Where We Live

A recent UConn study found that three-quarters of Black households with cars in the U.S. spend over 15% of their monthly income on car-related expenses. For these researchers, transportation shouldn’t have to mean car ownership. This hour, we spotlight "walkability" and public transportation alternatives. Hear from city planners and civil engineers who are driving the conversation forward to depri...

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 alwa...

In 2023, book club event listings grew 24% over the prior year according to the ticketing platform Eventbrite. Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and RuPaul are among the celebrities who have launched their own book clubs. This hour, we hear about these new communities of readers, and how the influence of BookTok and BookStagram factors. We’re joined by one Silent Book Club chapter taking off in N...

This week, Muslims across the world celebrate the holiday of Eid-al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Today, we are hearing from Muslims around Connecticut celebrating this sacred and special time honoring those who have made the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj. We’ll hear from Connecticut residents, including one who is making the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj. If you’re celebrating this holida...

In the LGBTQ community, “found” or “chosen family” can be crucial. It's the idea of a social support system beyond your biological family, and one of the themes Ella Dawson explores in her book,  But How Are You, Really? This hour, the sex and culture columnist from Connecticut joins us to discuss her first novel, found family, burnout, second-chance romances, and much more. GUESTS: Ella Dawson:  ...

Fools and wise man, come hither! This summer’s day program of Where We Live will dedicate an hour to the master of comedy and tragedy alike, Sir William Shakespeare. Outdoor productions of William Shakespeare’s  plays go back to well…the time of William Shakespeare! And every summer this  tradition comes alive on stages across Connecticut. Today, we talk about Shakespeare in the park, the common a...

In Connecticut, there are LGBTQ community centers in New Haven, Norwalk and, most recently, Bridgeport. There have also been  recent efforts to launch a queer hub in West Hartford. These spaces are important for community, safety, resources, and even are associated with reduced suicide risk among LGBTQ youth,  according to the Trevor Project. Connecticut Public  reported on the New Haven Pride Cen...

Connecticut has had its share of intense storms, but  this year’s hurricane is expected to be even longer and more intensive than ever before. Today, we talk about what  to expect and how to prepare. Damage from hurricanes doesn’t just happen on the coast.  We hear from farmers inland on how they’re preparing. Got a question about hurricane season? GUESTS: Juliana Barrett:  Extension Educator Emer...

For decades, there were cities and towns that were all-white on purpose. These communities are known as "sundown towns." Because this practice was both formal and informal, researchers put together a database of these laws, customs and firsthand accounts, under the leadership of the late sociologist and civil rights champion James Loewen. At the peak of the exclusionary practice in 1970, an estima...

Today, we get an update from humanitarian aid organizations with workers on the ground in Gaza and how they are addressing this continuing crisis. Before these airstrikes,  the area was facing famine, mass displacement, and severe trauma  from witnessing the ongoing war in Gaza. We also get an update on other crises happening around the globe including the ongoing conflict in Sudan, and the parall...

Author Garrard Conley published his first book in 2016, "Boy Erased" . The bestselling memoir, relaying Conley's experience undergoing conversion therapy at 19, inspired a major motion picture two years later. This hour, Conley discusses his newest book and his first foray into fiction. "All the World Beside" explores queerness in Puritan New England. Set in 1700s Massachusetts and inspired by Nat...

Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question,  "How is everybody doing?"  The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out? Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered  burnout in health care , and among  early child care educators and teachers , for example. When  Where...

You’re never too young to learn about climate change. Younger Americans are more likely to engage with the issue, according to research on Gen Z and Millennials from Pew. This hour, we hear from the authors of three children’s books about climate change, and taking action, including UConn sociologist Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, meteorologist Paul Douglas, environmental scientist Lena Champlin, and residen...

You’ve heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, but did you know Connecticut is home to a host of creatures, or "cryptids"? Cryptozoology is the study of animals whose existence is a matter of debate. While Bigfoot sightings have been reported where we live, sea serpents, the Glastonbury Glawackus, and plenty of others call Connecticut home. This hour, we hear from Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen, the a...

"An act of translation is always an act of betrayal." This idea, and the questions it inspires, are central to author Rebecca or RF Kuang’s 2022 novel, Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution. As the title promises, the book also explores the nature of revolution and the "necessity of violence," in addition to those complex questions surrounding...

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...

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...

Maurice Sendak is often celebrated for his contributions to children’s book art. You’re likely familiar with Where The Wild Things Are, or even Higglety Pigglety Pop . But in the late artist’s own words, "I do not believe that I have ever written a children's book. I do not know how to write a children’s book. How do you set out to write a children’s book?" This hour, we’re exploring the Maurice S...

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...

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the first-ever federal limits on a class of chemicals known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in drinking water. This hour, we discuss what these enforceable limits mean for how Connecticut monitors and regulates PFAS . Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us, plus Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Andrew Brown. Plu...

In 2015, journalist Elise Hu moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.” K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments. It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery....

Turtles are among one of the oldest reptiles to walk the planet. Although turtles often live long lifespans and are among some of the most resilient animals on the planet, human presence has meant a huge threat to their species.  In her new book Of Time and Turtles, Sy Montgomery says turtles live “slow.” She spent time working with the people who have dedicated their lives to rehabilitating these...

Connecticut Public has spent the past year investigating political dysfunction, , allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics in Bridgeport. The investigation has culminated in a four part series called “In Absentia.” Today, we hear the final episode of this podcast and speak to members of the Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative team. You can listen back...

Every year, a cohort of emerging artists and curators gather at NXTHVN , a fellowship program located in the heart of New Haven's Dixwell neighborhood, and "a new national arts model that empowers artists, curators, and the community through education and access to a vibrant ecosystem." This hour, we hear from Marquita Flowers and Clare Patrick, current curatorial fellows at NXTHVN. Their exhibiti...

Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles began phasing out permanent or "lifetime" disability parking placards  in 2010, to help curb misuse . Some advocates and lawmakers are  hoping more can be done  to regulate how these passes are issued, and how misuse might be enforced. This hour, we hear from Alexandria Bode, who is behind the accessible parking-focused non-profit,  Peace Love & ACCES...