Look Closer Podcast Will & Elizabeth Darden

In our final episode of Season Two, we reflect on our conversations from this season and talk about the amazing guests who shared their stories with us. Then, we close by sharing an original piece called "Cracks: A World Shaped By COVID-19" that reflects on the injustices of our society and muses on how America will be different once the worst of the pandemic passes (06:15).

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In our penultimate episode of Season Two, we talk with Abby Benson and Clare O'Brien, RNs serving in different North Carolina hospitals, about the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on their work as nurses. At the beginning, we ask Clare and Abby to share a bit about themselves and discuss how their experiences working in hospitals have been similar or different to the accounts of healthcare workers documented in the media (02:00). Then, we ask the two of them to share with our listeners what it would feel like to walk in their shoes during a shift for a day (09:05). At the break, we discuss how social distancing can help save lives by "flattening the curve" of the virus and limiting the number of people requiring hospitalization at the same time (15:20). Later, we invite Clare and Abby to share things that have surprised them and giving them hope during this unique season working in healthcare (19:40) before finally inviting them to share how their faith has been affected by the impact of the virus (32:05).

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In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Hill & Alex "Big" Blake to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on sports. In the beginning, we discuss how no live sports on TV has affected each of us (01:50) and the unique challenges facing sports like UFC and WWE as they plan upcoming events without fans (06:05). Then, we talk about whether golf would be better or worse without fans and debate whether The Masters in November will still be engaging to watch (07:30). At the break, we share a story from our neighborhood about a local teacher serving meals to her students' families and invite listeners to partner with her (16:00). After we return, we share the oddities of watching championship replays on TV (17:40) and laugh about the absurdity of seeing NBA players playing NBA 2K and H.O.R.S.E. on TV (19:00). Finally, we talk about the potential upside of players being quarantined and forced to practice alone (24:00) and wonder aloud about potential timelines and/or restrictions on live sports coming back into our lives (25:55).

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In this episode, we sit down with Suz Arant, a childhood friend of Elizabeth’s, to talk about her recent engagement to her fiancé, Nate, and the impact of COVID-19 on their wedding planning process. At the beginning, Suz shares how the virus has affected her day-to-day life as an elementary school teacher in the Memphis area (03:30). Then, we ask Suz to share the story of how she and Nate met as well as the details of the proposal (06:10) and invite her to share her top wedding priorities from the pre-Coronavirus planning season (13:10). During the break, we share an opportunity for our listeners to partner with the company JOANN as they work to create 100 million masks for medical professionals assisting those affected by COVID-19 (16:05). When we return, we invite Suz to share how she is doing with the changes brought about by this season and the impact that the virus has had on their wedding plans (17:30). Finally, Suz shares some things she is grieving during this time and where she finds her hope going forward (32:20).

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In this episode, we talk with Sanchez Fair, father, artist, small business owner and pastor, about the impact of the virus on his family and business, as well as the effects of the pandemic on communities of color around the country. At the beginning, Sanchez shares about his wife and two boys and how the changes brought about by this season have affected their family dynamics (01:55). Then, we ask Sanchez about the effect that the virus has had on his work (06:50) and look deeper into the disruption of his business, Stable Hand (10:50). At the break, we share how our listeners can support Stable Hand and its employees during this nontraditional season (16:25). When we return, we discuss the impact that closing everything except essential businesses has had on poorer communities of color as well as the unique challenge of properly defining what is “essential” when giving guidelines to broad groups of people (18:05). Later, we talk about the history and circumstances that have made people of color more vulnerable to the health risks and economic fallout caused by the virus (28:00). Finally, Sanchez shares his vision for how he hopes the Church will respond to this international pandemic and offers hope for people whose lives have been upended by COVID-19 (36:30).

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In this episode, we talk with Ashley Cramer, Associate Pastor at Center City Church in Charlotte, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both our faith community and faith communities around the world. First, Ashley shares about her background as a missionary in various countries (02:20) and how her work as a pastor has changed since the coronavirus restrictions took place (05:20). Next, we ask Ashley to share how Center City (little "C" church!) is responding to the pandemic and trying to meet the needs of the community (11:10). At the break we share about #CLTStrong, a GoFundMe started to purchase meals from local restaurants and provide them to hospital staff on the front lines treating COVID-19 patients (15:35). Later, we ask Ashley to share some spiritual advice to people who are affected by the impact of this virus (17:10) and discuss how the Big "C" Church is responding during this season and wonder together what changes the virus might bring about in the world a year from now (23:25).

To support #CLTStrong visit bit.ly/lookclosercltstrong

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