Sue really gets on my nerves in the later episodes and doesn’t respect or understand the complexities of the migrant crisis. She keeps pushing and says it is to tell his story but she keeps berating him, not even trying to understand and just pushing and pushing him telling him “what’s good for him”. It’s unethical and full of leading questions vs more open questions to try to actually understand. Rob is great but Sue goes off the rails and ruins the whole podcast. I hope she gets sued.

This entire podcast seemed like a projection of the host’s past and current failures. The story itself was engaging, but completely missed the mark. It began with Sue, the host, mentioning that she was fooled by Reza (although she is sure to mention she had a subconscious hunch!) and how this podcast was about Reza’s manipulation of those around him. Sue drops all journalistic integrity to stalk and out a refugee that was less than perfect all because he lied to her. She shows us her privileged, narrow-minded viewpoint when she paints Reza as a pathological liar rather than someone who may have had poor options in poor circumstances. I empathize for the mother, but this podcast may have ruined Reza and Gru’s asylum status. Unethical reporting, how did the BBC not correct this (especially episode 10)?

Rob is a hero!!! Such a good guy. I still cant believe reza what a piece of work.

Thank you for sharing such a moving story

This is the craziest story ever! I’m on episode 5, and needed to vent to someone, so I decided to write this review. God bless you Rob! There is a place in heaven waiting for you ❤️

This was an amazing podcast from start to finish. It’s powerful, moving, amazing and an unbelievable insight into the lives of the main characters. There were so many twists and turns and the end was very emotional.

This was a fascinating podcast of a story I hadn't heard about before. Amazing the kind of help people will give! BBC tends to do podcasts I really enjoy; the production is good, the editing makes things run smoothly while capturing your attention. The problem with this one was the host. I listened to this a while ago, but seem to remember her grammar being less than what you expect for a professional, and something about her voice is grating. These sound like minimal issues overall, and in a way they are; yet in a podcast, where all you have is the audio, they are important qualities to me. The story is still amazing.

And it really touched my heart in a way I can’t describe. I actually bawled my eyes out episode 5. Thank you guys!

The story is well told and gives a sense of the incredible risks and miseries that people are prepared to take to lead a live a life worth living. Such a disappointment, then, to listen to Sue Mitchell’s in episode 10 summarise her thoughts on the messages of the story she’s just told. Especially concerning to me are her simplistic distinctions between refugees, whom she deems deserving, and economic migrants, who she reckons are not. Indeed, in her book they seem to merit everything the nationalist / populist state can throw at them. Thereby she does a huge disservice to the very people for whom she clearly feels empathy. But ignorance is no excuse. Especially for someone with Sue’s story telling gift and access to the BBC’s credibility and reach. I urge Sue to educate herself about the many factors that push people to make these terrifying journeys - most often with their kids. She would also do well to temper her anger at people who aren’t completely honest with officials or journalists. Most people on the move - like those she weaves her story around - have learned from bitter experience that officials and journalists only rarely have their best interests at heart. When the protagonist in this story is sent back to Iran in 2023, she will have a lot to answer for. Distressingly, this podcast makes his deportation likely.

Wow what a story and true ! I can’t put into words what a wonderful human being I think Rob is not once but twice he helped people with no personal gain to himself just to do what he thought was the right thing. With such compassion, forgiveness and grit he is remarkable. Without Sue we would not know this story not the real story with the people we needed to hear, a life changing story thank you.

How could a husband & father abandon his wife & baby, take his older child & flee to have a better chance of refugee status for him? I understand wanting to feel safe & live in a better situation. The lies he told & what he did are heartbreaking. His choices for a better life for him made his ex-wife live a nightmare. Desperate people do desperate things.

Wow. What an amazing podcast by two selfless people. Rob and Sue, I’m your biggest fan.

I binge-listened in one note, it was so captivating and cinematic. Haven’t loved a story this much since the CBC’s Finding Cleo

Very compelling story with a twist. I recommend it highly.

Hard to stop listening. Also hard to believe it is a true story and someone luckily managed to find and record it. Such a good podcast.