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 Live
The influential role of student government, youth voting and Beardsley Zoo's animal mayoral race
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…
- Where We Live
Examining links between climate distress and climate action
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that the majority of Americans are either "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change. They also…
- Where We Live
Humanitarian aid organizations address the crisis in Gaza and Israel
As the war continues in Israel and Gaza, humanitarians are working to deliver aid across the region. Humanitarian aid starts with addressing the basic…
- Where We Live
CT-based Gen Z trailblazers: Musician ericdoa, K-pop dance crew SEOULAR, and designer MINIPNG
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…
- Where We Live
Witches and Mombies! Happy Halloween from Where We Live
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…
- Where We Live
Meet two local educators behind the new AP African American studies course
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…
- Where We Live
Navigating the aftermath of a concussion
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…
- Where We Live
Addressing misconceptions around food insecurity: 'It's about more than food'
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…
- Where We Live
Human trafficking happens everywhere, including in Connecticut
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…
- Where We Live
Connecticut was a key player in the 'Baking Powder Wars'
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…
- Where We Live
Andy Horowitz is the new Connecticut State Historian
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…
- Where We Live
'Before there was Salem, there was Connecticut': State formally pardons accused witches
Before the well-known witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, Connecticut had its own spate of trials and executions. In mid-1600s colonial Connecticut, dozens…
- Where We Live
A conversation with Reverend Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr. of United Church on the Green
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…
- Where We Live
Graphic novels, though increasingly popular, are 'prime targets' for book ban lists
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…
- Where We Live
Exploring Connecticut Wine Country
Connecticut's winemaking community is vibrant and growing. This hour, we explore the flavors of New England with food journalist Leeanne Griffin, and wine…
- Where We Live
Taking a 'holistic approach' to treating congenital heart disease
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…
- Where We Live
Creating new communities with cohousing, plus fighting mosquito-borne diseases worldwide
Last week, homelessness was officially declared a public health crisis in Connecticut. And the lack of affordable housing remains a major issue here in…
- Where We Live
Finding solutions to slow the fast-fashion cycle
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…
- Where We Live
Fewer Americans are considering careers in the military and branches are looking for solutions to recruiting
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…
- Where We Live
Booking your COVID-19 booster appointment? Here's DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani's advice
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…
- Where We Live
What it takes to save the turtles
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…
- Where We Live
Uncovering the history of eugenics at Yale University, and its 'afterlives'
Researchers at Yale University are focused on the harrowing history of eugenics, the role the institution played in developing this psuedoscience, and its many…
- Where We Live
Talking about suicide is hard, so we asked experts for their advice
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…
- Where We Live
Ashley Hamel takes her music to new heights abroad, plus a look at the ticketing industry
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…
- Where We Live
'Not all in your head': Examining endometriosis
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…
- Where We Live
Esmeralda Santiago's new novel 'Las Madres' explores themes of memory and home
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…
- Where We Live
Leave the leaves alone (and other fall gardening tips)
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…
- Where We Live
Untangling the 'predictable calamity' of Connecticut's child care industry to find solutions
Local advocates and experts in early childcare education say funding and staffing shortfalls were only deepened during the pandemic. With federal relief…
- Where We Live
"Flawless" Author Elise Hu dives into the world of K-Beauty
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…
- Where We Live
'What's eating at America': Addressing the loneliness and isolation epidemic
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…
- Where We Live
Think of it as a tool: Artificial Intelligence in education
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…
- Where We Live
Connecticut was a key player in the 'Baking Powder Wars'
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…
- Where We Live
How do you see the role of primary elections?
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…
- Where We Live
Examining links between climate distress and climate action
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that the majority of Americans are either "alarmed" or "concerned" about climate change. They also…
- Where We Live
Navigating the aftermath of a concussion
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…
- Where We Live
Lights, camera, Connecticut: The local impact of the writers and actors strike
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…
- Where We Live
Ageism impacts everyone (eventually)
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…
- Where We Live
Ashley Hamel takes her music to new heights abroad, plus a look at the ticketing industry
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…
- Where We Live
Grade inflation, grade bias and grade anxiety
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…
- Where We Live
Trust: The public health issue that has fractured the doctor/patient relationship
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…
- Where We Live
Feeling safe or creating trauma? How lockdown drills are impacting our schools
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…
- Where We Live
New solutions to eliminating homelessness: Moving beyond the shelter model
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…
- Where We Live
The challenges of addressing adult literacy
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…
- Where We Live
Wheelchair repairs can take months: What local advocates are doing to change that
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have estimated that more than half of wheelchairs break down in a typical six-month period. Many Connecticut…
- Where We Live
Arts and culture check-in in Connecticut, plus a preview of 'America 250'
Virtually all Connecticut residents engage in the arts, culture and humanities, either formally or informally, a recent survey found. But attendance rates at…
- Where We Live
Seeding the next generation of farmers in Connecticut
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…
- Where We Live
'Teaching with truth and complexity': Checking in on the state's Black and Latino Studies elective
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…
- Where We Live
Connecticut residents work to aid the war effort in Ukraine
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…
- Where We Live
Forever young: The rise of the 'kidults'
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…
- Where We Live
Cups, discs, wands and swords: Tarot and 'divination' in Connecticut
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…
- Where We Live
Over 1,300 people from Afghanistan have resettled in CT since 2021. What resources are needed now?
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…
- Where We Live
Exploring gardening and farming in the AAPI community
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…
- Where We Live
Exploring Connecticut Wine Country
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…
Where We LiveExploring sea jellies on Connecticut's coastline and beyond
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…
Where We LiveEndangered sturgeon stage return to the Connecticut River
Sturgeon have existed for millions of years. These prehistoric fish, often described as "hardy" and "charismatic," are largely endangered. Atlantic sturgeon…
Where We LiveDiamondback Terrapins are the gem of all turtles
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…
Where We LiveConnecticut coral could play a key role in climate resilience
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…
- Where We Live
Feeling safe or creating trauma? How lockdown drills are impacting our schools
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…
- Where We Live
'Not all in your head': Examining endometriosis
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…
- Where We Live
Revisiting author chats with Chasten Buttigieg and Willie Mae Brown
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…