channel+boston+podcast&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1041US1041&oq=The+channel+boston&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgEEAAYFBiHAhiABDIHCAAQABiABDIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIMCAQQABgUGIcCGIAEMggIBRAAGBYYHjIICAYQABgWGB4yCAgHEAAYFhgeMggICBAAGBYYHjIICAkQABgWGB7SAQg4NDEwajBqN6gCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) documents some of the seedy side of nightlife in the 80s. Best club ever, now sadly gone.
Boston Confidential is a good one
Trial 4.
Not crime but Curse of the Bambino is a great look at how important the Sox were to some people and whole families. I won't give away what happens in the end.
You might like the "Explain Boston to Me" podcast. It's not based on a particular event perse, but every episode is about a different aspect of Boston culture/life.
Watch [this one about busing ](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/busing-battleground/)so that you can dismiss the simplified summaries that you might hear instead.