Where We Live

It’s been a summer with all sorts of weather. We’ve seen flooding , and high heat putting our gardens through all sorts of chaos. Today, horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi join us to talk about this hot, cold, wet, dry, stormy, sunny chaotic gardening year! It’s not too late to start planting your fall crops. We hear what plants could thrive this season as autumn rapidly approaches. August is Tree Ch...

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 campa...

Getting a doctor’s appointment is hard. But for the incarcerated population in Connecticut, it’s nearly impossible. An internal review showed that many incarcerated persons were denied medical care leading to severe consequences including medical emergencies and even death. Today, we get an update on what we’re seeing in Connecticut prison systems, and hear from those who had loved ones in the sys...

This past weekend floodwaters devastated several communities in Connecticut washing out over two dozen state roads. It also took the lives of two Connecticut residents. Nearly ten inches of rain fell in a matter of hours in certain parts of the state. This is equivalent to three months of rainfall. That’s according to Connecticut Insider. Today, we talk about what we saw in our state . With severa...

More workers than ever are working a hybrid work schedule - part time in the office and part time at home. According to a Gallup Poll, nearly 40% of hybrid workers can set their own schedule. Yet burnout feels more apparent than ever before. Many offices are searching to find solutions to provide better work-life balance including the four day work week. Today, we revisit this topic and explore ot...

It's an hour for puzzle lovers! Everdeen Mason, Editorial Director of Games for The New York Times and Joel Fagliano, Digital Puzzles Editor and Creator of The Mini Crossword talk about The Crossword, Spelling Bee, Connections and more. Plus, we’re celebrating 10 years of the Mini ! GUESTS: Everdeen Mason : Editorial Director for Games for The New York Times Joel Fagliano : Digital Puzzles Editor...

Today on Where We Live, states across New England are investing in offshore wind turbines – a renewable energy source that is relatively new to the United States. But while offshore wind has a proven track record in other countries, critics worry their costs outweigh their benefits. Reporters covering the battle over offshore wind, Luther Turmelle and Jan Ellen Spiegel, join us. And UConn politica...

Poet laureates do a lot more than write poetry. Since 1985, Connecticut state poet laureates have worked to promote the literary arts and poetry throughout the Nutmeg state, visiting schools, performing spoken word and passing on poetry to the next generation of writers. There is no straight path to this position. Some of our guests today have been writing poetry all their lives. Others got bitten...

Even before the pandemic, half of all adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In 2023, a report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and isolation has physical consequences like increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia. Murthy stressed how social connection is the key to individual and community health and well being. This idea of social connec...

June is Infertility Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people are now affected by infertility. A new study suggests that microplastics might be impacting male infertility. And while technological advances offer opportunities and hope for many would-be parents, treatments like IVF are expensive, and they’re not available for everyone. Plus, they don’t always...

Many of us grew up with classic comics such as the funnies in the Sunday newspaper! But comics aren’t just tiny anecdotes of humor anymore. They tackle serious content, reaching readers of all ages. And with more artists and authors coming on the scene, we are seeing more diverse stories and storytelling. And although newspaper comics aren’t going anywhere, graphic novels are reigning the day. 35...

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 evolv...

The Cambodian genocide took the lives of up to three million people - between 1975 and 1979. Many were forced to work at labor camps where they faced abuse, torture and starvation. But this is only part one of the story. The lesser known part is the story of Preah Vihear Mountain, where over forty thousand refugees were forced to climb to their death. Many Cambodian refugees ended up in refugee ca...

Carolyn Kuan has been the music director at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. This hour, we speak to her about her work as a conductor, and the driving forces behind her music. Like many organizations, Hartford Symphony Orchestra has put forth diversity and inclusivity commitments stating that they are, quote “diversifying programming by considering race, ethnicity and gender identity in...

One in five people will get a skin cancer diagnosis by the time they are 70. That’s according to the American Academy of Dermatology.   There’s many things you can do to prevent skin cancer. Seeking shade during the hours that the sun's rays are the strongest, and wearing sun-protective clothing helps. And then, there’s always sunscreen.   But this iconic lotion has been coming under fire. Several...

This hour Where We Live, we’re sharing a conversation with Sohla El-Waylly . Sohla’s a culinary creator, writer, YouTube star…and a new mom. Sohla joined the show in between interviews, making Instagram videos and her baby girl’s naps to talk about her first cookbook, Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook . You’ll also meet Marisa Mendez Marthaller. She’s a Certified Postpartum Doula...

Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut. Enslaved people built much of the foundation of Connecticut. But this history isn’t usually taught in schools.  Today, we listen back to a Connecticut Museum of Culture and History panel discussion about that hidden history featuring Connecticut Public’s Diane Orson. Diane is the host of Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery.  The five-part pod...

All this week on  Where We Live,  we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative,  Call To Mind . This initiative  aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are the most common complications d...

All this week on  Where We Live,  we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative,  Call To Mind . This initiative  aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being. Schizophrenia affects about 24 million people worldwide. It can be a disruptive illness...

All this week on  Where We Live,  we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative,  Call To Mind . This initiative  aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being. Nearly half of incarcerated Americans have a history of mental illness – that's twice t...

All this week on  Where We Live,  we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative,  Call To Mind. This initiative  aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being. Black women and girls experience discrimination, microaggressions and stereotypes every...

All this week on  Where We Live,  we're turning over the hour to bring you a five-part series about mental health from American Public Media's initiative,  Call To Mind . This initiative  aims to foster new conversations about mental health, share new knowledge, and empower people to engage in their well-being. People living homeless have higher rates of untreated mental illnesses and substance us...

In this hour, Where We Live is passing the microphone to our colleagues at New Hampshire Public Radio. Hear a conversation from NHPR's ' By Degrees' 2024 Climate Summit. In this conversation, climate reporters from around the region and NPR discuss the role solutions-based journalism can play in affecting community action and accountability .  Members of our audience asked: ‘Have we abandoned disc...

In this hour, Where We Live is passing the microphone to our colleagues at New Hampshire Public Radio. Hear a conversation from NHPR's 'By Degrees ' 2024 Climate Summit. In the past year, New England has experienced storms in July, December, January, and April, resulting in flooding and significant property damage from the coast of Maine to the river valleys of Vermont. These events can be painful...

More than 200 Americans visit the emergency department for nonfatal firearm injuries each day.  That now includes former president Donald Trump who was shot in his right ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend and brought to the hospital. Today, we talk about gun violence as a public health crisis.  The U.S. Surgeon General recently published a health advisory on the far-reaching...