What does it do to a person… to witness the world at its most confronting?

Not from a distance.
But up close. Through a lens. In real time.

In this episode of My Migrant Soul, Imran sits down with Jake Simkin - a photojournalist and filmmaker who has spent over two decades documenting life inside war zones, humanitarian crises, and places most of us only see in headlines.

From Afghanistan to Syria, Jake's work is not just about conflict.
It's about people.


Behind every image is a story of survival, fear, resilience, and sometimes… quiet moments of humanity that don't make the news.

But this conversation goes deeper than the work itself.

It explores what it means to carry those experiences.

To witness injustice. To walk away… and not fully leave it behind.

Because some stories don't stay where they happened. They stay with you.

• Jake's early life and the influences that shaped his path

• The moment photography became more than just a craft

• What it's like working in Afghanistan and Syria

• The reality behind the images we see in the media

• Experiencing fear, risk, and "scary moments" in conflict zones

• The concept of moral injury and its lasting impact

• Stories that are hard to forget — even years later

• Witnessing injustice and the human cost of conflict

• The migrant crisis and the responsibility of telling these stories

• What "safety" really means after seeing the world this way

When you see the world at its most fragile, it changes how you understand humanity.

This podcast is proudly supported by Westend Business Hub, Westend Digital, Westend Photography, Westend Podcast and WeConnect.

Their support helps bring these important stories to life and creates space for voices and experiences that matter.

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Westend Podcast can help you turn your idea into something real.

Learn more: https://www.westendpodcast.com.au