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.

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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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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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In this episode: Disability visibility via SICK Pride in South Africa and The Sick Times' end-of-year fundraiser.

Sam Pearce, a Cape Town-based writer living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and Mlindeni Gabela, the Long COVID Ambassador for ME and Long COVID Unite South Africa, share their experience organizing SICK Pride, an event creating visibility for their illnesses. Co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis talk with podcast producer James Salanga about The Sick Times' end of year fundraiser. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and an $800,000 grant for a clinical trial of a repurposed drug that could help with immune or infection-related dysfunction in Long COVID.

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

(00:01:16) ⁠COVID-19 trends⁠

(00:03:58) ⁠⁠Top story — SICK Pride⁠⁠

(00:12:15) ⁠Top story — End-of-year fundraiser⁠

(00:18:12) ⁠Research — Rapamycin clinical trial

(00:20:06) ⁠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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Mask blocs have been a crucial pillar of mutual aid in communities around the globe, as community members undertake the work of public health organizations to keep each other safe. This week, oral histories from mask bloc organizers are interspersed with some context from journalist and author Britta Shoot, who put together a three-part series collaging said oral histories. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and the National Institute of Health officially seeks input on its RECOVER-Treating Long COVID initiative.

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

(00:04:32) Research — RECOVER-TLC request for info

(00:06:45) Top story — Mask bloc oral histories

(00:21:19) Outro and credits

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 week, co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis talk with podcast producer James Salanga about clinical trials looking at low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a potential drug for people living with Long COVID and ME. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and a new survey of around 70,000 people in China looking at Long COVID, reinfections, 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

(00:01:10) COVID-19 trends

(00:03:22) Top story — Low-dose naltrexone clinical trials

(00:17:40) Research — Long COVID facts and findings in thousands of Chinese survey participants

(00:23:07) Outro and credits

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:

This week, co-host Betsy Ladyzhets recaps her reporting tour of the new Long COVID and complex disease center at Mount Sinai, with additional commentary from co-host Miles Griffis. Miles and Betsy also talk with podcast producer James Salanga about the latest COVID-19 numbers.  And in research, they share more information about a preprint based on an analysis of 23andMe’s database that suggests genetic associations with Long COVID and a study looking at the cardiac risks associated with COVID-19 infection. 

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

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:20) COVID-19 trends

(00:03:22) Top story — New Mount Sinai Long COVID center

(00:16:48) Research — 23andMe genetic associations with LC preprint, study about increased cardiac risks after SARS-CoV-2 infection

(00:19:40) Outro and credits

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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Additional audio in this episode: 

Atinuki “Tinu” Abayomi-Paul was “so funny … and so clever” and “wonderful at supporting disabled people in a beautiful and authentic way.” Several of those who loved and cared for Tinu reflect on her legacy and life in this episode of Still Here. 

Before the segment of the episode dedicated to honoring Tinu, co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets talk with podcast producer James Salanga about the latest COVID-19 numbers. And they share a brief hopeful update about beginning analysis that could help lead to repurposed drugs as treatment for Long COVID.  

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

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:34) COVID-19 trends

(00:03:23) Research — CURE ID begins survey analysis

(00:07:38) Top story — Honoring Atinuki "Tinu" Abayomi-Paul

(00:19:00) Outro and credits

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: