Witnessing the World: Farrah Fazal: 9X Emmy Winner, Documentary Producer/Director & Award-Winning Former War Correspondent.
Show Notes:
Farrah Fazal is a 9-time Emmy Award–winning documentary producer, director, and former war correspondent whose storytelling meets people exactly where they are — in their truth, their struggle, their resilience, and their transformation. Her work explores what it means to be human: to feel deeply, connect authentically, and allow the world to change us in ways big and small.
In this powerful conversation, Farrah sits down with host Farida Rafique to reflect on a career that has carried her across continents and into some of the most complex humanitarian landscapes of our time. From reporting inside active war zones to documenting life in refugee camps, and from investigative journalism to character-driven unscripted television, Farrah’s work remains rooted in connection, culture, and change.
Together, they dive into the emotional and ethical layers of storytelling, what it means to bear witness, to earn trust, and to honor the humanity of people living through conflict, displacement, and uncertainty. Farrah shares how empathy has shaped her lens, how community sustains the work, and why she believes storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for understanding one another.
Farrah also opens up about her newest project, Agents of Change, a series spotlighting women within the intelligence community. The project expands her mission of illuminating those often overlooked, misunderstood, or underrepresented and amplifies the voices of women shaping national security, leadership, and public service from behind the scenes.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Farrah Fazal's Journey
08:42 The Early Spark of Storytelling
13:10 Global Roots and Their Impact
17:18 Building Trust in Conflict Zones
22:45 Emotional Weight of Storytelling
27:07 Stories That Bridge Divides
30:27 The Power of Storytelling
33:44 Storytelling as Resistance
36:25 The Impact of Social Media on Awareness
38:43 Personal Journeys and Encounters
43:40 Building Community Through Storytelling
46:08 Agents of Change: A New Documentary
50:26 The Future of Storytelling
53:10 Legacy and the Importance of Connection
Takeaways:
Storytelling is a calling that transcends borders.
Building trust is essential in storytelling, especially in conflict zones.
The emotional weight of stories stays with the storyteller.
Stories can bridge divides and foster understanding.
Social media plays a complex role in shaping narratives.
Art and storytelling are vital in the face of fascism.
Community is crucial for storytellers and their subjects.
Legacy is built through everyday storytelling.
Empathy is a powerful tool in understanding others.
We must continue to tell the stories of those who are unheard.
ABOUT FARRAH FAZAL
Call to Action: Watch AGENTS OF CHANGE DOCUMENTARY TRAILER: (IRON BUTTERFLY MEDIA)
Our film on women spies reveals the untold stories of the ten most powerful women in the U.S. intelligence community, whom the world has never heard of. Directed by two former intelligence officers and turned into a first-time independent film, and executive produced by an award-winning former war correspondent and documentary filmmaker, this film began as an effort to dismantle Hollywood myths about women in espionage and bring them from the shadows into the light. But as authoritarian models of conformity, control, and compliance began to gain traction in the United States, the film became a deeper exploration of power itself, offering an alternative democratic model of power rooted in diversity, divergence, and community.
Farrah Fazal is a 9-time Emmy Award–winning former war correspondent, documentary producer, and director. Her storytelling explores what it means to be human; to feel, connect, and be transformed.
Her journey has taken her from the frontlines of wars to refugee camps, from Hollywood film sets to intimate living rooms, chasing the truth and shining a light into people and places too often unseen. Farrah’s work has been featured on Hulu, Oxygen, A&E, Lifetime, Peacock, and other major platforms. She marries the rigor and intimacy of journalism with the soul of cinematic storytelling.
Farrah’s purpose-driven, character-rich narratives transcend borders, evoke empathy, and are rooted in connection, culture, and change. She’s known for raw, revealing conversations with people living on the edge of courage, creativity, and the quiet revolution of compassion.
Storytelling is Farrah’s calling. She believes the power of a story can create the power of change. Her work invites us to see the world, and each for who we are and who we can become.
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