“These are unprecedented times.” We’ve heard this repeatedly over the last 20 months. This is also, perhaps, the single thing we can agree on these days. BUT, what also seems to be in agreement by most experts and scientists is that while we are not necessarily “done” with the virus, we do seem to be emerging from our caves and finding a sense of new normalcy. (That said, at the time of this writing Covid cases are surging in several parts of Europe again and a new variant, Omicron, has emerged. Ta-da!) So now what? Ali talks with experts about the macro social factors (CNN’s Fareed Zakaria) and micro personal factors (psychologist Donna Fish) at play. Fareed shares what he thinks the next five years could look like in the US and what our top takeaway from the pandemic is as a country. Donna joins Ali to take a deeper look at the emotional and psychological challenges as we begin to socialize and function in public again. She gives helpful advice on how to handle “worry thoughts” and what she knows as a clinician to be true among all parents, no matter what side of the mask war they’re on. **UPDATE: President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act bill in to law on 11/15/21. A second bill is still in process. If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes) Links of Interest: Fareed Zakaria, Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World: https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Post-Pandemic-World-Fareed-Zakaria/dp/0393542130 Donna Fish: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/donna-fish-lcsw-r Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com