Been There, Done That: A Pandemic Podcast

Listen to host, Felicia Perez, conclude the entire podcast after 14 months of interviews. How does one finish documenting the effects of a global pandemic when the pandemic is still very much here? And what is the current status of the participants?

Listen to Dr. Jennifer Perdomo share her final thoughts reflecting on all the many ups and downs from this last year. Which is harder these days: being a new doctor during a global pandemic or being a new mom during a global pandemic? She answers by sharing very detailed stories of various patients who contracted Covid-19 and needed to be admitted as well as stories about her family's current challenges being new parents. How has the Covid-19 pandemic challenged the notion of medical professions "doing no harm"? When are you doing "enough"? What does "enough" look like? It's a powerful conversation about new and old challenges and just how important quality over quantity is. 

Listen to Dr. Sandra reflect on what this last year has surfaced for us emotionally and where it may lead us. We talk about a recent speech given by Dr. Angela Davis and a comment they made about imagining what is possible once white supremacy is acknowledged and talked about from those in the highest offices of the land. And finally we talk about the kinds of systemic changes that are needed to prove that we learned anything at all during this first year of the pandemic.

Listen to Sophie share what is happening now, a year later from the first shelter in place orders, in both her home in Northern California and her country of origin - France. Why would France be on the cusp of a third pandemic wave, and how can we avoid that same path here in the U.S.?

Listen to Rose share about her experience disseminating polio vaccines in Ghana, several years ago, with a comparison to how the Covid-19 vaccine has been made available here and now. She goes on to share her thoughts on the complexity and nuance of conversations related to gun violence in the U.S. And finally Rose shares about what it has been like to date during the pandemic.

Listen to Tori share her thoughts on what the future may hold for folks who are not able to be fully vaccinated at this time. What will happen to her 5-year-old who, has had multiple bone marrow transplants and, is unable to get any vaccine? She shares a story of a friend who had a major allergic reaction to the 1st does of a vaccine. Can this person take the 2nd shot now? And if they can't, then what? Finally, we talk about the long term effects of trauma and how we all may be changed forever as we move in to survivorship mode. What does collective or societal PTSD look like?

Listen to Rebecca share what it's like to prepare to return to the physical classroom for in-person instruction. And we talk about the pros and cons to California's four-tier, color-coded classification system that alerts residents about how safe and open public spaces are at the moment. 

Listen to Lena reflect on the last two and a half months, from the January 6th insurgence to receiving the first dose of the vaccine. And we discuss the current "return to normal" with the return of mass shootings. 

Listen to Eva's final reflections on the first year of the pandemic. We talk about just how much we have all changed during this year and whether or not those changes are positive or negative. What does it feel like to be under 16-years-old, seeing all of your older family and friends get a life saving vaccine, but you can't access it yet because you're too young? We learn some new lingo and slag being used by some tweens at the moment. Finally, it's birthday planning time again as this pandemic year ends and another begins. 

Listen to Angela share their final reflections about this last year. Having recently moved from Washington D.C. to South Beach Florida, Angela shares her thoughts on the insurgence of January 6th. Is she sad or grateful that she "missed" the insurgence? We talk about the real take-aways from Oprah Winfrey's interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. And finally, we discuss this year's rise in so called "cancel culture" and whether or not we should, well, cancel it or not.

Listen to Olivia and Clark catch us up on how this winter was so different for them since they moved from the deserts of Nevada to the constant rainy air of Seattle, Washington. They also share what they have learned over the last year working with elementary school aged children. We talk about the importance of playgrounds and hugs! Finally, we reflect on accountability and the power and harm of shame. 

Listen to Jamie share details about how library services have changed over this first year of the pandemic. From what is needed to become a librarian to what the general day to day work looks like, Jamie shares 20 years of experience with us. We talk about daily word capacity limits, color based book sorting, and just what a "librarian's nightmare" would look like. Finally, we hear the details about Jamie's recent engagement which involved Christmas decorations and lots of gestures of love that won't soon be forgotten. 

Listen to Michaela share in detail a retrospective analysis of just what it has taken to finally get to a point in the pandemic where things feel "manageable" as a college student in their junior year. What roles do being independent and good mental health practices play? She shares the ways in which her college experience has been effected by the pandemic as well as her post college plans. Who could've predicted how much our personal schedules and lives would be effected by not physically moving as much as we did before the pandemic?!

Listen to PaKou share about the hardships of parenting pre-teens during a global pandemic. What counts as "normal" during "abnormal" times? We talk about how to mourn those we've lost while also celebrating what and who is still here. And we talk about how being dedicated to self care usual comes with a fair amount of personal sacrifice. Finally, we have some unsolicited This Is Us (TV Show) loyal fan feedback for the writers. 

Listen to Danielle's final thoughts as we conclude the first year of the pandemic. We talk about the power of what we call events as they happen or in hindsight. And we get in to a deep debate about the differences and relationships between an uprising and a coup. Finally, we talk about the importance of relationships during hard times and that includes one's relationship with themselves. All in all the true summary of this interview comes down to this: When it comes to how you live your life, are you a bubble blower or a kite flyer?

Listen to Patrick share his final reflections on this personal and social learnings of the last year. We talk about the many challenges of working and living mostly online; the blurriness between week days and weekends, how we talk more frequently with loved ones who we used to only see a few times a year- if that, and how our laptops and smart phones are more like vehicles to work and school then our actual cars, bikes and feet are. Finally, we talk about the irony behind over half a million people dying this first year from Covid-19 meanwhile the US just successfully launched and landed a robot with a camera on to the planet Mars. 

Listen to Kimi share her reflections on recent events that she is deeply and personally connected to as an Asian American living in the Bay Area of Northern California. From the coup in Burma (where her parents migrated to the US from) to the violence against the Asian elders in Chinatown, we talk about the systemic historic causes and roots. It's a reflection conversation about what we can literally sit with and the importance of not seeing justice as a destination but instead as a practice that you seed and water.

Listen to LJ really good deep and expand on describing both the individual and systemic ways in which mutual aid is really political powerful building work. We break down each word one at a time to really analyze what they mean and what they look like in reality - "mutual" and then "aid." Ultimately, it's a rich conversation about relationships and how building them and cultivating them is how we really become "disaster prepared."

Listen to Harley share what it's like to currently have one of your parents struggling with Covid19. How do you take care of loved ones while also protecting yourself? We get the details! Then we hear an overview about what it's been like to be a high school athlete during the first year of the pandemic; playing volleyball, basketball, going to school in person and working in the service industry all while wearing a mask. Which mask wearing time is the hardest? You may be surprised to hear the answer.  

Listen to Dante update us on who in his family has been able to get the vaccine and the status of a working prototype to his smart phone app for mutual aid work. We discuss when or under what condition Dante may ever travel by plane again. It becomes a deep conversation about risk assessments, the role it has in our decision making and how it has changed under this first year of the pandemic.

Listen to Matt update us on his recent move from NYC to Philly. It's a recount of just how the pandemic has effected food service industry. We also do a deep dive in to the January 6th insurgence and how it was pulled off with what seems like such important inside levels being pulled to weaken protections and strengthen those seeking to derail the approval of the presidential election results.

Listen to Ivy share their insights on what the most recent events of this year have looked like for folks living in Kentucky. Was the insurgence of January 6th something to fear or something to be proud of? Will Mitch McConnell ever have less power? We review how issues of housing scarcity, failing wages, drug addiction and climate change have all been effected by the pandemic. We talk about the importance of real narrative changes that need to transpire in order for justice to become inevitable and QAnon to become exposed for what it really is. Finally, we talk about what our plans are for THAT moment after when our closest loved ones are vaccinated. What will we do now and for how long?

Listen to Susan share what it's been like to teach a class where the students are older seniors in the community looking to stay engaged and learn with academic leaders from the local university in Reno. What are the similarities and differences between teaching such a wide span of adults (undergraduates to seniors)? And finally we talk about the importance of recognizing the every day lessons and teachers amongst us, from before the pandemic to now. It's a rich conversation about the importance of sharing, inviting and staying in contact not just when times are rough but also when times have no distinguishing markers at all. It's a love letter of sorts to teachers ---- in all the forms that we know them to be.

Listen to Ivy share their insights on what the most recent events of this year have looked like for folks living in Kentucky. Was the insurgence of January 6th something to fear or something to be proud of? Will Mitch McConnell ever have less power? We review how issues of housing scarcity, failing wages, drug addiction and climate change have all been effected by the pandemic. We talk about the importance of real narrative changes that need to transpire in order for justice to become inevitable and QAnon to become exposed for what it really is. Finally, we talk about what our plans are for THAT moment after when our closest loved ones are vaccinated. What will we do now and for how long?

Listen to Susan share what it's been like to teach a class where the students are older seniors in the community looking to stay engaged and learn with academic leaders from the local university in Reno. What are the similarities and differences between teaching such a wide span of adults (undergraduates to seniors)? And finally we talk about the importance of recognizing the every day lessons and teachers amongst us, from before the pandemic to now. It's a rich conversation about the importance of sharing, inviting and staying in contact not just when times are rough but also when times have no distinguishing markers at all. It's a love letter of sorts to teachers ---- in all the forms that we know them to be.

Listen to Dr. Emily Hobson explain how important the lessons of inequality, injustice are especially when such lessons may or may not be passed down from generation to the next. We talk about the impact of inequity during this pandemic time. How can one mixed race family have such different experiences even though we are all challenged by the same pandemic? And how can one hard life change/shift prepare you for the next? It's a Valentines Day special conversation about the power of romantic love, maybe not to heal, but to at least prevent more harm.

Listen to Dr. Oda share her final thoughts on what this last year was like for her family and specifically as a full time working mom of a first grader. What have we learned about the extra labor performed by the "anchor parent" in the household? How can we put in to balance things that are out of balance? Finally, we talk about what we can learn about what we need to do next by looking back at Japanese American reintegration post WWII? How can we continue to live in a divided country without a process for reconciliation?

Listen to Mariana share in detail what is was like for them to have recently contracted Covid19, along with her entire immediate family, while she was visitng them in Mexico. What is it like to be sick while also being a caretaker to others around you who are also sick with the virus? What was the recovery process like outside of the US? Where any folks needing hospitalization and were there any open beds? It's an emotional roller coaster of a story filled with as much fear as there is gratitude. And at its core it's a lesson on the importance of family unification and the healing powers of love.

Listen to Patrick share his detailed account of what it was like to get the Pfizer Vaccine in Northern Nevada. From an emailed survey sent out from his work to the drive through vaccine shot process, we hear it all! We do a venn diagram of sorts comparing HIV medication to the current vaccination moment to see where there are similarities and differences between one pandemic to another. Finally, we wrap up by talking about the important role of stories, repetition, and the size of your megaphone when it comes to politics and health care.

Listen to Cris share his final thoughts on what lessons this first year of the Covid19 Virus has taught him about to live through hard times. What events, struggles and challenges seem to be universal and not just part of an American Pandemic Year Story? Should we call the events of January 6 at the US Capital, in D.C. an "coup," or a "terrorist attack," or "an insurgence"? Finally, what do Zapatistas have to teach us about this moment? And what role does listening play in getting through hard times?

Listen to Elana share what the initial vaccine roll out has been like New York City. What are some of the hurdles and challenges to this initial process so far? How are some of the pre-pandemic inequities (based on class, race, ability, language, internet literacy and on) showing up and causing issues in this current vaccine dissemination process? We talk about what is really at the heart of so many frustrations with folks, "cutting the line," for getting access to the vaccines. HINT: It's not about the length of the lines or the roll out overall once the vaccines are delivered. And finally, we talk about what we want to make sure we learn from earlier historical moments. What did the post 9/11 moment teach us about what we need to NOT do in the coming post-insurgence and post-pandemic times?

Listen to Elana share what the initial vaccine roll out has been like New York City. What are some of the hurdles and challenges to this initial process so far? How are some of the pre-pandemic inequities (based on class, race, ability, language, internet literacy and on) showing up and causing issues in this current vaccine dissemination process? We talk about what is really at the heart of so many frustrations with folks, "cutting the line," for getting access to the vaccines. HINT: It's not about the length of the lines or the roll out overall once the vaccines are delivered. And finally, we talk about what we want to make sure we learn from earlier historical moments. What did the post 9/11 moment teach us about what we need to NOT do in the coming post-insurgence and post-pandemic times?

Listen to Erin share the details of their virtual wedding that took place over Zoom. What are the cost benefits of a virtual wedding? We hear a story about how a vaccination center, at Dodger's Baseball Stadium, was closed for part of the day because anti-vaccination protesters were blocking the entrances. We consider all the ways in which the country and the planet are filled with divisions and disparities. And finally, we hear Erin's last thoughts for this time capsule project of Covid19 Year 1. What are your Covid19 Memorial ideas?

Listen to the host bring us to the "beginning of the end" for the Been There, Done That: Pandemic Podcast. With themes of cautious optimism and lessons from history, we use this time to begin to take stock of how far we have come and consider just what it is that we want to make sure gets preserved about these first 365 days of the global Covid19 Pandemic. 

Listen to the host bring us to the "beginning of the end" for the Been There, Done That: Pandemic Podcast. With themes of cautious optimism and lessons from history, we use this time to begin to take stock of how far we have come and consider just what it is that we want to make sure gets preserved about these first 365 days of the global Covid19 Pandemic.

Listen to the host recap the 2020 year with a review of Covid19 by the numbers and news headlines. What have we learned? And where might Covid19's lessons take us next?

Listen to Sophie share her thoughts on all things related to a Covid19 vaccine and political leadership during this time. From the responses and lack of information sharing by the US President to those of the French President, we review the fall out in numbers of infections and deaths from both nations. Who lost their job or quit their jobs in government due to all that has transpired over the last few months? It's a sobering conversation about where we have been and what it may look like in the coming months. 

Listen to Dr. Jennifer Perdomo share what it's like since we last spoke now that they are both a new mom and a new doctor. What was it like to give birth during the pandemic? What were the particular "Covid19 Pandemic" differences and what were the similarities regardless of the virus? What is it like to go from doctor to patient and then back to doctor again? It's an endearing and special conversation about how to juggle expectations, guilt, new relationships and well lots of lack of sleep and worry about others.

Listen to Meredith reflect on what it's been like to parent during this 2020 Fall Season of the Covid19 Pandemic. How do you make adjustments to your personal life and to how you spend your time as a family with a first grader? We theorize about why this year's Thanksgiving meal was so short or went by so fast. We hear some amazing stories about recent Pandemic Purchases like a 8 foot stock tank pool and a Christmas tree that you get to cut down yourself. And we talk about trying to remember that last person that we hugged, that was not from our current home/family.

Listen to Emily share her reflections on recent activities that have taken place this fall pandemic season: her mom moving into senior living housing, publishing an anthology, teaching remotely at the university, the most recent Thanksgiving holiday, and just how this time has forced us to think about how we create and/or alter traditions.

Listen to Michaela share what it's been like to move back to Santa Barbara to attend some college classes in person. She shares what UC Santa Barbara's protocols for attending in person classes have been like, with weekly rapid testing for Covid19, and the inevitable false sense of security that kind of culture can create for socializing outside of school. We talk about the many different kinds of ways folks in their 20's make mistakes and how today's young adults have less room for error.

Listen to Angela share what it's been like for her to have moved from Washington D.C. to south Florida in the middle of the pandemic and the election. What's different and what's the same? We talk deeply about the "racial climate change" that the US has been struck with the last decade, as well as the the " global warming of white supremacy" taking foot on a global level. Is it possible to take down white supremacy without centering whiteness? And finally, compared to 4 year sago when Angela held up a sign that the first Women's March that read, "Don't forget: white women voted for Trump," what new sign would Angela hold up at post this election and why?

Listen to Patrick update us on what it's like to still physically go in to work everyday at the local high school. Can you still see the cliches and social groups while having to wear a masks and with no sports seasons or other in person extra curricular activities? Patrick shares what it's been like to lose a friend to Covid19 and to currently have another close friend currently sick with the virus and struggling to breathe. We talk about how the local Alcoholic Anonymous meetings have adapted to current times. And we talk about what it means to hold one another accountable to engaging in anti-racist work in our everyday lives.

Listen to PaKou share how exhausted she is these days. Hear her break down that this fatigue is stemming from everything these days being politicized; from which US presidential candidate you supported to choosing whether or not to wear a mask. What does it mean if the entire country is dealing with a mental health crisis at the same time? Is "Trumpism" just a cult? What role does empathy play in helping us move forward and heal as a nation? And what can we learn from the recent incredibly short season of the TV show, "This is Us."

Listen to Olivia and Clark check in about what life has been like since moving from Reno (Nevada) to Seattle (Washington). What are rain pants and why would you ever need them? We get to hear stories about what it's like to support kindergarten and first graders who are attending school virtually inside the local Boys and Girls Club. And we get to hear about what it's like to support young learners with extra curricular outdoor education. Inside or outside, which is a better learning environment? Which is a better working environment?

Listen to Olivia and Clark check in about what life has been like since moving from Reno (Nevada) to Seattle (Washington). What are rain pants and why would you ever need them? We get to hear stories about what it's like to support kindergarten and first graders who are attending school virtually inside the local Boys and Girls Club. And we get to hear about what it's like to support young learners with extra curricular outdoor education. Inside or outside, which is a better learning environment? Which is a better working environment?

Listen to Susan share the positive impact teaching remotely has had on her ability to get through this most recent pandemic time. We hear Susan share a story about personal history, reflection and reparation. It's the kind of conversation that leads to learning lessons about the long term effects of colonization and white supremacy. More importantly, it's a story that helps to explain the massive inequalities that are becoming undeniably present during this pandemic.

Listen to Patrick share some insight into what it's been like to stay active in the outdoors in the middle of a winter surge in Covid19 cases and deaths. We talk about a new noticing of having time to do things but lacking the energy and desire to do them. What happens when a community or society begins to move towards grieving and feeling loss collectively?

Listen to Matt share his insights on the work of the 2020 "Election Defenders" and the overall de-escalation organizing that took place in Philadelphia earlier this month. How did music and dance stand up to armed militia groups and ongoing threats of violence? What does it mean to "change the temperature"? And are cultural organizing tactics something new or are they instead just part of a larger legacy of non-violent direct action organizing?

Listen to Matt share his insights on the work of the 2020 "Election Defenders" and the overall de-escalation organizing that took place in Philadelphia earlier this month. How did music and dance stand up to armed militia groups and ongoing threats of violence? What does it mean to "change the temperature"? And are cultural organizing tactics something new or are they instead just part of a larger legacy of non-violent direct action organizing?

Listen to Kimi break down her insight on how the state of Arizona was able to go from being a traditional "Red State" to a "Blue State." It's a background story about what has transpired there over the last decade, and not just the last few months. We talk about the importance of "seeding" our organizing work and knowing that it will take a moment to flower and produce the nutrients we need. Finally, we talk about the need for organizing to center cultural work in or to both move people in to action AND help us sustain the work behind the scenes that is too often exhausting when metrics and numbers are the only thing focused on.