005: Paul Conroy: Face your fears
What drives a man to walk into a war zone again and again? What keeps a man going after surviving death not once, not twice but five times?Purpose. This conversation is with Paul Conroy the esteemed war photographer: to say he went places that others feared to tread is an understatement. He and his partner Marie Colvin went to some of the most dangerous war zones to tell the stories that others couldn't or wouldn't, often focusing on the human stories - the suffering of the women and children, the kind of stories that regularly are glossed over in regular news. They told these stories to make the conflict more real and relatable to people in the hope that their actions would bring about a seismic change and end the human suffering. Since being shelled in Homs in 2012 in which paul was injured badly and tragically Marie lost her life, he's made it his mission to keep putting pressure on the powers that be to recognise the suffering of the Syrian people and end the atrocities. He's had a very interesting and varied life, he was thrown out of the army, then worked as a musician, and a news photographer before teaming up with Marie. He's written a book about his experiences called 'Under The Wire' which led to a documentary, and a very well received Hollywood feature film, but the one thing that has been consistent in his life is the unerring pursuit of what he sees as, as his purpose. He's a man of huge bravery, currently has a bounty on his head' and has seen the worst of human nature - yet he is steadfast on his mission in pursuing justice for those innocent people who are still suffering in Syria. There is a huge amount he can teach us about having the guts to follow our convictions, find our purpose - after all our hurdles are just a blip compared to what he has been through.Finally, he talks about the reward being in the endeavour, not in the outcome. This sentiment, which has its roots in ancient China, is more relevant than ever today as we seek to rush to our desired outcomes, rather than savouring the present moment. Self-Centred Podcast is presented by Roann Ghosh and Epiphany Social Innovation.