Where We Live

A new exhibit at Yale’s natural history museum is highlighting a culture with deep ties to many in the state. It’s called “ ¡Taíno Vive! ” or “Taíno lives,” and it’s all about the native people of the Caribbean. Today we celebrate the history and contributions of Taínos. It’s a culture with roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jama...

How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder? Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved. Guests: Katie Heidsiek:  Director of Exhibitions for the Conne...

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. But it’s been a rough winter for those growing crops and raising livestock. Today, we hear how this winter season has impacted Connecticut agriculture and farms. More  Connecticut farmers  are working to bring new products to market and maybe inspire your tastebuds along the way. We hear from one farm doing just that. Find your l...

Before I Forget, a novel by Tory Henwood Hoen. At some point in life, there is a good chance that you might become a caretaker. “Before I Forget”  is the story of life, love, memory loss and all the ups and downs of caregiving. It was inspired by author Tory Henwood Hoen’s own experience with caregiving. The story follows a young woman named Cricket. As her father’s Al...

In an age of increased isolation and loneliness, what does it mean to be a good neighbor, and build community? Today, we hear from groups across Connecticut working to organize, support their neighborhoods and inspire change. We’ll also get local reactions to the unfolding situation in Iran and the Middle East. Guests: Farhan Memon:  Chairman, CAIR Connecticut, the state chapter of the...

Connecticut is facing a historic decline in public school enrollment, with enrollment dropping below half a million for the first time in two decades. This effect is especially pronounced in Hartford, which saw a 5% decline in student enrollment amid a $45 million dollar school deficit. Now, city officials are looking to bring students back — and decrease the deficit. Later on, we’ll h...

Speaking at the State of the Union,  President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Today, we break down what was said at the Sta...

It’s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace. This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians . Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion....

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...

Seeing yourself in a book can open a world of possibilities. But diverse books need more than diverse characters, they need diverse stories. Although many efforts have been made to expand the books and curriculum used to teach Black history, African American children’s literature can still be quite limited. Today, Black authors join us to talk about expanding Black literature and Black stori...

“ An Arcane Inheritance ," the latest novel of author Kamilah Cole, weaves dark academia with occult secrets at a fictional Ivy League school based in Hartford. The story follows the ambitious, determined Ellory Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in political science. A lavish scholarship allows her to begin her college education at Warren Uni...

What does it mean to take a break? Going on a walk or doodling during a meeting? Maybe turning off your phone and reading a book? For author Melissa Febos, years of destructive relationships left her in need of a different kind of break — giving up sex. She embarked on a year-long journey of abstinence from romantic and sexual relationships, documenting what she discovered about herself in &...

This show either exists or doesn't exist. It's possible you won't know until you listen to it. Today, we're getting quarky, exploring the weird — and mind-boggingly small — world of quantum mechanics. What is it? Should we be excited? Scared? Some superposition of both? We’ll also hear about new state and federal investments into quantum technology, and learn how Connecticut coll...

For students and teachers around the state, snow means one thing: maybe it'll be a snow day? This hour we celebrate the snow day. We talk about snow day rituals and superstitions. And we look at the past, present, and future of snowfall in our state. GUESTS: Stephen Young:  Professor Emeritus in the Geography and Sustainability Department at Salem State University Frankie Graziano:  Host...

Nearly  300,000 Connecticut residents are of Puerto Rican heritage . That’s according to Census Bureau data. Today, we take a look at what’s being done to raise the next generation of Puerto Ricans here in the diaspora. From getting children books on Puerto Rican history, to celebrating holidays like Dia de los Reyes, there are many ways to celebrate Puerto Rican culture and histo...

One out of every four Americans is a caregiver , caring for partners, parents, grandparents or children. They juggle living their own lives while taking loved ones to the doctor, dispensing medication and even managing insurance. The struggles of these caregivers are often invisible. Many face negative financial impacts, isolation and anxiety. On this episode, we'll hear from caregivers as they sh...

The Appalachian Trail spans 52.2 miles in Connecticut and climbs over Bear Mountain, the tallest point in the state. Today, we listen to an episode of "Common Land" podcast, which follows producer Matt Podolsky’s hike of the trail with his mother. We’ll hear about the history of the trail here in Connecticut, along with some major obstacles that he encountered. Podolsky will join us la...

Last year, the National Institutes of Health drastically cut funding for medical research.  This disrupted the work of academics and researchers across the country. Clinical trials and scientific projects were cancelled, and funding for ongoing research was revoked. This meant big cuts in funding to research institutions here in Connecticut. UConn lost $41 million from research grant terminat...

This episode originally aired in 2025. Dry January is a month-long campaign that revolves around cutting out alcohol or reducing alcohol intake for the month of January. Today’s guests say that life without alcohol can be joyous, and they’re creating spaces for the sober and sober curious to try it out. We talk to two owners of sober spaces in our state, and try out some mocktails they...

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 o...

If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling wondering why sleep won’t come, you’re not alone. In fact, six out of 10 adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. That’s according to the National Sleep Foundation . This hour, we hear from someone diagnosed with insomnia and a sleep expert. They'll help us understand why rest feels so out of reach, and what might help u...

When tough times hit, do you hit the pause button, or do you just barrel through? Nearly six years ago, amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, author Katherine May released  “Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.” Her memoir explores her own experience finding peace in times of both spiritual and seasonal difficulty. It inspired readers throughout the worl...

It’s been nearly five years since recreational cannabis was legalized in Connecticut. Since then dozens of dispensaries have opened across the state, making purchasing products easier than ever. But new research says  cannabis use among teens is rising, and that evidence doesn't support using cannabis as a medical cure-all. Today, an update on cannabis use and  regulation in our st...

The U.S. produces over a billion pounds of cheese monthly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Connecticut is a small, but mighty, part of that. Today, we’ll hear about all steps of the cheesemaking process from nationally-recognized experts producing Connecticut cheese. They’ll share the stories behind their products and what keeps customers coming back to that special Co...

Fever, chills, fatigue, cough, headache and a sore throat.  A new variant of the flu means more people are suffering from the virus this season.  But the flu can be more than just a nuisance illness — it can be deadly. Today, Connecticut physicians join us to answer questions about what to do to protect yourself and your family from the virus. Flu-related hospitalizations are risin...