Where We Live

"An act of translation is always an act of betrayal." This idea, and the questions it inspires, are central to author Rebecca or RF Kuang’s 2022 novel, Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution. As the title promises, the book also explores the nature of revolution and the "necessity of violence," in addition to those complex questions surrounding...

The curly hair movement – and market – is growing, as more people learn to style and to celebrate their natural hair. This hour, we hear from one salon that’s just for natural curls in Connecticut. Luvena Leslie opened  The Curly Hair Salon  in 2011. "So many people have had bad experiences before they come to us," Leslie says. Viola Clune, a Yale student and editor of the New Journal, recently wr...

Today, we're airing the first and second episode of the new podcast Unforgotten. It’s a history lesson many of us didn’t get in school: Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut and across New England. Enslaved people helped build the foundation of much of this state. In this five-episode podcast from reporter and producer Diane Orson and editorial consultant and curator Frank Mitchell talk about effo...

In 2023, more than 6 million animals entered shelters and rescues in the U.S., according to a recent report from Shelter Animals Count. Believe it or not, those numbers are down from pre-pandemic reports. Over the summer, Connecticut news outlets reported that animal shelters in our state were "bursting at the seams" and unable to keep up with calls from people trying to surrender pets. This hour,...

A multi-year investigative report  has shown that High Road Schools, a group of eight publicly funded, privately run schools for children in special education, must make improvements.  The report cites  several incidents of teachers without proper certification managing classrooms, overuse of restraint and seclusion, and a total lack of proper education for “the state’s most vulnerable students.” ...

This hour, we preview several historical exhibits spotlighting local artists, many of whom were touched by the Pop Art Movement percolating just over the border in New York. This includes prolific artist couple Leo Jensen and Dalia Ramanauskas. We'll explore what it means to be an artist in community — in Connecticut or New York — and how Pop Art changed that. 1 of 6The exhibit "Avant Colony: Unea...

Flannel and blue jeans - these staples are the backbone of American fashion and the textile industry. Are they part of your wardrobe? Textiles, fabrics and clothing is a dying industry here in the U.S. But author Steven Kurutz says that  some makers and creators are trying to change that. New York Times reporter and author Steven Kurutz joins us today to talk about his new book  American Flannel:...

Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop . But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?" This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice S...

Around the globe, artists are using their mediums to show  how climate change is impacting our planet. Today, we’re exploring the  convergence of art and science.  We'll be talking with artists using their craft to have conversations about the environment. Earlier this year,  Where We Live talked about how snow loss is impacting our ecosystems and community here in Connecticut.  Today, we hear fro...

Tri-state area or New England? Nutmeg or Constitution State? "Stuffy, preppy, sleepy" ? What really makes Connecticut Connecticut, and what stereotypes can we stand to shake off? After the state's recent rebranding effort, it's a debate that has found its way to the national stage. This hour, Catherine Shen is joined by a roundtable of Connecticut Public hosts, as we debate what defines Connecticu...

According to the  National Institutes of Health, average body weight drastically increased across the board for men and women during the pandemic lockdown. Simply eating less and exercising more hasn’t been that effective when it comes to weight loss. In efforts to fight weight stigma,  doctors are embracing a new idea that weight loss isn’t all about willpower and health is defined by more than j...

In late January, Reuters reported that “some 70 U.S. cities, including Chicago and Seattle, have passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war," with the majority calling for a cease-fire. Several Connecticut city and town councils have considered resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Bridgeport passed one of these non-binding agreements in January, Hartford City Council recently rej...

For kids today, there’s a whole new career path: social media influencer.  In fact, 57 percent of Gen Zs say they’d be an influencer. But some young people aren’t waiting to become social media influencers; they’re already ones. These parent-run, kid centric accounts aren't all brand deals, and free merchandise.  A new investigation by the New York Times showcases the darker side of the Kidfluence...

Librarians in Connecticut say the number of book ban requests they’re fielding is still  "soaring,"  and that the focus is on content relating to LGBTQIA+ identity and themes. Librarians have even  looked to lawmakers for support . This hour, we get the latest from state and national Library Associations. But first, advocates and lawmakers hosted a vigil at the State Capitol last week for Nex Bene...

Applying for financial aid is no easy task. Whether you’re the parent or the incoming student.  And a new FAFSA form hasn’t made things any easier. The online FAFSA form - or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid was recently updated.  But it’s come with a lot of glitches causing headaches for students and parents alike. Today on Where We Live, we talk about what’s happening with this form...

Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question,  "How is everybody doing?"  The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out? Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered  burnout in health care , and among  early child care educators and teachers , for example. When  Where...

Two years ago,  Russia invaded Ukraine and launched a full scale attack on the country.  This hour, we hear what life looks like in Ukraine today and how Ukrainian refugees are adjusting to life in the United States. Since the recent invasion, many Ukrainians have made the difficult decision to leave the region, while others have stayed behind. Americares, a humanitarian aid organization based her...

Quantum mechanics is a theory that even some scientists have trouble wrapping their heads around. But this industry is booming, and some physicists here in Connecticut are hoping to make our state the “Quantum Corridor” for research, workforce development and education. In May 2023, “the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $1 million federal planning grant to Yale University and the U...

Paula Poundstone has had a nearly 45 year career in standup comedy. She’s the host of the comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. And we would be remiss not to say, She is also a regular panelist on NPR's comedy news quiz show, Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me! Today, she joins us for the hour. And like her comedy, we kind of touched on everything! We get into her signature stand up style , nev...

This hour, we sit down with Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani to tackle a range of topics and questions, including what's on your mind. How have you fared this flu season? What questions about COVID-19, or long COVID, do you have? According to  data from the Census Bureau , 23% of adults in Connecticut who tested positive for COVID-19 have experienced symptoms la...

For a Connecticut family of four, it costs over $126,000 just to meet their basic needs, according to a recent United Way report . That’s more than four times the federal poverty level. Food insecurity is a big part of the problem, affecting more than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents, according to Connecticut Foodshare. A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture found the national...

Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more! But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond. Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range...

Disability rights advocates in Connecticut are demanding better medical access. And this legislative session, they’re pushing lawmakers to pass two bills. Both aim to improve medical equipment and training, and access to better care when examining, diagnosing and treating patients with disabilities. We hear from one advocacy group involved in this effort, the Citizens Coalition for Equal Access, o...

Approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue recently moved U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory around the "loneliness epidemic" in America. Soon after, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy introduced a bill that would launch an Office of Social Connection Policy, and fund CDC research to "better understand the ep...

Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop . But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?" This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice S...