#74: Join host Suzanne Weller for an unflinching conversation with award-winning photojournalist and writer Ashley Gilbertson, who has spent over two decades documenting conflict, migration, and pivotal moments that shape our world. From the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the halls of the US Capitol on January 6th, Ashley brings us face-to-face with uncomfortable truths through his lens.
In this deeply personal conversation, Ashley shares the magic that drew him to photography at 13, the weight of witnessing history, and why he believes documenting difficult stories is more crucial than ever. We explore his groundbreaking work,  his evolution as a storyteller, and what it means to find courage in the darkest places.
Content Warning: This episode discusses war, conflict, domestic terrorism, and loss. Listener discretion is advised.
Key Topics Discussed:
Finding Your Voice Early:

Discovering photography through skateboarding at age 13
How passion becomes purpose

War Correspondence and Personal Cost

The moment a Marine's death became personal responsibility
Learning to carry trauma rather than overcome it

January 6th: An Insider's Perspective

Being among the first 20 people inside the Capitol
Witnessing Eugene Goodman's heroic stand

Evolving Storytelling

Finding new angles on familiar stories
The challenge of visual fatigue in modern media

Migration and Global Issues

Covering refugee crises across Europe and the US
The complexity of immigration stories

Notable Quotes:
"There's nothing in the world that beats that magic... trying to find that moment, what Cartier Bresson would have described as the decisive moment."
"You can't cover these places and come home the same. All of this comes with responsibility. There's no way of getting over any of this crap - it's learning how to carry it."
"The harder the work is, the better the work will be. When you get really deep into it and you want to stop, that is exactly the moment that you have to try twice as hard."
"What I saw was an insurrection. And what happened there was an insurrection. There is no question about that... These pictures will stand."
"One man holds them up for long enough to save the Vice President of America, Nancy Pelosi, and senators... That type of courage, that type of heroism, that's what I live for."
About Ashley Gilbertson
Ashley Gilbertson is an Australian photographer and writer based in New York City. Recognized for his critical eye and unique approach to social issues, Ashley Gilbertson is an Australian photographer and writer living in New York City recognized for his critical eye and unique approach to conflict, global migration, climate, social and health issues. 

See more of Ashley Gilbertson's work at https://theviifoundation.org/profile/gilbertson-ashley/ and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashgilbertson/?hl=en
Ashley’s work for of January 6th at the United States Capitol for The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html
Ashley’s books Whisky Tango Foxtrot and Bedrooms of the Fallen

Photograph

Learn more about VII Foundation at: https://theviifoundation.org/

Connect with The Courage Effect

Host: Suzanne Weller / Weller Collaboration
Website: https://wellercollaboration.com/thecourageeffect
Social Media: https://linktr.ee/suzanneweller

Special thanks to Ashley Gilbertson for his courage, honesty, and friendship.

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