Shanghai, China: A snapshot into the future of life during COVID-19 (Guest, Austin Sheppard)

04/07/20 • 61 min

distanced.: Life during the age of the Coronavirus.

Americans are just getting used to life in quarantine during the age of the Coronavirus. But China has an 8-week head start. The first episode of 'distanced./ explores what our future holds through a lengthy interview with an American expat in China. What will life look like for us in the future?

Austin Sheppard works in the software industry and has been in China for many years. He recounts the moment he first knew COVID-19 was going to be a big deal. And what the immediate ramifications were after.

Austin talks about how life immediately changed. And the American media's mis perception that China's lockdown measures were 'draconian'. Austin talks about what a return to normalcy may look like, and how many years it may take til things get back to the way they were.

We learn about the effect of COVID on small businesses in China. And Austin talks about his love for Orangetheory and Taco Bell.

What does the future hold for all of us? The first episode if distanced explores this and more.

We learn about the effect of COVID on small businesses in China. And Austin talks about his love for Orangetheory and Taco Bell.

What does the future hold for all of us? The first episode if distanced explores this and more.

Previous Episode

distanced. Trailer.

Welcome to distanced - a podcast about life during the age of the Coronavirus. My goal for distanced is to give listeners a view into how life is changing in various cities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next Episode

Stanford, CA: Eerily Quiet on the Front Lines of the Battle (Guest, Sumit Shah)

Sumit Shah is a Doctor at Stanford, where he treats cancer patients. Sumit is atop his field and is highly concerned about the effect COVID can have on the vulnerable population - which is literally everyone he treats.

I talk to Sumit about testing and why it is important. We get a detailed glimpse into what life is like in the hospital. Eerily, it's quieter than usual. But is it the calm before the storm? Many are waiting for an influx of patients that may or may not come.

And strangely - the normal patient population - people who would have otherwise showed up to the hospital are not there anymore. What has happened to that group of people? We ask Sumit this and more.

Sumit describes the day to day risks frontline workers have to take in this environment - and their outlook and attitude on potentially catching COVID and exposing their families.

We ask Sumit about day to day life - including questions around food delivery and quarantine. Don't miss this informative episode of distanced.