Here at Fatigued Podcast, we're big advocates for taking care of your mental health, which is why we interviewed Christina this week! She's a licensed therapist based in NYC (and married to that Ben Jeffrey guy we keep bringing on our show). For all her talk about introversion, she sure is a bubbly light in this time of grief. Speaking of grief, we break down some interesting behavior we've seen in the last year and a half and discuss our responses to this wild and crazy time. Give it a listen - you just might get some free therapy advice ;) Enjoy!

This week's episode is slightly longer than usual. It didn't feel right to cut any part of our conversation with Daffney because the last year and half has been a specific type of hell for her and we appreciated her vulnerability and honesty. She's a respiratory therapist and has witnessed countless deaths in the pandemic. We touch on everything from our opinions on anti-vaxxers and getting doxxed on tiktok, to vaccinating her 12 year old and putting people on ventilators. In spite of her year, she's out there staying strong, committing herself to the cause, and we're inspired by her bravery and courage. 

This week, Melissa Mann takes time from her work managing lab research for a Children's Hospital to help answer questions and better inform folks about the Vaccine, Covid, and the Delta Variant.  Melissa has been conducting research in cell / molecular biology for over 20 years and has always been passionate about science. So, her opinions are well-founded and well research, which we love.  She also discusses with us her experience in contracting Covid and offers resources to help answer skeptical questions about the vaccine (see below).

When not in the lab, she enjoys camping and kayaking with her family - human & animal - tending her growing houseplant collection - and a certain nail polish that's a favorite gift in troubled times.

RESOURCE LINKS DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
https://dearpandemic.org/

https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/

https://globalepidemics.org/

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/     

https://www.jhsph.edu/podcasts/public-health-on-call/ (Podcast Public Health on Call)

Note from Melissa: I forgot about a new site that I can't believe I hadn't seen until this week! There are some awesome videos here that might appeal to some who are vaccine-hesitant or just wondering how the vaccines work - https://www.greaterthancovid.org/

Our special guest this week is Nani Sinha, who uses her background as an opera singer to help other people regain their lung strength after their battles with Covid. "If a global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that music stops for nothing. And in fact, music has become more important than ever before," according to LA Opera. For over 10 years, internationally acclaimed German-Indian American mezzo-soprano Nandani Maria Sinha has worked as a teaching artist for LA Opera Connects. And over the last year and a half, LA Opera's Connects Artists have been focused on reaching even more people in hospital settings: both the patients and the healthcare workers who serve them. Nani's background in science and medicine and her own journey with physical rehabilitation have made her a compassionate teacher and educator and we were elated to have the opportunity to speak with her this week!

Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be, with thrilling performances, thought-provoking productions and innovative programming. The communal and curative power of opera is needed now more than ever before, given the extraordinary challenges of the time. As LA Opera plans its return to the stage with world-class productions in theaters, the company is offering a multitude of content including live recitals, opera broadcasts and learning opportunities via its LA Opera On Now digital offerings, which have accumulated more than 920,000 views since launching last spring. The company is grateful to its supporters for helping to ensure that it has the resources needed to get through this unprecedented period.

This week, the Fatigued Pod Squad (as we like to call ourselves) decided to get together and catch up on our recent travels, Covid takes, and favorite TikToks. We’re collectively frustrated by this virus, and with that frustration comes a sense of humor and we're glad we can share it amongst ourselves and you :) 

We plug some things in this episode and wanted to include them below:

Follow Charles Osborne (@astarosborne), O'Neil Thomas (@oneilthomas97), and Catieosaurus (@catieosaurus) on TikTok because Caroline says they're wonderful! 

And buy an Avocado Mattress because Laura says they're wonderful!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook because we think we're wonderful! 

Sam Cadman is here to offer a different perspective, not only from across the pond but also as a director! His UK & US commercials have won Gold & Silver at Cannes, Gold & Silver at British Arrows, Silver at Creative Circle, Silver at LIA, a Gold Clio and have been Honored in both Performance and Dialogue at AICP. In this episode we discuss directing through a computer screen (in case you never got the memo: skype is out, zoom is IN), how commercial advertising shifted during the pandemic (what do we do? masks on? masks off?), and... Foo Fighters (trust us, you'll understand once you've listened). 

While we know and love him as a commercial director, he's also a co-creator of the cult comedy series TRIGGER HAPPY TV (awarded Bronze Rose-D’Or at Montreux), director of THE SNOW MAZE ( Best UK Short at London Independent Film Festival, Ramsgate International Film Festival and the Romford Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at North Europe International Film Festival, Nominated for Best East Anglian Film at the BAFTA-eligible Norwich Film Festival, Finalist at Carmarthen Bay Film Festival and Officially Selected at a further 13 festivals worldwide), and MANN OVERBOARD (his debut US TV pilot - 6 festival Wins, 7 Finalists, 3 Semi-Finalists, 1 Honorable Mention and 7 Official Selections from around the world). 

Chase Brantley is a jack of all trades and master at all: comedian, director, writer, business owner, theater teacher, musician, and long distance thru-hiker. In Athens, Georgia, most people know Chase as the founder of Moonlight Theater which was founded after he graduated from École Philippe Gaulier, a French clown school.  Inspired by the school’s philosophy of playfulness and games, the Theater grew into an award-winning program that hosted over 182 performances in under two years.  During that time, Chase also founded a residency program that hosted twelve professional artists from seven countries, directed twenty original comedy shows, and performed in over forty comedy productions.  He hopes after COVID to continue building spaces that help artists grow.  

In addition to all of the above, Chase is also a Covid-survivor, which is pretty scary considering it gave him asthma, swollen underarm lymph nodes, & potential blood clots... 6 months AFTER having it. The more we talk to people the more unsettling this virus appears. 

Chase currently co-hosts “To white Folks”, a podcast that discusses the legal and political history of white supremacy in Athens, GA.  He most recently directed “Double Consciousness” starring David Perdue and Adán Bean at the Morton Theater.  He is also a producer and writer for the upcoming (Fall 2022) Shakespeare sitcom “Infinite Jest”.