Over the Globe

Imagine waking up one day to find your right to education taken away — and being forced to flee your country, leaving your mother behind and embarking on a dangerous journey with your brother and cousin. This is the story of Mina, a young woman from Afghanistan who escaped to Pakistan. In this episode, Mina shares what she witnessed while crossing mountains and deserts, and what it felt like to lo...

In this episode I am joined by Olena from Odesa, who answers some of the most powerful questions we’ve ever asked: What does home smell like in a city under attack? How do you survive the fear of bombs and blackouts? What would you ask your future self in ten years? Olena also shares how journalism became her passion—and her way of making sense of a world turned upside down. Are you a teenager fro...

Have you ever thought about moving to a different country but wondered what challenges you might face? And what happens when strangers decide to sponsor refugees, not just with money, but with their time, energy, and hearts? In this episode of Over the Globe , I’m joined by Robert Falconer, a Doctoral Fellow at the London School of Economics whose research focuses on the effects of private refugee...

Imagine you're a teenager living near the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia when a bombing hits. You run to safety—but your biggest worry is the dog you had to leave behind. In this episode, I speak with Sofiia Popsuieva who shares what it was like to grow up under threat, and her passion for writing, especially scriptwriting. She also tells us about “Mysterious Ways,” a youth-led project she co-foun...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to study at one of the world’s top universities? Or how someone can stay connected to their homeland while living abroad? In this episode, Sofiia talks with Yevhen Yashchuk, a Ukrainian student whose passion for history led him from a classroom in Ukraine to the halls of Oxford. Together, they explore the power of historical memory, moving between countries, a...

Ann admits she was initially shy and struggled with low confidence and fear of asking for help. But through volunteer work, and leadership she gained courage, faced her fears, and learned that leadership means speaking out even in uncertain times. In this episode, Ann shares her leadership journey, what leadership means to her, and what she’s learned about herself as a leader since the war began....

In this episode, we meet Sosan from Afghanistan — a young woman defying expectations and breaking stereotypes. As a librarian for children and teens from underprivileged backgrounds, she not only shares access to books but also opens doors to new worlds. Sosan talks about the stories that reshaped her mindset and reveals her bold dream of becoming an entrepreneur — a path rarely encouraged for gir...

In this episode, we sit down with Oleksandra Hinchuk, a courageous young woman from Ukraine who was forced to flee her homeland because of the war. Now living in Ireland, Oleksandra opens up about the emotional challenges of starting over in a new country — the moments of gratitude, the feelings of loss, and the search for purpose far from home. But her story doesn’t stop there. Fueled by a deep l...

When you're forced to stay hidden at home, learning in secret behind a screen, the idea of joining an international youth camp in Kenya feels like a dream from another universe. For 17-year-old Saghar from Kabul, it was a leap into the unknown—one full of danger, but also of hope. Now back in her city, where the weight of fear still lingers, she refuses to give in. Saghar finds strength in un...

Adila was just a tenth-grade student when the Taliban took control and banned girls from attending school. Now 19, she still lives in her hometown of Kabul, where every day brings new challenges—but also quiet acts of courage. In a city shadowed by restrictions, Adila refuses to let go of her dreams. She continues her education in any way she can and keeps her passion for art alive, using creativi...

Life in rural Afghanistan is a world apart from the cities, often marked by limited access to education, clean water, and electricity. Naweed grew up navigating these challenges, but his passion for learning never faltered. Beginning his education in classrooms with mud walls and wooden benches, he even launched a book collection campaign to inspire his classmates. Today, as he studies economics a...

You're 13. The golden days of September, filled with laughter and sunshine, are still fresh in your memory. Then suddenly — war reaches your town. Your best friend is forced to flee, and you're left feeling more alone than ever before. All you have is the postcard she left behind — a small piece of peace in a world turned upside down. But what comes next? For Ann, the answer was to dive...

When the Taliban returned to power, Mohammad’s world was turned upside down — but he never let go of his dream. With unwavering determination, he continued his education in Afghanistan, pursuing a degree in software engineering at Kateb University. He also opens up about his brother’s journey from Afghanistan to Canada. In this episode, Mohammad shares his love for his mother’s cooking, the peacef...

Despite ongoing Russian attacks, the Ukrainian city of Odesa continues to endure— and so do its people.  In this episode, I speak with one of them: Aleksandra. At just fourteen years old, Aleksandra has shown remarkable resilience. Even in the very first month of the full-scale war, she continued her education almost without pause. Not only did she stay committed to her studies, but she also found...

What does it mean to be a female journalist in Afghanistan, where women are stripped of their basic rights and the truth is buried beneath layers of autocracy? To explore this question, I’ve invited Zahra Rahimi, a former journalist for TOLOnews, one of Afghanistan’s leading TV networks, to the podcast. In this episode, Zahra shares her experiences reporting the news before and after the Taliban t...

After the fall of the previous government, Adel and her family faced persecution from the Taliban because her father had served as an army officer. As a result, they were forced to flee to Iran, where Adel had to find work to support herself. She first found a job in a women's clothing store, and soon after, began teaching English to her employer. Despite the challenges, Adel remained determi...

Since the education ban in Afghanistan, midwifery has remained one of the only higher education paths available to women—yet even this doesn’t guarantee them the right to work. Marwa Hoshmand had always dreamed of studying economics, but her aspirations were abruptly cut short by the new regime. Despite these challenges, she persevered, recently graduating from university. Today, she works in HR f...

Pokky once roamed the streets with her friends, but now, danger keeps her indoors. Living in Yangon, she considers herself lucky compared to those in rural villages, where the military presence is far more threatening. Yet, even in the city, daily life is shaped by power outages, leaving her with little to do but paint. Why can’t she go outside freely anymore? How are her friends coping with the o...

You’ve been banned from attending university after completing your first year of medical school—the dream you’ve nurtured for so long. The vision of establishing a medical foundation in your late father's name now feels more distant than ever. Searching for a sense of purpose, you explore online coding courses, but how do you find a way to stay hopeful and at peace with yourself? For Rohina,...

Moving to a new place is always challenging, especially when language becomes a barrier. Born in Nangarhar, an Afghan territory where Pashto was her first language, she was suddenly uprooted to Badakhshan, where Persian dominated. But just as she found her footing, life threw another challenge her way—adapting to life in Mazar-i-Sharif. Yet, through it all, Nargis held onto a dream: to study at th...

These days, when AI is becoming more and more advanced, coding seems to be the future of the planet. But what if you are a girl born in Afghanistan, where girls are not allowed even to speak on the street? Will you be able to pursue your coding passion? In this episode, we meet Farzana—an Afghan teenager with her eyes set on the stars and dreams of becoming an astronaut. She tells us about her jou...

At just 22 years old, Faiza was pursuing her education at an Afghan university when the Taliban stormed in, threatening to arrest her for wearing "unmodest" clothing—a simple T-shirt and pants. Soon after, she and countless other Afghan women were stripped of their right to education and barred from extracurricular activities. Forced to abandon her art classes, Faiza faced a heartbreakin...

Before moving to Germany, Andrii Mykhailets, who has already come to the podcast to talk about the first months of him living there, thought it was a land of perfection. But reality turned out to be different. What changed his mind? Now, he finds himself in a country that offers strong social support but doesn’t quite feel like home. What is the reason for it? And why are most of his friends not G...

Since the Taliban regime took over Afghanistan, many people across the country have been injured by ongoing bombings and explosions. In these circumstances, medical workers are needed more than ever. But what is it like to work at a pharmacy or study medicine in such a challenging environment? How strong is Afghan medical education? How do healthcare workers feel when helping patients, and what mo...

When a totalitarian regime comes to power, no one is safe—not even a 10-year-old boy living with his family in a village. There may come a time when you have to leave everything behind and embark on a journey alone. Schools may close, and even your teacher may be killed. This is what happened to Enaiatollah Akbari. At just 10 years old, he was forced to leave Afghanistan in search of safety. But a...