Fatigued Podcast

Here at Fatigued Pod, we're deciding to heed our own advice and take care of our mental health…which is why we're taking a temporary hiatus. We're not gonna lie, the world has been making us sad lately! And after 10 months of production (44 episodes in) we're going to take a break, reengage with the world on a healthy level, and then come back with more content once we're refreshed and recharged. Please continue to engage with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@fatiguedpodcast) and reach out if you have an idea or angle you'd like to see us cover :) We'll be back soon. Thanks for listening! 

Here at Fatigued Podcast, we're big advocates for taking care of your mental health, which is why we interviewed Christina this week! She's a licensed therapist based in NYC (and married to that Ben Jeffrey guy we keep bringing on our show). For all her talk about introversion, she sure is a bubbly light in this time of grief. Speaking of grief, we break down some interesting behavior we've seen in the last year and a half and discuss our responses to this wild and crazy time. Give it a listen - you just might get some free therapy advice ;) Enjoy!

This week's episode is slightly longer than usual. It didn't feel right to cut any part of our conversation with Daffney because the last year and half has been a specific type of hell for her and we appreciated her vulnerability and honesty. She's a respiratory therapist and has witnessed countless deaths in the pandemic. We touch on everything from our opinions on anti-vaxxers and getting doxxed on tiktok, to vaccinating her 12 year old and putting people on ventilators. In spite of her year, she's out there staying strong, committing herself to the cause, and we're inspired by her bravery and courage. 

This week, Melissa Mann takes time from her work managing lab research for a Children's Hospital to help answer questions and better inform folks about the Vaccine, Covid, and the Delta Variant.  Melissa has been conducting research in cell / molecular biology for over 20 years and has always been passionate about science. So, her opinions are well-founded and well research, which we love.  She also discusses with us her experience in contracting Covid and offers resources to help answer skeptical questions about the vaccine (see below). When not in the lab, she enjoys camping and kayaking with her family - human & animal - tending her growing houseplant collection - and a certain nail polish that's a favorite gift in troubled times.RESOURCE LINKS DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:https://dearpandemic.org/https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/https://globalepidemics.org/https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/     https://www.jhsph.edu/podcasts/public-health-on-call/ (Podcast Public Health on Call)Note from Melissa: I forgot about a new site that I can't believe I hadn't seen until this week! There are some awesome videos here that might appeal to some who are vaccine-hesitant or just wondering how the vaccines work - https://www.greaterthancovid.org/

Our special guest this week is Nani Sinha, who uses her background as an opera singer to help other people regain their lung strength after their battles with Covid. "If a global pandemic has taught us anything, it's that music stops for nothing. And in fact, music has become more important than ever before," according to LA Opera. For over 10 years, internationally acclaimed German-Indian American mezzo-soprano Nandani Maria Sinha has worked as a teaching artist for LA Opera Connects. And over the last year and a half, LA Opera's Connects Artists have been focused on reaching even more people in hospital settings: both the patients and the healthcare workers who serve them. Nani's background in science and medicine and her own journey with physical rehabilitation have made her a compassionate teacher and educator and we were elated to have the opportunity to speak with her this week!Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be, with thrilling performances, thought-provoking productions and innovative programming. The communal and curative power of opera is needed now more than ever before, given the extraordinary challenges of the time. As LA Opera plans its return to the stage with world-class productions in theaters, the company is offering a multitude of content including live recitals, opera broadcasts and learning opportunities via its LA Opera On Now digital offerings, which have accumulated more than 920,000 views since launching last spring. The company is grateful to its supporters for helping to ensure that it has the resources needed to get through this unprecedented period.

This week, the Fatigued Pod Squad (as we like to call ourselves) decided to get together and catch up on our recent travels, Covid takes, and favorite TikToks. We're collectively frustrated by this virus, and with that frustration comes a sense of humor and we're glad we can share it amongst ourselves and you :) We plug some things in this episode and wanted to include them below:Follow Charles Osborne (@astarosborne), O'Neil Thomas (@oneilthomas97), and Catieosaurus (@catieosaurus) on TikTok because Caroline says they're wonderful! And buy an Avocado Mattress because Laura says they're wonderful!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook because we think we're wonderful! 

Sam Cadman is here to offer a different perspective, not only from across the pond but also as a director! His UK & US commercials have won Gold & Silver at Cannes, Gold & Silver at British Arrows, Silver at Creative Circle, Silver at LIA, a Gold Clio and have been Honored in both Performance and Dialogue at AICP. In this episode we discuss directing through a computer screen (in case you never got the memo: skype is out, zoom is IN), how commercial advertising shifted during the pandemic (what do we do? masks on? masks off?), and... Foo Fighters (trust us, you'll understand once you've listened). While we know and love him as a commercial director, he's also a co-creator of the cult comedy series TRIGGER HAPPY TV (awarded Bronze Rose-D'Or at Montreux), director of THE SNOW MAZE ( Best UK Short at London Independent Film Festival, Ramsgate International Film Festival and the Romford Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at North Europe International Film Festival, Nominated for Best East Anglian Film at the BAFTA-eligible Norwich Film Festival, Finalist at Carmarthen Bay Film Festival and Officially Selected at a further 13 festivals worldwide), and MANN OVERBOARD (his debut US TV pilot - 6 festival Wins, 7 Finalists, 3 Semi-Finalists, 1 Honorable Mention and 7 Official Selections from around the world). 

Chase Brantley is a jack of all trades and master at all: comedian, director, writer, business owner, theater teacher, musician, and long distance thru-hiker. In Athens, Georgia, most people know Chase as the founder of Moonlight Theater which was founded after he graduated from École Philippe Gaulier, a French clown school.  Inspired by the school's philosophy of playfulness and games, the Theater grew into an award-winning program that hosted over 182 performances in under two years.  During that time, Chase also founded a residency program that hosted twelve professional artists from seven countries, directed twenty original comedy shows, and performed in over forty comedy productions.  He hopes after COVID to continue building spaces that help artists grow.  In addition to all of the above, Chase is also a Covid-survivor, which is pretty scary considering it gave him asthma, swollen underarm lymph nodes, & potential blood clots... 6 months AFTER having it. The more we talk to people the more unsettling this virus appears. Chase currently co-hosts “To white Folks”, a podcast that discusses the legal and political history of white supremacy in Athens, GA.  He most recently directed “Double Consciousness” starring David Perdue and Adán Bean at the Morton Theater.  He is also a producer and writer for the upcoming (Fall 2022) Shakespeare sitcom “Infinite Jest”.  

Ben Jeffrey's eyes lit up the second he told us about Lion King's reopening on Broadway. (September 14th, 2021 is going to be a magical day!) This past year was incredibly disheartening for actors, especially to those who've dedicated ten years of their life to a rigorous Broadway schedule. Ben replaced the original Pumba in 2011 so we were curious to know what it's been like having a year+ away from the role. We also discuss about how important it is to take care of your mental health, the darkness this past year brought to the industry, and the light at the end of the tunnel with this reopening date. The Lion King is an infectiously joyful show and we're excited to see our friend return to his part & puppet! 

Our guest today is the incomparable Pat McCorkle, head and founder of McCorkle Casting and a Covid survivor! As actors, we understand the frustration of the industry during the pandemic, so we were eager to hear Pat's point of view from the other side of the table. Rather than talking about zoom fatigue, we discuss its advantages and how it creates more opportunities for people to be seen. We also talk about how scripts have evolved over the last year, her personal experience with covid, and moving forward what's giving her hope in the industry right now.  Enjoy!MCCORKLE CASTING CREDITS:Feature Film: Mental State, Bernard, and Huey, Senior Moment, Year by the Sea, Child of Grace, My Man Is a Loser, Ghost Town, Secret Window, Tony and Tina's Wedding, The Thomas Crown Affair, The 13th Warrior, Madeline, Die Hard with a Vengeance, School Ties, etc., Broadway: Over 50 productions; Amazing Grace, On The Town, End of the Rainbow, The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, The Glass Menagerie, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, She Loves Me, Blood Brothers, A Few Good Men. Off-Broadway: Over 60 original productions; Clever Little Lies, Becoming Dr. Ruth, Tribes, Our Town, Falling, Toxic Avenger, Freud's Last Session, Almost Maine, Killer Joe, Driving Miss Daisy. Television: Twisted (ABC Family) humans for Sesame Street, Californication (Emmy nomination), Hack (CBS), The Education of Max Bickford (CBS), Chappelle's Show, Strangers with Candy, Barbershop (Comedy Central), and series for Showtime, HBO, TMC.

Jeffrey Omura is an artist, activist, and labor leader running for City Council in District 6 of New York City and we could not back a better candidate! Jeffrey was recently elected to his second term as an officer of Actors' Equity Association after he helped create and lead #FairWageOnStage, a grassroots movement and campaign demanding higher wages and fairer contracts for Off-Broadway stage managers and actors. As a response to the pandemic, he helped create the #BeAnArtsHero Campaign to organize the industry to collectively lobby Congress for arts relief. After meeting with over 60 US Senate offices, #BeAnArtsHero organizers were crucial in securing $15 billion for the arts in December 2020's COVID-relief stimulus package. The arts are essential to the well-being of NYC, as well as communities and cities across the United States and Jeffrey is the perfect candidate to set the precedent for the representation we deserve: the perfect example of practicing what you preach.If elected, Jeffrey would make history as the first openly gay person elected to the District 6 Council seat AND the first Japanese-American to ever win elected office in New York STATE. He promises "to represent you, to advocate for you, and to ensure that all New Yorkers, including the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color, organized labor, working families, and artists have a voice in City Hall.”We've loved Jeffrey since we met him as fellow actors at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and we think you will too. If you or someone you know lives on the Upper West Side, we encourage you give him your vote for the wellbeing of our artists and city. Vote for Jeffrey Omura for District 6 in the NYC Democratic Primary on Tuesday, June 22 (or vote early June 12-20). Go Jeffrey!

Welcome to Season 3!!! (Whaaaaat!?? Can you believe?!) This season we're focusing on something that's near and dear to our hearts: the arts industry. We're kicking off with a bang and Frank Harts is a barrel of laughs.  He just completed two seasons as series regular on the hit show Prodigal Son for Fox/Warner Brothers Television. Raised in the Midwest, Frank is of mixed heritage with Southern roots on the African-American side and Brooklyn roots on the Irish side. Frank went directly from training at Juilliard onto Broadway as George Murchison in the Tony Award-winning production of A Raisin in The Sun. He has also performed leading roles for The Public Theater, Signature, and Lincoln Center. On-camera, Frank has worked with notable film directors Spike Lee, Jason Bateman, Jim Jarmusch, Steve McQueen, and Kenneth Branagh. Prior to his series regular role on Prodigal Son, Frank recurred or guest-starred on Billions, The Americans, The Leftovers, Blue Bloods, Bull, 30 Rock, and Master of None in the critically-acclaimed episode, “New York, I Love You.”  In this episode we talk about what it's like being on television and having the industry shut down mid-season and (alternatively) what was it like to return to set mid-pandemic? What is it like to play a cop on TV during an age where we're we're in serious need of police reform — it's encouraging to know they're having the hard conversations behind the scenes.

We're closing out Mental Health Awareness Month with Dana, an introverted oncology nurse & parent - all this to say, she's got many reasons to be fatigued. In a time where we're more isolated than ever, Dana has experienced the opposite: she goes to work and is surrounded by people, she comes home and she's surrounded by people (her husband and three adorable children we might add). With all of these humans around, there's no opportunity for her to recharge her batteries. However exhausted she may be, she tells us a funny story about attending virtual therapy and gives great book recommendations. We love that she didn't hold back and sugarcoat her experience, such an easy thing to do during the age of social media. We would like to note that this episode was recorded a month ago.  Since recording, Dana had a loss in her family, her mother-in-law.  The family member she speaks of in the episode is her grandmother-in-law and she is still with us.  Given the nature and topics of our discussion, we wanted to give our condolences and honor the passing of her family member. Our love to the whole family.

This week we talked to Dr. Sadie Whittaker, the Chief Scientific Officer of Solve ME/CFS Initiative- a nonprofit whose mission is to find a cure for & end Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The developments with ME/CFS are paving the way to understanding Long Covid. She is also the Chief Scientific Officer of You + Me: a registry and biobank that collects patient-recorded data & biological samples that are passed on to researchers to drive discovery & cure! Sweet! “I'm a big believer that information is power - when you're dealing with an illness, you as the individual know more about what you're going through than any other person alive,” she says and we couldn't agree more. In this episode we celebrate the creation of the vaccine and the innovation and sense of community it brings us. Sadie brings to the You+Me Registry a deep understanding of the scientific discovery, drug development, and drug commercialization processes, as well as extensive experience in engaging members of the healthcare community.If you or a loved one is suffering from Long Covid symptoms, create an account with youandmeregistry.com. Even if you're not suffering Long Covid symptoms anymore, you can still log your old symptoms! Contributing your input could help pave the way to a cure for Long Covid. Additionally, Raymond is on a road trip across the United States so we're happy to introduce Laura Wendt to the airwaves! Laura is our social media manager and you have probably seen her on our IG live. She's an amazing dog mom, stage manager,  and friend - we're lucky to have her on our team. Thanks, Laura! 

Continuing with the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week we spoke to Chelsea, the Volunteer Resource Connector for L.A.Work's TeleSocial Program — a program that our very own host Raymond started! What is TeleSocial, you ask? The L.A.Works TeleSocial Program is a great way to connect isolated & lonely seniors to buddies who will call and check in on them once a week. “During this time of self-quarantine, it is very easy for social distancing to become social isolation…especially for seniors, who are most at risk for COVID19 so must stay away from other people.” You can sign your loved ones up at https://www.laworks.com/telesocial where they will receive a friendly phone call from a volunteer to check in, share their experiences in self-quarantine, or just chat! Pretty neat, huh?  You can also check out all the other L.A. Works volunteer opportunities at https://www.laworks.com/Chelsea has taken this program to new heights, and she's truly the perfect candidate to do so. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work & Disaster Resilience at Tulane University and hopes to further her work in the broad field of mental health and community development. We cover so much - what does a Disaster Resilience degree entail? How does isolation manifest in the body? And what inspired Raymond to create this program? Find out in this episode!

TW: death & griefThis week we connected with Victoria Noe, an award-winning author, speaker and activist. She is the perfect candidate for Mental Health Awareness month because of her contributions to the AIDS community & her writing about grief, particularly her Friend Grief series which recognizes the importance of friendships in shaping our lives.  A little background about Viki: her HIV/AIDS activism led her to write Fag Hags, Divas and Moms: The Legacy of Straight Women in the AIDS Community, the first book to honor the ways women changed the course of the epidemic. She is an accomplished public speaker with two degrees in theatre, she has presented at The Muse and the Marketplace, Book Expo America, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Open Hand, ACT UP/London and libraries around the country. She is also a Nerinx Hall Alum with Caroline and the two of them gush about their high school shenanigans in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Welcome to Mental Health Awareness Month! We've got a series of interviews we really think you'll enjoy. We begin with Kate, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, specializing in complex trauma and complex PTSD. Some of her work includes the Crisis Intervention Team for the Knoxville police department which involves helping EMT service, fire rescue, and police sheriffs. We describe her as "the helper's helper" and take comfort that there's someone out there to aid our first responders. Trauma therapy is more important than ever in this pandemic and she says, “We're coming in in the midst of your worst nightmare … and I'm coming in as a stabilizing force to get a sense of what do these people need, and what can we do to be a soft place to land for them as they are navigating a very difficult situation." We also talk about her self-care routine which involves plants! Lots and lots of plants! Kate is a ray of sunshine in a dark world, enjoy! 

Surprise: we're our own guests this week! Both of us share our vaccine stories and experiences. At this point Raymond has received both doses and Caroline has gotten her first. (Hashtag Team Pfizer.) Unrelated but after staying home for a year with unlimited access to your toilet, has anyone else noticed their bladder's capacity significantly decrease? We discuss that at length lol. We also talk about why we like our podcast and what we've learned from it, and we want to hear from you! What do you like about us? What do you want us to cover? How is your own personal pandemic story unfolding? Follow us @fatiguedpodcast on socials and feel free to email us with feedback: fatiguedpodcast@gmail.com. Also head to our website www.fatiguedpodcast.com to sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about upcoming episodes! Thanks for listening! 

We've found a common theme among our April episodes: pivoting in the pandemic. This is exactly what our friend Jason has done (and quite well, we might add!). He owns The Long Room, a friendly neighborhood tavern in the Ravenswood Community of Chicago. Inspiration struck when all the bars & restaurants needed to close down, and he began selling bottled-up cocktails to go, which is not only cool but has kept his business thriving! It's also a great way to keep his staff safe which is a top priority for him. We also discuss being a Black-owned business in the wake of George Floyd's murder.The Long Room, Chicago - https://www.longroomchicago.com/The Blue Bird Inn (AirBnB) - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/39821609?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=8a3408a7-3843-4c90-90e0-e07fe4c2d83a

Our guest this week is Jill, a compassionate & determined woman with a big heart and too many emotions for one person to contain. Her big heart led her to a position as an early childhood special education teacher in St. Louis, which has taught her a lot about herself: particularly that she's capable of pivoting on a dime to provide the education her students' need and protecting herself and other teachers in the process.  She says, "It goes without saying that all of the success with virtual and in person learning is because of my incredible teaching team; understanding parents and families; supportive admin; and of course, friends and family." This episode provides keen insight into the teaching world and is a testament that teachers are truly the backbone of the pandemic society, especially as their jobs become more complicated as the lines are blurred between teacher, health monitor, caregiver, and more. 

Are you having difficulty locating a vaccine appointment? Do you wish there was a website that contained information for ALL your local pharmacies instead of having 20+ individual tabs open for each one? Well look no further! www.vaccinespotter.org is the one-stop shop for all your vaccine appointment needs! "A tool to help you track down COVID-19 vaccine appointment openings at your state's pharmacies. Updated every minute. Rather than searching around on each pharmacy's website, we'll automatically scan the pharmacy websites and show you any available appointments we can find on one page."And today we interviewed the guy behind all of it: Nick is a regular guy with a big heart and has put his software engineering skills to good use. When he heard his coworkers' frustrations about finding appointments for their elderly loved ones, he knew he could help. A month later, vaccinespotter.org is up and running and helping hundreds of people access their dose of the Fauci-Ouchie. This feel-good story is a lovely reminder that there are good people out there...which has inspired us to focus this month on people who have pivoted and helped others amidst the pandemic. Stay tuned!

We round out our Parosmia Series with Gemma who experiences parosmia and it's equally evil twin: phantosmia. For those who don't know, phantosmia is an olfactory hallucination that makes you smell things that aren't there. For Gemma it's a persistent smell of cigarette smoke (which was one of her least favorite smells to begin with). It makes mealtime unbearable and alienates her from sharing that time with her beautiful family. However, she's brilliant at turning lemons into lemonade: when she first tested positive for Covid, she made a public facebook post of her symptoms to help other people recognize the virus in themselves. Fortunately she was able to prevent friends from sharing the virus with vulnerable family members! She wrote to us after spoke to her, "I also had messages from 2 lovely ladies from Florida and Georgia asking for advise. I was glad something positive came out of me catching the virus and sharing my symptoms to help others. I was surprised my post reached america from england." It's nice to see social media helping others in a time like this. 

In our fourth episode, we talk with Anissa - the self-described "cook of the family" who can barely bring herself to eat anything besides peanut m&ms. She spoke to us about how parosmia disconnects her from the rest of the world: she can't eat enough to keep up her fitness regimen, celebratory & holiday meals once full of connection and memory are uncomfortable, and she is left with the question "am I stuck like this?" In spite of her frustration, she has found a wonderful outlet: photography. "It's kind of replaced all of the energy I would put towards like working out and, and whatnot." Her work is beautiful, so go check it out on Instagram @anissalatifphotography! Happy listening!

Chrissi Kelly is the founder of AbScent, a UK-based charity that is dedicated to providing support and trusted information to those affected by anosmia and other smell disorders. After her own struggles with smell loss, she has committed herself to the advancement of smell training and research. We found her perspective enlightening and, while we aren't personally experiencing parosmia, we imagine this conversation might provide some clarity and encouragement to those afflicted by this uncomfortable phenomenon. The main takeaway? Consider parosmia an injury, not an illness, and be patient with yourself as your body mends and heals. AbScent website: https://abscent.org/

Compared to Brooke's episode on Tuesday, this episode is a great example of "same virus, different stories." In the second episode of our Parosmia Series, we talk to Marilyn who had some of the weirdest and worst symptoms of Covid... yet never received a positive test. Not one. Without a positive test can she still claim to have had Covid? How else can she explain the acrid metal taste she felt in her mouth every time she consumed onions? Or the heaviness in her chest when she tried to breathe? We talk about how unsettling it is to be betrayed by your body and Raymond shares why it's important to get a second opinion if you don't feel heard by your doctor. On another note, Caroline tries her hand at parody songs about the pandemic and they are not great. For more help with Parosmia check out the links of the organizations below:AbScent is a UK registered charity supporting people who are experiencing the distressing effects of smell loss. AbScent offers information, support and practical advice for people living with smell disorders. https://abscent.org/ (On March 15th we are releasing an episode with Chrissi Kelly, the founder of AbScent, who will share more about her research and studies into smell disorders.)The Smell and Taste Association of North America (STANA) advocates for funding for research on smell and taste disorders and collaborates with individuals living with these chemosensory disorders, healthcare professionals, and institutions to provide evidence-based education, resources, and networking opportunities.  https://thestana.org/The Monell Center for Advancing Discovery in Taste & Smell - their mission is to improve health and well-being by advancing the scientific understanding of taste, smell, and related senses. https://monell.org/

We're kicking off Season 2 with a series about parosmia, perhaps the most odd and startling long-hauler symptom to date. Parosmia is dysfunctional smell detection characterized by the inability of the brain to correctly identify an odor's "natural" smell. Instead, the natural odor is usually transformed into an unpleasant aroma, typically a "'burned,' 'rotting,' 'fecal,' or 'chemical' smell".  Pre-pandemic this was a symptom often found in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment or persons recovering from head trauma. Its current link to coronavirus confounds doctors and scientists as there is no immediate cure. Brooke is our first guest and she has been struggling with her symptoms for 10 months. It is quite an emotional interview as she breaks down what her day to day life is like living with parosmia. She recounts how she may have gotten it, what she can and cannot consume, and shares resources that have helped her along the way (which are posted below). AbScent is a UK registered charity supporting people who are experiencing the distressing effects of smell loss. AbScent offers information, support and practical advice for people living with smell disorders. https://abscent.org/ (On March 15th we are releasing an episode with Chrissi Kelly, the founder of AbScent, who will share more about her research and studies into smell disorders.)The Smell and Taste Association of North America (STANA) advocates for funding for research on smell and taste disorders and collaborates with individuals living with these chemosensory disorders, healthcare professionals, and institutions to provide evidence-based education, resources, and networking opportunities.  https://thestana.org/The Monell Center for Advancing Discovery in Taste & Smell - their mission is to improve health and well-being by advancing the scientific understanding of taste, smell, and related senses. https://monell.org/

Fatigued Podcast was born out of two friends getting Covid and sharing their experiences.  Listen to learn more about this project, who they've interviewed, how it's helped, and where it's going from here.  Full episodes and links to your favorite podcast players at www.fatiguedpodcast.com

Caroline and Raymond (and an awkward little-sounding voice) say goodbye to Season One.  Our cohosts give updates on their personal Covid stories, tell us about what's coming up in Season Two (launching March 9th, 2021), and why this shift has them excited and not fatigued.In just 3 months, we've built out a one-stop-shop website and social media pages and Fatigued Podcast has reached thousands of listeners across every podcast platform playable.  We would not be continuing without the supportive messages we receive from listeners like you.  We've said from the beginning that we'd do this until "we get fatigued by it" and, thanks to your support, we ain't there yet!We continue to hope and hear that these episodes are making a difference now and you can listen to hear how we see them helping in the future as well.  Thank you!

This is our final interview for Season 1 and it's our biggest one to date: we got a chance to interview Dr. Keith Gagnon, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at SIU whose lab has uncovered a U.S.-specific coronavirus variant that accounts for about half of the cases in the nation! He has been featured on many major news outlets as more information about this mutation is uncovered. We were so honored he took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us and frankly he filled us with a lot of hope for the future - while the topic of conversation is scary, we were grateful he was able to explain things in layman's terms. We learned a lot and think you will too!Stay tuned for our end of Season 1 wrap-up episode and our kick-off of Season 2 as we commemorate the one-year anniversary of the pandemic. There are many great things in store and we can hardly wait to share them with you! 

We can all agree we're in need of a feel-good story right now, so meet Harriet! She has been dedicating her time and energy to helping elderly people navigate the world of technology so they can receive the vaccine. "Anybody would do the same when you hear the people on the other line," she says. From family to strangers, she's helped so many get access to the information they need so they aren't left behind. She also details her hints, tips, and suggestions on how to look for vaccination access! Below is the New York Times article that inspired this conversation in the first place:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/nyregion/coronavirus-nyc-vaccinations.htmlStay tuned and follow us on social media (@fatiguedpodcast) to hear more about our upcoming changes, news, and updates! 

This week we got to interview Dr. Erik, an anesthesiologist who was deployed in the Middle East when the pandemic broke out last March. His deployment had already come to a close but he was detained for a few more weeks before he was allowed to come back to the States. He's grateful to be reunited with his family again and we spoke and mused about many different topics like healthcare accessibility, Covid bubbles, and the reliability of masks. Because of his medical background, he went into detail about how doctors go through "fit tests" to discover which masks work the best with their face - a protocol we didn't know previously existed! It left us reevaluating the efficacy of the masks we're currently wearing and wondering what we can do to create a tighter seal to prevent this pesky virus from sneaking-up on us again. 

After months of devastating loss, Louis said "fuck it" (literally) and enrolled himself in the Pfizer vaccine trial. Louis, a self-described "big ol' meat shield," was more than happy to take this risk, especially because he knows we aren't going to get anywhere with this virus until we start finding some answers. He goes into detail about why he chose to participate, how it went, and what happened after injection. If you want to find out whether or not he received the vaccine or a placebo, tune in! 

Last March Maria spent nineteen days in the hospital with COVID-induced double pneumonia. Can you even imagine? From the CPAP machine to rash and bed rest, she experienced the full gamut. We are so lucky she lived to tell the tale, no matter how gruesome it may be. We're even luckier she was so sunny and sweet at 6 in the morning when we captured this conversation...oh wait, it was six OUR time, 2 in the afternoon her time. Ohhh, no wonder she was in a much better mood than us! She also didn't need to pay a dime for her hospital stay which might also be why she's so chipper and upbeat... c'mon USA, revamp our healthcare system already!Maria Ryan is an American ex-pat living in London. She is a registered Dramatherapist and is looking into offering free online Dramatherapy sessions for Covid survivors. For more information contact us at fatiguedpodcast@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch! 

Rob is immunocompromised and lives with his family of nine... so how does he keep himself safe around so many people when a pandemic rages across the country? Well... he made the hard and necessary decision to move away from his family and into his own apartment until this thing is over. "I have a big family and I intend to be here a very long time for them." He's a shining example of sacrifice, hard work, and love. On top of a year filled with loss and isolation, he's managed to turn lemons into lemonade by adapting his time and talents into a new company: ReLink, which provides production services for corporate events that have moved online due to the coronavirus. https://relink.global/

Lauren is a paramedic from Mississippi and the epitome of over-achiever: she spent 33 days in New York City deployed by FEMA this past spring to help the ever-growing Covid case count. And while she was there she finished her second semester of medic school! Her first save was a Covid-positive case! While she has many stories to share, she admits it's something she never wants to do again -- and after hearing those stories we TOTALLY GET IT. With COVID on the rise again, we're glad we got some insight into the heavy lifters of this pandemic. Mask up and stay home so we can ease the burden of the first responders and lifesavers of the world! 

TW: deathOver the holidays we interviewed Caroline's dad, an essential worker, who has seen some…pretty devastating events. The audio isn't perfect, it's a shorter episode than usual, but it's a story we felt was necessary to share. As we enter a new year and reflect on 2020, we feel it is important to remember the lives lost in the pandemic - not as a statistic, but as people. In this episode we bridge the gap between anecdotal stories and grim reality.

Meet Jamie, a covid-survivor who made it to the hospital in time, thanks to his wife and their oximeter.  Jamie is also a patent lawyer and former chemist who has experience with the FDA and pharmaceutical research.  This week on the pod we discuss the legalities of the new vaccine, the legal liabilities of covid, and whether or not people understand how research studies function in and out of emergency situations such as this.

This episode is for big and small kids alike who are wondering if co-ho-ho-hovid can stop Santa. We got a hold of the Big Guy himself - Santa Claus - a week before Christmas to talk about how coronavirus has impacted life up at the North Pole. This is our first (and probably only) kid-friendly episode, but if you're an adult in need of a little holiday spirit we think it might be for you too :)Special thanks to Ben Jeffrey for making our spirits bright!

Disclaimer: there is mention of a very specific sex toy in this episode. (insert laughing emoji here)Our second episode of College Week focuses on Zach and Stu who are in charge of resident life at a university in Indianapolis. When the pandemic hit during last spring break, these two (along with their team) were singlehandedly responsible for reuniting the students with all of their belongings. Thanks to their hard work this year, the freshmen have been able to move in safely and keep the number of cases to a minimum. Though, it hasn't been easy: how do you foster community when isolation is the only option? What kind of effect will this have on college freshmen - will they miss out meeting the best friends of their lives or do they get lucky having a dorm suite to themselves? Give us a listen, stay positive, and test negative! 

Trigger warning: death & disordered eatingThis week is College Week on the pod and we're kicking it off talking to Josie who has been juggling school, work, and a case of covid. She's earning her degree in Public Health and after working all summer in an Urgent Care facility, she has switched over to working in a funeral home. We talk about how funeral practices have changed, is history repeating itself, how hard it is to get tested this time of year, and the feeling of shame. She's exceptionally honest and it was a pleasure speaking with her. Additionally, Caroline got an antibody test! Will she have antibodies 6 months after infection? Listen and find out! 

Med Warning: The Laughter in this Episode is Doctor Approved!Jen (a doctor)  put our minds at ease (if only for an hour). She is an OB in Indiana and we discuss the joy (and potential peril) of delivering babies in a time like this, whether or not masks work, and what it's like to have COVID - she has firsthand experience too! Bonus features include: an update on Caroline & Raymond, what is a nebulizer, and what are the cool three-year-olds watching these days? Stay positive, test negative, and enjoy this week's episode. 

This virus is so tricky - it can manifest itself in vastly different ways. Even to a set of identical twin brothers and their mother! Speaking to Ryan and Linda was an absolute delight this week - even though their cases were anything but delightful. They gave us some insight on what kept them going during their darkest days, what it's like losing your taste and smell for 2+ months (!), and what the early days of the pandemic were like before the world shut down. As mentioned in this episode, the Jacobs Family hosts a cabaret every March to raise money for the MD Anderson Cancer Research Center in memory of their father who lost his battle with it in 2015. Ryan states in the episode, "you cannot do well as an individual if your community isn't doing well." We're hard pressed to find someone whose life hasn't been affected by cancer, so if you find it in your heart to make a donation this holiday season we've got the link below for you. It's a worthy cause. Thanks for listening and supporting!  https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html

Raymond is on day 23 of Covid-19 and Caroline recounts the story of her tangle with the virus. As far as symptoms go, she experienced fatigue (ha), fever, pneumonia-like cough, sweats, aches, pains, chills, head ringing, hair loss, fainting, nausea, diarrhea, eyelid problems, depression, and anxiety. All by herself and all within 21 days! She's glad she lived to tell the tale and share it with you before you all make the decision to drive home for Thanksgiving. (recorded 11/17/2020)

Raymond is infected with coronavirus! He and Caroline talk symptoms, testing, and tacos. What's it like when your spouse is quarantined on the other end of the house? Is camping as safe as we think? Will Chugging Hot Sauce Make You Feel Alive Again? Listen and find out! (recorded 11/13/2020)