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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is not one single narrative when it comes to adoption and it can be a lot more complicated than what’s depicted in films, television and even social media. And for a long time, these stories have been told by adoptive parents. Angela Tucker says it’s time to flip the script and let adoptees tell their stories. She is the author of "You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption.    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. In this interview, we talk about the intricacies of navigating life as a transracial adoptee. Angela is also the Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society, a nonprofit and adoptee support group. She speaks to the need to give adoptees safe spaces to process complicated feelings about adoption.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 twitter facebook 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 birds and 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.orgSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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! Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 14, 2023.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Turtles joins 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: Executive Director, 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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 Dive into all of the nautical-themed stories airing this week on Connecticut Public's original talk shows by visiting ctpublic.org/nautiweek.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 epiSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 with Capital 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ReporterCAI Patrick Skahill: Reporter and Digital Editor for Connecticut Public Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to expand 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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"Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.” Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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! Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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! Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired December 6, 2022.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, and big-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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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 shows 476 state residents are part of the Oath Keepers membership database, reports Hearst 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Weight on the Boston Review.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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 Cat Pastor contributed to this report which originally aired September 9. 2022.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 888-720-9677You 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 UNPACKED series 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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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. 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 OlmstedA Conversation With Wanjiku Gatheru, UConn's First Rhodes ScholarTackling Islamophobia: A Connecticut Man’s Story Of TransformationWho 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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ConnecticutTheanvy Kuoch: Executive Director, Khamer Health Advocates. Family therapist and community health worker.Ann O’Brien: Director of Sponsorship, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 NetworkSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 at Shatterproof. 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, and Coordinator of the school- based Center for Preventive Education and Advocacy. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.” Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 MedicineSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, 2022Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee 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 AgingSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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 shows 476 state residents are part of the Oath Keepers membership database, reports Hearst 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/donateSee 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 MedicineSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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 HealthSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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’s second time running 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/donateSee 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/donateSee 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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. 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn. Subscribe or follow to stream all of our continued coverage.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee 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. 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective Where We LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 their telehealth 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 UniversitySupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 WaysSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 CenterSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 HartfordSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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” Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“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 ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 UNPACKED series 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!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 PublicWilliam 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 GardenHeather Dionne  - Hartford City ForesterAndrea Urbano - Central District Service Forrester at DEEP ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 companySupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: OB-GYN, West Hartford 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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!   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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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   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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ESSAYSIn Isolation: Dispatches from Occupied Donbas by Stanislav Aseyev 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 modelSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 UNPACKED series 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ElderlyHotline 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)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, BostonSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ImagesSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 CenterSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 CourantSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 HavenSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ImagesSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Violence1-888-999-5545 for English1-888-568-8332 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 abuseSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 MilfordSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 CollegeSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 adventures and 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 TitanicSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, ConnecticutSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 at Woodstock Middle School Taz Weisgerber  - Training and Technical Assistance Manager at Answer Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, DataHavenSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. The Governor’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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riot Baby is 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 LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 at Woodstock Middle School Taz Weisgerber  - Training and Technical Assistance Manager at Answer Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An estimated two 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 TitanicSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 MedicineSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 25 seasons, the beloved children’s TV series Arthur will 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 of challenging 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, what could a key decision from the Bureau of Indian Affairs mean for Connecticut’s gambling expansion plans? We look at the future of online sports betting and other forms of gambling in the state and how they could affect young people. Cathy Osten -- Connecticut State Senator and General Assembly Public Safety Committee Co-chair Yoga Kammili -- UConn Fourth Year Medical Student Brian Hallenbeck -- Reporter for The Day of New London covering gaming, business, and tourism We want to hear from you.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of the pandemic, the place we live and the people we live with have become our entire world. Almost one in three Americans lives in a “doubled up” household: with other adults who aren’t their partner or college-aged child. This hour, we talk about sharing living spaces. Cost is a big factor in housing arrangements, but living with roommates also has social implications. We want to hear from you. Do you live with roommates, or in a multi-generational household? GUESTS: Kim Velsey - Reporter for New York Magazine’s real estate and design website, Curbed Jennifer Molinsky - Senior Research Associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard devin michelle bunten - Assistant Professor of Urban Economics and Housing at MIT Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired August 5, 2021Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. military mission in Afghanistan ended Aug 31 with 123,000 evacuations, including 6,000 American citizens and tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans. But not everyone got out. Refugee settlement organizations in Connecticut expect to receive more than 700 Afghan refugees this year. The University of Bridgeport and Goodwin University announced plans to open up dorms to the newly arrived immigrants, and also offer English lessons. A Congressional aide to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) told WWL that the senator’s office “has worked on over 100 cases for Connecticut residents who have reached out to the office regarding family members who remain in Afghanistan. These cases often involve multiple family members, some of whom served as interpreters for the U.S. government.” According to Patrick Malone, spokesman for Congressman Jim Himes (D-Connecticut): “We’ve flagged 702 individuals’ situations for the Department of State. This includes American citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, SIVs, P1s, P2s, and otherwise at-risk Afghans -- 270 of those 702 individuals have some Connecticut connection.” Today on Where We Live, we look into the ongoing efforts to extricate and resettle Afghan refugees in Connecticut, and hear from Afghan-Americans whose families are in danger half a world away. GUESTS:  Aaron Sarwar - Connecticut Air National Guard, and Owner, Hartford City FC Anonymous -Aaron Sarwar’s family member, Afghanistan Ann O’Brien - Director of Community Engagement, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) Camila Vallejo - Housing Reporter, WNPR Martine Dherte - Refugee Services Program Manager, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) Maryam Wardak - Second Generation Afghan-American in Connecticut Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago, we were wondering when the vaccine would be available and is it really safe to return to school? Today, those questions are still relevant! This hour, Connecticut Public’s Accountability Project joins us to talk about its education series including an investigation into the decisions immunocompromised families have to make this school year. Later, we talk about the mental health needs of students. What sort of support will children need from their schools? We want to hear from you. GUESTS: Dr Sandy Chafouleas - Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology and Co-Director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health at the University of Connecticut Walter Smith-Randolph - Investigative Editor and Lead Reporter for the Accountability Project at Connecticut Public. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can town and city leaders do to help people afford the increasing cost of housing, and to help students catch up after so much distance learning? This hour, we speak with two candidates in the Democratic primary for mayor in New Britain. Guests: Bobby Sanchez — State Representative and Co-chair of the General Assembly Education Committee Alicia Hernandez Strong — Community Activist and organizer of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Connecticut Department of Health has extended its contact tracing program ContaCT to May 2022, after which the program will transition entirely to local health departments, a move originally planned for Aug 27, 2021. The department’s move comes at a time when the state’s positivity rate is at 3.10%, and is expected to climb during the coming winter months. Connecticut has reported 372,069 positive cases since the start of the pandemic, with 380 hospitalizations currently. COVID-19 deaths rose to 8,355 as of Aug 30, 2021. Today on Where We Live, we talk about State and town health departments using people and data to keep us safe from the delta and other variants. How well is it working? GUESTS: Michael Luongo -Investigative reporter and former contact tracer, New York City Lea Zimany - Contact tracer, Connecticut Department of Public Health. Hemi Tewarson - Executive Director, the National Academy for State Health Policy. Emily DiSalvo - Reporter, CT News Junkie Kevin Elak: Acting Director, Middletown Department of Health Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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 TitanicSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Restaurants struggled to afloat during Covid and were able to survive in part because of creative solutions like dining areas in empty parking spaces. Now, even though vaccination is widespread, residents’ interest in outdoor dining hasn’t slowed down. And our streets feel more lively because of it. This hour, we take a look at the way our streets have changed during the pandemic. Could some of these innovations be here to stay? And Covid has been costly in so many ways. The pandemic has led to a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths over the last year. Do you worry about safety when walking or biking in your neighborhood? GUESTS: Beth Osborne - Vice President for Transportation and Thriving Communities at Smart Growth America Garrett Eucalitto - Deputy Commissioner of Connecticut State Department of Transportation Gary Anderson - Director of Planning and Economic Development for the town of Manchester, Connecticut Michael Marquetti - Owner of Columbus Park Trattoria in Stamford, Tarantino Restaurant in Westport, and Applausi in Old Greenwich Andres Cordido - Co-owner of Somos Handcrafted Arepas in New Haven Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The kids are going back to school. It’s a busy week in the US House of Representatives. And have you been hassled by political trackers? This hour, we check in with Western Connecticut Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. Also, political analysis from Connecticut Mirror State Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Pazniokas. Guests: Jahana Hayes — Fifth District Congresswoman from Western Connecticut. Mark Pazniokas — Connecticut Mirror State Capitol Bureau Chief  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Ned Lamont’s nominee Dr. Manisha Juthani, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, will assume the role of Commissioner of the state Department of Public Health on September 20. Dr. Juthani’s appointment comes at a time when the COVID-19 positivity rate is at 3.5% statewide, with some towns crossing as high as 9%. In this hour of Where We Live, we discuss the implications of a full FDA approval of the first ever COVID-19 vaccine – from Pfizer-BioNTech - and what this implies for vaccine uptake as children return to school this fall amidst the Delta, Lambda and other variants. The vaccination rate stands at 64.9% in Connecticut, and is lower for Black and Hispanic residents. We hear in detail about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ plans to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots in the fall, and address commonly discussed concerns and fears on social media. We also weigh in people’s demands for freedom to not mask up or vaccinate in the face of mandates. GUEST: Dr. Manisha Juthani - Associate professor of medicine (infectious diseases) at Yale School of Medicine, and of epidemiology (microbial diseases) at Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Jutani is Governor Ned Lamont’s appointee to become the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, effective September 20th. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although we were spared the worst case scenario, Tropical storm Henri brought heavy rain and power outages to Connecticut residents. This hour on Where We Live, we talk about the storm’s impact in the state.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some birds in the Eastern United States have been dying of a new disease with strange symptoms, including crusty, swollen eyes.Most of the affected birds so far are in the mid-Atlantic, but scientists and wildlife enthusiasts are concerned this disease could show up in Connecticut. This hour, we find out more about this mysterious illness and what you can do about it. And later, we get an update on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An interpretation change by the Trump administration weakened the government’s ability to punish corporations that harm birds; we learn what’s happening now under the Biden Administration. If you observe a bird in distress, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. List of rehabilitators from Connecticut DEEP here. If you find a dead bird in Connecticut, you can report it to the Wild Bird Mortality Database. GUESTS: Brian Hess - Wildlife Biologist at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Margaret Rubega - Connecticut state ornithologist and professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UConn Juliet Eilperin - Senior national affairs correspondent for the Washington Post Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital downloads for mental health needs surged nearly 200 percent during the pandemic. Now, it seems this trend is here to stay. The market for mental health apps is projected to reach 3.3 billion dollars in the next six years. This hour, experts discuss how digital products are changing the way people care for their mental wellbeing, and the scientific rigor required from app developers to ensure successful outcomes.  Coming up, we talk to industry experts on the future of apps in mental healthcare. Anecdotes versus evidence: What works, and what doesn't?  GUESTS:  Briana Benn-Mirandi - therapist at Art and Soul Art Therapy in Madison, CT. Dr. Paul Weigle - psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director of Ambulatory Programs at Natchaug Hospital, part of HartfordHealthCare’s Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Doug Nemecek -  Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health, Cigna. Karen Brown - Health Reporter at New England Public Radio. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to women’s bodies during menopause? This hour, a frank conversation with OB/GYN Jen Gunter about what your mother probably called “The Change.” Dr. Gunter is the bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and most recently, The Menopause Manifesto. Why is menopause such a mystery? As a culture, we don’t talk about menopause. In fact, women get the message that this normal biological transition is somehow shameful: an ending to vitality and productivity. We dispel myths about menopause. What questions do you have? GUEST:Dr. Jen Gunter - OB/GYN, women’s health advocate, and New York Times columnist. She’s the author of The Vagina Bible, and her latest book, The Menopause Manifesto was published in May. Visit her webiste for more information about her work. (@DrJenGunter) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, the state is part of what could be a last-ditch effort to stop Stamford-based Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan from being approved in an ongoing court hearing in New York. “It’s a goal-line stand for families in Connecticut. It’s a goal-line stand for victims, and the 14-hundred families that will have an empty chair over the holidays,” said State Attorney General William Tong. Tong discusses Connecticut’s legal efforts to seek accountability for the opioid crisis. Hartford Courant politics reporter Daniela Altimari analyzes the special election in Greenwich, and the implications of the recently-released census numbers. Guests: William Tong -- Connecticut Attorney General Daniela Altimari -- Hartford Courant Politics Reporter Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have found that our brains contain what’s called ‘grandmother neurons,’ which light up when we see a familiar face, like grandmother’s face. The discovery was made using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that showed a select set of neurons located in the temporal pole of rhesus monkeys lit up each time the monkeys saw photos of their buddies, both monkey and human. The process could help explain how the brain identifies personally familiar faces, and what it could mean in our understanding of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Autism. GUESTS: Winrich Freiwald - Head of the Laboratory of Neural Systems at Rockefeller University. Credited for the discovery of the ‘grandmother neurons.’ Dr. Robert Keder - Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician at Connecticut Children's, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Brad Duchaine - Chair, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth, and co-founder of faceblind.org A.E. Gaupp - West Hartford attorney with prosopagnosia, or face blindness Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much would you pay for an animation of a flying cat whose body is a poptart? Earlier this year, an anonymous bidder paid more than half a million dollars to be the “owner” of a unique copy of the internet meme gif, Nyan Cat. This hour, we dive into the world of NFTs, or nonfungible tokens. They’re a way to own digital art that’s taken the internet and the art world by storm. We also take a look at cryptocurrency. Digital currencies like Bitcoin are becoming increasingly more mainstream. But that’s coming at a big cost to our climate. We want to hear from you, too: Are you crypto-curious? GUESTS: Kelly Crow - Staff reporter covering the art market for The Wall Street Journal Nikhilesh De - Managing Editor for Global Policy and Regulation at Coindesk, a crypto-focused news outlet based in New York Alex de Vries - founder of Digiconomist, the blog that hosts the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will leave office in less than two weeks. His resignation comes after an investigation found he sexually harassed multiple female colleagues. Sexual harassment prevention training programs are required in most workplaces. But research shows they are actually widely ineffective at preventing sexual harassment. This hour, we talk about these programs and how they can be improved. Marcia McCormick, a professor of law from St. Louis University joins us. Have you done a sexual harassment prevention training at your job? Was it effective? GUESTS: Marcia McCormick - Professor of Law at St Louis University, and the Wefel Center for Employment Law Deb McKenna - Attorney and Partner at Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore, LLC Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College can be a challenging and stressful time for many students, even without a global pandemic. Covid-19 has taken a toll on college students' mental health, from online classes to family stress. This hour, we look at how some colleges are preparing for students' mental health needs upon returning to campus in the fall. We hear from students and counselors in Connecticut, and we want to hear from you, too. Are you a college student? Are you ready to return to campus? GUESTS: Dr. Nicholas Pinkerton - Director of Counseling Services at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut Jenny Sortini - Student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and and Student Wellness Education and Empowerment Team (s.w.e.e.t) peer educator Judy Reilly-Roberts - Counselor at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, Connecticut Scott Jaschik - Editor of Inside Higher Ed Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut is the 19th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Today, we talk about medical and recreational marijuana use. Marijuana can be helpful in aiding a lot of ailments, but it’s not a cure all. We hear from medical marijuana researcher Dr. Rebecca Craft and learn what can and cannot be treated using medical marijuana. We ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask in this Pot Power Hour, like why does marijuana give you the munchies? We want to hear your questions too! GUESTS: Andrea Comer - Department of Consumer Protection, chairperson of Social Equity Council Luis Vega - CEO of Wepa Farms Dr Rebecca Craft - Professor at Washington State University specializing in psychopharmacology Where We LiveSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. We discuss with experts the need for state funding for nonprofits offering substance use disorder treatment -- beyond the $60 million in additional dollars that will be allocated for adult and children’s mental health addiction services over the biennium -- at a time when patient demand is continuing to climb. We also explore ways to invest the $300 million in settlements received by the state from Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen, and look into how opioid manufacturers and distributors are still pushing physician prescriptions in innovative ways, despite the Sunshine Act. 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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For much of the pandemic, the place we live and the people we live with have become our entire world. Almost one in three Americans lives in a “doubled up” household: with other adults who aren’t their partner or college-aged child. This hour, we talk about sharing living spaces. Cost is a big factor in housing arrangements, but living with roommates also has social implications. We want to hear from you. Do you live with roommates, or in a multi-generational household? GUESTS: Kim Velsey - Reporter for New York Magazine’s real estate and design website, Curbed Jennifer Molinsky - Senior Research Associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard devin michelle bunten - Assistant Professor of Urban Economics and Housing at MIT Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, a challenger emerges in Western Connecticut’s fifth Congressional District, to take on Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. What does former state senator George Logan think of a billion dollar infrastructure bill moving through Congress, and the billions of dollars of COVID relief funds already approved? And is Logan familiar enough with the district, since he doesn’t live there? Guests: George Logan — Republican Candidate in Western Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District Christine Stuart — Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut We want to hear from you!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Employers want employees to come back to the office, but after 16 months of remote work, not everyone is anxious to return to cubicles and endless coffee. Today, Alexandra Samuel, author of Remote, Inc.: How to Thrive at Work . . . Wherever You Are joins us to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of going back to the office. Later, the old office setup might not work in the new hybrid world. Companies are changing their layouts to accommodate more collaboration. Are you ready to go back to the office?Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the US, and it’s now a federal holiday. But Juneteenth isn’t the only holiday that recognizes the legal end of slavery in the Americas. August 1st is Emancipation Day in many English-speaking countries across the Caribbean. This hour, we talk about the history of slavery and emancipation in the West Indies.We want to hear from you. Are you a Connecticut resident of West Indian descent? GUESTS: Sandra Taitt-Eaddy - family historian, certified teacher and independent historical researcher with a masters in Public History from Central Connecticut State University Fiona Vernal - Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at UConn Dexter Gabriel - Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies at UConn Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The job market might be picking up, but with many companies offering the same low wages as before the pandemic, many workers aren’t in a rush to go back. This hour, we talk about the future of low wage work. Many businesses are having to increase their wages and offer better benefits to attract workers. We’ll hear from experts on the current post pandemic labor market. Are you applying for a job? What are you looking for in your next employer? We want to hear from you. GUESTS Scott Dolch - Executive Director, Connecticut Restaurant Association Molly Kinder - Fellow at the Brookings Institution Brandi Killoran - Owner of Birdcode Hot Chicken in West Hartford, Connecticut Rob Baril - President of SEIU 1199 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The future of the auto industry is electric.” That’s according to President Biden, who’s made the transition to electric vehicles a major part of his infrastructure package. Electrifying everything, from our cars to our home heating systems, is key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and fighting climate change. But to do that, we need batteries. This hour, we take a look at the science behind how lithium ion batteries work, and the role experts say they will play in the future of our energy system. We also examine what these batteries mean for our environment. GUESTS: Ivan Penn - Energy correspondent for the New York Times André Taylor - Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, a conversation with White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. How did her days growing up in Waterbury influence her work? And what is the Biden administration doing to address climate change? Also, there was a major development in the New Haven mayor’s race last night, as challenger Karen DuBois-Walton dropped out at the start of the town committee meeting to endorse a candidate. Guests: Brenda Mallory -- White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Jonathan Wharton -- Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs and Grad School Associate Dean at Southern Connecticut State University Justin Elicker -- Mayor of New Haven Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has dazzled readers for nearly a century. This year, 96 years after publication, The Great Gatsby has entered the public domain. This hour, we talk with Gatsby expert Maureen Corrigan about the novel’s legacy.The Great Gatsby entering the public domain has opened a world of possibilities for adaptations and retellings. Author Nghi Vo’s novel The Chosen and the Beautiful, puts a unique spin on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s roaring 20s classic by reimagining the Gatsby story from the perspective of Jordan Baker, who she writes as a queer Vietnamese-American adoptee. We talk with Vo about the book. We want to hear from you: Are you a Gatsby fan? GUESTS: Maureen Corrigan - Book critic for NPR’s Fresh Air and English professor at Georgetown Universtity; she’s the author of So We Read On: So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures Nghi Vo - Author of The Chosen and The Beautiful Cat Pastor contributed to this show that originally aired June 4, 2021.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation. This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education about teaching our children to be more financially literate. The secret is starting them young! Do you wish you had the chance to learn subjects like investing, credit, and even just basic budgeting? We want to hear from you. GUESTS: Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education Lew DeLuca - Coordinator, Student Financial Literacy & Advising at Southern Connecticut State University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation. This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education about teaching our children to be more financially literate. The secret is starting them young!  Do you wish you had the chance to learn subjects like investing, credit, and even just basic budgeting? We want to hear from you.  GUESTS: Nan Morrison - President and CEO, Council for Economic Education Lew DeLuca - Coordinator, Student Financial Literacy & Advising at Southern Connecticut State University Cat Pastor contributed to this program that originally aired May 4, 2021.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Restaurants struggled to afloat during Covid and were able to survive in part because of creative solutions like dining areas in empty parking spaces. Now, even though vaccination is widespread, residents’ interest in outdoor dining hasn’t slowed down. And our streets feel more lively because of it. This hour, we take a look at the way our streets have changed during the pandemic. Could some of these innovations be here to stay? And Covid has been costly in so many ways. The pandemic has led to a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths over the last year. Do you worry about safety when walking or biking in your neighborhood? GUESTS: Beth Osborne - Vice President for Transportation and Thriving Communities at Smart Growth America Garrett Eucalitto - Deputy Commissioner of Connecticut State Department of Transportation Gary Anderson - Director of Planning and Economic Development for the town of Manchester, Connecticut Michael Marquetti - Owner of Columbus Park Trattoria in Stamford, Tarantino Restaurant in Westport, and Applausi in Old Greenwich Andres Cordido - Co-owner of Somos Handcrafted Arepas in New Haven Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quarantine may be lifted in Connecticut but that doesn’t mean you can’t love spending a rainy day in or a sunny day at the beach with your favorite read. We can always take solace in our favorite book. This hour, it’s Where We Live Book Club Hour - summer reads! Now that we can go to the beach and go on vacation, we want to hear what books you’re bringing with you. Are you returning to old favorites or diving into a new fiction? We want to hear from you. GUESTS: Roxanne Coady - owner of R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison and Middletown, Connecticut Kym Powe - Children and Young Adult Consultant with the Connecticut State Library Jotham Burrello - Writer and Professor at Central Connecticut State University and Director of Connecticut Literary Festival and Yale Writers Workshop Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, how much power should a president have to take military action? Coming up we speak with Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy, who argues that presidents have accumulated too much leeway to take military action. He wants to shift some of that authority to Congress. And the latest on efforts to get an infrastructure bill through the senate. Guests: Christopher Murphy -- Connecticut Senator Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford’s Hillyer College Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fatal hit-and-run by a teen allegedly driving a stolen vehicle has led to more debate about Connecticut’s juvenile justice reforms. State Republican lawmakers blame policy changes in Connecticut for a rise in car thefts by teens. This hour, we take a closer look at the data with the investigative editor of Connecticut Public’s new Accountability Project. And later, we hear what a recent court ruling means for school districts which are required to provide special education to their students. Does your child receive special education services in our state? GUESTS: Walter Smith-Randolph - Investigative editor and lead reporter of The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public Kasey Considine - Supervising attorney at Disability Rights Connecticut Kate Farrish - Contributing writer for the Connecticut Health Investigative Team (C-HIT.org); also journalism professor at Central Connecticut State University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have found that our brains contain what’s called ‘grandmother neurons,’ which light up when we see a familiar face, like grandmother’s face. The discovery was made using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that showed a select set of neurons located in the temporal pole of rhesus monkeys lit up each time the monkeys saw photos of their buddies, both monkey and human. The process could help explain how the brain identifies personally familiar faces, and what it could mean in our understanding of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Autism. GUESTS: Winrich Freiwald - Head of the Laboratory of Neural Systems at Rockefeller University. Credited for the discovery of the ‘grandmother neurons.’ Dr. Robert Keder - Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician at Connecticut Children's, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Brad Duchaine - Chair, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth, and co-founder of faceblind.org A.E. Gaupp - West Hartford attorney with prosopagnosia, or face blindness Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly a month ago, the Surfside Condominium partially collapsed. A 2018 inspection found “major structural damage” to the building leading many to ask, what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy? This hour, we’re asking, what are landlords and building owners obligated to do here in Connecticut to keep residents safe? If you live in a condominium, or rent an apartment, what are your rights? Crumbling concrete is a problem for a number of Connecticut buildings. A 2019 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that at least 1600 Connecticut homes had confirmed pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes foundations to crumble overtime. Later, we will hear from the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company that’s working to aid homeowners faced with crumbling foundations due to Pyrrhotite. What questions do you have about building safety? We want to hear from you. GUESTS: Shelley White - Director of Litigation and Advocacy at New Haven Legal Assistance Goli Nossoni - Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of New Haven Michael Maglaras - Principal with Michael Maglaras and Company and Superintendent of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.