Best Toronto Metropolitan University and openDemocracy Podcasts (2025)

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Borders & Belonging

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Unpacking Canada's Strong Borders Act: What Bill C-2 Means for Refugees in Canada 37:33

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about a year ago37:33

37:33

In June 2025, the Canadian Government introduced Bill C-2 as a way to strengthen border security and modernize Canada’s asylum and immigration system. However, the bill is being criticized by legal experts and human rights advocates for introducing sweeping discretionary powers for officials and arbitrary measures, including a one-year deadline to …

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Borders & Belonging

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Is Trump's anti-DEI rhetoric an opportunity for Canada? 40:14

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about a year ago40:14

40:14

As the U.S. rolls back diversity initiatives and academic freedoms, could Canada become a magnet for top global talent – or will systemic blind spots hold us back? In the first episode of our In Conversation series, expert guests explore how Trump-era policies are rippling north, what Canada must do to stay competitive, and why it’s time to rethink…

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Borders & Belonging

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The violence of uncertainty: Everyday impacts of precarious immigration status 58:14

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about a year ago58:14

58:14

Imagine 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 Pe…

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Borders & Belonging

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Beyond the Big City 42:26

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about a year ago42:26

42:26

Not everything happens in big cities. This episode explores how small and mid-sized cities in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are attracting and retaining immigrants. Researchers unpack regional migration policies, what helps newcomers settle, and how to build communities that thrive beyond the skyline. Guests: Sarah Wiseman, Canada Branch Direc…

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Borders & Belonging

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Skills shortages, AI and the future of work 51:26

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about a year ago51:26

51:26

AI, aging populations, and the energy transition: how are these forces reshaping the job market and global migration? In this episode, distinguished guests walk us through how automation is transforming industries, influencing hiring, and impacting migrant workers. Are we creating new opportunities or just making it harder for them to find decent j…

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Borders & Belonging

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What’s driving migration? 50:51

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about a year ago50:51

50:51

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 …

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Borders & Belonging

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Rethinking Climate Migration: "Are We Missing the Point?" 25:49

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about a year ago25:49

25:49

In the premiere episode of Voices on the Move, a podcast by Migration Matters, experts delve into the complex relationship between climate change and migration. Scholars Dr. François Gemenne from the University of Liège, Dr. Nassim Majidi of Samuel Hall, and Dr. Yvonne Su from York University challenge common assumptions such as "one billion climat…

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Borders & Belonging

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How do I decentre that? 50:26

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about a year ago50:26

50:26

Decentring research means challenging Western paradigms, amplifying diverse perspectives, and rethinking power dynamics and knowledge production. This is easier said than done, especially in migration studies, where control, security, and economic views dominate the debate. But understanding the lived realities of migrants must be more than just a …

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Borders & Belonging

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False narratives with real consequences: The impact of social media disinformation on migration policy 50:41

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about a year ago50:41

50:41

The 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 publ…

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Borders & Belonging

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Irregular not irrelevant: Conceptualizing and measuring irregular migration 43:55

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about a year ago43:55

43:55

When 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, founde…

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Borders & Belonging

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Artful connections: Challenging narratives of migration and belonging using arts-based methods 55:02

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about a year ago55:02

55:02

This 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 story…

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Borders & Belonging

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What is a solidarity city? 48:02

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about a year ago48:02

48:02

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 int…

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Borders & Belonging

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Nothing about us without us 51:44

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about a year ago51:44

51:44

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 academics and policymakers can ensure that the experiences of those most affected by migration policies guide decisi…

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Borders & Belonging

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Borders & Belonging: Season 3 Trailer 1:33

about a year ago1:33

1:33

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 for migrant and refugee inclusion at the urban level? How can research address migrant agency and the drivers of migr…

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Borders & Belonging

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The Conversation Weekly: The Brexit roots of the UK's Rwanda asylum plan – and why other EU leaders might want to copy it 31:16

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about a year ago31:16

31:16

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 Conservative party loses the general election in early July, the Rwanda plan is likely to be abandoned. I…

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Borders & Belonging

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Statelessness: No country to call home 45:05

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about a year ago45:05

45:05

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 far-reaching effects it has on individuals and communities. Guests: Rintu Borah, PhD candidate at the Indian …

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Borders & Belonging

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From oil to innovation: Changing economies in the Gulf 43:58

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about a year ago43:58

43:58

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 economic landscapes in the Gulf are reshaping migration dynamics. Guests: Deepak Unnikrishnan, Assistant Pro…

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Borders & Belonging

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Rising tides, sinking roots: Climate change, adaptation and mobility in Pacific Island nations 47:49

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about a year ago47:49

47:49

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 world's lowest lying countries, seeks to understand the regional implications of climate change and the rol…

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Borders & Belonging

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The Migration Podcast: "Road families" en route to the Mexico-US border 19:16

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about a year ago19:16

19:16

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 social bonds that are formed along the way, can also be valuable elements of the experience. We hear about what Alej…

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Borders & Belonging

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Is Japan turning into a migration state? 50:11

2 years ago50:11

50:11

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 polici…

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Borders & Belonging

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The Arctic: Climate, resources and migration in times of change 44:19

2 years ago44:19

44:19

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 change are shaping migration to the Arctic in new and complex ways. Guests: Malini Sengupta, coordinator at…

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Borders & Belonging

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Migration & technology: The rise of digital nomads 42:21

2 years ago42:21

42:21

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 changing nature of work and the rise of digital nomads. What is driving this growing phenomenon, and how …

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Borders & Belonging

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Brokering borders: EU bilateral agreements and the price of ‘return migration’ 43:53

2 years ago43:53

43:53

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…

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Borders & Belonging

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Why is xenophobia so entrenched in South Africa? 37:15

2 years ago37:15

37:15

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 po…

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Borders & Belonging

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How border policies in the Americas are pushing people to travel across the treacherous Darién Gap 38:25

2 years ago38:25

38:25

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 Perzyna investigates how global migration regimes push migrants to risk their lives for a chance at a better li…

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Borders & Belonging

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Why are so many undocumented migrants in the US Indigenous? 39:35

2 years ago39:35

39:35

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 t…

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Borders & Belonging

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Borders & Belonging: Season 2 Trailer 1:46

2 years ago1:46

1:46

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 Japan becoming a migration state? And “how is technology changing the places where people work and the countries…

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Borders & Belonging

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Does brain drain hurt the Global South? 38:03

2 years ago38:03

38:03

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 sa…

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Borders & Belonging

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Are Ukrainian refugees still ‘temporary’? 37:14

2 years ago37:14

37:14

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 Mis…

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Borders & Belonging

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Should we call people climate refugees? 34:35

2 years ago34:35

34:35

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 migratio…

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Borders & Belonging

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Are migrants the answer to labour shortages? 44:14

2 years ago44:14

44:14

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 migrant labourers in to fill the gaps. Is this a good idea? In this episode we'll hear from someone on the…

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Borders & Belonging

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The migrants that the West doesn’t talk about 39:55

3 years ago39:55

39:55

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 one country in the Global South to another. Why does this get so little coverage? What are the most popula…

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Borders & Belonging

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Why has China become an international student hub? 36:14

3 years ago36:14

36:14

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 light on this phenomenon, and help us understand how and why China has become such a popular destination fo…

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Borders & Belonging

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When AI is managing migration, should we be afraid? 38:33

3 years ago38:33

38:33

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 have the best chance of thriving? And what happens when you take human judgement out of the process, or if da…

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Borders & Belonging

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Human Smuggling or Human Trafficking? Why the Difference Matters 29:33

3 years ago29:33

29:33

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 from Luca Stevenson of European Sex Workers Rights Alliance, who explains that, even with sex workers, we have t…

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Borders & Belonging

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How has Brexit Changed the UK for Migrants? 29:50

3 years ago29:50

29:50

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 stigmatised? Alex Bulat, a Romanian-born councillor on Cambridgeshire County Council, provides a voice from the grou…

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Borders & Belonging

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Why We Build Border Walls 38:52

3 years ago38:52

38:52

Since 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…

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Borders & Belonging

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Borders & Belonging: Trailer 1:24

3 years ago1:24

1:24

Borders & Belonging What'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 Exce…

Toronto Metropolitan University And OpenDemocracy Podcasts