Christina Pascucci heads out to Death Valley for an adventure to break the monotony of life amid coronavirus. She shares the natural wonders that can be found at one of the hottest places in the world, and learns about what the Oasis at Death Valley is doing to help keep people safe during their visits.

XPRIZE is a non-profit organization that hosts competitions intended to encourage technological development to benefit humanity. The foundation is giving away a $5,000,000 prize to the team who can develop a rapid, reliable, and affordable COVID-19 test. The goal is to accelerate radical solutions to solving COVID-19 and future pandemics. Christina speaks with XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari about their latest competition.

The race is on to develop a vaccine to fight off COVID-19. Biotech company Moderna says they're on track to finish enrollment for a Phase-3 study of its vaccine by the end of September. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says he remains "cautiously optimistic" in regards to the vaccine. He spoke with KTLA with more information about its development, when it can be expected, who will receive it, and more.

Since the begining of the pandemic, doctors and scientists around the world have been hard at work trying to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Cardiologist Dr. Norman Lepor is involved in the COLCORONA study, a government-funded clinical trial to get the answer as to the effectiveness of the drug called colchicine, which doctors hope may help patients diagnosed with COVID-19 avoid complications like hospitalizations, the need for ventilator assisted breathing, or even death....

On March 5th, 2020 Gregg Garfield checked himself into St. Josephs Providence Hospital in Burbank after a ski trip in Northern Italy. He would come to be known as "Patient Zero," the hospital's first COVID-19 patient. While in the hospital, Gregg's health went into a rapid decline, and his chances of survival appeared to be slim to none. In the end, however, even after seemingly knocking on death’s door, Gregg would be a survivor. He shares his story with Christina Pascucci.   

This week, the spotlight during the worsening COVID-19 pandemic fell on the question of whether or not studenst and faculty should return to school campuses in the Fall. While Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest public school system in California, announced students would not return to classrooms in the Fall, The Orange County Board of Education approved its recommendation that districts reopen schools without requiring the use of masks or social distancing. The guidelines were...

Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo is a physician, health policy researcher, and associate professor of medicine at UCLA. He recently wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal arguing that political leaders and health experts have politicized the pandemic response by sending mixed messages, implementing hypocritical policies, and becoming distracted with areas of controversy rather than focusing efforts on more pragmatic goals. Christina Pascucci speaks with Dr. Ladapo about how leaders have sown distrust,...

COVID-19 cases across the country are on the rise heading into the July 4th weekend. In response, state leaders have begun slowing or rolling back reopening efforts. Christina Pascucci speaks with Dr. William A. Haseltine about the basic practices people should take to reduce the likelihood of catching the disease. He also reveals some of the lesser talked about ways people may be putting themselves at risk.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise, stoking concerns across the state in the midst of reopening. The outbreak presents increased risks and dangers for communities of color. Christina Pascucci speaks with Nourbese Flint of the Black Women for Wellness. The organizations commitment is to the health and well-being of Black women and girls through health education, empowerment and advocacy. Nourbese explains what needs to be done for equality within our healthcare system.

Besides causing a global health crisis and economic turmoil, one of the other major effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is the shift it has lead to in our world view and the social upheaval it has influenced. With people having a sharpened focus towards important issues, the Black Lives Matter movement and their fight against racial injustice is receiving long overdue attention. On this episode, Christina is speaking with Dr. Malina Abdula, one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter Los...

As unrest and protests against police brutality and systemic racism continue, and COVID-19 cases continue to rise in California, many are turning to state and local leaders to address the issues of racial injustice and public health. Holly Mitchell has been a California State Senator since 2010. She’s also a candidate in the 2020 election to represent District 2 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Christina Pascucci recently spoke with Senator Mitchell on a number of topics...

The nation has taken to the streets to protest police brutality and institutional racism after the May 25th killing of George Floyd. How can citizens protect themselves and others from COVID-19 while raising their voices against racism? As the weary nation looks to heal, many have turned to religion, and houses of worship have been given the green light to open their doors once again. What steps are religious institutions taking to provide safety and comfort in these troubled times?

As the situation around the world continues to change every day, we want to be sure that we keep bringing you thoughtful and useful information about the COVID-19 pandemic as it fits into the greater context. So that we may better research new topics and gather resources, we will now be releasing new episodes of the podcast once a week, every Friday. We are now the Coronavirus Weekly podcast!

The state is beginning to reopen. Over the last few weeks, in-store retail shopping, places of worship, and even restaurant dining rooms are once again welcoming patrons in communities across the state of California. Some counties are even beginning to move into the early stages of phase 3 of the state's roadmap towards reopening. Many residence are thrilled to return to move towards a more normal way of life, but is it too soon?

As we head closer towards the summer months, the itch to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state might be getting more noticeable. Much to the delight of those who may be experiencing some cabin fever, more and more state parks and beaches are now open for people to enjoy new safety requirements. Now, National Parks are getting closer to reopening as well. Christina speaks with Trey Matheu of the Oasis at Death Valley, a hospitality resort for visitors to Death Valley National Park where...

We’re doing something pretty different on the podcast today. Now that we’re a few months into stay-at-home orders, you may find yourself not feeling 100% mentally and physically. Thursday, May 21st happens to be World Meditation Day. Christina is speaking with Shaman Durek, a 6th generation shaman and author. His teachings have impacted thousands of people, from diverse public figures like Nina Dobrev and Gwyneth Paltrow, to tech giants like Bulletproof Coffee founder Dave Asprey. Shaman...

Today on the podcast, christina pascucci is hitting the streets of Long Beach to find out more about a possible new solutions to helping out restaurants that have been battered by restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. The “Open Streets Initiative” would allow restaurants, bars, and cafes to take over parts of streets and parking lots to use for outdoor dining. Christina trekked over to Long Beach Coffee & Tea to chat with Tom West. Tom shares his thoughts on the Open Streets...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There’s perhaps no better time to be check in on your mental health than in the midst of a global pandemic. Many of us are feeling some sort of stress in these unprecedented times, whether it be physical, financial, or psychological. Today, Christina is talking with Diana Linn. Diana is an experienced marriage and family therapist and is skilled in trauma recovery work. She spoke with Christina about the importance of paying attention to your mental...

Drew Binsky is a world traveler and daily video maker who has been to 191 countries and has over 5 million social media followers. He tells compelling stories about people and culture, with a goal to spread positivity and shatter stereotypes. Due to COVID-19, Drew’s adventures around the world have come to a halt as he was looking to visit his final 6 countries while shooting a documentary. Still, because of his high profile in the travel world, many are looking to Drew to gain perspective on...

Los Angeles County health officials are concerned about a new cluster of COVID-19 cases in the San Fernando Valley. They report that the Silverado Calabasas Memory Care Community has had six deaths linked to the disease, and more than 40 cases among hospital and associates. Families members of residents of the facility have major concerns about how the outbreak is being addressed and communicated, noting that it has been difficult getting clear answers from management and staff. Meanwhile,...

Recent comments made by Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer sent Los Anegles into a panic after it seemed she suggested safer-at-home orders would be extended for the next three months. Later that day, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti appeared on CNN to walk back and clear up some of the confusion regarding her statement. Christina Pascucci spoke with Dr. Marc Eckstein about his perspective on the economic shutdown and how leaders should move us forward through the pandemic. He...

Stress and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are changing sleep patterns and negatively affecting the quality of sleep for people around the country. Today we hear from Dr. Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, who shares useful tips to help get a better night's rest. Dr. Breus breaks down the bad habits many have fallen into during stay-at-home orders that could be impacting your sleep. He also explains why many people are experiencing strange or frightening dreams, now being called...

As the state moves closer towards phase 3 of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are beginning to think about their inevitable return to the office. How can building owners and employers ensure employee safety in a time where there is still no vaccine? Experts say employees should be expect a myriad of changes in the workplace. Christina speaks with Jennifer Frisk & Ryan Harding of Newmark Knight Frank, a global commercial real estate firm that is now helping advise their...

Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters is mentoring program that makes life changing matches between an adult volunteer and a young person. The one-to-one mentoring model has been affected drastically by the coronavirus and the restrictions that have been placed on our daily interactions. Christina speaks with Stefanie, a "Big Sister" in the program, about how she is continuing to make a meaningful impact in this time of physical distancing.

As the state slowly begins to reopen, many who have upcoming or rescheduled weddings may be wondering how to proceed with planning their big day. In a world where social distancing is now the norm, how will intimate gatherings and events like weddings be affected in the future? Christina, who is getting married in September, speaks with wedding and events planner Amy Grace Collins about how things may unfold in the months ahead. Amy offers valuable tips and advice including how to work with...