Where We Live

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...

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Success isn’t just about talent or intelligence – it’s about how we handle our emotions. Marc Brackett, founding director of the  Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence , says emotional regulation is a skill, one that can be taught and practiced like any other. This hour, he joins us to talk about why our feelings matter, what happens when we ignore them, and how adults can...

There’s an old saying that goes “you are what you eat.” You might take that phrase with a grain of salt, but doctors agree: what we eat affects our blood pressure, blood sugar, cardiovascular health and more. It's knowledge that's generations old — food as a source of nourishment and healing. Essentially, food can act as medicine. From Ayurveda and Chinese herbs to modern-d...

It all started with a typo. Anelise Chen was going through a difficult divorce. Her career and job security was tenuous. She just got into a bike accident leaving her with bruised ribs, and she received a text from her mom: “Clam down! Just clam down.”  This typo inspired a journey of healing: a journey that included retreating, diving into her family history and learning everythi...

Here at Where We Live, this was a big year for books. Not only did we get the chance to speak with some terrific authors, we also launched our Where We Read newsletter, a destination for die-hard book lovers and the literary curious alike. Today, we are going to listen back to a few of our favorite author conversations. We hear from Connecticut natives Ocean Vuong and Wally Lamb. Listen back to th...

What meal brings you back to childhood? This hour, two local children’s authors share how their young protagonists find meaning in the kitchen, using food as a tool to explore culture, loss, and belonging. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cat Shen has been hosting Where We Live long enough for the show to  use a fork , and yet very little is known about her. In this hour, technical producer and partner-in-mischief Dylan Reyes sits down with Cat to get the inside scoop on the reporter turned host. The pair discuss some of their favorite songs, defining life moments and what it means to be the face of a show that's celebrating 2...

Connecticut native and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir, "All the Way to the River," tells the story of her late partner, Rayya Elias. The two began as fast friends, then fell in love. But as they faced tragedy together, their shared struggles with addiction put them on a collision course with catastrophe. This hour, Gilbert joins us to talk about Rayya — “the lo...

From a mass shooting in   Australia  that left 15 people dead, to a shooting at Brown University that killed two students, the world has been rocked by gun violence at the end of 2025. In the U.S., 125 people die from a gun injury, and more than 200 people are shot and wounded each day, according to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety. In Connecticut, there were at least 339 incidents...

Tuesday is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. This hour, we celebrate the beloved author's work, and look at why her six novels have endured for centuries. Plus, we hear from a horticulturalist about her love of gardens, and talk with a local historical clothing expert about fashion in Austen's time. GUESTS: Barbara Benedict:  Charles A. Dana Professor of English at Trinity College...

Why does Christmas bring out the ghosts? This hour, we dig into the world of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, and the Victorian obsession with spiritualism that shaped so many holiday tales. We also explore two Connecticut productions of  A Christmas Carol  to see how performers keep this annual tradition fresh. GUESTS : Wesley Broulik :  producing artistic director,  Times Fool...