Since January 2025, the US has experienced marked disruptions in nearly every aspect of day-to-day life. These disruptions touch all of us in some way—some more directly and acutely than others.

The Human Toll shares the anonymous stories of people impacted by these disruptions, with the goal of promoting awareness and empathy, providing a sense of connection for those facing similar challenges, and informing future efforts toward change.

These stories were collected as part of a research study conducted by Dr. Jessica Calarco at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which was approved under IRB protocol #2025-1096. Website photos are stock images and do not necessarily depict participants in this study.