Where We Live

In April, 18-year-old Rihan was mistakenly detained by U.S. Immigation and Customs Enforcement. The teen, who lives in Cheshire, Connecticut, spent two weeks in a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Today, Rihan is back home and just graduated from Cheshire High.  But with his legal status in limbo what's next for a young man with a dream to attend college and an uncertain future i...

The “sandwich generation” is made up of people balancing the demands of raising children while caring for aging loved ones. This hour, we learn about the emotional, professional and financial realities facing this population of caregivers. Journalist Kelli María Korducki discusses her reporting on caregiving and career sacrifice, while University of Connecticut professor Laura M...

Advanced degrees are increasingly out of reach for many. Receiving financial aid has gotten more difficult too. Many schools are already rethinking how they support their graduate students. We'll get an update on financial aid and hear what some Connecticut institutions are doing to make their graduate programming more affordable and accessible. Guests: Emily Roberts:  Financial Educator and...

A recent study  found that the  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  may have contributed to a decline in suicide deaths among young people. This hour, we learn what the research tells us and what questions remain. We also hear from Connecticut advocates working to connect people with mental health resources and reduce stigma. Later, two residents share their personal experiences navi...

There currently are over  2,000 confirmed cases of measles in the United States of America , including some cases in Connecticut’s surrounding states. Today, we get an update on measles closer to home, and abroad. Plus, we’ll hear about the  Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other parts of central Africa. Guests: Dr. Ulysses Wu : Chief Epidemiologist at...

Actor and playwright Sam Shepard wrote over 40 plays and worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. After his death, Connecticut biographer Robert Dowling started a journey to learn everything he could about this larger-than-life artist. His book is “Coyote: The Dramatic Lives of Sam Shepard.” Today, we listen back to a conversation with Robert Dowling. He’s a profes...

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work and communicate. Now, Pope Leo XIV is weighing in, warning that AI poses urgent moral and ethical challenges for society. This hour, we explore the growing debate over artificial intelligence from the Vatican to Connecticut. We’ll hear from philosophers, theologians and researchers about the risks, rewards and unanswered questions...

There’s no question that transportation impacts nearly every part of our lives – from getting to work and school, to accessing health care and building community. This hour, we’re digging into Connecticut’s plan for statewide transportation improvementsefforts. We’ll listen back to “ Connecticut on the Move, ” a panel conversation recorded at the Parkville...

Contrary to popular belief, host Catherine Shen is a human with real human emotions. The fact is, she cares about her feelings! In this hour, technical producer Dylan Reyes returns for a conversation with Cat on growing up and the music that shaped them. Music Featured (in order): " Moon Prism Power Make Up! " by Arisawa Takanori " Bright Sized Life " by Pat Metheny " Fool " by MAYDAY " Tayo'y Mag...

When students at Simsbury High School discovered that there was little to no data on Asian American students in Connecticut, they launched a new project to change that. Through out this year, these students have been collecting oral histories from Asian American voices across Connecticut in the oral history project  “Make Us Count.” The project debuts at a community-wide event hap...

For migratory birds, nighttime light can be deadly. Artificial light draws birds off course, increasing the risk of exhaustion, window collisions and predation. Experts say the problem is growing as Connecticut skies become brighter. This hour, we explore how light pollution impacts birds, river ecosystems, insects and even human health. Plus, an amateur astronomer shares why protecting dark skies...

Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the  U.S. Poet Laureate. Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But  while studying at MIT,  he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life. Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poet...

Charlie Widmer describes himself as a multi-genre musician, but his range goes far beyond most artists. From opera to bluegrass, he's pretty much done it all. Widmer is now the Connecticut State Troubadour, an official position devoted to music education and community. One of his major goals is to make more people comfortable pursuing music, he said. "My whole goal with being an educator is to try...

“ 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...

The postpartum period can be one of the most vulnerable and challenging times in a parent’s life. It's also one of the least talked about. That's despite mental health disorders being the leading complication of childbirth in the United States of America,  affecting 1 in 5 women . The postpartum period can bring depression, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. And too o...

It takes a village to raise a child. Today, we're exploring what it means to be an aunt and the many ways these important figures provide mentorship, guidance and care. Whether you are a biological or surrogate aunt, these role models are instrumental in our life. But what does it mean to be an aunt in 2026? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Chef Ham El-Waylly straddles two very different worlds: fine dining and home cooking. In his new cookbook, he shares the recipes and memories that bring it all together. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is another war happening in the Middle East. The challenges service members are facing are quite different than they were in years past. Today, we get an update on the Connecticut Army National Guard and hear what's being done to support Guard units. We hear from active Guard members and the mental health workers supporting these troops. Guests: Staff Sgt.   Camryn Rawlings:  6th R...

Tick activity is on the rise. Connecticut scientists  are seeing unseasonably high levels of tick activity in the state this year . That uptick carries big potential impacts for human health. Lyme disease is one of the many diseases these parasites can carry. We ask what you can do to protect yourself. We’ll also get the latest on another environmental hazard with big health impacts in...

Journalist and author Fortesa Latifi remembers the first time she stumbled upon child influencer content. She noticed a pattern of family influencers sharing incredibly intimate content of their children's firsts. "They were shaving their legs for the first time or getting potty trained, and it would get millions of views," she said. "And I just started thinking how strange it would be to grow up...

About one in four U.S. adults take care of a loved one – from bathing to managing medical appointments. And as the American population is aging, more of us are becoming caregivers. We’re exploring caregiving and aging in a series we’re calling Caregiving in Connecticut. You can hear the stories and conversations this week during Morning Edition and All Things Considered and you c...

At America's founding, who was entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? This was the topic of discussion at a recent event at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History . Connecticut Public special correspondent Diane Orson led a panel discussion with several Native American historians. Today, we listen back to that conversation. It's an extension of Still Here: Native American R...

We live in an age of convenience. From one device, millions of books can be accessed and stored. E-readers have become so ubiquitous that even if you don't personally own one, you probably know someone who does. But, have you ever stopped to think about how we get our e-books? And once you do get it, do you actually own it? Today, we will be digging through these questions as we explore e-books an...

Every year, the Westport Library hosts a series of author conversations bringing the community together to bond over a book and a shared love of reading. This year, Where We Live host Catherine Shen hosted one of these conversations and spoke to award-winning author Eiren Caffall. Today, we will listen back to that conversation. Caffall is the author of “All the Water in the World.” It...

Death is not something that a lot of us like to think about. But making plans about end-of-life doesn’t need to be scary. Our experts today say it could be empowering. Today, we hear from the  Connecticut Death Collective,  and hear new approaches to end-of-life care, and memorialization. Later this month, the Mattatuck Museum and Riverside Cemetery, will host the first ever CT Dea...