Written by: Phil aka Corinne Phillips

Originally featured on Medium.

As the host of a podcast called Transition of Style, a queer-focused podcast that discusses the intersection between gender identity and personal style, I rely on connecting with my guests one-on-one, so that we can engage in an authentic, heartfelt exchange. My goal is to create a space where they feel comfortable and at ease, where they can share intimate details and sometimes very painful experiences, all while knowing they’ll be supported and not judged in any way. And now, with society shut down due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, interviewing my guests in person was no longer an option.

In early March we were just about to release the podcast featuring an updated format. We had begun working with a new production agency, Fashion Consort and were all very excited about the changes we were making to amplify the voices of the queer community and reach new listeners. Sadly, everything came to a screeching halt a few weeks later and I had no idea how I was going to keep the momentum going. After all, everything had come to an abrupt stop and I got the sense they weren’t going to change anytime soon.

My producer, Joshua Williams however, had other ideas. Why not tweak the format to fit our current situation in lock-down? He suggested instead of putting everything on hold, why not move forward. He knew at a time like this, connection is so very important. And so, after some deliberation, we created a short-form alternative format called ToS Check In. The goal was to “check-in” with members of the LGBTQ community to see how they were staying sane and how they’re getting through this crisis. Our hope was to foster connection, something we felt was needed more than ever. And so we created a new format, with some basic questions, and scheduled conversations on Zoom.

Admittedly, I expected conversations to be mostly light-hearted, sharing the pain of being locked indoors, binge watching Netflix, drinking a little more often, and complaining about endless work-at-home meetings on Zoom. And I definitely got a lot of that — kudos to my guest that is relying on mini-donuts and wine to get through! But, these conversations became so much more — beyond just taking the pulse of the queer community. As I talked with members of the community one thing became very clear. LGBTQ people were showing up in big ways, not just for their friends and family members but also for EVERYONE.

In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to essential medical workers, members of government agencies, mental health professionals, social workers, and more. They have shared their personal stories with me. One guest travels several times a week, two-hours each way, to assist with coronavirus testing, while still holding down a full time job. Another guest works as a social worker for underserved communities like the homeless population and shares about how difficult life was before the virus for those communities and how in the midst of the pandemic their suffering had been made even worse. I’ve also spoken to business owners, photographers, writers, and a few people who are newly unemployed. No matter who I spoke to,these people were finding ways to reach out and helping others in need. They were lending a helping hand to at-risk, underserved populations like the homeless, the elderly, immigrants and the poor. It was clear to me that I had stumbled on to something very special.

One thing that became very clear to me is that most of us who are sheltering in place are not truly aware of what is going on out in the world on a day-to-day basis. And these weren’t stories being covered by network news or on online publications. In this crisis, we had found a real opportunity to bring these profound stories to my audience and to ensure their sacrifices were celebrated.. I had not only found these incredible stories of a community of caring people, I had gained a renewed sense of pride.

Many of my “Check-In” guests have expressed how their lives have been changed by the pandemic. Yes, they’ve used this time to be of service to those around them, but they’ve also used this as an opportunity (forced, perhaps)to take a deeper look into themselves, asking hard questions about how they want to show up once life re-opens. I’m sure this change will be reflected in how we present ourselves, perhaps even to lean more into comfort and less towards needing to impress others.

While federal and state governments grapple with the process of re-opening, I intend to continue to share these stories. And I do hope that the time comes soon that I can meet in person with my guests. I suspect life post-Covid will be very different in many respects, and that Transition of Style will also transition to tell stories, at the intersection of gender and style, from a new perspective.

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To learn more about the Transition of Style podcast, visit www.transitionofstyle.com. You can also follow the podcast on Instagram @transitionofstyle.