Where We Live

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...

Pay transparency is a growing movement across the United States. Connecticut adopted its own legislation in the form of “An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Ranges” which went into effect on October 1st of 2021. Today we talk about the types of pay transparency, the challenges that come with it, and what companies are doing to lessen the anxiety of talking about pay. We hear from VP of Comp...

The story of the American Oystercatcher in Connecticut is "one of success and hope; however, because of the increasing threat from climate change and habitat loss, its future is uncertain," writes Audubon Connecticut Coastal Program Coordinator Beth Amendola. Whether the Oystercatcher, the Piping Plover or the Semipalmated Sandpiper, beach-nesting birds in Connecticut require "continual vigilance...

Numerous reports have said obesity in adults rose in the pandemic. Childhood obesity has risen starkly too, but for different reasons than you may think. Today, we explore how stress impacts childhood obesity. We hear from Julia A. Snethen, co author of article, “ When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity. ” And later, we’ll learn how to have sensitive conversations about...

Half of the world’s population is made up of women. And by 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to rise to 1 billion, according to the  North American Menopause Society . Despite the  $600 billion global market , menopause is still a taboo topic. But  new scientific research  on menopause on the heels of previous studies show how and where we  must invest  in women’s health. This h...

It’s been ten years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Twenty students and six educators died. Today, we speak with a student who was a fourth grader at Sandy Hook when the shooting happened. And later, we hear from Elizabeth Williamson, author of  Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. We want to hear your thoughts, reflections, and prayers about this day. Call th...

"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer .His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepres...

Bloomberg reported that a shorter work week experiment in Iceland found that workers maintained productivity and had improved well-being. Today, Alex Pang, author of Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How, about how some companies are navigating a shorter work week, while paying workers the same salaries. And later, we hear from Mike Melillo founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group. He...

Neil Berro, a local amateur historian, is building a massive manuscript on the history of Connecticut oystering titled  Oyster Haven Lost . This hour, he previews this trove of information, spotlighting the state's once-booming oyster industry. Plus, the Sound School in New Haven was founded with a mission of centering hands-on curriculum, incorporating the harbor, marine science and oceanography...

Known as the seventh continent, Antarctica is much more than home for penguins! Today, we explore the least inhabited continent in the world. We hear about how climate change is impacting wildlife on Antarctica, and what life looks like for those that live and work there. What questions do you have about living in Antarctica? GUESTS: David W. Brown -  contributor to  the New Yorker  and author to...

If you experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues during difficult times, you’re not alone. Today, we explore the link between our physical and mental health. Doctors typically treat these areas of health separately, but there is a lot more connecting these two areas of health than you might think. Dr. Julian Ford, clinical psychologist and professor in the department of psychiatry a...

The State Department of Education and five Connecticut tribal nations are  working together  to meet a legislative mandate calling for Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes. Resources with localized information from the tribal nations themselves – Eastern Pequot, Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan, Schaghticoke and Golden Hill Paugussett – are expected to be available in January 202...

Doctors and scientists are increasingly seeing obesity as a complex disease that needs to be treated as such. Today, we talk about the psychology of obesity, and emotional eating. We learn about binge eating disorder and how stress and trauma can impact our metabolism and how we eat. We hear from Dr. Sherry Pagato, Licensed clinical psychologist and professor at University of Connecticut. She rese...

7.2 million Americans watched the FIFA World Cup opener,  AP reports . Live viewership on Fox "was up 88% from the 2018 opener." Christine Huber, a sports analyst who organizes local Team USA watch parties in the New Haven area through American Outlaws New Haven, says she's observed an increase in local attention on the games. She and local soccer commentator Shawn Mecchi join us to discuss, and s...

Suicide is the leading cause of death in college students, but are universities doing enough to provide mental health resources? Today, on Where We Live, we talk about a growing need for more mental health support on the college campus. We hear from Jennifer Rothman, of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and talk about what colleges can do to better aid students, and where students can go for...

One in ten Americans, or one on every elevator and four on every bus, is impacted by a rare disease.  Yet, 95 percent of rare diseases do not have approved treatment. On a promising note, bio-pharmaceutical companies working on orphan drugs have more than 800 projects in clinical development . In a ground-breaking clinical trial , a participating patient at the University of Connecticut Health Cen...

New Haven social studies teacher Garrett Griffin Jr. noticed his students were treading lightly around the topics of slavery and ancestry, and he set out to learn more in order to spotlight "the complexities and rich accomplishments of the descendants of Africa." By looking into this history,  Griffin said , "I hope to empower my students about our complex past for the ultimate purpose of increasi...

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed on March 11, 2021. Less than two weeks later, $81 billion was released to states across the country. This hour on Where We Live, we hear from experts on the state of ARPA spending in Connecticut. How is money being used to support housing, education and infrastructure?    Municipalities must allocate funds by December 2024 and fully spend them by December 20...

Today, we talk about how experiences coming of age impact us into adulthood. Melissa Febos, author of the bestselling memoir Girlhood , joins us. She writes about what she learned about herself, including the ways we begin to understand consent and how this impacts our relationships long-term. And later, what should parents and educators consider when teaching about consent? GUESTS: Melissa Febos...

How does craft deepen your understanding of your history, your community, or yourself? And how can predominantly-white craft spaces better welcome diverse experiences? Textile artist and printmaker Jen Hewett threads the needle on these questions in her latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection . The book includes interviews with 19 fiber artists, and surveys...

Through his art, Mohamad Hafez confronts preconceived notions of refugees and the "baggage" they may carry. He was recently the subject of an Oscars-shortlisted documentary , an intimate portrait of how Hafez's acclaimed UNPACKED series was informed by his own experience leaving Syria. This hour, we visit Hafez at his studio, just above the location of his latest venture, Pistachio Cafe. Hear abou...

Since purchasing Twitter, Elon Musk has drastically scaled back on the site’s content moderation and staff. Today, we hear from a former Twitter employee who was recently laid off about her experience working at the company. And later, we hear from Amanda J Crawford, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Connecticut, on the real consequences of misinformation on the platform. We a...

With anti-trans rhetoric on the rise, one Connecticut family shares their story in the hopes of encouraging understanding. Hear our extended conversation with Oakley and his mom Jess, touching on his experience of coming out as trans, and about the importance of allyship and advocacy. Plus, Jess shares a parent's perspective. Oakley and Jess are using pseudonyms due to broader concerns about their...

There are several protections for trans and nonbinary people in our state, including insurance coverage for health care services and, as part of Connecticut's new "safe harbor" law, legal protections for those seeking gender-affirming care from out-of-state. Still, an increase in anti-trans rhetoric has led to a troubling trend of legislation and litigation nationally. How does this affect trans a...

On Election Day, Connecticut residents voted in favor of early voting – meaning Connecticut will no longer be one of just four states that doesn’t allow at least a day of in-person voting prior to Election Day. Support for early voting is one thing; implementation is another. Today on Where We Live, we talk about what early voting might look like in our state, and hear from Secretary of the State...