COVID-19 has pushed the realm of possibilities beyond our imagination. Desi Matel-Anderson, Chief Wrangler of the Field Innovation Team (FIT), shares how her team of technologists, emergency managers, artists & historians supports communities internationally by creating cutting-edge disaster solutions in real time. 

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Hidden behind the scenes of every disaster response lies an Emergency Operations Center. For COVID, thousands are activated across the country. Ed Colson, an Emergency Manager for Tillamook County, Oregon, lifts the curtain unveiling what emergency management is and explaining the unique effects a pandemic has on rural communities like his.

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Seattle was the first epicenter of COVID-19 in the U.S. Emergency room nurse, Rachel Izzo, describes how the region is currently affected by the virus and what makes it so particularly challenging to deal with. She also lets us in on how mindfulness and meditation is helping her get through this stressful time. This episode was recorded on April 2, 2020.

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Retail stores across the country have witnessed a surge in demand. Some essential items continue to sell out within minutes of being restocked and people continue to line up outside, sometimes for hours, just to get inside. What's it like behind the scenes? Find out from Iain Martin, a Costco employee based in the Chicago area.

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Amidst the world shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), LA-based comedian and performance artist, Kristina Wong, decided to roll up her sleeves and launch the Auntie Sewing Squad. She describes how one Hello Kitty sewing machine served as the impetus for a coronavirus mask-making brigade and reflects on the shift of her life as an artist. This episode was recorded on March 29th, 2020. 

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Most of the world is facing a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic. UCLA Health nurse, Michelle Santizo, describes what the working conditions without proper PPE are currently like and what it means for the life of her patients and her family.

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COVID-19 is unpredictable in choosing its targets and the level of harm it will cause. 29-year-old, Seattle-based high school teacher Ben describes what it was like being sick with the novel coronavirus, why he decided to share his story with his network, and how the pandemic is forcing teachers to lean into their creativity and rethink our approach to education. 

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