Where We Live

At 27, he was a Connecticut school principal. At 44, he is the state’s commissioner of education. This hour, Dr. Miguel Cardona joins us to talk about his vision for Connecticut's education future.  Do you have a question for the commissioner? We want to hear from you, too. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozens of Connecticut homes have been hoisted off the ground as the state helps pay homeowners to repair ruined concrete foundations.  This hour, we check in on the crumbling foundations crisis that is impacting homes and homeowners. We talk with the  Hartford Courant journalist behind a yearlong series on Connecticut’s ruined concrete foundations .  We hear from a Tolland hom...

The bed. It’s a central feature of daily life. We rest on it, recharge in it. But rarely do we reflect on our relationship with it. Until now.  This hour, we sit down with Brian Fagan, co-author of the new book What We Did in Bed: A Horizontal History . We talk loft beds, pod beds, travel beds ... even Mark Twain’s bed. And we also hear from you.  Support the show: http://wnp...

Do you worry about how you’re everyday actions contribute to climate change? You may think about the carbon gas-burning cars are putting into the atmosphere, or coal-powered electricity in your houses. But what about the food you eat? This hour we talk about the role of the livestock industry on putting carbon into the atmosphere. Are our carnivorous habits contributing to the climate crisis...

It’s a lethal hunter, marked by its tufted ears and focused gaze. It's a breathtaking sight, if you’re lucky enough to see one. This hour: the bobcat. This stealthy species has made a comeback in recent years. We talk to researchers who are working to better understand Connecticut’s only wild feline.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Guilt. Ah, yes, that awful, anxiety-ridden five-letter word. Most of us have experienced it. All of us have learned to dread it. But is a little guilt really such a bad thing? This hour, we consider that question and more with a series of guilt (note we did not say “guilty”) experts. We check in with a  researcher at the University of Virginia  and with a  psychologist b...

Cities and towns have laws to keep people from engaging in behavior that may disturb others, like sleeping on park benches, drinking in public, or just plain “loitering”. What does it mean when just hanging out in a public space puts you in violation of these laws? This hour we take a hard look at loitering ordinances and other laws that  advocates argue criminalize individuals, e...

Bicycles helped inspire modern cars, paved roads...even airplanes! But did you know they were also an inspiration for the women's movement? This hour we take a look back in time at the origins of the bicycle, including innovation that happened right here in Connecticut. We find out the history of how this vehicle spurred social change and helped empower women to break through gender barriers a lit...

Not only is Charles Ives a revered American composer, but he is also Connecticut's native son. This hour, we take an in-depth look at Ives’ life and profound musical output, and we ask: What is his legacy today?  Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . GUESTS: Neely Bruce  - John Spencer Camp Professor of Music at  Wesleyan University  in Middlet...

What would it have been like to see a huge, elephant-like mastodon roaming our state?  The earth has been home to some spectacularly large animals. A few of them still roam or swim our world today. This hour, we take a look at the biology of these giants.  From chunky island-dwelling birds to the enormous blue whale, what do we know about why these creatures evolved to be so big? An...

Doctors and public health officials are still trying to figure out the cause behind more than 800 lung injuries related to vaping that have been reported in the U.S. in recent months. At the same time, there is a longer-term public health crisis as more and more young people have become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarette use -- despite decades of declining traditional cigarette use among tee...

Impeachment. It's a word that has come to dominate the headlines, with the announcement of an “official impeachment inquiry” into U.S. President Donald Trump. But just what is impeachment? This hour, we take an in-depth look  and we also hear from you. Do you have a question about the impeachment process?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Venture into any of Connecticut's municipal centers and you will likely notice an empty storefront … or two or three or, well, you get the point. This hour, we ask: What impact do these vacancies have on the vitality of local communities? And what resources are available to help these communities attract and retain more retail businesses? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystu...

A phone conversation between Donald Trump and the president of Ukraine about former Vice President Joe Biden has sparked outrage from some U.S. lawmakers and amplified calls for Trump’s impeachment. This hour, Connecticut U.S. Rep. Jim Himes joins us to weigh in on this unfolding situation.  We also look at mounting concerns over Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The mosquito-borne vir...

The University of Connecticut has a new leader. This hour, we sit down with UConn’s new president, Thomas Katsouleas, who stepped into the role this August. Katsouleas is trained as a physicist and electrical engineer whose career has focused on plasma science. We hear about his path to Connecticut and ask him about his vision for Connecticut's flagship state university. And we want to hear...

A recent report paints a picture of the arts in Greater Hartford, a scene that’s both colorful and rocky. This hour, we learn about the  Greater Hartford Arts Landscape Study , and consider efforts to better support the region’s artists. We also look back on the early years of hip-hop and breaking (a.k.a. breakdancing) in Connecticut, and hear how some young people are learning an...

As college students settle into the fall semester, there is an expectation their professors are tenured. But three out of four faculty today aren’t eligible for tenure. And many are adjuncts, part-time faculty without strong benefits or job security. Today: What’s the human cost to this model of education? We find out and we want to hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/dona...

Whether through religious groups or school-organized activities, Americans have long sought ways to give back to their communities. But has this spirit of altruism faded in recent years? This hour, we check on the state of volunteering in the U.S. and ask what is being done to motivate more Americans to do good in their spare time. Do you remember the last time you volunteered? We want to hear fro...

In 2018, around one thousand Connecticut residents died from opioid overdoses, according to the state’s Chief Medical Examiner.  Connecticut has joined nearly every state including thousands of municipalities in suing Stamford-based opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma. This hour, we get the latest after Purdue filed for bankruptcy Sunday. Twenty states tentatively reached a multi-bil...

Rosa DeLauro has served Connecticut’s third congressional district for 28 years, and is an influential Democratic leader who is close with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This hour Representative DeLauro joins us. We talk about trade negotiations, immigration, safety net programs, and more. What questions do you have for the Congresswoman? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio....

As fires burn in the Amazon rainforest, we ask: To what extent is deforestation responsible for the flames? Coming up, we check in with climate scientist Dr. Carlos Nobre. But first, we talk to Scott Wallace about his reporting on illegal logging in the Amazon. What impact does it have on the rainforest? And what is being done to stop it?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystud...

For more than 30 years, Quinnipiac University was led by John Lahey. Now, the private university in Hamden, Connecticut has a new leader and its first female president. This hour, we sit down with President Judy Olian. Olian comes to the university from UCLA, where she was Dean of the business school. We find out what is her vision for Quinnipiac University, and ask: In an age of ever-changing tec...

For some single adults and couples, the path to adoption can be winding and difficult. This hour, we take an in-depth look at the realities of open adoption in the U.S. We also learn about legislative efforts to improve adoptees' access to birth records in Connecticut. And we want to hear from you. Have you adopted, or were you adopted yourself?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See o...

When you head to New York, do you ever take a break from the city and get lost on a trail in Central Park? This hour, we take a look at the life of the man behind that beloved and iconic city park: Connecticut native Frederick Law Olmsted. Although best known for his work designing New York’s Central Park, Olmsted was also a journalist and abolitionist. And he shaped landscapes here in Conne...

Standardized tests, application forms, campus visits. The path to college can be a daunting one, especially when you add tuition to the mix. Then, of course, there is the cost of room and board, meal plans, textbooks...feeling stressed yet? This hour, we tackle the realities of affording a college education, and we also hear from you. Are you the parent of a college-age student? Are you, yourself,...