As unrest and protests against police brutality and systemic racism continue, and COVID-19 cases continue to rise in California, many are turning to state and local leaders to address the issues of racial injustice and public health. Holly Mitchell has been a California State Senator since 2010. She’s also a candidate in the 2020 election to represent District 2 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Christina Pascucci recently spoke with Senator Mitchell on a number of topics including the coronavirus pandemic, its impact on people of color, law enforcement funding, race relations, and more.

The nation has taken to the streets to protest police brutality and institutional racism after the May 25th killing of George Floyd. How can citizens protect themselves and others from COVID-19 while raising their voices against racism? As the weary nation looks to heal, many have turned to religion, and houses of worship have been given the green light to open their doors once again. What steps are religious institutions taking to provide safety and comfort in these troubled times?

As the situation around the world continues to change every day, we want to be sure that we keep bringing you thoughtful and useful information about the COVID-19 pandemic as it fits into the greater context. So that we may better research new topics and gather resources, we will now be releasing new episodes of the podcast once a week, every Friday. We are now the Coronavirus Weekly podcast!

The state is beginning to reopen. Over the last few weeks, in-store retail shopping, places of worship, and even restaurant dining rooms are once again welcoming patrons in communities across the state of California. Some counties are even beginning to move into the early stages of phase 3 of the state's roadmap towards reopening. Many residence are thrilled to return to move towards a more normal way of life, but is it too soon?

As we head closer towards the summer months, the itch to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state might be getting more noticeable. Much to the delight of those who may be experiencing some cabin fever, more and more state parks and beaches are now open for people to enjoy new safety requirements. Now, National Parks are getting closer to reopening as well. Christina speaks with Trey Matheu of the Oasis at Death Valley, a hospitality resort for visitors to Death Valley National Park where they are currently making preparations to provide safe accommodations for when they are able to welcome back visitors hungry to experience some nature.

We’re doing something pretty different on the podcast today. Now that we’re a few months into stay-at-home orders, you may find yourself not feeling 100% mentally and physically. Thursday, May 21st happens to be World Meditation Day. Christina is speaking with Shaman Durek, a 6th generation shaman and author. His teachings have impacted thousands of people, from diverse public figures like Nina Dobrev and Gwyneth Paltrow, to tech giants like Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey. Shaman Durrek shares how we can celebrate World Meditation Day with some of the biggest teachers of our time to discover ourselves and find clarity.

Today on the podcast, christina pascucci is hitting the streets of Long Beach to find out more about a possible new solutions to helping out restaurants that have been battered by restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. The “Open Streets Initiative” would allow restaurants, bars, and cafes to take over parts of streets and parking lots to use for outdoor dining. Christina trekked over to Long Beach Coffee & Tea to chat with Tom West. Tom shares his thoughts on the Open Streets Initiative, and he also tells Christina about some of the amazing Philanthropy happening at Long Beach Coffee & Tea to help veterans and the homeless.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There’s perhaps no better time to be check in on your mental health than in the midst of a global pandemic. Many of us are feeling some sort of stress in these unprecedented times, whether it be physical, financial, or psychological. Today, Christina is talking with Diana Linn. Diana is an experienced marriage and family therapist and is skilled in trauma recovery work. She spoke with Christina about the importance of paying attention to your mental well-being, and ways you can check-in with loved ones.

Drew Binsky is a world traveler and daily video maker who has been to 191 countries and has over 5 million social media followers. He tells compelling stories about people and culture, with a goal to spread positivity and shatter stereotypes. Due to COVID-19, Drew’s adventures around the world have come to a halt as he was looking to visit his final 6 countries while shooting a documentary. Still, because of his high profile in the travel world, many are looking to Drew to gain perspective on how the pandemic is unfolding internationally. Christina Pascucci had a chance to catch up with Drew, who gave his insight into how different borders have responded to the spread of the disease, and what the future of international travel might look like.

Los Angeles County health officials are concerned about a new cluster of COVID-19 cases in the San Fernando Valley. They report that the Silverado Calabasas Memory Care Community has had six deaths linked to the disease, and more than 40 cases among hospital and associates. Families members of residents of the facility have major concerns about how the outbreak is being addressed and communicated, noting that it has been difficult getting clear answers from management and staff. Meanwhile, Silverado Memory Care Community maintains they are updating family members appropriately, and are providing adequate testing for residents and associates.