Where We Live

Violinist and singer Kishi Bashi is Japanese American. His most recent musical project, Omoiyari , takes a look at the history of Japanese internment, when 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated, fueled by xenophobia during World War II . This hour, we sit down with Kishi Bashi to talk about why he’s turning to history to better understand our present, and we ask him about his uni...

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced a new initiative, the  Opportunity Zones Program , to spur investment in the nation’s most distressed communities. The state of Connecticut is home to 72 Opportunity Zones. What efforts are being made to attract investors to these regions? This hour, we find out and we also hear from you. Do you live in or near an Opportunity Zone?  Support...

High-profile cases of sexual harassment in the workplace have made headlines in recent years, from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. A new series from Hearst Connecticut Media finds workplace sexual harassment and abuse is pervasive across Connecticut. This hour, we talk with one of the reporters behind the series. We also hear about the state’s Time’s Up Act , a new law against workplace dis...

Massachusetts has long been a focal point in the history of early New England witch trials. But Connecticut also has a place on this dark historical timeline: as the site of the nation's first witch hanging. This hour, author Beth Caruso joins us to shine light this little-known piece of Connecticut's past, and talk about how it inspired her novel One of Windsor . Later, Connecticut Public Radio&r...

Middletown today is known for its vibrant main street and the scenic grounds of Wesleyan University. But the city began as a trading port on the Connecticut River, and from its founding, much of the wealth that came into that port was tied to the transatlantic slave trade. This hour, we hear about a new UNESCO memorial that has brought recognition to that city’s role in slavery . We also lea...

For some kids, the playground is a place of fun and friendship. For others, it is a source of anxiety and fear. The fear of being left out. Why do some kids struggle to make friends while others do not? And what can grown ups do to help? We take an in-depth look with Why Will No One Play With Me? author Caroline Maguire. We also talk about the realities of adult friendships with NPR's Julia Furlan...

In April, 18-year-old Anthony Jose Vega Cruz was driving in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on the way to dinner with his girlfriend. But he was stopped by police. He fled. The pursuit ended when an officer fatally shot Vega Cruz, known as "Chulo" to family and friends.  This hour, we sit down with reporter, Vanessa de la Torre. She is the supervising producer of Collision Course , a new Connectic...

At 27, he was a Connecticut school principal. At 44, he is the state’s commissioner of education. This hour, Dr. Miguel Cardona joins us to talk about his vision for Connecticut's education future.  Do you have a question for the commissioner? We want to hear from you, too. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozens of Connecticut homes have been hoisted off the ground as the state helps pay homeowners to repair ruined concrete foundations.  This hour, we check in on the crumbling foundations crisis that is impacting homes and homeowners. We talk with the  Hartford Courant journalist behind a yearlong series on Connecticut’s ruined concrete foundations .  We hear from a Tolland hom...

The bed. It’s a central feature of daily life. We rest on it, recharge in it. But rarely do we reflect on our relationship with it. Until now.  This hour, we sit down with Brian Fagan, co-author of the new book What We Did in Bed: A Horizontal History . We talk loft beds, pod beds, travel beds ... even Mark Twain’s bed. And we also hear from you.  Support the show: http://wnp...

Do you worry about how you’re everyday actions contribute to climate change? You may think about the carbon gas-burning cars are putting into the atmosphere, or coal-powered electricity in your houses. But what about the food you eat? This hour we talk about the role of the livestock industry on putting carbon into the atmosphere. Are our carnivorous habits contributing to the climate crisis...

It’s a lethal hunter, marked by its tufted ears and focused gaze. It's a breathtaking sight, if you’re lucky enough to see one. This hour: the bobcat. This stealthy species has made a comeback in recent years. We talk to researchers who are working to better understand Connecticut’s only wild feline.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Guilt. Ah, yes, that awful, anxiety-ridden five-letter word. Most of us have experienced it. All of us have learned to dread it. But is a little guilt really such a bad thing? This hour, we consider that question and more with a series of guilt (note we did not say “guilty”) experts. We check in with a  researcher at the University of Virginia  and with a  psychologist b...

Cities and towns have laws to keep people from engaging in behavior that may disturb others, like sleeping on park benches, drinking in public, or just plain “loitering”. What does it mean when just hanging out in a public space puts you in violation of these laws? This hour we take a hard look at loitering ordinances and other laws that  advocates argue criminalize individuals, e...

Bicycles helped inspire modern cars, paved roads...even airplanes! But did you know they were also an inspiration for the women's movement? This hour we take a look back in time at the origins of the bicycle, including innovation that happened right here in Connecticut. We find out the history of how this vehicle spurred social change and helped empower women to break through gender barriers a lit...

Not only is Charles Ives a revered American composer, but he is also Connecticut's native son. This hour, we take an in-depth look at Ives’ life and profound musical output, and we ask: What is his legacy today?  Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . GUESTS: Neely Bruce  - John Spencer Camp Professor of Music at  Wesleyan University  in Middlet...

What would it have been like to see a huge, elephant-like mastodon roaming our state?  The earth has been home to some spectacularly large animals. A few of them still roam or swim our world today. This hour, we take a look at the biology of these giants.  From chunky island-dwelling birds to the enormous blue whale, what do we know about why these creatures evolved to be so big? An...

Doctors and public health officials are still trying to figure out the cause behind more than 800 lung injuries related to vaping that have been reported in the U.S. in recent months. At the same time, there is a longer-term public health crisis as more and more young people have become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarette use -- despite decades of declining traditional cigarette use among tee...

Impeachment. It's a word that has come to dominate the headlines, with the announcement of an “official impeachment inquiry” into U.S. President Donald Trump. But just what is impeachment? This hour, we take an in-depth look  and we also hear from you. Do you have a question about the impeachment process?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Venture into any of Connecticut's municipal centers and you will likely notice an empty storefront … or two or three or, well, you get the point. This hour, we ask: What impact do these vacancies have on the vitality of local communities? And what resources are available to help these communities attract and retain more retail businesses? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystu...

A phone conversation between Donald Trump and the president of Ukraine about former Vice President Joe Biden has sparked outrage from some U.S. lawmakers and amplified calls for Trump’s impeachment. This hour, Connecticut U.S. Rep. Jim Himes joins us to weigh in on this unfolding situation.  We also look at mounting concerns over Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The mosquito-borne vir...

The University of Connecticut has a new leader. This hour, we sit down with UConn’s new president, Thomas Katsouleas, who stepped into the role this August. Katsouleas is trained as a physicist and electrical engineer whose career has focused on plasma science. We hear about his path to Connecticut and ask him about his vision for Connecticut's flagship state university. And we want to hear...

A recent report paints a picture of the arts in Greater Hartford, a scene that’s both colorful and rocky. This hour, we learn about the  Greater Hartford Arts Landscape Study , and consider efforts to better support the region’s artists. We also look back on the early years of hip-hop and breaking (a.k.a. breakdancing) in Connecticut, and hear how some young people are learning an...

As college students settle into the fall semester, there is an expectation their professors are tenured. But three out of four faculty today aren’t eligible for tenure. And many are adjuncts, part-time faculty without strong benefits or job security. Today: What’s the human cost to this model of education? We find out and we want to hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/dona...

Whether through religious groups or school-organized activities, Americans have long sought ways to give back to their communities. But has this spirit of altruism faded in recent years? This hour, we check on the state of volunteering in the U.S. and ask what is being done to motivate more Americans to do good in their spare time. Do you remember the last time you volunteered? We want to hear fro...