Shows / Where We Live
Where We Live
Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines. We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.
Episodes
Where We LiveLogan To Challenge Hayes In 5th Congressional District
This hour, a challenger emerges in Western Connecticut’s fifth Congressional District, to take on Democratic Congresswoman Jahana Hayes. What does former…
Where We LiveBack To The HYBRID Grind
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…
Where We LiveConnecticut West Indians Reflect On Emancipation Day And Legacy Of Atlantic Slavery
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…
Where We LiveThe Future of Low Wage Work
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…
Where We LiveWe Need Batteries To Fight Climate Change. Can We Scale Up Production Sustainably?
“The future of the auto industry is electric.” That’s according to President Biden, who’s made the transition to electric vehicles a…
Where We LiveWhite House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Discusses Waterbury Roots; Big Developments In New Haven Mayor's Race
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?…
Where We LiveThe Magic Of THE GREAT GATSBY Enters A New Era
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…
Where We LiveFinancial Literacy For Kids, And Beyond!
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…
Where We LiveFinancial Literacy For Kids, And Beyond!
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…
Where We LiveOutdoor Dining Has Changed Our Streets. Could It Be Here To Stay?
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…
Where We LiveBookworms and Beach Reads: It's Our Summer Reading Show!
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…
Where We LiveConnecticut Senator Chris Murphy Wants To Make It Harder for Presidents To Start A War
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…
Where We LiveFact Checking Claims About Rise In Connecticut Car Thefts
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…
- Where We Live
'Grandmother Neurons' Are How We Identify Familiar Faces, New Discovery Shows
Scientists have found that our brains contain what’s called ‘grandmother neurons,’ which light up when we see a familiar face, like…
Where We LiveCracks in the Foundation: Following The Florida Building Collapse
Nearly a month ago, the Surfside Condominium partially collapsed. A 2018 inspection found “major structural damage” to the building leading many to…
Where We LiveMysterious Illness Affects Songbirds, What We Can Do About It
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…
Where We LiveMayoral Candidates Elicker, DuBois-Walton Outline Plans For New Haven
This hour, a conversation with the two leading candidates for mayor of New Haven. Who has the best ideas to lead the city's recovery from the pandemic, and to…
Where We LiveThe Billionaires Are Going To Space
This week, British billionaire, Richard Branson, launched himself into space on his company’s spacecraft. The Virgin Atlantic founder beat out fellow…
Where We LiveCT Secretary Of The State Denise Merrill On Leaving Office, Voting Amendments
This hour, voting is one of our most basic rights as Americans. But since the 2020 presidential election, it has become a hot-button issue nation-wide. We…
Where We LiveA Frank Discussion About Menopause With Dr. Jen Gunter
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…
Where We LiveTherapist In Your Pocket? The Surge In Mental Health Apps
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…
Where We LiveNext Steps For Cannabis, A Solitary Veto, And Baby Bonds
This hour, we discuss Baby Bonds. The program promises to make $50-million per year available for accounts for children born in poor families. The $3,200…
Where We LiveA History Class Brings Dignity To Murdered Hartford Woman Ada Brown
In 1884, a young Hartford woman named Ada Brown was murdered in her home. It made national news, but Ada’s story faded into obscurity. This hour, we…
Where We LiveDiscovering Connecticut's Not So Secret Gardens
We’re reaching the middle of the summer here in Connecticut. Although many of our favorite summer activities aren’t feasible this year, there are…
Where We LiveHow To Increase COVID Vaccination Rate With Delta Variant Looming?
More than two thirds of Connecticut residents have received at least one shot of the covid vaccine. At the same time, a new and fast-spreading “delta…
Where We LiveLamont On Next Steps For Legal Pot, Bill Signings
The recreational use of marijuana becomes legal in Connecticut tomorrow, July 1. But much work is left to be done surrounding legal pot, including the creation…
Where We LiveNew Alzheimer's Drug Gives Hope To Families But Also Raises Major Concerns
For years, Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones have hoped for new medical treatments for an incurable disease. This hour, we talk about the…
Where We LiveFor Some, Covid Illness Lingers
After more than a year of restrictions, Connecticut – now 59 percent fully vaccinated –is moving toward a post-pandemic society. Beaches are…
Where We LiveLive Theater Is Back
What does live theater look like for the rest of the 2021 season and going forward? Today, we talk with people making theater in our state. How have the last…
Where We LiveGovernor Lamont Signs Pot Legalization... What's Next?
This hour, Governor Ned Lamont has signed a bill allowing recreational use of cannabis. We speak with Connecticut State Representative Robyn Porter about her…
Where We LiveSecrets Of The Whales: Photographer Brian Skerry Documents Nature's Giants
They are giants who live their whole lives underwater. In many ways, a whale’s life is completely alien to the human experience. Yet these ocean giants…
Where We LiveAre You "Bad At Grammar"? Think Again
We all communicate in our daily lives, but how do languages actually work? This hour, we talk with linguist Nicole Holliday about the science behind language…
Where We LiveEnvironmental Advocates React to Connecticut's Failure To Pass Regional Climate Agreement
In 2018, Connecticut announced it would be part of an ambitious multi-state program to cut carbon emissions from transportation. In December 2020, Governor…
Where We LiveElla Grasso's Life In Politics
We look at the career of Ella Grasso. Known as the first woman in the country to be elected governor who did not follow her husband, and the person who led the…
Where We LiveRecapping Connecticut's 2021 Legislative Session
From 24-hour-long zoom public hearings to a Capitol closed to the public, 2021’s legislative session was like no other. This hour, we recap what happened…
Where We LiveGo Play! The Importance Of Play And Learning In Childhood
When you think back to your childhood, what was your favorite thing to do? Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or did you spend a lot of time outside?…
Where We LiveAppalachian Trail: A Century-Old Destination
One hundred years ago, a Connecticut-born forester came up with a wild idea, creating a trail that stretched through the Appalachian Mountains, from Georgia to…
Where We LiveWomen On Wheels: How Bicycles Paved A Road To Social Change
Bicycles helped inspire modern cars, paved roads...even airplanes! But did you know they were also an inspiration for the women's movement? This hour we take a…
Where We LiveAs General Assembly Session Ends, A Look At Race And Justice
This hour, on the last day of the legislative session we speak with a Connecticut state senator who has played a key role in issues of race and criminal…
Where We LiveLiving Lights: Bioluminescence And Biofluorescence
Did you know 75 percent of animals in the ocean glow? From single-celled organisms to terrifying creatures like the anglerfish in the Pixar movie…
Where We Live'Survival of The Friendliest': Dogs Became Our Best Friends By Being Nice
Dogs are man’s best friend, but what’s really going on inside of their heads? This hour, we talk with canine cognition researcher Brian Hare. Hare…
Where We LiveThe Magic Of THE GREAT GATSBY Enters A New Era
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…
Where We LiveThe Surprisingly Unromantic History Of Marriage
Love is what most people are looking for in a spouse or life partner. But this hour, we take a look at marriage, an institution that for much of history had…
Where We LiveDeLauro's New Job Heats Up As President Releases Budget Plan
This hour, a member of Congress from Connecticut now holds a key post as House Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee. Rosa DeLauro will play a significant…
Where We LiveA Look At Bridgeport's Political Culture As State Senator Dennis Bradley Faces Federal Charges
Some see State Senator Dennis Bradley as a rising star in Bridgeport-area politics. Now, he faces federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Several…
Where We LiveWomen Call For Change As Sexual Harassment Allegations Rock The Brewing Industry
The world of craft beer is having its own #MeToo moment. A wave of women working in the beer industry have shared stories of misogyny and sexual harassment in…
Where We LiveSia's Movie, "Music" and How Mainstream Media Portrays Autism
When the preview for musical artist Sia’s debut film Music was released---- it received backlash from individuals on the autism spectrum. But it also…
Where We LiveState Senate: An Indictment, More Wagering, And A Budget In The Wings
This hour, State Senator Dennis Bradley is indicted in a campaign finance case and removed from his leadership post on the Public Safety Committee. That…
Where We LiveA History Class Brings Dignity To Murdered Hartford Woman Ada Brown
In 1884, a young Hartford woman named Ada Brown was murdered in her home. It made national news, but Ada’s story faded into obscurity. This hour, we…
Where We LiveHow The Tenacious Coyote Conquered North America
Have you spotted a coyote in your neighborhood? These carnivores can live just about everywhere, from Canada to Central America, from California to -- just…
Where We LiveWitness Stones: Commemorating The Lives of Enslaved People In Connecticut
How should we remember painful events in our history? There are more than 70 Witness Stones installed throughout our state. The markers commemorate the lives…
Where We LiveSecrets Of The Whales: Photographer Brian Skerry Documents Nature's Giants
They are giants who live their whole lives underwater. In many ways, a whale’s life is completely alien to the human experience. Yet these ocean giants…
Where We LiveLawmakers View Racism In A Different Way
The General Assembly's Public Health Committee has handled some of the most emotional and hotly contested issues of the session. Lawmakers held a 24-hour…
Where We LiveTranslation Please! Understanding Digital Body Language
You’ve been working late and you just finished a big report that you sent off to your boss. And you received a one word reply back - "Thanks (period)."…
Where We LiveConnecticut Author Roya Hakakian On Her New Book, A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO AMERICA
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…
Where We LiveAre You "Bad At Grammar"? Think Again
Read the transcript of this interview here. We all communicate in our daily lives, but how do languages actually work? This hour, we talk with linguist Nicole…
Where We LiveGo Play! The Importance Of Play And Learning In Childhood
When you think back to your childhood, what was your favorite thing to do? Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or did you spend a lot of time outside?…
Where We LiveCongressman John Larson: New Plans, New Tunnels
This hour, a look into a future that might be for the city of Hartford. Some planners want to bury I-91 along its path between the Connecticut River and…
Where We LiveThe Path Back To Normal: Majority of Connecticut Residents Get COVID Vaccine
More than 7 in 10 adults over the age of 18 in Connecticut have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. And on Monday, the FDA approved the Pfizer…
Where We LiveUniversal Basic Income Might Be Coming To Hartford
Universal Basic Income, a program popularized --by presidential candidate Andrew Yang, might be coming to a Connecticut city. This hour, we talk with members…