SPECIAL GUESTS: James Holeman & Abby Carpenter
Battalion Search & Rescue (US-Mexico Borderlands)

In this episode, discuss their work with Battalion Search and Rescue, a humanitarian organization focused on finding missing migrants along the US-Mexico border.

The conversation highlights the challenges they face in their search operations, and the grim realities of migration, deadly consequences of current border policies, as well as the importance of understanding the motivations behind migration and the systemic issues that contribute to migrant deaths.

The conversation delves into the complex and often harrowing realities faced by migrants at the US-Mexico border, highlighting the impact of political changes on migration policies, the dangers encountered by children, and the role of militias.

SPECIAL GUEST: Ben Rawlence
Author, Cofounder Black Mountains College, UK

In this conversation, Ben shares his experiences and insights from his time in the Dadaab refugee camp, discussing the complexities of life for refugees, the cultural tensions between different communities, and the challenges faced by young leaders.

He highlights the deteriorating conditions in the camp, the difficulties of returning to Somalia, and the misconceptions surrounding refugee needs in Western politics.

Ben also reflects on the impact of his book and his ongoing efforts to support education and justice through initiatives like Black Mountains College.

SPECIAL GUEST: Petra Molnar
Author: The Walls Have Eyes"

In this conversation we discuss the intersection of migration and technology, focusing on the implications of surveillance technologies, data colonialism, and the automation of immigration processes.

Petra highlights the role of Israel in the global surveillance tech market, the testing grounds for these technologies, and the politics of fear that shape migration policies.

Molnar also emphasizes the need for technology to assist rather than control migrants and shares insights from her upcoming book on community resistance.

S04 PREMIERE
SPECIAL GUEST: Anna Alboth
Cofounder- Grupa Granica, PL

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 first-hand insights into this humanitarian disaster.

Anna has been working closely with refugees affected by this crisis and provides a unique perspective on the political, social, and human rights issues at play. Anna discusses the complex geopolitical dynamics between Poland and Belarus, and how this conflict turned vulnerable populations into political weapons. She shares stories from the ground about the harrowing conditions refugees face—trapped in no man's land, caught between militarized borders, and subjected to extreme weather, violence, and neglect.

IMAGES FROM THE FIELD: Karol Grygoruk- Photojournalist- RATS Agency, Poland, and Douglas Herman- Photo/videojournalist- ReFOCUS Media Labs

S03 FINALE PREMIERES 18.07

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 undignified conditions, but also a battle to not lose your identity, your uniqueness and your passions. For our team members art was this safe refuge that helped in many hopeless situations, and is still the driving force behind their strength.

In an honest conversation with a NYUAD (New York University Abu Dhabi student, Hamad Alshamsi -our creators share stories of their journey to Europe and thoughts on fighting for education and creativity. We also discuss the power of a supportive yet. sometimes brutally honest community that can help you grow as a creator, but also as a human being. Enjoy listening to this slightly different format of Fractured, and let us know your thoughts on it.Description goes here

According to the Food Insecurity in Greece and Across the Globe report, more than 900 million people worldwide experience severe food insecurity, with future projections showing increasing trends.

One of the most vulnerable groups experiencing food scarcity are refugees and asylum seekers. The issue lies not only in the amount of food but also its quality. The food distributed in refugee camps lacks nutritious values and is far from being sufficient. This impacts refugees' everyday life but also their future as the lack of sufficient and nutritious food during early childhood has serious long-term negative implications on children's physical and cognitive development.

In today’s episode we discuss not only the problem, but also one of the solutions. Evelina Eskenazi - the Founder and Director of the Saffron Kitchen Project in Athens, GR describes their approach to serving nutritious and dignifying meals.

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 extremely difficult to find a new accommodation and even harder to convince the owner to rent it to a person with a refugee background. Sadly there are no structural solutions, and there are very few services addressing this issue.

In this episode we are talking with Kayra Martinez - a founder of Love without Borders. This small NGO found an interesting way to support people in need of housing. Listen to their unique story.

On this International Refugee Day tune in on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts on Thursday, June 20th.

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 power struggle, with the civilians bearing the consequences.

In today's episode, Jordan Siegel, who was one of very few journalists who managed to enter Sudan and work independently, brings us closer to the situation on the ground.

Also join us on Patreon for an extended discussion with Jordan-
https://www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabs

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 is also a Co-Founder of The Home Collective, a global collaborative bringing together academics, scientists, community leaders, and new generation storytellers to create multidisciplinary research and visual projects exploring the intersection of home with geopolitical issues from conflict to climate.

Also join us on Patreon for an extended discussion with Hailey on her impressive work with The Home Collective. https://www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabs

In this episode of "Fractured" we host investigative journalist Lydia Emmanouilidou and researcher from the University of East Anglia, Ludek Stavinoha, who much to the dismay of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have definitely "...been to Samos."

Their reporting on the systems of surveillance in use, and policies that continue to deprive asylum seekers of international human rights, prove these camps in Greece are far from "modern, humane and safe."

Also join us on Patreon for an extended discussion with Lydia and Ludek on their award-nominated works for the 2024 European Press Prize.

Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh- one of the largest yet almost completely forgotten crises in the world: The situation of Rohingya. persecuted over decades in Myanmar, found shelter in neighboring Bangladesh, yet no integration or even refugee status has been officially offered.

This episode aims at bringing this topic closer to Western listenerss as we discuss the conditions in Kutupalong - the largest refugee camp in the world where a million Rohingya live, and the genocide case against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice.

Join us on Patreon for an extended conversation and analysis of Rohingya photo essays by Douglas Herman.

In this episode, Katy Fallon- veteran migration journalist -helps us unpack all things about refugees in the UK- from the conservative push to “Stop the Boats”, their Rwanda Plan, age-assessments, detention centre abuses, and why her childhood view across the English Channel from the white cliffs of Dover will never be the same again.

Special Art Profile: Pollination UK DJ Set
Open Culture: No Borders Vol 02
Art Under Pressure Graphic Design- ReFOCUS

Join us on Patreon for an extended conversation with Katy Fallon on how refugee “crisis” has dominated British politics.

In 2023 less than 200 people managed to flee North Korea and resettle in the South. For years the most isolated country in the world has been blocking its citizens from traveling abroad, and handing down “three generations of punishment” for any dissent.

In this episode we speak with Sokeel Park- South Korea Country Director for Liberty in North Korea (LiNK)

Tragedy for the Dead and the Survivors

Nine months after the tragedy off Pylos, where over 600 people perished, three parallel court cases and several inquiries are taking place but nobody has been named responsible for the shipwreck. We go deep into this tragedy with Associate Director of Human Rights Watch- Bill Van Esveld

A Decade of War in Ukraine
Live from Syntagma Square, Athens, GR

On the 2nd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine we join the Ukrainian community in Greece. In our first field episode our guests highlight the war started not two but ten years ago, and it cannot end any other way but with Ukrainian victory.

We speak to Stavros Malichudis who investigated the deaths on the Balkan route to learn how difficult the body identification process is, how little resources are put into the proper documentation of the ones who died, and how much families of the deceased struggle to learn what happened to their loved ones.

The topic of this episode has been brought to our attention by a member of our community Dawoud Nouri, who as an unaccompanied minor with refugee status, has experienced the Greek education system in practice and Elena Moustaka -a founder of Better Days and director of Gekko Schools.

How the Greek education system works or doesn’t work for refugee minors? Even though many refugee minors are enrolled in schools, it doesn’t mean that they receive the same education as Greek children

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

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.

We dive deep into the situation on Lesvos with Silvia Lucibello from Europe_Cares who coordinates Parea Community Center, and Lorraine Leete from Legal Centre Lesvos.

Yuli says that she holds the worst possible combination:“black, trans, sex worker.” In a very honest conversation with us, Yuli and Moran reveal all issues related to those multiple discriminations in Greece.

Masi and Sulah from Safe Place International share with us specifically the nuances of the situation of LGBTQI+ refugees in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe.

Yaser Taheri and Zobair Ahadi speak about the critical situation after multiple earthquakes devastated the Herat region of Eastern Afghanistan

The everyday reality of Iranian artists and activists as well as refugees who fled to Greecein a fascinating conversation with the actor Vassilis Koukalani.

#Women_Life_Freedom Movement in Iran with a star of Apple TV+ series “Tehran” - Shila Ommi and an Iranian artist and activist in Athens- Eli Fazlollah.

Scroll down for S02 Episodes on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listed to your podcasts

Scroll down for S01 Episodes on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listed to your podcasts