Where We Live

Domestic violence is more common than many people realize, and leaving an abusive relationship can be dangerous. We talk with leaders in Connecticut’s fight to end domestic violence about recognizing unhealthy relationships, helping loved ones, and teaching young people about healthy relationships and consent. We also look at how communities can hold people who cause harm accountable and why...

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...

After nearly seven years with Where We Live, Senior Producer Tess Terrible is moving on to her next adventure of public radio. This episode is a collection of her favorite segments. Here on Where We Live, no matter what the topic is, we always try to end the hour with hope. We’re listening back to a few interviews that have stayed with us: they’re conversations that have encourage...

Renowned New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine has co-authored over twenty books, taught at Vanderbilt Divinity School and is currently the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. But when she found out that she was going to become the next president of the Catholic Biblical Association, a...

What was your favorite toy growing up? Maybe it was a truck, a dollhouse, a set of blocks, or something you dragged everywhere until it practically fell apart.   This hour, we explore what makes a great toy, hear what researchers learned after studying children's play for a decade, and explore the latest trends shaping the toy industry.   Plus, we meet a Connecticut entrepreneur building...

When you look around your room, what do you see? More specifically, what do you see that you love? Is it a cool souvenir? Maybe a seashell? Or a family photo that always brings back good memories? Connecticut-based interior designer and textile artist Sophie von Oertzen Williamson uses tension, textiles and lots of color to make living spaces warm and inviting. She is the author of the new book &l...

If you’re looking for a new read that’s a blend of fiction and non-fiction storytelling, Abigail Savitch-Lew’s debut novel, “Livonia Chow-Mein” should be next on your reading list. The story is centered around a Chinese family-owned restaurant in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and its impact on the neighborhood’s Jewish and Black residents over the course of a century....

There’s something about fall in Connecticut that makes even the most ordinary Saturday feel a little more special. Maybe it’s a walk through the changing leaves, a  warm cider donut  after  apple picking , or the annual debate over which apple variety reigns supreme. This hour, we’re rounding up some of the things that make autumn here so much fun, including a few...

This week, leaders from around the world are gathering to discuss global crises, climate change, pandemic preparedness and artificial intelligence at the  UN General Assembly. Today, we get an update from humanitarian aid organizations based right here in Connecticut. Members of these organizations will take part in the assembly. Plus, we learn how artists are influencing the dialogue on&nbsp...

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.

More than 7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease  . And that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades. To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, we look at the latest developments in Alzheimer’s research, diagnosis, and treatment, and ask what they mean for patients and families. We also explore the emotional realities of living w...

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic: Do those words ring any bells? Maybe from that old earth science class? Don’t lose your marbles! Today, we’re talking about rocks. Did you know that Connecticut now has a new state rock? Housatonic marble has officially received this prestigious title of Connecticut’s state rock. Today, we learn how it all happened. Later, science educators t...

Last month,  ICE made over 100 arrests in Connecticut.  Communities are not staying silent. After an arrest takes place, it can leave family members shaken and unable to find a way forward. But community members are stepping up to offer their support. There have been protests against these arrests. There’s also the support that comes with organized meal trains, walking children to...

We know football players take some big hits. Now,  new research  is giving us a clearer picture of how repeated head impacts can affect the brain, including findings of C.T.E. – a degenerative brain disease – in 215 of 878 former N.F.L. players whose brains were studied. But the risks aren’t limited to professional football. Young athletes in many sports can suffer conc...

September 11, 2001 fell on a Tuesday. It was the start of the academic year. It was just another day in the classroom for students and teachers. Today, we talk with teachers and educators about that day. They share how they are teaching the history of this important day to the students. Guests: Jennifer Ladd: Teacher at Darien Public Schools  Jack Oehm: a retired FDNY Battalion Commander work...

AI tools might be able to write a decent email, but can it write a book? Today, we hear how AI is shaking up the book world for publishers, writers and readers alike. One local rare and vintage bookseller joins us to talk about what this has meant for her company. One author shares her experience after her work was allegedly stolen by AI research company, Anthropic. Guests: Colleen Lynch:  Ow...

Third spaces are those social spaces that aren’t your home or your workplace. They’re those great in-between environments where you can come by just to hangout with your community. They can act as the building block of a healthy, thriving community. Although many of these spaces have disappeared, there’ are efforts to bring them back. Today, we take a look at third spaces in Conn...

Caring for a child takes time, money and flexibility – all things that can be hard to come by when you're also trying to work a full time job. Connecticut has taken steps to ease that pressure, including a paid family and medical leave program and a new investment in early childhood education. But families still face high costs, limited availability and childcare schedules that don't always...

Over 40% of Connecticut drivers admitted to speeding,  at least sometimes.  Some say they speed to avoid holding up traffic, while others are simply trying to reach their destination faster. Speeding might be considered the new normal, but it’s still dangerous. Last year, there were over 7,000 speeding-related crashes in the state. Today, Connecticut Department of Transportation Co...

It’s back-to-school week for many students in Connecticut. Parents — are you ready for the upcoming school year? The Connecticut State Board of Education is urging all schools to implement cellphone restrictions. We hear how school districts are tackling this and how it will be enforced. Do you want to see a cellphone ban in your school district? Email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org. P...

School is back in session! That means calendars are filling up, and suddenly there’s always somewhere to be and something to do. But what if the problem isn’t that there isn’t enough time — it’s that we’ve become a little too good at filling every minute of it? This hour,   we explore what our chronically hurried culture is doing to our minds, bodies, famil...

Chris Bohjalian is the author of over twenty books, but his latest novel “The Amateur” pulls on his own lived experience working as a golf caddy. The story follows Mira, an 18-year-old golf prodigy. One afternoon, while practicing at her prestigious country club, she hits a stray ball right into the temple of her classmate’s head, killing him almost instantly. Where We Live host...

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic: Do those words ring any bells? Maybe from that old earth science class? Don’t lose your marbles! Today, we’re talking about rocks. Did you know that  Connecticut now has a new state rock?  Housatonic marble has officially received this prestigious title of Connecticut’s state rock. Today, we learn how it all happened. Later, science...

What makes someone willingly leave the safety of shore and head into the unknown? Connecticut adventurer,  Elizabeth Fry , has swum some of the world’s most challenging open-water routes, while Guilford-native,  Brec Morgan , spent four and a half years sailing around the globe alone. This hour, they talk about the fear, solitude and exhilaration of their journeys – and the e...

You’ve probably heard of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But the stages of grief aren’t always linear. The grieving is almost always a little messy. And when a child dies, navigating grief can become a lifelong journey. Today, two parents who have experienced the death of a child join us and share their experience, and how they’ve chann...