All Told

Washington Post education reporter Laura Meckler takes listeners behind the reporting for her story “The test of their lives,” in which she spent months watching a public-school teacher and his students confront the challenges of life without a classroom.

The world is looking to Timothy Sheahan for hope. He’s a virologist at UNC-Chapel Hill leading the effort to develop a coronavirus vaccine—and fast. He shared recordings of a week in his life, from May 28 to June 3, for this series finale.

Amid Washington protests, Dr. Yetunde Patrick reopened her dentist office — juggling COVID-19 concerns and staff shortages while watching her city burn and teaching her son about his blackness. She shared recordings with The Post from May 28 to June 3.

A massive dam failure in Midland, Mich., left an entire community literally underwater during the coronavirus pandemic. Jacob May, a high school senior who saw the devastation ravage his hometown, shared recordings with The Post from April 25 to May 23.

With her college graduation canceled, Rachel Leach had to process the significance of her achievement in solitude — revisiting memories of her journey out of poverty. She shared recordings with The Post from May 9 to 18.

As the meat industry struggles in the pandemic, consumers are seeing lower supplies and higher prices for beef. But the strain has also hit independent ranchers such as Terry Swanson of Colorado. He shared recordings with The Post from April 28 to May 7.

Gabe Albornoz, a council member in Montgomery County, Md., who leads the Health and Human Services Committee, let us into his life for a week as his county responded to the pandemic. He shared recordings with The Post April 23 - May 2.

With the NBA suspended because of covid-19, Washington Wizards point guard Ish Smith finds himself home, filling his days with video games alone instead of high-stakes games in front of thousands of fans. Smith shared recordings with The Post April 18-23.

Marquise Knox, a blues musician in St. Louis, was set to release a new album and tour with ZZ Top this spring. Now, he’s self-isolated, playing music on Facebook Live, and feeling the blues hit home. He shared recordings with The Post April 6-19.

Mary Eaton, a minister for the homeless community in Boston, spent Holy Week helping a group of people whose isolation and hardship is worsening with the pandemic. She shared recordings and audio diaries with The Post from April 3 to 10.