In this episode: How has the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted friendships? Sociologist October Krausch looked at over 2,500 survey responses to learn more. 

They speak with co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis, along with producer James Salanga, about their findings and what pandemic-aware friendship looks like now. Also in this episode: an update on how RECOVER has been impacted by the Trump administration, a potential Long COVID biomarker in kids, and the latest COVID-19 trends.

The transcript for this podcast isavailable on The Sick Times’ website. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00)Intro

(00:01:18)COVID-19 trends

(00:06:12)Top story: How is the pandemic impacting friendships?

(00:22:03)Research: Potential Long COVID biomarker in kids; RECOVER-TLC under Trump update

(00:28:13)Outro

You can also find our podcast onApple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

• The Sick Times:National COVID-19 trends, February 4
• The Sick Times:Some U.S. COVID-19 data are down amid “pause” to federal health communications
• The Sick Times:RECOVER hasn’t been impacted by Trump freezes so far, sources say. But the program’s future is still uncertain.
• CDC wastewater dashboard
• Biobot wastewater risk reports
• WastewaterSCAN dashboard
• The Sick Times:The “pandemic of abandonment”: Navigating friendships five years into COVID-19
• COVID Meetups
• COVID Action Map
• The Sick Times:Research updates, February 4 
• Still Here (1/25/25):Potential blood-based Long COVID biomarker; reflections from a Palestinian with Long COVID
• The Sick Times:Finding an accepted Long COVID biomarker will be complicated. This blood test could give us answers.
• Still Here (11/22/24):Where are kids’ Long COVID clinical trials?
  

Additional audio in this episode: 

• Rude Mechanical Orchestra:Which Side Are You On? (orig. Florence Reece) 
• Pixabay:Thunder and the beginning of rainfall
  

Access to COVID-19 data during the federal health communications pause. And a breakdown about why the Affordable Care Act might be at risk, from a freelancer with Long COVID. 

In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Betsy Ladyzhets speaks with co-host Miles Griffis and producer James Salanga about her reporting on the U.S. COVID-19 data landscape. And freelancer Bobbi Dempsey shares why the ACA is so important, along with how to prepare for its potential targeting under the Trump administration.

Also in this episode: another RECOVER survey with over 12,000 participants, a promising peptide development, and the latest COVID-19 trends. 

(Of note: Since the episode’s recording, the Household Pulse Survey — a key source of vital Long COVID data — was taken down following a Trump order on Jan. 31 about removing any references to “gender ideology” on the CDC website. You can read Betsy's reporting on The Sick Times' site.)

The transcript for this episode ⁠⁠is available on The Sick Times' website⁠⁠. You can jump to specific sections of the episode and transcript below:

Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

A blood-based biomarker for Long COVID could be on the horizon. And living with Long COVID as a Palestinian in the United States.

In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Miles Griffis speaks with co-host Betsy Ladyzhets and producer James Salanga about their newest reporting on Long COVID biomarkers. Long COVID Justice’s BIPOC Communicators Fellow Jenna Laila Bitar reads a portion of their essay about seeing the U.S. funnel money toward genocide instead of supporting people with Long COVID. 

Also in this episode: funding for a preventative COVID-19 drug for immunocompromised people, a new preprint estimating the prevalence of Long COVID across continents, and the latest COVID-19 trends. 

The transcript for this episode ⁠is available on The Sick Times' website⁠. You can jump to specific sections of the episode and transcript below:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:55) COVID-19 trends

(00:07:15) A potential blood-based Long COVID biomarker

(00:20:21) Being Palestinian with Long COVID in the U.S.

(00:24:32) Research: Funding for a new COVID-19 drug for immunocompromised people; MedrXiV preprint about Long COVID prevalence

(00:28:30) Outro

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode: Los Angeles-area COVID-19 mutual aid groups jumped to action to minimize the impact of wildfire smoke (and COVID!) as wildfires worsen air quality. Mask Bloc LA distributed over 43,000 masks in the first week of the wildfires.

Freelance reporter and Long COVID patient advocate Sam Rhodehamel talks with producer James Salanga and co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets about the groups filling public health gaps to keep residents protected during the devastating wildfires.

Also in this episode: another NIH RECOVER-Treating Long COVID update, more proof portable air filters help mitigate airborne disease, and the latest COVID-19 trends. 

The transcript for this episode is available on The Sick Times' website. You can jump to specific sections of the episode and transcript below:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:21) COVID-19 trends

(00:06:55) L.A. COVID-19 mutual aid groups fill public health gaps during wildfires

(00:18:22) Research: Portable air filters' effectiveness reaffirmed, NIH RECOVER-TLC update

(00:23:55) Outro

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode: A new guide to navigating COVID boundaries, changing relationships due to Long COVID, and the ongoing organizing work around COVID and disability justice. Also, an end-of-the-year fundraiser update.

Investigative journalist Violet Blue speaks with podcast producer James Salanga about The COVID Safety Handboook. Also, co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets recap the latest COVID-19 numbers, a norovirus and bird flu update, and a UC San Francisco case series looking at longer cases of Paxlovid.

The transcript for this episode is available on The Sick Times’ website. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:20) COVID-19 forecast

(00:08:36) The COVID Safety Handbook

(00:20:12) End-of-year fundraiser update

(00:23:36) Research: UCSF Paxlovid case series

(00:25:35) Outro

Still Here is an abridged version of The Sick Times’ newsletter, which publishes weekly on Tuesdays.

You can also find our Long COVID news and commentary podcast on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode (the last of 2024!): With little support and no approved treatments, online drug markets are one way that people with Long COVID are seeking to improve their quality of life.

This week, co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis talk with producer James Salanga to recap reporting from freelancer Hannah Buttle about this phenomenon and the current state of potential Long COVID treatments. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, an update on H5N1, and more funding for Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) research. 

The transcript for this podcast is ⁠available on The Sick Times' website⁠. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:33) COVID-19 trends

(00:05:18) Top story — Overseas pharmacies for Long COVID symptom support

(00:18:20) Research — More funding for NIH RECOVER-TLC and ME biomarker research

(00:22:44) Outro

Donate to our end-of-year fundraiser⁠⁠ and have your donation matched up to $1,000 — both one-time and monthly donations will be matched!

Still Here is an abridged version of The Sick Times’ newsletter, which publishes weekly. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

You can also find our podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pocket Casts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode: What does it sound like to be alienated as an Jewish anti-Zionist living with ME/CFS during a mass-disabling pandemic? For Dan Fishback, it's rock music.

The Sick Times' engagement editor Heather Hogan interviewed Dan about his production, which shows Saturday and Sunday at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater in New York City. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and updates on two clinical trials.

The transcript for this podcast is ⁠available on The Sick Times’ website⁠. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) ⁠Intro⁠

(00:01:42) ⁠COVID-19 trends⁠

(00:05:18) ⁠Top story: A rock music production about living with ME/CFS — Dan Fishback is Alive, Unwell, and Living in his Apartment

(00:22:53) ⁠Research: Evusheld 2.0 clinical trial, CoRE clinical trial testing HIV drugs⁠

(00:27:26) ⁠Outro⁠

Donate to our ⁠end-of-year fundraiser⁠ and have your donation matched up to $1,000 — both one-time and monthly donations will be matched! 



Still Here is an abridged version of ⁠The Sick Times’ newsletter⁠, which publishes weekly on Tuesdays.

You can also find our podcast on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠,⁠ Pocket Casts⁠,⁠ Amazon Music⁠,⁠ and iHeartRadio⁠.

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This episode contains a promo swap with the podcast ⁠Public Health is Dead⁠.

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode: How could funding for and progress on Long COVID research change under the Trump administration?

Co-host Betsy Ladyzhets talks with producer James Salanga about her reporting to map out the potential landscape. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, an anniversary zine and update about how our end-of-year fundraiser is going, a study examining SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the skull, and more.

The transcript for this podcast is available on The Sick Times’ website. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:31) COVID-19 trends

(00:05:37) Long COVID research under Trump

(00:18:48) Fundraiser update, anniversary zine

(00:22:11) Research: SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in skull, valacyclovir and celecoxib clinical trial

(00:24:54) Outro

Donate to our end-of-year fundraiser and have your donation matched up to $1,000 — both one-time and monthly donations will be matched! 



Still Here is an abridged version of The Sick Times’ newsletter, which publishes weekly on Tuesdays.

You can also find our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

-

This episode contains a promo swap with the podcast Public Health is Dead.

-

Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

In this episode: Where are the Long COVID clinical trials for kids?

There are only two pediatric clinical trials testing drugs to treat Long COVID in kids — and only one of them is in the U.S. This week, reporter Simon Spichak speaks with podcast producer James Salanga about why there are so few of these pediatric clinical trials. Also in this episode: co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets share the latest COVID-19 numbers, disappointing results from the BC 007 clinical trial, and details about REVERSE-LC recruiting participants.

The transcript for this podcast is available on The Sick Times' website. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:41) COVID-19 trends

(00:05:45) Top story — Lack of pediatric clinical trials for Long COVID

(00:18:28) Research — BC 007 trial results, REVERSE-LC recruitment

(00:23:18) Outro and credits

Donate to our end-of-year fundraiser⁠ and have your donation matched up to $1,000 — both one-time and monthly donations will be matched!

Still Here is an abridged version of The Sick Times’ newsletter, which publishes weekly. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

You can also find our podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pocket Casts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This podcast contains a promo swap with the upcoming Public Health is Dead.

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: 

This week, we celebrate one year of The Sick Times! The Sick Times team discusses the newsroom's origin story, what the publication means to them, and what the next year (and hopefully years, plural) holds. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and recapping the team's coverage of the Fall 2024 PolyBio Symposium on Long COVID Research.

The transcript for this podcast is ⁠available on The Sick Times' website⁠. You can jump to specific sections of the podcast and transcript below.

(00:00:00) Intro⁠

⁠(00:01:24) COVID-19 trends⁠

(00:05:14) ⁠Research — Recapping Fall 2024 PolyBio Symposium on Long COVID Research

(00:09:08) Top story — One year of The Sick Times⁠

(00:28:52) Outro and credits⁠

Want to give us a birthday gift?Donate to our end-of-year fundraiser⁠ and have your donation matched!

Still Here is an abridged version of The Sick Times’ newsletter, which publishes weekly. ⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠ 

You can also find our podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pocket Casts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Mentioned in this episode (in order of appearance):

Additional audio in this episode: