It's been a while but better late than never. We had the privilege of speaking with many people in their professions about their experience with COVID-19 but registered nurse, Donald Darby, was able to give us a perspective that we haven't thought of in combatting the virus, boosting your immune system. The body's built-in infection-fighting system could use a little help in fighting the disease and Donald dives into his regimen. He spoke with us about how herbalism has helped boost his immune system and the various superfoods that should be taken often to prevent infection. His stories of working on the COVID-19 units in one of New York's largest health systems have affected him and his fellow health care workers.

We had the privilege of recording this podcast at Planet X's podcast studio. If you're looking to record your podcast with high-quality equipment that creates the crispest sounds, check them out and start recording with them today. Planet X Studios

Through our journeys, we've met many with interesting stories. Luis Carlos Sossa has been one that really puts at awe in what he's achieved. Raised in Fairfax, VA, Luis would end up starting Cosecha Traders, a coffee company that exports its coffee from conflict zones in Colombia.

Luis tells us of how many farmers are fighting to grow coffee in the areas of Colombia that are notorious for growing and processing coca, the plant used to manufacture cocaine. His social mission to help these farmers bring their coffee to different parts of the world has faced many challenges. From moving safely through drug cartel territory to passing through police checkpoints. He shares his story on what inspired him to start his company.

If you'd like to find more information about his Cosecha Traders, please give them a follow on Instagram @cosecha_traders

Late on the release of this episode but I wanted to interview a friend of ours that we met during our trip to Colombia last year. Juan Diego Zuluaga is the quality control expert at our coffee partners at Cafe Tio Conejo. We met him for the first time on their farm and my family bonded with him greatly and my son gave him the name "Juan Bagel" because of how my son pronounces "Diego".

June is Pride Month and from speaking with Juan, he couldn't wait to experience it for the first time because he knew there was a good chance he would be in New York during Pride. Juan told me his story of how it was like coming out as a homosexual man and how he struggled with it early on in his childhood. His story really intrigued my family because we heard the cultural differences in what was accepted in Colombia and what was accepted in the United States, New York specifically.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 canceled all large events across the country and this meant no Pride march down the streets of New York City. Before strict quarantining started, Juan came by our coffee shop often to chat about coffee and other random topics. He's always good company. He was quite disappointed with the cancellation of the Pride march but was able to find other ways to celebrate.

In this episode, Juan Diego tells us his story of growing up in Colombia and how he got involved in the coffee industry. He speaks about how he dealt with the mixed feelings of what it was like to be gay and how his family handled it. Then we go into what it's like being stuck in New York City during COVID and also what he has planned in the upcoming future. We hope you enjoy this episode.

To read more about this episode, visit the episode description: Black 6 Coffee Trading Co.

On our 4th Episode of Coffee Chronicles, we interview Marc Krokowski, an EMT with the FDNY. Over a cup of coffee, we talk about how the pandemic put a pause to his training in FDNY's paramedic school and put him back on the streets. Marc tells us of the hospitals being overrun in Brooklyn, the area that Marc works in, and how the recent protests have affected their operations.

To read more about Marc and this episode you can visit Black 6 Coffee's website

After their 2nd date, Matt and Khani decided on a more adventurous 3rd date. They would book their travel tickets and fly to Costa Rica for a few days. While they were enjoying getting to know each other in the tropical paradise, the COVID-19 pandemic grew resulting in travel restrictions. Costa Rica would close its borders and airlines would cancel flights in and out of the country. What would result is a love story that can be told over coffee. A story that tells us that there is a possibility in finding love despite that the feeling that the world is burning around you.

To read more about this episode please visit our site: Coffee Chronicles: Stories Over Coffee

Thank you to our sponsor Planet X Studios for letting us record this podcast in their podcast studio. We were able to record our first in-person podcast while practicing social distancing guidelines. To book audio or video recording time in their studio please visit Planetx.life

To support our podcast and our coffee company please visit Black 6 Coffee Trading Co.

To support our nonprofit please visit Black 6 Project

In episode 2 of our first season, we continue to hear the effects of COVID in New York. I interview my friend and fellow paramedic, Jose Piniero. Jose hired me when I first earned my paramedic certification and introduced me to EMS work in Long Island.  As a paramedic, Jose got to see COVID-19's progression in parts of Long Island.  From hearing its emergence in China and Europe to seeing it the neighborhoods of Long Island, his account of how quickly it rose to the scale of pandemic put fear into even the most experienced paramedics. With PPE supplies dwindling and information changing about the virus, Jose speaks about how adaptability and communication helped his department deal with the burdened emergency system. 

To read more about Jose Piniero and this podcast please visit: Black 6 Coffee Podcast 

To purchase coffee: Black 6 Coffee Trading Co. 

To donate to our nonprofit: The Black 6 Project

Background music by: Flight to Tunisia

This is an open invite to sit with us and enjoy a cup of coffee, the conversation starter of choice for us to begin hearing about the lives and stories of the many people we meet during our humanitarian and disaster relief work. Based in New York, we get to hear some stories from home. While traveling abroad, we are introduced to the lives of the very people looking to take care of remote and underprivileged communities.