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 LiveMayor Justin Elicker On How New Haven Is Responding to COVID-19
Cases of COVID-19 have grown in New Haven, and the mayor says “the spike” is beginning in the Elm City. This hour, we talk with New Haven Mayor…
Where We LiveCall-In Special: Coronavirus Upends Schooling For Millions of Kids
The coronavirus pandemic has closed schools across the U.S., affecting nearly 2 million public school students in New England alone. What are the educational…
Where We LivePandemic Book Club
In the midst of the pandemic, it’s easy to keep the TV on all day. But it’s also the perfect time to take a step back and start a new book -- or…
Where We LiveBeing A Dad In 2020
What’s it like being a dad in 2020? On the next Where We Live, we’ll talk about social expectations for fathers as caregivers, and the impact an…
Where We LiveGetting Down To Business During Coronavirus
How are employers responding to coronavirus? This hour, Where We Live, we talk about how coronavirus is impacting our local businesses, and their employees…
Where We LiveCOVID-19 Pandemic Takes Its Toll On Connecticut Workers
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Connecticut and across the US, many Americans are staying home to prevent the spread of this deadly…
Where We LiveUnderstanding Virus Anxiety
As coronavirus cases increase, so will the associated anxiety. This hour, we discuss coronavirus, and how it’s affecting our mental health. What should…
Where We LiveAn Hour With John Larson
As Americans respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, what should elected officials be doing to protect public health? Today, we talk with Connecticut 1st District…
Where We LiveConnecticut Responds To Coronavirus
Governor Lamont has declared a public health emergency and thousands of residents, including school children, are staying home. This hour, we discuss the…
Where We Live150 Million Years After Death, A Brontosaurus To Get Posture Fixed At Peabody Museum
This hour, we take a trip to the Yale Peabody Museum, where a renovation is giving the museum a chance to update its famous dinosaur skeletons to reflect 21st…
Where We LiveLife After Incarceration
What challenges do people with criminal records face when re-entering society? What is Connecticut doing to help prior offenders reintegrate? This hour: we…
Where We LiveA Conversation With DCF Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes
She started as a social worker in Connecticut more than two decades ago. Now, Vannessa Dorantes is the Commissioner of the state’s Department of Children…
Where We LiveConnecticut Prepares For Coronavirus
There have been confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. What do you…
Where We LiveGovernor Lamont Tries To Force Tribes' Hand On Sports Betting
March Madness begins in a couple of weeks, a favorite time of year for people who love watching college basketball. But if you want to legally place bets on…
Where We LiveHow TurboTax Gets 'Free' Customers To Pay Up
It’s tax season. Filing taxes can be a complicated and intimidating process. And ProPublica has found that big names in e-filing, like TurboTax, are…
Where We Live100 Years After Prohibition, How Can Policymakers Address Addiction?
Deaths related to alcohol have been rising over the past two decades, especially among women. Today, we look at the impact of alcohol on public health. In…
Where We LiveThe Latino Vote Is Key. How Can Candidates For President Earn It?
This November, 32 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2020 election, making them the largest minority voting bloc in the United States, according…
Where We LiveAdvocates Say Legal Gaps Remain To Prevent Domestic Violence In The U.S.
Lori Jackson feared for her life, so she got a temporary restraining order against her husband. But he was still able to legally buy a handgun, which he used…
Where We LiveCritics Question Bringing More Belugas To Mystic Aquarium
Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium…
Where We LiveMillennials Are Coming Into Power
They grew up during a digital revolution, two foreign wars, and a devastating financial crisis. Now, millennials are beginning to come into political power…
Where We LiveCinestudio Celebrates Fifty Years; Musician Samite Returns To Connecticut
Ugandan-American musician Samite Mulondo combines music and storytelling in his performances. This hour, Samite returns to our studios to talk about his newest…
Where We LiveWhen It Comes To Trauma, Who Helps The Helpers?
From veterans returning from Iraq, to survivors of mass shootings, to those putting together the pieces after a hurricane--we know that the emotional and…
Where We LiveLeaders Highlight Challenges For Women In Politics, One Century After Suffrage
This summer marks 100 years since women achieved the right to vote. Yet women still are underrepresented in political office, both nationally and in the…
Where We LiveWho Owns History? Connecticut Woman Sues Harvard for Family Photos
Norwich, CT resident Tamara Lanier believes she is the descendant of two enslaved people—Renty and his daughter, Delia. They were photographed in 1850…
Where We LiveThe Surprisingly Unromantic History Of Marriage
Valentine's Day is around the corner, which means it’s the season for chocolates and cheesy Hallmark cards. Love is what most people are looking for in a…
Where We LiveThe Emotional Impact Of Losing A Pet
The death of a pet can be devastating --yet when you lose an animal companion--you’re sometimes expected to “just get over it.” This hour, we…
Where We LiveBeing A Dad In 2020
What’s it like being a dad in 2020? On the next Where We Live, we’ll talk about social expectations for fathers as caregivers, and the impact an…
Where We LiveThe Hidden Costs Of 'Fast Fashion'
How often do you buy new clothing? Stores like H&M and Forever 21 sell new styles at low prices, making it easy to constantly update your wardrobe. But, this…
Where We LiveInvestigation Raises Questions About Connecticut Dam Safety
Anyone who’s spent time outdoors in Connecticut has probably come across a dam or two. The state is home to more than 4,000 dams, a dozen of which were…
Where We LiveIowa, State Of The Union, And The New Coronavirus
It’s a busy week in politics. The presidential primary season kicked off in Iowa, and tonight is the President’s State of the Union Address…
Where We LiveCollege Is Expensive. How Do You Afford It?
Standardized tests, application forms, campus visits. The path to college can be a daunting one, especially when you add tuition to the mix. Then, of course…
Where We LiveBirds On Decline; How Habitat Loss and Climate Change Impact Birds in Connecticut
Have you noticed fewer sparrows or warblers flitting about your backyard? Bird populations in North America have been declining for years, but in 2019, the…
Where We LiveA Conversation With Wanjiku Gatheru, UConn's First Rhodes Scholar
Wanjiku Gatheru is the daughter of Kenyan immigrants and a first-generation American. Now, the UConn senior has made university history as the school’s…
Where We LiveInvesting In Connecticut's 'Opportunity Zones'
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced a new initiative, the Opportunity Zones Program, to spur investment in the nation’s most distressed…
Where We LiveHigh School Confronts Race And Privilege In Production Of Hairspray
Sheff v. O’Neill, the landmark desegregation case in Connecticut, has shaped school systems in the greater Hartford region for decades. The state of…
Where We LiveWhere We Live Extra: The Speedy, Super-Sensitive Snouts Of Star-Nosed Moles
They might look like something out of science fiction, but star-nosed moles are real-life creatures that can be found across the East Coast, including in…
Where We LiveAs Bush Fires Burn In Australia, A Look At Climate Change's Impact
Scientists estimate bush fires in Southeastern Australia have killed hundreds of millions of animals. This hour, we talk about the fires’ impact on…
Where We LiveTell Us: Should Consumers Have The 'Right to Repair' Their Own Devices?
If your smartphone screen cracks, do you get it fixed or trade it in for the latest model? Repairing items can be less wasteful, but there are also growing…
Where We LiveWhat's The Role Of Philanthropy In Connecticut?
Demand for social services in Connecticut has grown in the same decade that’s seen the state struggle to pass balanced budgets. The nonprofit sector has…
Where We Live1 00 Years After Prohibition, How Can Policymakers Address Addiction?
Deaths related to alcohol have been rising over the past two decades, especially among women. Today, we look at the impact of alcohol on public health. And on…
Where We LiveConnecticut Communities Hope To Take Broadband Into Their Own Hands
Most of us enjoy high-speed internet. But in some areas in Connecticut, residents still don’t have broadband access. A recent court ruling may make it…
Where We LiveCollege and Kids: Addressing the Challenges Student Parents Face
More than 4 million people, around 1 out of 5 undergrads, are raising children today. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Education. These student…
Where We LiveAhead Of New Hampshire, A Look At Our Presidential Primary System
Leading Democratic presidential candidates meet once again on the debate stage this week. The stakes are higher than ever for presidential hopefuls, because…
Where We LiveNurturing Creativity In Children (And Adults, Too!)
Spend just a few minutes with young children and you’ll marvel at their imagination. Maybe they’re pretending to be a dragon running a bakery, or…
Where We LiveIn 2020, The New Britain Museum Of American Art Elevates Women Artists
When you got to an art gallery, how much of what you see has been made by women? Women artists are underrepresented in most museums. But this year, a special…
Where We LiveSitting Down With Governor Ned Lamont
How is Connecticut’s governor doing? Today, we’ll sit down with Governor Ned Lamont, who will have been in office one year this week. We ask him…
Where We LiveConnecticut Nonprofits Say An Accurate Count Is Crucial In 2020 Census
It's officially 2020, which means you may see a census taker knocking on your door this Spring. The decennial census also will be online. This hour, we talk…
Where We LiveAddressing The Disturbing Rise In Pedestrian Deaths
Walking instead of driving is better for the environment and our health, but in the United States, it’s becoming an increasingly dangerous choice. Since…
Where We LiveAhead Of Centennial, A Look At The Connecticut Women Who Fought For Suffrage
This summer marks 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the United States. This hour, we hear about the…
Where We LiveBest Of 2019: In 'Felon', Reginald Dwayne Betts Reflects On Life After Prison
At sixteen years of age, Reginald Dwayne Betts went to prison for carjacking. Decades later, Betts is a celebrated poet and graduate of Yale Law School. But…
Where We LiveBest Of 2019: Ryan Leigh Dostie Discusses Lasting Impact Of Rape In The U.S. Military
Ryan Leigh Dostie is an Iraq War veteran. She joined the U.S. Army to serve her country. But before she was deployed, she experienced violence from one of her…
Where We LiveBest Of 2019: In Memoir, Mother And Trans Son 'Pick Up The Pieces' Of Relationship
Donald Collins first told his mom he was transgender when he was a senior in high school. His mother wasn’t totally sure what the word transgender even…
Where We LiveBest Of 2019: After 75 Years, Remembering The Hartford Circus Fire
On July 6, 1944, the circus came to Connecticut's capital city and erupted into flames. Seventy-five years later, the Hartford Circus Fire is recognized as one…
Where We LiveBest Of 2019: Back From The Brink Of Extinction, Bald Eagles Command The Connecticut River
They are one of our most recognizable national symbols, but have you ever seen a bald eagle in the wild? This hour we head out of the studio and into the field…
Where We LiveNavigating The Holidays While Grieving
The holidays are expected to be a season of joy, but annual traditions can highlight the absence of a loved one. This hour, we talk about grief . We hear from…
Where We LiveAmazon's Impact on the Way We Shop and Ship
Amazon Prime has more than 100 million members. Are you one of them? Many of us have come to expect two-day or even next-day delivery. But what are the…
Where We LiveCritics Question Bringing More Belugas To Mystic Aquarium
Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales. Mystic Aquarium…
Where We LiveAdult Literacy Is A Real Problem. How Do We Fix It?
Literacy. It's something many of us take for granted. The ability to read health forms, headlines, or the latest bestsellers. Yet, across the U.S., there are…
Where We LiveWhere We Sleep: Exploring Our 'Horizontal History'
The bed. It’s a central feature of daily life. We rest on it, recharge in it. But rarely do we reflect on our relationship with it. Until now. This hour…
Where We LiveThe Many Lives of Santa And His Helpers
How does it feel to be Santa? This hour, we explore Santa’s many identities. We talk with a longtime Santa about how he learned the tricks of the trade…