DISPATCHES with Hollie McKay
Dispatches with Hollie McKay is where on-the-ground reporting meets real talk, no fluff, no agenda—just raw, unfiltered stories from the far corners of the world. Every week, I dive into the headlines that should be making news, the hidden humanitarian crises, and the extraordinary resilience of people too often forgotten. Alongside risk analyst Dennis Santiago, we’ll unpack global events, challenge narratives, and throw in a few personal picks—because sometimes, after covering war zones, you just need a good book, a great song, or a killer recipe. Welcome to Dispatches—where empathy leads the conversation.
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*This podcast is proudly brought to you by HumanizingGlobalPolicy.org
DISPATCHES with Hollie McKay
Iraqi-Christian Father on Surviving a Deadly Terrorist Attack on his Honeymoon and Raising a Son with Assyrian and American Values
In this powerful and heart-wrenching episode, I sit down with my dear friend and war reporting buddy, Steven Nabil, an Iraqi Christian father who shares his harrowing journey of surviving war as a child and years later enduring a terrorist attack by ISIS at Istanbul airport while returning from his honeymoon. Steven opens up about the lasting trauma of these experiences and how it has shaped his family’s life. With resilience, he discusses his passion to preserve the ancient language of Jesus, and what fatherhood means to him in the face of death threats. Steven reflects on raising his son in a world shaped by Assyrian, Iraqi, and American values, all while striving to be the most present, loving, and selfless father he can be in the face of continued death threats as he exposes critical issues within the fabric of Iraqi society. This is a story of survival, faith, and the unbreakable bond of family with lots of wisdom along the way!
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