Where We Live

Quantum mechanics is a theory that even some scientists have trouble wrapping their heads around. But this industry is booming, and some physicists here in Connecticut are hoping to make our state the  “Quantum Corridor” for research, workforce development and education. In May 2023,  “the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $1 million federal planning grant to Yale University and the...

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....

When an error was spotted in the Spanish-language instructions for the capital city’s ballot, just before the November election, officials moved to correct it. Advocates have said the error underscores the language access issues many Connecticut residents face, and the different kinds of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation there are to tackle. Former Rhode Island Secretary of State and Pell C...

Growing up as a transracial adoptee, Angela Tucker's friends, family, and even strangers would make comments and assumptions about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t been adopted. Angela Tucker is the author of the book " You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption and she is Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society. Today, we talk about th...

No matter where you live, the opioid epidemic has likely touched you or someone you know. Now, a state committee set up to allocate settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors has just issued its first reporting of disbursements at the municipal level. The stakes are high. Connecticut has some of the highest opioid death rates in the country. Each month, more than 100 people die in...

A content warning to our listeners: today we will be talking about suicide. United States saw nearly 50,000 deaths by suicide in 2022, and suicide continues to be on the rise.  Talking openly about suicide and mental health can be a critical part of deterring suicide deaths. But having those discussions can be really challenging and experts say there are specific ways to conduct these conversation...

Whether it's reading more books or eating out less, January is the month of goals and challenges. Veganuary is no exception.   The 30-day plant-based challenge originated nearly a decade ago and has since taken on a life of its own. We’ll hear from three different vegans working in the plant-based space about their journey to becoming vegan and what it means to them. What do you want to know about...

There are  approximately 2.45 million people who need humanitarian assistance in Gaza. And the entire population is now at risk of famine.  That’s according to Save the Children, an international NGO and humanitarian aid organization based in Connecticut. Today, we hear from Janti Soeripto, President & CEO of  Save the Children. And later, Where We Live has been covering the Israel-Hamas War,...

Each year, we broadcast nearly 200 episodes of programming. As 2023 comes to a close, we are highlighting some of our favorite conversations. Today, we’re sharing three important interviews on mental health and trauma. Senior Producer Tess Terrible shares her favorite conversations on these topics. First up, we’re going to listen back to our conversation with  Kate Dias: President of Connecticut E...

As we approach the end of the year we’ve been reflecting on our favorite conversations throughout 2023. Host Catherine Shen chose her most memorable moments, all about music. First, we discuss the power of nostalgia and the memories music can carry, with John Ondrasik, frontman for Five for Fighting. The soft-rock band topped the charts in the early 2000s with songs like "Superman" and "100 Years....

As we round out 2023, we’re looking back on some of our favorite conversations on Where We Live, with the voices that moved us. This hour, producer Katie Pellico shares some of her favorite moments, with a focus on history and the efforts to retell or tell a fuller story. First up, we hear from the team of students and scholars at Yale University working to study the history of eugenics, the role...

We often think of the holidays as a time to gather with family. But the reality might look a little different. It can be a challenging time if you have a strained relationship with your family.  It can also be difficult for those estranged from family. Family estrangement can occur for a number of reasons.  And there is a lot of stigma around cutting ties with family.  But research says it’s more...

Trains may often be billed as a toy for tots, but there are locomotive-lovers of all ages where we live. This hour, go for a ride on the Naugatuck Railroad at the Railroad Museum of New England, and one holiday train tailored for children on the autism spectrum. Plus, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital is home to a toy train display that sparks joy in children and adults alike. GUESTS: Christine F...

If you’ve ever struggled driving through Hartford, you’re certainly not alone. Today, the  Connecticut Department of Transportation joins us to discuss the Greater Hartford Mobility Study.  Now that it is complete, stakeholders are working to implement some big projects to make Hartford a better city to live in. But it’s going to take some time, possibly even a few decades to implement. We take 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...

When it comes to certain fandom and cosplay communities, getting your costume right is key, or you might get called out for not being 100% accurate.  But Steampunk is a little different. It’s retro, but it’s futuristic. It’s Victorian, but you can also just go vintage. It's corsets, but also cogs, coils and gadgets. Steampunk, a subgenre of science fiction, is all about retro futuristic technology...

Ralph Nader doesn’t often praise big business leaders, but his new book, The Rebellious CEO , profiles a dozen who he says "did it right." This hour, we hear from the consumer crusader from Connecticut. In this extended interview, he discusses his new book and the need for visionary business leaders today, as well as his upbringing and recent journalism venture in Winsted. He also touches on the l...

Connecticut is one of 41 states that is suing Meta, the parent company of both Facebook and Instagram.  The suit is alleging that Meta is knowingly using addictive algorithmic tactics that are harmful to their users. Today, we give an update on social media regulation and we hear from an activist and researchers working to make these spaces safer. We hear from  Connecticut Attorney General William...

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth? There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% sin...

Growing up, as a  transracial adoptee,  Angela Tucker friends, family and even strangers would make comments and assumptions about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t been adopted. Angela Tucker is the author of the book,  You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption  and she is Executive Director of the Adoptee Mentoring Society. Today, we talk about t...

When an  error was spotted  in the Spanish-language instructions for the capital city’s ballot, just before the November election, officials moved to correct it. Advocates have said the error underscores the language access issues many Connecticut residents face, and the different kinds of Spanish-language mis- and disinformation there are to tackle. Former Rhode Island Secretary of State and Pell...

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...

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is reopening early next year after four years of renovations. Celebrated Syrian-American artist and architect Mohamad Hafez just installed a new piece, titled “Eternal Cities,” alongside the museum’s Babylonian collection. 3D-printed replicas of ancient Babylonian artifacts are peppered throughout the piece, bridging the millennia between ancient Mesopota...

The holiday season is a time we all want to enjoy. Maybe that means indulging in more food than usual, buying those special gifts and treats for loved ones, and going all out with decorations in your home. But with all that indulgence, comes a lot of waste. At the end of the holiday season, an additional 1 million tons of trash enter landfills.  According to Stanford University's Waste Reduction,...

From the Mayflower's landing, to the meal shared by English setters and Wampanoag people, much is still widely misunderstood about the Thanksgiving holiday and its history. Connecticut-based educator Chris Newell recently wrote a book for children that helps to untangle some of the myths and misnomers commonly associated with Thanksgiving. For example, the book clarifies that "the holiday we celeb...