Viktor Fonić is a digital nomad and entrepreneur.  He found himself in Serbia onboarding a new employee when the pandemic hit Italy, nearby.  As things got worse, he realized he would need to get home to Croatia so he wouldn't be trapped alone in a foreign country.  That decision came nearly too late.  His flight got delayed twice, then canceled, and busses ceased to operate across borders.  He was left with one option — walk across the border.  Interviewed 14 April 2020.

Learn more about the project, sign up for an interview, and support healthcare workers at https://storiesofcovid.co

Anthoney Pavelich lives in Mississauga, Canada, but much of his family is located in the United States.  He worries about getting to them if they were to get ill.  Anthoney also shares what life is like to be working from home with a partner, and how we can learn from the frustrations of instant gratification no longer being available to us.  Interviewed 13 April 2020.

Learn more about the project, sign up for an interview, and support healthcare workers at https://storiesofcovid.co

Each interview is defined by a specific set of questions so they remain consistent.  I always end by asking what final words they wish to impart on the generations that will read the Stories of COVID™ book — likely people who will be born long after we're gone.  These messages don't make it into the regular episodes, and so every 10th episode is a bonus episode with these special messages from the previous ten participants.

They are:

Ned Gould

David Tiesma

Mershon Niesner

Gregory V. Diehl

Adam Hallett

Carol Wilson-Tiesma

Joanna Dreiling

David Astudillo

Lauren Kay Wyatt

To learn more about the project, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers, go to https://storiesofcovid.co

Lauren Kay Wyatt is founder of Love Renegades and helps individuals and couples improve their relationships.  When her trip to Los Angeles got canceled due to the impending shut down, her husband suggested they go to Hawaii instead.  What was intended as an alternative two week trip and deepening of their love has turned into a cross-country move, full stop.  When they are able to travel again, they will sell their house in Austin, Texas, and permanently relocate to Hawaii.  Interviewed 9 April 2020.

Find out more abut Lauren here:  https://loverenegades.com

Sign up for an interview and support healthcare workers here:  https://storiesofcovid.co

David Astudillo was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and is living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to go to university.  In this episode he conveys how international students in the United States (and likely elsewhere) are 'stuck', unable to go home, unable to finish school.  Many are housing at their universities alone, totally isolated.   Interviewed 9 April 2020.

Watch David's submission to the Quarantine Film Festival here:  https://vimeo.com/403122346

Watch the Stories of Elders Documentary here:  https://storiesofelders.com

Learn more, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers here:  https://storiesofcovid.co

Joanna Dreiling is a life coach living in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  She first heard about the pandemic while at Christmas Dinner in Virginia.  Soon after, during a spring visit to her family there, the country began to shut down, and she had to drive back to Michigan on eerily empty roads.  Joanna also advocates for reducing social media contact, or, at the very least, choosing to engage with it intentionally for the sake of one's mental health.  Interviewed 8 April 2020.

Learn more about Joanna at https://joannadreiling.com

Sign up for an interview and support frontline workers at https://storiesofcovid.co 

Carol Wilson-Tiesma is a French professor at Grand Valley State University.  The transition to online classes has been a tough one, which she explains in detail.  Student participation is down due to the awkwardness of technology, and some simply don't show up at all.  She's not sure how she'll grade them if they don't do the coursework, since the fairness of the situation is in question.  Carol also shares as a mother her concern for her children during this time, and the difficulties they are experiencing.  Interviewed 8 April 2020.

Listen to David Tiesma's episode:  https://anchor.fm/stories-of-covid/episodes/11--David-Tiesma--Community-Compassion-ed72pm

Learn more, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers at:  https://storiesofcovid.co

Bob Johnson resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He is a practicing psychologist who originally interviewed for my first book, Stories of Elders, describing the affect of technology on our culture and society.  In this episode he similarly describes the affect of a pandemic on our globalized culture.  Eloquent as always, Bob is optimistic and shares his hope for our future.  Interviewed 6 April 2020.

Find his Stories of Elders podcast episode here:  https://storiesofelders.com/podcast/episode-18-bob-johnson/

Learn more about the project, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers at https://storiesofcovid.co

When Adam first heard about the pandemic while living in Portugal, he had every intention to return to Chicago.  But as things unfolded, it became clear that sheltering in the Netherlands would better serve his needs.  In this episode, Adam observes how the Dutch government is handling COVID-19, how travel has been disrupted, and the new level of preparedness his company is facing in order to continue to make sales.  Interviewed 2 April 2020.

Learn more about the project, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers at https://storiesofcovid.co

Gregory V. Diehl is a serial author and founder of Identity Publications.  He is also an avid traveler and expat.  Gregory currently lives in Armenia, and sheds some light on how that country is handling COVID-19 through regional checkpoints.  He also describes the preparedness he typically manages simply due to living in a village which now supports him comfortably during the scarcity of the pandemic.  Interviewed 2 April 2020.

Find his publishing company at https://indentitypublications.com

Learn more, sign up for an interview, and support frontline workers at https://storiesofcovid.co