We Were Three
A story of lies, family, America, and what Covid revealed, as well as what it destroyed.
Our Editor's Take
We Were Three is a podcast about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected one particular family. Nancy Updike hosts the podcast and also helps produce it, along with Jenelle Pifer. The podcast comes from The New York Times and the people behind the popular podcast Serial.
On the We Were Three podcast, Rachel McKibbens shares her story about the loss of her father and her brother to COVID-19. This three-part series follows her journey through lies and loss. It guides listeners through an example of life's hardest moments.
Part one of the series, "Black Box," invites people into the intimate world of Rachel's family. In this podcast episode, Updike sets the scene in the midst of the pandemic. Rachel's dismantled world became rife with tragedy and confusion. Her story of loss and grief reveals complicated relationships. It shows how connections with family members can strain when they reach a crisis point. Rachel shares how family members succumbed to the virus. They maintained startling beliefs about the pandemic and vaccinated people. After first losing her father to COVID-19, she dealt with her brother Peter's death.
The We Were Three podcast series highlights an untold story of hardship. The pandemic affected both the US and the whole world. It was a catastrophic shock to people, society, and culture. This story details the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty surrounding the virus. It shows how it affected this family and dissects the terrible experience of loss.
Rachel McKibbens was unaware of her father's final days. She dealt with her brother's betrayal and the strange nature of their deaths. Learning by text message that her father died was the beginning of a sad and strange journey. She then focused on saving her brother and met surprising resistance. Rachel watched as her world changed forever. Learning of her brother's passing was the last fall from normalcy. Without a vaccine, Rachel's dad and brother suffered from the worst of the virus. This We Were Three podcast is an important listen for those who want to know more about the pandemic.
Episodes