Centre for Minorities Research Podcast

University of St Andrews CMR Podcast
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This podcast is an extension of The University of St Andrews Centre for Minorities Research (CMR) a student-led initiative that reflects CMR’s core values of promoting dialogue between disciplines on all aspects of minority research. The podcast series provides a space for students to creatively explore their interests alongside experts from a range of fields and disciplines to co-produce collaborative knowledge for the contemporary age. For more information visit us at https://cmr.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk

  1. Indigenous people of Russia: Challenges and hopes of antiwar activism

    6d ago

    Indigenous people of Russia: Challenges and hopes of antiwar activism

    How do Indigenous people of Russia respond to the war in Ukraine and the tightening of repressions at home? In this episode, Evgeniya Pakhomova, a social anthropologist specialising in Russian antiwar activism, interviews Lana Pylaeva, an indigenous activist from the republic of Komi and director of regional media Komi.Daily.  Evgeniya presents the context for the new wave of Indigenous activism that emerged in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while Lana talks about her own activist experience, the international work she does as the newly elected representative of the Russian democratic forces at PACE, and the struggles of antiwar activism today. We conclude on a hopeful note, with Lana reflecting on how, despite the numerous challenges, Indigenous activists have managed to create a space for conversation and solidarity.

    48 min
  2. Between Shores: Ashley Hickson-Lovence on About to Fall Apart

    May 3

    Between Shores: Ashley Hickson-Lovence on About to Fall Apart

    In this episode of the CMR Podcast, Esther Zitterl, a PhD researcher in Black British literature and the Windrush legacy at the University of St Andrews, speaks with novelist Dr Ashley Hickson-Lovence about his 2026 novella About to Fall Apart (Faber). Told in verse across the span of three days, the novella follows Aidy, a man of mixed Irish-Caribbean heritage living in a village on the Irish border. As he struggles to complete a short story, remain present for his children, and search for a mother he has never known, Aidy’s journey unfolds through fragments of memory, movement, and reflection. Their conversation explores the creative possibilities of writing in verse, the role of rhythm and music in shaping narrative voice, and the emotional textures of migration, identity, and belonging. Moving between Belleek and Grenada, they reflect on the intersections between Black British literature and the landscapes of rural Ireland, tracing how place, history, and form inform both the novel and Hickson-Lovence’s wider work. Thoughtful and wide-ranging, this episode offers insight into contemporary literary practice while opening up broader questions about heritage, storytelling, and the search for connection across borders.

    40 min
  3. Authenticity and Accessibility: Reconciliation Towards More Equitable and Inclusive Experiences at Historic Sites

    07/30/2025

    Authenticity and Accessibility: Reconciliation Towards More Equitable and Inclusive Experiences at Historic Sites

    There has been a longstanding belief from both academics and the public that the goal of historical preservation and conservation is to maintain a site’s authenticity. But what happens when that aim comes into direct conflict with the needs of its visitors? In this episode, Boowa Zarcone, Museum and Heritage Studies MLitt candidate, challenges the presumed incompatibility between authenticity and accessibility. Drawing on the work and experiences of disabled advocates—most notably Alexa Vaughn, a deaf urban landscape architect—Boowa opens up new ways of thinking about inclusive design in heritage spaces. This episode invites listeners to consider: What does it really mean to preserve the past for everyone? Further Readings Alexa Vaughn. “DeafScape: Applying DeafSpace to Landscape.” GroundUp Journal 7 (2018): web. https://www.designwithdisabledpeoplenow.com/deafscape. American Academy in Rome. “Alexa Vaughn.” Rome Prize Fellows. 2022. https://aarome.org/people/rome-prize-fellows/alexa-vaughn. Accessible practices in museum & heritage settings: Alison F. Eardley & Vanessa E. Jones (editors). The Museum Accessibility Spectrum: Re-imagining Access and Inclusion(1st ed.). 2025. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003382713. Carola Gatto, et al. “Enhancing Accessibility of Cultural Heritage: Extended Reality and Tactile Prints for an Inclusive Experience of the Madonna Dell’Itri Church in Nociglia.” Extended Reality: International Conference 2 (2023): 146-159. https://doi-org.ezproxy.st-andrews.ac.uk/10.1007/978-3-031-43404-4_10. Elina Vikmane, Maija Ņikitina, Laura Brutāne, & Lote Katrīna Cērpa. “Multisensory Approach to Museum Accessibility and Experience Enhancement.” Culture Crossroads 25 (2024): 21–32. https://doi.org/10.55877/cc.vol25.503. Accessible design in urban landscapes: Albertina Pretto. “A study on accessibility in an Old Italian City: when the past is worth more than the present.” Disability & Society 37, vol. 3 (2020): 496-521. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1829552. Emily Yates. “‘People aren’t disabled, their city is’: inside Europe’s most accessible city.” The Guardian. May 28, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/28/people-arent-disabled-their-city-is-inside-europes-most-accessible-city. Rosemarie Ankre & Sandra Wall-Reinius. “Nature for Everyone? Planning Perspectives on Accessibility, Disability and Participation in the Swedish Outdoors.” Planning Practice & Research 39, vol. 5 (2024): 793–812. https://doi-org.ezproxy.st-andrews.ac.uk/10.1080/02697459.2024.2358281.

    9 min
  4. Split at the Sand Wall: The Western Sahara Conflict and the Divergence of Sahrawi Identity in exile and under occupation

    06/27/2025

    Split at the Sand Wall: The Western Sahara Conflict and the Divergence of Sahrawi Identity in exile and under occupation

    How does a group's identity change if it is subject to two vastly different conditions? How has Sahrawi identity developed in exile and under occupation? In this episode, Maarten Weinrich, a postgraduate student in Strategic Studies with a background in conflict transformation and peacekeeping research, explores how decades of conflict, exile, and occupation have led tothe development of two increasingly diverging understandings and expressions of Sahrawi identity, presenting novel challenges to Sahrawi activism. He suggests that while "being Sahrawi" remains a fundamentally political expression in exile, especially in the Tindouf refugee camps, under occupationit has been pushed into a mostly cultural notion, increasingly depoliticized and made compatible with the Moroccan state. Providing a historical overview of the Western Sahara conflict, Maarten first examines how Sahrawi identity and nationalism formed as an inherently political response to socio-economic conditions and colonialism. He then highlights how living as permanent refugees in the Tindouf camps, Sahrawis have emphasized this political character. Drawing from academicliterature and the impressions of Raphael Harnett, who produced the documentary “Undercover in Occupied Western Sahara: Have You Ever Heard of Africa's Last Colony?”, during his travels through the occupied zone, Maarten reflects on how occupation fosters an increasingly depoliticized way of being Sahrawi, and the consequences this has for international activism. References  Barreñada, I. (2017). Western Saharan and Southern Moroccan Sahrawis: National identity and mobilization. In R. Ojeda-García, I. Fernández-Molina, & V. Veguilla (Eds.), Global, regional and local dimensions of Western Sahara’s protracted decolonization: When a conflict gets old (pp. 277–304). Palgrave Macmillan US. Chikhi, S. (2017). Non-violence or Violent Extremism: Young Refugees’ Propensities Pending the Resolution of the Conflict in Western Sahara. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 12(2), 51- 65. https://doi.org/10.1080/15423166.2017.1338156 Farah, R. (2009). Refugee camps in the Palestinian and Sahrawi national liberation movements: A comparative perspective. Journal of Palestine Studies, 38(2), 76-93. Gilkerson, S. (2018). The Conveyor Belt to Nowhere: Identity and resistance at a Western Saharan phosphate mine from 1973-1976. Afrique contemporaine, 265(1), 59-75. https://migrationportal.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk911/files/inline-files/paper_gilkerson_conveyor-belt-to-nowhere.pdf Hodges, T. (1984). The Western Sahara. The Review-International Commission of Jurists, (32), 25-32. Le Billon, P. (2010). The geopolitical economy of ‘resource wars’. Geopolitics, 9(1), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650040412331307812 Martín, C. G. (2012). Gdeim Izik: a change in the struggle strategies of the Sahrawi population. From Social to Political, 62. Mundy, J. (2006). Autonomy & Intifadah: new horizons in Western Saharan nationalism. Review of African political economy, 33(108), 255-267. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056240600842875 Shelley, T. (2022). MINURSO between a Rock and a Hard Place. In Besenyö, J., Huddlestone, R.J., Zoubir, Y.H. Conflict and Peace in Western Sahara The Role of UN’S Peacekeeping Mission (MINURSO). (pp. 99-110). Routledge Souaré, I. K., El Ouali, A., & Khadad, M. (2008). Western Sahara: understanding the roots of the conflict and suggesting a way out. Vásquez, E. (2015). La badil la badil: The effects of military occupation on gender dynamics in Sahrawi political resistance. Georgetown University. White, N. (2015). Conflict stalemate in Morocco and Western Sahara: Natural resources, legitimacy and political recognition. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 42(3), 339-357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13530194.2014.949220 Zunes, S., & Mundy, J. (2022). Western Sahara: War, nationalism, and conflict irresolution. Second Edition. Syracuse University Press.

    47 min
  5. Lessons in Disobedience by Forasteros, Migrants and Nomads in Los ríos profundos by José María Arguedas and Huaco Retrato by Gabriela Wiener

    04/25/2025

    Lessons in Disobedience by Forasteros, Migrants and Nomads in Los ríos profundos by José María Arguedas and Huaco Retrato by Gabriela Wiener

    In this episode, Natalia Hernandez Somarriba, a second-year PhD student in Modern Languages, explores how literature can illuminate the ongoing legacies of coloniality and social inequality in Peru. Natalia brings into dialogue two powerful works by Peruvian authors: Los ríos profundos (1958) by José María Arguedas and Huaco retrato (2021) by Gabriela Wiener. Published more than fifty years apart, these novels offer rich insights into shifting dynamics of mestizo identities, systemic oppression, and social conflict — both within post-colonial Peru and in relation to Europe as a former colonial power. Drawing on decolonial, feminist, and post-humanist theoretical frameworks, Natalia examines how physical and symbolic movement shapes the identities of each novel’s narrator-protagonist, opening paths to empathy, self-understanding, and resistance. She further explores how both characters engage in decolonial practices that defy established power structures and challenge the positioning of White-mestizo subjects within their socieities. Works cited in the episode: Arguedas, José María. 1978. Deep Rivers (University of Texas Press: Austin). Galindo, María. 2021. Feminismo Bastardo (Mujeres creando). Hartman, Saidiya. 2008. 'Venus in Two Acts', Small Axe: A Caribbean Journal of Criticism, 12: 1-14. Lander, Edgardo. 2002. 'Eurocentrism, Modern Knowledges, and the "Natural" Order of Global Capital', Nepantla: Views from South, 3: 245-68. Mignolo, Walter D., and Catherine E.  Walsh. 2018. On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, Praxis (Duke University Press). Miller, Marilyn Grace. 2004. Rise and Fall of the Cosmic Race: The Cult of Mestizaje in Latin America (University of Texas Press: New York, USA). Quijano, Anibal. 1992. 'Colonialidad y modernidad/racionalidad.', Perú Indígena, 13: 11-20. ______. 2010. 'Coloniality and Modernity/Rationality.' in Walter D. Mignolo and Arturo Escobar (eds.), Globalization and the Decolonial Option (Routledge). Wiener, Charles, and Edgardo Rivera Martínez. 1993. "Perú y Bolivia. Relato de viaje." In. Lima: Institut français d’études andines. Wiener, Gabriela. 2023. Undiscovered (Puhkin Press: London). Zapata, Milagros, and David Swerdlow. 1998. 'Framing the Peruvian Cholo: Popular Art by Unpopular People.' in Eva P. Bueno and Terry Caesar (eds.), Imagination beyond Nation: Latin American Popular Culture (University of Pittsburgh Press: Pittsburgh, PA).

    16 min
  6. Museum Ocularcentricity and Visual Impairment: Critical Points and Perspectives

    03/31/2025

    Museum Ocularcentricity and Visual Impairment: Critical Points and Perspectives

    How can museums, traditionally visual spaces, become more accessible to visually impaired audiences? In this episode, Renato Trotta, a PhD candidate in Museum and Gallery Studies, explores the tensions between ocularcentric institutions and the need for non-visual engagement. He shares insights from his interdisciplinary research, drawing from museology, social sciences, critical disability theory, and psychology. Through thought-provoking discussions and references to his fieldwork, Renato highlights key challenges and possibilities for greater inclusivity in museums. The episode also features reflections on the work of Aldo Grassini, blind museum director of the Tactile Museum of Ancona and a long-time accessibility advocate. References Klatzky, R.L., Lederman, S.J. & Metzger, V.A. (1985). Identifying objects by touch: An “expert system”. Perception & Psychophysics 37, 299–302  https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03211351 Secchi, L. (2004). L’educazione estetica per l’integrazione. Carocci. Reichinger, A., Fuhrmann, A., Maierhofer, S., and Purgathofer, W. (2016). “Gesture-Based Interactive Audio Guide on Tactile Reliefs.” Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility, October. https://doi.org/10.1145/2982142.2982176. Suggested readings Candlin, F. (2010). Art, Museums and Touch. Manchester University Press. Eardley, A., Jones, V., and Zakaria, N. (2025). Unpicking Ableism and Disablism in Museums. Routledge EBooks, January, 11–26. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003382713-3. Fortuna, J., Harrison, C., Eekhoff, A., Marthaler, C., Seromik, M., Ogren, S., and Vandermolen, J. (2023). Identifying Barriers to Accessibility for Museum Visitors Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired. Visitor Studies, February, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10645578.2023.2168421. Hetherington, K. (2000). Museums and the Visually Impaired: The Spatial Politics of Access. The Sociological Review 48 (3): 444–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954x.00225. Sandell, R. (2012). Museums, Equality and Social Justice. Routledge.

    20 min
  7. Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Fisher Folk: Comparative Analysis of Kenya and Ghana.

    02/27/2025

    Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Fisher Folk: Comparative Analysis of Kenya and Ghana.

    In this episode of CMR Podcast, Allan Mjomba Majalia, a third-year PhD student in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, School of Geography and Sustainable Development, discusses the Indigenous and local knowledge of fisher folk in Kenya and Ghana. He explores how marine social science (a Western epistemological framework) intersects with African ontologies and epistemologies, offering unique insights from his PhD fieldwork. Allan is interviewed by his colleague and friend, PGT MLitt. G. Connor Salter, as they reflect on the challenges and rewards of conducting research in diverse coastal communities, and the emerging themes from his two field sites. Acknowledgments:Albert Mwamburi (Pwani Tribune)Emmanuel ShambiFerdinand MwashumbeMariam Erestina and the Ghanaian team

    39 min
  8. Christian minorities of Egypt

    01/29/2025

    Christian minorities of Egypt

    In the first episode of the 4th season of the CMR Podcast, Sara Allam Shaltout, a PhD candidate at the School of International Relations, delves into the complexities of church-state relations in Egypt and their influence on the everyday lives of Christian minorities, particularly Coptic Christians. Joined by Dr. Fouad Halboni, Lecturer of Political Anthropology at the American University in Cairo, the discussion traces the origins of these relations to the Millet system from the Ottoman Empire—a framework for managing religious affairs for non-Muslim subjects under Islamic rule. This episode sheds light on the continued relevance of this system in understanding contemporary church-state dynamics and their impact on Christian communities in Egypt. About the Host Sara Allam Shaltout is a PhD candidate at the School of International Relations, University of St Andrews. Her research focuses on Christian-Muslim relations and church-state relations in the Middle East. She holds a Master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo and a Master’s in Religious Studies and Theology from the University of Edinburgh.

    24 min
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This podcast is an extension of The University of St Andrews Centre for Minorities Research (CMR) a student-led initiative that reflects CMR’s core values of promoting dialogue between disciplines on all aspects of minority research. The podcast series provides a space for students to creatively explore their interests alongside experts from a range of fields and disciplines to co-produce collaborative knowledge for the contemporary age. For more information visit us at https://cmr.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk

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