E9 - The Collective Witness with Michael Christopher Brown
September 17, 2024
In this episode, our host, Hawah Kasat, sits down with Michael Christopher Brown, a pivotal figure in modern documentary photography whose work has appeared on the front cover of major publications such as National Geographic and The New York Times. Michael is known for bridging worlds from the deserts of Libya to the deep jungle of the Congo to the isolated streets of Cuba. Each snapshot a testament to his belief in the power of visual storytelling to enlighten and inspire people. Join them as they discuss documenting conflict zones around the world, healing from PTSD, the value of community, and the evolving role of the witness.
After years of building his career Michael Christopher Brown lost his job shortly after his PTSD diagnosis—a stark reflection of the misunderstandings surrounding this mental health disorder.
Despite working in a field full of war photographers and suffering near fatal injuries, his intense experiences and dissociation went unnoticed, even by himself. When his personal and professional lives collided, with the support of his partner and a counselor, he began to realize the depth of his struggles.
Michael is known for bridging worlds from the deserts of Libya to the deep jungles of the Congo to the isolated streets of Cuba. Each snapshot a testament to his belief in the power of visual storytelling to enlighten and inspire people. Michael's journey from rural America to the front lines of global conflict zones is a tale of bravery. Notably, Michael used his iPhone in 2011 to chronicle the Libyan Revolution. His body of work not only challenged traditional photojournalism but also earned him prestigious awards.
Michael’s work has appeared on the front cover of major publications such as National Geographic and The New York Times and headlined stories in Vanity Fair, Vogue, ESPN, Al Jazeera, Time magazine, Amnesty International, and Save the Children. His photographer lens captures more than just images. It documents courage, conflict and the human spirit across the globe. Michael is also witness, who openly navigates the path of healing, transforming personal pain into a catalyst for growth and understanding.
In this episode, our host, Hawah Kasat, sits down with Michael Christopher Brown, to explore the intersections of conflict, courage, and healing.
Join them as they discuss:
- How Michael became interested in photography
- The iPhone as a tool for capturing images in high-stakes environments
- The evolving role of the witness
- The power of photography in exposing injustice and creating empathy
- Michael’s experiences living and documenting conflict zones around the world
- Healing from PTSD
- Becoming a father and renewed purpose
- The value of community
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Previous guests include Radha Agrawal of Daybreaker and Ofosu Jones-Quartey, an artist and musician (under the name BORN I) and healer.
Check out the most downloaded episodes:
Check out the most downloaded episodes:
- E5- Radical Love
- E4 - Breaking Out Of The Binary
- E3 - You Are Enough
Everlutionary: Healing and Transforming the World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so