Far Away, Up Close: Global Stories from The Carter Center

When Rana Shabb was barely a teenager, she witnessed something no child should ever have to see: war. The experience changed her life forever, and ultimately led her to a career in peacebuilding with The Carter Center. In this episode, Rana talks about growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, and Houston, Texas. She also discusses the Carter Center's commitment to the Middle East, using data to help demining efforts in Syria, and the work she and her colleagues do so that children all over the world can learn and play in peace.

Kelly Callahan began her public health career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Côte d'Ivoire, working to prevent the spread of a neglected tropical disease. Her goal was to change just one person's life for the better.

Today, as senior advisor for the Carter Center's Trachoma Control Program, she leads a team that helps protect millions of people from trachoma, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause blindness.

In this episode, Kelly talks about meeting former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for the first time, how her mother inspired her to serve others, and dodging bombs and venomous snakes to deliver water filters in a Sudanese war zone.

This is the trailer for the upcoming series, which launches on October 14, 2026.