'Tom' Felt So Alone Not Being Able To Drive. We Made An Introduction.

Death, Sex & Money

Slate Podcasts

Business, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Careers, Relationships, Sexuality

4.6 • 7.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2024

⏱️ 4 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We first heard from a listener we’re calling Tom in an episode about life transitions. He told us he had recently gotten his driving license revoked because of a health condition, and felt stranded at home and abandoned by friends. In this episode, we called Tom back to learn more about his life and circumstances, and also to put him in conversation with Anna Zivarts, author of the new book, When Driving is Not An Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency. Together they talk about how not being able to drive impacts your routine, relationships, and self-worth. Podcast production by Zoe Azulay This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock this episode, but you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/dsmplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's Anna Sale from Death Sex and Money at Slate and Tom is with me.
0:11.0	Hi Tom.
0:12.0	Hi Anna. Hi, the last time I heard your voice, you were asking for advice in our episode about being at a crossroads in life.
0:22.0	And your advice was about dealing with not being able to drive.
0:27.0	Your advice question was about dealing with not being able to drive.
0:30.0	Has anything shifted since we last heard from you, what since listeners last year from you are you sort of still in that not knowing state of
0:39.0	Whether not driving is going to be a temporary or long-term thing?
0:44.0	I don't have any resolution on that.
0:49.0	I, you know, my suspension of driving privileges is related to having seizures.
1:01.4	And so when I have been seizure free for six months,
1:10.0	I can get, you know, I can apply to get my driver's license back and that will be six months will be in five days.
1:21.6	I see. But in those five days. I could have a seizure.
1:25.0	And it would be another six months.
1:29.0	And it would be another six months.
1:31.0	So, you know, is there hope? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No. Yeah. And it could be extended for six months, it could be extended indefinitely.
1:47.6	I, you know, my doctors don't know why I had my first seizure. I don't know why I had my first
1:57.4	seizure. I have some theories but you know my neurologist doesn't give them much credence.
2:09.0	But yeah, so I would say yes, I still don't know.
2:14.0	Yeah and your question Tom it really hit me and we also heard from a lot of
2:19.0	listeners who felt really moved by your question because there's two things inside of your
2:25.0	question which were both the frustration of the logistical challenges of not
2:30.5	feeling in control of your ability to get around after having been a driver for most of your adult life.
	...

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