Borderscapes

Love can be borderless, but power never is. In this episode of Borderscapes catch Carolina and Sergio, a Spanish Colombian couple as they move through the interplay of colonial legacies and everyday love. Who holds power, who gets exoticized, and who does the dishes?   From heated debates about colonialism to small negotiations about wet bathroom floors, it's all political if you look closely. Tune in to this episode which is part history lesson, part relationship therapy and the right amount of awkward.    

Is it possible to be both a feminist and a Christian? The one thing that comes to my mind when I think of Christianity is the patriarchy a.k.a. the antithesis of feminism. From how Eve doomed mankind in the tale of Adam and Eve, to the perpetuation of gender roles, Christianity has brought with it rigid and harmful depictions of women. Can my mind be changed?  In this episode, I'm joined by Blessing, a self-declared feminist and Christian. I will be asking her about her religious and feminist beliefs and experiences to determine if one can truly be both. Swinging from moments of light-hearted chatter to earnest discussions, this episode dissects the stereotypes and borders that divide the two identities.  

How far are you willing to go to tell a story?  Journalists take life-threatening adventures in search of truth. While some may be killed, arrested or face physical and online abuse in the line of duty, others experience psychological trauma, separating them from family, friends and things they love so much.   In this episode of Borderscapes, Fisayo Soyombo, an award-winning journalist from Nigeria shares his experiences as an undercover reporter. Growing up, all Fisayo wanted to become was a medical doctor, but destiny had a different script. From discovering his love for storytelling as a campus journalist, to going undercover as a smuggler to expose corruption in Nigeria, Fisayo reflects on how hard it is to be an investigative journalist. He also talks about his unending search for true love, a sacrifice he must make for the public good.  Beyond the headlines, some individuals risk it all for you. Join me in understanding why their stories matter. 

An artist is someone with creativity, inspiration, and a singular vision. Are those traits limited to “fine” mediums? Who decides who gets to be an artist? In this episode of Borderscapes, ‘Between Fiber and Art,' host Maria McCoy explores why weavers have been blocked out of the fine art world.  Drawing a line between art and craft causes problems. For one, it slights women. Fiber practices, including weaving, knitting, and sewing, are not only categorized as craft, but as “women's work.” Dismissing them discounts passionate women makers, a few of whom you'll meet as a guest of the East Sussex Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers.   Beyond that, a border between art and craft is just too limiting. Philip Sanderson, studio leader at West Dean Tapestry Studio, explains how tapestry weaving doesn't fit squarely in either category.    So, can this border be dismantled? Listen in to find out! 

What happens when faith and feminism meets? Would you cross boundaries to find true love?  Season 5 drops on May 2. Music by the Umamies

Borderscapes Season 5 - Coming Soon Music by The Umamies

Coming out and expressing one's gender identity openly is a deeply personal and often courageous act. It involves breaking free from societal norms and expectations that may dictate how one should behave or identify based on their assigned gender at birth. By embracing their identity, individuals affirm their right to self-expression and autonomy, regardless of whether it aligns with traditional gender roles. This act of liberation allows individuals to live authentically and fosters a more inclusive and understanding society where everyone can be accepted for who they are. It's a journey of self-discovery and self-affirmation that promotes greater diversity and respect for individual differences. There should be no deprivation of rights to live a life of happiness that gives every bit of you hope and satisfaction, for it takes a lot of courage to express and become free to be who you want to be or who you are in society.

In this episode of Borderscapes, we'll explore the complexities of maintaining intimacy in a long-distance relationship when physical distance becomes a significant factor. The story mirrors the experiences of countless individuals worldwide who find themselves navigating the ups and downs of love across borders. From managing time zone differences to finding ways to stay connected despite the miles, the challenges are manifold. But amidst the struggles, there are moments of joy, intimacy, and growth. As our guests share their stories and insights of overcoming obstacles and strengthening bonds in relationships, we'll discover that long-distance relationships also offer unique opportunities for personal growth, independence, and resilience. So, whether you're currently in a long-distance relationship, have been in one in the past, or are simply curious about the dynamics at play, this episode of Borderscapes is for you!    

When an ordinary noun is given a new meaning by people, it will no longer be an ordinary noun. It can symbolize things that make people happy or sad. It has become a symbol because of its own meaning. Symbol is universal, abstract and changeable. When we face a symbol in our life, we don't have a deep understanding of it. We only have a superficial understanding of its meaning, but we don't know why it is given such meaning and what kind of information this symbol carries.And in different countries, the same symbols have different meanings, some of which are even diametrically opposite. This is also a manifestation of cultural differences, isn't it interesting? Therefore, in my blog, I will choose a symbol in an episode to explain the story that each symbol is given different meanings under the influence of different national cultures, so as to make the audience understand it better. Each story is very interesting and brilliant. I think the audience will like them.

Social media has almost become an indispensable part of our life. We can contact relatives, friends and classmates on social media, and we can also meet new friends. Social media helps us strengthen the connection between people in life. However, sometimes we also find that when we are too involved in the social networking of the network, we also unconsciously ignore the social networking around us. Similarly, when we enjoy the constantly updated and changing information on social media, the information explosion will also bring us trouble and affect our cognition to a certain extent. Like many things, social media has two sides. I will discuss the impact of social media in combination with my own experience and academic literature, and give my own solutions at the end.

I am using this opportunity to raise awareness and show support of Ukraine's independence, culture and bravery. For my podcast I wish to primarily showcase personal anecdotes that I have collated. I will also be targeting some of the misinterpretations that the western media has been promoting, as well as general misunderstandings that many here in the UK seem to have about the longer historical aspects as well as the global implications of this war. Over the course of this 20 minute episode you will hear from me as well as two very special guests. Thanks for joining me. My solidarity and support goes out to the people of Ukraine and those that hope for a future free of oppression. My condolences to all those who lost their lives or loved ones, human or otherwise.

My podcast episode is an audiobook. Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's darkly styled Gothic terrorism writings. Serving audiences with fragmented time and visually impaired persons. Based on The Fall of the House of Usher. The original work is a first-person narration, so it needs to be adapted into the form of the host, the protagonist, and the supporting characters reading their lines separately, and the sound effects added later. The Fall of the House of Usher is the work of Edgar Allan Poe, a famous American horror novelist in the first half of the last century. The work is profound and very literary, and I'm going to turn it into a podcast-worthy novel. The Fall of Usher is the work of the famous American horror novelist Edgar Allan Poe in the first half of the last century. The work is profound and literary, and I'm going to turn it into a podcast-friendly novel. There will also be changes in the plot, as the voice actor character needs to be given the opportunity to speak. This work aims to break the boundaries between hearing and seeing, and if only sighted people can enjoy great Halloween stories and literature, the world is too bad for blind people!

LION is just another animal until and unless he leaves his den, explores, gauges and hunts for survival it is called the king of the jungle. Quite similarly, students cross borders and dare to paint outside the lines. When students take this step to pursue higher education from a different country, economically and technologically superior, to enhance one's experience and explore a different education, lifestyle and cultural paradigm. One of the leading reasons is, they want more exposure into the subject of interest and learn it in a practical more applicative manner so that it can be useful and fruitful in real life, while adapting to cultural and lifestyle changes, such is the situation of many students who cross borders, not only geographically but in terms of education, culture and lifestyle also. I bring you my discussion with a few of them sharing experiences of our border escapes.

According to the Henley Passport Index, Japan and Singapore top the list of countries with strong passports on the global ranking. What this means is that; Japanese, British, Americans, Canadians and host of others with strong passports have visa-free access to most countries of the world. For most of African and South Asian countries, reverse is the case, their passports are classified as weak, this has over the years resulted into difficult immigration procedures for people of African and some of Asian origins. What is the rationale for the global classification of passports that created these disparities among countries of the world? Finding answers to these questions is the motivation for my podcast episode, UNEVEN BORDERS. I aim to seek these answers in a most objective manner in this episode. Through personal immigration experiences of Pooja, an international student from Indian at university of Sussex, I aim to have resourceful discussions on border issues and global passports classification as its affect the right to free movement of certain nationalities of the world.

Being a mum brings boundless joy, and words alone cannot express the feeling of motherhood. However, parenting comes with lots of sacrifices and total responsibility. Sadly, in various parts of the world, the parental ability of women with disabilities have constantly been doubted, worse still, some have their parental rights terminated. Should they be denied the joy of motherhood on the account of their disabilities? Joining me in this episode of Borderscapes, is Kristen, a blind mum of three. Kristen looked forward to motherhood right from childhood, which explained her love for dolls. When it was time to become a mum, something struck her mind; would her baby not be taken from her on the account of her disability? How did she convince the welfare services of her ability to parent a child? Stay tuned to find out how Kristen crosses the border of parenting with her disability.

Have you ever wondered about the different ways people learn? What is the impact on children and young people learning in a traditional classroom when that may not be how they learn best? On this episode we speak to Carlo, who for as long as he remembers has disliked school. He loses focus when he's in the classroom, can't concentrate and feels like he doesn't connect with any subjects, despite being in his final year of A-Levels. He's now on the cusp of leaving his school days behind him and we reflect on his school experience. We also speak to Dr Poppy Gibson, a senior university lecturer in education, who has carried out considerable research in education, how the curriculum effects children and how to inspire teachers to teach creatively. She explains what could be happening and helps us to understand the borders of the different ways we learn. Is it time for the curriculum to change in the UK?

You and everyone around you has played a role in maintaining white supremacy. Whether this is from the perspective of a victim or the perpetrator, both consciously and unconsciously. The insidious effects of white supremacy continue to affect our society from progressing and causing harmful damage to minority groups. So I want to talk about how you can be more aware about your actions in order to challenge these subtle forms of racism. This isn't about attacking people who hold white privilege, rather this is about addressing and considering how you can be a greater ally to the people of colour around you and end the power imbalances. I discuss personal experiences, academic literature, popular news and useful resources on how you can go from non-racist to anti-racist. It's not just minorities problem to fix this, all of us need to fight against racism.

All people belong to a border – a nationality, a citizenship, an identity. The process of being contained with a likeminded community impacts us all, on a local and national level. However, there are moments where borders feel invisible, that one belongs to no borders at well. Those who hold a second-generation identity, namely those who hold citizenships in both an Eastern and Western context, often find themselves torn between home and… home. The process of belonging is often tainted by clashing cultural values and skin color, causing a disconnect from feeling fully a part of either nationality. So, what does it mean for those who live in these circumstances of feeling culturally disassociated – to feel isolated from a border within a border - and the fragility of their mental health? Join me as I discuss my own transitions through life discovering continuous identity crisis as a BIPOC woman growing up in Ottawa, Canada and how that has impacted identity trauma within my day-to-day experiences. With commentary from expert Maya Phansalker, a psychotherapist working with many second-generation people, and Salma Tihani, a Canadian Moroccan woman living in Montreal, Canada and one of my childhood best friends. Listen as we embark on a journey of solutions, healing, and science; looking into the struggle of holding a second-generation identity.

Motherhood crossing borders' is a journey of two women who were standing on a threshold a year back. Prisca from Zambia returned to college after a gap of more than 15 years. But she had a lot at stake; her family, her husband, the society, and her two young children who didn't really understand why their mother wanted to leave them and travel thousands of miles to a different continent. Not very far in Uganda was Sylvia who was passionately working on her big dream. Standing at the hospital reception with her three-day old daughter, she had to decide whether to go ahead with her dream of coming to the UK or stay back with her new-born. So, will Sylvia submit her application or will she have to wait for another 15 years, just like Prisca? In this episode, I will follow the journeys of Prisca and Sylvia, and discuss patriarchal social norms which mothers and women often have to navigate through and resist to achieve their dreams. This podcast is about taking difficult decisions, challenging gender stereotypes, and breaking patriarchal barriers.

Borderscapes Season 3 Coming Soon

This is a podcast which takes the interview format of production to reshape the stereotype views of the able-bodied dominated society in which we live - that focuses on the medical model of impairment rather than the social model of disability. In this episode, Akin and Stephen explore the world of ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cross the border of impairment. This episode is highly recommended for your listening pleasure as it exposes the unimaginable that you could have never thought that a person with disability, especially a blind or visually impaired individual can do. Kindly sit back, grab a cup of coffee, tea, akamo, zobo, fura de nunu or any form of drink that makes you feel good and embark on a trip with Stephen and my humble self, Akin, on how disabled people cross the border of impairment on the wheels of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Enjoy! By Akinshola Famakin

Studying abroad is a privilege to expand your knowledge and experience in a foreign country. It has all the perks for an eighteen-year-old to live, laugh, and maybe, find love. But what if I told you that it's not all about sunshine and rainbows? What if there's more to face? Well, welcome to a life of an international student. Where we talk about the hard truth one faces. Aside from an eye-opening world waiting to be discovered, what about the barriers that halt us? How does this affect us? Well, friends are the power of the language, culture, and the shock of a new reality. Let's face it! New place, new friends, new rules? Isn't it a little bit shocking? With hours of school and the fact that you have to adjust so quickly, it's going to be one hell of a ride! But one that's worth every penny. Life outside is fun, expensive, challenging, but thrilling all at the same time, but it is all about how you choose to handle it! In this episode, we will talk about the hard facts of a foreign exchange student, opportunities, words of wisdom, and the differences when studying abroad. By the end of this podcast, you will know our first-hand experiences as ordinary students in a whole new world. By Yasmeen AlBusairi

Imagine you're a football player and you're the main striker in your team. There is five minutes on the clock and it's a very crucial game. You get the perfect pass and you scored the goal, everyone is happy, the fans are all over the place, you're happy and your teammates are happy. The whistle blows and you look towards the referee and he calls for VAR. You look up on the screen and the goal is signaled offside by a fingertip. So, imagine the feeling you get when you score that crucial goal but it's all gone because of one small fingertip issue because VAR saw it and flagged it offside. We deep dive into the world of football and VAR and talk with different people from the industry as they give their standpoint on whether VAR has spoiled the game or not while I also give in my personal opinions on VAR. By Rishabh Ravindhar

Brexit has certainly been a very controversial topic ever since it first began, but did you ever think for a second, that it would have a major impact on the future of the music industry? Very soon musicians will no longer be able to freely travel across the EU to play shows to their fans, instead if they wish to play anywhere within the EU, they will have to have travel visas, which will be very costly for sure. This is going to make life very difficult for independent musicians like Tom Lumley, who has just recently released his first EP with his band. The music industry has already suffered so much over the last year with the Covid19 pandemic, and with restrictions beginning to be eased, many artists no doubt are very much looking forward to getting back out on the road and performing to their fans. But, with this border that is being put in place between the UK and the EU, we must wonder, what does the future hold for the future of the music industry? Take a listen to find out. By Jack Willard

Laila Hussein, a young woman in her early 20's who used to live in a highly conservative household in the buzzing city of Cairo, Egypt, rebels against her family values and moves out of her family home. Laila shares her story, a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking series of events consisting of limitation of freedom, erasure of individuality, and cultural oppression in a refreshing fashion. We discuss our shared female experience in living within the cultural borders of the Middle East, and deeper into the borders of Egypt, then Cairo, then the borders of our own homes, discussing the differences and similarities of what femininity, culture, and family means to us. Laila Hussein is a dear friend of mine, and while I have lived some of the important events in her life, she tells her story in a refreshing and mature way, like I've never heard before. By Mona Youssef

Violet is a student who also does online cam work. She logs on when she wants to, on a camera room, performs and gets paid for that. She is an animal lover, a vegan, and an anthropologist student with a deep interest in people, their experiences and what they enjoy. This episode explores her story and together, we enroll in a deep, private, and surprisingly revealing conversation where we explore not only her experiences with limits and boundaries as a sex worker, but also how as women, we face so many misguided and absurd standards about the way we should treat our bodies, the way we experience its borders and how we should draw our own personal limits around them, because we are the only ones entitled to do so. By Claudia Fernández

In 2020, a sudden epidemic swept the world. During the nearly 176 days of lockdown, we rely heavily on various social media to maintain our normal lives. Have you ever thought about how these new media will be like after the epidemic is over? Have they become part of us? Or will they fall quickly? This episode is going to talk about people ‘s experience from unfamiliar to skillful application of these media in lockdown time and explore these platforms' futures by interviewing my friend Sia who has the same experience as me of being an international student. By Wanxin Chen

What is home? Is home only a physical space that we occupy, a space where we feel safe? A space where we are understood and appreciated? Or is it an idea that lives within us? When so many of us have it all, there are a few that are still desperately longing for home. On this episode of Borderscapes, Tousif explores the idea of home as a way to come in terms with his life long struggle to find home within himself. As a privileged, cis-gender heterosexual man, Tousif never had to struggle for any material necessities growing up. But even while sitting in his room back in his home country in Bangladesh he would long for home, it made him realize that home is much more than the four walls that he lived in. This podcast is a reflection of his own idea of home, as well as of those who struggle in a similar way. ‘Finding home' is an attempt to come in terms with their long search for peace within themselves. By Tousif Farhad

Using social media enables us to communicate with people anytime and anywhere, and to transmit and obtain information, especially during the pandemic, people are more dependent on seeking contact and information. But have you thought about when you are away from social media, do you really lose contact with the world? Or get back the chance to get along with yourself? This episode focuses on the first-person experience of social media detox, how it represents a dilemma in the way of people using social media, meanwhile explore the borders of "myself”. Want to try social media detox? Get inspiration through this episode. By Yu-Hsin Chen

In the past year, county borders gained new importance as suddenly these lines on a map decided if you were allowed out of your house or doomed to stay in. However, in this episode of Borderscapes, Katherine examines the meaning of these borders beyond the experiences of 2020. Having grown up in the Kentish countryside, she had always assumed that she didn't have any kind of county identity. This was until her parents left Kent for a new life in West Sussex and she discovered a strange sense of disconnect with the county. Hence, this podcast is a hunt for her own county identity, as she attempts to establish what is different about her home county and finds out what it means to be Kentish. By Katherine Jones

In January 2021, a specific set of conditions led the price of GameStop stock to skyrocket. It had surface-level news coverage, but how much do you REALLY know about this story? This incredibly abnormal market behaviour saw financial institutions go head-to-head with individual investors, who were fed up with their driving companies into the ground for profit. The resulting chaos produced a Borderscape between these parties, which we'll explore in-depth in this podcast. You don't want to miss this. By George Townsend

A group of 12 clubs from across Europe's biggest leagues announced plans to form a new competition called the Super League. The league had plans to offer permanent spots to some of the world's biggest clubs and play matches midweek, while allowing the involved clubs to remain in their domestic competitions. The plan was opposed by FIFA, the governing body for international football, and UEFA. But that is not fully stopping them from trying to implement this. The 12 clubs -- England's big six and trios from Spain and Italy -- catastrophically misread the room, believing that their fans were willing to turn their back on the game for a few bucks more. In doing so they may discover that all the leverage they had accrued in years of negotiations with UEFA over the future of the Champions League has been frittered away. By Abdullah Almujahed

Political Correctness set out to protect minorities, so why has there been such a backlash to it? Whether you are fiercely for it or against it, it raises many issues surrounding free speech and if it is possible to draw borders around what you can and can't say in the name of being politically correct. Despite the initial backlash, many people have lost their credibility and jobs due to the powerful platform that social media provides. Giving power to individuals who are quick to judge and looking for justice, to the point that people are scared to speak at all, in fear of being cancelled. Why did something that set out to do good, instead create more animosity and polarization in society? Tune in to my episode to find out more. By Shannon Deddis

The year 2020 and 2021 have been years like no other in living memory. Everyone who lived through them will always remember the places they couldn't go, things they couldn't do, families they couldn't see, loved ones they've lost, jobs lost, shattered dreams and opportunities that never came to fruition. For Light Juma, a Kenyan Journalist who travelled 10,000 miles from Nairobi, Kenya to Brighton, England to attend University in a year like no other, she summarized it as “an emotional rollercoaster that has left her unsure about her future”. After eight years of failed attempts to make this border crossing of a lifetime that once offered the opportunity to gain new and innovative skills, practical knowledge and lifelong networks that would crystalize her career path, seven months later, Light find herself resigned to an uncertain future and has reached a startling conclusion about her life in retrospect. So, what has been light's experience, and what conclusion has she reached about her future? Find out about studying in a pandemic, the story of Light on the Borderscapes podcast By Jewel Atedou Bright

An inside listen on what's coming soon. Season Two of Borderscapes is almost here! Tune in this May 11th to the most diverse stories on borders and limits!

Coming this May, series 2 of Borderscapes. The wide range of topics covered in the episodes, from social media detoxes to the issues surrounding VAR in football, reflects the variety of the backgrounds and interests the team has and their own takes on all the borders that shape our day-to-day lives.

Every year, countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia import hundreds of thousands of students from all around the world, promising them a quality education and a global experience in return for hefty amounts of money. Away from their families, socially isolated, financial burden combined with the challenges of online learning, it has been a rough year for international students. In this episode of Borderscapes podcast, Homesick, I will be talking to some international students and discussing some of the challenges (if any) they are facing amidst this pandemic and how they are coping with things these days.

In recent times, media attention has been focused on the growing number of black majority churches in the UK. While church attendance in monocultural British churches is on the decline, African churches on the other hand are ‘booming'—to paraphrase a photo essay published in the UK Guardian of February 2019 titled “African churches boom in London's backstreets”. The episode describes how Black-majority churches, profiting from migration and the vibrancy of African Christianity, emphasize freedom of worship, social integration and the cultural preservation of migrants. Sharing the experiences of second-generation migrants and members of the clergy, the episode explores the borders between faith and migration. Rev Israel Olofinjana, an expert on reverse mission provided insights into factors influencing the growth of black churches in the UK while Revd Chris McDermott, the lead chaplain at the University of Sussex spoke on the formation of black churches and their influence on orthodox church practices. Produced and created by Hannah Ajakaiye Additional credits: Church Bells: BBC Sounds Music: Festival of life 2019 praise session, Youtube.

Much of the world has been brought to a complete standstill as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. The deadly respiratory virus has so far infected over three million with numbers growing every day. To slow the spread and flatten the exponential curve, many of us, most of us have been in or are in some sort of lockdown in our respective countries. This has meant shutting out loved ones, friends and the outside world as we self-isolate. This episode is a personal look into the lives of three women in different parts of the world during this time. We travel from England to South Africa, to Italy and China to hear their stories of life in self-isolation. This episode was recorded with the help of Silindile Mhlongo and Mary Valencia. Produced and created by Pheladi Sethusa. Additional credits: Sound effects: BBC Sound Effscts Music: “Helping Hands” by Ketsa, from Free Music Archive, CC by NC-ND “Empty Pavements” by Ketsa, from Free Music Archive, CC by NC-ND Archive: BBC News and Vox News

For millions of women across the world, hair is serious business. In many communities hair is considered by many as a definitive statement about who you are, who you think you are, and who you want to be. Coarse hair in its myriad forms, from the natural to twists and locks, has long been and remains a kind of bounced check on the acquisition of benefits of that same enduring cultural mythology. Like everything else about blacknesss—hair is knotted and gnarled by issues of identity and pride.  In this episode of Boarderscapes, host Mpinane Senkhane shares her own experience trying to take care of 4c hair in Euro–centric Brighton and speaks to women from different walks of life across the world about their relationship with their hair and the experience of managing it. This episode is features personal accounts from Laticia Granduer, Pheladi Sethusa and Tiwalola Odukuya. Produced and created by Mpinane Senkhane Additional credits: Sound effects: African drum sound effect - http://www.theallsounds.com/2017/09/african-drums-sound-effect.html French city sound effect – BBC Sounds Burning hair – recorded myself Image credit – Shutterstock

We define dreams as sensations or images passing through the mind of a sleeping person. We oppose dreams to waking reality. The border between the two worlds only dissolves when we fall asleep and wake up. Somehow music recreates the state of liminal dreaming. When we listen to music, we float somewhere between the waking and sleeping worlds. Do dreams penetrate our waking life more than we think? How much do we daydream? Some say that music creates an escape from reality. But doesn't listening to music bring you somewhere that feels more real than our waking reality? If boundaries exist between dreams, reality and the waking world, where do they stand? Join me in exploring the relationship between music and daydreaming with the musician Cosmo Sheldrake. The artist whose talents spread beyond geographical borders and erase imagined ones. We will also dig into philosophical arguments around dreams and reality, with lecturer in philosophy Doctor Anthony Booth. Additional Credits: Songs by Cosmo Sheldrake: Pliocene (1:55), Nightingale Wake up Calls (3:00), Fish (5:30) Owl Song (13:20). Music “Chillout-Lonley (Pad Meditation)” by Karma Ron at 0:15 and 7:00 From FreeSound CC BY Bbc.co.uk – copyright BBC Sound Effects All copyright reserved - ‘Into the infinite unknown', part of the series ‘Thalassophile'. Image created by the photographer, videographer and artist Lily Zoumpouli. Check out her work at https://lily-z.com and on Instagram @lily_zoumpouli. Added information: The research study published by Harvard University is available here. Here is a list of podcasts exploring the corners of the night, dreams or consciousness: Nocturne Podcast, An [Etymology] of Dreaming, Beyond the Illusion Podcast.

At the 2019 Golden Globes, South Korean director, Bong Joon-ho, explained that “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barriers of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films”. This podcast endeavours to explore the issues that surround the lack of recognition of non-English language film in Western awards shows and, in addition, lack of distribution in both cinemas and streaming services in the UK. During this podcast, we question the lack of mainstream interest of non-English language film in the UK and how we, as viewers, can seek out incredible cinema that is not presented to us through either advertisements or in local cinemas. Join Milo Korbenski, a local musician and cinephile, and I to discuss the importance of language as a form of culture in film and how, as a viewer, we can open our minds to films that are out of our comfort zones.

Though tribal nations barely contribute to emissions, they disproportionately feel the negative effects of climate change. Once the impacts are felt on reservations, can tribal nations hold the United States to account? This episode of Borderscapes will explore the effect of climate change on tribal nations in the United States and take a look at the complex web of cultural and legal issues at play in this cross-border issue. Huge thanks to my guests Elizabeth Kronk Warner, Dean of the SJ Quinney Law School at the University of Utah and Anna Smith, Assistant Editor at High Country News, for their insightful contributions. The articles ‘Tribal nations demand response to climate relocation' and ‘How do tribal nations' treaties figure into climate change?' written by Anna V. Smith inspired me to research this topic further. The articles Environmental Justice: A Necessary Lens to Effectively View Environmental Threats to Indigenous Survival and Indigenous Adaptation in the Face of Climate Change by Elizabeth Kronk Warner proved essential further reading. Full citations can be found here. Image credit to Monina Loperena, a photographer with an interest in ethnographic studies, anthropology and world journalism. Produced by Amanda Coldwell

The BORDERS between online and offline are blurred. We see perfection on social media and it's more than a filter – it's surgery. Whether we scroll the feed or stroll the streets – the looks glamourized by magazines make us feel like Plain Jane and Basic Betsy. The expectation that we MUST serve chiseled faces and snatched waists exist and not even a first-time mother is spared. This episode will remind you (yet again) how complex it is to be a woman in this time but more notably it shares the thoughts of two women who are anchored by their confidence in a world that constantly demands us to be MORE. We hear how creating your own beauty standards is a VIBE and how cosmetic surgery doesn't necessarily mean you're dissatisfied with yourself. Sola is au natural, Rachael loves a bit of Botox and albeit from different cultures – these two women share more similarities than differences. My conversation with them was so insightful and thought-provoking that I found myself lowering my guards and revealing my own insecurities. This was equally spontaneous and liberating. This project is deeply personal and one for self-reflection that I hope we can enjoy and appreciate as women. I share parts of me so you are encouraged to embrace parts of you – flaws and all. I give to you, “Parts of Us”- simply a labor of love. Sola Ajai and Rachael Banwell for sharing your experiences, thoughts and time as the main contributors of this project. Music Used in Podcast: “Royalty Free Music | Summer Time - Reggae Instrumental | No Copyright 100% FREE CFM Production https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIe5... Provided by CFM: https://cfmfreemusic.com Produced by MGJ Beats: https://youtube.com/MGJBeats Download link: http://cfmfreemusic.com/reggae-instru... Soundbite: “Mean Girls” Scene (1:21 – 1:44) Found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-DeVtATVFs Rahul Panchal – Composer of Borderscapes Theme Music Ana Beltran Silva – Graphic Designer for Borderscapes Material Martin Spinelli for going above and beyond during the strike and Covid-19 to provide us with the best given the circumstances. Lee Gooding for the exceptional technical support MA Podcasting Class for the support, inspiration and critical feedback.

The online world still represents a mystery for many of us. There is so much information out there that it is physically impossible for one to ever be able to intake it all. In a world where you have the knowledge of everything at the touch of a screen, how does one decide what to focus on? Are we getting further and further from each other by being connected at all times? Is online learning the way forward or does it represent a way to lose focus on learning altogether? Tune in to Virtualized, an episode brought to you by Alexander Tugen, part of the series Borderscapes.

Coming on May 21, the anthology series, Borderscapes, explores the real and artificial boundaries surrounding our lives. For some, they are thought of as gateways to our conscious, virtual, and existential selves. For others, they appear as a challenging barrier to be overcome. Our producers profile those directly affected to understand the depth of these borders.

A podcast series about BORDERS. Launching in May 2020, the series will contain a range of innovative and creative documentary, investigative and essay episodes about crossing and maintaining borders and boundaries of all kinds. The concept of borders has been a flashpoint in nearly every major field of interest over the past decade. From the nationalist movements and migration crises of geopolitics, to the Hawking-Hartle state (the ‘no-boundary proposal') of astrophysics, to the breakdown of social contract theory in economics evident in the climate crisis and the Extinction Rebellion responses to it, to the limits of atomism and ego-centrism exposed by recent developments in philosophy and psychology, borders seem at times both impossible and persistent.