Where We Live
Ramadan: It's not just about fasting
For Muslims, Ramadan is the holiest month of the year. It’s marked by fasting, prayer and renewing one’s devotion to the faith. Here in Connecticut, institutions around the state are marking this holy time with a variety of celebrations. But throughout the world, Islamophobia is on the rise. Earlier this month in Waterbury, two young girls celebrating Ramadan were attacked by fellow students. During the attack, their hijabs were ripped off. Today, we hear what can be done to better support the Islamic community, and dive deeper into this holy time. GUESTS: Chaplain Aida Mansoor: Director of Field Education at Hartford International University Chad Moir: CEO of March Inc Saba Shahid: Author, entrepreneur and pilot Dia Fortenberry: Assistant Athletic Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Engagement at Wesleyan University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A look at the history of tap dance in America
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 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. This episode originally aired on December 2, 2024.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why J.R.R Tolkien’s imaginative worlds live on
Tolkien Reading Day is held on March 25th each year. Libraries here in Connecticut and across the globe mark this day by paying homage to the works of J.R.R Tolkien. They host “second breakfasts,” offer presentations on Hobbit lore, and encourage visitors to read their favorite passages aloud. This hour, we explore why Tolkien's characters and fantastical world building continues to resonate with readers today. GUESTS: David Thorn Wenzel, Illustrator and children's book artist best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit Michael Whelan: Illustrator specializing in fantasy and science fiction, winner of 15 Hugo Awards Kate Noonan: Senior Reference Librarian, South Windsor Public Library Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Daylight Saving Time: Who needs it?
Daylight Saving Time: it’s just losing one hour of sleep right? How bad can that be? But experts say, it goes beyond losing one hour of sleep. The practice of advancing clocks to make better use of daylight, can have long term disruptions to our circadian rhythm. That’s according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Today, we explore just how disruptive Daylight Saving Time can be to our sleep, our health and our behavior, and hear about some efforts to change it. Would you like to see Daylight Saving Time abolished?Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How federal funding cuts for biomedical research impact reproductive health
Reproductive health is historically understudied and underfunded in the United States. Scientists across Connecticut and beyond have been working to change that. Scientific initiatives like EndoRISE, a Connecticut-based program focused on advancing endometriosis research, are making strides toward better understanding reproductive health. This hour, we explore how President Trump’s recent funding cuts could impact their progress. GUESTS: Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter, CT Public Dr. Danielle Luciano: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-director of EndoRISE Dr. Lubna Pal: Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine Julie Rovner: Chief Washington Correspondent, KFF Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Health experts warn about future pandemics: Are we prepared?
This season alone, there have been over 30,000 COVID-19 cases in Connecticut. That’s according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Measles is on the rise across the United States, and the CDC is monitoring H5 bird flu activity as well. Is it time to start preparing for the next global pandemic? Last year, the World Health Organization published a checklist to help nations update their pandemic preparedness plans. Today, physicians across our state join us to talk about what we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to prepare for the next one. GUESTS: Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare Dr. Megan Ranney: Dean of Yale School of Public Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How we remember the COVID-19 pandemic
Five years ago today, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Since then, there have been over a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States alone. It can be challenging to recall a time with so much fear, trauma and loss. But today, we’re revisiting the earliest days of the pandemic and asking you, what do you remember? We’ll hear from the Pandemic Journaling Project out of UConn, and from Marked By COVID. This is a survivors-led organization working to establish a permanent National COVID memorial. What are your earliest memories of the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic? GUESTS: Kristin Urquiza: Co-founder of Marked By COVID Sarah Willen, PhD, MPH: Co-founder of the Pandemic Journaling Project and Professor of Anthropology at University of Connecticut Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Frontline workers remember five years since COVID-19 outbreak
It’s been five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. What began as a mysterious “flu-like” illness spread rapidly, killing over one million people in the United States and over seven million worldwide. That’s according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. And while half a decade has passed, many frontline workers remember the months of fear and uncertainty as though it was yesterday. This hour, hospital workers and a grocery store worker reflect on how the pandemic forever changed their jobs, what lessons they continue to carry forward today, and how they resist “collective forgetting” when it feels like the world has moved on. GUESTS: Sarah Peltier: Grocery at Stop & Shop in Simsbury, CT Audrey Silver: Senior Clinical Operations Manager at Hartford Healthcare Chaplain Rolando Hernandez Lizcano: Chaplain, Hartford Hospital Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Making Connecticut parks, forests and trails accessible to everyone
The National Park Service is gearing up for its busiest season of the year, with a smaller staff to assist visitors. The National Park Service has laid off over 1000 employees. Here in Connecticut demand for outdoor recreation has grown exponentially. There was a 75% increase in state park visitors in 2022. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is working to make parks accessible to everyone. Last year, they launched all-terrain wheelchairs at five Connecticut State Parks and Forests. We’ll hear more about that later. Today we hear about this effort and others making the outdoors more accessible for people with disabilities. GUESTS: Kevin Harkins: Vice President of the Southeast Community Center of the Blind Lisa Friedman: reporter covering climate policy and politics for the New York Times Mason Trumble: Deputy Commissioner at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP) Akiebia Hicks: Project Manager for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Great literature can be found in picture books
Children’s book author Mac Barnett has been named the Library of Congress' newest National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and during this appointment, he will be focusing on some really important literature: picture books. Picture books can inspire young readers to make reading a habit, but don’t dismiss them as solely books for kids. Mac Barnett believes that picture books are real literature and can be enjoyed at any age. Today, he joins us to talk about picture books and we also hear from picture book lovers locally. Kym Powe from the Connecticut State Library joins us. And we want to hear from you: do you have a favorite picture book? GUESTS: Mac Barnett: U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature at the Library of Congress, and children's book author Kym Powe: Children and Young Adult Consultant for the Connecticut State Library Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
RERUN: Why do we love K-Dramas? They help us heal, therapist says
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.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The mass appeal of black holes, plus local astronomical societies on connecting through the cosmos
Black holes aren’t just the stuff of science fiction; they’re real astronomical objects so dense, so massive, that nothing, not even light, escapes from them. Today, we’re getting lost in the void. Yale Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan joins us for an hour to talk about her research on these extraordinary objects. Last year, she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 for her research on how black holes form. Later, you don’t have to be a scientist to look up and appreciate the cosmos. We hear from planetariums and astronomical societies in our state that are connecting stargazers and space lovers around Connecticut. GUESTS: Priyamvada Natarajan: theoretical astrophysicist and Professor of Astronomy at Yale University Al Washburn: member at large and former president of the Astronomical Society of New Haven Brian Koehler: Associate Director of the Treworgy Planetarium at the Mystic Seaport Museum Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More than 1,000 medical facilities in Ukraine are decimated. Who is caring for the wounded?
Three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the war continues on and millions are facing dire humanitarian needs. Despite prior support from the United States that included billions of dollars in aid, President Donald Trump has now falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator. Today, we hear from Doctors United for Ukraine, a nonprofit working to train Ukrainian physicians, and equip them with the skills and expertise to address traumatic injuries in this region. We’ll also hear an update from the Yale Humanitarian Lab. GUESTS: Dr. Andrey Zinchuk: Vice President and Director of Doctors United for Ukraine at Yale Nathaniel Raymond: Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health Ian Lovett: foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal covering Ukraine Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Scientists are using AI technology to speak whale
This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England. We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild. And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale. GUESTS: Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley Kathryn Hulick: Science Journalist, Science News Explores Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CT State Comptroller Sean Scanlon talks audits, the state budget, and financial litearcy
In addition to handling all official state records, the Connecticut state comptroller acts as the official state financial watchdog. From a major audit of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and responding to unpredictable federal funding freezes, this office is having a very busy fiscal year. Today, Comptroller Scanlon joins us in the studio. We hear about Connecticut’s current fiscal state and this office’s priorities for the coming next fiscal year. Got a question about state finances or how this office operates? Join the conversation. GUESTS: Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon Keith Phaneuf: Connecticut Mirror state budget reporter Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thinking of eloping? One Connecticut couple shares their story
The average cost of a wedding in Connecticut is nearly $35,000. Many couples are changing the way they get married, some opting for a small or “micro” wedding with only a few close friends and family members. And others are deciding to elope. But the decision to elope isn’t always tied to wanting to avoid the price tag of a big wedding. Today, we hear from one couple who recently eloped at the start of the year. And if you are thinking about elopement, or maybe already tied the knot in this way, we want to hear from you! GUESTS: Kim Moran: artist and postal worker Rachel Moran: Graduate Intern of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing Pride Center at Eastern Connecticut State University Emma Thurgood: Elopement photographer, videographer and planner Additional voices featured in this hour: Janice Favreau: Connecticut Justice of the Peace George Gross: Your Queer Plants Shop Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter for Connecticut Public Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Connecticut native and concert violinist Sirena Huang on artistry and activism
Connecticut native Sirena Huang learned to play violin through the Suzuki method: a teaching philosophy based on the idea that all children can play music. At 11-years-old, she performed and gave a Ted Talk in California. Now, nearly twenty years later, she performs internationally as a world renowned violinist. She joins us for the hour to talk about her journey, her time touring and teaching in Taiwan, and her wish to inspire peace through music. We’ll also hear about her performances with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. GUESTS: Sirena Huang: concert violinist Linda Numagami: Resident Musician of Music Haven, and Violist of the Haven String Quartet Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Indie rock has a home in Connecticut
If you’ve been listening to Where We Live for awhile, you probably are pretty familiar with our theme song. But today, we introduce a new theme and hear from the band behind it. We’ll also hear from members of the indie rock community here in Connecticut. In the age of big sell out tours and stadium concerts, Connecticut bands are making their mark locally, establishing loyal fan bases and building community. Got a favorite local act? We want to hear from you. GUESTS: Peter Brail: member of Ghostwoods Holden Palmieri: member of Ghostwoods Allie Burnet: from the band Allie Burnet & The Proven Winners Brendan Toller: Director of Operations and New Initiatives at WPKN in Bridgeport Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How President Trump’s tariff plans may impact Connecticut’s businesses and consumers
President Trump has implemented tariffs on goods from China, and imports from Mexico and Canada may soon be affected as well. This hour, we offer “tariffs 101” – a look into what tariffs are, why the Trump administration is advocating for them, and how consumers and businesses in Connecticut may be impacted. We hear from business leaders across Connecticut on how they are preparing for upcoming changes. And, we explore how tariffs have impacted the U.S. economy in the past. GUESTS: Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror Dr. Mohammad Elahee: Professor of International Business, Quinnipiac University Wayne Pesce: President, CT Food Association Chris Davis: Vice President of Public Policy, CBIA Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How stories preserve the Mohegan way of life with Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel
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.
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