All Told The Washington Post

Washington Post education reporter Laura Meckler takes listeners behind the reporting for her story “The test of their lives,” in which she spent months watching a public-school teacher and his students confront the challenges of life without a classroom.

The world is looking to Timothy Sheahan for hope. He’s a virologist at UNC-Chapel Hill leading the effort to develop a coronavirus vaccine—and fast. He shared recordings of a week in his life, from May 28 to June 3, for this series finale.

Amid Washington protests, Dr. Yetunde Patrick reopened her dentist office — juggling COVID-19 concerns and staff shortages while watching her city burn and teaching her son about his blackness. She shared recordings with The Post from May 28 to June 3.

A massive dam failure in Midland, Mich., left an entire community literally underwater during the coronavirus pandemic. Jacob May, a high school senior who saw the devastation ravage his hometown, shared recordings with The Post from April 25 to May 23.

With her college graduation canceled, Rachel Leach had to process the significance of her achievement in solitude — revisiting memories of her journey out of poverty. She shared recordings with The Post from May 9 to 18.

As the meat industry struggles in the pandemic, consumers are seeing lower supplies and higher prices for beef. But the strain has also hit independent ranchers such as Terry Swanson of Colorado. He shared recordings with The Post from April 28 to May 7.