Where We Live

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...

Every year, we produce a summer reading hour to talk about some of our favorite books of this year, and give you recommendations of the best beach reads. And this year, we’re diving into the illustrious, the notorious, the infamous paperback: the romance novel. There’s a lot of stigma attached to romance reading, especially within the reading community. But this top grossing genre is actually one...

This hour, we’re celebrating some of the most memorable moments with Katie Pellico as she begins another chapter of her career. She'll soon start a new position managing development and communication at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center in New Haven, but we won't soon forget coverage she helped to lead on... Connecticut's slate of new social studies initiativ...

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 ,...

When you think of Hartford, Connecticut, what comes to mind? Maybe Elizabeth Park, good eats, and our state capitol? Odds are, you’re probably not thinking of Hartford as a destination for making movies! But some creatives are trying to change that. After graduating from the Yale, Connecticut native TJ Noel-Sullivan lived in Los Angeles for a short while, but he found himself drawn back to Hartfor...

Stamford-based nonprofit Keep America Beautiful found almost 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. road- and waterways in 2020. This hour, we’re spotlighting some of the small-but-mighty efforts to clean litter and protect wildlife in Connecticut. New Haven river keeper Peter Davis and his assistant David Burgess have been clearing parks and rivers in the Elm City for decades, one trash bag at a...

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...

Finding long-term resources and programs for young people with autism can be challenging, and in some cases, incredibly disheartening. The needs of autistic youth can vary. As a spectrum disorder, some diagnosed with high functioning autism can live relatively normal lives pursuing college, careers and relationships. But others require more support. Those with intellectual disabilities and communi...

Historian and scholar Deb Harkness was studying the intersection of science and magic in history and the humanities, when she was struck by the trend of "vampire boyfriend" stories in books and popular culture. She asked herself, "What if there really are these creatures living around us? What do they do for a living? Why have I never met any of them? And would it really be a great thing to have a...

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...

Education budget cuts from this legislative session are slamming schools at all levels, from early education to higher education. This hour, we hear from Connecticut Mirror budget reporter Keith Phaneuf, and education reporter Jessika Harkay. Plus, we check in with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, and Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system...

Housing in Connecticut has not only gotten more expensive, it’s much harder to find.  The state vacancy rate is only 3.5% and the median rent is $2,000. Housing touches every aspect of our life. From health to education to community,  where you live,  makes a difference. So why is housing so hard to find? There’s no easy answer, but our guests say that in order to create a better future where hous...