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 LiveConnecticut State Bonding: A Citizen's Primer
Connecticut's Bond Commission has approved more than $2.1 billion in borrowing since January 1, 2016. It's become a source of political contention between…
Where We LiveConnecticut Homeowners Watch as Foundations and Futures Crumble
Your home is one of your biggest investments, but some Connecticut residents are seeing that investment crumble because of failing foundations. This hour, we…
Where We LiveWhat Will You Vote For In 2016?
The Republican and Democratic National Conventions are just around the corner. The presumptive nominees? Two of the most unpopular presidential candidates in…
Where We LiveBeyond Political Rhetoric, How Do We Improve the Immigration System?
As it is in many election cycles, immigration is a big topic in presidential campaign speeches. Donald Trump has made it one of his top issues and has drawn…
Where We LiveThe Iran Nuclear Deal, One Year Later
On July 14, 2015, Iran agreed to a nuclear deal with the U.S and other world powers that would keep the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Since that…
Where We LiveHuman Trafficking Around the World and in Connecticut
Human trafficking is a global problem. But it's not something that just happens overseas. Minors are exploited throughout the United States, even in…
Where We Live50 Years of Your "Right to Remain Silent"; the Latest in Food Insecurity
Most of us know the Miranda rights -- our "right to remain silent" -- even if we've never been arrested. But do you know the full history behind them? This…
Where We LiveThe Birds and the Bees of Pollination
If you're allergic to it, you might curse pollen. But the process of pollination is essential to plant, animal, and human life. All sorts of insects and…
Where We LiveWhen Will Professional Baseball Come to Hartford?
Minor League Baseball’s Eastern League has its All-Star Game in two weeks. Fortunately, that game wasn’t scheduled to be held in Hartford where the Yard Goats…
Where We LivePFOA-Contaminated Drinking Water Raises Questions, Concerns Across the Northeast
Michigan is not the only state with a water crisis on its hands. Right now, communities in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont are grappling with their own…
Where We LiveBringing a Pearl Harbor Sailor Home
This hour, we talk about three different stories that touch various people in our state. First, a check-in on how the Department of Defense has followed…
Where We LiveShould Connecticut's Insurance Commissioner Step Aside?
Controversy is growing around state Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade. She's in charge of reviewing a $54 billion health insurance merger between Anthem…
Where We LiveHuman Trafficking Around the World and in Connecticut
Human trafficking is a global problem. But it's not something that just happens overseas. Minors are exploited throughout the United States, even in…
Where We LiveState Budget Crisis Hits Mental Health System With Cuts, Layoffs
Advocates say recent budget cuts will have a negative impact on those seeking mental health services in Connecticut. The state's new $19.7 billion budget --…
Where We LiveBeyond Black and White: Asian Americans Discuss Race, Politics, and Stereotyping
America's Asian population is growing faster than any other racial group in the country. According to the White House, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders…
Where We LiveCommemorating Juneteenth; Remaking "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Sunday is Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. This hour, we reflect on this history and legacy of slavery with Alika Hope…
Where We LiveConnecticut Mothers Discuss Efforts to Combat Opioid Epidemic
A new law aimed at combating Connecticut’s opioid and heroin epidemic will go into effect on July 1, 2016. The legislation, Public Act 16-43, has been…
Where We Live50 Years of Your "Right to Remain Silent"; the Latest in Food Insecurity
Most of us know the Miranda rights -- our "right to remain silent" -- even if we've never been arrested. But do you know the full history behind them? This…
Where We LiveOrlando, Florida: The Latest and Deadliest Mass Shooting in the United States
The country grapples with the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history after a massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning left 50…
Where We LiveTales from the Trail: The Story of American Hiking Culture
There are many ways to experience the American landscape -- you can bike it, drive it, fly over it... even take trains across it. But there’s nothing quite as…
Where We LiveConnecticut's Treasures Open the Doors
This Saturday, you have no excuse to say there's nothing to do in Connecticut. That's because it's the state's Open House Day for residents and visitors to…
Where We LiveWhat Antibiotic-Resistant "Superbug" Discovery Means for the U.S., Connecticut
An antibiotic-resistant "superbug" gene was discovered in the United States recently, triggering a media frenzy. Across the world, newspaper and television…
Where We LiveAfter 76 Years, Veterans' Home at Rocky Hill in Need of Revamp
The State of Connecticut operates a Veterans’ Home on 92 acres in Rocky Hill. Many of its residents were once homeless or in danger of homelessness. But a lot…
Where We LiveAfter 100 Years in Connecticut, Submarines Keep Steaming Ahead
For a century, Groton, Connecticut has been home to the Naval Submarine Base and Training School. It’s turned into an economic staple for the region with the…
Where We LiveYoung and Debt-Free: Is It Possible?
Are you feeling overburdened by student loan payments or the growing stack of credit card bills on your kitchen table? If you answered "yes" to either of those…
Where We LiveThe Birds and the Bees of Pollination
If you're allergic to it, you might be cursing pollen in between sneezes right now. But the process of pollination is essential to plant, animal, and human…
Where We LiveNew Connecticut Report Focuses on Children of Incarcerated Parents
A new report commissioned by two Connecticut organizations looks at the challenges children face when their parents are in prison. This hour, we check in with…
Where We LiveShould Connecticut Mandate Paid Family and Medical Leave?
Paid leave has been a hot-button issue on the campaign trail and in the Connecticut legislature. Earlier this year, state lawmakers considered a bill that…
Where We LiveFor Special Education Services, Laws and Practices Evolve
A few years ago, a public outcry forced schools to re-examine their use of seclusion and restraints among students. This hour, we have a conversation with the…
Where We LiveAmid Declining School Enrollment and Budget Constraints, Are International Students a Boon?
There's a debate in West Hartford over plans by a for-profit company to open an educational academy for Chinese students in town. The plan would include…
Where We LiveHeroin in Connecticut; Former State Workers Discuss Layoffs; Reasons to Love the Nutmeg State
WNPR is launching a new series on the heroin epidemic gripping the state. This hour, we hear from one of the reporters leading the investigation. Also, the…
Where We LiveAfter Ten Years, Host and Producers Remember the Best of "Where We Live"
It's John Dankosky's final episode before Lucy Nalpathanchil takes over as the new host of Where We Live. This hour, we remember some of our favorite moments…
Where We LiveWhat Worked, What's Next: Reflecting on Ten Years of Local Talk Radio
Where We Live is much more than a show about place, it's a show about people -- about you, our listeners. Your stories, comments, and questions have meant so…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse: Where All Reporters Are Welcome
The state legislature heads into overtime to discuss (and hopefully pass) a budget that was partially unveiled nearly a week after the regular session ended…
Where We LiveTen Years Later, Ned Lamont's Challenge to the Political Establishment
Ten years ago, Democratic political newcomer Ned Lamont launched a bid to unseat his party’s incumbent U.S. senator. He defeated Joe Lieberman in the primary…
Where We LiveHealth Equity: Gail Christopher on Why Place Matters
Dr. Gail Christopher has been a crusader for better health outcomes in America, championing an idea that “place matters,” finding that the way people live in…
Where We LiveOne-On-One With Connecticut State Troubadour Kate Callahan
Kate Callahan has been a fixture of the Connecticut music scene for years -- and now she's got a title to prove it. Earlier this year the singer-songwriter was…
Where We LiveYoung and Debt-Free: Is It Possible?
Are you feeling overburdened by student loan payments or the growing stack of credit card bills on your kitchen table? If you answered "yes" to either of those…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse Waits Until the Last Day (Again!)
In his State of the State address, Governor Dan Malloy asked legislators not to wait until the last day of the session to pass a budget. At the time, lawmakers…
Where We LiveHow Safe and Vital Is the Indian Point Nuclear Plant?
New York's Indian Point nuclear facility has faced a number of recent incidents including fires, blown transformers, and most recently detection of radioactive…
Where We LiveLive From Ralph Nader's American Museum of Tort Law
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader spent the better part of two decades dreaming up a museum with a highly specific, slightly bizarre theme: tort law. In late 2015…
Where We LiveA Conversation With NPR President and CEO Jarl Mohn
In 2013, the unexpected departure of NPR CEO Gary Knell left the network, once again, in desperate need of a leader. So the board tapped Jarl Mohn -- a…
Where We LivePolitical Scientist Jacob Hacker Explains the Crisis of America's Mixed Economy
For the United States, the 20th century marked a period of vast and unparalleled prosperity thanks -- in large part -- to an economic model known as the “mixed…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse: "Acela" Primary Day Results
"Acela" primary day has come and gone for five Northeast states, including Connecticut. This hour, we recap the results with a panel of reporters and political…
Where We LiveIs There a Better Way to Vote?
As presidential candidates crisscross the United States, they have to learn how to win in open primaries, closed primaries, and caucuses. If they want their…
Where We LiveGun Laws Take Center Stage in State and National Politics
For a state that doesn't usually get much attention from presidential candidates, we’ve had a barrage of visits from Democrats and Republicans in the last few…
Where We LiveChecking in With Gov. Dannel Malloy
The current legislative impasse over the state budget is less between political parties and more between branches of government. Gov. Dannel Malloy received…
Where We LiveTax Liens: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
Tax liens might not sound like the "sexiest" topic. But for some property owners, they can mean the difference between keeping or losing a home. This hour, we…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse: Presidential Parade Comes to Town
Just a few weeks ago, Connecticut started to write-off its importance in the presidential nomination process. But then Bernie Sanders picked up steam and…
Where We LiveRevisiting Rowland's Six Pillars of Hartford Development
Remember Hartford's Six Pillars? Gov. John Rowland’s plan to revitalize Hartford -- begun almost 20 years ago -- included a convention center and sports…
Where We LiveAfter President Obama's Visit, Changes Coming to Cuba
President Obama’s visit to Cuba last month was historic for that country, and for relations between Cuba and the U.S. For many Cuban Americans living in the…
Where We LiveNavigating Midlife With Journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty
Barbara Bradley Hagerty is an award-winning journalist and former NPR correspondent. She's also the author of Life Reimagined, a new book aimed at helping…
Where We LiveGetting Ready for the Garden
Spring has sprung, and with that comes gardening season! Are you thinking about how to get your garden ready? This hour, we talk garden trends, soil prep…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse: The Porcupine's Quills Come Out
As a sitting governor running for re-election in 2014, Dannel Malloy gave himself a nickname on Where We Live. "You don't have to love me," said Malloy. "I'm a…
Where We LiveAs America Grays, Mental Health Concerns Grow
America’s elderly population is growing, and so is the number of older adults with mental health needs. According to the American Psychological Association…
Where We LiveWhat Are the Jobs of the Future?
The U.S. and world economies were revolutionized by globalization and later by the digital revolution. What's coming next? This hour, we sit down with someone…
Where We LiveNew Play Features "Troupe" of New Haven Veterans and Refugees
Later this month, Yale Cabaret will cast its spotlight on a unique "troupe" of New Haven performers: veterans and refugees who experienced the wars in Iraq and…
Where We LiveAre We Ready for the Next Big Hurricane?
Few of us remember Hurricane Ike as vividly as we remember Katrina and Sandy. But for people down in Houston, Texas, the 2008 storm was a major wake-up call…
Where We LiveThe Wheelhouse: Profiles in Courage, Budgets, and Politicians
This week, Governor Dannel Malloy was announced as the winner of the 2016 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his response to the Syrian refugee…
Where We LiveTalking About Race; Bridging the Partisan Divide
A few weeks ago we held a conversation about the n-word -- how the word is used by black and white Americans; how it's been used by newspapers over time; and…