Best ReFOCUS Media Labs Podcasts (2024)

1
S04E04: LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. Deaths at US-Mexico Border 1:10:16

1h ago1:10:16

1:10:16

In this episode, James Holeman and Abby Carpenter discuss their work with Battalion Search and Rescue, a humanitarian organization focused on finding missing migrants along the US-Mexico border. They share the origins of their organization, the challenges they face in their search operations, and the grim realities of migration, including the deadl…

1
S04E03: City of Thorns. Inside Dadaab camp. 55:04

21d ago55:04

55:04

This episode of Fractured explores the experiences of refugees in the Dadaab camp, the motivations behind writing 'City of Thorns', and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It highlights the challenges faced by refugees, the role of humanitarian organizations, and the complex dynamics within the camp, including safety concer…

1
S04E02: THE WALLS HAVE EYES. Surviving Migration in the age of Artificial Intelligence 1:00:20

28d ago1:00:20

1:00:20

In this conversation, Petra Molnar discusses the intersection of migration and technology, focusing on the implications of surveillance technologies, data colonialism, and the automation of immigration processes. She highlights the role of Israel in the global surveillance tech market, the testing grounds for these technologies, and the politics of…

1
S04E01: LIGHT YOUR SMALL CANDLE A struggle for human rights on the Polish-Belarusian border 1:02:49

2M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

In this compelling episode of Fractured, we delve deep into the ongoing refugee crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. Our guest, Anna Alboth, a journalist and human rights activist, brings firsthand insights into this humanitarian disaster. Anna has been working closely with refugees affected by this crisis and provides a unique perspective on th…

1
SUMMER SHORT 10: We’re Here to Remind You. A Decade of Wars in Ukraine 7:25

2M ago7:25

7:25

On the second anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion on Ukraine we joined the Ukrainian community in Greece as they marched through the streets of Athens to remind the world that there is an unprovoked and unfair war happening in Europe right now. We learned about some direct ways of supporting Ukrainians who stayed in the country and some not…

1
SUMMER SHORT 9: Buried in the Balkans 5:42

2M ago5:42

5:42

Through this Summer Short we would like to encourage you to learn more about the difficult topic of deaths on the Balkan route. We present to you some findings of independent investigative journalism which capture the neglect of authorities to document deaths of asylum seekers on the Balkan route. We speak to Stavros Malichudis who investigated the…

1
SUMMER SHORT 8: Nobody Should be Growing Up in a Refugee Camp 2:48

2M ago2:48

2:48

Stating the obvious that children should not be growing up in refugee camps doesn’t change the reality that in Greece almost every child during the asylum procedure lived in deplorable conditions in island or mainland camps. And what comes next is frequently even worse as the homelessness problem in Greece increases. To close our Summer Shorts we’r…

1
SUMMER SHORT 7: Everywhere You Go, Someone is Home 4:03

3M ago4:03

4:03

In this Summer Short we explore the topic of trauma, memory and identity through the psychological and emotional experience of conflict and forced displacement. Our guest is a National Geographic Explorer Photojournalist Hailey Sadler who has worked across the Middle East, Africa, Southern Asia and the US. Watch the whole episode here: Spotify: htt…

1
SUMMER SHORT 6: Still Stateless 3:07

3M ago3:07

3:07

In this episode of our Summer Shorts ReFOCUS founders: Sonia Nandzik-Herman and Douglas Herman describe the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Despite being one of the largest forcibly displaced communities in the world, Rohingya haven’t seen any improvement to their situation for decades. Neither in their home Myanmar nor in countries h…

1
SUMMER SHORT 5: Stop the Boats 9:36

3M ago9:36

9:36

The new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially declared the “Rwanda Deal” dead. As we’re closely watching the actions leading to deem the deal null and void, we would like to remind you what was behind former PM Rishi Sunak’s decision to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in the first place. To explain this issue we invited an independent migration j…

1
SUMMER SHORT 4: Pylos Shipwreck 2:30

3M ago2:30

2:30

Pylos shipwreck was one of the largest sea tragedies since 2015. Around 600 people have lost their lives yet as of today nobody has been named responsible for this tragedy. Bill Van Esveld - Associate Director at Human Rights Watch presents the survivors testimonies and describes the specificity of several investigations taking place in relation to…

1
SUMMER SHORT 3: Space to be a Woman 7:49

4M ago7:49

7:49

This Summer Short on multiple layers of discrimination of transgender refugees is one of the most underreported stories we presented this season. Yuli - our guest describes how her gender, sexual orientation and her job impact her position in the society. Watch the whole episode here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sxVeRnkqTeUjhojNOqxdj…

1
SUMMER SHORT 2: Disaster on Top of a Disaster 3:38

4M ago3:38

3:38

Starting on October 7th multiple earthquakes devastated Herat adding to the already tragic situation of Afghans. This travesty was one of the fast news in Western media but locals still feel its impact. In this episode we’re joined by Zobair Ahadi in Afghanistan and Yaser Taheri in Berlin. Watch the whole episode here: Spotify: https://open.spotify…

1
SUMMER SHORT 1: When Art Provokes. 7:39

4M ago7:39

7:39

As many members of our team come from Iran, for our first Summer Short episode we had to choose a topic related to the situation of Iranian artists who were forced to flee their country and those who despite all obstacles decided to stay. Our special guest is an actor, director and artist Vassilis Koukalani . Watch the whole episode here: Spotify: …

1
S03E22: Season Finale: ART AS A REFUGE. Conversations with the FRACTURED team 1:36:05

4M ago1:36:05

1:36:05

Being a refugee means fighting many battles at the same time. A battle for a right to international protection, a battle for basic goods like food or clothing, a battle for maintaining your dignity in the most undignifying conditions, but also a battle to not lose your identity, your uniqueness and your passions. For our team members art was this s…

1
S03E21: Meals with Dignity. Food Scarcity in Greece 1:00:08

5M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Food insecurity comprises a major global public health threat. Its effects are detrimental to the mental, physical, and social aspects of the health and well-being of those experiencing it. According to the Food Insecurity in Greece and Across the Globe report, more than 900 million people worldwide experience severe food insecurity, with future pr…

1
S03E20: "Nobody Should be Growing Up in Refugee Camps.” Housing issues in Greece 57:55

5M ago57:55

57:55

Greece struggles with a serious housing crisis. Walking down the streets of Athens you will notice many homeless people. Many of them are refugees and asylum seekers who after receiving their asylum decision were forced to leave the camp within 7 days. Without any integration classes in camps, and very rare Greek lessons, most people find it extrem…

1
S03E19: Sudan's Invisible War 55:56

6M ago55:56

55:56

Where in the world at this moment is the largest displacement taking place? Would you guess that it’s Sudan? Probably not as the media reports very little, if any, about the conflict that forced millions of people to leave their homes. As the civil war in Sudan enters its second year, the two warring factions, SAF and RSF, remain locked in a deadly…

1
S03E18: "Everywhere You Go, Someone is Home." Ethical Journalism & The Home Collective 1:01:05

6M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

In this episode of "Fractured" we host National Geographic Explorer Photojournalist Hailey Sadler who has worked across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. Her work explores themes of trauma, memory, and identity through the psychological and emotional experiences of conflict and forced displacement. Hailey's reporting and researc…

1
S03E17: "Somebody's Watching Me." Surveillance in Greek Refugee Camps 56:38

7M ago56:38

56:38

"No More Morias" was the battle cry after the fires destroyed the most infamous refugee camp on European soil in 2020. It was also the justification for €276 million of EU funds to create new CCAC (Closed Controlled Access Centers) on the Greek islands. While ecologically motivated legal battles in the highest court of Greece continue to hold up th…

1
S03E16- STILL STATELESS. Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh 1:14:58

7M ago1:14:58

1:14:58

In this episode of Fractured we cover one of the largest yet almost completely forgotten crises in the world: the situation of Rohingya. Persecuted over decades in Myanmar they found shelter in the neighboring countries. Yet no integration or even a refugee status has been offered to them. This episode aims at bringing this topic closer to Western …

1
S03E15: “STOP THE BOATS” Sunak Screams for his Rwanda Dream 1:07:40

7M ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Despite being deemed illegal by multiple courts ranging from the European Court on Human Rights and the UK Supreme Court, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government refuses to give up on their plan to forcibly deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. This, coupled with indefinite detention in centers notorious for outrageous criminal care and con…

1
S03E14: 3 Generations of Punishment. Liberty for North Koreans 1:10:32

8M ago1:10:32

1:10:32

In 2023 only a bit less than 200 people managed to flee North Korea and resettle in South Korea. For years the most isolated country in the world has been blocking its citizens from traveling abroad and restricting journeys within its territory. Escaping this oppressive regime is not only very expensive but also extremely dangerous. Many North Kore…

1
S03E13: Pylos Shipwreck. Tragedy for the Dead and the Survivors 58:13

8M ago58:13

58:13

In the early morning of June 14, 2023, a severely overcrowded fishing trawler capsized close to Pylos in southern Greece leading to the death of more than 600 people. It had started its journey from Libya five days earlier with an estimated 750 migrants and asylum seekers, including children. Only 104 of those onboard survived and 82 bodies were re…

1
S03E12: "We're Here to Remind You." A Decade of War in Ukraine 1:01:44

9M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Live from Syntagma Square, Athens, GR (24.02.24) On the second anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion on Ukraine we join the Ukrainian community in Greece as they march through the streets of Athens to remind the world that there is an unprovoked and unfair war happening in Europe right now. In our first field episode this season our guests hi…

1
S03E11: Buried in the Balkans. Dead Refugees Along Balkan Route 54:12

9M ago54:12

54:12

An investigation by Solomon collective in collaboration with research group Lighthouse Reports, Der Spiegel, ARD, British newspaper "i", Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, and esteemed academics captures the neglect of authorities to document deaths of asylum seekers on the Balkan route. In this episode of Fractured we speak to Stavros Malichudis wh…

1
S03E10: Dude, Where’s My History Teacher? Access to Education for Refugees in Greece 47:01

10M ago47:01

47:01

In this episode of Fractured we do our best to understand how the Greek education system works or doesn’t work for refugee minors. It’s been several years since the beginning of the so-called refugee “crisis”, and even though many refugee minors are enrolled in schools, it doesn’t mean that they receive the same education as Greek children. Many re…

1
S03E09: Dude, Where’s My History Teacher? Access to Education for Refugees in Greece 1:01:55

10M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

In this episode of Fractured we do our best to understand how the Greek education system works or doesn’t work for refugee minors. It’s been several years since the beginning of the so-called refugee “crisis”, and even though many refugee minors are enrolled in schools, it doesn’t mean that they receive the same education as Greek children. Many re…

1
S03E08: End of Year-Home Episode 1:08:02

11M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

From a perspective of global conflict and intense suffering, 2023 has certainly been a year to say farewell to. But for us at ReFOCUS, we also have to look back on all we’ve achieved, especially within the evolution of our Fractured podcast. In this final episode of 2023, our core team discusses the topics that were most impactful as well as upcomi…

1
S03E07: On the Brink (again)- Civil Action in Lesvos - Part 2 35:52

11M ago35:52

35:52

According to the UNHCR there are currently around 4400 asylum seekers on Lesvos. Even though every month more than one thousand people are transferred to the mainland, more people keep coming. The island has been the hub of the so-called “refugee crisis” for years now, and nothing indicates a change in this matter. Even though Lesvos is no longer i…

1
S03E06: On the Brink (again). Civil Action in Lesvos. 48:08

12M ago48:08

48:08

According to the UNHCR there are currently around 4400 asylum seekers on Lesvos. Even though every month more than one thousand people are transferred to the mainland, more people keep coming. The island has been the hub of the so-called “refugee crisis” for years now, and nothing indicates a change in this matter. Even though Lesvos is no longer i…

1
S03E05: Space to be a Woman. Triple Discrimination in Greece 1:20:06

1y ago1:20:06

1:20:06

How many layers of discrimination can one person carry? Yuli, the guest of our latest episode, says that she holds the worst possible combination in the world: “black, trans, sex worker.” On top of that she is a refugee and struggles with stigma related to that fact that she had to flee her home. In a very honest conversation with us, Yuli and Mora…

1
S03E04: This Is How You Are. 1:13:34

1y ago1:13:34

1:13:34

This Is Who You Are. There Is Nothing Wrong with You! Almost every LGBTQI+ refugee carries a double stigma. One related to their sexual orientation, the other to the fact that they had to flee their country. Masi and Sulah from Safe Place International clarify how sexual orientation is the reason for many people to seek asylum and on the other hand…

1
S03E03: Disaster on Top of Disaster. Earthquake Relief in Herat 47:59

1y ago47:59

47:59

Starting on October 7th multiple earthquakes devastated the Herat region of Eastern Afghanistan within a week.The final number of dead is still unknown as many bodies are still covered with dust after whole villages of poorly constructed clay houses have been destroyed. The country is now facing an escalating humanitarian crisis, following on top o…

1
S03E02: When Art Provokes: Freedom of Expression in Iran 1:09:04

1y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

According to the UNHCR data, 29,485 Iranians fled their country in 2022. Big part of this group were activists and artists who due to their activity couldn’t freely create in their homeland or couldn’t stay free period. Recently three award-winning filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi have been arrested in Tehran for “inf…

1
S03E01: One Solution: Revolution. Women Life Freedom movement in Iran 1:06:22

1y ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a Kurdish woman was killed by the morality police in Tehran on September 16th 2022. Morality police claimed that Mahsa died of a heart attack, however other women detained with her testified that she was treated very brutally by the police for resisting the assaults. The official reason for arresting Mahsa was the accusation tha…

1
S02E12: Afghanistan: 2 years of Taliban regime 32:44

1+ y ago32:44

32:44

It’s been 2 years since the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan. Since then, the regime has faced international condemnation over the human rights situation, including restrictions they have imposed on women’s education. Afghanistan is also fighting a humanitarian crisis, with almost half of its population – 23 million people – receiving assista…

1
S02E11: EU's Forgotten Border. Situation at the Bulgarian-Turkish border 24:42

1+ y ago24:42

24:42

Hundreds of witnesses have testified to the existence of “black sites” – places where people who came to Europe to claim asylum are denied any rights. In this episode we focus on an investigative piece by Lighthouse Reports which revealed that security forces along the Bulgarian-Turkish border are using secret facilities to systematically detain pe…

1
S02E10: World Refugee Day 31:46

1+ y ago31:46

31:46

Every year on June 20th, the world celebrates World Refugee Day to "honor those who have been forced to flee". At ReFOCUS we believe that day should focus on advocacy for refugee rights, which are very frequently overlooked or not acknowledged on purpose. So today we are bringing several strong voices of people who went through the asylum process o…

1
S02E09: Identifying the Unidentifiable. Forensic Missing Migrant Initiative 40:39

1+ y ago40:39

40:39

So far this year more than 1000 people have died or were categorised as missing while trying to cross to the European Union through the Mediterranean Sea or one of the EU Southern borders. Many people who take this dangerous journey do not have any documents with them. When they die at the borders it is extremely difficult to identify them and then…

1
S02E08: Prison for Papers. Human Rights Violations in Pre Removal Detention Centers in Greece 29:55

1+ y ago29:55

29:55

In the past several years, the detention of asylum seekers in Greece has transformed from a last resort measure into a standard procedure. Many asylum seekers spend months in Pre Removal Detention Centers without any knowledge why they have been detained or when they will be released. Recently, the Mobile Info Team and the Border Violence Monitorin…

1
S02E07: Legalising Illegal Pushbacks. Lithuania legalises pushbacks at the Belarusian border 28:29

1+ y ago28:29

28:29

On April 25th the Lithuanian parliament passed legislation to make it legal to deny entry to asylum seekers. We know the country had already been engaged in pushbacks since at least end of 2021, when thousands of migrants and refugees — mainly from the Middle East and Africa - were entering the European Union via Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Many …

1
S02E06: Guests Overboard. Sea-Watch rescue operations in the Mediterranean 30:35

1+ y ago30:35

30:35

Italy’s government has declared a six-month national state of emergency to cope with asylum seekers reaching its southern shores. The state of emergency was announced right after Easter weekend, during which around 2,000 people arrived by boat on the Italian island of Lampedusa. The only other time a state of emergency was activated over migration …

1
S02E05: Refugees NOT Welcome. UK proposition to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda 41:07

1+ y ago41:07

41:07

Last year the UK government proposed a scheme which would deport asylum-seekers who have entered the country illegally to their home countries or to have their asylum claims handled in Rwanda. The first deportation flight was blocked by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. London’s High Court ruled in December that the scheme was …

1
S02E04: Disaster Designed. Forensic Architecture on Moria fire 41:53

1+ y ago41:53

41:53

In September 2020 the most infamous refugee camp in Europe burned almost completely. 14 000 people living inside Moria have yet again lost everything. After 5 days the Greek authorities declared that they had found people guilty of this crime and soon will put them on trial. Those 6 young Afghan men are now known to the world as Moria 6. However th…

1
S02E03: Bravery made in Ukraine. One year since Russia's full-scale invasion 43:45

1+ y ago43:45

43:45

Russia initiated a full-scale invasion on Ukraine almost exactly a year ago. As an outcome of the aggression more than 8 milion Ukrainians had to flee to other countries. 4,8 mln of them have been registered for temporary protection or a similar national protection scheme in Europe. Most of them went to Poland, which currently hosts more than 1,5 m…

1
S02E02: Free Humanitarians. Criminalisation of humanitarian workers in Greece 43:31

2y ago43:31

43:31

Humanitarian action in Europe has been increasingly criminalised over the last years. France and Italy have forbidden citizens from giving food, water, and shelter to refugees and migrants. Hungary passed the so called "Stop Soros" law, criminalising individuals and NGOs helping migrants claim asylum. Poland criminalises aid at the Polish-Belarusia…

1
S02E01: Citizen of Moria. Life in the largest refugee camp in Europe 57:08

2y ago57:08

57:08

“Citizen of Moria” - a documentary by Jawad Mir and Ahmad Ebrahimi presents Ahmad’s experiences in Moria camp as an asylum seeker but also as a filmmaker who had to flee Afghanistan leaving his whole life behind. Moria burned down back in 2020, but for years it has been a symbol of the lack of respect for human rights and dignity. In this episode o…

1
S01E12: One year of Taliban terror 45:33

2+ y ago45:33

45:33

One year after the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan millions became unemployed after jobs with foreign embassies, militaries and NGOs vanished practically overnight. Malnourished children have flooded Kabul’s hospitals in recent months and more than half the population faces life-threatening food insecurity. Yet, the Taliban regime celebrated…

1
S01E11: Bye Bye BoJo. Them's the breaks 18:11

2+ y ago18:11

18:11

Fresh on the heels of Boris Johnson’s resignation as Prime Minister of the UK, we reflect on immigration policy in the UK, how we’ve gotten to where we are, what BoJo’s resignation implies—and what it doesn’t. Since early May, the UK has made a lot of noise with a new policy that it describes as world-leading, and that most advocates describe as lu…

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