Borders & Belonging
Migration is a complex phenomenon – for individuals, it is a personal journey that can result in struggle or triumph depending on life circumstances; and for countries, it can be an economic driver, or a source of social tension or even conflict.
Host Maggie Perzyna, a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University, explores the complexity of migration with the help of leading academics and professionals working with migrants on the ground.
In Season 1, Borders & Belonging focused on debunking some of the biggest migration myths. In Season 2, Maggie continues her mission to shed light on voices and stories often overlooked, spotlighting regional issues and uncovering the global forces that shape them.
2023 Silver Signal Award Winner
Episodes
27 episodes
What is a solidarity city?
This episode explores how cities can become sanctuaries for migrants and refugees. Follow Maggie Perzyna as she discovers how grassroots efforts and city-level practices can create more inclusive urban environments. We also hear about th...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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48:02
Nothing about us without us
Welcome back to Borders and Belonging! In the first episode of Season 3, host Maggie Perzyna explores the power of collective action and the importance of centering refugee voices. She is joined by three special guests to discuss how aca...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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51:44
Borders & Belonging: Season 3 Trailer
In Season 3 of Borders & Belonging, host Maggie Perzyna continues her mission, zooming in on the key questions being asked by migration scholars. What is the potential of city-level sanctuary policies to inspire innovative solutions ...
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Season 3
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1:33
The Conversation Weekly: The Brexit roots of the UK's Rwanda asylum plan – and why other EU leaders might want to copy it
A controversial British government plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has been central to the UK’s response to a recent sharp increase in the number of people making the dangerous journey across the English Channel in small boats. But if the...
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31:16
Statelessness: No country to call home
In the Season 2 finale, host Maggie Perzyna asks her guests: What does it mean to live without a nationality? This episode of Borders & Belonging will dive into the complexities behind statelessness, its causes and social realities, and the...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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45:05
From oil to innovation: Changing economies in the Gulf
Did you know that the Middle East holds the world's highest ratio of migrants to its national population? From historical ties to the oil economy to the burgeoning knowledge-based economies of today, host Maggie Perzyna explores how evolving ec...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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43:58
Rising tides, sinking roots: Climate change, adaptation and mobility in Pacific Island nations
Land is a critical component of Pacific Island societies, and the impact of climate change on these populations is a growing global concern. Host Maggie Perzyna, along with esteemed guest researchers and a community consultant from one of the w...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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47:49
The Migration Podcast: "Road families" en route to the Mexico-US border
Itzel Eguiluz speaks with Alejandra Díaz de León about how the journey of Central American migrants walking north, through Mexico, is about much more than just having practical strategies to survive the journey.Solidarity, trust and soc...
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19:16
Is Japan turning into a migration state?
Despite its historical reputation for social, political, and legal closure and a certain reluctance towards admitting immigrants, Japan is taking steps towards a more inclusive national immigration policy. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna a...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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50:11
The Arctic: Climate, resources and migration in times of change
While the Arctic has been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia, settlers in the past few centuries have been drawn to the region's remote wilderness, majestic landscapes and ample resources. More recently, global market forces and climate c...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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44:19
Migration & technology: The rise of digital nomads
A small but increasing number of today's knowledge workers are breaking free from traditional offices, using technology to craft a life that blends work, travel and freedom. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna and her guests dive deep into the...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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42:21
Brokering borders: EU bilateral agreements and the price of ‘return migration’
In the pursuit of controlling its external borders, the European Union has forged numerous bilateral agreements with African countries. These agreements are not just pieces of paper, they're instruments that wield immense influence over the mov...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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43:53
Why is xenophobia so entrenched in South Africa?
In contrast to the late Desmond Tutu's hopeful aspirations for the "rainbow nation" and his efforts to champion human rights, post-apartheid South Africa has been marked by xenophobic violence, adding insecurities for both citizens and foreign ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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37:15
How border policies in the Americas are pushing people to travel across the treacherous Darién Gap
The Darién Gap, also dubbed as “Hell on Earth”, has become a leading transit point for migrants in search of work and safety in North America since authorities have cracked down on other routes by air and sea. In this episode, host Maggie Pe...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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38:25
Why are so many undocumented migrants in the US Indigenous?
Every year, hundreds of thousands of migrants from Central America and Mexico make their way to the US border, fleeing violence, environmental destruction, persecution, and displacement. Many of these migrants are from indigenous groups. In the...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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39:35
Borders & Belonging: Season 2 Trailer
In Season 2 of Borders & Belonging, host Maggie Perzyna continues her mission to shed light on the voices and stories often overlooked. She takes listeners on a world tour, asking questions like “what fuels xenophobia in South Africa? Is Ja...
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Season 2
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1:46
Does brain drain hurt the Global South?
Many countries are mining the Global South for one of its vital natural resources – its people. This creates a ‘brain drain’ of professionals and academics leaving the Global South in search of better opportunities abroad. Why exact...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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38:03
Are Ukrainian refugees still ‘temporary’?
Since February 2022, over 19m Ukrainians have fled their country. Almost half probably remain spread across the world, most of them in Europe. They are considered temporary refugees – but are they really temporary? Where are these people, and w...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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37:14
Should we call people climate refugees?
As temperatures rise around the planet, floods, drought and deforestation are forcing people in the Global South from their homes and livelihoods. The media likes to call them climate refugees, but is that accurate? This episode will unpack the...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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34:35
Are migrants the answer to labour shortages?
Nations in the global North are struggling with labour shortages dubbed in the media as ‘the great retirement' and ‘the great resignation'. Unemployment rates are running at near-record lows. As a result many nations are letting more temporary ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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44:14
The migrants that the West doesn’t talk about
From the way Western media and politicians talk about migration, you’d never guess that only 30% of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants are heading for the Global North. Instead, most people on the move like this are travelling from ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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39:55
Why has China become an international student hub?
For years, many students from China sought to further their studies in countries like the US or the UK. But in the past decade or so, China has itself become a hub for international students. In this episode, two leading researchers will shed l...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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36:14
When AI is managing migration, should we be afraid?
Climate change and other disasters are displacing ever more people. Could artificial intelligence help predict impending crises and where humanitarian aid will be needed? Could algorithms be used to match refugees to regions where they will hav...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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38:33
Human Smuggling or Human Trafficking? Why the Difference Matters
Politicians sometimes talk about human smuggling and trafficking as if they were the same thing. It’s not always because of ignorance: they want to gain support for blocking the flows of all migrants and refugees.In this episode we hear ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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29:33
How has Brexit Changed the UK for Migrants?
Despite the well-documented benefits of labour migration, much of the discussion before the referendum in the UK argued that it was a bad thing. Now, a few years on, are labour shortages painting a new picture or are migrants forever stigmatise...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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29:50
