SM: What was the scariest moment in your travels?

Lisa Ling: Probably when a 10-year-old boy held an anti-tank missile up at me [laughs].

SM: Oh no! Where was that?

Lisa Ling: That was in Afghanistan in 1994.

SM: What did you do?

Lisa Ling: I screamed and shrieked. It happened so fast that I can barely even remember how I was feeling when it happened. That was one of the more disconcerting moments.

SM: What have been some of the more crushing moments?

Lisa Ling: It’s always difficult to see children suffering. For me, it is so difficult to see helpless children being forced against their will, abused, and having to become adults at such early ages.

SM: How do you cope?

Lisa Ling: My hope is that people in America and the rest of the world respond and are compelled to act. What’s been exciting to me is that after so many of the stories that I do, there is a reaction, particularly the stories that I’ve done for Oprah.

SM: Do you find that American women are "reacting" enough?

Lisa Ling: As soon as [American] women hear these stories, particularly stories about what’s happening to children, so many women react. Unfortunately, our media is so busy [covering] Anna Nicole Smith that we don’t get the opportunity to know what’s going on around the world.

SM: Is there anything you feel women in the US should be more appreciative of after spending so much time with women in other countries?

Lisa Ling: I honestly feel that a lot of women here have a lot to be appreciative of. It’s not to undermine people’s dilemmas or personal conflicts, but if we have a problem or are being threatened, we have people we can go to—there are organizations and law enforcement. There are so many women in the world that are suffering and unable to go to anyone. My hope is that women in America hear these stories and [will] be compelled to help these women overseas who don’t have a voice like we do.