Where We Live

Every presidential election, campaigns   flood our TVs with political ads. Back in 1952, “Ike for President” became the very first political advertisement on TV. Dwight Eisenhower's campaign may have been the first to use television like this. But it’s certainly not the last. Today, more than 70 years later, political ads are everywhere. In recent weeks, both the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump cam...

Early voting starts next week across Connecticut. This means voters can cast their ballots ahead of Election Day in November. Each town and city will have at least one early voting location, and voters can even cast their ballots over the weekend. Today, we hear from poll workers getting ready for early voting in Connecticut. Plus, we'll hear about what early voting looks like across the country....

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has become dire. The country faces economic and financial uncertainty, and nearly 2000 deaths since the start of the conflict. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that of the 5.5 million people living in Lebanon, 1 million people are in dire need . Today, humanitarian aid organizations International Rescue Committee and Anera joins us to...

The Mohegan Tribe – a sovereign and federally-recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern Connecticut – has a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling. This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts. This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe’s vice chair of the c...

In Connecticut, the bear population has boomed. And so have human-bear conflicts. There are somewhere between 1000-1200 black bears in our state alone. You might know what to do if you encounter a black bear in the wild, but bears are not just on trails anymore. In the past year, there were 35 incidents of bears entering homes right here in our state. Although they might look friend-shaped, we wou...

October is Menopause Awareness Month. There is not one universal menopause experience. But almost everyone with a uterus will go through it. So why is it still taboo to talk about “the change?" Well, that’s something our guest today wants to change . Today, we’ll hear from journalist and menopause advocate Tamsen Fadal on changing how we talk about the change. She is the author of the upcoming boo...

Today marks one year since the Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people. In the ensuing war, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed — and there are mounting concerns about a wider conflict in the region. The United Nations reports that the humanitarian support system in Gaza is close to total collapse. Civilians in the region have severely reduced access to food, water, sanitation,...

It’s apple season here in Connecticut. And the history of the apple in New England dates back to 1623, three years after the landing of the Mayflower. Back in 2023, a late season frost devastated crops at several farms across our state. Farmers reported damage to a number of fruit crops including pears, peaches, berries and yes, even apples. There are thousands of apple varieties world wide, with...

It’s hard getting your book published. It’s even harder when you’re an author of color. Between 1950 and 2018, 96% of American fiction books published were written by white authors. Today, hear from two Latina authors in Connecticut about their debut books. They’ll talk about navigating the publishing industry and the importance of centering marginalized voices. In her novel, The Girls in Queens ,...

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, was one of several new sports at the Olympics this summer. But there’s nothing new about the presence of b-boys and b-girls. Breaking began as a way to escape the daily socio-economic struggles of Black and Brown youth in the Bronx during the 1970s and ‘80s. This hour, we hear how breaking expanded into the mainstream. We’ll explore how, at its core, breaking...

Election Day is less than six weeks away. Are you planning to vote in person this year? For those with disabilities, g oing to polling stations can be a real challenge. People with disabilities are less likely to vote than people without disabilities.  Disabled voters can face many  barriers to voting, from inaccessible polling places to restrictions on absentee ballots. This November, Connecticut...

Architect and attorney Sara Bronin spent seven years as the chair of the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with the organization DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform across in our state. Her new book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World goes beyond Hartford, and looks at how zoning molds cities and communit...

Today on Where We Live, a Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus. Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to Disabled World , an independent Health and Disability news source. This hour, we talk about why invisible i...

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...

Last school year, students across the nation took part in on campus protests to bring attention to the Israel-Hamas War. Overwhelmingly, student protesters were demanding that their colleges divest from Israel. It led to encampments on college greens, large demonstrations and some arrests of both students and faculties. At some campuses, college administrations have welcomed student demonstrations...

As the author of the children’s book My Mama is a Pilot , Saba Shahid says she wants children to feel “represented and valued” through her stories. Only 1% of commercial airline pilots are women of color. And Saba Shahid’s path to becoming a pilot is a little bit different than most. It actually started as a pandemic hobby! Saba Shahid is this year’s recipient of the Girl Scouts Legacy of Leadersh...

National Hobbit Day is this week. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the great forests of Mirkwood, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical worlds have inspired generations of illustrators to bring imagined concepts to life through art. This hour, we sit down with three local fantasy and science-fiction illustrators, including David Wenzel, who created a graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit. GUESTS : D...

Many wine tastings are about evaluating the aroma, balance and tannin. But for some people, wine is about so much more than that. It’s about history, community, and memory. Less than 1% of wineries in the United States are owned by Black connoisseurs. But that is starting to change. And with more makers, lovers and sellers of color coming into this industry, who consumes and enjoys wine is evolvin...

It might not feel like it today, but cooler weather is coming. This often means more time spent indoors, and an uptick in contagious diseases such as the flu, the common cold, and yes, COVID-19. Today, we’ll talk about what you need to know to protect yourself and your family this year. The new COVID-19 booster is available. But deciding when you should vaccinate - that’s a case by case basis. Eas...

It can be hard for many adults to self-regulate their screen time. For kids, it can be nearly impossible. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Children ages 8-12 are spending 4 to 6 hours in front of screens a day. Teens are spending up to 9 hours in front of screens. According to a report by Pew Research Center, 72% of teachers say cellphone distraction is a maj...

Summer camp and after-school care provide kids with a safe place to learn, grow and also give working parents some peace of mind. But they’re not accessible for all kids. This hour, we look at the impact on families when out-of-classroom programs are out of reach. GUESTS : Corrianne Chipello , Executive Director & CEO, Hartford’s Camp Courant Michelle Doucette Cunningham , Executive Director,...

This hour is bound to make you very hungry because we’re talking about New Haven pizza. This year, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro officially declared New Haven, the Pizza Capital of America. Today, we talk to some pizza lovers. We'll also hear about a new documentary that follows pizza lovers beyond Connecticut. New Haven pizza is so legendary that pizza makers are now trying to duplicate it acro...

Here in Connecticut and across the country, a growing number of obstetric units are closing, creating “maternity care deserts.” Today on Where We Live , we explore the long-term impact of quality medical care on maternal health. And later, we hear from local author, Kassondra Mangione, about her new book: Poemspartum . GUESTS : Katy Golvala , Health Reporter, Connecticut Mirror Alecia McGregor , A...

Do two people need to be aligned politically to have a deep connection and strong romantic bond? Can one truly be considered liberal if they habitually swipe left on conservatives? Today, we're sharing an episode from the podcast "Dating While Gray." Host Laura Stassi talks to older Americans and experts about ideological differences and their role in making and maintaining romantic connections. ...

Last week, floodwaters devastated several communities in Connecticut washing out over two dozen state roads. There have been nearly 200 people killed on Connecticut roads this year alone. Labor Day weekend is coming up. According to the National Safety Council, there were 455 traffic fatalities nationally over the holiday weekend in 2023. Today, we’re talking about all things roads, highway and tr...