Beyond Borders Podcast

About Beyond Borders Podcast

I Ask The Tough Question So You Don't Have To: HOSTWRITER PRIZE AWARD 2025 Beyond Borders Podcast is a global affairs and culture podcast hosted by Aakriti Dhawan — an Indian journalist based in Germany. Each week, we dive into thought-provoking conversations on politics, gender, media, identity, cross-cultural relations, and entertainment — through stories that challenge narratives and push beyond comfort zones. This podcast explores what it really means to go beyond borders — geographically, politically, and personally. I ask the tough questions so you don't have to. If you’re curious about the world and unafraid of tough questions, this is your space. Follow and subscribe to join a growing global community of listeners thinking outside the box. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/ (https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/) Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondborderspodcastbyaakriti (https://www.youtube.com/@beyondborderspodcastbyaakriti) #BeyondBordersPodcast#GlobalAffairs#PoliticalPodcast#Geopolitics#CurrentAffairs#CulturePodcast#MediaAndPolitics#WomenInMedia#IdentityPolitics#DiasporaVoices#IndianInGermany#CrossCultural#JournalismMatters#GlobalConversations#PodcastCommunity

Publisher

Aakriti Dhawan

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

30 May 2025

Latest episode

18 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

41 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Beyond Borders Podcast × Backlight | Reclaiming the Migration Narrative #PodcastSwap

   What happens when we change the way we talk about migration? For this special podcast swap, Beyond Borders is bringing you an episode of Backlight, Lighthouse Reports’ podcast about the people, methods and stories behind collaborative investigations. In this episode, “Reclaiming the Migration Narrative,” the conversation looks at how migration is often framed through fear, crisis and invasion — and asks how journalism can push back against those narratives. Three journalists and storytellers bring very different perspectives to the conversation: 🎙️ Sakhr Al-Makhadhi — Executive Producer, AJ+ 🎙️ May Bulman — Investigations Editor, Lighthouse Reports 🎙️ Coco Khan — Journalist, writer and co-host of Pod Save the UK They discuss investigative journalism, social media, cultural commentary, humour and the challenges of telling more nuanced stories about migration. Hosted by: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva & Tessa Pang Sound edited & designed by: Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Music: Mobygratis Beyond Borders Podcast: Aakriti Dhawan This is a podcast swap between Beyond Borders and Backlight — so if you enjoy this conversation, check out Backlight for more behind-the-scenes conversations about collaborative investigations and investigative journalism. 00:00 – Introduction: Beyond Borders Podcast × Backlight 00:33 – Why migration narratives are changing 01:01 – The rise of anti-migration rhetoric 01:58 – Can journalism change the migration narrative? 03:44 – Meet the journalists covering migration differently 05:27 – The changing political climate around migration 06:50 – Social media, algorithms and rage bait 07:15 – Has media ever humanised migration? 09:04 – Why traditional reporting is losing its impact 10:30 – Are mainstream media amplifying crisis narratives? 11:41 – Moving beyond statistics: Human-centred migration reporting 12:46 – Journalism, government access and the question of empathy 15:07 – Putting people at the centre of the story 17:02 – Telling the human stories behind the numbers 18:21 – “Europe’s Dreamers” and undocumented young people 19:14 – Social media: threat or opportunity? 21:09 – Reaching audiences outside the bubble 22:38 – Why news organisations are changing their media partners 24:11 – Can humour change the way we talk about migration? 25:43 – Using humour to discuss sensitive issues 27:09 – Authenticity, political identity and reaching new audiences 28:15 – Who gets to shape the media narrative? 29:14 – The problem with “objectivity” and elite perspectives 38:20 – How journalists can get involved #BeyondBorders #Backlight #LighthouseReports #Migration #Journalism #InvestigativeJournalism #PodcastSwap #MigrationNarrative

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   "Sometimes What Puts You at Peace Puts Others at Risk" | Prof. Sondra Hausner, University of Oxford

   Beyond Borders Podcast X Sondra Hausner, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford Anthropologist Prof. Sondra Hausner joins us on Beyond Borders Podcast to explore religion, identity, and division in South Asia — from wandering ascetics and the secularism vs Hindu nationalism debate, to caste, gender, and the women renouncers who challenge the social order. A thoughtful conversation about faith, belonging, and shared humanity. 0:00 – Introduction 1:27 – From Nepal to Oxford: why study South Asia 2:22 – "Wandering with Sadhus" & the study of ascetics 5:54 – Religion as belief and practice 8:05 – When religion becomes identity 11:59 – Is India becoming religiously divided? 13:07 – Secularism vs Hindu nationalism 15:23 – How Hinduism has changed in 20 years 18:24 – Religion: perception or fixed rules? 20:08 – Women's renunciation in South Asia 21:54 – Walking the tightrope of gender 26:51 – Women in sacred spaces: "second-class citizens" 30:27 – Humanising religion 32:12 – Religion with a small 'r' vs capital 'R' 35:57 – Does religion just mean "peace"? 38:19 – The lesson: perspectives always change 40:15 – A question for the host, and closing 🌍 Beyond Borders is a podcast about South Asia, told from a global lens — honest conversations that go beyond the headlines. What this channel stands for: press freedom, gender equality, and the idea that the people closest to a story deserve to tell it. If you want thoughtful, independent dialogue over noise and hot takes, you're in the right place. 🎙️ Hosted by Aakriti Dhawan Award-winning journalist · Founder & Host of Beyond Borders · Hostwriter Prize 2025 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy (https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy) 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/ (https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/) 💼 Business & media enquiries: beyondbordersbbpodcast@gmail.com (mailto:beyondbordersbbpodcast@gmail.com) ⚠️ Disclaimer: Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the channel. This podcast exists to encourage informed discussion and respectful dialogue. #BeyondBordersPodcast #SouthAsia #Politics #HumanRights #Journalism #PressFreedom #WomenInMedia #GenderEquality #GlobalAffairs #India #Democracy #CurrentAffairs #Interviews #Podcast

3. 

   21 Aug 2026

   NOTHING IS APOLITICAL: Zahra Joya on Gender Apartheid, Malala & How the World Failed Afghan Women | Part 2

   MINI SERIES: NOTHING IS APOLITICAL The conclusion of our conversation with Zahra Joya — Afghan journalist, TIME Woman of the Year, and founder of Rukhshana Media — recorded for Beyond Borders Podcast in collaboration with Asia Democracy Chronicles, an online publication of the Asia Democracy Network that focuses on human rights and democracy across the region. In Part 2, the conversation moves from Zahra's personal story to the harder political questions. She explains what real solidarity looks like versus performative attention, why she insists the Taliban's rule is gender apartheid, and why she believes the world — including Afghanistan's own neighbours — has looked away. She speaks about Malala, about how the Taliban distort Islam to justify their rule, and about the international community's reluctance to hold them accountable. It's also where she opens up most personally: living in the Taliban's shadow, losing everything, and her message to the women of Afghanistan — please don't give up. She closes by discussing her memoir, The Vanishing Girl of Kabul (co-written with Amie Ferris-Rotman), out now in hardback, eBook, and audio. Missed Part 1? Watch it here: https://youtu.be/GaST0wqWwt4?si=_uAx8sXQi2s04PYS (https://youtu.be/GaST0wqWwt4?si=_uAx8sXQi2s04PYS) ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – What real solidarity looks like 04:55 – On Malala, and who goes silent 08:05 – Does engagement legitimise the Taliban? 10:10 – Why only Russia recognises the regime 12:40 – "Does Islam mean what the Taliban is doing?" 20:10 – Betrayed by the world — and by neighbours 21:30 – "It's none of my business" 27:25 – A life lived in the Taliban's shadow 29:45 – "Please don't give up": a message to Afghan women 31:05 – The Vanishing Girl of Kabul The Vanishing Girl of Kabul by Zahra Joya (with Amie Ferris-Rotman) — available now in hardback, eBook, and audiobook. Asia Democracy Chronicles: https://adnchronicles.org/ (https://adnchronicles.org/) Asia Democracy Network: https://adnasia.org/ (https://adnasia.org/) #ZahraJoya #TheVanishingGirlOfKabul #RukhshanaMedia #Afghanistan #Taliban #AfghanWomen #GenderApartheid #WomensRights #AsiaDemocracyChronicles #Democracy #HumanRights #PressFreedom #Malala #BeyondBordersPodcast #AakritiDhawan 🌍 Beyond Borders Podcast is a show about South Asia, told from a global lens — honest conversations that go beyond the headlines. Hosted by award-winning journalist Aakriti Dhawan, each episode brings together journalists, activists, policymakers, academics, and changemakers to talk politics, human rights, gender, migration, media, and culture — the conversations mainstream coverage too often skips. What this channel stands for: press freedom, gender equality, and the idea that the people closest to a story deserve to tell it. If you want thoughtful, independent dialogue over noise and hot takes, you're in the right place. 🎙️ Hosted by Aakriti Dhawan Award-winning journalist · Founder & Host of Beyond Borders · Hostwriter Prize 2025 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/ (https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/) 💼 Business & media enquiries: beyondbordersbbpodcast@gmail.com (mailto:beyondbordersbbpodcast@gmail.com) ⚠️ Disclaimer: Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the channel. This podcast exists to encourage informed discussion and respectful dialogue.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,684,574

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

Contact Beyond Borders Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.