Where We Live

February is Black History Month. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday was in January. Around this time, we often see his quotes circulate on social media. And we also hear about his legacy as an activist and a minister, and his fight for civil rights in the U.S. Today, we’re going to listen back to a recent interview with Clarence B. Jones.  Clarence B. Jones was one of the many giants of the civi...

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...

Around the globe, artists are using their mediums to show  how climate change is impacting our planet. Today, we’re exploring the  convergence of art and science.  We'll be talking with artists using their craft to have conversations about the environment. Earlier this year,  Where We Live talked about how snow loss is impacting our ecosystems and community here in Connecticut.  Today, we hear fro...

In 2023, more than 6 million animals entered shelters and rescues in the U.S., according to a  recent report  from Shelter Animals Count. Believe it or not, those numbers are down from pre-pandemic reports. Over the summer, Connecticut news outlets reported that animal shelters in our state were  "bursting at the seams,"  and unable to keep up with calls from people trying to surrender pets. This...

Throughout history, our state has made some big contributions to aviation technology.  Today, we’re talking about the history and  future of aviation in our state.  We hear from some aviation enthusiasts who’s love of all things plane is going to make you soar. The New England Air Museum houses some unbelievable vintage aircrafts.  We hear from them. And we hear from someone with experience flying...

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...

During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets. With an all-volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge. Today, we talk about the mili...

This hour, photo and video journalist Yehyun Kim joins us to discuss  A Diaspora in Focus,  a three-part project she launched for the Connecticut Mirror in 2023. The project was in response to landmark legislation passed in the state that will require public schools to offer Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, history. Yehyun interviewed and photographed one resident from each of the 21...

As journalists, it’s been challenging for us to watch what is happening to our fellow members of the press in Gaza. 83 journalist casualties have occurred in this region.  The blue press vest and helmet is a heavy weight to carry, for so many still trying to report what’s happening. This week,  we spoke with Plestia Alaqad. She is a 22 year old journalist from Gaza.  She recently made the difficul...

Tri-state area or New England? Nutmeg or Constitution State?  "Stuffy, preppy, sleepy" ? What really makes Connecticut Connecticut, and what stereotypes can we stand to shake off? After the state's recent rebranding effort, it's a debate that has found its way to the national stage. This hour, Catherine Shen is joined by a roundtable of Connecticut Public hosts, as we debate what defines Connectic...

Depending on where you live, warmer winters could mean less and less snow.  In some places, it’s only one or two degrees that could make a difference. Joining us today are two scientists looking at the data around snow in our region and beyond to start to calculate how much snow loss is impacting us, and what it means for our environment. Less snow can mean a lot of things,  including a big impact...

2023 was the sixth rainiest year on record for Connecticut, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In July alone, more than 1,500 acres of Connecticut farmland flooded over, representing  $21 million in lost sales revenue . This hour, we hear from Chris Bassette of Killam & Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury, who says she is still holding out hope for relief for...

In our newsroom, we’ve been having a lot of conversations about how we cover the Israel-Hamas War.  And sometimes, we find ourselves conflicted about who to talk to, what stories to cover, what language we use, and what we can do to make our coverage as fair and truthful as possible. Where are you getting your information on the Israel-Hamas War? Odds are you're probably following the war through...

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...

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...