THE SECRETS OF
Doctor Who
The Secrets of Doctor Who is a discussion of everything about the hit BBC series Doctor Who, from its beginnings in 1963 to the reboot in 2005 to the very latest episodes of today, on TV, in audio books, and everywhere in-between. Join Jimmy Akin and Domenico Bettinelli for in-depth discussions of the stories, characters, themes, and ideas that make Doctor Who such an enduring phenomenon—across television, audio dramas, books, and more.
Current Status:
The podcast is currently on hiatus while we wait for new seasons and episodes of Doctor Who to be released. When the Doctor returns with new adventures, we plan to return with new discussions as well. In the meantime, our archive includes hundreds of past episodes covering classic and modern stories throughout the show’s history.
Send us your feedback at [email protected] and visit us at the Secrets of Doctor Who Facebook page.
Get the official Secrets of Doctor Who shirt, featuring Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory as three of the Doctors. Find it at sqpn.com/merch.
New to the show?
If you’d like to start from the beginning, you can listen to our earlier episodes using the special archive feeds:
- Episodes 1-100: Copy THIS SPECIAL LINK into your podcast app
- Episodes 101-300: Copy THIS LINK to access the next set of episodes.
- Episode 301 and following: Use the links below.
(See THIS VIDEO for how to do this in Apple Podcasts; other apps will be similar.)
You can subscribe to our recent and future episodes with the links below:
Listen on your Favorite Platform
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
Spotify
Amazon Music
TuneIn
RSSShop
Purchase seasons of Doctor Who and related books at the Secrets of Doctor Who Bookstore.
Get your very own Secrets of Doctor Who merch: shirts, mugs, and more!
Secrets of Doctor Who in Story Order
Listen Now
-
12-Year Retrospective
After 445 episodes and nearly 12 years, Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin take stock: real download data, favorite Doctors and companions, an honest look at the RTD2 era, and what comes next for Doctor Who — and for Secrets of Doctor Who.
-
The Tenth Planet (Revisited)
The first regeneration arrives! As Mondasian Cybermen threaten Earth, Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack early body-horror Cybermen, Cold War paranoia, and the moment that transformed the Doctor forever.
-
The Smugglers
Pirates, betrayal, and a cursed treasure test the First Doctor’s moral compass. As Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack The Smugglers, one question stands out: Is the Doctor obligated to fix every injustice he encounters?
-
Logopolis (Revisited)
Entropy threatens the universe—and the Doctor’s life. As Logopolis falls and the Master seizes control, the Fourth Doctor faces destiny. With Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli, we ask: Was this the perfect regeneration?
-
Planet of the Spiders (Revisited)
A defining farewell for the Third Doctor turns spiders, crystals, and monks into a meditation on fear, ambition, and renewal. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack how Planet of the Spiders reshapes regeneration and quietly changes Doctor Who forever.
-
The War Machines
What happens when logic replaces conscience? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin tackle The War Machines, a chilling First Doctor story about AI tyranny, companion shakeups, and why this 1966 tale still feels uncomfortably relevant.
-
The Keeper of Traken
What if a society built on goodness is its greatest weakness? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack Traken’s fragile utopia, Kassia’s downfall, and the Master’s quiet takeover—plus why this story reshapes Adric, Nyssa, and the road to regeneration for the 4th Doctor.
-
Lucie Miller & To The Death
What happens when the Doctor arrives too late? As Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack Lucy Miller / To the Death, they confront Dalek plague warfare, shocking companion sacrifices, and the moment the Eighth Doctor learns mercy sometimes costs everything.
-
The Legend of Baba Yaga (Big Finish)
What happens when folklore fights back? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin break down The Legend of Baba Yaga, belief-powered reality, and the Fugitive Doctor’s harder edge. Is magic just psychic tech—and is mercy stronger than myth?
-
False Gods
What happens when Time Lords become gods? A lost Gallifreyan student inspires Egyptian myth, fractures history, and forces the Doctor into an impossible judgment. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack paradox, law, and tragic mercy in this story that guest stars Benedict Cumberbatch.
-
Warrior’s Gate
What if the best thing to do… is nothing at all? A collapsing void, enslaved lion-men, and cryptic mirrors challenge the Fourth Doctor and Romana. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli unpack this trippy farewell to Romana and the end of the E-space arc.
-
The Monster of Peladon
What happens when a medieval society joins a galactic superpower? The 3rd Doctor and Sarah Jane face war profiteers, fake gods, and class rebellion. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss faith, feminism, and odd-shaped aliens in Monster of Peladon.
