Real voices. True journeys. Humanity without borders Migrant Odyssey tells the stories of people who’ve crossed borders and kept going — individuals whose intelligence, determination and generosity of spirit enrich any country or community they reach . These are stories of true worth — proof that migration is not a problem, but part of what makes us human.
Ep.29 Lebanon Lives - Lana: Dealing with the Damage
Clinical psychologist and GBV case worker talks about her experiences in both psychiatric hospitals and refugee camps, dealing with traumas that - as she puts it- "don't repeat - because they never end." Another episode in the mini series listening to voices from Lebanon. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep. 28 Lebanon Lives: There's no time to stay down
If you want to know a little more about Lebanon than the usual clichés, this is the episode for you. "You have to get back up. There's no time to stay down" This the personal story of Mohammed - why he calls Lebanon his heart's safe space AND "Building the national state prevents violence" This is the story of his work for an extraordinary organization -The Hariri Foundation For Sustainable Human Development. https://hariri-foundation.org/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep. 27 Lebanon Lives - The Longing
Time and distance never quite heal the pain of war and disruption. And neither do they soothe the longing to return. Souad has been away from her beloved Lebanon for 20 years but both its joys and traumas are ever present. In this third episode in the mini series on Lebanon, she talks, - with both bluntness and much humour - about her homeland. Here's the link to a map of Beirut https://www.worldmap1.com/map/beirut-map Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep 26. Lebanon Lives - the voice of Areej
Some people have poetry in their voice - whether they know it or not. Their words, and the silence in-between, stop you in your tracks. Which is what fine poetry does. Areej has that gift. Whether she talks about teaching children, or coming home to her beloved city or her faith, there is always that moment when you have to pause and look at your world anew. This is the second episode in this mini series on extraordinary ordinary people in Lebanon today. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 25 LEBANON LIVES - Mona's Story.
Lebanon Lives: the first of a mini series featuring extraordinary, ordinary people in Lebanon - trying to live their lives while their towns, villages and cities are bombed around them. As host Stephen Barden says, " These people are us." or as Joan Baez put it, in her song, "There but for fortune - go you or I". Stephen's first guest in this series is Mona - half Ukrainian, half Palestinian, lover of extreme sports and in love with a profession she cannot pursue. And here's the Instagram link to Mona's Extreme Sports team: https://www.instagram.com/wolves.teamm?igsh=NjMwZTRicjJieDR3 Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep. 24 Gaza Champions - the generosity of friendship.
Gaza Champions is a global community that may be solving two huge problems that plague traditional charities: how to make sure support stays long after the media circus has moved on. And how to get past donor fatigue. Stephen Barden talks to co-founders Anam Raheem and Matt Davis about how they helped put volunteers from across the world in touch with individual families in Gaza: a network of pen pals - or zoom pals. And the impact that has had - not just on the families in Gaza - but on the volunteers. Links referred to in episode: Gaza Champions website: https://www.championgaza.xyz/ Gaza Champions instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMyhMaDt-v/ Mahmood fund-raising page: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/gaza-champions Anam Raheem's substack: https://substack.com/@anamraheem?r=2pc66t&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile Anam's short story: https://www.wasafiri.org/content/tessellation-by-anam-raheem/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep 23. The Tiny Mighty Organization: the fight against trafficking in women
While the media focus on punishing - or protecting - the powerful men who consorted with Jeffrey Epstein, it has completely neglected to ask: how can any man traffic and exploit women and children in plain sight? And why is it that, despite the Epstein revelations, organizations combating trafficking and protecting survivors face more not less governmental delays and significant cuts in funding? In this episode Stephen Barden talks to Taina Bien Aimé, who has devoted herself to this cause for over three decades, and heads an organization that punches way above it weight. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep 22. Gaza Voices
With Gaza all but obliterated - do the memories and stories of Gazans lie under the rubble as well? If universities, cafes, homes, mosques, churches, hospitals, workplaces and even entire streets have been flattened, what happens to the memories that filled those places? Two organizations have designed ingenious projects to make sure that Gaza voices do not disappear. Stephen Barden talks to Jo Friel and Lina Ayesh from Yalla Labs and Ahmad Jaafil from Waves to Home. l24P71jC2om4S6aAFhhu Gaza Living Story: https://yallalabs.org/resources/healing-through-storytelling-gaza-living-story Waves to Gaza website: https://www.wavestohome.org/category/palestine/gaza/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
Ep 21. The Children of the Dispossessed: what happens next?
This is the story of a 6 year old girl who was left to look after her younger brother and sister while her migrant parents worked every day and most of the night. This is the story of Mirujaa, eldest daughter of Sri Lankan refugees whose single minded goal was to succeed in their new country while paying back their families "back home". This is the story of how the burden of the desperate and the dispossessed is passed onto the next generation. And how it is lifted. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 20 Sudan: Ethar, the lemon tree, the meandering donkey and 70 years of war.
A sandstorm birth, a village donkey named Kajol, and a gun barrel to the head during the Khartoum Massacre—Ethar’s story pulls you straight into Sudan’s living history and insistently asks a hard question: 70 years of warfare has changed nothing, so where does real change begin? We open with a clear, human overview of Sudan’s long arc of coups, civil wars, Darfur’s horrors, and the power struggle between the SAF and RSF, then step into a home where a Ministry of Justice mother and a communist father model how to disagree politically while being totally aligned morally and ethically. That paradox becomes a compass as Ethar learns to push back—against assumptions, about her religion, her beliefs, her capabilities and her country. As Ethar, reminds us, the wars in Sudan were never for the people - but for power. And her stories in this episode have people at their core - her family, her neighbour who rescued her from a mob, her friend who saved her life. And Ethar herself, who insists that change only comes when ordinary people's daily lives are tangibly changed for the better. Village by village, town by town, person by person. Please help support the show: by sharing with your network; by making a small contribution and by sending us feedback. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 19 Ruchira Gupta: "Where are all the girls?"
Stephen Barden talks to Ruchira Gupta, lifelong activist against human trafficking - especially the trafficking of women. This extraordinary woman not only founded a global organization to protect and educate sexually trafficked women and their daughters but, through her work with the United Nations, has driven changes in global laws on human trafficking and drawn up rules of behaviour for the peacekeepers themselves. In this episode we hear how she started on her campaign decades ago when she was covering a story in Nepal and discovered there were no girls in village after village. Her question "Where are all the girls", set her on a path that she's following to this day. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 18 Kejsi Hodo and the "invisible" referendum to change Italy's citizenship laws
Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 17 Lex Takkenberg - 30 years in the most scrutinised of all UN agencies
From the frontlines of one of the world's most enduring humanitarian crises comes a story of extraordinary dedication. Dr Lex Takkenberg takes us through his extraordinary four-decade journey working with refugees and displaced persons, including thirty years with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). What begins as an academic interest in international law at the University of Amsterdam transforms into a lifelong commitment when Lex joins UNRWA during the first Intifada. Through his eyes, we witness the evolution of conflict in the region - from the relatively contained stone-throwing confrontations of the late 1980s to the increasingly lethal violence that followed the second Intifada and beyond. Lex offers rare insights into UNRWA's precarious position between competing stakeholders. Initially established to provide relief while deflecting attention from refugees' right of return, the agency evolved into an essential provider of education, healthcare, and social services while constantly navigating accusations of bias from all sides. His account of developing "robust neutrality frameworks" reveals the extraordinary scrutiny UNRWA faces compared to other UN agencies. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 16 All Good Stories Start with our Grandmothers
Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP.15 Ahmad's story: from sight to insight
Ahmad Jaafil shares his story of extraordinary and persistent willpower, He talks matter of factly about his severe and rare eye disease and the horrendous struggle to try and save his sight- in Lebanon and then the USA. If you want to know, in painful detail, what it's like for a family to do everything and more to heal their young son, this episode will do that for you. And it's also a story of - fierce determination and huge will - of a young man who went from being seen as "hopeless and weak" by his classmates to being named student of the year - of the power of acceptance of what is , but not of what can be Help support Waves to Home (www.wavestohome.org) and amplify the stories of all uprooted people around the world. And, please do tell us what you think and feel about Migrant Odyssey. We need your support. We love your feedback Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 14 One stitch - A World of Meaning
This is the story of Hajar - a young woman with Palestinian and Lebanese parents - who understands that her people are woven together - not just by ideologies or politics or even the yearning for a safe homeland but by their stories. The stories of their humanity, eccentricities, intimacy and tenderness. Stories that are embroidered into every part of their lives. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 13 "Our existence as Palestinians challenges a whole universe that supports the occupation"
Can standing on a rooftop in a refugee camp be the starting point of a journey toward empowerment and change? This episode of "Migrant Odyssey" features Manal, a dedicated social worker and the founder of the Kayani Foundation, that support Palestinian women and girls through the values of family. She takes us through the harrowing history of her family, the struggles of her parents, and the poignant memories of her grandmother, whose stories and a cherished memento profoundly shaped her path. Beyond personal anecdotes, we confront the harsh realities faced by Palestinian refugees in Lebanese schools. Manal recounts her own experiences of racism and systemic barriers that hinder educational and professional aspirations. The rigid curriculum, internal violence, and flawed educational systems paint a stark picture of the obstacles that students encounter daily. Through Manal's narrative, we see the disparity between the immense potential of these students and the limited opportunities available to them, driving home the pervasive sense of hopelessness that many feel. Lastly, we explore the complexities of Palestinian identity and the emotional weight of statelessness. Manal shares her passion for outdoor activities and discusses her impactful work in mental health, child protection, and capacity building within refugee camps. The conversation also emphasizes gender equality initiatives and the resistance faced when promoting sensitive issues like feminism. Highlighting the necessity of involving men and boys in this fight, Manal's work underscores a broader commitment to fostering respect and healthy family dynamics, striving for equal opportunities and continuous support for the Palestinian community. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 12 Maqluba: the upside down dish that is life on the West Bank
Life on the West Bank is upside down for Palestinians. They have little of rights on their land that they have lived on for centuries. The towns that they do live in cannot grow because they are being strangled by encroaching Israeli settlements. East Jerusalem, internationally designated as the Palestinian capital - is not. A journey that should take minutes takes hours and hours. The places where the are supposed to be safe - are not. It is, says today's guest Firas, like Maqluba - the beloved Palestinian upside down dish. Except it isn't. Unlike Maqluba,living on the West Bank is neither tasty nor beloved. This episode is co-hosted by Zoya (our half Palestinian half Ukrainian guest from episode 9) who brings her compassion, with and experience of, the Palestinian tragedy to a thoughtful discussion that ranges from Firas' personal story to questions of decolonizing minds and managing conflict where laws and governance do not apply. And it ends - as so many of our stories do - with the ties of the heart: those profound emotional bonds that define what it means to truly belong "with" a place and its people. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP. 11 "Even If what stays of Gaza is rubble. The rubble will be my home"
This episode is extraordinary not just because Tareq - a young man from Gaza - has an extraordinary story to tell, but because as he tells it , one can hear each stage of his life unfiltered. He is able to express what Tareq the child felt long before his adult self understood the years' long blockade -seige- under which his city lived. And when we hear his story of when he first had to go to Jerusalem, we hear the shock of his treatment - as if it were happening to him today. Tareq more than tells his story, he relives it. And so will you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
EP.10 Rowan from the West Bank: "I lost my sense of fear - and that's scary."
Imagine navigating the complex layers of survivor's guilt while fostering a beacon of innovation amidst the ricochet of conflict. Join us as we welcome Rowan, a resilient Palestinian businesswoman and engineer from the West Bank, who shares an intimate portrayal of life under occupation. Her vivid narratives reveal the deep cultural and spiritual significance of Ramadan, the ingenuity required to thrive as an entrepreneur in the Middle East, and the unwavering commitment to humanity that defines the Palestinian spirit. The tapestry of her story is woven with threads of hope and the stark realities of living amidst ongoing strife in Gaza. The echoes of trauma reverberate through generations, shaping lives in ways that often remain hidden. This episode peels back the veil on the psychological impacts of continuous trauma as Rowan and I explore how Palestinians have normalized violence to the point of fearlessness. We delve into the challenges of mental health in conflict zones, sharing personal anecdotes that illustrate the complexity of seeking support in an environment where trauma is part of the everyday fabric of life. Through Rowan's eyes, we grasp the generational transmission of pain and perseverance, and understand the silent burdens carried within families. Rowan's journey embodies the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial grit that can emerge from the most challenging circumstances. From her early education to launching her startup, Amal, aimed at revolutionizing the construction industry, Rowan's experiences highlight the economic and professional hurdles faced by Palestinians. The candid recount of her startup's evolution, from a simple Google Forms setup to a service impacting thousands, ultimately reflects the broader landscape of opportunity and growth in a region hungry for change. Her narrative not only captivates but also inspires, shining a light on the indomitable human spirit that persists in the wake of adversity. Send us Fan Mail Support the show You know as well as I do that stories about migrants don’t attract big sponsors. Governments are hostile, corporations stay cautious, and even NGOs hang on to their tightening budgets. That's why we need your help. Migrant Odyssey exists — to make sure those voices are still heard. If you’ve ever felt that empathy without action isn’t enough, this is one real way to make a difference. Even a small monthly contribution — one you’ll hardly notice — helps keep these voices alive.
