A Peace of My Mind

Deborah Doering is an artist and educator in Harlem, New York. We talk about her bike ride through a seemingly empty Manhattan, the nightly 7 pm banging of pots to celebrate the frontline healthcare workers and her sense of when she might be ready to venture onto a crowded subway train again.
You can see some photos of Deborah's bike ride on our Facebook page.

Mike Arneson lives in Big Sky, Montana, but he is sheltering in place with his aging parents in La Crosse, Wisconsin while his wife Sue helps take care of their grandson Hank in Minneapolis to help their children who are both working from home. We talk about their quick decision to leave Big Sky, the tag team nature of their family help in two separate states, and Mike's adjustment to a slower pace.

Danny O'Neel is a U.S. Army veteran and a fellow at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. He lives in Folsom, California. We talk about his work with veterans who suffer from PTSD and how social isolation is impacting some of them. We talk about his own struggles with attempted suicide, how he overcame them and where he finds hope today. And we talk about his family's celebration of his daughter's 10th birthday in quarantine.
Please know that there are some graphic details in Danny's story, so use discretion when listening. And if you struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts please reach out for help. As Danny tells his fellow veterans, "You are not alone."
If you need help and don't know where to start, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Jody Ross was tested for COVID-19 in Minneapolis on March 18, 2020 and immediately started isolating. Her test came back positive on March 23. She has now been cleared to come out of quarantine by the Minnesota Department of Health and is doing well. We talk about the process of testing, her methods of self-care and her hope that people can use this time of social distancing as a boot camp for personal wellness.

Lauren Reliford is the political director for Sojourners in Washington, DC. Her work is centered on applying social theory, spirituality, research, and practice to the political policy that guides our nation.
We talked about her political theory, her efforts to influence policy makers to legislate for the common good, and her inclination to care deeply.