Where We Live

Data centers come in all shapes and sizes,from a few shelves in the basement of a university building, to a warehouse the size of nearly two hundred football fields. But what do data centers actually  do ? Do we have any here in Connecticut?  Towns across the state have expressed their trepidation about what a large data center might mean for the quality of life of their residents, with...

Breathe deep and think: What do you smell right now? The sweetness of the spring air? The smoky smells of the highway? Our noses give us key clues about the environment and provide a critical daily link to some of our most cherished memories. But smell, and its control over culture and politics, is often undervalued and misunderstood. Today, we take a nose dive into the olfactory, exploring how hu...

At a time where we are feeling increasingly disconnected, poetry has a powerful way of fostering community. Today, during National Poetry Month , we hear from poets and educators. We'll also check in with some students competing in the Poetry Out Loud competition. It's a competition where students dedicate time to study, memorize and then recite their chosen poem outloud. And as the kids will tell...

Spring has sprung! And with it comes plant sales, fresh flowers and a whole lot of weeds. But what goes into starting a garden? And how do you create sustainable, productive and beautiful landscapes? Today, we’ll be feeling the buzz as we answer all your gardening questions. Later, we’ll hear all about how you can create a way station for travelling pollinators in your backyard! Guests...

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 &...

Chef and restaurateur Eduardo Garcia, better known as “Lalo,” started his cooking journey in his mother’s kitchen. His mother didn’t have any formal training, but prepared food through her own instincts and deep knowledge of flavors. As a child, Garcia picked fruits and vegetables on the migrant route from Florida to Michigan. It gave him firsthand experience of the work th...

Next time you’re driving, take a look around and you might notice you’re being watched. From cameras atop traffic lights to license plate readers, surveillance technology has quietly crept into cities and towns across the state. Today, we’re taking a look at surveillance in Connecticut and asking why organizations are worried about how these devices are used. Can mass surveillanc...

Beavers are known as a "keystone species" contributing to biodiversity wherever they set up their habitats. Today, Connecticut author and journalist Leila Philip joins us to talk about her book "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America." We’ll also hear from one student  working to map beaver habitats throughout Connecticut. Have you seen beavers where you live? Guests: Leila Phili...

Postmaster General David Steiner recently told lawmakers that the U.S. Postal Service is in peril. Speaking at a House Oversight subcommittee hearing, he said that the agency would be out of cash within 12 months and might have to cease deliveries. Today, we talk about the future of the postal service in Connecticut and across the nation, and ask what can be done to keep it afloat. Later, does you...

On September 12th, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would land a man on the moon within the decade. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the American flag on the lunar surface. Now, NASA and space agencies around the globe are planning on going back. So what is it about the moon that continues to capture humanity’s heart and imagination? T...

The Rev. James Martin , a Jesuit author and educator, believes everyone's life is a spiritual journey. "We're all on this spiritual journey to understand ourselves, to understand how God loves us, to experience God's love and to give that love back to God and to other people," he said. Martin is the author of the new book, “Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher,...

Shawna Lander is the actress behind “Shawna the Mom,” a series of one-woman skits on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. She's amassed millions of followers online, through clips are that are fictional, but touch on real world themes of motherhood and the ups-and-downs of family life. "I was really hungry for any sort of media that would reflect back to me what it was I was going through, a...

Seven-in-ten high school teachers say that cell phone distraction in school is a major problem, and one third of teens say that they use at least one social media site “almost constantly,” according to the  Pew Research Center . But how are teens actually consuming social media? And what kind of citizens of the internet are they becoming? We’ll hear about a new study explori...

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced 800,000 people, and killed nearly 700 people. Connecticut is home to nearly  10,000  Lebanese Americans. Today we hear from members of the state's Lebanese diaspora. We’ll also hear from one global humanitarian aid organization working on the ground in Lebanon to provide support. GUESTS: Arson Fahim:  musician, pianist, composer and...

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...