The Distance: Coronavirus Dispatches: Recent Episodes
VICE
The Distance features short, first-person stories from all over the world about how the pandemic is changing the way we live. Each episode is a dispatch about one or two people and a brief window into their life, right now. A podcast about uncertainty, distance--and human connection. From VICE Audio.
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In the midst of the pandemic, a new foster care model based on community living and known as a "children's village" has opened up to foster youth on the Cheyenne River Reservation. It's a collaboration between the tribe and an organization called Simply Smiles -- with members of the tribe leading the way by sharing traditional knowledge at a critical time.
This story was reported with support from USC’s Center for Health Journalism.
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Alua Arthur is a death doula in Los Angeles, California, where she helps people prepare for death emotionally, spiritually, physically, and even logistically. She says the pandemic itself has a lot in common with the end-of-life experience.
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Bianka Rodriguez is a transgender woman and activist in El Salvador who says the pandemic has hit the trans community especially hard -- and that even government aid programs discriminate against trans people.
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Tanzina Vega is a journalist, host of The Takeaway, and a new mother. She gave birth to her son at the end of January--and not long after found herself raising a newborn alone while in quarantine.
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Natalia 'Saw Lady' Paruz had been busking in the New York City subway for over 20 years until the pandemic forced her out -- leaving her without a place to do what she loves most. This story was reported by Drew Schwartz.
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Rayan is a journalist in Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority territory, where a political lockdown imposed in August 2019 was starting to lift when COVID struck in March. We spoke with Rayan for a shorter dispatch back in April, and wanted to hear more.
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Jordan Danielle experienced a mental health crisis that started in Philadelphia--but because of the pandemic, it took her two hospital admissions, an unwanted hospital release, and a solo train ride across state lines to get the care she needed.
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Gabriel is a US citizen who immigrated to Stockholm, Sweden with his wife and kids because he believes it gives his family better quality of life. But with so much at stake in the US election, he decides to return so he can vote in person.
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Joel’s daughter was born through IVF to a surrogate mother in Ukraine, in the middle of the pandemic. Because of travel restrictions, Joel ended up flying to Belarus alone and walking over the border into Ukraine to be there for the birth.
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Introducing a new podcast, VICE News Reports. Episode 1: Alternative Medicine, Politicized.
As India’s health professionals battle the spread of COVID-19, some political leaders claim traditional medicine systems can cure the coronavirus. VICE’s Senior Staff Writer Pallavi Pundir reports on how nationalistic furvor for traditional medicine, fake credentialed doctors, and misinformation are gaining momentum in India and making matters worse.
New episodes of VICE News Reports drop every Thursdays. Subscribe, rate and review here: apple.co/vicenewsreports
All the views, ideas, comments, opinions and statements expressed in this programme are solely those of the guest(s), speaker(s) and the host(s) and VICE Media Group does not subscribe to or endorse the same. None of the comments, dialogues etc. in the podcast are intended to offend anybody’s sentiments or derogate any profession, political party or person, institute, religion, caste, community, section(s) of society or belief of any nature whatsoever. VICE makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this podcast and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at listeners’ own risk. The third-party materials or content of any third-party sources referenced in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of VICE. VICE assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials referenced in this podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and shall not be liable and/or responsible for the same in any manner whatsoever.
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Channing Lacey is one of the people who shared their story in the VICE podcast PAINKILLER; right now the federal prison where she’s incarcerated in Waseca, MN has the second biggest COVID19 outbreak in the US. This story was reported by Keegan Hamilton.
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Billy is a tattoo artist who specializes in covering up racist symbols for people who have left hate groups and denounced white supremacist ideologies. He’s seen a spike in requests since the murder of George Floyd.
This story was reported by Trone Dowd.
Victor grew up in the largest slum in Nairobi--and since the school year was canceled during the pandemic, he’s been volunteering at a local community resource center where he helps kids learn and study.
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For Climate Week, VICE has launched its biggest initiative ever -- Climate Uprise. Today, every single VICE Media Group site across the world is striking from the daily news cycle and, instead, only telling stories about the climate crisis. We've also partnered with an international group of young climate activists, who each proposed one way people could help mitigate climate change's devastating effects on their home; you can find their stories at ClimateUprise.Vice.Com.
From The Distance, we're resharing a recent episode about the oil spill off the coast of Mauritius, and one volunteer's efforts to help mitigate the damage.
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Sophie is a volunteer in phase three trials for an experimental COVID19 vaccine. She feels anxious about the possibility of side effects but also curious about the scientific process.
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Cassandra is a poet and writes about being separated from her boyfriend, who has been incarcerated in California since before the pandemic.
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Tanzina Vega is a journalist, host of The Takeaway, and a new mother. She gave birth to her son at the end of January-and not long after found herself raising a newborn alone while in quarantine.
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Adam lives in Pittsburgh, and has been using the internet to troll conservatives for decades; he says hoaxing has gotten easier and more intense during the pandemic, because people are spending so much time online.
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After a cargo ship runs aground on a reef off of the coast and begins leaking oil, Krishnee decides to join other volunteers in a massive clean-up effort.
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Before coronavirus, Nikolai worked as an advocate for homeschooling Black and Brown families. Now parents are turning to her for schooling advice during the pandemic.
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As mainland China cracks down on the island’s political freedom, Hong Kong based curator Michelle reflects on the power of art.
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Julianne has been attending #BLM protests in Salem and Portland--and was present during the deployment of federal law enforcement in Portland.
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When Christina is unable to find housing for her and four of her children, she decides to move into an unoccupied building in Philadelphia. This story was reported by Emma Ockerman.
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After being laid off from his job in New York City, Austin moved to a small beach community in Cape Cod where he’s reevaluating what success looks like.
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During the pandemic Nicole’s politics have changed; she recently helped get a mandatory mask order rescinded in Orange County, California.
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Mike owns a hotel in Shrewsbury, England, which has opened its doors to the town’s homeless community during the pandemic.
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Dr. Ross Goldberg, president of the Arizona Medical Association, is worries about rising cases in his state.
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Nadya is a freelance violinist in Moscow, Russia, who says quarantine gave her more time to compose her own music.
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Giovanni, a mobile DJ in Brooklyn, New York, plays music at protests in support of the LGBTQ community and the #BLM movement.
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Grace, an 18 year old #BLM organizer in Montgomery, Alabama, asks, How are we going to stay safe as cases continue to rise?
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Latoya is a fundraiser in Oakland, California, trying to figure out how to convince people to give her organization money to fight white supremacy over the phone during COVID-19.
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Mexico didn’t shut down till March 30th, weeks after other Latin American countries; in Mexico City, doctors like Karla are struggling to deal with the repercussions.
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Cristina is an artist whose work requires a lot of travel and the pandemic is making her reexamine whether her lifestyle is safe.
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Martin is a ballet dancer and teacher in Greenville, South Carolina, where coronavirus cases are rising since the state re-opened.
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Mark says the fallout of the pandemic has forced him to permanently shut his restaurant, Be More Pacific, in Austin, Texas.
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Rahim Buford runs a community bail fund in Nashville, where systemic racism helps determine who remains in jail and who goes home.
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Stephen lives in Cape Coral, Florida and says some people disrespect him for wearing a mask.
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In San Francisco, Marcela and other artists work with local businesses to communicate messages of hope and resilience.
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Vhon lives in Catbalogan City, Philippines, which experienced massive evacuations due to a typhoon that hit during the pandemic.
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Umi and Quianah are joining forces to provide healthy, hot food to protesters in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Reia is organizing a group of mental health professionals to support #BLM protesters.
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Zadok, or Zediam as his fans know him, is a musician in Antwerp, Belgium, where a statue of King Leopold II was recently removed.
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Council President Shannon Hardin of Columbus, Ohio says the past two weeks have changed how he views politics.
This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence.
Duck has been working as a volunteer medic for four years and says police response to the #BLM protests in Columbus, Ohio is the worst they’ve seen.
This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence.
Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, gives a historical perspective on the current #BLM protests.
This interview was conducted by VICE News reporter Cameron Joseph.
While protesting in New York City, Nikko was arrested and beaten by the police.
This story was reported by VICE News Associate Producer Joe Hill.
This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence.
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Catrice, an anti-racism educator, helped organize several protests in the Twin Cities led by black women.
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Tim, a recent college graduate and political organizer, shares his firsthand account of protesting in New York City against police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
This episode contains sounds and descriptions of violence.
As protests spread across the United States and all over the world in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, we are reposting this dispatch about racial inequality in the healthcare system.
After being denied testing at multiple hospitals in Detroit, both Keith’s grandfather and father passed away from COVID-19. A majority of the city's deaths have been black residents.
Maureen has been an obituary writer at Chicago Sun-Times for 11 years and says writing about people who’ve passed from COVID-19 feels different.
This story was reported by Valerie Kipnis.
A community of indigenous Kichwa families living in the Amazon isolates and puts their eco-tourism business on hold.
This interview was conducted by Amazon Learning’s Andy Gavilanes.
Morimoto is a Buddhist monk at the Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan, where they pray daily for the virus to be contained.
This interview was conducted by David Caprara.
Cosme lives in a favela in Rio de Janeiro and says the government is not testing people in poorer neighborhoods. Reporting by Mariana Simoes.
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Jada Shapiro is a birth and postpartum doula who is now caring for clients virtually.
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After months of doing essential work in unsafe conditions, Emmi recently lost her job as a seasonal farmworker in Florida.
**Thanks to Paola Ramos, who met Emmi while reporting this VTN video: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4agj8d/were-scared-these-essential-farmworkers-have-little-protection-from-coronavirus
In Shanghai, Michelle visits the world’s only open Disneyland theme park.
*Thanks to Tomas Navia, who met Michelle while producing this VNT video: https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/a-day-in-the-worlds-only-open-disney-park/5ec337ed408b5830fc55c141
Alex updates us on his life in Tehran, Iran, now that the country has largely reopened.
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Judy worries how she will keep her sister with Down syndrome safe as her town in Alabama reopens.
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Despite the state’s loosening of restrictions, many churches in Iowa remain closed. But Ervin of Scotch Grove Presbyterian Church is grateful to return.
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As Japan is in a middle ground of re-opening, Megumi works at an Osaka area hospital preschool for children whose parents are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
This story was reported by David Caprara.
Juan works at the Sant Joan de Déu homeless shelter and worries that when Valencia, Spain reopens, extra services for homeless people will disappear.
Erin has spent the majority of quarantine by herself in her New Orleans apartment, but she never feels completely alone.
In Detroit, Reverend Roslyn Bouier of the Brightmore Connection Food Pantry provides water to families whose water has been shut off.
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Kennedy grew up and now works in the largest informal settlement in Kenya, where people are struggling with basic needs like food and water.
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Stephanie is an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; now she’s manning the Curiosity Mars Rover mission from her kitchen.
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Hasan, an ICU doctor in Michigan, is working through Ramadan, the most sacred month for Muslims.
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This year was supposed to be Isaiah’s senior prom, but instead he celebrated in his backyard with his family.
Denyne works as a community resource officer in a housing project outside of Pittsburgh where families are struggling to get enough food while in lockdown.
Kurdish journalist and human rights activist Nurcan is detained by Turkish authorities after writing articles and social media posts criticizing the government’s coronavirus response.
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Mark Accad’s mother, a Filipino-American clinical nursing coordinator, passed away on March 30th from COVID-19.
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After being denied testing at multiple hospitals in Detroit, both Keith’s grandfather and father passed away from COVID-19. More than 75 percent of the city's deaths have been black residents.
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Urban geographer Daniel builds a wearable “social distance machine” to show that Toronto’s streets don’t have enough space for safe distancing.
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In Italy, Riccardo plays an elaborate game of imagination with his three-year-old son Alessandro while isolating in their apartment.
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Felly is locked down at a refugee settlement in Uganda where she works with people from Democratic Republic of Congo and other neighboring countries.
While Tadashi does his rounds in Arizona for Fedex Express, a family leaves him a care package.
Dr. Sophina Calderon tends to patients on the Navajo Nation, which has the third-highest infection rate in the US.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp lifted the stay at home order allowing some businesses to reopen -- tattoo parlor owner Jasmine cautiously plans to get back to work.
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In isolation in Washington state, Spencer has an unexpected quarantine buddy -- an elephant seal named Elsie May. Check out videos of Elsie May on Vice.com. This story was reported by Erin Slomskipritz.
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Andrea lives in Guayaquil, Ecuador where the healthcare system has been so overwhelmed that bodies have been left on the street.
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VICE News reporter Tess Owen explains how fringe conspiracy theories around coronavirus are moving into the mainstream.
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Joann is a commercial cleaner who is more afraid of her deserted commute from Queens to Wall Street than of coronavirus.
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As a bus driver for the MTA, Freddy is losing coworkers to COVID-19 -- and fears for his own health whenever he’s on the job.
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Angela works at the National Domestic Violence Hotline and says many callers are mentioning COVID-19 as a barrier to getting help.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline takes calls 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY. If you cannot speak safely, you can log ontothehotline.orgor text LOVEIS to 22522.
Mistress Eva is a dominatrix based in Bali who has taken her craft online.
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On the last day non-essential businesses are open in New York, Matthew is attacked at his gym.
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Lucy, an anesthesia resident at Massachusetts General Hospital, is harassed as she finishes her shift.
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Eda is targeted online as reports of attacks against Asian-Americans increase across the US.
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Aslam, a migrant worker in northern India, explains how he walked over a hundred miles to get home after lockdown was declared.
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Kashmiris were already under a government-imposed lockdown before coronavirus; Rayan explains how things have changed.
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Michael is the coroner in Dougherty County, Georgia, one of the current hotspots for the virus.
Flo is a home care worker in New York City, where she’s afraid every time she walks out the door.
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In Madrid, Jaime slowly gets better from coronavirus and tries to imagine what the pandemic means for the future.
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With his parish closed, Reverend Seamus Griesbach builds a drive-thru confessional kiosk out his window in Maine.
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Despite warnings, college student Jawontae went to Florida on Spring Break with the hope of living his best life.
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A Philly weed dealer develops a contact-free pick-up system so his customers can de-stress.
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While most of Europe is on lockdown, Sweden is not--and Dr. Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér is worried. Reporting from VICE producer Steven Bartus.
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In New York, Elaine has to deliver her baby during the short-lived ban on birthing partners.
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As Wuhan emerges from lockdown, graduate student Osman says it's the safest place on earth. Reporting from VICE producer Emily Keen.
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German LARP enthusiast Gerrit Reininghaus and his friends imagine fictional worlds where we don’t live in isolation.
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Sarah takes in her neighborhood from a rooftop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is currently under curfew.
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A.C has been detained by ICE--and worries about living conditions at the Yuba County Jail in Northern California.
More on this story by Emily Green is available here:
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3b7m5/immigrants-jailed-by-ice-are-sick-panicking-and-cant-get-coronavirus-tests
Onza worked as a sanitation truck driver in New York City, until he was laid off.
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Lexy worked as a stripper in Seattle, but with clubs closed now, she’s looking to other parts of the industry.
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Angelo Mike tries to stay healthy while living in his car.
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Michael organizes tenants in Chicago and a lot of people are worried about paying rent on April 1.
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Christine talks about her mental health and how it gives her skills to deal with the pandemic.
Valerie uses different strategies to deal with OCD and health anxiety - including walks and her faith.
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Edan Alva is a Lyft driver afraid for the safety of himself and his passengers.
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Stuck in his apartment, Chris decides to throw virtual dance parties for his friends.
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With Olympic trials postponed, elite swimmer Amy Bilquist is deciding how to move forward.
Rachael is a doctor at Rikers Island prison complex - and says the only way to prevent an outbreak is to depopulate the jails.
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Joseph, 63, has a heart condition and worries about catching the virus in the Manhattan Detention Center.
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In Rikers Island jail for a parole violation, Tashera worries about being near prisoners sick with COVID19.
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Lorraine calls on behalf of her brother, Michael, who is at Rikers Island jail complex where COVID19 has been spreading.
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Stephany works at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island but worries about staying safe.
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In Alabama, David says his experience in recovery from heroin addiction helps him stay calm now.
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Asmaa imagines what life will be like as the pandemic arrives in Gaza.
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Dara works as an emergency room doctor and is now in quarantine with coronavirus.
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Alex celebrates the New Year in Iran and finds ways to interact with neighbors at a distance.
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Samare tries to make her own face mask to avoid getting fined in the Czech Republic.
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Sara and Jason attempt to homeschool their young kids while also working from home.
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Javi streams a two hour tropical set from his living room in Madrid. Check it out: https://tinyurl.com/s8f246v
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