When she found herself out of a job in the midst of a global pandemic, Michelle Fishburne got the idea to hop in her RV and travel the country to find out how people have fared throughout 2020. Her oral history project called Who We Are Now highlights the first-hand stories she’s gathered on her journey and today, she joins us on the podcast to share her insights into what she’s learned about people in small towns.
At a time when so many things threaten to divide us, this episode reminds us of all the ways in which we’re united. If we can “park judgment” as Michelle says, and keep our minds and hearts open, there is nothing we can’t get through.
About Michelle:
Michelle Fishburne started Who We Are Now in September 2020, when she left her home in North Carolina and RV'd west, all the way out to Wyoming, in search of stories of how Americans are making their way through this challenging time. She's interviewed small town mayors, yoga instructors, doctors, teachers, grocery store owners, corn hole board makers, etc. All sorts of people because everyone has a story. Everyone's life has changed in some way because of the pandemic. Who We Are Now captures those stories, in each person's own words.
In this episode, we cover:
What it means and why it matters to “park judgment"
The role that fear and assumptions play in our inability to connect with others
How to be our best selves and focus on serving one another
The value of local leadership and local decision-making
The ways that the pandemic has made us better
Links and Resources Mentioned:
New stories are posted every week to Michelle's Who We Are Now website: www.whowearenow.us and her Facebook and Instagram accounts @whowearenowusa.
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