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 LivePreserving The World's Endangered Languages
Coming up: We sit down with Chuck Collins, senior scholar at the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies. But first: A look at how researchers are…
Where We LivePreparing for Winter: Animal Behavior In Autumn
The days have gotten shorter and the leaves continue to change -- all signs autumn is definitely here. But for animals, the beginning of fall means undertaking…
Where We LiveIn Afghanistan, A Boarding School Designed To Educate Girls
Sixteen years after the U.S. entered into war with Afghanistan -- a look at one woman's efforts to inform and inspire young Afghan girls. This hour, Shabana…
Where We LiveThe "Mystery" And Value Of A Good Night's Sleep
Sleep. We all need it. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one in three U.S. adults do not get enough of it. Coming up…
Where We LiveThe Story Of Waterbury's "Radium Girls"
During the 1920’s, some Connecticut women took jobs painting watch dials with radium-laced paint. At the time, they didn’t know it was toxic. As these…
Where We LiveWho's Messing With Our Elections?
Russian hacking, fake news--if the last election taught us anything, it’s that your vote is a valuable commodity. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See…
Where We LiveResponding To The Mass Shooting In Las Vegas
More than 50 are dead and more than 500 injured in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. On Sunday night, a gunman in a Las Vegas high rise…
Where We LiveA New Nuclear Arms Race?
With the threat of nuclear weapons from North Korea, questions about the future of the Iran nuclear deal, and more aggressive, nationalistic rhetoric coming…
Where We LiveA Disaster More Dire By The Day: Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
Most of Puerto Rico still has no power or running water one week after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See…
Where We LiveMaking Her Story: Carolyn Kuan
Six years ago she became the first female to lead the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. This hour, Carolyn Kuan talks about her intricate journey to the Connecticut…
Where We LiveMary And Eliza Freeman: A Tale Of Bridgeport's "Little Liberia"
Within the shadow of P.T. Barnum lies a much quieter tale of Bridgeport prosperity -- a tale involving two nineteenth-century sisters, Mary and Eliza Freeman…
Where We LiveWhat Can Be Done About North Korea?
In his first address to the United Nations, President Trump used fighting words to respond to North Korea. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See…
Where We LiveConnecticut: "Still Revolutionary" After All These Years?
“Still Revolutionary”… or stuck in a rut? This hour -- in the midst of budget woes and major business losses -- we find out what Connecticut can and should be…
Where We LiveBudget...With A GOP Twist
In a dramatic turn of events this weekend, several Democratic lawmakers crossed party lines and allowed the Connecticut General Assembly to approve the…
Where We LivePreventing And Coping With Death By Suicide
It's National Suicide Prevention Week -- a time to reflect on and raise awareness about an issue that touches thousands of Americans each year. Support the…
Where We LiveWhat Happened At Whiting? Abuse At Connecticut's Psychiatric Hospital
Nine mental health workers at Whiting Forensic Division, the maximum security facility at Connecticut’s only state psychiatric hospital, have been arrested for…
Where We LiveWho Do You Think You Are? Ancestry In The 21st Century
Unearthing family history -- one saliva sample at a time. This hour: how low-cost DNA testing helped spawn an industry and, with it, a new wave of genealogical…
Where We LiveFollowing A Turbulent Weekend, Floridians React To Hurricane Irma
Millions sought refuge as Irma charged its way through Florida over the weekend. This hour, we get an update on the storm’s impact. Support the show…
Where We LiveMysteries In The Museum: Crime And Deception In Art
The FBI still doesn’t know what happened to $500 million dollars worth of paintings stolen from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Support the…
Where We LiveWhat Can Be Done About North Korea?
Sunday’s nuclear test out of Pyongyang, North Korea triggered a high-profile response from U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Support the show…
Where We LiveA Voice For Connecticut's Delinquent Girls
Juvenile justice reform often focuses on changing a system in which the majority of delinquents are boys. But how do courts and community providers address the…
Where We LiveBack To School With Hartford Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez
Hartford schools are back in session -- though, this time, there’s a new superintendent in town. Coming up, Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez stops by our studios…
Where We LiveTaking Action: Connecticut Residents Offer Relief To Victims Of Harvey
While Harvey ravages the Gulf Coast, some in Connecticut are stepping up to provide relief. This hour, we hear about their efforts and find out how you, too…
Where We LiveMaking Her Story: Priya Natarajan
Priya Natarajan has what some might call an affinity for the impalpable. Black holes. Galaxies. The intricacies of the universe. This hour, the Yale-based…
Where We LiveCaroline Ferriday And The Ravensbrück "Rabbits": A WWII Tale Of Heroism And Persistence
During World War II the Nazis experimented on Polish women among others at Ravensbrück concentration camp outside of Berlin. After the war, socialite and…
Where We LiveThe Civilian Conservation Corps’ Lasting Impact On Connecticut
In the midst of the Great Depression more than 80 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps — giving jobs to young men…
Where We Live20,000 Leagues And Beyond: Exploring The Mysteries And Wonders Of The Ocean
Crashing waves, cawing gulls, the cutting scent of a falling tide -- there's nothing quite as invigorating as the experience of summer along the New England…
Where We LiveConfronting Hate: Tolerance, Intolerance, And The Rise Of White Nationalism
How do you confront hate? This hour, we dive into this resurgent — and unfortunate — reality. Should we tolerate hate? Or should we be intolerant? Do we fight…
Where We LiveBringing Gender Equality To The C-Suite
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 56 percent of women will be employed or looking for work by the year 2024 -- that's a nearly one…
Where We LiveStanding Up To Addiction: Advice From A Connecticut Man In Recovery
Drug overdose deaths in Connecticut have surpassed the national average for several years now. This hour, we talk with a former heroin addict about how he got…
Where We LiveWhat About Mom? An Exploration Of Maternal Health And Death In America
Pregnancy and childbirth bring on a range of emotions -- from excitement, to exhaustion, to the stress of physical pain. Few, however, expect these experiences…
Where We LiveThe History And Future Of Insurance: From Ancient Egyptian Burials To Cyber Security
Hartford has long been known as the insurance capital of the world, but will that change now that insurance giant, Aetna, is moving its headquarters out of the…
Where We LiveResponding To Violence In Virginia; Preserving The World's Endangered Languages
Coming up: We find out how researchers are working to preserve the world's most endangered languages -- including a look at locally-based efforts to expand…
Where We LiveFrom Zion Canyon To Acadia’s Shores: Overcrowding In U.S. National Parks
America’s national parks are experiencing record crowds — and some nature enthusiasts worry about what that means for the protected land. Is the sheer amount…
Where We LiveWho Do You Think You Are? Ancestry In The 21st Century
Unearthing family history -- one saliva sample at a time. This hour: how low-cost DNA testing helped spawn an industry and, with it, a new wave of genealogical…
Where We LiveIt's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's A... Dinosaur?
Here's something that might make you might think twice before ordering a bucket of drumsticks: tasty as they may be, those cooked morsels of meat actually come…
Where We LiveTown And City Leaders Face Tough Choices In The Face Of Fiscal Uncertainty
Lawmakers in Hartford still have no state budget in place — and that’s creating widespread fiscal uncertainty for cities and towns across Connecticut. This…
Where We LiveThe Immortal Decade: A Connecticut Band's Homage To The '90s
Coming up, we find out how New Haven's new Elm City Party Bike is motivating some to pedal for their beer. But first, members of the Hartford-based…
Where We LiveThe Story Of Waterbury's "Radium Girls"
During the 1920’s, some Connecticut women took jobs painting watch dials with radium-laced paint. At the time, they didn’t know it was toxic. As these…
Where We LiveMary And Eliza Freeman: A Tale Of Bridgeport's "Little Liberia"
Within the shadow of P.T. Barnum lies a much quieter tale of Bridgeport prosperity -- a tale involving two nineteenth-century sisters, Mary and Eliza Freeman…
Where We LiveTackling Islamophobia: A Connecticut Man’s Story Of Transformation
Hate drives people to do unspeakable things but how often do these stories end in forgiveness and friendship? This hour, Ted Hakey Jr. and Zahir Mannan join…
Where We LiveMaking Her Story: Cindi Bigelow
If you’re a tea drinker, then you probably know the name Cindi Bigelow. She’s the third generation president and CEO of Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea. Support…
Where We LiveWe Are What We Eat: Humans' Relationship With Seeds
Many of us take it for granted that much of our food comes from seeds. But did you know 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared in the last century? This…
Where We LiveMind The Gap: Deconstructing Barriers To Justice
Justice for all? Or justice for the privileged? This hour, we hear how one Connecticut-based incubator is helping vulnerable residents gain access to counsel…
Where We LiveZika: Out Of Sight But Not Out Of Mind For Researchers
It’s mosquito season and the Zika virus still remains a threat in many parts of the world — including here in the U.S. This hour, we hear the latest on efforts…
Where We Live"Born On Third Base" Author Addresses Inequality, Asks Wealthy To "Come Home"
Chuck Collins is a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies. He's also an author, an editor, and a child of the so-called “one percent." This hour…
Where We LiveExamining The ‘Green’ Movement’s Lack Of Diversity
Environmental groups have drawn attention to sustainability and conservation, but insiders say movement leadership is overwhelmingly white. This hour, we…
Where We LiveThe Civilian Conservation Corps’ Lasting Impact On Connecticut
In the midst of the Great Depression more than 80 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps — giving jobs to young men…
Where We LiveIn The Spotlight: Connecticut U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty won re-election to the 5th District last November. This hour, the Connecticut Democrat stops by our studios. We wade through…
Where We LiveIt's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's A... Dinosaur?
Here's something that might make you might think twice before ordering a bucket of drumsticks: tasty as they may be, those cooked morsels of meat actually come…
Where We LiveCaroline Ferriday And The Ravensbrück 'Rabbits': A WWII Tale Of Heroism And Persistence
During World War II the Nazis experimented on Polish women among others at Ravensbrück concentration camp outside of Berlin. After the war, socialite and…
Where We LiveSummer Gardening With Charlie Nardozzi
Summer is officially here! And it looks like it's going to be a hot one. This hour, we find out what opportunities -- and challenges -- lie ahead for…
Where We LiveOz Griebel Reflects On His Leadership In Greater Hartford And The Future Of The State
Oz Griebel has been at the helm of the MetroHartford Alliance — since 2001 — promoting economic development in the Greater Hartford region. This hour, we sit…
Where We LiveBringing Gender Equality To The C-Suite
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 56 percent of women will be employed or looking for work by the year 2024 -- that's a nearly one…
Where We LiveA Look At 'Climate Migration' From Sub-Saharan Africa To The Gulf Coast
President Trump announced last month the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement — despite attention on the wide ramifications of climate change…
Where We LivePolitics Unusual: African American Sororities And Fraternities
Long before the 19th Amendment recognized them as voters, a small group of women gathered at Howard University to create the first service Sorority founded by…
Where We LiveFrom Cherokee Country To Pequot Shores: Rediscovering Native American Trails
Long before our modern highways, there was an extensive network of Native American trails up and down the East Coast. This hour, we hear about efforts to map…
Where We LiveFor Local Ghanaians, A Celebration Of Community And Soccer At "The Rent"
This year Ghana celebrates its 60th year of independence. Coming up, we discuss the significance of that milestone with members of Connecticut's Ghanaian…
Where We LiveSokeo Ros: A Refugee's Journey Through Life, Strife, And Art
To Sokeo Ros, dance is more than an art form. It’s a catalyst for change; a means of self-discovery. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See…
Where We LiveWeighing The Senate Health Care Bill And Its Impact On Connecticut Residents
Senate Republicans are expected to vote this week on their health care bill that includes cuts to Medicaid funding and allows states to curtail coverage for…