Shows
The Migration PodcastEp8(S5)False narratives, real consequences: How is social media impacting the way we think about migration?This is a guest episode from the third season of the Borders and Belonging Podcast, which is produced by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration (or “CERC”) at Toronto Metropolitan University. They just launched a new season, called “in conversation”, in which leading voices dive into urgent migration issues shaping Canada and the world. You can find it on all major streaming services. And of course, please stay tuned for the next episode of the Migration Podcast!
“The rise in false narratives surrounding immigrants and refugees is often amplified by social media and manipulated for political gain. In this ep...
2025-11-0452 min
Borders & BelongingJanine Dahinden on demigrantization, feat. Maissam NimerTo kick off season 4 of Borders & Belonging, host Maggie Perzyna explores the concept of "demigranticization" in migration research with Janine Dahinden and Maissam Nimer. They discuss how the label "migrant" is not objective but rather a political construct rooted in nation-state logic that can reinforce harmful power structures and exclusion. Both scholars argue that migration research should step back from treating migration as an isolated phenomenon and instead examine how societies create "others" to define themselves, connecting migrants' struggles with those of other marginalized groups. Despite the dark political climate and r...
2025-10-2840 min
Borders & BelongingThe violence of uncertainty: Everyday impacts of precarious immigration statusImagine this: at age three, your family relocates to a new country. You grow up normally—school, sports teams, friends. In Grade 12, you discover you lack immigration status, preventing university applications. Suddenly, you're not like your peers, and a life of hidden struggles and uncertainty unfolds. In the final episode of the season, Maggie Perzyna explores what it means to live with precarious immigration status. Researchers unpack the idea of “the violence of uncertainty”—how shifting policies, bureaucratic delays, and the threat of deportation disrupt migrants’ lives, from DACA recipients losing jobs to children denied mental health support.Guests...
2025-04-0858 min
Borders & BelongingWhat’s driving migration?What shapes migration patterns across different regions? How do economic, social, and political factors drive movement in unique ways? The MEMO project seeks to untangle these complexities, mapping the connections between internal, intraregional, and intercontinental migration. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna and her guest experts explore how bilateral agreements, regional policies, and power dynamics between origin and destination countries influence migration patterns across the globe.Guests: Gretchen Kuhner, director of the Institute for Women in Migration, Mexico City, Claudia Masferrer, Assistant Professor, El Colegio de México, and C...
2025-02-2550 min
Borders & BelongingFalse narratives with real consequences: The impact of social media disinformation on migration policyThe rise in false narratives surrounding immigrants and refugees is often amplified by social media and manipulated for political gain. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna unpacks the dangerous intersection between digital disinformation and immigration. Experts emphasize this critical area of study as social media networks increasingly shape public opinion and policy decisions, while false narratives about migration spread faster than ever.Guests: Katie Paul, Director, Tech Transparency Project; Anatoliy Gruzd, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Privacy Preserving Digital Technologies, Toronto Metropolitan University; and Mattias Ekman, Associate Professor...
2025-01-1450 min
Borders & BelongingIrregular not irrelevant: Conceptualizing and measuring irregular migrationWhen exploring the big questions migration scholars are asking, irregular migration is impossible to ignore. In this episode, Maggie Perzyna engages with activists and scholars on the ground to gain deeper insights into this complex issue, the factors driving it, and the impact it has on both migrants and communities.Guests: Brynn Campbell, founder of Aidez Nous à Aider; Ilse van Liempt, Associate Professor at Utrecht University and coordinator of Improving the Living and Labour Conditions of Irregular Migrant households in Europe (I-CLAIM); and Albert Kraler, Associate Professor at Danube U...
2024-12-0343 min
The Migration PodcastREPOST Borders and Belonging: The rise of digital nomadsWhile we take a break from our regular programming before our fifth season – we have a special treat for you! We have the honour of offering you an episode from the fantastic podcast "Border & Belonging, a CERC Migration podcast", which is produced by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Toronto Metropolitan University.
The episode is about the rise of digital nomads – how do “digital nomads” disrupt definitions and theories we have about migration and the nation state? From Lisbon, to Chang Mai, to Barbados, what are the impacts of this form of human mobility? What insights do we ha...
2024-11-2944 min
Borders & BelongingArtful connections: Challenging narratives of migration and belonging using arts-based methodsThis episode takes a closer look at the powerful intersection of art and migration studies. How can creative expression challenge dominant narratives and help reshape the way we think about migration? Maggie Perzyna learns about art-based and community-based projects that move the needle. We also hear about WhereWeStand, a powerful multimedia storytelling project that pairs Indigenous and newcomer voices to reimagine their relationships to the land some call Turtle Island and others know as Canada.Guests: Izzeddin Hawamda, Palestinian teacher, writer and co-founder of the interfaith dialog group Bridge; Aaron McKay...
2024-11-1955 min
Borders & BelongingWhat 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 the Soli*City project, an international initiative creating urban strategies that help migrants and refugees to integrate into their communities.Guests: Véronique Lamontagne, Lawyers Without Borders Canada; Harald Bauder, Toronto Metropolitan University; and Mary Boatemaa Setrana, University of Ghana.🎧 Follow Borders & Belonging on LinkedIn. 🌎 Have a question or episode idea? Email b...
2024-11-0548 min
Borders & BelongingNothing about us without usWelcome 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 academics and policymakers can ensure that the experiences of those most affected by migration policies guide decision-making processes. What does the principle of “nothing about us without us” mean for refugee and migrant communities?Guests: Mustafa Alio, Co-Managing Director of R-SEAT; Oroub El-Abed, Associate Professor at Birzeit University and Middle East Regional Research Coor...
2024-10-2251 min
Borders & BelongingBorders & Belonging: Season 3 TrailerIn 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 for migrant and refugee inclusion at the urban level? How can research address migrant agency and the drivers of migration? How is the research being conducted at universities moving the needle on theory, methods, as well as the socio-economic and cultural landscape? With the help of leading academics and professionals working with migrants on the ground, join us as we connect t...
2024-10-0801 min
The Conversation WeeklyBorders and Belonging: is Japan turning into a migration state?As The Conversation Weekly takes a short production break in August, we're bringing you a recent episode from our partners at the Borders and Belonging podcast about Japan’s evolving stance on immigration.With a rapidly ageing population and a shrinking workforce, Japan is facing an unprecedented crisis: by 2030, it's projected to have a shortfall of nearly 6.4 million workers. But despite Japan’s reputation for being closed off to migrants, there are signs that the country’s national immigration policy is starting to shift.Each episode of Borders and Belonging takes an in-depth look a...
2024-08-1540 min
Borders & BelongingStatelessness: No country to call homeIn 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 far-reaching effects it has on individuals and communities.Guests: Rintu Borah, PhD candidate at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay; Noora Lori, Associate Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University; Allison Petrozziello, instructor at Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University.🎧 Follow Borders & Belonging on LinkedIn. 🌎...
2024-04-0945 min
Borders & BelongingFrom oil to innovation: Changing economies in the GulfDid 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 economic landscapes in the Gulf are reshaping migration dynamics.Guests: Deepak Unnikrishnan, Assistant Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi; Laure Assaf, Assistant Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi; Hélène Thiollet, Research Fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research at Sciences Po.🎧 Follow Borders & Belonging on LinkedIn. 🌎 Have a questi...
2024-03-2643 min
Borders & BelongingRising tides, sinking roots: Climate change, adaptation and mobility in Pacific Island nationsLand 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 world's lowest lying countries, seeks to understand the regional implications of climate change and the role the international community needs to play in supporting adaptation strategies. Guests: Robert Karoro, consultant from Kiribati; Tammy Tabe, Oceana Research Fellow at East West Center in Hawai'i; John Campbell, retired Associate Professor and Research Associate at...
2024-03-1247 min
Borders & BelongingIs 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 and her guests explore the evolving role of Japan as a migration state, shedding light on innovative policies and their potential to bring about transformative changes in Japanese society.Guests: Nicholas A. R. Fraser, Senior Research Associate at CERC Migration; Nana Oishi, Associate Professor in Japanese Studies at the University of Melbourne; Ito Peng, Professor of Sociology...
2024-02-1250 min
Borders & BelongingMigration & technology: The rise of digital nomadsA 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 changing nature of work and the rise of digital nomads. What is driving this growing phenomenon, and how are countries around the world and local communities dealing with it?Guests: Holly Vipond, former digital nomad; Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Toronto Metropolitan University; Dave Cook...
2024-01-1042 min
Borders & BelongingBrokering 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 movement of people between Europe and Africa. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna seeks to understand how EU bilateral agreements are reshaping the migration dynamics on both continents.Guests: Leander Kandilige, Senior Lecturer at the Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana; Amanda Bisong, PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit and policy officer with the Center for...
2023-12-0543 min
Borders & BelongingWhy 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 nationals. In this episode, host Maggie Perzyna asks why xenophobia has become so entrenched across the political spectrum, and connects the dots between apartheid, economic development and the scapegoating that’s directed toward the state. Guests: Silindile Mlilo, PhD research fellow and Project Manager at Xenowatch, African Center for Migration and Society, University of Witwatersrand; Trevor Ngwane, Dir...
2023-11-2137 min
Borders & BelongingHow border policies in the Americas are pushing people to travel across the treacherous Darién GapThe 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 Perzyna investigates how global migration regimes push migrants to risk their lives for a chance at a better life.Guests: Robert, Venezuelan migrant who crossed the Darién; Edwin Guillermo Viales Mora, Data and Research Assistant and Missing Migrants Project Focal Point, International Organization for Migration; Caitly...
2023-11-0738 min
Borders & BelongingWhy 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 first episode of Season 2, host Maggie Perzyna explores the historical roots of this migration, and how the echoes of colonialism are shaping the journey of Indigenous migrants.Guests: Odilia Romero, Executive Director and Co-founder, Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO); Shannon Speed, Chickasaw Nation, Director, American Indian Studies Center and Professor of Gender Studies and A...
2023-10-2439 min
Borders & BelongingBorders & Belonging: Season 2 TrailerIn 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 Japan becoming a migration state? And “how is technology changing the places where people work and the countries trying to attract them?”With the help of leading academics and professionals working with migrants on the ground, Borders & Belonging shares stories from around the world, spotlighting regional issues and uncovering the global forces that shape them.🎧 Follow Borders & Belonging...
2023-10-1601 min
Borders & BelongingDoes 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 exactly is this happening, though, and what is the socio-economic harm done to the countries left behind? Is brain drain sapping the best and brightest from the Global South? Or is it just the effect of global mobility in an interconnected world? First, we’ll hear from someone who is himself part of the brain drain, Kevin Njabo. He’s the Africa...
2023-04-0538 min
Borders & BelongingDoes 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 exactly is this happening, though, and what is the socio-economic harm done to the countries left behind? Is brain drain sapping the best and brightest from the Global South? Or is it just the effect of global mobility in an interconnected world? First, we’ll hear from someone who is himself part of the brain drain, Kevin Njabo. He’s the Africa...
2023-04-0538 min
Borders & BelongingAre 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 what challenges face their host countries?First in this episode, we'll hear from Aleksandra and Michał Miszułowicz, a couple in Poland who helped resettled thousands of Ukrainian refugees as soon as the conflict began in 2022. Host Maggie Perzyna then turns to two academic experts to explore the situation of Ukrainian refugees: Izabela Grabowska, professor of social sciences at Ko...
2023-03-2137 minBorders & BelongingAre 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 what challenges face their host countries?First in this episode, we'll hear from Aleksandra and Michał Miszułowicz, a couple in Poland who helped resettled thousands of Ukrainian refugees as soon as the conflict began in 2022. Host Maggie Perzyna then turns to two academic experts to explore the situation of Ukrainian refugees: Izabela Grabowska, professor of social sciences at Ko...
2023-03-2137 min
Borders & BelongingShould 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 catchy phrase and guide us through some of the nuanced intersections between the environment and migration. First, we'll hear from Daniela Paredes Grijalva. In 2019, she was on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where, just months earlier, a strong earthquake had caused a tsunami and a rare phenomenon called soil liquefaction. The consequences for the islanders were absolutely devastating.
2023-03-0734 minBorders & BelongingShould 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 catchy phrase and guide us through some of the nuanced intersections between the environment and migration. First, we'll hear from Daniela Paredes Grijalva. In 2019, she was on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where, just months earlier, a strong earthquake had caused a tsunami and a rare phenomenon called soil liquefaction. The consequences for the islanders were absolutely devastating.
2023-03-0734 min
Borders & BelongingWhy We Build Border WallsSince the 1990s, the world has seen a spike in border wall construction. What is driving the increase? The episode begins with a reflection from journalist Todd Miller on the dangers facing undocumented migrants along the Mexican border. Maggie Perzyna (researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration program) is then joined by Douglas Massey (Princeton University) and Elisabeth Vallet (University of Quebec at Montreal).Borders & Belonging, produced by CERC Migration and openDemocracy, considers both the individual experience – the difficult decisions and many challenges faced by migrants on their journey—plus the global process...
2022-10-2538 minBorders & BelongingWhy We Build Border WallsSince the 1990s, the world has seen a spike in border wall construction. What is driving the increase? The episode begins with a reflection from journalist Todd Miller on the dangers facing undocumented migrants along the Mexican border. Maggie Perzyna (researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration program) is then joined by Douglas Massey (Princeton University) and Elisabeth Vallet (University of Quebec at Montreal).Borders & Belonging, produced by CERC Migration and openDemocracy, considers both the individual experience – the difficult decisions and many challenges faced by migrants on their journey—plus the global process...
2022-10-2538 minThe openDemocracy ShowBorders & Belonging: Trailer - Borders & BelongingBorders & BelongingWhat's the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking? Did migration myths drive the 2016 Brexit vote? Do border walls stop migration?Maggie Perzyna wants to dispel migration myths: why people leave their homeland and the changes they bring in the societies they move to.Maggie is a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration & Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University and this new podcast is Borders & Belonging. Maggie will talk to leading experts from around the world and people with on-the-ground experience to explore the individual experiences of...
2022-10-0101 min
Borders & BelongingBorders & Belonging: TrailerBorders & BelongingWhat's the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking? Did migration myths drive the 2016 Brexit vote? Do border walls stop migration?Maggie Perzyna wants to dispel migration myths: why people leave their homeland and the changes they bring in the societies they move to.Maggie is a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration & Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University and this new podcast is Borders & Belonging. Maggie will talk to leading experts from around the world and people with on-the-ground experience to explore the individual experiences of...
2022-10-0101 minBorders & BelongingBorders & Belonging: TrailerBorders & BelongingWhat's the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking? Did migration myths drive the 2016 Brexit vote? Do border walls stop migration?Maggie Perzyna wants to dispel migration myths: why people leave their homeland and the changes they bring in the societies they move to.Maggie is a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration & Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University and this new podcast is Borders & Belonging. Maggie will talk to leading experts from around the world and people with on-the-ground experience to explore the individual experiences of...
2022-10-0101 min
The openDemocracy ShowBorders & Belonging: TrailerWhat's the difference between human smuggling and human trafficking? Did migration myths drive the 2016 Brexit vote? Do border walls stop migration?Maggie Perzyna wants to dispel migration myths: why people leave their homeland and the changes they bring in the societies they move to.Maggie is a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration & Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University and this new podcast is Borders & Belonging. Maggie will talk to leading experts from around the world and people with on-the-ground experience to explore the individual experiences of migrants: the difficult decisions...
2022-09-3001 min
Bill Kelly ShowInside look from Lviv, Canada’s Mental Health Crisis & The Labour Shortage plaguing the hospitality industry has ties to Immigration!The Bill Kelly Show Podcast:
Russia’s relentless bombardment of Ukraine edged closer to central Kyiv as a series of strikes hit a residential neighborhood Tuesday, while the leaders of three European Union countries planned a bold visit to Ukraine’s capital and the number of people the war has driven from the country passed 3 million.
Matthew Best is in Lviv and can paint a picture of the trip, some of the folks coming to fight, and the general atmosphere.
GUEST: Matthew Best, Freelance Journalist for the The Globe & Mail, and Ottawa Citizen
2022-03-1548 min