Voices on the Move

A Podcast on Climate Change & Migration

Voices on the Move is a podcast series that explores the complex relationship between climate change and migration, going beyond sensational headlines to bring you real stories. Amplifying the voices of migration researchers, climate migrants, displaced persons, and community leaders—especially from the Global South—the series provides both personal voices and scholarly insights. From Afghanistan to Ghana to Canada, it addresses climate-induced displacement, impacts on indigenous and rural populations, social and gender inequalities in mobility, and much more.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 1

Rethinking “Climate Migration”: Are We Missing the Point?

In this premiere episode of Voices on the Move, we delve into the complex relationship between climate change and migration. Experts Dr. François Gemenne (University of Liège), Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall), and Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) challenge common assumptions such as “one billion climate refugees” and explore how climate impacts habitability, mobility, and policy, offering fresh insights into this critical global issue. We also begin to hear stories from those directly affected by climate change and displacement, whose experiences will be further explored in future episodes.

Show Notes, Transcript & More
Episode 2

More Than Words: Climate Challenges in Afghanistan and Somalia

In this episode, we explore how terms like ‘climate refugees’ shape perceptions and policies, featuring insights from Professor Mo Hamza (Lund University) and Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall). Through personal stories from Afghanistan and Somalia, we challenge labels, delve into real experiences behind the statistics, and discuss how responses can be best shaped to meet the needs of those affected – all to discover: What impact does the language we use have on responses to climate-induced migration and displacement?

Show Notes, Transcript & More
Episode 3

What Makes a Place (No Longer) Habitable? Environmental Change in Ghana and Mali

Is climate change alone driving migration decisions? For agricultural communities, environmental and economic factors are deeply intertwined, making it difficult to pinpoint climate as the sole or even primary cause of mobility. This episode features the voices of local farmers in Ghana and Mali, along with insights from experts Dr. Mumuni Abu (University of Ghana) and Sidy Boly (National Institute of Statistics of Mali). They share how traditional livelihoods and gender roles are adapting to environmental changes and economic pressures, broadening our understanding of what habitability means.

Show Notes, Transcript & More
Episode 4

To Stay or to Go? Migration Decisions and Tipping Points in Ghana

What are the tipping points that compel people to migrate in the face of climate change? This episode looks at the personal and environmental factors that influence migration decisions. Through the stories of farmers in Ghana, we explore how economic opportunities, community ties, and individual perceptions shape responses to climate challenges. Dr. Rachel Keeton (University of Twente) and Dr. Ricardo Safra de Campos (University of Exeter) from the HABITABLE research project offer insights into the nuanced dynamics of staying or leaving in the face of environmental change.

Show Notes, Transcript & More
Episode 5

“Prevention Doesn’t Win Votes”: Confronting Climate Challenges in Canada

In the Global North, climate change tends to be seen as something that happens elsewhere or in the future. But Canada’s experience with natural disasters tells a different story. In this episode, a survivor of the devastating wildfires in Lytton, British Columbia, shares her story of escape, displacement, and the road to recovery. With insights from Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) and Dr. Will Greaves (University of Victoria), we discuss the intertwined challenges of emergency response, long-term recovery, and policy adaptation.

Show Notes, Transcript & More
Episode 6

“You Don’t Know Where to Go”: Indigenous Communities Facing Canada’s Climate Disasters

The 2021 wildfires in British Columbia didn’t just destroy homes; they severed deep-rooted connections between Indigenous communities and their ancestral lands. This episode, a follow-up to our previous discussion on Canada, features a survivor from an Indigenous community in Merritt, BC, who shares the profound impact of displacement. With insights from Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) and Dr. Will Greaves (University of Victoria), we explore how Indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and multi-level governance must shape Canada’s climate response.

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Episode 7

Women on the Frontlines: Adapting to Climate Change in Kenya and Nigeria

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change and immobility, yet they are often at the forefront of finding solutions. This episode features stories from Kenya and Nigeria, where women share how climate challenges have reshaped their roles and livelihoods. Experts Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall) and Priscilla Achakpa (Women Environmental Programme) discuss the importance of a gender-sensitive approach to climate policy, emphasizing the need for cultural, economic, and political changes to support women’s resilience and adaptation.

Show Notes, Transcript & More

Credits:

Producer & Senior Story Editor: Bernadette Klausberger

Host: Sophia Burton

Editor: Line Schulz

Editorial Team:

  • Devyani Nighoskar
  • Frankie Reid
  • Sean Holman
  • Isabelle Schwengler
  • Mwara Namelok
  • Viola Vuyanzi
  • Wendy Indira
  • Ellen Mainert
  • Eline van Oosterhout
  • Selma Blanken
  • Hannah Seaton
  • Tosh Sherkat
  • Aldyn Chwelos
  • Christina Gervais

Audio Engineering:

  • Tim Strasburger-Schmidt
  • Eduard Hutuleac
  • Christian Wilmes

Sound Design:

  • Tim Strasburger-Schmidt
  • Eliah Arnold

Original Music:

Sound Mix:

  • Tim Strasburger-Schmidt

Voice Actors:

  • Leo Skozowski
  • Dulcie Smart
  • Jeff Burrell
  • Nick Welsh
  • Nele Mailin Obermueller
  • Lizzie Roberts

Studio: alias film & sprachtransfer

Graphic Design:

Partners and Funders:

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (DI) as primary host

York University (Institutional host)

Migration Matters e.V.

Habitable Project

Samuel Hall

 

Thank you for supporting this production:

  • Yvonne Su, Theresa Dinh
  • Dagmar Jacobsen, Christian Wilmes
  • Chiyoko Szlavnics, Dulcie Smart
  • Ellen Mainert, Ellie Hand, Janine Wallrabe
  • Sabrina Sam, Yuehan An
  • Moritz Metz
  • Florian Debève
  • Sean Holman