Explore every episode of the podcast Migrating to America: A Dream Worth Dying For
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darién Gap: One Year Later | Part Four: When Someone Needs Help | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:33:45 | |
In the final episode of a four part series, James talks about the need for mutual aid, and speaks to the family hosting Primrose now. Primrose’s Legal Aid Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigration-lawyer-for-primrose Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/world/americas/trump-us-mexico-border.html https://www.fresnobee.com/news/article299272524.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/ http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/border-patrol-nation/ https://timzhernandez.com/all-they-will-call-you/ https://www.ice.gov/features/atd https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1225&num=0&edition=prelim See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Darién Gap: One Year Later | Part Three: The American Nightmare | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:40:29 | |
In the third episode of a four part series, James talks about ICE raids, Primrose’s time in detention, and the start of mass protest against Trump’s mass deportations. Primrose’s Legal Aid Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigration-lawyer-for-primrose Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/world/americas/trump-us-mexico-border.html https://www.fresnobee.com/news/article299272524.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/ http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/border-patrol-nation/ https://timzhernandez.com/all-they-will-call-you/ https://www.ice.gov/features/atd https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1225&num=0&edition=prelim See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Importance of Mutual Aid Work on the Border | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:54:52 | |
James talks to Heval and Aloe about the increasing number of people in outdoor detention in Jacumba and how you can help.
https://borderkindness.org/donate/ Alotrolado.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Border Patrol are Once Again *Not* Detaining People in the Open | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:35:25 | |
James talks to Robert and Shereen about CBP’s practice of detaining migrants in the open air with no food, water, or supplies, and then denying they’re detaining them Xavier’s video coverage: https://youtube.com/@sdartivistmedia?si=LZR1a6OeqgzcA6Sf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Title 42, Pt 4: The Border Patrol | 02 Jun 2023 | 00:49:56 | |
In the final episode James explains some of the history of the border and how CBP grew into an agency that operates without oversight across the USA and the world.
You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Title 42, Pt 3: The Mutual Aid Response | 01 Jun 2023 | 00:46:22 | |
In the third part of the series on the end of Title 42, James speaks to volunteers who gave their time and resources to help the people detained in the open air by CBP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Title 42, Pt 2: Migrant Stories | 31 May 2023 | 00:53:36 | |
In part 2 of James' series on Title 42, we hear from asylum seekers in San Ysidro and learn about the human impact of CBP’s inhumane detention practices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Title 42: How a Public Health Law Kills Refugees | 30 May 2023 | 00:34:09 | |
In the first of a four-part series, James discusses the last three years of immigration policy and what they mean for people seeking refuge in the USA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| How A Butterfly Sanctuary Became The Center of a Border War, Part Three | 27 May 2022 | 00:20:42 | |
The conclusion of the saga of the Butterfly Center at the border. For now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| How A Butterfly Sanctuary Became The Center of a Border War, Part Two | 26 May 2022 | 00:28:34 | |
James and Robert continue their exploration of the war between Qanon and the Butterfly Sanctuary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| How A Butterfly Sanctuary Became The Center of a Border War, Part One | 25 May 2022 | 00:27:23 | |
Robert and James head down to the Texas border to meet with the director of a butterfly sanctuary in the crosshairs of a far right culture war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Darién Gap: One Year Later | Part Two: To Be Called By No Name | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:42:00 | |
In the second episode of a four part series, James talks about why Primrose left Zimbabwe and the way migrants are covered in legacy media. Primrose’s Legal Aid Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigration-lawyer-for-primrose Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/world/americas/trump-us-mexico-border.html https://www.fresnobee.com/news/article299272524.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/ http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/border-patrol-nation/ https://timzhernandez.com/all-they-will-call-you/ https://www.ice.gov/features/atd https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1225&num=0&edition=prelim See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Darién Gap: One Year Later | Part One: After The Jungle | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:32:30 | |
In the first of a four part series, James catches up with Primrose and her daughter Kim, who he met in the Darien Gap. We hear about the journey from Panama to the USA’s southern border, and the challenges migrants face along the way. Primrose’s Legal Aid Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigration-lawyer-for-primrose Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/world/americas/trump-us-mexico-border.html https://www.fresnobee.com/news/article299272524.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orders/ http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/border-patrol-nation/ https://timzhernandez.com/all-they-will-call-you/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| What Can You Do? Mutual Aid Along the Migrant Journey | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:38:08 | |
James' final episode looks at the people helping migrants once they leave the Darién Gap, and how you can help. Donation links for groups featured in this series: Border Kindness: https://borderkindness.org/donate/ Sources: https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2023-11/OIG-24-07-Nov23.pdf https://www.instagram.com/p/DAaDkSwh1Jk/?igsh=bmgyanBteW10czd5 https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/darien-gap-feature/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/18/panama-darien-gap-jose-raul-mulino https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/27/the-darien-gap-a-deadly-extension-of-the-us-border https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/jmhs.pdf https://www.strausscenter.org/publications/asylum-processing-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-august-2024/ https://www.msf.org/lack-action-sees-sharp-rise-sexual-violence-people-transiting-darien-gap-panama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| As If We Had Been Imprisoned: The Migrant Reception Center | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:41:41 | |
In the fourth installment of his series on the Darién Gap, James talks to migrants at Lajas Blancas reception center north of the Darién, who can often be stuck there for months without the money to continue their journeys. Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAaDkSwh1Jk/?igsh=bmgyanBteW10czd5 https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/darien-gap-feature/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/18/panama-darien-gap-jose-raul-mulino https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/27/the-darien-gap-a-deadly-extension-of-the-us-border https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/jmhs.pdf https://www.strausscenter.org/publications/asylum-processing-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-august-2024/ https://www.msf.org/lack-action-sees-sharp-rise-sexual-violence-people-transiting-darien-gap-panama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| They Don’t Care About Us: What Migrants Leave Behind | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:40:43 | |
In part three of his series on the Darién Gap, James talks about what drives Venezuelan and African migrants to make the journey through the Darién Gap. Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAaDkSwh1Jk/?igsh=bmgyanBteW10czd5 https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/darien-gap-feature/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/18/panama-darien-gap-jose-raul-mulino https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/27/the-darien-gap-a-deadly-extension-of-the-us-border https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/jmhs.pdf https://www.strausscenter.org/publications/asylum-processing-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-august-2024/ https://www.msf.org/lack-action-sees-sharp-rise-sexual-violence-people-transiting-darien-gap-panama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| We Are All Brothers: How the Emberá Community of Bajo Chiquito Welcomes Migrants in the Darién Gap | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:32:32 | |
In the second part of his series on the Darién Gap, James looks at the impacts of migration on the indigenous Panamanian Emberá community. Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAaDkSwh1Jk/?igsh=bmgyanBteW10czd5 https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/darien-gap-feature/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/18/panama-darien-gap-jose-raul-mulino https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/27/the-darien-gap-a-deadly-extension-of-the-us-border https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/jmhs.pdf https://www.strausscenter.org/publications/asylum-processing-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-august-2024/ https://www.msf.org/lack-action-sees-sharp-rise-sexual-violence-people-transiting-darien-gap-panama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Green Hell: Migration Through the Darién Gap | 28 Oct 2024 | 00:41:06 | |
In the first of five episodes, James describes his journey to the Darién gap in Southern Panama, and the journeys that thousands of migrants take each week on one of the most dangerous land migration routes on earth. Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAaDkSwh1Jk/?igsh=bmgyanBteW10czd5 https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/darien-gap-feature/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/18/panama-darien-gap-jose-raul-mulino https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/27/the-darien-gap-a-deadly-extension-of-the-us-border https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/jmhs.pdf https://www.strausscenter.org/publications/asylum-processing-at-the-u-s-mexico-border-august-2024/ https://www.msf.org/lack-action-sees-sharp-rise-sexual-violence-people-transiting-darien-gap-panama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| An Update on Border Patrol Outdoor Detention | 15 Mar 2024 | 00:42:25 | |
James talks to John and Heval about the changing situation at the border in San Diego county, new outdoor detention sites, and how you can organize to solve problems in your area. https://www.gofundme.com/f/jacumba-migrant-camps See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||