1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to How to Citizen with Baritun Day, I show 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: where we reimagine the word citizen as a verb and 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: remind ourselves how to wield our collective power. I'm Baritun Day. 4 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm recording this on Wednesday, the fourth of November, at 5 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: roughly three pm Pacific time six thirty pm Eastern time. 6 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,959 Speaker 1: We don't yet have a confirmed winner of the presidential election, 7 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: but we know the direction that things are moving towards. 8 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 1: We expected this. They literally told us it's election season, 9 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: not election day. Michelle Obama told us to bring lunch 10 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: and dinner to the polls. We knew it could take days, 11 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: possibly weeks, not hours, to know the results, and that's 12 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: because we had record votes submitted by mail, and those 13 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: votes take time to count. So let them count. I 14 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: am tired. I put a lot of energy into this election, 15 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: and I am excited in part and hopeful. I am 16 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: disappointed in part and angry. I am tired, but just 17 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: edging out my fatigue is pride. I am proud of you. 18 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: I'm proud of us. We voted in record numbers. We 19 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: demonstrated that first pillar of what it means to citizen, 20 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: what we talk about in this show so much. We 21 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: showed up, we participated, We stood together for each each 22 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: other despite so many difficulties in an already too difficult year, 23 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: We the people claimed our power and it's a beautiful thing. 24 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: Democracy was on the ballot, and democracy, though challenged, is rising. 25 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Thank you citizens, and thank you local election officials who 26 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: made this possible. Seriously, thank your local election official. Find 27 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,679 Speaker 1: them on the internet, Send them cupcakes or pizzas, or 28 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: cupcake pizzas or pizzas made out of cupcakes, whatever it is. 29 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: They deserve some praise and some gratitude for making something 30 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: so rough run relatively so smooth. Joe Biden has received 31 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: more votes for president than any person in US history. 32 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: Every demographic group turned out. The US experienced record turnout 33 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: from everyone. This happened in a season of lawsuits and 34 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: moves to restrict voting, a season of hurricanes and fires, 35 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: a season of threats to the postal service, and above all, 36 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: a season of COVID. That's right, the pandemic isn't over 37 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: just because you're over it. Regardless of the outcomes of 38 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: the various elections in the United States, COVID nineteen is 39 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: here and stronger than ever. We are near a hundred 40 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: thousand average new cases every day, and that number is climbing. 41 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: Our hospitals across the nation are reaching their limits again. 42 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: Things will get worse before they get better. That's real, y'all. 43 00:03:54,560 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: Things will get worse before they get better. Our guests 44 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: in this episode said, if you don't know someone who 45 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: has died from COVID, you will. Our guests is literally 46 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: the one person I trust above all others on COVID matters, 47 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: and it was my dream, an almost literal dream, that 48 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: he would agree to be on this show. And thanks 49 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: to one of you a listener, thanks Mishoq. Two weeks 50 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: ago we recorded with him and our live zoom audience 51 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: as we start to emerge from the intensity of a 52 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: difficult election. We are landing right in the middle of 53 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: the most intense version yet of a difficult pandemic. And 54 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: there is no one in this world I would rather 55 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: talk to and have you learned from then, Dr Michael Oster. 56 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: I literally trust this man with my life and our lives. 57 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna pass the mic to myself from two 58 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: weeks ago, a little bit of audio time travel, and 59 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: I'll meet you on the other side of this interview 60 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: with one of the nation's premier and longest serving disease detectives, 61 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: and you'll see as I do, that he's not just that, 62 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: he's also a stellar citizen. This pandemic is not over. 63 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: It's far from it. In the United States, were well 64 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: passed two hundred thousand people who are dead, hundreds dying 65 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: each day, up to a thousand even And COVID nineteen 66 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: was supposed to bring us all together, supposed to come 67 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: for us all equally, supposed to unite us, but in 68 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: so many ways it feels like it hasn't yet. There 69 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: are voices out there, There are people out there, including 70 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: probably you, who have helped, who have stepped up, who 71 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: have citizens hard in this hard moment, and we have 72 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: been looking for that good information in this time. I 73 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: found that information at a very fortunate time in my life. 74 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: I will never forget the date, March eleven, my flight 75 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: back from New York City with Elizabeth, the last flight 76 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: of the year. It seems like it will end up 77 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: being and in the waiting area for the plane. I 78 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 1: believe it's called a gate. So he almost forgot what 79 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: you call those areas of airports because it's been so long. 80 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: We're in the gate area and I come across a 81 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: friend who's on the same flight, and he said, have 82 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: you listened to this guy Ulster Home on Joe Rogan? 83 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: And I said, no, I've never heard of it. And 84 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 1: I hadn't listened to Joe Rogan in a while actually, 85 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: And so we downloaded the YouTube video version, just a 86 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: little clip and the whole podcast to listen to chill 87 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: for the flight home. It was not a chill flight home. 88 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: It was a very alertness raised moment and we landed 89 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: as different people than the ones we took off as, 90 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: because Dr Ulster Home presented pure information with humility but 91 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: with confidence at the same time. And I have been 92 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: following him ever since. Is my primary source of trusted 93 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: information in this time. If you've been listening to me 94 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: on any platform, you know that Dr oh is my 95 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: go to guy. It has been really beautiful to hear 96 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,239 Speaker 1: his podcast, The Ulster Home Update, which I encourage everyone 97 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: to subscribe to. It's the once a week must listen 98 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: on this subject. And to give a little meat on 99 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: the bones of this introduction, Dr Michael Olster Holme is 100 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: an American epidemiologist. He's a Regent's professor and director of 101 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the 102 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: University of Minnesota. He served as a Science Envoy for 103 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: Health Security on behalf of the U. S State Department. 104 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: He's the author of the New York Times best selling 105 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen book Deadliest Enemy, Our War against Killer Germs, 106 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: and in my opinion, he is citizening so hard on 107 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: behalf of all of us right now. So welcome Dr 108 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: Michael Osterholm, and thank you as you do with your show. 109 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for taking the time out of 110 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: your schedule to spend time with us. Well, thank you. 111 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: And I want to be really clear about this. You know, 112 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: any time you're on a program, you're supposed to be 113 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: polite and thank the individual inviting you all those kinds 114 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: of things. This is not what these words are about. 115 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: This is a true, sincere, and very honest thank you 116 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: to you for the message you've been bringing to this topic, 117 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: because what you've added is something so much more important 118 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: than just the facts. It's the context. It's the way 119 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: we're going to get through this. So I can tell 120 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: you at our center at the University Minnesota, you're one 121 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: of our heroes We've listened to you, we follow you, 122 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: and I've learned a great deal from you. So I 123 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: just want to thank you for that. And it takes 124 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: a bit to teach an old man, but you've been 125 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: doing a pretty good job. So thank you. Thank you 126 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: for that. In the beginning, dr Ulsterholme, of this pandemic 127 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,719 Speaker 1: hitting the United States, what was your hope for how 128 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: the people and the government of this country would react. 129 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 1: Give me your best case scenario that you were hoping 130 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,719 Speaker 1: we step into. Yeah, well, maybe if I could just 131 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: even take a step back from that to give you 132 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: some context to where we got into that leaf. You know, 133 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: our center began following the situation the last week of December, 134 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: and you know, we have our ears and eyes open 135 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: all the time for what is going on around the 136 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: world caused by an infectious disease, and we recognized that 137 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: last week of December, something very unusual and very alarming 138 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: was happening in Wuhan, China. Within the first week of January, 139 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: it became clear that it was not being caused by 140 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: an influenza virus, and that likely was being caused by 141 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: a coronavirus, which actually, believe it or not, temporarily gave 142 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: me some hope in a way that I otherwise might 143 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: not have. And that is because I've been quite involved 144 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: with working on coronavirus infections, having been quite involved with 145 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: the stars response that this country had as well as 146 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the world back in two thousand three to that severe 147 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: acute respiratory distress sunder. And we learned in that pandemic 148 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 1: almost kind of event was the fact that we could 149 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: control those virus because it is one that you did 150 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: not become highly infectious till the second week of your infection. 151 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: So if we could identify you early, we could get 152 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: you isolated in a hospital make sure you didn't transmit 153 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: anyone else. So based on that, when we saw Wolhan, 154 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: we thought, well, you know what, if this is a coronavirus, 155 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: we just have to identify all the clinically ill patients 156 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 1: as soon as possible, isolate them, and then once we do, 157 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: we will be able to stop this and we'll find 158 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: the animal reservoir. Well. By January tenth, it became clear 159 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: to us, wait a minute, something is very different here. 160 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: This is not just another coronavirus infection like that people 161 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: were getting in effective. It looked like from having contact 162 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: with people who weren't sick, people who were transmitting the 163 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: virus with minimal symptoms not later on, and by January 164 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: it would be abundantly clear to us with transmission. Now 165 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 1: it occurred in multiple Asian countries, and that we were 166 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: seeing this pattern emerge, we went, oh, my, this is 167 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: now going to cause the next pandemic in the world. 168 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: It's not going to be good. It's going to be 169 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: a serious challenge, and so we tried to get the 170 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: world to wake up. At that point, we put a 171 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: statement out saying in January, this was going to cause 172 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: the next worldwide pandemic. And my first reaction, as you 173 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: were asking about, was why over the course of the 174 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: next month that it takes so long for people to 175 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: actually buy into this, because it really postponed. Are coming 176 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: to grips with what we needed to do. In February, 177 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: I published an op ed in The New York Times 178 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: again saying this is a pandemic. It's coming, get ready, 179 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: we have to start doing with it. And I caught 180 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: so much negative feedback from saying, you know, you're just 181 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: scaring that a lot of us don't do that. Okay, 182 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: this flew is much worse, and it wasn't really until 183 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: several weeks later that we finally started to see the 184 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: body of Public Health and medicine and the general public 185 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: start to understand this. And it was at that point 186 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 1: I went from despair that we weren't understanding as to 187 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: want us saying, Okay, now we get it. Now we're 188 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: gonna do something about this, and we're going to devel 189 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: up and you know, plans or what we need to 190 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: do to detect it in our communities, how to treat patients, 191 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: how to limit its transmission. And that's where I did 192 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: have a great hope that we're going to do much 193 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: more than ultimately we ever did. Thank you for the 194 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: first background to can take us all the way back 195 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: to December, which it feels like fifty years ago, when 196 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: when you rewind just not even quite a year. I 197 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: have been very frustrated by the months since March, since 198 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: everyone knew and publicly knew what needed to happen, and 199 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: I think a lot of us have been drowning in 200 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,079 Speaker 1: the bad news. And I want to know from you 201 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: what have you seen during this time, especially even now 202 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: that gives you hope that we can still rise to 203 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: the occasion. What are you proud of? In the response? 204 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: Because I'm searching it it's very hard to find. Well, 205 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: and thank you, and let me add context to this 206 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: because I'm like you in the sense that you know, 207 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: I approached this as someone who has had a role 208 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: in the last five presidential administrations. I serve to Republican governors, 209 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 1: to in democratic governors, one independent government Minnesota as a 210 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: state ulogist over the years. You know, the public close 211 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: contacts have little understanding of my partisan politics of ourity. 212 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: My job is just to be an umpire and calls 213 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: balls and strikes. So today I'll do that for you. Also, 214 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: you know it's not partisan, But I have to say 215 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: that as we talk about this, the one thing that 216 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: has given me so much hope is something you've experienced, 217 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: and that is with our podcast. We now have had 218 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: many hundreds of thousands of listeners and the communications we 219 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: hear from them, people still believe, in their heart of hearts, 220 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: as bad as this virus is and what it's doing, kindness, empathy, 221 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: understanding will win the day, and they just want that 222 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: type of context. We'll take the facts, will take the 223 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: hard information, but how can we do this with understanding 224 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: how can we reach out? And you know, I've been 225 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: working now for the better part of six weeks on 226 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: these podcasts to actually build a whole movement of what 227 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: I call the kindness pandemic, to take on the terrible 228 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: virus pandemic. And so I think that there are many 229 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: many people who want to help however they can. They 230 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: will take the scientific information, they will take the medicine 231 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: of what we need to do, but they don't want 232 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: to miss out on the understanding. Know, if there was 233 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: ever a time now it should be humankind versus of virus, 234 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: not humans versus humans. It is now. And I think 235 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: that has been so encouraging to me. The number of emails, 236 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: a number of follow ups we get from the people 237 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: who listen, have just given my hope such a strong backing. 238 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: And uh and that's why I started coming on this 239 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: show today was really important for me and for our group, 240 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: because you too understand that how important that whole concept is. 241 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: And that's why I'm here. Let the kindness pandemic wash 242 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: across the land. How do you stay connected to the 243 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: human part of this story? A lot of us are 244 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: inundated with numbers and trailing seven day moving averages and 245 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: the death rate for the a that's on the home page. 246 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: There's so many of our news organizations and you've been 247 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: in this work for decades, So how do you stay 248 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: connected to the people behind all these numbers. Well, first, 249 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: I work with an incredible team of people who every 250 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: day remind us that these are not numbers. These are people, 251 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: These are loved ones, These are someone's very special person 252 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: in their life. And so you know, I I we 253 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: try never to forget that. And it's not like you 254 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: have to try, it's just a reminder of put it 255 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: in context. And then you know, it's just reaching out 256 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: to people because you know, kindness is so much easier 257 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: to do. It's like love. The more you give away, 258 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: the more you have. And I think that you know, 259 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: in this time, this is what sustains me. You know, 260 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: this is what keeps me from going to bed at 261 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: night and saying to myself, I can't get up in 262 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: the morning and do this one more time. It's just 263 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: the opposite. I gotta get up, I want to get up. 264 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 1: I gotta be there. You know, yesterday I recorded a 265 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: podcast live and we started a new part of the 266 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: podcast where we're now each week detailing and living in 267 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: moral you might say someone who has died recently of 268 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen and just telling their story, because there are 269 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: so many stories to tell, And so I took the 270 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: prerogative to tell a story about somebody from my own 271 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: small hometown in Iowa. An individual who had had a 272 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: distinguished your career in the Air Force, retired as lieutenant colonel, 273 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: came back to my little hometown in Iowa and took 274 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: over the family greenhouse, and over the course of several 275 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: decades he was responsible for the flowers that lit up 276 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 1: our town. Where they were for funerals, where they were 277 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,360 Speaker 1: for weddings, where they were for any other special occasions. 278 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: But what I remember most about him was the fact 279 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: that my mother and I come from a family of 280 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: very little means. Was a very proud, good Irish Catholic woman, 281 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 1: Abbey Ryan. And you know, every Easter I would say 282 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: about my money from my paper out to go and 283 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: buy a corsage for her to go to Eastern mass 284 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: And she was so proud to wear that. It could 285 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: have been twenty below zero and she would have made 286 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: sure her dress had no code on it so that 287 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: corsage was standing out there, and I used to go 288 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 1: up and get that corsage every Easter Friday from Jim, 289 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: like a gentleman who died in September. Being able to 290 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: tell that story again last night, being able to actually 291 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: share this was not a man that died from COVID, 292 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: This was my friend. This was my somebody who had 293 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: a major influence in my life, who brought something. And 294 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: I think we just don't forget that. If we don't 295 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: forget that, there are so many people, and if you 296 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: don't know somebody who's died at COVID already, I'm sorry 297 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: to tell you what you will. We're going to see 298 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: an increasing number of people who are becoming what we 299 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: call long haulers, people who are not necessarily that ill 300 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 1: early in their illness with COVID nineteen. In fact, manyum 301 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: have very mild symptoms. They're often other wise previously healthy 302 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: young adults, and unfortunately ten of these people are going 303 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: on and developing a very very severe syndrome, a collection 304 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: of signs and symptoms. Fifth or six weeks, they're almost disabled, 305 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: they're on oxygen in some cases, their X rays of 306 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: their hearts and their lungs look terrible, and they have 307 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: what is in essence of severe chronic fatigue syndrome. Like picture. 308 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: You know, we need to be there for these people. 309 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: It's not just the people who are in our hospitals 310 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: and intensive care units. And so I think now is 311 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: the time where if we let kind of shine, you know, 312 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 1: like I said a moment ago, the more you give away, 313 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: the more you have, the better you feel. And so 314 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: that's how I stay connected is just understanding these people 315 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: and knowing that every one of these numbers is someone's 316 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: loved one. Every one of these numbers is somebody who 317 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: made a difference, and that's what we can never forget. 318 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: You said something there about if you don't know someone 319 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: who's died of COVID, you will that feel is like 320 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: a very depressing forecast for the path of this disease. 321 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: Can you expand on that a little bit in terms 322 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: of what you see over the next year that we 323 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: should all be preparing ourselves for. Well, first of all, 324 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: here's your opportunity. Let me I'll cover that. I hope 325 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: no one in your life does die from COVID, but 326 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 1: the chances are increasing with increasing numbers they will. So 327 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: you know what, treat everybody around you as if today 328 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: was the day before they die, and you know what, 329 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: almost none of them will, but boy, everyone will be 330 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: better for it. Now. The reason I say to the 331 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: dying part is because in fact, we're seeing the case 332 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: numbers go up precipitously right now. What's happening, Well, first 333 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: of all, pandemic fatigue has set in. People are saying, 334 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: I've been doing this for long enough. I need to 335 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: be out, I need to be with people. And I 336 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: understand that. That's not to say that that's not a reality, 337 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: but also understand the consequence of someone's behaviors. We see 338 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 1: college students coming back to school. That's great, but their 339 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: socializing means that transmission is sometimes pretty dramatic and the 340 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: challenges Many of these people won't go on to be 341 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: hospitalized or serious illnesses. They will go on potentially and 342 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: developed this longhauler condition. But what really also is important 343 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: is they transmit this virus to their mom and dad, 344 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: to their gramp and grammar, to the older colleagues they 345 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 1: work with, and so that's a channel. And then finally, 346 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,199 Speaker 1: this category that I call pandemic anger, it's up to 347 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: a third of the people of this country right now 348 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: believe that this pandemic is a hoax. They believe it's 349 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: some kind of politically motivated action to impact negatively on someone. 350 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,360 Speaker 1: And I don't understand that. You don't have to look 351 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: far to see the pain and suffering. But if you 352 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: add this all up, that means we're going to see 353 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: a lot of additional transmission. Today we estimate that about 354 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: ten percent of the US population has been infected by 355 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: this virus. That's all, for all the pain and suffering, 356 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: economic disruption, and death, we won't see this virus slowed 357 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: down transmission until it gets to fifty of the population, 358 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: and then only then it slows down transmission. It doesn't stop, 359 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: and so we've got a long ways to go now. 360 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: Our hope is that we can keep people from becoming 361 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: infected having to develop their immunity that way, and that 362 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: we can see vaccines coming forward early next year into 363 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,400 Speaker 1: the Midsummer that can actually be administered that will help 364 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: protect us. And that's the way we want to find 365 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 1: ourselves becoming immune to this virus, not through some illness. 366 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: And the one thing I covered in my recent podcast, 367 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: As we get closer and closer to the holidays, think 368 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: about that for yourself. You don't want to be the 369 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: reason mom or Dad or gramp and Grammar get infected 370 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: because you came home not knowing that you were carrying 371 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: the virus and they died. We have far too many 372 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: examples just like that. I want to pick up on 373 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: the thread of it doesn't have to be this way, 374 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: that there are things we can do. And you've been 375 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: clear and proactive, and I appreciate that about the disproportionate impact, 376 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: so you know more than most how this isn't fair. 377 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,239 Speaker 1: What can we do? What are you calling on us 378 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: to do collectively to improve the situation beyond what you've 379 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: already said? Well, you know, and I don't mean to 380 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: sound trite by saying this, but we will be held 381 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: accountable if we don't take advantage of this crisis to 382 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: understand the lack of what I would call just human 383 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: decency when it comes to life and who we want 384 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 1: to be as a society. Racial disparity, socio economic issues 385 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: are by themselves, I think such an underappreciated issue by 386 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: far too many. We're seeing more and more understanding of that, 387 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 1: and unfortunately it happens through painful events. But I think 388 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 1: this disease is putting a spotlight on this, you know 389 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 1: why and how can we have such disproportionate impact. Well, 390 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: you know, first of all, we have to understand that 391 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: this pandemic is not only cruel, but in some ways 392 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: it's so unfair. And what I mean by that is 393 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: it has been shoulder by the black brown in indigenous 394 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: communities in ways that so many others haven't had to know. 395 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 1: You know, when you're an essential worker and you don't 396 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: have a choice whether you can go to work or 397 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: not you have to go to work, when you're in 398 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: a living condition where you have three generational families living 399 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: in a two better apartment and you're supposed to isolate 400 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: yourself from mom and dad or grandpa and grandma and 401 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: your kids when you get infected. Um. You know, I 402 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: could go through a litany of these kinds of experiences 403 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: that I think have been so challenging because they really 404 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: have created this racial and I think all barrier that 405 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: I think is such a problem. You know, I must say, 406 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: you know, I was very challenged. My emotions were on 407 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: the boiling edge when we saw large outbreaks and meat 408 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: packing plants in this country in the early part of 409 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: the pandemic, and for which if you know who is 410 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: working shoulder to shoulder incredible hours, very very tough work. 411 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: It was communities of black, brown, and indigenous populations, and 412 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: when they were forced to go back to work as 413 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,400 Speaker 1: essential workers, even though transmission was widely spreading in that 414 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: meat packing facility as they worked shoulder to shoulder, and 415 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: then for some states to not only just declare them 416 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 1: essential workers, but that if they were to not go 417 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: back to work out of fear of contracting the virus 418 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: and then possibly of bringing it home to a loved 419 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 1: one that could be having risk factors for serious disease, 420 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: they didn't get their unemployment. That was just wrong, wrong, 421 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 1: And so I think that what we need to do 422 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: is understand the lessons that this pandemic has taught us 423 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: about the goodness of being human, and that, you know, 424 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: if there is anyone in our country who is suffering 425 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 1: from disparities, we all suffer, and I hope that we 426 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: can shine a positive light on how to change this. 427 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: You know, this isn't us versus them. We are all 428 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,479 Speaker 1: together in this. And so if there's a silver lining 429 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 1: to this very dark cloud, is one of them, is 430 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: just that let's shine this light on it. Let's make 431 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 1: it loud and clear what happened and why and what 432 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,640 Speaker 1: can we do about it? You know, imagine if this 433 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: is your child or your aunt or uncle who are 434 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: living in that two bedroom apartment with three generations of people, 435 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: and because you did go to your job every day 436 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: and you took public transit and you are an essential worker, 437 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: and now you're coming home infected, how do you bubble 438 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: protect them? You can't in that setting, in any meaningful way. 439 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: You can't. That shouldn't happen like that. So I hope 440 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: that that we take this opportunity to take a step 441 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 1: back and look not just as our bodies as something 442 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: that can get infect of the virus, we look at 443 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 1: our souls something about how do we right the wrongs 444 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: that I think our society continues to suffer. Mm hmm. 445 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: I thought you were gonna say wear masks. That was 446 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: way more impressive and deeper, deeper work. Well, I think 447 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,719 Speaker 1: you should do that too, But I think you know, 448 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: we can't hide behind the masks, as you well know, 449 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: we have to start looking at our souls and asking ourselves, 450 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 1: you know, as citizens, what does this mean? The work 451 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: that you do when your team does depends on the 452 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: rest of us listening and uh and doing our part 453 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: as citizens as well. I wanted to ask you, how 454 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 1: do you think about our power as citizens and what 455 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: do you want to see more of from us? You know, 456 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: the longest journey starts with the first step, So how 457 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: do we help educate the public about What you can 458 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: do is simply to protect yourself. You know, if you're 459 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: gonna spend a lot of time in large social gathering 460 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: together indoors, you put yourself at real risk for getting 461 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: the virus. And I can say, but I can't not 462 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 1: do that, you know, I look back on generations before 463 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: us and think about some of the wars World War 464 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: two and others where people sacrifice for years in major ways, 465 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 1: putting their life on the line to get us somewhere. 466 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: We're not asking to do that. But if you can 467 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: just wait and minimize the risk you have until we 468 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 1: have vaccines, that's going to be everything in terms of 469 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: preventing transmission. If you can never forget about the kindness. 470 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: You know, we're asking so many people to bubble themselves 471 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: up so they don't put themselves at risk, because if 472 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: they did get infected, they have a great likelihood of 473 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,959 Speaker 1: having a very severe case. But think how lonely that 474 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: can be. Reach out to these people, even if you 475 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: can't physically hug them, Go to their house, stand outside 476 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: their door, have a conversation, spend time on the phone 477 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: with them, help them out however you can. Maybe you're 478 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: the one that can go deliver some product or something 479 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: that they need. You know, our democracy is critical, it 480 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: is so critical, and today we know the poll workers 481 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: are some of the bravest people we have out there working. 482 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: Go help out with that. That's the kind of thing 483 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: If we do that, that's feeds our soul, that doesn't 484 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: let the virus defeat us. And then finally, we have 485 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: to as a society address head on racial inequality and disparities. 486 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: And let's use this as a positive example to shine 487 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: light and a terrible thing to actually make a difference. 488 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: I'm an old man, you know, I don't have a 489 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: lot of years left in this business, okay, But I 490 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: want a world where my kids and grandkids grow up 491 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: where the things that we have had to experience now 492 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: don't occur in the future, whether they be pandemics or 493 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: whether they be some of the other social ills. And 494 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: so I think all of that is what we need 495 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: to be doing right now, and I ask you to 496 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: be a part of each one. Reduce the risk of 497 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: the transmission virus, reach out to others who are hurting, 498 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,959 Speaker 1: and I think now how we'll get actively involved so 499 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: that we can deal with the racial disparities and move 500 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: this to a higher place in the world. As you 501 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: are a doctor, I will infer that as a prescription 502 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 1: and encourage us all to take that medicine. That's very sound. 503 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: There's a question we like to ask all of our guests, 504 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: and it comes back to the title of this show 505 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: and this word citizen. We interpret this word citizen less 506 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: about legal status or any kind of status, to be honest, 507 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: and more as a verb as actions. If you are 508 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: to interpret the word citizen as a verb in that way, 509 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: what is your definition of what it means to citizen? Well, 510 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: first of all, it's to open your heart. Two, whatever 511 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: the causes that we need to address, the fact that 512 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: you're even on this webinar today by itself is a 513 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: very substantial commitment to listening and understanding and thinking about 514 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: this issue. Second of all, its action. You have to 515 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: be there with action. It's wonderful to intellectualize and to, 516 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 1: you know, basically, take all this information in and you know, 517 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 1: and kind of form thoughts and feelings, but act then, 518 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: whether it's being kind, whether it's you know, being safe, 519 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 1: whether it's helping to organize communities around certain issues that 520 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: will bring all of us to a better place, particularly 521 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,959 Speaker 1: when it comes to the issues of inequality. So I 522 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: think citizenship, in my mind and citizens in general, is 523 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: about action. And none of us are going to necessarily 524 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: ever change the world, but collectively we can do a lot. 525 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: And so I also say, don't ever think you can't 526 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: make a contribution in our little group at sid Rap. 527 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: You know, we're just a small little center in the 528 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: middle of nowhere in Minnesota, and we're trying to make 529 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,959 Speaker 1: a difference and we're not gonna let anybody tell us 530 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: we can. And I think that's what citizens have to feel. 531 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: As a citizen, feel like you can make a difference 532 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,239 Speaker 1: and don't anybody tell you can, and back it up 533 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: not only with commitment, with action. You knock that out 534 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: of the park. Dr Austhen, that was really I've been listen. 535 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: I've been listening to you, man, I've been listening to you. 536 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,479 Speaker 1: But that was your words said it was, but you know, 537 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: but I think this is the collective feeling. I mean, 538 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: I think this is what's important here. We have a 539 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: collective feeling here that we all can understand and resonate with. 540 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: Let's grow that. Let's grow that. Let's take that out 541 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 1: and plant it, just like we're planting seeds, and let's 542 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: grow it. And let this pandemic not just be a 543 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 1: painful experience, but let it be a reason why we 544 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: can do these things. And I believe in my heart 545 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 1: of hearts that we can do this. I do believe it. 546 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna grow this moment in the show to encompass 547 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 1: voices beyond mine. We like to involve a live audience 548 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 1: before or the podcast goes out to those who listen 549 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: on demand, and we have a live question from Priya. Hi. 550 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Dr asked Home for your work 551 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: and for being here with us today. I love the 552 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: kindness pandemic idea. I am Pria Kumar. I'm from Portland, Oregon. 553 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 1: I am a psychiatrist, so I wanted to ask about 554 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: kind of the mental health secondary pandemic that we have 555 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: been seeing. I'm a psychiatrist, so I have seen the depression, 556 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: the anxiety, the PTSD symptoms. I've seen depression with people 557 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: who are struggling with the kind of chronic fatigue that 558 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 1: they have gotten from COVID nineteen, and it's gotten to 559 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 1: the point, I think where even some people have questioned 560 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: lockdown measures whether that's good or bad, given how it's 561 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: affecting our mental health, which I think is misguided, and 562 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: I think we can work around that. But I would 563 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: love to kind of get yours as people who are 564 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: listening to this podcast. We're probably all doing what we 565 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: need to do in terms of lessening the risk of 566 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:11,359 Speaker 1: virus transmission, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on 567 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: taking care of our mental health as well. Blowing that pandemic. Well, 568 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: thank you, And I could not be a stronger supporter 569 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 1: of the sense that we have to deal with both 570 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 1: the virus itself and the mental health aspects of it. 571 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,840 Speaker 1: That is what's all about being human. Let me just 572 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:30,760 Speaker 1: back up and say, you know, a lot of people 573 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 1: I think have a misconception there are these lockdowns that 574 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,800 Speaker 1: are occurring, but you know, we really have gotten away 575 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 1: from any of the kinds of you can't leave your 576 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,400 Speaker 1: home or you can't do these things, and what it 577 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: is is the actual occurrence of the pandemic that has 578 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 1: us afraid. If you're afraid to go into a public place, 579 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: if you're afraid to go to church, if you're afraid 580 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 1: to do a lot of things you don't, you can't. 581 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: And so this is where controlling the virus transmission is 582 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,759 Speaker 1: really really important. Now having said that, there are things 583 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:04,240 Speaker 1: we need to do. For example, like I think bars 584 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:07,399 Speaker 1: and restaurants have been a place for major transmission. I've 585 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: not been to a bar restaurants since March. I missed 586 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 1: it immensely. But what I also understand of the people's 587 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,080 Speaker 1: whose lives have been adversely impacted, the owners of the 588 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:19,359 Speaker 1: restaurants and bars, the people who worked there. I wrote 589 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: an up ed piece in The New York Times in 590 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 1: August two with Neil cash Carry, the president of the 591 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: Minneapolistetter Reserve Bank, in which we made the strong argument 592 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:31,799 Speaker 1: that to really get this virus better under control and 593 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: to reduce it where people were much less afraid to 594 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,240 Speaker 1: go into public places, was the fact that we needed 595 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: to drive down transmission that was going to require us 596 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: to be distanced for several weeks. And if we had 597 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: done that back then we would be in a very 598 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: different place today. And at the same time, we need 599 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,799 Speaker 1: to take care of people. This is where the part 600 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: that gets missed. The savings rate in the United States 601 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 1: has gone from eight percent too during the course of 602 00:35:56,719 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: this pandemic, absolutely unheard of. We could borrow the money 603 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:04,360 Speaker 1: our government could from ourselves and pay us back ourselves 604 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: with interest to pay for all these people whose lives 605 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: have been impacted in such a negative way. And I 606 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,359 Speaker 1: know today, if you don't have enough money to pay 607 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: for the roof over your head or food on your table, 608 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:20,440 Speaker 1: you've got kids you have to deal with. You know, 609 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,800 Speaker 1: you're struggling. That just adds to the mental health trauma. 610 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: So our whole plan was, if it is a bar, 611 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: restaurant or a business like that that's adversely affected, pay 612 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: the people for what's happening, keep them whole, keep our 613 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 1: government's whole, keep our colleges and university's whole. And it's 614 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 1: borrowing an investment in ourselves. And if you look at 615 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 1: the economic models, we actually do much better over the 616 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: long run in recovering that money back by bringing society 617 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: back up in a hopeful manner. So I would just 618 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: say this is part of the plan that I talked 619 00:36:55,280 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: about a compassionate, kind, caring response to this actually turns 620 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: out to be the financially best response to this. And 621 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: that's what we've missed. And so while we see them 622 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,720 Speaker 1: debating in Washington, do you see about, you know, getting 623 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:13,279 Speaker 1: relief back out to the public. What a missed opportunity 624 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 1: to help us through. Imagine if you only your clients 625 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: and I are only making an assumption. One of the 626 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:23,400 Speaker 1: challenges they have, besides the loneliness, is the fear of 627 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 1: financial ruin and the fact that they don't have money 628 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 1: to pay for the food on their table. Imagine if 629 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: we could take that off the table. And we should 630 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 1: be able to do that as a nation. And I 631 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,719 Speaker 1: want to end by saying thank you. You know, I 632 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,919 Speaker 1: had dedicated one of my podcasts to the mental health 633 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:43,600 Speaker 1: support in our communities as people like you that are 634 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,400 Speaker 1: more critical now than ever. And you know it was 635 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,719 Speaker 1: funny because you know, I made a cobbint of this 636 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,239 Speaker 1: thing about the fact, you know, thank god I had 637 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,799 Speaker 1: had my therapist the thirty years. She's amazing, and I 638 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 1: had more men contact mus that you actually said that 639 00:37:57,239 --> 00:37:59,759 Speaker 1: in public, that you see a therapist. I see one. 640 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I'm I'm embarrassed let anybody know, and 641 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,920 Speaker 1: I'm saying saying why we all need that help. You know, 642 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,399 Speaker 1: we all need to be there. So all the men 643 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 1: I'm here who have seen the therapist don't be afraid 644 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:15,560 Speaker 1: to acknowledge it, and you know, really make the case 645 00:38:15,719 --> 00:38:18,320 Speaker 1: that this is a good thing. This is mental health. 646 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 1: Just like we want to have our physical health improve, 647 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:22,640 Speaker 1: we want to improve our mental health. So thank you 648 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 1: very very much for the question. And I hope that 649 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 1: gives you a sense of why I think you're right 650 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:31,839 Speaker 1: on the mark. Thank you prea for that. If you're up, Hi, Yes, 651 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: I'm Eve Blossom and I'm in San Francisco and I 652 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:40,359 Speaker 1: focus on digital health and startups and still value. Yeah, 653 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:45,399 Speaker 1: I've been following your weekly updates. Thank goodness. It's refreshing 654 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,439 Speaker 1: to have someone like you do weekly updates. And I'm 655 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:51,879 Speaker 1: just I wanted to ask if you're committed to doing 656 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:55,799 Speaker 1: it throughout the whole pandemic longer, no matter how long 657 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 1: that will be. And also I just wanted to mention 658 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,759 Speaker 1: how I love I'm a big springste fan, so I 659 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:06,440 Speaker 1: really loved how you brought into Springstel's new music into 660 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:09,880 Speaker 1: one of your Well, thank you for your very very 661 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,879 Speaker 1: kind comedy. First of all, I love music, okay, So 662 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 1: I'm committed to these, okay, and so that's great. I 663 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:20,120 Speaker 1: think that one of the reasons I can't let this 664 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 1: virus get me, you know, myself. It's that old line, 665 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: don't look back. They might be gaining on you, you 666 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,640 Speaker 1: know kind of thing. I gotta do. These podcasts gives 667 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:29,840 Speaker 1: me a purpose, you know. So, so I'm going to 668 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:33,359 Speaker 1: keep doing this as long as I possibly can, and 669 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 1: for as long as it's helpful to the public. And 670 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 1: I work with the most amazing team of people at 671 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,160 Speaker 1: sid RAP who whope produce this thing. They make it 672 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 1: possible for me to do it. They may be possible 673 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,640 Speaker 1: to be here. So yeah, I'll keep doing it for 674 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 1: as long as people find it useful. And you know, 675 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:51,960 Speaker 1: I want to be here to celebrate when we get 676 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,319 Speaker 1: over this virus. I want to be at that celebration. 677 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,160 Speaker 1: I'll invite you all to it. Okay, Well, we'll get 678 00:39:58,160 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 1: you all there. We'll have one heck of it to 679 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:03,399 Speaker 1: I'm and it's our beat the virus party. Okay, We're 680 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: gonna do it, So thank you, and we'll keep We'll 681 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:09,879 Speaker 1: keep plugging away at it. Thank you for that Eve, 682 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:11,880 Speaker 1: and I look forward to that party already. Know what 683 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:13,839 Speaker 1: it looks like. It's that scene from the Matrix when 684 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:16,359 Speaker 1: they're all underground and it's like a rave and its 685 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:18,760 Speaker 1: way too close to each other. It's just like so 686 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 1: many shared droplet. Can I tell a very brief story here. 687 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 1: I give you hope and the fact that my niece 688 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:28,759 Speaker 1: who I'm very close to, her husband lost their house 689 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,040 Speaker 1: in Santa the Santa Clara fire almost seven weeks ago. 690 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: It was tragic. They barely got out. They had their dog, 691 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,680 Speaker 1: they couldn't find their cat. They had to leave it. 692 00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 1: The daughters, the three grandnieces were traumatized. Beyond it. I 693 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,839 Speaker 1: can tell you make a long story short. Two weeks 694 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:47,879 Speaker 1: ago somebody thought they saw it up there. Last week 695 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:52,160 Speaker 1: they actually captured alive trap with food. How it survived 696 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:56,600 Speaker 1: for six weeks after that severe fire is incredible. And 697 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:59,479 Speaker 1: her name is Mama Kitty, and mom and Kitty should 698 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,359 Speaker 1: give us all hope that if a cat can do that, 699 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 1: survived that fire and live for six weeks without food 700 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: and water a man, anything's possible. So I have hope. 701 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:13,240 Speaker 1: Awesome Mama kitty or we have one more live question 702 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: came in under the wire. This is a family member 703 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:22,040 Speaker 1: of mine, my uncle. Uh Danna Robinson. Okay, I'm back 704 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:25,680 Speaker 1: in the gym now area, Washington, d C. My name 705 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:29,319 Speaker 1: is Dana Robinson. They've just allowed the gym's in the 706 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: hospitals to initiate social distancing in the gym. I've been 707 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,120 Speaker 1: waiting for that. I didn't think it was gonna come 708 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 1: until it looks very, very different. You're used to see 709 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:43,520 Speaker 1: in fifty people in the gym, Now you only see ten. 710 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:46,840 Speaker 1: Do you think that's safe or you think I should 711 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:51,200 Speaker 1: wait until we get that vaccine. Well, first of all, 712 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 1: let me say that we do know that you can 713 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:58,240 Speaker 1: get into our air transmission in a relatively smaller room setting, 714 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: and so I would say, you know, if you are 715 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:04,759 Speaker 1: at high risk of having a very serious case of 716 00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:07,880 Speaker 1: COVID nineteam, I might still take a pass for a 717 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 1: while on this. But I think the idea in the 718 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,400 Speaker 1: gym is a good thing. Physically, you want to be active, 719 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:14,880 Speaker 1: and that's a very good thing to be out and about. 720 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:17,480 Speaker 1: So what I would do is add a little twist 721 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: to that and find out the time of the day 722 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:21,120 Speaker 1: that the least number of people are there and then 723 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:24,840 Speaker 1: go then and then that's your way of accommodating and 724 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:28,239 Speaker 1: making it as safe for yourself as possible. So but 725 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:31,080 Speaker 1: the big thing is you know you're taking care of yourself, 726 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:33,560 Speaker 1: You're thinking about it in the right way. This is 727 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: the smart decisions. They're gonna allow a lot of people 728 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:40,759 Speaker 1: to avoid getting infected. So congratulations. And some other time 729 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 1: we tell I'd love to hear a lot of stories 730 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,359 Speaker 1: about your relative here. Okay, but we'll wait and say 731 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,759 Speaker 1: about that one. Okay, well, say will definitely save that one. 732 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:51,879 Speaker 1: Thank you again, I heard a lot of good things 733 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:55,320 Speaker 1: from you. I'd summarize it as as be safe, be kind, 734 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 1: and be active is one way to put it. Thank you, 735 00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:00,520 Speaker 1: just thank you for having me. Thank you for what 736 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: you do well staying together. Okay, and let's get through 737 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:06,200 Speaker 1: this with a pandemic of kindness. And again, thank you 738 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:08,759 Speaker 1: so much for having me and for all what you're 739 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:12,120 Speaker 1: doing out there. Appreciate We appreciate you too. Good luck 740 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:14,359 Speaker 1: and we're we're rooting for you're rooting for us. All 741 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:17,279 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Dr Mike Oster home from sid rap in 742 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 1: the great state of Minnesota. That was something. I'm not 743 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,279 Speaker 1: sure if I should call him Dr oster Home or 744 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,800 Speaker 1: Dr Wokester Home. Yeah, I did it. Yeah, I'm corny. 745 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:36,399 Speaker 1: What are you gonna do about it? Nothing because it's 746 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:44,160 Speaker 1: already recorded. So just accepted Dr Michael Wokester Home host privilege. Okay, 747 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:48,239 Speaker 1: settled down Bariton day. The way that Dr oster Holme 748 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 1: weaved in our opportunity and obligation to deal with racial 749 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:57,800 Speaker 1: disparities and inequality, that was impressive and honestly a bit unexpected. 750 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:02,320 Speaker 1: Major thanks to Dr Mike oster Home and his team 751 00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:05,759 Speaker 1: at sid RAP, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and 752 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:10,359 Speaker 1: Policy at the University of Minnesota. Thanks for joining and 753 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:14,440 Speaker 1: reminding us to be safe, be kind, and be active. 754 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:18,320 Speaker 1: You can follow Dr ulster Home on Twitter M t 755 00:44:19,080 --> 00:44:22,160 Speaker 1: oster Home O S T E R H O l M, 756 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:26,120 Speaker 1: or follow at sid RAP c I D R A 757 00:44:26,239 --> 00:44:30,400 Speaker 1: P on the socials and visit the website sid RAP 758 00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:34,120 Speaker 1: dot you m in as in University of Minnesota dot 759 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:37,399 Speaker 1: E D you like we always do. We're gonna post 760 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:39,880 Speaker 1: this episode of transcript, show notes and more at how 761 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:44,280 Speaker 1: to citizen dot com. I'm gonna ask a special favor 762 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 1: on this one because I think this is a public 763 00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:53,480 Speaker 1: health value to everyone. Please share this episode with everyone 764 00:44:53,560 --> 00:44:56,240 Speaker 1: you know. They don't have to dig the whole series, 765 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:59,600 Speaker 1: but let them listen to this one and listen to 766 00:44:59,719 --> 00:45:02,640 Speaker 1: Dr Ulster Home. He's been such a straight shooter throughout 767 00:45:02,680 --> 00:45:05,880 Speaker 1: this whole thing, and I think if more people heard 768 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:08,840 Speaker 1: him and followed what he said, more of us would 769 00:45:08,840 --> 00:45:13,720 Speaker 1: make it through this whole Now time for some action 770 00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:18,000 Speaker 1: on the internal front. I want you to subscribe to 771 00:45:18,040 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 1: the Ulster Home Update COVID nineteen Michael Ulster Holmes podcast. 772 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:26,360 Speaker 1: You can find it wherever podcasts are found, search for 773 00:45:26,480 --> 00:45:28,640 Speaker 1: it online. The U R role is a mess, so 774 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:31,200 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna say it out loud, but if you 775 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 1: see the show notes on your podcast app, you should 776 00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:36,759 Speaker 1: just be able to click the link there. I want 777 00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:40,040 Speaker 1: you to think about the worst and the best for 778 00:45:40,120 --> 00:45:45,240 Speaker 1: you in this pandemic, Like, what's the worst thing you've experienced, 779 00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:48,240 Speaker 1: Maybe you lost a job, maybe you lost a person. 780 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:54,480 Speaker 1: Make a little space to grieve and acknowledge that. And 781 00:45:54,520 --> 00:45:57,640 Speaker 1: on the flip side, what's the best thing that's happened 782 00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:02,440 Speaker 1: to you during this pandemic? Have you had more quality 783 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:05,520 Speaker 1: time with your friends? Did you finally clean your garage? 784 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,080 Speaker 1: I don't care how big or small the thing is. 785 00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:13,600 Speaker 1: Embrace it. Embrace the positives and the negatives of this 786 00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:18,319 Speaker 1: COVID year. We are in without guilt, without shame, and 787 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 1: know that you are not alone in that. I want 788 00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:28,399 Speaker 1: you to recommit to suppressing this virus. We can do this, 789 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:32,239 Speaker 1: but we all need to show up to this. We 790 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:37,880 Speaker 1: know it's hard, we're tired, and we're angry, but I 791 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:40,800 Speaker 1: want us to remember why we are making these sacrifices. 792 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:46,279 Speaker 1: It's not to satisfy a public health bureaucrat. We make 793 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:51,080 Speaker 1: these sacrifices to save lives. We make them to keep 794 00:46:51,080 --> 00:46:54,879 Speaker 1: our health care system from being overrun, which we all need, 795 00:46:54,960 --> 00:47:00,080 Speaker 1: whether we have COVID or not. Keep physical just and 796 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:07,120 Speaker 1: wear masks, wash hands. Let's dig deep and rediscover the 797 00:47:07,239 --> 00:47:11,560 Speaker 1: spirit of shared sacrifice that has enabled us to rise 798 00:47:11,640 --> 00:47:16,360 Speaker 1: to other difficult moments in our past. I'm not asking 799 00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:20,600 Speaker 1: you to go overseas to enlist in the armed services. 800 00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:23,800 Speaker 1: I'm not asking you to melt down all your spare copper. 801 00:47:24,719 --> 00:47:28,400 Speaker 1: I'm asking you to work with each other, to help 802 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:32,359 Speaker 1: each other and recommit to that because I'm tired too. 803 00:47:33,120 --> 00:47:36,719 Speaker 1: I'm not sitting up here just like adhering to everything easily. 804 00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:39,959 Speaker 1: It is exhausting, but we can do this. We must 805 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:44,839 Speaker 1: do this all right. On the external action front, if 806 00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 1: you can support a local COVID relief fund, Dr Osterholme 807 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:52,839 Speaker 1: talked about the increase savings rate. Many of us are 808 00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:57,920 Speaker 1: suffering extraordinarily financially. Some of us are doing much better 809 00:47:58,280 --> 00:48:01,919 Speaker 1: or good enough and can spare something. So I want 810 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:05,560 Speaker 1: you to search in your search engine of choice for 811 00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:09,640 Speaker 1: donate COVID relief fund and then the name of your city. 812 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:14,000 Speaker 1: Find a way to support someone who needs it right 813 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,600 Speaker 1: now and make it easier for them to help us 814 00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:22,560 Speaker 1: all stay safe. Reach out to someone who's isolated. This 815 00:48:22,719 --> 00:48:25,640 Speaker 1: comes right from Dr Ulster home. There are so many 816 00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:28,680 Speaker 1: of us who've had to retreat from company, from each 817 00:48:28,719 --> 00:48:32,439 Speaker 1: other for our health. Check in on those people, give 818 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:36,960 Speaker 1: them a call, a video chat, stop by safely distantly 819 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:40,000 Speaker 1: to let them know that they're not in fact alone 820 00:48:40,120 --> 00:48:46,120 Speaker 1: because you're there. And finally, be kind and spread that 821 00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:50,799 Speaker 1: pandemic of kindness to counter the pandemic of fear, the 822 00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:57,480 Speaker 1: pandemic of COVID. Do something nice and unexpected for someone today. 823 00:48:57,520 --> 00:49:03,319 Speaker 1: Anyone small is okay. Just do it, and then do 824 00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:08,960 Speaker 1: something else for someone else tomorrow and repeat that and 825 00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:12,360 Speaker 1: tell us about it. Hit us up, tell someone about 826 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:14,960 Speaker 1: to put it on the hashtag, email us action how 827 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:20,440 Speaker 1: to citizen dot Com Stretch beyond your comfort zone that 828 00:49:20,560 --> 00:49:27,120 Speaker 1: we're struggling through in these unprecedented times. We're in a 829 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:35,120 Speaker 1: hard moment and I acknowledge that. But we're here so 830 00:49:36,280 --> 00:49:39,479 Speaker 1: we can still do and we must. We must show 831 00:49:39,560 --> 00:49:42,920 Speaker 1: up and invest in each other, know our power, and 832 00:49:43,560 --> 00:49:48,400 Speaker 1: serve the many, not the few. Let's do this for 833 00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:55,480 Speaker 1: each other. Thank you. As always, we welcome your contributions, 834 00:49:55,600 --> 00:49:59,400 Speaker 1: your thoughts, comments at how to citizen dot com. You 835 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,080 Speaker 1: can visit the website. How does citizen dot com Find 836 00:50:02,160 --> 00:50:06,160 Speaker 1: me online? Wherever barrattone day? The user name is found? 837 00:50:06,360 --> 00:50:11,279 Speaker 1: That is me, Patreon, Instagram, everywhere. I got them all 838 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:15,480 Speaker 1: and you can text me two to eight nine four four. 839 00:50:15,880 --> 00:50:18,160 Speaker 1: Put the words citizen in there so I know how 840 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:24,880 Speaker 1: you found me. Congratulations. We made it through another election, 841 00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:27,000 Speaker 1: and we are going to make it through this pandemic 842 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 1: if we do it together. How does Citizen with Barton 843 00:50:32,080 --> 00:50:35,880 Speaker 1: Day as a production of I Heart Radio Podcasts, Executive 844 00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:39,560 Speaker 1: produced by Miles Gray, Nick Stump, Elizabeth Stewart and Barratton 845 00:50:39,640 --> 00:50:44,000 Speaker 1: day Thurston. Produced by Joel Smith, Edited by Justin Smith. 846 00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:46,080 Speaker 1: Powered by you