Life in Lockdown (UK)

In Episode 8, recorded during Eastertide, I find out from Ayla what lockdown life is like for an Anglican Priest serving as a Curate in a London parish church. We discuss the effect of UK-wide church closures on worship and pastoral care, how spiritual communion is being facilitated in the absence of physical gatherings and how online church has made church more accessible.

Recorded 1 May 2020

In Episode 7 I catch up with Darren, a London-based musician, who has had a turbulent few weeks. Prior to lockdown he had coronavirus symptoms and a few weeks later learned that both his parents had (separately) contracted the virus. We recorded this just two weeks after Darren’s father died in an intensive care unit on a COVID-19 ward. We discuss the poignance of returning to his childhood home to care for his mother, now in recovery, grief and bad corona-art.

Recorded 3 May 2020

In Episode 6 I talk to Sofia, owner of The Samovar Teahouse, a popular independent café in the small city of Ely. We discuss Sofia’s decision to close the café before the UK went into lockdown, how she is missing colleagues and customers. As well as the joys of home baking, brewing, and fermenting (featuring background noises from Sofia’s adorable and very playful dog Sparrow).

Recorded 28 April 2020

In Episode 5 I find out how one recently-married couple, Ben and Eliza, are finding lockdown life in Cornwall. We discuss their own symptoms of the coronavirus, and its effect on the schedule of a touring musician and impact on the gig economy, as well as new hobbies and routines which involve going to bed earlier.

Recorded 28 April 2020

In Episode 4 I chat to my sister Nina who has chronic health conditions which put her in the vulnerable category during this pandemic. We discuss her fears of the virus, and her hope that this lockdown period might make people reflect more on the day-to-day experiences of those who spend a lot of time at home, due to their situation, age or health.   

Recorded 30 April 2020

In episode 3 I speak to Tom, who works in management within a local authority. We discuss the local government's rapid response to providing new and ensuring continued services to communities during the coronavirus crisis, as well as how he and his family have been trying to support independent local businesses.

Recorded 26 April 2020

In Episode 2 I catch up with my former neighbour Sara, who is a dance teacher and fitness instructor living in Ely. We talk about how she has adapted to teaching her classes online, much to the relief of parents home-schooling during lockdown. We also discuss the effect of lockdown on emotional wellbeing, how it has affected social obligations (both positive and negative!), and how humour can be an effective coping mechanism during these times.

Recorded 25 April 2020

In Episode 1 I speak to Laura, who is a Humanitarian Aid and Development Worker living in Oxford. We discuss the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid and reaching vulnerable people to offer them protection during the coronavirus, as well as lockdown haircuts, and walks through the empty streets of Oxford.

Recorded 23 April 2020

Life in Lockdown explores how life in lockdown, triggered by a global pandemic, has affected the lives of individuals within one social network in the UK.

In this short introduction I (Jasmine Allen) explain the rationale and reason for starting this podcast, and introduce how each episode will work.