The Way We Live Now
“The Way We Live Now” is a new daily show hosted by Dani Shapiro, in which she has a searching, intimate conversation with an assortment of guests from every walk of life and corner of the globe. How do we live now, when we’re all isolated in our own homes? We can’t gather. We can’t hold each other close. We can’t break bread. Whether we’re alone or with our families, our routines have been upended. What’s that like? We’re longing for connection, and to know how it is inside each other’s lives. Dani will speak with a NYC nurse, a senator, a teacher, a movie star, a chef with a small restaurant who cooks take-out each day, a college student who won’t wear a cap and gown, a high school student stuck at home with her parents, a patient undergoing cancer treatment, a postmistress, a university president, a rabbi, a minister, a yoga teacher, a meditation expert, and so many more. Every one of us is navigating our lives in our own way, and a rich tapestry of voices will be a comfort and a source of connection, in just fifteen minutes a day.
Society & Culture 60 rész
Ep. 59: Friday Listener Stories
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60. rész
Today we hear from a caller who was once on life support about how the experience shifted her entire world view; Kendra, a listener who finds comfort in the little moments she shares with her nine-year-old daughter; and a woman with bipolar II disorder who has come up with her own strategy for managing her days in quarantine. To share your story—and to connect with others about how they’re living now—visit our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewaywelivenowpod
Ep. 58: Dani
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59. rész
The host of this podcast looks back on the intimate, thought-provoking conversations she’s had over the past 57 episodes, and describes the way she’s living now.
Ep. 57: Elizabeth
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58. rész
The founder of a beloved East Coast retreat center misses the magic that happens when we gather together in person to learn, or to celebrate, or to mourn.
Ep. 56: Eric
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57. rész
An E.R. doctor describes an unsettling decrease in emergency room visits, and wonders just how many patients in need of urgent care are avoiding the hospital due to fears of COVID.
Ep. 55: Natashia
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56. rész
A creative writing teacher, author, lawyer, and activist — balancing multiple careers, a son with special needs, a teenage daughter, and a husband — unwinds at the end of the day by driving around with no destination in mind.
Ep. 59: Friday Listener Stories
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55. rész
Today we hear from Mary, who has to watch her sister battle brain cancer from afar; Carol, a childcare center director who’s now fighting to keep her industry afloat; and Greg, who recently underwent stem cell treatment for lymphoma. To share your story—and to potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 53: Mark
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54. rész
A psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher discusses the hard truths many of us are being forced to confront while our busy lives are on hold.
Ep. 52: Chelsea
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A writer and musician feels resentful of the growing carelessness she sees in public spaces, knowing that her parents—both nurses—continue to put their lives on the line every day.
Ep. 51: Arthur
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52. rész
A psychiatrist and medical anthropologist, who became his wife’s primary caregiver after she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, shares what he’s learned about the transformative experience of caring for those who are too ill to take care of themselves.
Ep. 50: Ally
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51. rész
A yoga teacher learns to get comfortable with the discomfort of knowing that we live in an unpredictable, uncontrollable world.
Ep. 49: Friday Listener Stories
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50. rész
Today we hear from Alicia, an English teacher who got a grim preview of life during lockdown during video chats with her students in China; Tanya, a school food services director in Paradise, CA, which is still recovering from the devastating wildfire that swept through in 2018; and Gail, who recently took on the strange, heartbreaking task of planning a Zoom funeral for her mother. To share your story—and to potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 48: Niamey
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49. rész
A breast cancer surgeon is back in the O.R., operating on patients who had to put off major procedures during lockdown.
Ep. 47: Bryan
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The obituary editor for The Boston Globe fields requests from grieving families dealing with a unique kind of pain right now: the understanding that they can’t say a proper goodbye to their loved ones.
Ep. 46: Erica
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A woman new to organizing decides to hold a small protest in her Connecticut town—and is moved to tears when she sees how many people show up to march alongside her.
Ep. 45: Patrick
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A farmer in Connecticut is stunned—and grateful—to see his business booming as his customers embrace a slower pace of life.
Ep. 44: Friday Listener Stories
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45. rész
Today we hear from Kristen, a new mom who has real reservations about the world she’ll be raising her daughter in; Danica, a mental health professional who can’t keep up with the demand for her services; and Julie, an artist questioning whether she really wants to go back to the way things were. To share your story—and to potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 43: Allison
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44. rész
A Nashville-based singer-songwriter reimagines her live performances, and celebrates the little things with her 10-year-old, who has autism.
Ep. 42: Austin
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43. rész
An author and anti-racism activist hopes the commitment to change persists once everyone heads back to their workplaces, schools, and houses of worship.
Ep. 41: Kimberly
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42. rész
A documentary filmmaker with a rare neurological disorder draws strength from a community of people who know what it’s like to live with chronic illness.
Ep. 40: Maya
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41. rész
A single writer who had just started dating for the first time since her divorce navigates a new, promising relationship.
Ep. 39: Friday Listener Stories
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40. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from Emily, who is trying to manage a family member’s scary mental health crisis; a listener who admits she’s resorted to hiding in her car in order to get some time alone; and Judith, who learned about the sudden death of her estranged husband just a couple weeks ago. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 38: Kiese
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39. rész
A writer and professor in Mississippi reflects
on this moment of reckoning.
Ep. 37: Carolyn & Darcy
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38. rész
Two small business owners from upstate New York make the heartbreaking decision to shutter their beloved shop.
Ep. 36: Rouben
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37. rész
A flight attendant and yoga instructor stays grounded—literally and figuratively—during a two-month leave from his airline.
Ep. 35: Anna
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36. rész
An author whose third book was published in early May tries to navigate a virtual book tour—and remain optimistic about the future of the novel she worked on for more than three years.
Ep. 34: Friday Listener Stories
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35. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from Allie, who, in an effort to manage her anxiety, had finally gotten permission to start working from home one day a week; Meg, a nurse practitioner whose grown sons had lots of happy milestones to look forward to in 2020; and Sarah, who found herself despairing over the state of the planet long before the pandemic hit. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 33: Terry
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34. rész
One of our most beloved chroniclers of the natural world feels more connected than ever to the environment—and to her students, now scattered all over the globe.
Ep. 32: Omar
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33. rész
An NYC-based chef, quarantining with family in the city where he grew up, gains a new perspective on his hometown—and his place in it.
Ep. 31: Galen
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32. rész
A Unitarian Universalist minister advocates for a new kind of spiritual practice—gratitude—one even the least religious among us can draw comfort from.
Ep. 30: Shy
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31. rész
An up-and-coming actor in L.A. refuses to abandon her lifelong dream, instead using her time at home to get ready for her big break when restrictions lift.
Ep. 29: Friday Listener Stories
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30. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from Suzie, who has been unable to visit her parents in their assisted living facility down the road; Abby, whose six-year-old has some strong opinions about both the pandemic and her dad’s new haircut; and Robert, a truck driver who has seen both the best and the worst of humanity along his route. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 28: Brandon
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29. rész
An Alabama-based chef puzzles over the theft of his restaurant’s 18-foot barbecue rig, taken just days after his city’s stay-at-home order began.
Ep. 27: Elissa
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28. rész
A writer shelters in place with the very person she spent years trying to distance herself from: her 84-year-old mother, Rita.
Ep. 26: Randall
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A psychiatrist specializing in addiction talks about the unique challenges people in recovery are facing — and shares some advice for anyone worried that their coping mechanisms are doing more harm than good.
Ep. 25: Lindsey
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An indie rock star, accustomed to life on the road, now finds herself writing songs for her new album from her childhood bedroom.
Ep. 24: Friday Listener Stories
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25. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from Diana, a textile artist-turned-activist; Petra, a Londoner starting over after separating from her husband; Amy, a children’s book author juggling work and homeschooling her autistic son; and an American in Prague who was unable to come home due to travel restrictions. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 23: Gabe
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24. rész
A fourth-year medical student graduates early to join his colleagues on the frontlines of New York City’s pandemic response.
Ep. 22: Michael
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A university president tries to plan for an uncertain future — and considers ways to make his campus safe enough to welcome students back in the fall.
Ep. 21: Suleika
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A writer and cancer survivor, leaning on lessons she learned while battling leukemia in her 20s, now helps others make meaningful connections as they adjust to life in isolation.
Ep. 20: Antonio
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The owner of a famed small hotel in Positano, Italy — who would normally be making preparations for the busiest time of year — finds beauty and solace in his beloved village, and the unexpected gift of slowing down.
Ep. 19: Friday Listener Stories
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20. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from Valerie, a mobile dog groomer; Bethany, recovering from major surgery; Maritsa, a grocery store manager; and Jessica, who lost her home in the tornadoes that swept through Tennessee at the end of March. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 18: Gabby
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19. rész
A motivational speaker gives herself — and us — permission to “rage on the page.”
Ep. 17: Emily
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An independent bookseller is blown away by the outpouring of support from her customers — and is hosting virtual events that are larger than ever.
Ep. 16: Melissa
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A food writer and cookbook author can’t sell her husband or daughter on her favorite comfort dish: soupy cabbage with cheese.
Ep. 15: Zeke
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16. rész
A bioethicist predicts we’ll all emerge from this with a newfound appreciation of our offscreen connections.
Ep. 14: Friday Listener Stories
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15. rész
On today’s episode, we hear from a caller sheltering in place with her 94-year-old mother; Amanda, who just lost her partner to breast cancer; and Melinda, who gave birth to her second child last month. To share your story—and potentially be featured on an upcoming episode—leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 13: Jacob
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14. rész
A college sophomore, back under his parents’ roof after his semester abroad is cut short, celebrates his 21st birthday in quarantine
Ep. 12: Eileen
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13. rész
A nurse in NYC is haunted by the fact that her COVID patients have to suffer without loved ones by their side.
Ep. 11: Nick
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12. rész
A comedian contemplates his overgrown beard, his overgrown backyard, and what happens when we all take a break from keeping up appearances.
Ep. 10: Esmé
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11. rész
A novelist and essayist living with late-stage Lyme and schizoaffective disorder opens up about Twitter, trauma, and trying to make art in the face of both her chronic illness and the troubling reality we now find ourselves in.
Ep. 09: Friday Listener Stories
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10. rész
Maureen, a teacher, Kiki, who works at a hospital, and Julia, an up-and-coming artist, share their stories. To be featured on an upcoming episode, leave us a voicemail at 909-713-8995.
Ep. 08: Anne
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9. rész
A bestselling author, now sober for more than three decades, resolves not to let her inner critic — a.k.a. “the cranky b*tch upstairs” — have the final word when old feelings of shame resurface during quarantine.
Ep. 07: David
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8. rész
A rabbi explains why learning to sit with life’s big questions and being comfortable not knowing are infinitely more important than the answers themselves.
Ep. 06: Claire
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7. rész
A therapist and grief counselor, sheltering in place with five kids, one baby, two dogs, two cats, and a husband, shares her thoughts on the “tsunami of grief” we are living through, from the quietest spot she can find — her parked car. (For more from Claire Bidwell Smith, check out her book Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief, available in paperback May 5
Ep. 05: Chris
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6. rész
A senator finds solace in the small acts of kindness he sees happening in his community — and hopes that we’ll all be better friends, neighbors, and citizens when this is over.
Ep. 04: Alicia
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5. rész
A jazz singer in New Orleans misses having an audience — and worries about keeping a roof over her head now that her shows have moved online. (To listen to recent performances from Alicia Renee, a.k.a. Blue Eyes, visit her Facebook page
Ep. 03: Jamie
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4. rész
A movie star (and self-described “hugger”) tries to embrace new ways of connecting.
Ep. 02: Suzanne
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3. rész
A primary-care physician nearing retirement deletes an email about volunteering in a COVID-19 clinic — then regret sets in.
Ep. 01: Serge
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2. rész
A chef at a small-town restaurant talks about keeping his business afloat, coming to terms with a new kind of solitude, and how he uses cooking to stay connected to the outside world.
Introducing: The Way We Live Now
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1. rész
We can’t gather. We can’t hold each other close. We can’t break bread. Whether we’re alone or with our families, our daily lives have been upended. On her new podcast The Way We Live Now, bestselling author and Family Secrets host Dani Shapiro has searching, intimate conversations with people from all walks of life about how they’re coping — and managing to stay connected. Mark your calendar: The Way We Live Now premieres April 14.
