Where We Live: Recent Episodes
Connecticut Public Radio
Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability among older adults. For caregivers of people with the disease, the role is filled with a variety of emotions like worry, sadness and grief. But it’s also a role often filled with connection and love.
In June, Connecticut Public’s Daniela Doncel moderated a conversation about dementia caregiving at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield. Today, we’ll hear that discussion.
Panelists spoke about the logistics of care, the importance of speaking openly about the disease, and the experience of losing someone who is still physically present.
This conversation is part of Connecticut Public’s ongoing coverage focused on caregiving and aging. You can learn more here.
Guests:
- Tonya Maurer: caregiver to her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017 and now lives in a memory care facility in Connecticut.
- Maria Canales: a volunteer educator with the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut chapter who helps Spanish-speaking communities in the state learn about the disease.
- Colby McCaskill: a writer and reporter living in New York City. His radio story, “Dear Papa,” explores his fear about his grandmother’s escalating dementia, and was selected as the grand prize winner for this year’s NPR College Podcast Challenge.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Summer may be winding down, but there's still plenty of time for ice cream.
We go behind the scenes to learn how one of Connecticut's most beloved frozen treats is made, revisit the nostalgia of the neighborhood ice cream truck, and hear from local experts about what makes a truly great scoop.
We'll also explore creative flavors – including vegan options – and get recommendations for some of the best ice cream destinations around the state.
Whether you're loyal to vanilla or always chasing the next unique flavor, this episode is for you.
Guests:
- Chris Casiello: plant Manager of Arethusa Farm Dairy in Litchfield
- Reinaldo Sánchez: co-owner and chief operations officer of Vía Láctea
- Lorivie Alicea: co-owner of Vía Láctea
- Craig Behun: teacher and owner of the CT Ice Cream Tour food truck
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You check the local weather, but do you ever check space weather? Storms are always occurring in space and sometimes, we’re impacted by them here on Earth.
Today, we’re talking about geomagnetic storms — how they affect Earth, how we’re able to predict them, and how someday, we might even be able to prevent their effects.
Also, we discuss what causes the magic of the Aurora borealis, or the northern lights, and how you might better your chances of seeing them here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Dr. C Alex Young: Associate Director of Science Communication in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
- Dr. Brian Walsh: Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University
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If you discovered a note from a loved one marked “burn without opening,” would you read it?
Author and former journalist Paul T. O'Connor did. He joins us to discuss the decision that sent him on a years-long search for the truth about his mother's past, chronicled in his new book, “The Missing Child.”
And later, we learn how Connecticut residents can begin uncovering their own family stories.
Guests:
- Paul T. O’Connor: Author of “The Missing Child”
- Sierra Dixon: Director of research center, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
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Attendance in church pews has bounced back since COVID-19 pandemic lows. And many of these attendees are young worshippers, looking for religious community.
Today, church researchers and writers join us to help us understand why so many people are coming back to church.
Plus, are nuns having a moment? It certainly seems like it!
The Catholic Church is seeing an increase in interest in religious life, specifically the lives of religious sisters. We hear from the Global Sisters Report and hear what’s attracted so many people to the lives of the sisters.
GUESTS:
- Olivia Bardo: Multimedia and Social Editor at the Global Sisters Report, a Project of the National Catholic Reporter
- Scott Thumma: Professor of Sociology of Religion and Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University
- Rev. Dr. Frederick Streets:Professor of Divinity and Social Work at Yale University Divinity School
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Finding affordable housing is a huge challenge in Connecticut. Could part of this problem be how housing is built and designed?
Architects aren’t just thinking about how to design better, more efficient homes. They’re thinking about how to design homes with community and affordability in mind. Today, we hear how architects are working to build better homes and communities across the state.
Plus, an update from the Connecticut Tenants Union.
GUESTS:
- Luke Melonakos: Vice President of the Connecticut Tenants Union
- Andrei Harwell:Executive director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, and I'm a senior critic at the Yale School of Architecture
- Joan O’Riordan:Principal Architect at O'Riordan Migani Architects
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In the last month we have seen a flurry of warnings that lettuce might be infected with cyclosporiasis. To date, there have been over 60 cases here in Connecticut.
Wildfires from the west brought smoke to the East Coast, leading to air quality warnings and recommendations for residents to stay inside, if they can.
Today, we get updates on these public health situations, and hear what you need to do to stay well.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Scott Dolch: President and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association
- Connecticut State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar: East Hartford, South Windsor, East Windsor, and Ellington
- Indu Upadhyaya: Food Safety Extension Specialist, UConn Extension
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Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos has a new chapbook, “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,” a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.
What do we inherit from the places our parents left behind?
Connecticut poet Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos discusses her new chapbook, “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea,” a collection inspired by her family's roots in Uganda and her own experience growing up between cultures.
We explore how poetry can serve as a vehicle to unpack family history, navigate questions of identity, and carry memories across generations.
Rohanna will be at the Pardee-Morris Museum in New Haven on August 9 for an afternoon of art and storytelling.
Guests:
- Rohanna Ssanyu Delossantos: New Haven-based poet, author of “The Marabou Who Crossed the Sea”
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As educators prepare to support students in the upcoming school year, some are facing a new challenge: how to respond to immigration enforcement.
Early research shows that many students are grappling with fear and anxiety when it comes to the threats of ICE arrests. This has already started to impact school performance and attendance.
Today, we hear what educators are doing to prepare and respond to ICE presence on campus.
Plus, some students of immigrant families face additional educational hurdles as English language learners. We hear how teachers are supporting these students, and their families.
GUESTS:
- Julie Sugarman: Associate Director for K-12 Education Research at Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy
- Luanelly Iglesias: Bilingual teacher at Danbury Public Schools
- Carolyn Sattin-Bajaj: Professor of Education Policy at in the Department of Education at the Gavert School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara
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Author Celeste Ng is familiar with the push and pull of adolescence.
In May, Ng had a conversation with Simsbury High School students and Where We Live host Catherine Shen. Students at Simsbury High School recently launched a documentary initiative called “Make Us Count,” inspired by the themes of identity and belonging in Celeste Ng’s books. Today, we listen back to that conversation
Listen to our episode on the Simsbury High School AAPI documentary and oral history project here.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The World Cup has come to a close, but soccer's impact reaches far beyond this global tournament.
This hour, we explore how the sport has grown from a niche pastime in America to our most popular youth sport – and why it's often called the world's universal language.
From immigrant communities to local professional clubs and the sport's very passionate supporters, we'll look at how soccer creates spaces where people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives come together, even during a politically divisive moment.
Guests:
- Brian Bunk: historian at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Shavar Thomas: Lead Coach for CT United FC
- Lukas Kamrath: Defender for CT United FC
- Douglas Hernandez: Member of “Raza Brava,” a dedicated Hartford Athletic supporter group that brings Latino flair and culture to the stands.
- Jake Fenner: Member of “Bonanza,” official, unified, and independent supporters group of Hartford Athletic
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Do you still make a list of all the things you want to do before the summer’s end? We sure do!
Today, we will share some of our favorite summer happenings around the state and we want to hear yours too!
Connecticut Public pals Frankie Graziano and Francesca Fontanez join us to share their favorite summer spots. These Connecticut natives have all the best tips and secrets to making the most of your summer.
GUESTS:
- Sheila Moeschen: author of "New England. Author of Book Lovers' New England: A guide to literary landmarks"
- Francesca Fontanez: Connecticut Public’s lead Social Media Editor
- Frankie Graziano: Host and producer of the Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
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In 2025, there were nearly 200 animal cruelty cases in Connecticut.
Ten years ago, Connecticut passed “Desmond’s Law” a landmark animal welfare bill that allows attorneys to advocate for animals involved in abuse.
Animal abuse and neglect is complicated. Hoarding cases might start small, but getting out of hand very quickly. Local shelters can be a first line of defense against these situations.
Today, we get an update on animal welfare in Connecticut, from shelters and advocates around the state.
GUESTS:
- James Bias: Executive Director at Connecticut Humane Society
- Jessica Rubin: Associate Dean, J. Agnes Burns Professor of Law and Director of the Animal Law Clinic at the University of Connecticut
- Cesar Perea: Associate Vice President of Rescue at the American Humane Society
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Up to 80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50, but many people still don’t know what they are or how they can affect daily life.
This hour, we break down the basics of fibroids, from symptoms and diagnosis to the treatment options available.
And later, as summer temperatures rise, we hear from an emergency physician about how extreme heat affects the body and who is most at risk. Plus, we learn practical advice for keeping yourself and your family safe during the hottest days of the year.
Guests:
- Dr. Cheruba Prabakar: Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery, author of “Fibroids: Finally Heard”
- Dr. Cynthia Laverne Price:Emergency Medicine Physician at Hartford Healthcare
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It takes a lot of work to help preserve Connecticut's nearly 140 parks and forests. Today, we learn what that looks like across our state.
We hear from the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and learn about their efforts to pass down land stewardship to the next generation.
Plus, Connecticut state parks are a treasure trove of Indigenous history. A local author shares their guide on hiking Indigenous lands across the state.
To explore more or plan a park trip, visit ctparks.com.
GUESTS:
- Joey Listro: Executive Director of Connecticut Forest and Park Association
- Jay Levy: Author of "Hiking Indigenous Lands of Connecticut and Massachusetts," tribal consultant for the New England Trail and an archeologist for the Mohegan Tribe
- Mason Trumble: Deputy Commissioner at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP)
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The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2026. The US Supreme Court on Thursday backed a Trump administration move to strip deportation protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians living in the United States. The conservative-dominated court, in a 6-3 ruling, said the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants was not subject to judicial review.
In late June, the Supreme Court issued several landmark immigration rulings on birthright citizenship, asylum and temporary protected status (TPS). Today, we hear how these rulings will affect immigrants living in Connecticut.
The court ended protected status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. There are approximately 5,000 Haitians living in Connecticut with TPS.
Although the court upheld birthright citizenship, the decision's dissent outlined a narrower application of birthright citizenship. Experts say the debate over birthright citizenship is far from over.
GUESTS:
- Ximena Bustillo:DHS and Immigration policy reporter at NPR
- Tabitha Sookdeo: Executive Director of CT Students for a Dream
- Wayne Unger: Associate Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law
- Maggie Mitchell Salem: Executive Director of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven
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Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the U.S. Poet Laureate.
Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But while studying at MIT, he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.
Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.
Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project “Words Bridging Worlds,” a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.
He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?
Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.
Guests:
- Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"
- Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for “My Story, Our Future.”
- Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project
This episode originally aired March 10, 2026.
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When you look around your room, what do you see? More specifically, what do you see that you love? Is it a cool souvenir? Maybe a seashell? Or a family photo that always brings back good memories?
Connecticut-based interior designer and textile artist Sophie von Oertzen Williamson uses tension, textiles and lots of color to make living spaces warm and inviting.
She is the author of the new book “The Art of the Clash: A Manifesto Against Mundane Design.” We’ll talk about ways to blow away the beige and highlight the objects you love with a few simple tips.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author and educator, believes everyone's life is a spiritual journey.
"We're all on this spiritual journey to understand ourselves, to understand how God loves us, to experience God's love and to give that love back to God and to other people," he said.
Martin is the author of the new book, “Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.”
The book explores the many professional experiences he had before becoming a priest.
Martin reflects on his early life and the formative time he spent in Connecticut, where he worked as an employee at General Electric and made a decision that would forever change the course of his life.
"Where We Live" is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on March 23, 2026.
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Breathe deep and think: What do you smell right now? The sweetness of the spring air? The smoky smells of the highway?
Our noses give us key clues about the environment and provide a critical daily link to some of our most cherished memories.
But smell, and its control over culture and politics, is often undervalued and misunderstood.
Today, we take a nose dive into the olfactory, exploring how humanity has used smell to communicate and control.
Guests:
- Ally Louks: Supervisor at the University of Cambridge and author of "Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose"
- Alexandra Segal: Wesleyan University anthropology graduate and winner of the school's "GLASS Prize in Queer Studies" for her 2025 paper, "On the Nose: What to Learn from Funk and Fragheads"
- Brittany Koziara: Owner of Forêline Parfumerie
- Hsuan Hsu: Professor of English at UC Davis, and author of "The Smell of Risk" and "Olfactory Worldmaking"
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Bestselling author Amy Bloom is widely known for 2022 memoir “In Love.”
The memoir follows her journey with her late husband, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The pair made a decision to travel to Switzerland to help him end his life.
Bloom’s latest book is different. “Blunt Instrument” is a vivacious, and often hilarious, murder mystery that’s set in the world of academia. And it’s partly inspired by Wesleyan University.
Bloom recently sat down with us to talk about her book and writing process.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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It's been more than 60 years since environmentalist Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring," challenged the widespread use of synthetic pesticides like DDT and helped launch the modern environmental movement.
This hour, we learn about Carson's life, work and her enduring legacy through a new exhibit at Yale's Beinecke Library.
We'll also examine a current environmental challenge: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. This a class of man-made chemicals can be found in drinking water systems across Connecticut and the country. We'll explore the health concerns surrounding PFAS, efforts to limit exposure and what Carson's story can teach us about responding to today's environmental risks.
Guests:
- Vasilis Vasiliou: Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University
- Carla Baricz: Librarian for Literature in English and Comparative Literature, curator for Beinecke Library’s exhibition: “Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson’s Environmental Vision”
- James Kessenides: Kaplanoff Librarian for American History at the Yale Library, curator for Beinecke Library’s exhibition: “Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson’s Environmental Vision”
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Did you know that the Library of Congress is home to half a million children’s books? That’s a lot of summer reading!
Today, it’s our annual summer reading show, dedicated to all things YA and kid’s reads. We’ll hear from the author of “Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children’s Books from the Library of Congress” and talk about the books to inspire the young reader in your household.
We want to hear about your favorite YA read that brings you back to those carefree summer days; email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.
Guest:
- Kym Powe: Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
- Hannah Freece: Writer-Editor, Publishing Office at Library of Congress. She is the editor of “Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children’s Books from the Library of Congress”
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In April, 18-year-old Rihan was mistakenly detained by U.S. Immigation and Customs Enforcement. The teen, who lives in Cheshire, Connecticut, spent two weeks in a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Today, Rihan is back home and just graduated from Cheshire High.
But with his legal status in limbo what's next for a young man with a dream to attend college and an uncertain future in the U.S.?
"They have taken everything of mine," Rihan said. "My legal status and everything like that. I don't have anything now to move forward in the future."
This hour, we talk with Rihan and his father, Zia. We're using their first names only for their safety and the safety of their family in Afghanistan. We'll also speak with their immigration attorney about the tenuous road ahead for a family whose legal status hangs in the balance.
GUESTS:
- Rihan: Cheshire teen detained for two weeks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April, 2026.
- Zia: Rihan’s father. He served the U.S. Army as an interpreter and cultural advisor during the war in Afghanistan.
- Samantha Rosenberg: Cheshire Board of Education Chair
- Lauren C. Petersen: Private practice immigration attorney in New Haven, currently representing Rihan and his family. She’s Founder and Executive Director of Pavillion Immigrant Assistance in Hartford, and she’s also a co-managing attorney for the American Immigrant Legal Clinic in New Haven.
*Connecticut Public's Patrick Skahill contributed to this episode. Special thanks also to Rihan's uncle Tariq, and family advocate, Dick Harvey.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.*
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The “sandwich generation” is made up of people balancing the demands of raising children while caring for aging loved ones.
This hour, we learn about the emotional, professional and financial realities facing this population of caregivers.
Journalist Kelli María Korducki discusses her reporting on caregiving and career sacrifice, while University of Connecticut professor Laura Mauldin offers insight into the gender dynamics of care.
And later, we hear from a Connecticut resident and member of the "sandwich generation.” We learn what it's like to navigate these responsibilities in everyday life and what policies could provide some relief.
Guests:
- Kelli María Korducki: independent, New York City-based journalist and author
- Laura Mauldin: associate professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut and author of "In Sickness and Health: Love Stories from the Front Line of America’s Caregiving Crisis."
- Natalie Shurtleff: Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP Connecticut
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Advanced degrees are increasingly out of reach for many. Receiving financial aid has gotten more difficult too.
Many schools are already rethinking how they support their graduate students.
We'll get an update on financial aid and hear what some Connecticut institutions are doing to make their graduate programming more affordable and accessible.
Guests:
- Emily Roberts: Financial Educator and Owner of Personal Finance for Ph.Ds
- Kymberly Pinder: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Dean of the Yale School of Art
- Jessica Blake: Federal policy reporter for Inside Higher Ed, based in Washington, D.C.
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A recent study found that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline may have contributed to a decline in suicide deaths among young people.
This hour, we learn what the research tells us and what questions remain.
We also hear from Connecticut advocates working to connect people with mental health resources and reduce stigma.
Later, two residents share their personal experiences navigating mental health challenges and how speaking openly about those struggles can help others find support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and offers support 24 hours a day.
Guests:
- Anupam B. Jena: Professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital
- Kai Belton:state representative for the 100th district, Middletown
- Jacquilyn Davis: Director of Learning Workforce Development, Mental Health Connecticut
- Rob Santos: Comedian and Connecticut resident
- Rachael Perillo: Connecticut resident
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There currently are over 2,000 confirmed cases of measles in the United States of America, including some cases in Connecticut’s surrounding states.
Today, we get an update on measles closer to home, and abroad.
Plus, we’ll hear about the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other parts of central Africa.
Guests:
- Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare
- Dr. David B. Banach: Head of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiologist at UConn
- Provash Budden: Americares Deputy SVP of Emergency Programs
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Actor and playwright Sam Shepard wrote over 40 plays and worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment.
After his death, Connecticut biographer Robert Dowling started a journey to learn everything he could about this larger-than-life artist. His book is “Coyote: The Dramatic Lives of Sam Shepard.”
Today, we listen back to a conversation with Robert Dowling. He’s a professor of English at Central Connecticut State University. This conversation took place at the Ferguson Library in Stamford.
"Where We Live" is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work and communicate.
Now, Pope Leo XIV is weighing in, warning that AI poses urgent moral and ethical challenges for society.
This hour, we explore the growing debate over artificial intelligence from the Vatican to Connecticut.
We’ll hear from philosophers, theologians and researchers about the risks, rewards and unanswered questions surrounding this rapidly evolving technology.
Guests:
- Nancy Dallavalle, associate professor of religious studies, Fairfield University
- Michael Patrick Lynch, professor of philosophy, University of Connecticut
- Chetan Jaiswal, associate professor of computer science, Quinnipiac University
- P.R. Lockhart, economic development reporter, Connecticut Mirror
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There’s no question that transportation impacts nearly every part of our lives – from getting to work and school, to accessing health care and building community.
This hour, we’re digging into Connecticut’s plan for statewide transportation improvementsefforts.
We’ll listen back to “Connecticut on the Move,” a panel conversation recorded at the Parkville Market in Hartford.
We’ll unpack what investments are being made today and how those investments will impact tomorrow.
Guests:
- Matt Hart, Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments
- Yvette Highsmith, Regional Vice President, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Chris Davis, Vice President, Public Policy, Connecticut Business & Industry Association
- Carlos Mouta, Owner and CEO, Parkville Market
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Contrary to popular belief, host Catherine Shen is a human with real human emotions. The fact is, she cares about her feelings!
In this hour, technical producer Dylan Reyes returns for a conversation with Cat on growing up and the music that shaped them.
Music Featured (in order):
- "Moon Prism Power Make Up!" by Arisawa Takanori
- "Bright Sized Life" by Pat Metheny
- "Fool" by MAYDAY
- "Tayo'y Magsayawan" by VST & Company
- "Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto" composed by Gang Chen (陈钢 Chén Gāng) and Zhanhao He (何占豪 Hé Zhànháo) as performed by Chloe Chua and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rodolfo Barráez
- "无心生大梦 (Unintentional Big Dream)" by 刘宇宁 (Liu Yuning)
- "Moon in One's Cup" by Yu-Peng Chen
- "Dahil Sa Iyo" by Pilita Corrales
- "Linus and Lucy" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
- "紙上飛行 (Flying on Paper)" by 刘宇宁 (Liu Yuning) & CORSAK
- "Take Me Back (Owakare No Jikan)" by Ginger Root
Or, find it all in this playlist!
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When students at Simsbury High School discovered that there was little to no data on Asian American students in Connecticut, they launched a new project to change that.
Through out this year, these students have been collecting oral histories from Asian American voices across Connecticut in the oral history project “Make Us Count.”
The project debuts at a community-wide event happening this week at Simsbury High School. It will feature best-selling author Celeste Ng.
Michelle Henry is an English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School. She helped develop this project with students. She was named Educator of the Year by the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.
Today, we hear from her and the students behind this project. We'll also hear from Jason Oliver Chang, who helped get Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in all Connecticut public schools.
Guests:
- Jason Oliver Chang: Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies and Department head of social and critical inquiry at the University of Connecticut
- Michelle Henry: English and Asian American Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School
- Raelyn Medina - Senior at Simsbury High School
- Vivian Amsterdam - Senior at Simsbury High School
- Dhriti Mallavarapu: Senior at Simsbury High School
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For migratory birds, nighttime light can be deadly. Artificial light draws birds off course, increasing the risk of exhaustion, window collisions and predation.
Experts say the problem is growing as Connecticut skies become brighter.
This hour, we explore how light pollution impacts birds, river ecosystems, insects and even human health.
Plus, an amateur astronomer shares why protecting dark skies matters not just for science, but for our connection to the natural world.
Guests:
- Craig Repasz, director of Lights Out Connecticut
- Misha SemeLev, associate university architect for sustainability, Yale University
- Alan Sheiness, board of directors treasurer, Lyme Land Trust
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Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the U.S. Poet Laureate.
Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But while studying at MIT, he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.
Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.
Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project “Words Bridging Worlds,” a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.
He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.
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Charlie Widmer describes himself as a multi-genre musician, but his range goes far beyond most artists. From opera to bluegrass, he's pretty much done it all.
Widmer is now the Connecticut State Troubadour, an official position devoted to music education and community.
One of his major goals is to make more people comfortable pursuing music, he said.
"My whole goal with being an educator is to try and just help people be less hard on themselves," he said. "It's not about being perfect. It turns out no one has it figured out. It turns out everyone's pretending. And I think it's time we take the masks off."
Today, we’ll hear about Widmer's musical journey across the globe, and his ongoing work to nurture the local music scene in Connecticut.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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“An Arcane Inheritance," the latest novel of author Kamilah Cole, weaves dark academia with occult secrets at a fictional Ivy League school based in Hartford.
The story follows the ambitious, determined Ellory Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in political science. A lavish scholarship allows her to begin her college education at Warren University, but soon after arriving on campus, things start to unravel into the paranormal.
We'll explore Cole's latest book, ask what drew her to Hartford and explain "dark academia" — a popular genre where brooding and blazers meet ivory towers and sinister secrets.
GUEST:
- Kamilah Cole: author of several books including “An Arcane Inheritance"
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The postpartum period can be one of the most vulnerable and challenging times in a parent’s life.
It's also one of the least talked about. That's despite mental health disorders being the leading complication of childbirth in the United States of America, affecting 1 in 5 women.
The postpartum period can bring depression, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. And too often, parents are left wondering what’s normal and where to turn for help.
This hour, we explore postpartum mental health and what support is available in Connecticut.
We’re joined by a doctor from St. Mary's Hospital, where a new unit, designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum patients, recently opened. We also hear from Postpartum Support International’s Connecticut chapter about why this period is so high-risk and how they’re working to connect families with care.
And later, we’ll hear one mother’s story of navigating postpartum depression, and how she’s processed that experience through a new collection of poetry.
Guests:
- Kassondra Mangione, author of "Coffee Mug Rings"
- Dr. Irina Magidina, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Mary’s Hospital
- Jennifer Vendetti, co-chair, Board of Directors, Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter
- Samantha Smalls, Board of Directors, Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter
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It takes a village to raise a child.
Today, we're exploring what it means to be an aunt and the many ways these important figures provide mentorship, guidance and care.
Whether you are a biological or surrogate aunt, these role models are instrumental in our life. But what does it mean to be an aunt in 2026?
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Chef Ham El-Waylly straddles two very different worlds: fine dining and home cooking. In his new cookbook, he shares the recipes and memories that bring it all together.
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There is another war happening in the Middle East. The challenges service members are facing are quite different than they were in years past.
Today, we get an update on the Connecticut Army National Guard and hear what's being done to support Guard units.
We hear from active Guard members and the mental health workers supporting these troops.
Guests:
- Staff Sgt. Camryn Rawlings: 6th Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard
- Col. Michael Lynch: Former Commander of the 1-102nd Infantry, Connecticut Army National Guard
- Robert Haswell: LCSW and Section Chief for Managed Services Connecticut Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Albert Guillorn: LMFT and overseer of the Embedded Clinician program that places licensed clinicians to drill with Guard units
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Tick activity is on the rise.
Connecticut scientists are seeing unseasonably high levels of tick activity in the state this year.
That uptick carries big potential impacts for human health. Lyme disease is one of the many diseases these parasites can carry. We ask what you can do to protect yourself.
We’ll also get the latest on another environmental hazard with big health impacts in Connecticut – air pollution.
Guests:
- Katie Dykes: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Dr. Neeta Connally: Professor at WCSU and director WCSU Tick-borne prevention Laboratory
- Goudarz Molaei: Research scientist, medical entomologist and director of Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
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Journalist and author Fortesa Latifi remembers the first time she stumbled upon child influencer content. She noticed a pattern of family influencers sharing incredibly intimate content of their children's firsts.
"They were shaving their legs for the first time or getting potty trained, and it would get millions of views," she said. "And I just started thinking how strange it would be to grow up that way."
The family influencer world has become a multi-million dollar industry. But some are starting to question the way this content is created, asking questions on how children are compensated for participating in these videos. Additionally, there is the question of consent.
Today on Where We Live, we talk to Fortesa Latifi about her new book “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online.”
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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About one in four U.S. adults take care of a loved one – from bathing to managing medical appointments. And as the American population is aging, more of us are becoming caregivers.
We’re exploring caregiving and aging in a series we’re calling Caregiving in Connecticut. You can hear the stories and conversations this week during Morning Edition and All Things Considered and you can check out the coverage on our website.
We’re going to feature some of those stories today and later, we’re going to hear from a UConn researcher who took a close look at what it means to age in northeastern Connecticut.
Guest:
- Asmita Aasaavari: Ph.D. candidate in sociology at UConn.
"Where We Live" is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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At America's founding, whowas entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
This was the topic of discussion at a recent event at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Connecticut Public special correspondent Diane Orson led a panel discussion with several Native American historians.
Today, we listen back to that conversation. It's an extension of Still Here: Native American Resilience in New England — a special series from Connecticut Public, featuring radio storytelling, in-depth videos, digital stories, pictures and a community conversation.
Guests:
- Lorén Spears: Executive Director of the Indigenous-led Tomaquag Museum in Rhode Island
- Nakai Clearwater Northup: Manager of Public Programs and Outreach at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
- Ned Blackhawk: Professor of History at Yale University and author of "The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History"
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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We live in an age of convenience. From one device, millions of books can be accessed and stored. E-readers have become so ubiquitous that even if you don't personally own one, you probably know someone who does.
But, have you ever stopped to think about how we get our e-books? And once you do get it, do you actually own it?
Today, we will be digging through these questions as we explore e-books and the technology that supports them.
Guests:
- Deborah Schander: Connecticut State Librarian
- Nicholas Engert: public librarian of over 20 years
- Lon Seidman: Connecticut resident and tech reporter at Lon.TV
Connecticut Public's Megan Rodriguez-Hawkins contributed to this show.
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Every year, the Westport Library hosts a series of author conversations bringing the community together to bond over a book and a shared love of reading.
This year, Where We Live host Catherine Shen hosted one of these conversations and spoke to award-winning author Eiren Caffall. Today, we will listen back to that conversation.
Caffall is the author of “All the Water in the World.” It's the story of one family living in a nearly deserted New York City in the years after the glaciers melt.
Guest:
- Eiren Caffall: author of the memoir "The Mourner’s Bestiary" and the novel "All the Water in the World"
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Death is not something that a lot of us like to think about. But making plans about end-of-life doesn’t need to be scary. Our experts today say it could be empowering.
Today, we hear from the Connecticut Death Collective, and hear new approaches to end-of-life care, and memorialization.
Later this month, the Mattatuck Museum and Riverside Cemetery, will host the first ever CT Death and Dying Symposium. We hear more.
Guests:
- Sarah Sparen: registered nurse offering death education and guidance in Waterford area
- Chris Grosso: writer, speaker, musician, and the author of four books, including "Indie Spiritualist" and "Necessary Death." He also hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast
- Becca Allen: a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in end-of-life planning and end of life doula
- Cheryl Guertin: vice president sexton and funeral director at Riverside Cemetery
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Data centers come in all shapes and sizes,from a few shelves in the basement of a university building, to a warehouse the size of nearly two hundred football fields.
But what do data centers actually do? Do we have any here in Connecticut? Towns across the state have expressed their trepidation about what a large data center might mean for the quality of life of their residents, with others looking to data centers as a way to create new jobs.
Today, we’ll be covering data centers: from how they work, to their impacts on energy and water infrastructure.
Guests:
- Reid Blackman: founder and CEO of Virtue, an AI ethical risk consulting business, and the author of the upcoming “The Ethical Nightmare Challenge”
- Jordan Fenster: Reporter for Hearst Connecticut covering artificial intelligence
- John Moritz: Reporter for CTMirror covering energy and the environment
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Breathe deep and think: What do you smell right now? The sweetness of the spring air? The smoky smells of the highway?
Our noses give us key clues about the environment and provide a critical daily link to some of our most cherished memories.
But smell, and its control over culture and politics, is often undervalued and misunderstood.
Today, we take a nose dive into the olfactory, exploring how humanity has used smell to communicate and control.
Guests:
- Ally Louks: Supervisor at the University of Cambridge and author of "Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose"
- Alexandra Segal: Wesleyan University anthropology graduate and winner of the school's "GLASS Prize in Queer Studies" for her 2025 paper, "On the Nose: What to Learn from Funk and Fragheads"
- Brittany Koziara: Owner of Forêline Parfumerie
- Hsuan Hsu: Professor of English at UC Davis, and author of "The Smell of Risk" and "Olfactory Worldmaking"
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At a time where we are feeling increasingly disconnected, poetry has a powerful way of fostering community. Today, during National Poetry Month, we hear from poets and educators.
We'll also check in with some students competing in the Poetry Out Loud competition.
It's a competition where students dedicate time to study, memorize and then recite their chosen poem outloud. And as the kids will tell us, it’s not as easy as you might think.
Guests:
- Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate
- Jenny Heikkila Diaz: Project Coordinator, The Word and Community Activator, CT Poetry Out Loud
- Christian Herron: high school student who was one of the winners of the 2026 CT Youth Slam
- Emma Frisbie: 11th Grade student at East Lyme High School competing in the National Poetry Out Loud
- Melanie Faranello: local author and Founder of Poetry on the Streets
If you want to hear more conversations about books and poetry, sign up for our Where We Read newsletter. It’s a monthly rundown of what the Where We Live team is reading and highlights of some of the best author interviews on Connecticut Public.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Spring has sprung! And with it comes plant sales, fresh flowers and a whole lot of weeds.
But what goes into starting a garden? And how do you create sustainable, productive and beautiful landscapes? Today, we’ll be feeling the buzz as we answer all your gardening questions.
Later, we’ll hear all about how you can create a way station for travelling pollinators in your backyard!
Guests:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and "All Things Gardening" host on Vermont Public Radio
- Tom Christopher: horticulturist and "Growing Greener" host on WESU
- Donna Merrill: President of Pollinator Pathway
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What does it mean to take a break?
Going on a walk or doodling during a meeting? Maybe turning off your phone and reading a book?
For author Melissa Febos, years of destructive relationships left her in need of a different kind of break — giving up sex.
She embarked on a year-long journey of abstinence from romantic and sexual relationships, documenting what she discovered about herself in “The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex.”
Guests:
- Melissa Febos: author of five books, including "The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex"
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Chef and restaurateur Eduardo Garcia, better known as “Lalo,” started his cooking journey in his mother’s kitchen. His mother didn’t have any formal training, but prepared food through her own instincts and deep knowledge of flavors.
As a child, Garcia picked fruits and vegetables on the migrant route from Florida to Michigan. It gave him firsthand experience of the work that it takes to harvest the produce that ends up on our plate.
Today, Lalo Garcia is one of the most celebrated chefs in Latin America.
Today, we talk about his journey. His immigrant story is one familiar to those who have crossed the border.
Guests:
- Laura Tillman: Connecticut Mirror’s Human Services Reporter and author of “The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia"
- Megan Baker: Lead Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Policy Analyst with the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity
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Next time you’re driving, take a look around and you might notice you’re being watched. From cameras atop traffic lights to license plate readers, surveillance technology has quietly crept into cities and towns across the state.
Today, we’re taking a look at surveillance in Connecticut and asking why organizations are worried about how these devices are used. Can mass surveillance and civil liberties co-exist?
Guests:
- Matthew Guariglia: Senior Policy Analyst for the Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Ojala Naeem: Town Councilor for Windsor, Connecticut
- Arman Haidari: Citizen activist and resident of West Hartford, Connecticut
- Eric Weiner: Citizen activist and resident of Windsor, Connecticut
Connecticut Public's divina cordeiro contributed to this show.
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Beavers are known as a "keystone species" contributing to biodiversity wherever they set up their habitats.
Today, Connecticut author and journalist Leila Philip joins us to talk about her book "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America."
We’ll also hear from one student working to map beaver habitats throughout Connecticut.
Have you seen beavers where you live?
Guests:
- Leila Philip: Author of "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America"
- Evan Zocco: PhD Student at UConn Natural Resources and the Environment
- Akiebia Hicks: Wildlife Biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
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Postmaster General David Steiner recently told lawmakers that the U.S. Postal Service is in peril.
Speaking at a House Oversight subcommittee hearing, he said that the agency would be out of cash within 12 months and might have to cease deliveries.
Today, we talk about the future of the postal service in Connecticut and across the nation, and ask what can be done to keep it afloat.
Later, does your town have multiple zip codes? Though not uncommon, it can be a disruptive nuisance for rural towns with small populations. We hear why.
Guests:
- Daniel Piazza: Chief Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum
- Sarah Anderson: Global Economy Director, Institute for Policy Studies
- Vince Mase: Director of Retirees for the Connecticut State Association of Letter Carriers
- Abby Brone: Housing Reporter for Connecticut Public
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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On September 12th, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would land a man on the moon within the decade. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the American flag on the lunar surface. Now, NASA and space agencies around the globe are planning on going back.
So what is it about the moon that continues to capture humanity’s heart and imagination? This hour, we learn all about the philosophy and religion behind our pursuit of the moon—and explore the possibility of reciprocal relationships with the moon.
Guests:
- Mary-Jane Rubenstein: Dean of Social Sciences at Wesleyan University and author of "Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race."
- Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason: author of "Grandmother Moon" and Assistant Director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Brown University
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The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author and educator, believes everyone's life is a spiritual journey.
"We're all on this spiritual journey to understand ourselves, to understand how God loves us, to experience God's love and to give that love back to God and to other people," he said.
Martin is the author of the new book, “Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.”
The book explores the many professional experiences he had before becoming a priest.
Martin reflects on his early life and the formative time he spent in Connecticut, where he worked as an employee at General Electric and made a decision that would forever change the course of his life.
"Where We Live" is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Shawna Lander is the actress behind “Shawna the Mom,” a series of one-woman skits on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
She's amassed millions of followers online, through clips are that are fictional, but touch on real world themes of motherhood and the ups-and-downs of family life.
"I was really hungry for any sort of media that would reflect back to me what it was I was going through, and I couldn't find it," Lander said.
The one-woman show has catapulted Lander to online celebrity, but Lander emphasizes she's not Shawna the Mom. Instead, she said, she's “every mom.”
She joins us to talk about her series. We’ll ask how she built a cast of characters, how she explores the ups and downs of motherhood and how she navigates complicated family relationships.
"Where We Live" is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Seven-in-ten high school teachers say that cell phone distraction in school is a major problem, and one third of teens say that they use at least one social media site “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.
But how are teens actually consuming social media? And what kind of citizens of the internet are they becoming?
We’ll hear about a new study exploring how teens are interacting with their personal algorithms and speak with a Connecticut lawmaker about what policymakers can do to help.
Guests:
- Rachel Besharat Mann: Associate Professor of the Practice in Education Studies at Wesleyan University
- Gary Turco: State Representative for Connecticut's 27th District
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Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced 800,000 people, and killed nearly 700 people.
Connecticut is home to nearly 10,000 Lebanese Americans. Today we hear from members of the state's Lebanese diaspora.
We’ll also hear from one global humanitarian aid organization working on the ground in Lebanon to provide support.
GUESTS:
- Arson Fahim: musician, pianist, composer and conductor
- Kelly Razzouk: Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian aid organization
- Bilal Tajildeen: Former member of the Waterbury board of Alderman
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A new exhibit at Yale’s natural history museum is highlighting a culture with deep ties to many in the state.
It’s called “¡Taíno Vive!” or “Taíno lives,” and it’s all about the native people of the Caribbean.
Today we celebrate the history and contributions of Taínos. It’s a culture with roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean.
We’ll learn about legislative efforts to recognize Taínos and examine the ongoing question of identity for Taínos both in the past and today.
Guests:
- Rachel Iacovone: Connecticut Public Puerto Rican Communities Reporter.
- Stephanie Bailey: Archaeologist and member of AraYeke Yukayek, a New York based Caribbean Indigenous Taíno community.
- Geraldo Reyes: Democratic state representative representing Waterbury
- Matunheri Angel Sibakuyali: Representative from Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean
- Victor Piñeiro: Author of "The Island of Forgotten Gods"
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How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?
Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.
Guests:
- Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"
- Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for “My Story, Our Future.”
- Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project
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Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. But it’s been a rough winter for those growing crops and raising livestock.
Today, we hear how this winter season has impacted Connecticut agriculture and farms.
More Connecticut farmers are working to bring new products to market and maybe inspire your tastebuds along the way. We hear from one farm doing just that.
Find your local farm by visiting www.ctgrown.org.
GUESTS:
- Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Mackenzie White: Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
- Spencer Lord: Owner of Oracle Mushrooms Company in Kent, Connecticut
- Matt Went: president of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance
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Before I Forget, a novel by Tory Henwood Hoen.
At some point in life, there is a good chance that you might become a caretaker.
“Before I Forget” is the story of life, love, memory loss and all the ups and downs of caregiving. It was inspired by author Tory Henwood Hoen’s own experience with caregiving.
The story follows a young woman named Cricket. As her father’s Alzheimer's progresses, she decides to make a major life pivot, quitting her job and moving back home to be with him fulltime.
Hoen shares her story. Later this hour, we'll hear how one Connecticut organization is working to make audiobooks more accessible.
GUESTS:
- Tory Henwood Hoen: author of two books including her latest, “Before I Forget”
- Barrie Kreinik: actor, singer, writer and audiobook narrator
- Matt Geeza: director of the Connecticut Library for Accessible Books
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In an age of increased isolation and loneliness, what does it mean to be a good neighbor, and build community?
Today, we hear from groups across Connecticut working to organize, support their neighborhoods and inspire change.
We’ll also get local reactions to the unfolding situation in Iran and the Middle East.
Guests:
- Farhan Memon: Chairman, CAIR Connecticut, the state chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
- Provash Budden: Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs, Americares
- Janti Soeripto: Save the Children U.S. President & CEO
- Ra Carter: Founding member of Mutual Aid Hartford
- Jim Chapdelaine: Founder of Indivisible CT
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Connecticut is facing a historic decline in public school enrollment, with enrollment dropping below half a million for the first time in two decades.
This effect is especially pronounced in Hartford, which saw a 5% decline in student enrollment amid a $45 million dollar school deficit. Now, city officials are looking to bring students back — and decrease the deficit.
Later on, we’ll hear from the Connecticut Education Association on the effects of federal cuts and the current legislative education committee hearings.
GUESTS:
- Arunan Arulampalam: Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut
- Theo Peck-Suzuki: Education reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
- Andraé Townsel: Superintendent of Schools for Hartford Public Schools
- Caitlin Richard: Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Public Schools
- Kate Dias: President of the Connecticut Education Association
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Speaking at the State of the Union, President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror
- Maureen Abell: Staff Attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the Immigrant Rights Clinic
- Sarah Pierce: Director of Social Policy at Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization
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It’s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.
This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.
Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.
Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.
GUESTS:
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
- Larissa Babij: Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is “A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine”
- Carl Harvey: Organizer with the New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund
- Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund
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This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.
Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.
Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.
GUESTS:
- Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
- Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford
- Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative
- Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on December 2, 2024.
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Seeing yourself in a book can open a world of possibilities.
But diverse books need more than diverse characters, they need diverse stories.
Although many efforts have been made to expand the books and curriculum used to teach Black history, African American children’s literature can still be quite limited.
Today, Black authors join us to talk about expanding Black literature and Black stories.
GUESTS:
- Nichole Hawkins:Youth and Family Services Early Literacy Coordinator, Hartford Public Library
- Gwendolyn Wallace:children’s literature author, Ph.D. student and public historian
- Dhonielle Clayton:Board Chair of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit working to improve literacy and turning diverse manuscripts into published books. She is also New York Times bestselling author
- Valerie Bolling:long-time educator and author of books for children and educators
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“An Arcane Inheritance," the latest novel of author Kamilah Cole, weaves dark academia with occult secrets at a fictional Ivy League school based in Hartford.
The story follows the ambitious, determined Ellory Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in political science. A lavish scholarship allows her to begin her college education at Warren University, but soon after arriving on campus, things start to unravel into the paranormal.
We'll explore Cole's latest book, ask what drew her to Hartford and explain "dark academia" — a popular genre where brooding and blazers meet ivory towers and sinister secrets.
GUEST:
- Kamilah Cole: author of several books including “An Arcane Inheritance"
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What does it mean to take a break?
Going on a walk or doodling during a meeting? Maybe turning off your phone and reading a book?
For author Melissa Febos, years of destructive relationships left her in need of a different kind of break — giving up sex.
She embarked on a year-long journey of abstinence from romantic and sexual relationships, documenting what she discovered about herself in “The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex.”
Guests:
- Melissa Febos: author of five books, including "The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex"
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This show either exists or doesn't exist. It's possible you won't know until you listen to it.
Today, we're getting quarky, exploring the weird — and mind-boggingly small — world of quantum mechanics. What is it? Should we be excited? Scared? Some superposition of both?
We’ll also hear about new state and federal investments into quantum technology, and learn how Connecticut colleges are making quantum more accessible.
Guests:
- Chad Orzel: chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College and author of the book “How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog.”
- Christine Broadbridge: founding director of CSCU’s Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology and the executive director of research and innovation at SCSU.
- Emily Edwards: associate research professor at Duke University and co-leader of the National Q-12 Education Partnership.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For students and teachers around the state, snow means one thing: maybe it'll be a snow day? This hour we celebrate the snow day. We talk about snow day rituals and superstitions. And we look at the past, present, and future of snowfall in our state.
GUESTS:
- Stephen Young: Professor Emeritus in the Geography and Sustainability Department at Salem State University
- Frankie Graziano: Host and Producer of "The Wheelhouse"
- Elizabeth Tucker: Distinguished Service Professor of English at Binghamton University
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Nearly 300,000 Connecticut residents are of Puerto Rican heritage. That’s according to Census Bureau data.
Today, we take a look at what’s being done to raise the next generation of Puerto Ricans here in the diaspora.
From getting children books on Puerto Rican history, to celebrating holidays like Dia de los Reyes, there are many ways to celebrate Puerto Rican culture and history.
GUESTS:
- Charles Venator Santiago: associate professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Political Science and El Instituto, the Institute for Latino, Caribbean and Latin American Studies.
- Lisa Moser: bookseller at Julia de Burgos Bookstore, a bilingual bookstore centering Puerto Rican and Latine authors and artists in Philadelphia.
- Marilisa Jiménez García: associate Professor of Childhood Studies teaching courses in Children’s and Young Adult Literary Cultures at Rutgers University
- Jaquira Díaz: author of “This Is the Only Kingdom”
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One out of every four Americans is a caregiver, caring for partners, parents, grandparents or children. They juggle living their own lives while taking loved ones to the doctor, dispensing medication and even managing insurance.
The struggles of these caregivers are often invisible. Many face negative financial impacts, isolation and anxiety.
On this episode, we'll hear from caregivers as they share their hardships and hopes. We'll also discuss why America’s caregiving crisis is an urgent public health problem.
GUESTS:
- Laura Mauldin: associate professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut and author of "In Sickness and Health: Love Stories from the Front Line of America’s Caregiving Crisis."
- Cindy Eastman: author of "True Confessions of An Ambivalent Caregiver"
- Sue Lloyd-Davies: author of "Pinkie's Turnabout"
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The Appalachian Trail spans 52.2 miles in Connecticut and climbs over Bear Mountain, the tallest point in the state.
Today, we listen to an episode of "Common Land" podcast, which follows producer Matt Podolsky’s hike of the trail with his mother. We’ll hear about the history of the trail here in Connecticut, along with some major obstacles that he encountered.
Podolsky will join us later to give more insight on the experience and tell us more about the trail.
GUEST:
- Matt Podolsky: Host and producer of "Common Land" podcast
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Last year, the National Institutes of Health drastically cut funding for medical research. This disrupted the work of academics and researchers across the country.
Clinical trials and scientific projects were cancelled, and funding for ongoing research was revoked.
This meant big cuts in funding to research institutions here in Connecticut.
UConn lost $41 million from research grant terminations and unexpected non-renewals.
Today, we hear how these cuts are impacting research institutions in our state and the future of science.
GUESTS:
- Rob Stein:Correspondent and Senior Editor, on NPR’s Science Desk
- Evan Morris:Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering at Yale School of Medicine
- Diane Owens: mother of a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis
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This episode originally aired in 2025.
Dry January is a month-long campaign that revolves around cutting out alcohol or reducing alcohol intake for the month of January.
Today’s guests say that life without alcohol can be joyous, and they’re creating spaces for the sober and sober curious to try it out.
We talk to two owners of sober spaces in our state, and try out some mocktails they’ll bring to share.
We also hear how our relationship with alcohol is changing overall. Research shows that Gen Z is becoming the sober generation.
Here's a list of the mocktails sampled in this episode:
- Ghia - Le Spritz Sumac and Chili
- Athletic Brewing Company - Wits Peak
- Saint Viviana Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc
- Odyssey Elixir - Dragon Fruit Lemonade
- Three Spirits Livener
GUESTS:
- Dr. J Craig Allen MD: Medical Director at Rushford and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare
- Frances McGrath: Founder of Reframe: A Dry Spot in Willimantic
- Bobbi Malateseta: Creator of 3-2-1 No Kidding Sober Space and Bottle Shop in Naugatuck
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Black holes aren’t just the stuff of science fiction; they’re real astronomical objects so dense, so massive, that nothing, not even light, escapes from them.
Today, we’re getting lost in the void. Yale Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan joins us for an hour to talk about her research on these extraordinary objects. Last year, she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research on how black holes form.
Later, you don’t have to be a scientist to look up and appreciate the cosmos.
We hear from planetariums and astronomical societies in our state that are connecting stargazers and space lovers around Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Priyamvada Natarajan: theoretical astrophysicist and Professor of Astronomy at Yale University
- Al Washburn: member at large and former president of the Astronomical Society of New Haven
- Brian Koehler: Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium at the Mystic Seaport Museum
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired February 27, 2025.
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If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling wondering why sleep won’t come, you’re not alone.
In fact, six out of 10 adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. That’s according to the National Sleep Foundation.
This hour, we hear from someone diagnosed with insomnia and a sleep expert. They'll help us understand why rest feels so out of reach, and what might help us drift off.
GUESTS:
- Jennifer Senior: Staff writer at The Atlantic, author of: "Why Can't Americans Sleep?"
- Dr. Christine Won: Professor, Medical Director of the Yale Centers for Sleep Medicine
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on November 10, 2025.
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When tough times hit, do you hit the pause button, or do you just barrel through?
Nearly six years ago, amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, author Katherine May released “Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.”
Her memoir explores her own experience finding peace in times of both spiritual and seasonal difficulty. It inspired readers throughout the world to greet challenging times with softness.
May joins us to talk about wintering and what we can learn about the power of rest and retreat in 2026.
GUEST:
- Katherine May: author of "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times"
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It’s been nearly five years since recreational cannabis was legalized in Connecticut. Since then dozens of dispensaries have opened across the state, making purchasing products easier than ever.
But new research says cannabis use among teens is rising, and that evidence doesn't support using cannabis as a medical cure-all.
Today, an update on cannabis use and regulation in our state.
GUESTS:
- Lila McKinkley: Cannabis Control Division Director at Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
- Dr. Sarah Feldstein Ewing: Professor at UConn Health and Vice Chair of Research
- Dr. Deepak Cyril Dsouza:Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
- Ryan Vandrey:Professor in the Department of Behavioral Psychiatry at John Hopkins University School of Medicine
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The U.S. produces over a billion pounds of cheese monthly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Connecticut is a small, but mighty, part of that. Today, we’ll hear about all steps of the cheesemaking process from nationally-recognized experts producing Connecticut cheese.
They’ll share the stories behind their products and what keeps customers coming back to that special Connecticut cheese.
GUESTS:
- Jason Sobocinski: founder of Caseus
- Mark Gillman: co-owner and Head Cheesemaker of Cato Corner Farm in Colchester
- Chris Casiello: plant Manager of Arethusa Farm Dairy in Litchfield
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Fever, chills, fatigue, cough, headache and a sore throat. A new variant of the flu means more people are suffering from the virus this season. But the flu can be more than just a nuisance illness — it can be deadly.
Today, Connecticut physicians join us to answer questions about what to do to protect yourself and your family from the virus.
Flu-related hospitalizations are rising in Connecticut. We hear from one local emergency medicine doctor.
Up first, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently scaled back childhood vaccine schedules, changing recommendations for the flu vaccine and others. We learn more.
GUESTS:
- Apoorva Mandavilli:Science and Global Health Reporter for the New York Times
- Dr. Anumaha Singh: Chief of Department of Emergency Medicine for Hartford Hospital
- Dr. Scott Roberts: Associate Medical Director for Infection Prevention at Yale New Haven Hospitals and Infectious Disease Doctor and Assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine
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Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
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Success isn’t just about talent or intelligence – it’s about how we handle our emotions.
Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, says emotional regulation is a skill, one that can be taught and practiced like any other.
This hour, he joins us to talk about why our feelings matter, what happens when we ignore them, and how adults can get better at managing them.
We’ll also hear how schools across Connecticut are helping kids build emotional intelligence from a young age.
- Marc Brackett: Ph.D., founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, author of “Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want.”
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on December 1, 2025.
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There’s an old saying that goes “you are what you eat.” You might take that phrase with a grain of salt, but doctors agree: what we eat affects our blood pressure, blood sugar, cardiovascular health and more.
It's knowledge that's generations old — food as a source of nourishment and healing. Essentially, food can act as medicine. From Ayurveda and Chinese herbs to modern-day food pharmacies — what we put on our plates impacts our health.
But what can we do about it? Especially with inflation inching upward, seven-in-ten Americans say the cost of healthy food can be out of reach. We explore solutions.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Anusha Sehgal: a classically trained Ayurvedic physician based in Boston
- Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare
- Skip Lewis: resident of Hartford living with polycystic kidney Disease
- David Juros: Operations Manager of Food4Health Clinic at Hartford Healthcare
- Jessica Soto: a patient at Hartford Healthcare. She was a recipient of the Food for Health Clinic at Hartford Healthcare
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It all started with a typo.
Anelise Chen was going through a difficult divorce. Her career and job security was tenuous. She just got into a bike accident leaving her with bruised ribs, and she received a text from her mom: “Clam down! Just clam down.”
This typo inspired a journey of healing: a journey that included retreating, diving into her family history and learning everything she could about the life of a clam, and other mollusks, some of the most resilient species on our planet.
She joins us for the hour to talk about her new book "Clam Down: A Metamorphosis."
GUESTS:
- Anelise Chen: author of "Clam Down: A Metamorphosis" and Associate Professor at Columbia University
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Here at Where We Live, this was a big year for books. Not only did we get the chance to speak with some terrific authors, we also launched our Where We Read newsletter, a destination for die-hard book lovers and the literary curious alike.
Today, we are going to listen back to a few of our favorite author conversations. We hear from Connecticut natives Ocean Vuong and Wally Lamb.
Listen back to their full interviews below:
- Wally Lamb's new book, 'The River Is Waiting,' explores prison injustice and forgiveness
- Connecticut native Ocean Vuong has a deep love for Hartford
GUESTS:
- Ocean Vuong: writer, professor and author of "The Emperor of Gladness"
- Wally Lamb: author of "The River Is Waiting." He is also the author of "She’s Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True."
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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What meal brings you back to childhood? This hour, two local children’s authors share how their young protagonists find meaning in the kitchen, using food as a tool to explore culture, loss, and belonging.
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Cat Shen has been hosting Where We Live long enough for the show to use a fork, and yet very little is known about her. In this hour, technical producer and partner-in-mischief Dylan Reyes sits down with Cat to get the inside scoop on the reporter turned host.
The pair discuss some of their favorite songs, defining life moments and what it means to be the face of a show that's celebrating 20 years on Connecticut Public Radio in 2026.
MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
- Milk Tea — Yuji Ohno (ft. Akari Dritschler
- Happy Happy Christmas — Drax (commonly known as it is a mystery)
- Complicated — Avril Lavigne
- Magpie — Peach Pit
- The Moon Represents My Heart — Teresa Teng (鄧麗君 — Deng Lee Jun)
- Uprising — Muse
- Mr. Resetti — insaneintherainmusic
- Ganja Smugglin — The Expendables
- Goofy Goober Rock — Tom Rothrock
- I'm Yours — Jason Mraz
- Sparkle (movie version) — RADWIMPS
Or, find it all in this playlist!
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Connecticut native and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir, "All the Way to the River," tells the story of her late partner, Rayya Elias.
The two began as fast friends, then fell in love. But as they faced tragedy together, their shared struggles with addiction put them on a collision course with catastrophe.
This hour, Gilbert joins us to talk about Rayya — “the love of her life” — and what she discovered about herself, about love, and about the sanctity of truth in writing this deeply personal memoir.
Guest:
- Elizabeth Gilbert: author of the new memoir, "All the Way to the River."She is also the author of several other bestselling novels including "Eat, Pray, Love" and "City of Girls."
This episode originally aired on Sep. 11, 2025.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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From a mass shooting inAustralia that left 15 people dead, to a shooting at Brown University that killed two students, the world has been rocked by gun violence at the end of 2025.
In the U.S., 125 people die from a gun injury, and more than 200 people are shot and wounded each day, according to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety. In Connecticut, there were at least 339 incidents of gun violence this year.
The outpouring of shock and grief following the shootings was expected and understandable.
But what is it like for young people to live with the constant fear of guns in their environments or the threat of mass shootings?
Guests:
- Nelba Márquez-Greene: Mother of Ana Grace, killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Community Scholar, Yale School of Public Health.
- Renee Beavers: Hospital violence intervention specialist (HVIP), Connecticut Children’s.
- Stacey Mayer: Director of Advocacy, Policy & Outreach at CT Against Gun Violence.
- Malini Parikh: Student, Hopkins School, New Haven. President of the CT Against Gun Violence Youth Council.
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Tuesday is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. This hour, we celebrate the beloved author's work, and look at why her six novels have endured for centuries. Plus, we hear from a horticulturalist about her love of gardens, and talk with a local historical clothing expert about fashion in Austen's time.
GUESTS:
- Barbara Benedict: Charles A. Dana Professor of English at Trinity College
- Tara Key: Manager of Reference and Instruction at the New Canaan Library
- Jana Milbocker: Garden designer, lecturer, and writer
- Kandie Carle: Known as “The Victorian Lady,” is an actress and historian
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Why does Christmas bring out the ghosts?
This hour, we dig into the world of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, and the Victorian obsession with spiritualism that shaped so many holiday tales.
We also explore two Connecticut productions of A Christmas Carol to see how performers keep this annual tradition fresh.
GUESTS:
- Wesley Broulik: producing artistic director, Times Fool Company
- Cynthia Rider: managing director, Hartford Stage
- Emma Gerstein: assistant manager of interpretation & living history coordinator, The Mark Twain House & Museum
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Millions of people in our country live with a chronic condition.
From syndromes affecting our hearts and brains, to pain and inflammation, chronic illnesses can be hidden to the world, but are all too real for patients.
Today, we dive deep into how culture and politics affect our bodies. We explore perceptions of what illness looks like (or doesn’t look like). And we'll ask what it takes for a patient to become an advocate, both for themself and for others.
Are you or someone you love living with a chronic condition? We want to hear from you.
Guests
Eshani Surya: Author of Ravishing, a novel that explores the intersection of the beauty industry and chronic illness
Jennifer Lunden: Author of American Breakdown: Our Ailing Nation, My Body’s Revolt, and the Nineteenth-Century Woman Who Brought Me Back to Life – An Illuminating Investigation into Chronic Illness and Environmental Ecosystems
Lauren Stiles: Founder, Dysautonomia International
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Changing federal guidance on vaccines has Connecticut health officials in an uproar.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine committee recently altered long-standing guidance on how newborns are vaccinated.
Meanwhile, doctors say more patients fear vaccine side effects, which doctors are addressing on a case-by-case basis during consultations. Public health experts are concerned that fear and confusion could bring back diseases that the U.S. had forgotten.
We’ll dig into the history of vaccines in America, check in with Connecticut doctors and ask the state's top public health official what's next.
Guests:
- Jason L Schwartz: associate professor at the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Yale School of Public Health; associate Professor in the History of Medicine, Yale University.
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Dr. David Banach: head of infection prevention at UConn Health
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"Gilmore Girls"premiered in October 2000 on The WB network. The series filled a niche at the time: female leads, three generations of women, and witty, fast-paced dialogue. But success was not immediate.
This hour, we listen to "Oy, with the Gilmores already!" an episode of Connecticut Public's new podcast, "Generation Gilmore Girls."
Later, we’re joined by the host of the podcast, Chloe Wynne, who reflects on the show's staying power 25 years after its premiere.
Guest:
- Chloe Wynne: Producer for "Where We Live" and "The Wheelhouse", host of "Generation Gilmore Girls".
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When it comes to getting behind the wheel, there’s a lot to be stressed about, and we're not just talking about bad drivers.
The average cost of a new car today is about $50,000. Car insurance rates have risen 55% since February 2020. Car maintenance costs are also on the rise.
Today, we talk about what you should know if you’re in the market for a new vehicle.
Later, we hear from the Connecticut Mirror. They recently completed an in-depth investigation into vehicle-selling practices at Connecticut towing companies.
GUESTS:
- Dave Altimari: Investigative Reporter at the Connecticut Mirror
- Ginny Monk: Children's Issues and Housing Reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
- Tracy Noble: Spokesperson for AAA in Greater Hartford
- Camila Domonoske: Car and Energy Correspondent at the NPR Business Desk
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Like many humanitarian crises, the situation in Sudan is complicated. The nation has a long history of violence, war and genocide. Several militia groups, factions and tribes have contributed to the devastation.
The region is facing mass starvation. Millions of people have been displaced and impacted by famine. Mass killings and sexual violence have become all too common in this region.
Today, we hear what humanitarian aid organizations are doing to provide support to this region.
GUESTS:
- Arjan Hehenkamp: Crisis Lead for Sudan with the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian aid organization
- Janti Soeripto: President & CEO of Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut
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This hour, Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, talks about why managing our emotions might be the most important skill we ever learn.
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It's Thanksgiving week! This hour, Where We Live is celebrating the holiday season with a listen back to some of our favorite conversations about cooking and the social power of food.
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Lebanese cuisine is all about slowing down, gathering with friends and family and taking your time to enjoy a meal.
"I have a clock that doesn't move in the restaurant," said chef George Noujaim. He's the owner of Noujaim's Bistro in Winstead, Connecticut. Noujaim is one of two Lebanese chef-owners we’ll hear from today, who are teaching their customer base to slow down.
With gathering in mind, we’ll also listen back to our conversation with cook and author Samin Nosrat. Her new book is “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love.”
GUESTS:
- Samin Nosrat: cook, teacher and author of “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” and “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love"
- Reem Hadir: chef and founder of Lebnani Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar in Watertown
- George Noujaim: chef owner of Noujaim’s Mediterranean Cuisine in Winsted
- Tess Terrible: Senior Producer of Where We Live
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Many Americans are feeling the pressure of rising grocery bills. Meanwhile, an estimated $550 million worth of food will go to waste this Thanksgiving alone. That’s according to the nonprofit ReFed.
This hour, we’ll hear about statewide efforts to reduce, reuse and rethink what we throw away.
And later, we’ll hear from experts on the front lines of food recovery — people working to get good food out of landfills and onto kitchen tables instead.
GUESTS:
- Katie Dykes: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Jennifer Heaton-Jones: Executive director, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
- Lori Martin: Co-founder and executive director, Haven’s Harvest
- Karen Saggese: Fairfield county co-site director, Food Rescue US
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New Haven's Claire's Corner Copia has been a Connecticut institution for 50 years now. This hour owner Claire Criscuolo joins us to talk about food, building community and her new cookbook. We'll get vegetarian cooking tips ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, and take your calls.
GUEST:
- Claire Criscuolo: Owner of Claire’s Corner Copia, a vegetarian restaurant in New Haven. Her newest cookbook is "50 Vegetarian Recipes from 50 Years of Claire’s Corner Copia."
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For generations, stories of Native America were erased from the American story. Today, we explore the Native American experience in New England.
Connecticut Public Special Correspondent Diane Orson has spent nearly a year researching, producing and reporting the stories in this series, called "Still Here."
We hear from Diane, and get a preview of this special series.
Guests:
- Diane Orson: reporter and producer at Connecticut Public Radio
- Chris Newell: Co-Founder and Director of Education for Akowmawt Educational Initiative, a majority native-owned educational consultancy and Native American Cultural Director of the University of Connecticut’s Native American Cultural Program
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Hurricane Melissa was one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. This Category 5 storm caused devastation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean, permanently changing the lives of those living and working in this region.
Here in Connecticut, many residents have felt the ripple effect. The West Indian community makes up a large portion of the immigrant population in Connecticut. There are 70,000 West Indian immigrants in greater Hartford area alone.
Many individuals in this community were unable to reach loved ones at the height of the storm, and are now stepping up to provide support for those impacted by the hurricane. Today, we hear from them.
Guests:
- Azaria Tyler: Business Development for Shubert Theater and member of the Jamaican American Connection in New Haven
- Dr. Gary Rhule: member West Indian Social Club of Hartford, and Health Sector Representative for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council
- Carolyn Vermont: Vice President of the West Indian American Association of Bridgeport
Caribbean organizations in Connecticut are requesting the following items for people impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
- Non-perishable food, fruit and vegetable seeds, animal feed, food containers, food storage bins, disposable utensils and plates, MREs
- Bedding foam, cots, mattresses, pillows, pillowcases, robes
- Tools and equipment, flashlights, batteries, radios, message boards, work gloves, garbage bags
- Health supplies, hygiene kits, water storage containers, water purification kits
- Tarps, tents, buckets with lids, mobile storage units
Items can be dropped off at a number of locations located across the greater Hartford area.
- Rehoboth Church of God, 1170 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield
- Homecare Services, 112 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield
- West Indian Social Club of Hartford, 3340 Main St., Hartford
- North United Methodist Church, 1205 Albany Ave., Hartford
- Hartford Fire Dept. Engine Co. 10, 510 Franklin Ave., Hartford
- Sport and Medical Sciences Academy, 280 Huyshope Ave., Hartford
- Semilla Cafe, 1283 Main St., Hartford
- A Step Above Childcare, 30 Quarry Rd., Glastonbury
- Grace Episcopal Church, 311 Broad St., Windsor
- Fish N Tingz Bar & Grill, 384 Middle Turnpike West, Manchester
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It all started with a typo.
Anelise Chen was going through a difficult divorce. Her career and job security was tenuous. She just got into a bike accident leaving her with bruised ribs, and she received a text from her mom: “Clam down! Just clam down.”
This typo inspired a journey of healing: a journey that included retreating, diving into her family history and learning everything she could about the life of a clam, and other mollusks, some of the most resilient species on our planet.
She joins us for the hour to talk about her new book "Clam Down: A Metamorphosis."
GUESTS:
- Anelise Chen: author of "Clam Down: A Metamorphosis" and Associate Professor at Columbia University
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If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling wondering why sleep won’t come, you’re not alone.
In fact, six out of 10 adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. That’s according to the National Sleep Foundation.
This hour, we hear from someone diagnosed with insomnia and a sleep expert. They'll help us understand why rest feels so out of reach, and what might help us drift off.
GUESTS:
- Jennifer Senior: Staff writer at The Atlantic, author of: "Why Can't Americans Sleep?"
- Dr. Christine Won: Professor, Medical Director of the Yale Centers for Sleep Medicine
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The United States' first Food Stamp program began in 1939.
Since then, millions of people have benefited from nutritional assistance. In 2024, one in nine Connecticut residents received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Last week, federal judges ordered the Trump Administration to continue to fund SNAP benefits. The administration initially agreed to cover a fraction of the benefit payments. But later, President Trump announced that SNAP would not be paid until the shutdown ends.
The majority SNAP recipients are children. Today, we talk about the future of SNAP benefits in Connecticut, and how the state could fill in the gaps.
GUESTS:
- Jason Jakubowski: President and CEO, Connecticut Foodshare
- Caitlin Caspi: Associate Professor, Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, and Director of Food Security Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health
- Keith Phaneuf: State Budget Reporter for Connecticut Mirror
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Although there are many barriers that keep young adults from casting their ballot, the data shows that things are changing, and more young voters are participating in elections. In the 2024 presidential election, 47% of young adults age 18-29, voted..
Today is Election Day. We’re going to spend the hour talking about the youth vote.
Social media, artificial intelligence and even podcasting is changing the way candidates reach and influence voters. We learn more about how political advertising and media is evolving.
Looking for the voting location in your town? Find where to vote here.
GUESTS:
- Rudy Garrett: Vice President of Capacity Building at the Alliance for Youth Organizing
- Michael Franz: Co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project and Professor of Government at Bowdoin College
- Alberto Medina: Communications Manager at the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University
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Five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan joins us for a conversation about baking, memory and the joy of sharing something homemade.
Her newest cookbook, "Dorie’s Anytime Cakes," is a love letter to the simple cakes that fill our kitchens and our lives. From the ones we nibble all day long to the ones we bake for people we love, these are cakes meant for every moment.
This hour, we’re celebrating the comfort and connection that come from turning on the oven and gathering around something delicious.
GUESTS:
- Dorie Greenspan: Five-time James Beard Award-winning cookbook author. Her latest is "Dorie’s Anytime Cakes."
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Connecticut Public staff talk about their favorite Halloween traditions of today and yesterday — including candy, movies, costumes and more.
Later, a local paranormal investigator joins us to talk about their work exploring haunted homes and businesses across Connecticut.
And an author says our fascination with asylums as haunted places is easily explained. We hear about his investigation.
Guests:
- Frankie Graziano: Host and producer of the Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
- Robyn Doyon-Aitken: Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
- Francesca Fontanez: Connecticut Public’s lead Social Media Editor
- Barry Pirro:paranormal investigator based in Connecticut. His podcast is Haunted Happenings and he is the author of the book “Haunted Happenings: A Ghost Hunter’s Strangest Cases"
- Troy Rondinone:professor of history at Southern Connecticut State University, and the author of the book “Nightmare Factories: The Asylum in the American Imagination”
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Local politicians shape life in Connecticut cities and towns, making decisions on education, housing and business development. But voter turnout is historically low in local elections.
Today, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us to answer our Election Day questions and yours. Later, we hear how her office is preparing for the 2026 midterm elections and increasing voter education.
We'll also hear what's being done to increase voter participation among the more than 4 million U.S. citizens living abroad. Less than 4% of this population voted in the 2022 election.
Looking for the early voting location in your community? Check out this list.
Guests:
- Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas
- Sara Kempner: Director of Creative Campaigns & Collaborations at the U.S. Vote Foundation
- Michayla Savitt: Connecticut Public State Government Reporter
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It’s Halloween week, which means we’re summoning Connecticut’s most chilling stories.
From ghostly apparitions to mysterious happenings that defy explanation, this hour will make you think twice about what lurks in the dark.
Historians, tour guides and a psychic join us to share their strangest encounters. Tune in for a haunting hour of history, folklore and a few goosebumps.
GUESTS:
- Christine Jewell: Director for The Ancient Burying Ground
- Mallory Howard: Assistant Curator for The Mark Twain House & Museum
- Chrystyne McGrath: Psychic, founder and owner of CM Paranormal Services and The Guilford Ghost Tours
- Courtney McInvale: Author, historian and founder of Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours
- Wesley Broulik: performer, actor in Time’s Fool Company
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When you think of horror fiction what comes to mind for you? Maybe the classics like "Frankenstein," "Dracula," or "The Shining?"
Like many genres, horror has evolved with the times to encompass all things terrifying.
The spooky season is in full swing and we have a great line up of horror fiction to keep you entertained and spooked all season long. Today, we talk about our favorites.
GUESTS:
- AK Nevermore: president of the Connecticut Romance Writers Association and author living in Connecticut
- Andrew Liptak: author of the newsletter, Transfer Orbit, a newsletter about science fiction, writing and the future
- Stephanie Gagnon: host of the Books in the Freezer Podcast
- Jane Frankel: author and librarian at the Warehouse Point Library in East Windsor
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Professional women's sports are having a moment. This hour, we hear from soccer player and Connecticut native Alyssa Naeher ahead of her U.S. Women's National Soccer Team retirement ceremony, and from Quinnipiac University's Women's Head Rugby Coach, Becky Carlson, about the rising status of that sport after one of her former athletes became a global celebrity around the last Olympics.
GUESTS:
- Alyssa Naeher: American professional soccer player and Connecticut native. She currently plays for Chicago Stars FC. She was part of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2014 to 2024, winning a World Cup in 2019 and a Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Becky Carlson: Women's Rugby Head Coach at Quinnipiac University
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Fifty years ago, 20th Century Fox released the iconic cult classic film, Rocky Horror Picture Show. After being launched on the midnight film circuit, it developed a fan following like no other.
Today, we hear from the one and only Barry Bostwick. Fans of the film know him as the original Brad Majors. He says that after fifty years, the film is still bringing people together.
"I think this is necessary, in a way, to bring us back to some kind of humanity," shared Bostwick speaking on Where We Live. "They always say, Don't dream it, be it, that's what our thing is. That’s our Gospel: don't dream it, be it."
Bostwick will be at the Warner Theater in Torrington on October 30 with the The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour.
GUESTS:
- Barry Bostwick: Actor and performer
- Michayla Savitt: Connecticut Public State Government Reporter
Upcoming Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcast performances in Connecticut
- RKO Army: Friday, Oct. 24, 9:00pm at Westbrook Cinemas, in Westbrook, CT
- The Come Again Players: Saturday, Oct. 25, 7:30 pm at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In 2018, 33-year-old Ryan Bode Moriarty died of a heroin overdose. He was a musician, artist and T-shirt designer. He created linoleum block carvings, and would print all his shirt designs by hand.
After his death, Ryan's mother, Patricia Bode, found one of his linoleum blocks carved with the words "Remember Love." This discovery inspired the Remember Love Recovery Project and sent Bode on a mission to destigmatize addiction.
It's a mission of vital urgency. After months of steady declines, overdose deaths in America are now on the rise. During National Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month, we hear from those working to destigmatize addiction and get harm reduction tools into the community.
Has addiction impacted you or someone you love? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Patricia Bode: Associate Professor and Coordinator of Art Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She is also the founder and president the Remember Love Recovery Project
- Justin Phillips: Chief Executive Officer of the Overdose Lifeline
- Dr. J Craig Allen: Medical Director at Rushford and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare
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Being financially literate is important when navigating tough times and tough markets.
Today, we get an update from financial experts and educators from around our state, and hear what you can do to stay financially resilient.
Later, when is the best time to start planning for retirement? We hear from one high school teacher who’s passing on the knowledge of financial planning to her students.
Got a question about personal finance?
GUESTS:
- Barbara Angelicola-Manzolli: Business Education Teacher at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington
- Christian Sherill: Director of Growth and Advocacy with Next Gen Personal Finance
- Ben Fuchs: Chief Investment Officer at Fuchs Financial. He’s also the co-host of the new podcast Fuchs Around & Cal Them Out
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Chef Pyet DeSpain is making her mark on the culinary world. A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and with Mexican-American roots, she’s bringing fresh flavors — and long-overlooked traditions — to the table.
This hour, she’ll share stories of her culinary journey, one that took her from experiencing homelessness to winning Gordon Ramsay’s reality TV cooking competition, "Next Level Chef."
And later, she’ll offer up advice on how you can cook more authentically.
GUESTS:
- Pyet DeSpain: A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Mexican-American chef. She's the winner of Gordon Ramsay’s competition, "Next Level Chef,"and author of “Rooted In Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking”
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Are you doing any leaf peeping where you live?
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection joins us to talk about making the most of the fall season in Connecticut and the best spots to see all the natural wonders of our state.
And bird lovers, this show is for you! Fall is a big migration time for birds. Connecticut Audubon Society joins us, too.
Later, have you been feeling a little stuffy or sneezy? Got itchy eyes? It might be fall allergies. We learn what you can do to combat it.
GUESTS:
- Katie Dykes: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Tom Anderson: Director of Communications, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Dr. Josh Mosdale: Primary care physician and medical director of clinically integrated network at Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group
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We’re in another government shutdown.
The federal government shut down at the start of October following a standoff between Senate Republicans and Democrats.
Now, the Trump administration is proposing more federal worker layoffs, calling it an “unfortunate consequence to a government shutdown.”
Today, we hear how the government shutdown could impact local government services, programs and workers in Connecticut.
Later, Christianity in America is at a crossroads. We hear from two Connecticut church leaders on how the current political climate is influencing faith communities locally, and across the U.S.
GUESTS:
- Andrea Barton Reeves: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services
- Scott McLean: Professor of Political science and Faculty Director of the Honors Program at Quinnipiac University
- Kate Dias: teacher at the Manchester School district and is president of the Connecticut Education Association
- Pastor Shawn Fisher: Bloomfield Congressional Church
- Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr.: Minister of United Church on the Green in New Haven
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Ashley Bouder spent two decades as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, performing some of the most physically demanding roles in the repertory.
Now, she’s stepping into a new role as executive director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet school.
This hour, she reflects on the physical and mental challenges of a career in ballet, from injuries to the sacrifices required to stay at the top. She also talks about the lack of support for parents in the industry and the changes she hopes to see.
GUESTS:
- Ashley Bouder: former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and current executive director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet
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Breast cancer can happen at any age. But young adults that are diagnosed with breast cancer often have a different journey than their older counterparts.
Treatment for breast cancer can bring on temporary or permanent menopause for women in early adulthood. This means navigating a slew of additional symptoms, on top of a life-changing diagnosis.
It also means making difficult decisions about family planning.
Today, we hear from a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at age 40, and learn how she’s using her story to educate others.
GUESTS:
- Kate Hayden Ames: breast cancer survivor living in Connecticut
- Dr. Niamey Wilson: Medical Director of the Breast Program at Hartford Healthcare
- Dr. Nancy Borstelmann: Co-Director of the Early Onset Cancer Program at Yale Cancer Center
- Anne Michaud: Yoga teacher for cancer survivors and oncology nurse
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Raising kids is never an easy task. But today’s parents are really struggling. Nearly half of parents say that most days they are so stressed, they cannot function.
This stress goes beyond the costs and demands of raising a child. Many parents feel like they are preparing their children for a future that is difficult to understand and predict.
Even therapists admit, there’s no playbook for parents. But there are some things you can to do (maybe) worry a little bit less and still raise a great kid. Today, we talk about managing parental anxiety, burnout and stress.
GUESTS:
- Melissa Whitson: Professor of Psychology at the University of New Haven
- Rebecca Harvey: Professor at Southern Connecticut State University in the MFT Program
- Alexis AP Munson: LCSW based in North Haven, Connecticut
- George Gogas: LCSW at Charter Oak Therapeutic Services, LLC
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As kids get back to school, the political debate around who should get shots for COVID other illnesses is once again bubbling up.
But another debate has risen as well. Last week, President Trump urged pregnant women to “tough it out” and use Tylenol sparingly during pregnancy. The administration claimed an unproven link between the painkiller acetaminophen and autism. It’s a statement that has been widely discredited by medical experts.
Today, Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani joins us to answer your questions on vaccines, Tylenol use and more. We also hear from the Autism Self Advocacy Network.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Colin Killick: executive director of the Washington-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network
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When you think of farm animals, the term “endangered species” probably doesn’t come to mind.
In Scotland, Connecticut, Iris Creek Farm is working to raise and preserve a rare, endangered breed of sheep.
Today, we hear what local farmers are doing to raise more rare livestock and how this is impacting agriculture everywhere.
GUESTS:
- Tess Terrible:Senior Producer for Where We Live
- Jeanette Beranger: Senior Program Manager at the Livestock Conservancy
- Mackenzie White: Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
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Samin Nosrat's 2017 debut “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” was a breakout hit in the cooking world — teaching people of all skill levels the building blocks of flavor.
Nosrat won a James Beard award and the book was adapted into a Netflix documentary.
After her massive success, Nosrat found herself in a low. She was diagnosed with clinical depression, and said the joy she once found with cooking, stopped being attainable.
But it was cooking for community, and for her found family, that brought her back. Nosrat's new book focuses on bringing families of all types to the table, and building community through great food.
Nosrat recently joined us to talk about her book, and what's inspiring her today.
GUEST:
- Samin Nosrat: cook, teacher and author of “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” and “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love"
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Spotted lanternflies are showing up across Connecticut, but they might not be as catastrophic as you think.
This hour, we talk with an expert about the real threat these insects pose and what you can do if you spot one.
Meanwhile, Connecticut’s push toward clean energy is being put to the test, and mental health professionals are seeing an uptick in climate-related anxiety.
We hear how therapists are helping people stay grounded and how students are leading the way on environmental action.
GUESTS:
- Gale Ridge: associate scientist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
- Ricky Jordan: manager of energy efficiency, Eversource
- Doug Geoffrey: participant in the first Summer Green STEP cohort
- Áine Pennello: Report for America environmental and climate change reporter, CT Public
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When Crystal Emery started to fall down, without tripping, everyone said she was just clumsy. But in 1981, Crystal Emery was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
For some people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the symptoms can be limited to body weakness and muscle atrophy. But for the Emery, the disease progressed. She lost the use of her legs and hands. Today, she uses a wheelchair and sometimes needs a breathing machine.
But despite her circumstances, she is anything but limited. Emery remained committed to her artistic craft, working as an artist, author, filmmaker, activist and comedian. Today, she joins us to talk about her work.
Later, we get an update on the future of disability services in Connecticut, and beyond. Advocates fear that decades of advocacy for better disability services, and more inclusivity, could be walked back among federal funding cuts.
Learn more about Emery's performance in New Haven here.
GUESTS:
- Crystal Emery: filmmaker, author and comedian
- Joy Houlder: Art Director at the Art Connection Studio in Hartford
- Tobey Partch-Davies: Executive Director of Disability Rights Connecticut
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Best-selling author Wally Lamb spent nine years working on his newest book, "The River Is Waiting."
In this time, he wrestled with self-doubt, navigated his own sobriety journey and worked as a teacher at York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only women’s prison.
His new book explores addiction, reckoning and forgiveness, and the injustice that exists in prison today. It follows one man’s experience in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his son.
GUEST:
Wally Lamb: author of "The River Is Waiting." He is also the author of "She’s Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True."
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired August 19, 2025.
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Step into the Renaissance Faire and you’ll be greeted with a scene out of time — dueling knights, vendors hawking their wares and royal proclamations.
Today, we'll take you to a faire and bring you voices from a realm filled with magic and whimsy. We'll also hear from the organizers of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
We learn what goes into organizing these festivals, what it is like to perform there, and what keeps people coming back year after year.
GUESTS:
- Isaac Moss: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and recent graduate of Wesleyan University
- Coco Cooley: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and student at Wesleyan University
- Eric Tetreault: Co-Founder and Marketing Director at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire
- Daniel Greenwolf: Co-Owner of the Connecticut Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Fair
This episode originally aired on July 29, 2025.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Connecticut native and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir All the Way to the River tells the story of her late partner, Rayya Elias.
The two began as fast friends, then fell in love. But as they faced tragedy together, their shared struggles with addiction put them on a collision course with catastrophe.
This hour, Gilbert joins us to talk about Rayya – “the love of her life” – and what she discovered about herself, about love, and about the sanctity of truth in writing this deeply personal memoir.
GUESTS:
- Elizabeth Gilbert: author of the new memoir, All the Way to the River. She is also the author of several other bestselling novels including Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls.
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When you think of creativity, you might think of aha moments, sudden bursts of inspiration, and perhaps the dreaded writer’s block!
But creativity isn’t a skill limited to those working in the arts.
Author and researcher Zorona Ivecvic Pringle says that creativity is a trait that can build slowly and steadily over time.
Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Author of The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action.
Today, she joins us for the hour to talk about the science behind creativity and innovation and ways to explore these skills in everyday life.
GUEST:
- Zorana Ivecevic Pringle: Research Center at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired June 26, 2025.
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Sunday marked National Grandparents Day, which is a reminder of how deeply grandparents shape our lives.
But not every grandparent fits the traditional mold.
This hour, we explore unconventional grandparenting in our region, from neighborhoods built on intergenerational living to programs connecting older adults with children in need of guidance.
GUESTS:
- Erika Keuster: CEO of Treehouse Foundation
- Holly Handfield:honorary grandparent, Treehouse Easthampton
- Margarita Laboy: Foster Grandparent Lead Program Specialist, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut
- Classie Sanders: Grandparent volunteer, Foster Grandparent Program
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Fewer adults in the U.S. are reading for pleasure. So what does that mean for early readers? Establishing reading routines like story time can be important for brain development and lifelong literacy skills.
Rahele Jomepour-Bell/Provided
Today, it’s our fall reading show, and we’re dedicating the hour to young adult and children’s books. Our panel will share their favorites.
If you have a young reader at home, we want to hear from you! What does story time look like in your household?
GUESTS:
- Kym Powe: Children and Young adult Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
- Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason: Author of Grandmother Moon and 2024 Gilder Lehrman Institute Teacher of the Year
- Winsome Bingham:Children’s book author and Army Veteran
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Autumn can be a great time for rest and renewal.
It’s not too late to enjoy the most of the season before we hunker down for the cold months ahead. Today, we’re talking about all our favorite Connecticut fall happenings and events. We'll also hear about some Connecticut Hidden Gems you'll definitely want to add to your fall bucket list.
After a hot summer, what are you looking forward to this fall?
GUESTS:
- Francesca Fontanez:Lead Social Media Editor at Connecticut Public
- Jared Benoff: Chief Operating Officer of Visit New England and Visit Connecticut
- Jordan Polon: Executive Director of the Hartford Business Improvement District
- Reverend Tracy Mehr-Muska: Assistant Director in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Wesleyan University
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Last Friday, a report confirmed a worse-case famine scenario in the Gaza Strip. Over a half a million people in Gaza, are facing catastrophic conditions that include malnutrition and starvation.
Today, we hear what’s being done to treat malnutrition in Gaza and around the globe.
Later, we hear what religious leaders, including Pope Leo, are doing to voice their concerns for these humanitarian crises.
GUESTS:
- Jeanette Bailey: Global Practice Lead for Nutrition Research and Innovation at the International Rescue Committee
- John Grosso: Digital Editor at the National Catholic Reporter
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Earlier this month, a glowing spiral appeared in Connecticut’s sky, briefly sparking wonder and speculation.
While it turned out to be crystallized rocket fuel, the moment reminded us how easily our imaginations leap to the possibility of aliens.
This hour we ask: Why are we so drawn to the idea of life beyond Earth? We’ll explore what these sparks of curiosity reveal about human imagination and our endless fascination with the universe.
GUESTS:
- Jaime Greenring: Freelance writer, editor, teacher, and author of “The Possibility of Life”
- Kathryn Hulick:Science journalist, author of “The UFO Files”
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Practice for the fall sporting season is well under way.
Today’s athletes are playing through the pain, in record high heat. This is something many of their coaches and trainers didn’t have to face during their athletic heydays.
Although it might not feel like it today, the rest of the summer season is going to be sunny and hot.
Today, we hear what's being done to prevent heatstroke, and keep athletes safe on and off the field.
GUESTS:
- Áine Penello:Report for America Corps Member, reporting on the environment and climate change for Connecticut Public
- Rebecca Stearns: Chief Operating Officer for the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut
- Dr. Glenn Lungarini: Executive Director of CAS-CIAC
- Chris Meyers: Director of Athletics and Student Activities at Newington High School
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Best-selling author Wally Lamb spent nine years working on his newest book, "The River Is Waiting."
In this time, he wrestled with self-doubt, navigated his own sobriety journey and worked as a teacher at York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only women’s prison.
His new book explores addiction, reckoning and forgiveness, and the injustice that exists in prison today. It follows one man’s experience in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his son.
GUEST:
Wally Lamb: author of "The River Is Waiting." He is also the author of "She’s Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True."
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Even frequent flyers can feel a flutter of nerves before takeoff. Security lines seem endless, seats feel smaller than ever, and turbulence can turn your stomach.
Now, with national headlines about crashes and close calls, flight anxiety is on the rise.
This hour, we talk to pilots and a flight attendant about whether flying is still one of the safest ways to travel. Plus, they’ll share tips to help you stay calm when the ride gets bumpy.
GUESTS:
- Saba Shahid: Author, pilot, and recipient of this year's Girl Scouts of Connecticut 2024 Legacy of Leadership Award
- Tom Bunn: Retired pilot, licensed therapist, founder of SOAR
- Lynn VanOrt: Flight Attendant Instructor at The Travel Academy
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Leaving prison can be a jarring experience. Reentry can be challenging under the best of circumstances.
But a state housing crisis has made it harder. Landlords are less likely to rent to someone with a criminal record. Formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely to be homeless.
Add in cuts to mental health services, job assistance and food insecurity programs, life is getting harder for many people who were previously incarcerated.
Today, we’re talking about challenges facing the formerly incarcerated population upon release.
GUESTS:
- Alpha Jalloh: formerly incarcerated person living in Connecticut
- Bryan "Love" Jordan: formerly incarcerated person living in Connecticut
- State Sen. Gary Winfield:Democrat representing the Tenth District in New Haven and West Haven
- Beth Hines: Executive Director of Community Partners in Action
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The number of adults seeking regular dental care, like cleanings and X-rays, is on the decline.
Going to the dentist is probably not your favorite activity, but it's an important part of maintaining overall health.
So why are so many people avoiding the dentist? There are several reasons, but one of the biggest is fear.
Today, we talk with dental professionals about what the industry is doing to lessen anxiety and make better oral care more accessible for all.
Looking for a way to pinpoint your fears and start a conversation with your dentist? Check out the Dental Fears patient form here.
GUESTS:
- Kelly Robledo: Moderator on the Dental Fear Central Forum
- Lisa Perry Swain: Executive Director for the Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach
- State Representative Gary Turco: Executive Director of the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative
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Step into the Renaissance Faire and you’ll be greeted with a scene out of time — dueling knights, vendors hawking their wares and royal proclamations.
Today, we'll take you to a faire and bring you voices from a realm filled with magic and whimsy. We'll also hear from the organizers of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
We learn what goes into organizing these festivals, what it is like to perform there, and what keeps people coming back year after year.
GUESTS:
- Isaac Moss: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and recent graduate of Wesleyan University
- Coco Cooley: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and student at Wesleyan University
- Eric Tetreault: Co-Founder and Marketing Director at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire
- Daniel Greenwolf: Co-Owner of the Connecticut Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Fair
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Social Security is one of the most widely-used government programs in the country, but how much does the average American know about how it works?
From eligibility and benefit amounts to how the trust fund is structured, this hour we’re offering a crash course on Social Security and how the federal program's uncertain future is impacting the retirement plans of people here in Connecticut.
We’ll ask what’s driving concerns about the fund's long-term solvency, and what Congress might do about it.
GUESTS:
- Robert Rodriguez: Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration
- Kenneth Couch: Professor, University of Connecticut’s Department of Economics
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There seems to be no limit to what artificial intelligence can produce and create. So how will artificial intelligence impact the way we make and critique art?
Today, we hear how artists are using artificial intelligence in their work. We ask a Connecticut professor, and artists of all disciplines, if AI is good or bad for the creative process.
We also explore a question: If AI is the author, can what it made really be called art?
GUESTS:
- Kevin Ramsey:Assistant Professor of Theater at the University of Hartford
- Roger Beaty: Associate Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University
- Clement Valla: Artist and the Department Head of the Art, Computation, and Sound BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design
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University of Connecticut professor and artist Minnie Negoro first learned ceramics while imprisoned at a Japanese concentration camp in Wyoming.
There, she produced tableware for the U.S. army and other incarceration camps. Despite the repression, Negoro discovered a lifelong love for pottery, which she shared with generations of students.
Now, UConn is curating an exhibit to honor Negoro's work and legacy.
Today, we hear about Negoro's journey as an artist, and as a teacher.
GUESTS:
- Hana Maruyama:Assistant professor of Asian American Studies and Public History at the University of Connecticut
- Denise Pelletier:Professor of Art at Connecticut College
- Jason Oliver Chang:Associate Professor of History and director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut
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Can you remember a teacher who changed the course of your life? Maybe it was someone who helped you find your voice? Or someone who challenged you to think differently?
This hour, we’re exploring the impact of great mentors – those who shape us both in and beyond the classroom.
Sarah Ruhl, author of the new book, “Lessons from My Teachers” shares personal stories and reflects on the lasting power of mentorship.
GUESTS:
- Sarah Ruhl: Author of “Lessons from My Teachers.” Sarah is also a playwright, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee, and the recipient of the MacArthur Genius Fellowship.
This episode originally aired on June 2, 2025.
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Foreign aid accounts for 1% of the U.S. federal budget.
These funds are used to fight famine and disease worldwide. This week, the Senate will debate cutting $7.9 billion earmarked for these efforts.
In July, the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale had federal funds rescinded. They are currently operating by with the help of individual donors.
Today, we get an update on humanitarian crises and international conflicts around the globe. We'll also discuss the future of humanitarian aid in the United States and abroad.
GUESTS:
- Lila Hassan: Independent Investigative Journalist
- Nathaniel Raymond: Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health
- Provash Budden: Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs at Americares
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Farmers in Connecticut and beyond are being impacted by federal funding cuts. In May, the USDA made cuts to programs that help fund farms and food banks.
More recently, the USDA recently cut DEI programming. This included programs on urban forestry, equitable land access and environmental justice. But we could see increased spending for other farm programs in the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Today, we speak to those working in the agricultural industry around our state. Last week, Governor Ned Lamont signed the CT Farm Bill. We’ll talk about what that means for farmers.
GUESTS:
- Bryan Hurlburt: Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner
- Bonnie Burr:Department Head and Assistant Director of the Extension at the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut
- Juan Pablo Yepes Tobón: Windham Community Food Network Coordinator
- Freedom Gerardo: Founder/Co-Owner of the Seamarron Farmstead, LLC
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Shakespeare’s plays have been performed for over 400 years, but artists are still finding bold new ways to bring them to life.
This hour, we’re joined by creatives behind two inventive productions hitting Connecticut stages this summer: one blends breakdancing with Hamlet, the other infuses A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the vibrant energy of Bollywood.
We explore why these centuries-old stories continue to resonate, and how modern reinterpretations keep them relevant.
GUESTS:
- Nina Pinchin: Director of Breakdancing Shakespeare, The Hartford Stage
- Brandon Couloute: Choreographer of Breakdancing Shakespeare, The Hartford Stage
- Rebecca Goodheart: Producing Artistic Director, Elm Shakespeare Company
- Deshik Vansadia: artistic director, The Shakespeare Co. of India
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Today, we hear from the founder of ConnectiCon, a Connecticut-based convention that’s been bringing together fans for over 20 years. Like many conventions, it’s changed to evolve with the times.
If you have ever attended a comic convention, you probably saw a lot of people dressed as their favorite characters.
The act of cosplaying has exploded in recent years. We hear from cosplayers attending this year's convention.
GUESTS:
- Matt Daigle: founder of ConnectiCon, a Connecticut pop-culture convention based in Hartford
- Paul Booth: professor of Media and Pop Culture at DePaul University
- Andrew Liptak:author of Cosplay: A History and of the newsletter, the Transfer Orbit
Additional voices featured in this hour:
- Julie Wilk: cosplayer based in Boston, Massachusetts
- Andy Wolf: AndyMon Cosplay photography
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Author and poet Ocean Vuong grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. It's a city he describes as having beautiful, vibrant life.
His mother worked in a nail salon and his stepfather worked in manufacturing. Speaking about his mother and aunts, who immigrated from Vietnam, Vuong says he was raised by storytellers.
Today, Vuong is one of the nation's most celebrated storytellers. He's winner of a prestigious MacArthur "genius" Grant and a tenured professor at New York University.
His new book, "The Emperor of Gladness," is set in the fictional town of East Gladness, Connecticut. Vuong said he started writing the book to start to navigate grief after his mother’s death. He joined us to talk about his book, and how growing up in Connecticut shaped his writing.
GUEST:
- Ocean Vuong:writer, professor and author of "The Emperor of Gladness"
Chloe Wynn, Coco Cooley and Isaac Moss contributed to this hour.
Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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As more and more of our daily life moves online, digital access has become essential.
But not everyone has the skills, or the tools, needed to keep up in a digital age.
The Digital Equity Act was designed to help close the gap. But recent funding cuts by President Trump have stalled that progress.
This hour, we explore how those cuts are affecting communities in Connecticut and beyond. We’ll hear how local institutions – like libraries – are working to keep people connected despite the challenges.
GUESTS:
- P.R. Lockhart: Economic Development Reporter, CT Mirror
- Bonnie Solberg: Director of Public Services, Hartford Public Library
- Bridget Quinn: President and Chief Executive Officer, Hartford Public Library
- Dr. Elena Forzani: director of the Literacy Education and Reading Education programs and an assistant professor, Boston University
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When you think of foods that give you a sense of home, what comes to mind?
Culturally connected foods are those ingredients, dishes and tastes that connect you back to your heritage and cultural identity.
For the AAPI community, finding those foods can be challenging.
In May, Where We Live host Catherine Shen hosted a panel discussion called “Cultural Food Systems Through the AAPI Lens” at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
The panel discussed ways to expand access to these foods and increase food security for all communities in Connecticut.
- Mia Ayer: Policy Manager at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
- Dr. Helen Wu:Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health
- Quan Tran:Senior Lecturer in Ethnicity, Race and Migration at Yale
- Vicheth Im: Connecticut organic farmer
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Nearly 4 million college students have experienced food insecurity.
Here in Connecticut, several colleges have food pantries and programs working to address food insecurity on campus.
But addressing this issue goes beyond giving out canned goods. It’s about giving students access to quality foods, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.
Today, we hear from students and those working build better food security in higher education.
GUESTS:
- Nelly Birmingham: undergraduate student at Southern Connecticut State University
- Rakeria Thomas: graduate student at Southern Connecticut State University
- Caitlin Caspi:Director of Food Security Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Heath at the University of Connecticut
- Hayley Berliner: Sustainability Coordinator at Trinity College
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What role can poetry play in times of political and social turmoil?
This hour, we’re joined by Connecticut-based poets who will share how their work challenges dominant narratives and amplifies voices from the margins.
They’re part of a Ridgefield, Connecticut-based festival called “Poetry in the Garden.” This year, the festival will mark its fifth year with a series of poetry-filled evenings featuring the work of Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and Black poets.
GUESTS:
- Barb Jennes: Director of Poetry in the Garden at Keeler Tavern Museum, Ridgefield’s Poet Laureate Emerita from 2020-2023
- Joan Kwon Glass: Korean American poet, author of poetry collection: “Daughter of Three Gone Kingdoms”
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When you think of creativity, you might think of aha moments, sudden bursts of inspiration, and perhaps the dreaded writer’s block!
But creativity isn’t a skill limited to those working in the arts.
Author and researcher Zorona Ivecvic Pringle says that creativity is a trait that can build slowly and steadily over time.
Provided by AuthorZorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Author of The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action.
Today, she joins us for the hour to talk about the science behind creativity and innovation and ways to explore these skills in everyday life.
GUEST:
- Zorana Ivecevic Pringle: Research Center at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action
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What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it’s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories.
This hour, two local children’s authors share their belief in food’s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.
GUESTS:
- Debbi Michiko Florence: author of children’s and middle grade books including her latest, Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets
- Caela Collins: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of Food Is Love
This episode originally aired on May 5, 2025.
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Born in Pittsburgh, Michael Luo is the son of Chinese immigrants. He attended Harvard, and later became a reporter at the New York Times and today he is the Executive Editor at The New Yorker.
One rainy afternoon in 2016, he was standing on the sidewalk with his family and some friends after church, trying to decide where to go to lunch when a stranger accosted him and his family. “Go back to China,” she said.
Today, he joins us for the hour to talk about his new book on the hidden history of brutality and violence that so many Chinese Americans faced at the turn of the century.
GUEST:
- Michael Luo:Executive Editor for the New Yorker, and author of the book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired May 20, 2025.
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Reading can take us on adventures beyond our own backyards but perhaps not too far!
Amity Gaige is the author of Heartwood. It explores the story of one woman who gets lost on the Appalachian Trail. Did you know this trail runs through Connecticut?
And Ethan Rutherford is the author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. Connecticut was once home to one of the largest whaling ports in the world.
These local authors join us for an hour to talk about their new books and we want to hear what you’re reading right now!
GUESTS:
- Amity Gaige:author of four books including her latest, Heartwood.She also teaches creative writing at Yale.
- Ethan Rutherford:author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. He teaches creative writing at Trinity College.
This episode originally aired on April 10, 2025.
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Connecticut’s kelp industry is booming! This versatile type of seaweed is farmed right off Connecticut’s shoreline and used in a variety of cuisines, fertilizers, lotions, and more!
This hour, we’re joined by local kelp farmers and experts for a deep dive into aquaculture’s fastest growing industry. We’ll look at how chefs are using kelp in their favorite recipes and why seaweed is a powerful force against climate change.
GUESTS:
- Suzie Flores: co-owner of Stonington Kelp Co.
- Zachary Gordon: Assistant Extension Educator, Connecticut Sea Grant
- Eric Dawson: Director of Program Innovation,Yellow Farmhouse
This episode originally aired on April 14, 2025.
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Visual poet Monica Ong grew up as an art school kid. She had a deep interest in photography and print artistry, but she also had a deep love for language.
Mixing these two mediums has resulted in something she calls visual poetry: an alchemy of text and image where the elements of an image, also make up a poem.
She joins us this hour to talk about her work and her new book Planetariawhere she explores astronomy, motherhood and the diaspora identity.
GUEST:
- Monica Ong:Connecticutartist and visual poet
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Dads: What’s it like to be a father in 2025? Research says that since the pandemic, Dads have become more involved with their family life.
Today, we’re talking about navigating fatherhood in 2025. Because being a Dad today is different than ever before.
We'll talk to some Dads here at Connecticut Public. And if you’re a Dad, or want to give your Dad a shoutout this hour, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Frankie Graziano:Host and producer of the Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
- John Henry Smith: Host of All Things Considered on Connecticut Public
- Eric Aasen:Executive Editor at Connecticut Public
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Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America.
Whether you're eight or 80, there's something about the paddle, the court, and the community that's bringing people together.
This hour, we talk with a coach, enthusiasts, and business owners about why pickleball is booming across Connecticut and the country. We’ll learn why, from staying active to finding friends, pickleball has become more than just a game – it’s a lifestyle.
Guests:
- Will Meng: Professional Pickleball Coach at Pickleville CT
- Young Le: Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Elevate Pickleball Academy
- Trish Jennings: Co-Owner of Camp Pickleball
- Ruth Martin: pickleball player
- Louis Martin: pickleball player
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Experts say Connecticut's annual average temperature has increased incrementally every decade since 1895. According to the National Weather Service, New England summer temperature is going to be 50-60% warmer this season.
Heat can have a major impact on our health: this goes beyond heat stroke or exhaustion. Today, we’re exploring the many ways heat can impact both our physical and mental health, and what you can do to prepare.
Got a question about staying cool for the summer? Join the conversation!
GUESTS:
- Garett Argianas: Chief Meteorologist at Connecticut Public
- Dr. Cynthia Laverne Price: Emergency Medicine Physician at Hartford Healthcare
- Dr. Rebecca Andrews: Professor of Medicine and Associate Program Director for Categorical Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut
- Dr. Joshua Wortzel: Psychiatrist at Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living and Assistant Professor Adjunct at Yale School of Medicine
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It’s that time of year. Graduation! Commencement! These events mark the end of a student’s academic journey, and hopefully the start of something new.
These rites of passage serve as important celebrations in a young person's life. Today, we talk to those responsible for making sure these ceremonies go off without a hitch!
Social media, AI and other technologies have transformed how these milestones are captured and organized. Attitudes around all this pomp and circumstance are changing too.
We’ll also hear about Connecticut’s Queer Prom.
GUESTS:
- Kristen Record: Physics teacher at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut and Senior Class Advisor
- Patrick Dilger: Director of Integrated Communications and Marketing Southern Connecticut State University
- Brayden Ransom: Community Impact Manager, The Health Collective
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Can you remember a teacher who changed the course of your life? Maybe it was someone who helped you find your voice? Or someone who challenged you to think differently?
This hour, we’re exploring the impact of great mentors – those who shape us both in and beyond the classroom.
Sarah Ruhl, author of the new book, “Lessons from My Teachers” shares personal stories and reflects on the lasting power of mentorship.
GUESTS:
Sarah Ruhl: Author of “Lessons from My Teachers.” Sarah is also a playwright, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee, and the recipient of the MacArthur Genius Fellowship.
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It might sound like a cliche, but men in the U.S. are not going to the doctor, and their physical and mental health is suffering.
A recent survey from the Cleveland Clinic found that nearly 40% of Gen Z men didn’t have a primary care doctor.
And the life expectancy gap between men and women is widening. That’s according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Today, we talk with physicians about the state of men’s health and what they’re learning from their male patients.
GUESTS:
- Dr. David Inyangetor:Primary Care Physician at Trinity Health
- George Gogas: LCSW at Charter Oak Therapeutic Services, LLC
- Dr. Harrell Jordan: Executive Dean of Chamberlain University
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This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England.
We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild.
And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale.
GUESTS:
- Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI
- Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium
- Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley
- Kathryn Hulick:Science Journalist, Science News Explores
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on February 24, 2025.
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The average cost of a wedding in Connecticut is nearly $35,000.
Many couples are changing the way they get married, some opting for a small or “micro” wedding with only a few close friends and family members. And others are deciding to elope.
But the decision to elope isn’t always tied to wanting to avoid the price tag of a big wedding.
This hour, we hear from one couple who recently eloped at the start of the year.
GUESTS:
- Kim Moran: artist and postal worker
- Rachel Moran: Graduate Intern of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing Pride Center at Eastern Connecticut State University
- Emma Thurgood: Elopement photographer, videographer and planner
Additional voices featured in this hour:
- Janice Favreau: Connecticut Justice of the Peace
- George Gross: Your Queer Plants Shop
- Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter for Connecticut Public
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired February 18, 2025.
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Born in Pittsburgh, Micahel Luo is the son of Chinese immigrants. He attended Harvard, and later became a reporter at the New York Times and today he is the Executive Editor at The New Yorker.
One rainy afternoon in 2016, he was standing on the sidewalk with his family and some friends after church, trying to decide where to go to lunch when a stranger accosted him and his family. “Go back to China,” she said.
Today, he joins us for the hour to talk about his new book on the hidden history of brutality and violence that so many Chinese Americans faced at the turn of the century.
Learn more about Michael Luo's upcoming event at the Mark Twain House here.
GUEST:
- Michael Luo:Executive Editor for the New Yorker, and author of the book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
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President Trump recently attempted to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the agency that distributes federal funds to libraries and museums across the country.
Connecticut was one of just three states to lose its federal grant for public libraries, totaling over $2 million.
A judge blocked the move last week, but big questions remain.
This hour, we ask: What does this mean for our local libraries and museums? Is future funding safe? And what role do these institutions play in our communities today?
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Public and Connecticut Mirror
- Deborah Schander: State Librarian, Connecticut State Library
- Scott Jarzombek: President of theConnecticut Library Association
- Joshua Carter: Executive Director, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
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One in five Americans have a disability. That’s according to the United States Census Bureau.
The Trump administration has released statements promising to protect programs like medicaid, medicare and Social security - programs that people with disabilities rely on everyday.
But in his recommendation for funding for fiscal year 2026, President Trump proposed cuts to housing for persons with disabilities and cuts to the National Institute of Disability.
Today, we hear about the future of disability services from people living with disabilities.
GUESTS:
- Tom Cosker: Disability Advocate at Disability Rights Connecticut
- Corey Pheez Lee:More Than Walking Peer Mentor Coordinator, Hip-hop artist and host "Super Adaptables" Podcast with More Than Walking
- Colin Killick: Executive Director of the Autism Self-Advocacy Network
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From special outdoor performances, to educating the next generation of thespians, summer is a busy time for theaters around the state.
But this month, several Connecticut performing arts spaces received notice that federal grants were being rescinded.
Today, we speak to some of those institutions about what will happen next.
Plus, Connecticut tourism is a $4 billion-a-year business. That’s according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. We hear how this industry has been impacted by federal cuts as well.
GUESTS:
- Michael Paulson:theater reporter for New York Times
- Chris Freeman: Vice President of Advancement at the Mystic Seaport Museum
- Eric Gershman: Interim Managing Director at Long Wharf Theater
- Frank Mitchel: President of the Board of Directors for CT Humanities
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After recent reports of detentions across New England, Connecticut activists are stepping up to protect immigrants.
They’re finding creative ways to help people understand their rights and prepare for encounters with ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
This hour, we uncover how these efforts are making a difference.
And later, we look at a scam targeting Connecticut’s immigrant community – the Notario Fraud. We hear how to spot it and where to turn for help if you or someone you know is caught in its grip.
GUESTS:
- Daniela Doncel: Latino Communities Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Sheila Hayre: Clinical Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University
- Catherine Blinder: Chief Education and Outreach Officer,State's Department of Consumer Protection
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Parenthood is hard, and expensive. Over the course of 18 years, it costs nearly $300,000 to raise a child in the state of Connecticut.
So is a $5000 baby bonus really going to inspire prospective parents to have children? Today, we talk about some of the Trump administration’s recent proposals to increase the birthrate.
Ahead of Mother’s Day, we dig into solutions to supporting parents. We hear from parents who will share the ways they’d like to be supported throughout their parenthood journey.
And we want to hear from you, what’s parenthood like right now? What support systems would you like to see?
GUESTS:
- Sarah Donaldson: graduate student at Southern Connecticut State University
- Jessica Holzer: Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health and Leadership
- Malissa Griffith: Program Manager of Parents Connecting Parents and family engagement at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
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This week begins the search for the next head of the Catholic Church known as the Conclave. Social media has been a buzz as Cardinals all over the world have gathered to begin this sacred ritual to elect the next Pope.
During his papacy, Pope Francis took stands on issues like immigration, war and environmental justice. Although he appointed women leaders in the Vatican office, he did not go so far as to allow women to serve as deacons, and priests.
As the Catholic church elects a new pope, some women are hoping for expanded roles under the next papacy. Today, we hear what that might look like.
What would you like to see from the next Pope?
GUESTS:
- Olivia Bardo:Multimedia and Social Editor at the Global Sisters Report, a Project of the National Catholic Reporter
- Celia Viggo Wexler:journalist and author of Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope
- Sister Barbara Mullen: Sister of Saint Joseph and Hartford Archdiocese Delegate for Religious
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What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it’s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories.
This hour, two local children’s authors share their belief in food’s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.
GUESTS:
- Debbi Michiko Florence: author of children’s and middle grade books including her latest, Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets
- Caela Collins: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of Food Is Love
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Comedian Sheng Wang does not perform comedy that punches down; making jokes about those with less power and privilege.
The child of Taiwanese immigrants refuses to make jokes about the Asian American diaspora, but does include stories about his family in his standup.
Sheng joined us to talk about his 20 year career, his first comedy special on Netflix and connecting with audiences through humility and kindness.
Learn more about his Connecticut performance here.
GUEST:
- Sheng Wang: Comedian, actor and writer
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently stated that the Trump administration will be prioritizing transportation funding to states that require “local compliance or cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.”
In April, the Connecticut Department of Transportation held it’s 2025 Transportation Showcase. Today, we listen back to the panel discussion, where we explored how public transit could impact small business growth and the future of federal infrastructure funding in Connecticut.
We also touched on the transition to an electric bus service and efforts to reduce Connecticut’s carbon footprint through green solutions.
GUESTS:
- Benjamin Limmer: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau Chief of Public Transportation,
- Marian Andoh-Clarke: Director of Small Business Development, Hartford Chamber of Commerce,
- Matt Hart: Executive Director, Capital Region Council of Governments
- John Truscinski: Director of Resilience Planning, The Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Spring is a time of migration for amphibians around New England. And there’s a lot being done to help these little creatures get to their summer homes - safely!
Today, we hear from those working to aid the frogs, and toads, and helping them cross the roads.
We might even get to meet a frog and a toad, or two! The Connecticut Beardsley Zoo joins us, and along with some amphibian friends!
GUESTS:
- Mara Hoplamazian:Climate Reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio
- Jim Knox: Curator of Education of the Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
- Stevie Kennedy Gold: Curatorial Associate of Herpetology for The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University
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A new retail trend known as “Sephora Kids,” refers to tweens and young teens who emulate the beauty and skincare routines of adults.
Beauty retailer, Sephora, has seen their customer base of 9 to 12 year-olds double in the past five years. That’s according to Forbes.
But healthcare experts warn that many beauty and skincare products contain ingredients that are harmful to children.
Connecticut’s Attorney General, William Tong, has launched an investigation into Sephora’s marketing strategies aimed at kids, tweens and teens.
This hour, we explore the beauty industry’s impact on children, and how local leaders are inspiring confidence that is more than skin-deep.
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Black holes aren’t just the stuff of science fiction; they’re real astronomical objects so dense, so massive, that nothing, not even light, escapes from them.
Today, we’re getting lost in the void. Yale Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan joins us for an hour to talk about her research on these extraordinary objects. Last year, she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research on how black holes form.
Later, you don’t have to be a scientist to look up and appreciate the cosmos.
We hear from planetariums and astronomical societies in our state that are connecting stargazers and space lovers around Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Priyamvada Natarajan: theoretical astrophysicist and Professor of Astronomy at Yale University
- Al Washburn: member at large and former president of the Astronomical Society of New Haven
- Brian Koehler: Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium at the Mystic Seaport Museum
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired February 27, 2025.
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New England’s coastal culture is built on shellfish. But rising temperatures and shifting ocean conditions threaten that tradition. This hour, how the shellfish industry is adapting to choppy waters.
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When you think of the phrase “nuclear power” what comes to mind for you? Perhaps some of the notable catastrophic accidents that were caused from malfunctions at nuclear power plants like Chernobyl or Three Mile Island?
Although nuclear power carries some risks, some are saying it’s one of the most reliable ways we have to generate electricity.
Today, we are going atomic and diving into the world of nuclear power, including taking a look at what this looks like in our state.
What questions do you have about going nuclear?
GUESTS:
- John Moritz:covers energy and environment for CT Mirror
- Erik Katovich:Assistant Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics at the University of Connecticut
- Ivan Penn:New York Times reporter covering the energy industry
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Today is Tax Day, and we’re talking about managing your budget in a year of constantly changing tariffs and an unpredictable marketplace.
There’s a lot of questions about what to do with your money, in a time of so much financial uncertainty. But having greater financial literacy and understanding on how the economy works, could give you a little bit more ease.
Later, we hear how greater financial literacy can help the next generation have greater control over their financial future.
GUESTS:
- Michelle Singletary:Personal Finance Columnist for the Washington Post
- Christian Sherill:Director of Growth and Advocacy with Next Gen Personal Finance
- Marian Andoh Clarke:Director of Small Business Development at the Hartford Chamber of Commerce
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Kelp Week 2025 is celebrated from April 20 to May 1 in Connecticut.
This versatile type of seaweed is farmed right off Connecticut’s shoreline and used in a variety of cuisines, fertilizers, lotions, and more!
This hour, we’re joined by local kelp farmers and experts for a deep dive into aquaculture’s fastest growing industry. We’ll look at how chefs are using kelp in their favorite recipes and why seaweed is a powerful force against climate change.
GUESTS:
- Suzie Flores: co-owner of Stonington Kelp Co.
- Zachary Gordon: Assistant Extension Educator, Connecticut Sea Grant
- Eric Dawson: Director of Program Innovation,Yellow Farmhouse
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Reading can take us on adventures beyond our own backyards but perhaps not too far!
Amity Gaige is the author of Heartwood. It explores the story of one woman who gets lost on the Appalachian Trail. Did you know this trail runs through Connecticut?
And Ethan Rutherford is the author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. Connecticut was once home to one of the largest whaling ports in the world.
These local authors join us for an hour to talk about their new books and we want to hear what you’re reading right now!
GUESTS:
- Amity Gaige:author of four books including her latest, Heartwood.She also teaches creative writing at Yale.
- Ethan Rutherford:author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. He teaches creative writing at Trinity College.
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It’s time to shake off the winter blues and dive into spring - spring gardening to be more specific!
Today, horticulturist and host of All Things Gardening, Charlie Nardozzi joins us for the hour to answer our gardening questions and yours.
Plus, we hear from those bringing gardening, farming and fresh local goods from produce to honey, to every neighborhood across Connecticut, and using gardening as a way to connect.
Whether you're a first time gardener, or master of the soil, you won’t want to miss this hour.
Learn more about the Urban Green and Community Grant here.
GUESTS:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and All Things Gardening host on Vermont Public Radio
- Jonathón Savage: Executive Director of Gather New Haven
- Diana Martinez: Agriculture Director at Chicks Ahoy Farm
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A new retail trend known as “Sephora Kids,” refers to tweens and young teens who emulate the beauty and skincare routines of adults.
Beauty retailer, Sephora, has seen their customer base of 9 to 12 year-olds double in the past five years. That’s according to Forbes.
But healthcare experts warn that many beauty and skincare products contain ingredients that are harmful to children.
Connecticut’s Attorney General, William Tong, has launched an investigation into Sephora’s marketing strategies aimed at kids, tweens and teens.
This hour, we explore the beauty industry’s impact on children, and how local leaders are inspiring confidence that is more than skin-deep.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong
- Jessica DeFino: award-winning beauty reporter and critic, columnist for The Guardian
- Maria Ogundolani: Program Director,LiveGirl
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In recent weeks, the Trump administration has been targeting international students for their participation in pro-Palestinian protests or speech.
In early March, Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and detained. Khalil played a prominent role in the pro-Palestinian protests on the Columbia campus. President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social that Khalil’s arrest was quote “the first arrest of many to come.”
In late March, Fulbright scholar and Tufts University grad student Rumeysa Ozrurk was taken into custody by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents in plain clothes and wearing masks.
This hour, we’ll hear about the experiences of international students amid the Trump administration’s crackdown — from their legal rights to the fear and uncertainty they’re feeling.
GUESTS:
- Kirk Carapezza: Managing Editor and Correspondent for higher education at GBH News
- Liam Knox: Admissions and Enrollment Reporter, Inside Higher Ed
- Clay Harmon: Executive director of AIRC, Association of International Enrollment Management, a membership organization focused on recruiting and enrolling international students.
Kathy Wang and Angelica Gajewski helped produce this episode.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Next year, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Right now, many organizations are preparing for the anniversary here in Connecticut and beyond.
Today, we’ll hear from some of those institutions about their anniversary plans, the importance of learning from the past, and more.
The conversation was originally recorded at Connecticut’s America 250 2025 Conference held at the University of Connecticut and organized by CT Humanities.
GUESTS:
- Tom Schuch: Archival Historian, at the New London County Historical Society
- Norman Berman: President of the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society
- Sylvester Salcedo: Connecticut Veteran and Content Developer
- Anne Dropick: Executive Director, Eidetic Productions, Inc.
- Jason Mancini: Executive Director of CT Humanities and Vice Chair of Connecticut’s America 250 Commission
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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President Trump has signed an executive order that will begin eliminating the Education Department.
And while most experts agree that it would require an act of Congress to scrap the department entirely, significant workforce reductions have already begun.
The White House says that these actions will save money and improve student test scores. But critics say that vulnerable students, rural communities, and teachers will be left in a lurch.
This hour, we're joined by former United States Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona. We'll explore what a future with no Education Department looks like for students and schools in Connecticut and beyond.
GUESTS:
- Miguel Cardona: former United States Secretary of Education
- Christina Samuels: Deputy Managing Editor, The Hechinger Report
- Jessika Harkay: Education reporter, CT Mirror
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For Muslims, Ramadan is the holiest month of the year. It’s marked by fasting, prayer and renewing one’s devotion to the faith. Here in Connecticut, institutions around the state are marking this holy time with a variety of celebrations.
But throughout the world, Islamophobia is on the rise. Earlier this month in Waterbury, two young girls celebrating Ramadan were attacked by fellow students. During the attack, their hijabs were ripped off.
Today, we hear what can be done to better support the Islamic community, and dive deeper into this holy time.
GUESTS:
- Chaplain Aida Mansoor: Director of Field Education at Hartford International University
- Chad Moir: CEO of March Inc
- Saba Shahid:Author, entrepreneur and pilot
- Dia Fortenberry: Assistant Athletic Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Engagement at Wesleyan University
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This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.
Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.
Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.
GUESTS:
- Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
- Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford
- Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative
- Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on December 2, 2024.
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Tolkien Reading Day is held on March 25th each year.
Libraries here in Connecticut and across the globe mark this day by paying homage to the works of J.R.R Tolkien. They host “second breakfasts,” offer presentations on Hobbit lore, and encourage visitors to read their favorite passages aloud.
This hour, we explore why Tolkien's characters and fantastical world building continues to resonate with readers today.
GUESTS:
- David Thorn Wenzel, Illustrator and children's book artist best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
- Michael Whelan: Illustrator specializing in fantasy and science fiction, winner of 15 Hugo Awards
- Kate Noonan: Senior Reference Librarian, South Windsor Public Library
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Daylight Saving Time: it’s just losing one hour of sleep right? How bad can that be?
But experts say, it goes beyond losing one hour of sleep. The practice of advancing clocks to make better use of daylight, can have long term disruptions to our circadian rhythm. That’s according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Today, we explore just how disruptive Daylight Saving Time can be to our sleep, our health and our behavior, and hear about some efforts to change it.
Would you like to see Daylight Saving Time abolished?
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Reproductive health is historically understudied and underfunded in the United States. Scientists across Connecticut and beyond have been working to change that.
Scientific initiatives like EndoRISE, a Connecticut-based program focused on advancing endometriosis research, are making strides toward better understanding reproductive health.
This hour, we explore how President Trump’s recent funding cuts could impact their progress.
GUESTS:
- Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter, CT Public
- Dr. Danielle Luciano: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-director of EndoRISE
- Dr. Lubna Pal: Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine
- Julie Rovner: Chief Washington Correspondent, KFF
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This season alone, there have been over 30,000 COVID-19 cases in Connecticut. That’s according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Measles is on the rise across the United States, and the CDC is monitoring H5 bird flu activity as well.
Is it time to start preparing for the next global pandemic?
Last year, the World Health Organization published a checklist to help nations update their pandemic preparedness plans.
Today, physicians across our state join us to talk about what we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to prepare for the next one.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare
- Dr. Megan Ranney:Dean of Yale School of Public Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine
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Five years ago today, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Since then, there have been over a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States alone.
It can be challenging to recall a time with so much fear, trauma and loss. But today, we’re revisiting the earliest days of the pandemic and asking you, what do you remember?
We’ll hear from the Pandemic Journaling Project out of UConn, and from Marked By COVID. This is a survivors-led organization working to establish a permanent National COVID memorial.
What are your earliest memories of the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic?
GUESTS:
- Kristin Urquiza: Co-founder of Marked By COVID
- Sarah Willen, PhD, MPH: Co-founder of the Pandemic Journaling Project and Professor of Anthropology at University of Connecticut
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It’s been five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
What began as a mysterious “flu-like” illness spread rapidly, killing over one million people in the United States and over seven million worldwide. That’s according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
And while half a decade has passed, many frontline workers remember the months of fear and uncertainty as though it was yesterday.
This hour, hospital workers and a grocery store worker reflect on how the pandemic forever changed their jobs, what lessons they continue to carry forward today, and how they resist “collective forgetting” when it feels like the world has moved on.
GUESTS:
- Sarah Peltier: Grocery at Stop & Shop in Simsbury, CT
- Audrey Silver: Senior Clinical Operations Manager at Hartford Healthcare
- Chaplain Rolando Hernandez Lizcano: Chaplain, Hartford Hospital
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The National Park Service is gearing up for its busiest season of the year, with a smaller staff to assist visitors. The National Park Service has laid off over 1000 employees.
Here in Connecticut demand for outdoor recreation has grown exponentially. There was a 75% increase in state park visitors in 2022.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is working to make parks accessible to everyone. Last year, they launched all-terrain wheelchairs at five Connecticut State Parks and Forests. We’ll hear more about that later.
Today we hear about this effort and others making the outdoors more accessible for people with disabilities.
GUESTS:
- Kevin Harkins: Vice President of the Southeast Community Center of the Blind
- Lisa Friedman: reporter covering climate policy and politics for the New York Times
- Mason Trumble: Deputy Commissioner at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP)
- Akiebia Hicks: Project Manager for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
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Children’s book author Mac Barnett has been named the Library of Congress' newest National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and during this appointment, he will be focusing on some really important literature: picture books.
Picture books can inspire young readers to make reading a habit, but don’t dismiss them as solely books for kids. Mac Barnett believes that picture books are real literature and can be enjoyed at any age.
Today, he joins us to talk about picture books and we also hear from picture book lovers locally. Kym Powe from the Connecticut State Library joins us.
And we want to hear from you: do you have a favorite picture book?
GUESTS:
- Mac Barnett: U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature at the Library of Congress, and children's book author
- Kym Powe: Children and Young Adult Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
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Korean Dramas, or “K-Dramas,” are gaining popularity internationally. Netflix recently poured billions of dollars into Korean content to meet the rising demand.
So what sets K-Dramas apart from other TV genres? And why do viewers say that watching K-Dramas has helped them heal, grieve, and even feel less lonely?
This hour, we’re joined by Jeanie Y. Chang, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health.”
And later, we hear from members of a local K-Drama meetup group, whose shared passion for K-Dramas has taken them all over the globe.
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Black holes aren’t just the stuff of science fiction; they’re real astronomical objects so dense, so massive, that nothing, not even light, escapes from them.
Today, we’re getting lost in the void. Yale Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan joins us for an hour to talk about her research on these extraordinary objects. She was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research on how black holes form.
Later, you don’t have to be a scientist to look up and appreciate the cosmos.
We hear from planetariums and astronomical societies in our state that are connecting stargazers and space lovers around Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Priyamvada Natarajan: theoretical astrophysicist and Professor of Astronomy at Yale University
- Al Washburn: member at large and former president of the Astronomical Society of New Haven
- Brian Koehler: Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium at the Mystic Seaport Museum
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Three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the war continues on and millions are facing dire humanitarian needs.
Despite prior support from the United States that included billions of dollars in aid, President Donald Trump has now falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator.
Today, we hear from Doctors United for Ukraine, a nonprofit working to train Ukrainian physicians, and equip them with the skills and expertise to address traumatic injuries in this region.
We’ll also hear an update from the Yale Humanitarian Lab.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Andrey Zinchuk: Vice President and Director of Doctors United for Ukraine at Yale
- Nathaniel Raymond: Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health
- Ian Lovett: foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal covering Ukraine
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This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England.
We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild.
And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale.
GUESTS:
- Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI
- Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium
- Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley
- Kathryn Hulick:Science Journalist, Science News Explores
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In addition to handling all official state records, the Connecticut state comptroller acts as the official state financial watchdog.
From a major audit of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and responding to unpredictable federal funding freezes, this office is having a very busy fiscal year.
Today, Comptroller Scanlon joins us in the studio. We hear about Connecticut’s current fiscal state and this office’s priorities for the coming next fiscal year.
Got a question about state finances or how this office operates? Join the conversation.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon
- Keith Phaneuf: Connecticut Mirror state budget reporter
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The average cost of a wedding in Connecticut is nearly $35,000.
Many couples are changing the way they get married, some opting for a small or “micro” wedding with only a few close friends and family members. And others are deciding to elope.
But the decision to elope isn’t always tied to wanting to avoid the price tag of a big wedding.
Today, we hear from one couple who recently eloped at the start of the year.
And if you are thinking about elopement, or maybe already tied the knot in this way, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Kim Moran: artist and postal worker
- Rachel Moran: Graduate Intern of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing Pride Center at Eastern Connecticut State University
- Emma Thurgood: Elopement photographer, videographer and planner
Additional voices featured in this hour:
- Janice Favreau: Connecticut Justice of the Peace
- George Gross: Your Queer Plants Shop
- Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter for Connecticut Public
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Connecticut native Sirena Huang learned to play violin through the Suzuki method: a teaching philosophy based on the idea that all children can play music.
At 11-years-old, she performed and gave a Ted Talk in California. Now, nearly twenty years later, she performs internationally as a world renowned violinist.
She joins us for the hour to talk about her journey, her time touring and teaching in Taiwan, and her wish to inspire peace through music.
We’ll also hear about her performances with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
GUESTS:
- Sirena Huang: concert violinist
- Linda Numagami: Resident Musician of Music Haven, and Violist of the Haven String Quartet
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If you’ve been listening to Where We Live for awhile, you probably are pretty familiar with our theme song.
But today, we introduce a new theme and hear from the band behind it. We’ll also hear from members of the indie rock community here in Connecticut.
In the age of big sell out tours and stadium concerts, Connecticut bands are making their mark locally, establishing loyal fan bases and building community.
Got a favorite local act? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Peter Brail: member of Ghostwoods
- Holden Palmieri: member of Ghostwoods
- Allie Burnet: from the band Allie Burnet & The Proven Winners
- Brendan Toller: Director of Operations and New Initiatives at WPKN in Bridgeport
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President Trump has implemented tariffs on goods from China, and imports from Mexico and Canada may soon be affected as well.
This hour, we offer “tariffs 101” – a look into what tariffs are, why the Trump administration is advocating for them, and how consumers and businesses in Connecticut may be impacted.
We hear from business leaders across Connecticut on how they are preparing for upcoming changes. And, we explore how tariffs have impacted the U.S. economy in the past.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror
- Dr. Mohammad Elahee: Professor of International Business, Quinnipiac University
- Wayne Pesce: President, CT Food Association
- Chris Davis: Vice President of Public Policy, CBIA
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The Mohegan Tribe—a sovereign and federally recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern Connecticut—has a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling.
This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts.
This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian. Melissa is part of a long line of “culture bearers,” tasked with keeping the traditions of the Mohegan Tribe alive through stories.
GUESTS:
- Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the Mohegan Tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Stowe Center for Literary Activism in Hartford is rethinking how they present the complex legacy of author Harriet Beecher Stowe and her best known work, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Today, Erika Slocumb, Director of Interpretation and Visitor Experience at the Stowe Center joins us to talk about the changes this local museum is making to better showcase literary activism of the past, and how it influences the future.
We’ll also hear from Possible Futures, an independent bookstore and neighborhood bookspace in New Haven.
We learn about their efforts to promote works by diverse authors, and using books to promote change.
GUESTS:
- Erika Slocumb: Director of Interpretation and Visitor Experience at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism in Hartford
- Grégory Pierrot: Associate Professor at the English Department at the University of Connecticut
- Lauren Anderson:founder and bookseller at Possible Futures independent bookstore in New Haven
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During his first days in office, President Trump signed multiple executive orders that targeted transgender rights, affecting school policies, military service, and even gender markers on passports.
This hour, we explore the real-world effects of these policies. We also hear how states like Connecticut may move to challenge these orders.
And later, two local community members share how they are working to create safe, transgender-friendly spaces and resources during this time of uncertainty.
GUESTS:
- Orion Rummler: LGBTQ+ Reporter, The 19th
- Chris Erchull: Senior Staff Attorney, GLAD Law
- Stori Anne Neesingham: Youth Services Librarian, Cheshire Public Library
- Beatrice Hamel: Master's of Social Work candidate, University of Connecticut
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When’s the last time you laughed? Like really, full body, couldn’t catch your breath, laughed?
Finding laughter can be challenging amongst the backdrop of political uncertainty and this constant stream of breaking news.
But sometimes, laughter and comedy can be a great way to make sense of the world around us.
Today, we talk about how comedy can be a vehicle for protest, political dialogue and even healing.
GUESTS:
- Allie Rivera: Instructor & Performer, Sea Tea Comedy Theater
- Brenna Harvey: Instructor & Performer, Sea Tea Comedy Theater
- Dr. Sophia A. McClennen: Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature and Director of the Center for Global Studies at Penn State University.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), and has started putting restrictions on the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us to talk about the impact these changes might have on public health locally.
We’ll also hear from Dr. Albert Ko, Professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, and member of research and development task forces at the WHO.
Do you have a question about healthcare and public health in our state?
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani
- Dr. Albert Ko:A physician and Epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health, and a a member of the WHO R&D Taskforce for Zika Virus and R&D Blueprint Working Group
- Sujata Srinivasan: Senior Health Reporter for Connecticut Public
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This hour, Flora Lichtman, the new host of NPR’s Science Friday, and Connecticut educators join us to explore the powerful connection between curiosity, science, and education.
Our guests will share insights on how embracing curiosity can help you tap into your inner scientist.
We'll also discuss the latest exhibits at the Connecticut Science Center, the growing trend known as "forest kindergarten," and why we should all be following NASA’s latest endeavors.
GUESTS:
- Flora Lichtman, host of NPR’s Science Friday
- Sally Chaves, 2024 CT Excellence in Science Teaching award winner
- Nate Gagnon, Public Programs Educator, Connecticut Science Center
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On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. But can he actually eliminate the federal agency? And if not, how else could he overhaul it?
This hour, we hear from educators about the potential ripple effects in Connecticut, including funding cuts.
Teachers are not only preparing for that, but also potential visits from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This week, the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where arrests can take place.
Are you a student, parent, or teacher? What are your thoughts on Trump’s promise?
GUESTS:
- Mark Lieberman:School Finance Reporter for Education Week
- Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez:Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools
- Joslyn DeLancey: Vice President of Connecticut Education Association and President of Connecticut Education Foundation
- Alex Putterman: Reporter for Connecticut Insider
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President Donald Trump was sworn in yesterday.
On the campaign trail, he promised to sign several executive orders once he took office, including sweeping changes to immigration laws.
This hour, we’ll break down what we’ve seen so far, and what executive orders we could expect in the weeks to come. Later, we hear from immigration experts in our state, to learn how Connecticut residents could be affected.
Do you, or a loved one, have questions about your rights as immigrants?
GUESTS:
- Tabitha Sookdeo: Executive Director of CT Students for a Dream
- Caroline Sennett: Director of Immigration Legal Service, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
- Ximena Bustillo: DHS and Immigration policy reporter at National Public Radio.
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Every four years on January 20th, Washington, D.C. braces for the start of a new presidency. Inauguration days date back to 1789 when George Washington was the first American president sworn into office.
This hour, we’re joined by a member of the White House Historical Association and a history professor from Eastern Connecticut State University to walk through Inaugural history.
And this year, Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances fall on the same date for the first time in 28 years. Our guests explain how this overlap may impact the day’s processions.
GUESTS:
- Thomas Balcerski, Presidential Historian, Eastern Connecticut State University
- Matthew Costello, Chief Education Officer, White House Historical Association
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Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship in the first month of his presidency. Connecticut Attorney General Tong is the son of immigrants and he says if that happens, he will be the first to sue.
Today, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joins us in the studio for the hour.
We’ll discuss his top priorities for 2025, including holding tech companies accountable, protecting reproductive care in our state and a plan to challenge some policies proposed by President-Elect Donald Trump.
It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong
- Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter for Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
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Dry January is a month-long campaign that revolves around cutting out alcohol or reducing alcohol intake for the month of January.
Today’s guests say that life without alcohol can be joyous, and they’re creating spaces for the sober and sober curious to try it out.
We talk to two owners of sober spaces in our state, and try out some mocktails they’ll bring to share.
We also hear how our relationship with alcohol is changing overall. Research shows that Gen Z is becoming the sober generation.
GUESTS:
- Dr. J Craig Allen MD: Medical Director at Rushford and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare
- Frances McGrath: Founder of Reframe: A Dry Spot in Willimantic
- Bobbi Malateseta: Creator of 3-2-1 No Kidding Sober Space and Bottle Shop in Naugatuck
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Students with disabilities can experience many challenges in the classroom, from discrimination to a lack of accommodations.
So, how can schools help these students feel like they belong?
That question was the focus of a special summit hosted by the state’s Department of Education in November.
The event brought together students, educators, parents, and more to highlight the experiences of students with disabilities and how we can better support them.
Watch the full panel discussion on CT-N.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Author Scott Shigeoka has spent a lot of time being curious about curiosity. It started with a trip across the country, meeting people with very different views than him and finding ways to build connections across political lines.
In his book Seek: How Curiosity can Transform Your Life and Change the World, Scott describes ways to bring curiosity to our lives and our relationships.
There’s many ways to build curiosity. It may even be contagious! But there are also several deterrents to curiosity, or curiosity killers. But becoming more curious could start with challenging our own thinking.
GUEST:
- Scott Shigeoka: author of Seek: How Curiosity can Transform Your Life and Change the World
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Today, we’re celebrating the New Year. Are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year?
New Year's Resolutions come in all shapes, sizes, and themes. New Year's resolutions are often about making drastic changes, but they don’t have to be.
From fitness and health to relationships, friendships and spirituality, there’s no one resolution that will help you make the most out of 2025.
We’ll share some of our intentions going into the New Year, and reflect on 2024. And we want to hear from you too!
GUESTS:
- Chion Wolf: host of Audacious with Chion Wolf
- Robyn Doyon-Aitken: Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Poet laureates do a lot more than write poetry.
Since 1985, Connecticut state poet laureates have worked to promote the literary arts and poetry throughout the Nutmeg state, visiting schools, performing spoken word and passing on poetry to the next generation of writers.
There is no straight path to this position. Some of our guests today have been writing poetry all their lives. Others got bitten by the poetry bug a little later.
Today, three poet laureates from around our state join us in the studio.
GUESTS:
- Antoinette Brim Bell: Connecticut State Poet Laureate
- Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate
- Frederick-Douglass Knowles II: Hartford Poet laureate
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This show originally aired on August 13, 2024.
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Why do we revisit the things we loved as kids? What’s the lasting power of our favorite TV shows and movies? A new podcast from Connecticut Public looks for answers in a big, purple dinosaur. It’s called Generation Barney.
This hour, we listen to episode 3 of the podcast – “Love 2 Hate.”
And later, we’re joined by an expert in anti-fandom, Emily Contois, who explains why people connect over shared hatred.
GUESTS:
Emily Contois, Media studies professor and faculty in residence, University of Tulsa
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Back in the 90s, Barney the purple dinosaur was everywhere, including in our living rooms. If you were a kid or a parent back then, chances are good that you had a stuffed Barney lying around your home.
This hour, we listen to episode 4 – “Purple Capitalism” – of Connecticut Public’s new podcast, Generation Barney.
And later, we’re joined by an expert in toy studies, Meredith Bak, who explains why merchandise played a big role in the TV show’s success.
GUESTS:
Meredith Bak, Associate Professor of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University – Camden
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As the author of the children’s book My Mama is a Pilot, Saba Shahid says she wants children to feel “represented and valued” through her stories.
Only 1% of commercial airline pilots are women of color. And Saba Shahid’s path to becoming a pilot is a little bit different than most. It actually started as a pandemic hobby!
Saba Shahid is this year’s recipient of the Girl Scouts Legacy of Leadership Award. She joins us for the hour to talk about her remarkable career, and her work as a Lifetime Girl Scout.
GUESTS:
- Saba Shahid: Author, pilot, and recipient of this year's Girl Scouts of Connecticut 2024 Legacy of Leadership Award
- Elicia Pegues Spearman: CEO of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut
- Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired September 17, 2024.
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Our opinions and ideas, thoughts and feelings, and how our senses are taken in are unique to each of us.
So when the founding scientists of neuroscience first started illustrating and studying the brain, they came to some very different conclusions on how it works.
How we think, how the brain works, and the history of neuroscience is the subject of the Yale Peabody Musuem’s new exhibit, “Mind/Matter: The Neuroscience of Perception, Attention and Memory Launched.”
We hear from the curators of this exhibit. Later, we hear from one arts organization working to empower artists with disabilities.
GUESTS:
- Daniel Colón Ramos: Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at Yale University and Associate Director of the Wu Tsai Institute
- David Skelly: Director of the Yale Peabody Museum
- Rebecca Maloney: Senior Art Program Manager at Inspire Arts, Connecticut based program supporting artists with disabilities.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Breaking, also known as breakdancing, made its debut at the Olympics this summer. But the sport has an illustrious history. This hour, we take you from the streets of the Bronx to the global stage.
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In 2023, employment in retail increased by nearly 500,000 people from October to December.
Additionally, there is an increased demand for healthcare services during the holiday season. Vehicular accidents, fires and decorating injuries are all too common. That’s according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
If you’ve recently spent any time shopping, or at a doctor’s office, odds are you’ve met someone who will be working through the holiday season.
Today, we hear from retail and healthcare workers and learn about their experiences working during the holidays.
If you'll be working through this holiday season, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Lucy Sciarretto: Seafood Clerk at Stop & Shop in Southbury, CT
- Audrey Silver: Senior Clinical Operations Manager at Hartford Healthcare
- Ellen Benson: Associate Director of Procedural Services and Manager of the Sterile Processing Department UConn Health
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Korean Dramas, or “K-Dramas,” are gaining popularity internationally. Netflix recently poured billions of dollars into Korean content to meet the rising demand.
So what sets K-Dramas apart from other TV genres? And why do viewers say that watching K-Dramas has helped them heal, grieve, and even feel less lonely?
This hour, we’re joined by Jeanie Y. Chang, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health.”
And later, we hear from members of a local K-Drama meetup group, whose shared passion for K-Dramas has taken them all over the globe.
GUESTS:
- Jeanie Y. Chang: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health“
- Sheena Williams: Organizer of the South Windsor K-Drama Meetup Group
- Evelyn Angry-Smith: Founder and co-organizer of the South Windsor K-Drama Meetup Group
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Mortality rates among American Indian and Black women are three times higher than the rate for white women. To understand the racial disparities we see in today’s healthcare system, it could be worth examining the past.
Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens is part of a growing group of historians examining the history of race and medicine. She joins us for the hour.
In her book Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and The Origins of American Gynecology, she explores the early history of reproductive healthcare, where enslaved women were subject to forced experimentation and operations, without anesthesia.
Later, we learn about the Hear Her Campaign.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens: Associate Professor of History & Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut. She is also the author of Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and The Origins of American Gynecology
- Dr. Veronica Pimentel:Maternal fetal medicine specialist and Director of Research of the OB GYN Residency program at St Francis Hospital and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.
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Some frustrated tenants are forming tenant unions to fight back against rent hikes, no fault evictions and to push for safer, more secure housing. We’ll hear from the Connecticut Tenant Union.
Later, DataHaven joins us to share the findings of their most recent wellbeing survey which reported the “highest rate of financial insecurity since the start of statewide data collection in 2015.”
Housing is a big contributor to financial insecurity, as is the cost of food.
If you’re a tenant in our state, we want to hear from you. How much will your rent increase this year?
GUESTS:
- Ginny Monk: children's issues and housing reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
- Mark Abraham: Executive Director for DataHaven, a nonprofit working to collect and provide data on quality of life throughout Connecticut
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The holiday season can bring financial stress, more time at home, and pressure to spend time with family. According to advocates, these conditions place survivors of domestic violence at high risk.
This hour, we talk to advocates about how they are meeting the growing need for domestic violence services across the state and why the expiration of American Rescue Plan funds could make their work more difficult.
And later, we address questions surrounding reaching out to domestic violence crisis centers if you’re undocumented or not ready to involve law enforcement.
GUESTS:
- Meghan Scanlon: President and CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Danielle DeRosier: Senior Director of Community Programs, Prudence Crandall Center
- Sheila Hayre: Clinical Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University
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Carolyn Kuan has been the music director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour, we speak to her about her work as a conductor, and the driving forces behind her music.
Like many organizations, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has put forth diversity and inclusivity commitments stating that they are, quote “diversifying programming by considering race, ethnicity and gender identity in the composers whose music performed.” We talk about how the orchestra is striving to become more inclusive and diverse, and what that work looks like.
We’ll also hear from Tyler Kline, he’s a composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a radio program that features work from the great living composers, especially those with underrepresented backgrounds. You can listen to the Modern Notebook on Connecticut Public on Saturdays at 10pm.
GUESTS:
- Carolyn Kuan: Music Director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
- Tyler Kline: composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a program by PRX, and host of the podcast "Music/Maker"
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Dylan Reyes contributed to this show which originally aired May 28, 2024
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A fire broke out in October of this year at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin. It took officials weeks to contain the brushfires. The Connecticut National Guard borrowed helicopters to dump more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fire.
While attempting to fight the fire, tragically, Wethersfield volunteer firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr. died. Sharkevich was riding a utility task vehicle on one of the mountain trails when it rolled over.
The recent brush fires in Connecticut are forcing us to face the state of our changing climate and prepare for a future where wildfires could become more normal in our region.
John Vaillant, author of the 2023 book, Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning Worldrecently penned an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Northeast Is Burning.”
He’ll join us today to react to the recent wildfires, and talk about what we can do to prepare.
GUESTS:
- John Vaillant: author of Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning World
- Dr. Saud Anwar: Connecticut State Senator
- Mason Trumble: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner
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This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.
Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.
Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.
GUESTS:
- Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
- Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford
- Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative
- Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative
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Architect and attorney Sara Bronin chaired the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission for seven years. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform in our state.
Her new book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, goes beyond Hartford and examines how zoning molds cities and communities across the nation.
Zoning isn’t just about housing; it touches every aspect of our lives, including our physical and emotional health. Better zoning starts with better data about zoning. There are thousands of different zoning codes, and Sara is working to log them all through the National Zoning Atlas.
She currently serves as the 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
GUEST:
- Sara Bronin: Founder of DeSegregateCT and author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Mohegan Tribe—a sovereign and federally recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern Connecticut—has a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling.
This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts.
This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian. Melissa is part of a long line of “culture bearers,” tasked with keeping the traditions of the Mohegan Tribe alive through stories.
GUESTS:
- Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the Mohegan Tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Thanksgiving is a week away…you ready? Maybe you're brushing up on those cooking skills for a Friendsgiving this weekend.
If the holiday is just one big excuse to gather friends and family around a table, we have a treat for you. Lidia Bastianich, the award-winning chef and host of “Lidia’s Kitchen” on PBS is our guest.
Lidia talks about her journey to becoming an American, and her latest book - which is all about family recipes. She also shares tips for cooking a turkey and all the fixins’.
We invite listeners to share their family food traditions with us on our social platforms and on air: 888-720-WNPR.
GUEST:
- Lidia Bastianich: Host of Lidia’s Kitchen on PBS for more than 25 years, she’s the author of a memoir, My American Dream, and many cookbooks. Her latest is Lidia's From Our Family Table to Yours, which she wrote with her daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali.
RECIPES BY LIDIA BASTIANICH:Apple Cranberry Crumble
Beer Braised Short Ribs
Mezzi Rigatoni with Raw Tomato Sauce
Plus, find even more recipes from Lidia's PBS shows on our dedicated food page.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Some studies show that working with your hands can have a lot of cognitive and emotional benefits. Creating something with your hands can be a deeply satisfying process, and for some students, it can set them on a path for a real career in engineering.
That’s where Makerspaces come in. Across the state, makerspaces are providing places where students of all ages can go and learn a new trade or craft with the help of some exceptional makers, and really advanced equipment!
Today, we hear from MakerspaceCT, a Hartford based skills development center. Later, we learn how libraries are becoming hubs for innovation as well.
GUESTS:
- Samuel Ferri: coordinator with Studio 20 South, a digital maker studio at the West Hartford Library
- Paul Lavoie: Chief Manufacturing Officer of the state of Connecticut
- Cole Grosner: Education Director for MakerspaceCT
- Devra Sisitsky: Founder and Executive Director of MakerspaceCT
- Care Verikas: co-founder Bristol Bazaar, an indoor makers market that is open year round
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A Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus.
Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to Disabled World, an independent Health and Disability news source.
This hour, we talk about why invisible illnesses are difficult to diagnose and how scientists are trying to change that.
GUESTS:
- Michayla Savitt, State Government Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Jennifer Crystal, Author of “One Tick Stopped the Clock”
- Kelsi Carolan, Assistant Professor and licensed clinical social worker, University of Connecticut
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Traditionally, college campuses are epicenters of activity, connection, and engagement. So why are students feeling so isolated?
39% of students have reported feeling lonely. Loneliness remains an ongoing health crisis throughout the nation. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has raised concerns about loneliness, sharing that a lack of connection can increase the risk for premature death.
Today, we take a look at loneliness and isolation in the university setting, and hear how some colleges are working to address it. We also hear from students and learn about how they have addressed loneliness in their lives.
GUESTS:
- Nick Pinkerton:Associate Dean of Counseling Services and Wellbeing at Southern Connecticut State University
- Alex Kafka:Senior Editor, at The Chronicle of Higher Education and author of the report Overcoming Student Loneliness
- Krista Mitchell:Senior at University of Connecticut
- Bonnibel Lilith Rampertab: Sophomore at University of Connecticut
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Sy Montgomery is the author of several books on animals, ordinary and extraordinary. Her new book What the Chicken Knows tackles one of the most common birds on the planet, but she argues that chickens are truly exceptional creatures.
Today, Sy joins us for the hour to talk about her new book and her experience owning and raising chickens.
Although chickens have a reputation of being rather unintelligent creatures, they actually have distinct personalities and communities.
Later, we touch on a recent avian flu outbreak that occurred in Texas, and what poultry farmers and chicken owners in our state need to know about it.
If you have chickens, we want to hear from you this hour.
GUEST:
- Sy Montgomery: author of What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird
- Indu Upadhyaya: Food Safety Extension Specialist, at UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
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This hour, we explore the beverage that helps us start our days, energize our bodies, and connect with friends: coffee.
Coffee has played an unexpected role in Connecticut’s history. It has fueled fights for workers’ rights and social reforms, and even shaped cultures. With the help of a local historian, we move through time; from the birth of the 'coffee house' to the rise in popularity of the coffee date.
And later, we talk to local roasters and business owners about how they bring fresh and unique perspectives to the centuries-old coffee industry.
GUESTS:
- Karen Li Miller: Research Historian, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- J. René Martinez: Owner of J. René Coffee Roasters in West Hartford
- Tiera Aighewi: Owner of Black By Demand Specialty Coffee in Norwalk
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77% of adults said the future of the nation is a significant source of stress in their lives. When anxiety is high, it can be more important than ever to lean into self-care routines to manage stress.
And today's guests say that strategies managing election stress aren't that different than managing everyday stress.
Today, interfaith chaplain Reverend Tracy Mehr-Muska joins us to talk about managing election stress, and staying resilient in the midst of uncertainty.
We also hear from Kate Dias, a math teacher at the Manchester School district and president of the Connecticut Education Association. We hear about the conversations she’s having with her students.
GUESTS:
- Patricia Crouse: Professor of Political Science at the University of New Haven
- Susan Raff: Chief Capitol Reporter, WFSB TV
- Jonathan Wharton: associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University
- Reverend Tracy Mehr-Muska: assistant director in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, at Wesleyan University and author of the bookWeathering the Storm: Simple Strategies for Being Peaceful and Prepared
- Kate Dias: math teacher at the Manchester School district and is president of the Connecticut Education Association
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Election Day is finally here. Today, we’ll get updates on how Election Day is unfolding in our state and across the nation.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas will join us, and we hear from one Connecticut Public reporter in the field. Later, we take a look at one of the oldest political campaign tools: lawn signs.
Are you voting today? What are polling stations looking like where you live?
GUESTS:
- Stephanie Thomas: Connecticut Secretary of the State
- Sujata Srinivasan:Senior Health Reporter for Connecticut Public
- Jennifer Hopper: Associate Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University
- Alex Coppock: Assistant Professor of Political Science at Yale University and a resident fellow of the Institution for Social Policy Studies and Center for the Study of American Politics
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This hour, we hear a panel discussion called “Artistic Congress,” held at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut on October 26. Panelists, including educators, journalists, and artists, gathered to discuss the connection between creativity and civic engagement.
They asked: Is it political discourse that impacts art? Or is it art that fuels political discourse?
GUESTS:
- Lucy Gellman: Editor of the arts paper and cofounder of the Youth Journalism Arts Initiative at the Arts Council of Greater New Haven
- Leslie Blatteau: President of the New Haven Federation of Teachers
- Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi: Performance artist, playwright and curator of the Black Trans Women at the Center New Play Festival at the Long Wharf Theatre
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Happy Halloween!
Is Connecticut the spookiest place in the country? We’re not sure, but our guests today are pretty haunted!
All this hour, we’ll be talking about all things Spooky Connecticut, and not just our favorite haunted spots.
There will be candy debates, talks of our favorite horror flicks filmed right here in Connecticut, and more.
Watch the Connecticut Public documentary "Trail of Terror" here.
GUESTS:
- Colin McEnroe: Host of the Colin McEnroe Show
- Chion Wolf: Host of Audacious with Chion Wolf
- Francesca Fontanez: host of Spooky CT and Social Media Editor at Connecticut Public
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How do you spend your time online? Many of our online platforms are designed to encourage scrolling, and to benefit advertisers and algorithms. Platforms built to connect us have left us more disconnected than ever.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Technologists say that a better internet is possible. Today, we talk about the changing architecture of the internet to serve the public interest.
Later, we take a look at one of the largest libraries of online culture: The Internet Archive. It came under attack this month. We learn how this resource is being preserved for future generations.
GUESTS:
- Dan York: Senior Advisor at the Internet Society
- Andrew White: Caleb T. Winchester University Librarian at Wesleyan University
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It’s the season of the witch! While we prepare to wear our pointed hats this Halloween, we can’t forget the gruesome history of witch hunts in New England – including Connecticut.
While many movies today celebrate witches as quirky, empowered, and misunderstood, the history behind being called a “witch” is rooted in prejudice and fear.
In today’s political landscape, the word “witch” continues to be weaponized against female politicians. So how far have we really come from the days of witch hunts?
For more Where We Live conversations around Connecticut's history of witches:
- 'Before there was Salem, there was Connecticut': State formally pardons accused witches
- A push to exonerate victims of Connecticut's early witch trials
- Connecticut witches of the past, present and future
- Author Spotlights Connecticut's History Of Witch Hangings
GUESTS:
- Natalie Bellager, Public Programs Manager, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- Julie Walsh, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Wellesley College
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When the Afghanistan fell under Taliban rule in 2021, instruments were destroyed and musicians were silenced.
Today, we hear from Afghan musicians taking part in a performance at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford entitled “Symphony of Resilience: The Afghan Orchestra Unsilenced.”
We’ll listen to some of their original music and learn how some artists in Afghanistan are finding ways to pursue and even record music abroad.
Plus, Kevin Bishop, the founder of Cuatro Puntos, a Connecticut non-profit that works to amplify persecuted and underrepresented music and musicians, joins us.
GUESTS:
- Nazira Wali:musician and composer
- Arson Fahim:musician, pianist, composer and conductor
- Kevin Bishop:Founder and Executive Director of Cuatro Puntos
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James White entered the Connecticut school system at age 7. Although he would go on to graduate high school and run a small business, he found himself struggling. He had to ask friends and family members for help with paperwork. Writing and reading was a challenge. But then he found the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford and started taking classes.
Many adults struggle with reading comprehension, and writing. There are approximately 48 million adults in the United States that cannot read above a third grade level. Today, we take a look at literacy education in Connecticut and beyond.
There are many areas of literacy, including media literacy. If you hear the term media literacy, you might think of news, social media, or even yes, election ads and political messaging. But media literacy is starting to encompass a lot of other mediums including artificial intelligence. We learn about expanding media literacy education.
GUESTS:
- James White: Student taking courses at the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
- Steve Morris: Executive Director for the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
- Michelle Ciulla Lipkin: Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education
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Every presidential election, campaignsflood our TVs with political ads. Back in 1952, “Ike for President” became the very first political advertisement on TV. Dwight Eisenhower's campaign may have been the first to use television like this. But it’s certainly not the last.
Today, more than 70 years later, political ads are everywhere. In recent weeks, both the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns have ramped up their advertising. And it’s no longer just on our TV screens; it’s on social media platforms, too.
This hour, we’re looking at political advertising during the 2024 election cycle from the messages we’re seeing to how that impacts what we do at the ballot box.
What kinds of messages are you seeing?
GUEST:
- Erika Franklin Fowler:Professor of Government at Wesleyan University and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project
Note: The ad from Rep. Jahana Hayes's campaign played in this episode originally aired in 2022 and was featured on the campaign's website homepage at the time of this broadcast. This episode originally aired on August 24, 2024.
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Early voting starts next week across Connecticut. This means voters can cast their ballots ahead of Election Day in November. Each town and city will have at least one early voting location, and voters can even cast their ballots over the weekend.
Today, we hear from poll workers getting ready for early voting in Connecticut. Plus, we'll hear about what early voting looks like across the country.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us. She explains what you need to know about casting your ballot ahead of Election Day.
Find information on registering to vote, finding your polling location and more by visiting myvote.ct.gov.
GUESTS:
- Stephanie Thomas: Connecticut Secretary of the State
- David Becker: Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research
- Ginny Kim: Volunteer with Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut and Co-lead of the Let’s Vote Initiative
- David Fenn: Poll worker in Windham
- Stacey Chowanec: Poll worker in Willimantic
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The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has become dire.
The country faces economic and financial uncertainty, and nearly 2000 deaths since the start of the conflict.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that of the 5.5 million people living in Lebanon, 1 million people are in dire need.
Today, humanitarian aid organizations International Rescue Committee and Anera joins us to describe what is happening on the ground in Lebanon.
Plus two Lebanese Americans living and working as chef-owners in Connecticut join us to respond to the situation and speak on Lebanese cuisine, culture and hospitality.
GUESTS:
- Samar El-Yassir: Lebanon and Jordan Country Director for Anera
- Ciaran Donnelly: Senior Vice President, Crisis Response, Recovery & Development at International Rescue Committee
- Reem Hadir: chef and founder of Lebnani Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar in Watertown
- George Noujaim: chef owner of Noujaim’s Mediterranean Cuisine in Winsted
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The Mohegan Tribe – a sovereign and federally-recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern Connecticut – has a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling.
This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts.
This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian. Melissa is part of a long line of “culture bearers,” tasked with keeping the traditions of the Mohegan Tribe alive through stories.
GUESTS:
- Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the Mohegan Tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian
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In Connecticut, the bear population has boomed. And so have human-bear conflicts. There are somewhere between 1000-1200 black bears in our state alone.
You might know what to do if you encounter a black bear in the wild, but bears are not just on trails anymore. In the past year, there were 35 incidents of bears entering homes right here in our state.
Although they might look friend-shaped, we wouldn’t recommend getting friendly. In fact, intentionally feeding the bears is now against the law.
Maybe you’ve seen a bear where you live. Today, we’ll hear from bear experts across the state and learn what to do if you come across one.
Did you follow this year’s Fat Bear Week? This week-long national tournament by the National Parks Service celebrates bear hibernation and conservation, while also serving as a campaign to make the public bear aware. We learn about it.
GUESTS:
- Jason Hawley: Wildlife Biologist for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Felicia Ortner: Volunteer Docent at the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo
- Rachel Maiser: Natural Resource Lead for the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service
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October is Menopause Awareness Month.
There is not one universal menopause experience. But almost everyone with a uterus will go through it. So why is it still taboo to talk about “the change?" Well, that’s something our guest today wants to change.
Today, we’ll hear from journalist and menopause advocate Tamsen Fadal on changing how we talk about the change. She is the author of the upcoming book How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before. She is also a producer and executive producer of the new documentary The [M] Factor: Shredding The Silence On Menopause.
Today, she joins us for the hour. Plus, a local OB GYN joins us. What's your menopause story?
GUESTS:
- Tamsen Fadal: author, journalist and menopause advocate
- Dr. Karianne Silverman: OBGYN at St Francis Hospital/Trinity Health Of New England in Hartford
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Today marks one year since the Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people. In the ensuing war, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed — and there are mounting concerns about a wider conflict in the region.
The United Nations reports that the humanitarian support system in Gaza is close to total collapse. Civilians in the region have severely reduced access to food, water, sanitation, hygiene and health services.
This hour, we get an update on humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Plus, we explore the principles of international humanitarian law, also known as the laws of war, and what they aim to do during times of conflict.
GUESTS:
- Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health
- Janti Soeripto, President & CEO of Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut
- Lila Hassan, Independent investigative journalist
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It’s apple season here in Connecticut. And the history of the apple in New England dates back to 1623, three years after the landing of the Mayflower.
Back in 2023, a late season frost devastated crops at several farms across our state. Farmers reported damage to a number of fruit crops including pears, peaches, berries and yes, even apples.
There are thousands of apple varieties world wide, with only a fraction of which are grown in our state. But apple lovers and enthusiasts are working to bring new varieties to local orchards near you.
Today is all about apples. Later, we hear about the origins of apple cider.
GUESTS:
- Evan Lentz: Assistant Extension Educator in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at UConn
- Jim Wargo: Grower and Owner of Hidden Gem Orchard
- Craig Cavallo: co-author of American Cider and co-owner of Golden Russet Cafe and Grocery in Rhinebeck, New York
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It’s hard getting your book published. It’s even harder when you’re an author of color. Between 1950 and 2018, 96% of American fiction books published were written by white authors.
Today, hear from two Latina authors in Connecticut about their debut books. They’ll talk about navigating the publishing industry and the importance of centering marginalized voices.
In her novel, The Girls in Queens, Christine Kandic Torres tells the story of two Latinx women coming of age in Queens, New York. In her memoir, A Body Across Two Hemispheres, Victoria Buitron shares how she came of age between Ecuador and the United States.
We'll also hear about their work as editors of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology.
GUESTS:
- Christine Kandic Torres: author of The Girls in Queens and fiction editor of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology
- Victoria Buitron: author of A Body Across Two Hemispheresand nonfiction editor of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired July 11, 2024.
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Breaking, also known as breakdancing, was one of several new sports at the Olympics this summer. But there’s nothing new about the presence of b-boys and b-girls.
Breaking began as a way to escape the daily socio-economic struggles of Black and Brown youth in the Bronx during the 1970s and ‘80s.
This hour, we hear how breaking expanded into the mainstream. We’ll explore how, at its core, breaking is a form of storytelling and resistance.
GUESTS:
- Rosemarie Roberts, Dayton Professor of Dance, Connecticut College
- Brandon Couloute, aka “B-Boy Lectronic,” dancer, choreographer and educator
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Election Day is less than six weeks away. Are you planning to vote in person this year? For those with disabilities, going to polling stations can be a real challenge.
People with disabilities are less likely to vote than people without disabilities. Disabled voters can face many barriers to voting, from inaccessible polling places to restrictions on absentee ballots.
This November, Connecticut voters could approve a ballot initiative that could create a pathway to give everyone access to absentee ballots, without needing an excuse making voting easier for voters with disabilities.
Today, we hear about what access this looks like in our state and what can be done to improve it. If you are a voter with a disability, we want to hear from you. What have your experiences been like at the polls?
GUESTS:
- Sara Kempner: Director of Creative Campaigns & Collaborations at the U.S. Vote Foundation
- Ellen Telker: Retired attorney and President of Connecticut Council of the Blind, an affiliate of American Council of the Blind
- Ben Hovland: Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
To report problems at the polls, you can call the Election Day Hotline 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463).
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Architect and attorney Sara Bronin spent seven years as the chair of the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with the organization DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform across in our state.
Her new book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World goes beyond Hartford, and looks at how zoning molds cities and communities across the nation.
And zoning isn’t just about housing, it touches every aspect of our lives including our physical and emotional health. Better zoning starts with getting better data about zoning. There are thousands of different zoning codes, and Sara is working to log them all through the National Zoning Atlas.
She is also currently serving as 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
GUEST:
- Sara Bronin: Founder of DeSegregateCT and author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World
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Today on Where We Live, a Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus.
Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to Disabled World, an independent Health and Disability news source.
This hour, we talk about why invisible illnesses are difficult to diagnose and how scientists are trying to change that.
GUESTS:
- Michayla Savitt, State Government Reporter, CT Public
- Jennifer Crystal, Author of “One Tick Stopped the Clock”
- Kelsi Carolan, Assistant Professor and licensed clinical social worker, University of Connecticut
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Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more!
But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond.
Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range, and we’ll even get to hear some love stories that will put "The Notebook" to shame.
And if you are dating or have fallen in love, at any age, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kristina Zdanys: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Division Chief for Geriatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at UConn Health
- Chip Conley: Founder & CEO of the Modern Elder Academy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 16, 2024.
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Last school year, students across the nation took part in on campus protests to bring attention to the Israel-Hamas War. Overwhelmingly, student protesters were demanding that their colleges divest from Israel.
It led to encampments on college greens, large demonstrations and some arrests of both students and faculties.
At some campuses, college administrations have welcomed student demonstrations, and activism. But this school year has brought new policies around protesting.
Today, we hear from student organizers across Connecticut and hear their perspective on these changes, and plans to organize in the future.
GUESTS:
- Kate Hidalgo Bellows:Staff Reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education covering today’s students and campus culture
- Dan Barrett:Legal Director of ACLU of Connecticut
- Antonia Kambolis: Junior at Trinity College
- Batya Kline: Student Organizer at Wesleyan University
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As the author of the children’s book My Mama is a Pilot, Saba Shahid says she wants children to feel “represented and valued” through her stories.
Only 1% of commercial airline pilots are women of color. And Saba Shahid’s path to becoming a pilot is a little bit different than most. It actually started as a pandemic hobby!
Saba Shahid is this year’s recipient of the Girl Scouts Legacy of Leadership Award. She joins us for the hour to talk about her remarkable career, and her work as a Lifetime Girl Scout.
GUESTS:
- Saba Shahid: Author, pilot, and recipient of this years Girl Scouts of Connecticut 2024 Legacy of Leadership Award
- Elicia Pegues Spearman: CEO of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut
- Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum
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National Hobbit Day is this week. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the great forests of Mirkwood, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical worlds have inspired generations of illustrators to bring imagined concepts to life through art.
This hour, we sit down with three local fantasy and science-fiction illustrators, including David Wenzel, who created a graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit.
GUESTS:
- David Thorn Wenzel, Illustrator and children's book artist best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
- Michael Whelan, Fine artist of Imaginative Realism, Illustrator of Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Tom Kidd, Science fiction and fantasy illustrator
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Many wine tastings are about evaluating the aroma, balance and tannin. But for some people, wine is about so much more than that. It’s about history, community, and memory.
Less than 1% of wineries in the United States are owned by Black connoisseurs. But that is starting to change. And with more makers, lovers and sellers of color coming into this industry, who consumes and enjoys wine is evolving too.
Today, we hear from Black and brown winemakers and enthusiasts in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Donna Moore: Winemaker at Sunset Hill Vineyard in Lyme, Connecticut
- Marissa Ocasio: Director of Education at Center Wine and Spirits in Glastonbury
- Jennifer Regan Lefebvre: Professor of History at Trinity College, Connecticut and author of the book Imperial Wine: How the British Empire Made Wine’s New World
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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It might not feel like it today, but cooler weather is coming. This often means more time spent indoors, and an uptick in contagious diseases such as the flu, the common cold, and yes, COVID-19.
Today, we’ll talk about what you need to know to protect yourself and your family this year. The new COVID-19 booster is available. But deciding when you should vaccinate - that’s a case by case basis.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Just this week, more mosquitoes tested positive for EEE in Farmington and Manchester. A New Hampshire resident died from this virus in late August. We hear what you need to know about protecting yourself and your family.
An estimated 17 million adults in the nation have long COVID. We’ll get updates on Long COVID and hear from a patient.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare
- Emily Taylor: President & CEO of Solve M.E./CFS Initiative
- Professor Richard Gard: Retired Professor of Yale School of Music retired and St Thomas More chapel at Yale
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It can be hard for many adults to self-regulate their screen time. For kids, it can be nearly impossible.
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Children ages 8-12 are spending 4 to 6 hours in front of screens a day. Teens are spending up to 9 hours in front of screens.
According to a report by Pew Research Center, 72% of teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in classrooms. Instead of asking teachers to police cellphone use, some schools are choosing to do an outright ban on cellphones. That means absolutely no cellphone use during school hours whether students are in the classroom or in the lunchroom.
Today, we hear what this looks like in practice.
In addition to limiting or banning cellphone use in school, some are calling for more conversations around media literacy, and recognizing the signs of technology addiction and dependence.
If you’re a parent, an educator or maybe even a student, we want to hear from you. What do you think of cellphone bans in school? Is it necessary, and would it actually work?
GUESTS:
- Natasha Singer: technology reporter for the New York Times
- Melissa Whitson: Professor of Psychology at the University of New Haven. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist.
- Rachel Besharat Mann: Associate Professor at the Practice at Wesleyan University.
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Summer camp and after-school care provide kids with a safe place to learn, grow and also give working parents some peace of mind. But they’re not accessible for all kids.
This hour, we look at the impact on families when out-of-classroom programs are out of reach.
GUESTS:
- Corrianne Chipello, Executive Director & CEO, Hartford’s Camp Courant
- Michelle Doucette Cunningham, Executive Director, Connecticut Network for Children and Youth
- James Jones, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of New Britain
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This hour is bound to make you very hungry because we’re talking about New Haven pizza. This year, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro officially declared New Haven, the Pizza Capital of America.
Today, we talk to some pizza lovers. We'll also hear about a new documentary that follows pizza lovers beyond Connecticut. New Haven pizza is so legendary that pizza makers are now trying to duplicate it across the country.
But up first, Connecticut doesn’t just have great pizza. Many food influencers are bringing a lot of attention to local restaurants and food makers. We hear from one content creator exploring "the best culinary delights in Connecticut."
GUESTS:
- David Milton:Hartford based content creator and foodie (@DamGram and @DamTok)
- Colin M. Caplan: Founder of the Taste of New Haven, and pizza historian and guru.
- Gorman Bechard: Director of "Pizza, A Love Story" and the new film “A Slice of America: Charred in the Florida Sun”
- Jimmy Fantin: owner of Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza in Stuart, Florida
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Here in Connecticut and across the country, a growing number of obstetric units are closing, creating “maternity care deserts.”
Today on Where We Live, we explore the long-term impact of quality medical care on maternal health.
And later, we hear from local author, Kassondra Mangione, about her new book: Poemspartum.
GUESTS:
- Katy Golvala, Health Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Alecia McGregor, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Kassondra Mangione, Author of Poemspartum
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Do two people need to be aligned politically to have a deep connection and strong romantic bond? Can one truly be considered liberal if they habitually swipe left on conservatives?
Today, we're sharing an episode from the podcast "Dating While Gray." Host Laura Stassi talks to older Americans and experts about ideological differences and their role in making and maintaining romantic connections.
To hear more from "Dating While Gray" visit: www.datingwhilegray.com/
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Last week, floodwaters devastated several communities in Connecticut washing out over two dozen state roads. There have been nearly 200 people killed on Connecticut roads this year alone.
Labor Day weekend is coming up. According to the National Safety Council, there were 455 traffic fatalities nationally over the holiday weekend in 2023.
Today, we’re talking about all things roads, highway and transit, and how you can stay safe when driving throughout our state. Joining us this morning is Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.
And if you have a question or comment about highways, buses and all things transit, we want to hear from you! What the roads look like where you live?
GUESTS:
- Garrett Eucalitto: Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner
- Jim Cameron: commuter advocate and author of the weekly opinion column "Talking Transportation" in the Connecticut Mirror
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It’s been a summer with all sorts of weather. We’ve seen flooding, and high heat putting our gardens through all sorts of chaos. Today, horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi join us to talk about this hot, cold, wet, dry, stormy, sunny chaotic gardening year!
It’s not too late to start planting your fall crops. We hear what plants could thrive this season as autumn rapidly approaches.
August is Tree Check Month. We learn what you can do to preserve the trees where you live. Although spring gardening might feel ages away, it’s also a good time to think about starting a community garden!
GUESTS:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal
- Cordalie Benoit: member of the Connecticut Community Gardening Association and Board Member and VP of the American Community Gardening Association
- Cameron Pierce: Arborist and District Manager for Davey Tree Expert Company
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Every presidential election, campaignsflood our TVs with political ads. Back in 1952, “Ike for President” became the very first political advertisement on TV. Dwight Eisenhower's campaign may have been the first to use television like this. But it’s certainly not the last.
Today, more than 70 years later, political ads are everywhere. In recent weeks, both the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns have ramped up their advertising. And it’s no longer just on our TV screens; it’s on social media platforms, too.
This hour, we’re looking at political advertising during the 2024 election cycle from the messages we’re seeing to how that impacts what we do at the ballot box.
What kinds of messages are you seeing?
GUEST:
- Erika Franklin Fowler:Professor of Government at Wesleyan University and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Getting a doctor’s appointment is hard. But for the incarcerated population in Connecticut, it’s nearly impossible. An internal review showed that many incarcerated persons were denied medical care leading to severe consequences including medical emergencies and even death.
Today, we get an update on what we’re seeing in Connecticut prison systems, and hear from those who had loved ones in the system.
The U.S. The District Court recently ruled that transgender people who are incarcerated in Connecticut prisons are now entitled to gender-affirming health care.
But as we’ve learned this morning, receiving any type of health care when in the prison system is challenging.
GUESTS:
- Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: reporter with Connecticut Insider
- Elana Bildner: Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Connecticut
- Tanisha Hill
- Beth Ann Rovelli
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This past weekend floodwaters devastated several communities in Connecticut washing out over two dozen state roads. It also took the lives of two Connecticut residents.
Nearly ten inches of rain fell in a matter of hours in certain parts of the state. This is equivalent to three months of rainfall. That’s according to Connecticut Insider.
Today, we talk about what we saw in our state. With several roads destroyed and businesses impacted by flooding, many are thinking about how to prepare for future severe storms.
This hurricane season is set to be more active and more severe, so what does that mean for our infrastructure and our roads?
GUESTS:
- Abby Brone:Housing Reporter for Connecticut Public
- Michayla Savitt:State Government Reporter for Connecticut Public
- Michael Dietz:Extension Educator at UConn and Director of the CT Institute of Water Resources
- Alec Slatky: Director of Public Affairs at AAA Northeast
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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More workers than ever are working a hybrid work schedule - part time in the office and part time at home. According to a Gallup Poll, nearly 40% of hybrid workers can set their own schedule.
Yet burnout feels more apparent than ever before.
Many offices are searching to find solutions to provide better work-life balance including the four day work week. Today, we revisit this topic and explore others that claim to give employees more of their time back.
And we want to hear from you. What’s your schedule like in the office these days? Would you rather work a four day week?
GUESTS:
- Alex Soojung-Kim Pang: Director of Research and Innovation at 4-Day Week Global
- Lynne C Vincent: Associate Professor of Management, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University
- Robert C. Bird: Professor of Business Law, School of Business at University of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 30, 2024.
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It's an hour for puzzle lovers! Everdeen Mason, Editorial Director of Games for The New York Times and Joel Fagliano, Digital Puzzles Editor and Creator of The Mini Crossword talk about The Crossword, Spelling Bee, Connections and more. Plus, we’re celebrating 10 years of the Mini!
GUESTS:
- Everdeen Mason: Editorial Director for Games for The New York Times
- Joel Fagliano: Digital Puzzles Editor and Creator of The Mini Crossword for The New York Times
This episode of Where We Live was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Catherine Shen, Meg Dalton, Tess Terrible, and Meg Fitzgerald.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Today on Where We Live, states across New England are investing in offshore wind turbines – a renewable energy source that is relatively new to the United States.
But while offshore wind has a proven track record in other countries, critics worry their costs outweigh their benefits.
Reporters covering the battle over offshore wind, Luther Turmelle and Jan Ellen Spiegel, join us. And UConn political science professor, Luther Scruggs, helps us understand why offshore wind has become a political issue.
GUESTS:
- Jan Ellen Spiegel, freelance Environment and Energy Reporter
- Luther Turmelle, Business Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
- Lyle Scruggs, Political Science Professor, University of Connecticut
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Poet laureates do a lot more than write poetry.
Since 1985, Connecticut state poet laureates have worked to promote the literary arts and poetry throughout the Nutmeg state, visiting schools, performing spoken word and passing on poetry to the next generation of writers.
There is no straight path to this position. Some of our guests today have been writing poetry all their lives. Others got bitten by the poetry bug a little later.
Today, three poet laureates from around our state join us in the studio.
GUESTS:
- Antoinette Brim Bell: Connecticut State Poet Laureate
- Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate
- Frederick-Douglass Knowles II: Hartford Poet laureate
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Even before the pandemic, half of all adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In 2023, a report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and isolation has physical consequences like increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.
Murthy stressed how social connection is the key to individual and community health and well being. This idea of social connection is something that today’s guest has spent a lot of time focused on.
Deb Bibbins is the Founder and CEO of For All Ages, an organization uniting older adults and younger generations, and its statewide initiative; the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness.
We spoke to her at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven. She talks about how social connection is the foundation of our health.
GUESTS:
- Deb Bibbins: Founder and CEO of For All Ages and the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
Listen back to our additional coverage on loneliness:
- What’s going on with loneliness?
- 'What's eating at America': Addressing the loneliness and isolation epidemic
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on July 28, 2024.
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June is Infertility Awareness Month.
According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people are now affected by infertility. A new study suggests that microplastics might be impacting male infertility.
And while technological advances offer opportunities and hope for many would-be parents, treatments like IVF are expensive, and they’re not available for everyone. Plus, they don’t always work.
Navigating infertility can be an emotional for all those seeking parenthood. Today, we'll hear one local's couple journey. And we want to hear yours too. What's your infertility story?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Maya Barsky: Lead Physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and Assistant Professor in the Department of OB/GYN at UCONN School of Medicine
- Anthony Edwards and Yaneeke Calderon: a couple living in Connecticut.
If you need support, you can call the Resolve Helpline at 866.668.2566 or visit www.resolve.org.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Dylan Reyes contributed to this show which originally aired June 21, 2024.
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Many of us grew up with classic comics such as the funnies in the Sunday newspaper! But comics aren’t just tiny anecdotes of humor anymore. They tackle serious content, reaching readers of all ages. And with more artists and authors coming on the scene, we are seeing more diverse stories and storytelling.
And although newspaper comics aren’t going anywhere, graphic novels are reigning the day. 35 million graphic novels were sold in 2022, making it the third best selling genre of book.
Today, we hear from local cartoonists about their work, and hear about the evolution of comics and graphic novels. A local librarian joins us as well who says that graphic novels are serious reading.
Have you picked up a graphic novel this year? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Maria Scrivan:author and cartoonist living in Greenwich, Connecticut
- KC Councilor:a local cartoonist and associate professor of communication at Southern Connecticut State University
- Stephanie Smith: Teen Librarian at the Avon Free Public Library
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Many wine tastings are about evaluating the aroma, balance and tannin. But for some people, wine is about so much more than that. It’s about history, community, and memory.
Less than 1% of wineries in the United States are owned by Black connoisseurs. But that is starting to change. And with more makers, lovers and sellers of color coming into this industry, who consumes and enjoys wine is evolving too.
Today, we hear from Black and brown winemakers and enthusiasts in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Donna Moore: Winemaker at Sunset Hill Vineyard in Lyme, Connecticut
- Marissa Ocasio: Director of Education at Center Wine and Spirits in Glastonbury
- Jennifer Regan Lefebvre: Professor of History at Trinity College, Connecticut and author of the book Imperial Wine: How the British Empire Made Wine’s New World
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Cambodian genocide took the lives of up to three million people - between 1975 and 1979. Many were forced to work at labor camps where they faced abuse, torture and starvation.
But this is only part one of the story. The lesser known part is the story of Preah Vihear Mountain, where over forty thousand refugees were forced to climb to their death.
Many Cambodian refugees ended up in refugee camps in Thailand. But instead of being processed as refugees, they were forced on buses and driven to Preah Vihear Mountain, which is part of a mountain range between Thailand and Cambodia.
Returning to Cambodia was a devastating experience. Not only were they forced back into the country, but the mountain was filled with landmines, and refugees had no food or water. They were forced to climb down the mountain side, and those who didn’t comply were gunned down
Today, we heard from someone who experienced this firsthand. Bunseng Taing lives in Connecticut and is a survivor of this massacre. He joins us with his son, James Taing. Together, they produced the documentary film Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields.
GUESTS:
- James Taing: producer of Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields
- Bunseng Taing: survivor of the Cambodian genocide and author of Under the Naga Tail
- Jenny (JHD) Heikkila Diaz: Professional Learning Coordinator, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Activist in Residence, UConn Asian & Asian American Studies Institute
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Music used in the broadcast:
- "Violin Sneha" by Keo Sokha
- Sarika Keo
- “Mad Because of Loving You" by Sinn Sisamouth
- Come Again Tomorrow by Yol Aularong
Dylan Reyes helped produced this broadcast that originally aired May 21, 2024.
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Carolyn Kuan has been the music director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour, we speak to her about her work as a conductor, and the driving forces behind her music.
Like many organizations, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has put forth diversity and inclusivity commitments stating that they are, quote “diversifying programming by considering race, ethnicity and gender identity in the composers whose music performed.” We talk about how the orchestra is striving to become more inclusive and diverse, and what that work looks like.
We’ll also hear from Tyler Kline, he’s a composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a radio program that features work from the great living composers, especially those with underrepresented backgrounds. You can listen to the Modern Notebook on Connecticut Public on Saturdays at 10pm.
GUESTS:
- Carolyn Kuan: Music Director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
- Tyler Kline: composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a program by PRX, and host of the podcast "Music/Maker"
Hartford Symphony Orchestra musical director Carolyn Kuan talks with Where We Live host Catherine Shen in the WWL studio, May 22, 2024. (3000x2000, AR: 1.5)
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Dylan Reyes contributed to this show which originally aired May 28, 2024
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One in five people will get a skin cancer diagnosis by the time they are 70. That’s according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
There’s many things you can do to prevent skin cancer. Seeking shade during the hours that the sun's rays are the strongest, and wearing sun-protective clothing helps. And then, there’s always sunscreen.
But this iconic lotion has been coming under fire. Several social media influencers are claiming that sunscreen, the very thing that is supposed to protect us from skin cancer, has cancer causing ingredients. Today, on Where We Live, we separate fact from fiction when it comes to sunscreen, tanning and skin cancer.
Now we are hearing the sunscreen sold in the United States isn’t as effective as the formulas sold overseas. In early July, Sen. Richard Blumenthal encouraged the Food and Drug Administration to approve more effective ingredients in sunscreens.
Are you wearing sunscreen this summer? Got a question about skin protection?
GUESTS:
- Stacey Mann: Sr. Development Manager at the American Cancer Society and a Melanoma Advocate living in Milford, Connecticut.
- Dr. Kelly Olino: Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology at Yale School of Medicine
- Caroline Hopkins: Health & Science Reporter who recently reported on sunscreen for the New York Times
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This hour Where We Live, we’re sharing a conversation with Sohla El-Waylly. Sohla’s a culinary creator, writer, YouTube star…and a new mom.
Sohla joined the show in between interviews, making Instagram videos and her baby girl’s naps to talk about her first cookbook, Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook.
You’ll also meet Marisa Mendez Marthaller. She’s a Certified Postpartum Doula. She’s worked in the hospitality industry and has a degree in Food Studies. Those interests and passions come together in her business; Marisa is known as The Soup Doula in New York City. We talk with Marisa about her work and the healing power of soup.
GUESTS:
- Sohla El-Waylly: Culinary creator, writer, and YouTube star. Shola’s work has been featured in The New York Times and Bon Appétit and on Food52.com and Serious Eats.com. Her first cookbook is Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook(@sohlae)
- Marisa Mendez Marthaller (above): Certified Postpartum Doula, she’s worked in the hospitality industry and has a degree in Food Studies. She’s known as the Soup Doula, based in New York City.
This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Meg Dalton and Tess Terrible, with help from Stephanie Stender and Meg Fitzgerald. Our Social team includes Francesca Fontanez, Martha Castillo and Janae Spinato.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut. Enslaved people built much of the foundation of Connecticut. But this history isn’t usually taught in schools.
Today, we listen back to a Connecticut Museum of Culture and History panel discussion about that hidden history featuring Connecticut Public’s Diane Orson. Diane is the host of Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery.
The five-part podcast sheds light on this past but also looks to the future. Later this hour, you’ll hear a preview of an episode about an enslaved musician Sawney Freeman and the people bringing his melodies to life today.
You can hear all the Unforgotten episodes by visiting ctpublic.org/unforgotten.
GUESTS:
- Diane Orson: Special Correspondent at Connecticut Public and longtime reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. She led the reporting for “Unforgotten” and hosted the five-part podcast.
- David Blight: Sterling Professor of American History at Yale University
- Pat Wilson Pheanious: Former Connecticut State Representative. Her ancestors were memorialized with Witness Stones.
- Akeia Dibaros Gomes: senior curator of Maritime Social Histories at the Mystic Seaport Museum
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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All this week on Where We Live, we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative, Call To Mind. This initiative aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are the most common complications during and after pregnancy, yet 75 percent of postpartum problems go untreated. The consequences can be devastating. Suicide and overdoses are leading causes of maternal death in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first-ever pill specifically aimed at postpartum depression, but most health plans don’t cover the medication. This special program looks at the under-recognized public health issue of postpartum depression and the challenge of treatment. We’ll hear first-hand from people who have experienced it.
For more information visit, calltomindnow.org
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All this week on Where We Live, we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative, Call To Mind. This initiative aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being.
Schizophrenia affects about 24 million people worldwide. It can be a disruptive illness, making it difficult to find a meaningful job, attend school or manage relationships. People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment, but there is hope. A growing body of research shows that with new interventions it’s possible to live well with the illness. This program shares stories about schizophrenia that don’t make the headlines. We’ll hear from people living with this illness and from leading experts about new treatments that make it possible to manage.
For more information visit, calltomindnow.org
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All this week on Where We Live, we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative, Call To Mind. This initiative aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being.
Nearly half of incarcerated Americans have a history of mental illness – that's twice the prevalence of mental illness in the adult population of the United States. People with serious mental illnesses encounter law enforcement and the court system for many reasons. This program brings together stories of people who have lived with mental illness while incarcerated. We also meet mental health providers calling for increased mental health care in prisons and jails and legal experts pioneering new systems.
For more information visit, calltomindnow.org
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
All this week on Where We Live, we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative, Call To Mind. This initiative aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being.
Black women and girls experience discrimination, microaggressions and stereotypes every day. Living with daily racism has a profound impact on the mental health, well-being and lives of all those coping with it. This special program explores the unique mental health burdens of Black women and girls in the United States. Through interviews with mental health providers and people sharing their personal stories, we’ll explore the effects of racism and how care systems can shift to better help Black women thrive.
For more information visit, calltomindnow.org
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
All this week on Where We Live, we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative, Call To Mind. This initiative aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being.
People living homeless have higher rates of untreated mental illnesses and substance use disorders than the general population. That can make it difficult to find a permanent place to live. This program will take you to the streets of New York City to hear directly from people who have lived homeless about what they needed most. You’ll also hear from experts who say the best mental health care for people living homeless is no-strings-attached housing.
For more visit: calltomindnow.org
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In this hour, Where We Live is passing the microphone to our colleagues at New Hampshire Public Radio. Hear a conversation from NHPR's 'By Degrees' 2024 Climate Summit.
In this conversation, climate reporters from around the region and NPR discuss the role solutions-based journalism can play in affecting community action and accountability.
Members of our audience asked: ‘Have we abandoned discussion of ways to reverse climate change? Canjournalism reignite that discussion?’ And ‘how do local journalists cope when climate coverage news can feel so daunting, and directly affects communities they live and work in?’
This panel was moderated by NHPR’s Rick Ganley and featured:
- Neela Banerjee: NPR Chief Climate Desk Editor
- Abagael Giles: Climate Reporter for Vermont Public
- Mara Hoplamazian: Climate Reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio
- Paula Moura: Independent audio reporter; formerly of WBUR, Boston
For more information visit, Rising Tide of Solutions Based Climate Reporting
Connecticut Public and New Hampshire Public Radio are members of the New England News Collaborative. For more regional news and stories visit nenc.news.
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In this hour, Where We Live is passing the microphone to our colleagues at New Hampshire Public Radio. Hear a conversation from NHPR's 'By Degrees' 2024 Climate Summit.
In the past year, New England has experienced storms in July, December, January, and April, resulting in flooding and significant property damage from the coast of Maine to the river valleys of Vermont.
These events can be painful. But in our response, we can also catch glimpses of the future. As author and climate activist Rebecca Solnit writes, “Disaster offers a view into another world for ourselves.” But how do we do it? And how do we do it in a sustained, long-term way – around climate solutions that might take years? How do we – at a local level, with our neighbors and local governments — meaningfully create the world we want?
This panel was moderated by Outside/In podcast reporter Justine Paradis and featured:
- Claudia Diezmartinez Peregina: Policy Fellow at the City of Boston’s Environment Department
- Kari White: Director of Community Health Equity at Northern Counties Health Care in the Northeast Kingdom, VT
- Brianna O’Brien: Conservation Coordinator for the Town of Hampton, NH
For more info, visit How Local Communities are Planning for the Future
Connecticut Public and New Hampshire Public Radio are members of the New England News Collaborative. For more regional news and stories visit nenc.news.
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More than 200 Americans visit the emergency department for nonfatal firearm injuries each day. That now includesformer president Donald Trump who was shot in his right ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend and brought to the hospital.
Today, we talk about gun violence as a public health crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General recently published a health advisory on the far-reaching consequences of firearm violence. The divide on how to respond to gun violence is deeply polarizing. But seeing it through a public lens perspective could change the conversation. And it can also bring new solutions.
Surviving parents of gun violence victims join us and we also hear from James Dodington, Medical Director at the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at Yale New Haven Health.
Mark Barden is the co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise. He lost his son Daniel in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. We hear from him.
Reverend Sam Saylor lost his son Shane Oliver to gun violence in October 2012.In April 2023, Shane’s daughter and Reverend Saylor’s granddaughter Sec’ret Pierce was killed by a drive-by shooting in Hartford. She was only 12 years old. He joins us as well.
GUESTS:
- Dr. James Dodington: Medical Director at the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention and Associate Professor of Yale School of Medicine
- Mark Barden: co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise
- Reverend Sam Saylor: community activist
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Every year, we produce a summer reading hour to talk about some of our favorite books of this year, and give you recommendations of the best beach reads.
And this year, we’re diving into the illustrious, the notorious, the infamous paperback: the romance novel.
There’s a lot of stigma attached to romance reading, especially within the reading community. But this top grossing genre is actually one of the most popular book genres in the world.
Today, we go beyond harlequin bodice rippers and Fabio and dive into the world of romance with our panel.
Got a favorite romance novel or love story? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- AK Nevermore: president of the Connecticut Romance Writers of America and author living in Connecticut
- Michelle Smith: President/Owner The BookSmiths Shoppe, LLC. in Danbury
- Lauren Anderson: Founder of Possible Futures Bookspace in New Haven.
Authors featured in this broadcast:
- AK Nevermore
- Kristan Higgins
- Amy Neff
- JJ Graham
- Krystal Marquis
- Chloe Liese
Book recommendations from the staff at Connecticut Public
- Normal People, by Sally Rooney
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (series),by Sarah J Mass
- Fourth Wing (Empyrean series),- Rebecca Yarros
- Author Emily Henry
- Author Casey McQuiston
- The Selection,series by Kiera Cass
- Bridgeton,series by Julia Quinn
- The Princess Diaries, series by Meg Cabot
- Conversations with Friends,by Sally Rooney
- Persuasion by Jane Austin
Dylan Reyes contributed to this episode which originally aired May 24, 2024.
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This hour, we’re celebrating some of the most memorable moments with Katie Pellico as she begins another chapter of her career. She'll soon start a new position managing development and communication at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center in New Haven, but we won't soon forget coverage she helped to lead on...
Connecticut's slate of new social studies initiatives and standards:
- 'Think like a historian': State approves new social studies standards November 13, 2023
- 'Teaching with truth and complexity': Checking in on the state's Black and Latino Studies elective August 17, 2023
- Meet the teaching cohort modeling culturally-responsive AAPI education in Connecticut May 19, 2023
- Connecticut tribes co-create state social studies curriculum, centering 'our culture and our ways' January 26, 2023
How scholars are rethinking how history is taught:
- Rewriting the Thanksgiving story, while centering Indigenous voices November 30, 2023
- Examining the history and legacy of 'sundown towns' in Connecticut November 27, 2023
- Uncovering the history of eugenics at Yale University, and its 'afterlives' October 2, 2023
How museums in the state are doing the same:
- Taking a tour of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut May 6, 2024
- Artist Pablo Delano's 'Museum of the Old Colony' lands at Venice Biennale April 29, 2024
- Exploring the 'new' Yale Peabody Museum April 1, 2024
- Mohamad Hafez installs 'Eternal Cities' at the new Yale Peabody Museum December 4, 2023
- Healing and humanizing through artifact: Visiting the Museum of Jewish Civilization November 16, 2023
- Healing and humanizing through art: Visiting Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge November 9, 2023
Grassroots legislative efforts, including those led by disability groups:
- A look at efforts to improve accessible parking regulation in Connecticut May 9, 2024
- Connecticut disability advocates push for legislation to improve medical access February 15, 2024
- Wheelchair repairs can take months: What local advocates are doing to change that July 17, 2023
- Amazon responds to proposed bill aimed at warehouse 'quotas' May 15, 2023
- Connecticut may continue 'incremental' expansion of HUSKY Health coverage May 4, 2023
- Lawmakers call for nurse protections amid 'patient care crisis' January 24, 2023
Environmental coverage:
- How new federal limits on 'forever chemicals' will affect Connecticut April 22, 2024
- An update on efforts to address flooding in Hartford's North End, plus a look at how farms are faring January 22, 2024
- Connecticut coral could play a key role in climate resilience July 31, 2023
- Seeding the next generation of farmers in Connecticut July 13, 2023
- A look at environmental justice efforts in Connecticut: 'It's everybody's problem' February 28, 2023
And...
- Efforts to clean litter are lifesaving for wildlife July 8, 2024
- 'We need a moonshot for long COVID': What we know (and don't know) about the illness April 18, 2024
- There's no singularity when it comes to honoring Lunar New Year, including in Connecticut April 11, 2024
- Bigfoot gets all the glory, but Connecticut has its own cast of cryptids March 29, 2024
- Author Rebecca F. Kuang on 'Babel,' revolution and students as visionaries March 26, 2024
- 'Kinks in the movement': Staging a curly hair revolution in New Haven March 25, 2024
- Book ban requests still 'soaring' in Connecticut. Plus, vigil held at Capitol for Nex Benedict March 4, 2024
- The 'wild rumpus' continues: Maurice Sendak's legacy lives on at Ridgefield Foundation February 12, 2024
- Connecticut is the land of steady habits, but no steady identity January 25, 2024
- 'Before there was Salem, there was Connecticut': State formally pardons accused witches October 19, 2023
- Cups, discs, wands and swords: Tarot and 'divination' in Connecticut August 11, 2023
- Efforts to protect transgender care in Connecticut June 29, 2023
- The delicate art of obituary-writing May 22, 2023
- Students lead push to observe Muslim holidays in school calendars April 20, 2023
- 'A Scientist's Warning': Dr. Peter Hotez on the dangers of 'anti-science' April 10, 2023
- In 'Reciprocity Project,' Indigenous voices reframe our relationship to the Earth February 10, 2023
- 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' spotlights Connecticut’s 'thriving' drag scene January 27, 2023
- A parent and child's perspectives on the need for trans and nonbinary allyship December 29, 2022
- Honoring Native American veterans November 10, 2022
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It’s hard getting your book published. It’s even harder when you’re an author of color. Between 1950 and 2018, 96% of American fiction books published were written by white authors.
Today, hear from two Latina authors in Connecticut about their debut books. They’ll talk about navigating the publishing industry and the importance of centering marginalized voices.
In her novel, The Girls in Queens, Christine Kandic Torres tells the story of two Latinx women coming of age in Queens, New York. In her memoir, A Body Across Two Hemispheres, Victoria Buitron shares how she came of age between Ecuador and the United States.
We'll also hear about their work as editors of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology.
GUESTS:
- Christine Kandic Torres: author of The Girls in Queens and fiction editor of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology
- Victoria Buitron: author of A Body Across Two Hemispheresand nonfiction editor of the 2024 Connecticut Literary Anthology
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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When you think of Hartford, Connecticut, what comes to mind? Maybe Elizabeth Park, good eats, and our state capitol? Odds are, you’re probably not thinking of Hartford as a destination for making movies! But some creatives are trying to change that.
After graduating from the Yale, Connecticut native TJ Noel-Sullivan lived in Los Angeles for a short while, but he found himself drawn back to Hartford. His first feature film is called Midas, it follows three best friends as they attempt to pull off a giant insurance fraud scheme and the entire film was set and shot in Hartford.
He joins us today to talk about the film, and his work to educate the next generation of filmmakers.
GUEST:
- TJ Noel-Sullivan: writer and director of Midas
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Stamford-based nonprofit Keep America Beautiful found almost 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. road- and waterways in 2020.
This hour, we’re spotlighting some of the small-but-mighty efforts to clean litter and protect wildlife in Connecticut. New Haven river keeper Peter Davis and his assistant David Burgess have been clearing parks and rivers in the Elm City for decades, one trash bag at a time. He joins us.
Local osprey nest monitor Nancy Ellen Harrigan James will also join, along with ecologist and Homegrown National Park co-founder Dr. Douglas Tallamy.
GUESTS:
- Peter Davis: New Haven River Keeper
- Nancy Ellen Harrigan James: Osprey Nest Monitor
- Aaron Goode: Environmental Advocate; Secretary, New Haven Bioregional Group
- Dr. Douglas Tallamy: Entomologist and Ecologist; Author; Co-Founder, Homegrown National Park
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Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more!
But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond.
Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range, and we’ll even get to hear some love stories that will put "The Notebook" to shame.
And if you are dating or have fallen in love, at any age, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kristina Zdanys: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Division Chief for Geriatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at UConn Health
- Chip Conley: Founder & CEO of the Modern Elder Academy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 16, 2024.
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Finding long-term resources and programs for young people with autism can be challenging, and in some cases, incredibly disheartening.
The needs of autistic youth can vary. As a spectrum disorder, some diagnosed with high functioning autism can live relatively normal lives pursuing college, careers and relationships.
But others require more support. Those with intellectual disabilities and communication challenges often require lifelong support to assist with tasks of daily living.
One school that claimed to fulfill that need was Shrub Oak International School in New York. This school takes students from across the country, including Connecticut. But a recent investigation by ProPublica showed that this institution that costs nearly $600,000 a year is failing its students. This investigation uncovered several accusations of neglect and abuse.
Today, we hear about the investigation by ProPublica. The Office of the Child Advocate weighs in and hear about a recent complaint against High Road Schools in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Sarah Eagan: Connecticut Child Advocate
- Jennifer Smith Richards: reporter for ProPublica
- Jodi Cohen: Reporter for ProPublica
- Dr. Mary Doherty: founder of Autistic Doctors International and anesthesiologist
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Historian and scholar Deb Harkness was studying the intersection of science and magic in history and the humanities, when she was struck by the trend of "vampire boyfriend" stories in books and popular culture. She asked herself, "What if there really are these creatures living around us? What do they do for a living? Why have I never met any of them? And would it really be a great thing to have a supernatural significant other? I don't think so... I thought, right now people can't handle the idea of two women or two men getting married, and yet we think we want a vampire boyfriend. What is going on?"
These questions yielded the acclaimed historical fantasy series, "All Souls." The latest installment, titled "The Black Bird Oracle," is due out July 16. With ancestral ties to accused witches in New England, Harkness says she considers the book a "love letter to my Connecticut and New England ancestors."
This hour, Harkness joins us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Deborah Harkness: Historian; Author, "All Souls"series and "The Black Bird Oracle"; Professor, University of Southern California
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Even before the pandemic, half of all adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In 2023, a report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and isolation has physical consequences like increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.
Murthy stressed how social connection is the key to individual and community health and well being. This idea of social connection is something that today’s guest has spent a lot of time focused on.
Deb Bibbins is the Founder and CEO of For All Ages, an organization uniting older adults and younger generations, and its statewide initiative; the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness.
We spoke to her at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven. She talks about how social connection is the foundation of our health.
GUESTS:
- Deb Bibbins: Founder and CEO of For All Ages and the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
Listen back to our additional coverage on loneliness:
- What’s going on with loneliness?
- 'What's eating at America': Addressing the loneliness and isolation epidemic
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Education budget cuts from this legislative session are slamming schools at all levels, from early education to higher education.
This hour, we hear from Connecticut Mirror budget reporter Keith Phaneuf, and education reporter Jessika Harkay.
Plus, we check in with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, and Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system Terrence Cheng.
GUESTS:
- Keith Phaneuf: Budget Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Jessika Harkay: Education Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
- Terrence Cheng: Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
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Housing in Connecticut has not only gotten more expensive, it’s much harder to find. The state vacancy rate is only 3.5% and the median rent is $2,000.
Housing touches every aspect of our life. From health to education to community, where you live, makes a difference.
So why is housing so hard to find? There’s no easy answer, but our guests say that in order to create a better future where housing is both accessible and affordable, you have to look at the housing systems that have been set up in the past.
This week, Connecticut Public will premiere the documentary Fighting For Home: How Housing Policy Keeps Connecticut Segregated.Today, we’ll hear documentary producer Sabrina Buckwalter and those featured in the film.
But before we get to that, we just had the first major heatwave of the summer. If you are hoping to cool down at a local pool, your options might be a bit limited this season. We learn why.
GUESTS:
- Oscar Rodriguez: the Director of Aquatics, at the Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP) in New Haven
- Sabrina Buckwalter: producer of Fighting For Home: How Housing Policy Keeps Connecticut Segregated
- Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group or CT Insider
- Shanay Fulton:Commissioner of Planning and Zoning in Middletown
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A recent UConn study found that three-quarters of Black households with cars in the U.S. spend over 15% of their monthly income on car-related expenses. For these researchers, transportation shouldn’t have to mean car ownership.
This hour, we spotlight "walkability" and public transportation alternatives. Hear from city planners and civil engineers who are driving the conversation forward to deprioritize drivers and "stroads."
"Our mistake over the years is that we have allowed streets to become half roads and roads to become half streets," writes city planner Jeff Speck. "On one, commerce has been sacrificed to speed. On the other, speed has been sacrificed to commerce."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Norman Garrick: Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut
- Jeff Speck: City Planner and Author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time
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June is Infertility Awareness Month.
According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people are now affected by infertility. A new study suggests that microplastics might be impacting male infertility.
And while technological advances offer opportunities and hope for many would-be parents, treatments like IVF are expensive, and they’re not available for everyone. Plus, they don’t always work.
Navigating infertility can be an emotional for all those seeking parenthood. Today, we'll hear one local's couple journey. And we want to hear yours too. What's your infertility story?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Maya Barsky: Lead Physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and Assistant Professor in the Department of OB/GYN at UCONN School of Medicine
- Anthony Edwards and Yaneeke Calderon: a couple living in Connecticut.
If you need support, you can call the Resolve Helpline at 866.668.2566 or visit www.resolve.org.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In 2023, book club event listings grew 24% over the prior year according to the ticketing platform Eventbrite. Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and RuPaul are among the celebrities who have launched their own book clubs.
This hour, we hear about these new communities of readers, and how the influence of BookTok and BookStagram factors.
We’re joined by one Silent Book Club chapter taking off in New Haven, and a shoreline-area business owner arranging “Blind Dates with a Book.” Plus, Anthony Bagley founded “Black Kidds Read Too” in his hometown.
GUESTS:
- Britt Rivera: Content Creator; Founder, Silent Book Club New Haven
- Anthony "Da Kidd PG" Bagley: CEO and Founder, A Kidd From New Haven
- Alyssa Korzon: Co-Owner, Bookish Babes and Brews
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This week, Muslims across the world celebrate the holiday of Eid-al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Today, we are hearing from Muslims around Connecticut celebrating this sacred and special time honoring those who have made the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj.
We’ll hear from Connecticut residents, including one who is making the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj. If you’re celebrating this holiday, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Khaleel Rahman: a producer with Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public
- Imam Safwan Shaikh: Farmington Valley American Muslim Center
- Asif Chaudhry: Connecticut resident taking a Eid-al-Adha pilgrimage this year
- Dia Fortenberry: Assistant Athletic Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Engagement at Wesleyan University and Speakers Bureau with the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In the LGBTQ community, “found” or “chosen family” can be crucial. It's the idea of a social support system beyond your biological family, and one of the themes Ella Dawson explores in her book, But How Are You, Really?
This hour, the sex and culture columnist from Connecticut joins us to discuss her first novel, found family, burnout, second-chance romances, and much more.
GUESTS:
- Ella Dawson: Sex and Culture Critic; Author, "But How Are You, Really?"
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Fools and wise man, come hither! This summer’s day program of Where We Live will dedicate an hour to the master of comedy and tragedy alike, Sir William Shakespeare.
Outdoor productions of William Shakespeare’s plays go back to well…the time of William Shakespeare! And every summer this tradition comes alive on stages across Connecticut.
Today, we talk about Shakespeare in the park, the common and even - the sound! We’re joined by thespians across the state staging productions of this iconic playwright.
GUESTS:
- James Bundy: Dean and Artistic Director of the David Geffen School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre
- Laura Sheehen: Co-founder of Capital Classics Theatre Company in Hartford
- Aaron Simms: Managing and Producing Director of Shakespeare on the Sound in Norwalk, Connecticut
Theater companies featured in this broadcast, including summer 2024 productions:
-
Shakespeare on the Sound - Norwalk
- June 12- June 30: Romeo and Juliet, Pinkney Park, Rowayton, CT
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Breakdancing Shakespeare - Hartford Stage
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June 17 – July 27: Hartford Stage
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Capital Classics - Hartford
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July 10 – August 4: The Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival will feature two full-length productions of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew — outdoors — on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.
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Shakesperience - Litchfield Hills (Washington Depot, CT)
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August 7-11: Romeo and Juliet, River Walk Pavilion, Washington Depot, CT (Free Admission)
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Elm Shakespeare - New Haven
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August 16 – Sunday, Sept 1: Richard III, Edgerton Park, New Haven (Free Admission)
- Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre - Middletown
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In Connecticut, there are LGBTQ community centers in New Haven, Norwalk and, most recently, Bridgeport. There have also been recent efforts to launch a queer hub in West Hartford.
These spaces are important for community, safety, resources, and even are associated with reduced suicide risk among LGBTQ youth, according to the Trevor Project.
Connecticut Public reported on the New Haven Pride Center’s move to a larger location in January. They say this will allow them to offer more community resources.
This hour, we hear from Juancarlos Soto, executive director of the New Haven Pride Center. We'll also hear from a researcher who has measured the importance of these community hubs, and the resources they offer.
Plus, we get an update on the policies protecting and restricting LGBTQ rights in the U.S. from The 19th's LGBTQ+ reporter Orion Rummler.
GUESTS:
- Orion Rummler: LGBTQ+ Reporter, The 19th
- Juancarlos Soto: Executive Director, New Haven Pride Center
- Dr. Dani Chiaramonte: Associate Research Scientist, Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Connecticut has had its share of intense storms, but this year’s hurricane is expected to be even longer and more intensive than ever before.
Today, we talk about what to expect and how to prepare.
Damage from hurricanes doesn’t just happen on the coast. We hear from farmers inland on how they’re preparing.
Got a question about hurricane season?
GUESTS:
- Juliana Barrett: Extension Educator Emerita, University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program
- Evan Lentz: Assistant Extension Educator of Fruit Production and Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at UConn
- Rebecca Toms: Communications Coordinator, UConn Extension- Sustainable Food Systems
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For decades, there were cities and towns that were all-white on purpose. These communities are known as "sundown towns." Because this practice was both formal and informal, researchers put together a database of these laws, customs and firsthand accounts, under the leadership of the late sociologist and civil rights champion James Loewen.
At the peak of the exclusionary practice in 1970, an estimated 10,000 communities across the U.S. kept out African-Americans through "force, law, or custom." Many sundown suburbs also excluded Jewish and Chinese Americans, and other minority groups.
There are 40 towns listed as possible or probable past sundown towns in Connecticut. This hour, we hear about this history and what it can tell us. You can add to this research too.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Stephen Berrey: Assistant Professor of American Culture and History, University of Michigan
- Logan Jaffe: Reporter, ProPublica
- Paul Saubestre: Volunteer Researcher, Hamden Historical Society
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired November 27, 2023.
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Today, we get an update from humanitarian aid organizations with workers on the ground in Gaza and how they are addressing this continuing crisis. Before these airstrikes, the area was facing famine, mass displacement, and severe trauma from witnessing the ongoing war in Gaza.
We also get an update on other crises happening around the globe including the ongoing conflict in Sudan, and the parallels between these conflicts. The conflict in Sudan began over a year ago in April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support forces. More than 14,000 people have died, and more than 8 million people have been displaced.
We talk about the legal definition of genocide and how that word is impacting how we view crises around the globe.
GUESTS
- Dr. Ali Elaydi: Orthopedic Surgeon with FAJR Scientific
- Provash Budden: Americares Deputy SVP of Emergency Programs
- Dr. Abdelillah Douda: Coordinator of the Sudanese Refugee in Connecticut and Digital Coordinator of Feeding Centers
- Nathaniel Raymond: Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Author Garrard Conley published his first book in 2016, "Boy Erased". The bestselling memoir, relaying Conley's experience undergoing conversion therapy at 19, inspired a major motion picture two years later.
This hour, Conley discusses his newest book and his first foray into fiction. "All the World Beside"explores queerness in Puritan New England. Set in 1700s Massachusetts and inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," an affair unfolds between Arthur Lyman, a physician, and Nathaniel Whitfield, a reverend.
GUESTS:
- Garrard Conley: Author, All the World Beside and Boy Erased
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 4.
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Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question, "How is everybody doing?" The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out?
Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered burnout in health care, and among early child care educators and teachers, for example. When Where We Live covered burnout in the nonprofit world in 2022, our phone lines were flooded.
This hour, we hear from Emily Ballesteros, a management coach and the author of the new book, The Cure for Burnout. She defines the phenomenon, and fields your questions.
Plus, Elizabeth Thompson is a local news researcher focused on burnout in local journalism.
A 2020 report from UNC found that more than one-quarter of American newspapers had shut down since 2005, forcing more than half of all local journalists out of the industry, and "leaving many remaining newsrooms staffed by a small number of reporters burdened by excessive workloads and unable to dedicate themselves to particular topics of local interest."
GUESTS:
- Emily Ballesteros: Management Coach; Author, The Cure for Burnout
- Elizabeth Thompson: Local News Researcher, Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media at the University of North Carolina
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired February 29, 2024.
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You’re never too young to learn about climate change. Younger Americans are more likely to engage with the issue, according to research on Gen Z and Millennials from Pew.
This hour, we hear from the authors of three children’s books about climate change, and taking action, including UConn sociologist Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, meteorologist Paul Douglas, environmental scientist Lena Champlin, and resident in psychiatry Jeremy Wortzel.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Phoebe Godfrey: Professor in Residence of Sociology, University of Connecticut
- Dr. Jeremy Wortzel: Co-Author, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
- Dr. Lena Champlin: Co-Author and Illustrator, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
- Paul Douglas: Meteorologist; Author, A Kid's Guide to Saving the Planet: It's not Hopeless and We're Not Helpless
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 25.
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You’ve heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, but did you know Connecticut is home to a host of creatures, or "cryptids"?
Cryptozoology is the study of animals whose existence is a matter of debate. While Bigfoot sightings have been reported where we live, sea serpents, the Glastonbury Glawackus, and plenty of others call Connecticut home.
This hour, we hear from Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen, the author and illustrator of a new field guide to this cast of Connecticut cryptids.
Plus, Stephen Olbrys Gencarella explains how folklore can deepen our understanding of these fantastic creatures, and how the stories about them are shaped over time.
- Patrick Scalisi: Author, Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State
- Valerie Ruby-Omen: Illustrator, Connecticut Cryptids
- Stephen Olbrys Gencarella: Professor of Folklore Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired on January 18, 2024.
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"An act of translation is always an act of betrayal."
This idea, and the questions it inspires, are central to author Rebecca or RF Kuang’s 2022 novel, Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution.
As the title promises, the book also explores the nature of revolution and the "necessity of violence," in addition to those complex questions surrounding the art of translation.
This hour, we revisit our conversation with the author, which was focused on the award-winning book, during an event organized by local bookseller RJ Julia.
On the importance of student revolutions, Kuang reflects, "The student's weakness is precisely his allure. The fact that the student is so naïve and doesn't have the jadedness of somebody who's been through more; the fact that students are dreamers, that they are romantic idealists; that kind of hope, that kind of ability to imagine an alternate future is beautiful and it matters and I hope we keep seeing that."
GUESTS:
- RF or Rebecca Kuang: Award-winning author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, Yellowface, and Katabasis (forthcoming). She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired December 18, 2023.
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Carolyn Kuan has been the music director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour, we speak to her about her work as a conductor, and the driving forces behind her music.
Like many organizations, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has put forth diversity and inclusivity commitments stating that they are, quote “diversifying programming by considering race, ethnicity and gender identity in the composers whose music performed.”We talk about how the orchestra is striving to become more inclusive and diverse, and what that work looks like.
We’ll also hear from Tyler Kline, he’s a composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a radio program that features work from the great living composers, especially those with underrepresented backgrounds. You can listen to the Modern Notebook on Connecticut Public on Saturdays at 10pm.
GUESTS:
- Carolyn Kuan: Music Director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
- Tyler Kline: composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a program by PRX, and host of the podcast "Music/Maker"
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Every year, we produce a summer reading hour to talk about some of our favorite books of this year, and give you recommendations of the best beach reads.
And this year, we’re diving into the illustrious, the notorious, the infamous paperback: the romance novel.
There’s a lot of stigma attached to romance reading, especially within the reading community. But this top grossing genre is actually one of the most popular book genres in the world.
Today, we go beyond harlequin bodice rippers and Fabio and dive into the world of romance with our panel.
Got a favorite romance novel or love story? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- AK Nevermore: president of theConnecticut Romance Writers Association and author living in Connecticut
- Michelle Smith: President/Owner The BookSmiths Shoppe, LLC. in Danbury
- Lauren Anderso: Founder ofPossible Futures Bookspace in New Haven.
Authors featured in this broadcast:
- AK Nevermore
- Kristan Higgins
- Amy Neff
- JJ Graham
- Krystal Marquis
- Chloe Liese
Book recommendations from the staff at Connecticut Public
- Normal People, by Sally Rooney
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (series),by Sarah J Mass
- Fourth Wing (Empyrean series),- Rebecca Yarros
- Author Emily Henry
- Author Casey McQuiston
- The Selection,series by Kiera Cass
- Bridgeton,series by Julia Quinn
- The Princess Diaries, series by Meg Cabot
- Conversations with Friends,by Sally Rooney
- Persuasion by Jane Austin
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop. But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?"
This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice Sendak Foundation in Ridgefield, where Sendak lived for forty years. There, the many layers of his artistic legacy live on, with the help of the experts and friends who knew and loved him best. We hear from them.
Twelve years after the artist's passing, the Foundation and HarperCollins are releasingTen Little Rabbits.
GUESTS:
- Lynn Caponera: President and Treasurer, Maurice Sendak Foundation
- Dr. Jonathan Weinberg: Curator, Maurice Sendak Foundation
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 12, 2024.
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The Cambodian genocide took the lives of up to three million people - between 1975 and 1979. Many were forced to work at labor camps where they faced abuse, torture and starvation.
But this is only part one of the story. The lesser known part is the story of Preah Vihear Mountain, where over forty thousand refugees were forced to climb to their death.
Many Cambodian refugees ended up in refugee camps in Thailand. But instead of being processed as refugees, they were forced on buses and driven to Preah Vihear Mountain, which is part of a mountain range between Thailand and Cambodia.
Returning to Cambodia was a devastating experience. Not only were they forced back into the country, but the mountain was filled with landmines, and refugees had no food or water. They were forced to climb down the mountain side, and those who didn’t comply were gunned down
Today, we heard from someone who experienced this firsthand. Bunseng Taing lives in Connecticut and is a survivor of this massacre. He joins us with his son, James Taing. Together, they produced the documentary film Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields.
GUESTS:
- James Taing: producer of Ghost Mountain: The Second Killing Fields
- Bunseng Taing: survivor of the Cambodian genocide and author of Under the Naga Tail
- Jenny (JHD) Heikkila Diaz: Professional Learning Coordinator, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies and the Activist in Residence, UConn Asian & Asian American Studies Institute
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Music used in the broadcast:
- "Violin Sneha" by Keo Sokha
- Sarika Keo
- “Mad Because of Loving You" by Sinn Sisamouth
- Come Again Tomorrow by Yol Aularong
Dylan Reyes helped produced this broadcast.
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The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the first-ever federal limits on a class of chemicals known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in drinking water.
This hour, we discuss what these enforceable limits mean for how Connecticut monitors and regulates PFAS. Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us, plus Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Andrew Brown.
Plus, Attorney General William Tong gives an update on the lawsuits he filed against chemical manufacturers of PFAS.
GUESTS:
- William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 22.
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In 2015, journalist Elise Hu moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.”
K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments. It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery.
These procedures are becoming an increasingly normal part of daily life in South Korea, but also in the United States. They are also more accessible than ever to anyone that wants to change the way they look.
Although some are starting to question the pursuit of keeping up with today’s beauty standards, this multibillion dollar beauty industry isn't going away.
Today, Elise Hu joins us on Where We Live to talk about her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.
We talk about the pursuit and pain of keeping up with today’s beauty standards.
GUEST:
- Elise Hu: host of TED Talks Daily and also a host-at-large for NPR. She is the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 19, 2023.
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Turtles are among one of the oldest reptiles to walk the planet. Although turtles often live long lifespans and are among some of the most resilient animals on the planet, human presence has meant a huge threat to their species.
In her new book Of Time and Turtles,Sy Montgomery says turtles live “slow.” She spent time working with the people who have dedicated their lives to rehabilitating these fascinating creatures, and she joins us to talk about her book.
And Matt Patterson, fellow turtle lover, illustrator of this book and their accompanying picture book The Book of Turtles,joins us too. He is also a wildlife artist and sculptor.
We'll learn about what’s being done to care for and protect these animals.
GUESTS:
- Sy Montgomery: Author of Of Time and Turtles
- Matt Patterson: Illustrator of The Book of Turtles and wildlife artist
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired October 3, 2023.
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Connecticut Public has spent the past year investigating political dysfunction, , allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics in Bridgeport.
The investigation has culminated in a four part series called “In Absentia.” Today, we hear the final episode of this podcast and speak to members of the Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative team.
You can listen back to all the episodes on ctpublic.org/bpt or wherever you get your podcasts.
GUESTS:
- Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter for the Accountability Project
- Jim Haddadin: Editor for The Accountability Project
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Every year, a cohort of emerging artists and curators gather at NXTHVN, a fellowship program located in the heart of New Haven's Dixwell neighborhood, and "a new national arts model that empowers artists, curators, and the community through education and access to a vibrant ecosystem."
This hour, we hear from Marquita Flowers and Clare Patrick, current curatorial fellows at NXTHVN. Their exhibition, "To Echo A Shadow," explores the links between industrialization and forced migration. We discuss how the Dixwell neighborhood, and its history, were embraced in the exhibition programming.
Plus, former NXTHVN fellow Michelle Phuong Ho discusses what artist community means to her. She recently launched the literary salon "quietly wild."
GUESTS:
- Marquita Flowers: Curatorial Fellow 2023-2024, NXTHVN
- Clare Patrick: Curatorial Fellow 2023-2024, NXTHVN
- Michelle Phuong Ho: Poet; Community Organizer; Former Curatorial Fellow, NXTHVN
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Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles began phasing out permanent or "lifetime" disability parking placards in 2010, to help curb misuse. Some advocates and lawmakers are hoping more can be done to regulate how these passes are issued, and how misuse might be enforced.
This hour, we hear from Alexandria Bode, who is behind the accessible parking-focused non-profit, Peace Love & ACCESSibility, along with her family members and fellow advocates, Sam Bode and Mary Caruso.
House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Transportation Committee Co-Chair Senator Christine Cohen are their legislators, and both testified for SB 279 this session. The bill, which passed under a different name, requires that a person’s treating physician, PA or APRN certify the need for a pass, versus an online provider, for example. They also join us.
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles formed the Accessible Parking Advisory Council last year. DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera discusses the latest after the council's second meeting.
East Haven Police Officer Joseph Murgo recently contributed to a PSA the Bodes' non-profit is producing. He also joins the conversation.
GUESTS:
- Alexandra Bode: Executive Director, Peace, Love & ACCESSibility
- Sam Bode: Volunteer, Peace, Love & ACCESSibility
- Mary Caruso: Founder, Peace, Love & ACCESSibility
- Joseph Murgo: Captain; Public Information Officer, East Haven Police Department
- Vincent Candelora: Connecticut State Representation; House Majority Leader
- Christine Cohen: Connecticut State Senator; Transportation Committee Co-Chair
- Tony Guerrera: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Connecticut Public has spent the past year investigating political dysfunction, allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics in Bridgeport.
The investigation has culminated in a four part series called “In Absentia.” Today, we hear episode 3 of this podcast and speak to members of The Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative team.
You can listen to all the episodes of In Absentia on ctpublic.org/bpt or wherever you get your podcasts.
GUESTS:
- Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter for the Accountability Project (below right)
- Jim Haddadin: Editor for The Accountability Project (below left)
Untitled-1.jpg (3000x2000, AR: 1.5)
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Connecticut Public has spent the past year investigating political dysfunction, allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics in Bridgeport.
The investigation has culminated in a four part series called “In Absentia.” Today, we hear episode 3 of this podcast and speak to members of The Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative team.
You can listen to all the episodes of In Absentia on ctpublic.org/bpt or wherever you get your podcasts.
GUESTS:
- Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter for the Accountability Project
- Jim Haddadin: Editor for The Accountability Project
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you listen to Connecticut Public or Where We Live? Your cell phone, car radio or something else?
This hour, we explore the many ways information can travel, and the history of how these devices were made. Hear Where We Live host Catherine Shen take a tour of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut with Charles "Skip" Coulson, John Ramos, Peter Knight and Jeff Gross, some of the museum's many volunteers.
Plus, we hear from Lisa Kirk, one of the museum’s amateur radio operators or "hams." She discusses the museum's amateur radio club, and what it takes to become a ham.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Kirk: Volunteer and ham radio operator at the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum in Windsor
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Colleges are spaces for open dialogue, debate, and even protest.
Student protesters have called for universities to divest from Israel. Today, we hear from students who have participated in encampments at Yale University and Wesleyan University.
We also speak with Davarian Baldwin, author of Shadow of the Ivory Tower and professor at Trinity college to get a better understanding on what divestment means, and how it might impact the financial future of many universities.
Wesleyan statement on campus protests
Yale statement regarding campus statement
GUESTS:
- Chisato Kimura: Law Student at Yale University
- Batya Kline: Student Organizer at Wesleyan University
- Davarian Baldwin: Founding director of the Smart Cities Lab at Trinity College; author, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities are Plundering Our Cities
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth?
There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. But those diagnoses can come later in life, and even with sure signs, the need for specialized, lifelong care is often unmet.
This hour, we're joined by the co-authors of Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease.
Plus, we hear from one of 50 clinics accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association in the U.S., right here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Tracy Livecchi:Social Worker; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease
- Dr. Liza Morton: Psychologist; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds
- Dr. Robert Elder:Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology
Cat Pastor contributed to this program which originally aired October 11.
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More workers than ever are working a hybrid work schedule - part time in the office and part time at home. According to a Gallup Poll, nearly 40% of hybrid workers can set their own schedule.
Yet burnout feels more apparent than ever before.
Many offices are searching to find solutions to provide better work-life balance including the four day work week. Today, we revisit this topic and explore others that claim to give employees more of their time back.
And we want to hear from you. What’s your schedule like in the office these days? Would you rather work a four day week?
GUESTS:
- Alex Soojung-Kim Pang: Director of Research and Innovation at 4-Day Week Global
- Lynne C Vincent: Associate Professor of Management, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University
- Robert C. Bird: Professor of Business Law, School of Business at University of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Venice Biennale is the art world's most prestigious exhibition. It’s sometimes even called the "Olympics of Art," held annually in Italy. Right now, Pablo Delano, a Puerto Rico-born, Hartford-based artist, has an installation called “The Museum of the Old Colony” located in its central pavilion.
The installation collection is comprised largely of photographs and artifacts, all of which raise questions around America’s relationship with Puerto Rico, and the island's status as the world’s oldest colony. The “museum” also raises questions about the politics and institution of museums.
This hour, we hear from Delano.
Plus, Faisal Saleh with Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge discusses their unofficial collateral exhibit in Venice, "Foreigners without a Homeland," featuring 27 artists.
1 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh2 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh3 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh4 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh
GUESTS:
- Pablo Delano: Visual Artist and Photographer; Professor of Fine Arts, Trinity College
- Faisal Saleh: Founder and Executive director, Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For this gardening hour, we’re talking about ecological gardening and gardening for the environment.
We’ll be touching on planting natives, using rain barrels, preparing your compost pile and more. We’ll also learn what plants can make your garden a pollinator oasis.
And we want to hear from you: what are you planting this year?
GUESTS:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal on Connecticut Public
- Dawn Pettinelli: Associate Extension Educator at Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture with UConn
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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You’re never too young to learn about climate change. Younger Americans are more likely to engage with the issue, according to research on Gen Z and Millennials from Pew.
This hour, we hear from the authors of three children’s books about climate change, and taking action, including UConn sociologist Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, meteorologist Paul Douglas, environmental scientist Lena Champlin, and resident in psychiatry Jeremy Wortzel.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Phoebe Godfrey: Professor in Residence of Sociology, University of Connecticut
- Dr. Jeremy Wortzel: Co-Author, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
- Dr. Lena Champlin: Co-Author and Illustrator, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
- Paul Douglas: Meteorologist; Author, A Kid's Guide to Saving the Planet: It's not Hopeless and We're Not Helpless
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This week, reporters from the New England News Collaborative are recognizing Earth Day and focusing their reporting on the intersection of climate change and housing.
34% of the housing stock across New England is rented. Many solutions to making homes more climate friendly are mostly geared toward homeowners. But investing in energy efficient appliances and installing solar panels isn’t that feasible for renters. We learn what you can do to make your home more energy efficient as a renter.
Most homes are built with a few central materials: mainly steel and concrete. But as new buildings are constructed from homes to office spaces, a new material has been introduced to make buildings stronger, more energy efficient and more sustainable: wood. We learn more.
And later, we hear how one organization is working to create more green spaces in New Haven.
To learn more about the NENC and view more of their Earth Week reporting visit: https://www.nenc.news/earth-week
GUESTS:
- Abigail Brone: Housing Reporter at Connecticut Public
- Jonathón Savage: Executive Director of Gather New Haven
- Abagael Giles: Climate and Environment Reporter at Vermont Public
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the first-ever federal limits on a class of chemicalled known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in drinking water.
This hour, we discuss what these enforceable limits mean for how Connecticut monitors and regulates PFAS. Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us, plus Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Andrew Brown.
Plus, Attorney General William Tong touches on the lawsuits he filed against chemical manufacturers of PFAS.
GUESTS:
- William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
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During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.
With an all-volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.
Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.
Later, we hear how some extremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
- Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command
- Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired on October 6, 2023.
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Nearly one in four adults who contracted COVID-19 have developed long COVID symptoms, according to the latest Census report.
This hour, Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, an immunobiology expert at Yale who is focused on researching long COVID, joins us to share what we know and don't know about the illness, and the many ways it can manifest.
The Patient-Led Research Collaborative has authored several seminal surveys and studies. We also hear from co-founder Lisa McCorkell about this bank of patient-led research. She says, "We need a moonshot for long COVID: at least a billion dollars a year in research funding to adequately address this crisis."
Plus, Yale American Studies professor Dr. Daniel HoSang has written about the “twin pandemics” of COVID-19 and racism. He joins us to reflect on the four-year mark of the virus, and the links he sees to the long COVID response.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Daniel HoSang: Professor of American Studies, Yale University; Co-Author, Under the Blacklight: The Intersectional Vulnerabilities that the Twin Pandemics Lay Bare
- Dr. Akiko Iwasaki: Co-Lead Investigator, Yale COVID-19 Recovery Study; Sterling Professor of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Lisa McCorkell: Co-Founder, Patient-Led Research Collaborative
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Although church attendance has dwindled across all faiths, 39% of Catholics say they attend services at least once a week.
The Archdiocese of Hartford includes over 400,000 Catholics across the state of Connecticut, and is now being overseen by a new Archbishop.
After years of service, Archbishop Leonard Paul Blair will be succeeded by the newly appointedCoadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne, who recently served as a Bishop in Burlington, Vermont.
Today, we talk about the future of the Catholic Church, serving the Catholic population in Connecticut and a recent document published by the Vatican and its statements on gender identity and gender affirming surgery, surrogacy, and human dignity.
GUESTS:
- Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne: Archdiocese of Hartford
- Joshua McElwee: News Editor of National Catholic Reporter
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Throughout history, our state has made some big contributions to aviation technology. Today, we’re talking about the history and future of aviation in our state. We hear from some aviation enthusiasts who’s love of all things plane is going to make you soar.
The New England Air Museum houses some unbelievable vintage aircrafts. We hear from them. And we hear from someone with experience flying in some of these vintage aircrafts.
If flying in a vintage plane is not your speed, there are more ways you can tap into your inner pilot. There are many model plane clubs here in all four corners of Connecticut. We learn how you can get involved.
GUESTS:
- Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum
- Mike Thornton: Curator of the New England Air Museum
- Edward Deming: President of the RC Propbusters of Salem, CT
- Bob Creter: crew chief and docent for D-Day Squadron in Oxford, Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on February 2.
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For adults on the autism spectrum, getting services can be a challenging task to navigate.
A new bill passed last year means that more autistic adults could receive services from the state from the Connecticut Autism Waiver.
But services still remain limited. There is currently a ten year waiting list to receive the waiver leaving thousands scrambling for services. Today, we talk about the Connecticut Autism Waiver program.
Later, we hear about businesses working to make their establishments more accommodating to neurodiverse clientele.
GUESTS:
- Jimna Miller: Co-Chair of Autism Advisory Council and Volunteer
- Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett: Autism Clinical Specialist and Research Coordinator at Connecticut Children's Hospital
- Emma McKeever (left): resident of Glastonbury who is currently on the Autism Waiver Waitlist
- Pam McKeever: resident of Glastonbury and parent of autistic adult
- Sarah Spear: CEO and Founder of Empowered Together
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In Connecticut, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is vast and varied, with more than 170,000 AAPI people in the state.
And with a diversity of AAPI cultures, there is also a diversity of New Year traditions and celebrations that span across months. We’re just days away from the Laotian New Year and Thai New Year, as well as a Khmer New Year event hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of Connecticut in Bristol.
This hour, we’ll discuss the diversity of Lunar New Year celebrations where we live, and unpack some of the debate around terminology.
GUESTS:
- Quan Tran: Co-chair, Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut; Senior Lecturer on Race, Ethnicity and Migration, Yale University
- Sounthaly Thammavong: Board Member, Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut
- Mike Keo: Senior Communication Officer, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Founder, #IAMNOTAVIRUS
Connecticut Public intern Sajina Shrestha contributed to this report.
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Starting with the class of 2027, all Connecticut high school students are now required to take a financial literacy course.
April is National Financial Literacy Month, and today, we hear from those that advocated to get this course work in schools.
For many, personal finance is just that - it’s deeply personal.
Later, we hear about efforts to offer financial literacy courses to adults, and the opportunities to learn about financing beyond high school.
GUESTS:
- Nan Morrison: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Economic Education
- State Representative Corey Paris: Stamford State Representative
- Barbara Angelicola-Manzolli: Business Education Teacher at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington
- Sabrina Acosta: Connecticut Money School Program Manager
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Today, Connecticut is expected to enjoy a partial solar eclipse, the most intense since 1924. That’s according to local astronomer and Wesleyan professor Dr. Meredith Hughes. Still, the Federal Highway Administration says 5 million Americans could be traveling to the path of totality.
This hour, we discuss the science of the eclipse, and how to safely enjoy it, with Dr. Hughes. Plus, "umbraphile" or eclipse-chaser Kate Russo explains why these natural phenomena are such a unifying social event.
Wesleyan University is prepared to host hundreds of onlookers, with four solar telescopes in operation. We'll hear from one astronomy student who’s helping to ensure the event is accessible to Spanish speakers.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Meredith Hughes: Associate Professor of Astronomy, Wesleyan University
- Carlos Ordoñez: Astronomy Student, Wesleyan University
- Kate Russo: Author, Being in the Shadow: Stories of the First-Time Total Eclipse Experience; Psychologist
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Five percent of bridges in Connecticut are in “poor condition.”
Today, we talk about what needs to be done to update the bridges and roads in our state, and we talk about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. We hear from The Accountability Project from right here at Connecticut Public.
And later, we hear about the infrastructure workforce and the training needed to staff these jobs.
We’ll also talk about the future of green infrastructure, a small solution to increased rainfall and subsequent flooding.
GUESTS:
- Jim Haddadin: Editor for the Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative reporting team
- Ron Harichandran: Dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven
- Michael Dietz: Extension Educator at UConn and Director of the Connecticut Institute of Water Resources
- Chris DiPentima: President and CEO Connecticut Business & Industry Association.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Author Garrard Conley published his first book in 2016, "Boy Erased". The bestselling memoir, relaying Conley's experience undergoing conversion therapy at 19, inspired a major motion picture two years later.
This hour, Conley discuss his newest book and his first foray into fiction. "All the World Beside"explores queerness in Puritan New England. Set in 1700s Massachusetts and inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," an affair unfolds between Arthur Lyman, a physician, and Nathaniel Whitfield, a reverend.
GUESTS:
- Garrard Conley: Author, All the World Beside and Boy Erased
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question, "How is everybody doing?" The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out?
Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered burnout in health care, and among early child care educators and teachers, for example. When Where We Live covered burnout in the nonprofit world in 2022, our phone lines were flooded.
This hour, we hear from Emily Ballesteros, a management coach and the author of the new book, The Cure for Burnout. She defines the phenomenon, and fields your questions.
Plus, Elizabeth Thompson is a local news researcher focused on burnout in local journalism.
A 2020 report from UNC found that more than one-quarter of American newspapers had shut down since 2005, forcing more than half of all local journalists out of the industry, and "leaving many remaining newsrooms staffed by a small number of reporters burdened by excessive workloads and unable to dedicate themselves to particular topics of local interest."
GUESTS:
- Emily Ballesteros: Management Coach; Author, The Cure for Burnout
- Elizabeth Thompson: Local News Researcher, Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media at the University of North Carolina
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired February 29, 2024.
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In a 2022 survey from CT Humanities, only 26% of Connecticut residents had said they had visited a museum in-person in the last two years. Some 83% of those museum-goers identified as white.
There are many museums where we live working to open their doors to a broader public, and to engage their local community more meaningfully. We’ve covered some of those efforts on this program, including over the course of the Yale Peabody Museum’s four-year renovation process. We even got a sneak preview of one of the museum’s partnerships with local artists, celebrated New Haven-based artist and architect Mohamad Hafez's "Eternal Cities."
Last week, the museum reopened to the public, now 50% larger and with free admission. There are some familiar and many new exhibitions, as well as new research facilities and eight classrooms staffers hope will be used by schools in the area.
This hour, we hear from curators, educators and students about their hopes for the new Peabody. Plus, producer Katie Pellico takes a tour with director David Skelly and associate director of exhibitions Kailen Rogers.
GUESTS:
- Chris Norris: Director of Public Programs, Peabody Museum
- Andrea Motto: Director of Education, Peabody Museum
- Lindsay Pierce: Digital Content Assistant, Peabody Museum
- Kelsey Jenkins: Paleontology Doctoral Student, Yale University
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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You’ve heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, but did you know Connecticut is home to a host of creatures, or "cryptids"?
Cryptozoology is the study of animals whose existence is a matter of debate. While Bigfoot sightings have been reported where we live, sea serpents, the Glastonbury Glawackus, and plenty of others call Connecticut home.
This hour, we hear from Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen, the author and illustrator of a new field guide to this cast of Connecticut cryptids.
Plus, Stephen Olbrys Gencarella explains how folklore can deepen our understanding of these fantastic creatures, and how the stories about them are shaped over time.
- Patrick Scalisi: Author, Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State
- Valerie Ruby-Omen: Illustrator, Connecticut Cryptids
- Stephen Olbrys Gencarella: Professor of Folklore Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired on January 18, 2024.
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Longtime U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman has died at 82. His family said he died due to complications from a fall. His wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him when he passed.
Lieberman represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate for more than two decades. In 2000, he made history as the first Jewish American on a major party’s presidential ballot when he became Al Gore’s running mate.
This hour, be talking about his legacy, and we want to hear from you. Our newsroom has been compiling tributes from elected officials across Connecticut. We’ll be hearing from some of them this hour, including Senator Richard Blumenthal.
GUESTS:
- Colin McEnroe: Host, The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public
- Frankie Graziano: Host, Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
- Ebong Udoma: Senior Political Reporter, WSHU Public Radio
- John Craven: Political Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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"An act of translation is always an act of betrayal."
This idea, and the questions it inspires, are central to author Rebecca or RF Kuang’s 2022 novel, Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution.
As the title promises, the book also explores the nature of revolution and the "necessity of violence," in addition to those complex questions surrounding the art of translation.
This hour, we revisit our conversation with the author, which was focused on the award-winning book, during an event organized by local bookseller RJ Julia.
On the importance of student revolutions, Kuang reflects, "The student's weakness is precisely his allure. The fact that the student is so naïve and doesn't have the jadedness of somebody who's been through more; the fact that students are dreamers, that they are romantic idealists; that kind of hope, that kind of ability to imagine an alternate future is beautiful and it matters and I hope we keep seeing that."
GUESTS:
- RF or Rebecca Kuang: Award-winning author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, Yellowface, and Katabasis (forthcoming). She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired December 18, 2023.
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The curly hair movement – and market – is growing, as more people learn to style and to celebrate their natural hair.
This hour, we hear from one salon that’s just for natural curls in Connecticut. Luvena Leslie opened The Curly Hair Salon in 2011. "So many people have had bad experiences before they come to us," Leslie says.
Viola Clune, a Yale student and editor of the New Journal, recently wrote a piece about salons like Leslie's, and the work they do to untangle "hair trauma," titled "Kinks in the Movement." She joins the conversation.
Clune writes that The Curly Hair Salon "exists as a contradiction, intervention, remembrance, and stagnation at once. The ever-growing salon industry in New Haven suggests that there is something complementary about these contradictions, something inherent about them..."
Plus, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford has a new exhibit all about the optics and politics of hair. A curator joins us to discuss Styling Identities: Hair’s Tangled Histories, on view through August 11. We also hear from one archivist who contributed to the exhibition and created an accompanying zine.
GUESTS:
- Luvena Leslie: Owner, The Curly Hair Salon in New Haven
- Viola Clune: Editor, The New Journal and author of the article “Kinks in the Movement"
- Jama Holchin: Lead Curator for "Styling Identities: Hair’s Tangled Histories" at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Today, we're airing the first and second episode of the new podcast Unforgotten.
It’s a history lesson many of us didn’t get in school: Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut and across New England. Enslaved people helped build the foundation of much of this state.
In this five-episode podcast from reporter and producer Diane Orson and editorial consultant and curator Frank Mitchell talk about efforts to shed light on this history and they explore why it matters.
Visit ctpublic.org/unforgotten to learn more, including videos, photos and digital stories.
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In 2023, more than 6 million animals entered shelters and rescues in the U.S., according to a recent report from Shelter Animals Count. Believe it or not, those numbers are down from pre-pandemic reports.
Over the summer, Connecticut news outlets reported that animal shelters in our state were "bursting at the seams" and unable to keep up with calls from people trying to surrender pets.
This hour, we’ll be checking back in with some of those pet shelters. How is the so-called "pandemic boomerang" affecting them now?
Plus, we’ll switch gears and talk to farm animal and wildlife rescues in Connecticut. Whether you’ve got questions about your pandemic puppy or a stray opossum you think might need some help, join the conversation.
GUESTS:
- Laura Burban: Director, Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford
- Marla C. Riley: MSN, MBA, RN; President and Founder, The Riley Farm Rescue in Canterbury
- Pamela A. Lefferts: Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue in Woodstock
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 5, 2024.
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A multi-year investigative report has shown that High Road Schools, a group of eight publicly funded, privately run schools for children in special education, must make improvements.
The report cites several incidents of teachers without proper certification managing classrooms,overuse of restraint and seclusion, and a total lack of proper education for “the state’s most vulnerable students.”
Today, we hear from the authors of this report: the Office of the Child Advocate and Disability Rights Connecticut. You can read the full report here.
If you have a student at High Road Schools, or if you're a parent navigating special education, we want to hear from you.
The Connecticut State Department of Education and High Roads Schools have responded to this report. You can view their response to investigation
GUESTS:
- Sarah Eagen: Connecticut Child Advocate
- Tom Cosker: Disability Advocate at Disability Rights Connecticut
- Penny Spencer: Educational Consultant, Associate Professor, Department of Education at the University of Saint Joseph
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This hour, we preview several historical exhibits spotlighting local artists, many of whom were touched by the Pop Art Movement percolating just over the border in New York. This includes prolific artist couple Leo Jensen and Dalia Ramanauskas. We'll explore what it means to be an artist in community — in Connecticut or New York — and how Pop Art changed that.
1 of 6The exhibit "Avant Colony: Unearthing the Westbrook Gallery" is currently running through March 31 at Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New HavenEric Litke / Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven2 of 6Saturday Night: New London, ca 1935, is on view in "Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist," through May 26 at Lyman Allyn Art Museum.Provided / Tanya Pohrt / Lyman Allyn Art Museum3 of 6Bell Buoys on the Dock, ca. 1937, is on view in "Beatrice Cuming: Connecticut Precisionist," through May 26 at Lyman Allyn Art Museum.Provided / Tanya Pohrt / Lyman Allyn Art Museum4 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), Baseball Machine, 1963. Painted wood, mixed media kinetic sculpture, 90 x 76 x 23 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum5 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), The Lure of the Turf, 1963. Wood, steel, 90 x 63 x 22 1/2 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum6 of 6Leo Jensen (1926–2019), Secrets of a Home Run Hitter, 1964. Polychromed wood and mixed media assemblage (electric), 39 x 40 x 8 in. Collection of the Artist.Provided / Florence Griswold Museum
February 4 – March 31: Avant Colony: Unearthing the Westbrook Gallery at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art in New Haven
February 10 – April 14: Art in Play: Leo Jensen at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London
February 20 – May 19: Fun & Games? Leo Jensen's Pop Art at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme
"Dalia Ramanauskas: As We Embark" just wrapped up at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, and an exhibit dedicated to William Kent is in the works at the New Haven Museum.
GUESTS:
- Eric Litke: Museum Assistant, Yale University Art Gallery
- Amy Kurtz Lansing: Curator, Florence Griswold Museum
- Tanya Pohrt: Curator, Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Flannel and blue jeans - these staples are the backbone of American fashion and the textile industry. Are they part of your wardrobe?
Textiles, fabrics and clothing is a dying industry here in the U.S. But author Steven Kurutz says that some makers and creators are trying to change that.
New York Times reporter and author Steven Kurutz joins us today to talk about his new book American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs are bringing the art and business of making clothes back home.
We hear about the rise and decline of this industry. We’ll also learn about the history of mills right here in Connecticut, and local artisan joins us to talk about their efforts to bring back the American mill.
GUESTS:
- Steven Kurutz: author of American Flannel and a reporter for New York Times covering cultural trends and the world of design
- Jacob Harrison Long: President and CEO of American Woolen Company in Stafford, Springs, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop. But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?"
This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice Sendak Foundation in Ridgefield, where Sendak lived for forty years. There, the many layers of his artistic legacy live on, with the help of the experts and friends who knew and loved him best. We hear from them.
Twelve years after the artist's passing, the Foundation and HarperCollins are releasingTen Little Rabbits.
GUESTS:
- Lynn Caponera: President and Treasurer, Maurice Sendak Foundation
- Dr. Jonathan Weinberg: Curator, Maurice Sendak Foundation
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 12, 2024.
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Around the globe, artists are using their mediums to show how climate change is impacting our planet.
Today, we’re exploring the convergence of art and science. We'll be talking with artists using their craft to have conversations about the environment.
Earlier this year, Where We Live talked about how snow loss is impacting our ecosystems and community here in Connecticut. Today, we hear from Lynn Cazabon, the artist behind the multidisciplinary project “Losing Winter” who will join us from Australia.
But first up, we’re hearing from the Mattatuck Museum. The exhibit “Sea Change | See Change” is raising awareness of how climate change is impacting our oceans.
GUESTS:
- Sam Schwann: underwater explorer and ocean artist
- Keffie Feldman: Chief Curator at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Connecticut
- Lynn Cazabon: artist behind the project Losing Winter
- Elizabeth Ellenwood: an artist from Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired on February 6, 2024.
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Tri-state area or New England? Nutmeg or Constitution State? "Stuffy, preppy, sleepy"? What really makes Connecticut Connecticut, and what stereotypes can we stand to shake off?
After the state's recent rebranding effort, it's a debate that has found its way to the national stage. This hour, Catherine Shen is joined by a roundtable of Connecticut Public hosts, as we debate what defines Connecticut.
And we want to hear from you. What characterizes or typifies where you live? What do you think people get wrong or right about Connecticut's reputation?
GUESTS:
- Colin McEnroe: Host, The Colin McEnroe Show
- Chion Wolf: Host, Audacious with Chion Wolf
- Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean: Host, Disrupted
- Dr. Jonathan Wharton: Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs, Southern Connecticut State University; Columnist, CT News Junkie and Hearst Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on January 25, 2024.
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According to the National Institutes of Health, average body weight drastically increased across the board for men and women during the pandemic lockdown.
Simply eating less and exercising more hasn’t been that effective when it comes to weight loss. In efforts to fight weight stigma, doctors are embracing a new idea that weight loss isn’t all about willpower and health is defined by more than just someone’s weight.
In 2021, the FDA approved Semaglutide for weight loss for the general population. Doctors and patients are flocking to get this medication.
Children over the age of 12 are now eligible to be prescribed this drug as well. Many celebrities have confirmed their personal use of the drugs, including Oprah. Influencers across the social sphere are partnering with pharmaceutical companies to promote the drugs.
Today, we talk about these drugs, and combating weight stigma in and out the doctor’s office.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Mara Gordon: Family Practice Physician from New Jersey
- Devika Umashanker: System Medical Director for Obesity Medicine at Hartford Healthcare
- Dr. Maria Asnis: Director of the Center for Weight Management at Stamford Health
- Dr. Sherry Pagoto: Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor at University of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In late January, Reuters reported that “some 70 U.S. cities, including Chicago and Seattle, have passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war," with the majority calling for a cease-fire.
Several Connecticut city and town councils have considered resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Bridgeport passed one of these non-binding agreements in January, Hartford City Council recently rejected a resolution, and Hamden’s Town Council is considering one. In New Haven, organizers staged an open hearing for a ceasefire at City Hall on Monday, after they say the Board of Alders "ignored" their requests.
Coming up, we discuss the significance of these local resolutions with Eddy Martinez, Connecticut Public breaking news reporter, plus University of Hartford politics and government expert Bilal Sekou, and Dartmouth University professor of government Dr. Nadia Brown.
But first, NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre discusses the significance of Sunday’s announcement, and the very latest around diplomatic negotiations.
GUESTS:
- Greg Myre: NPR National Security Correspondent
- Dr. Bilal Sekou: Associate Professor of Politics and Government, University of Hartford
- Dr. Nadia Brown: Professor of Government, Georgetown University
- Dr. Emy Matesan: Associate Professor of Government, Wesleyan University
- Eddy Martinez: General Assignment/Breaking News Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Christine Squires: President and CEO, Americares
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For kids today, there’s a whole new career path: social media influencer. In fact, 57 percent of Gen Zs say they’d be an influencer. But some young people aren’t waiting to become social media influencers; they’re already ones.
These parent-run, kid centric accounts aren't all brand deals, and free merchandise. A new investigation by the New York Times showcases the darker side of the Kidfluencer world.
Today, we hear about the realities of working in this space — and how some young people are advocating to get their privacy back.
GUESTS:
- Jennifer Valentino-DeVries: Reporter for the New York Times
- Chris McCarty: Student Founder and Executive Director of Quit Clicking Kids
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Librarians in Connecticut say the number of book ban requests they’re fielding is still "soaring," and that the focus is on content relating to LGBTQIA+ identity and themes. Librarians have even looked to lawmakers for support.
This hour, we get the latest from state and national Library Associations.
But first, advocates and lawmakers hosted a vigil at the State Capitol last week for Nex Benedict, the teenager who died after a fight in the school bathroom in Oklahoma. Keith Brown with Gay Spirit Radio reports.
GUESTS:
- Keith Brown: Host and Producer, Gay Spirit Radio
- Deborah Caldwell-Stone: Director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Samantha Lee: Chair, Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; Head of Reference Services at Enfield Public Library
- Mary Richardson: Teen Services Librarian, Simsbury Public Library; Co-Host "The Book Jam" Podcast
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Applying for financial aid is no easy task. Whether you’re the parent or the incoming student. And a new FAFSA form hasn’t made things any easier.
The online FAFSA form - or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid was recently updated. But it’s come with a lot of glitches causing headaches for students and parents alike.
Today on Where We Live, we talk about what’s happening with this form and how universities are responding.
We’ll also talk about how some universities here in Connecticut are working to eliminate student loans from their financial aid packages.
GUESTS:
- Danielle Douglas-Gabriel: Reporter for the Washington Post
- Eric Hoover: Senior Writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Jen Duncan: Director of Financial Aid at Wesleyan University
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question, "How is everybody doing?" The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out?
Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered burnout in health care, and among early child care educators and teachers, for example. When Where We Live covered burnout in the nonprofit world in 2022, our phone lines were flooded.
This hour, we hear from Emily Ballesteros, a management coach and the author of the new book, The Cure for Burnout. She defines the phenomenon, and fields your questions.
Plus, Elizabeth Thompson is a local news researcher focused on burnout in local journalism.
A 2020 report from UNC found that more than one-quarter of American newspapers had shut down since 2005, forcing more than half of all local journalists out of the industry, and "leaving many remaining newsrooms staffed by a small number of reporters burdened by excessive workloads and unable to dedicate themselves to particular topics of local interest."
GUESTS:
- Emily Ballesteros: Management Coach; Author, The Cure for Burnout
- Elizabeth Thompson: Local News Researcher, Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media at the University of North Carolina
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine and launched a full scale attack on the country. This hour, we hear what life looks like in Ukraine today and how Ukrainian refugees are adjusting to life in the United States. Since the recent invasion, many Ukrainians have made the difficult decision to leave the region, while others have stayed behind.
Americares, a humanitarian aid organization based here in Connecticut has worked to bring in over 300 tons of medical aid to the region. But providing mental health first aid is becoming as important as providing medical first aid.
Ukrainian refugees are also seeking mental health support, but finding Ukrainian speaking therapists and support systems is a challenge. We hear from those working to help this population and hear how refugees are adjusting to life here in the United States.
GUESTS:
- Adam Keehn: Director of Complex Emergencies at Americares, a humanitarian organization based in Stamford, Connecticut
- Olena Lennon: Adjunct Professor of Political Science (National Security) at the University of New Haven
- Dana Bucin: Immigration Attorney at Murtha Cullina and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut
- Anne Howard: co-author and translator of the bookEscape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story. She is also an attorney and author.
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Quantum mechanics is a theory that even some scientists have trouble wrapping their heads around. But this industry is booming, and some physicists here in Connecticut are hoping to make our state the “Quantum Corridor” for research, workforce development and education.
In May 2023, “the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $1 million federal planning grant to Yale University and the University of Connecticut toward developing quantum technology related businesses in Connecticut.”
Today, we hear about this project and learn about the future of quantum. We’ll attempt to answer the question: “what is quantum mechanics?” We only have an hour, but we will try our best.
We’ll hear how this field could eventually touch every area of science.
GUESTS:
- Michael DiDonato:UConn Tech Park Business Development Manager, and QuantumCT UConn Project Manager
- Steven Girvin:Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Yale
- Dr. Brian Sullivan:High School STEM teacher teaching physics, calculus and statistics at the Wooster School, a private co-educational school in Danbury Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 16, 2024.
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Paula Poundstone has had a nearly 45 year career in standup comedy. She’s the host of the comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.
And we would be remiss not to say, She is also a regular panelist on NPR's comedy news quiz show, Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!
Today, she joins us for the hour. And like her comedy, we kind of touched on everything! We get into her signature stand up style, never shying away from engaging the audience, and making each show a little unique.
If you’ve seen Paula on one of her many stand up specials, or maybe live in person, you probably know that talking with the audience is a big part of her routine. And you can experience her comedy firsthand this weekend. She’ll be performing at the Infinity Music Hall in Hartford on Saturday, February 24.
GUEST:
- Paula Poundstone: standup comedian
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This hour, we sit down with Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani to tackle a range of topics and questions, including what's on your mind.
How have you fared this flu season? What questions about COVID-19, or long COVID, do you have?
According to data from the Census Bureau, 23% of adults in Connecticut who tested positive for COVID-19 have experienced symptoms lasting longer than three months.
We also discusss recent reports about possible changes in guidance from CDC, reported shortages in mental health services for kids, implementation for Connecticut's health care worker ratio law, and more.
GUESTS:
- Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
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For a Connecticut family of four, it costs over $126,000 just to meet their basic needs, according to a recent United Way report. That’s more than four times the federal poverty level.
Food insecurity is a big part of the problem, affecting more than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents, according to Connecticut Foodshare. A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture found the national rate of food insecurity jumped by more than 2% from 2021 to 2022, now 12.8% of U.S. households.
This hour, UConn's Dr. Caitlin Caspi joins us to address some of the misconceptions around food insecurity.
"Food insecurity isn't happening in a vacuum," she says. "It's really intersecting with a lot of other challenges that people face," including stable housing, health insurance, job security, disability, and other factors. "Food insecurity isn't primarily a story about food," says Dr. Caspi. "It's about many facets of economic instability."
Plus, we'll discuss some of Connecticut Foodshare’s efforts to address food insecurity where we live, including an income-based grocery store coming soon to Hartford, where food insecurity rates are highest in the state.
Hartford High School just launched the Grub Pub, an in-school pantry. Principal Flora Padro joins us later in the hour, describing the "new normal" she envisions.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Caitlin Caspi:Associate Professor, University of Connecticut's Department of Allied Health Sciences; Director of Food Security Initiatives, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health
- Jason Jakubowski: President & CEO, Connecticut Foodshare
- Ben Dubow: Executive Director, Forge City Works
- Flora Padro: Principal, Hartford High School
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired October 26, 2023.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more!
But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond.
Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range, and we’ll even get to hear some love stories that will put "The Notebook" to shame.
And if you are dating or have fallen in love, at any age, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kristina Zdanys: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Division Chief for Geriatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at UConn Health
- Chip Conley: Founder & CEO of the Modern Elder Academy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Disability rights advocates in Connecticut are demanding better medical access.
And this legislative session, they’re pushing lawmakers to pass two bills. Both aim to improve medical equipment and training, and access to better care when examining, diagnosing and treating patients with disabilities.
We hear from one advocacy group involved in this effort, the Citizens Coalition for Equal Access, or CC=A. Public Health Committee Co-Chair and State Sen. Saud Anwar also shares his hopes for the pair of bills — one focused on medical diagnostic equipment, the other on lifts — which he helped to draft after an informational hearing with disability rights advocates across Connecticut last September.
Where We Live heard from eight members of CC=A prior to this program, who talked about some of their negative experiences in the medical setting. As Jamie Mosier shared, "Something has to be passed to make sure we get what I need, that we get what everybody needs, before we're all dead."
Plus later today, wheelchair users and advocates across the state will gather at the State Capitol. They plan to rally in support of the "transformational recommendations by the legislative Wheelchair Repair Task Force to tackle the absurd delays faced by 90% of roughly 5,000 CT consumers."
Task Force member and consumer advocate Jonathan Sigworth joins us to discuss this legislative push.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Cindy Miller: Member, Citizens Coalition for Equal Access; Former Associate Professor, Yale University
- Ruth Grobe: Secretary, Citizens Coalition for Equal Access
- Jonathan Sigworth: Consumer Spokesperson, Connecticut Wheelchair Task Force; Member, CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition; Member, State Independent Living Council; Co-Founder, CEO and President, More Than Walking
- Carly Malesky: Student, UConn Medical School; Member, Disability Interest Group
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Approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue recently moved U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory around the "loneliness epidemic" in America.
Soon after, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy introduced a bill that would launch an Office of Social Connection Policy, and fund CDC research to "better understand the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness."
While on The Colin McEnroe Show in July, Murphy said the move was "part of a broader exploration for me of what is eating in America... I have come to the conclusion that there's a lot of new and unique things that are hurting Americans and making them feel unhappy today," chief among them loneliness or "aloneness."
This hour, we explore how loneliness, isolation and social disconnection are being addressed where we live. Deb Bibbins and Gary Sekorski founded For All Ages, and more recently, the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness, to help bolster and centralize resources.
How does loneliness or isolation affect you?
GUESTS:
- Deb Bibbins: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Gary Sekorski: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Connie Malone: Canton Resident
- Siri Palreddy: Senior at Amherst College
- Dr. Sowmya Kurtakoti: Chief of Geriatric Medicine, Hartford Hospital
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired September 18, 2023.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop. But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?"
This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice Sendak Foundation in Ridgefield, where Sendak lived for more than forty years. There, the many layers of his artistic legacy live on with the help of the experts and friends who knew and loved him best. We hear from them.
Twelve years after the artist's passing, the Foundation and HarperCollins are releasing Ten Little Rabbits
GUESTS:
- Lynn Caponera: President and Treasurer, Maurice Sendak Foundation
- Dr. Jonathan Weinberg: Curator, Maurice Sendak Foundation
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February is Black History Month. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday was in January. Around this time, we often see his quotes circulate on social media. And we also hear about his legacy as an activist and a minister, and his fight for civil rights in the U.S.
Today, we’re going to listen back to a recent interview with Clarence B. Jones. Clarence B. Jones was one of the many giants of the civil rights movement. He served as personal counsel to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was also his speech writer and personal friend.
John Henry Smith spoke with him earlier this year about his work in the civil rights movement and we’ll hear about his thoughts of where civil rights is today.
GUESTS
- Clarence B. Jones: civil rights activist, attorney and speech writer
- John Henry Smith: Host of All Things Considered at Connecticut Public
- Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr: minister of United Church on the Green in New Haven
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For decades, there were cities and towns that were all-white on purpose. These communities are known as "sundown towns." Because this practice was both formal and informal, researchers put together a database of these laws, customs and firsthand accounts, under the leadership of the late sociologist and civil rights champion James Loewen.
At the peak of the exclusionary practice in 1970, an estimated 10,000 communities across the U.S. kept out African-Americans through "force, law, or custom." Many sundown suburbs also excluded Jewish and Chinese Americans, and other minority groups.
There are 40 towns listed as possible or probable past sundown towns in Connecticut. This hour, we hear about this history and what it can tell us. You can add to this research too.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Stephen Berrey: Assistant Professor of American Culture and History, University of Michigan
- Logan Jaffe: Reporter, ProPublica
- Paul Saubestre: Volunteer Researcher, Hamden Historical Society
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired November 27, 2023.
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Around the globe, artists are using their mediums to show how climate change is impacting our planet.
Today, we’re exploring the convergence of art and science. We'll be talking with artists using their craft to have conversations about the environment.
Earlier this year, Where We Live talked about how snow loss is impacting our ecosystems and community here in Connecticut. Today, we hear from Lynn Cazabon, the artist behind the multidisciplinary project “Losing Winter” who will join us from Australia.
But first up, we’re hearing from the Mattatuck Museum. The exhibit “Sea Change | See Change” is raising awareness of how climate change is impacting our oceans.
GUESTS:
- Sam Schwann: underwater explorer and ocean artist
- Keffie Feldman: Chief Curator at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Connecticut
- Lynn Cazabon: artist behind the project Losing Winter
- Elizabeth Ellenwood: an artist from Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In 2023, more than 6 million animals entered shelters and rescues in the U.S., according to a recent report from Shelter Animals Count. Believe it or not, those numbers are down from pre-pandemic reports.
Over the summer, Connecticut news outlets reported that animal shelters in our state were "bursting at the seams," and unable to keep up with calls from people trying to surrender pets.
This hour, we’ll be checking back in with some of those pet shelters. How is the so-called "pandemic boomerang" affecting them now?
Plus, we’ll switch gears and talk to farm animal and wildlife rescues in Connecticut. Whether you’ve got questions about your pandemic puppy, or a stray opossum you think might need some help, join the conversation.
GUESTS:
- Laura Burban: Director, Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford
- Marla C Riley: MSN, MBA, RN; President and Founder, The Riley Farm Rescue in Canterbury
- Pamela A. Lefferts: Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue in Woodstock
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Throughout history, our state has made some big contributions to aviation technology. Today, we’re talking about the history and future of aviation in our state. We hear from some aviation enthusiasts who’s love of all things plane is going to make you soar.
The New England Air Museum houses some unbelievable vintage aircrafts. We hear from them. And we hear from someone with experience flying in some of these vintage aircrafts.
If flying in a vintage plane is not your speed, there are more ways you can tap into your inner pilot. There are many model plane clubs here in all four corners of Connecticut. We learn how you can get involved.
If you're an aviation enthusiast, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS:
- Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum
- Mike Thornton: Curator of the New England Air Museum
- Edward Deming: President of the RC Propbusters of Salem, CT
- Bob Creter: crew chief and docent for D-Day Squadron in Oxford, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth?
There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. But those diagnoses can come later in life, and even with sure signs, the need for specialized, lifelong care is often unmet.
This hour, we're joined by the co-authors of Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease.
Plus, we hear from one of 50 clinics accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association in the U.S., right here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Tracy Livecchi:Social Worker; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease
- Dr. Liza Morton: Psychologist; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds
- Dr. Robert Elder:Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology
Cat Pastor contributed to this program which originally aired October 11.
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During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.
With an all-volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.
Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.
Later, we hear how some extremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
- Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command
- Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired on October 6, 2023.
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This hour, photo and video journalist Yehyun Kim joins us to discuss A Diaspora in Focus, a three-part project she launched for the Connecticut Mirror in 2023. The project was in response to landmark legislation passed in the state that will require public schools to offer Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, history.
Yehyun interviewed and photographed one resident from each of the 21 Asian ethnicities as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, and this included our very own Catherine Shen. This hour, she joins us to discuss this moving series for the Connecticut Mirror.
As Yehyun explained, "It would be impossible for any single project to capture the totality of the Asian American experience in the state. But, when woven together, the lives of the people represented here provide a glimpse into the richness and diversity of Connecticut’s Asian residents."
Jenny Heikkila Díaz, or JHD, also joins us, to discuss their role in the photo project, as well as the state's AAPI curriculum development.
GUESTS:
- Yehyun Kim: Freelance Photo and Video Journalist
- Jennifer Heikkila Díaz (JHD): Professional Development Coordinator, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies; Activist-in-Residence, UConn Asian and Asian American Studies Institute; Co-Chair, Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT; Co-Founder, aapiNHV; Steering Committee Member, Anti-Racist Teaching & Learning Collective
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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As journalists, it’s been challenging for us to watch what is happening to our fellow members of the press in Gaza.
83 journalist casualties have occurred in this region. The blue press vest and helmet is a heavy weight to carry, for so many still trying to report what’s happening.
This week, we spoke with Plestia Alaqad. She is a 22 year old journalist from Gaza. She recently made the difficult decision to leave the region.
This week, Where We Live spoke to her about her experience.
GUESTS:
- Plestia Alaqad:Palestinian journalist who's been documenting the war on social media
- Lila Hassan:Independent investigative journalist
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Tri-state area or New England? Nutmeg or Constitution State? "Stuffy, preppy, sleepy"? What really makes Connecticut Connecticut, and what stereotypes can we stand to shake off?
After the state's recent rebranding effort, it's a debate that has found its way to the national stage. This hour, Catherine Shen is joined by a roundtable of Connecticut Public hosts, as we debate what defines Connecticut.
And we want to hear from you. What characterizes or typifies where you live? What do you think people get wrong or right about Connecticut's reputation?
GUESTS:
- Colin McEnroe: Host, The Colin McEnroe Show
- Chion Wolf: Host, Audacious with Chion Wolf
- Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean: Host, Disrupted
- Dr. Jonathan Wharton: Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs, Southern Connecticut State University; Columnist, CT News Junkie and Hearst Connecticut
Find more about the show here: Where We Live
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Depending on where you live,warmer winters could mean less and less snow. In some places, it’s only one or two degrees that could make a difference.
Joining us today are two scientists looking at the data around snow in our region and beyond to start to calculate how much snow loss is impacting us, and what it means for our environment.
Less snow can mean a lot of things, including a big impact on winter sports. We also hear from a local ski resort.
And later, we learn about solastalgia.
GUESTS:
- Laura Loffredo: Director of Sales & Marketing at Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
- Alex Gottlieb: PhD Candidate Ecology, Evolution, and Society at Dartmouth College
- Justin Mankin: Associate Professor of Geography at Dartmouth College and Director of the Climate Modeling and Impact Group
- Dr. Karen Steinberg Gallucci, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Public Health Sciences UConn Health
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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2023 was the sixth rainiest year on record for Connecticut, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In July alone, more than 1,500 acres of Connecticut farmland flooded over, representing $21 million in lost sales revenue.
This hour, we hear from Chris Bassette of Killam & Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury, who says she is still holding out hope for relief for the nearly half-a-million dollars in losses she logged from July’s floods. We also get an update from State Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt.
Plus, the Hartford Flood Compensation Program is aimed at providing some short-term relief to residents who have been dealing with systemic flooding and sewage problems. State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is overseeing the program, and discusses the efforts to focus these funds on the North End of the Capital City.
Sharon Lewis is the Executive Director of the CT Coalition for Environmental Justice. Her North End home has been uninhabitable for over a year due to flooding and sewage in her basement and first floor. She joins us, along with Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Dave Altimari.
GUESTS:
- Christine Bassette: Owner-Operator, Killam & Bassette Farmstead
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Dave Altimari: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Sharon Lewis: Executive Director, CT Coalition for Environmental Justice; North End Resident
- Sean Scanlon: Connecticut State Comptroller
- Bridgitte Prince: Human and Environmental Rights Activist
- James Chow: Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Deputy Director, Environmental Protection Agency
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In our newsroom, we’ve been having a lot of conversations about how we cover the Israel-Hamas War. And sometimes, we find ourselves conflicted about who to talk to, what stories to cover, what language we use, and what we can do to make our coverage as fair and truthful as possible.
Where are you getting your information on the Israel-Hamas War? Odds are you're probably following the war through social media. According to the Washington Post, TikTok is drawing billions of views from #Palestine and #Israel.
As journalists, we understand that how the war is presented on social and news media can shape public opinion.
Today, we’re talking about just that.
GUESTS:
- Professor Scott Wallace: Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at UConn
- Adrian Bonenberger: Writer and journalist
- Michael Spikes:Lecturer & Program Director; Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
- Georgia Wells: Tech Reporter Wall Street Journal
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Where We Live
Tess TerribleTess is a senior producer for Connecticut Public news-talk show Where We Live. She enjoys hiking Connecticut's many trails and little peaks, gardening and writing in her seven journals.See stories by Tess TerribleCatherine ShenCatherine is the Host of Connecticut Public’s morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live. Catherine and the WWL team focus on going beyond the headlines to bring in meaningful conversations that put Connecticut in context.See stories by Catherine ShenTOP HEADLINES
- What to expect in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, do-over mayoral primary
- Quantum technology: What is it? Why does it matter? Where will it take CT?
- CT’s Sarah Russell gets committee nod for federal judgeship
- New Haven Pride Center expands services after moving to bigger space
- CT takes a leap forward with a new website to foster workforce growth
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You’ve heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, but did you know Connecticut is home to a host of creatures, or "cryptids"?
Cryptozoology is the study of animals whose existence is a matter of debate. While Bigfoot sightings have been reported where we live, sea serpents, the Glastonbury Glawackus, and plenty of others call Connecticut home.
This hour, we hear from Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen, the author and illustrator of a new field guide to this cast of Connecticut cryptids.
Plus, Stephen Olbrys Gencarella explains how folklore can deepen our understanding of these fantastic creatures, and how the stories about them are shaped over time.
- Patrick Scalisi: Author, Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State
- Valerie Ruby-Omen: Illustrator, Connecticut Cryptids
- Stephen Olbrys Gencarella: Professor of Folklore Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Quantum mechanics is a theory that even some scientists have trouble wrapping their heads around. But this industry is booming, and some physicists here in Connecticut are hoping to make our state the “Quantum Corridor” for research, workforce development and education.
In May 2023, “the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $1 million federal planning grant to Yale University and the University of Connecticut toward developing quantum technology related businesses in Connecticut.”
Today, we hear about this project and learn about the future of quantum. We’ll attempt to answer the question: “what is quantum mechanics?” We only have an hour, but we will try our best.
We’ll hear how this field could eventually touch every area of science.
GUESTS:
- Michael DiDonato:UConn Tech Park Business Development Manager, and QuantumCT UConn Project Manager
- Steven Girvin:Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics at Yale
- Dr. Brian Sullivan:High School STEM teacher teaching physics, calculus and statistics at the Wooster School, a private co-educational school in Danbury Connecticut
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In 2015, journalist Elise Hu moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.”
K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments. It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery.
These procedures are becoming an increasingly normal part of daily life in South Korea, but also in the United States. They are also more accessible than ever to anyone that wants to change the way they look.
Although some are starting to question the pursuit of keeping up with today’s beauty standards, this multibillion dollar beauty industry isn't going away.
Today, Elise Hu joins us on Where We Live to talk about her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.
We talk about the pursuit and pain of keeping up with today’s beauty standards.
GUEST:
- Elise Hu: host of TED Talks Daily and also a host-at-large for NPR. She is the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 19, 2023.
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When an error was spotted in the Spanish-language instructions for the capital city’s ballot, just before the November election, officials moved to correct it. Advocates have said the error underscores the language access issues many Connecticut residents face, and the different kinds of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation there are to tackle.
Former Rhode Island Secretary of State and Pell Center senior cybersecurity fellow Nellie Gorbea recently hosted a workshop for Latino elected officials in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, to address mis- dis- and malinformation.
This hour, we discuss the layered issue of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation, and the efforts to address it.
Nellie Gorbea joins us, along with UConn's Dr. Charles Venator, to discuss the important role state and local governments play, particularly as the 2024 election approaches. Plus, Madeleine Bair is the founding director of El Tímpano, a news outlet that recently trained over 100 Latino immigrants in disinformation defense.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Charles Venator: Faculty Director, UConn's Puerto Rican Studies Initiative; Director, El Instituto: Institute of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies
- Madeleine Bair: Founding Director, El Tímpano
- Nellie Gorbea: Visiting Senior Fellow on Cybersecurity, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy; Former Secretary of State, Rhode Island
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired December 7, 2023.
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Growing up as a transracial adoptee, Angela Tucker's friends, family, and even strangers would make comments and assumptions about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t been adopted.
Angela Tucker is the author of the book "You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption and she is Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society.
Today, we talk about the intricacies of navigating life as a transracial adoptee. For years, adoption stories have been told from the point of view of the adoptive parents. Angela says it’s time to flip the script and let adoptees tell their stories.
Later, we hear from an adoption agency and learn about the type of conversations they have with potential transracial adoptive parents.
If you have a personal experience with adoption, we want to hear from you.
Check out the UConn Health Adoption Assurance Program to find more information about transracial adoption.
GUESTS:
- Angela Tucker: Author of the book, "You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption and Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society
- Laura Sullivan: Chief Program Officer at Just Choice, a pro-choice adoption agency
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired December 8, 2023.
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No matter where you live, the opioid epidemic has likely touched you or someone you know.
Now, a state committee set up to allocate settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors has just issued its first reporting of disbursements at the municipal level.
The stakes are high. Connecticut has some of the highest opioid death rates in the country. Each month, more than 100 people die in Connecticut from an opioid overdose. More than 9,000 overdose deaths have been documented since 2015, and the vast majority of these fatal overdoses are linked to opioids or, increasingly, to synthetic opioids or proxies.
After years of litigation, major opioid manufacturers and distributors have begun paying $600 million in settlement funds to Connecticut over the next 20 years. Those funds are intended to be allocated in ways that prevent future opioid deaths, a process the state’s 45-member Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee will help oversee.
This hour, we’ll hear from Christine Minhee who oversees one of the only national databases tracking opioid settlement spending. Minhee is "astounded" by Connecticut's first round of municipal reporting, and the level of detail as to how and where those dollars are headed.
We'll also hear from William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, and advocates in our region who are working to reframe how we talk about and treat the opioid epidemic.
GUESTS:
- Christine Gagnon: Member, Connecticut Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
- Tracie Gardner: Senior Vice President of Policy Advocacy, Legal Action Center; Former Assistant Secretary of Mental Hygiene, New York State
- Mark Jenkins: Founder and Executive Director, Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance
- William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General
- Christine Minhee: Attorney; Manages OpioidSettlementTracker.com
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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A content warning to our listeners: today we will be talking about suicide.
United States saw nearly 50,000 deaths by suicide in 2022, and suicide continues to be on the rise.
Talking openly about suicide and mental health can be a critical part of deterring suicide deaths. But having those discussions can be really challenging and experts say there are specific ways to conduct these conversations delicately.
Later, we hear from Connecticut Urgent Crisis Centers.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can go online to 988lifeline.org or dial 9-8-8.
GUESTS:
- Aneri Pattani: Senior Correspondent for KFF Health News
- Ann Dagle: President and Co-founder of the Brian Dagle Foundation and Tri-chair of Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board
- Dr Laine Taylor: Medical Director for The Village for Families and Children
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 29, 2023.
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Whether it's reading more books or eating out less, January is the month of goals and challenges. Veganuary is no exception.
The 30-day plant-based challenge originated nearly a decade ago and has since taken on a life of its own. We’ll hear from three different vegans working in the plant-based space about their journey to becoming vegan and what it means to them.
What do you want to know about the lifestyle?
GUESTS:
- Wendy Matthews: U.S. Director, Veganuary
- Candice Hutchings: Creator, The Edgy Veg
- Mackenzie Sullivan: Co-Founder, Ellie Mae Farm Sanctuary in Storrs
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 20, 2023.
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There are approximately 2.45 million people who need humanitarian assistance in Gaza. And the entire population is now at risk of famine. That’s according to Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut.
Today, we hear from Janti Soeripto, President & CEO of Save the Children.
And later, Where We Live has been covering the Israel-Hamas War, and exploring how the conflict and history of this region has been captured through the arts. We hear from Palestinian American poet and community activist Zeina Azzam.
She is the current poet laureate of Alexandria, Virginia and She is also the Author of Some Things Never Leave You.
GUESTS:
- Zeina Azzam: poet laureate of Alexandria, Virginia and author of Some Things Never Leave You
- Janti Soeripto: President & CEO of Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut
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Each year, we broadcast nearly 200 episodes of programming. As 2023 comes to a close, we are highlighting some of our favorite conversations.
Today, we’re sharing three important interviews on mental health and trauma. Senior Producer Tess Terrible shares her favorite conversations on these topics.
First up, we’re going to listen back to our conversation with Kate Dias: President of Connecticut Education Association. She spoke with us about school shootings, lockdown drills, and how they’re impacting student and teacher mental health.
At the start of the Israel-Hamas War, we zoomed in on trauma in that region — and the ripple effects here in the U.S. In our second segment, we hear from Dr. Julian Ford, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center. We also hear from Steve Sosebee, President and Founder of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Rabbi Debra Cantor from the B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom Synagogue.
And later, we hear from Deb Bibbins: Founder and CEO, For All Ages; Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness and local efforts to address the loneliness epidemic.
Full episodes:
- Feeling safe or creating trauma? How lockdown drills are impacting our schools
- The trauma of witnessing war, near and far
- 'What's eating at America': Addressing the loneliness and isolation epidemic
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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As we approach the end of the year we’ve been reflecting on our favorite conversations throughout 2023. Host Catherine Shen chose her most memorable moments, all about music.
First, we discuss the power of nostalgia and the memories music can carry, with John Ondrasik, frontman for Five for Fighting. The soft-rock band topped the charts in the early 2000s with songs like "Superman" and "100 Years."
Eric George Lopez, or ericdoa, has been described as the "face of hyperpop," a newer music genre born out of 2000s electronic music. But in many ways, the "genre-bending" up-and-coming artist defies categorization. He discusses his upbringing in Connecticut, how he developed his sound and what makes Gen Z uniquely powerful in the arts.
Plus, Ashley Hamel discovered her love of music while growing up in Connecticut. The singer-songwriter eventually left New England behind to build her music career in Indonesia. She joined us from Jakarta to talk about her new single, "New England Baby."
Full episodes:
- A conversation with Five for Fighting frontman John Ondrasik
- CT-based Gen Z trailblazers: Musician ericdoa, K-pop dance crew SEOULAR, and designer MINIPNG
- Ashley Hamel takes her music to new heights abroad, plus a look at the ticketing industry
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As we round out 2023, we’re looking back on some of our favorite conversations on Where We Live, with the voices that moved us.
This hour, producer Katie Pellico shares some of her favorite moments, with a focus on history and the efforts to retell or tell a fuller story.
First up, we hear from the team of students and scholars at Yale University working to study the history of eugenics, the role the institution played in developing this pseudoscience, and more. Daniel HoSang, Professor of Ethnicity, Race, Migration and American Studies at Yale University, leads the Anti-Eugenics Collective at Yale University.
We'll also preview our conversation with Chris Newell, Connecticut-based educator and member of Passamaquoddy Tribe, who recently wrote a book for children about the story of Thanksgiving. If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving helps to untangle some of the myths and misnomers commonly associated with the Thanksgiving story, titled.
Later, we hear from Andy Horowitz, the new Connecticut State Historian, about his hopes for his term.
Full episodes:
- Uncovering the history of eugenics at Yale University, and its 'afterlives'
- Rewriting the Thanksgiving story, while centering Indigenous voices
- Andy Horowitz is the new Connecticut State Historian
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We often think of the holidays as a time to gather with family. But the reality might look a little different. It can be a challenging time if you have a strained relationship with your family. It can also be difficult for those estranged from family.
Family estrangement can occur for a number of reasons. And there is a lot of stigma around cutting ties with family. But research says it’s more common than we think.
Family estrangement is complicated. Today, talk to two people who have experienced this first hand.
Have you been effected by family estrangement?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Lucy Blake: Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the West of England and a leading expert on family estrangement
- Seth Forbes: Founder & Executive Director of Together Estranged
- Aimee Palmer: Founder of Parents of Estranged Adult Children
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Trains may often be billed as a toy for tots, but there are locomotive-lovers of all ages where we live. This hour, go for a ride on the Naugatuck Railroad at the Railroad Museum of New England, and one holiday train tailored for children on the autism spectrum.
Plus, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital is home to a toy train display that sparks joy in children and adults alike.
GUESTS:
- Christine Faressa: Founder and President, Sun, Moon & Stars
- Orion Newall: Passenger Operations Director, Naugatuck Railroad
- Ebony Wright: Registered Nurse; Assistant Patient Service Manager, Pediatric Specialty Center at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
- Walt Zawalich: Volunteer Trains Curator, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and Eli Whitney Museum
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired December 21, 2022.
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If you’ve ever struggled driving through Hartford, you’re certainly not alone.
Today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation joins us to discuss the Greater Hartford Mobility Study. Now that it is complete, stakeholders are working to implement some big projects to make Hartford a better city to live in. But it’s going to take some time, possibly even a few decades to implement.
We take a look at a multi-decade plan to improve driving and mobility throughout the greater Hartford area. We learn what could be done to increase walkability, livability and transit throughout this region.
If you’re a resident of this area, we want to hear from you! What would you like to see done to upgrade the greater Hartford area?
And later, we learn about a klezmer band hailing out of New Haven that will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.
GUESTS:
- Garret Eucalitto: Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner
- Matt Hart: Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments(CRCOG)
- David Chevan: music director and bassist for the Nu Haven Kapelye and producer of their new album, Nu Haven Style
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"An act of translation is always an act of betrayal."
This idea, and the questions it inspires, are central to author Rebecca or RF Kuang’s 2022 novel, Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution.
As the title promises, the book also explores the nature of revolution and the "necessity of violence," in addition to those complex questions surrounding the art of translation.
This hour, we revisit our conversation with the author, which was focused on the award-winning book, during an event organized by local bookseller RJ Julia.
On the importance of student revolutions, Kuang reflects, "The student's weakness is precisely his allure. The fact that the student is so naïve and doesn't have the jadedness of somebody who's been through more; the fact that students are dreamers, that they are romantic idealists; that kind of hope, that kind of ability to imagine an alternate future is beautiful and it matters and I hope we keep seeing that."
GUESTS:
- RF or Rebecca Kuang: Author
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When it comes to certain fandom and cosplay communities, getting your costume right is key, or you might get called out for not being 100% accurate. But Steampunk is a little different.
It’s retro, but it’s futuristic. It’s Victorian, but you can also just go vintage. It's corsets, but also cogs, coils and gadgets. Steampunk, a subgenre of science fiction, is all about retro futuristic technology and being as creative as possible. But Steampunk is not just about fashion!
Today, we dive into the world of Steampunk and hear from the Steampunk Scholar.
Later, we hear from the Connecticut Audubon Society on the 2023 State of the Birds.
GUESTS:
- Mike Perschon: Steampunk Scholar and English Professor at MacEwan University in Alberta, Canada
- Bridgette Rodrigues: Steamposh Admin and Steampunk Event Coordinator
- Tom Anderson: Director of Communications for the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Editor of Connecticut State of the Birds
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Ralph Nader doesn’t often praise big business leaders, but his new book, The Rebellious CEO, profiles a dozen who he says "did it right."
This hour, we hear from the consumer crusader from Connecticut.
In this extended interview, he discusses his new book and the need for visionary business leaders today, as well as his upbringing and recent journalism venture in Winsted.
He also touches on the letter he co-authored to President Biden, urging him to pull back support for Israel; his thoughts ahead of the 2024 election, and the role of third-party candidates; the oversights he'd like to see in various industries, including Big Tech and the pharmaceuticals; his concerns about media consumption and fragmentation; and the importance of carving out time for civic duty.
Reflecting on his legacy, Nader reinforces the importance of civic duty and the power of the individual, asking, "What are we waiting for? It takes a lot less civic power than we think, to turn our country around."
GUESTS:
- Ralph Nader: Consumer Advocate; Former Presidential Candidate; Host, Ralph Nader Radio Hour; Founder, American Museum of Tort Law
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Connecticut is one of 41 states that is suing Meta, the parent company of both Facebook and Instagram. The suit is alleging that Meta is knowingly using addictive algorithmic tactics that are harmful to their users.
Today, we give an update on social media regulation and we hear from an activist and researchers working to make these spaces safer. We hear from Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
We also hear from Emma Lembke. In February, she testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Child Internet Safety. She is the Founder of the Log Off Movement, a youth-led organization committed to helping kids, teens, and young people build healthy relationships with social media and online platforms.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong
- Emma Lembke: Founder of the Log Off Movement, a youth-led organization committed to helping kids, teens, and young people build healthy relationships with social media and online platforms
- Dr. Michael Rich: Director, Digital Wellness Lab at Harvard and the Director of the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID)
- Kaylee Kruzan: Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies (CBITs) in Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth?
There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. But those diagnoses can come later in life, and even with sure signs, the need for specialized, lifelong care is often unmet.
This hour, we're joined by the co-authors of Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease.
Plus, we hear from one of 50 clinics accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association in the U.S., right here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Tracy Livecchi:Social Worker; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease
- Dr. Liza Morton: Psychologist; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds
- Dr. Robert Elder:Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology
Cat Pastor contributed to this program which originally aired October 11.
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Growing up, as a transracial adoptee, Angela Tucker friends, family and even strangers would make comments and assumptions about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t been adopted.
Angela Tucker is the author of the book, You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption and she is Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society.
Today, we talk about the intricacies of navigating life as a transracial adoptee. For years, adoption stories have been told through the point of view of the adoptive parents. Angela says it’s time to flip the script and let adoptees tell their stories.
Later, we hear from an adoption agency and learn about the type of conversations they have with potential transracial adoptive parents.
If you have a personal experience with adoption, we want to hear from you.
To find more information about transracial adoption, check out the UConn Health Adoption Assurance Program.
GUESTS:
- Angela Tucker: author of the book, You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption and Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society
- Laura Sullivan: Chief Program Officer at Just Choice, a pro-choice adoption agency
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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When an error was spotted in the Spanish-language instructions for the capital city’s ballot, just before the November election, officials moved to correct it. Advocates have said the error underscores the language access issues many Connecticut residents face, and the different kinds of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation there are to tackle.
Former Rhode Island Secretary of State and Pell Center senior cybersecurity fellow Nellie Gorbea recently hosted a workshop for Latino elected officials in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, to address mis- dis- and malinformation.
This hour, we discuss the layered issue of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation, and the efforts to address it.
Nellie Gorbea joins us, along with UConn's Dr. Charles Venator, to discuss the important role state and local governments play, particularly as the 2024 election approaches. Plus, Madeleine Bair is the founding director of El Tímpano, a news outlet that recently trained over 100 Latino immigrants in disinformation defense.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Charles Venator: Faculty Director, UConn's Puerto Rican Studies Initiative; Director, El Instituto: Institute of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies
- Madeleine Bair: Founding Director, El Tímpano
- Nellie Gorbea: Visiting Senior Fellow on Cybersecurity, Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy; Former Secretary of State, Rhode Island
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Turtles are among one of the oldest reptiles to walk the planet. Although turtles often live long lifespans and are among some of the most resilient animals on the planet, human presence has meant a huge threat to their species.
In her new book Of Time and Turtles,Sy Montgomery says turtles live “slow.” She spent time working with the people who have dedicated their lives to rehabilitating these fascinating creatures, and she joins us to talk about her book.
And Matt Patterson, fellow turtle lover, illustrator of this book and their accompanying picture book The Book of Turtles,joins us too. He is also a wildlife artist and sculptor.
We'll learn about what’s being done to care for and protect these animals.
GUESTS:
- Sy Montgomery: Author of Of Time and Turtles
- Matt Patterson: Illustrator of The Book of Turtles and wildlife artist
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired October 3, 2023.
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The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is reopening early next year after four years of renovations.
Celebrated Syrian-American artist and architect Mohamad Hafez just installed a new piece, titled “Eternal Cities,” alongside the museum’s Babylonian collection. 3D-printed replicas of ancient Babylonian artifacts are peppered throughout the piece, bridging the millennia between ancient Mesopotamia and present-day Syria.
"It's a collaboration between educational archaeological museums, and local artists that come from the region that are working and living in the diaspora," says Hafez, "and at the crux of it, it solves a problem of engaging people in a very short attention span times, getting more interest built into these objects beyond just looking at them in a glass vitrine."
This hour, Mohamad joins us along with two of the museum’s curators. The new Peabody aims to position itself as a more community-centered space in New Haven. How can museums include the local communities they serve?
GUESTS:
- Mohamad Hafez: Artist and Architect
- Kailen Rogers: Associate Director of Exhibitions, Yale Peabody Museum
- Agnete Lassen: Associate Curator, Yale Babylonian Collection
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The holiday season is a time we all want to enjoy. Maybe that means indulging in more food than usual, buying those special gifts and treats for loved ones, and going all out with decorations in your home.
But with all that indulgence, comes a lot of waste. At the end of the holiday season, an additional 1 million tons of trash enter landfills. According to Stanford University's Waste Reduction, Recycling, Composting and Solid Waste Program, household waste increases by more than 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. This comes from various sources including wrapping paper, Christmas trees and even food waste.
But experts say there are easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint and have a greener holiday season. Today, we talk about ways to reduce holiday waste.
GUESTS:
- Miriah Kelly: Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Southern Connecticut State University
- Brittney Cavalliere: Senior Director of Strategy Connecticut Food Share, a food bank based in Bloomfield and Bridgeport
- Yasmine Ugurlu: the Founder and Owner of Reboot Eco, a zero waste shop in Middletown Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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From the Mayflower's landing, to the meal shared by English setters and Wampanoag people, much is still widely misunderstood about the Thanksgiving holiday and its history.
Connecticut-based educator Chris Newell recently wrote a book for children that helps to untangle some of the myths and misnomers commonly associated with Thanksgiving. For example, the book clarifies that "the holiday we celebrate today does not have any real connection to the Mayflower’s landing. In fact, the story that links them was not created until two hundred years later."
As Newell notes in his introduction, "The story of the Mayflower landing is different depending on whether the storyteller viewed the events from the boat or from the shore." This hour, Chris Newell joins us.
Plus, how is this topic being reframed in Connecticut classrooms? The Connecticut State Department of Education recently published resources for "Teaching Native American Studies." The materials were developed in a collaboration between the five state-recognized Eastern Woodland tribes: Golden Hill Paugussett, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Paucatuck Eastern Pequot and Schaghticoke.
Becky Gomez, the director of education for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and Sam Tondreau, a member of the Mohegan Tribe as well as their director of curriculum and instruction, discuss.
GUESTS:
- Chris Newell: Member of the Passamaquaddy Tribe; Co-Founder and Director of Education, Akowmawt Educational Initiative; Museum Educator; Children's Book Author, If You Lived During
- Rebecca Gomez: Director of Education and Recreation, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Samantha Tondreau: Member of the Mohegan Tribe; Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Mohegan Tribe
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Every winter in Connecticut, the snowy owls will pass through our state and can sometimes be spotted at the Connecticut shoreline. But they are just one of many owl species to look out for where we live.
Some cultures see owls as deeply spiritual creatures and as symbols of wisdom. Others see them as bad omens and as signs of impending doom.And that’s definitely impacting their populations.
Today, Author Jennifer Ackerman joins us to talk about her new book What the Owl Knows: The new science of the world’s most enigmatic birdsand we explore the world of these incredible birds.
GUEST:
- Jennifer Ackerman: author of What the Owl Knows: The new science of the world’s most enigmatic birds
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For decades, there were cities and towns that were all-white on purpose. These communities are known as "sundown towns." Because this practice was both formal and informal, researchers put together a database of these laws, customs and firsthand accounts, under the leadership of the late sociologist and civil rights champion James Loewen.
At the peak of the exclusionary practice in 1970, an estimated 10,000 communities across the U.S. kept out African-Americans through "force, law, or custom." Many sundown suburbs also excluded Jewish and Chinese Americans, and other minority groups.
There are 40 towns listed as possible past sundown towns in Connecticut. This hour, we hear about this history and what it can tell us. You can add to this research too.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Stephen Berrey: Assistant Professor of American Culture and History, University of Michigan
- Logan Jaffe: Reporter, ProPublica
- Paul Saubestre: Volunteer Researcher, Hamden Historical Society
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For a Connecticut family of four, it costs over $126,000 just to meet their basic needs, according to a recent United Way report. That’s more than four times the federal poverty level.
Food insecurity is a big part of the problem, affecting more than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents, according to Connecticut Foodshare. A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture found the national rate of food insecurity jumped by more than 2% from 2021 to 2022, now 12.8% of U.S. households.
This hour, UConn's Dr. Caitlin Caspi joins us to address some of the misconceptions around food insecurity.
"Food insecurity isn't happening in a vacuum," she says. "It's really intersecting with a lot of other challenges that people face," including stable housing, health insurance, job security, disability, and other factors. "Food insecurity isn't primarily a story about food," says Dr. Caspi. "It's about many facets of economic instability."
Plus, we'll discuss some of Connecticut Foodshare’s efforts to address food insecurity where we live, including an income-based grocery store coming soon to Hartford, where food insecurity rates are highest in the state.
Hartford High School just launched the Grub Pub, an in-school pantry. Principal Flora Padro joins us later in the hour, describing the "new normal" she envisions.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Caitlin Caspi:Associate Professor, University of Connecticut's Department of Allied Health Sciences; Director of Food Security Initiatives, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health
- Jason Jakubowski: President & CEO, Connecticut Foodshare
- Ben Dubow: Executive Director, Forge City Works
- Flora Padro: Principal, Hartford High School
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired October 26, 2023.
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Approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue recently moved U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory around the "loneliness epidemic" in America.
Soon after, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy introduced a bill that would launch an Office of Social Connection Policy, and fund CDC research to "better understand the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness."
While on The Colin McEnroe Show in July, Murphy said the move was "part of a broader exploration for me of what is eating in America... I have come to the conclusion that there's a lot of new and unique things that are hurting Americans and making them feel unhappy today," chief among them loneliness or "aloneness."
This hour, we explore how loneliness, isolation and social disconnection are being addressed where we live. Deb Bibbins and Gary Sekorski founded For All Ages, and more recently, the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness, to help bolster and centralize resources.
How does loneliness or isolation affect you?
GUESTS:
- Deb Bibbins: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Gary Sekorski: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Connie Malone: Canton Resident
- Siri Palreddy: Senior at Amherst College
- Dr. Sowmya Kurtakoti: Chief of Geriatric Medicine, Hartford Hospital
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired September 18, 2023.
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Declining college enrollment has opened up a bigger conversation about the value of a college degree. From 2010 to 2021, undergraduate enrollment dropped by 15%. This declining trend in college enrollment was magnified by the pandemic, when perceptions of the value of a degree really began to shift.
The decision making process for potential college students has become more personalized. Potential students have access to alternative pathways, and the ones that do go to college have needs that aren’t often met by the current model of college education. High costs, conflicting work schedules, and concerns ROI are barriers that affect a person's decision.
This shift away from degree requirements, restarting financial aid payments in October 2023, and the social conversations about college undoubtedly cause us to wonder who should go to college.
Today, we talk about the college conversation.
GUESTS:
- Steve Schneider: High School Counselor at Sheboygan South High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Katharine Meyer: a Fellow in Governance Studies and Higher Education Researcher at the Brookings Institution.
- Courtney Brown:Vice President of Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Connecticut Public Talk Show Intern Joey Morgan produced this broadcast.
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How do museums act as places of discovery, dialogue, and healing?
These spaces engage with critical, often complex, issues important to the communities they serve. For two weeks, we're spotlighting two museums where we live doing just that, and speaking with Dr. Macushla Robinson about the power of art and curation.
Last week, we took a tour of Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge. It’s the first museum in the country centering Palestinian arts and culture, with a mission of humanizing Palestinian people.
This hour, we’ll spend time at the Museum of Jewish Civilization at the University of Hartford, a teaching museum where artifacts and photography help center Jewish history and culture.
Amy Weiss, the museum's director, explains that personal narratives help tell the complex history of American Jews, a group that is not monolithic. "The overarching message is the importance of democracy and the fight against fascism," she says.
What role do museums play in your community?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Macushla Robinson: Assistant Professor in Residence, University of Connecticut; Director, Contemporary Art Galleries at the University of Connecticut
- Amy Weiss: Director, Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies; Maurice Greenberg Chair for Judaica Studies; Director, Museum of Jewish Civilization; Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and History
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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There have been a lot of things that have revolutionized how educators teach in the classrooms. Things like Wikipedia, Google and even calculators have caused temporary panic in the education space.
Now that ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools are becoming a central part of our everyday lives, some educators are scrambling to rethink their curriculum. If you ask the artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, to write you a 500 page essay on the themes in Moby Dick, in a matter of seconds, you’ll have a well written paper.
Even further, you can even tell ChatGPT “write me a 500 word essay on the themes of Moby Dick, in the voice of a 10th grader” and the essay will reflect the tone and language of the average 15 year old.
When ChatGPT was first released, we took a deep dive into AI ethics and learned how it might education. And today, we get an update and we talk to teachers around the state and hear how they are actually utilizing AI in the classroom.
GUESTS:
- Jeff Young: Editor of EdSurge, an education journalism initiative
- Tom Deans: Professor of English and Director of the University Writing Center at the University of Connecticut
- Erica Strong: Literacy Coach at Lebanon Middle School
- John Allen: Social Studies Teacher at Putnam High School
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 15, 2023.
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Social studies education in Connecticut public schools has been getting a major revamp. It’s something we’ve covered on this program. This includes the statute requiring local Indigenous history that rolled out this year, and a statute in 2022 calling for Asian American and Pacific Islander studies, rolling out in the fall of 2025.
The state legislature combined many of these mandates in 2021, calling for a "model curriculum." This curriculum should include Native American studies and AAPI studies, the bill stated, in addition to LGBTQ studies, climate change, financial literacy, military service and veterans, civics, media literacy, the principles of social-emotional learning, and racism.
It was a long list and a tall order, and prompted the Connecticut State Department of Education to gather a group of experts on all of these fronts, and construct a new set of social studies standards. This hour, we hear from some of them and preview that document.
GUESTS:
- Steve Armstrong: Social Studies Advisor, Connecticut State Department of Education; Past President, National Council for the Social Studies
- Tony Roy: President, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies; Social Studies Teacher, Bloomfield Public Schools
- Dr. Brittney Yancy: Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies, Illinois College
- Dr. Michael Bartone: Assistant Professor, Central Connecticut State University's Department of Literacy, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education
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It has been just over one month since the Israel-Hamas war began, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The images and reports coming out of this region are dire. Many have been left traumatized from witnessing the atrocities of this war up close and from afar
Some experts say this war alone will create a generation in trauma. That’s on top of the trauma that’s already been experienced by children in the region. Children impacted by trauma can experience long term side effects and regression in their development.
Humanitarians are not just addressing the physical needs, providing food, water, medical care and shelter, but themental health needs of the children experiencing acute traumatic stress.
Experts say addressing the mental health needs in this region will require a long term strategy and the time to address mental health needs is now.
When a disaster of this scale happens, it can impact a lot of people — and not just those directly affected. Secondary trauma can occur simply by hearing about someone else’s trauma. People working with these traumatized populations are at high risk for this type of trauma, as are those of us a world away. Doom-scrolling can cause numerous negative mental health outcomes and symptoms of secondary trauma including compassion fatigue.
This can be exacerbated for those that have ties to the region. What's happening now in Israel and Gaza can be a constant reminder of atrocities that have impacted generations of peoples. For both Israelis and Palestinians, collective trauma, and in some cases, intergenerational traumamakes breaking the cycles of violence even harder.
Trauma has layers. Trauma is complicated. And trauma ripples. In today’s show, we’re examining all the layers of trauma.
If you need to talk to someone, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s free, confidential and available 24/7.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Julian Ford:a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Law at the University of Connecticut Health Center
- Rabbi Debra Cantor: spiritual leader of the Congresgation B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom Synagogue
- Steve Sosebee: President and Founder of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
- Dr. Taline Andonian: Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Resonance Center for Psychotherapy & Healing Artsin West Hartford
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How do museums act as places of discovery, dialogue, and healing?
These spaces engage with critical, often complex, issues important to the communities they serve. This includes, for some, the current war between Israel and Hamas, and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This week and next, we’re going to bring you to two museums to explore that question, and speak with Dr. Macushla Robinson about the power of art and curation. Next week, we’ll spend time at the Museum of Jewish Civilization at the University of Hartford, a teaching museum working to tell the stories of Jewish people and how they lived.
This hour, we take a tour of Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge. It’s the first museum in the country centering Palestinian arts and culture, with a mission of humanizing Palestinian people. Hear from the museum's founder and executive director, Faisal Saleh.
"Art speaks to the heart, politics speak to the mind," says Saleh. "You don't need to translate anything, because it's a universal language of the art."
What role do museums play in your community?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Macushla Robinson: Assistant Professor in Residence, University of Connecticut; Director, Contemporary Art Galleries at the University of Connecticut
- Faisal Saleh: Founder and Executive Director, Palestine Museum US
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This year, we’ve been learning about how educators are getting students engaged in the electoral process. One way to do this: student government.
When you think of class elections, a couple things probably come to mind. But our guests says student government is much more than prom committees and candidate speeches in the cafeteria. We'll learn more about the influence student representatives have on their school districts.
Later, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is holding their forth mayoral race. There are five candidates running this year for mayor. We’ll hear about the animal candidates and how you can vote for your favorite.
We'll also hear how students on college campuses throughout our state are organizing to turn out the vote.
GUESTS:
- Christopher H. Tomlin: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Student Councils
- Kevin Brown: a Vernon High School civics teacher and Connecticut State Representative for Vernon, Connecticut
- Jennifer Croughwell: Chief of Staff of Connecticut College Democrats and a student at Eastern Connecticut State University
- Nick Schettino: student at Southern Connecticut State University and young republican
- Gregg Dancho: Zoo Director, at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that the majority of Americans are either "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change. They also discovered links between distress about climate change and a desire to take action.
This hour, Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz digs into this study, and the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY). You can take the SASSY Survey here.
Plus, NBC Connecticut meteorologist Rachael Jay and New Haven Climate Movement organizer Adrian Huq will share their perspectives as different kinds of climate communicators.
How do you process feelings of alarm or distress around climate change, or even, take action?
GUESTS:
- Rachael Jay: Meteorologist, NBC Connecticut
- Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz: Founder and Director, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
- Adrian Huq: Co-Founder, New Haven Climate Movement Youth Action Team; Youth Coordinator, Climate Health Education Project
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired September 11, 2023.
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As the war continues in Israel and Gaza, humanitarians are working to deliver aid across the region. Humanitarian aid starts with addressing the basic necessities; food, water, and emergency medical care. And later, addressing mental health needs and the survived trauma of the millions displaced. This week, some Connecticut lawmakers called for a humanitarian pausewhich could allow more aid into Gaza.
Children are nearly half of Gaza’s population. In the past three weeks, more children have been killed there than the total killed in conflicts globally in every year since 2019. That’s according to Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut.
Today, we hear from two aid organizations based in Connecticut. We learn more about addressing this enormous need, and what the work on the ground looks like.
GUESTS:
- Nathaniel Raymond: the Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health
- Christine Squires: Americares President and CEO
- Janti Soeripto: Save the Children President and CEO
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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This hour, we're focusing on Gen Z's impact on arts and culture.
Eric George Lopez, or ericdoa, has been described as the "face of hyperpop," a newer music genre born out of 2000s electronic music. But in many ways, the "genre-bending" up-and-coming artist defies categorization. He discusses his upbringing in Connecticut, how he developed his sound and what makes Gen Z uniquely powerful in the arts.
Later in the hour, we spotlight SEOULAR, a K-pop dance crew at University of Connecticut, part of KCONN, the campus' K-pop club. KCONN President Gina Tran and Vice President Alan Tran join us.
Plus, Eiress Hammond is the owner of MINIPNG, a New Haven business featuring her designs in addition to up-and-coming creators. She joins us to discuss her mission of "sustainability and individuality."
How is Gen Z shifting boundaries or influencing arts and culture where you live?
GUESTS:
- ericdoa:Singer, Songwriter and Producer from Connecticut
- Gina Tran: President, KCONN at the University of Connecticut
- Alan Tran: Vice-President, KCONN at the University of Connecticut
- Eiress Hammond: Designer; Owner, MINIPNG in New Haven
Connecticut Public intern Lateshia Peters also contributed to this episode.
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Being a Mom on Halloween can be pretty hectic, but a group of Fairfield Moms are taking the spooky season by storm. They're dressing up as zombies and taking the town in their infamous flash mobs.
The “Mombies” is a group of Moms of all ages that have been coordinating to “dance to donate” since 2016. They have raised over $170,000 for breast cancer research to date - and their dance videos have been seen by millions. Throughout October, these Moms are putting on their Zombie finest attire and are participating in epic dance performances across the state. We hear from two of the mombies today.
Later, the Connecticut witch trials is one of our favorite topics to dive into here on Where We Live. But did you ever wonder what started all the panic around witches?
In the Trinity College Rare Book collection, you can see some of the first illustrations and books about witches.We'll learn more about these texts and how influential they became throughout Connecticut and the rest of New England.
GUESTS:
- Marney White: Mombie and professor at the Yale School of Public Health
- Sheryl Kraft: Mombie and health writer
- Eric Johnson-DeBaufre, PhD, MLIS: Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, Watkinson Library at Trinity College
- Emma Greig Ph.D: Project FeederWatch at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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A new Advanced Placement, or AP, course on African American Studies is in its second pilot year in hundreds of schools, and set to roll out nationally next fall. AP classes offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credit. But the course's pilot rollout has been rocky, after it was rejected by the Department of Education in Florida and, more recently, in Arkansas.
This hour, we check in with two Connecticut educators who are helping to author the course, plus College Board executive director of communications Holly Stepp. Stepp reiterates that the changes being made to the course were not prompted or influenced by politics or by "any state." An updated course framework is expected to be released later this year.
Plus, the Connecticut State Department of Education recently approved a new set of standards for teaching social studies. We’ll get a sneak preview from advisor Steve Armstrong. Armstrong explains how these standards relate to several new changes to social studies education where we live, including a new Black and Latino Studies elective, and curriculum covering local Indigenous history.
Social studies consultant Steve Armstrong says, "I know that in some places, some people think that we should shy away from the difficult history... If you never tackle those difficult problems in the past, you'll never be able to tackle as difficult issues come up in the present and future."
GUESTS:
- Holly Stepp: Executive Director of Communications, College Board
- Dr. Lisa Beth Hill: History Department Chair, Hamden Hall Country Preparatory Day School
- Dr. David Embrick: Joint Associate Professor, Sociology Department and Africana Studies Institute, University of Connecticut
- Steve Armstrong: Social Studies Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education
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There’s a stereotypical depiction of concussions in movies and TV shows: someone - often an athlete, gets hit in the head, falls down, and everyone crowds around them and asks them if they know what day it is. Then, the patient spends the next two weeks lying alone in the dark. But in recent years, we have developed a new understanding about concussions -- how they happen, their severity, and how best to treat them.
We hear from Dr. Bulent Omay, the Chief of Neurotrauma at the Yale School of Medicine. We also hear from a practicing physical therapist who specializes in brain injury treatment. And we learn about Concussion Box, a non-profit dedicated to supporting traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.
Have you ever had a concussion? How did it affect you then, and is it still impacting you today? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Bulent Omay: Chief of Neurotrauma at the Yale School of Medicine.
- Dr. Vanessa Cornwell Chiu: a practicing physical therapist
- Eliana Bloomfield: Wesleyan undergrad student and founder of ConcussionBox, a non-profit that aims to support people experiencing concussions
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Connecticut’s domestic violence resource and information line is (888) 774-2900 or www.CTSafeConnect.org
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For a Connecticut family of four, it costs over $126,000 just to meet their basic needs, according to a recent United Way report. That’s more than four times the federal poverty level.
Food insecurity is a big part of the problem, affecting more than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents, according to Connecticut Foodshare. A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture found the national rate of food insecurity jumped by more than 2% from 2021 to 2022, to 12.8%.
This hour, UConn's Dr. Caitlin Caspi joins us to address some of the misconceptions around food insecurity.
"Food insecurity isn't happening in a vacuum," she says. "It's really intersecting with a lot of other challenges that people face," including stable housing, health insurance, job security, disability, and other factors. "Food insecurity isn't primarily a story about food," says Dr. Caspi. "It's about many facets of economic instability."
Plus, we'll discuss some of Connecticut Foodshare’s efforts to address food insecurity where we live, including an income-based grocery store coming soon to Hartford, where food insecurity rates are highest in the state.
Hartford High School just launched the Grub Pub, an in-school pantry. Principal Flora Padro joins us later in the hour, describing the "new normal" she envisions.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Caitlin Caspi:Associate Professor, University of Connecticut's Department of Allied Health Sciences; Director of Food Security Initiatives, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health
- Jason Jakubowski: President & CEO, Connecticut Foodshare
- Ben Dubow: Executive Director, Forge City Works
- Flora Padro: Principal, Hartford High School
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A heads up to our listeners that today we will be discussing human trafficking. Content may not be suitable for younger listeners.
Human trafficking can happen in any country and any community, including where we live, in Connecticut. Polaris, a non-profit dedicated to fighting human trafficking, gave Connecticut a failing grade when it comes to combating trafficking in our state.
When you think of human trafficking, you might think of the various films and documentaries created about the subject. But experts say that trafficking is far more complicated than what we see on screen.
Today, we dive into how human trafficking is impacting our state and what is being done to combat it.
GUESTS:
- Amy Hayashida: Program Director at the Underground New England
- Meghan Scanlon: President and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Tammy Sneed: Director, Office of Human Trafficking Services and Connecticut Human Antitrafficking Response Team (HART)
- Krystal Rich: Executive Director, Connecticut Children's Alliance
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Before baking powder became a kitchen staple, there was a state-level showdown over the rights to produce and sell it, and food historian Linda Civitello says Connecticut played a central role. This hour, she joins us to dig into her book, Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking.
Plus, Darien First Selectman Monica McNally previews the town’s $85 million purchase of Great Island, a 63-acre property linked to baking powder tycoon William Ziegler.
From Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking by Linda Civitello. © 2017 by Linda Civitello. Used with permission of the University of Illinois Press.
GUESTS:
- Linda Civitello: Food Historian; Author, Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking
- Monica McNally: First Selectman of Darien
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired September 14, 2023.
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Walt Woodward held the position of Connecticut State Historian for nearly twenty years. He retired in 2022 to make way for the next Connecticut State Historian.
Although our state is small, it’s got a big history. From the Connecticut Witch Trials of the 1600s to some more recent history, like the Sandy Hook Shootings and even the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut is not short on history.
Andy Horowitz is the next Connecticut State Historian. He says that history doesn't gain validity depending overtime. Even modern history is still history.
Listeners might be surprised to learn that not all of his research and work has been focused on Connecticut. In studying disasters and environmental events, he centered much of his research around Hurricane Katrina.
He joins us in studio to talk about his role as the new Connecticut State Historian and how he plans to spend his term serving the state.
GUEST:
Andy Horowitz: Connecticut State Historian and Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut
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Before the well-known witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, Connecticut had its own spate of trials and executions. In mid-1600s colonial Connecticut, dozens of women, and some men connected to them, were accused of witchcraft. Eleven people were executed.
Earlier this year, the state moved to clear the names of all those accused of witchcraft in the state, and issued an apology. The resolution followed panel discussions and hearings with state lawmakers, descendants of the accused, and local historians.
This hour, we listen back to some of those discussions, and check in with the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project. Plus, Dr. Katherine Hermes discovered evidence that accusations of witchcraft continued well into the 1700s where we live.
GUESTS:
- Sarah Jack: Co-Founder, Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project; Co-Host, “Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast"
- Dr. Katherine Hermes: Publisher and Executive Director, Connecticut Explored Magazine
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Church attendance is on the decline. And the pandemic might not be to blame. Church attendance was falling even before 2020 among every major religion and subgroup.
Coming up this weekend, the United Church on the Green is welcoming Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr. This historic church in New Haven played a key part of the abolitionist movement.
Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr. is going to be the church's first black minister. Today, he joins us to talk about his hopes for this historic church, and welcoming a new generation of parishioners.
And later, we hear from the Yale Divinity School and learn about their involvement in an exciting project called the Living Village Project which broke ground last week. The Living Village is going to be a net-positive-energy building that will provide affordable housing to students.
GUESTS:
- Reverend Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr: United Church on the Green in New Haven
- Dean Gregory Sterling: Dean of Yale Divinity School; The Reverend Henry L. Slack Dean and Lillian Claus Professor of New Testament
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Graphic novels and comic books sales in the U.S. have grown in recent years, but the format is still a "prime target" for book ban lists.
Maia Kobabe's award-winning graphic memoir Gender Queer was named the top challenged book of 2022 and 2021 by the American Library Association. Jerry Craft, Connecticut native and the author of graphic novel New Kid, also found his book on ban lists.
RELATED LISTEN: Earlier this year, Jerry Craft spoke on Connecticut Public's Disrupted. He "talks about his banned, award-winning graphic novel New Kid, in addition to his latest book, School Trip."
This hour, we hear from the national and state Library Association about this important and often-undervalued format. Newtown recently saw challenges to two graphic novels. We hear from local librarian and Immediate Past President of the Connecticut Library Association, Douglas Booth.
Plus, one youth librarian describes the explosion of interest in graphic novels she’s seeing in Simsbury.
GUESTS:
- Samantha Lee: Chair, Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; Head of Reference Services at Enfield Public Library
- Douglas Lord: Director, C.H. Booth Library in Newtown; Immediate Past President, Connecticut Library Association
- Deborah Caldwell Stone: Director, American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Mary Richardson: Teen Services Librarian, Simsbury Public Library; Co-Host, "The Book Jam"Podcast
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Connecticut's winemaking community is vibrant and growing. This hour, we explore the flavors of New England with food journalist Leeanne Griffin, and wine expert and writer Alice Feiring. Some 45 licensed farm wineries comprise Connecticut's very own "Wine Country."
We also hear from local vineyards, and discuss the role of "agritourism" in Connecticut. We preview the state's Passport to Wine Country program, putting 30-plus farm wineries on the map. Farm wineries use at least one-quarter Connecticut-grown fruits in their product.
GUESTS:
- Alice Feiring: Journalist and Writer; Author, The Feiring Line
- Leeanne Griffin: Food and Consumer Reporter, Hearst Connecticut
- Ryan Winiarski: Owner, Priam Vineyards
- Patty Rowan: Winery Manager, Hopkins Vineyard
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth?
There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. But those diagnoses can come later in life, and even with sure signs, the need for specialized, lifelong care is often unmet.
This hour, we're joined by the co-authors of Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease.
Plus, we hear from one of 50 clinics accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association in the U.S., right here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Tracy Livecchi:Social Worker; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease
- Liza Morton: Psychologist; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds
- Dr. Robert Elder:Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Last week, homelessness was officially declared a public health crisis in Connecticut. And the lack of affordable housing remains a major issue here in Connecticut. Today, we get an update on affordable housing and hear how some towns are addressing it.
We hear about a housing model known as cohousing, and hear from a co-housing collective based in Massachusetts.
Later, New York Times global health reporter Stephanie Nolen joins us to discuss her year long trip around the globe to investigate how the world’s most vulnerable communities are addressing mosquito -borne diseases.
GUESTS:
- Ginny Monk: Housing and Children’s Issues for the Connecticut Mirror
- Yochai Gal: resident at Rocky Hill Cohousing in North Hampton, Massachusetts
- Stephanie Nolen: Global Health reporter for The New York Times
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Where do our clothes come from? According to the Textile Exchange, 52% of our clothes are made from polyester.
Fast fashion is an enormous industry, allowing us to purchase low cost clothing quickly and efficiently. But the toll these companies take on the environment is significant, and the workplace conditions for the factories that create these products are questionable at best.
Building sustainable, ethical practices into the fashion industry will be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle, and build better quality fabrics. Today, we talk about these solutions and what fashion brands can do to build sustainability.
We learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and author of the new book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashionjoins us.We’ll also hear from Reboot Eco, a zero waste and swap shop in Middletown, Connecticut.
What does shopping look like for you? Do you thrift for your clothes, or prefer the convenience of shopping online?
GUESTS:
- Miriah Kelly: Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Southern Connecticut State University
- Lucianne Tonti - consultant for sustainable designers and author of Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion
- Yasemin Ugurlu - Founder and Owner of Reboot Eco
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 14, 2023.
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During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.
With an all volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.
Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.
Later, we hear how someextremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at theJohns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studiesand a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
- Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command
- Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran
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New COVID boosters are available and recommended for everyone over six months of age, but pharmacies and providers in the state are slammed. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) says that more than 46,000 residents have gotten the latest COVID-19 vaccine. They also acknowledged delays, which the Hartford Courant has attributed to "supply chain disruptions, insurance issues and workforce woes."
This hour, DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us with all the latest guidance, from COVID-19 testing to flu shots. Have you ordered your free COVID-19 tests yet? Or are you eligible for free vaccines through the CDC's Bridge Access Program?
Plus, Fran Rabinowitz provides an update on continued staffing shortages in public schools. Paraprofessional support is short thousands of positions, and Rabinowitz stresses the need for support staffers as well. Bus drivers in Meriden and Coventryhave already gone on strike this fall.
GUESTS:
- Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Turtles are among one of the oldest reptiles to walk the planet. Although turtles often live long lifespans and are among some of the most resilient animals on the planet,human presence has meant a huge threat to their species.
In her new book Of Time and Turtles,Sy Montgomery says turtles live “slow.” She spent time working with the people that have dedicated their lives to rehabilitating these fascinating creatures, and she joins us to talk about her book.
And Matt Patterson, fellow turtle lover, illustrator of this book and their accompanying picture book The Book of Turtlesjoins us too. He is also a wildlife artist and sculptor.
We'll learn about what’s being done to care and protect these animals.
GUESTS:
- Sy Montgomery: Author of Of Time and Turtles
- Matt Patterson illustrator of The Book of Turtles and wildlife artist
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Researchers at Yale University are focused on the harrowing history of eugenics, the role the institution played in developing this psuedoscience, and its many lingering "afterlives."
Professor Dan HoSang formed the Anti-Eugenics Collective at Yale, and says this history is "integral to the story of the University." HoSang and the Collective also explore how the tenets of eugenics transformed and lived on in some surprising ways.
This hour, HoSang joins us, plus we look at how Yale psychiatry programs and public schools in New Haven are building curriculum around this research. For example, Dr. Marco Ramos underscores the legacy of "New Haven as a laboratory," something he asks new psychiatry residents to consider.
"Our pedagogy increasingly is asking trainees to be to become critical of that relationship, and say, 'To what extent is my research advancing my interest versus the community that I'm supposed to be serving?'" Dr. Ramos explains, "This history sets up a framework where they can make sense of that and process it emotionally, and they can figure out what they can do to... build trust with the communities they're working with. But that's impossible, I think, unless it's contextualized in this longer history that really starts with eugenics."
GUESTS:
- Daniel HoSang:Professor of Ethnicity Race and Migration and American Studies, Yale University
- Dr. Marco Ramos: Psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine; Assistant Professor, Yale History of Science and Medicine Program
- Meredith Gavrin: Co-Founder, New Haven Academy
- Elias Theodore: First-Year Student, Yale University
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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A content warning to our listeners: today we will be talking about suicide.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. United States saw nearly 50,000 deaths by suicide in 2022, and suicide continues to be on the rise.
Talking openly about suicide and mental health can be a critical part of deterring suicide deaths. But having those discussions can be really challenging and experts say there are specific ways to conduct these conversations delicately.
Later, we hear from Connecticut Urgent Crisis Centers.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can go online to 988lifeline.orgor dial 9-8-8.
GUESTS:
- Aneri Pattani: Senior Correspondent for KFF Health News
- Ann Dagle: President and Co-founder of the Brian Dagle Foundation and Tri-chair of Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board
- Dr Laine Taylor: Medical Director for The Village for Families and Children
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Ashley Hamel discovered her love of music while growing up in Connecticut. The singer-songwriter eventually left New England behind to build her music career in Indonesia.
This hour, she joins us from Jakarta to talk about her new single, "New England Baby…"
Plus, earlier this year, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill that he hopes will rein in the role of online, third-party ticket sellers. He has the latest on the "Unlock Ticketing Markets Act," and the concerns he has for up-and-coming musicians competing in what he has called a ticket-selling "monopoly."
GUESTS:
- Ashley Hamel: Singer-Songwriter
- Richard Blumenthal:U.S. Senator for Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired on August 31, 2023.
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Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases affecting those with uteruses. Despite its prevalence, proper diagnosis can take up to ten years, leaving many suffering without support or treatment.
State Representative Jillian Gilchrest recently launched a legislative working group to advocate for better research and education policies across Connecticut. Arleigh Cole is a local public educator, and a member of the endometriosis working group.
Plus, we hear from Shannon Cohn, a filmmaker and public advocate for endometriosis awareness. She discusses her new documentary Below the Belt, and her efforts to educate medical and school professionals about the condition through her organization Endo What?
GUESTS:
- Jillian Gilchrest: Connecticut State Representative; Co-Chair, Connecticut Reproductive Rights Caucus; Chair, Endometriosis Working Group
- Arleigh Cole: Endometriosis Public Educator, via her Instagram @Missendostood
- Halley Terrell: Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Life Coach
- Shannon Cohn: Director, Below the Belt and Endo What?
Connecticut Public intern Carol Chen contributed to this episode which originally aired July 27, 2023.
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Esmeralda Santiago is out with a new book, Las Madres, following five women as they survive – and are shaped by their experience of – Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The novel explores themes of memory and home, faith and disaster.
This hour, the acclaimed author joins us to discuss.
Plus, we take a look at efforts to ready permanent relief resources in Hartford, given the increasing prevalence of extreme weather events in Puerto Rico. Researchers estimate 13,000 people came to Connecticut from Puerto Rico in the year that followed Hurricane Maria. Dr. Charles Venator Santiago has the latest.
GUESTS:
- Esmeralda Santiago: Author, Las Madres
- Dr. Charles Venator Santiago: Faculty Director, UConn's Puerto Rican Studies Initiative; Director, El Instituto: Institute of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Fall is officially here, and the days are getting shorter, but hopefully you’re still finding some time to be outside.
Fall gardening is well on its way. This is a great season to harvest squash and other root vegetables, and prepare your garden for next year.
Whether you are expanding your gardening space or perhaps getting ready to plant bulbs for the first time, there’s a lot of factors to consider; the what, where and when you should plant just to name a few! Many gardeners are choosing native plants which are some of the most sustainable plants to plant.
Charlie Nardozzi, horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal on Connecticut Public Radio joins us today to answer our gardening questions and yours.
What questions do you have about fall gardening? Have you planted or harvested any vegetables yet?
GUEST:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal on Caonnecticut Public Radio
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Local advocates and experts in early childcare education say funding and staffing shortfalls were only deepened during the pandemic. With federal relief funding set to expire at the end of the month, posing another short-term hurdle, or "cliff," what are the long-term solutions?
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is pushing Congress for $16 billion in federal funding through the Child Care Stabilization Act. "Childcare was in crisis even before the pandemic," said Senator Blumenthal on Monday. "But the pandemic has brought it to the brink of collapse." He also highlighted the Child Care for Every Community Act, and the Child Care for Working Families Act.
At the same press conference on Monday, Merrill Gay, Executive Director at Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, called the upcoming funding cutoff a “predictable calamity."
This hour, we hear from Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye, and members of the recently-formed Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care. A new draft of a five-year plan, expected to be finalized by December, outlined possible solutions, including a pay raise.
GUESTS:
- Beth Bye: Commissioner, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
- Monette Ferguson: Executive Director, Alliance for Community Empowerment in Bridgeport
- Karen Lott: ExecutiveDirector, Women’s League Child Development Center in Hartford
- Allyx Schiavone: Executive Director, Friends Center for Children in New Haven
- Jessica Sager: Executive Director, All Our Kin
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In 2015, journalist Elise Hu moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.”
K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments. It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery.
These procedures are becoming an increasingly normal part of daily life in South Korea, but also in the United States. They are also more accessible than ever to anyone that wants to change the way they look.
Although some are starting to question the pursuit of keeping up with today’s beauty standards, this multibillion dollar beauty industry isn't going away.
Today, Elise Hu joins us on Where We Live to talk about her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.
We talk about the pursuit and pain of keeping up with today’s beauty standards.
GUEST:
- Elise Hu: host of TED Talks Daily and also a host-at-large for NPR. She is the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital
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Approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue recently moved U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory around the "loneliness epidemic" in America.
Soon after, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy introduced a bill that would launch an Office of Social Connection Policy, and fund CDC research to "better understand the epidemic of social isolation and loneliness."
While on The Colin McEnroe Show in July, Murphy said the move was "part of a broader exploration for me of what is eating in America... I have come to the conclusion that there's a lot of new and unique things that are hurting Americans and making them feel unhappy today," chief among them loneliness or "aloneness."
This hour, we explore how loneliness, isolation and social disconnection are being addressed where we live. Deb Bibbins and Gary Sekorski founded For All Ages, and more recently, the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness, to help bolster and centralize resources.
How does loneliness or isolation affect you?
GUESTS:
- Deb Bibbins: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Gary Sekorski: Co-Founder and Chair, For All Ages; Co-Founder, Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness
- Connie Malone: Canton Resident
- Siri Palreddy: Senior at Amherst College
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There have been a lot of things that have revolutionized how educators teach in the classrooms. Things like Wikipedia, Google and even calculators have caused temporary panic in the education space.
Now that ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools are becoming a central part of our everyday lives, some educators are scrambling to rethink their curriculum. If you ask the artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, to write you a 500 page essay on the themes in Moby Dick, in a matter of seconds, you’ll have a well written paper.
Even further, you can even tell ChatGPT “write me a 500 word essay on the themes of Moby Dick, in the voice of a 10th grader” and the essay will reflect the tone and language of the average 15 year old.
When ChatGPT was first released, we took a deep dive into AI ethics and learned how it might education. And today, we get an update and we talk to teachers around the state and hear how they are actually utilizing AI in the classroom.
GUESTS:
- Jeff Young: Editor of EdSurge, an education journalism initiative
- Tom Deans: Professor of English and Director of the University Writing Center at the University of Connecticut
- Erica Strong: Literacy Coach at Lebanon Middle School
- John Allen: Social Studies Teacher at Putnam High School
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Before baking powder became a kitchen staple, there was a state-level showdown over the rights to produce and sell it, and food historian Linda Civitello says Connecticut played a central role. This hour, she joins us to dig into her book, Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking.
Plus, Darien First Selectman Monica McNally previews the town’s $85 million purchase of Great Island, a 63-acre property linked to baking powder tycoon William Ziegler.
From Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking by Linda Civitello. © 2017 by Linda Civitello. Used with permission of the University of Illinois Press.
GUESTS:
- Linda Civitello: Food Historian; Author, Baking Powder Wars: The Cutthroat Food Fight that Revolutionized Cooking
- Monica McNally: First Selectman of Darien
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It’s Primary Day here in Connecticut. We have closed primaries here in Connecticut, meaning only voters registered in either political party can participate in this election.
Historically, voter turnout tends to be pretty low on Primary Day, especially on years where we don’t have a big presidential election. According to the Associated Press, turnout for the 2019 Democratic mayoral primaries in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven all hovered between 13% and 15%.
Today, we hear about some of the conversations Connecticut civics teachers are having in their classrooms around elections.
And we want to hear from you too. Are you voting in today’s primary election? How do you see the role of primary elections?
For all the primary results, listen live to The Wheelhouse with host Frankie Graziano and a panel of reporters from across the state. Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 8 pm. on Connecticut Public.
GUESTS:
- Patricia Crouse: practitioner in residence in Legal Studies and Political Science at the University of New Haven
- Julia Miller: Civics Teacher at Metropolitan Business Academy inter-district magnet school in new haven
- Dr. David Bosso: Social studies teacher at Berlin High School and 2012 Connecticut teacher of the year
- Abigail Brone: Housing Reporter with Connecticut Public
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The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that the majority of Americans are either "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change. They also discovered links between distress about climate change and a desire to take action.
This hour, Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz digs into this study, and the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY). You can take the SASSY Survey here.
Plus, NBC Connecticut meteorologist Rachael Jay and New Haven Climate Movement organizer Adrian Huq will share their perspectives as different kinds of climate communicators.
How do you process feelings of alarm or distress around climate change, or even, take action?
GUESTS:
- Rachael Jay: Meteorologist, NBC Connecticut
- Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz: Founder and Director, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
- Adrian Huq: Co-Founder, New Haven Climate Movement Youth Action Team; Youth Coordinator, Climate Health Education Project
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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There’s a stereotypical depiction of concussions in movies and TV shows: someone - often an athlete, gets hit in the head, falls down, and everyone crowds around them and asks them if they know what day it is. Then, the patient, spends the next two weeks lying alone in the dark. But in recent years we have developed a new understanding about concussions -- how they happen, their severity, and how best to treat them.
We hear from Dr. Bulent Omay, the Chief of Neurotrauma and Neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine. We also hear from a practicing physical therapist who specializes in brain injury treatment. And we learn about Concussion Box, a non-profit dedicated to supporting TBI patients.
Have you ever had a concussion? How did it affect you then, and is it still impacting you today? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Bulent Omay: Chief of Neutrotrauma at the Yale School of Medicine.
- Dr. Vanessa Cornwell Chiu: a practicing physical therapist
- Eliana Bloomfield: Wesleyan undergrad student and founder of ConcussionBox, a non-profit that aims to support people experiencing concussions
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The writers and actors strike has frozen film and TV productions across the country, and left many creatives to go back to their quote, "civilian jobs," as Mystic-based actress Callie Beaulieu recently shared with Connecticut Public.
"We're at a tipping point with the survival of our profession," she says.
This hour, local studios, actors and crew members join us. Plus, NPR correspondent Mandalit del Barco has the latest; and Hearst Connecticut reporter Alex Soule explains why Connecticut is at a "crossroads" where it concerns the film and TV tax incentive program.
Plus, some 2,000 movie screens have gone dark over the pandemic, according to one recent study by the Cinema Foundation. But there's a bright spot where we live: Connecticut boasts four drive-in theaters. We hear from the owners of one drive-in in Mansfield.
RELATED: For family owners of Mansfield Drive-In, business is 'more than a movie'
GUESTS:
- Olivia Nicole Hoffman: Actress
- Keith Nelson: Costume Designer
- Andrew Gernhard: Owner, Synthetic Cinema International
- Mandalit del Barco: NPR entertainment reporter
- Alexander Soule: Reporter, Hearst CT
- Naomi Jungden: General Manager, Mansfield Drive-In
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What do you think about getting older? Is it an exciting new chapter, or something you’re dreading? And when you think about seniors or elders, do you see reverence or irrelevance? Eventually, we all get older. But one of the last acceptable forms of discrimination is ageism.
Today on Where We Live, we talk about age discrimination. We hear from Jeff Hamaoui. He’s the Co-founder of the Modern Elder Academy and says that midlife is not about the midlife crisis; it’s about finding your "second adulthood.”
So, what do you think about getting older? Is it an exciting new chapter, or something you’re dreading? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Jeff Hamaoui: Co-founder of the Modern Elder Academy
- Robin Clare: Executive Director Seniors Job Bank in West Hartford
- Kauther Badr: Associate Professor at Southern Connecticut State University
- Nora Duncan: State Director of the AARP Connecticut
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Ashley Hamel discovered her love of music while growing up in Connecticut. The singer-songwriter eventually left New England behind to build her music career in Indonesia.
This hour, she joins us from Jakarta to talk about her new single, "New England Baby…”
Plus, earlier this year, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill that he hopes will rein in the role of online, third-party ticket sellers. He has the latest on the "Unlock Ticketing Markets Act," and the concerns he has for up-and-coming musicians competing in what he has called a ticket-selling "monopoly."
GUESTS:
- Ashley Hamel: Singer-Songwriter
- Richard Blumenthal: U.S. Senator for Connecticut
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Once, receiving an A meant that a student had excelled in their coursework. But now, receiving an A means access to advanced classes, scholarships and of course, college admissions.
No two school districts, or even two teachers grade in the exact same way. Which means that grade bias is a real problem. So two students that might have the exact same academic performance, could receive two very different grades. With all this emphasis on grades, are students missing out on learning?
Today on Where We Live, we talk about the history of grading, where the A through F system came from and how some educators are rethinking the way we grade students. We hear from one Connecticut school district that’s changing the way they grade their students. And we want to hear from you too, is grade anxiety keeping you or your student up at night?
GUESTS:
- Ethan Hutt: Associate Professor of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, author of Off the Mark: How Grades, Ratings, and Rankings Undermine Learning (but Don’t Have To)
- Joe Feldman: author of Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms and CEO of Crescendo Education Group
- Dr. Thomas McBryde: Norwalk Deputy Superintendent
- Edgar Sanchez: Lead Research Scientist at ACT
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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When you don’t feel well, and don’t know why, the last thing you want to be is dismissed by your doctor. More and more patients are taking it on themselves to research their own symptoms, and looking for answers and diagnoses through online forums.
What’s happening at the doctor’s office that is causing a disconnect and distrust between patients and their doctors? Today, we’re talking about the relationship between doctors and their patients, and how that’s impacting diagnostics.
We want to hear from you. When was the last time were you at a doctor’s office? Did you feel heard and respected? Did you feel like you could trust your healthcare to provide you with the best healthcare you can get?
If you're a doctor, what would you like your patients to know?
GUESTS:
- Shannon Koplitz:Board of Director and treasurer for the Dysautonomia International
- Dr. Perry Wilson:Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Yale, and author of How Medicine Works and When It Doesn't: Learning Who to Trust to Get and Stay Healthy
- Dr. Vasanth Kainkaryam:Direct Primary Care Physician in Connecticut.
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In 1999 the Columbine shooting shook the country and made everyone aware of the threat of gun violence in schools. As a result, schools made an effort to implement lockdown procedures as a way to keep students and staff safe.
But with the rates of shootings only continuing to rise, these threats of mass shootings are feeling too real, and the lockdowns that were meant to keep students safe are instead inflicting trauma. So what is going on in these lockdowns that are causing negative impacts and a decline in mental health?
Today we look at what is happening inside the school walls during these lockdowns and what it is doing to our students. A common solution that many schools have turned to is School Resource Officers or SROs.
What do you think should be done to protect our schools while minimizing trauma?
- Mo Canady: Executive Director of National Association of School Resource Officers
- Kate Dias: President of Connecticut Education Association and High School Math teacher in Manchester School District
- David J Schonfeld: Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Stacey Addo produced this show that originally aired on July 28, 2023.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The number of people who became unhoused in Connecticut increased by 13 percent between 2021 and last year.
And in most places around the country, cities rely on shelters to accommodate people who are unhoused. But those who’ve lived there say this model isn’t working. Families are separated. There’s a 90-day stay limit. There’s little to no security for personal belongings. And at dawn, everyone’s asked to leave, rain or shine.
Today on Where We Live, we hear from the founder of Rosette Village, a transitional housing community on Rosette Street in New Haven. It's a housing model where people live together with their families and stay for as long as they need to, which can improve health outcomes for unhoused people.
Their tents are provided with electricity. Everyone has lockers for personal belongings. And they say their health has improved. Residents are hoping to live in prefabricated tiny homes set up on site so they can live safely.Later, we talk about the health impact on people without housing.
GUESTS:
- Suki Godek: an unhoused activist living at Rosette
- Mark Colville: the housing activist behind Rosette Village
- New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker
- Dr. Caitlin Ryus: Instructor in Emergency Medicine and the Co-Director of the Yale Emergency Scholars Fellowship
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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23% of the adult U.S. population cannot read above a third-grade level. Literacy isn’t limited to reading and writing, it can also refer to basic math, comprehension and critical thinking skills.
According to ProLiteracy, bringing reading levels up “would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income. Today, we get a deeper understanding of adult literacy in our country and across our state.
There is no part of the U.S. population that isn’t touched by low literacy. And many people suffer from shame around the struggle to read and write.
GUESTS:
- Haleigh Guerrera: Basic Literacy Tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
- Aliyya Swaby: Reporter for ProPublica
- Mark Vineis: President and CEO of ProLiteracy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Shen contributed to this episode that recently aired April 7, 2023.
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Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have estimated that more than half of wheelchairs break down in a typical six-month period. Many Connecticut residents say those repairs can take months.
This hour, we hear from local advocates with the Connecticut Wheelchair Reform Coalition about a recently-formed legislative task force and their goals for next session. In particular, they hope to study and set limits on repair turnaround times. UPitt researcher Dr. Lynn Woroby also shares her findings on the frequency of wheelchair breakdowns.
Plus, how does private equity impact health care? Private Equity Stakeholder Project is a nonprofit watchdog organization investigating this question.
The business model and priority for private equity investments is to maximize profit, Eileen O'Grady explains. "In order to produce those kinds of returns, it might mean cutting staffing, reducing training hours, or relying on staff or clinicians that have a lower level of licensure. It might also mean financial shenanigans, like adding lots and lots of debt to a company to pay their shareholders... All of these things can have really material impacts on the quality of care and on the quality of jobs."
GUESTS:
- Jonathan Sigworth: Member, CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition; Member, State Independent Living Council; Consumer Spokesperson, Connecticut Wheelchair Task Force; Co-Founder, CEO and President, More Than Walking
- Farrah Garland: Member, CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition; Member, State Independent Living Council
- Lynn Woroby: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh
- Eileen O'Grady: Research and Campaign Director, Private Equity Stakeholder Project
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Virtually all Connecticut residents engage in the arts, culture and humanities, either formally or informally, a recent survey found. But attendance rates at many cultural organizations haven't quite returned to pre-pandemic levels.
This hour, we get the latest from Connecticut Humanities executive director Jason Mancini, and hear about a recent push for a "roadmap" that would better fund and link the arts, culture and tourism in the state. We also check in with the Maritime Aquarium, and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, formerly the Connecticut Historical Society.
Have you taken advantage of Connecticut's Summer at the Museum? Listeners this hour shouted out locations like the New England Air Museum, the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum, and more.
Plus, we preview early plans to highlight the state's revolutionary history in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. Former Secretary of State Denise Merrill spoke about the creation of the Connecticut Semiquincentennial Commission in advance of "America 250."
We also revisit a recent conversation on Connecticut Public's Disrupted with Maisa Tisdale, CEO and President of the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. The homes in Bridgeport are some of the last remaining structures of Little Liberia, one of the earliest settlements of free people of color in pre-Civil War Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Jason Mancini: Executive Director, Connecticut Humanities
- Cyndi Tolosa: Development Director, Connecticut Humanities
- Denise Merrill: Former Connecticut Secretary of State
- Jason Patlis: President and CEO, Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk
- Robert Kret: CEO, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Across Connecticut's thousands of farms, spanning nearly 400,000 acres, the average age of farmers is 58, just under the national average. Over 90% of senior Connecticut farmers don’t have a younger person tapped to take the reins, according to an American Farmland Trust study.
This hour, we dig into local and federal efforts to support new and young farmers with New Connecticut Farmers Alliance President Liz Guerra. Plus, federal policy reporter Lisa Hagen has the latest on the 2023 farm bill.
RELATED: Liz Guerra and her husband Héctor Gerardo were recently interviewed for a series about Connecticut's BIPOC farmers, and efforts to diversify the field in the state, which is 98% white.
We also spoke with Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, who stressed the need for stability and funding "safety nets" for local farmers, particularly during "a year like this year where you had a moderate winter, two pretty dramatic frost events, a drought" and, most recently, flooding.
Later, we'll learn more about 4-H, a nonprofit at the heart of harvest festivals where we live. Matthew Syrotiak, a 4-H alum, now works on a family farm. We hear from the "G.O.A.T. of goats," plus program leader Jen Cushman, about 4-H opportunities in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Public and the Connecticut Mirror
- Liz Guerra: President, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance; Owner-Operator, SEAmarron Farmstead in Danbury
- Mary Claire Whelan: Coordinator, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Matthew Syrotiak: 4-H Alumni; Dairy Farmer
- Jen Cushman: 4-H Program Leader, UConn Extension
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Connecticut rolled out a Black and Latino history elective this past school year, the first of several recent curricular updates and mandates to go live statewide. This hour, we hear from social studies teachers Daisha Brabham and Julian Shafer about how they worked with the curriculum offered by the state.
Plus, their students share their experiences. Students in Windsor recently led a push to offer the elective to ninth-graders. Brabham and Shafer also discuss an Educators Bill of Rights they helped draft, along with several educator organizations in the state.
According to PEN America, there have been 78 different legislative proposals since 2021 that are aimed at K-12 curriculum, referred to by the free speech org as "gag order bills." Connecticut is often seen as a kind of safe haven from these kinds of political or ideological attacks in the classroom, but we’ve seen a rise in debates over curriculum and book ban requests in our state too.
The Educators Bill of Rights calls for "learning spaces for students and working spaces for educators that are free from harassment and intimidation," and underscores the need "to teach in accurate and complex ways without censure or punishment."
GUESTS:
- Daisha Brabham: Teacher, Windsor High School
- Julian Shafer: Teacher, Danbury High School
- Sarai Pichardo: Student, Danbury High School
- Damela Seal: Student, Windsor High School
- Christine Palm: Democratic State Representative
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Since the start of the war in Ukraine, more than 280,000 Ukrainians have resettled in the United States. According to Integrated Refugee Immigrant Services, there is roughly 1500 Ukrainian refugees settled in Connecticut.
Elected officials here in Connecticut have shown their support for Ukraine. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has traveled several times since the start of the war to meet with President Zelensky. He has recently introduced a Senate resolution to address the threat Russia poses.
And some Connecticut residents have even gone to Ukraine to do what they can to aid the war effort.
Today, we talk to Larissa Babij. She is a Ukrainian American that grew up in Manchester, Connecticut. She lives in Kyiv, Ukraine working as a writer and translator. In her newsletter, “A Kind of Refugee” she writes about her life living in a war zone.
We also hear from Anna Koblyarz, a resident of Berlin, Connecticut and is raising money for the City of Goodness project, a shelter for women and children in need in Ukraine.
GUESTS:
- Anna Kobylarz: a resident of Berlin, Connecticut and president of the nonprofit Community Help. She is also the Director of the Humanitarian Mission of the Polish American Foundation of Connecticut.
- Larissa Babij: writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her newsletter is “A Kind of Refugee.”
You can find the Victoria Amelina poem "The Town of Women" here.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing.
The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.
Plus, one California-based slime-maker is raking in millions from children and adults alike. There's even one slime product called "Clay-Doh."
What toy from your childhood still sparks joy? Connecticut Public staffers and listeners respond.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek: Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Olivya Soth: Co-Owner, OG Slimes
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 3, 2023.
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A Pew survey from 2018 estimated 13% of adults consult tarot card readers, astrologers or "fortune-tellers." But more recent market research shows sales for tarot card decks and psychic services are growing.
This hour, we explore the art of divination and "card-pulling" in Connecticut.
Hear from professional tarot reader Afton Jacobs-Williams, AKA Monty's Tarot Child. Plus, Chelsea Granger is a multidisciplinary artist who co-created Dirt Gems, a plant-themed oracle deck.
But first, hear more about the origins of tarot or "tarrochi." We preview some of the research going on at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, home to some of the oldest existing tarot cards.
GUESTS:
- Timothy Young: Curator, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
- Afton Williams-Jacobs: Monty's Tarot Child; Tarot Reader, Tea & Tarot
- Chelsea Granger: Multidisciplinary Artist; Co-Creator, Dirt Gems Plant Oracle Card Deck & Guidebook
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired June 1, 2023.
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Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan nearly two years ago, roughly 80,000 refugees have resettled in the country. According to the Connecticut Department of Social Services, "over 1,300 parolees, refugees, and Special Immigrant Visa Holders from Afghanistan have resettled in Connecticut since 2021."
The New Haven-based non-profit, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, or IRIS, recently opened a satellite office in Hartford to help meet the needs of the roughly 250 clients they serve in the area, many of whom recently left Afghanistan.
This hour, we hear from two people making the Hartford area a new home. Plus, IRIS' soon-to-depart executive director Chris George joins us in-studio.
For many refugees and immigrants, food is a love language that carries memory and tradition, while connecting people and building community. Chefs with Afghan roots at Sanctuary Kitchen, a New Haven-based non-profit, describe the power of food.
GUESTS:
- Asadullah Jalal: West Hartford Resident
- Hamid Hemat: Fellow Curator, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Chris George: Executive Director, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS)
- Susan Schnitzer, President and CEO of Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)
- Caroline Sennett: Director, CIRI's Immigration Legal Services Program
- Naseema Gilson: Program Director, Sanctuary Kitchen
- Homa Assadi: Chef, Sanctuary Kitchen
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For some, gardening can act as a love letter to our family history. The act of cultivating the same plants and herbs that your grandmother, or great grandmother might have grown, can keep us connected to our roots. It can also serve as a reminder of what people needed to do in order to survive - through history and the present. The act of gardening goes beyond working with the soil in our own backyards.
Today, we hear from Phou Vongkhamdy. He is the Rhode Island State Conservationist and he is also a refugee from Laos. He was raised on a family farm growing rice, tobacco, silkworms, sugar cane, and vegetables.
And later, we listen back to a Connecticut Museum of Culture and History conversation with gardeners in the AAPI community; a conversation called “Heritage Roots.” Each panelist spoke about what it means to be able to grow plants and seeds from their culture, and learn how they're using their gardens to stay connected to their heritage.
GUESTS:
- Phou Vongkhamdy: Rhode Island State Conservationist
- Vicheth Im: organic farmer and homesteader in Preston,
- Mao Yang: member of Hmong Foundation of Connecticut
- May Choua Yang: member of Hmong Foundation of Connecticut
- Christine Kim: co-founder of aapiNHV
- Hien Nguyen: member of APAC Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired July 7, 2023.
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Wine country is often associated with California valleys, like Napa or Sonoma. There’s also a lesser-known wine country in Connecticut, made up of some 45 licensed farm wineries. This hour, we explore the flavors of New England with food journalist Leeanne Griffin, and wine expert and writer Anne Feiring.
Plus, we hear from local vineyards, and discuss the role of "agritourism" in Connecticut. We preview the state's Passport to Wine Country program, spotlighting the 30-plus wineries in the state using at least one-quarter Connecticut-grown fruits in their product.
GUESTS:
- Anne Feiring: Journalist and Writer; Author, The Feiring Line
- Leeanne Griffin: Food and Consumer Reporter, Hearst Connecticut
- Ryan Winiarski: Owner, Priam Vineyards
- Patty Rowan:Winery Manager, Hopkins Vineyard
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
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Jellyfish or simply “jellies” have been around for more than 500 million years. That means, jellies were here before dinosaurs! This resilient species has a simple, but astounding makeup. Jellies don’t have a brain or a heart. They have a single cavity for eating and expelling waste.
This hour, we learn about the jellies off Long Island Sound and how climate change affects their population. Have you seen any jellies on the coast of Connecticut?
Their population is growing, creating consequences for our ecosystem here at home. With only a handful of species that prey on them, jelly blooms can be a real problem—impacting species around Long Island Sound, including the seafood industry.
We’ll also talk about what to do if you come across one of these ethereal creatures and are stung. A spoiler alert for our listeners: don't do what you saw on Friends!
What questions do you have about the jellies off our coastline?
GUESTS:
- David Cochran: Director of Fish and Invertebrates, Mystic Aquarium
- Rachel Stein: Associate Director of Animal Husbandry, Maritime Aquarium
- Sarah Battistini: Water Safety Coordinator at the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Dive into all of the nautical themed stories airing this week on Connecticut Public's original talk shows by visiting ctpublic.org/nautiweek.
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Sturgeon have existed for millions of years. These prehistoric fish, often described as "hardy" and "charismatic," are largely endangered. Atlantic sturgeon were thought to have disappeared from the Connecticut River.
In 2014, local researchers with the state discovered a hatchling Atlantic sturgeon up-river, marking the first time they'd seen this species alongside its river-faring cousin, short-nosed sturgeon. This hour, Jacque Benway and Tom Savoy join us to discuss their sturgeon-focused research.
Plus, the Maritime Aquarium recently opened a "touch tank" where the public can interact with Atlantic and lake sturgeon.
GUESTS:
- Jacque Benway: Biologist, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Fisheries Division
- Tom Savoy: Sturgeon Monitoring Program, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Tom Naiman: Vice President of Education, Maritime Aquarium
Dive into all of the nautical-themed stories airing this week on Connecticut Public's original talk shows by visiting ctpublic.org/nautiweek.
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Diamondback terrapins, a species of small turtle along the coastline and marsh of Long Island Sound were once near extinction, but they’ve made a great comeback in our state.
This special species was once hunted to make turtle soup, to the point that there were no terrapins left in Sound. Now that hunting the terrapins has become illegal, they have started to return.
This tenacious little guy is the only turtle that lives in brackish waters - a mix of fresh and saltwater. And we are right in the middle of their migratory season. This is the time when they are especially vulnerable to being run over when they cross the road.
Preserving their population is no easy task. Nature centers around our state are looking for volunteers and citizen scientists to help track the local terrapin population in our state.
Have you seen a terrapin where you live?
GUESTS:
- Jenny Hall: senior aquarist at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk
- Tim Abbott: Manager of High School and Adult Science Education at Soundwaters in Stamford, Connecticut
- Mike Ravesi: Wildlife Biologist and Herpetologist at the Connecticut Department of Environmental and Energy Protection
Dive into all of the nautical themed stories airing this week on Connecticut Public's original talk shows by visiting ctpublic.org/nautiweek.
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Just off the coast, in Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay, northern star coral flourishes. Scientists where we live hope this could be good news for its tropical relatives, increasingly threatened by warming waters.
Clusters of this native coral, also known as Astrangia poculata, are being studied for their ability to survive winter through dormancy, and thrive through what might be considered bleaching in more tropical regions. Researchers along the coast of New England formed the Temperate Coral Research Group to focus on this species and the insights it may offer on climate resilience. This hour, we hear from them.
1 of 6Researchers at Roger Williams University are studying coral native to New England, known as northern star coral or Astrangia poculata.Kody Sharp / Roger Williams University2 of 6Astrangia poculata, or northern star coral, can be found off the coast of Connecticut and Rhode Island.Kody Sharp / Roger Williams University3 of 6Marine ecologist Sean Grace observes northern star coral, or Astrangia poculata, off the coast of Jamestown, Rhode Island.Sean Grace4 of 6Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio5 of 6Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio6 of 6Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
Plus, Long Island Soundkeeper Bill Lucey helps us kick off NautiWeek at Connecticut Public, offering the latest on warming in the Sound, his priorities and concerns.
GUESTS:
- Bill Lucey: Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound
- Sean Grace: Marine Ecologist; Professor of Biology, Southern Connecticut State University; Co-Director, Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies
- Koty Sharp: Associate Professor of Biology, Marine Biology & Environmental Science at Roger Williams University
- Amy Apprill: Associate Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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In 1999 the Columbine shooting shook the country and made everyone aware of the threat of gun violence in schools. As a result, schools made the effort to implement lockdown procedures as a way to keep students and staff safe.
But with the rates of shootings only continuing to rise, these threats of mass shootings are feeling too real and the lockdowns that were meant to keep students safe, are instead inflicting trauma.
So what is going on in these lockdowns that are causing negative impacts and a decline in mental health?
Today we look at what is happening inside the school walls during these lockdowns and what it is doing to our students. A common solution that many schools have turned to is School Resource Officers or SROs.
What do you think should be done to protect our schools while minimizing trauma?
- Mo Canady: Executive Director of National Association of School Resource Officers
- Kate Dias: President of Connecticut Education Association and High School Math teacher in Manchester School District
- David J Schonfeld: Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
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Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases affecting those with uteruses. Despite its prevalence, proper diagnosis can take up to ten years, leaving many suffering without support or treatment.
State Representative Jillian Gilchrest recently launched a legislative working group to advocate for better research and education policies across Connecticut. Arleigh Cole is a local public educator, and a member of the endometriosis working group.
Plus, we hear from Shannon Cohn, a filmmaker and public advocate for endometriosis awareness. She discusses her new documentary Below the Belt, and her efforts to educate medical and school professionals about the condition through her organization Endo What?
GUESTS:
- Jillian Gilchrest: Connecticut State Representative; Co-Chair, Connecticut Reproductive Rights Caucus; Chair, Endometriosis Working Group
- Arleigh Cole: Endometriosis Public Educator, via her Instagram @Missendostood
- Halley Terrell: Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Life Coach
- Shannon Cohn: Director, Below the Belt and Endo What?
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Author and teacher Chasten Buttigieg joins us to discuss his book. He is the husband of 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in 2018. His book, I Have to Tell You Something, was originally published in 2020 and has since been rewritten and republished as I Have to Tell You Something - For Young Adults. He joins us for a conversation over Zoom to talk about his book and his message to LGBTQ youth.
Plus, Tess Terrible guest-hosts a conversation with Willie Mae Brown, the author of a new book My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement. The book, written for young adults, reflects on her time growing up in Alabama and how the civil rights era shaped her coming of age. She shares her message for the next generation of activists.
GUEST:
- Chasten Buttigieg: Author of I Have to Tell You Something, teacher, and advocate
- Willie Mae Brown: author and visual artist. She recently published her first book, My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement.
Cat Pastor contributed to this conversation which originally aired February 2 and June 16.
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Connecticut author and lawyer Anne Howard is known for her work writing true crime, but her recent book is a departure from her prior work.
Today, we talk about her new book that she worked to translate, entitled Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story. Anne first met Adoriana Marik through mutual friends. They exchanged letters, and Adoriana sent her hand-drawn cards and other artwork over the years.
When the war in Ukraine broke out, Anne was desperate to contact Adoriana to hear that she was safe. What followed was a months-long exchange and a collaborative effort to write a book about her experience.
Adoriana suffers from many symptoms of PTSD. Due to this and a language barrier, Adoriana will not be joining us this hour, but here to tell us about her story, is Anne Howard.
Plus, Joan Donovan is the Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and author of the book Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.
Donovan discusses talk the evolution of memes as political devices, and how they shaped the far right.
GUEST:
- Anne Howard: co-author and translator of Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story
- Askold Melnyczuk: English professor at University of Massachusetts, Boston and author
- Joan Donovan: Research Director for the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and author of the book Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on February 13 and March 23.
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Aisha Harris, co-host for NPR’s Pop Culture Hour, is out with a new book titled Wannabe: Reckonings With The Pop Culture That Shapes Me.
Harris explores how early influences and cultural tropes shape her role today as critic, including her upbringing in Connecticut. Today, she joins us for the hour.
Plus, we learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and author of the new book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion joins us.
GUESTS:
- Aisha Harris: Co-Host, NPR's Pop Culture Hour; Author, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me
- Lucianne Tonti: Fashion Consultant; Author, Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on June 15, 2023.
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R.F. Kuang's works of historical fantasy, including The Poppy War series, have been racking up awards since she began publishing in 2018. Her novel Babel recently won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writers.
The same day, her latest book Yellowface debuted.
It is Kuang's fifth novel, and a shift from fantasy to literary fiction. The satirical thriller takes on the commercial publishing world, and through it, "questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation." Not to mention, "the terrifying alienation of social media."
This hour, R.F. Kuang joins us. Minor spoilers lie ahead...
GUESTS:
- R.F. Kuang: Author, Yellowface; Babel; The Poppy War Trilogy
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired May 18, 2023.
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After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world.
But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods.
This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic.
GUESTS:
- Rachel Kauder Nalebuff: Editor, Our Red Book
- Michelle Memran: Documentary Filmmaker
- Kica Matos: New Haven-based Immigration Rights Activist and Organizer
- Axel Gay:Teen Writer
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 10, 2023.
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Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have estimated that more than half of wheelchairs break down in a typical six-month period. Many Connecticut residents say those repairs can take months.
This hour, we hear from local advocates about a recently-formed legislative task force, and their goals for next session. In particular, they hope to study and set limits on repair turnaround times. UPitt researcher Dr. Lynn Woroby also shares her findings on the frequency of wheelchair breakdowns.
Plus, how does private equity impact health care? Private Equity Stakeholder Project is a nonprofit watchdog organization investigating this question. Eileen O'Grady joins us.
GUESTS:
- Jonathan Sigworth: Member, CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition; Member, State Independent Living Council; Consumer Spokesperson, Wheelchair Task Force; Co-Founder, Co-CEO and President, More Than Walking
- Farrah Garland: Member, CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition; Member, State Independent Living Council
- Eileen O'Grady: Research and Campaign Manager, Private Equity Stakeholder Project
- Lynn Woroby: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an epi
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Are you finally reading that bestseller that’s been collecting dust on your nightstand? Are you revisiting a dog-eared old favorite? If you're reading poolside, beachside or from your favorite park bench, we want to hear from you because today is Where We Live's Summer Reading Show!
If you don't know what to read this summer, we've got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a new fiction to thrill you, or a memoir to inspire you, we have reading recommendations to make the most of these long summer days.
And the benefits of summer reading for children are numerous. Studies show that not only does reading help with preventing summer learning loss, but help with social-emotional reading. We'll hear from two children's librarians in our state.
Buckle in as we dive into the best books of the summer. Tell us what you're reading!
GUESTS:
- Mary Parmelee: Director of Youth Services at The Westport Library
- Kym Powe: Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
- Mandy Dorso: Bookstore Manager, Atticus Books in New Haven
- Khamani Harrison: Owner of Key Bookstore in Hartford
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Are you finally reading that bestseller that’s been collecting dust on your nightstand? Are you revisiting a dog-eared old favorite? If you're reading poolside, beachside or from your favorite park bench, we want to hear from you because today is Where We Live's Summer Reading Show!
If you don't know what to read this summer, we've got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a new fiction to thrill you, or a memoir to inspire you, we have reading recommendations to make the most of these long summer days.
And the benefits of summer reading for children are numerous. Studies show that not only does reading help with preventing summer learning loss, but help with social-emotional reading. We'll hear from two children's librarians in our state.
Buckle in as we dive into the best books of the summer. Tell us what you're reading!
GUESTS:
- Mary Parmelee: Director of Youth Services at The Westport Library
- Kym Powe: Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
- Mandy Dorso: Bookstore Manager, Atticus Books in New Haven
- Khamani Harrison: Owner of Key Bookstore in Hartford, CT
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Across Connecticut's thousands of farms, spanning nearly 400,000 acres, the average age of farmers just under the national average at 58. Over 90% of senior Connecticut farmers don’t have a younger person tapped to take the reins, according to an American Farmland Trust study.
This hour, we dig into local and federal efforts to support new and young farmers with New Connecticut Farmers Alliance President Liz Guerra. Plus, federal policy reporter Lisa Hagen has the latest on the 2023 farm bill.
We also spoke with Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, who stressed the need for stability and funding "safety nets" for farmers in the state, particularly during "a year like this year where you had a moderate winter, two pretty dramatic frost events, a drought" and, most recently, a flood.
RELATED: Liz Guerra and her husband Héctor Gerardo were recently interviewed for a series about Connecticut's BIPOC farmers and efforts to diversify the state's population of farmers, which is 98% white.
Later, we'll learn more about 4-H, a nonprofit at the heart of harvest festivals where we live. Matthew Syrotiak, a 4-H alum, now works on a family farm. We hear from the "G.O.A.T. of goats."
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Public and the Connecticut Mirror
- Liz Guerra: President, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance; Owner-Operator, SEAmarron Farmstead in Danbury
- Mary Claire Whelan: Coordinator, New Connecticut Farmer Alliance
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Matthew Syrotiak: 4-H Alumni; Dairy Farmer
- Jen Cushman: 4-H Program Leader, UConn Extension
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Extreme heat can leave us feeling exhausted after doing the most basic activities of daily living like getting groceries or commuting to work. Low air quality can leave many with sore throats and runny eyes.
And researchers say the health side effects can be much more dire, worsening respiratory and cardiac health. Today, we explore the real health impacts of climate change and how you should prepare.
New research is showing that climate change isn’t just impacting our physical health, but our mental health as well.
Many young people struggle with eco-anxiety or climate anxiety; this is “broadly defined as negative cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses associated with concerns about climate change.”
Each community in Connecticut is being impacted by climate change in unique ways. How is climate change impacting you, where you live?
GUESTS:
- Anne Hulick: Connecticut Director, Clean Water Action
- State Senator Saud Anwar: 3rd State Senate District representing East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington and South Windsor
- Dr. Joshua Wortzel: chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s committee on climate change and mental health
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Virtually all Connecticut residents engage in the arts, culture and humanities, either formally or informally, a recent survey found. But attendance rates at many cultural organizations haven't quite returned to pre-pandemic levels.
This hour, we get the latest from Connecticut Humanities executive director Jason Mancini, and hear about a recent push for a "roadmap" that would better fund and link the arts, culture and tourism in the state. We also check in with the Maritime Aquarium, and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, formerly the Connecticut Historical Society.
Have you taken advantage of Connecticut's Summer at the Museum? Listeners this hour shouted out locations like the New England Air Museum, the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum, and more.
Plus, we preview early plans to highlight the state's revolutionary history in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. Former Secretary of State Denise Merrill spoke about the creation of the Connecticut Semiquincentennial Commission in advance of "America 250."
We also revisit a recent conversation on Connecticut Public Radio's Disrupted with Maisa Tisdale, CEO and President of the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. The homes in Bridgeport are some of the last remaining structures of Little Liberia, one of the earliest settlements of free people of color in pre-Civil War Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Jason Mancini: Executive Director, Connecticut Humanities
- Cyndi Tolosa: Development Director, Connecticut Humanities
- Denise Merrill: Former Connecticut Secretary of State
- Jason Patlis: President and CEO, Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk
- Robert Kret: CEO, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
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For some, gardening can act as a love letter to our family history. The act of cultivating the same plants and herbs that your grandmother, or great grandmother might have grown, can keep us connected to our roots.
It can also serve as a reminder of what people needed to do in order to survive - through history and the present. The act of gardening goes beyond working with the soil in our own backyards.
Today, we hear from Phou Vongkhamdy. He is the Rhode Island State Conservationist and he is also a refugee from Laos. He was raised on a family farm growing rice, tobacco, silkworms, sugar cane, and vegetables.
And later, we listen back to a Connecticut Museum of Culture and History conversation with gardeners in the AAPI community; a conversation called “Heritage Roots.” Each panelist spoke about what it means to be able to grow plants and seeds from their culture, and learn how they're using their gardens to stay connected to their heritage.
GUESTS:
- Phou Vongkhamdy: Rhode Island State Conservationist
- Vicheth Im: organic farmer and homesteader in Preston,
- Mao Yang: member of Hmong Foundation of Connecticut
- May Choua Yang: member of Hmong Foundation of Connecticut
- Christine Kim: co-founder of aapiNHV
- Hien Nguyen: member of APAC Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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It has been one week since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action and “race-conscious” college admissions programs. The decision has roiled Connecticut colleges and universities.
Hearst Connecticut reported that every school that replied to their request for comment “expressed frustration with the decisions.”
This hour, we hear from current and prospective students where we live, as well as local admissions officers and administrators. Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa Núñez, who announced her retirement in May, has long championed broadened college access for underrepresented groups.
GUESTS:
- Irene Pham: Student, UCONN
- Deven Pierre: Student, UCONN
- Tatiana Watson: Student, CREC Academy of International Studies
- Samariya Smith: Community Advocate AKA "Community Mama," Greater Hartford Area
- Elissa Nadworny: Correspondent, NPR
- Elsa Núñez: President, Eastern Connecticut State University
- Vern Granger: Director of Admissions, UCONN
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently lifted the COVID-19 "emergency," but the pandemic isn't over.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health issued guidance in light of the end of the federal Public Health Emergency on May 11, clarifying that "Ending the COVID-19 emergency declarations does not mean the virus has been eradicated."
This hour, epidemiologist Dr. Saad Omer joins us to discuss.Plus, we revisit our conversation with scientist and Connecticut native Dr. Peter Hotez. His new book, the third he has written about the COVID-19 pandemic, is due out September 19.
The Deadly Rise of Anti-science: A Scientist’s Warning is described as "an eyewitness story of how the anti-vaccine movement grew into a dangerous and prominent anti-science element in American politics." You can listen to the full conversation here.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Saad Omer: Epidemiologist; Inaugural Dean, Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Dr. Peter J. Hotez: Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine; Author, The Deadly Rise of Anti-science: A Scientist’s Warning
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Connecticut is one of only a few states that has a State Troubadour - an ambassador of music and song. And the state troubadour is also tasked with promoting cultural literacy, creative arts and wellness in the community.
Today, we talk to Kala Farnham, Connecticut’s Troubadour and hear about her creative process and the power of healing through music.
Later, we touch base with theaters around our state. Most theaters have returned to a full season of in person performances. And many performing arts spaces are taking the time to think critically about equity, diversity and accessibility on and off the stage.
We hear from the Ivoryton Playhouse, as well as Wheel Life Theatre Troupe.
We want to hear from you. What shows are you seeing this summer?
GUESTS:
- Kala Farnham: Connecticut State Troubadour
- Laura Sheehan: Actor withCapital Classics Theatre Company
- Kiera Sheehan: Actor with Capital Classics Theatre Company
- Keely Baisden Knudsen: Artistic Director, and Co-Founder of Legacy Theatre, and Wheel Life Theatre Troupe
- Jacqui Hubbard: Artistic Director, Ivoryton Playhouse
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Earlier this month, the Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ people, following "the worst year on record" for the number of anti-LGBTQ legislative proposals and wins.
The ACLU mapped and tracked 491 bills this session, including two in Connecticut. Many of those proposals are aimed at gender-affirming health care.
There are several protections for trans and nonbinary people in Connecticut, and in some cases, beyond the border. Connecticut's Safe Harbor Law, passed in response to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, includes legal protections for people seeking gender-affirming health care from out-of-state.
But advocates say the state is not immune from ideological or political attack. Diana Lombardi, the former executive director of the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition, and a current member of Governor Lamont’s Hate Crimes Advisory Council, notes the favorable political climate and support from "the governor on down." But "my concern here in the state of Connecticut is that pressure would be mounting to do away with our health care," she says.
This hour, we hear from the ACLU's Gillian Branstetter, and independent journalist Erin Reed, who has been maintaining a monthly "legislative risk" map of the U.S. Plus, Katy Tierney, the medical director at Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness, and local reporter Dawn Ennis.
GUESTS:
- William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General
- Gillian Branstetter: Communications Strategist for the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project and LGBTQ & HIV Project
- Erin Reed: Independent Journalist; Author, Erin in the Morning on Substack
- Diana Lombardi: Executive Director of Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition and member of Lamont’s Hate Crimes Advisory Council
- Katy Tierney: Medical Director, Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness
- Dawn Ennis: Reporter and Opinion Columnist
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R.F. Kuang's works of historical fantasy, including The Poppy War series, have been racking up awards since she began publishing in 2018. Her novel Babel won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writers this week.The same day, her latest book Yellowface debuted.
It is Kuang's fifth novel, and a shift from fantasy to literary fiction. The satirical thriller takes on the commercial publishing world, and through it, "questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation." Not to mention, "the terrifying alienation of social media."
This hour, R.F. Kuang joins us. Minor spoilers lie ahead...
GUESTS:
- R.F. Kuang: Author, Yellowface; Babel; The Poppy War Trilogy
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired May 18, 2023.
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Of the millions of people working in STEM fields in the U.S., only 9% are Black, according to the Pew Research Center. Those numbers are "unchanged" since 2016.
How can efforts around “inclusivity” in these fields go farther? Environmental scientist Dr. Nyeema Harris has written about the importance of Blackology.
“Blackologists are not simply scholars that are Black but, rather, are scholars who deliberately leverage and intersect Blackness into advancing knowledge production," she writes.
Dr. Harris joins us to discuss how this approach is applied to environmental science and so many other disciplines.
Plus, public health professor Dr. Ijeoma Opara discusses her work to reduce racial health disparities, and to "strengthen the pipeline of Black youth to the field of public health research."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Ijeoma Opara: Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health; Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Nursing
- Dr. Nyeema Harris: Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation, Yale School of the Environment
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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While contestants with Connecticut ties have appeared on the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race in the past, the Season 15 premiere on MTV marks the first time more than one Connecticut drag queen has been represented.
Robin Fierce from Hartford, Loosey LaDuca from Ansonia, Amethyst from West Hartford and Jax from the Bronx, raised in Connecticut, comprised this season's Connecticut contingent.
This hour, Loosey and Robin join us to discuss how they discovered drag, developed their artistry, and why they’re determined to confront misunderstanding by showcasing drag as a force for good.
GUESTS:
- Loosey LaDuca: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
- Robin Fierce: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 27, 2023.
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Connecticut rolled out a Black and Latino history elective this past school year, the first of several recent curricular updates and mandates to go live statewide. This hour, we hear from social studies teachers Daisha Brabham and Julian Shafer about how they worked with the curriculum offered by the state.
Plus, their students share their experiences. Students in Windsor recently led a push to offer the elective to ninth-graders.
Brabham and Shafer also discuss an Educators Bill of Rights they helped draft, along with several educator organizations in the state.
According to PEN America, there have been 78 different legislative proposals since 2021 that are aimed at K-12 curriculum, referred to by the free speech org as "gag order bills." Connecticut is often seen as a kind of safe haven from these kinds of political or ideological attacks in the classroom, but we’ve seen a rise in debates over curriculum and book ban requests in our state too.
The Educators Bill of Rights calls for "learning spaces for students and working spaces for educators that are free from harassment and intimidation," and underscores the need "to teach in accurate and complex ways without censure or punishment."
GUESTS:
- Daisha Brabham: Teacher, Windsor High School
- Julian Shafer: Teacher, Danbury High School
- Sarai Pichardo: Student, Danbury High School
- Damela Seal: Student, Windsor High School
- Christine Palm: Democratic State Representative
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John Ondrasik, better known as Five for Fighting, has been performing since childhood. And after several hit singles, he hasn’t slowed down. He’s currently touring with the Barenaked Ladies and Del Amitri. They’ll be performing at the Mohegan Sun in July.
In 2001, Ondrasik became a sensation after his single “Superman” was released and became a token tribute song to those lost in the September 11th attacks. Since then, he’s been known for his emotional chart-topping anthems that defined the early 2000s. He has gone on to do extensive philanthropic work to support the troops. Last year, he recorded a music video in Ukraine.
He knows that his music carries a lot of nostalgia for certain generations. Today, we’re talking to John about his musical journey and his advocacy efforts throughout the years.
GUEST:
- John Ondrasik: Singer-songwriter and pianist known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist, Five For Fighting.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Parents in Granby, Connecticut, are deeply divided over a 45-second video shown to students. The short video featured kids talking about Pride Month. Today, we unpack this conversation and what LGBTQ studies at the secondary and elementary school level might look like.
Irene Parisi, Chief Academic Officer at the Connecticut State Department of Education, joins us to talk about this debate. And we hear from the 15 year old organizer of the first ever Granby Pride event.
And later, author and teacher Chasten Buttigieg joins us to discuss his book. He is the husband of 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in 2018. His book, I Have to Tell You Something, was originally published in 2020 and has since been rewritten and republished as I Have to Tell You Something - For Young Adults. He joins us for a conversation over Zoom to talk about his book and his message to LGBTQ youth.
GUESTS:
- James Crocker: 15 year old organizer of Granby Pride and sophomore Granby Memorial High School
- Irene Parisi: Chief Academic Officer at Connecticut State Department of Education
- Paul Freeman: Superintendent of Guilford Public Schools
- Chasten Buttigieg: Author of I Have to Tell You Something, teacher, and advocate
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Aisha Harris is a cultural critic and co-host for NPR’s Pop Culture Hour, and she’s out with a new book, titled Wannabe: Reckonings With The Pop Culture That Shapes Me.
Today, she joins us for the hour, discussing the ways early influences shape her role today as critic, including her upbringing in Connecticut.
What popular song, movie or TV show marks a moment in your life, or stuck with you?
GUESTS:
- Aisha Harris: Co-Host, NPR's Pop Culture Hour; Author, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me
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We’ve done this show every year (except 2012) since 2011. (We maybe even did it in 2010. We probably did. I just can’t prove it.)
So it’s a bit of a tradition. It’s a tradition that… makes some people angry, we realize.
And that has a lot to do with how we define the term ‘song of the summer.’ We use the Amanda Dobbins definition:
Let’s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a ‘personal’ song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea what rhymes with ‘hug me’ and won’t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.
So it’s our job here to figure out what song from 2023 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like “Party Rock Anthem,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Despacito,” and “Blurred Lines.”
And if we’re wrong, well, it really just won’t matter at all.
GUESTS:
- Sam Hadelman: Works in music public relations and hosts The Sam Hadelman Show at Radio Free Brooklyn
- Brendan Jay Sullivan: A writer, producer, and DJ
- Cassie Willson: A comedian and musician
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Earlier this spring, horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi joined us on Where We Live to answer all your gardening questions and we got this comment from listener on Facebook saying “loving this episode! You should do it weekly or monthly!” We hear you listeners, so we are back with another hour on Connecticut gardening. But today, we’re exploring some of the state’s most remarkable public and historic gardens.
Caryn B Davis is an architectural and landscape design photographer, and she is also the author of a new book entitled Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens. Today, she joins us to talk about the gardens around the state you’ll want to explore.
Connecticut Historic Gardens Day is coming up on June 25th. Many of Connecticut historic houses will be opening their gardens up to the public. We'll hear about what it takes to maintain the grounds of these places. And later, we hear what it takes to become a master gardener.
It’s a gardening hour like no other!
GUESTS:
- Caryn B Davis: architectural, and landscape design photographer and author of Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens
- Chris Lawrie: Landscape designer, consultant and writer of Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens
- Jodi Debruine: Beatrice Fox Auerbach Director of Collections, Mark Twain House
- Jill Hogan: Connecticut Gardens Day
- Sandi Wilson: Fairfield County Master Gardener Coordinator for the University of Connecticut Extension Master Gardener Program
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Anticoagulant rodenticide, a quick fix for controlling the rat and mice population, is now having an effect on birds of prey.
Today, we talk to A Place Called Hope, a local raptor rehabilitator here in Connecticut, about how it’s impacting birds across our state. After ingesting this poison, there is little that can be done to save the life of these birds.
We’ll hear about legislation to limit the use of these poisons and alternatives to rodenticide. The traditional snap traps aren’t the only way to keep out the mice!
Later, we hear about efforts to eliminate construction waste, an innovative way to mitigate climate change.
GUESTS:
- Christine Cummings: Executive Director of A Place Called Hope
- Tom Andersen: Director of Communications, the Connecticut Audubon Society
- Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter CAI
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing.
The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.
Plus, one California-based slime-maker is raking in millions from children and adults alike. There's even one slime product called "Clay-Doh."What toy from your childhood still sparks joy? Connecticut Public staffers and listeners respond.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek: Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Olivya Soth: Co-Owner, OG Slimes
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 3, 2023.
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Connecticut residents have the highest average credit card in the nation.
Although personal finance courses are offered in high schools, they aren’t mandated to graduate. And often, these courses don’t address the complex financial challenges of their students.
Today, on Where We Live, we talk about giving more students access to financial literacy, and making that curriculum more inclusive.
We want to hear from you. Did you learn about credit cards, budgeting or taxes in school? How were you taught to manage your money?
GUESTS:
- Dana Miranda: Founder and Financial Educator of Healthy Rich
- Dr. Monette Ferguson: Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Empowerment in Bridgeport
- Nan J. Morrison: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Economic Education
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 9, 2023.
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Danielle Capalbo is the lead singer of Connecticut local band DaniProbably. She recently recorded her song "Cowboy" with Grammy-winning producer Peter Katis. But she didn't lay down tracks at at a recording studio. She recorded at a library.
The Westport Library in Connecticut is the first library to record, produce and release a vinyl record. Today, we talk to members of this library and how they are rethinking the changing and emerging role of libraries. We’ll hear how the library has created spaces to nurture and resource local artists.
We'll also hear from some of the bands featured on the album join us to talk about this process.
We want to hear from you. What do you use your local library for?
GUESTS:
- Travis Bell: Audio Studios Manager at the Verso Studios at the Westport Library
- Danielle Capalbo: band member of DaniProbably
- Dylan Hundley: cofounder and lead singer of Lulu Lewis
- Dooley O: artist and DJ based out of New Haven
- Bill Harmer: Executive Director at the Westport Library
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world.
But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods.
This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic.
GUESTS:
- Rachel Kauder Nalebuff: Editor, Our Red Book
- Michelle Memran: Documentary Filmmaker
- Kica Matos: New Haven-based Immigration Rights Activist and Organizer
- Axel Gay: Teen Writer
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 10, 2023.
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We talk to a lot of interesting people on the show. Today, we’re revisiting three memorable conversations we’ve had this year.
Eric Jacobsen just completed his final season as the conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. We spoke with Eric about his work as a conductor and also heard about the search for the next orchestra leader.
The State Department of Education and Connecticut’s five sovereign tribal nations are working together to develop Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes which will be rolled out next year. We’ll hear from a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation about how local tribes worked with the state on this curriculum.
For Earth Day 2023, the New England News Collaborative highlighted innovative solutions to mitigating climate change, including a renewed interest in green burials. We talk to a Vermont Public Radio reporter about how they’re having a resurgence in New England.
GUESTS:
- Eric Jacobsen: Former conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony orchestra. He is also a cellist and a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project
- Darlene Kascak: Education Coordinator, Institute of American Indian Studies; Traditional Native American Storyteller, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
- Lexi Krupp: Science and Health Reporter for Vermont Public
You can listen back to the full interviews below:
- Conductor Eric Jacobsen says goodbye to the Greater Bridgeport Symphony
- Connecticut tribes co-create state social studies curriculum, centering 'our culture and our ways'
- Small solutions to climate change that make a big impact
Check out the NENC 2023 Earth Week coverage here.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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For months, Republicans and Democrats have clashed over the national debt limit. But over the weekend, President Joe Biden and House Republicans reached a deal. Now, it goes to both the House and Senate before the June 5th deadline. This hour, we break down what debt negotiations in Washington D.C. mean up here in Connecticut.
Plus, according to a new report, Connecticut has aggressive probation practices. We’ll explain what that means for residents of the state. We'll also look at efforts to curtail the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen:Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
- Alex Putterman:Reporter, CT Insider and Hearst Connecticut Media
- Mark Pazniokas: Capitol Bureau Chief, CT Mirror
- Seth Stern:Director of Advocacy, Freedom of the Press Foundation
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With so many outdoor spaces to explore in New England, we forget that some of the best hikes, and parks are right here in our backyard.
Today, we’re talking about trails and efforts to conserve Connecticut’s state parks. We hear from the couple behind efforts to refurbish Batterson Park and officially make it a state park.
We also hear about some efforts to make parks and greenspaces more inclusive for all residents.
We want to hear from you. What’s your favorite park, trail or hike here in Connecticut?
GUESTS:
- Neil Connors and Allison Cappuccio: Co-founders of Batterson Park Conservancy
- Amy Hernandez: Outings Leader at Latino Outdoors
- Clare Cain: Trails Director, Connecticut Forest & Park Association
- Phil Birge-Liberman: Associate Professor in Residence with the Urban and Community Studies Program at UConn Hartford
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Congressman Jim Himes has been serving in Congress since 2009 when he was elected to represent Connecticut's 4th district. Since then, he’s become a democratic leader focused on national security and intelligence concerns.
This hour on Where We Live, he joins us to look ahead to the 2024 election and talk through his priorities. We also talk about what he thinks of the debt limit deal reached this weekend between the White House and GOP house speaker Kevin McCarthy.
We’ll reflect back on how things in Washington and across the nation have changed since January 6th and what to expect for the 2024 presidential election.
GUESTS:
- Congressman Jim Himes: Representing Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District
- Lisa Hagen:Federal Policy Reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public
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A Pew survey from 2018 estimated 13% of adults consult tarot card readers, astrologers or "fortune-tellers." But more recent market research shows sales for tarot card decks and psychic services are growing.
This hour, we explore the art of divination and "card-pulling" in Connecticut.
Hear from professional tarot reader Afton Jacobs-Williams, AKA Monty's Tarot Child. Plus, Chelsea Granger is a multidisciplinary artist who co-created Dirt Gems, a plant-themed oracle deck.
RELATED: Seasoned visited Tea & Tarot in Madison. Listen here...
But first, hear more about the origins of tarot or "tarrochi." We preview some of the research going on at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, home to some of the oldest existing tarot cards.
GUESTS:
- Timothy Young: Curator, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
- Afton Williams-Jacobs: Monty's Tarot Child; Tarot Reader, Tea & Tarot
- Chelsea Granger: Multidisciplinary Artist; Co-Creator, Dirt Gems Plant Oracle Card Deck & Guidebook
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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There’s currently a debate in America about what students should be learning about U.S. history. Some say we don’t revere American exceptionalism enough. Others say we're giving ourselves an A+ by excluding the tests we failed.
HumoristAlexandra Petri says both sides are wrong. We just don’t know enough about the things we need to know, such as how inventor Nikola Tesla fell in love with his pigeon or about the secret tapes of Nixon yelling at his dog Checkers.
This hour, an irreverent look at how we teach, learn and remember U.S. history.
GUESTS:
- Alexandra Petri is a humorist, a columnist for the Washington Post and the author of Nothing Is Wrong and Here is Why, which was a Thurber Prize finalist. Her new book is Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents
- Mike Pesca is host of the podcast The Gist, author of the Substack column Pesca Profundities, and the editor of Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs In Sports History
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In one episode of the docu-series Reciprocity Project, Connecticut-based educator and member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe Chris Newell teaches acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma a pow-wow song. Together, they play at sunrise, "singing up the sun" in the tradition of the Wabanaki or People of the Dawnland, a confederation of four tribes in Maine including Passamaquoddy.
This hour, we hear about this film series from Newell and executive producer Tracy Rector, and about the increasing urgency of centering Indigenous perspectives on our planet and the climate. The series is intended to inspire conversation and action on climate; "to create a paradigm shift that reframes our relationships to the Earth, other living beings, and one another."
Plus, a conversation on the Native food movement with Navajo journalist and podcaster Andi Murphy.
GUESTS:
- Chris Newell: Co-Founder and Director of Education, Akowmawt Educational Initiative; Member of the Passamaquaddy Tribe; Museum Educator; Children's Book Author
- Tracy Rector: Managing Director of Storytelling, Nia Tero; Executive Producer, Reciprocity Project
- Jennifer Kreisberg: Composer; Member of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina
- Andi Murphy: Navajo Journalist; Host, Toasted Sister Podcast
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 10, 2023.
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Nearly 92% of American households reported owning at least one vehicle in a recent five-year 2021 census report. Connecticut falls just below that national average.
A recent Forbes study found that the average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance in Connecticut is $1,730. Plus, the report ranks Connecticut as the most expensive state for car repairs, averaging around $400 for check engine light-related car fixes.
This hour, we talk about car culture in America, and how car dependency can translate into policies that prioritize roads over sidewalks, highways over public transit. Hear from UConn Professor Emeritus Dr. Norman Garrick, a luminary in the field of transportation and civil engineering.
Plus, his former student Adam Weber is now a civil engineer working for the city of New Haven, who also shares insights on transportation infrastructure with millions on social media.
GUESTS:
- Adam Weber: Project Manager, City of New Haven; @EverydayEngineering on TikTok
- Dr. Norman Garrick: Professor Emeritus, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 6, 2023.
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Whether they’ve been written by a loved one or a local newsroom, obituaries are an earnest attempt at the impossible: distilling one person's life into a couple of pages or paragraphs.
This hour, we explore the delicate art of obituary-writing with two experts: Tampa Bay Times and Poynter writer Kristen Hare, and Lucy Gellman, an editor with New Haven's Arts Paper.
Plus, Epilogg co-founder Mary McGreevy shares "Tips from Dead People" on TikTok.
GUESTS:
- Kristen Hare: Writer, Tampa Bay Times; Local News Faculty and Writer, Poynter
- Lucy Gellman: Editor, The Arts Paper
- Mary McGreevy: Co-Founder, Epilogg; Tips from Dead People on TikTok
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 27, 2023.
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23% of the adult U.S. population cannot read above a third-grade level. Literacy isn’t limited to reading and writing, it can also refer to basic math, comprehension and critical thinking skills.
There is no part of the U.S. population that isn’t touched by low literacy. And many people suffer from shame around the struggle to read and write.
According to ProLiteracy, bringing reading levels up “would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income. Today, we get a deeper understanding of adult literacy in our country and across our state.
GUESTS:
- Haleigh Guerrera: Basic Literacy Tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
- Aliyya Swaby: Reporter for ProPublica
- Mark Vineis: President and CEO of ProLiteracy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 7, 2023.
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R.F. Kuang's works of historical fantasy, including The Poppy War series, have been racking up awards since she began publishing in 2018. Her novel Babel won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writers this week.
The same day, her latest book Yellowface debuted.
It is Kuang's fifth novel, and a shift from fantasy to literary fiction. The satirical thriller takes on the commercial publishing world, and through it, "questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation." Not to mention, "the terrifying alienation of social media."
This hour, R.F. Kuang joins us. Minor spoilers lie ahead...
GUESTS:
- R.F. Kuang: Author,Yellowface; Babel; The Poppy WarTrilogy
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There are over 4,000 foster children living in Connecticut. May is Foster Care Month. From what's seen on TV and the media, foster care looks like a selfless, philanthropic act; willing foster parents open up their homes to children in need.
But being a foster parent is a complicated job that requires many layers of kindness and sensitivity. Laura is a foster parent based out of California. She received a lot of attention sharing a video about her experience as a foster mom and continues to share her experience and advice on social media.
The topics range from navigating relationships between foster parents and biological parents, to preparing your home before you become a foster parent.
We talk about this complex system involving caretakers, lawmakers, and of course, the children placed in the state's care. If you have direct experience with the foster care, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Laura: a foster parent in California and she manages Foster Parent Partner
- Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes: Connecticut Department of Children and Families
- Josiah Brown: Executive Director of Connecticut CASA, a statewide network of volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates who work to advance the best interests of children
- Tricia Goldburn: Court Appointed Special Advocate, Connecticut CASA
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A proposed bill would set limits on how warehouses track worker productivity where we live. Amazon – which currently employs more than 15,000 Connecticut residents across its 14 locations – was the focus of a recent hearing on the bill.
This hour, an Amazon spokesperson responds to the legislation. Kelly Nantel says they support the "goal of the bill" and look forward to working with state lawmakers, but clarifies that Amazon does not have "set quotas" for workers. "We assess our performance based on what we believe are safe and achievable expectations for all employees."
Plus, State Sen. Julie Kushner, Business Insider tech correspondent Katherine Long, and CBIA's Eric Gjede join the conversation.
GUESTS:
- Kelly Nantel: Spokesperson, Amazon
- Julie Kushner: Democratic State Senator; Chair, Labor and Public Employees Committee
- Katherine Long: Tech Correspondent, Business Insider
- Eric Gjede: VP of Public Policy, Connecticut Business and Industry Association
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Spring is here and it’s time for our annual spring gardening hour and we are going back to basics.
What’s a zone? How do you choose the right kind of soil? How to keep your succulents alive all year round?
If you’re a new or inspiring gardener, Charlie Nardozzi is joining us to answer our questions and yours about getting comfortable with the soil.
We want to hear from you, what questions do you have about making the most of your garden?
GUEST:
- Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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the ripple, the wave that carried me home is a new play running at the Yale Repertory Theater, following a family of “aquatic activists” across decades, as they push for equity in access to pools.This hour, we hear from playwright Christina Anderson and director Tamilla Woodard, and we learn more about the history of racism at beaches and pool clubs where we live.
GUESTS:
- Christina Anderson: Playwright, the ripple, the wave that carried me home
- Tamilla Woodard: Director, the ripple, the wave that carried me home; Chair, Acting Program at David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University
- Andrew Kahrl: History Professor, University of Virginia; Author, Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America's Most Exclusive Shoreline
- Henry Fernandez: Executive Director, LEAP for Kids
- Ryan Rooks: Aquatic Director, LEAP for Kids
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Connecticut residents have the highest average credit card in the nation.
Although personal finance courses are offered in high schools, they aren’t mandated to graduate. And often, these courses don’t address the complex financial challenges of their students.
Today, on Where We Live, we talk about giving more students access to financial literacy, and making that curriculum more inclusive.
We want to hear from you. Did you learn about credit cards, budgeting or taxes in school? How were you taught to manage your money?
GUESTS:
- Dana Miranda: Founder and Financial Educator of Healthy Rich
- Dr. Monette Ferguson: Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Empowerment in Bridgeport
- Nan J. Morrison: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Economic Education
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Of the millions of people working in STEM fields in the U.S., only 9% are Black, according to the Pew Research Center. Those numbers are "unchanged" since 2016.How can efforts around “inclusivity” in these fields go farther? Environmental scientist Dr. Nyeema Harris has written about the importance of Blackology.“Blackologists are not simply scholars that are Black but, rather, are scholars who deliberately leverage and intersect Blackness into advancing knowledge production," she writes.Dr. Harris joins us to discuss how this approach is applied to environmental science and so many other disciplines.Plus, public health professor Dr. Ijeoma Opara discusses her work to reduce racial health disparities, and to "strengthen the pipeline of Black youth to the field of public health research."GUESTS:
- Dr. Ijeoma Opara: Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health; Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Nursing
- Dr. Nyeema Harris: Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation, Yale School of the Environment
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 24.
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Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing.
The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.
Plus, one California-based slime-maker is raking in millions from children and adults alike. There's even one slime product called "Clay-Doh."What toy from your childhood still sparks joy? Connecticut Public staffers and listeners respond.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek: Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Olivya Soth: Co-Owner, OG Slimes
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 3, 2023.
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As of January 1, Connecticut children are eligible for Medicaid or HUSKY Health until the age of 12, regardless of their immigration status. A new bill would expand coverage to 15, and possibly to 18.This hour, we get the latest on the legislation from State Sen. Matt Lesser, and hear from organizers with the HUSKY 4 Immigrants campaign.
Werner Oyanadel, the Latino and Puerto Rican policy director at the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, spoke in favor of expanding HUSKY access during a Human Services Committee hearing back in February. He noted that the Commission supported the "legislature's recent incremental approach to expand eligibility requirements for medical coverage to a broader range of families."
Plus, Politico’s Megan Messerly looks into how Connecticut coverage compares to other states.
GUESTS:
- Luis Luna: Coalition Manager, HUSKY 4 Immigrants
- Rosana Ferraro: Program Lead for Health Justice Policy Advocacy, Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut
- Matt Lesser: Democratic State Senator; Senate Chair, Human Services Committee
- Constanza Segovia: Founding Member, Hartford Deportation Defense
- Megan Messerly: Health Care Reporter, Politico
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Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto is a native of Torrington and a big proponent of transit oriented development. Today, he joins us to answer our questions and yours about Connecticut transportation.
From pedestrian safety to lowering the blood alcohol limit, we’ll hear about his office’s efforts to create safer roadways in our state. With transit oriented development and getting more EVs or electric vehicles, on the road, green energy remains part of the larger conversation when it comes to Connecticut transportation.
We want to hear from you and learn how you’d like to see our roads improve.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto
- Alec Slatky: Managing Director of Public Affairs at AAA Northeast
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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While May Day may draw its roots from a pagan holiday pinned to spring's arrival, it has a more modern incarnation inspired by the fight for the eight-hour work day in Chicago, and later, in Connecticut.
This hour, Fairfield University history professor Cecelia Bucki discusses.
Plus, we check in on some of the recently-formed unions where we live, including Starbucks and student unions at Yale and Wesleyan Universities.
NPR labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu responds.
GUESTS:
- Andrea Hsu: Labor and Workplace Correspondent, NPR
- Arita Acharya: Organizer, Local 33 at Yale University
- Travis Glenney-Tegtmeier: Union Member, Starbucks at Corbin's Corner in West Hartford
- Dr. Cecelia Bucki: Professor of History, Fairfield University
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Last week, a 12-year old Se'Cret Pierce living in Hartford was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Gun violence is one of the leading causes of deaths in America, and the leading cause of death in children. According to the Kaiser Family Foundations, gun-related incidents are common among adults. Despite this, research around this issue remains limited and vastly underfunded.
There is several areas of research when it comes to better understanding gun violence including mass shootings, suicide and intimate partner violence.
Today, we talk about the intersection of gun violence and public health and the push to view gun violence as a public health issue. We’ll hear from Dr. Jennifer Dineen. Associate Director of the Arms Center for Gun Injury Prevention at UConn.
We’ll also talk with Connecticut musician Jimmy Greene. He is the father of Sandy Hook victim Ana Grace Marquez-Greene.
How has gun violence impacted your community?
GUESTS:
- Andrew Woods: Chief Executive Officer of Hartford Communities That Care
- Dr. Jennifer Dineen: Associate Professor in Residence in the School of Public Policy and Associate Director of the Arms Center for Gun Injury Prevention at UConn
- Jimmy Greene: Professor of Music at Western Connecticut State University
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
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Whether they’ve been written by a loved one or a local newsrooms, obituaries are an earnest attempt at the impossible: distilling one person's life into a couple of pages or paragraphs.
This hour, we explore the delicate art of obituary-writing with two experts: Tampa Bay Times and Poynter writer Kristen Hare, and Lucy Gellman, an editor with New Haven's Arts Paper.
Plus, Epilogg co-founder Mary McGreevy shares "Tips from Dead People" on TikTok.
GUESTS:
- Kristen Hare: Writer, Tampa Bay Times; Local News Writer, Poynter
- Lucy Gellman: Editor, The Arts Paper
- Mary McGreevy: Co-Founder, Epilogg; Tips from Dead People on TikTok
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After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world.
But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods.
This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic.
GUESTS:
- Rachel Kauder Nalebuff: Editor, Our Red Book
- Michelle Memran: Documentary Filmmaker
- Kica Matos: New Haven-based Immigration Rights Activist and Organizer
- Axel Gay: Teen Writer
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its standards around a group of manmade substances called PFAS, promising stricter enforceable limits that would require public water systems to add filtration, or find another source.
So what will that mean in Connecticut, where water quality isn't uniformly monitored, and where the advisory limit currently in place under the State Department of Health is double the EPA's updated limit?
On Friday, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal announced 73.5 million dollars in federal funding for Connecticut’s cleanup, stressing that without federal dollars, the EPA’s new enforceable limits were "meaningless."
This hour, Connecticut Department of Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani discusses how testing and treatment in Connecticut is likely to change. Plus, investigative reporter Andrew Brown, and Dr. Rainer Lohmann, who heads up a PFAS-focused lab at the University of Rhode Island.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror
- Dr. Rainer Lohmann: Professor of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island; Director, STEEP Superfund Research Center
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When you’re searching for personal care products, whether a bar of soap or a bottle of lotion, are you reading the ingredients label? What harmful ingredients should be avoided?
A recent study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found potential links between the regular use of hair straightening products like relaxers that contained "formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals," and uterine cancer, prompting a new federal lawsuit.
There have been similarly troubling findings and lawsuits around some deodorants containing benzene, and powders containing talc contaminated with asbestos. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame found PFAS, sometimes called "forever chemicals," in 52% of cosmetics. Only a fraction of those products listed PFAS on the label.
This hour, we hear from local makers who are focused on safe and natural ingredients.
Plus, the Environmental Working Group has been building a searchable database of different products and ingredients for almost two decades, hoping to make it easier for consumers to shop smart.
GUESTS:
- Melanie Benesch: Vice President of Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group
- Christine Palm: Connecticut Democratic State Representative, 36th District
- Sami Jo Artus: Founder and Chief Beauty Maker, florapothecarie
- Mecca Davis-Provite: Owner, Rootuals Natural Hair Care
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 9, 2023.
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Calls to observe Muslim holidays in school calendars are growing in the U.S., along with the population of Muslim students. In 2018, Pew Research Center projected that Islam could be the country’s second-largest religion by 2040.
After students and advocates spoke up, Stamford's school board voted to observe Eid al-Fitr in the upcoming school year. Eid al-Fitr is the final, celebratory day of Ramadan, and the culmination of 29 or 30 days of fasting.
The Islamic calendar and each of its holy days are linked to the lunar cycle; the ninth lunar month of Ramadan rotates throughout the year, depending on when the new moon falls.
The Stamford school calendar will also notate Eid al-Adha, in addition to Diwali and Three Kings Day. While these three holidays will fall on weekends in the next school year, the notations ensure they are a consideration for classrooms.
This hour, we discuss the importance of educator awareness around religious holidays with Chaplain Aida Mansoor. Plus, Stamford Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero joins.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Tamu Lucero: Superintendent, Stamford Public Schools
- Aida Mansoor: Chaplain; Director of Field Education, Hartford International University
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Climate change is presenting so many challenges in our region, but residents around New England are rising to the occasion.
Today, we hear from reporters from the New England News Collaborative on new solutions to mitigating climate change.
From green burials, to eliminating construction waste and even climate proofing our agriculture, we’ll hear about a variety of innovations that could make a big impact.
What is your community doing to fight climate change, where you live?
For Earth Day 2023, journalists from the New England News Collaborative worked together to tell stories of people in New England who are finding unexpected and creative ways to act on climate change. Check out more of the NENC Earth Week coverage here.
GUESTS:
- Lexi Krupp: Science and Health Reporter for Vermont Public
- Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter
CAI - Patrick Skahill: Reporter and Digital Editor for Connecticut Public
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Between March 2020 and September 2021, over 10,000 incidents of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported. That’s according to the advocacy group, Stop AAPI Hate.
It was only recently that Connecticut mandated AAPI studies in public schools- by the 2025-26 school year it’ll be a core part of social studies education.
How are those directly affected by this change responding? And what is it like to be a young Asian American growing up in the state? Students from UCONN’s AAPI Advisory Board and Curriculum lab join us.
GUESTS:
- Lynna Vo: UCONN Undergraduate Student
- Eira Parkash: Farmington High Student
- Max Bonadies: Glastonbury High Student
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Where do our clothes come from? According to the Textile Exchange, 52% of our clothes are made from polyester.
Fast fashion is an enormous industry, allowing us to purchase low cost clothing quickly and efficiently. But the toll these companies take on the environment is significant, and the workplace conditions for the factories that create these products are questionable at best.
Building sustainable, ethical practices into the fashion industry will be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle, and build better quality fabrics. Today, we talk about these solutions and what fashion brands can do to build sustainability.
We learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and author of the new book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion joins us.We’ll also hear from Reboot Eco, a zero waste and swap shop in Middletown, Connecticut.
What does shopping look like for you? Do you thrift for your clothes, or prefer the convenience of shopping online?
GUESTS:
- Miriah Kelly: Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Southern Connecticut State University
- Lucianne Tonti - consultant for sustainable designers and author of Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion
- Yasemin Ugurlu - Founder and Owner of Reboot Eco
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Willie Mae Brown is the author of a new book My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement. The book, written for young adults, reflects on her time growing up in Alabama and how the civil rights era shaped her coming of age. Today, we’ll hear her message for the next generation of activists.
Brown lived in Selma, Alabama until she was 17, when she moved to New York City. Growing up in Selma, she experienced the civil rights movement first hand - including meeting Martin Luther King Jr. when she was 12.In the intro, Brown explains, “I write these stories of a Selma that I knew and loved. My own Selma. A Selma that brought me joy, troubled me, and baptized me into racial injustice and into the race for justice.”
Where We Live Senior Producer Tess Terrible guest hosts this conversation.
GUESTS:
- Willie Mae Brown: author and visual artist. She recently published her first book, My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement.
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 4, 2023.
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Anticoagulant rodenticide, a quick fix for controlling the rat and mice population, is now having an effect on birds of prey.
Today, we talk to A Place Called Hope, a local raptor rehabilitator here in Connecticut, about how it’s impacting birds across our state. After ingesting this poison, there is little that can be done to save the life of these birds.
We’ll hear about legislation to limit the use of these poisons and alternatives to rodenticide. The traditional snap traps aren’t the only way to keep out the mice!
Later, we hear from the Connecticut Audubon Society. They are celebrating their 125th anniversary and have a special birding challenge to mark the occasion.
We want to hear. Have you seen falcons, hawks and eagles, where you live?
GUESTS:
- Christine Cummings: Executive Director of A Place Called Hope
- Tom Andersen: Director of Communications, the Connecticut Audubon Society
- Kathi Borgmann: Communications Manager, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, acclaimed scientist and Connecticut native Dr. Peter J. Hotez has helped translate what we know about the virus and vaccines, taking countless live "news hits" from his office at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.
Behind-the-scenes, he helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
Now, he’s working on a new book, his third about the COVID-19 pandemic, due out September 19. The Deadly Rise of Anti-science: A Scientist’s Warning is described as “an eyewitness story of how the anti-vaccine movement grew into a dangerous and prominent anti-science element in American politics.”
This hour, he joins us to discuss this movement, and to issue a "warning."
Plus, Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer responds.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Peter J. Hotez: Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine; Author, The Deadly Rise of Anti-science: A Scientist’s Warning
- Marc Zimmer: Chemistry Professor, Connecticut College; Author, Science and the Skeptic
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23% of the adult U.S. population cannot read above a third-grade level. Literacy isn’t limited to reading and writing, it can also refer to basic math, comprehension and critical thinking skills.
According to ProLiteracy, bringing reading levels up “would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income. Today, we get a deeper understanding of adult literacy in our country and across our state.
There is no part of the U.S. population that isn’t touched by low literacy. And many people suffer from shame around the struggle to read and write.
GUESTS:
- Haleigh Guerrera:Basic Literacy Tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford
- Aliyya Swaby:Reporter for ProPublica
- Mark Vineis:President and CEO of ProLiteracy
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Nearly 92% of American households reported owning at least one vehicle in a recent five-year 2021 Census report. Connecticut falls just below that national average.
A recent Forbes study found the average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance in Connecticut is $1,730. Plus, the report ranks Connecticut as the most expensive state for car repairs, averaging around $400 for check engine light-related car fixes.
This hour, we talk about car culture in America, and how car dependency can translate into policies that prioritize roads over sidewalks, highways over public transit. Hear from UConn Professor Emeritus Dr. Norman Garrick, a luminary in the field of transportation and civil engineering.
Plus, his former student Adam Weber is now a civil engineer working for the City of New Haven, who also shares insights on transportation infrastructure with millions on social media.
GUESTS:
- Adam Weber: Project Manager, City of New Haven; @EverydayEngineering on TikTok
- Dr. Norman Garrick: Professor Emeritus, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn
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The recent congressional hearings with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew showed a continued disconnect between lawmakers and social media companies, and their users.
With lawmakers pushing for tougher restrictions on TikTok and in some cases an outright ban, many are asking, what are the real solutions to protecting our privacy online?
Today, we explore ways to regulate social media. Is a TikTok ban the first step to making internet privacy a human right?
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
- Willmary Escoto: U.S. Policy Analyst for Access Now, an organization that defends and extends the digital rights of people and communities at risk.
- Joshua Tucker: Professor of Politics and Codirector for the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics
- Sebastian Zimmeck: Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Wesleyan University
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Conley Monk Jr. came home to Hamden in 1970 after serving in the Vietnam War. His discharge was prompted by a PTSD-induced altercation in Okinawa, and categorized within the military as "other-than-honorable."
Mr. Monk spent decades trying to access basic benefits like disability coverage, until his appeal in 2015 ultimately changed how these kinds of cases are heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, now formally allowing class-action lawsuits.
This hour, Mr. Monk joins us along with his representation at Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic. We’ll discuss the new lawsuit they’ve filed against the VA, alleging racial discrimination.
Plus, a new report from the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) shows how racial disparities persist across military discharge status, and how this impedes veterans' access to benefits.
Across four out of five military branches and roughly one million separation documents CVLC obtained, Black service members "were approximately 1.5 times as likely as white service members to receive an Other Than Honorable rather than Honorable discharge, and approximately twice as likely as white service members to receive a General discharge."
While the VA has not responded to the suit directly, press secretary Terrence Hayes provided a written statement to Connecticut Public, saying that the agency is working to address "institutional racism" and to review policies.
What resources are there for veterans who are trying to secure benefits where we live, despite what can be burdensome discharge documentation?
GUESTS:
- Conley Monk Jr.: Vietnam Veteran; Founder, National Veterans Council for Legal Redress
- Michael Sullivan: Student Intern, Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic
- Alden Pinkham: Connecticut Bar Association Singer Fellow, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
- Chelsea Donaldson: Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Benefits Unit, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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While contestants with Connecticut ties have appeared on the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race in the past, the Season 15 premiere on MTV marks the first time more than one Connecticut drag queen has been represented.
Robin Fierce from Hartford, Loosey LaDuca from Ansonia, Amethyst from West Hartford and Jax from the Bronx, raised in Connecticut, comprised this season's Connecticut contingent.
This hour, Loosey and Robin join us to discuss how they discovered drag, developed their artistry, and why they’re determined to confront misunderstanding by showcasing drag as a force for good.
GUESTS:
- Loosey LaDuca: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
- Robin Fierce: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 27, 2023.
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How are museums where we live faring in returning sacred Indigenous objects and human remains, more than thirty years after a federal law mandated "repatriation"?
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, was passed by Congress in 1990. It called for federal agencies and federally-funded museums to repatriate Native American cultural items, including sacred objects and in many cases human remains.
A recent in-depth report from ProPublica found that museums and institutions across the country had failed to "expeditiously" meet that federal law where it concerns human remains.
For example, the nearby Harvard Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has made just 39% of the more than 10,000 Native American remains it reported to the federal government “available for return.”
ProPublica reporters Mary Hudetz and Logan Jaffe join us. Kate Seltzer with Connecticut Public’s investigative team, The Accountability Project, shares what she found when she checked in with museums where we live.
Plus, Connecticut Humanities executive director Jason Mancini addresses a "trust deficit" among tribes.
"Working with tribes takes time. Relationships don't happen automatically because a piece of legislation happens... that takes years, it takes trust-building. And one of the challenges with Connecticut is there's a trust deficit with tribal communities."
"Let's not lose sight of the fact that you know, three of the tribes are only state-recognized, and have very little resources to do anything, and don't have deep tribal economies to support this kind of work. So I think we need to consider all of that in the equation."
GUESTS:
- Mary Hudetz: Member, Crow Tribe; Reporter, ProPublica; Former President, Native American Journalists Association
- Logan Jaffe: Reporter, ProPublica
- Kate Seltzer: Howard Center for Investigative Reporting Fellow, The Accountability Project
- Jason Mancini: Executive Director, Connecticut Humanities; Former Director, Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
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Today on Where We Live, Governor Ned Lamont joins us for an in-depth conversation on the 2023 legislative session and what’s happening around our state. We hear about his priorities for his second term in office.
We’ll talk about housing, road safety, healthcare, and all the issues that are impacting us where we live.
And we want to give you the opportunity to ask our state’s top official your questions. So what are your questions for Governor Lamont? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont
- Susan Raff, Chief Capitol Reporter, WFSB TV
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A new docuseries called Stepping Into the Shade is in the works, digging into Connecticut's history of shade tobacco farming.
A team at Eastern Connecticut State University, along with host and producer June Archer, tell a kind of oral history of the influence of the seasonal workers on these farms, and their influence on diversity where we live as well as the Civil Rights Movement.
This hour, we preview the docuseries and go behind-the-scenes. Do you have ties to the shade tobacco industry in our state? Contact the production team.
GUESTS:
- June Archer: Host; Producer; Author; Music Executive
- Brian Day: Assistant Professor of Filmmaking at Eastern Connecticut State University, Director, Stepping Into the Shade
- Kristen Morgan: Associate Professor of Theatre and New Media Studies, Eastern Connecticut State University
- Jason Oliver Chang: Associate Professor of History, UConn; Director, Asian and Asian American Studies Institute at UConn
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Connecticut author and lawyer Anne Howard is known for her work writing true crime, but her recent book is a departure from her prior work.
Today, we talk about her new book that she worked to translate, entitled Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story. Anne first met Adoriana Marik through mutual friends. They exchanged letters, and Adoriana sent her hand-drawn cards and other artwork over the years.
When the war in Ukraine broke out, Anne was desperate to contact Adoriana to hear that she was safe. What followed was a months-long exchange and a collaborative effort to write a book about her experience.
Adoriana suffers from many symptoms of PTSD. Due to this and a language barrier, Adoriana will not be joining us this hour, but here to tell us about her story, is Anne Howard.
GUEST:
- Anne Howard: co-author and translator of Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story
- Askold Melnyczuk: English professor at University of Massachusetts, Boston and author
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The American Library Association released their annual tally for book challenges in 2022 on Thursday.
There were more than 1200 demands to censor library books and resources last year. That’s the highest number they've reported since they began reporting more than 20 years ago, and nearly double the tally in 2021, when the ALA told us those numbers were "unprecedented."
Librarians where we live say they’ve also seen similar spikes in recent years. This hour we’ll dig into the new report. We'll also hear from the Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, and local librarians.
GUESTS:
- Samantha Lee: Chair, Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; Head of Reference Services, Enfield Public Library
- Deborah Caldwell Stone: Director, American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom
- Kate Byroade: Library Director, Cragin Memorial Library in Colchester
- Sarah Warbelow: Legal Director, Human Rights Campaign
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The Peace Corps has evolved over years, faced controversy and has made an international impact on poverty.
Today, we talk to one of the architects of the Peace Corps living in Connecticut. After hearing President John F. Kennedy speak about the Peace Corps, Dan Sharp was inspired to join. He became instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations between other countries and making the Peace Corps the behemoth it is today as well.
Training and volunteering for the Peace Corps or any service organization is a rigorous experience. Have you volunteered with a service organization? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Dan Sharp:Peace Corps founding member
- Khari Brown:President and CEO of Spark the Journey
- Tasha Prados:Branding & marketing strategist, digital nomad creator & travel writer. She served with the Peace Corps from 2011 to 2013
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Connecticut’s waste management crisis is already a top-ticket item for lawmakers. Before the latest legislative session began, newly-appointed Environmental Committee Chair State Sen. Rick Lopes told the CT Examiner he was focused on finding solutions.
The State Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been sounding the alarm since 2020, when Commissioner Katie Dykes said the dwindling options for waste disposal posed a “silent crisis.”
In July of last year, one of five of the state’s waste-to-energy plants ground to a halt, offloading up to one-third of Connecticut's waste out-of-state.
In recent years, DEEP has offered grants to support pay-as-you-throw programs and food collection services, hoping to help towns and cities stem the tide of trash. Food scrap collection is already bring offered in Middletown, Meriden and West Haven.
This hour, we hear from Waste Dive editor Cole Rosengren, as well as the recycling director for the nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, where citywide food waste collection is now a mainstay. Plus, Alaina Wood is a climate communicator who goes by The Garbage Queen. She takes your questions.
GUESTS:
- Cole Rosengren: Lead Editor, Waste Dive
- Mike Orr: Recycling Director, Dept. of Public Works for Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Alaina Wood: Climate Communicator AKA The Garbage Queen
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 20, 2023.
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In one episode of the docu-series Reciprocity Project, Connecticut-based educator and member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe Chris Newell teaches acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma a pow-wow song. Together, they play at sunrise, "singing up the sun" in the tradition of the Wabanaki or People of the Dawnland, a confederation of four tribes in Maine including Passamaquoddy.
This hour, we hear about this film series from Newell and executive producer Tracy Rector, and about the increasing urgency of centering Indigenous perspectives on our planet and the climate. The series is intended to inspire conversation and action on climate; "to create a paradigm shift that reframes our relationships to the Earth, other living beings, and one another."
Plus, a conversation on the Native food movement with Navajo journalist and podcaster Andi Murphy.
GUESTS:
- Chris Newell: Co-Founder and Director of Education, Akowmawt Educational Initiative; Member of the Passamaquaddy Tribe; Museum Educator; Children's Book Author
- Tracy Rector: Managing Director of Storytelling, Nia Tero; Executive Producer, Reciprocity Project
- Jennifer Kreisberg: Composer; Member of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina
- Andi Murphy: Navajo Journalist; Host, Toasted Sister Podcast
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 10, 2023.
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Willard Correctional Institution in Enfield will be the third prison in Connecticut to close in two years. Connecticut Mirror's Jaden Edison reports that prison admissions have decreased by more than 11,600 people since 2013.
"The most recent increase came in the last fiscal year, when admissions rose by more than 4,300 people," Edison says, "though the numbers are far below pre-pandemic levels."
This hour, Edison joins us to discuss the closures, and the resources required to smooth reentry. Plus, Connecticut Public investigative reporter Bria Lloyd previews the latest CPTV "Cutline" all about "transforming corrections" in Connecticut.
Luis Luna uses radio and music as a tool in organizing and educating. He’s a WPKN radio producer who co-produces Abolition Transmission, "a radio show produced collectively by incarcerated abolitionists across the country." He joins us to discuss their latest episode, focused on Connecticut prisons.
GUESTS:
- Jaden Edison: Justice Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter, The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public
- Luis Luna: Co-Creator, Abolition Transmission; Radio Producer, WPKN; Community Organizer, HUSKY for Immigrants
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Connecticut is in the midst of a housing crisis. About 34 percent of residents are paying more than a third of their income to housing costs. That’s according to the Connecticut Mirror.
From subsidizing construction to studying rent stabilization, lawmakers are currently figuring out how to best address the state’s housing crisis. Rent caps were one of the many housing-related policies being debated at the state capitol this session.
But just last week, the state legislature’s Housing Committee decided not to bring the rent cap bill forward for a committee vote. That’s despite a report from affordable housing advocates that says 72 percent of Connecticut voters expressing support for rent caps. This hour, we check in on housing reform in the state. Plus, lawmakers are also taking up the issue of birth control access this session. We get the latest on legislation that would allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control.
GUESTS:
- Ginny Monk: Children's Issues and Housing Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative Reporter, Hearst CT Media
- Luis Quintero: Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
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Where do our clothes come from? According to the Textile Exchange, 52% of our clothes are made from polyester.
Fast fashion is an enormous industry, allowing us to purchase low cost clothing quickly and efficiently. But the toll these companies take on the environment is significant, and the workplace conditions for the factories that create these products are questionable at best.
Building sustainable, ethical practices into the fashion industry will be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle, and build better quality fabrics. Today, we talk about these solutions and what fashion brands can do to build sustainability.
We learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and author of the new book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion joins us.We’ll also hear from Reboot Eco, a zero waste and swap shop in Middletown, Connecticut.
What does shopping look like for you? Do you thrift for your clothes, or prefer the convenience of shopping online?
GUESTS:
- Miriah Kelly: Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Southern Connecticut State University
- Lucianne Tonti - consultant for sustainable designers and author of Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion
- Yasemin Ugurlu - Founder and Owner of Reboot Eco
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Some 2,500 local newspapers have closed in the United States since 2005, 55 of which were in Connecticut. Researchers at the Northwestern Medill Local News Initiative have mapped out gaps in local coverage, marking "news deserts" across the country, including our own Tolland County, Connecticut's "quiet corner."
Still, there are 20 online news organizations, 13 ethnic media outlets, and five public radio broadcasting stations filling the void where we live, including Connecticut Public. And those researchers say they’re fielding more and more calls from hopeful newcomer newspapers.
One new paper recently popped up in Connecticut called the Winsted Citizen, initially linked to longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader. We’ll hear from their editor and publisher Andy Thibault.
But first, journalist Ryan Zickgraf coined the term “pink slime journalism” to refer to low-quality journalism disguised as local news. Ten years later, he says the problem has evolved.
Plus, UConn journalism professor Amanda Crawford and FreePress senior counsel Nora Benavidez join us.
GUESTS:
- Ryan Zickgraf: Journalist
- Amanda J. Crawford: Assistant Professor of Journalism, University of Connecticut
- Nora Benevidez: Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights, FreePress
- Andy Thibault: Editor and Publisher, Winsted Citizen
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After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world.
But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods.
This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic.
GUESTS:
- Rachel Kauder Nalebuff:Editor, Our Red Book
- Michelle Memran: Documentary Filmmaker
- Kica Matos: New Haven-based Immigration Rights Activist and Organizer
- Axel Gay:Teen Writer
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When you’re searching for personal care products, whether a bar of soap or a bottle of lotion, are you reading the ingredients label? What harmful ingredients should be avoided?
A recent study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found potential links between the regular use of hair straightening products like relaxers that contained "formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals," and uterine cancer, prompting a new federal lawsuit.
There have been similarly troubling findings and lawsuits around some deodorants containing benzene, and powders containing talc contaminated with asbestos. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame found PFAS, sometimes called "forever chemicals," in 52% of cosmetics. Only a fraction of those products listed PFAS on the label.
This hour, we hear from local makers who are focused on safe and natural ingredients.
Plus, the Environmental Working Group has been building a searchable database of different products and ingredients for almost two decades, hoping to make it easier for consumers to shop smart.
GUESTS:
- Melanie Benesch: Vice President of Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group
- Sami Jo Artus: Founder and Chief Beauty Maker, florapothecarie
- Mecca Davis-Provite: Owner, Rootuals Natural Hair Care
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After losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump made false claims about voter fraud, reigniting efforts from Republicans to restrict voting access across the country. States like Florida, Texas, and Georgia all have passed sweeping voting restrictions.
But here in Connecticut, the opposite has been true. There's been a push toexpand voting access, after residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of early voting last November. Now, lawmakers in the state Capitol are figuring out what that could look like in Connecticut. This hour, we look at the state of voting rights in Connecticut and at the national level.
GUESTS:
- Jaden Edison: Justice Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror
- Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Politics and Government, University of Hartford
- Jonathan Wharton: Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs, Southern Connecticut State University
- Ruth Greenwood: Director of the Election Law Clinic, Harvard Law School
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Eric Jacobsen is completing his final season with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Today on Where We Live, we talk to Eric about his work as a conductor and we’ll also hear about the search for the next Greater Bridgeport Symphony conductor.
The performing art took a huge financial hit during the pandemic, but the Greater Bridgeport Symphony found a way to gather and perform during this time.
We hear about their commitment to serving the Greater Bridgeport community, and their work to get the children interested in classical music.
Have questions about what life is like working in an orchestra? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Eric Jacobsen: conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony orchestra. He is also a cellist and a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project
- Mark Halstead: Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony
- Chelsea Tipton II: Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, in Beaumont, Texas He also serves as the Principal Pops Director for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut
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Pay transparency is a growing movement across the United States.Connecticut adopted its own legislation in the form of “An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Ranges,” which went into effect on October 1, 2021.Today we talk about the types of pay transparency, the challenges that come with it, and what companies are doing to lessen the anxiety of talking about pay.We hear from the VP of Compensation Consulting at Salary.com, Garry Straker.What does the salary transparency movement mean for you?GUESTS:
- Garry Straker: VP of Compensation Consulting at Salary.com
- Hannah Williams: CEO and Founder of Salary Transparent Street
- Mandi Woodruff-Santos: Founder of group coaching community Mandi Money Makers
- Peter Bamberger: Professor of Management at Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University and Author of Exposing Pay: Pay Transparency and What It Means for Employees, Employers, and Public Policy
This show was pre-taped on December 15th, 2022, and originally aired December 20, 2022.
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Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing.
The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.
Plus, one California-based slime-maker is raking in millions from children and adults alike. There's even one slime product called "Clay-Doh."
What toy from your childhood still sparks joy? Connecticut Public staffers and listeners respond.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek: Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Olivya Soth: Co-Owner, OG Slimes
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he rate of deaths caused by domestic violence in Connecticut hasn't changes much over several decades, averaging 14 intimate partner homicides per year. What has changed is the degree of lethality of these events. When they do occur, they are more aggressive and have an increased risk of being fatal.
This hour, we’ll hear from the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We’ll learn about statewide efforts to reduce domestic violence, and what teen dating violence looks like.
And we'll learn more about a recent law passed in Connecticut on coercive control, allowing individuals experiencing psychological abuse and other non-physical forms of abuse to file a restraining order.
GUESTS:
- Meghan Scanlon: CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Barbara Damon: Executive Director, Prudence Crandall Center
If you need help or just someone to talk to, please visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text (888) 774-2900. Advocates are available 24/7. You can also visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. Learn more about lethality by visiting The Laurel Center's "Lethality Assessment"
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There have been more than 80 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. But gun violence isn’t just limited to mass shootings. Every day, hundreds of Americans are shot in murders, suicides, and more.
In Connecticut, there are some of the strongest gun laws in the U.S. Yet gun violence continues to rock communities across the state. While Governor Ned Lamont has put forward a comprehensive and ambitious gun safety agenda, Second Amendment groups are already pushing back. This hour, we examine the state of gun reform in Connecticut and at the federal level.
Plus, in the coming weeks, thousands of Nutmeggers — especially low income residents — are expected to lose Medicaid coverage if they don’t act soon.
GUESTS:
- Mark Pazniokas: Capitol Bureau Chief, CT Mirror
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CTNewsJunkie
- Chip Brownlee: Reporter, The Trace
- Sujata Srinivasan: Senior Health Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio
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The Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a new office dedicated to environmental justice and civil rights.
EPA administrator Michael Regan says the 200-person office was needed to elevate the fight for overlooked communities, who are too-often left vulnerable to pollution, contamination, or as one guest notes, "food apartheid." There are plans to distribute $3 billion in grant money to communities in need.
This hour, we dig into the issue of environmental justice. What are the environmental injustices where we live, and who is pushing for change? How are EJ advocates feeling?
Sharon Lewis is the executive director of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, who says she is experiencing the issue firsthand after her home in Hartford's North End was rendered uninhabitable due to sewage overflow and flooding issues.
While the EPA is actively investigating sewage issues in the area alongside the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Metropolitan District Commission or MDC, the non-profit corporation overseeing sewage and water service in the region, says they believe Lewis is dealing with a "private property issue," versus a failure of infrastructure.
There is a GoFundMe raising money to help pay for repairs and Lewis' temporary housing at a hotel, but she says she is hoping for further updates from federal, state or local authorities.
Lewis joins us to discuss her recent experience, and how it has informed the work she does. She touches on common misconceptions about environmental justice and its application. "It's everybody's problem," she says.
Lewis says the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice is also working on a water justice campaign in Hartford's North End.
Hartford Courant social justice and race reporter Deidre Montague shares her reporting. Plus, we hear from Kat Morris, a local scholar-activist for intersectional environmental justice.
GUESTS:
- Sharon Lewis: Executive Director, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
- Deidre Montague: Social Justice and Race Reporter, Hartford Courant
- Kat Morris: Scholar-Activist for Intersectional Environmental Justice
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We just passed the one marker of the war in Ukraine.
President Biden’s recent trip abroad signified the United States’ support of Ukraine, but experts are saying that the end of the war is not in sight. Americans are divided on how involved our country should be in the war effort. Would you like to see the United States increase military aid for Ukraine?
Today, we talk to members of the Ukrainian diaspora living in Connecticut, as well as a Ukrainian American, currently living in Ukraine to support the war effort. What should Connecticut residents do to support Ukrainians living in our state?
You can learn more about sponsoring a family from Ukraine by visiting Connecticut for Ukraine.
GUESTS
- Alex Kuzma: Chief Development Officer for the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation
- Dana Bucin: Immigration Attorney at Murtha Cullina and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut
- Larissa Babij: writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her newsletter is “A Kind of Refugee.”
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Of the millions of people working in STEM fields in the U.S., only 9% are Black, according to the Pew Research Center. Those numbers are "unchanged" since 2016.
How can efforts around “inclusivity” in these fields go farther? Environmental scientist Dr. Nyeema Harris has written about the importance of Blackology.
“Blackologists are not simply scholars that are Black but, rather, are scholars who deliberately leverage and intersect Blackness into advancing knowledge production," she writes.
Dr. Harris joins us to discuss how this approach is applied to environmental science and so many other disciplines.
Plus, public health professor Dr. Ijeoma Opara discusses her work to reduce racial health disparities, and to "strengthen the pipeline of Black youth to the field of public health research."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Ijeoma Opara: Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health; Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Nursing
- Dr. Nyeema Harris: Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation, Yale School of the Environment
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Artificial intelligence and the academic world is colliding and challenging colleges to develop stronger policies around academic integrity.
Today, we talk about how Chatgpt - a new AI app - is taking universities by storm. We’ll also learn about some of the bigger conversations around AI and ethics. Many times, these applications are built with biases, sometimes leading to devastating consequences.
Reid Blackman, author of Ethical Machines, says companies need to keep this in mind when using these programs.
Have you tested out Chatgpt?
GUESTS:
- Reid Blackman: author of Ethical Machines: Your Concise Guide to Totally Unbiased, Transparent, and Respectful AI
- Alfred Guy: R.W.B. Lewis Director of Writing and Tutoring at Yale University
- Jeff Young: Editor of EdSurge, an education journalism initiative
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For the first time under a new law, the state’s budget is required to justify how spending would help reduce socioeconomic and racial inequities where we live.
The budget law was passed last spring, calling for a quote "explanation of how provisions further the governor’s efforts to ensure equity in the state," helping to "identify and remedy past and present patterns of discrimination."
According to the Economic Policy Institute, "Connecticut ranks #3 of the 50 states in income inequality."
The United Way of Connecticut projects the basic "survival budget" for a family of four exceeds $90,000 per year, reports Keith Phaneuf, the Connecticut Mirror's budget reporter. Even prior to the pandemic, the organization projected 38% of Connecticut residents were living paycheck-to-paycheck, or falling behind, Phaneuf writes.
So how did Governor Lamont’s $50.5 billion budget meet this new mandate? And what’s missing? This hour, we examine where critical items like housing, health care and higher-education come in.
GUESTS:
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Dan Haar: Associate Editor, Hearst Connecticut Media
- Jonathan Wharton: Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University; Associate Dean at the School of Graduate and Professional Studies
- Ginny Monk: Children’s Issues and Housing Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Jennifer Ludden: National Correspondent, NPR
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Governor Lamont recently signed legislation to extend Connecticut’s free school lunch program through the academic year, with a $60 million price tag. Today, we talk about what free lunches mean for students. How will they benefit, what are the costs?
Marlene Schwarts of UConn joins us. She says students should never have to worry about being hungry at school.
The USDA recently announced new standards for nutrition in schools, including eliminating trans fats, and lowering sugar and sodium content in school lunches.
Healthier lunches means increased costs in a time where we are already seeing food shortages and increased costs in labor.
GUESTS:
- Lonnie Burt: Senior Director of Food & Child Nutrition Services at Hartford Public Schools
- Marlene Schwartz: Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health at UConn
- Dr. Melissa Santos: Division Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Clinical Director for Pediatric Obesity at Connecticut Children's
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Connecticut joined every other New England state in logging the warmest January on-record this year. Areas like Bridgeport are seeing record-low seasonal snowfall, while still logging more than five inches of rain according to the National Weather Service.
You may have already heard unusual bird calls, or noticed your crocuses have cropped up early. Still, there have been two arctic blasts between these unseasonable temperatures, and another "cool-down" expected ahead. So how are these fluctuations affecting the local ecology?
Forest ecologist Dr. Susanna Kerio touches on the critical role trees play, and DEEP wildlife biologist Jenny Dickson discusses how a wide variety of animals are affected. Plus, a warning from the state’s main tick-tracking center and an update from the Connecticut Audubon Society.
How has the unseasonable warmth affected wildlife where you live?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Susanna Kerio: Forest Ecologist, Dept. of Environmental Science and Forestry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
- Jenny Dickson: Wildlife Division Director, Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Dr. Goudarz Molaei: Research Scientist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; Director of the Tick and Tick-borne Diseases Surveillance Program, Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases
- Tom Anderson: Director of Communications and Community Outreach, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Emily Wicks with UConn's Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry noticed the pandemic-era disruptions to kids' social-emotional learning and development, and reached out to Sandy Chafouleas at the university's Neag School of Education.Together they developed Feel Your Best Self, a puppet-centered program aimed at helping "strengthen the emotional well-being of elementary-aged children."This hour, we hear from Wicks and Chafouleas about their hopes for the toolkit's application where we live.Through a series of videos, kid puppets CJ, Nico and Mena help children acknowledge that they have complex emotions, modeling how to express and process them.UntitledThe Feel Your Best Self team is working with the Connecticut's Statewide Family Engagement Center to help bridge the divide between the home and classroom.Veronica Marion with the Center says the program is a "win-win" at a pivotal moment. "We see the numbers currently in regards to social-emotional learning, it’s off the charts. Students are really in the need of something."With puppets in the room, Marion says, "children will talk more, they will open up more, just the fact that there’s a distraction, just the fact that there’s something else that they’re focusing on."Plus, we hear from Ximena Marin, a teacher at Natchaug Elementary School in Windham who piloted the program in her bilingual classroom.GUESTS:
- Emily Wicks: Co-founder, Feel Your Best Self Collaborative Project; Manager of Operations and Collections, University of Connecticut's Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
- Sandy Chafouleas: Co-founder, Feel Your Best Self Collaborative Project; Neag Endowed Professor, Department of Educational Psychology at UConn's Neag School of Education; Co-Director, UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health
- Ximena Marin: Third-grade Teacher, Natchaug Elementary School
- Veronica Marion: Manager of Family-School Partnerships, Connecticut's Statewide Family Engagement Center
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired January 6, 2023.
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It’s been almost four years since Connecticut lawmakers required schools to offer students a Black and Latino studies class. The requirement was signed into law in June of 2019 and it went into effect last fall. It’s required that every district offer Black and Latino studies, but that doesn’t mean every child in Connecticut takes the course.
First, the class is an elective. And second, the Connecticut department of education says that some school districts haven’t introduced the course yet due to there not being enough kids enrolled into the curriculum.
And as children in our state have begun to take the class, other states are rejecting curriculum inclusive of people of color. According to Education Week reporter Eesha Pendharkar “Florida is one of 18 states that have passed laws restricting some lessons on race and racism.” She’ll talk to us about how race is being debated in schools across America.
Are you concerned about the curriculum where you live?
GUESTS:
- Eesha Pendharkar: Staff Writer for Race and Opportunity Ed Week
- Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Politics and Government, University of Hartford
- John Craven: News 12 Connecticut political reporter
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Elizabeth Nelson, a associate professor of history at University of Nevada Las Vegas, has examined the "hidden history of Valentine’s Day." Beyond the pressures of consumer culture, or any outsized emphasis on romantic love, she says there's been a yearning for something more sincere "from the very beginning."
This hour, Nelson digs into the history of this holiday, helping distinguish tall tale from true story.
Plus, one writer and poetry-lover has meditated on the potential the holiday holds for us today, and the many forms love takes. Lindsey Weishar joins us.
GUESTS:
- Elizabeth Nelson: Associate Professor of History, University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Lindsey Weishar: Freelance Writer, The Catholic Post, Ploughshares, and Stamford-based Verily; Poet
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Joan Donovan is the Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and author of the book Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.
Today, we talk about the evolution of memes as political devices, and how it shaped the far right.
We hear from Joan and learn about her journey to mapping out the darkest corners of the world wide web.
What questions do you have about memes, meme culture and how it shapes the internet?
GUEST:
- Joan Donovan:Research Director for the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and author of the book Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.
- Dr. Evan Perkoski: Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut
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In one episode of the docu-series Reciprocity Project, Connecticut-based educator and member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe Chris Newell teaches acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma a pow-wow song. Together, they play at sunrise, "singing up the sun" in the tradition of the Wabanaki or People of the Dawnland, a confederation of four tribes in Maine including Passamaquoddy.
This hour, we hear about this film series from Newell and executive producer Tracy Rector, and about the increasing urgency of centering Indigenous perspectives on our planet and the climate. The series is intended to inspire conversation and action on climate; "to create a paradigm shift that reframes our relationships to the Earth, other living beings, and one another."
Plus, a conversation on the Native food movement with Navajo journalist and podcaster Andi Murphy.
GUESTS:
- Chris Newell: Co-Founder and Director of Education, Akowmawt Educational Initiative; Member of the Passamaquaddy Tribe; Museum Educator; Children's Book Author
- Tracy Rector: Managing Director of Storytelling, Nia Tero; Executive Producer, Reciprocity Project
- Jennifer Krausberg: Composer; Member of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina
- Andi Murphy: Navajo Journalist; Host, Toasted Sister Podcast
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We are hearing a lot more about hate crimes against members of the AAPI community - that’s the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The recent shootings in California are only one of many acts of violence carried out against this population.
Acts of physical violence aren’t the only thing we’re seeing. According to a study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, “one-third of Asian respondents report bias victimization during the pandemic.”
Today, we talk about how these incidents are impacting the mental health and collective trauma of this community.
We will hear from activists within the AAPI community in Connecticut. And we want to hear from you too.
GUESTS:
- Christine Kim: co-founder of aapiNHV
- Quan Tran: Senior Lecturer in Ethnicity, Race and Migration, Acting Director of Undergraduate Studies at Yale University, and a member of Asian Pacific American Coalition
- Mike Keo: Founder of #IAMNOTAVIRUS
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Ten states and Washington D.C. currently support medical aid in dying for terminally-ill patients. Advocates and lawmakers like Public Health Committee Co-Chair and State Sen. Dr. Saud Anwar are hoping Connecticut is closer than ever to becoming the eleventh state to adopt a medical aid-in-dying law.
Connecticut Public health reporter Sujata Srinivasan spoke with Sen. Anwar about the plan to include additional restrictions around age limits and physician sign-offs, that he hopes will help the bill pass the Judiciary Committee, where a similar bill stopped last session.
Aid-in-dying bills have been proposed in Connecticut more than a dozen times over the last thirty years.
Longtime NPR host and journalist Diane Rehm has touched on her mother's death and her late husband's battle with Parkinson's Disease, setting out to explore the issue of patient autonomy in her book, When My Time Comes: Conversations About Whether Those Who Are Dying Should Have the Right to Determine When Life Should End.
This hour, Rehm and Srinivasan will join us to discuss the right-to-die movement where we live, along with CT News Junkie editor-in-chief Christine Stuart. Plus, a preview of the biennial state budget with Stuart and News 12 political reporter John Craven.
GUESTS:
- Diane Rehm: Host, On My Mind with Diane Rehm; Author, When My Time Comes: Conversations About Whether Those Who Are Dying Should Have the Right To Determine When Life Should End
- Sujata Srinivasan: Health Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Anita Hannig: Cultural Anthropologist; Author, The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
- John Craven: Political Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
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The story of the American Oystercatcher in Connecticut is "one of success and hope; however, because of the increasing threat from climate change and habitat loss, its future is uncertain," writes Audubon Connecticut Coastal Program Coordinator Beth Amendola. Whether the Oystercatcher, the Piping Plover or the Semipalmated Sandpiper, beach-nesting birds in Connecticut require "continual vigilance to maintain and increase their populations."This hour, we hear takeaways from the latest "State of the Birds" report from the Connecticut Audubon Society, touching on the similar threats facing wading birds like herons and egrets.Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society, says there are several holdouts of protected egret populations in Connecticut, but those populations are "teetering."Plus, raptor nests are back on the rise in Connecticut. DEEP wildlife biologist Brian Hess joins us to discuss.If you're interested in contributing to these conservation efforts or volunteering, you can find more information with the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds.GUESTS:
- Patrick Comins: Executive Director, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Milan Bull: Senior Director of Science and Conservation, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Elizabeth Amendola: Coastal Program Coordinator, Audubon Connecticut
- Brian Hess: Wildlife Division Biologist, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on December 19, 2022.
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On Monday, February 6, 2023, Where We Live officially welcomed Catherine Shen to the hosting seat of the show. Some of our listeners may be familiar with Catherine’s voice, having heard her guest host several episodes of Where We Live in the past two months or hearing her news reporting on Connecticut Public over the last two years.
Where We Live producer Tess Terrible sat down with Catherine to learn more about her background, how journalism became her professional calling and what she’s most excited about in this new role as host.
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Did you pledge to be more grateful or practice more self care in the New Year? Journaling can help! The benefits of putting your thoughts, goals, and worries on paper cannot be understated.
Today, we talk about the power of journaling and how to begin journaling even if you don’t know where to start.
Bullet journaling, gratitude journaling, guided journaling! There are so many options and getting started on your journaling journey can be a little overwhelming. Many people worry about their grammar, syntax and handwriting when they start journaling.
Our panel of journal lovers says journaling doesn't have to be perfect. Our experts will help you combat the need to journal perfectly, and just start writing.
Do you enjoy journaling? What does your journaling routine look like?
GUESTS:
- Amanda Stern: Journaling Coach based in Connecticut
- Carrie Bulger: Professor of Psychology at Quinnipiac University
- Johana Gutiérrez-Griffiths - Founder of JJ Paperie and Co, stationary and home goods brand and calligraphy and engraving studio based in Connecticut
- Shawanna Jefferson - owner of Cairo Stationery in Connecticut
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A new school for LGBTQ students and allies is set to open this fall in New Haven. This hour, we preview the plans for PROUD Academy with founder and executive director Patty Nicolari, and hear from Maddie and Tiffanie, a prospective student and their parent in Fairfield.
Nicolari says this would be the first school for LGBTQ youth in Connecticut, and at least the fifth in the U.S.
But first, the U.S Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating a discrimination complaint filed by several Farmington parents, alleging the district didn’t step in to stop LGBTQ bullying. We hear from one of those parents, Melissa Combs.
Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Kathy Greider's office confirmed the district is working through the complaint with OCR in a statement, and cited district policies and efforts around equity and inclusion. The statement also notes that “the district has a different perspective on the factual allegations” in the complaint, but that “we respect the process and will be working with OCR to assist them in their review of these issues.”
The investigation is "believed to be the first of its kind in New England," per the Courant, focusing on seven of the ten allegations in the complaint.
- Melissa Combs: Farmington Parent
- Patty Nicolari: Founder and Executive Director, PROUD Academy
- Tiffanie Wong: Fairfield Parent
- Maddie Joyella: Fairfield Student
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Willie Mae Brown is the author of a new book My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement. The book, written for young adults, reflects on her time growing up in Alabama and how the civil rights era shaped her coming of age. Today, we’ll hear her message for the next generation of activists.
Brown lived in Selma, Alabama until she was 17, when she moved to New York City. Growing up in Selma, she experienced the civil rights movement first hand - including meeting Martin Luther King Jr. when she was 12.
In the intro, Brown explains, “I write these stories of a Selma that I knew and loved. My own Selma. A Selma that brought me joy, troubled me, and baptized me into racial injustice and into the race for justice.”
Where We Live Senior Producer Tess Terrible guest hosts this conversation.
GUEST:
Willie Mae Brown: author and visual artist. She recently published her first book, My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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A U.S. debt default could be detrimental to federal employees, those in the military, and beneficiaries of Social Security and other government programs.
Connecticut currently has the largest budget surplus in the state’s history. How the surplus might be utilized is still unknown.
Today on Where We Live, we talk about what we might see prioritized in this year’s state budget, and how Congress could respond to the debt ceiling.
We’ll also discuss what hitting the debt ceiling could mean for Connecticut residents.
GUESTS:
- Dan Haar: Associate Editor and Columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media
- Ebong Udoma: Senior Reporter at WSHU
- Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter for Connecticut Public and Connecticut Mirror
- Keith Phaneuf: Budget Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
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At least three area theater companies in Connecticut are showcasing work by Latinx women playwrights this winter:
- "Water by the Spoonful" by Quiara Alegría Hudes at Capitol Classics from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29
- "Queen of Basel" by Hilary Bettis at TheaterWorks Feb. 3 to Feb. 26
- "Espejos: Clean" by Christine Quintana at Hartford Stage Jan. 12 to March 5
"Queen of Basel" boasts an all-Latinx cast and crew, while "Espejos: Clean" is a bilingual production with supertitles projected over the stage.
This hour, we go behind-the-scenes with playwrights, directors and actors, hearing about each powerful production, and the importance of spotlighting Latinx stories where we live.
GUESTS:
- Hilary Bettis: Playwright, "Queen of Basel"
- Cristina Angeles: Director, "Queen of Basel" at TheaterWorks
- Cin Martinez: Playwright; Actor, "Water by the Spoonful" at Capitol Classics
- Melissa Crespo: Director, "Espejos/Clean" at Hartford Stage; Associate Artistic Director, Syracuse Stage
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Neil Berro, a local amateur historian, is building a massive manuscript on the history of Connecticut oystering titled Oyster Haven Lost. This hour, he previews this trove of information, spotlighting the state's once-booming oyster industry.Plus, the Sound School in New Haven was founded with a mission of centering hands-on curriculum, incorporating the harbor, marine science and oceanography in an “exciting educational alternative to the large comprehensive high schools in the city.”UntitledWe'll hear from Sound School aquaculture coordinators about how students encounter oysters and other filter feeders in the wild, helping to bolster their growth in Long Island Sound by planting "reef balls."GUESTS:
- Neil Berro: Amateur Historian
- Tim Visel: Former Aquaculture Coordinator, The Sound School
- Peter Solomon: Aquaculture Coordinator, The Sound School
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While contestants with Connecticut ties have appeared on the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race in the past, the season 15 premiere on MTV marks the first time more than one Connecticut drag queen has been represented.Robin Fierce from Hartford, Loosey LaDuca from Ansonia, Amethyst from West Hartford and Jax from Brooklyn, raised in Connecticut, comprise this season's Connecticut contingent.This hour, Loosey and Robin join us to discuss how they discovered drag, developed their artistry, and why they’re determined to confront misunderstanding by showcasing drag as a force for good.GUESTS:
- Loosey LaDuca: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
- Robin Fierce: Contestant, RuPaul's Drag Race
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The State Department of Education and five Connecticut tribal nations are working together to meet a legislative mandate calling for Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes. Resources with localized information from the tribal nations themselves – Eastern Pequot, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Schaghticoke and Golden Hill Paugussett – are expected to be available in January 2024.
This hour, we preview this collaboration with educators from the Mohegan Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, as well as State Department of Education social studies advisor Steve Armstrong.
Darlene Kascak, education coordinator for the Institute of American Indian Studies and a traditional Native American storyteller with the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, explains the importance of centering, and distinguishing, each tribe's story and voice.
Plus, Sam Cholewa Tondreau is the director of curriculum and instruction for the Mohegan Tribal Nation, helping develop the Educators Project, an online portal that provides a "combination of free Native American study resources and tools" to educators and homeschoolers.
For those with young learners outside of the classroom who want to learn more, Cholewa Tondreau recommends the American Indian Library Association (ailanet.org) and American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL).
Cholewa Tondreau points to one book she recommends for middle-schoolers and adults alike: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States For Young People by Jean Mendoza, Debbie Reese, and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. "While United States history isn't 12,000 years old, it does add an additional layer of Indigenous perspective and events," she says.
GUESTS:
- Darlene Kascak: Education Coordinator, Institute of American Indian Studies; Traditional Native American Storyteller, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
- Sam Cholewa Tondreau: Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mohegan Tribal Nation
- Steve Armstrong: Social Studies Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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One of the biggest focuses for the 2023 legislative session is housing. Rent has gone up for many Connecticut residents at a time when inflation limits what they can afford to pay. They face a lack of affordable housing in Connecticut – and eviction.
Today, we talk about the housing market in our state, and what legislative action we might see in the future.
We hear from those covering housing across our state including Jacqueline Rabe Thomas of Hearst Media and Ginny Monk from the Connecticut Mirror.
Advocates are calling for rent caps and better protections against evictions, as well as more low income housing for residents of a variety of economic backgrounds and circumstances. Are you seeing enough affordable housing where you live?
GUESTS:
- Ginny Monk: Children's issues and Housing Reporter for the CT Mirror
- Jacqui Rabe Thomas: Investigative Reporter for Hearst Media
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief of CT News Junkie
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State Sen. Dr. Saud Anwar, co-chair of the Public Health Committee, joined Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Monday to announce legislation that would "address unsafe staffing" by establishing "safe patient limits," or nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, among other protections.
This hour, we discuss the proposal with Sen. Anwar, the "patient care crisis" in Connecticut, and renewed efforts to address it. AFT, a union representing many health care workers in our state, recently released the Healthcare Staffing Shortage Task Force Report, finding that the "corporatization of healthcare with profit motives has created systematic underinvestment in healthcare workers’ safety and wellbeing."
Plus, we'll hear recommendations from the National Nurse Staffing Think Tank with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and from the Windham Federation of Professional Nurses, AFT Local 5041, after negotiating a ban on mandatory overtime.
GUESTS:
- Saud Anwar: Democratic State Senator; Co-Chair, Public Health Committee
- Vicki Good: RN; Former President, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; Member, National Nurse Staffing Think Tank
- Paul Banach: RN; Member, CT Nurses United
- Andrea Riley: RN; President, Windham Federation of Professional Nurses, AFT Local 5041
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This hour on Where We Live, we hear from two survivors of genocide. Theanvy Kuoch fled Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge in 1981, having lost 19 family members. Reena Aurora left India in 1989 five years after her brother was burned to death in the wave of anti-Sikh violence.
Both women struggled to find culturally fluent psychiatric care for themselves and their families, leading Theanvy and Reena to develop new models of mental health care for immigrant communities that straddle dual cultures.
We also hear from IRIS in New Haven on how the nonprofit is adding to its wellness team to better serve the mental health needs of recent Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.
GUESTS:
Reena Kaur Aurora: Board Member, Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut
Theanvy Kuoch: Executive Director, Khamer Health Advocates. Family therapist and community health worker.
Ann O’Brien: Director of Sponsorship, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Whether it's reading more books or eating out less, January is the month of goals and challenges. Veganuary is no exception.
The 30-day plant-based challenge originated nearly a decade ago, and has since taken on a life of its own. We’ll hear from three different vegans working in the plant-based space about their journey to becoming vegan, and what it means to them.
What do you want to know about the lifestyle?
GUESTS:
- Wendy Matthews:U.S. Director at Veganuary
- Candice Hutchings: Creator of The Edgy Veg
- Mackenzie Sullivan: Co-Founder of Ellie Mae Farm Sanctuary in Storrs, CT
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Wrong way driving is on the rise in Connecticut. Today, we discuss what’s being done to prevent wrong-way collisions in our state.
Reckless and aggressive driving has also become more apparent since the start of the pandemic. We’ll hear from the Department of Transportation in Connecticut and learn what can be done to ensure safer Connecticut roads for all its residents.
Have you seen more aggressive driving where you live?
GUESTS:
- Richard Retting:Senior Program Officer for the Transportation Research Board at the National Academies of Science
- Fran Mayko:AAA Northeast Spokeswoman
- Bria Lloyd:Investigative Reporter at The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public
- Josh Morgan:Spokesperson for Connecticut Department of Transportation
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Some 44,000 Connecticut residents have had low-level cannabis possession charges "fully or partially erased" from their records this month, as promised within the state's recreational marijuana legislation.
Later this year, after facing delays since its passage in 2021, the Clean Slate Law is set to do the same for five-times as many locals with other low-level offenses. Fox 61 reports lawmakers agree both these laws are a "down payment" on work to be done this legislative session.
This hour, we’ll discuss what’s ahead with criminal record expungement, andbig-picture with Connecticut’s recreational rollout. How does the rollout compare to other states so far, including nearby Massachusetts? And how are community stakeholders being involved in the process, after promises made through the state’s Social Equity Council?
GUESTS:
- Jaden Edison: Justice Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror
- John Craven: Politics Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
- Natalie Fertig: Federal Cannabis Policy Reporter, Politico
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Known as the seventh continent, Antarctica is much more than a home to penguins!
Today, we explore the least inhabited continent in the world.
We hear about how climate change impacts wildlife in Antarctica and what life looks like for those who live and work there.
GUESTS:
- David W. Brown: contributor to the New Yorker and author to the forthcoming book The Outside Cats
- Matt Jordan: Project Manager for Antarctica New Zealand and board member for the Antarctician Society
- Claire Christian: Executive Director of ASOC or the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
- Talbot Andrews: Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science, studying climate policy at the University of Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired December 8, 2022.
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Conley Monk Jr. came home to Hamden in 1970 after serving in the Vietnam War. His discharge was prompted by a PTSD-induced altercation in Okinawa, and categorized within the military as "other-than-honorable."
Mr. Monk spent decades trying to access basic benefits like disability coverage, until his appeal in 2015 ultimately changed how these kinds of cases are heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, now formally allowing class-action lawsuits.
This hour, Mr. Monk joins us along with his representation at Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic. We’ll discuss the new lawsuit they’ve filed against the VA, alleging racial discrimination.
Plus, a new report from the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) shows how racial disparities persist across military discharge status, and how this impedes veterans' access to benefits.
Across four out of five military branches and roughly one million separation documents CVLC obtained, Black service members "were approximately 1.5 times as likely as white service members to receive an Other Than Honorable rather than Honorable discharge, and approximately twice as likely as white service members to receive a General discharge."
While the VA has not responded to the suit directly, press secretary Terrence Hayes provided a written statement to Connecticut Public, saying that the agency is working to address "institutional racism" and to review policies.
What resources are there for veterans who are trying to secure benefits where we live, despite what can be burdensome discharge documentation?
GUESTS:
- Conley Monk Jr.: Vietnam Veteran; Founder, National Veterans Council for Legal Redress
- Michael Sullivan: Student Intern, Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic
- Alden Pinkham: Connecticut Bar Association Singer Fellow, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
- Chelsea Donaldson: Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Benefits Unit, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
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The pandemic led to a decline in the incarcerated population, and many states have been re-evaluating the purpose of prisons.
In this hour, Bill Keller, Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Marshall Project, joins us to talk about his new book, What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration.
Keller details how the United States prison population became so massive and what we can learn from how other countries treat and house people in prison.
GUESTS:
- Bill Keller - Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Marshall Project and author of What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration
- Mike Wessler - Communications Director for the Prison Policy Initiative based out of East Hampton, Massachusetts
- State Senator Gary Winfield - Democrat representing the tenth district in New Haven and West Haven.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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State Representative Quentin “Q” Williams died last week after a collision with a wrong-way driver.
Today, we remember his legacy, his time in office and how he served his constituents. State Representatives Bobby Gibson and Christopher Rosario join us to share their experience working with the late politician.
Later, we talk about what can be done to prevent wrong-way driving and how we might see his legacy memorialized at the Capitol.
We want to hear your memories of Q Williams. How did he make an impact on your life?
GUESTS:
- State Representative Christopher Rosario:Bridgeport
- State Representative Bobby Gibson:Bloomfield and Windsor
- Ebong Udoma:Senior Reporter at WSHU
- Mark Pazniokas:Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror
- Susan Raff:Political Reporter for WFSB
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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State Representative Quentin “Q” Williams died last week after a collision with a wrong-way driver.
Today, we remember his legacy, his time in office and how he served his constituents. State Representatives Bobby Gibson and Christopher Rosario join us to share their experience working with the late politician.
Later, we talk about what can be done to prevent wrong-way driving and how we might see his legacy memorialized at the Capitol.
We want to hear your memories of Q Williams. How did he make an impact on your life?
GUESTS:
- State Representative Christopher Rosario:Bridgeport
- State Representative Bobby Gibson:Bloomfield and Windsor
- Ebong Udoma:Senior Reporter at WSHU
- Mark Pazniokas:Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror
- Susan Raff:Political Reporter for WFSB
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Connecticut’s waste management crisis is already a top-ticket item for lawmakers. Before the latest legislative session began, newly-appointed Environmental Committee Chair State Sen. Rick Lopes told the CT Examiner he was focused on finding solutions.
The State Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been sounding the alarm since 2020, when Commissioner Katie Dykes said the dwindling options for waste disposal posed a “silent crisis.”
In July, one of five of the state’s waste-to-energy plants ground to a halt, offloading up to one-third of Connecticut's waste out-of-state.
In recent years, DEEP has offered grants to support pay-as-you-throw programs and food collection services to help towns and cities stem the tide of trash. Food scrap collection is already offered in Middletown, Meriden and West Haven.
This hour, we hear from Waste Dive editor Cole Rosengren, and the recycling director for the nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, where citywide food waste collection is now a mainstay. Plus, Alaina Wood is a climate communicator who goes by The Garbage Queen. She takes your questions.
GUESTS:
- Cole Rosengren: Lead Editor, Waste Dive
- Mike Orr: Recycling Director, Dept. of Public Works for Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Alaina Wood: Climate Communicator AKA The Garbage Queen
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Retailers can start selling adult-use cannabis on January 10th.
Today, we breakdown what dispensaries might look like in our state and hear what retailers are doing to prepare opening up to the public.
We hear from Skyler Frazer of the Hartford Business Journal who has been covering all things cannabis in our state.
Have you seen any dispensaries pop up in your town?
GUESTS:
- Jeffrey Marrero: Marrero Consulting LLC based in Stamford, Connecticut
- Skyler Frazer: Staff Writer at Hartford Business Journal
- Benjamin Zachs: COO of Fine Fettle
- Commissioner Michelle Seagull: Department of Consumer Protection of Connecticut
- Jim Haddadin: Data Reporter for The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Emily Wicks with UConn's Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry noticed the pandemic-era disruptions to kids' social-emotional learning and development, and reached out to Sandy Chafouleas at the university's Neag School of Education.
Together they developed Feel Your Best Self, a puppet-centered program aimed at helping "strengthen the emotional well-being of elementary-aged children."
This hour, we hear from Wicks and Chafouleas about their hopes for the toolkit's application where we live.
Through a series of videos, kid puppets CJ, Nico and Mena help children acknowledge that they have complex emotions, modeling how to express and process them.
The Feel Your Best Self team is working with the state’s Family Engagement Resource Center to help bridge the divide between the home and classroom.
Veronica Marion, the Center’s Manager of Connecticut Family-School Partnerships, says the program is a "win-win" at a pivotal moment. "We see the numbers currently in regards to social-emotional learning, it’s off the charts. Students are really in the need of something."
With puppets in the room, Marion says, "children will talk more, they will open up more, just the fact that there’s a distraction, just the fact that there’s something else that they’re focusing on."
Plus, we hear from Ximena Marin, a teacher at Natchaug Elementary School in Windham who piloted the program in her bilingual classroom.
GUESTS:
- Emily Wicks: Co-founder, Feel Your Best Self Collaborative Project; Manager of Operations and Collections, University of Connecticut's Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
- Sandy Chafouleas: Co-founder, Feel Your Best Self Collaborative Project; Neag Endowed Professor, Department of Educational Psychology at UConn's Neag School of Education; Co-Director, UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health
- Ximena Marin: Third-grade Teacher, Natchaug Elementary School
- Veronica Marion: Manager, Connecticut Family-School Partnerships, through the state's Family Engagement Center
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The WNBA kicks off on May 19th.
Today, on Where We Live, we’re talking about all things women’s basketball including and hear about what players to watch in 2023.
We’ll also discuss how Brittney Griner’s imprisonment and subsequent release has impacted interest in the game and spurred more activism in the league.
And later, we talk about the pay gap between men and women’s sports, and what can be done to fix it.
Will you be watching the WNBA this year?
GUESTS:
- Morgan Tuck - Director of Franchise Development and Assistant General Manager, she played for the Connecticut Sun for four seasons and Seattle Storm for one season
- Lyndsey D'Arcangelo - writes about the WNBA for the Athletic and Just Women’s Sports
- Natalie Heavren - contributing writer for the Next, a women’s basketball newsroom covering women’s basketball past present and future, 24/7, 365.
- Lindsey Gibbs - author and founder of Power Plays Newsletter, a newsletter about women’s sports
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With spiking health insurance premiums, energy costs and general "inflation" top-of-mind for many Connecticut residents, what are the top priorities for state lawmakers at the start of this legislative session? And what's most likely to be met with consensus? We'll discuss with a roundtable of experts.
Plus, we hear from ACLU of Connecticut about their plan to renew a push for the Connecticut Voting Rights Act. The bill, which only made it through the Government Administration and Elections Committee last session, would codify parts of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
GUESTS:
- Jonathan Wharton: Professor of Political Science, Southern Connecticut State University; Associate Dean, SCSU School of Graduate and Professional Studies
- Colin McEnroe: Host, The Colin McEnroe Show
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
- Claudine Constant: Public Policy and Advocacy Director, ACLU of Connecticut
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What are some issues with homestay services like Airbnb? And what’s being done to address them?
This hour, we hear from travelers about their experiences with short-term rentals.
We'll hear from an attorney representing clients with complaints about Airbnb.
And later, we learn how these short-term rentals impact the housing and rental markets in our state.
What questions do you have about the safety and ethics of homestay services?
GUESTS:
- Andrea Sachs - Washington Post Travel Writer and Journalist
- Christina Conte - Food and Travel Writer at https://www.christinascucina.com/
- Jesse Danoff - Attorney at the Mitchell and Danoff law firm in Hollister, California
- Jocelyn Ayer -Director of the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju contributed to this program.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired July 28, 2022.
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Alexandra Horowitz is a dog cognition researcher, professor and the head scientist at Barnard College's Dog Cognition Lab. Her latest book, The Year of the Puppy, follows her first experience raising a puppy.
"Instead of following an instruction manual for a puppy, I wanted to follow the puppy," she writes. "By slowing down to observe the changes in our new charge from week to week, I hoped to make new sense of the dog’s behavior in a way that is missed in a focus only on training. I wanted to keep a lens firmly on the puppy’s point of view—how they begin to see and smell the world, make meaning of it, and become themselves."
This hour, Horowitz reflects on her year with Quid, and she answers your questions.
GUESTS:
- Alexandra Horowitz: Professor, Barnard College; Head Scientist, Dog Cognition Lab; Author, Year of the Puppy
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired October 28, 2022.
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There are several protections for trans and nonbinary people in our state, including insurance coverage for health care services and, as part of Connecticut's new "safe harbor" law, legal protections for those seeking gender-affirming care from out of state.
Still, an increase in anti-trans rhetoric has led to a troubling trend of legislation and litigation nationally. How does this affect trans and nonbinary people where we live?
One Connecticut teenager and his mom are sharing their story in the hopes of encouraging understanding. This hour, we hear from Oakley about his experience coming out as trans, and about the importance of allyship and advocacy. Jess shares a parent's perspective.
Oakley and Jess are using pseudonyms due to broader concerns about their safety, and in order to speak openly. You can hear more from them in a profile from Health Care Advocates International.
We're also joined by The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ young people. Its annual survey found that 45% of young LGBTQ people have seriously considered suicide in the last year, and nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth have attempted suicide.
Plus, we examine how harmful anti-trans narratives contribute to this crisis with Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog.
GUESTS:
- Oakley and Jess: Connecticut teenager and his mom
- Troy Stevenson: Senior Advocacy Campaign Manager, The Trevor Project
- Ari Drennen: LGBTQ Director, Media Matters for America
Cat Pastor contributed to this report which originally aired November 17, 2022.
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In his new book, The Storm is Here: An American Crucible, longtime war correspondent Luke Mogelson explores the rise of right wing extremism in the U.S.
Today, Mogelson joins us to talk about the events leading up to the Jan 6 insurrection and what he saw firsthand at the U.S Capitol that day.
The Oath Keepers have been accused of having a large role in the Capitol riots, and are one of the far right extremist groups Mogelson has followed.
A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League shows476 state residents are part of the Oath Keepers membership database, reportsHearst CT.
What does their influence look like today, a year and a half after the riots? How influential will these groups become after the midterm elections?
GUESTS:
- Luke Mogelson -author of The Storm is Here: An American Crucible
- Alex Friedfeld- Investigative Researcher with the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism
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Dr. Randall Horton is a Professor of English at the University of New Haven. His new memoir, Dead Weight details the time he was incarcerated more than two decades ago.
Today, we talk about his time on the inside, what led him to write, and the challenges he faced establishing a career in academia.
Horton says the “weight of felony convictions never dissipates.”
We want to hear from you. Have you or someone you know been formerly incarcerated?
GUEST:
Randall Horton -Ph.D., Professor of English at University of New Haven.
Read an excerpt of Dead Weighton the Boston Review.
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When we hear about the climate crisis, it can often be framed as a future or somehow distant dilemma. But environmental justice advocates point to the many ways present-day discriminatory practices and policies have resulted in stark instances of environmental racism here in the U.S.
One acclaimed Connecticut author is using his latest work of science fiction to reframe the climate crisis as inherently local, all while confronting issues of race, class, and gentrification.
Tochi Onyebuchi’s Goliath envisions his home of New Haven in the not-to-distant future, ravaged by climate crisis and abandoned by the mostly-white class of people who can afford it. Like his previous work of fiction, Riot Baby, Goliath carries pressing real-world implications.
This hour, he joins us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Tochi Onyebuchi: Author, Goliath; Winner, New England Book Award; Finalist, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award
Cat Pastor contributed to this report which originally aired September 9. 2022.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but the holidays can be a difficult time for a number of reasons. The pressure to buy presents, fear of missing out, and spending time with difficult relatives can make enjoying this time of year challenging.
Today, we discuss navigating the holiday blues.
Rabbi Debra Cantor and Pastor Shawn Fisher join us to discuss ways to maximize your self care during this time of year and create your own traditions to enjoy this time of year to the fullest.
What are you doing to take care of yourself and beat the holiday blues?
GUESTS:
- Rabbi Debra Cantor: B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom Synagogue
- Pastor Shawn Fisher: Bloomfield Bloomfield Congregational Church
- Chester Elton: author of Leading with Gratitude and Anxiety at Work
- Carrie Vargas: psychologist and Regional Director of Ambulatory Services for the Behavioral Health Network at Hartford Healthcare
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Trains may often be billed as a toy for tots, but there are locomotive-lovers of all ages where we live. This hour, go for a ride on the Naugatuck Railroad at the Railroad Museum of New England, and one holiday train tailored for children on the autism spectrum.
Plus, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital is home to a toy train display that sparks joy in children and adults alike.
GUESTS:
- Christine Faressa: Founder and President, Sun, Moon & Stars
- Orion Newall:Passenger Operations Director, Naugatuck Railroad
- Ebony Wright: Registered Nurse; Assistant Patient Service Manager, Pediatric Specialty Center at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
- Walt Zawalich: Volunteer Trains Curator, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and Eli Whitney Museum
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Pay transparency is a growing movement across the United States.
Connecticut adopted its own legislation in the form of “An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Ranges” which went into effect on October 1st of 2021.
Today we talk about the types of pay transparency, the challenges that come with it, and what companies are doing to lessen the anxiety of talking about pay.
We hear from VP of Compensation Consulting at Salary.com Garry Straker.
What does the salary transparency movement mean for you?
GUESTS:
- Garry Straker: VP of Compensation Consulting at Salary.com
- Hannah Williams: CEO and Founder of Salary Transparent Street
- Mandi Woodruff-Santos: Founder of group coaching community Mandi Money Makers
- Peter Bamberger: Professor of Management at Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University and Author of “Exposing Pay”
This show is a pre-tape from December 15th, 2022. Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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The story of the American Oystercatcher in Connecticut is "one of success and hope; however, because of the increasing threat from climate change and habitat loss, its future is uncertain," writes Audubon Connecticut Coastal Program Coordinator Beth Amendola. Whether the Oystercatcher, the Piping Plover or the Semipalmated Sandpiper, beach-nesting birds in Connecticut require "continual vigilance to maintain and increase their populations."
This hour, we hear takeaways from the latest "State of the Birds" report from the Connecticut Audubon Society, touching on the similar threats facing wading birds like herons and egrets.
Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society, says there are several holdouts of protected egret populations in Connecticut, but those populations are "teetering."
Plus, raptor nests are back on the rise in Connecticut. DEEP wildlife biologist Brian Hess joins us to discuss.
If you're interested in contributing to these conservation efforts or volunteering, you can find more information with the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds.
GUESTS:
- Patrick Comins: Executive Director, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Milan Bull: Senior Director of Science and Conservation, Connecticut Audubon Society
- Elizabeth Amendola: Coastal Program Coordinator, Audubon Connecticut
- Brian Hess: Wildlife Division Biologist, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
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Numerous reports have said obesity in adults rose in the pandemic.
Childhood obesity has risen starkly too, but for different reasons than you may think.
Today, we explore how stress impacts childhood obesity.We hear from Julia A. Snethen, co author of article, “When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity.” And later, we’ll learn how to have sensitive conversations about health and weight.
What questions do you have about improving your family’s health?
GUESTS:
- Julia A. Snethen: Professor and Director of the PhD program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College of Nursing
- Dr. Melissa Santos: Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Clinical Director for Pediatric Obesity at Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 13, 2022.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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Half of the world’s population is made up of women. And by 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to rise to 1 billion, according to the North American Menopause Society.
Despite the $600 billion global market, menopause is still a taboo topic.
But new scientific research on menopause on the heels of previous studies show how and where we must invest in women’s health.
This hour on Where We Live, we learn more, and we talk to a “menopause doula” about treatment, gaps in care and myths. We also examine findings from new studies on the impact of trauma, disparities, and workplace policies on women’s bodies in midlife.
Find a North American Menopause Society-certified OBGYN, NP, or other practitioners here.
My Menoplan is a resource created by doctors and university-based menopause scientists who have worked together for over 25 years. This tool, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was designed so that women have a place to go to get accurate, up-to-date, science-based, unbiased, and personalized information about what treatments work and what treatments don’t work.
GUESTS:
- Nathalie Bonafe: Menopause doula. Founder, Cafe Menopause Connecticut. Practitioner accredited by the North American Menopause Society
- Dr. Melissa Pearlstone: North American Menopause Society-accredited OBGYN, Westwood Women's Health, Waterbury
- Debbie Dickinson: Founder and CEO, Thermaband Inc., incubated at Yale and currently in the Harvard iLab and Harvard Alumni Accelerator program
For more on menopause, listen to Where We Live's show A Frank Discussion About Menopause With Dr. Jen Gunter. Dr. Jen Gunter is an OB/GYN, women’s health advocate, and New York Times columnist. She’s also the author of The Menopause Manifesto. The conversation with Dr. Gunter was broadcast in July 2021.
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It’s been ten years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Twenty students and six educators died.
Today, we speak with a student who was a fourth grader at Sandy Hook when the shooting happened.
And later, we hear from Elizabeth Williamson, author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth.
We want to hear your thoughts, reflections, and prayers about this day.
Call the show between 9 - 10 a.m., on December 14, 2022. 888-720-9677
You can also leave us a comment on Facebook or Twitter (@wherewelive)
GUESTS:
- Jordan Gomes: A sophomore at Fordham University and advocate. She was a fourth grader at Sandy Hook Elementary when the shooting took place.
- Elizabeth Williamson:Writer at the New York Times and author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth
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"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer
.His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepresented for political gain and quackery." Read Marc Zimmer's "Twenty Rules" here:
Plus, Mark Ruede is Curriculum Supervisor of Science for Tolland Public Schools and Tolland County Director with the Connecticut Science Teachers Association. He discusses how the tricky and the topical are still tackled in the classroom.
GUESTS:
- Marc Zimmer: Chemistry Professor, Connecticut College; Author, Science and the Skeptic
- Mark Ruede: Curriculum Supervisor of Science, Tolland Public Schools; Tolland County Director, Connecticut Science Teachers Association
Connecticut Public intern Michayla Savitt helped to produce this episode.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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Bloomberg reported that a shorter work week experiment in Iceland found that workers maintained productivity and had improved well-being.
Today, Alex Pang, author of Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How, about how some companies are navigating a shorter work week, while paying workers the same salaries.
And later, we hear from Mike Melillo founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group. He implemented the four day work week at his company at the start of the pandemic.
How would you spend your time if you only had to work four days, instead of five?
GUESTS:
- Alex Pang - author of books “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less” and “Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How”
- Mike Melillo - Founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 27, 2022.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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Neil Berro, a local amateur historian, is building a massive manuscript on the history of Connecticut oystering titled Oyster Haven Lost. This hour, he previews this trove of information, spotlighting the state's once-booming oyster industry.
Plus, the Sound School in New Haven was founded with a mission of centering hands-on curriculum, incorporating the harbor, marine science and oceanography in an “exciting educational alternative to the large comprehensive high schools in the city.”
We'll hear from Sound School aquaculture coordinators about how students encounter oysters and other filter feeders in the wild, helping to bolster their growth in Long Island Sound by planting "reef balls."
GUESTS:
- Neil Berro: Amateur Historian
- Tim Visel:Former Aquaculture Coordinator, The Sound School
- Peter Solomon:Aquaculture Coordinator, The Sound School
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Known as the seventh continent, Antarctica is much more than home for penguins!
Today, we explore the least inhabited continent in the world.
We hear about how climate change is impacting wildlife on Antarctica, and what life looks like for those that live and work there.
What questions do you have about living in Antarctica?
GUESTS:
- David W. Brown -contributor to the New Yorker and author to the forthcoming book The Outside Cats
- Matt Jordan -Project Manager for Antarctica New Zealand and board member for the Antarctician Society
- Claire Christian - Executive Director of ASOC or the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
- Talbot Andrews -Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science, studying climate policy at the University of Connecticut
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If you experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues during difficult times, you’re not alone.
Today, we explore the link between our physical and mental health. Doctors typically treat these areas of health separately, but there is a lot more connecting these two areas of health than you might think.
Dr. Julian Ford, clinical psychologist and professor in the department of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine joins us to talk about the physical consequences of chronic stress.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Julian Ford - Clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine
- Aneri Pattani - National Correspondent with Kaiser Health News
- Heather Labbe - Director of Trauma Informed Wellness and Education at the YWCA in New Britain, Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 6, 2022.
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The State Department of Education and five Connecticut tribal nations are working together to meet a legislative mandate calling for Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes. Resources with localized information from the tribal nations themselves – Eastern Pequot, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Schaghticoke and Golden Hill Paugussett – are expected to be available in January 2024.
This hour, we preview this collaboration with educators from the Mohegan Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, as well as State Department of Education social studies advisor Steve Armstrong.
Darlene Kascak, education coordinator for the Institute of American Indian Studies and a traditional Native American storyteller with the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, explains the importance of centering, and distinguishing, each tribe's story and voice.
Plus, Sam Cholewa Tondreau is the director of curriculum and instruction for the Mohegan Tribal Nation, helping develop the Educators Project, an online portal that provides a "combination of free Native American study resources and tools" to educators and homeschoolers.
GUESTS:
- Darlene Kascak: Education Coordinator, Institute of American Indian Studies; Traditional Native American Storyteller, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
- Sam Cholewa Tondreau: Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mohegan Tribal Nation
- Steve Armstrong: Social Studies Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education
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Doctors and scientists are increasingly seeing obesity as a complex disease that needs to be treated as such.
Today, we talk about the psychology of obesity, and emotional eating. We learn about binge eating disorder and how stress and trauma can impact our metabolism and how we eat.
We hear from Dr. Sherry Pagato, Licensed clinical psychologist and professor at University of Connecticut. She researches weight management.
Going into the holidays, and the New Year, are you thinking about health and weight?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Sherry Pagato -Licensed clinical psychologist and professor at University of Connecticut
- Katie Mittelstaedt -Outreach and Clinical Consultant and licensed psychologist in Florida - National Alliance for Eating Disorder
- Dr. Jeffrey Hunger-Assistant Professor of Social Psychology Miami University in Ohio
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7.2 million Americans watched the FIFA World Cup opener, AP reports. Live viewership on Fox "was up 88% from the 2018 opener."
Christine Huber, a sports analyst who organizes local Team USA watch parties in the New Haven area through American Outlaws New Haven, says she's observed an increase in local attention on the games. She and local soccer commentator Shawn Mecchi join us to discuss, and spotlight the teams and players to watch.
We also get the very latest on the games, and the geopolitical backdrop, from NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman in Qatar.
Plus, Omid Namazi joins us, assistant coach for Connecticut's top pro soccer team, Hartford Athletic, and a former coach for Iran.
GUESTS:
- Christine Huber: Sports Analyst; General Manager, CFC Arena in Hamden and CFC Park in Bethany; President, American Outlaws New Haven
- Shawn Mecchi: Sports Commentator
- Tom Goldman: Sports Correspondent, NPR
- Omid Namazi: Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting, Hartford Athletic
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Suicide is the leading cause of death in college students, but are universities doing enough to provide mental health resources?
Today, on Where We Live, we talk about a growing need for more mental health support on the college campus.
We hear from Jennifer Rothman, of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and talk about what colleges can do to better aid students, and where students can go for help.
We want to hear from you - what mental health resources does your college offer? Is it enough?
GUESTS:
- Sarah Brown -News Editor at the Chronicle of Higher Ed
- Dr. Nick Pinkerton -Associate Dean of Counseling Services and Wellbeing at Southern Connecticut State University
- Jennifer Rothman - Senior Manager of Youth and Young Adult Taskforce, based in North Carolina for NAMI, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
- Alyeska Tilly -UConn Graduate Student
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One in ten Americans, or one on every elevator and four on every bus, is impacted by a rare disease. Yet, 95 percent of rare diseases do not have approved treatment. On a promising note, bio-pharmaceutical companies working on orphan drugs have more than 800 projects in clinical development.
In a ground-breaking clinical trial, a participating patient at the University of Connecticut Health Center was the first in the world to receive an infusion treatment for a type of glycogen storage disease.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) on efforts to create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Connecticut to elevate the voices of residents with rare diseases, something other states have done.
We also hear from a UConn researcher, and a father and son living with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, on the latest treatment and challenges.
GUESTS:
- John D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at age 40
- Christian D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at around four weeks
- Alicia Lawrence: Patient Services Case Manager, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- Amber Barry, RN: Glycogen Storage Disease & Disorders of Hypoglycemia Program at the University of Connecticut Health Center, and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 23, 2022.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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New Haven social studies teacher Garrett Griffin Jr. noticed his students were treading lightly around the topics of slavery and ancestry, and he set out to learn more in order to spotlight "the complexities and rich accomplishments of the descendants of Africa."
By looking into this history, Griffin said, "I hope to empower my students about our complex past for the ultimate purpose of increasing their academic performance."
When Erin Caouette, a Southington High School English teacher, learned about the stark spike in violence against the AAPI community, she sought out opportunities to study the history of discrimination, and to diversify her source material.
This hour, we hear from Garrett and Erin about their experiences as fellows of Fund for Teachers (FFT), a grant program supporting educators pursuing professional learning opportunities outside of the classroom. They are two of nearly 900 Fund for Teachers fellows from Connecticut.
1 of 2Fund for Teachers fellows showcase their experience, including 2022 Teacher of the Year Kim King.Fund for Teachers / Carrie Caton2 of 2Southington High School teacher Erin Caouette observed a “Tree of Hope” in LA’s Little Tokyo while studying AAPI history as a Fund for Teachers fellow.Erin Caouette
Plus, we hear from those fielding proposals at Fund for Teachers, who underscore the increasing importance of culturally-sustaining professional development.
GUESTS:
- JHD (Jennifer Heikkila Díaz): Program Team Member, Fund for Teachers; Learning Coordinator, Connecticut Council for the Social Studies; Activist-in-Residence, UConn Asian and Asian American Studies Institute
- Karen Eckhoff: Executive Director, Fund for Teachers
- Garrett Griffin, Jr: Social Studies Teacher, East Rock School
- Erin Caouette: English Teacher, Southington High School
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The American Rescue Plan Act was signed on March 11, 2021. Less than two weeks later, $81 billion was released to states across the country.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from experts on the state of ARPA spending in Connecticut. How is money being used to support housing, education and infrastructure?
Municipalities must allocate funds by December 2024 and fully spend them by December 2026.
Guests
- Susan Raff: Chief Political reporter at WFSB
- Alan Berube: Interim Vice President and Director of Brookings Metro at the Brookings Institution
- Bilal Tajildeen: Co-Founder of It’s Time Waterbury
- Darrell Bradford: President of the John Read Middle School PTA
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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The American Rescue Plan Act was signed on March 11, 2021. Less than two weeks later, $81 billion was released to states across the country.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from experts on the state of ARPA spending in Connecticut. How is money being used to support housing, education and infrastructure?
Municipalities must allocate funds by December 2024 and fully spend them by December 2026.
Guests
- Susan Raff: Chief Political reporter at WFSB
- Alan Berube: Interim Vice President and Director of Brookings Metro at the Brookings Institution
- Bilal Tajildeen: Co-Founder of It’s Time Waterbury
- Darrell Bradford: President of the John Read Middle School PTA
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Today, we talk about how experiences coming of age impact us into adulthood. Melissa Febos, author of the bestselling memoir Girlhood, joins us.
She writes about what she learned about herself, including the ways we begin to understand consent and how this impacts our relationships long-term.
And later, what should parents and educators consider when teaching about consent?
GUESTS:
- Melissa Febos - author of Girlhood
- Kelsey Alexander - Training and Prevention Coordinator at Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 18, 2022.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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How does craft deepen your understanding of your history, your community, or yourself? And how can predominantly-white craft spaces better welcome diverse experiences?Textile artist and printmaker Jen Hewett threads the needle on these questions in her latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection. The book includes interviews with 19 fiber artists, and surveys hundreds of creators of color, all of whom draw on their relationship with making. This hour, we hear from Hewett – and briefly, from writer Mia Nakaji Monnier.
Plus, Susi Ryan is an author and social justice activist from Connecticut who co-founded the quilt guild, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth. Ryan recently wrote a piece about how craft connects her to her ancestors, titled "Cloth Has Given Me A Voice," for Mass Humanities' We, Too, Are America series. She says, "Cloth has given me a voice to recall the memory of my enslaved ancestors.
The quilts that I create visually depict and document in cloth the life journeys of my family, my ancestors, and the many others who lived through the African diaspora," Ryan writes. "The stories my quilts tell allow me to ease into uncomfortable conversations about such critical issues as racism, social and medical justice, prison reform, African American history and literature, farm, food and housing sustainability, climate change, women’s rights, religion, politics, and human trafficking, that sadly still exists today."
GUESTS:
- Jen Hewett: Printmaker; Textile Artist; Author, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection
- Susi Ryan: Author; Speaker; Fiber Artist; Social Justice Activist; Co-Founder, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 28, 2022.
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Through his art, Mohamad Hafez confronts preconceived notions of refugees and the "baggage" they may carry. He was recently the subject of an Oscars-shortlisted documentary, an intimate portrait of how Hafez's acclaimed UNPACKEDseries was informed by his own experience leaving Syria.
This hour, we visit Hafez at his studio, just above the location of his latest venture, Pistachio Cafe. Hear about why he opened this coffee shop and "cultural salon" in the heart of New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Plus, hear how he has adapted his artwork into workshops with Connecticut schools; and preview an upcoming partnership with the Yale Peabody Museum.
"How do you tell these stories artistically? How do you tell that my family or the Syrian family or Iraqi family is worthy of attention?"
Hafez says he is "energized to make artwork that brings people together, that teaches them ever-so-gently about that other that they fear, about that other refugee that they think is uncivilized. There's nothing better than sharing humanity, sharing stories, sharing anecdotes about our lives. Because, you know, that's the human connection amongst all of us.
GUESTS:
- Mohamad Hafez: Artist; Architect; Owner, Pistachio Cafe
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 24.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Since purchasing Twitter, Elon Musk has drastically scaled back on the site’s content moderation and staff.
Today, we hear from a former Twitter employee who was recently laid off about her experience working at the company.
And later, we hear from Amanda J Crawford, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Connecticut, on the real consequences of misinformation on the platform. We also hear from Sharon McMeekin from the Digital Preservation Coalition.
We want to hear from you - are you still using Twitter?
GUESTS
- Melissa Ingle: data scientist, who formerly worked at Twitter
- Sharon McMeekin - Head of Workforce Development at Digital Preservation Coalition
- Amanda J Crawford: Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Connecticut teaching media law
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With anti-trans rhetoric on the rise, one Connecticut family shares their story in the hopes of encouraging understanding. Hear our extended conversation with Oakley and his mom Jess, touching on his experience of coming out as trans, and about the importance of allyship and advocacy. Plus, Jess shares a parent's perspective.
Oakley and Jess are using pseudonyms due to broader concerns about their safety, and in order to speak openly. You can hear more from them in a profile from Health Care Advocates International.
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There are several protections for trans and nonbinary people in our state, including insurance coverage for health care services and, as part of Connecticut's new "safe harbor" law, legal protections for those seeking gender-affirming care from out-of-state.
Still, an increase in anti-trans rhetoric has led to a troubling trend of legislation and litigation nationally. How does this affect trans and nonbinary people where we live?
One Connecticut teenager and his mom are sharing their story in the hopes of encouraging understanding. This hour, we hear from Oakley about his experience coming out as trans, and about the importance of allyship and advocacy. Jess shares a parent's perspective.
Oakley and Jess are using pseudonyms due to broader concerns about their safety, and in order to speak openly. You can hear more from them in a profile from Health Care Advocates International.
We're also joined by The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ young people. Their annual survey found that 45% of young LGBTQ people have seriously considered suicide in the last year, and nearly one in five transgender and nonbinary youth have attempted suicide.
Plus, we examine how harmful anti-trans narratives contribute to this crisis with Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog.
GUESTS:
- Oakley and Jess: Connecticut teenager and his mom
- Troy Stevenson: Senior Advocacy Campaign Manager, The Trevor Project
- Ari Drennen: LGBTQ Director, Media Matters for America
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On Election Day, Connecticut residents voted in favor of early voting – meaning Connecticut will no longer be one of just four states that doesn’t allow at least a day of in-person voting prior to Election Day.
Support for early voting is one thing; implementation is another.
Today on Where We Live, we talk about what early voting might look like in our state, and hear from Secretary of the State Elect, Stephanie Thomas.
We also hear from John Hudak, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution who will explain what early voting looks like across the country.
Do you vote for early voting? And what about something Connecticut doesn’t have yet, no-excuse absentee balloting? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS
- Representative Stephanie Thomas:2022 Secretary of the State Elect of Connecticut
- Bilal Sekou:Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Hartford
- John Hudak:Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
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In 2018, New London was designated a "site of memory" on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's slave route project, an effort launched in 1994 to "break the silence" around the history of slavery.
New London Landmarks held a ceremony in July to recognize the designation, installing a plaque at Amistad Pier. The site is considered the sixteenth stop on the New London Black Heritage Trail, which was unveiled last year.
The "Middle Passage to New London" plaque explains that in 1761, the Speedwell, a large schooner, arrived in New London from the west coast of Africa transporting 74 captive people. 21 people had not survived the harrowing voyage.
"The Speedwell docked in New London for several days before sailing to Middletown." New London joins Middletown and 51 other ports, or "sites of memory," in North America.
The plaque, and the designation itself, are meant to honor those who died during the Middle Passage, "and the enslaved people whose forced labor created much of New London's early wealth and led to disparities which still exist today."
This hour, we hear from local historians about their research, showing the Speedwell represents a small part of the city’s links to slavery. Plus, the Hempsted Houses are prominently featured on the New London Black Heritage Trail. We'll hear from assistant site administrator Nicole Thomas.
Do you want to learn more about Connecticut's history with slavery? Historian Lonnie Braxton II recommends the following reads:
Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged, and Profited from Slavery by Anne Farrow, Joel Lang and Jenifer Frank
The Logbooks: Connecticut's Slave Ships and Human Memory by Anne Farrow
Black Lives, Native Lands, White Worlds: A History of Slavery in New England by Jared Ross Hardesty
The Ledger and the Chain: How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America by Joshua D. Rothman
Reckoning with Slavery Gender, Kinship, and Capitalism in the Early Black Atlantic by Jennifer L. Morgan
GUESTS:
- Tom Schuch: New London Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Lonnie Braxton II: Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Nicole D. Thomas: Historian; Researcher; Assistant Site Administrator, Hempsted Houses
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired August 12, 2022.
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As non-profit, tax-exempt institutions, colleges and universities are often seen as a source of public good. For example, a recent New York Times Magazine article celebrated a bustling New Haven arts scene that has arisen "both because of and despite its association with Yale."
Author and historian Davarian L. Baldwin describes a "public good paradox," calling for a "broad examination of higher education's growing for-profit influence on our cities."
This hour, the Trinity College professor joins guest host John Henry Smith to discuss his latest book, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities. He touches on Yale University in New Haven, as well as his own employer, noting its "ambivalent relationship with its location" in Hartford.
Baldwin writes that Yale is one "extreme" example of how "colleges and universities come to significantly dictate the terms of urban living, from a city’s housing costs and wage ceilings to its health-care standards and even policing practices."
Baldwin discusses his work organizing around various institutions of higher learning through the Smart Cities Lab he founded and directs at Trinity College.
He tells John Henry Smith, "We're talking about suppressed wages of faculty, service workers, graduate students. We're talking about tax exemptions; we're talking about unaccountable policing; we're talking about questionable health care practices. So for me, higher education, the notion of the 'ivory tower,' is dead. Some of the major struggles over the future of our democracy are being played out in concentrated form on our America's campuses."
We also hear from Eddie Camp, an organizer and research director with UNITE HERE Local 34, who has worked with community organization New Haven Rising to push for Yale to "pay its fair share." He discusses Yale's recent commitment to increase its voluntary contribution to the City of New Haven.
Camp helped to research segregated development in 2020, finding "striking" overlaps between mortgage rates, life expectancy, unemployment, foreclosures and COVID-19 rates in New Haven. Find out more about that research and campaign.
GUESTS:
- Davarian L. Baldwin: Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies, Trinity College; Founding Director, Smart Cities Research Lab; Author, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities are Plundering Our Cities
- Eddie Camp: Research Director, UNITE HERE Local 34
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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From 1872 to 1881, 120 young Chinese boys were sent to America on an educational exchange program.
Today, we hear the stories of these boys and what their lives looked like around New England.
We hear from the Connecticut Historical Society and learn about an exhibit honoring the Chinese Educational Mission.
Later, we hear about Connecticut’s efforts to implement a robust AAPI curriculum in our schools.
If you’re an Asian American living in our state, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Karen Li Miller -Research Historian at the Connecticut Historical Society
- Chris Lee -descendant of one of the participants of the Chinese Educational Mission
- Henry Qu - Data Scientist based in Boston. He worked on translating these letters.
- Jason Oliver Chang -Associate Professor of History and Director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute at UConn
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There are over 150,000 veterans who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, and more than 14,000 active-duty service members who identify as American Indian, according to reports from the federal departments of Veteran Affairs and Defense.
This hour, we celebrate our Native American veterans. Eastern Pequot Tribal Councilor and U.S. Army veteran Valerie Gambrell shares her story.
Councilor Gambrell will be honored at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center's annual Veterans Powwow this weekend. We'll preview the event with Wayne Reels and Robert Hayward, and discuss the history of Native American veterans in our state. You can register to attend the Powwow here
Plus, Alexandra Harris joins us from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. She co-authored a recent book and exhibit titled, Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces.
GUESTS:
- Valerie Gambrell: Councilor, Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation; Former Sergeant, U.S. Army
- Alexandra Harris: Senior Editor, Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian; Co-Author, Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces
- Wayne Reels: Cultural Resources Director, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center; Member, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Robert Hayward: Director of Marketing, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center; Member, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
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Coming off the heels of Election Day, today on Where We Live we talk about the midterm election results and hear from our panel of experts.
We hear from Jonathan Wharton, Khalilah Brown-Dean and Julia Bergman. We will also hear from some of the candidates.
We break down what we saw last night and what we can expect to see from our newly elected officials.
We want to hear from you. Did you vote in yesterday's midterm?
GUESTS:
- Khalilah Brown-Dean: Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University and host of Connecticut Public’s Disrupted
- Jonathan Wharton: Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University and Associate Dean at the school of graduate and professional studies
- Julia Bergman: State Politics Reporter for CT Insider
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Sy Montgomery has authored over 30 books about animals.Today, she joins us to talk about her latest book, The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty. We learn about Sy’s lessons in falconry and what it takes to handle these incredible creatures.Later, we hear from A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center, a raptor rehabilitator located in Killingworth.If you’re a lover of birds of prey, we want to hear from you. What questions do you have about falconry?GUESTS:
- Sy Montgomery - Author of The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty
- Christine Cummings - Executive Director and Founder of A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center in Killingworth, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 13, 2022.
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Indian immigrant Indra Nooyi led PepsiCo as chairman and CEO for more than a decade, making her one of the most powerful women in corporate America.
Nooyi is also on the board of Amazon, a Dean's Advisory Council member at MIT's School of Engineering, and advisor on economic development to Gov. Ned Lamont. When the pandemic hit, she led the reopening committee with Dr. Albert Ko, who is the Raj and Indra Nooyi Professor of Public Health at the Yale School of Public Health.
This hour on Where We Live, Nooyi joins us to talk about her new book My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future.
We learn how paid leave impacted her early career after the birth of her children, and after a horrific car crash. Paid leave also allowed her to care for both her parents – her father had cancer, and her mother became paralyzed from the neck down. It’s one of the reasons she now urges companies to provide the benefit of paid leave for workers today.
GUEST:
- Indra Nooyi: Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo. Author of My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 20.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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After nearly seven years of hosting Where We Live, today is Lucy's last live show.
Lucy isn't going anywhere! She has recently been promoted to VP of Community Engagement, where she will lead Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Before becoming a member of the company's senior leadership team, Lucy was the Executive Producer and Host of Connecticut Public's morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live, for nearly seven years. Under her leadership, WWL went beyond news headlines and interviews with policymakers to feature more conversations about Connecticut and the stories of its residents.
This hour on Where We Live, we look back at some of our favorite conversations and hear from some of our favorite guests.
Listeners and fans of Where We Live, we want to hear from you. What are some of your favorite conversations Lucy's had over the years? Drop us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
Lucy's Highlights:
Beyond Central Park: The legacy of Connecticut native Frederick Law Olmsted
A Conversation With Wanjiku Gatheru, UConn's First Rhodes Scholar
Tackling Islamophobia: A Connecticut Man’s Story Of Transformation
Who Owns History? Connecticut Woman Sues Harvard for Family Photos
GUESTS:
- Walt Woodward: Connecticut State Historian Emeritus
- Tamara Lanier: Retired Chief Probation Officer
- Tess Terrible: Where We Live Senior Producer
A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS:
As we search for a new host, you will continue to hear in-depth storytelling and stay up to date on news and events across our state. In addition to hearing some of our previously recorded shows, Connecticut Public reporters will guest host and continue tackling issues, creating community, and sharing ideas with all of you. Stay tuned!
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Chief of the Mohegan Tribe Lynn Malerba made history when she was sworn in as U.S. Treasurer in September, the first Native American to be appointed to the role.
She was also appointed by President Joe Biden to oversee the launch of a new Office of Tribal and Native Affairs within the Treasury Department, developing "new ways to help tribes develop their economies to overcome challenges that are unique to tribal lands," the AP reported.
This hour,we hear from Chief Malerba about this important new post, and her efforts to improve communication between the U.S. Treasury and the 574 unique tribes that are federally recognized in the United States.
Plus, CT Humanities executive director Jason Mancini examined census records to reveal the historical erasure of New England's vibrant Native American population. He joins us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Lynn Malerba: Chief, Mohegan Tribe; U.S. Treasurer
- Jason Mancini: Executive Director, CT Humanities
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This hour on Where We Live, we hear from two survivors of genocide. Theanvy Kuoch fled Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge in 1981, having lost 19 family members. Reena Aurora left India in 1989 five years after her brother was burned to death in the wave of anti-Sikh violence.
Both women struggled to find culturally fluent psychiatric care for themselves and their families, leading Theanvy and Reena to develop new models of mental health care for immigrant communities that straddle dual cultures.
We also hear from IRIS in New Haven on how the nonprofit is adding to its wellness team to better serve the mental health needs of recent Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.
GUESTS:
Reena Kaur Aurora:Board Member, Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut
Theanvy Kuoch:Executive Director, Khamer Health Advocates. Family therapist and community health worker.
Ann O’Brien:Director of Sponsorship, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services
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Democratic candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania John Fetterman continues to recover from a stroke, but some have questioned his capacity to serve as a potential Senator. But disability rights advocates have come to his defense.
This hour, on Where We Live, we talk about ableism in life and politics.
Dr. Janet Williams, CEO and president of Minds Matter, LLC. and Lydia X. Z. Brown joins us. We also hear from Dr. Kevin Sheth, director of the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health.
If you are part of the disabled community, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Janet Williams - CEO and president of Minds Matter LLC, an organization that assists people with disabilities to live work and play in the community
- Dr. Kevin Sheth - Director of Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health
- Dan Schwartz - Employment Law Partner at Shipman and Goodwin and publisher of the Connecticut Employment Law Blog
- Lydia X. Z. Brown - disability rights advocate and candidate for Maryland State House
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Descendants of accused witches in Connecticut are pushing for exoneration 375 years later, hoping our state will follow others in clearing their ancestors' names.
This hour, we hear from Beth Caruso and Sarah Jack, two of the five founders of the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project. Their goal is to "clear the names of those wrongfully accused of witchcraft in Connecticut through legislation and establishing a permanent memorial to the victims of the witch trials."
We'll learn about a plan to propose exoneration legislation from Jane Garibay, State Representative for the 60th District, including Windsor. In 2017, the town voted to clear the names of Alice Young and Lydia Gilbert, both of whom were hanged in our state.
But first, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is closing out Bat Week, highlighting "astonishing losses" to populations of cave bats in Connecticut and across North America.
"White-nose syndrome has killed over 90% of northern long-eared, little brown, and tri-colored bats in North America in fewer than 10 years." A wildlife biologist joins us.
GUESTS:
- Devaughn Fraser: Wildlife Biologist, DEEP
- Beth Caruso: Co-Founder, Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project; Author, One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America’s First Witch Hanging
- Sarah Jack: Co-Founder, Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project; Co-Host, Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast
- Jane Garibay: 60th District State Representative
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Alexandra Horowitz is a dog cognition researcher, professor and the head scientist at Barnard College's Dog Cognition Lab. Her latest book, The Year of the Puppy, follows her first experience raising a puppy.
"Instead of following an instruction manual for a puppy, I wanted to follow the puppy," she writes. "By slowing down to observe the changes in our new charge from week to week, I hoped to make new sense of the dog’s behavior in a way that is missed in a focus only on training. I wanted to keep a lens firmly on the puppy’s point of view—how they begin to see and smell the world, make meaning of it, and become themselves."
This hour, Horowitz reflects on her year with Quid, and she answers your questions.
GUESTS:
- Alexandra Horowitz: Professor, Barnard College; Head Scientist, Dog Cognition Lab; Author, Year of the Puppy
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Superstorm Sandy hit Connecticut back in October of 2012. Since then, residents of Connecticut’s coastal towns have tried to rebuild, but some have also moved on.Today, we talk about the 10 year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy and how climate change is impacting our aging infrastructure.We speak with a resident of Fairfield, Connecticut, who’s home was flooded during the storm.If your home was impacted by Hurricane Sandy, or if you live on the coast now, we want to hear from you. How are you preparing for future hurricanes?GUESTS:
- Dick Dmochowski - resident of Fairfield, Connecticut
- Jim O’Donnell - Professor of Marine Sciences and Executive Director, of CIRCA at the University of Connecticut
- Jenn Marlon - Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment
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Superstorm Sandy hit Connecticut back in October of 2012. Since then, residents of Connecticut’s coastal towns have tried to rebuild, but some have also moved on.
Today, we talk about the 10 year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy and how climate change is impacting our aging infrastructure.
We speak with a resident of Fairfield, Connecticut, who’s home was flooded during the storm.
If your home was impacted by Hurricane Sandy, or if you live on the coast now, we want to hear from you. How are you preparing for future hurricanes?
GUESTS:
- Dick Dmochowski -resident of Fairfield, Connecticut
- Jim O’Donnell -Professor of Marine Sciences and Executive Director, of CIRCA at the University of Connecticut
- Jenn Marlon -Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment
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Dr. Emily Wang from the Yale School of Medicine was named a 2022 “MacArthur Genius.” The Chicago–based foundation recognized Wang for her research on health barriers for incarcerated people transitioning to the community, and for her work at the Transitions Clinic Network, which she co-founded. The clinic provides healthcare to people transitioning to civil society, often with chronic unmanaged health conditions.
According to Marlies Carruth, Director of MacArthur Fellows, MacArthur Fellows are “architects of new modes of activism, artistic practice, and citizen science. They are excavators uncovering what has been overlooked, undervalued, or poorly understood. Their work extends from the molecular level to the land beneath our feet to Earth’s orbital environment—offering new ways for us to understand the communities, systems, and social forces that shape our lives around the globe.”
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from Wang and her fellow researcher Dr. Lisa Puglisi, who heads the Transitions Clinic, on the struggles that formerly incarcerated people face to access healthcare.
We learn about new plans for the Transitions Clinic in Connecticut, and also look into new research on health outcomes in this demographic.
GUESTS:
Dr. Emily Wang: Professor of Medicine and of Public Health at the Yale School of Medicine; Director at SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, a collaboration between the Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School to improve the health of individuals and communities impacted by mass incarceration. Co-founder, the Transitions Clinic Network.
Dr. Lisa Puglisi: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine; Director, the Transitions Clinic Network
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Yale Law School Professor Robert Ellickson explores the detriments of current zoning practices and possible means for reform in his new book, “America’s Frozen Neighborhoods: The Abuse of Zoning.”
The book builds on an article Ellickson published in 2020 that provided "an empirical study of zoning practices in Silicon Valley, Greater New Haven, and Greater Austin," titled, "The Zoning Strait-Jacket: The Freezing of American Neighborhoods of Single-Family Houses."
Plus, Sara Bronin founded DesegregateCT in 2020, and helped develop the Connecticut Zoning Atlas. As Bronin explained in the article, "Zoning by a Thousand Cuts," the atlas is a "one-of-a-kind statewide data set" illuminating "the many hidden constraints on housing embedded in zoning codes" in Connecticut.
Bronin also discusses her efforts to create a national atlas at Cornell's Legal Constructs Lab, and how recent legislative reforms in Connecticut factor.
But first, how does a recent lawsuit filed against the town of Woodbridge fit into this larger conversation? Connecticut Public reporter Camila Vallejo and Sean Ghio with the Partnership for Strong Communities join us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Camila Vallejo: Housing Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Sean Ghio: Policy Director, Partnership for Strong Communities
- Sara Bronin: Professor, Cornell University; Director, Legal Constructs Lab; Founder, DesegregateCT
- Robert Ellickson: Walter E. Meyer Professor Emeritus of Property and Urban Law, Yale Law School; Author, Frozen Neighborhoods: The Abuse of Zoning
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New Haven resident Winfred Rembert was a civil rights activist, who survived a near-lynching in the 1960s and seven years on chain gangs.
Today, we talk about his 2022 Pulitzer Prize biography, Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South. We hear from co author Erin Kelly and talk with Rembert's wife, Patsy. Rembert passed in March 2021, and his Pulitzer Prize was awarded posthumously.
We hear about his life, his work as a leather artist and the legacy he leaves behind.
Later, we hear about the Open Source, a visual arts festival taking place this fall.
Have you seen Winfred Rembret’s work? We want to hear from you. Check out the event happening at NXTHVN and sponsored by the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School
GUESTS:
- Erin l. Kelly Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University and co-author of Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South
- Patsy Rembert - Winfred Rembert’s wife of 46 years and a youth advocate
- Lisa Dent - Executive Director of Artspace New Haven
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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How is plastic pollution changing our oceans?
Elizabeth Ellenwood addresses this pressing question through art, capturing images of pollution that are both formally beautiful and conceptually shocking. She recently worked alongside scientists at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute to produce a book and photography exhibit titled "The Interweaving of the Synthetic and Natural World."
This hour, we hear from Ellenwood ahead of the U.S. debut of her "Interweaving" series. You can learn more here about the exhibit, opening November 3 at The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at UConn Avery Point.
But first, University of Hartford Professor Bilal Sekou joins us for analysis of Thursday's 5th Congressional District debate.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Politics and Government, University of Hartford
- Elizabeth Ellenwood: Artist
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Online harassment takes many forms, and victims often have limited ways to protect themselves.Today, we explore we explore this form of harassment.We hear about how an online forum called Kiwi Farms served as a platform users to dox and torment transgender and neuro-divergent people for years. Kat Tenbarge, Tech and Culture Reporter at NBC, joins us.We also hear from Nina Jankowicz, author of How To Be A Woman Online: Surviving Abuse And Harassment, And How To Fight Back.We learn about how the Alex Jones verdict might influence how people behave online.Have you experienced online harassment? We want to hear from you.GUESTS:
- Nina Jankowicz - Vice President at the Center for Information Resilience, a UK based nonprofit that focuses on countering misinformation, documenting human rights abuse and combating online harms against humans and minorities.
- Kat Tenbarge - Tech and Culture Reporter at NBC
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A deadly combination of Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, and fentanyl, resulted in 221 overdose deaths up to August this year, up from 141 deaths for the full year 2020, according to the Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.This hour on Where We Live, we look at the fentanyl crisis. Data from the state Department of Public health show that 86% of the 1,524 overdose deaths in 2021 were caused by fentanyl.We hear from a mother turned activist about her son Alec, who died of a fentanyl overdose four years ago, and the ongoing struggle to overcome stigma and barriers to care, including insurance coverage.We also talk about how synthetic opioids are being packaged in ways that appear attractive to children and youth, including colorful candy.What are hospital ERs doing to get people the care they need at a time of bed shortages?Later, we hear about a soon-to-be-launched school program aimed at preventing substance misuse by teens and children.
GUESTS:
- Dita Bhargava: Ambassador atShatterproof. Mother of Alec, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018.
- Dr. Kathryn Hawk: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Yale School of Public Health and the Program in Addiction Medicine.
- Bianca Irizarry: Consultant, State Education Resource Center, andCoordinator of the school- based Center for Preventive Education and Advocacy.
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This hour, George Logan joins us to discuss his campaign against incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.
The 5th District face-off has attracted national attention. With three weeks to go until Election Day, we sit down with the Aquarion executive and former state senator, to hear more about his stance on issues like education, inflation and what he has referred to as "the energy crisis," and even his take on 2020 election denial. Logan will take your questions.
Republican-American reporter Paul Hughes provides analysis.
GUESTS:
- George Logan:Republican Nominee, Connecticut's 5th Congressional District
- Paul Hughes: Capitol Reporter, Republican-American
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The pandemic led to a decline in the incarcerated population, and many states have been re-evaluating the purpose of prisons.In this hour, Bill Keller, Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Marshall Project, joins us to talk about his new book, What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration.Keller details how the United States prison population became so massive and what we can learn from how other countries treat and house people in prison.GUESTS:
- Bill Keller - Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Marshall Project and author of What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration
- Mike Wessler - Communications Director for the Prison Policy Initiative based out of East Hampton, Massachusetts
- State Senator Gary Winfield - Democrat representing the tenth district in New Haven and West Haven.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Charlie Nardozzi, award-winning garden writer and host of Connecticut Garden Journal, joins us to answer your autumn gardening questions. What are the best bulbs to plant this time of year? How can you make better use of the leaves piling up in your backyard? Nardozzi answers these questions and more.
But first, Connecticut Public hosted a debate on Thursday between 4th District Congressional candidates, incumbent Democratic Representative Jim Himes and Republican Jayme Stevenson. Stamford Advocate reporter Brianna Gurciullo joins us for analysis.
GUESTS:
- Brianna Gurciullo: Reporter, Stamford Advocate
- Charlie Nardozzi: Horticulturist; Author; Host, Connecticut Garden Journal
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The war in Ukraine shows little chance of slowing down after the Crimean bridge was destroyed, and Russia launched massive missile strikes in Ukraine.
Today, we get an update from Washington Post National Security reporter Missy Ryan from Kyiv.
We also hear from an Ukrainian American who has committed to staying and working to aid the war effort in Ukraine.
And later we talk to a refugee who arrived in Connecticut after the war.
Has your local community welcomed Ukrainians in recent months? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Missy Ryan -National Security Correspondent at the Washington Post. She is currently reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine
- Katy Bloss -resident of Gilford, Connecticut
- Nina Opanasenko -Ukrainian refugee living in Connecticut
- Dana Bucin- Immigration Attorney at Murtha Cullina and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut
- Larissa Babij - writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her newsletter is “A Kind of Refugee.”
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CT Public’s debate series continues in the lead up to Election Day November 8.
This hour on Where We Live, a Hearst politics reporter breaks down the issues at stake from a debate between Democratic incumbent John Larson and Dr. Larry Lazor, Republican, both candidates in the first congressional district. They debated each other at Manchester Community College, Tuesday, moderated by CT Public’s Ray Hardman.
Later, we learn about medicinal gardens, and the use of medicinal plants in pharmaceuticals to this day.
We also hear from a tea shop owner in Westport who practices traditional Chinese medicine. We learn about consuming medicinal foods from a home garden – like ginger, garlic, and scallion.
GUESTS:
Dan Haar: Associate Editor, Hearst Connecticut
Greg Susla: ICU pharmacist (retired), National Institutes of Health, and Advisory Board Member, UConn School of Pharmacy. Also, Curator of a Civil War period medicinal garden at the Pry House Field Hospital Museum in Maryland.
Wei Bertram: Founder, Arogya Tea, Westport and Practitioner, Chinese Medicine
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"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer.
His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepresented for political gain and quackery."
Plus, Mark Ruede is Curriculum Supervisor of Science for Tolland Public Schools and Tolland County Director with the Connecticut Science Teachers Association. He discusses how the tricky and the topical are still tackled in the classroom.
GUESTS:
- Marc Zimmer: Chemistry Professor, Connecticut College; Author, Science and the Skeptic
- Mark Ruede: Curriculum Supervisor of Science, Tolland Public Schools; Tolland County Director, Connecticut Science Teachers Association
Connecticut Public intern Michayla Savitt helped to produce this episode.
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The National Marine Fisheries Service says seaweed farming is the fastest-growing aquaculture in the U.S.
Suzie Flores and her husband Jay Douglass launched Stonington Kelp Co. in 2017, and now run the largest commercial kelp farm in Connecticut. Stonington Kelp Co. is also a "regenerative ocean farm.
"Kelp helps to absorb carbon and nitrogen from the water as it grows, "resulting in a nutrient-dense super food that helps clean the ocean."
This hour, we hear from Flores as well as Connecticut Sea Grant's Anoushka Concepcion to discuss the benefits of growing sugar kelp, and sustainable fishing and farming in the Long Island Sound.
Concepcion developed a food safety guide for Connecticut seaweed, and is focused on the broader seaweed aquaculture industry.
Plus, the Shipwright’s Daughter is one restaurant using its buying power to push for sustainable fishing and farming. Executive Chef David Standridge joins.
GUESTS:
- Anoushka Concepcion: Extension Educator in Marine Aquaculture, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension System
- Suzie Flores: Principal Owner, Stonington Kelp Co.
- David Standridge: Executive Chef, The Shipwright's Daughter Restaurant
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired June 10, 2022
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Beauty standards change with each generation, but today’s standards of beauty seem to be more unachievable than ever.Today, we talk about how the beauty industry and its influencers are causing a rise in cosmetic surgeries.Beauty reporter Jessica DeFino joins us. She writes the “Unpublishable," a beauty critical newsletter.Think about the type of beauty products you consume. What influences you?GUESTS:
- Jessica DeFino - Freelance Beauty Reporter and writer of the Unpublishable Newsletter
- Alka Menon - Assistant Professor of Sociology at Yale University
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired June 9, 2022.
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The road for Rob Hotaling to secure the Independent Party nomination for governor received some scrutiny leading to an unsuccessful court challenge by Republican candidate, Bob Stefanowki to keep Hotaling off the ballot.
Today, Hotaling joins us to explain why he’s running. We hear where he stands on the issues and key differences between him and the 2 other major party candidates.
Historically, Independent Party candidates have garnered just a small minority of votes here in Connecticut but the unaffiliated continue to be the largest and growing population of voters in our state.
What questions do you have for Independent gubernatorial candidate, Rob Hotaling?
GUESTS
- Rob Hotaling - Independent Party Gubernatorial Candidate
- Ken Dixon - Government and politics reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media including New Haven Register and the Connecticut Post
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Incumbent Congressman Joe Courtney (Democrat), and State Rep. Mike France (Republican), candidates in the second congressional district, faced each other in a debate hosted by Connecticut Public, and moderated by Connecticut Public’s education reporter Catherine Shen, at Eastern Connecticut State University, Tuesday.
This hour on Where We Live, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror’s Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter in Washington, D.C., breaks down the debate and the issues at stake – from rising healthcare costs and inflationary pressures to reproductive rights.
Later, we hear about ways to address disparities in death rates from cancer, following the death of Bloomfield boys basketball coach Kevin Moses from colon cancer last month. Moses was the first Black head coach to lead Bloomfield High School’s basketball team to win a state championship.
We also learn about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS – a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, seen commonly in long-COVID patients.
The variety of topics covered in the hour makes this a magazine show.
GUESTS:
Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Washington, D.C., CT Public and CT Mirror
Dr. Eric Winer: Director, Yale Cancer Center
Lauren Stiles: POTS patient and founder, Dysautonomia International. Research Assistant Professor of Neurology at Stony Brook University School of Medicine.
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Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission launched a task force to target digital discrimination and "digital redlining."
This hour, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel joins us to discuss this effort. "Your zip code should not determine access to broadband," the Chairwoman has said. She tells us, "The pandemic made this issue crystal clear for everyone."
The Chairwoman explains how digital discrimination is "more nuanced" than urban-rural divides.
Plus, during Digital Inclusion Week, we discuss the important role local libraries play in bridging digital or informational divides? American Library Association executive director Tracie D. Hall joins us, along with Connecticut librarians and organizations like East Hartford Works.
To learn more about Wednesday's panel discussion featuring Hall and others, hosted by Hartford Public Library, click here.
GUESTS:
- Jessica Rosenworcel: Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission
- Tracie D. Hall: Executive Director, American Library Association
- Melissa Canham-Clyne: Director, Hamden Public Library System
- Yadira Jeter: Career Navigator, East Hartford Works
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106,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant, yet federal officials have raised serious questions about the national transplant system, known UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing.
This hour, we learn about a confidential government report and Senate investigation, both finding serious weaknesses in the transplant system.Washington Post health and medicine reporter Lenny Bernstein, joins us and later, we hear from the Chief of Transplant Surgery at Hartford Hospital.
But first, a Connecticut couple shares their experience waiting for a liver transplant. Kevin Prue is a Madison resident searching for a living donor. His wife Amy manages their Facebook page, Kevin’s Journey to Liver Transplant, and is a volunteer with New England Donor Services.
Guests:
- Lenny Bernstein: Health and Medicine Reporter, The Washington Post
- Dr. Glyn Morgan: Chief of Transplant Surgery, Hartford Hospital
- Amy and Kevin Prue: Residents of Madison, CT
Catie Talarski contributed to this program which originally aired on August 18, 2022.
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Agricultural fairs or "country fairs" originated in New England, according to the International Association of Fairs & Expositions.
The idea was "initiated" by Elkanah Watson in 1811. IAFE explains that Watson, a "New England patriot and farmer," organized the Berkshire Agricultural Society and hosted a fair in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. "It was not a market, and was more than just an exhibit of animals." Prizes of up to $70 were awards for "the best exhibits of oxen, cattle, swine and sheep."
This hour, we hear how those traditions are carried on in Connecticut.
1 of 4Marla Calico2 of 4"Famous" fritters can be found at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival.John Atashian3 of 4Garlic & Harvest Festival-goers grab garlic-infused bites from hundreds of vendors.Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival4 of 4Tammi Worsham (right), chair of the Backyard Beekeeper Association's outreach committee, hosts a booth at the 3rd annual Honey Harvest Festival at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens.
Plus, we'll preview three harvest festivals in our state, including the Southington Apple Harvest Festival and the Garlic & Harvest Festival in Bethlehem.
For a full list of this year's agricultural fairs in Connecticut, click here.
Beyond The Big E, here are the fairs and festivals coming up in our state:
- Harwinton Fair (Sept. 30-Oct. 2)
- Southington Apple Harvest Festival (Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9)
- South Windsor Apple Festival (Oct. 1)
- Portland Agricultural Fair (Oct. 7-9)
- Riverton Fair (Oct. 7-9)
- Garlic & Harvest Festival in Bethlehem (Oct. 8-9)
- Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival (Oct. 14-16)
- Mystic Apple Festival (Oct. 22-23)
GUESTS:
- Marla Calico: President & CEO, International Association of Fairs & Expositions
- David Lapreay: Event Coordinator, Southington Apple Harvest Festival; Director of Recreation, Youth & Senior Services, Town of Southington
- Paul Travaglino: Co-Chair, Honey Harvest Festival; Advisory Committee Member, Bartlett Arboretum
- Dave Harkness: Co-Founder and Event Coordinator, Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival in Bethlehem
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There’s been heavy emphasis put on computer programming education in recent years. Tech moguls like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg have all predicted that "learning to code" will be as ubiquitous as learning algebra.
What opportunities are there to learn to code in Connecticut?
This hour, we hear from the owner of three Coder Schools in our state, Vaishali Shah. Hartford Business Journal reports she "is the first person in Connecticut to open up a coding for kids after school and summer camp program."
We'll also speak with a computer science class that participated in the Lt. Governor’s third annual "Coding for Good" computing challenge.
A recent study on the state of computer science education identified lingering disparities in access. "51% of public high schools offer foundational computer science," the Code.org Advocacy Coalition found.
Plus, one expert weighs in on what it really means to consider a career in coding. Sophia Matveeva is CEO of Tech for Non-Techies, a consultancy helping professionals "speak tech."
While "many are wondering what they really need to know about technology to succeed in the digital age," Matveeva clarifies that "most leaders don’t need to learn to code. Instead, they need to learn how to work with people who code."
"The myth of coders in a garage creating a billion-dollar company is persistent," says Matveeva. "The story of non-technical professionals driving technological change is not often told, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."
GUESTS:
- Vaishali Shah: Owner, The Coder School in Farmington, Glastonbury and soon, Cheshire
- Kristin Violette: Computer Science Teacher, Newtown High School
- Julia Camman: Student, Newtown High School
- Sophia Matveeva: CEO, Tech for Non-Techies; Host, Tech for Non-Techies Podcast
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President Biden declared that the COVID-19 “pandemic is over.”
But public health officials say not so fast – reminding Americans that on average, 353 people are dying daily from COVID-19 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virus continues to mutate, and vulnerable populations still exist despite the COVID vaccine and boosters.
This hour on Where We Live, we talk to Connecticut’s top public health official, Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner at the state Department of Public Health.
We ask her about the latest COVID booster and why uptake for the COVID vaccine remains low for Connecticut children aged 4 and under.
Also, this month New York State declared a polio emergency after detecting the virus in wastewater. How concerned are Connecticut officials?
And, we also hear from two long-COVID patients on their daily struggles, and efforts to find a cure.
GUESTS:
Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Frank Ziegler: Attorney, Nashville, TN. Participant in LISTEN, a long-COVID study at Yale School of Medicine.
Kelli Custer: Long-Covid patient. Professor of English, Western Connecticut State University.
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President Biden declared that the COVID-19 “pandemic is over.”
But public health officials say not so fast – reminding Americans that on average, 353 people are dying daily from COVID-19 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virus continues to mutate, and vulnerable populations still exist despite the COVID vaccine and boosters.
This hour on Where We Live, we talk to Connecticut’s top public health official, Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner at the state Department of Public Health.
We ask her about the latest COVID booster and why uptake for the COVID vaccine remains low for Connecticut children aged 4 and under.
Also, this month New York State declared a polio emergency after detecting the virus in wastewater. How concerned are Connecticut officials?
And, we also hear from two long-COVID patients on their daily struggles, and efforts to find a cure.
GUESTS:
Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Frank Ziegler: Attorney, Nashville, TN. Participant in LISTEN, a long-COVID study at Yale School of Medicine.
Kelli Custer: Long-Covid patient. Professor of English, Western Connecticut State University.
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The 5th District is considered Connecticut’s most competitive Congressional seat, and this year’s race is already a "heated" one, taking on issues like inflation, education, abortion and race.
This hour,we sit down with incumbent Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who’s running for reelection against Republican George Logan. She touches on these topics, and takes your questions.
George Logan is set to join the program on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
GUESTS:
- Jahana Hayes:Congresswoman, Connecticut's 5th District
- Paul Hughes: Capitol Reporter, Republican-American
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The 5th District is considered Connecticut’s most competitive Congressional seat, and this year’s race is already a "heated" one, taking on issues like inflation, education, abortion and race.
This hour,we sit down with incumbent Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who’s running for reelection against Republican George Logan. She touches on these topics, and takes your questions.
George Logan is set to join the program on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
GUESTS:
- Jahana Hayes:Congresswoman, Connecticut's 5th District
- Paul Hughes: Capitol Reporter, Republican-American
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What are some issues with homestay services like Airbnb? And what’s being done to address them?
This hour, we hear from travelers about their experiences with short-term rentals.
We'll hear from an attorney representing clients with complaints about Airbnb.
And later, we learn how these short-term rentals impact the housing and rental markets in our state.
What questions do you have about the safety and ethics of homestay services?
GUESTS:
- Andrea Sachs - Washington Post Travel Writer and Journalist
- Christina Conte - Food and Travel Writer at https://www.christinascucina.com/
- Jesse Danoff - Attorney at the Mitchell and Danoff law firm in Hollister, California
- Jocelyn Ayer -Director of the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju contributed to this program.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired July 28, 2022.
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Connecticut resources are being rallied in response to Hurricane Fiona.
This hour, we hear about the relief effort being overseen by Stamford-based non-profit Americares, mobilizing a team on the ground in San Juan. Plus, Sammy Vega with the Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee discusses the fundraising effort they're overseeing.
You can support these relief responses by donating to the Americares Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund, as well as the Coalition's Connecticut Helps Puerto Rico 2022 Fund. Navigate to the latter fund via CThelpsPR.org or CTayudaPR.org.
The Coalition also recommends donating directly to Lions Clubs International Foundation, Taller Salud, Hospital del Niño, Para la Naturaleza and Casa Pueblo Adjuntas Puerto Rico.
Plus, we discuss local lessons learned since the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, when thousands of displaced people from Puerto Rico were welcomed in Connecticut.
CREC's Aura Alvarado and UConn Associate Professor Dr. Charles Venator-Santiago discuss the importance of "one-stop" locations, like the one Alvarado helped get off the ground in Hartford after Hurricane Maria, ultimately welcoming hundreds of displaced families.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin’s Office tells Where We Live the city is ready to partner with community and Hartford groups to help families who may come here and also said “it’s not yet clear that we will see anything like the large-scale relocations that we saw five years ago after Hurricane Maria.”
New Haven Mayor Elicker's Office tells us, "We have had discussions across city departments and with several of our nonprofit and community partners so that we are prepared as a community to support those in need: whether that’s families looking for emergency housing, individuals in need of healthcare, children entering our public schools, and other services and supports.”
The Hartford Hispanic Health Council and Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven also told us they’ve been readying internal relief responses.
Bruni Pizarro, executive director for Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven, recently co-authored a column on how Connecticut resettlement agencies are "underutilized." She wrote that many organizations like Junta "face uncertain and inadequate funding, imperiling their capacity to respond to future climate-related disasters."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Brenda Rivera-García: Senior Director, Latin America and Caribbean Programs for Americares
- Sammy Vega: President, CICD-Puerto Rican Parade in Hartford; Founding Member, Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee
- Aura Alvarado: Director of Communications and Community Relations, CREC Education
- Dr. Charles Venator-Santiago: Faculty Director, Puerto Rican Studies Initiative at the University of Connecticut
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Connecticut resources are being rallied in response to Hurricane Fiona.
This hour, we hear about the relief effort being overseen by Stamford-based non-profit Americares, mobilizing a team on the ground in San Juan. Plus, Sammy Vega with the Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee discusses the fundraising effort they're overseeing.
You can support these relief responses by donating to the Americares Hurricane Fiona Relief Fund, as well as the Coalition's Connecticut Helps Puerto Rico 2022 Fund. Navigate to the latter fund via CThelpsPR.org or CTayudaPR.org.
The Coalition also recommends donating directly to Lions Clubs International Foundation, Taller Salud, Hospital del Niño, Para la Naturaleza and Casa Pueblo Adjuntas Puerto Rico.
Plus, we discuss local lessons learned since the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, when thousands of displaced people from Puerto Rico were welcomed in Connecticut.
CREC's Aura Alvarado and UConn Associate Professor Dr. Charles Venator-Santiago discuss the importance of "one-stop" locations, like the one Alvarado helped get off the ground in Hartford after Hurricane Maria, ultimately welcoming hundreds of displaced families.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin’s Office tells Where We Live the city is ready to partner with community and Hartford groups to help families who may come here and also said “it’s not yet clear that we will see anything like the large-scale relocations that we saw five years ago after Hurricane Maria.”
New Haven Mayor Elicker's Office tells us, "We have had discussions across city departments and with several of our nonprofit and community partners so that we are prepared as a community to support those in need: whether that’s families looking for emergency housing, individuals in need of healthcare, children entering our public schools, and other services and supports.”
The Hartford Hispanic Health Council and Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven also told us they’ve been readying internal relief responses.
Bruni Pizarro, executive director for Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven, recently co-authored a column on how Connecticut resettlement agencies are "underutilized." She wrote that many organizations like Junta "face uncertain and inadequate funding, imperiling their capacity to respond to future climate-related disasters."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Brenda Rivera-García: Senior Director, Latin America and Caribbean Programs for Americares
- Sammy Vega: President, CICD-Puerto Rican Parade in Hartford; Founding Member, Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee
- Aura Alvarado: Director of Communications and Community Relations, CREC Education
- Dr. Charles Venator-Santiago: Faculty Director, Puerto Rican Studies Initiative at the University of Connecticut
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As non-profit, tax-exempt institutions, colleges and universities are often seen as a source of public good. For example, a recent New York Times Magazine article celebrated a bustling New Haven arts scene that has arisen "both because of and despite its association with Yale."
Author and historian Davarian L. Baldwin describes a "public good paradox," calling for a "broad examination of higher education's growing for-profit influence on our cities."
This hour, the Trinity College professor joins guest host John Henry Smith to discuss his latest book, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities. He touches on Yale University in New Haven, as well as his own employer, noting its "ambivalent relationship with its location" in Hartford.
Baldwin writes that Yale is one "extreme" example of how "colleges and universities come to significantly dictate the terms of urban living, from a city’s housing costs and wage ceilings to its health-care standards and even policing practices."
Baldwin discusses his work organizing around various institutions of higher learning through the Smart Cities Lab he founded and directs at Trinity College.
He tells John Henry Smith, "We're talking about suppressed wages of faculty, service workers, graduate students. We're talking about tax exemptions; we're talking about unaccountable policing; we're talking about questionable health care practices. So for me, higher education, the notion of the 'ivory tower,' is dead. Some of the major struggles over the future of our democracy are being played out in concentrated form on our America's campuses."
We also hear from Eddie Camp, an organizer and research director with UNITE HERE Local 34, who has worked with community organization New Haven Rising to push for Yale to "pay its fair share." He discusses Yale's recent commitment to increase its voluntary contribution to the City of New Haven.
Camp helped to research segregated development in 2020, finding "striking" overlaps between mortgage rates, life expectancy, unemployment, foreclosures and COVID-19 rates in New Haven. Find out more about that research and campaign.
GUESTS:
- Davarian L. Baldwin: Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies, Trinity College; Founding Director, Smart Cities Research Lab; Author, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities are Plundering Our Cities
- Eddie Camp: Research Director, UNITE HERE Local 34
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do some people live longer than others, and what’s different in the Blue Zones? How can we slow down aging?
This hour, we look at genetic research to extend our lifespan. We also hear about ways to delay diseases and live our best life.
And, a geriatric physician tells us why Medicare must redesign its annual wellness visit.
Also, a SuperAgers study is now enrolling people 95 years and older!
GUESTS:
Dr. Sofiya Millman:Associate Professor of Medicine and Genetics; Director, Human Longevity Studies, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Patrick Coll:Medical Director for Senior Health, UConn Center on Aging
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do some people live longer than others, and what’s different in the Blue Zones? How can we slow down aging?
This hour, we look at genetic research to extend our lifespan. We also hear about ways to delay diseases and live our best life.
And, a geriatric physician tells us why Medicare must redesign its annual wellness visit.
Also, a SuperAgers study is now enrolling people 95 years and older!
GUESTS:
Dr. Sofiya Millman:Associate Professor of Medicine and Genetics; Director, Human Longevity Studies, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Patrick Coll:Medical Director for Senior Health, UConn Center on Aging
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This hour, we preview some of the must-see TV shows and must-read books ahead this autumn.
NPR TV critic Eric Deggans joins us, plus we hear from Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Booksellers in Madison and Middletown.
Deggans recently wrote about "why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better."
Addressing racist criticisms of the new Amazon Prime Video series "Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power" series, Deggans writes, "These new visions of classic fantasy worlds and characters are simply a reflection of our new, more multicultural world. And that's probably what most scares fans who are used to white-centered fantasy."
GUESTS:
- Eric Deggans: TV Critic, NPR
- Roxanne Coady:CEO, R.J. Julia Booksellers; CEO and Founder, Just the Right Book
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This hour, we preview some of the must-see TV shows and must-read books ahead this autumn.
NPR TV critic Eric Deggans joins us, plus we hear from Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Booksellers in Madison and Middletown.
Deggans recently wrote about "why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better."
Addressing racist criticisms of the new Amazon Prime Video series "Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power" series, Deggans writes, "These new visions of classic fantasy worlds and characters are simply a reflection of our new, more multicultural world. And that's probably what most scares fans who are used to white-centered fantasy."
GUESTS:
- Eric Deggans: TV Critic, NPR
- Roxanne Coady:CEO, R.J. Julia Booksellers; CEO and Founder, Just the Right Book
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The business of cannabis is growing. Retail establishments are expected to open by the end of this year in Connecticut and there are efforts to mobilize cannabis workers into unions.
Today, we explore how the cannabis industry continues to evolve. Inspiring cannabis entrepreneurs can take classes and learn about the industry from “seed to sale.”
We hear from Skyler Frazer, from the Hartford Business Journal.
Later, visitors to the former children’s museum in West Hartford, remember Conny the Whale! The museum is moving and we find out more about efforts to preserve this giant replica of Connecticut’s state animal.
What questions do you have about working in cannabis?
GUESTS:
- Skyler Frazer - Staff Writer at Hartford Business Journal
- Nicole Barton - Organizer for the UFCW and former cannabis industry worker, she lives in Massachusetts
- Emily Sabo - Organizing Director for the UFCW Local 919
- Daniel Kalef - Senior Vice President of Higher Education at Green Flower, premier cannabis education experts
- David Kaplan - Attorney and President of Cetacean Society International, Incorporated
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The business of cannabis is growing. Retail establishments are expected to open by the end of this year in Connecticut and there are efforts to mobilize cannabis workers into unions.
Today, we explore how the cannabis industry continues to evolve. Inspiring cannabis entrepreneurs can take classes and learn about the industry from “seed to sale.”
We hear from Skyler Frazer, from the Hartford Business Journal.
Later, visitors to the former children’s museum in West Hartford, remember Conny the Whale! The museum is moving and we find out more about efforts to preserve this giant replica of Connecticut’s state animal.
What questions do you have about working in cannabis?
GUESTS:
- Skyler Frazer - Staff Writer at Hartford Business Journal
- Nicole Barton - Organizer for the UFCW and former cannabis industry worker, she lives in Massachusetts
- Emily Sabo - Organizing Director for the UFCW Local 919
- Daniel Kalef - Senior Vice President of Higher Education at Green Flower, premier cannabis education experts
- David Kaplan - Attorney and President of Cetacean Society International, Incorporated
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Absentee ballot eligibility was expanded again in Connecticut in time for the the November election, but the changes are temporary. This hour, we discuss what voters need to know with News 12 reporter John Craven, and check in on the Secretary of the State race.
Voters can request an application for an absentee ballot from their town clerk or download an application here to return to their town clerk.
Plus, former Secretary of the State Denise Merrill discusses the Yes for Freedom to Vote Early campaign she’s leading. Voters can expect to answer the following question on the ballot this November: "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?"
Common Cause in Connecticut executive director Cheri Quickmire also joins.
Common Cause was one of several advocacy organizations that has pushed for updates to Connecticut's voting protocols, signing a letter to Governor Lamont and legislators earlier this year.
They wrote, "Despite Connecticut’s progressive reputation, there are still discriminatory barriers to equal participation in our democracy for voters of color and people whose first language is not English, particularly at the local level. In fact, Connecticut has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation with Black and Latino voters facing limited access to absentee voting, no early voting, and longer voting lines."
GUESTS:
- John Craven: Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
- Denise Merrill: Former Connecticut Secretary of State
- Cheri Quickmire: Executive Director, Common Cause in Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Absentee ballot eligibility was expanded again in Connecticut in time for the the November election, but the changes are temporary. This hour, we discuss what voters need to know with News 12 reporter John Craven, and check in on the Secretary of the State race.
Voters can request an application for an absentee ballot from their town clerk or download an application here to return to their town clerk.
Plus, former Secretary of the State Denise Merrill discusses the Yes for Freedom to Vote Early campaign she’s leading. Voters can expect to answer the following question on the ballot this November: "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?"
Common Cause in Connecticut executive director Cheri Quickmire also joins.
Common Cause was one of several advocacy organizations that has pushed for updates to Connecticut's voting protocols, signing a letter to Governor Lamont and legislators earlier this year.
They wrote, "Despite Connecticut’s progressive reputation, there are still discriminatory barriers to equal participation in our democracy for voters of color and people whose first language is not English, particularly at the local level. In fact, Connecticut has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the nation with Black and Latino voters facing limited access to absentee voting, no early voting, and longer voting lines."
GUESTS:
- John Craven: Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
- Denise Merrill: Former Connecticut Secretary of State
- Cheri Quickmire: Executive Director, Common Cause in Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In his new book, The Storm is Here: An American Crucible, longtime war correspondent Luke Mogelson explores the rise of right wing extremism in the U.S.
Today, Mogelson joins us to talk about the events leading up to the Jan 6 insurrection and what he saw firsthand at the U.S Capitol that day.
The Oath Keepers have been accused of having a large role in the Capitol riots, and are one of the far right extremist groups Mogelson has followed.
A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League shows476 state residents are part of the Oath Keepers membership database, reportsHearst CT.
What does their influence look like today, a year and a half after the riots? How influential will these groups become after the midterm elections?
GUESTS:
- Luke Mogelson -author of The Storm is Here: An American Crucible
- Alex Friedfeld- Investigative Researcher with the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In his new book, The Storm is Here: An American Crucible, longtime war correspondent Luke Mogelson explores the rise of right wing extremism in the U.S.
Today, Mogelson joins us to talk about the events leading up to the Jan 6 insurrection and what he saw firsthand at the U.S Capitol that day.
The Oath Keepers have been accused of having a large role in the Capitol riots, and are one of the far right extremist groups Mogelson has followed.
A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League shows476 state residents are part of the Oath Keepers membership database, reportsHearst CT.
What does their influence look like today, a year and a half after the riots? How influential will these groups become after the midterm elections?
GUESTS:
- Luke Mogelson -author of The Storm is Here: An American Crucible
- Alex Friedfeld- Investigative Researcher with the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Who supports the mental health of teachers and paraeducators?
A Gallup poll in June found that four in 10 K-12 workers in the U.S. (44%) said they "always" or "very often" feel burned out at work, outpacing all other industries nationally.
According to a Rand Corporation survey, also in June, teachers and principals in the U.S. are experiencing frequent job-related stress at a rate about twice that of the general population of working adults.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from paraeducators and a teacher trainer about resignations and mounting stress on the job.
Also, we spotlight ongoing, $8 million research under a federal grant by UConn Health, UConn School of Education, and UMass (Lowell) on ways to improve mental healthcare for teachers.
And, Catherine Shen, Connecticut Public Education reporter, weighs in.
GUESTS:
Monique Revellese: Paraeducator, Canterbury. [Previously recorded comment.]
Cameo Thorne: Restorative Practice Trainer of Teachers & Students, New Haven. Former public school teacher.
Catherine Shen: Education Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio
Jenn Cavallari: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, UConn School of Medicine
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Who supports the mental health of teachers and paraeducators?
A Gallup poll in June found that four in 10 K-12 workers in the U.S. (44%) said they "always" or "very often" feel burned out at work, outpacing all other industries nationally.
According to a Rand Corporation survey, also in June, teachers and principals in the U.S. are experiencing frequent job-related stress at a rate about twice that of the general population of working adults.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from paraeducators and a teacher trainer about resignations and mounting stress on the job.
Also, we spotlight ongoing, $8 million research under a federal grant by UConn Health, UConn School of Education, and UMass (Lowell) on ways to improve mental healthcare for teachers.
And, Catherine Shen, Connecticut Public Education reporter, weighs in.
GUESTS:
Monique Revellese: Paraeducator, Canterbury. [Previously recorded comment.]
Cameo Thorne: Restorative Practice Trainer of Teachers & Students, New Haven. Former public school teacher.
Catherine Shen: Education Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio
Jenn Cavallari: Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, UConn School of Medicine
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tenant unions are on the rise in our state. Camila Vallejo and Ginny Monk, housing reporters for Connecticut Public and the Connecticut Mirror, found that at least five tenant unions had formed with help from the Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU).
This hour, we hear from Vallejo and Monk, plus organizers with CTTU.
As Vallejo and Monk reported, "Tenants unions form as collective bargaining organizations to address issues such as maintenance problems, rent raises and evictions, among other disputes. Tenant organizing grew in popularity during the pandemic, notably in New York City where tenants organized to fight for rent cancellations."
A new ordinance in New Haven is the first in the state to allow tenant unions to barter with the city's Fair Rent Commission. A similar resolution was passed in Hamden, where renters at Seramonte Estates recently unionized.
A Connecticut law passed last session now requires cities with at least 25,000 residents to establish fair rent commissions that, according to the New Haven Register, are "vested with the power to adjust rents if they find any single landlord is pursuing abusive practices in setting rates."
Hamden's Fair Rent Commission is set to meet this week to hear four cases.
Connecticut Public contacted North Point Management Corps., the owners of Seramonte Estates, but did not receive comment.
While the Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners does not have an official stance on tenant unions, we also hear from John Souza, the organization's president and a full-time landlord, about why he feels organizing is "unnecessary," especially under "smaller landlords."
"Everyone is being squeezed by rising prices and inflation including us. The solutions are simple but hard to do."
GUESTS:
- Camila Vallejo: Housing Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Ginny Monk: Children's Issues and Housing Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Luke Melonakos-Harrison: Organizer,Connecticut Tenants Union
- Paul Boudreau: Organizer, Seramonte Tenants Union
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tenant unions are on the rise in our state. Camila Vallejo and Ginny Monk, housing reporters for Connecticut Public and the Connecticut Mirror, found that at least five tenant unions had formed with help from the Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU).
This hour, we hear from Vallejo and Monk, plus organizers with CTTU.
As Vallejo and Monk reported, "Tenants unions form as collective bargaining organizations to address issues such as maintenance problems, rent raises and evictions, among other disputes. Tenant organizing grew in popularity during the pandemic, notably in New York City where tenants organized to fight for rent cancellations."
A new ordinance in New Haven is the first in the state to allow tenant unions to barter with the city's Fair Rent Commission. A similar resolution was passed in Hamden, where renters at Seramonte Estates recently unionized.
A Connecticut law passed last session now requires cities with at least 25,000 residents to establish fair rent commissions that, according to the New Haven Register, are "vested with the power to adjust rents if they find any single landlord is pursuing abusive practices in setting rates."
Hamden's Fair Rent Commission is set to meet this week to hear four cases.
Connecticut Public contacted North Point Management Corps., the owners of Seramonte Estates, but did not receive comment.
While the Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners does not have an official stance on tenant unions, we also hear from John Souza, the organization's president and a full-time landlord, about why he feels organizing is "unnecessary," especially under "smaller landlords."
"Everyone is being squeezed by rising prices and inflation including us. The solutions are simple but hard to do."
GUESTS:
- Camila Vallejo: Housing Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Ginny Monk: Children's Issues and Housing Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
- Luke Melonakos-Harrison: Organizer,Connecticut Tenants Union
- Paul Boudreau: Organizer, Seramonte Tenants Union
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2018, New London was designated a "site of memory" on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's slave route project, an effort launched in 1994 to "break the silence" around the history of slavery.New London Landmarks held a ceremony in July to recognize the designation, installing a plaque at Amistad Pier. The site is considered the sixteenth stop on the New London Black Heritage Trail, which was unveiled last year. UntitledThe "Middle Passage to New London" plaque explains that in 1761, the Speedwell, a large schooner, arrived in New London from the west coast of Africa transporting 74 captive people. 21 people had not survived the harrowing voyage.
"The Speedwell docked in New London for several days before sailing to Middletown." New London joins Middletown and 51 other ports, or "sites of memory," in North America.
The plaque, and the designation itself, are meant to honor those who died during the Middle Passage, "and the enslaved people whose forced labor created much of New London's early wealth and led to disparities which still exist today.
This hour, we hear from local historians about their research, showing the Speedwell represents a small part of the city’s links to slavery. Plus, the Hempsted Houses are prominently featured on the New London Black Heritage Trail. We'll hear from assistant site administrator Nicole Thomas.
Do you want to learn more about Connecticut's history with slavery?
GUESTS:
- Tom Schuch: New London Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Lonnie Braxton II: Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Nicole D. Thomas: Historian; Researcher; Assistant Site Administrator, Hempsted Houses
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired August 12, 2022.
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When we hear about the climate crisis, it can often be framed as a future or somehow distant dilemma. But environmental justice advocates point to the many ways present-day discriminatory practices and policies have resulted in stark instances of environmental racism here in the U.S.
One acclaimed Connecticut author is using his latest work of science fiction to reframe the climate crisis as inherently local, all while confronting issues of race, class, and gentrification.
Tochi Onyebuchi’s Goliath envisions his home of New Haven in the not-to-distant future, ravaged by climate crisis and abandoned by the mostly-white class of people who can afford it. Like his previous work of fiction, Riot Baby, Goliath carries pressing real-world implications.
This hour, he joins us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Tochi Onyebuchi: Author, Goliath; Winner, New England Book Award; Finalist, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When we hear about the climate crisis, it can often be framed as a future or somehow distant dilemma. But environmental justice advocates point to the many ways present-day discriminatory practices and policies have resulted in stark instances of environmental racism here in the U.S.
One acclaimed Connecticut author is using his latest work of science fiction to reframe the climate crisis as inherently local, all while confronting issues of race, class, and gentrification.
Tochi Onyebuchi’s Goliath envisions his home of New Haven in the not-to-distant future, ravaged by climate crisis and abandoned by the mostly-white class of people who can afford it. Like his previous work of fiction, Riot Baby, Goliath carries pressing real-world implications.
This hour, he joins us to discuss.
GUESTS:
- Tochi Onyebuchi: Author, Goliath; Winner, New England Book Award; Finalist, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The gubernatorial race in Connecticut is heating up.
Today, Governor Ned Lamont joins us to discuss his reelection campaign and what he wants to accomplish if elected to a second term.
Lamont has led the state through 2.5 years of a pandemic; what are his plans to help residents in the current economy, bogged down by inflation and in a state where employers are still struggling to hire workers?
We discuss evolving COVID-19 protocols, creating more affordable housing in our state, as well as parental rights and influence in education.
Governor Lamont also answers listener calls and questions posted to Where We Live's Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Ned Lamont - Incumbent Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
- Dr. Jonathan Wharton -Associate Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The gubernatorial race in Connecticut is heating up.
Today, Governor Ned Lamont joins us to discuss his reelection campaign and what he wants to accomplish if elected to a second term.
Lamont has led the state through 2.5 years of a pandemic; what are his plans to help residents in the current economy, bogged down by inflation and in a state where employers are still struggling to hire workers?
We discuss evolving COVID-19 protocols, creating more affordable housing in our state, as well as parental rights and influence in education.
Governor Lamont also answers listener calls and questions posted to Where We Live's Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Ned Lamont - Incumbent Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
- Dr. Jonathan Wharton -Associate Professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from sickle cell disease experts at UConn Health and Yale on a successful transfusion therapy, and ongoing research that promises a full cure following a risk-reduced transplant.
And, we hear from a former pediatric patient, now 21,on her transplant and full cure.
Also, we discuss new drugs, gene therapy, and equitable access to care.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder, causing red blood cells to contort into a sickle shape, resulting in severe bone pain and fatigue. Complications include anemia, blood clots, organ damage, pulmonary hypertension, vision loss, and stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 Americans are affected, and 1 in every 365 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell disease. And, 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies are born with sickle cell trait.
GUESTS:
Rehana Konate: Student at the University of Connecticut; fully cured of Sickle Cell Disease
Dr. Niketa Shah: Director, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program, and Director, Pediatric Cellular Therapy Program, Yale Medicine
Teresa Works: Sickle Cell Social Worker, UConn Health
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from sickle cell disease experts at UConn Health and Yale on a successful transfusion therapy, and ongoing research that promises a full cure following a risk-reduced transplant.
And, we hear from a former pediatric patient, now 21,on her transplant and full cure.
Also, we discuss new drugs, gene therapy, and equitable access to care.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder, causing red blood cells to contort into a sickle shape, resulting in severe bone pain and fatigue. Complications include anemia, blood clots, organ damage, pulmonary hypertension, vision loss, and stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100,000 Americans are affected, and 1 in every 365 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell disease. And, 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies are born with sickle cell trait.
GUESTS:
Rehana Konate: Student at the University of Connecticut; fully cured of Sickle Cell Disease
Dr. Niketa Shah: Director, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program, and Director, Pediatric Cellular Therapy Program, Yale Medicine
Teresa Works: Sickle Cell Social Worker, UConn Health
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This hour, we sit down with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski to discuss his plans for the final two months of the campaign, and to take your questions.
This is Stefanowski’ssecond timerunning against Ned Lamont, after losing to the incumbent in 2018 by 3% points or around 40,000 votes.
The former business executive has focused his platform on making Connecticut more affordable and safer; however in recent weeks, he has beginning to refine other campaign points. Later today he plans to unveil a "Parental Bill of Rights." How much is this modeled off of the controversial Florida and Texas bills by the same name?
GUESTS:
- Bob Stefanowski: Republican Candidate for Governor of Connecticut
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This hour, we sit down with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski to discuss his plans for the final two months of the campaign, and to take your questions.
This is Stefanowski’ssecond timerunning against Ned Lamont, after losing to the incumbent in 2018 by 3% points or around 40,000 votes.
The former business executive has focused his platform on making Connecticut more affordable and safer; however in recent weeks, he has beginning to refine other campaign points. Later today he plans to unveil a "Parental Bill of Rights." How much is this modeled off of the controversial Florida and Texas bills by the same name?
GUESTS:
- Bob Stefanowski: Republican Candidate for Governor of Connecticut
- Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Steve Roberts launched the Push to Start Skate Program in 2017, using skateboarding "to create community, teach creative thinking, collaboration and self-confidence to youth in the Dixwell and Newhallville area" every Saturday.
This hour, we hear from Roberts about his efforts to make skateboarding more accessible in his hometown, including the Scantlebury Park skate facility, which opened last summer.
Plus, Dr. Neftalie Williams teaches the first course on the action sport at the University of Southern California, and is the first "Ambassador of Skateboarding" and envoy for the U.S. Department of State, examining skateboarding as a tool of self-expression and cultural diplomacy. He discusses the growing importance of skate-friendly cities, his work in Connecticut, and the state's lesser-known status as a skateboarding "hub."
We also hear from local skateboarder and videographer Ethan Giorgetti about his process of skating, shooting and premiering videos, like his latest, "Keepsake."
Professional skateboarders Alexis Sablone and Trevor Thompson grew up together in Connecticut. Now they're launching a new core skate shop in New Haven, the city's first since 2015. We hear from Sablone about their plans for Plush at 96 Orange St.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Neftalie Williams: Sociologist; University of Southern California Provost’s Post-Doctoral Scholar, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism; Yale Schwarzman Center Visiting Fellow in Race, Culture & Community
- Steve Roberts: Director, Push to Start Skate Program; Co-Founder, Scantlebury Park Skate Facility
- Ethan Giorgetti: Videographer; Owner, Social Hour
- Alexis Sablone: Professional Skateboarder; Partner, Plush
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Making those student loan payments is among many Americans' monthly budgets. But with President Biden’s plan to wipe out student debt for some borrowers, what should people do with this new, discretionary income?
Today, we talk about life after student loan debt, and how to set new financial goals.
Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief of the Balance, a personal finance website, joins us. And we hear from a financial planner who helps clients overcome student loan debt and plan for the future.
What questions do you have about managing your personal finances after paying off student debt? Is that possible for you?
GUESTS:
- Kristin Myers -Editor-in-Chief of the Balance, a personal finance and economics website that helps people with their money questions.
- Tom Martin -financial planner based in Hartford Connecticut
Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of three new e-cigarette products in 2021, marking the first authorization of its kind by the FDA.
Concurrently, the FDA ordered hundreds of products off the market – such as a vape holder shaped like a Gameboy that kids could potentially hide from parents, and a “sunset sherbet” flavored vape liquid, which retailers continue to sell, according to a new investigation by STAT News.
The Federal Trade Commission’s first-ever e-cigarette report links “an unprecedented” increase in e-cigarette use among youth with the rise in flavored products. “The data show that this increase coincided with dramatic spikes in the market share of flavored products, higher concentrations of nicotine, and an industry attempt to evade a ban on free sampling,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Beyond regulation, what role do taxes have in the habits of consumers? A new Yale study found that increasing taxes on e-cigarettes led to a decline in youth and young adults’ rate of daily vaping; but it led to an increase in cigarette use. The tobacco taxation in Connecticut is $4.35 cents per pack of cigarettes. The state also taxes e-cigarettes at $0.40 per milliliter.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from the co-author of the Yale study on e-cigarette taxation and the policy implications, and from a youth and adolescent psychiatrist on the best ways to help patients cease smoking. We also look into social pressures, trends, and the influence of marketing and advertising in driving youth and young adults toward e-cigarettes.
GUESTS:
Ruth Canovi: Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association (Connecticut); and Chair, MATCH Coalition.
Michael Pesko: Health economist and Associate Professor of Economics, Georgia State University; Co-author of a July, 2022 study titled “Young adult responses to taxes on cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems,” in the journal Addiction.
Dr. Javeed Sukhera: Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living and Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital.
Angela Mattie: Professor, School of Business and the School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University.
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While Connecticut's craft beer industry has grown steadily over the last decade, the pandemic posed challenges to taprooms and wholesale retailers alike. Nearly half of the state's 125 breweries received federal relief funding, according to the Brewers Association.
This hour, we hear from the Connecticut Brewers Guild about how staffing shortages, supply chain snags and price hikes are still a factor for the industry.
WBUR recently reported a "carbon dioxide shortage is affecting Massachusetts craft production." Brewers Guild Executive Director Phil Pappas says the price of CO2, an integral ingredient in production and canning, has already gone up. He has concerns the shortage could affect Connecticut in the future.
The Brewers Association's annual report found that, nationally, small and independent craft brewers had "rebounded" from the pandemic. While 12 breweries have closed in Connecticut since the start of the pandemic, 22 have opened.
Plus, we hear about a new scholarship opportunity aimed at diversifying the Connecticut craft beer industry. New England Brewing Company's (NEBCO) Director of Marketing and Sales Jamal Robinson recently launched the NEBCO African American Brewers Scholarship.
The goal was to finance one aspiring Black brewer annually, through Sacred Heart University's new 11-month brewing science certification program, they were able to support four young brewers.
Robinson also organized this year's Change in the Air Beer Festival, the first Black-run beer festival in the state.
Robinson says the Change in the Air Committee that has formed around the effort has submitted an application for non-profit status.
GUESTS:
- Jamal Robinson: Director of Sales and Marketing, New England Brewing Co.
- Phil Pappas: Executive Director, Connecticut Brewers Guild
- Bart Watson: Chief Economist, Brewers Association
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There’s a little more than 3 months until Election Day and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski has made big changes to his campaign team.
Today, we get the latest in Connecticut’s governor’s race. Political Science professor Dr. Johnathon Wharton and Hearst CT columnist Dan Haar join us.
Nationally, the Republican Party has split into distinct factions since Trump’s presidency. Coming up, we talk more about Republican campaigns and how conservative views have evolved since the Trump presidency.
But first, we talk about President Biden’s student loan forgiveness.
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Connecticut farms have experienced extreme drought and floods, finding it increasingly difficult to prepare for alternating extremes. While 2021 brought floods that devastated many Connecticut crops, farmers are again dealing with drought this summer.
On Friday, federal officials declared New London and Windham counties "primary natural disaster areas" due to drought, while Hartford, Middlesex and Tolland counties are designated as "contiguous counties."
Farmers interested in applying for assistance can contact their local Farm Service Agency office.
This hour, we hear from local producers, including from Provider Farm in Salem. State Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt also joins.
Plus, Long Island Soundkeeper and fish and wildlife biologist Bill Lucey has observed changes in fish populations in fresh- and saltwater, and the habitats where they live.
"Extreme weather events impact wildlife in many diverse ways," says a spokesperson for the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, noting impacts on flora and fauna from migratory birds and insects to berries and acorns.
"If it’s too wet, nests can flood and wash away; if it is too dry, food and water can be harder to find close by. More frequent intense storms can topple nest trees, erode stream banks, and create many other habitat changes that challenge wildlife."
GUESTS:
- Hannah Tripp: Owner, Provider Farms in Salem
- Chris Bassette: Co-Owner, Killam & Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury
- Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Bill Lucey: Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound
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With Roe v. Wade overturned, and abortion becoming less available, will we see more children placed in foster care and parents seeking adoption?
This hour on Where We Live, we speak with experts and learn whether or not we should expect to see an increase in adoption.
We hear from the Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes.
Later, we hear from Doris Houston, Director of the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies at Illinois State University.
What questions do you have about the future of adoption and foster care?
GUESTS:
- Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes - Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services
- Doris Houston - Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Social Work and the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies at Illinois State University.
- Molly Rampe Thomas - Founder and CEO of Choice Network, a nationally recognized pro-choice and LGBTQ adoption agency.
Where We Live is dedicated to exploring the issues and impact of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe. We wanted to create a space to make it easy for our listeners to find all of this content with one click. Visit ctpublic.org/PostRoeWorld for easy access to our ongoing coverage.
Where We Live: A Post-Roe World is available as a dedicated podcast feed onApple Podcasts, Spotify,Stitcher andTuneIn. Subscribe or follow to stream all of our continued coverage.
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South Asians have the highest death rate from heart disease in the U.S. compared to other ethnic groups. Globally, 60% of patients with heart disease are South Asians.
Cardiovascular risk in South Asian Americans – Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi immigrant populations – leads to the early onset of plaque in arteries, compared to other groups. That’s what the 12-year long Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America – or MASALA study – has found. And now, the study is expanding to include the children of South Asian immigrants who participated in the first round.
This hour on Where We Live, we’ll discuss the scope of the study: By 2024, the MASALA cohort will include around 2300 participants in California, Illinois, and New York, whose health will be tracked over the next several decades. The goal? To understand the factors — food, socio-economic determinants, genetics — leading to heart disease in South Asian Americans, how to prevent it, and how to treat it.
Findings to date include the link between ectopic fat and cardiac health; a plant diet on heart health; and Coronary artery calcium incidence and changes using direct plaque measurements: The MASALA study.
And, researchers offer Health Tips to South Asians, including a carb counting tool for traditional South Asian foods and healthy vegetarian keto recipes.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Nilay Shah: Cardiologist and epidemiologist, faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Co-Investigator at the MASALA Study.
- Krishnendu Ray: Associate Professor of Food and Nutrition Studies, New York University. Author of The Migrant's Table: Meals and Memories in Bengali-American Households.
- Shraddha Chaubey: Dietitian and Nutritionist, and founder of NutriPledge, LLC. President of the CT Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
This show was produced by Sujata Srinivasan, with help from talk show intern Mira Raju.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Does this year's back-to-school mean "back to normal"?
This hour, we sit down with Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to discuss top priorities for the agency. We touch on COVID-19 and monkeypox guidance, teacher shortages, and more.
What are your questions for the Commissioner?
GUESTS:
- Charlene M. Russell-Tucker: Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education
- Irene Parisi: Chief Academic Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
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Connecticut is home to many architectural sites, but what about the ones that occur just off the coast?
Today, Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni takes us through the many shipwrecks along Connecticut’s shoreline.
We hear about what happened to these shipwrecks and how they’re being preserved so that divers will always have an opportunity to explore this piece of Connecticut history.
First up, we hear from Jacqui Rabe Thomas about some questionable practices at Hartford Healthcare and how home health aides were being impacted by it.
What questions do you have about shipwrecks in Connecticut?
GUESTS:
- Dr Nicholas Bellantoni -Emeritus Connecticut State Archeologist
- Jacqui Rabe Thomas -former reporter for Connecticut Public
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There’s been heavy emphasis put on computer programming education in recent years. Tech moguls like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg have all predicted that "learning to code" will be as ubiquitous as learning algebra.
What opportunities are there to learn to code in Connecticut?
This hour, we hear from the owner of three Coder Schools in our state, Vaishali Shah. Hartford Business Journal reported she "is the first person in Connecticut to open up a coding for kids after school and summer camp program."
We'll also speak with a computer science class that participated in the Lt. Governor’s annual "Coding for Good" computing challenge.
A recent study on the state of computer science education found disparities in access. "51% of public high schools offer foundational computer science," the Code.org Advocacy Coalition found.
1 of 6Students who participated in the 2022 Lt. Governor's Computing Challenge were presented with The Jackson Laboratory Urban Achievement Award by JAX Professor Jeff Chuang.The Jackson Laboratory2 of 6Newtown High School students Julia Camman and Marguerite LaBance participated in the annual "Coding for Good" challenge.3 of 6Students participated in the Lt. Gov.'s annual "Coding for Good" computing challenge.
Plus, one expert weighs in on what it really means to consider a career in coding. Sophia Matveeva is CEO of Tech for Non-Techies, a consultancy helping professionals "speak tech."
While "many are wondering what they really need to know about technology to succeed in the digital age," Matveeva clarifies that "most leaders don’t need to learn to code. Instead, they need to learn how to work with people who code."
"The myth of coders in a garage creating a billion-dollar company is persistent," says Matveeva. "The story of non-technical professionals driving technological change is not often told, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."
GUESTS:
- Vaishali Shah: Owner, The Coder School in Farmington, Glastonbury and soon, Cheshire
- Kristin Violette: Computer Science Teacher, Newtown High School
- Julia Camman: Student, Newtown High School
- Sophia Matveeva: CEO, Tech for Non-Techies; Host, Tech for Non-Techies Podcast
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106,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant, yet federal officials have raised serious questions about the national transplant system, known UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing.
This hour, we learn about a confidential government report and Senate investigation, both finding serious weaknesses in the transplant system.
Washington Post health and medicine reporter Lenny Bernstein, joins us and later, we hear from the Chief of Transplant Surgery at Hartford Hospital.
But first, a Connecticut couple shares their experience waiting for a liver transplant. Kevin Prue is a Madison resident searching for a living donor. His wife Amy manages their Facebook page, Kevin’s Journey to Liver Transplant, and is a volunteer with New England Donor Services.
- Lenny Bernstein: Health and Medicine Reporter, The Washington Post
- Dr. Glyn Morgan: Chief of Transplant Surgery, Hartford Hospital
- Amy and Kevin Prue: Residents of Madison, CT
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Microbeads were banned in the U.S. in 2015, but tiny bits of plastic known as microplastics, and another manmade family of chemicals called PFAS, are turning up in our environment and in our bodies. A recent survey conducted by Connecticut Sea Grant identified both materials as "top" contaminants of emerging concern this year.
This hour, we hear about efforts to track PFAS and microplastics in Connecticut. Experts at Connecticut Sea Grant and the State Department of Public Health join us to discuss the prevalence and impact of PFAS; and UConn Professor and Head of UConn's Marine Sciences Department J. Evan Ward touches on microplastics in the Long Island Sound.
Plus, Elizabeth Ellenwood is an artist from Pawcatuck whose work draws attention to ocean pollution and microplastics. She was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship and an American Scandinavian Foundation Grant to travel to Norway, where she's working with environmental chemists and marine biologists to produce scientifically-informed photographs focusing on ocean pollution.
GUESTS:
- J. Evan Ward: Professor and Head of Marine Sciences Department, University of Connecticut
- Sylvain De Guise: Director, Connecticut Sea Grant at UConn Avery Point
- Lori Mathieu: Drinking Water Section Chief, Connecticut Department of Public Health
- Elizabeth Ellenwood: Artist
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 12, 2022.
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Brother Carl Hardrick has been a leader in violence prevention in Hartford for decades. Now there is an Institute for Violence Prevention and Community Engagement in his name.
This hour, we sit down with Hardrick to reflect on his impact and his hopes for the Institute.
"Interrupters" and "interveners" will train to take local action, working with youth and families and mediating conflict.
"We're looking for, how do you stop violence? How do you stop a young person from killing another? Somebody knows. So what we need is engagers, young people in the street, contacting other young people," he says.
"We have to go where they are and we have to start early."
There have been 25 gun homicides in Hartford since January. There were a total of 35 homicides last year, the highest in Hartford in 18 years, according to Hearst Connecticut.
Hardrick's grandson, Makhi Buckly, was among those lost in 2021. We touch on this unthinkable tragedy with him.
Hardrick speaks to the need to address young people "in the middle" who may not be in trouble, as well as the need for robust community supports, whether after-school programming, mental health resources or even a ride home.
He also touches on the focus on incarceration in Connecticut.
"That’s not gonna solve the problem. It’s gonna make the problem worse. You’re gonna invest in that, and you’re not willing to give teachers more money, put more money in the education system, but you will invest in locking them up." The Institute, he explains, "is going to look at why they’re doing what they’re doing and study that."
We also discuss the recent rise in violence in Hartford with Jacquelyn Santiago Nazario, CEO of COMPASS Youth Collaborative.
GUESTS:
- Brother Carl Hardrick: Founding Director, Brother Carl Hardrick Institute for Violence Prevention and Community Engagement
- Jacquelyn Santiago Nazario: CEO, COMPASS Youth Collaborative
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A new study examining "news deserts" in the U.S. finds an average of two newspapers are closing per week, and estimates that by 2025, "one-third of American newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago will be out of business."
This hour, we hear from lead author Penny Abernathy, plus, a researcher with Oxford’s Reuters Institute who found that at the same time, digital news is failing to fill the void.
"More people are disconnected, interest in news is down, selective news avoidance up, and trust far from a given," the annual Digital News Report concluded.
We'll hear from local journalists to discuss how these trends are playing out in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Penelope Muse Abernathy: Visiting Professor, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
- Wendy Metcalfe: Senior Vice President of Content and Editor-in-Chief, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
- Daniela Altimari: Reporter, Route Fifty
- Nic Newman: Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute of the Study of Journalism
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired July 1, 2022.
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A new study examining "news deserts" in the U.S. finds an average of two newspapers are closing per week, and estimates that by 2025, "one-third of American newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago will be out of business."
This hour, we hear from lead author Penny Abernathy, plus, a researcher with Oxford’s Reuters Institute who found that at the same time, digital news is failing to fill the void.
"More people are disconnected, interest in news is down, selective news avoidance up, and trust far from a given," the annual Digital News Report concluded. We'll hear from local journalists to discuss how these trends are playing out in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
- Penelope Muse Abernathy: Visiting Professor, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism
- Wendy Metcalfe: Senior Vice President of Content and Editor-in-Chief, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
- Daniela Altimari: Reporter, Route Fifty
- Nic Newman: Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute of the Study of Journalism
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired July 1, 2022.
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In 2018, New London was designated a "site of memory" on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's slave route project, an effort launched in 1994 to "break the silence" around the history of slavery.
New London Landmarks held a ceremony in July to recognize the designation, installing a plaque at Amistad Pier. The site is considered the sixteenth stop on the New London Black Heritage Trail, which was unveiled last year.
The "Middle Passage to New London" plaque explains that in 1761, the Speedwell, a large schooner, arrived in New London from the west coast of Africa transporting 74 captive people. 21 people had not survived the harrowing voyage.
"The Speedwell docked in New London for several days before sailing to Middletown." New London joins Middletown and 51 other ports, or "sites of memory," in North America.
The plaque, and the designation itself, are meant to honor those who died during the Middle Passage, "and the enslaved people whose forced labor created much of New London's early wealth and led to disparities which still exist today."
This hour, we hear from local historians about their research, showing the Speedwell represents a small part of the city’s links to slavery. Plus, the Hempsted Houses represent several stops on the New London Black Heritage Trail. We'll hear from assistant site administrator Nicole Thomas.
GUESTS:
- Tom Schuch: New London Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Lonnie Braxton II: Historian; Researcher, New London Black Heritage Trail
- Nicole Thomas: Assistant Site Administrator, Hempsted Houses
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The recent monkeypox outbreak started in May, and the virus continues to spread.
Today, we learn more including how monkeypox is transmitted to who’s eligible for vaccination.
We hear from Dr. Celine Gounder Senior Fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Editor-at-Large for Public Health at Kaiser Health News.
What questions do you have about monkeypox?
But first up, Wesley Renfro, Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University joins us to breakdown Connecticut Primary Day results.
- Wesley Renfro - Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University
- Dr. Celine Gounder - Senior Fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Editor-at-Large for Public Health at Kaiser Health News. She is also an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist. She was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition COVID Advisory Board
- Kay Perkins - reporter for Connecticut Public Radio
- Linda Estabrook - Executive Director for theHartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective
Where We Live
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New research from multiple studies – yet to be published – was highlighted at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego, August.
This hour on Where We Live, we discuss studies that show high blood pressure during pregnancy; consumption of highly processed foods; and the loss of smell and taste are all predictors of cognitive decline later on.
We hear from an Alzheimer’s patient and his caregiver wife about life before and after joining an Eli Lilly clinical trial.
And later, we hear about new research on how experiencing discrimination and racism increases the risk of memory loss.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. In Connecticut, that number is 80,000. Nationally, two-thirds of women have Alzheimer’s and two-thirds of women are caregivers for someone who has the disease.
GUESTS:
Sandi and George Carlino: George has early stage Alzheimer’s and is in an Eli Lilly clinical trial in New Haven.
Dr. Amy Sanders: Medical Director of the Hartford HealthCare Memory Care Center, and a Medical Scientific Advisory Council member at the Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter.
Dr. Carl Hill: Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Alzheimer's Association.
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How are the deep racial disparities in reproductive health care being addressed in light of Roe v. Wade’s overturning?
Connecticut nurse-midwife, nurse educator and historian Dr. Lucinda Canty recently launched Lucinda's House, to help local women of color "become an active part in eliminating structural barriers to improve their overall health and well-being."
This hour, we hear from Dr. Canty about this new effort, as well as her research on maternal morbidity. Her 2020 doctoral thesis was titled, "It's Not Always Rainbows and Unicorns: The Lived Experience of Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Black Women."
Plus, journalist and author Linda Villarosa discusses her new book, Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation.
"Black women are three to four times more likely to die or almost die" during childbirth, Villarosa explains. "A Black woman with a master's degree or more is more likely to have a poorer birth outcome than a white woman with an eighth grade education. So that speaks to something beyond even the place where you are, it speaks to something... happening to Black women, even across class lines."
Villarosa stresses that while "it's important for every woman no matter who you are, to have the best health care, to demand that kind of health care, to be educated, to have someone like a doula or some other kind of birth partner with you... we can't just put this responsibility of raising our birth status of our country on the backs of individuals themselves, especially those who are pregnant... Instead, we have to advocate for changes in the system that make it more equitable."
GUESTS:
- Dr. Lucinda Canty: Nurse-Midwife; Founder, Lucinda's House; Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of St. Joseph; Researcher and Historian; Reproductive Health Justice Activist; Artist; Poet
- Linda Villarosa: Author, Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation; Contributing Writer, The New York Times
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Tuesday is the Connecticut primary, will you be voting?
The races to watch include four candidates competing in the Democratic and Republican primaries for Secretary of the State, and the Treasurer’s race where three candidates are vying for the Democratic vote. And which Republican candidate has the best chance to go up against US Senator Richard Blumenthal in November?
Mark Pazniokas from the Connecticut Mirror joins us.
And later, we hear about a new documentary that explores the history of Mom and Pop stores in downtown Stamford. How did redevelopment change the city’s core forever?
GUESTS:
- Mark Pazniokas - Capitol Bureau Chief for Connecticut Mirror
- Margaret Stapor Costa - Owner and President of Aries Productions, LLC
- Gail Trell - Production coordinator for Remembering the Family Store
- Steve Karp - narrator of Remembering the Family Store
- Thomas Bradford - barber based in Stamford, Connecticut.
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As non-profit, tax-exempt institutions, colleges and universities are often seen as a source of public good. For example, a recent New York Times Magazine article celebrated a bustling New Haven arts scene that has arisen "both because of and despite Yale."
Author and historian Davarian L. Baldwin describes a "public good paradox," calling for a "broad examination of higher education's growing for-profit influence on our cities."
This hour, the Trinity College professor joins guest host John Henry Smith to discuss his latest book, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities. He touches on Yale University in New Haven, as well as his own employer, noting its "ambivalent relationship with its location" in Hartford.
Baldwin writes that Yale is one "extreme" example of how "colleges and universities come to significantly dictate the terms of urban living, from a city’s housing costs and wage ceilings to its health-care standards and even policing practices."
Baldwin discusses his work organizing around various institutions of higher learning through the Smart Cities Lab he founded and directs at Trinity College.
He tells John Henry Smith, "We're talking about suppressed wages of faculty, service workers, graduate students. We're talking about tax exemptions; we're talking about unaccountable policing; we're talking about questionable health care practices. So for me, higher education, the notion of the 'ivory tower,' is dead. Some of the major struggles over the future of our democracy are being played out in concentrated form on our America's campuses."
We also hear from Eddie Camp, an organizer and research director with UNITE HERE Local 34, who has worked with community organization New Haven Rising to push for Yale to "pay its fair share." He discusses Yale's recent commitment to increase its voluntary contribution to the City of New Haven.
Camp helped to research segregated development in 2020, finding "striking" overlaps between mortgage rates, life expectancy, unemployment, foreclosures and COVID-19 rates in New Haven. Find out more about that research and campaign.
GUESTS:
- Davarian L. Baldwin: Author and historian Davarian L. Baldwin, Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies, Trinity College; Founding Director, Smart Cities Research Lab; Author, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities are Plundering Our Cities
- Eddie Camp: Research Director, UNITE HERE Local 34
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Journalist Erik Hesselberg has covered Connecticut’s waterways for decades. This hour, we preview his new book about the vibrant history of steamboats in our state, taking a trip on Night Boat to New York.
"For more than a century, overnight and day-excursion steamers had plied the route between Hartford and New York," writes Hesselberg, "carrying passengers, mail, and goods on regularly-scheduled runs. More than just transportation, a trip on a river steamer was an adventure in itself."
Hesselberg explains that through much of the 1800s, the steamboat was a social phenomenon at the center of a recreational revolution, drawing wide swaths of the public to commune with nature and, eventually he says, to the seashore.
GUESTS:
- Erik Hesselberg: Journalist; Author, Night Boat to New York; Editor, Voices on the River
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The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortage of up to 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034.
This hour on Where We Live, we take a deep dive into why primary care is the barometer of the healthcare system, and how the practice landscape — including hospital acquisitions of physician practices, low reimbursements to primary care physicians, and the proliferation of urgent care centers — is affecting doctors and patients.
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Statistically, more than 98% of Connecticut’s farmers are white.
Today, we’ll talk with BIPOC farmers and hear from a grower about her journey, and the challenges facing farmers of color. Gaby Pereyra, a Co-Director at Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust joins us.
We’ll also talk about how working in agriculture impacts mental health and hear from Joan Nichols. She’s executive director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association.
If you work in agriculture, we want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Gaby Pereyra- Land Network Weaver and Land Network Program Co-Director at Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust
- Joan Nichols - Executive Director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Assocation
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Half of the world’s population is made up of women. And by 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to rise to 1 billion, according to the North American Menopause Society.
Despite the $600 billion global market, menopause is still a taboo topic.
But new scientific research on menopause on the heels of previous studies show how and where we must invest in women’s health.
This hour on Where We Live, we learn more, and we talk to a “menopause doula” about treatment, gaps in care and myths. We also examine findings from new studies on the impact of trauma, disparities, and workplace policies on women’s bodies in midlife.
Find a North American Menopause Society-certified OBGYN, NP, or other practitioners here.
My Menoplan is a resource created by doctors and university-based menopause scientists who have worked together for over 25 years. This tool, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was designed so that women have a place to go to get accurate, up-to-date, science-based, unbiased, and personalized information about what treatments work and what treatments don’t work.
And, for a good laugh, head to The Palace Theater in Stamford for Menopause, The Musical, April 8.
GUESTS:
- Nathalie Bonafe: Menopause doula. Founder, Cafe Menopause Connecticut. Practitioner accredited by the North American Menopause Society
- Dr. Melissa Pearlstone: North American Menopause Society-accredited OBGYN, Westwood Women's Health, Waterbury
- Debbie Dickinson: Founder and CEO, Thermaband Inc., incubated at Yale and currently in the Harvard iLab and Harvard Alumni Accelerator program
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This hour, we explore the "mysterious Internet phenomenon" known as ASMR, autonomous sensory meridian response. According to physiologist and ASMR researcher Dr. Craig Richard, it's a relaxing reaction to various "triggers," including whispers.
Hear from Dr. Richard about how "brain tingles" became a scientific term, and what he's observed in his ongoing ASMR study. Plus, we meet Olivia, a local ASMRtist who gained thousands of followers – or as she calls them, "dreamers" – just this month.
Insider reporter Dan Whateley digs into the business side of TikTok, where ASMR is taking off.
GUESTS:
- Dr. Craig Richard: Physiologist; ASMR Researcher; Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Shenandoah University; Host, Sleep Whispers Podcast
- Olivia AKA @sweetdreamerlivv: "ASMRtist" on TikTok
- Dan Whateley: Reporter, Insider
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired March 31, 2022.
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What are some issues with homestay services like AirBnB? And what’s being done to address them?
Today, we hear from travelers about their experiences with short term rentals.
We'll hear from an attorney representing clients with complaints about AirBnB.
And later, we learn how these short term rentals impact the housing and rental markets in our state.
What questions do you have about the safety and ethics of homestay services?
GUESTS:
- Andrea Sachs -Washington Post Travel Writer and Journalist
- Christina Conte -Food and Travel Writer
- Jesse Danoff -Attorney at the Mitchell and Danoff law firm in Hollister, California
- Jocelyn Ayer -Director of the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity
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South Asians have the highest death rate from heart disease in the U.S. compared to other ethnic groups. Globally, 60% of patients with heart disease are South Asians.
Cardiovascular risk in South Asian Americans – Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi immigrant populations – leads to the early onset of plaque in arteries, compared to other groups. That’s what the 12-year long Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America – or MASALA study – has found. And now, the study is expanding to include the children of South Asian immigrants who participated in the first round.
This hour on Where We Live, we’ll discuss the scope of the study: By 2024, the MASALA cohort will include around 2300 participants in California, Illinois, and New York, whose health will be tracked over the next several decades. The goal? To understand the factors leading to heart disease in South Asian Americans, how to prevent it, and how to treat it.
Findings to date include the link between ectopic fat and cardiac health; a plant diet on heart health; and Coronary artery calcium incidence and changes using direct plaque measurements: The MASALA study.
And, researchers offer Health Tips to South Asians, including a carb counting tool for traditional South Asian foods and healthy vegetarian keto recipes.
This show was produced by Sujata Srinivasan, with help from talk show intern Mira Raju.
GUESTS:
Dr. Nilay Shah: Cardiologist and epidemiologist, faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Co-Investigator at the MASALA Study.
Krishnendu Ray: Associate Professor of Food and Nutrition Studies, New York University. Author of The Migrant's Table: Meals and Memories in Bengali-American Households.
Shraddha Chaubey: Dietitian and Nutritionist, and founder of NutriPledge, LLC. President of the CT Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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The number of homeschoolers in Connecticut has increased since the start of the pandemic.
The Connecticut State Department of Education reported a "slight decrease" in students returning to public school in 2020, "attributed to an increase in homeschooling.
"Families are asked to log their "exit" from public school with the state agency. There were 550 exits reported in 2019, and that number rose to "around 3,500 in 2020." By 2021, that number was at 2,300, though the Department of Education notes "students who have not returned to school by October 1 could still have returned to school any day after that for the remainder of the year."
This spike is well above the AP's recent calculation for "18 states that shared data through the current school year," where overall "the number of homeschooling students increased by 63% in the 2020-2021 school year" and "fell only by 17 percent this school year."
While the pandemic was a major factor driving families to consider homeschooling, parents also responded to the national "reckoning with race." As one testimonial explains, "For many parents of color, this included questions about whether it would be healthier for their child to be educated outside a system they viewed as replicating injustices."
This hour, we learn about one approach to "unschooling" in our state."
It takes a village to raise free people," says Connecticut parent and social liberation "eduvist" Chemay Morales-James. She founded My Reflection Matters in 2016 "to provide the tools necessary to support and nurture the development of healthy racial and ethnic identities of Black and Brown children and older youth."
The My Reflection Matters Village launched in 2020, a co-learning membership co-op "for caregivers whose families have opted out of traditional education and are walking the path of liberated, self-directed education."
We hear from Morales-James as well as education consultant and community organizer Dr. Vanessa Liles. Plus, Sylvia Maribei shares her experience as a parent in the Village.
GUESTS: Chemay Morales-James: Social Liberation Eduvist (Education Activist); Founder, My Reflection Matters; Co-Chair, Waterbury Bridge to Success Dr. Vanessa Liles: Education Consultant and Community Organizer; Partner, My Reflection Matters; Co-Project Director, PT Partners Sylvia Maribei: Parent; Member, My Reflection Matters Village
Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired June 3, 2022.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion, some companies are announcing their commitment to cover abortion care and travel costs for employees. But what other changes can we expect?
Mike Golden, a corporate law expert, says we could start to see employers covering the cost of abortion care and provide childcare benefits as a competitive talent acquisition tool.
Today,we explore the ways our workforce will change in coming years, and consider how companies will have to alter their employee benefits and health care plans in a post-Roe world.
GUESTS Rachel Dowty Beech - Assistant Professor of Emergency Management and Coordinator of Masters Program in Emergency Management at University of New Haven Mike Golden - Lecturer and Director of Advocacy at The University of Texas School of Law and corporate employee law expert Isabela Burrows - employee at PetSmart in Michigan Beth Silvers - co-host "Pantsuit Politics" podcast and co-authored Now What? How to Move Forward When We’re Divided (About Basically Everything)
Where We Live is dedicated to exploring the issues and impact of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe. We wanted to create a space to make it easy for our listeners to find all of this content with one click. Visit ctpublic.org/PostRoeWorld for easy access to our ongoing coverage.
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Several projects are underway aiming to connect Connecticut residents to revitalized riverfronts.
This hour, we hear from planners on the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail, getting the latest on the effort to connect 11 municipalities from Derby to Torrington along 44 miles of trail.
We'll check in on the next phase of construction planned through the center of Waterbury.
But first, Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim discusses the new 200-acre plan for the "Return to the Riverbend."
You can download the master plan here.
GUESTS: Ben Florsheim: Mayor, City of Middletown Aubrey Lamonica: Co-owner, Eli Cannon's Tap Room Aaron Budris: Senior Regional Planner, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Jack Walsh: Co-Chair, Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee Kenneth Curran: Chair, Waterbury Greenway Advisory Committee
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Sy Montgomery has authored over 30 books about animals.
Today, she joins us to talk about her latest book, The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty. We learn about Sy’s lessons in falconry and what it takes to handle these incredible creatures.
Later, we hear from A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center, a raptor rehabilitator located in Killingworth.
If you’re a lover of birds of prey, we want to hear from you. What questions do you have about falconry?
GUESTS: Sy Montgomery - Author of The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty Christine Cummings - Executive Director and Founder of A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center in Killingworth, Connecticut
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 13, 2022.
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Implementation of certain telehealth services would improve clinical quality nationwide by 20%, increase access to care by 20%, and reduce health care spending by 15% to 20%, a May-June 2022 report in Harvard Business Review of Kaiser Permanente and Intermountain Healthcare, two of telehealth’s earliest adopters, show.
Today on Where We Live, we hear how Yale New Haven Health and UConn Psychiatry are expanding theirtelehealth services well after hospitals and clinics have opened up in-person consultations to non-COVID patients.
We look at telehealth outcomes as measured by the management of patients’ diseases, a reduction in ER visits, no-show rates, and wait times to see a provider; as well as a reduction in barriers to access care.
Also, we discuss the future of telehealth in providing abortion care following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not allow abortion rights.
And, we look into the privacy of patient data.
GUESTS:
Dr. Pamela Hoffman: Medical Director, Yale Medicine-Yale New Haven Health Telehealth Program.
Dr. Lisa Perriera: Chief Medical Director of the Women’s Centers
Dr. Neha Jain: Director of Telepsychiatry, University of Connecticut
Bob Chaput: Founder and Executive Director, Clearwater; faculty member (cyber security), Quinnipiac University
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A shortage of reproductive health professionals has resulted in wait times for some services in our state, including in-clinic abortions.
Connecticut's "safe harbor" law expands the scope of care for advanced-practice clinicians to include procedural abortions, and is expected to lessen what is now up to a two-week wait. These clinicians are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), clinical-nurse midwives (CNMs) and physician's assistants (PAs).
CNM and CEO and President of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Amanda Skinner told the Connecticut Mirror she expects a "continued surge in patients" in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
This hour, Skinner joins us to discuss the important role advanced-practice clinicians play in reproductive health care. At Planned Parenthood, these clinicians are primary care providers, she explains.
Plus, Loren Fields is an advanced-practice nurse, educator and longtime member of Clinicians in Abortion Care, an arm of the National Abortion Federation.
GUESTS: Amanda Skinner, CNM, MBA: CEO and President, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Loren Fields, DNP, MSN, APRN: Clinician, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England; Lecturer in Nursing, Yale School of Nursing; Member and Former Advisory Committee Chair, Clinicians in Abortion Care
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If you experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues during difficult times, you’re not alone.Today, we explore the link between our physical and mental health. Doctors typically treat these areas of health separately, but there is a lot more connecting these two areas of health than you might think.Dr. Julian Ford, clinical psychologist and professor in the department of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine joins us to talk about the physical consequences of chronic stress.We want to hear from you. How has stress impacted your overall health?GUESTS: Dr. Julian Ford - Clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Aneri Pattani - National Correspondent with Kaiser Health News Heather Labbe - Director of Trauma Informed Wellness and Education at the YWCA in New Britain, Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 6, 2022.
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In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion, period tracking apps have been a new target of concern. But legal experts like Nora Benavidez say digital safety and the potential for "digital dragnets" are a broader concern "decades in the making."
This hour, we hear about the ways digital privacy is at risk, and how personal data can be weaponized to prosecute people seeking abortions. Prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Electronic Frontier Foundation provided tips for protecting digital privacy in those cases.
How can you be more diligent about your digital footprint? And what role do tech platforms and the federal government play?
GUESTS: Nora Benavidez: Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights, FreePress Lydia X. Z. Brown: Policy Counsel, Privacy and Data Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology Cat Zakrzewski: Technology Policy Reporter, The Washington Post Cindy Cohn: Executive Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation Dana Sussman: Acting Executive Director, National Advocates for Pregnant Women
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With the overturn of Roe v Wade, how will OBGYNs have to change the way they provide for patients?
This hour on Where We Live, we host a roundtable of OB-GYNs, and hear what their expectations and fears are about providing care in a post-Roe world.
We hear from Dr. Amanda Kallen, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
She is joined by Dr. Kate Pascucci, a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology at Connecticut Women’s OB/GYN.
We’ll also hear from Dr. Jessian Munoz who practices in Texas, and Dr. Beverly Gray, who practices in North Carolina.
What questions do you have about the future of OB-GYN care post-Roe?
GUESTS: Dr. Kate Pascucci - Connecticut Women's OB/GYN Dr. Amanda Kallen - Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale School of Medicine Dr. Jessian Munoz - Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist practicing in Texas Dr. Beverly Gray - Associate Professor Duke Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Cinema fans will get an intimate look into the careers and marriage of Hollywood couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in The Last Movie Stars, a six-part documentary on HBO Max premiering July 21.
The documentary also highlights their dedication to art and philanthropy.
Newman and Woodward’s legacy of giving grew out of Westport, Connecticut, where the couple lived and raised their family on a 10.46 acre estate, with a 1900-era carriage house, in the Coleytown section.
This hour on Where We Live, we talk with Miriam Nelson, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation, and a highly regarded scientist in the field of public health, about the foundation’s new giving focus – child health – and what’s driving the change.
Newman’s Own Foundation, beginning this year – its 40th anniversary – will focus on children with Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACES, who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions later on.
Nearly $600 million in profits from the sale of Newman’s Own products have been donated to date to benefit organizations in Connecticut, across the U.S. and worldwide.
We also hear from another long standing nonprofit, Real Art Ways in Hartford, on its $14.7 million expansion plans, as well as its work with children in the neighborhood, including a new community garden.
Disclosure: Sujata Srinivasan, producer of this show, is a visiting artist at Real Art Ways’ summer Park Art program for children in Hartford.
GUESTS:
Miriam Nelson: President and CEO, Newman’s Own Foundation
Will K. Wilkins: Executive Director, Real Art Ways
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One in ten Americans, or one on every elevator and four on every bus, is impacted by a rare disease.
Yet, 95 percent of rare diseases do not have approved treatment. On a promising note, bio-pharmaceutical companies working on orphan drugs have more than 800 projects in clinical development.
In a ground-breaking clinical trial, a participating patient at the University of Connecticut Health Center was the first in the world to receive an infusion treatment for a type of glycogen storage disease.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) on efforts to create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Connecticut to elevate the voices of residents with rare diseases, something other states have done.
We also hear from a UConn researcher, and a father and son living with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, on the latest treatment and challenges.
GUESTS:
John D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at age 40
Christian D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at around four weeks
Alicia Lawrence: Patient Services Case Manager, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Amber Barry, RN: Glycogen Storage Disease & Disorders of Hypoglycemia Program at the University of Connecticut Health Center, and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
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Six in ten Americans say they’re feeling the effects of climate change where they live, and that the federal response thus far has fallen short.
Meteorologists are shown to be trusted messengers on climate change, and one non-profit news outlet is driven to help broadcasters connect the local weather conditions to the science of climate change. This hour, we hear from Bernadette Woods Placky at Climate Central, and NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan.
NBC Universal/NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan speaks with students in various school engagements, discussing weather forecasting, the "Snow Monster" vehicle, and often, climate.
GUESTS: Ryan Hanrahan: Chief Meteorologist, NBC Connecticut Bernadette Woods Placky: Chief Meteorologist, Climate Central; Director, Climate Matters Program
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 7, 2022.
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With Roe v Wade overturned, and abortion becoming less available, will we see more children placed in foster care and parents seeking adoption?
Today on Where We Live, we speak with experts and learn whether or not we should expect to see an increase in adoption. We hear from Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes.
Later, we hear from Doris Houston, Director of the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies at Illinois State University.
What questions do you have about the future of adoption and foster care?
GUESTS: Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes - Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services Doris Houston - Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Social Work and the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies at Illinois State University. Molly Rampe Thomas - Founder and CEO of Choice Network, a national recognized pro choice and LGBTQ adoption agency
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The average American woman wears between a size 16 and 18, according to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. Yet plus size clothing is still hard to come by.
Today, we talk about size inclusivity in the fashion industry. Alex Waldman joins us, co-founder of fashion brand Universal Standard, that offers sizes 00-40.
And later, we hear how fashion colleges are including subjects like size inclusivity, gender identity and sustainability as part of their core curriculum.
When you walk into a store, how easy is it to find clothes in your size?
GUESTS: Kenlyn Jones - Assistant Professor at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the fashion department Gianluca Russo - Fashion Journalist and author Power of Plus coming out in August Alex Waldman - Co-founder of Universal Standard
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How does craft deepen your understanding of your history, your community, or yourself? And how can predominantly-white craft spaces better welcome diverse experiences?Textile artist and printmaker Jen Hewett threads the needle on these questions in her latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection. The book includes interviews with 19 fiber artists, and surveys hundreds of creators of color, all of whom draw on their relationship with making. This hour, we hear from Hewett – and briefly, from writer Mia Nakaji Monnier.Plus, Susi Ryan is an author and social justice activist from Connecticut who co-founded the quilt guild, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth. Ryan recently wrote a piece about how craft connects her to her ancestors, titled "Cloth Has Given Me A Voice," for Mass Humanities' We, Too, Are America series. She says, "Cloth has given me a voice to recall the memory of my enslaved ancestors."Untitled"
The quilts that I create visually depict and document in cloth the life journeys of my family, my ancestors, and the many others who lived through the African diaspora," Ryan writes. "The stories my quilts tell allow me to ease into uncomfortable conversations about such critical issues as racism, social and medical justice, prison reform, African American history and literature, farm, food and housing sustainability, climate change, women’s rights, religion, politics, and human trafficking, that sadly still exists today."
GUESTS: Jen Hewett:Printmaker; Textile Artist; Author, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection Susi Ryan: Author; Speaker; Fiber Artist; Social Justice Activist; Co-Founder, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 28, 2022.
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Today, we talk about how experiences coming of age impact us into adulthood. Melissa Febos, author of the bestselling memoir Girlhood, joins us.
She writes about what she learned about herself, including the ways we begin to understand consent and how this impacts our relationships long-term.
And later, what should parents and educators consider when teaching about consent?
GUESTS: Melissa Febos - author of Girlhood Kelsey Alexander - Training and Prevention Coordinator at Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 18, 2022.
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A new study examining "news deserts" in the U.S. finds an average of two newspapers are closing per week, and estimates that by 2025, "one-third of American newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago will be out of business."
This hour, we hear from lead author Penny Abernathy, plus, a researcher with Oxford’s Reuters Institute who found that at the same time, digital news is failing to fill the void.
"More people are disconnected, interest in news is down, selective news avoidance up, and trust far from a given," the annual Digital News Report concluded.
We'll hear from local journalists to discuss how these trends are playing out in Connecticut.
GUESTS: Penelope Muse Abernathy: Visiting Professor, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism Wendy Metcalfe: Senior Vice President of Content and Editor-in-Chief, Hearst Connecticut Media Group Daniela Altimari: Reporter, Route Fifty Nic Newman: Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute of the Study of Journalism
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A New Haven resident was recently injured while in police custody, and could be permanently paralyzed.
Today, we talk about what went wrong and how the New Haven Police Department is responding. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson join us.
Later, we talk about how a Supreme Court opinion on Miranda Rights could impact policing.
What questions do you have about police conduct in our state?
GUESTS: Tom Breen - Managing Editor of New Haven Independent Mayor Justin Elicker - City of New Haven Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson - New Haven Police Department Jorge Camacho - Policing, Law, and Policy Director of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law Sc
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Fifty-one percent of adults in a 2022 report from the Restaurant Industry Association say they aren’t eating at restaurants as often as they’d like – an increase of 6 percentage points from before the pandemic.
That’s led to a rise in demand for home-delivered food, takeout, and curb-side pick up – an attractive option for small-scale food start-ups.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a food entrepreneur about her plant-based, Caribbean-infused meal delivery business, and how she learned to cook at the age of 8 in her father’s kitchen in Kingston, Jamaica.
We talk about food businesses launched by BIPOC and immigrant women entrepreneurs through reSET and City Seed’s food incubators in Hartford and New Haven, the entrepreneurial ecosystem needed to succeed, and funding available for start-ups.
Also, the manager of a ‘pay what you can’ cafe and shared kitchen discusses food trends.
GUESTS:
GiGi Lawrence: Master Chef, RastaRant – Caribbean inspired vegan cuisine
Sarah Bodley: Executive Director, reSET
Cortney Renton: Executive Director, City Seed in New Haven, and Sanctuary Kitchen by City Seed
Molly Reynolds: Manager, Shared Kitchen and Cafe, Hands on Hartford
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The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the new federal gun safety legislation signed into law on Saturday, includes increased funding for school security and mental health programs.
Several school districts in our state have revisited their safety and security measures recently, in the wake of the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
This hour, we hear from Bridgeport Superintendent Michael Testani, who recently proposed an increase in school resource officers. Also known as SROs, they are sworn, armed police officers.
The Connecticut Post reports the request meets "strong opposition." The number of SROs had been reduced in Bridgeport in recent years "due to budget constraints and concerns about their having a negative impact in particular on students of color."
The Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and school security expert Kenneth Trump discuss what’s involved in a more comprehensive approach, including mental health resources, as well as where federal dollars from new gun safety legislation might be best spent.
Plus, we discuss the landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the right to carry a firearm, as well as the new federal gun safety law, with the Duke Center for Firearms Law.
GUESTS: Jacob D. Charles: Executive Director, Duke Center for Firearms Law; Lecturing Fellow, Duke University School of Law Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Michael Testani: Superintendent, Bridgeport Public Schools Kenneth Trump: President, National School Safety and Security Services
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Mental illness, especially among children, is hard to identify.
Today, we preview a new Ken Burns documentary--Hiding In Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.
We talk with film director Erik Ewers, and Connecticut resident, Yanarry Acevedo, who’s featured in the film.
This documentary speaks directly to the children impacted by mental illness, and how trauma has shaped their worldview and influenced their well being.
First, we talk about the US Supreme Court’s ruling reversing Roe V. Wade - what’s your reaction?
GUESTS: Claudine Constant - Public Policy and Advocacy Director of the Connecticut ACLU Erik Ewers: co-director and editor of the Ken Burns film Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness Yanarry Acevedo: featured participant in documentary, New Haven 19 years old
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Journalist Erik Hesselberg has covered Connecticut’s waterways for decades. This hour, we preview his new book about the vibrant history of steamboats in our state, taking a trip on Night Boat to New York.
"For more than a century, overnight and day-excursion steamers had plied the route between Hartford and New York," writes Hesselberg, "carrying passengers, mail, and goods on regularly-scheduled runs. More than just transportation, a trip on a river steamer was an adventure in itself."
1 of 4From "Night Boat to New York" by Erik Hesselberg. "The steamboat Oliver Ellsworth was the first of the Connecticut River night boats, offering regular service to New York beginning in the spring of 1824."Erik Hesselberg2 of 4From "Night Boat to New York" by Erik Hesselberg. "This 'bird’s-eye' view of East Haddam, Connecticut, published by O.H. Bailey in 1880, gives some idea of the prominence of the river town in those years. The quaint village was an important shipbuilding and commercial center in the eighteenth century, which blossomed into a prosperous resort area with the coming of the steamboat beginning in the 1830s. Goodspeed’s opera house is shown, just three years after its completion."Erik Hesselberg3 of 4From "Night Boat to New York" by Erik Hesselberg. "Both the steamboats Traveller and Champion, pictured in this broadside from 1851, ran on the Connecticut River. Passengers had the option of disembarking at New Haven to catch a train to Hartford or proceeding by water."4 of 4From "Night Boat to New York" by Erik Hesselberg. "The steamer Middletown was a well-known sight churning up to Goodspeed's Landing in the early 1900s when this photo was taken."
Hesselberg explains that through much of the 1800s, the steamboat was a social phenomenon at the center of a recreational revolution, drawing wide swaths of the public to commune with nature and, eventually he says, to the seashore.
GUESTS: Erik Hesselberg: Journalist; Author, Night Boat to New York; Editor, Voices on the River
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A Google engineer has claimed that the company’s artificial intelligence application is sentient, leaving many to wonder about the role of A-I in our lives.
Today, we explore the ethics of artificial intelligence, and what the future looks like for this complicated technology.
University of Toronto Professor Dr. Karina Vold, a philosopher of cognitive science and artificial intelligence joins us.
Do you notice AI in your life? It might be more present than you think.
GUESTS: Dr. Karina Vold - Professor at the University of Toronto’s Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Reid Blackman - Founder and CEO of Virtue, an AI ethics consultancy and author of the forthcoming book “Ethical Machines”
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“Imagine you’ve done everything right your entire life – studied hard, worked hard, maybe even graduated at the top of your class, only to suddenly face the threat of deportation to a country that you know nothing about, with a language that you may not even speak. That’s what gave rise to the DREAM Act. It says that if your parents brought you here as a child, if you've been here for five years, if you’re willing to go to college or serve in our military, you can one day earn your citizenship,” President Barack Obama
President Obama’s DREAM Act in 2012 offered protections to more than 611,000 undocumented immigrants to live in this country without fear of being deported.
But their dream of American citizenship has been deferred over and over again due to Congressional delays and court challenges over the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program
This hour on Where We Live, we look into DACA’s legal challenges and the ongoing efforts by the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic at Yale to protect undocumented young immigrants. We also hear from one of the early DACA recipients in Connecticut, and from a Connecticut resident who is not eligible for the program.
Later, we talk about the economic impact of immigrants to the nation.
The Higher Ed Immigration Portal estimates that the federal tax contributions of DACA-eligible residents in Connecticut totals $39.6 million, and state and local tax contributions amount to $30 million.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there were 3,360 DACA recipients in Connecticut as of Dec. 2021. There are an estimated 12,000 DACA-eligible individuals statewide.
GUESTS:
Michael Wishnie: Founder of the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic; and Professor, Yale Law School.
Carolina Bortoletto: Early DACA recipient and Co-founder, Connecticut Students for a Dream
Najely Clavijo: Undocumented immigrant who does not qualify for DACA
Fred Carstensen: Professor of Economics, University of Connecticut
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Through his art, Mohamad Hafez confronts preconceived notions of refugees and the "baggage" they may carry. He was recently the subject of an Oscars-shortlisted documentary, an intimate portrait of how Hafez's acclaimed UNPACKEDseries was informed by his own experience leaving Syria.
This hour, we visit Hafez at his studio, just above the location of his latest venture, Pistachio Cafe. Hear about why he opened this coffee shop and "cultural salon" in the heart of New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Plus, hear how he has adapted his artwork into workshops with Connecticut schools; and preview an upcoming partnership with the Yale Peabody Museum.
"How do you tell these stories artistically? How do you tell that my family or the Syrian family or Iraqi family is worthy of attention?"
Hafez says he is "energized to make artwork that brings people together, that teaches them ever-so-gently about that other that they fear, about that other refugee that they think is uncivilized. There's nothing better than sharing humanity, sharing stories, sharing anecdotes about our lives. Because, you know, that's the human connection amongst all of us.
GUESTS: Mohamad Hafez:Artist; Architect; Owner, Pistachio Cafe
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 24.Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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Indian immigrant Indra Nooyi led PepsiCo as chairman and CEO for more than a decade, making her one of the most powerful women in corporate America.
Nooyi is also on the board of Amazon, a Dean's Advisory Council member at MIT's School of Engineering, and advisor on economic development to Gov. Ned Lamont. When the pandemic hit, she led the reopening committee with Dr. Albert Ko, who is the Raj and Indra Nooyi Professor of Public Health at the Yale School of Public Health.
This hour on Where We Live, Nooyi joins us to talk about her new book My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future.
We learn how paid leave impacted her early career after the birth of her children, and after a horrific car crash. Paid leave also allowed her to care for both her parents – her father had cancer, and her mother became paralyzed from the neck down. It’s one of the reasons she now urges companies to provide the benefit of paid leave for workers today.
GUEST: Indra Nooyi: Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo. Author of My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 20.
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What’s your child’s experience playing sports? We want to hear from you.
Youth sports look much different than 10 and 20 years ago. With increasing costs and limited spots, fewer children are playing sports, and many aren’t getting enough physical activity.
Today, we explore who gets the privilege to play on a team.
We hear from Jon Solomon, Editorial Director for the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program and we talk to a longtime coach in Hartford.
GUESTS: Jaqui Rabe Thomas - Hartford parent and journalist that covers children's issues Coach Harry Bellucci - Hartford Public High School Jon Solomon - Editorial Director for the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program Steve Boyle - Executive Director of 2-4-1 Sports, a sports sampling program.
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If you or someone you know has struggled with substance use disorder, where would you go for help?
This hour on Where We Live, we look at the shortage of hospital beds for the treatment of substance use disorder. We’ll also discuss efforts to reduce repeat ER visits for overdose. And, Connecticut State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar highlights gaps in private insurance coverage and the need for payment reform, as well as the need for full compliance with a 2019 law.
We’ll hear from the head of an out-patient treatment clinic on the shortage of psychiatrists and clinicians required for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), and efforts by clinics to attract and retain healthcare personnel.
And, the executive director of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital discusses overcrowding at the ER and longer wait times for hospital beds for pediatric patients in a mental health crisis.
If you or someone you know is seeking treatment for substance use disorder, call the local helpline 1-800-563-4086 to connect with resources.
If you or someone you know requires help for a child in a mental health crisis, call 2-1-1 for assistance and support.
GUESTS: Dr. Saud Anwar: Connecticut State Senator (East Hartford, Ellington, East Windsor, South Windsor); Chair, Children's Committee and Acting Chair, Public Health Committee Sabrina Trocchi: CEO, Wheeler Clinic Cynthia Sparer: Executive Director, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
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Pedestrian deaths reached a 40-year high in 2021, according to a preliminary report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
In Connecticut, pedestrian deaths have more than doubled since 2011. The State Department of Transportation says this due in part to larger and heavier vehicles on the road, and more reckless driving during the pandemic.
This hour, we talk to CTDOT and one town engineer about how driver safety, transportation planning and enforcement all play a part in prevention.
We also hear from a West Hartford resident who was struck by a car while crossing a crosswalk in 2017.
GUESTS: Stefanie Marco Lantz: Mixed Media Artist, KiNDSPiN Design; West Hartford Resident Greg Sommer: Town Engineer, West Hartford Garrett Eucalitto: Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation
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Lifeguarding isn’t just a part time summer job; for many, it’s serious life saving work.
Today, we explore the lifeguard shortage nationwide and how it impacts residents in our state. Data show that drownings are on the rise.
We hear from the American Lifeguard Association about the need for more lifeguards, and better water competency.
Did you ever work as a lifeguard or have an encounter with a lifeguard? We want to hear from you.
Up first, we hear from a psychologist about Jennifer's Law and recognizing coercive control.
GUESTS: Dr. Christine Cocchiola - Doctor in Clinical Social Welfare and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Wyatt Werneth - Spokesmen for the American Lifeguard Association Valerie Stolfi Collins - Executive Director of Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association Bailey Dailey - Recreation Supervisor at Winding Trails and Co-chair of the aquatics section for CRPA
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The National Marine Fisheries Service says seaweed farming is the fastest-growing aquaculture in the U.S.
Suzie Flores and her husband Jay Douglass launched Stonington Kelp Co. in 2017, and now run one of the largest commercial kelp farms in Connecticut. Stonington Kelp Co. is also a "regenerative ocean farm."
Kelp helps to absorb carbon and nitrogen from the water as it grows, "resulting in a nutrient-dense super food that helps clean the ocean."
This hour, we hear from Flores as well as Connecticut Sea Grant's Anoushka Concepcion to discuss the benefits of growing sugar kelp, and sustainable fishing and farming in the Long Island Sound.
Concepcion helped develop a food safety guide for Connecticut seaweed, and is focused on the broader seaweed aquaculture industry.
Plus, the Shipwright’s Daughter is one restaurant using its buying power to push for sustainable fishing and farming. Executive Chef David Standridge will join us.
GUESTS: Anoushka Concepcion: Extension Educator in Marine Aquaculture, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension System Suzie Flores: Principal Owner, Stonington Kelp Co. David Standridge: Executive Chef, The Shipwright's Daughter Restaurant
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Beauty standards change with each generation, but today’s standards of beauty seem to be more unachievable than ever.
Today, we talk about how the beauty industry and its influencers are causing a rise in cosmetic surgeries.
Beauty reporter Jessica DeFino joins us. She writes the “Unpublishable," a beauty critical newsletter.
Think about the type of beauty products you consume. What influences you?
GUESTS: Jessica DeFino - Freelance Beauty Reporter and writer of the Unpublishable Newsletter Alka Menon - Assistant Professor of Sociology at Yale University
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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The misogyny surrounding the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial has horrified advocates for survivors of intimate partner violence.
This hour on Where We Live, we look at implications for survivors and the setback to the #MeToo movement. We hear from a survivor on how coping mechanisms can look like emotional detachment, and why it’s misleading to judge a survivor on appearances.
We acknowledge that male victims would feel silenced by this conversation and point to national statistics – 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence. And 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner; 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims. This show focuses on the cultural assumptions pertaining to male versus female claims of domestic violence.
We also look at data on the creation of new, fake social media accounts spreading disinformation in this trial, and what tech companies must do to regulate their social media platforms.
This show is not suitable for young viewers and some listeners.
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, call, text, chat, or email 24/7 CTSafeConnect at 888-774-2900
Resources Mayo Clinic – Recognize Domestic Violence Patterns Against Women United Way – What is domestic violence? Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Domestic violence 24/7 crisis center. Call 888-774-2900 CTSafeConnect Interval House – Call 24/7 hotline 888-774-2900 WomensLaw.org – Domestic violence shelters, lawyers, courthouses in Connecticut A summary of Connecticut domestic violence laws
GUESTS: A survivor of intimate partner violence: Anonymous for safety reasons Meghan Scanlon: President & CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Sree Sreenivasan: Social and digital expert at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Hillary Haldane: Professor of Anthropology, Quinnipiac University; Member, Connecticut Council on Sexual Misconduct Climate Assessments
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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Plans for a new Amazon distribution center in Waterbury are in the works.
The site would be the twelfth distribution or sorting center to land in the state in as many years. Amazon came to Connecticut in 2010, and currently has more than 18,000 full- and part-time jobs.
This hour, Connecticut Public reporter Ali Oshinskie has the latest on the plans for Waterbury and local pushback.
Plus, while elected officials continue to laud the company’s growth in Connecticut, ProPublica journalist and author Alec MacGillis digs into Amazon’s broader economic impact.
GUESTS: Ali Oshinskie: Naugatuck Valley Reporter, Connecticut Public; Fellow, Report for America Alec MacGillis: Senior Reporter, ProPublica; Author, Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America
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Governor Lamont has signed three bills into law regarding children’s mental health.
Today, we talk to the Connecticut Child Advocate Sarah Eagan and hear from a social worker in schools.
The laws target workforce support for mental health professionals, an expansion of mental health care in schools as well as more funding for a mobile crisis response.
How would you like to see mental health access improve in our state?
Later, we hear from Makhi Ettienne-Modeste, Connecticut’s kid governor, about his platform and his term serving our state.
GUESTS: Sarah Eagan - Connecticut's Child Advocate Kerry Ann Frank - Clinical Program Manager for the School Based Health Services for Clifford Beers, a not-for-profit mental health clinic, serving seventeen surrounding towns and school districts Makhi Ettienne-Modeste - Connecticut Kid Governor 2021-2022
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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The number of homeschoolers in Connecticut has increased since the start of the pandemic.
The Connecticut State Department of Education reported a "slight decrease" in students returning to public school in 2020, "attributed to an increase in homeschooling."
Families are asked to log their "exit" from public school with the agency. There were 550 exits reported in 2019, and that number rose to "around 3,500 in 2020." By 2021, that number was at 2,300, though the Department of Education notes "students who have not returned to school by October 1 could still have returned to school any day after that for the remainder of the year."
This spike is well above the AP's recent calculation for "18 states that shared data through the current school year," where "the number of homeschooling students increased by 63% in the 2020-2021 school year" and "fell only by 17 percent this school year."
While the pandemic was a major factor driving families to consider homeschooling, parents also responded to the national "reckoning with race." As one testimonial explains, "For many parents of color, this included questions about whether it would be healthier for their child to be educated outside a system they viewed as replicating injustices."
This hour, we learn about one approach to "unschooling" in our state.
"It takes a village to raise free people," says Connecticut parent and social liberation "eduvist" Chemay Morales-James. She founded My Reflection Matters in 2016 "to provide the tools necessary to support and nurture the development of healthy racial and ethnic identities of Black and Brown children and older youth."
The My Reflection Matters Village launched in 2020, a co-learning membership co-op "for caregivers whose families have opted out of traditional education and are walking the path of liberated, self-directed education."
We hear from Morales-James as well as education consultant and community organizer Dr. Vanessa Liles. Plus, Sylvia Maribei shares her experience as a parent in the Village.
GUESTS: Chemay Morales-James: Social Liberation Eduvist (Education Activist); Founder, My Reflection Matters; Co-Chair, Waterbury Bridge to Success Dr. Vanessa Liles: Consultant, My Reflection Matters; Co-Project Director, PT Partners Sylvia Maribei: Parent; Member, My Reflection Matters Village
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Trees are more than just ornamental, they provide benefits to all of us.
Today, we hear from Hartford City forester Heather Dionne. Tree planting is part of the city’s Climate Stewardship Initiative. We explore the role of trees in Connecticut’s cities.
Later, William Bryant Logan, author of Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees joins us. He is on the faculty of the New York Botanical Garden.
We want to hear from you. Do you notice trees in your neighborhood?
First we hear from Connecticut Public's investigative team, the Accountability Project, about a New London charter school on probation. We find out why the state and the school’s accrediting agency continue their investigations.
GUESTS:
Walter Smith Randolph - Investigative Editor and Lead Reporter for The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public William Bryant Logan - Arborist, teacher and author. He is the author of Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees. He is on the faculty of the New York Botanical Garden Heather Dionne - Hartford City Forester Andrea Urbano - Central District Service Forrester at DEEP Connecticut
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The state of Connecticut has announced a $3 million dollar summer tourism campaign titled ‘Find Your Vibe in Connecticut.’ But how does this compare to other New England states that boast their beaches, mountains and plenty of lobster?
This hour on Where We Live, we discuss the reach of the new campaign and its goals, as well as the steady decline in tourism spending by the state – $12 million in 2014 to $4.1 million in 2018. According to the Connecticut Tourism Coalition, declining budgets could “negatively affect tourism.”
On the other hand, according to the U.S. Travel Association, over the past five years, tourism spending by states increased 27% to nearly $24 million – on average – in 2021-2022. Massachusetts and New Hampshire both saw increases among states that reported the data.
And, check out our list of ‘11 things you should do in Connecticut this summer,’ from our Newsroom.
GUESTS: Maribel La Luz: Director of External Affairs, Department of Economic and Community Development Mark Enslein: Owner, CT Bike Tours Dan Haar: Associate Editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Charu Suri: Travel Writer at the NYT and WSJ
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Randall Horton is an associate professor of English at the University of New Haven. His new memoir, Dead Weight details his time incarcerated.
Today, we talk about his journey from incarcerated person to English professor.
Horton’s numerous felony convictions made establishing a career in academia challenging, at best.
Have your or someone you know navigated transitioning out of the prison system? We want to hear from you.
GUEST:
Randall Horton - Ph.D., Professor of English at University of New Haven.
Read an excerpt of Dead Weight on the Boston Review.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Standardized testing is a normal part of the school year, but what does this data really tell us about how children are performing?
Today, Akilah Alleyne from the Center for American Progress, joins us to talk about standardized testing in local schools.
Many families invest considerable time and money to make sure their student performs well on these college entrance exams, but several universities are doing away with requiring them for entry. Later, Scott Jaschik, Editor and Founder of Inside Higher Ed joins us to talk about this.
First we talk to a Newtown CT resident about how the latest school shooting in Uvalde reignites the trauma felt by the community since 2012.
GUESTS: Carol Ann Davis - Poet and Professor at Fairfield University Akilah Alleyne - Associate Director of K through 12 Education, at Center for American Progress, in Washington, D.C. Scott Jaschik - Editor and Founder of Inside Higher Ed
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Sandy Hook survivor Mary Ann Jacobs was working in the school library in 2012. On Wednesday, she stood on the steps of the State Capitol and asked, "How can we still be having the same conversations about access to guns after ten years?"
This hour, we hear directly from three Connecticut teachers about how they are responding to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Dr. David Bosso, a social studies teacher in Berlin and 2012 Teacher of the Year, says "it's like we're living in a nightmare reinforced or compounded by the fact that we know things can be done, and they're not."
He reflects that "just in the 25 years I've been teaching, going back to Columbine, there have been hundreds of shootings that have taken place [in] institutions of education... and of course, that doesn't count grocery stores and places of worship. So the fact that we have really yet to move the needle on this and the fact that this conversation happens again and again, is a stain on our society and we have to do something about it, because otherwise what are we doing?"
Plus, Ryan Busse wrote Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, describing his decision to leave his post as a firearms manufacturing executive in 2020, and the politics that drove him out. He answers your questions about the influence of political lobbies like the NRA.
GUESTS: Lisa Cordova: Kindergarten Teacher, Glastonbury-East Hartford Elementary Magnet School; President, CREC Education Association Dr. David Bosso: Social Studies Teacher, Berlin Public Schools; 2012 Teacher of the Year Sheena Graham: Retired Performing Arts Teacher, Bridgeport Public Schools; 2019 Teacher of the Year Ryan Busse: Former Firearms Executive; Author, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America
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Hartford HealthCare is in the pilot phase of an innovative “food as medicine” treatment program called food farmacy.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a cardiac patient referred by a Hartford Hospital cardiologist to the free farmacy pantry. The program is offered to food-insecure patients and their families, and is aimed to improve outcomes in patients with diabetes, heart failure, and more.
Experts also weigh in on food deserts in low-income communities, and SNAP incentives to choose healthier foods.
GUESTS:
Jessica Soto: Hartford HealthCare food pharmacy patient
David Fichandler: Senior Director, Clinical Operations, HartfordHealthCare
Devin Avasahalom-Smith: Aldar Ward 20, Newhallville, New Haven
Patrick Dowling: Resource Director, End Hunger Connecticut
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Before it was Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, it was the Hartford Retreat for the Insane.
Today Hank Schwartz, joins us to share the history of this Connecticut mental health center, 200 years after its opening.
Although asylums have a reputation for inhumane treatment towards the mentally ill, the Hartford Retreat was a pioneer in treating all of its patients with respect and dignity.
We hear how that philosophy informs how the Institute operates today.
What questions do you have about the history of asylums in our state?
GUESTS: Dr. Hank Schwartz - Psychiatrist and Chief Emeritus of Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living Daniel Bergner - contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and author of the new book, The Mind and the Moon: My Brother’s Story, The Science of Our Brains and the Search for Our Psyches
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Former State Department of Public Health Commissioner Renée Coleman-Mitchell has filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Connecticut, alleging her firing in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic was the result of racial discrimination.
This hour, All Things Considered host John Henry Smith fills in for Lucy Nalpathanchil to speak with Coleman-Mitchell, who details her allegations.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, names Governor Lamont among other members of his administration, alleging her firing was "simply on the basis that he did not prefer to have an older African-American female in the public eye as the individual leading the state in the fight against COVID-19." The lawsuit says her duties were "usurped" by former State Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe.
Geballe and a spokesperson for the Lamont Administration each declined to comment. A spokesperson for State Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford, who replaced Coleman-Mitchell in the wake of her firing, also did not comment, citing the pending litigation.
When asked about the treatment of women of color in his administration on Where We Live, Governor Lamont noted his administration has "more women and more women of color in our administration than any administration in history."
In August of 2020, the Associated Press reported "dozens of state and local public health leaders around the U.S. have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak, a testament to how politically combustible masks, lockdowns and infection data have become."
Later in the hour, CT News Junkie's Christine Stuart joins us for analysis.
Stuart touches on tension earlier in Coleman-Mitchell's 13-month term, noting "the controversial decision to release anonymized school-by-school vaccination data as the measles virus made a return to the U.S. in multiple outbreaks" in 2019. Coleman-Mitchell "had to be encouraged by Lamont to release that data after telling reporters that she wouldn’t," reports Stuart.
GUESTS: Renée Coleman-Mitchell: Former Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health Christine Stuart:Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie
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Spring has sprung and it’s time for our spring gardening hour!
Today, horticulturist and author Tovah Martin joins us to answer all of your gardening questions and to share how to create a garden to fulfill all the senses.
Tovah is the author of The Garden in Every Sense and Season. Whether you have a seven acre property like Tovah, or a container garden on your patio, there’s plenty of opportunities to maximize your gardening space.
What are you planting this spring?
GUEST: Tovah Martin - horticulturist, author and freelance writer. She lives in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
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Asian American and Pacific Islander history will be required in Connecticut public schools by the 2025-26 school year, according to a new, soon-to-be-signed mandate. The measure was backed by Make Us Visible CT, a grassroots advocacy group working to "build capacity in the Connecticut school system to develop a robust and inclusive Asian American and Pacific Islander curriculum."
This hour, we'll hear from one of ten classes participating a community of practice, modeling how this content can be meaningfully taught. UConn Asian and Asian American Studies Institute Activist-in-Residence JHD (Jennifer Heikkila Díaz) is working with Bassick High School in Bridgeport, among other schools in the Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford areas, to collaborate on culturally-responsive curriculum around Thi Bui's moving graphic memoir, The Best We Could Do.
We'll hear from JHD, along with English teacher Ricardo Alvelo and two of his students. Plus, we hear from Kaitlin Tan Fung, a multimedia artist and art educator who developed art projects and prompts to help students respond to the memoir.
Thi Bui, an educator herself, learned the graphic novel format in the hopes her book could help to solve the "storytelling problem of how to present history in a way that is human and relatable and not oversimplified.” How can educators participate in that process?
GUESTS: JHD (Jennifer Heikkila Díaz): Chief of Talent and Operations, New Haven Promise; Activist-in-Residence, UConn Asian and Asian American Studies Institute; Cofounder, aapiNHV; Steering Committee Member, Anti-Racist Teaching & Learning Collective Ricardo Alvelo: English Teacher, Bassick High School in Bridgeport Destinie Melendez: Student, Bassick High School Janette Espinoza: Student, Bassick High School Kaitlin Tan Fung: Multimedia Artist; Art Educator, Elm City College Preparatory Elementary School in New Haven
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The baby formula shortage has families scrambling.
The crisis began after Abbott recalled some powdered baby formulas in February, following investigations into a whistleblower’s tip off in October last year. Four infants were hospitalized with bacterial infections and two have died.
This hour on Where We Live, we’ll talk with a researcher of feminist economics about how U.S. maternal leave policies impact a baby’s access to breastmilk, and why formula milk is promoted in low-income communities of color. We’ll also discuss the societal shaming of women who formula feed.
As Abbott aims to restart production, we’ll look at resources currently available to families. We’ll also weigh in on the regulatory process and other factors that accentuated this crisis, and explore long-term solutions.
GUESTS:
Nicole Leonard: Health Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio
Dr. Leslie Sude: Pediatrician, Yale Medicine Pediatrics; Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine
Samantha Schenck, PhD: Assistant Professor of Economics, Central Connecticut State University. Research interests include feminist economics.
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More than $100 million in federal infrastructure funds will go towards protecting and preserving Long Island Sound. Hear from Soundkeeper Bill Lucey about spending plans, Save the Sound's priorities, and why oysters are so unique.
Plus, Norm Bloom of Copps Island Oysters explains why conservation is his business; and Tessa Getchis with the Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Program provides an update on the Shellfish Restoration Project.
GUESTS: Bill Lucey - Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound Norm Bloom - Owner, Copps Island Oysters Tessa Getchis - Aquaculture extension specialist, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Program
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Campaign season is underway in Connecticut. This hour, we speak with incumbent Governor Ned Lamont about his first term and his reelection campaign.
The recently-signed state budget delivers $660 million in tax cuts, but The Mirror's Keith Phaneuf reports "about $364 million or 55% of the tax relief offered in the latest budget expires after this fiscal year." We'll discuss the budget, bills still to be signed from the recent short session, including the "captive audience" bill, and more.
Plus, we take your questions for Governor Lamont.
GUESTS: Ned Lamont: Democratic Governor of Connecticut
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Sy Montgomery has authored over 30 books about animals.
Today, she joins us to talk about her latest book, The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty. We learn about Sy’s lessons in falconry and what it takes to handle these incredible creatures.
Later, we hear from A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center, a raptor rehabilitator located in Killingworth.
If you’re a lover of birds of prey, we want to hear from you. What questions do you have about falconry?
GUESTS: Sy Montgomery - Author of The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty Christine Cummings - Executive Director and Founder of A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center in Killingworth, Connecticut
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Microbeads were banned in the U.S. in 2015, but tiny bits of plastic known as microplastics, and another manmade family of chemicals called PFAS, are turning up in our environment and in our bodies. The Connecticut Sea Grant identified both materials as contaminants of emerging concern this year.
This hour, we hear about the efforts to track the prevalence and impact of PFAS and microplastics in Connecticut. Experts at Connecticut Sea Grant and the State Department of Public Health join us to discuss PFAS; and UConn Professor and Head of UConn's Marine Sciences Department J. Evan Ward touches on microplastics in the Long Island Sound.
Plus, Elizabeth Ellenwood is an artist from Pawcatuck whose work draws attention to ocean pollution and microplastics. She was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Scholarship and an American Scandinavian Foundation Grant to travel to Norway, where she's working with environmental chemists and marine biologists to produce scientifically-informed photographs focusing on ocean pollution.
GUESTS: J. Evan Ward: Professor and Head of Marine Sciences Department, UConn Sylvain De Guise: Director, Connecticut Sea Grant at UConn Avery Point Lori Mathieu: Drinking Water Section Chief, Connecticut Department of Public Health Elizabeth Ellenwood: Artist
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A new report on hospital costs by Hearst Connecticut shows widely different prices for the same procedure at hospitals statewide. And insurers are negotiating astoundingly varied prices for – say – a C-section or an hour of critical care. To a consumer, the hospitals would appear comparable in quality and are located just miles apart.
Certainly, shopping for healthcare is different from shopping for a toaster. The price is dependent on the type of insurance plan, and the billing codes are mind boggling. Yet, in a well-functioning, competitive market, such extreme variations in comparable services would not exist – according to a Brookings report in 2020.
This hour on Where We Live, Mary Katherine Wildeman, author of the Hearst Connecticut special report, dives into patterns in the data. And the data is still hard to find – there isn’t a central searchable database where consumers can compare prices for a pre-scheduled procedure at hospitals statewide.
Also this hour on Where We Live, Vicky Veltri from the Office of Health Strategy announces a new tool that will soon become available to patients in Connecticut.
So what exactly will hospital price transparency – now required by law – accomplish? And, insurers will also have to share price information, starting July 1. Could employers begin directing their employees to make certain healthcare choices versus others?
Beyond transparency, we look at a bill that was just passed by Connecticut lawmakers that will give the state the authority to cap the rise in healthcare costs. The bill will also hold providers and insurers accountable.
GUESTS:
Mary Katherine Wildeman: Data Reporter, Hearst Connecticut. Authored the Hearst Connecticut Special Report: “Hospital care costs are wildly different across CT. Explore the once secret data.”
Vicki Veltri: Executive Director, Office of Health Strategy, State of Connecticut
Paul Kidwell: Senior Vice President of Policy, Connecticut Hospital Association
Nick McLaughlin: Founder & CEO, Breeze Health, a Goodroot Inc. affiliated company
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The Republican and Democratic state conventions have concluded and today, Mark Pazniokas joins us to break down the state conventions.
The Republican convention endorsed socially moderate Themis Klarides for the U.S. Senate. Democrats have endorsed a diverse pool of candidates for several state positions.
Later, we hear from Andrea Comer of the Social Equity Council and get an update on cannabis in our state.
Election season is fast approaching. Who do you want to see on the ballot in 2022?
GUESTS: Mark Pazniokas - Capitol Bureau Chief for Connecticut Mirror Andrea Comer - Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Consumer Protection, and Chairperson of Social Equity Council Julia Bergman - State Politics Reporter at Hearst Connecticut
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When you head to New York, do you ever take a break from the city and get lost on a trail in Central Park? This hour, we take a look at the life of the man behind that beloved and iconic city park: Connecticut native Frederick Law Olmsted.
Although best known for his work designing New York’s Central Park, Olmsted was also a journalist and abolitionist. And he shaped landscapes here in Connecticut and across the country, changing how we think about the role of nature in the process.
This hour we sit down with historians and landscape architects to talk about Frederick Law Olmsted’s legacy.
GUESTS: Justin Martin: Author, Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted Walt Woodward: Connecticut State Historian; Associate Professor of History, UConn; Host, Grating The Nutmeg podcast Phil Barlow: Founding Principal, ToDesign LLC Landscape Architects Beka Sturges - Principal Landscape Architect, New Haven Office of Reed Hilderbrand
Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired on September 9, 2019.
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If you experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues during difficult times, you’re not alone.
Today, we explore the link between our physical and mental health. Doctors typically treat these areas of health separately, but there is a lot more connecting these two areas of health than you might think.
Dr. Julian Ford, clinical psychologist and professor in the department of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine joins us to talk about the physical consequences of chronic stress.
We want to hear from you. How has stress impacted your overall health?
GUESTS: Dr. Julian Ford - Clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine Aneri Pattani - National Correspondent with Kaiser Health News Heather Labbe - Director of Trauma Informed Wellness and Education at the YWCA in New Britain, Connecticut
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Warmer winters in Connecticut are helping to welcome invasive ticks, and the diseases they can carry.
Nearly half of the ticks in Connecticut are carrying one pathogen, according to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, head of the state's tick surveillance program; and at least three invasive tick species are being tracked.
Mary Beth Pfeiffer joins to touch more on the link between climate change and the spread of ticks.
Plus, diagnosing tick-borne diseases is tough enough, but Chronic author Dr. Steven Phillips points out some medical myths and misnomers making it harder.
What can help us better prevent, and treat, vector-borne illnesses?
GUESTS: Dr. Steven Phillips: Physician; Author, Chronic: The Hidden Cause of the Autoimmune Pandemic and How to Get Healthy Again Mary Beth Pfeiffer: Investigative Journalist; Author, Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change Dr. Goudarz Molaei: Research Scientist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Center; Director of the Tick and Tick-borne Diseases Surveillance Program, Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases
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Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation strengthening reproductive rights, making the state a “place of refuge” for people seeking abortions.
This hour on Where We Live, we talk about this measure – which has become more important in light of the leaked Supreme Court documents — indicating a decision to overturn Roe. V. Wade.
The Guttmacher Institute reports that nine states have enacted a total of 33 abortion restrictions as of April 15. More states are writing restrictions into law. States have enacted 11 measures protecting abortion access in seven states. Guttmacher reports that 2020 was the first year that more than half of U.S. abortions were medication abortions.
According to data obtained by Where We Live, there were 9,373 abortion visits at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England’s (PPSNE) 14 health centers in Connecticut in 2021 – of which 6,282 were Medication Abortions (MAB), and 3,091 were in-clinic abortions.
PPSNE is the largest provider of abortion care in Connecticut, while Hartford GYN is the state’s only independent clinic for abortion.
Connecticut’s “safe haven” legislation is first-of-its-kind in the nation.
Produced by Sujata Srinivasan. Special thanks to Matt Dwyer and Camila Vallejo for extra audio.
GUESTS:
Rep. Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford, Darien): House Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee
Julia Simon–Kerr: Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
Dr. Kate Pascucci: OBGYN, West Hartford
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The journey to comprehensive content moderation on Twitter has been a long one, but the tech giant might be changing course.
Today, we're talking about what Twitter might look like under Elon Musk and if free speech and content moderation can coexist together.
Georgia Wells, Tech Reporter from Wall Street Journal, breaks down what we’re seeing and hearing from Elon Musk.
Later, we hear from Evan Greer, Director for Fight for the Future, to talk about balancing free speech while making the internet safe for everyone.
Are you still using Twitter? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Georgia Wells - Tech Reporter, Wall Street Journal Evan Greer - Director at Fight for the Future, a nonprofit digital rights organization that organizes online to oppose Internet censorship legislation, support net neutrality, and rein in corporate and government surveillance. Joan Donovan - Research Director for the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University
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Union election petitions are up 57% over the last year, and "Starbucks petitions account for nearly a quarter of all petitions filed since January," reports NPR labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu.
This hour, we hear from Hsu about this momentum, and from one Starbucks employee and union organizer in West Hartford. The Corbin's Corner location was the first in our state to file for a union election last month.
Teachers at Common Ground High School in New Haven voted 62-8 to unionize last year. We'll get the latest on where collective bargaining stands in the wake of teacher cuts. School administrators insist the cuts are budget-related, and "deeply regret any appearance that this process is related to union organizing."
Hsu reports that since 2012, "the share of petitions coming from manufacturing companies has fallen by about half." So what are the conditions driving this broader push for organized labor?
Plus, Wednesday marks the final day of the legislative session, and prison reform advocates are calling for COVID-19 protections. We check in with the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice about the #FreeThemNowCT campaign.
GUESTS: Andrea Hsu: Labor and Workplace Correspondent, NPR Kuzco Gong: Partner, Starbucks; Union Organizer Emily Schmidt: Chemistry and Physics Teacher, Common Ground High School; Member, UAW Local 2110 Chelsea Farrell: Organizer, UAW Local 2110 Kenyatta Muzzanni: Director of Organizing, Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice
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Weight loss surgery has become more accessible, but there are still concerns and stigma around these procedures.
Today, we talk to surgeons in our state, about the pros and cons of bariatric surgery. We hear from a local Connecticut resident who had bariatric surgery in 2021.
Did you know minors starting at age 10 are eligible for bariatric surgery?
Drs. Melissa Santos and Christine Finck at Connecticut Children's unpack that for us and we learn about the type of conversations specialists have with children and parents, before deciding on surgery.
What questions do you have about weight loss surgery?
GUESTS: Dr. John Morton - Professor and Vice Chair of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Yale New Haven Hospital System Kate Medina - Bariatric surgery patient Dr. Melissa Santos - Division Chief of Pediatric Psychology at Connecticut Children’s and Clinical Director for the Pediatric Obesity Center Dr. Christine Finck - Pediatric Surgeon and Surgeon in Chief at Connecticut Children’s. She is also the Executive Vice President and Professor of Surgery at UConn School of Medicine.
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How does craft deepen your understanding of your history, your community, or yourself? And how can predominantly-white craft spaces better welcome diverse experiences?
Textile artist and printmaker Jen Hewett threads the needle on these questions in her latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection. The book includes interviews with 19 fiber artists, and surveys hundreds of creators of color, all of whom draw on their relationship with making. This hour, we hear from Hewett.
Plus, Susi Ryan is an author and social justice activist from Connecticut who co-founded the quilt guild, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth. Ryan recently wrote a piece about how craft connects her to her ancestors, titled "Cloth Has Given Me A Voice," for Mass Humanities' We, Too, Are America series. She says, "Cloth has given me a voice to recall the memory of my enslaved ancestors."
1 of 2Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth quilt exhibit at a Venture Smith Day event. Smith became a successful farmer in colonial Connecticut, and documented his life and his experience of slavery in the 18th century.Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth2 of 2Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth quilt exhibit at a Venture Smith Day event. Smith became a successful farmer in colonial Connecticut, and documented his life and his experience of slavery in the 18th century.Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth
"The quilts that I create visually depict and document in cloth the life journeys of my family, my ancestors, and the many others who lived through the African diaspora," Ryan writes. "The stories my quilts tell allow me to ease into uncomfortable conversations about such critical issues as racism, social and medical justice, prison reform, African American history and literature, farm, food and housing sustainability, climate change, women’s rights, religion, politics, and human trafficking, that sadly still exists today."
GUESTS: Jen Hewett: Printmaker; Textile Artist; Author, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection Susi Ryan: Author; Speaker; Social Justice Activist; Co-Founder, Sisters In Stitches Joined By The Cloth
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Stanley Black & Decker, Xerox, and Otis Elevator are among a growing list of Connecticut companies exiting or reducing ties with Russia, as a result of its war in Ukraine.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a Yale School of Management researcher who is compiling the global list, on whether and how the corporate exodus – as well as pull backs by state pension funds – could impact decisions by the Russian leadership. We look at how corporate exits helped to end apartheid, and how individual investors and customers are exercising their voice in corporate governance and on broader, geo-political ideologies.
Beyond ideology and de-risking, we also hear from the author of a Harvard Business Review paper on how companies in ESG-focussed portfolios (Environment, Social, Governance) perform badly on ESG, and how little influence investors have on the ESG behavior of companies or countries.
That might be the case for large corporations, but in Connecticut and elsewhere, young, socially-minded entrepreneurs are successfully launching ESG companies – and raising funds from investors who share their dream. We hear more from the founder of an incubator – a social enterprise in Hartford.
GUESTS: Steven Tian: Research Director, Yale School of Management Chief Executive Leadership Institute Sanjai Bhagat: Provost Professor of Finance at the University of Colorado at Boulder Kate Emery: Founder of the Walker Group and Founder of reSET Social Enterprise Trust
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Last week, President Biden announced a new program for Ukrainian refugees. United States citizens can now apply to sponsor Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum.
Today, we learn more and talk to immigration lawyer Dana Bucin about her work aiding Ukrainian refugees.
Later, we hear from, Gaye Hyre, a resident of West Haven who is currently hosting a Ukrainian family.
Will we soon see more Ukrainian refugees coming to Connecticut?
GUESTS: Dana Bucin - Immigration Attorney and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut Gaye Hyre - resident of West Haven Volodymyr Gupan - PhD Candidate at University of Connecticut
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As Connecticut’s short legislative session winds down, the "budget battle" is heating up. We’ll get the latest from CT News Junkie editor-in-chief Christine Stuart, along with House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora.
Plus, we learn more about the recently-approved SEBAC agreement, promising pay increases for some 46,000 state employees.
What can we expect in the final eight days of session? How has the upcoming election affected policymaking priorities?
GUESTS: Christine Stuart: Editor-in-Chief, CT News Junkie Jason Rojas: Democratic State Representative; House Majority Leader Vincent Candelora: Republican State Representative; House Minority Leader
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There are many ways to shrink your carbon footprint, but it’s not always accessible to everyone. Green and eco-friendly products are more expensive.
Today, we talk about sustainability, privilege and environmental justice.
We hear from Leticia Colon de Mejias, President of Connecticut nonprofit Green Eco Warriors.
Later, we learn how “green gentrification” has changed neighborhoods and who gets access to green amenities.
How can we make going green accessible and affordable to all that want to be more environmentally conscious?
GUESTS: Leticia Colon de Mejias - President of Green Eco Warriors and federal National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Appointed Board Member Lynn Stoddard - Executive Director of Sustainable CT Dr. Tammy Lewis - Professor of Sociology and Earth and Environmental Sciences at CUNY Graduate School and Brooklyn College
For more Earth Day news and stories, check out the New England News Collaborative's 'Covering Climate Now' page.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer.
His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepresented for political gain and quackery." Read Marc Zimmer's "Twenty Rules" here:
Plus, Mark Ruede is Curriculum Supervisor of Science for Tolland Public Schools and Tolland County Director with the Connecticut Science Teachers Association. He discusses how the tricky and the topical are still tackled in the classroom.
GUESTS: Marc Zimmer: Chemistry Professor, Connecticut College; Author, Science and the Skeptic Mark Ruede: Curriculum Supervisor of Science, Tolland Public Schools; Tolland County Director, Connecticut Science Teachers Association
Connecticut Public intern Michayla Savitt helped to produce this episode.
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
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Indian immigrant Indra Nooyi led PepsiCo as chairman and CEO for more than a decade, making her one of the most powerful women in corporate America.
Nooyi is also on the board of Amazon, a Dean's Advisory Council member at MIT's School of Engineering, and advisor on economic development to Gov. Ned Lamont. When the pandemic hit, she led the reopening committee with Dr. Albert Ko, who is the Raj and Indra Nooyi Professor of Public Health at the Yale School of Public Health.
This hour on Where We Live, Nooyi joins us to talk about her new book My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future.
We learn how paid leave impacted her early career after the birth of her children, and after a horrific car crash. Paid leave also allowed her to care for both her parents – her father had cancer, and her mother became paralyzed from the neck down. It’s one of the reasons she now urges companies to provide the benefit of paid leave for workers today.
GUEST:
Indra Nooyi: Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo. Author of My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future
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Most of the advocacy around autism has been centered around parents of autistic children, but now there’s more advocacy and involvement by individuals who are autistic. Autism Acceptance Month brings an extended sense of awareness that the autistic community doesn’t need to be cured, but accepted and included.
Today, we hear from Carol Greenburg, who was diagnosed with autism later in life. She’s also the mother of an autistic teen.
And Dr. Mary Doherty, the founder of Autistic Doctors International joins us to talk about the challenges of living in a society designed for the non-autistic majority.
Are you or someone you know part of the autism community?
GUESTS: Dr. Mary Doherty - founder of Autistic Doctors International Carol Greenburg - autistic mother of an autistic teen and Editor of Thinking Person's Guide to Autism Steven Hernandez - Executive Director of Connecticut's Commission on Women, Children, Seniors and Equity and Opportunity
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
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Numerous reports have said obesity in adults rose in the pandemic.Childhood obesity has risen starkly too, but for different reasons than you may think.Today, we explore how stress impacts childhood obesity.We hear from Julia A. Snethen, co author of article, “When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity.” And later, we’ll learn how to have sensitive conversations about health and weight.What questions do you have about improving your family’s health?
GUESTS: Julia A. Snethen: Professor and Director of the PhD program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College of Nursing Dr. Melissa Santos: Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Clinical Director for Pediatric Obesity at Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 13, 2022.
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Here in Connecticut, twice as many tenants faced evictions during the pandemic – not for falling behind on rent, but because their lease was up. They’re called no-fault evictions. And some believe the uptick is due to a loophole in an executive order.
Today on Where We Live, we’ll explore what these no-fault evictions could mean to renters and how lawmakers are responding to it.
We hear from Sonsharae Owens. She was threatened with a no-fault eviction.
Later, State Representative Quintin Williams joins us.
This episode was guest hosted by Walter Smith Randolph, the Investigative Editor and Lead Reporter for The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public.
GUESTS: Jacqui Rabe Thomas - Connecticut Public Investigative Reporter Sonsharae Owens - Victim of No Fault Eviction Camila Vallejo - Connecticut Public Housing Reporter State Representative Quentin Williams - chairman of the housing committee
Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
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The history of flooding along the 400-mile Connecticut River runs deep, and disaster management expert Josh Shanley says one flood should be instructive.
In his new book, Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936, Shanley examines that devastating event, and warns that “past is prologue," calling for "a coordinated effort by many agencies on all fronts" to prepare for future flooding.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, there are 284 high-hazard dams in Connecticut, and 21 miles of levees that protect $3.4 billion in property. Much of this infrastructure was installed nearly 90 years ago in the wake of the 1936 flood, Shanley explains, and "needs to be maintained, and in many cases upgraded."
Shanley is "concerned," noting that these systems were built to withstand "certain climate patterns, certain precipitation patterns." He says "the big question is whether they... even on a good day would have survived the different changing precipitation patterns and in-between droughts that we're anticipating."
Plus, we hear about the nature-based flood resiliency plans being discussed in the coastal City of Groton. Economic Development Specialist Cierra Patrick gives an update on the city's Community Resilience Plan. For some low-lying neighborhoods, flooding could mean an existential threat.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.
GUESTS: Joshua Shanley: Author, Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936; Retired Firefighter-Paramedic in Emergency Management; Blogger, NewEnglandFloods.org Cierra Patrick: Economic Development Specialist, City of Groton
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What better way to get to know a country and its people than through literature?
Today, we talk about Ukrainian writers and what we can learn about this country through its poetry and prose.
University of Massachusetts professor, novelist and poet Askold Melnyczuk joins us. His parents were Ukrainian refugees.
He also works as a Ukrainian translator and he’ll talk to us about making Ukrainian literature available to the English-speaking world.
Have you read any works by Ukrainian writers?
GUEST:
Askold Melnyczuk - writer and professor at University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is the founder of Arrowsmith Press.
If you're interested in reading Ukrainian literature here are Askold Menyczuk's recommendations.
POETRY Eccentric Days of Hope and Sorrow by Natalka Bilotserkivets Persephone Blues by Oksana Lutsyshyna Apricots of Donbas by Lyuba Yakimchuk Selected Poems by Oksana Zabuzhko Selected Poems by Serhiy Zhadan
FICTION Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov Sweet Darusya: A Tale of Two Villages by Maria Matios Your Ad Could Go Here by Oksana Zabuzhko The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko The Orphanage by Serhiy Zhadan
ESSAYS In Isolation: Dispatches from Occupied Donbas by Stanislav Aseyev
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This hour on Where We Live, we look into strategies that build resilience in local bookstores and discuss pandemic book launches. Long-time indie bookshops continue to stay afloat and even thrive despite the ongoing pandemic. Amazon controls more than half of the market for print books and at least three-quarters of publishers’ ebook sales.
We also talk to booksellers about trends, including eliminating or reducing inventory-holding costs by selling on Bookstore.org –the Amazon for indies.
The American Booksellers Association (ABA) lists the top five trends for indie bookstores in 2022. According to the ABA, nationally, 250 indie bookstores opened, and 98 closed in 2020 and 2021.
The ABA’s Ray Daniels told Where We Live:
“Trends we continue to take note of include; an increase in the number of BIPOC-owned stores; an increase in the number of stores owned by Black women; continued experimentation with store formats – new models like pop-up stores, mobile stores, and fluidity between formats. Stores are moving from brick-and-mortar to online then to pop-up, or from pop-up to brick-and-mortar, or brick-and-mortar opening additional pop-up locations.”
Several of the new bookshops sell to under-represented communities, and all are focussed on building a local third space. We discuss the ‘doing well by doing good’ indie business model. Will it endure?
We also look into store closures and fundraisers to keep indies open. That Book Store in Wethersfield and Elliot’s Bookstore in Northford are among those that shut down, while fundraisers are underway to reopen New Haven’s Never Ending Books, and to keep Bennett’s Books in Deep River open.
GUESTS: Khamani Harrison: Founder & Owner of The Key Bookstore – An AfroFuturistic Bookstore in Hartford Lauren Anderson: Co-founder & Co-owner, People Get Ready, New Haven Roxanne Coady: Founder of RJ Julia, and CEO and founder of Just the Right
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 2, 2022.
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Bloomberg reported that a shorter work week experiment in Iceland found that workers maintained productivity and had improved well-being.
Today, Alex Pang, author of Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How, about how some companies are navigating a shorter work week, while paying workers the same salaries.
And later, we hear from Mike Melillo founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group. He implemented the four day work week at his company at the start of the pandemic.
How would you spend your time if you only had to work four days, instead of five?
GUESTS: Alex Pang - author of books “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less” and “Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How” Mike Melillo - Founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 27, 2022.
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Tennis star Naomi Osaka and swimmer Michael Phelps are among a growing number of professional athletes who’ve been open about their mental health.
Collegiate athletes are stepping up too, to say they need more support.
Today, we hear from Fairfield University Division I swimmer Will Robinson, who has become an ambassador for mental health awareness.
And Quinnipiac University rugby coach Becky Carlson joins us to talk about the role coaches can play to support the whole athlete, both physically and mentally to help them perform their best.
If you played college sports, did you feel supported by your coaches and team?
GUESTS: Will Robinson - Junior, at Fairfield University majoring in Biology. He is also a Division I swimmer Becky Carlson - head women’s rugby coach at Quinnipiac University Dr. Jim Taylor, PhD - specializes in the psychology of performance
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Six in ten Americans say they’re feeling the effects of climate change where they live, and that the federal response thus far has fallen short.
Meteorologists are shown to be trusted messengers on climate change, and one non-profit news outlet is driven to help broadcasters connect the local weather conditions to the science of climate change. This hour, we hear from Bernadette Woods Placky at Climate Central, and NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan.
GUESTS: Ryan Hanrahan: Chief Meteorologist, NBC Connecticut Bernadette Woods Placky: Chief Meteorologist, Climate Central; Director, Climate Matters Program
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The National Women’s Law Center finds women in the U.S lost more than 5.4 million net jobs in 2020. But women are heading back to work now – there are nearly 600,000 more female workers in trade, transport and utilities; 200,000 more in transportation and warehousing, and 100,000 more in manufacturing. That’s from last March to this March (projected), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from employers on what women want, and learn about workplace changes to get female workers back and to retain them.
We also dive into trends. A new survey by Wakefield Research finds that nationally, women are seeking higher income to make up for lost ground during the 2020-2021 pandemic years — 54% plan on asking for a raise, and 68% plan to leave their company if they don’t get it.
In addition to pay, the Girls With Impact Report – Post-COVID Economic Recovery for Connecticut’s Women, recommends employers to provide re-entry support; strive for policy reform for child care assistance; and offer business training, industry training, experiential training, and one-on-one coaching.
Pay and healthcare are two of the top critical needs of hourly wage earners.
A union representative discusses successful healthcare negotiations with Stop & Shop in Connecticut, while the CEO of a manufacturing company talks about new workplace programs including bringing babies to work.
We also hear from a researcher at the University of Connecticut specializing in the hybrid workplace model. A Gallup poll shows employees prefer hybrid workplaces(at 54%); followed by work from home (37%). Only 9% wanted to return to the office full time.
GUESTS:
Jill Meyer: CEO, Bead Industries
Jessica Petronella: Representative, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 371
Lucy Gilson: Associate Dean of Faculty and Outreach, University of Connecticut School of Business. Researcher of the hybrid work model
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Replacing your car with a bicycle might not sound possible, but would you change your mind if it was an electric bike?
Today, we hear about a bill that could make E-Bikes more affordable and accessible in our state. State Senator WIll Haskell joins us to talk about the proposal, part of legislation to create a greener, more energy efficient Connecticut.
And later, we hear why cyclists love these battery powered bicycles.
We talk to a local electric bike shop here in Connecticut and learn about Spark Cycleworks efforts to make e-bikes accessible to everybody.
Do you have a question about e-bikes in our state?
GUESTS: Senator Will Haskell - Connecticut State Senator Allie Thomas - Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill Matt Schell - Engineer, Spark Cycleworks
Where We Live
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A national nursing shortage has deepened during the pandemic. A recent survey by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses found that 92% of nurses felt that the pandemic had "depleted nurses in their hospital, and that their career would be shorter than they had intended as a result."
This hour, we hear about a new plan to address part of the pipeline problem. Yale New Haven Health System is partnering with four area nursing schools to expand enrollment and, hopefully, the local workforce.
Plus, lawmakers want to look into the agencies recruiting travel nurses, sparking fears of capped pay. We hear more about the context for a “travel nursing boom" from author Sarah DiGregorio and Paul Banach, an ICU travel nurse from Connecticut.
DiGregorio underscores working conditions and a longer-term "undervaluing" of nurses. She says "the problematic explosion of traveling nursing is only a symptom of a longer-running, self-inflicted disaster: Over the long-term, hospitals have failed to hire and support enough nurses to weather crises."
GUESTS: Beth Beckman: Chief Nursing Executive, Yale New Haven Health System Paul Banach: Intensive Care Travel Nurse, MPH, BSN, RN Sarah DiGregorio: Author, Early: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What It Teaches Us About Being Human
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It’s hard to conceptualize what living under a censorship state feels like, unless you’ve experienced it first hand.
Today, we hear exactly how Russia controls the free press and social media; Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have all been blocked by the Kremlin since the start of the war in Ukraine.
And we learn how Russians have been circumventing censorship. We talk to Access Now, an organization that defends digital rights of internet users around the world.
Do you have questions about censorship in Russia?
GUESTS: Ellen Litman - novelist and English professor at UConn. She writes the Telegram Chronicles on Medium. Nathalie Maréchal - Senior Policy and Partnerships Manager at Ranking Digital Rights, an organization that works to evaluate internet, mobile and telecommunications. Natalia Krapiva - Tech Legal Counsel, Access Now, an organization that defends digital rights of internet users around the world.
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This hour, we explore the "mysterious Internet phenomenon" known as ASMR, autonomous sensory meridian response. According to physiologist and ASMR researcher Dr. Craig Richard, it's a relaxing reaction to various "triggers," including whispers.
Hear from Dr. Richard about how "brain tingles" became a scientific term, and what he's observed in his ongoing ASMR study. Plus, we meet Olivia, a local ASMRtist who gained thousands of followers – or as she calls them, "dreamers" – just this month.
Insider reporter Dan Whateley digs into the business side of TikTok, where ASMR is taking off.
GUESTS: Dr. Craig Richard: Physiologist; ASMR Researcher; Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Shenandoah University Olivia AKA @sweetdreamerliv_asmr: "ASMRtist" on TikTok Dan Whateley: Reporter, Business Insider
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Half of the world’s population is made up of women. And by 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to rise to 1 billion, according to the North American Menopause Society.
Despite the $600 billion global market, menopause is still a taboo topic.
But new scientific research on menopause on the heels of previous studies show how and where we must invest in women’s health.
This hour on Where We Live, we learn more and we talk to a “menopause doula” about treatment, gaps in care and myths. We also examine findings from new studies on the impact of trauma, disparities, and workplace policies on women’s bodies in midlife.
Find a North American Menopause Society-certified OBGYN, NP or other practitioners here.
And, for a good laugh, head to The Palace Theater in Stamford for Menopause, The Musical, April 8.
GUESTS: Nathalie Bonafe: Menopause doula. Founder, Cafe Menopause Connecticut. Practitioner accredited by the North American Menopause Society Dr. Melissa Pearlstone: North American Menopause Society-accredited OBGYN, Westwood Women's Health, Waterbury Debbie Dickinson: Founder and CEO, Thermaband Inc., incubated at Yale and currently in the Harvard iLab and Harvard Alumni Accelerator program
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Many pandemic babies, infants born shortly before or during the pandemic, haven’t had as much interaction with the outside world.
Today, we talk about how the last two years could impact these children long term, and what pediatricians are seeing.
First, we hear from Sarah Laskow, a Senior Editor at the Atlantic, who gave birth in the early days of the pandemic.
And later, we talk about how the pandemic has impacted family planning.
Did you have a pandemic baby? We want to hear from you!
GUESTS: Sarah Laskow - Senior Editor at the Atlantic Dr. Calab Wasser, DO - Primary Care Physician at Connecticut Children’s Dr. Lauren Shuffrey - Associate Research Scientist in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center Claudia Geist - Associate Professor of sociology and gender studies at the University of Utah
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Average rent in the state is up 15% on average, with more than half the state’s renters cost-burdened, according to a recent report. Meanwhile, evictions are creeping back to pre-pandemic levels. Those numbers had dipped because of pandemic-related state and federal relief programs, but most of those resources have lapsed or dried up.
This hour, we hear from Connecticut Public housing reporter Camila Vallejo about how vulnerable communities are likely to be hit hardest, and what she learned from one family who was recently evicted in Norwalk. We also hear from the Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners.
What are the broader barriers to renting – and buying? We hear about the "inventory crisis" from the Connecticut Association of Realtors; and pan out with Joshua Devine, director of Racial Economic Equity at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). The NCRC found that the homeownership gap between Black and white Americans is currently the widest it’s been in 100 years.
GUESTS: Camila Vallejo: Housing Reporter, Connecticut Public John Souza: President, Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners Tammy Felenstein: President, Connecticut Association of Realtors Joshua Devine: Director of Racial Economic Equity, National Community Reinvestment Coalition
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Spring is officially here and that means, the peepers have arrived.
Today, we learn about Connecticut’s amphibians, many are waking up now and migrating to wetlands.
Coming up, we also talk about the ways volunteers can help collect data on amphibians around our state with FrogWatch, a national citizen science project.
And we talk to a field scientist about the climate and biodiversity crises impacting many species including amphibians.
Have you heard spring peepers in your backyard?
GUESTS: Stevie Kennedy-Gold - Collection manager of the section of amphibians and reptiles at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Dennis Quinn - Owner of Quinn Ecological, an environmental consulting business that specializes in the research and conservation of Connecticut's amphibians and reptiles Jim Knox - Curator of Education for Connecticut Beardsley Zoo Mark Urban - Arden Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut
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Through his art, Mohamad Hafez confronts preconceived notions of refugees and the "baggage" they may carry. He was recently the subject of an Oscars-shortlisted documentary, an intimate portrait of how Hafez's acclaimed UNPACKEDseries was informed by his own experience leaving Syria.
This hour, we visit Hafez at his studio, just above the location of his latest venture, Pistachio Cafe. Hear about why he opened this coffee shop and "cultural salon" in the heart of New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Plus, hear how he has adapted his artwork into workshops with Connecticut schools; and preview an upcoming partnership with the Yale Peabody Museum.
"How do you tell these stories artistically? How do you tell that my family or the Syrian family or Iraqi family is worthy of attention?"
Hafez says he is "energized to make artwork that brings people together, that teaches them ever-so-gently about that other that they fear, about that other refugee that they think is uncivilized. There's nothing better than sharing humanity, sharing stories, sharing anecdotes about our lives. Because, you know, that's the human connection amongst all of us."
GUESTS: Mohamad Hafez: Artist; Architect; Owner, Pistachio Cafe
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Hartford Seminary has a new name. It’s now the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.Today, we talk to its President Joel Lohr.
And we hear from other faculty members about their efforts to create a more inclusive, interreligious university focusing on peace studies.
There have been a lot of conversations about diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace - but often, talk of religious inclusivity is left out of those discussions.
How can we have more productive discussions about faith?
GUESTS: Joel Lohr - President of Hartford International University Aida Mansoor - Chaplain and Director of Field Education at Hartford International University Deena Grant Associate - Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Global Community Partnerships at Hartford International University Fatima Basharat - a student in the inaugural MA in International Peacebuilding program at Hartford International University
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired November 18, 2021.
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A new study by the National Institutes of Health and the Research Triangle Institute, found alcohol consumption by women with children younger than age 5, surged 323% during the pandemic.
Researchers compared alcohol consumption rates in February 2020 to April of 2020, when stay-at-home guidelines were in effect, and further along into the pandemic year in November. More women than men exceeded recommended drinking guidelines between April and November.
But for as long as nearly a century, women have been closing the gender gap in the consumption of alcohol, binge-drinking, and alcohol use disorder.What are some triggers, coping mechanisms, and treatment options available to treat women with alcohol use disorder?
GUESTS: Kathleen Callahan - Stratford resident; sober for 10 years Beverley Brakeman - West Hartford resident; sober for 31 years Amanda Aronson - Principal, Aronson Consulting, West Hartford; sober for 7.5 years Dr. Jeanette Tetrault - Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine, and and Associate Director of Addiction Medicine at Yale Medicine
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 20, 2021.
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How has the steep drop-off in COVID policies like masking affected immunocompromised individuals and those with disabilities? The CDC's list of those at risk of severe COVID-19 illness is long and wide-ranging.
This hour, we're joined by Kayle Hill, a Waterbury-based writer and an advocate with Disability Rights Connecticut.
Plus, epidemiologist and activist Gregg Gonsalves and Atlantic staff writer Ed Yong dig into this dissonance. Yong asks, "How did this many deaths become normal?"
GUESTS: Gregg Gonsalves: Epidemiologist and Activist; Associate Professor, Yale School of Public Health Kayle Hill: Writer; Advocate, Disability Rights Connecticut Ed Yong: Staff Writer, The Atlantic
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Music schools in Philadelphia denied her admission because she was Black, and so did a segregated concert hall, leading to a spectacular performance at the Lincoln Memorial and a fight for Civil Rights.
The opera legend Marian Anderson lived and sang in Danbury, Connecticut, for five decades.
This hour, we’ll learn about her life, her studio in Danbury, and also discuss the lack of diversity in opera today – the year of Marian’s 125th birth anniversary.
We’ll also take a listen to selected preview audio from Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands, a PBS documentary.
GUESTS: Brigid Guertin: Executive Director of the Danbury Museum, and Danbury City Historian Francesca Zambello: Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center and General Director of the Glimmerglass Festival Alan Mann: Artistic Director, Opera Theater of Connecticut
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 26, 2022.
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After months of uncertainty, Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum has found a new home in Fairfield.
Quinnipiac University’s decision to permanently close the 9-year-old museum in August met public outcry at home and abroad, and prompted a still-pending inquiry by the State Attorney General’s Office. Nevertheless, earlier this month the university announced a plan to move the collection to a new space, to be created by the Gaelic-American Club in Fairfield.
This hour, we hear more about the collection and plans for its move from the newly-formed group, Ireland's Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield, Inc., led by John Foley and Amy O'Shea. Foley is the current vice-president of Fairfield's Gaelic-American Club.
Plus, we talk with two of the contemporary Irish artists who are featured in the collection. Tracy Sweeney is a visual artist based in County Mayo, and Kieran Tuohey is a sculptor based in County Galway.
GUESTS: John Foley: President, Ireland's Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield, Inc.; Vice President, Gaelic-American Club Amy O'Shea: Vice President, Ireland's Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield, Inc. Ryan Mahoney: Project Manager, Springfield Museums; Volunteer Advisor, Ireland's Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield, Inc. Kieran Tuohey: Sculptor Tracy Sweeney: Visual Artist
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The Yale School of Medicine has a new digital tool for adults 60 and over to self-identify and report abuse.
Tested at the Emergency Department of Yale New Haven Hospital, St. Raphael Campus, the study found 11 cases of abuse – that’s 1.1% of a total of 1002 study participants. Also, 5.6% of the participants – 56 individuals – were identified as requiring social support services.
On this hour of Where We Live, we hear from Fuad Abujarad, PhD., the principal investigator of VOICES, the digital tool, on the scope of the initiative. Faud talks about a psycho-educational model intended to motivate patients to acknowledge that they are victims of abuse – if the tool and case workers identify abuse, and then, to encourage them to report it to their providers. Plans are underway to expand the offering to primary care centers.
We also hear from experts on how digital tools for identifying elder abuse can help ease the pressure at EDs, and even potentially help with the state’s case worker overload.
And, we discuss HB 5314 on preventing and addressing elder abuse, championed by the AARP, Connecticut chapter.
The National Institute on Aging from the National Institutes of Health estimates that one in 10 adults over age 60 are abused, neglected, or financially exploited.
Report elder abuse to the Connecticut Protective Services for the Elderly Hotline 888-385-4225
Produced by Sujata Srinivasan, with help from Michayla Savitt
GUESTS:
Fuad Abujarad: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine
Dr. Anthony E. Rosen: Researcher – elder abuse and geriatric injury prevention at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Emergency Physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Dorian Long: Connecticut Protective Services for the Elderly, Department of Social Services
Nora Duncan: State Director, Connecticut, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
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What better way to get to know a country and its people than through literature?
Today, we talk about Ukraine writers and what we can learn about this country through its poetry and prose.
University of Massachusetts professor, novelist and poet Askold Melnyczuk joins us. His parents were Ukrainian refugees.
He also works as a Ukrainian translator and he’ll talk to us about making Ukrainian literature available to the English speaking world.
Have you read any works by Ukrainian writers?
GUESTS: Askold Melnyczuk - writer and professor at University of Massachusetts, Boston
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"What would Connecticut do without child care?" Providers and parents are organizing an event across several Connecticut cities on Tuesday to pose an answer to that question.
The Child Care for Connecticut's Future coalition coordinated A Morning Without Child Care to call for $700 million in state funding, and "to bring attention to the impending collapse of the child care industry." This hour, hear from local child care homes and centers about this long-standing crisis, and how they plan to participate.
Plus, the Connecticut Women’s Development Council has partnered with the Office of Early Childhood to provide a support program for licensed child care providers, offering financial relief and training opportunities for these small businesses.
GUESTS: Allyx Schiavone: Executive Director, Friends Center for Children Ruben Mallma: Family Child Care Provider Fran Pastore: CEO, Connecticut Women's Business Development Council
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The nonprofit sector is in trouble. They serve some of the most vulnerable populations in Connecticut but many organizations are struggling to retain workers and find new ones.
According to a survey by the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, 9 out of 10 nonprofits say it’s difficult to recruit new employees.
Today, we talk with Brunilda Ferraj from the Alliance about what nonprofits are doing to avoid burnout and fill vacancies and we hear from Bloomfield based Community Solutions.
We want to hear from you. Do you work at a nonprofit?
GUESTS: Brunilda Ferraj - Vice President of Programs and Operations at Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance Sherry Albert - Chief Operating Officer with Community Solutions, Inc based Bloomfield, Connecticut Beth Kanter - co-author of The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout
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There is broad support in the U.S. for Ukraine and global outcry over Putin's increasingly hostile attacks on civilians. This hour, hear more about the geopolitical backdrop and Ukraine's fight for independence from Yale history professor and author of The Ukrainian Night Marci Shore.
Local leaders in Connecticut are organizing, fundraising and speaking out to keep the focus on the crisis in Ukraine. Hear from the Stamford School of Ukrainian Studies and the Ukrainian National Women's League of America.
Plus, Americares is transporting three tons of medicine and critical relief supplies to Ukraine. They "anticipate many shipments will follow in the coming weeks."
U.S. Senator for Connecticut and Foreign Relations Committee Member Chris Murphy also joins.
GUESTS: Marci Shore: Associate Professor of History, Yale University Chris Murphy: U.S. Senator for Connecticut; Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ulyana Yosypiv: Principal, Stamford School of Ukrainian Studies; Head, Stamford Ukrainian American Youth Association Svitlana Levus: President, Stamford Branch of Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Kate Dischino: Vice President of Emergency Programs, Americares
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What does it mean to be American? In Dishwasher Dreams, now playing on Hartford Stage, writer, actor, and comedian Alaudin Ullah explores the “otherization” of brown Muslim Americans in America, and by extension, Hollywood.
Ullah grew up in New York City, playing video games, eating hamburgers, listening to hip hop, and cheering for the Knicks. So when the only roles offered to him in Hollywood were that of a terrorist or a bumbling South Asian, Ullah hit pause. Now, his documentary, In Search of Bengali Harlem produced by PBS, takes a hard look at the soul of the American Dream, the “otherization” of his parents, and the celebration of the strength of one’s roots, and the power of one’s wings.
We also listen to the beat of the tabla played by composer and percussionist Avirodh Sharma, whose parents’ non-Ellis Island journey from the West Indies to India to New York City influenced Sharma to create a tapestry of music from South Asia to Spanish Harlem and to Bengali Harlem in Dishwasher Dreams.
Snigdha Sur, Founder and CEO of The Juggernaut and host of the podcast The Juggernaut Interviews; Author Eshani Surya, working on her debut novel All the Hungry Eyes; and Lakshmi Iyer, author of the children’s book Why is My Hair Curly and mother of three girls, two of whom are Caucasian and adopted, share their stories and the complexity of the non-monolithic South Asian American.
GUESTS: Alaudin Ullah: Comedian, Writer, Actor, Dishwasher Dreams on Hartford Stage Avirodh Sharma: Tabla percussionist, Composer, Dishwasher Dreams on Hartford Stage Bandana Purkayastha: Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies, University of Connecticut
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There’s no question that academia has been hit hard during the pandemic, from declining enrollment numbers at some institutions, to unprecedented challenges related to COVID 19.
Today, we talk about the future of tenure.
We hear from Colleen Flaherty, Senior Faculty Reporter at Inside Higher Ed.
And later student journalist Madison Hahamy joins us. She explains the complex tenure requirements at Yale, and the morale of staff at one of the country’s most prestigious universities.
Do you teach at a college or university in Connecticut? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Colleen Flaherty - Senior Faculty Reporter at Inside Higher Ed Madison Hahamy - former staff reporter for the Yale Daily News who covered how the university relies on instructional faculty. She is a sophomore at Yale’s Hopper College Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar - UConn Professor of History and Executive Vice President of UConn-AAUP
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A new settlement in the Sheff V. O'Neill school desegregation case could end court oversight and litigation 33 years after the original lawsuit. The Connecticut legislature has just over two weeks to reject the measure that would continue to expand magnet schools and the Open Choice program in Hartford and around the state. Connecticut Public investigative reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas reports that so far, suburban districts have been "slow to help."
This hour, hear from Rabe Thomas as well as John C. Brittain, one of the original attorneys in the case. Plus, Waterbury Bridge to Success and My Reflection Matters are working with local districts and the state to develop a family guide for "Raising Kids With Positive Racial & Ethnic Identities." You can check out the Waterbury guide here.
GUESTS: Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public Althea Marshall Brooks: Executive Director, Waterbury Bridge to Success John C. Brittain: Attorney; Olie W. Rauh Professor of Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
Where We Live
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The average American woman wears between a size 16 and 18, according to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. Yet plus size clothing is still hard to come by.
Today, we talk about size inclusivity in the fashion industry. Alex Waldman joins us, co-founder of fashion brand Universal Standard, that offers sizes 00-40.
And later, we hear how fashion colleges are including subjects like size inclusivity, gender identity and sustainability as part of their core curriculum.
When you walk into a store, how easy is it to find clothes in your size?
GUESTS: Kenlyn Jones - Assistant Professor at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the fashion department Gianluca Russo - Fashion Journalist and author Power of Plus coming out in August Alex Waldman - Co-founder of Universal Standard
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A new report from Connecticut Voices for Children examines the hurdles facing young adults transitioning out of the child welfare system in our state, including "obstacles in employment, education, and housing." This hour, we hear from the report's co-author and Connecticut Voices Research & Policy Director Dr. Lauren Ruth, as well as Dr. Linda Dixon, Administrator for Transitional Supports and Success at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Plus, SUN Scholars is a local non-profit led by former foster and adopted youth that's focused on improving education equity. The Center for Children's Advocacy also weighs in on their efforts to prevent homelessness.
GUESTS: Whitney Rodriquez: Student Coordinator, SUN Scholars Yamia Gibson: Student Coordinator, SUN Scholars Dr. Linda Dixon: Administrator for Transitional Supports and Success, Connecticut Department of Children and Families Dr. Lauren Ruth: Research & Policy Director, Connecticut Voices for Children Stacey Violante Cote: Attorney; Director of Operations, Center for Children's Advocacy
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This hour on Where We Live, we hear from an economist on the what and why of inflation, including policy implications, and from a chartered financial analyst on how we can protect ourselves financially.
We also talk to Foodshare on how individuals can support food insecure members of their community, and learn about an expanding community program called Fridgeport.
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There’s no doubt that the pandemic hit the performing arts hard but local artists have been working to make a difference and connect with the community.
Today,we get an update from Judy Dworin from the Judy Dworin Performance Project about how the organization has shifted in the last two years and she also talks about its future.
And later, we will hear about a young woman who started a non profit that uses dance to help dancers from all walks of life navigate trauma. We want to hear from you. Is dance part of your life?
GUESTS: Judy Dworin - Executive and Artistic Director, at the Judy Dworin Performance Project, now the Justice Dance Performance Project Victoria Steele - performing artist with Justice Dance Performance Project Bettina Mahoney - Founder and CEO of Fortitude, a convention and competition with a mission of empowering dancers through the vehicle of performing arts in New York City
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Researchers say more than 1 in 4 COVID patients still have symptoms months later. Many COVID long-haulers may experience fatigue and what researchers call "exercise intolerance." Hear about a recent study that identifies trouble with the muscles absorbing oxygen, not the heart or the lungs – and the relief this diagnosis can bring patients.
Physical therapy can play an important role in recovery. We talk to a physical therapist working on tailored treatment programs. Plus, Middlesex Health Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Alina Filozov stresses that getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent post-COVID symptoms.
First, Ukraine has retained control of Kyiv as the fifth day of the Russian offensive continues, and talks between Ukraine and Russia begin. Congressman Jim Himes joins us to discuss the latest.
GUESTS: Jim Himes: 4th District Connecticut Congressman Dr. Phillip Joseph: Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Yale-New Haven Hospital; Associate Director for Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program, Yale School of Medicine Kathy Flaherty: Executive Director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project Dr. Alina Filozov: Chief of Infectious Disease, Middlesex Health Brian Taber: Director of Physical Rehabilitation, Middlesex Health
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Reports Friday morning are Russian troops have entered the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital Kiev and it's being bombarded with missile strikes. Today, we talk to a Ukrainian American in Connecticut about Russia’s attack.
And later, 7 out of 10 fire departments nationwide are all volunteer. Here in Connecticut, 83 percent of firefighters fit that description. We hear from some of the volunteer firefighters in our state about how they’re grappling with a volunteer shortage.
We also hear how important workplace culture is when you are working for emergency services. Do you or someone you know work in the fire department where you live? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Olena Lennon - Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and National Security at the University of New Haven Dave Lampart - Volunteer Firefighter in Woodbury and town emergency management director Scott Eskwitt - Director of Fire Policy and Training Content for Lexipol
Photo Credit: Sergey Bobok / AFP via Getty Images
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Through her Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling created a magical world championing acceptance and inclusivity. But the author’s controversial comments about the transgender community have alienated lifelong fans.
This hour, we explore how fans have moved forward. We hear from Fandom Forward, formerly known as the Harry Potter Alliance. One Fandom Forward volunteer from New Haven focused on the series in her master's dissertation.
Plus, have you heard of Wizard Rock? Ashley Hamel of Ashley Trix & the WZRDs joins us.
GUESTS: Katie Bowers: Managing Director, Fandom Forward Abigail Page: Volunteer Manager of Leadership & Education, Fandom Forward Ashley Hamel: Singer-songwriter
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One in ten Americans, or one on every elevator and four on every bus, is impacted by a rare disease.
Yet, 95 percent of rare diseases do not have approved treatment. On a promising note, bio-pharmaceutical companies working on orphan drugs have more than 800 projects in clinical development.
In a ground-breaking clinical trial, a participating patient at the University of Connecticut Health Center was the first in the world to receive an infusion treatment for a type of glycogen storage disease.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) on efforts to create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Connecticut to elevate the voices of residents with rare diseases, something other states have done.
We also hear from a UConn researcher, and a father and son living with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, on the latest treatment and challenges.
GUESTS:
John D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at age 40
Christian D'Alessandro: Diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta at around four weeks
Alicia Lawrence: Patient Services Case Manager, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Amber Barry, RN: Glycogen Storage Disease & Disorders of Hypoglycemia Program at the University of Connecticut Health Center, and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
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K-12 students in Connecticut can now take two mental health wellness days during the school year.
Today, we hear from a student who advocated for this proposal and we talk to the Office of Child Advocate.
First, we get an update on legislative proposals to strengthen gun violence prevention in our state. State Senator Marilyn Moore joins us.
What questions do you have?
GUESTS: Senator Marilyn Moore - Bridgeport State Senator Sarah Eagan - Child Advocate, State of Connecticut Vignesh Subramanian - Sophomore at Stony Brook University studying Biology Barb Solish - Director of Youth and Young Adult Initiatives at the National Alliance on Mental Illness
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Today, we talk about how experiences coming of age impact us into adulthood. Melissa Febos, author of the bestselling memoir Girlhood, joins us.
She writes about what she learned about herself, including the ways we begin to understand consent and how this impacts our relationships long-term.
And later, what should parents and educators consider when teaching about consent?
GUESTS: Melissa Febos - author of Girlhood Kelsey Alexander - Training and Prevention Coordinator at Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
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If you’ve been watching the Beijing Winter Olympics, you’ve likely seen a Connecticut local compete and succeed. But there’s one local connection you may not have noticed. This hour, we learn more about the NBC Sports International Broadcast Center in Stamford, where many of the announcers you see and hear are stationed, like commentator Leigh Diffey.
Connecticut Public Reporter Frankie Graziano has more on the many Connecticut connections among this year's roster of Olympian athletes.
Plus, NPR Beijing correspondent Emily Feng joins us to touch on "the backdrop of diplomatic boycotts over numerous allegations of human rights abuses in China," and her latest reporting.
GUESTS: Leigh Diffey – Broadcaster, NBC Sports Frankie Graziano – Reporter, Connecticut Public Emily Feng – Beijing Correspondent, NPR
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Republican Bob Stefanowski ran for Connecticut Governor in 2018, narrowly losing to Ned Lamont. Now Stefanowski, a Connecticut native and Madison resident, is back to take on Lamont again.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from Stefanowski about his second run for governor, and his expanded platform ranging from fiscal accountability and the elimination of state income and sales taxes to managing COVID-19, crime, and more.
We also hear from Hartford Courant reporter Daniela Altimari on how the race could unfold.
GUESTS:
Bob Stefanowski: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate
Daniela Altimari: Reporter, State Government & Politics, Hartford Courant
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Community college enrollment has dropped nationally, leading many local institutions to rethink how they retain their students.
Today, we talk to local leaders in Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system. How are they working to attract and retain students?
Dr. Duncan Harris joins us, he’s Capital Community College, Chief Executive Officer. We find out how Capital Community College has changed their offerings to better serve the Hartford community.
If you’re attending a community college in our state, we want to hear from you!
GUESTS: Lee Gardner - Senior Writer at Chronicle of Higher Education Dr. G. Duncan Harris - Chief Executive Officer at Capital Community College in Hartford, Connecticut Hana Lahr - Senior Research Associate and Program Lead at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College Columbia University
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With the statewide school mask mandate expected to expire at the end of the month, local districts can determine their own policies. School boards and superintendents are facing continued public pressure according to Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.
The State Department of Public Health, along with the Department of Education, does have the authority to reinstate a statewide school mask mandate until June 30. This hour, get the latest from Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani.
Connecticut Mirror Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Pazniokas also joins to discuss the start of the legislative session, and the impact of the upcoming election.
GUESTS: Mark Pazniokas – Capitol Bureau Chief, Connecticut Mirror Fran Rabinowitz – Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Dr. Mark Conway – Superintendent, Derby Public Schools Dr. Manisha Juthani – Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
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Here in Connecticut, surviving long winters means getting plenty of sleep, extra vitamin D supplements and leaning into our favorite winter activities.
This hour, we talk with author Katherine May about her book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times and the act of wintering.
According to author Katherine May, the act of wintering goes beyond the season of winter. The act of wintering, retreating and resting, can come after difficult times. And we should “must learn to invite the winter in. We may never choose winter, but we can choose how.”
While we’re all in lockdown, awaiting vaccines, we are all wintering a lot more than usual. How are you wintering?
We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Katherine May - author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
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Valentine’s Day is coming up, but today, this show is for all the single ladies!
Today, Shani Silver, author of A Single Revolution: Don't look for a match. Light one, joins us today to talk about how we can love our time in singlehood, as much as we love the idea of a relationship.
Shani Silver asks, “We don’t have to hate being single. Has anyone ever told you that’s allowed?”
Are you single or remember the single life? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Shani Silver - author of A Single Revolution and podcaster
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Each year, Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40 celebrates up-and-coming innovators in our state. This hour, we meet some of this year's impactful honorees.
Watertown architect Omarys Vasquez is driven to "make great design more accessible and inclusive." She recently co-founded NOMAct, the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects.
Shelby C. Davis is an educator, life coach and author in Waterbury, who founded the City Youth Theater in 2019. His latest book is titled Meet Wyatt Brown.
Miles Wilson-Toliver is an opera singer and voice teacher who began performing around the world at the age of 9. He recently launched Voices of Hartford, a premier young men's singing ensemble out of Hartford's North End.
GUESTS: Omarys Vasquez - Architect and Associate at Svigals & Partners Shelby C. Davis - Counselor, Crosby High School; Author, Everything My Parents Taught Me in 6 Steps: Life’s Guide; Founder, City Youth Theater Miles Wilson-Toliver - Opera singer and voice coach; Co-founder, Voices of Hartford
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Pulitzer-winning physician Siddhartha Mukherjee referred to cancer as “The Emperor of All Maladies.” Now, Mukherjee is one of many contributors to “A New Deal for Cancer – Lessons From A 50 Year War.”
This hour on Where We Live, we talk about the legacy and shortcomings of this war, including the lack of access to cancer care for some populations, a byzantine drug reimbursement system, the lack of incentives for preventive testing, and corporatization of physician-owned clinics. We also discuss the promise of President Joe Biden’s newly relaunched Cancer Moonshot program, and barriers to its liftoff.
The science of cancer has advanced significantly since the National Cancer Act was first signed in 1971. How will the country work towards fewer deaths and equitable treatment for all Americans over the next 50 years?
GUESTS:
Abbe R. Gluck: Alfred M. Rankin Professor of Law and Faculty Director,
Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy, Yale Law School. Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Editor of “A New Deal for Cancer – Lessons From A 50 Year War”
Dr. Charles S. Fuchs: Senior Vice President – Global Head of Hematology and Oncology Product Development, Genentech & Roche. Editor of “A New Deal for Cancer – Lessons From A 50 Year War”
Giselle Carlotta MacDonald: Executive Director, Project Access-New Haven
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Nearly two years since the start of the pandemic, Connecticut has begun granting commutations for incarcerated individuals.
Today, we hear more and learn how the pandemic has impacted the prison population in our state.
We hear from Connecticut Mirror reporter Kel Lyons. And we talk to a formerly incarcerated person, who recently received a commutation on his sentence.
And later, the COVID Prison Project says about 1 in 4 people in prison or jail has gotten COVID-19.
Do you have a family member who’s incarcerated?
GUESTS: Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein - Founder of COVID Prison Project Kelan Lyons - Report For America Corps Member who covers the intersection of mental health and criminal justice for the Connecticut Mirror Michael Cox - resident of Connecticut and formerly incarcerated person Alex Taubes - civil rights lawyer from New Haven Connecticut
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The American Library Association (ALA) reported an “unprecedented spike” in book removal requests last fall, tallying 330 from September 1 to December 1. The ALA noted "a focus on books that address the voices and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals."
How are local librarians responding to these challenges? Hear from school and public librarians in Connecticut. Plus, the ALA and the Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Office discuss the resources they offer local librarians.
GUESTS: Samantha Lee - Chair, Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; Head of Reference Services at Enfield Public Library Deborah Caldwell Stone - Director, American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom Barbara Johnson - Library Media Specialist, Jack Jackter Intermediate School; Member, American Association of School Librarians; Former President, Connecticut Association of School Librarians Mary Richardson - Teen Librarian, Simsbury Public Library; Co-Host "Book Jam" Podcast
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Manufacturing jobs like industrial engineering and mechanical engineering technicians are projected to increase between 15% and nearly 30% by 2026, fetching an annual salary of around $65,000, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor.
These jobs don’t require a traditional four-year college degree. And there are opportunities for students to go to trade school while they’re finishing high school.
The drumbeat from employers and local leaders has been how to attract and train new workers to support a key sector in the state economy. There’s money pouring in to enable this.
This year, Connecticut was one of only five states to receive a U.S. Department of Labor $10 million State Apprenticeship grant.
The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Advisory Board recently approved $8.3 million to support new and established programs in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector, including an advertising campaign to highlight career opportunities in manufacturing.
And, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, hosted at the UConn School of Business, received one of four federal grants, to operate a national Advanced Manufacturing Center. The $2 million grant will give assistance to minority-owned businesses to help them expand.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a high-school student who’s earning college credits in manufacturing, a young woman who's working on the shop floor, a manufacturer, academia, and the state. And, we find out more about what’s being done to attract more women to the industry, including minority owned businesses. GUESTS: Anya Santa Lucia: Manufacturing Program Student at Goodwin University, and High School Student at the Connecticut River Academy Sara Langevin: CNC Machinist, Trumpf Inc. Matthew Dadona: Assistant Superintendent of Pathways and Partnerships, Goodwin University Magnet School Systems Keri Valente: Manufacturing Apprenticeship Representative at the Office of Apprenticeship Training, State of Connecticut Christine Benz: Head of Training Services, Trumpf Inc.
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Russia and Ukraine have a long, complicated history. If you’re confused about what's happening in Eastern Europe, you’re not alone.
Today, we explore the complex relationship between these two nations and get a better understanding of the conflict happening right now.
We hear from members of the Ukrainian American community in Connecticut.
And later, we talk about the Holodomor, where millions were killed by the Stalin regime in what was then-Soviet Ukraine.
What questions do you have about what’s happening to Ukraine today? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS: Alex Kuzma - Chief Development Officer for the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation Lana Babij - retired librarian and independent researcher from Manchester Connecticut.
Photo: Chris McGrath / Getty Images
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This hour on Where We Live, we look into strategies that build resilience in local bookstores and discuss pandemic book launches. Long-time indie bookshops continue to stay afloat and even thrive despite the ongoing pandemic. Amazon controls more than half of the market for print books and at least three-quarters of publishers’ ebook sales.
We also talk to booksellers about trends, including eliminating or reducing inventory-holding costs by selling on Bookstore.org –the Amazon for indies.
The American Booksellers Association (ABA) lists the top five trends for indie bookstores in 2022. According to the ABA, nationally, 250 indie bookstores opened, and 98 closed in 2020 and 2021.
Here is a list of Connecticut's indie bookstores: Barrett Bookstore, Darien (since 1939) Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot (since 1951) Breakwater Books, Guilford (since 1972) Atticus Books, Middletown (since 1975) Bloodroot, Bridgeport (since 1977) Books on the Common, Ridgefield (since 1984) RJ Julia, Madison, (since 1990) Bank Square Books, Mystic (since 1998) Book Trader Cafe, New Haven (since 1998) Elm Street Books, New Canaan, (since 2003) A New Page, Middletown (since 2003) Burgundy Books, Old Saybrook (since 2005)
New bookstore openings in Connecticut include: Title IX: A Bookstore, a pop-up bookshop in New London The Key Bookstore’s brick-and-mortar bookshop in Hartford Athena Books in Old Greenwich Pink Wave Books & Cafe (online) Wordsmith Bookshop, scheduled to open in Simsbury in May Reader's Block, opened in Stratford Book Club on the Go (online, pop-ups, book delivery) New York’s Shakespeare & Co., expected to open its first Connecticut bookshop in Norwalk. Also, plans are underway to launch Next Chapter Books and More, an ELITE (Educating Learners In Transition Environment) Program’s student-run bookstore and coffee shop in Trumbull.
Several of the new bookshops sell to under-represented communities, and all are focussed on building a local third space. We discuss the ‘doing well by doing good’ indie business model. Will it endure?
We also look into store closures and fundraisers to keep indies open. That Book Store in Wethersfield and Elliot’s Bookstore in Northford are among those that shut down, while fundraisers are underway to reopen New Haven’s Never Ending Books, and to keep Bennett’s Books in Deep River open.
GUESTS: Khamani Harrison: Founder & Owner of The Key Bookstore – An AfroFuturistic Bookstore in Hartford Lauren Anderson: Co-founder & Co-owner, People Get Ready, New Haven Roxanne Coady: Founder of RJ Julia, and CEO and founder of Just the Right Book
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Regional electric grid operator ISO New England has warned of a "vulnerable" winter, while homeowners are being charged higher rates for fuel, whether natural gas, oil or propane.
This hour, hear from POLITICO energy reporter Catherine Morehouse about the many factors at play, and get the latest from ISO New England.
Progressive consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen weighs in. Plus, hear from a Westport resident who recently switched to geothermal energy.
GUESTS: Catherine Morehouse - Energy reporter, POLITICO Anne George - Vice President of External Affairs, ISO New England Tyson Slocum - Director of Energy Program, Public Citizen Michael Sachse - CEO, Dandelion Energy Kaveh Ghahremani - Westport resident and new Dandelion customer
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Misinformation is a factor for anyone online, but research has shown false and misleading statements about COVID-19 that are in Spanish will linger longer on social media.
Hear more about the problem from Free Press Senior Counsel Nora Benavidez, and about the local efforts to help close the gap in vaccine distribution among Hispanic residents in our state. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, 74.6% of white residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 66.2% of Hispanic residents.
Hear from the Hispanic Health Council about their efforts to dispel viral misconceptions in their community; and from Fair Haven Community Health Care about their successful Vaccinate/Vacúnate Fair Haven! program. Plus, Junta for Progressive Action launched a video series on YouTube called "My Vaccination Story," featuring locals explaining why getting vaccinated was important to them.What can you do to combat COVID-19 misinformation?
GUESTS: Nora Benavidez - Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights, Free Press Dionne Kotey - Director of Wellness and Health Management, Hispanic Health Council Dr. Suzanne Lagarde - CEO, Fair Haven Community Health Care Bruni Pizarro - Executive Director, Junta for Progressive Action
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired December 16, 2021.
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How can learning how to sew empower individuals and strengthen communities?
This hour, residents relay the power of learning to quilt, sew and stitch. Hear from Hartford Stitch, members of the Norwalk Community Quilt Project, and Tamanna Rahman, a New Haven local who sews her own clothes.
Plus, a recent study finds mask-making for front-line workers was a “means of control” for people at home.
GUESTS: Laura Kasowitz - Owner and lead teacher, Hartford Stitch Tamanna Rahman - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Lizzy Rockwell - Children’s book author and illustrator; founder, Peace by Piece: The Norwalk Community Quilt Project Viola Sears - Member, Peace by Piece: The Norwalk Community Quilt Project
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Bloomberg reported that a shorter work week experiment in Iceland found that workers maintained productivity and had improved well-being.
Today, Alex Pang, author of Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How, about how some companies are navigating a shorter work week, while paying workers the same salaries.
And later, we hear from Mike Melillo founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group. He implemented the four day work week at his company at the start of the pandemic.
How would you spend your time if you only had to work four days, instead of five?
GUESTS: Alex Pang - author of books “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less” and “Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How” Mike Melillo - Founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group
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Music schools in Philadelphia denied her admission because she was Black, and so did a segregated concert hall, leading to a spectacular performance at the Lincoln Memorial and a fight for Civil Rights.The opera legend Marian Anderson lived and sang in Danbury, Connecticut, for five decades.This hour, we’ll learn about her life, her studio in Danbury, and also discuss the lack of diversity in opera today – the year of Marian’s 125th birth anniversary.We’ll also take a listen to selected preview audio from Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands, an upcoming PBS documentary.Produced by Sujata Srinivasan Special thanks to Catie Talarski and Eugene Amatruda GUESTS: Brigid Guertin: Executive Director of the Danbury Museum, and Danbury City HistorianFrancesca Zambello: Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center and General Director of the Glimmerglass Festival Alan Mann: Artistic Director, Opera Theater of Connecticut
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Connecticut leaders are pushing for more federal funding toward child care. Biden's Build Back Better Act, if passed, could mean millions for the industry.
We'll hear from local child care providers and Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye, to discuss what's driving staffing issues and the prevalence of child care "deserts" in our state. Plus, AllOurKin President Erica Phillips touches on the importance of the family child care model.
GUESTS: Veronica Phelps - Owner/Operator, MySchool in East Hampton Beth Bye - Commissioner, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Erica Phillips - President, AllOurKin
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After a 13 year old Hartford student overdosed in school and died days after taking fentanyl, there has been a push to get Naloxone, a life saving medication, into all schools.
Today, we talk to the superintendent of Hartford Schools, Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez about these efforts and support for the community.
Later, we hear from a parent whose son died from an opioid overdose. We'll also hear from Dr. Craig Allen, Vice President of Addiction Services at Rushford, a substance prevention treatment center, about service for those struggling with addiction.
What questions do you have about opioid use in our state?
GUESTS: Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez - Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools Dr. J. Craig Allen - Vice President of Addiction Services for the Behavior Health Medical Network at Rushford, Hartford Healthcare Kelly Fisher - founder of the Alex Fisher Foundation
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Hartford Seminary has a new name. It’s now the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.
Today, we talk to its President Joel Lohr.
And we hear from other faculty members about their efforts to create a more inclusive, interreligious university focusing on peace studies.
There have been a lot of conversations about diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace - but often, talk of religious inclusivity is left out of those discussions.
How can we have more productive discussions about faith?
GUESTS: Joel Lohr - President of Hartford International University Aida Mansoor - Chaplain and Director of Field Education at Hartford International University Deena Grant Associate - Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Global Community Partnerships at Hartford International University Fatima Basharat - a student in the inaugural MA in International Peacebuilding program at Hartford International University
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Almost 8,000 flights were cancelled over the holiday season, leaving many to reconsider how and why we travel. Are you dreaming of a vacation but dreading the hassle of learning to travel again with COVID still around?
Today, we talk about the future of travel by planes, trains and automobiles. Elisabeth Goodridge, deputy travel editor at the New York Times joins us with what you need to know.
And later, we hear from Ryan O’Connor, owner of “Live A Little Vans” here in Prospect, Connecticut to talk about #vanlife.
What have your travel experiences been like recently? We want to hear about you
GUESTS: Elisabeth Goodridge - Deputy Travel Editor at the New York Times Ryan O’Connor - Owner of Live A Little Vans in Prospect, Connecticut Isak Kvam - full time van-lifer currently residing in Colorado Maria Thompson - full time van-lifer currently residing in Colorado
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In Connecticut, the civil Statute of Limitations cut-off age for reporting child sexual abuse is 48. Connecticut in 2019 updated the law by extending the cut-off age to 51, but this change only applies to offenses committed after Oct. 1, 2019.
Now, advocates hope to persuade state legislators to eliminate or further extend the Statute of Limitations, something that 24 states, including New York and New Jersey, have done.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from survivors of child sexual abuse and also a trauma expert. We discuss delayed disclosure – the phenomenon common to adult survivors of child sexual abuse who wait for decades before disclosing that they have been victims of abuse. Data show that the average disclosure age of child victims of sexual assualt is 52 – according to research cited by Child USAdvocacy.
Data from the Department of Justice suggests that 86% of child sexual abuse goes unreported altogether.
We also look into whether eliminating the statute of limitations can enable us, as a society, to keep children safe from hidden sexual predators.
Resources:
CT Alliance Against Sexual Violence 1-888-999-5545 for English 1-888-568-8332 para Español
CT SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests) Co-Leaders Gail Howard, Lori Temple, Beth McCabe
GUESTS:
Lori Temple: Member and Co-Leader of CT SNAP – Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Steven Marans, PhD.: Psychoanalyst and Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine; Co-Director of the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery
Kathyrn Robb: Executive Director, CHILD USAdvocacy; Survivor of child sexual abuse
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Democratic State Senator Will Haskell started his 2018 campaign from his college dorm room, putting plans for law school on hold. Now nearly two terms later, and on the heels of a new book, Haskell has announced he will not seek reelection.
This hour, hear about the memoir 100,000 First Bosses: My Unlikely Path as a 22-Year-Old Lawmaker, and why he hopes it will inspire more “ordinary people” to run for office.
Plus, preview the newest Cutline deep-dive with Jacqueline Rabe-Thomas, investigative reporter for The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public Radio. The episode is about "How the Pandemic is Reshaping Education."
GUESTS: Will Haskell - Democratic state Senator; Author, 100,000 Bosses: My Unlikely Path as a 22-Year-Old Lawmaker Jacqueline Rabe-Thomas - Investigative Reporter, The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public Radio
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This year’s National Defense Authorization Act includes major reforms to the military justice system, shifting the power of prosecuting reports of sexual assault outside the chain of command to independent military lawyers. But what still needs to be done to encourage survivors to come forward?
Hear from Maureen Friedly, a Marine Corps veteran and survivor of sexual assault who has advocated for prosecutorial reforms; and Chelsea Donaldson, a lawyer with the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center representing local veterans.
GUESTS: Peggy McCarthy - Reporter, Connecticut Health Investigative Team Maureen Friedly - Marine Corps Veteran Chelsea Donaldson - Staff Attorney, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Col. Don Christensen - President, Protect Our Defenders
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Numerous reports have said obesity in adults rose in the pandemic.
Childhood obesity has risen starkly too, but for different reasons than you may think.
Today, we explore how stress impacts childhood obesity.
We hear from Julia A. Snethen, co author of article, “When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity.” And later, we’ll learn how to have sensitive conversations about health and weight.
What questions do you have about improving your family’s health?
GUESTS: Julia A. Snethen - Professor and Director of the PhD program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College of Nursing Dr. Melissa Santos - Chief of Pediatric Psychology and Clinical Director for Pediatric Obesity at Connecticut Children's Medical Center
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Connecticut saw a 32.7% decline in its homeless population between 2010 and 2020, compared to a decline of 9% nationally.
The latest point-in-time data shows 2,594 people (of whom 429 are unsheltered) are experiencing homelessness in Connecticut on a given night, a 34% drop from 3,902 in 2016.
But advocates say there’s work to be done in reducing unsheltered homelessness – which has climbed since the pandemic broke – and ending chronic homelessness for all. A goal which the state met for homeless veterans.
This hour WWL, we hear from Evonne Klein, the state’s former housing commissioner and newly-appointed CEO of the Hartford-based nonprofit Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. Klein and other experts discuss ways to expand affordable housing, reduce unsheltered homelessness, and address the tension between the state and towns over the new zoning law that scrapped transit oriented development and fair share language.
GUESTS:
Evonne Klein: CEO, Connecticut Coalition to End Homelesness
Camila Vallejo: Housing Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio
Jennifer Paradis: Executive Director, Beth-El Center in Milford
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How can history education help to heal hatred? And what’s the latest on Asian-American education initiatives where we live?
This hour, we hear from Khamla Vorasane, co-owner of Avon's BouNom Bakery, and the sponsor of a unique scholarship opportunity for future educators at UConn's Asian American Studies Institute. Plus, one student organization at Amity Regional High School is pushing for curricular change at their school. Hear from the co-founders of Amity Asian Activism.
New social studies "standards" are in the works, according to State Department of Education social studies consultant Steve Armstrong. Connecticut Public education reporter Catherine Shen has the latest on the planned updates, including a focus on Asian-American history.
GUESTS: Khamla Vorasane - Co-owner, BouNom Bakery; Sponsor, UConn's Nom and Boulieng Vorasane Scholarship Mingyue Zha - Student, Amity Regional High School; Founder, Amity Asian Activism Melinda Liu - Student, Amity Regional High School; Founder, Amity Asian Activism Catherine Shen - Education Reporter, Connecticut Public
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In Connecticut, like many states, minors cannot be vaccinated without parental consent.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Poll, 3 out of 10 parents surveyed say they would not get their child vaccinated against COVID.
Today, Dr. Holly Taylor, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, joins us to talk about her recent paper “Adolescents, Parents, and Covid-19 Vaccination — Who Should Decide?”
We want to hear from you. Should adolescents be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine without their parents permission?
GUESTS: Dr. Holly Taylor - member of faculty at the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health Susanna McGrew - Fellow at the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health Dr. Sharon Ostfeld-Johns - Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale Dr. Asha Shah - Director of Infectious Diseases Stamford Health
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This hour, we hear from newly elected West Haven state Rep. Treneé McGee, touching on her efforts to win over public trust in the context of a city scandal, and her plans for the future.
Plus, we’ll look ahead to election season with The Campaign School at Yale. How has the art of campaigning changed in recent years?
GUESTS: Treneé McGee - Democratic state Representative, West Haven Patricia Russo - Executive Director, The Campaign School at Yale
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What makes life worth living? And, what does data from happiness research tell us?
Data shows Connecticut is the second happiest state in the country, after Hawaii, with a poverty rate that’s under 10 percent, a life expectancy of 80.4 years, and median household income of more than $100,000, according to research by NiceRx – which also took into account adult depression levels. In another study by WalletHub, Connecticut tied third with California for the lowest adult depression.
But researchers who study happiness say variation across places — the happiness levels between states or even countries with similar socio-economic variables – is far less than the variation between happiness levels from one person to the other.
So, what makes us happy? And what does data show to help us become happier?
This hour WWL, we hear from happiness experts, including Laurie Santos of Yale University and the Happiness Lab podcast, and Cassie Mogilner Holmes of UCLA.
GUESTS:
Matthew Killingsworth: Director of trackyourhappiness.org and Senior Fellow, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Maggie Downie: Owner of Personal Euphoria Pilates & Fitness, Health & Wellness Expert on NBC CT Live, Author of Keep Moving: Take Steps to Relieve Pain & Improve Your Life
Dr. Hansa Bhargava: Chief Medical Officer, Medscape, Forbes Columnist, and Author of Building Happier Kids – Stress-busting tools for Parents, American Academy of Pediatrics
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As Connecticut schools reopen amid a COVID-19 surge, administrators are working to prevent staffing shortages and closures, and to respond to concerns from parents and students. Hear from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and local districts. How did the recent change in CDC guidance on isolation time impact reopening?
Plus, epidemiologist Dr. Saad Omer offers clarity amid changing public health messaging; and Dr. Mark Siegel shares his perspective from the critical care setting, explaining what he's asking Governor Lamont to do.
GUESTS: Fran Rabinowitz - Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Jan Perruccio - Superintendent of Public Schools, Old Saybrook Dr. Saad Omer - Epidemiologist; Director, Yale Institute for Global Health Dr. Mark Siegel - Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician; Residency Program Director, Yale School of Medicine
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New England winters are a good time to lean into our favorite winter activities or get more sleep!
Author, Katherine May writes the act of wintering goes beyond the season. It can be a period of reflection and down time when life throws the worst at us.
Before we close out the year, we listen back to my conversation with May about her book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.
She writes we “must learn to invite the winter in. We may never choose winter, but we can choose how.”
How are you wintering?
GUEST: Katherine May - author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
Cat Pastor contributed to this program which originally aired February 19, 2021.
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Six athletes with disabilities — and with ties to Connecticut — represented the U.S. at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, bringing home four medals.
Fairfield University trained two medaling para swimmers, Colleen Young and Matthew Torres, while Laura Goodkind,10th in the trunk and arms mixed double sculls in the 2016 Paralympics, most recently won the PR2 mixed doubles sculls at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Children with disabilities are placed with integrated sports teams, designed by the Special Olympics Connecticut, in nearly all schools across the state.
GUESTS Matthew Torres - Para-swimming Bronze Medalist, Paralympics Tokyo 2020; Junior at Fairfield University Anthony Bruno - Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s, Swimming and Diving, Fairfield University Laura Goodkind - Two-time Paralympian, Para-rowing (2016, 2020). Graduate of The Forman School, Litchfield Maggie Vanoni -Sports Reporter, Hearst Beau Doherty - President, Special Olympics Connecticut
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Sharks. They’re among the apex predators of the ocean, swimming with stealth and agility across our blue planet. But more than that, they’re sources of myth and fear, stirring imaginations with their serrated jaws and cutting dorsal fins.
So what, then, does it take to photograph these -- and other -- awe-inspiring marine creatures? This hour, we talk with underwater photojournalist Brian Skerry and preview his upcoming appearance at The Connecticut Forum.
Plus, with Memorial Day just around the corner, what should New Englanders keep in mind as they hit the region’s beaches and dip into its shark-inhabited waters? We find out and we also hear from you.
GUESTS: Brian Skerry - Renowned underwater photographer and author of several books, including Shark (@Brian_Skerry) Dr. James Sulikowski - Marine biologist and professor at the University of New England
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Right before Christmas, the international space station passed over New York City carrying astronaut Kayla Barron, a member of NASA’s Artemis Program--the program aims to put the first-ever woman on the moon.
Barron was part of another groundbreaking group-- she was one of the first women commissioned as a submarine warfare officer in the US Navy.
This week Where We Live, revisits our best conversations. Barron joined us earlier this year to talk about her training for the next set of missions to return to the moon.
What's it like to be an astronaut? Do you have a young, aspiring astronaut in your life?
GUESTS: NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron - Member of NASA’s Artemis team; she’s also a Navy Lieutenant Commander and Submarine Warfare Officer Cathryn Prince - Visiting assistant professor of journalism at SUNY Purchase and author of the nonfiction book A Professor, A President, and A Meteor: The Birth of American Science
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired January 8, 2021.
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It wouldn’t be a pandemic Christmas without a little chaos/
Today, we want to hear about your holiday plans as we face another COVID surge and the omicron variant.
We talk to Dr. Albert Ko, a physician and Yale epidemiologist and take your questions about how to gather this holiday season.
We want to know, how are you planning to see your family safely? Do you have a custom Christmas mask to mark the occasion?
GUESTS: Dr. Albert Ko - A physician and epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health Rabbi Debra Cantor - B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom Synagogue in Bloomfield, Connecticut Andrea Bonior - licensed clinical psychologist on the faculty with Georgetown University, and author of Detox Your Thoughts: Quit Negative Self Talk For Good and Discover the Life You Always Wanted
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A federal judge overturned Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement which offered the Sackler family immunity from future civil liability. Purdue Pharma’s $4.5 billion settlement would have funded treatment programs for opioid use disorder.
This hour, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong discusses the state’s successful appeal to reject the bankruptcy settlement and the continued push for accountability from the Sacklers. He’s joined by corporate law professor, Joshua Silverstein, an expert in bankruptcy proceedings.
Acute care nurse practitioner Stephen P. Wood, a Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School, traces the history of Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers, a drug dubbed ‘Mother’s Little Helper,’ and the overseas sales of opioids by Purdue Pharma subsidiary Mundipharma.
Anthropologist Alexa Dietrich of Wagner College, a researcher on the role of corporations in society, discusses ethics and corporate governance.
Produced by Sujata Srinivasan and Abe Levine
Technical Producer Cat Pastor
GUESTS:
William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General
Joshua Silverstein: Professor of Law, University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Stephen P. Wood: Bioethicist, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School
Alexa Dietrich: Associate Professor of Anthropology, Wagner College
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By what rights does a museum hold an object or artifact, and with what authority does that museum get to interpret it? Those are some of the existential questions driving a storytelling overhaul at the Yale Peabody Museum.
This hour, we preview changes to be unveiled to the public in 2024, from added gallery and classroom space to some major updates to storytelling. Hear about the museum's efforts to expand its "curatorial voice" by involving members of the local community.
GUESTS: Kailen Rogers - Associate Director of Exhibitions, Yale Peabody Museum Neeti Jain - Student, Yale School of the Environment; Fellow, National Science Foundation Natasha Ghazali - Student, Yale College; Former Member, Yale Peabody Museum Sci.CORPS Rawaa Ghazi - Chef, Sanctuary Kitchen
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In 1985, Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic wreckage off the coast of Newfoundland. But his explorations didn’t stop there!
This week, we showcase our best conversations of 2021. Robert Ballard joined us earlier this year to talk about his new book, Into The Deep: A Memoir From The Man Who Found Titanic.
We hear about his amazing adventuresand his recent attempt to find Amelia Earhart.
We also learn what Ballard discovered about himself. What questions do you have for this great explorer?
GUEST:
Robert Ballard - Author of Into The Deep: A Memoir From The Man Who Found the Titanic
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Today, we hear about an 80 year tradition at the Bethlehem Connecticut post office that has earned it the nickname Christmastown. Thousands of cards and packages come through this tiny post office every year to get one of their cachets.
On Friday, the Connecticut Mirror reported that Sema4, the laboratory based in Stamford responsible for managing 15 out of the 23 state testing sites, has pulled out of it’s contract with the state. The company will exit the testing business by mid-January.
With the holidays coming up and latest surge in cases, this could not have come at a worse time. Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Dave Altimari joins us.
And later, the Connecticut Social Equity Council is working to set the criteria for those that want to open an adult-use marijuana business on the state. We'll also hear from Andrea Comer, the Social Equity Council Committee Chairwoman.
GUESTS:
- Dave Altimari - Investigative Reporter at Connecticut Mirror
- Vera Rosa - retired postal clerk of the Bethlehem Post Office
- Andrea Comer - Interim Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Consumer Protection and the Social Equity Council Committee Chairwoman
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It’s the holiday season! Time to binge watch shows, read ALL the books piling up on our nightstands and listen to podcasts on the long drive to grandma’s house.
Today on Where We Live, we talk about the best podcasts, shows and books of 2021.
NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans joins us to share his favorite TV shows of 2021. Later, we hear from one of the owners of Breakwater Books in Guilford, Connecticut and hear what books were standouts in 2021.
We want to hear from you, Where We Live. What are you binge watching, listening and reading over this holiday season?
GUESTS:
- Eric Deggans - NPR’s TV Critic
- Richard Parent -Co-owner of Breakwater Books in Guilford Connecticut
- Emma Carey - freelance culture and entertainment writer, and weekly contributor to Esquire
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Misinformation is a factor for anyone online, but research has shown false and misleading statements about COVID-19 that are in Spanish will linger longer on social media.
Hear about this national problem from Free Press Senior Counsel Nora Benavidez, and about the local efforts to help close the gap in vaccine distribution among Hispanic residents in our state. Connecticut officials say more than 6 out of 10 Hispanic residents have received at least one dose, compared to more than more than 7 in 10 white residents.
Junta for Progressive Action and the Hispanic Health Council join, along with Fair Haven Community Health Care, to discuss their real-world success in dispelling viral misconceptions.
What can you do to combat COVID-19 misinformation?
GUESTS:
- Nora Benavidez- Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights, Free Press
- Dionne Kotey- Director of Wellness and Health Management, Hispanic Health Council
- Dr. Suzanne Lagarde - CEO, Fair Haven Community Health Care
- Bruni Pizarro - Executive Director, Junta for Progressive Action
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The iconic Mr. Potato Head from Hasbro is now simply the gender neutral Potato Head. Also this year, LEGO, WildBrain, and Mattel launched the Everyone is Awesome set, the Teletubbies Pride collection, and UNO’s Play with Pride deck in celebration of Pride Month.
This hour on Where We Live, we discuss diversity and inclusion in the toy industry, and its impact on child development.
We hear from experts on the trends and changing norms in the understanding of gender and how diversity must go beyond tokenization by toy manufacturers.
GUESTS:
Diane Gervais: Owner, Amato’s Toy and Hobby Middletown
Jeffrey Trawick-Smith: Professor Emeritus, Center for Early Childhood Education, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Author of Young Children’s Play: Development, Disabilities, and Diversity
Ellen Lambert: Advisor – Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity, the Toy Association and the Toy Foundation
Eileen Foley: Toy Curator and Owner, Little Acorn Learning LLC, Redding, Connecticut
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Attorneys General across the country are demanding change from the big social media companies.
This hour, we talk to Attorney General William Tong about his recent meeting with TikTok over disturbing trends happening on the platform.
And later, Wall Street Journal tech reporter Georgia Wells walks us through some of the key takeaways from a recent Senate Hearing with Instagram head Adam Mosseri. We hear about some bipartisan efforts to regulate social media.
Can the government make social media safer for children?
GUESTS:
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong
- Georgia Wells -Tech Reporter at the Wall Street Journal
- Michael Robb - Senior Director of Research Common Sense
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Should a statue of Connecticut Colony founder John Mason, who led a massacre of Pequot people in the 1600s, be removed from the State Capitol Building? That’s the question before the State Capitol Preservation and Restoration Committee after weighing public input, with a vote expected Tuesday. This hour, hear the perspectives of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and the State Historian. How can we better understand our shared history, and the monuments to it?
Plus, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona weighs in on what rising Covid-19 infection rates means for schools; and school safety, student loan debt, and more.
GUESTS:
- Rodney Butler - Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Walter Woodward - Connecticut State Historian
- Miguel Cardona- U.S. Secretary of Education
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Nursing shortages are being reported across the country, but there’s also rising interest in this critically important profession.
This hour, hear from nurses entering the field in our state, and from nursing educators and experts about why the term “burnout” doesn’t capture what’s driving the shortage. University of Saint Joseph professor Heather Evans prefers the term “moral distress.”
Nurses are by nature the noticers, the canaries in the coal mine, but the conditions of the pandemic have prompted reports of higher-than-average nurse-to-patient ratios, exacerbating a long-looming shortage. As nurse and author Theresa Brown wrote, "nurses are not an infinitely elastic resource; they’re people, many of whom are exhausted, traumatized, barely holding themselves together. It’s time to really see and care for them."
What are the barriers to keeping new nurses in the field?
GUESTS:
- Theresa Brown, PhD, BSN, RN - Nurse; Author, “Healing: When A Nurse Becomes a Patient” (2022)
- Heather Evans, Ph.D., RNC-MNN, CLC - Nurse; Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Saint Joseph
- Victoria Rufo, RN - Nurse; Student, University of Saint Joseph
- Tori Johnston, CNA - Nurse; Student, Quinnipiac University
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Homework is a part of every student’s curriculum. But how much homework is too much? Experts say high school students can receive up to two hours of homework every night!
Cathy Vatterott joins us. She’s Professor Emeritus of Education at University of Missouri St Louis and the self proclaimed “Homework Lady.”
How much homework does your child get?
First, long time education reporter Kathy Megan joins us today to discuss Connecticut Supreme Court’s landmark decision Sheff v O'Neill. A recent Connecticut Public documentary focuses on the people impacted by this decision decades ago.
GUESTS:
- Kathy Megan - Associate Producer and Reporter on Connecticut Public documentary CUTLINE Special | Sheff v. O’Neill: Striving Toward Education Equity
- Henley Solomon - teaching assistant at Conard High School in West Hartford
- Kate Dias - Connecticut Education Association State President and high school math teacher from Manchester, Connecticut
- Cathy Vatterott - Professor Emeritus of Education at University of Missouri St Louis. Author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices that Support Diverse Needs
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Manufacturing jobs like industrial engineering and mechanical engineering techniciansare projected to increase between 15% and nearly 30% by 2026, fetching an annual salary of around $65,000, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor.
These jobs don’t require a traditional four-year college degree. And there are opportunities for students to go to trade school while they’re finishing high school.
The drumbeat from employers and local leaders has been how to attract and train new workers to support a key sector in the state economy. There’s money pouring in to enable this.
This year, Connecticut was one of only five states to receive a U.S. Department of Labor $10 million State Apprenticeship grant.
The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Advisory Board recently approved $8.3 million to support new and established programs in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector, including an advertising campaign to highlight career opportunities in manufacturing.
And, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, hosted at the UConn School of Business, received one of four federal grants, to operate a national Advanced Manufacturing Center. The $2 million grant will give assistance to minority-owned businesses to help them expand.
This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a high-school student who’s earning college credits in manufacturing, a young woman who's working on the shop floor, a manufacturer, academia, and the state. And, we find out more about what’s being done to attract more women to the industry, including minority owned businesses.
GUESTS:
Anya Santa Lucia: Manufacturing Program Student at Goodwin University, and High School Student at the Connecticut River Academy
Sara Langevin: CNC Machinist, Trumpf Inc.
Matthew Dadona: Assistant Superintendent of Pathways and Partnerships, Goodwin University Magnet School Systems
Keri Valente: Manufacturing Apprenticeship Representative at the Office of Apprenticeship Training, State of Connecticut
Christine Benz: Head of Training Services, Trumpf Inc.
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This hour Where We Live, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont answers your questions.
Connecticut's Covid-19 positivity rate is back above 5%. With Omicron's detection over the weekend, we discuss the latest on the local response, and whether statewide restrictions could return.
GUEST:
- Ned Lamont - Governor of Connecticut
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Next month a task force will release its recommendations about so-called magic mushrooms.
Did that get your attention?
Today, we learn why lawmakers and others have been studying the effects of psilocybin, the main ingredient in magic mushrooms.
Alex Kwan, an associate professor of psychiatry from the Yale School of Medicine joins us to talk about clinical trials happening in Connecticut.
Could magic mushrooms be the next big antidepressant?
Later, speaking about seeing colors, we hear about a special exhibit happening at the Florence Griswold Museum featuring the prints of Currier and Ives.
GUESTS:
- State Representative Josh Elliott, D-Hamden
- Bill Yule- amateur mycologist and retired teacher
- Alex Kwan- Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale Medicine
- Amy Kurtz Lansing -Curator at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut
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More than $100 million in federal infrastructure funds will go towards protecting and preserving Long Island Sound. Hear from Soundkeeper Bill Lucey about spending plans, Save the Sound's priorities, and why oysters are so unique.
Plus, Norm Bloom of Copps Island Oysters explains why conservation is his business; and Tessa Getchis with the Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Program provides an update on the Shellfish Restoration Project.
GUESTS:
- Bill Lucey - Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound
- Norm Bloom- Owner, Copps Island Oysters
- Tessa Getchis - Aquaculture extension specialist, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Program
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Scientists have warned us: since 1970 nearly 3 billion North American birds have disappeared.
This hour, ornithologist Pete Marra, from Georgetown University joins us to talk about how to reverse this troubling statistic.
And later scientist Brooke Bateman explains how climate change affects birds and talks about natural climate solutions.
Today, the Connecticut Audubon Society releases its latest State of the Birds Report. What birds are at risk where we live?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Peter Marra - Laudato Si Professor of Biology and the Environment at Georgetown University and the director of The Earth Commons: A Georgetown University Institute for Environment and Sustainability
- Dr. Brooke Bateman -Director of Climate Science at National Audubon Society
- Tom Andersen -Director of Communications at the Connecticut Audubon Society
To read the Connecticut Audubon Society 2021 State of the Birds Report visit ctaudubon.org.
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Three rural Connecticut hospitals have recently suspended labor and delivery services or announced plans to do so, leaving locals with fewer and farther away options. Today on Where We Live, we get the latest on what this means for rural residents. How are labor and delivery services changing in our state?
Plus, the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority begins accepting applications December 1, with paid leave benefits going into effect in 2022. Hear from CEO Andrea Barton Reeves.
GUESTS:
- Andrea Barton Reeves- CEO, Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Authority
- Nicole Leonard - Health Reporter, Connecticut Public
- Ilda Ray - Chairperson, Windham/Willimantic NAACP Education Committee; Windham Board of Education
- John Brady- Executive Vice President, AFT CT
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Sex ed curriculum varies greatly across our state and our country.
Today, please be advised we’re talking about sex specifically, sex education.
Although schools are required to teach human development and disease prevention, Connecticut schools are not required to teach sexual health education.
It’s often a short curriculum taught in high school. And conversations about consent, and LGBTQ inclusivity are left out.
We want to hear from you. What do you wish you had learned from your sex ed class in school?
GUESTS:
- Michelle Rawcliffe -Comprehensive School Health Educator atWoodstock Middle School
- Taz Weisgerber -Training and Technical Assistance Manager at Answer
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Women-founded or co-founded firms in the U.S. raised $25.12 billion in venture capital in the first half of 2021, more than in any prior year, according to PitchBook. The reason? Women founders are raising a greater share through late-stage deals and high-value sectors. More women are writing checks at VC firms. And networks of female founders are thriving in cities like New York.
Yet the investments are just 2.7%, or $3.54 billion, of the total VC funding pie, PitchBook noted.Within that statistic, across the U.S., just 34 Black female founders raised $1 million in VC money in 2018. That number, according to ProjectDiane, shot up to 93 Black women in 2020.
Connecticut saw the launch of a couple of women-owned investment firms and the acquisition of women-founded companies this year -- Mizzen Capital and Greenworks Lending, for instance -- but the majority of women entrepreneurs continue to struggle for funding in a state that has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level workforce.
How do women entrepreneurs navigate the funding environment?
GUESTS:
- Marie Rocha: Founder & General Partner, Realist Ventures
- Wendy Ward: Founder & CEO, futures Thrive
- Liddy Karter: Managing Partner, Mizzen Capital
- Alexandra Cooley: COO & Co-founder, Greenworks Lending from Nuveen
- Mary Anne Rooke: President and Managing Director, Angel Investor Forum
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A new study by the National Institutes of Health and the Research Triangle Institute, found alcohol consumption by women with children younger than age 5, surged 323% during the pandemic.
Researchers compared alcohol consumption rates in February 2020 to April of 2020, when stay-at-home guidelines were in effect, and further along into the pandemic year in November. More women than men exceeded recommended drinking guidelines between April and November.
But for as long as nearly a century, women have been closing the gender gap in the consumption of alcohol, binge-drinking, and alcohol use disorder.What are some triggers, coping mechanisms, and treatment options available to treat women with alcohol use disorder?
GUESTS:
- Kathleen Callahan - Stratford resident; sober for 10 years
- Beverley Brakeman - West Hartford resident; sober for 31 years
- Amanda Aronson - Principal, Aronson Consulting, West Hartford; sober for 7.5 years
- Dr. Jeanette Tetrault - Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine, and and Associate Director of Addiction Medicine at Yale Medicine
Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 20, 2021.
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Photography can be documentary, capturing a place and time as they are. It can also provide a means for reimagining the world around us. Hear from two Connecticut artists using the medium to show where they live in a different light.
Pablo Delano is a visual artist and Trinity College fine arts professor based in West Hartford, whose book of photography 'Hartford Seen,' was the first to focus on the capital city. Delano discusses the ways the book defies traditional depictions of Hartford.
Plus, artist and photographer Rashmi Talpade believes art is everywhere and creativity is within everyone. Hear about her collaborations with different Connecticut communities, reimagining their surroundings through large-scale collage.
GUESTS:
- Pablo Delano- Visual Artist and Photographer; Professor of Fine Arts, Trinity College
- Rashmi Talpade - Artist and Photographer
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Roya Hakakian came to the US as a refugee from Iran when she was just a teenager.
Now, the Connecticut author and poet has drawn on her life story to create a “guidebook” about the immigrant experience.
This hour, Hakakian joins us to talk about her new book, A Beginner’s Guide To America.
We want to hear from you, too. How has the history and experience of immigration in your family shaped your experience as an American?
GUESTS:
- Roya Hakakian - Author, poet, and Connecticut resident. Her latest book is A Beginner’s Guide to America: For the Immigrant and the Curious
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One hundred years ago in November, two Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto, Frederick Banting and Charles Best, discovered insulin, the life-saving drug for people with diabetes. What was once a death sentence is today a manageable condition with a tubeless insulin pump, and potentially oral insulin not far down the road.
The rate of diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes has surged among the U.S. youth population between 2001 and 2017. Data published Aug. 2021 shows a 45% increase in the number of children and youth under age 20 living with type 1 diabetes, while the number of children and youth living with type 2 diabetes climbed by 95%.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) points to studies that estimate five million people in the U.S. to have T1D by 2050, including nearly 600,000 youth.
But racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in blood-glucose outcomes among ethnic and racial minorities exist, as reported in the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange (T1DX) Research Registry and SEARCH study cohorts.
In Connecticut, Medicaid covered 1156 children and youth below age 20 for type 1 diabetes in 2021, and 928 for type 2 diabetes, per the latest data. The HUSKY Health / Medicaid program covered 408,082 children and youth below the age of 20 for 2021, year to date.
In this hour on Where We Live, we discuss trends, technologies, disparities, access, and outcomes.
GUESTS:
Marie Snow: Public school teacher in Guilford. Mother of Olive, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
Olive: Diagnosed at age 9 with type 1 diabetes
Dr. Jennifer Sherr: Pediatric Diabetes Specialist at Yale Medicine, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology) at the Yale School of Medicine
Jon Muskrat: Executive Director, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Chapter)
Mark Abraham: Executive Director, DataHaven
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The results from the first statewide LGBTQ+ needs assessment survey are in. More than 3,000 residents weighed in, informing the first-of-its-kind report for Connecticut's LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Network.
This hour, we focus on health care for transgender and nonbinary residents. "Transgender respondents were 11 times more likely than cisgender respondents to have been refused health care services because of their LGBTQ+ identity," according to the report.
Hear more about the survey from the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition, plus Health Care Advocates International, and the Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness, one of the first full-spectrum care locations for trans and nonbinary people in the state.
What challenges are there for trans and nonbinary people in getting health care in Connecticut?
GUESTS:
- Diana Lombardi - Executive Director, Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition
- Katy Tierney - Medical Director, Middlesex Health Center for Gender Medicine and Wellness
- Tony Ferraiolo - Youth and Families Program Director, Health Care Advocates International
- Dr. Christy Olezeski - Director and Co-founder, Yale Pediatric Gender Program
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Hartford Seminary has a new name. It’s now the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.
Today, we talk to its President Joel Lohr.
And we hear from other faculty members about their efforts to create a more inclusive, interreligious university focusing on peace studies.
There have been a lot of conversations about diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace - but often, talk of religious inclusivity is left out of those discussions.
How can we have more productive discussions about faith?
GUESTS:
- Joel Lohr - President of Hartford International University
- Aida Mansoor -Chaplain and Director of Field Education at Hartford International University
- Deena Grant Associate -Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Global Community Partnerships at Hartford International University
- Fatima Basharat -a student in the inaugural MA in International Peacebuilding program at Hartford International University
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Could that pandemic puppy you adopted last year be welcome at your workplace? More public spaces, such as restaurants, grocery stores and even offices, have become more welcoming to pets.
This hour, we talk about how pets are changing the way we work and play and how they’re making us much healthier!
We hear from Mark Cushing, author of Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals Are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy.
Later, we learn how a shortage of veterinarians is impacting the pet economy.
Did you get a pandemic puppy?
GUESTS:
- Mark Cushing - founder and CEO of animal policy group and author of Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals Are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy.
- Dr. Kim Brinton - owner of Country Companion Veterinary Services in Bethany, Connecticut, and President of Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association
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Phil Klay's works of fiction and nonfiction have confronted the sometimes dissonant or disconnected public understanding about how America’s wars are waged — and its veterans. The Fairfield University MFA professor and Marine Corps veteran joins Where We Live to reflect on how some public perceptions have shifted in recent months.
Klay revisits his debut book, Redeployment, and touches on his latest book, Missionaries.How much do we really know about America's military missions overseas?
GUESTS:
- Phil Klay -Author and Fairfield University MFA Professor of Creative Writing
Click here to read an excerpt from MISSIONARIES by Phil Klay, published by Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2020 by Phil Klay. Available in paperback.
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This hour on Where We Live, a look at climate change and health. Physicians turned climate activists see worsening asthma, COPD, and seasonal shifts in vector-borne diseases, plus higher ER visits for heat stress.
Hartford and New Haven have the unfortunate distinction of being in the list of Top 20 Asthma Capitals in the country, according to the 2021 report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The American Lung Association puts Fairfield County in its map for the highest ozone in the eastern half of the U.S., in part because of pollution transported from other states.
TheGovernor’s Council on Climate Change, Science and Technology Working Group in its 2020 report projected that average temperatures in Connecticut could increase by 5º F (2.7º C) by 2050 compared to the 1970-1999 baseline.
Our planet is heading towards a crisis brought on by climate change, but experts say our physical and mental health is also at risk.
A 2020 report by the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health found that between 2007 and 2016, heat stress led to an average 422 emergency department visits and 45 hospitalizations per year.
Connecticut Public Radio’s Nicole Leonard reported that New Haven, Hartford, Litchfield, Tolland, and Windham counties experienced an increase in heavy precipitation, which can and has led to a growth in ticks and mosquitoes, increasing the risk for vector-borne diseases.
Meanwhile, health insurers including Connecticut-headquartered Cigna and Aetna hold $24 billion in investments in fossil fuel.
As the United Nations’ climate summit — COP26 — is in its second week in Scotland with world leaders negotiating how best to limit global warming, what can we do at the state and individual level?
GUESTS:
Kate Rozen: Asthmatic Cyclist, Woodbridge
Dr. David Hill: Member, National Board of Directors, American Lung Association, Director of Clinical Research, Waterbury Pulmonary Associates
Susan A. Masino: Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College, and a Charles Bullard Fellow at Harvard Forest. Past Co-chair, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change, Science and Technology Working Group
Tom Swan: Executive Director, Connecticut Citizen Action Group
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Deciding to quit your job often takes time and consideration. But more and more people are saying, “I quit” with or without two weeks’ notice.
This hour, we talk about why Americans are leaving the workplace. Some have dubbed it “The Great Resignation”
The labor shortage goes beyond people quitting; it includes those that won’t return to low wage jobs with bad managers.
Coming up, we hear from Karla Miller, Work Advice Columnist at the Washington Post.
And later, Jackie Gallo of Chief Operating Office Whitcraft Group joins us. Facing the labor shortage head on, she has worked to employ formerly incarcerated residents in her workplace
In August, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs. Were you one of them? We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Karla Miller -Work Advice Columnist at the Washington Post
- Jackie Gallo -Chief Operating Office at Whitcraft Group in Connecticut
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Without adding any frills or frights, the Mark Twain House & Museum spotlights the home’s history with spiritualism, and maybe some spirits along the way. Hear from staffers there, and the restoration experts who help bring historic homes like it back to life.
Plus, learn about the "ghost signs" from the 1800s being delicately unearthed in Old Saybrook.
- Mallory Howard- Mark Twain House & Museum Assistant Curator
- Grace Belanger - Mark Twain House & Museum Associate Director of Interpretation
- John Canning - John Canning & Co. Founder and Principal
- David Riccio - John Canning & Co. Principal
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A new two-year, $500,000 grant program can help Connecticut schools improve on child nutrition through "farm-to-school" programming. Overseen by the Department of Agriculture and with funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, schools can tailor the grant to address infrastructural needs, whether a stove or a new greenhouse; to buy local farm fresh food; or to integrate experiential learning opportunities with agriculture. Schools may teach kids about where their food comes from, but how often is that experience hands-on?
Hear from FoodCorps along with local schools and farms about why farm-to-school programming isn’t a niche extracurricular, but a factor of food security.
- Dawn Crayco - FoodCorps Northeast Regional Director
- Joey Listro - New Britain ROOTS Founder and Executive Director; New Britain Board of Education Wellness Committee Chair
- Erika Bahler - Agricultural Science & Technology Education Department Head at Rockville High School
- Monica Maccera-Filppu - Common Ground High School Executive Director
- Zania Johnson - Micro2Life Co-founder
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President Biden has met with Pope Francis in Rome. The President later sharing that the Pope told him he was a good Catholic and should continue to receive communion.
This hour, we talk about what it means to be Catholic in the 21st century.
Although the Vatican has not changed much of its doctrine, lay Catholics viewpoints and opinions have changed and evolved with the times.
We hear from Celia Viggo Wexler, author of Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope.
We want to hear from you. How did the church shape your ideas and opinions? Do you still practice today?
GUESTS:
- Francis X. Rocca - Vatican Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal
- Celia Viggo Wexler -Journalist and Author of Catholic Women Confront Their Church: Stories of Hurt and Hope
- Sister Emily Tekolste -Grassroots Mobilization Coordinator at Network and member of the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana
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The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children’s mental health in October. Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in 2020, mental health–related emergency department (ED) visits among adolescents aged 12–17 years increased 31% compared to 2019. During February 21–March 20, 2021, ED visits for suspected suicide were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12–17 years than during the same period in 2019.
But even before the pandemic, suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people in the 10-24 age group by 2018, across the U.S.
In Connecticut, 30 young people aged 10 to 24 died by suicide in 2020, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The crisis is exacerbated by a lack of adequate mental health resources in schools and pediatrician clinics, crowded EDs, and a shortage of beds and workforce at inpatient and outpatient pediatric mental health facilities.
What should the federal and state governments do?
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How can journalists address issues of trust and representation in order to better serve their audiences? Some newsrooms and journalism schools are addressing how the idea of objectivity or neutrality has been misapplied. Hear from Poynter's Director of Training & Diversity Doris Truong and UConn Professor Amanda Crawford. Plus, Southern California Public Radio's Chief Content Officer Kristen Muller and Newmark J-School student Abē Levine spotlight their success with the engagement journalism model.
GUESTS:
- Doris Truong - Poynter Director of Training and Diversity
- Kristen Muller- Southern California Public Radio Chief Content Officer
- Amanda Crawford- UConn Assistant Professor of Journalism
- Abē Levine - Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism Student; Connecticut Public Radio Intern
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How would you describe the pandemic in just six words?
Today, we talk to Larry Smith, the founder of “six word memoirs” and hear about his new book “A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year.” It features six word memoirs from students, teachers and parents navigating the pandemic.
And later, we hear from Dr. Ulysses Shawdee Wu, Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare to answer all your questions about COVID-19 and vaccinating children.
Connecticut health officials say the COVID 19 vaccine for children 5-11 could be available starting November 4.
Is your child getting the vaccine?
GUESTS:
- Larry Smith -Founder and Editor of Six Word Memoirs
- Rachel Lloyd -English teacher in English department Suffield Academy
- Dr. Ulysses Shawdee Wu - Assistant Director of Infectious Diseases, Chief Epidemiologist and Chief Antimicrobial Steward at Hartford Healthcare
- Maggie Johndrow -Financial Advisor & Partner at Johndrow Wealth Management in Farmington
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Losing someone you love is one of the most devastating experiences in life.
Today, we talk about how we grieve as we approach All Souls Day and Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.
We talk with the co founder of Farewelling.
The company transforms funerals, believing they should be as unique as weddings and birthday parties.
And later, bereavement periods in the US can be quite short, with the expectation we make a quick return to work and normal life.
Should we rethink how we process grief?
GUESTS:
- Caitlin Abrams -grave cleaner from Southern Vermont
- Elizabeth Meyer Karansky -Co-founder of Farewelling, a company working to transform funerals. She is also a funeral director, thanatologist, and a death doula
- Jelena Kecmanovic -psychologist and director of Arlington Behavior Therapy Institute
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Riot Babyis author Tochi Onyebuchi’s first foray into adult fiction, a “fiery” response to the “horrifically regular death” of unarmed black men and the non-indictments of officers responsible. It has been heralded by critics as “searing" and "devastating,” garnering a long list of awards and nominations.
Although Riot Baby has also been called "dystopian," Onyebuchi explains why that isn’t exactly the case when it comes to this work of speculative fiction.
Plus, hear from nurse practitioner and poet Cortney Davis about her book, “I Hear Their Voices Singing.” How can genres like science fiction and poetry help us to better understand - or cope with - our world?
Guests:
- Tochi Onyebuchi- Author, Riot Baby
- Cortney Davis- Nurse Practitioner and Poet Laureate of Bethel (2019-2022)
Where We Live
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Bobby Valentine, an unaffiliated candidate for Stamford mayor, has drawn big-name Republican donors – former president George W. Bush, and Anthony Scaramucci and Linda McMahon, former president Donald Trump appointees.
In a debate Oct. 21 on News 12, hosted by the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, Valentine summed up his motivation for the upcoming Nov. 2 election:
“I want to be the mayor of this city for one reason and one reason only. I’m not going to Hartford from here, I’m not going to D.C. from here. I’m staying here till the end. I have my plot here, and I want to make the city of Stamford proud.”
Valentine is under fire for recent comments including referring to Stamford voters as “dumb” and “lazy,” calling his opponent Rep. Caroline Simmons a “35-year-old girl,” and in a 28 second video clip, stating, “If you’re not owning, you’re not caring,” and Stamford renters are “not leaving the community better than when they got here.”
As per the Oct. 12 filing with the Stamford Town Clerk’s office, Valentine’s campaign raised $520,645.21. Combined, the candidates have raised more than $1 million in one of the most high-profile, divisive, and closely contested mayoral races in Stamford’s history.
Guests:
- Bobby Valentine - Mayoral candidate, (unaffiliated), Stamford. Former Director of Public Health and Safety, city of Stamford. Former professional baseball player – L.A. Dodgers, California Angels, New York Mets, and the Seattle Mariners. Former manager – the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox.
- Brianna Gurciulo - Politics Reporter, Stamford Advocate
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Slowly and surely, live theater has come back to life but that doesn’t mean theater is completely back to normal.
Today, we check in with theaters in Connecticut and hear about what’s coming to the stage this fall, all while keeping actors and theater patrons safe.
We learn how the types of performances that you see might have changed as well.
Are you going to see a show?
GUESTS:
- Jacqui Hubbard - Executive artistic director at Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, Connecticut
- Kit Ingui -Managing Director of Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut
- Melia Bensussen -Artistic Director at Hartford Stage
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First, a new series from The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public Radio shines a spotlight on juvenile justice in the state. Walter Smith Randolph and Jacqueline Rabe-Thomas preview their findings.
Then, with staffing shortages and supply chain snags impacting eateries across the state, a new social media campaign reminds you to #BEKINDtoRestaurants. Hear from Connecticut restaurant owners, chefs and managers, plus the folks behind this much needed PSA. Are you being kind when you dine?
- Walter Smith Randolph - Investigative Editor and Lead Reporter for The Accountability Project
- Jacqueline Rabe-Thomas - Investigative Reporter for The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public Radio
- April Gibson - Executive Chef, The North House in Avon
- Dylan Reis - General Manager, The North House in Avon
- Jared Schulefand - Chef, Owner and Operator, Home Restaurant in Branford
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Sex ed curriculum varies greatly across our state and our country.
Today, please be advised we’re talking about sex specifically, sex education.
Although schools are required to teach human development and disease prevention, Connecticut schools are not required to teach sexual health education.
It’s often a short curriculum taught in high school. And conversations about consent, and LGBTQ inclusivity are left out.
We want to hear from you. What do you wish you had learned from your sex ed class in school?
GUESTS:
- Michelle Rawcliffe -Comprehensive School Health Educator atWoodstock Middle School
- Taz Weisgerber -Training and Technical Assistance Manager at Answer
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Harvard grad and Yale School of Medicine policy advisor Caroline Simmons, State Representative for the 144th District since 2014, has won an endorsement from fellow Democrats Gov. Ned Lamont and former President Barack Obama for her candidacy as mayor of Stamford, one of the wealthiest and fastest growing cities in Connecticut.
The Greenwich native is up against baseball legend Bobby Valentine, 71, who’s running unaffiliated.
Former Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers, and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter are a few high profile donors to Simmons’ campaign, which has raised $503,122 to date.
So what’s at stake?
The unemployment rate at Stamford is at 6.2%, and the city’s labor force contracted by 4,096, from 68,698 to 64,698 in the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same period the prior year.
Also, mold in schools, housing affordability, and urban planning as the city continues to grow.
GUESTS:
- Rep. Caroline Simmons: Democratic Mayoral Candidate, Stamford. Co-Chair, Commerce Committee; Member, Committee on Human Services, and Member, Higher Education and Employment advancement Committee, Connecticut General Assembly. Senior Specialist, Policy Innovation and Impact, Yale School of Medicine.
- Brianna Gurciullo - Politics Reporter, Stamford Advocate
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In 1831, Simeon Jocelyn, a New Haven abolitionist, tried to establish a Black college near Yale.
Now Adam Harris, the author of The State Must Provide: Why America’s Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — And How To Set Them Right, documents this ill-fated attempt — and others nationally — to establish institutions of learning for African-Americans against the tide of public and legislative opposition.
Harris also examines a long history of underfunding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how Black students are affected, to this day, by a lack of investment and equity in higher education.
What’s next? Harris explains.
GUESTS:
- Adam Harris - Author of The State Must Provide: Why America’s Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — And How To Set Them Right; Staff Writer, The Atlantic
- Jane Gates - Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU)
- Orsella Hughes - Executive Director, Prosperity Foundation
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With a General Election just around the corner, the so-called “sleepy” town of Guilford has made national headlines, gripped by a polarizing debate over what’s being taught in schools.
Guilford High School English Chair George Cooksey and Superintendent Paul Freeman explain that while critical race theory is not itself taught in the K-12 environment in Guilford, “dimension” and diversity of source material is still a priority.
Plus, a new Black and Latino Studies elective is rolling out in Connecticut high schools next fall, following the first mandate of its kind in the country. A Windsor High School teacher and student who are piloting the course weigh in.
How are educators and curricula adapting to reflect our world?And how can they be caught in the political crossfire?
- Dr. Paul Freeman - Superintendent, Guilford Public Schools
- George Cooksey - English Chair, Guilford High School
- Daisha Brabham - Windsor High School Social Studies Teacher
- Shakila Campbell - Windsor High School Student
- Dr. Saran Stewart - Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs; Director of Global Education at UConn’s Neag School of Education
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Republican state representative, Anne Dauphinais recently criticized Governor Lamont over his vaccine and mask mandates comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
She’s not the first politician to reference Nazi Germany and the Holocaust to criticize public health rules in the pandemic.
Today, we talk about why these analogies are harmful. Avinoam Patt, Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut joins us.
Do these references and jokes in popular culture point to the need for better Holocaust education?
Later, we’re going to talk about a really interesting story that brought an anthropologist and an archaeologist together after Superstorm Sandy. To learn more about this story, register for this free virtual event “Forensic Analysis of the Lincoln Oak Skeletal Remains,” hosted by the New Haven Museum.
GUESTS:
- Avinoam Patt - Director for the Center of Judaic Studies at the University of Connecticut. He is also the Doris and Simon Konover Chair of Judaic Studies
- Dr. Nick Bellantoni - emeritus, Connecticut State Archaeologist
- Dr. Gary Aronsen - research associate and manager at Yale University Biological Anthropology Laboratories
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You’ve heard about the global supply chain crisis, from manufacturing snags abroad, to clogged ports on the West Coast and staffing shortages across the country. But how is that playing out in Connecticut?
While the crisis is not as acute at Connecticut’s ports, there are some strong signals of supply chain issues in the local retail industry, along with staffing shortages. Hear from the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association and local business owners.
- Lori Hershman- Owner, Evan's, Jesse's and Jordie's Toy Shoppes
- Tim Phelan - President, Connecticut Retail Merchants Association
- Scott Preston- Owner, Preston Market
- Fred Carstensen - UConn Finance Professor; Director at Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at UConn
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An estimatedtwo million adults have a gambling disorder, that’s according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
And studies show that as many as 7 percent of young people struggle with problem gambling.
This hour, we hear the story of a Connecticut man in recovery for his gambling addiction and learn about treatment.
With sports betting and online gambling now available in Connecticut, what will this mean for residents?
We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Tom Ferrari -resident of Meriden, Connecticut
- Barbara Kalpin -Peer Counselor at the Better Choice Program.
- Melodie Keen -Clinical Manager of Gambling services at Connecticut Renaissance providing services to Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport
- Diana Goode - Executive Director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling
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The ongoing pandemic is driving the demand for online negotiation courses designed for female physicians.
Data shows that the wage gap between male and female physicians was 28%, with male doctors earning over $116,000 more annually than their female counterparts. The 2020 Physician Compensation Report from Doximity shows that female physicians in Hartford earned among the least nationally at $239,897 per year, compared to $299,036 earned by female physicians across the U.S.
Even at the highest level in academic medicine, women department chairs were paid $0.88 for $1 earned by men.
It doesn’t stop there.
Across professions, mothers were nearly twice as likely as fathers to say taking time off had a negative impact on their job or career. Pew Research found that among employees who took leave from work in the two years following the birth or adoption of their child, 25% of women reported a negative impact at work, compared with 13% of men.
What role do medical institutions play in narrowing the gender bias? How much of the onus is on women physicians, and how close are we, as a society, to removing barriers to women at the workplace?
GUESTS:
- Dr. Anees Chagpar: Professor of Surgery (Oncology), Yale School of Medicine
- Dr. Vidhya Prakash: Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine. Director of SIU Medicine’s Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science (AWIMS)
- Dr. Neha Jain: Medical Director, Mood and Anxiety Disorder
- Dr. Dave Shapiro: Chief Quality Officer, Vice Chair of Surgery, Saint Francis Hospital
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Native American studies is a new requirement for Connecticut schools, with resources being prepared in time for the 2023-2024 school year. What kind of guidance will teachers get?
Plus, with the launch of Land Grab CT, we look at UConn’s status as a land-grant institution and the links to the expropriation of Indigenous lands.
- Chris Newell - Director of Education, Akomawt Educational Initiative; Citizen of Passamaquoddy Tribe
- endawnis Spears - Director of Programming and Outreach, Akomawt Educational Initiative; Citizen of Navajo Nation
- Steve Armstrong- Social Studies Advisor, Connecticut Dept. of Education
- Sage Phillips- Student Coordinator, UConn Native American Cultural Programs; Member of the Penobscot Nation
- Luisa Fernanda Arietta - Researcher, Greenhouse Studios at UConn
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Is it possible to quantify the actual cost of racism on individuals and on our country?
Economist Dana Peterson has looked at the racial gaps in housing, employment, and credit among others. She says racism has cost the US economy $16 trillion dollars over the last two decades. Peterson’s report is the focus of a recent panel discussion moderated by Where We Live host, Lucy Nalpathanchil.
Today, we hear that virtual conversation with Dana Peterson, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and Jay Williams, President of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.They share their personal stories and their views on how communities in Connecticut can work on reducing the racial wealth gap.
You can register for the next in the "Two Connecticuts" series here.
GUESTS
- Dana Peterson - Chief Economist at The Conference Board
- William Tong - Connecticut Attorney General
- Jay Williams - President of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
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In 1985, Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic wreckage off the coast of Newfoundland. But his explorations didn’t stop there!
This hour, Robert Ballard joins us to discuss his new book Into The Deep: A Memoir From The Man Who Found Titanic.We talk about the Titanic and all of Ballard’s amazing adventures including discovering the Bismarck, a German battleship.
We’ll also talk about his recent exploration to try to find Amelia Earhart’s airplane.
GUEST:
Robert Ballard - Author of Into The Deep: A Memoir From The Man Who Found the Titanic
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In what ways do we misunderstand or misremember Connecticut’s past with witches? And how are local witches working to take back the term today?
Where We Live looks at the common misconceptions around Connecticut's witch trials; and speaks with two local witches about the communities they've built.
Also, what can the source material about the witch trials, however scarce, tell us today? The Connecticut Historical Society joins.
- Leslie Lindenauer - Western Connecticut State University History Professor
- Michelle Piercey - Founder, Black Hat Society of Connecticut
- Ms. Faith McCann- Owner & Instructor, Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts & Witch Shop
- Natalie Belanger- Adult Programs Manager, Connecticut Historical Society
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Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration is under mounting pressure from divergent stakeholders to fund school ventilation upgrades.
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas of Connecticut Public Radio’s investigative unit, The Accountability Project, reported that the state’s largest teachers’ union claimed that each year, more educators were filing workers' compensation cases related to air quality issues in their schools.
In fact, a report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Asthma Capitals, 2021, listed Hartford among 20 asthma capitals in the U.S.
The state is also under pressure to release school indoor air quality data, required by the legislature. The latest available report from 2013, found as many as 369 schools statewide had facilities ranging from 26 to 50 years in age, based on the last renovation
GUESTS:
- Joe DeLong: CEO at the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
- Kosta Diamantis: Deputy Secretary, Office of Policy and Management at State of Connecticut
- John Elsesser: Town Manager, Coventry
- Layla Lislewski: CEO, Local Moms Network, Greenwich
- Dr. Thomas Murray: Associate Medical Director Infection Prevention Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
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October is Infertility Awareness Month. Unless you have directly dealt with infertility, it’s hard to understand how difficult this can be on couples and potential mothers.
This hour, we talk about infertility and pregnancy loss. We hear from experts supporting women and couples.
If you have struggled with infertility, we want to hear from you. What options have you explored to overcome fertility challenges?
GUESTS
- Julia Pistell- resident of Hartford, Connecticut
- Dr Beth O'Donnell- clinical psychologist licensed in Connecticut and New York specializing in infertility counseling
- Dr. Anthony Luciano - Professor and Vice Chair of Obstetrics Gynecology at UCONN Health
- Lisa Rosenthal -Patient Advocate/Senior Content Strategist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut
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Set to retire in May, Connecticut State Historian Walter Woodward reflects on the history of his role. UConn's Draper Chair in American History Manisha Sinha describes the scope of search she's leading.
Plus, hear from City Councilor Curtis Goodwin, whose love of one historical figure sparked the Black Heritage Trail, soon to be unveiled in New London. Historian Lonnie Braxton II joins to discuss the project.
- Walter Woodward - Connecticut State Historian
- Manisha Sinha - UConn Draper Chair of American History
- Curtis Goodwin - New London City Councilor
- Lonnie Braxton II - Historian
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Could that pandemic puppy you adopted last year be welcome at your workplace? More public spaces, such as restaurants, grocery stores and even offices, have become more welcoming to pets.
This hour, we talk about how pets are changing the way we work and play and how they’re making us much healthier!
We hear from Mark Cushing, author of Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals Are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy.
Later, we learn how a shortage of veterinarians is impacting the pet economy.
Did you get a pandemic puppy?
GUESTS:
- Mark Cushing - founder and CEO of animal policy group and author of Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals Are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy.
- Dr. Kim Brinton - owner of Country Companion Veterinary Services in Bethany, Connecticut, and President of Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association
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The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified health disparities in the U.S., from high blood pressure in under-resourced communities to sharp declines in breast and cervical cancer screenings among Hispanic, American Indian, Black, and Asian Pacific Islander women through the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
The deeply-entrenched inequities have continued to persist over the last two decades, with Black and Latino/Hispanic people persistently reporting the highest rates of poor or fair health, a new Yale study shows.
This hour on Where We Live, we look at cancer disparities among communities of color: Incidence and mortality rates, barriers to screening, and access to treatment.
We also discuss how hospitals and nonprofits are reducing the gap, and enabling access to affordable, farm-grown food in high-risk communities below the federal poverty line.
GUESTS
- Shelly Hicks - Breast cancer survivor; Charter school advocate; Advocate, Sisters' Journey, a breast cancer support group in New Haven for Black women
- Dr. Kristen Zarfos - Senior breast surgeon and Medical Director, Comprehensive Women's Health Center at St. Francis Hospital
- Elizabeth Heubeck - Reporter at the Connecticut Health Investigative Team
- Xóchitl Garcia - Assistant Program Manager, Farm-based Wellness Youth Program, Gather New Haven
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Women-founded or co-founded firms in the U.S. raised $25.12 billion in venture capital in the first half of 2021, more than in any prior year, according to PitchBook. The reason? Women founders are raising a greater share through late-stage deals and high-value sectors. More women are writing checks at VC firms. And networks of female founders are thriving in cities like New York.
Yet the investments are just 2.7%, or $3.54 billion, of the total VC funding pie, PitchBook noted.Within that statistic, across the U.S., just 34 Black female founders raised $1 million in VC money in 2018. That number, according to ProjectDiane, shot up to 93 Black women in 2020.
Connecticut saw the launch of a couple of women-owned investment firms and the acquisition of women-founded companies this year -- Mizzen Capital and Greenworks Lending, for instance -- but the majority of women entrepreneurs continue to struggle for funding in a state that has yet to return to its pre-pandemic level workforce.
How do women entrepreneurs navigate the funding environment?
GUESTS:
- Marie Rocha: Founder & General Partner, Realist Ventures
- Wendy Ward: Founder & CEO, futures Thrive
- Liddy Karter: Managing Partner, Mizzen Capital
- Alexandra Cooley: COO & Co-founder, Greenworks Lending from Nuveen
- Mary Anne Rooke: President and Managing Director, Angel Investor Forum
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Gabby Petito has been laid to rest, a few weeks after attention on the missing 22 year old from Long Island exploded in traditional news outlets and on social media.
She’s just one of many Americans who go missing.
4 out of 10 of them are people of color according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Today, Derrica Wilson, cofounder of the Black & Missing Foundation, joins us to talk about missing persons and how these cases are covered in the media.
Why do some cases capture the attention of the public, and others are completely ignored by the media?
GUESTS:
- Derrica Wilson - co-founder of the Black And Missing Foundation, a non profit organization working to bring awareness to missing persons of color.
- Meghan Scanlon - CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Susan Omilian - Project Director of Never Going Back to Abuse Project for the Connecticut Alliance for Victims and Their Families
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With Connecticut facing a waste crisis, there’s a new incentive for cities and towns interested in more sustainable ways of managing trash. A new $5 million grant program means municipalities can apply to implement food scrap collection or "pay-as-you-throw" programs.
Where We Live hears from DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, and two municipalities applying for food scrap collection programs. What are the options for food waste recycling or composting where you live?
Guests:
- Katie Dykes- Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner
- Kim O'Rourke- Middletown Recycling Coordinator
- Joe DeRisi- Hamden Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator
- Alex Williams- Blue Earth Owner & Operator
- Domingo Medina- Master Composter, Peels and Wheels Founder & Owner
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The endless Instagram scroll; we know it’s impacting our lives but what do we really know about how it’s impacting kids?
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that researchers inside Instagram know that their app is making teenage girls feel worse about themselves.
This hour, we talk about the real implications of social media use among adolescents and how influencers are affecting their self esteem.
We hear from Dr Catherine Steiner-Adair, a psychologist and author of “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.”
How’s your relationship with Instagram? What about your child’s?
We want to hear from you.
GUESTS:
- Bianca Brooks - media personality and New York Times feature writer
- Dr Catherine Steiner-Adair - clinical and consulting psychologist and author of The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.
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In Connecticut, residents are more likely to die from unintentional drug overdose than a motor vehicle accident, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Last year, more than 1,300 people died of accidental drug overdose – a 14.6% increase from 2019, and an 88.5% increase from 2015. Through January to June this year, 547 lives were lost to overdose, with additional deaths pending investigation.
This hour on Where We Live, we talk to a peer recovery specialist from Wheeler Clinic about her lived experience with childhood trauma, opioid use disorder, and medication assisted therapy.
GUESTS:
- Stephanie Almada - Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Wheeler Clinic
- Sabrina Trocchi - President and CEO, Wheeler Clinic
- Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman - Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Georgetown University Medical Center, and Director of PharmedOut
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This hour, Connecticut residents with different views of the world are coming together to help Afghans flee the Taliban, and to help people targeted by the Taliban start new lives in the Nutmeg state.
And and update from Connecticut Public’s Accountability Project on their recent investigative reporting on education.
Guests:
- Deidre Gifford --Department of Social Services Commissioner
- Alex Plitsas --Iraq veteran, defense civilian intelligence officer in Afghanistan, a spokesperson with the organization Digital Dunkirk, and Fairfield Republican Town Committee Chairman
- Thomas Burke --Afghanistan veteran, pastor at the Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, he has worked with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, or CIRI
- Jacqueline Rabe Thomas --Connecticut Public Accountability Project investigative reporter
We want to hear from you.
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America's roughly 40 million acres of well-mowed, privately-owned lawns are taking the place of native plants that could be helping local ecosystems thrive.
There are at least two initiatives aimed at replacing American lawns with native plants, to provide homes for pollinators, migrating birds, and a whole lot more. The process is sometimes called "delawning" or "rewilding." Do you want to be on the Pollinator Pathway, or a part of Homegrown National Park?
Hear more about the benefits of biodiversity, and tips on how you can participate, with or without a lawn.
GUESTS:
- Donna Merrill -Pollinator Pathways Northeast founder
- Doug Tallamy -Ecologist and University of Delaware professor who launched Homegrown National Park, an initiative aiming to convert 20 million acres of native plantings in the U.S.
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A new study by the National Institutes of Health and the Research Triangle Institute, found alcohol consumption by women with children younger than age 5, surged 323% during the pandemic.
Researchers compared alcohol consumption rates in February 2020 to April of 2020, when stay-at-home guidelines were in effect, and further along into the pandemic year in November. More women than men exceeded recommended drinking guidelines between April and November.
But for as long as nearly a century, women have been closing the gender gap in the consumption of alcohol, binge-drinking, and alcohol use disorder.
What are some triggers, coping mechanisms, and treatment options available to treat women with alcohol use disorder?
Tune in Monday, 9:00 AM
GUESTS:
Kathleen Callahan - Stratford resident; sober for 10 years
Beverley Brakeman - West Hartford resident; sober for 31 years
Amanda Aronson - Principal, Aronson Consulting, West Hartford; sober for 7.5 years
Dr. Jeanette Tetrault - Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and Associate Director of Addiction Medicine at Yale School of Medicine
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The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibit By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy: 1500-1800 (Sept. 30, 2021 through Jan. 9, 2022) brings to Connecticut paintings by Italian women in a male-dominated art world.
Who do you think of when you think of Italian art?
Michelangelo? Botticelli? Caravaggio? Bernini? And in contemporary times, Modigliani.
Why haven’t we heard of the women?
In Connecticut, girls were making needlework schoolgirl art that evolved into samplers — the more intricate and beautiful, the higher the young woman’s eligibility as a wife.
The sociologist Taylor Whitten Brown in an Art Market 2019 report pointed out that in “more explicitly sexist eras of art history, the textile arts were a medium that women were permitted and encouraged to adopt.” Brown cites architect Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus School, that women worked best in two dimensions, and they should weave instead of studying architecture and design.
And in Old Lyme, female American impressionists created masterpieces at the Florence Griswold artists’ colony in Old Lyme.
GUESTS:
- Oliver Tostmann - Curator, By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Brandy Culp - Curator, American Decorative Arts, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Rebekah Beaulieu - Director, Florence Griswold Museum
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After 25 seasons, the beloved children’s TV series Arthurwill end in 2022.
Today, we talk about this groundbreaking animated series about an aardvark and his friends. We learn about the impact of children's programs.
Arthur has tackled a number ofchallenging issues like bullying, cancer, and even the importance of mask wearing!
Coming up, we hear from one of the voice actor’s on the show, Jason Szwimer who played Arthur’s pesky sister D.W. from 2002 to 2006.
Did you grow up watching Arthur, or do you watch it with your kids now?
GUESTS:
- Eric Deggan - NPR’s TV Critic
- Jason Szwimer -Podcast Host of Finding D.W. and voice of D.W. on Arthur from 2002 - 2006
- Ginger Brown -Children’s television producer and professor at New York University.
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This hour, efforts to get people out of Afghanistan continue, after the Taliban takeover.
You’ll hear from Southwestern Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes about what his office is doing to help, and on his thoughts about the American withdrawal. What should happen next in the country now ruled by a fundamentalist Islamic militia?
...And we’ll look at the results of yesterday’s top local political primaries in Connecticut with Professor Jonathan Wharton.
We want to hear from you.
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Six athletes with disabilities — and with ties to Connecticut — represented the U.S. at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, bringing home four medals.
Fairfield University trained two medaling para swimmers, Colleen Young and Matthew Torres, while Laura Goodkind,10th in the trunk and arms mixed double sculls in the 2016 Paralympics, most recently won the PR2 mixed doubles sculls at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Children with disabilities are placed with integrated sports teams, designed by the Special Olympics Connecticut, in nearly all schools across the state.
GUESTS
- Matthew Torres - Para-swimming Bronze Medalist, Paralympics Tokyo 2020; Junior at Fairfield University
- Anthony Bruno - Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s, Swimming and Diving, Fairfield University
- Laura Goodkind - Two-time Paralympian, Para-rowing (2016, 2020). Graduate of The Forman School, Litchfield
- Maggie Vanoni -Sports Reporter, Hearst
- Beau Doherty - President, Special Olympics Connecticut
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Hurricane Ida brought 3-8 inches of rain to Connecticut causing flooding and damage to our coast.
Scientists say New Englanders should expect more extreme weather events in the future due to climate change.
Today, we hear what Connecticut can do to prepare for an increasing number of strong storms.
Save the Sound joins us. The organization focuses on ways to make our shoreline more resilient.
How have this summer’s storm impacted your home and your community?
Later, we hear from New England's Apple Cider Donut Reviewer!
GUESTS:
- Greta Moran -Senior Reporter at Civil Eats
- Rodger Phillips -Farmer and owner Sub Edge Farm
- Curt Johnson- President of Save The Sound
- Alex Schwartz- The Cider Donuteur
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This weekend the nation marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Nearly 3000 people died, 161 of them had connections to Connecticut.
Today , we hear from New Canaan resident, Mary Fetchet, co-founder of an advocacy group for families impacted by 9-11.
First we talk with Connecticut Public’s Diane Orson about her reporting on that day and her recent documentary.
And we want to hear from you, too. What does the 20th anniversary of 9-11 mean to you?
GUESTS:
- Diane Orson -Deputy News Director and Southern Connecticut Bureau Chief at Connecticut Public
- Mary Fetchet-Founding Director of Voices Center for Resilience.
- Sandy Zajac -Publicity Chair and member of Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords
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