Stories of COVID™
by Veronica Kirin
"[Listening to] Stories of COVID has been really helpful in reminding me to be ok with the [ups and downs] — literally daily affirmations." - one of our listenersWe are living history. Join me in learning what this paradigm shift means in the past, present, and future, for a book for future generations. Veronica Kirin is an anthropologist, author, and entrepreneur who studies paradigm shifts. Her first book, Stories of Elders, documents the high-tech revolution through interviews with those that lived it.
Episodes
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213. Veronica Kirin — Self-Interview of the Creator Veronica Kirin
Self-Interview of Veronica Kirin, anthropologist, author, entrepreneur and creator of Stories of COVID.
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BONUS: Final Messages #21
Every ten episodes I publish a bonus episode highlighting the final messages participants leave for future generations, as the purpose of this book is to both document this era for posterity and to share the lessons we've learned so they aren't lost. These bonus episodes are heartfelt and tender,...
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212. Thomas Funfsinn — Perspective from Beijing
Thomas is an American who currently lives in Beijing and is a school teacher. In his interview, he describes what it was like to be living in China during the pandemic, how technology helped, and expressed his frustration around outside opinions on China’s response to the pandemic. Interviewed 23...
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211. Michael Shook — An Act of Kindness
Michael lives in California and shares a story where at the height of the pandemic, he witnessed the most beautiful act of community and kindness and how much of an impact it made on him. Interviewed 22 March 2022. Learn more about Stories of COVID at https://storiesofcovid.co
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210. E.J. Wagner — Being Seen
E.J. was pregnant when the pandemic hit, and in her interview describes the unexpected desire to be seen in this world as a pregnant person and the feelings that came along with realizing that wasn’t going to be the case for her. Interviewed 15 March 2022. Learn more about leaving a story for...
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209. Melania B. — Becoming a Family
Melania’s story is one of connection, family, and concern. She shares how the pandemic still looms for their family due to an immunocompromised family member, how she aches to preserve her daughter’s childhood, and how her family was formed in spite of the pandemic. Interviewed 11 March 2022.…
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208. Anna Rebecca Green — Expat in Berlin
Anna is from the USA, but currently lives in Berlin. In her interview, she reflects on the difficulties of being a world away from her family during the pandemic, and how much anxiety relief came along with the release of the vaccine. Interviewed 10 March 2022. Learn more about leaving a story…
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207. Michelle Griffin — Looking Inward
In her interview, Michelle describes what it was like to be living in Portland, Oregon during the civil unrest after George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent introspection this sparked within herself. Interviewed 8 March 2022. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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206. Stuart Webb — The Virologist
Stuart is a virologist, and has been monitoring Google alerts for pandemics for the past 20 years. In his interview, he describes what it has been like for someone of his expertise to watch a pandemic play out in real time. Interviewed 22 February 2022. Learn more about leaving a story for future...
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205. Alex C. — Wanderlust Paused
At the beginning of March of 2020, Alex was struck with some wanderlust and decided to embark on a cross-country road trip, but quickly discovered that the trip wasn’t going to be what they had in mind. As the pandemic unfolded, Alex was troubled with the lack of consideration around COVID...
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203. Sharissa Arnold — A Radical Change
Sharissa started the pandemic living and studying in Texas, but quickly moved back home to Oklahoma to be closer to family after she lost her grandfather to COVID. In her interview, she shares how her life has taken on a radically different path, one that has her following her dreams. Interviewed...
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202. Cathy Ma — Supply in Demand
In her interview, Cathy Ma describes what it was like to be on the front lines of the supply chain and manufacturing industry at the start of the pandemic. She emotionally recalls her first hand account of how the industry banded together, both domestically and abroad, in order to provide the…
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201. Jack Stafford — Pandemic Muse
Jack is a musician who lives in Southern Italy. In his interview, he describes how his music made its way to new audiences, and how the benefits of technology during this time assisted in that journey. Interviewed 26 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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200. Norm Bour — The Digital Nomad
Norm Bour is a digital nomad and author who lives his life traveling the world. His journeys during the pandemic, while stunted, did not completely cease, and his craft became rejuvenated. Interviewed 26 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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BONUS: Final Messages #20
Every ten episodes I publish a bonus episode highlighting the final messages participants leave for future generations, as the purpose of this book is to both document this era for posterity and to share the lessons we've learned so they aren't lost. These bonus episodes are heartfelt and tender,...
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199. Rita Romão — A Family Adjusts
Rita lives with her family of 9 in Lisbon, Portugal. In her interview, she describes what it was like to adjust to living with a household of that size during a lockdown, and how technology helped them thrive during this time. Interviewed 19 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for...
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198. Marcus Beebe — Goal Oriented
In his interview, Marcus describes how the slowdown of the pandemic provided him with the opportunity to reassess and make a plan for his financial goals. Interviewed 18 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at https://storiesofcovid.co
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197. Joseph Reid — Providing Support
Joseph is an author and mental health specialist who was about to embark on a fundraising endeavor for his next book when the pandemic hit. In spite of that challenge, he was able to pivot, and in turn provide essential mental health services during a time when many most needed it. Interviewed 8...
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195. Madeleine Cho — Across Canada
Madeleine shares her unique perspective on the pandemic, having lived in two major cities in Canada, both with varying degrees of regulations. Interviewed 5 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at https://storiesofcovid.co
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194. Matthew Condie — The Contact Tracer
Matthew has been working as a contact tracer during most of the pandemic, and has really enjoyed this work. In this episode, along with his personal story, he shares about how contact tracing works. Interviewed 4 November 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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193. Jaimie Christison — The Phantom Virus
Jaimie lives in Queensland, Australia, where the virus never really took hold like it did in the US or Europe. She describes her experience of the threat of COVID-19 feeling like a Phantom virus, always lurking but never really present. Interviewed 29 October 2021. Learn more about leaving a…
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192. D. — The Dream Job
D. landed her dream job in the travel industry in February 2020, right before the pandemic completely shut down the world. She also shares about the struggles of being an expat in the U.K., and how her status on a spousal visa meant she could not take advantage of government services. Interviewed...
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191. Robin Stebbins — Asking Questions
Robin is a registered nurse and health practitioner, who found herself at the start of the pandemic with a feeling of curiosity and concern, particularly when things were getting shut down without any explanation or reason. So, she started to ask questions. [CW - Mention of Suicide] Interviewed…
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190. Jason Murphy — A Doctor on Delta
Jason Murphy is an ER doctor based out of Colorado. In his interview, he speaks freely about the evolution of COVID-19, his frustration with those who won’t get vaccinated, and his concerns about the US ever reaching herd immunity. Interviewed 20 July 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for...
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BONUS: Final Messages #19
Every ten episodes I publish a bonus episode highlighting the final messages participants leave for future generations, as the purpose of this book is to both document this era for posterity and to share the lessons we've learned so they aren't lost. These bonus episodes are heartfelt and tender,...
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189. S.F. — A Doctor Reports
S.F. is a medical doctor in the United Kingdom, who was on hiatus when the pandemic hit. Upon his return home, he found the healthcare system completely overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, and shares his perspective on this harrowing time. Interviewed 6 July 2021. Learn more about leaving a story...
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188. Nivi Jaswal — The Call
Nivi’s story centers around the moment she received the call that both of her parents contracted COVID-19, and would be hospitalized. They were thousands of miles away in India, while she remained in the USA, managing their care across time zones as best as she could. Interviewed 17 June 2021....
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187. Justin Wolf — Inventing Games
Justin and his family moved abroad to Spain, and found themselves in lockdown soon after their arrival. This prompted a second move to Portugal in order to take advantage of open spaces and tapped into their creativity by inventing games and finding new ways to connect with family back home by...
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185. Garrett Klunk — Success & Sadness
Garrett is an aerospace engineer, living alone during the pandemic. While business was booming, his successes were difficult to fully realize while he was so far from the people that meant the most to him. Interviewed 27 May 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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184. Brian — In the Lab
Brian is a microbiologist living in the UK, working towards his PhD. His interview focuses on his time in the lab, where he was part of one of the first cohorts working diligently on processing COVID-19 test results. Interviewed 26 May 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations...
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183. Bethany E. — Anxiety as a Healthcare Worker
Bethany is a physical therapist, and found herself on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 at the hospital where she works. She describes her increased anxiety, mental health struggles, and how the ever-changing regulations and guidelines impacted her work and her life during the…
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182. Michael Ross — What’s Going On Out There?
Michael had started off 2020 with some exciting adventures planned in March. He first ventured to the UK with family, where everything was still open and bustling. He capped his travels off with a remote backcountry expedition in the Rocky Mountains, and returned to a world that looked completely...
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181. Alina Oswald — The Hope of Comfort
Alina lives in Jersey City, and recounts the moment when the hospital ship Comfort made its way into the New York City harbor. The arrival brought a feeling of hope that was just what she and so many New Yorkers were needing. Interviewed 18 May 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future...
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180. Alejandro A. — Strength in Family
Alejandro lives in Queens, NY, not far from where the cases in NYC boomed in March 2020. He talks about the evolution of his feelings around the pandemic, what it was like to have contracted COVID-19, and the deep feelings of love he felt for his family who cared for him. Interviewed 18 May 2021....
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BONUS: Final Messages #18
Every ten episodes I publish a bonus episode highlighting the final messages participants leave for future generations, as the purpose of this book is to both document this era for posterity and to share the lessons we've learned so they aren't lost. These bonus episodes are heartfelt and tender,...
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179. Suzanne Kibby — Leadership
Suzanne is a social worker and supervisor with a non-profit organization. In her interview, she describes the initial panic, and subsequent acceptance, that came through leading her team and family during the onset of the pandemic. Interviewed 18 May 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for...
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178. Claire E. Brown — Taking Care
Claire shares her frustrations around being in a high-risk group and her feelings of isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. So, she turned to her art, her writing, caring for her rescue dogs, and embarked on a cross-state move in order to provide herself with a situation that better served...
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177. Alecia Vogel — Tech Connects
Alecia’s experience of the pandemic started on a trip to Tokyo in early 2020, where she noticed increased mask-wearing and the rumbles of the pandemic beginning to echo across the globe. She’s a software engineer, and tech has played a huge role in her ability to thrive during this time…
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176. Gigi — From the 5th Grade
Gigi is 12 years old, the youngest participant in the series thus far. In their interview, they describe what it was like to not be able to go to dance class, school, and see their friends. They also speak quite openly about their mental health struggles, and how they’ve managed and coped with it...
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175. Matthew Boonstra — Youth Parliament
Matthew is a political science student in Canada, who serves on Youth Parliament. He shares the challenges the Youth Parliament faced in figuring out how to host their annual meeting, usually held (in-person) in December, forcing the organization to adapt in ways they’ve always wished to do....
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174. Dino — Pandemic Abroad
Dino is an international student from China, studying in Canada. He describes what it was like to be away from his home and family during this time and what it has meant for him to have found the best roommate he could have imagined. Interviewed 27 April 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for...
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173. Finnian Burnett — Bringing Grapes
Finnian lives in British Columbia with their wife, having recently moved there from Michigan. One noticeable change was that due to travel restrictions, Finnian found themself unable to attend to their loved ones like they usually are able to do. This led to discovering new ways to care for…
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172. Laurel Phillips — Wedding Bells
Laurel Phillips is a newlywed living in Alberta, Canada. In her interview, she describes what it was like to find her wedding plans completely disrupted by the pandemic and how that shifted their perspectives on their whole wedding experience. Interviewed 20 April 2021. Learn more about leaving a...
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171. Waldeman von Frenckell — A Student in Finland
Waldeman is a student in Finland, and in his interview describes what its like navigating matriculation during a global pandemic. Interviewed 8 April 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at https://storiesofcovid.co
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170. Alberto Martucci — In Rome
Alberto works in the event industry and lives in Rome, Italy. In spite of their best efforts at staying safe, Alberto reflects on how the virus was able to infect their family, hospitalizing his father for quite some time. He expresses his frustration with those who spread misinformation about…
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BONUS: Final Messages #17
Every ten episodes I publish a bonus episode highlighting the final messages participants leave for future generations, as the purpose of this book is to both document this era for posterity and to share the lessons we've learned so they aren't lost. These bonus episodes are heartfelt and tender,...
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169. Florence Dawagne — In Brussels
Florence lives in Brussels, Belgium, and works as an IT developer. In their interview, they describe the perspective shift that the pandemic brought on and how they see that happening all around them. Interviewed 1 April 2021. Learn more about leaving a story for future generations at...
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168. Chiao Chen — In Taiwan
Chiao Chen is an IT expert who lives in Taipei, Taiwan. In his interview, he expresses his frustrations with the WHO, EU, the United States, and Japan, because he felt they didn’t listen when Taiwan tried to sound the alarms that China was hiding something about this virus. Interviewed 1 April...
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167. Rachel Kunnath — A Shift in Perspective
Rachel is a social worker for the local government, and helps in providing assistance to those in need. In her interview, she describes the experience she had being a distributor of resources through her work, to receiving resources, and how it gave her a new perspective on the work that she does...
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BONUS: Anniversary Retrospective
It has been one year since the launch of the Stories of COVID project, and to commemorate this milestone, we hosted a live retrospective event with some of the first participants of the podcast. This discussion is presented in its (near) entirety, and shares some insight from participants on what...
About this show
"[Listening to] Stories of COVID has been really helpful in reminding me to be ok with the [ups and downs] — literally daily affirmations." - one of our listenersWe are living history. Join me in learning what this paradigm shift means in the past, present, and future, for a book for future generations. Veronica Kirin is an anthropologist, author, and entrepreneur who studies paradigm shifts. Her first book, Stories of Elders, documents the high-tech revolution through interviews with those that lived it.
Hosted by
Veronica Kirin
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