Where We Live

Watching her mother’s battle with diabetes fueled one Connecticut resident’s passion for health and fitness. This hour, New Haven-based author and entrepreneur Mubarakah Ibrahim  joins us. We talk about her upcoming book, mR40 method , and learn about her unique journey as a wellness coach and Muslim-American.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Whether you’re young or old(er), has retirement planning got you swimming in a sea of dollar signs and question marks? Have no fear! This hour, we look at best practices to help keep your head above water and make the most of your financial future. 401(k)s, Roth IRAs… we check in with a certified financial planner  and take your calls, tweets, and emails. Plus: learning to save at an ear...

The military of Myanmar has been carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims. This hour we talk with a Connecticut delegation who just returned from a humanitarian mission to a refugee camp in neighboring Bangladesh and a political science researcher studying the crisis. What is the role of the U.S. as this massive humanitarian disaster unfolds? Support the show: http://wn...

Rapidly advancing technology is changing the way we do a lot of things... including policing. This hour: police drones are coming to Hartford. Are they an invasion of privacy or a helpful tool for law enforcement? And how are lawmakers debating this new technology? What do you think about police using drones? Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Support the show: http://wnpr.org/do...

This spring, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts have begun hiking up the East Coast from Georgia to Maine, hoping to complete the nearly 2200 mile Appalachian Trail. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The death of J. Edgar Hoover in 1972 marked a turning point within the F.B.I.: the opening of the bureau’s ranks to women. Connecticut native Sheila Horan was among the first to sign on, kickstarting a 28-year career with the federal agency. This hour, we listen back to our recent conversation with Horan. It’s the latest in WNPR’s “ Making Her Story ” series, highlighting prominent women with ties...

A mosaic of boldly colored labels and brightly lit bottles, the vitamin aisle is as much a drug store staple as it is a monument to a multi-billion dollar industry. This hour, we trace the history of dietary supplement sales in the U.S. and consider why these supplements remain so popular today.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know now Russia has interfered with our 2016 presidential election, but did you know that the U.S. has meddled in over 80 elections since World War II according to one Carnegie Mellon study ?  This hour, we look at how our country has interfered with democratic processes around the world. How do we reconcile our country's actions with the threat facing us today? Support the show: http://wn...

When it comes to the nation’s opioid crisis, substance abuse affects more than the addict. More and more children are entering the foster care system every year at an unprecedented rate. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highly drug resistant gonorrhea has been reported in England . It’s the latest in a growing list of superbugs that are becoming resistant to last-resort antibiotics. For much of the last century, doctors have been able to cure many once-fatal bacterial infections with a simple course of meds. But over the years, diseases have evolved and even the best drugs aren’t enough to combat the deadly bacte...

In light of mismanaged abuse allegations involving two former staffers, U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty announced Monday she will not seek re-election in November . This hour, we discuss the significance of Esty's decision -- including what it means for Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District race this year. Plus: With former VA Secretary David Shulkin out , what lies head for U.S. Veterans A...

Eleanor Roosevelt was a woman with a huge historical footprint—First Lady, first U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She was dubbed “The First Lady of the World” by Harry Truman.  But how much is known about Eleanor’s personal life beyond the politics and activism? This hour, we sit down with Connecticut author Amy Bloom. Her new book,  White Houses , is a fictional nov...

This hour: a lesson in public history. How are towns and cities across Connecticut and the Northeast engaging residents with the past? We check in with a team of experts and historians. We look at examples of locally driven projects and initiatives, and consider their impact on community building and sense of place. Do you feel a strong tie to your community’s history? We want to hear from you.&nb...

This hour: As Women's History Month draws to a close, we draw attention to a Connecticut native who was integral in the campaign for civil rights -- Judge Constance Baker Motley . Coming up, we take an in-depth look at Judge Motley's life and talk about her legacy both inside and outside of the courtroom. Plus: Suzan-Lori Parks’ Father Comes Home From the Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3 opened at Yale Rep...

For over a century, Americans have looked to National Geographic to learn about other people and cultures around the world. Now for the first time ever, the magazine has acknowledged its “exotic” portrayals of other cultures, which it was known for during much of its history, were based on racist ideas. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massachusetts is rolling out legal recreational marijuana sales this summer, with pot shops scheduled to open in July. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The November midterms are fast-approaching -- raising concerns about election security and the safeguarding of local voter identity. This hour, we look at how Connecticut is responding with Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. Plus: a Middletown-based prison program gives incarcerated adults the opportunity to work towards an Associate degree behind bars. We learn about the Wesleyan Center for P...

Samite Mulondo went from a refugee camp in Kenya to collaborating with Paul Simon. This hour, the musician and Uganda native joins us in the studio to share his story and his music. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we discuss the debate concerning a woman’s right to abort her fetus following a Down syndrome diagnosis. We also look at how advances in medical technology have changed the way health professionals screen for the  a genetic disorder during pregnancy. How far has prenatal testing progressed? And where is it headed? We find out. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio...

They've gone years without a raise. Now, members of Connecticut's private group home workforce are calling for a boost in support from the state . With a possible strike looming this April, we speak to Josh Kovner from the  Hartford Courant  for an update.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week will mark six months since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, devastating the island. Since the storm, thousands of Puerto Ricans have moved to Connecticut to restart their lives. This hour, we hear some of their stories as we take stock of the continuing impact of the hurricane. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you constantly pulling out your phone to check that notification from Instagram or Facebook? If so, you’re not alone—nearly seven in ten American adults are on social media, according to a recent Pew survey. This hour: social media has made our world smaller, but do virtual networks make us feel more connected? A recent study found that those who spend more time on social media actually tend t...

Unearthing family history -- one saliva sample at a time. This hour: how low-cost DNA testing helped spawn an industry and, with it, a new wave of genealogical sleuthing. Ancestry.com , 23andMe , Family Tree DNA -- how far are you willing to go and how much are you willing to spend to better understand your roots?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

She grew up knowing more about "farming than feminism." Now she serves as leader of the oldest women's foundation in the country.  This hour: a conversation with Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women. It's the fourth installment in Connecticut Public Radio's “ Making Her Story ” series highlighting prominent women with ties to Connecticut.  Support the show: h...

Connecticut's transportation system is facing some problems. Weathered infrastructure, scant funds, an inert legislature -- can these hurdles ever be cleared? This hour, James Redeker, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation , joins us. We take an in-depth look at the state's ongoing transit issues and talk about solutions. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/liste...