An empty toilet paper aisle in the early days of the pandemic, Oakland, California, 2020

In this episode:   

I can’t imagine business as usual right now at a podcast about how our lives can change on a dime.

So I reached out to our community, and I want to share some stories about how folks are coping with COVID. I think we can all relate to these reflections, find some comfort and solidarity, and just be in this thing together.

This episode is dedicated to the way the COVID-19 pandemic is changing our lives. I will continue to share your stories over the next however many episodes I can, so keep recording your voice memos with some thoughts about how you’re doing out there. 

Email your COVID realities to me at nextthingpod at gmail dot com. 

I read written reflections at the top of the show from:

Rian, jobless in Seattle; Sam on kid’s sacrifices in Jersey; Molly in Berkeley on kids’ disappointment and the uncertain prospect of nursing through the pandemic; Rachel in Modesto on fascism in the time of plague; Kate on managing risk factors and working with children in Boston; Jenn on a busted knee in Oakland; and Lyn on trauma response and cherishing time with her kid in Berkeley. 

We also hear direct voice messages from:

Juniper, a doctor in Portland; Daria, reflecting on forced introspection in Providence; Gordon, an essential grocery worker in San Francisco; Amanda, living in exile in her own home in Graton; Linda, on family and grocery store battles in Campbell, and Samaki on needing a certificate to walk the dog in Schiltigheim, France.

Gordon adapted his piece from his blog series “Diary of an ‘Essential Worker.’” You can find it at gordonzola.net. He is also the author of two really great books, Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge, and Cheddar: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Most Iconic Cheese.

Thank you to everyone who sent in reflections, and everyone out there listening. There’s a lot more ground to cover on how COVID-19 is affecting us. If you want to share some of your experiences and feelings, open up your voice memo app in your phone, record a short message, and email it to nextthingpod at gmail dot com.  

Wash your hands and stay the fuck home, if you can.

Don’t be like me, panicking in the parking lot of a nameless national grocery chain. Support worker-owned co-ops like Rainbow Grocery!
https://www.rainbow.coop/

Prison Policy Initiative 
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/

Last Prisoner Project
https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/covid-19

RAICES 
https://www.raicestexas.org/2020/03/19/raices-response-to-covid-19/

A big thanks to all my patrons for believing in me and making this show happen! Become a patron of And The Next Thing You Know podcast at patreon.com/nextthingpod

Our official HQ is at
nextthingpodcast dot com

Full episode transcripts are here.

Support the show by becoming a patron!
patreon dot com/nextthingpod

Join the discussion at
facebook dot com/nextthingpod

instagram dot com/soozenextthing

@soozenextthing.bsky.social

Say hi, give us feedback, or send us your own And The Next Thing You Know story at nextthingpod at gmail dot com

The banana peel is by Max Ronnersjö.

The theme and interstitial music are by Jon Schwartz.

Thanks everybody. We’re so glad you tuned in. Stay safe.