Where We Live

The job market might be picking up, but with many companies offering the same low wages as before the pandemic, many workers aren’t in a rush to go back. This hour, we talk about the future of low wage work. Many businesses are having to increase their wages and offer better benefits to attract workers. We’ll hear from experts on the current post pandemic labor market. Are you applying...

“The future of the auto industry is electric.” That’s according to President Biden, who’s made the transition to electric vehicles a major part of his infrastructure package. Electrifying everything, from our cars to our home heating systems, is key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and fighting climate change. But to do that, we need batteries. This hour, we take a...

This hour, a conversation with White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. How did her days growing up in Waterbury influence her work? And what is the Biden administration doing to address climate change? Also,   there was a major development in the New Haven mayor’s race last night, as challenger Karen DuBois-Walton dropped out at the start of the town committee...

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s  The Great Gatsby  has dazzled readers for nearly a century. This year, 96 years after publication,  The Great Gatsby  has entered the public domain. This hour, we talk with  Gatsby  expert Maureen Corrigan about the novel’s legacy. The Great Gatsby  entering the public domain has opened a world of possibilities for adaptations a...

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation. This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO,  Council for Economic Education  about teaching our children to be more financially literate....

Ever wonder why you were required to learn algebra, but not how to balance a checkbook and file your taxes? Although personal finance and accounting are offered as an elective in many high schools, they're not often required for graduation. This hour, we talk to Nan Morrison - President and CEO,  Council for Economic Education  about teaching our children to be more financially literate....

Restaurants struggled to afloat during Covid and were able to survive in part because of creative solutions like dining areas in empty parking spaces. Now, even though vaccination is widespread, residents’ interest in outdoor dining hasn’t slowed down. And our streets feel more lively because of it. This hour, we take a look at the way our streets have changed during the pandemic. Coul...

Quarantine may be lifted in Connecticut but that doesn’t mean you can’t love spending a rainy day in or a sunny day at the beach with your favorite read. We can always take solace in our favorite book. This hour, it’s Where We Live Book Club Hour - summer reads! Now that we can go to the beach and go on vacation, we want to hear what books you’re bringing with you. Are you...

This hour, how much power should a president have to take military action? Coming up we speak with Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy, who argues that presidents have accumulated too much leeway to take military action. He wants to shift some of that authority to Congress. And the latest on efforts to get an infrastructure bill through the senate. Guests: Christopher Murphy --  Connecticu...

A fatal hit-and-run by a teen allegedly driving a stolen vehicle has led to more debate about Connecticut’s juvenile justice reforms. State Republican lawmakers blame policy changes in Connecticut for a rise in car thefts by teens. This hour, we take a closer look at the data with the investigative editor of Connecticut Public’s new Accountability Project. And later, we hear what a rec...

Scientists have found  that our brains contain what’s called ‘grandmother neurons,’ which light up when we see a familiar face, like grandmother’s face. The discovery was made  using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)  that showed a select set of neurons located in the temporal pole of rhesus monkeys lit up each time the monkeys saw photos of their...

Nearly a month ago, the Surfside Condominium partially collapsed. A 2018 inspection found “major structural damage” to the building leading many to ask, what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy? This hour, we’re asking, what are landlords and building owners obligated to do here in Connecticut to keep residents safe? If you live in a condominium, or rent an apartmen...

Some birds in the Eastern United States have been dying of a new disease with strange symptoms, including crusty, swollen eyes. Most of the affected birds so far are in the mid-Atlantic, but scientists and wildlife enthusiasts are concerned this disease could show up in Connecticut. This hour, we find out more about this mysterious illness and what you can do about it. And later, we get an update...

This hour, a conversation with the two leading candidates for mayor of New Haven. Who has the best ideas to lead the city's recovery from the pandemic, and to help support students who have had two school years interupted by COVID-19? Guests: Justin Elicker --  Mayor of New Haven seeking re-election, former New Haven alder and teacher Karen DuBois-Walton --  Challenger for the position o...

This week, British billionaire, Richard Branson, launched himself into space on his company’s spacecraft. The Virgin Atlantic founder beat out fellow billionaire, Jeff Bezos, who is scheduled to travel to space on July 20, 2021 in his company’s spacecraft. This hour, we take a look at the billionaire space race and the era of space tourism for the ultra-wealthy. With powerful private i...

This hour, voting is one of our most basic rights as Americans. But since the 2020 presidential election, it has become a hot-button issue nation-wide. We speak with Connecticut Secretary of the State  Denise Merrill .  She deals with voting issues on the state level. Merrill recently announced that her current term will be her last.   Also, New York Times Politics Reporter&nbs...

What happens to women’s bodies during menopause? This hour, a frank conversation with OB/GYN Jen Gunter about what your mother probably called “The Change.” Dr. Gunter is the bestselling author of  The Vagina Bible  and most recently,  The Menopause Manifesto . Why is menopause such a mystery? As a culture, we don’t talk about menopause. In fact, women get th...

Digital downloads for mental health needs  surged  nearly 200 percent during the pandemic. Now, it seems this trend is here to stay. The  market  for mental health apps is projected to reach 3.3 billion dollars in the next six years. This hour, experts discuss how digital products are changing the way people care for their mental wellbeing, and the scientific rigor required fro...

This hour, we discuss Baby Bonds. The program promises to make $50-million per year available for accounts for children born in poor families. The $3,200 deposits grow until the child becomes an adult. Also, we review the next steps in the recreational cannabis program, and the governor's recent veto of a bill putting limits on solitary confinement.   Guests: Connecticut State Representative...

In 1884, a young Hartford woman named Ada Brown was murdered in her home.  It made national news, but Ada’s story faded into obscurity. This hour, we learn why a history class at University of Saint Joseph spent the past semester digging into her story, 136 years later. And we learn what it meant to one of Ada’s descendants. GUESTS: Jennifer Cote -  Associate Professor of His...

We’re reaching the middle of the summer here in Connecticut. Although many of our favorite summer activities aren’t feasible this year, there are lots of ways to get outside. Connecticut has plenty of public gardens to explore. This hour, we talk with New England gardeners about places to explore here in our home state, and ways to make your backyard an oasis.  How is your backyar...

More than two thirds of Connecticut residents have received at least one shot of the covid vaccine. At the same time, a new and fast-spreading “delta variant” of covid has spread around the globe and has become an ever-growing portion of new covid cases in the United States. This hour, we wade into all of this with public health experts. Will the delta variant impact our behaviors this...

The recreational use of marijuana becomes legal in Connecticut tomorrow, July 1. But much work is left to be done surrounding legal pot, including the creation of regulations for cannabis sale and production, and filling in the details of racial and social equity provisions.   Plus, the governor has signed dozens of bills so far, but the fate of other proposals remain unresolved. Will th...

For years, Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones have hoped for new medical treatments for an incurable disease. This hour, we talk about the FDA’s approval of a new drug aducanumab to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, and we learn why  some in the scientific and medical community have concerns . We want to hear from you. Does Alzheimer’s disease affect your family? GUEST...

After more than a year of restrictions, Connecticut – now 59 percent fully vaccinated –is moving toward a post-pandemic society. Beaches are filling up, restaurants are getting booked, and students have signed off Zoom school. But one group has been left behind – COVID long-haulers. This hour, we talk with physicians about new treatment and therapies at COVID recovery clinics. We...