Where We Live

Today, we’re celebrating the New Year. Are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year? New Year's Resolutions come in all shapes, sizes, and themes. New Year's resolutions are often about making drastic changes, but they don’t have to be. From fitness and health to relationships, friendships and spirituality, there’s no one resolution that will help you make the most out of 2025. We’ll share some of our intentions going into the New Year, and reflect on 2024. And we want to hear from you too! GUESTS: Chion Wolf: host of Audacious with Chion Wolf Robyn Doyon-Aitken: Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poet laureates do a lot more than write poetry. Since 1985, Connecticut state poet laureates have worked to promote the literary arts and poetry throughout the Nutmeg state, visiting schools, performing spoken word and passing on poetry to the next generation of writers. There is no straight path to this position. Some of our guests today have been writing poetry all their lives. Others got bitten by the poetry bug a little later. Today, three poet laureates from around our state join us in the studio. GUESTS: Antoinette Brim Bell: Connecticut State Poet Laureate Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate Frederick-Douglass Knowles II: Hartford Poet laureate Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. This show originally aired on August 13, 2024.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Why do we revisit the things we loved as kids? What’s the lasting power of our favorite TV shows and movies? A new podcast from Connecticut Public looks for answers in a big, purple dinosaur. It’s called Generation Barney.  This hour, we listen to episode 3 of the podcast – “Love 2 Hate.”  And later, we’re joined by an expert in anti-fandom, Emily Contois, who explains why people connect over shared hatred.  GUESTS: Emily Contois, Media studies professor and faculty in residence, University of Tulsa  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in the 90s, Barney the purple dinosaur was everywhere, including in our living rooms. If you were a kid or a parent back then, chances are good that you had a stuffed Barney lying around your home.  This hour, we listen to episode 4 – “Purple Capitalism” – of Connecticut Public’s new podcast,  Generation Barney.  And later, we’re joined by an expert in toy studies, Meredith Bak, who explains why merchandise played a big role in the TV show’s success. GUESTS: Meredith Bak, Associate Professor of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University – Camden  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the author of the children’s book My Mama is a Pilot, Saba Shahid says she wants children to feel “represented and valued” through her stories. Only 1% of commercial airline pilots are women of color. And Saba Shahid’s path to becoming a pilot is a little bit different than most. It actually started as a pandemic hobby! Saba Shahid is this year’s recipient of the Girl Scouts Legacy of Leadership Award. She joins us for the hour to talk about her remarkable career, and her work as a Lifetime Girl Scout. GUESTS: Saba Shahid: Author, pilot, and recipient of this year's Girl Scouts of Connecticut 2024 Legacy of Leadership Award Elicia Pegues Spearman: CEO of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. This episode originally aired September 17, 2024.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our opinions and ideas, thoughts and feelings, and how our senses are taken in are unique to each of us.   So when the founding scientists of neuroscience first started illustrating and studying the brain, they came to some very different conclusions on how it works.   How we think, how the brain works, and the history of neuroscience is the subject of the Yale Peabody Musuem’s new exhibit, “Mind/Matter: The Neuroscience of Perception, Attention and Memory Launched.”   We hear from the curators of this exhibit. Later, we hear from one arts organization working to empower artists with disabilities.   GUESTS: Daniel Colón Ramos: Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at Yale University and Associate Director of the Wu Tsai Institute David Skelly: Director of the Yale Peabody Museum Rebecca Maloney: Senior Art Program Manager at Inspire Arts, Connecticut based program supporting artists with disabilities.   Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, made its debut at the Olympics this summer. But the sport has an illustrious history. This hour, we take you from the streets of the Bronx to the global stage.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023, employment in retail increased by nearly 500,000 people from October to December. Additionally, there is an increased demand for healthcare services during the holiday season. Vehicular accidents, fires and decorating injuries are all too common. That’s according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you’ve recently spent any time shopping, or at a doctor’s office, odds are you’ve met someone who will be working through the holiday season. Today, we hear from retail and healthcare workers and learn about their experiences working during the holidays. If you'll be working through this holiday season, we want to hear from you. GUESTS: Lucy Sciarretto: Seafood Clerk at Stop & Shop in Southbury, CT Audrey Silver: Senior Clinical Operations Manager at Hartford Healthcare Ellen Benson: Associate Director of Procedural Services and Manager of the Sterile Processing Department UConn Health Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Korean Dramas, or “K-Dramas,” are gaining popularity internationally. Netflix recently poured billions of dollars into Korean content to meet the rising demand. So what sets K-Dramas apart from other TV genres? And why do viewers say that watching K-Dramas has helped them heal, grieve, and even feel less lonely? This hour, we’re joined by Jeanie Y. Chang, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health.” And later, we hear from members of a local K-Drama meetup group, whose shared passion for K-Dramas has taken them all over the globe. GUESTS: Jeanie Y. Chang: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health“ Sheena Williams: Organizer of the South Windsor K-Drama Meetup Group Evelyn Angry-Smith: Founder and co-organizer of the South Windsor K-Drama Meetup Group Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortality rates among American Indian and Black women are three times higher than the rate for white women. To understand the racial disparities we see in today’s healthcare system, it could be worth examining the past. Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens is part of a growing group of historians examining the history of race and medicine. She joins us for the hour. In her book Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and The Origins of American Gynecology, she explores the early history of reproductive healthcare, where enslaved women were subject to forced experimentation and operations, without anesthesia. Later, we learn about the Hear Her Campaign. GUESTS: Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens: Associate Professor of History & Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut. She is also the author of Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and The Origins of American Gynecology Dr. Veronica Pimentel: Maternal fetal medicine specialist and Director of Research of the OB GYN Residency program at St Francis Hospital and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some frustrated tenants are forming tenant unions to fight back against rent hikes, no fault evictions and to push for safer, more secure housing. We’ll hear from the Connecticut Tenant Union. Later, DataHaven joins us to share the findings of their most recent wellbeing survey which reported the “highest rate of financial insecurity since the start of statewide data collection in 2015.” Housing is a big contributor to financial insecurity, as is the cost of food. If you’re a tenant in our state, we want to hear from you. How much will your rent increase this year? GUESTS: Ginny Monk: children's issues and housing reporter for the Connecticut Mirror Mark Abraham: Executive Director for DataHaven, a nonprofit working to collect and provide data on quality of life throughout Connecticut Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holiday season can bring financial stress, more time at home, and pressure to spend time with family. According to advocates, these conditions place survivors of domestic violence at high risk. This hour, we talk to advocates about how they are meeting the growing need for domestic violence services across the state and why the expiration of American Rescue Plan funds could make their work more difficult. And later, we address questions surrounding reaching out to domestic violence crisis centers if you’re undocumented or not ready to involve law enforcement. GUESTS: Meghan Scanlon: President and CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Danielle DeRosier: Senior Director of Community Programs, Prudence Crandall Center Sheila Hayre: Clinical Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carolyn Kuan has been the music director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour, we speak to her about her work as a conductor, and the driving forces behind her music. Like many organizations, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has put forth diversity and inclusivity commitments stating that they are, quote “diversifying programming by considering race, ethnicity and gender identity in the composers whose music performed.” We talk about how the orchestra is striving to become more inclusive and diverse, and what that work looks like. We’ll also hear from Tyler Kline, he’s a composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a radio program that features work from the great living composers, especially those with underrepresented backgrounds. You can listen to the Modern Notebook on Connecticut Public on Saturdays at 10pm. GUESTS: Carolyn Kuan: Music Director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra Tyler Kline: composer and host of the Modern Notebook, a program by PRX, and host of the podcast "Music/Maker" Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Dylan Reyes contributed to this show which originally aired May 28, 2024Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fire broke out in October of this year at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin. It took officials weeks to contain the brushfires. The Connecticut National Guard borrowed helicopters to dump more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fire. While attempting to fight the fire, tragically, Wethersfield volunteer firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr. died. Sharkevich was riding a utility task vehicle on one of the mountain trails when it rolled over. The recent brush fires in Connecticut are forcing us to face the state of our changing climate and prepare for a future where wildfires could become more normal in our region. John Vaillant, author of the 2023 book, Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning World recently penned an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Northeast Is Burning.” He’ll join us today to react to the recent wildfires, and talk about what we can do to prepare. GUESTS: John Vaillant: author of Fire Weather: On the Front Lines of a Burning World Dr. Saud Anwar: Connecticut State Senator Mason Trumble: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America. Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage. Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today. GUESTS: Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford  Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architect and attorney Sara Bronin chaired the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission for seven years. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform in our state. Her new book, Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, goes beyond Hartford and examines how zoning molds cities and communities across the nation. Zoning isn’t just about housing; it touches every aspect of our lives, including our physical and emotional health. Better zoning starts with better data about zoning. There are thousands of different zoning codes, and Sara is working to log them all through the National Zoning Atlas. She currently serves as the 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. GUEST: Sara Bronin: Founder of DeSegregateCT and author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mohegan Tribe—a sovereign and federally recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern Connecticut—has a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling. This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts. This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian. Melissa is part of a long line of “culture bearers,” tasked with keeping the traditions of the Mohegan Tribe alive through stories. GUESTS: Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the Mohegan Tribe’s vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanksgiving is a week away…you ready? Maybe you're brushing up on those cooking skills for a Friendsgiving this weekend. If the holiday is just one big excuse to gather friends and family around a table, we have a treat for you. Lidia Bastianich, the award-winning chef and host of “Lidia’s Kitchen” on PBS is our guest. Lidia talks about her journey to becoming an American, and her latest book - which is all about family recipes. She also shares tips for cooking a turkey and all the fixins’. We invite listeners to share their family food traditions with us on our social platforms and on air: 888-720-WNPR. GUEST: Lidia Bastianich: Host of Lidia’s Kitchen on PBS for more than 25 years, she’s the author of a memoir, My American Dream, and many cookbooks. Her latest is Lidia's From Our Family Table to Yours, which she wrote with her daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali. RECIPES BY LIDIA BASTIANICH: Apple Cranberry CrumbleBeer Braised Short RibsMezzi Rigatoni with Raw Tomato Sauce Plus, find even more recipes from Lidia's PBS shows on our dedicated food page. Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some studies show that working with your hands can have a lot of cognitive and emotional benefits. Creating something with your hands can be a deeply satisfying process, and for some students, it can set them on a path for a real career in engineering. That’s where Makerspaces come in. Across the state, makerspaces are providing places where students of all ages can go and learn a new trade or craft with the help of some exceptional makers, and really advanced equipment! Today, we hear from MakerspaceCT, a Hartford based skills development center. Later, we learn how libraries are becoming hubs for innovation as well. GUESTS: Samuel Ferri: coordinator with Studio 20 South, a digital maker studio at the West Hartford Library Paul Lavoie: Chief Manufacturing Officer of the state of Connecticut Cole Grosner: Education Director for MakerspaceCT Devra Sisitsky: Founder and Executive Director of MakerspaceCT Care Verikas: co-founder Bristol Bazaar, an indoor makers market that is open year round Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus. Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to Disabled World, an independent Health and Disability news source. This hour, we talk about why invisible illnesses are difficult to diagnose and how scientists are trying to change that. GUESTS: Michayla Savitt, State Government Reporter, Connecticut Public Jennifer Crystal, Author of “One Tick Stopped the Clock” Kelsi Carolan, Assistant Professor and licensed clinical social worker, University of Connecticut Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.