Asylum Speakers Podcast with Jaz O'Hara: Stories of Migration and Displacement
Asylum Speakers is a podcast that explores stories of asylum, migration and displacement. Host Jaz O'Hara amplifies voices from around the world to educate and inspire, debunking myths about migration. Each episode features conversations with people who have experienced displacement, highlighting shared humanity and common ground.
Episodes
Fatmata Episode 4: Bringing Fatmata Home
In the fourth episode of FATMATA, the focus turns to bringing Fatmata home. As Abu and the Second Tree team work to locate her body and navigate a system marked by bureaucracy, corruption and uncertainty, they face extraordinary challenges to honour her final journey. Through the voices of those who stood alongside Abu in this process, we follow Fatmata's repatriation from North Macedonia to Sierr
Fatmata Episode 3: The Day it Happened
In the third episode of FATMATA, everything changes.As Fatmata and Abu leave Greece in search of safety, they begin the journey north through the Balkans. But as they cross into North Macedonia, they find themselves caught in an ambush by border police that will change their lives forever.Through the testimony of Abu and those closest to him, we piece together the events of that night and the days
Fatmata Episode 2: Greece
In the second episode of FATMATA, we travel to Greece, where Fatmata and Abu first arrive in Europe.Through conversations with the volunteers who came to know them during their time there, we begin to understand life inside Greek refugee camps, the friendships they formed, and the moments of joy they found during these ten months of waiting.But after several rejections of their asylum claims, it b
Fatmata Episode 1: Sierra Leone
In the first episode of FATMATA, we travel to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to meet the couple at the heart of this story.Through conversations with her husband, Abu Bakar, her sisters, her mother, and those who knew her best, we begin to get to know the remarkable Fatmata Kamara - or Fatima, as she was known to her family and friends.Fatmata left a lasting impression on everyone she met, so what led a
Fatmata: The Trailer
On 19 April 2023, a young woman was shot and killed by a policeman at the border between Greece and North Macedonia. Her name was Fatmata Kamara, known to her friends and family as Fatima. She was 23 years old. She died that night in the arms of her husband, Abu Bakar.Her death barely made the news.Her story raises many important questions… Who was Fatmata, and what really happened that night? Why
52. REUNITED AFTER TEN YEARS: The story of Mez and his little brother Josi: Part Two
The final part of the story!!!Welcome back to the Asylum Speakers Podcast! I can’t believe it’s been so long since the last episode, and so much has happened since then… and that’s what this episode is here to fill you in on today!!!If you haven’t yet listened to the last episode that we put out, (about my foster brother Mez trying everything to get his younger biological brother Josi safely to th
51. REUNITED AFTER TEN YEARS: The story of Mez and his little brother Josi: Part One
This is an episode and a story that I’ve been wanting to share for nearly two years... and I am so happy to finally be able to do so!This episode is about my Eritrean foster brother Mez and his younger brother Josi. A few years after Mez left Eritrea to avoid compulsory military service, so too did his little brother Josi. Josi is two years younger than Mez and they grew up doing everything togeth
50. Imad's Syrian Kitchen with Imad Al Arnab
In today’s episode I speak to the wonderful Imad Al Arnab of Imad’s Syrian Kitchen. Imad has such an amazing story. He was a successful restaurateur in his home city of Damascus, Syria where he owned multiple restaurants, several juice bars and coffee shops. After they were all bombed and it became apparent he had to leave, he made the dangerous journey to the UK, where at first he worked in a car
48. The true story behind recent short film MATAR, with co-writer, actor and cinematographer Ayman Alhussein
In this episode we hear the incredible story of Ayman Alhussein. Ayman is an actor, cinematographer and co-writer of amazing new short film, Matar, directed by Hassan Akkad, starring Ahmed Malek and available to watch online, for free on Waterbear.The film Matar tells the story of an undocumented delivery driver in London and highlights the challenges of navigating hostile environment Britain and
47. Food, heritage, identity, cultural mobility and going viral with Indonesian, Kenyan, Pakistani and Yemeni Filmmaker Nadir Nahdi
This week’s guest is one of my favourite storytellers ever. Filmmaker Nadir Nahdi speaks so beautifully about his upbringing spanning many cultures, the ways that food has woven those pieces together and why the stories he tells and the films he makes are so disruptively important in our society today. I was introduced to Nadir’s work through his most recent youtube series Bad Pakistani about
46. THE JOURNEY Episode 6: Going Full Circle
Welcome to the FINAL episode of The Journey!Today’s episode is designed to speak to that rhetoric that refugees or asylum seekers might be a burden... that they take from us, economically, culturally, or whatever that fear might be. I’m honoured to be able to share multiple examples of how much we have to gain from welcoming refugees and asylum seekers with open arms. This episode came to be
45. THE JOURNEY Episode 5: A New Home
Welcome back to Episode FIVE of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.Today’s episode is about what life looks like for people once they make it to their final destination. What is life like in their host country? What’s new and difficult? What does integration look like or even mean? What can we, as listeners
44. THE JOURNEY Episode 4: Pushbacks
In his memoir about leaving Syria to life in the UK, my friend Hassan (also a previous podcast guest), shared the terrifying experience he had when attempting to reach Greece by boat. His rubber dinghy was approached by three masked men on a bigger boat, who stole their petrol tank and violently pushed them away from the shore. What Hassan experienced was a pushback.What are pushbacks you mig
43. THE JOURNEY Episode 3: The Journey
Welcome to Episode THREE of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.So far this season we’ve explored the reasons why people are leaving their countries, and taken a look at what life looks like in the first countries they arrive to. As a result of how difficult things can be in that first country, we also know t
42. THE JOURNEY Episode 2: The First 'Safe' Country
Welcome back to Episode TWO of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.People often ask me ‘Why don’t refugees stay in the first safe country they land in? It’s a comment I see a lot on social media and one I feel there is a lot of judgment and misinformation around. This episode is designed to answer exactl
41. THE JOURNEY Episode 1: Leaving Home
I’m so happy to be bringing you episode 1 of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.In this episode we’re starting from the beginning and exploring why people first embark on their journey. Why do people leave their countries and everything they ever knew behind? What are the push factors? We’ll b
40. Ukraine: Everything you need to know and what you can do to help
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th February, I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been thinking about the Ukrainian people. This week I’ve been in neighboring Poland, (which, at the time of recording this is now estimated to be home to 4 million Ukrainian refugees). I’ve been honoured to speak to some incredible people both leaving Ukraine and volunteers and NGO’s on the ground supporting thos
39. Period Poverty: Everything you need to know
Period Poverty. You might no know what this term means yet, but this episode will tell you everything you need to know.In it we hear from six incredible women from five organisations working to tackle period poverty from the ground up. If you would like to find out more about their wonderful work, check them out here:Ella Lambert - founder of The Pachamamma ProjectMelissa Robel - founder of Pads 4
38. From defending on the football pitch, to defending the rights of Afghanistan's women and girls, with Khalida Popal
This International Women's Day, It's only right that I bring you the story of one of the most incredible women that I know... Khalida Popal.Khalida grew up playing football with her brothers in Afghanistan, and even though she faced serious discrimination from her community as a result, she went on to form the Afghan women’s football league with her friends. Despite death threats at the hands of e
37. What's happening in Sudan? Everything you need to know and what you can do about it, with Waging Peace
Today’s podcast episode is about a country very close to my heart - Sudan.Like most people in the UK, I grew up without any knowledge of what was happening in Sudan. In my history lessons at school I learnt about the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing that happened during the second world war, but I learnt nothing about the current genocide in Sudan that continues to this day. It wasn’t until
36. My journey from Syria to Filmmaker to NHS Hospital Cleaner and Activist, with Hassan Akkad
I’m so excited to introduce you to our guest for this episode... Syrian filmmaker, activist and most recently, author, Hassan Akkad!Hassan is the very first person I ever heard speak about their experience leaving Syria first hand, and it’s safe to say that it had a huge impact on me. Not only has Hassan shared his incredible story through talks and at events, he actually first became known for fi
35. SPECIAL EPISODE: The Freedom to Imagine, in collaboration with Amnesty International UK
This is an extra special bonus episode in which I ask some of my amazing previous podcast guests - 'What does Freedom mean to you?'As we come to the end of Season 5, it felt good to touch base with a few old friends of the show, as well as to explore a theme I have been discussing with the team at Amnesty UK - human rights. We all know we have rights, no matter where we come from, but not everyone
34. A Lebanese cookery class with Ahmad from Migrateful
I’ve got a bit of a different episode from normal in store for you today as I’m going to take you with me on a really fun experience I had recently.... a Lebanese cookery class.Let me explain... My guest this week is Ahmad Sinnu. We met through one of my all time favourite organisations Migrateful. Migrateful run cookery classes led by refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who are otherwise strugg
33. Facing life in prison for stopping a deportation flight, with Melanie Strickland from the Stansted 15
For anyone who doesn’t remember the incredible story of the Stansted 15 - they are a group of human rights activists who organised a non-violent action to stop a deportation flight leaving from Stansted on the night of the 28 March 2017.The plane they stopped from leaving the UK was chartered by the UK Home Office to deport 60 people to Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Amongst these people were se
32. What's happening in Afghanistan? Everything you need to know, and what you can do to help, with Rustam Wahab
This episode of The Worldwide Tribe podcast is dedicated to the people of Afghanistan. It was recorded in response to the devastating events we have seen unfold there over the last few weeks as the Taliban has taken over the country. My guest this week is Rustam Wahab - a 19 year old British Afghan who has single-handedly become the go to source on Instagram, for up to date information on the situ
31. Being a father to eight kids from five different countries: Becoming a foster parent, with my dad, Mike O'Hara
A very special episode for you today!I’ve been trying to get my dad on the podcast for ages, and finally, here he is! Having heard my mum’s perspective of fostering, lots of you have been interested to hear from my dad, for his take on parenting so many kids from all these different countries. My dad has always been a little more private when it comes to sharing his story or being on Instagra
30. 'Leaving everything to volunteer in Greece changed my life forever,' with Holly Penalver, Founder of Indigo Volunteers
I LOVED recording this episode!My guest this week is the most requested guest on this podcast ever - Holly Penalvar, founder of Indigo Volunteers. Holly is an absolute ray of sunshine and known in this sector, not just for her amazing work coordinating thousands of volunteers, but for always doing so with a smile on her face so I think you guys probably knew that she would bring some joy and
29. The Man who fell from the Sky with filmmaker Rich Bentley
In 2015, two young men called Carlito and Justin, hid inside the wheel well of a plane flying from Johannesburg in South Africa, to London. As the wheels of the plane were lowered for landing, Carlito fell from the sky, to his death on the roof of an office building in West London. Against all odds, his best friend Justin survived, and was found on the runway at Heathrow airport. Today I spea
28. SPECIAL EPISODE: Israel and Palestine - Everything you need to know with Yara Eid - a 20-year-old Palestinian from Gaza
I’m bringing you this special episode of The Worldwide Tribe in response to what has been happening in recent weeks in Israel and Palestine. When I asked on social media what you wanted to hear about this topic , you said personal stories and also the history of the region so that’s what I’m bringing you.My guest today is the amazing Yara Eid… a 20-year-old from Gaza. Yara left Gaza 5 years a
27. From Syria to Germany by Wheelchair, with Nujeen Mustafa and Marwa Mbayed
Today’s Episode of the podcast brings you the stories of two incredible young women, Nujeen Mustafa and Marwa Mbayed.I was introduced to Nujeen and Marwa by Humanity and Inclusion, a charity who support people with disabilities, who are also affected by poverty, conflict and disaster. Unfortunately, this is the reality for both my guests today. Nujeen was born with cerebral palsy. After leavi
26. Living Stateless in the USA with Karina and Katie from United Stateless
This week I’m talking to Karina and Katie from an organisation called United Stateless - the only organisation in the United States of America to be advocating for stateless people. This is another topic that I had no idea about before Karina and Katie opened my eyes to what it means to be stateless.Turns out there are around 200,000 people in America alone who fall into the category of state
25. The Kafala System: Why two migrant domestic workers die in Lebanon every single week
This week’s episode of the Worldwide Tribe podcast is about something we all need to know about... The Kafala System.Kafala means sponsorship. It’s a system common across many Arab countries, where a citizen of that country can ‘sponsor’ someone from a poorer country to come and work for them. There are around 400,000 migrant domestic workers in Lebanon under the Kafala System right now. They
24. The Story of Banksy’s Pink Search-and-Rescue Boat, with Crew Members Vanessa and Dickon
You might remember that at the end of last summer, UK artist Banksy hit the news when he funded a new search and rescue boat in the Mediterranean. He painted it bright pink, with a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy painted on the side, and it was named the Louise Michel after a French feminist anarchist. The Louise Michel has so far made one rescue mission, on which it br
23. Napier Barracks: Life inside Britain's first refugee camp
Do you think of refugee camps as only existing in countries far away? Today’s episode of The Worldwide Tribe podcast is about one right here in the UK: Napier Barracks.Up on a hill in the seaside town of Folkestone in Kent, lies a disused army barracks built in 1794. It’s red-brick buildings, surrounded by 10-ft fences topped with barbed wire, were actually due for demolition in 2021, until our Ho
22. A New Brother, a Catch Up and a Very Special, Surprise Guest
WELCOME BACK to Season 4 of the Worldwide Tribe Podcast!It's been a while, so this episode covers some of the big events of the last few months...from a trip to Beirut after the explosion, to a brand new brother!Spend some time with me, Jaz, sharing an update on lockdown, the recent Channel crossings, a new film, but most importantly...a new family member! Halfway through this episode I am joined
21. From Radical Jihad to Radical Inclusion: The Story of former Extremist Manwar Ali
My guest this week is Manwar Ali - a former radical Jihadist who is now a leading campaigner in Britain against violence and extremism, and works with the UK police and Home Office to prevent radicalisation in young people.Whilst studying in London in the late 1970’s, Manwar gradually became radicalised and was involved in radical Jihad for 15 years, recruiting others, fundraising and fighting for
20. Beirut: The explosion from the people’s perspective
The whole world was shocked by the footage of last week’s explosion in Beirut. It hardly looked real. But amongst the thousands of videos of the blast and the statistics being reported in the press internationally, are the hundreds of thousands of people who have been impacted by the tragedy. Today you will hear from two of these people, Lebanese rapper and director at Beirut Records, Jeff Bo
19. Imprisoned, raped and sold in slave markets at the hands of ISIS: The Story of Yazidi Genocide Surviver Farida Khalaf
Today is the six year anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. If you don't know about the Yazidi people or what happened to them...this is the episode for you. My guest this week is Farida Khalaf - a Yazidi girl from a village in Northern Iraq - 100km west of Mosul. The Yazidi religion is an ancient minority in predominantly muslim Iraq, and when ISIS seized the city of Mosul in June 2014, F
18. ’Losing three limbs in Afghanistan gave me the gift of connecting with suffering’: The Story of Anti-War Photographer Giles Duley
Prepare yourself for what is definitely one of the most amazing conversations that I’ve ever had. You might want to take notes during this episode, I felt like I did whilst Giles spoke these words to me. I wanted to remember every word that left his mouth...My guest this week is Giles Duley. Giles describes himself as an anti-war photographer, documenting humanity, love and connection in conflict
17. Having a baby in a War Zone: The story of Syrian mother and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, director of Oscar-nominated film, For Sama
It’s an absolute honour to have been able to interview this week’s guest...Waad Al-Kateab is a Syrian filmmaker, journalist, mother and director of the film For Sama. For anyone who hasn’t heard of this film, go and watch it immediately (it’s available for free online)...but be prepared. It’s one of the most emotional and impactful films I’ve ever seen.Waad and her family’s story is mind blowing.
16. Arrested for Smuggling a 4-year-old Afghan Girl into the UK: The Story of Ex-soldier Rob Lawrie
Kicking off the season today I’m joined by a guest who’s name might be familiar to you. Rob Lawrie is an ex-soldier turned volunteer from the north of England who made international headlines when he was caught smuggling a 4 year old girl from the Calais Jungle refugee camp in France, across the border and into the UK.Rob’s actions saw him facing years in a French prison, with some branding him a
15. SPECIAL EPISODE: Homelessness, Connection and ‘People of the Pandemic’ with Joshua Coombes
This episode is another absolute treat.This week’s guest is ‘Hairdresser to the Homeless,’ Joshua Coombes. After years of living parallel lives working to destigmatize and unpick the stereotypes around some of the most marginalised of society, it’s been a long time coming that we record this episode together. Josh started a hashtag and global movement called Do Something for Nothing after he
14. SPECIAL EPISODE: COVID-19 in the World's Biggest Refugee Camp
How do you self-isolate when you live in a refugee camp?How do you wash your hands with no running water?How do refugees even know about COVID-19 with no internet connection or phone signal?You lot told me what you wanted to hear next on the podcast, so here it is... COVID-19 in a refugee camp. And I thought we might as well start with the biggest one in the world, Kutupalong Camp in Cox’s Bazar,
13. From Refugee to Rescuer to Prisoner: The Story of Sarah Mardini
Sarah Mardini has been on my radar for years.Her and her sister Yusra, who we heard from in the last episode, became known for swimming their boat to safety from Turkey to Greece after fleeing Syria. A year later, they were in Rio for the 2016 Olympics, where Yusra represented the refugee swimming team which was heavily documented by international press.But it was after that trip to Rio, that
12. From swimming for my life, to swimming in the Rio Olympics: The Story of Syrian athlete and refugee, Yusra Mardini
In today’s episode I talk to Yusra Mardini. We recorded this conversation in her flat in Hamburg, just before the world went into lockdown due to the Covid_19 pandemic.During this time of self-isolation, it seems more important than ever to amplify voices like Yusra’s. As a Syrian refugee, Yusra knows what it feels like not to have borders open to her or the freedom to travel, and to be separated
11. From fleeing the Nazis to becoming a Lord: The Story of Alf Dubs
In this episode I talk to Lord Alf Dubs. Alf is my hero. A child refugee himself, he fled the Nazi’s in Prague in 1939 when he was 6. Over 80 years later he’s still fighting for the rights of child refugees today.We recorded this interview at the Refugee Solidarity Summit in London, on stage in front of an audience for the first time. I was pretty star struck and Alf did not disappoint.We discusse
10. Sex talks and Mosques with my Somali Mother: The Story of Comedian and Child Refugee, Mo Omar
From pet goats to beans on toast, this week I chat to the amazing Mo Omar, a Somali-born comedian who grew up in Wales.Mo arrived to the England as a refugee aged seven with his mother and six siblings. Today we talk about his integration into the UK and how he draws on those experiences for his stand-up routine. Mo uses comedy to cover important themes such as migration, integration, religio
9. From life under the Taliban in Afghanistan to finding safety in the UK as a 12 year old child refugee - with Gulwali Passarlay, Author of The Lightless Sky
This week’s guest has been a long time coming for me and our conversation did not disappoint. Gulwali Passarlay, author of The Lightless Sky, shares his story of escape from the Taliban in Afghanistan, to finding safety in the UK as a twelve year old child refugee. He has some amazing tales to tell, from burning his face whilst hiding in the back of a lorry, to the moment he was reunited with
8. Trafficked from Vietnam to work on a Cannabis Farm in the UK: The Story of 21-year-old Nhat-Anh
After 39 people were found dead inside a refrigerated lorry in Essex two weeks ago on the 23rd October, I was left with a lot of questions. Why are people leaving Vietnam? Why haven’t I met any Vietnamese people in refugee camps in Europe? The only Vietnamese people I see work in nail bars...is this forced labour? Today’s mind-blowing conversation with 21-year-old Vietnamese re
7. From London Life to working in a Refugee Camp: how we got involved in the Refugee Crisis, with my brother, Nils O’Hara
Today we share the story of how The Worldwide Tribe began.I’m joined by my brother Nils who has been there with me every step of the way. From that first life-changing trip to Calais, to speaking at the UN Headquarters in New York less than a year later. He coached me through my nerves, unpicked my imposter syndrome and laughed through the negative comments. He was the stability I needed when my e
6. A New Life in England through the eyes of my Eritrean Foster Brother, Mez
This week marks four years since my foster brother Mez made it to the UK hiding underneath the Eurotunnel train. This episode we talk about his life in England, as although one journey might have ended the day he arrived, another one of integration and big learnings began. We cover everything from his first day of school, his first time on a plane and his first opportunity to ‘chill’. We
5. Crossing the Sahara, the Sea and the Calais Jungle at 13 years old: The Story of my Eritrean Foster Brother Mez
This week we hear from my foster brother Mez. This is an important episode for me because it was Mez becoming my brother that was the catalyst to me quitting my job in fashion and focusing all my energy into the refugee crisis and The Worldwide Tribe...but that’s a story for another episode. Today Mez shares his story of resilience and survival. From fleeing compulsory military service i
4. Being a mum of seven kids from four different countries. My Global Family, with Oeda O’Hara
This week’s very special guest is my mum, Oeda O’Hara.Together we talk about her experience of fostering three teenage boys from Eritrea, Afghanistan and Sudan and explore what it means to be part of a real life global family. This journey began for us four years ago, almost to the day, when my parents had just been accepted to foster. When a young Eritrean boy entered the UK, hiding undernea
3. The Story of Search and Rescue worker Brendan Woodhouse
This week my guest is real-life-superhero Brendan Woodhouse, a firefighter and father of two from Nottingham. We talk about his journey from normal life in the UK, to saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea. It all started when he saw a Facebook post I wrote about the Calais Jungle Refugee Camp back in 2015, which prompted him to start collecting donations and driving over to Calais himsel
2. The story of Awad, my Sudanese friend who taught me about kindness, change, patience and more
I met Awad in the Jungle refugee camp in Calais, northern France, in 2015 and he was pretty unforgettable from the off. A Sudanese refugee himself, he helped volunteers with things like distribution, becoming an informal leader within the Sudanese community in the camp.Whilst living in circumstances hardly fit for an animal, he was always positive, loving and wise… as well as being the best dresse
1. The story of 20-year-old Syrian photographer, Abdulazez Dukhan
An inspirational conversation with the amazing Abdulazez about his journey from a nice house in Syria, to a refugee camp in Greece, to life in Belgium!I met Abdulazez whilst he was living in that refugee camp in Greece back in 2016 and we became friends. I had never met anyone like him.Since being given a camera by a volunteer in that camp, Abdulazez has documented every step of his journey. He us
The Asylum Speakers Podcast - Stories of Displacement : Trailer
This podcast that will take you on a journey across the world...without you having to go anywhere!For first hand, heroic and empowering accounts from those caught up in the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time...this is the podcast for you. From the people leaving their countries and everything behind them, to the volunteers working alongside them. You’ll be hearing from those currently living
