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 the 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