Still Here: A Podcast From The Sick Times

In this episode of Still Here: Betsy Ladyzhets and Heather Hogan recap two April 24 arts events focused on creating space for artists with Long COVID to share their work safely and provide a container for the spectrum of emotions they're feeling. And freelance writer Anna Wenner talks about the importance of self-advocacy after it took two ER trips for doctors to recognize she had a pulmonary embo...

In August, leading Long COVID researchers will gather in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a major conference on Long COVID and other post-acute infection syndromes. (Find more information about the meeting, including deadlines for scholarships and short talks, on the Keystone Symposia website .) The meeting, organized by Long COVID experts and hosted by the nonprofit Keystone Symposia, follows a similar c...

In this episode of Still Here: Science journalist Colleen de Bellefonds discusses a spinal surgery that can help reduce symptoms for some people who have a rare complication of myalgic encephalomyelitis — and, increasingly, Long COVID. And writer and COVID resource archivist Nadica Zimmerman shares experiences from people still practicing COVID safety in the midst of a lack of community support. A...

The Trump administration's order to eliminate $11 billion in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants has already impacted some state health departments' work monitoring and researching Long COVID — even with those cuts in limbo. And in her collection "Days of Grace and Silence: A Chronicle of COVID's Long Haul," Ann E. Wallace chronicles her and her daughters' ongoing journey through Lon...

While tilt table testing is considered the "gold standard" for POTS diagnoses, it can prove risky for many with Long COVID. And on average, the Severe ME Advocacy group sees at least one crisis case from a person with Severe ME facing potentially fatal medical neglect or traumatic medical abuse. In this episode of Still Here: Author and reporter Justine Barron talks about the nuance of tilt table...

Lisa McCorkell, one of the founders of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative (or PLRC), recently stepped down after five years co-leading the organization. She spoke with Still Here co-host Betsy Ladyzhets about formative Long COVID studies, advocating for federal funding, developing new patient-led initiatives, and more. The full transcript of this interview is available on The Sick Times' websi...

Last week, a federal order to rescind COVID-related funding meant over 45 grants for Long COVID pathobiology studies through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) RECOVER initiative were canceled. But after reporting from The Sick Times and Chemical & Engineering News , advocates sprung into action, and days after the initial cancellation, the grants were reinstated. And bird flu outbreaks t...

The Office of Long COVID Research and Practice is the latest on the Trump administration's chopping block. It's in line with steps taken to target and erase federal responses to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Long COVID crisis. And finding a friend with Long COVID proves a transformative gift for a fellow performer living with Long COVID. In this episode of Still Here: Co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets...

Long COVID is an international public health crisis, and while its effects are felt around the world, access to research and understanding about the virus is not equal. And coming to accept one's disabled identity when living with Long COVID can bring up an array of emotions. In this episode of Still Here: Freelance journalist Rishabh Jain talks with co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis abou...

On March 11, 2020, the U.S. government declared COVID-19 a national public health emergency. Five years later, millions of people have developed Long COVID — both before the emergency was declared, like co-host Miles Griffis, and many more after. In this episode of Still Here: Griffis reflects on five years of having Long COVID and discusses the impact people with Long COVID have had on painting a...

While the federal government has historically supported workers with disabilities, many workers with Long COVID worry accommodations such as working remotely are now threatened under the Trump administration. Plus, see The Sick Times live virtually or in New York City on March 18 to commemorate Long COVID Awareness Day and month. In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Betsy Ladyzhets shares the ex...

Before a federal advisory committee on Long COVID even had its first meeting, Trump ordered it shut down. Plus, the isolation of being shut down when advocating for COVID-19 preventative measures and Long COVID awareness in leftist spaces. In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Miles Griffis shares his reporting on Trump's executive order shutting down the Department of Health and Human Services'...

In this episode of Still Here: Invivyd chairman Marc Elia speaks with co-host Miles Griffis about his recent op-ed for The Sick Times about how bureaucracy is killing people with Long COVID and the role of monoclonal antibodies in the ongoing pandemic. And freelance health and science reporter Annika Hom speaks with co-host Betsy Ladyzhets about efforts to establish a national clinical guideline f...

In this episode: How can reframing pandemics as inevitable change the way we prepare for them? And looking at Long COVID resources for getting accommodations. Writer-owned science publication Sequencer Magazine co-founder and writer Max Levy talks with co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets, along with producer James Salanga, about ways we might be able to prepare for another pandemic as bird...

In this episode: How has the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted friendships? Sociologist October Krausch looked at over 2,500 survey responses to learn more.  They speak with co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis, along with producer James Salanga, about their findings and what pandemic-aware friendship looks like now. Also in this episode: an update on how RECOVER has been impacted by the Tr...

Access to COVID-19 data during the federal health communications pause. And a breakdown about why the Affordable Care Act might be at risk, from a freelancer with Long COVID.  In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Betsy Ladyzhets speaks with co-host Miles Griffis and producer James Salanga about her reporting on the U.S. COVID-19 data landscape. And freelancer Bobbi Dempsey shares why the ACA is...

A blood-based biomarker for Long COVID could be on the horizon. And living with Long COVID as a Palestinian in the United States. In this episode of Still Here: Co-host Miles Griffis speaks with co-host Betsy Ladyzhets and producer James Salanga about their newest reporting on Long COVID biomarkers. Long COVID Justice’s BIPOC Communicators Fellow Jenna Laila Bitar reads a portion of their essay ab...

In this episode: Los Angeles-area COVID-19 mutual aid groups jumped to action to minimize the impact of wildfire smoke (and COVID!) as wildfires worsen air quality. Mask Bloc LA distributed over 43,000 masks in the first week of the wildfires. Freelance reporter and Long COVID patient advocate Sam Rhodehamel talks with producer James Salanga and co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets about the...

In this episode: A new guide to navigating COVID boundaries, changing relationships due to Long COVID, and the ongoing organizing work around COVID and disability justice. Also, an end-of-the-year fundraiser update. Investigative journalist Violet Blue speaks with podcast producer James Salanga about The COVID Safety Handboook. Also, co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets recap the latest COVI...

In this episode (the last of 2024!): With little support and no approved treatments, online drug markets are one way that people with Long COVID are seeking to improve their quality of life. This week, co-hosts Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles Griffis talk with producer James Salanga to recap reporting from freelancer Hannah Buttle about this phenomenon and the current state of potential Long COVID treat...

In this episode: What does it sound like to be alienated as an Jewish anti-Zionist living with ME/CFS during a mass-disabling pandemic? For Dan Fishback, it's rock music. The Sick Times' engagement editor Heather Hogan interviewed Dan about his production, which shows Saturday and Sunday at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater in New York City. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and upd...

In this episode: How could funding for and progress on Long COVID research change under the Trump administration? Co-host Betsy Ladyzhets talks with producer James Salanga about her reporting to map out the potential landscape. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, an anniversary zine and update about how our end-of-year fundraiser is going, a study examining SARS-CoV-2 spike protein...

In this episode: Where are the Long COVID clinical trials for kids? There are only two pediatric clinical trials testing drugs to treat Long COVID in kids — and only one of them is in the U.S. This week, reporter Simon Spichak speaks with podcast producer James Salanga about why there are so few of these pediatric clinical trials. Also in this episode: co-hosts Miles Griffis and Betsy Ladyzhets sh...

This week, we celebrate one year of The Sick Times! The Sick Times team discusses the newsroom's origin story, what the publication means to them, and what the next year (and hopefully years, plural) holds. Also in this episode: the latest COVID-19 numbers, and recapping the team's coverage of the Fall 2024 PolyBio Symposium on Long COVID Research. The transcript for this podcast is ⁠available on...

In this episode: Disability visibility via SICK Pride in South Africa and The Sick Times' end-of-year fundraiser. Sam Pearce, a Cape Town-based writer living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and Mlindeni Gabela, the Long COVID Ambassador for ME and Long COVID Unite South Africa, share their experience organizing SICK Pride, an event creating visibility for their illnesses. Co-hosts Betsy Ladyz...