Intercross: The Podcast

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we are excited to add another iteration to our cultural series, where we explore the intersection of culture and conflict. In this episode, we sit down with war photographers Louie Palu and Finbarr O'Reilly. Palu's works have been featured in the New York Times, BBC and Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. He recently released Front Towards Enemy, a book which examines the five years he spent covering the war in Kandahar, Afghanistan. O'Reilly is currently London-based, having spent 12 years in Central and West Africa as a photographer for Reuters. He recently released Shooting Ghosts, a memoir co-written with retired USMC Sgt. Thomas James Brennan, reflecting on the experiences of the war and the unlikely friendship they formed. In this podcast they discuss issues like: How do we consume and engage with images of war? What are the psychological and emotional costs of war for those who photograph conflict? How can photography change the perception that people have of war? Why is this visual documentation important? What is the role of journalists as independent witnesses to war? And how does rocker Henry Rollins represent--for at least one of our guests--how social media and connection has changed the playing field? Hosted by Sara Owens (Image: Finbarr O'Reilly)

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we sit down with ICRC in Washington's Deputy Head of Communications Trevor Keck and Lauren Spink, the Center for Civilians in Conflict Peacekeeping Advisor. Trevor recently returned from a brief mission to South Sudan and Lauren is headed out to the country this week. We took the opportunity to chat with them both about the current challenges facing aid worker and peacekeepers. What are some of the protection issues? Are aid organizations able to secure humanitarian access? And as the largest donor to South Sudan—the US has spent nearly $10 billion since independence 6 years ago and pays more than a quarter of all international aid to the country each year—what does the current U.S. policy review for its approach to South Sudan mean for the situation on the ground?

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, Head of Communications Anna Nelson sits down with our newest team member, ICRC in Washington's Spokesperson Marc Kilstein. Anna and Marc talk about nerding out over radio, the importance and honor of storytelling, Marc's hopes for his new position and their (not-so-secret) dreams of being poached by This American Life's Ira Glass. Or at the very least, making him a dedicated Intercross the Podcast listener. Hosted by Anna Nelson.

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we are joined by Interaction's Director of Protection Jenny McAvoy and Center for Civilians in Conflict's (CIVIC) Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, Sahr Muhammedally. Nearly 50 million civilians are affected by urban warfare, mostly in the countries of Yemen, Syria and Iraq. As warfare moves more and more to populated areas, civilians bear the brunt, facing much greater risks and much higher fatalities rates. What are the challenges of this increasing trend? How can militaries prioritize civilian protection? What are civilians experiencing in places like West Mosul and Raqqa? And how can the rules of war and the protection of civilians be integrated and respected more broadly in these contexts? Hosted by Trevor Keck.