As a child, Mariam Issa dreamed of traveling to faraway places but she did not imagine having to flee Somalia’s civil war on a leaky over- crowded boat to Kenya – pregnant and holding her two young sons for dear life. Nor did she dream of the horrors of genital mutilation, bombings or her close-knit family being torn apart and spread across six countries, including Australia, where she now resides. Through all the darkness and desperation, Mariam has come out the other side a compassionate, kind, generous and highly motivated person, dedicated to making the world (or her part of it) a more loving, connected and tolerant place. This was a fascinating conversation with a fascinating person. Enjoy.