Beating Coronavirus in Tampa Bay Podcast

While most have been fortunate to not have a bout with COVID-19, one of our radio station staff members has had two run ins with the virus.  Rachel tells us her story of her 2nd time with COVID and how she got her vaccine a bit early to hopefully avoid a 3rd go around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 2021 and the Super Bowl is coming to Tampa in just a few weeks.  This is the first episode of this podcast in about four months. Truth be told, we really thought the podcast didn’t have a purpose back in October when things started to quiet down. But then the dark winter happened. As we enter 2021, there is progress. Vaccines are here. Shots are going in arms. But until everyone can get the vaccine, testing is still crucial. This is my story, a very short one, of getting the coronavirus test at Tropicana Field in St. Pete.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Face masks. Cancelled concerts. Bubble life.  For those of us who have never had a bout with coronavirus, the disruption in our lives has been a nuisance.  But for those who've gone through the ordeal, I wanted to know, is there relief once it's behind you?  Does it still affect your every day life?  Are there lingering symptoms?  Rachel and Amanda are two young fitness fanatics who we've had on the podcast before.  Amanda ended up in the ER.  Rachel went above and beyond when it came to taking all the precautions from getting COVID-19... and she still got COVID-19.  What's life like now a few weeks later in Rachel's case and a few months later in Amanda's?  And is the rumor true about Amanda licking bar room tables in Fort Lauderdale?  We learn in this episode of Beating Coronavirus in Tampa Bay. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel exercises.  She's a healthy eater - it's a rare occasion when I can get her to join me for lunch and splurge and eat the junk I like. She a bought mask in January.  She bought hospital grade wipes in February.  She's hunkered down and worked from home for months, rarely leaving her condo only when it's necessary to buy groceries. She's been the poster child of how NOT to get the coronavirus. The best example? She's one of the biggest Tampa Bay Lightning fans I know.  She has a press credential so she could have been with me for the last scrimmage the team had at Amalie Arena.  Only about 6 reporters were allowed in to watch.  They were all wearing masks.  Everyone was about 20 feet apart and we were far awway from the players on the ice. She felt it'd be best to wait for me outside. And yes, my friend Rachel who works with us here at the radio station... she still got COVID-19.  She's hopefully near the end of her bout with the coronavirus.  It's done a number on her.  Initially she was hesitant to share her story.  I've found that with several friends... there is almost a small amount of shame they feel, which I never quite understood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My producer Kyle is playing the waiting game and has been for well over a week.  His roommate tested positive for COVID-19 a couple weeks ago.  Doing the responsible thing, Kyle let the radio station know about the situation and now he's not allowed in the studio until not only he tests negative, but his roommate too.  They're a couple USF guys who got excited when bars opened back up last month.  Kyle had already lost his serving job during the first quarantine.  And now here he is months later, sitting at home, waiting for CVS to call with his results. It's just another part of the frustrating coronavirus life in 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a week since we last caught up with Amanda from the radio station's sales team.  After a 3AM emergency room visit after waking up not being able to breathe, Amanda and her new boyfriend have been quarantined together for almost two weeks.  Are they feeling better?  Are they still a couple?  What does she miss most?  What's the next step and when can she live life again?  For those of us who've been lucky enough not to have to deal with COVID-19 yet, hearing her story makes realize how lucky we are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can I hug my kids now? Am I good to call a staff meeting, at WiLD? What do these antibodies, that I now apparently have, actually mean? No one has been able to tell me. I have questions. Many of us have questions and then…many simply don’t care which brings about more danger! We were put in touch with Dr. Aliyah Baluch, a member of Moffitt Cancer Center’s Infectious Disease, and she agreed to join the morning show with Yanina Pasikhova, a clinical pharmacist, from their team, to shed light on what we should know and answer our questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Which type of mask will reduce your chances of spreading the coronavirus? Do you use a bandana? A cone mask? One of those fabric masks?  How effective are they in slowing down the transmission of COVID-19?  Researchers at Florida Atlantic University measured how far the droplets go when you cough.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back when we first started recording episodes of this podcast, we wondered if anyone we know will get the coronavirus.  A couple months later, not only did several of our DJs test positive for COVID-19, one of our employees has had a nasty encounter with it.  It would make sense to me if she fit the profile - maybe someone like me who's older and not in such great shape.  Totally not the case, Amanda Johnson is a high-energy millennial who sells the advertising you hear on the station.  She's the picture of health... athletic, happy, outgoing, young, vibrant.  And not only was she hospitalized and in severe pain due to the virus... she dropped another bomb on us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early on in this podcast series, we wondered... will we know someone who'll get the coronavirus? No need to wonder. 3 DJ's from WiLD 94.1 have now tested positive.  In this episode, I talked with Babs from the WiLD midday show... she's the only one who hadn't tested positive yet.  She got her results today.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's free. And you could even safe a life. Maybe you were sick a while back before coronavirus was all over the news.  Maybe you're curious if you had it and were just asymptomatic.  There's a way to find out.  And it's free!  And there are plenty of cities where you can find this test - Tampa, St. Pete, Brandon, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Riverview, Dunedin, Largo, Palm Harbor, or Pinellas Park.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A month ago, Geno from Q105, Zito from 98.7 The Shark and Travis Daily from 99.5 QYK wondered if they would know someone who would get the coronavirus.  A month later, one of them doesn't know anyone who's had it.  One knows many who've had it. One has a friend who lost his battle with it.  How are you passing the time? Geno and Zito are hooked on investing apps. The guys are also watching replays of games, but are ready for sports to be back - but will you watch if there's no crowd?  And has there ever been a better time to commit a robbery?  And where will we be a month from now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geno Knight from Tampa's Q105 talks about this week's news in the Tampa area regarding the coronavirus.  In the midst of an economic downturn, there are ten companies still hiring.  Things have changed for many Tampa Bay businesses.  Publix has created one way shopping aisles. Companies in Largo and Clearwater have stopped installing air conditioners and awnings so they can make face masks.  And for those who have been let go, there's a new website to apply for benefits.  St. Petersburg residents and companies that have been left without an income can get help from the city. We'll get into that and more on this week's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From chat about the Redneck Riviera (Gandy Beach) to the golf courses, Geno and Rich from Q105 chat with 99.5 QYK's Launa about living life through the coronavirus scare in Tampa Bay.  While there are a lot of events cancelled and businesses closed, there are things you CAN do. Go look at the Skyway Bridge at night, do some fishing, or just enjoy the weather because this time of year is perfect in Florida. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geno from Q105 is joined by WiLD 94.1's Orlando and Nio from 92.5 MAXIMA. How are their kids doing staying at home? What small Tampa area businesses would it break your heart to lose during this slowdown? There are special moments happening as we spend more time with our families. In fact, because of coronavirus, Orlando accurately points out some families will get bigger in about 9 months. And being two Program Directors (the boss!) at their respective radio stations, how do they set a balance between informing and entertaining Florida listeners? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 1, Geno Knight from Tampa Bay's Q105, Travis Daily from 99.5 QYK and Jeff Zito from 98.7 The Shark discuss everything from the moment when they realized this was a big deal... to bidets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.