Michelle faced the COVID-19 pandemic head on as a nurse in a NYC hospital. As the number of cases grew, her team - usually in the recovery room for surgery, watched elective procedures wane and knew they would become the front line of the fight against the virus. Though the response was uncertain, and chaotic at times, she joined a determined team of doctors, nurses and hospital staff as they built up a unit from scratch, and cared for hundreds of patients over the past 5 months. Despite the harrowing ordeal, Michelle has glowing words for the healthcare workers that worked around the clock to treat so many people. 

"I have always been proud to be a nurse and to be surrounded by smart and inspiring healers every day at work. Going through the horrific challenges of a global pandemic that peaked in NYC only heightened that pride, and showed me how resourceful, resilient, and tough we truly are."

We are so happy to host Michelle on the podcast, and to honor the heroes that worked so hard to ward off this pandemic. To do your part to support our healthcare workers, she has just three words for you. "MASKS WORK!" and "VOTE!"

We were so happy to welcome Aviv Lang to the podcast! Aviv is a filmmaker and traveler from New York, who was in the midst of a year's long travel when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. First hearing of the virus from Northern Thailand, it became more and more apparent to Aviv that it was unsafe and irresponsible to continue his travels, and he just made one of the last flights back to New York before Australia shut its borders for the duration of their extensive lockdown.  

Check out Aviv's work at visualvariance.co/films, and follow him on instagram @avivgoeseast and @visualvariance  

We hope you enjoy this conversation, and make sure to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Victor is back to share the story of his re-birth after his COVID-19 illness. If you remember from last week, Victor had quite a scare with his COVID experience, even sharing that he felt that he "sat with death" in an intimate journal entry that he read aloud in last week's episode (make sure to listen back!) 

Victor is now back in a new light. He is fresh off a meditation challenge, with a renewed spirit and drive to create. We talk about his transformation, the journey back to the light, and his relationship with the changing dynamics of his hometown of New York City. Join us for this refreshing and positive conversation, and remember Victor's motto: "Love is Medicine!"

Victor, a yoga instructor and New York City native, came on the podcast to tell his story of contracting COVID-19. He fell ill with the virus on March 10, almost a week before New York implemented it's extensive shutdown. Victor fortunately was able to self isolate and ride out his illness, but not without significant physical and mental distress. As a yoga teacher, how to practice when his body was physically depleted by the virus, how to pay rent during a months long shutdown, and wondering if we'll ever get back to normal. Victor says there's no normal to return to, but he believes that while we are all affected by this virus, we have love as medicine to bring us to the other side.

Pauline came on the podcast to talk about a hidden toll of the COVID-19 pandemic; victims of domestic abuse. During the pandemic, domestic abuse reporting has actually gone down. Sadly, this simply means that incidents are going unreported as children and women are stuck at home with their abusers.

Pauline recently began volunteer work with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, advocating and working cases for foster children who have been victims of domestic abuse. She shares with us the incredible value of helping these children, as well as her personal story of escaping an abusive marriage and the journey to overcome the trauma that remains after such a relationship.

You can sign up to volunteer with a local CASA/GAL program, or donate at their website https://nationalcasagal.org/.

Derick is an author from New York City based in North Carolina. His debut novel, The Unlikely Through Hiker, is the story of how he went from a city dweller in NYC to the grueling months long Appalachian Trail through hike, despite never having camped a night in his life. The book is a humorous account of Derick’s through hike, from his struggle to stay bathed and fresh to his NYC standards, to the beauty, danger and pure adventure of the wilderness. The people he meets along the way are central characters, but really it's the story of one man accomplishing a crazy goal that he was entirely unprepared for, which ended up changing his life forever.  

Tune in to listen to us discuss Derick's epic hike, his book, how race and racism play into the world of the outdoors, and so much more!  

You can purchase a signed copy (get them while they're hot!) of “The Unlikely Through Hiker” at Derick’s website https://www.dericklugo.com, or on Amazon. Make sure to follow him on instagram @dericklugo, on facebook at www.facebook.com/derick.lugo and to subscribe to the OneWorldYourStory Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Derric Harris, AKA D the Smiling Yogi is a yoga teacher in New York City. As you can tell by his persona on instagram, D keeps on smiling, even when things get tough. In this episode, we get into his upbringing in Chicago, what it's like to be a Black male yoga teacher, and D leads us on a powerful guided meditation. His smile is not a retreat from difficult topics, though. “In the face of ignorance, hatred and racism, I will show up boldly, and choose to be a beacon of light. Send more joy and compassion out into a world that is in desperate need of that energy, especially in our country.” Follow his instagram @dthesmilingyogi for updates for his studio classes, live Zoom yoga classes, schedule, and donation info.  

If you enjoy this conversation, don't forget to subscribe, and follow us on instagram @OneWorldYourStory!

The Rainbow Prince is a filmmaker, painter and UFOlogist from California who recently moved to the UK. He is an activist, and has been rising as a voice of the Black American experience in the UK. He has been interviewed by @leftlionmagazine about police brutality in America, and recently spoke at a #BlackLivesMatter protest in Nottingham. His psychedelic experiences inform his activism, and his iconic “Cops Need LSD” motif, featured on protest posters and t-shirts has gone viral. Make sure to follow @rebelstilskin on instagram, and check out his online store at Goldenpyramidstv.bigcartel.com to buy a “Cops Need LSD” t-shirt, poster or follow his custom painted jean jacket series (Want!)

We are so happy to welcome Samson Goddy to the OneWorldYourStory Podcast! Samson is a software developer from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and came on the podcast to discuss his experience with racism while traveling in the USA, how Africans see the USA, as well as the complicated relationship between ethnic groups in Nigeria. 

Find the OneWorldYourStory Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and everywhere you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to follow our YouTube Channel, and our instagram page @OneWorldYourStory

David is an Ayurvedic doctor, Vedic astrologer, ordained minister, and scholar. He began the COVID-19 pandemic with a choice: follow the US government's recommendation and come home, or stay on the Isle of Erraid, where he had been living. Erraid is a privately owned island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago off the coast of Scotland. Through a non-profit, the Findhorn Foundation, David was volunteering, helping to maintain the island alongside a tiny group of like-minded homesteaders. They eat what they grow, they use recycled rainwater for drinking and cooking, and overall, it seemed like the safest place to be as the world plunged into an unprecedented medical emergency.    

If you enjoy this conversation, don't forget to subscribe, and follow us on instagram @OneWorldYourStory.