The Distance: Coronavirus Dispatches

In the midst of the pandemic, a new foster care model based on community living and known as a "children's village" has opened up to foster youth on the Cheyenne River Reservation. It's a collaboration between the tribe and an organization called Simply Smiles -- with members of the tribe leading the way by sharing traditional knowledge at a critical time. This story was reported with support from USC's Center for Health Journalism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alua Arthur is a death doula in Los Angeles, California, where she helps people prepare for death emotionally, spiritually, physically, and even logistically. She says the pandemic itself has a lot in common with the end-of-life experience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bianka Rodriguez is a transgender woman and activist in El Salvador who says the pandemic has hit the trans community especially hard -- and that even government aid programs discriminate against trans people. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tanzina Vega is a journalist, host of The Takeaway, and a new mother. She gave birth to her son at the end of January--and not long after found herself raising a newborn alone while in quarantine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Natalia 'Saw Lady' Paruz had been busking in the New York City subway for over 20 years until the pandemic forced her out -- leaving her without a place to do what she loves most. This story was reported by Drew Schwartz. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rayan is a journalist in Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority territory, where a political lockdown imposed in August 2019 was starting to lift when COVID struck in March. We spoke with Rayan for a shorter dispatch back in April, and wanted to hear more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jordan Danielle experienced a mental health crisis that started in Philadelphia--but because of the pandemic, it took her two hospital admissions, an unwanted hospital release, and a solo train ride across state lines to get the care she needed. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gabriel is a US citizen who immigrated to Stockholm, Sweden with his wife and kids because he believes it gives his family better quality of life. But with so much at stake in the US election, he decides to return so he can vote in person. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joel's daughter was born through IVF to a surrogate mother in Ukraine, in the middle of the pandemic. Because of travel restrictions, Joel ended up flying to Belarus alone and walking over the border into Ukraine to be there for the birth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Introducing a new podcast, VICE News Reports. Episode 1: Alternative Medicine, Politicized.As India's health professionals battle the spread of COVID-19, some political leaders claim traditional medicine systems can cure the coronavirus. VICE's Senior Staff Writer Pallavi Pundir reports on how nationalistic furvor for traditional medicine, fake credentialed doctors, and misinformation are gaining momentum in India and making matters worse.New episodes of VICE News Reports drop every Thursdays. Subscribe, rate and review here: apple.co/vicenewsreportsAll the views, ideas, comments, opinions and statements expressed in this programme are solely those of the guest(s), speaker(s) and the host(s) and VICE Media Group does not subscribe to or endorse the same. None of the comments, dialogues etc. in the podcast are intended to offend anybody's sentiments or derogate any profession, political party or person, institute, religion, caste, community, section(s) of society or belief of any nature whatsoever. VICE makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this podcast and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at listeners' own risk. The third-party materials or content of any third-party sources referenced in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of VICE. VICE assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials referenced in this podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and shall not be liable and/or responsible for the same in any manner whatsoever. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Channing Lacey is one of the people who shared their story in the VICE podcast PAINKILLER; right now the federal prison where she's incarcerated in Waseca, MN has the second biggest COVID19 outbreak in the US. This story was reported by Keegan Hamilton. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Billy is a tattoo artist who specializes in covering up racist symbols for people who have left hate groups and denounced white supremacist ideologies. He's seen a spike in requests since the murder of George Floyd.This story was reported by Trone Dowd. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Victor grew up in the largest slum in Nairobi--and since the school year was canceled during the pandemic, he's been volunteering at a local community resource center where he helps kids learn and study. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For Climate Week, VICE has launched its biggest initiative ever -- Climate Uprise. Today, every single VICE Media Group site across the world is striking from the daily news cycle and, instead, only telling stories about the climate crisis. We've also partnered with an international group of young climate activists, who each proposed one way people could help mitigate climate change's devastating effects on their home; you can find their stories at ClimateUprise.Vice.Com. From The Distance, we're resharing a recent episode about the oil spill off the coast of Mauritius, and one volunteer's efforts to help mitigate the damage. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sophie is a volunteer in phase three trials for an experimental COVID19 vaccine. She feels anxious about the possibility of side effects but also curious about the scientific process. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cassandra is a poet and writes about being separated from her boyfriend, who has been incarcerated in California since before the pandemic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tanzina Vega is a journalist, host of The Takeaway, and a new mother. She gave birth to her son at the end of January-and not long after found herself raising a newborn alone while in quarantine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Adam lives in Pittsburgh, and has been using the internet to troll conservatives for decades; he says hoaxing has gotten easier and more intense during the pandemic, because people are spending so much time online. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a cargo ship runs aground on a reef off of the coast and begins leaking oil, Krishnee decides to join other volunteers in a massive clean-up effort. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Before coronavirus, Nikolai worked as an advocate for homeschooling Black and Brown families. Now parents are turning to her for schooling advice during the pandemic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As mainland China cracks down on the island's political freedom, Hong Kong based curator Michelle reflects on the power of art. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Julianne has been attending #BLM protests in Salem and Portland--and was present during the deployment of federal law enforcement in Portland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Christina is unable to find housing for her and four of her children, she decides to move into an unoccupied building in Philadelphia. This story was reported by Emma Ockerman. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After being laid off from his job in New York City, Austin moved to a small beach community in Cape Cod where he's reevaluating what success looks like. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

During the pandemic Nicole's politics have changed; she recently helped get a mandatory mask order rescinded in Orange County, California. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike owns a hotel in Shrewsbury, England, which has opened its doors to the town's homeless community during the pandemic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr. Ross Goldberg, president of the Arizona Medical Association, is worries about rising cases in his state. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nadya is a freelance violinist in Moscow, Russia, who says quarantine gave her more time to compose her own music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Giovanni, a mobile DJ in Brooklyn, New York, plays music at protests in support of the LGBTQ community and the #BLM movement. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Grace, an 18 year old #BLM organizer in Montgomery, Alabama, asks, How are we going to stay safe as cases continue to rise? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Latoya is a fundraiser in Oakland, California, trying to figure out how to convince people to give her organization money to fight white supremacy over the phone during COVID-19. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mexico didn't shut down till March 30th, weeks after other Latin American countries; in Mexico City, doctors like Karla are struggling to deal with the repercussions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cristina is an artist whose work requires a lot of travel and the pandemic is making her reexamine whether her lifestyle is safe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Martin is a ballet dancer and teacher in Greenville, South Carolina, where coronavirus cases are rising since the state re-opened. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mark says the fallout of the pandemic has forced him to permanently shut his restaurant, Be More Pacific, in Austin, Texas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rahim Buford runs a community bail fund in Nashville, where systemic racism helps determine who remains in jail and who goes home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stephen lives in Cape Coral, Florida and says some people disrespect him for wearing a mask. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In San Francisco, Marcela and other artists work with local businesses to communicate messages of hope and resilience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vhon lives in Catbalogan City, Philippines, which experienced massive evacuations due to a typhoon that hit during the pandemic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Umi and Quianah are joining forces to provide healthy, hot food to protesters in Atlanta, Georgia. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reia is organizing a group of mental health professionals to support #BLM protesters. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zadok, or Zediam as his fans know him, is a musician in Antwerp, Belgium, where a statue of King Leopold II was recently removed. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Council President Shannon Hardin of Columbus, Ohio says the past two weeks have changed how he views politics.This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Duck has been working as a volunteer medic for four years and says police response to the #BLM protests in Columbus, Ohio is the worst they've seen.This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, gives a historical perspective on the current #BLM protests. This interview was conducted by VICE News reporter Cameron Joseph. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While protesting in New York City, Nikko was arrested and beaten by the police.This story was reported by VICE News Associate Producer Joe Hill. This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Catrice, an anti-racism educator, helped organize several protests in the Twin Cities led by black women. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim, a recent college graduate and political organizer, shares his firsthand account of protesting in New York City against police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd. This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As protests spread across the United States and all over the world in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, we are reposting this dispatch about racial inequality in the healthcare system.After being denied testing at multiple hospitals in Detroit, both Keith's grandfather and father passed away from COVID-19. A majority of the city's deaths have been black residents. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maureen has been an obituary writer at Chicago Sun-Times for 11 years and says writing about people who've passed from COVID-19 feels different.This story was reported by Valerie Kipnis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A community of indigenous Kichwa families living in the Amazon isolates and puts their eco-tourism business on hold.This interview was conducted by Amazon Learning's Andy Gavilanes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.