Episode Details

If Poets Ruled the World: The Podcast is hosted by Ruth Elora (also known as The Mayfair Poet) and Salma the Poet. Each month, we explore a different theme and ask one radical question: What would it look like if poets ruled the world? Through honest conversation, cultural critique, and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens — one that centres reflection, truth, and imagination in the face of societal pressure and expectation. This month, we turn our attention to borders, refugees and belonging, exploring who drew the lines that divide our world, what those borders were designed to protect, and how they continue to shape identity, movement and our understanding of home. In this episode of If Poets Ruled the World, Ruth Elora and Salma the Poet are joined by @mohasan92 for an open and honest conversation about borders, migration and the human stories that often get lost beneath political debate. Together, they explore the legacy of colonial borders, the realities of displacement, the influence of media narratives, and the unconscious biases that shape who we empathise with. Interwoven with original poetry, this episode moves between personal reflection and wider cultural critique, inviting listeners to question the stories we've inherited about land, nationhood and belonging. Together, we ask: Who do borders actually protect? And if poets ruled the world, what would a more humane borders look like? Trigger warning: this episode includes discussions of forced displacement and migration. If you need support, please find the different topics and relevant organisations which can help: - Practical support for seeking asylum – contact the Refugee Council on https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk or call 0808 196 7272 - Advice about asylum support – contact Migrant Help on https://www.migranthelpuk.org or call 0808 801 0503 - Tailored advice including financial, immigration and health – contact Citizens Advice Bureau on https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk If Poets Ruled the World: the podcast for dreamers 🎙️