Today we hear from Alicia, an English teacher who got a grim preview of life during lockdown during video chats with her students in China; Tanya, a school food services director in Paradise, CA, which is still recovering from the devastating wildfire that swept through in 2018; and Gail, who recently took on the strange, heartbreaking task of planning a Zoom funeral for her mother. To share your story—and to potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.

Ep. 49: Friday Listener Stories

“The Way We Live Now” is a new daily show hosted by Dani Shapiro, in which she has a searching, intimate conversation with an assortment of guests from every walk of life and corner of the globe. How do we live now, when we’re all isolated in our own homes? We can’t gather. We can’t hold each other close. We can’t break bread. Whether we’re alone or with our families, our routines have been upended. What’s that like? We’re longing for connection, and to know how it is inside each other’s lives. Dani will speak with a NYC nurse, a senator, a teacher, a movie star, a chef with a small restaurant who cooks take-out each day, a college student who won’t wear a cap and gown, a high school student stuck at home with her parents, a patient undergoing cancer treatment, a postmistress, a university president, a rabbi, a minister, a yoga teacher, a meditation expert, and so many more. Every one of us is navigating our lives in our own way, and a rich tapestry of voices will be a comfort and a source of connection, in just fifteen minutes a day.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Documentary

Today we hear from a caller who was once on life support about how the experience shifted her entire world view; Kendra, a listener who finds comfort in the little moments she shares with her nine-year-old daughter; and a woman with bipolar II disorder who has come up with her own strategy for managing her days in quarantine. To share your story—and to connect with others about how they’re living now—visit our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewaywelivenowpod

Ep. 59: Friday Listener Stories

The host of this podcast looks back on the intimate, thought-provoking conversations she’s had over the past 57 episodes, and describes the way she’s living now.

Ep. 58: Dani

The founder of a beloved East Coast retreat center misses the magic that happens when we gather together in person to learn, or to celebrate, or to mourn.

Ep. 57: Elizabeth

An E.R. doctor describes an unsettling decrease in emergency room visits, and wonders just how many patients in need of urgent care are avoiding the hospital due to fears of COVID.

Ep. 56: Eric

A creative writing teacher, author, lawyer, and activist — balancing multiple careers, a son with special needs, a teenage daughter, and a husband — unwinds at the end of the day by driving around with no destination in mind.

Ep. 49: Friday Listener Stories

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