The Observer Effect - Seph Voigts

Rachel was a Fellow with the U.S. State Department’s English Language Program in Sulawesi. She embraced challenges like finding ants in her food to unravel her fears and came away reflecting on how race shapes our experience. I asked how she became such a good storyteller … and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé.

Armen was a Fellow with the U.S. State Department’s English Language Program in Mauritius. I asked how the experience changed him … and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Listen to Armen's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armen-kassabian/id1451319621 Consider donating to Westin's Fund: https://www.westinsfund.org/

Joan took part in this past August’s “Digital Dunkirk,” the frantic effort to help Afghans escape the Taliban when the U.S. withdrew after two decades in Afghanistan. During those sleepless nights, she began advocating, writing articles calling on the U.S. government to honor its commitment to the people who served alongside its military. I asked how Afghans came to mean so much to her ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Click to read Joan’s articles: “Digital Dunkirk” - Mother Jones “Op-Ed: Afghan Interpreters” - The Miami Herald “How Congress failed AFG” - The Orlando Sentinel “Breaking hearts and minds” - Military Times “From Quant Tin to Kabul” “The Class Is Yours, Hamid” “From PC to AFG” - The Providence College Podcast

Aziza told me the religious police arrested her and her fiancé in Saudi Arabia. The interrogator asked, “Did you hit the religious police?” She was like, “Damn yes I did!” I asked if that changed her ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “Peculiar traveling suggestions are dancing lessons from God” — Kurt Vonnegut Listen to More Episodes

Jean was readier to answer my questions—as if he had somehow prepared—than anyone I have interviewed in the course of this project when we met randomly at a fountain in an alcove of Casablanca’s wondrous mosque by the sea. I asked him why ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “Family is never lost.” — Creole Proverb Listen to More Episodes

Étienne has decorated his entire Paris apartment with paraphernalia from The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic children’s book. I asked what happened when he came home from nearly a year traveling the world ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “On n’est jamais content là où on est.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Listen to More Episodes

Caracola left Buenos Aires at 19 to study anthropology in Paris but soon realized her calling is to be a clown. She has been studying intensely and touring the world performing in streets and studios ever since. I asked whether she has traveled to be able to perform or performed to be able to travel ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Follow Caracola on Facebook Consider Donating to Westin's Fund “Y ya que a ti no llega mi voz ruda, óyeme sordo.” — Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Listen to More Episodes

Mohibul runs the restaurant his father established when he moved from Bangladesh to London. They named it Al-Amin, which means “trust.” I asked how he learned to connect so well with his customers ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Go to Al-Amin Restaurant! Consider Donating to Westin's Fund “I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do.” — Henry David Thoreau Listen to More Episodes

Anja left Bosnia as a toddler and lives there now to reconnect with her roots. I asked if she has found herself in her journeys ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Learn More about Youth Power Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.” — Audre Lorde Listen to More Episodes

Indra broke up with his girlfriend in Turkey just months into traveling the world together and set off the series of events that brought him to South Korea. He almost died in Mexico. I asked whether he’s going to write all these experiences ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “The longest absence is less perilous to love than the terrible trials of incessant proximity.” — Edna St. Vincent Millay Listen to More Episodes

Meytal felt uncomfortable just following the typical path of a young Israeli, school, the army, job, and so she found another path that took her to India—and eventually, back to Israel. I asked whether people here comment on her Yemeni roots ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider Donating to Westin's Fund Subscribe on Apple Podcasts “If you want to study yourself—look into the hearts of other people.” — Friedrich von Schiller Listen to More Episodes

Odna was summoned by the police in Nazareth and questioned about her Facebook activity. They said they were secretly listening to her conversations as well. I asked what her name means ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Donate to Westin's Fund “I have a been a stranger here in my own land.” — Sophocles Listen to More Episodes

Frank McCourt wrote his beloved memoir, Angela’s Ashes, about a childhood spent in Ireland. Una Heaten turned the schoolhouse he attended into a museum honoring his book and his legacy. I traveled to Limerick to ask what it’s like to build a museum ... and hope listening like this evaporates borders. Special thanks to the musician Dana Boulé. Consider donating to WestinsFund.org Visit the Frank McCourt Museum “Telling stories is sure medicine.” — Primo Levi Listen to More Episodes

123 Around the World in 72 Days—Mexico, Where Nellie Ran Away

123 Around the World in 72 Days—Mexico, Where Nellie Ran Away

122 The Spirit of Dialogue—Egypt, Where Francis Tried to Stop the Crusades

121 A Listening Blue—Arles, Where Vincent Dreamed of Japan

120 Dublin Live Show—Sweny's, Where PJ Welcomes Joyceans

119 Seven Words—Maine, Where Rocinante Glowed

118 The Last Grain of Rice—Mosul, Where Mikey Saw a Face