The Wedge Colorado Public Radio

New York-based journalist Erica Anderson is fighting with her mom Kini Christie about the Covid vaccine. It’s early 2021, and Erica, who struggled through a bout of Covid early in the pandemic, is eagerly anticipating the vaccine’s arrival. Her mom is suspicious of the vaccine’s safety and says there’s no way she’ll get the shot. In an effort to maintain her relationship with her mother, Erica asks Kini to talk through their differences. However, things only get more complicated from there. Episode 1 of 6.

Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Thanks to The City’s “Missing Them” event for providing audio.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.

Erica and Kini start their conversation about the Covid-19 vaccine by taking a look back at Kini’s past and how she came to her views. Erica learns about her family’s history of medical skepticism and the traumas that fractured Kini's trust in traditional authorities. And Erica gains a deeper understanding of how Kini thrived in and was supported by the alternative health and spiritual community in Boulder, Colorado. Episode 2 of 6.

Content Advisory: This episode contains stories of maternal loss and trauma.


Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.

Frustrated with her efforts to talk to her mom Kini about the Covid-19 vaccine, Erica decides the two of them need help, and she asks Kini to come to therapy with her. Dr. Julie Colwell, Erica’s long-time therapist, guides mother and daughter, helping them understand the feelings they share. Episode 3 of 6.

Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.

Erica and Kini begin to carry out their plan to learn more about the Covid-19 vaccine, with Erica taking the lead. Erica’s stated goal is to find understanding and coexistence with Kini – not to try to change her mother’s mind. But it’s much more complicated. Episode 4 of 6.

Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.

Angry and frustrated by her conversations with her mother, Erica goes back to her therapist, Dr. Julie Colwell. Julie helps Erica see how her own fears are driving the frustration and anger she feels towards Kini. Erica decides to face the difficult choices in front of her, starting by scheduling her first Covid shot. Episode 5 of 6.


Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.

After months of discussions with her mom about Covid and vaccinations, Erica, now seven months pregnant, and her partner go visit Kini in Hawaii. With Covid on the decline and basking in family closeness, Erica decides to figure out a way for Kini to safely come to New York for the birth. But when Erica and her partner get home to Brooklyn a new Covid variant complicates their vision. As the birth draws nearer, Erica and Kini are forced to set their boundaries and find compromises. How will Kini meet the baby? As their family grows, can they keep from growing apart? Episode 6 of 6.


Host & producer: Erica Anderson
Senior producer: Maia Laperle
Series editor: Emily Harris
Final mixes and sound design: Josh Wilcox, with Walter Nordquist, Brooklyn Podcasting Studio
Executive producer: Eve Pearlman

Special, heartfelt thanks to Erica’s mom, Kini Christie, for being willing to have these conversations. Much love.

Thanks to the many other people who made these conversations possible, especially Dr. Julie Colwell, Dr. Keren Landman and Jonathan Jarry.

Executive Producer of Colorado Public Radio’s Audio Innovations Studio: Brad Turner
Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón
Marketing support: Clara Shelton, Jodi Gersh
Additional support: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Erin Jones, Luis Antonio Perez, Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper.

For more about Spaceship Media: Journalism to Bridge Divides, visit Spaceshipmedia.org. Contact: spaceshipmedia@spaceshipmedia.org

For more on Colorado Public Radio’s podcasts, visit cpr.org/podcasts or follow us on Twitter: @CoPublicRadio.