Reading can take us on adventures beyond our own backyards but perhaps not too far! Amity Gaige is the author of Heartwood. It explores the story of one woman who gets lost on the Appalachian Trail. Did you know this trail runs through Connecticut? And Ethan Rutherford is the author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. Connecticut was once home to one of the largest whaling ports in the world. These local authors join us for an hour to talk about their new books and we want to hear what you’re reading right now! GUESTS: Amity Gaige: author of four books including her latest, Heartwood. She also teaches creative writing at Yale. Ethan Rutherford: author of North Sun: the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. He teaches creative writing at Trinity College. This episode originally aired on April 10, 2025.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s kelp industry is booming! This versatile type of seaweed is farmed right off Connecticut’s shoreline and used in a variety of cuisines, fertilizers, lotions, and more! This hour, we’re joined by local kelp farmers and experts for a deep dive into aquaculture’s fastest growing industry. We’ll look at how chefs are using kelp in their favorite recipes and why seaweed is a powerful force against climate change. GUESTS: Suzie Flores: co-owner of Stonington Kelp Co. Zachary Gordon: Assistant Extension Educator, Connecticut Sea Grant Eric Dawson: Director of Program Innovation, Yellow Farmhouse This episode originally aired on April 14, 2025. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visual poet Monica Ong grew up as an art school kid. She had a deep interest in photography and print artistry, but she also had a deep love for language. Mixing these two mediums has resulted in something she calls visual poetry: an alchemy of text and image where the elements of an image, also make up a poem. She joins us this hour to talk about her work and her new book Planetaria where she explores astronomy, motherhood and the diaspora identity. GUEST: Monica Ong: Connecticut artist and visual poet Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dads: What’s it like to be a father in 2025? Research says that since the pandemic, Dads have become more involved with their family life. Today, we’re talking about navigating fatherhood in 2025. Because being a Dad today is different than ever before. We'll talk to some Dads here at Connecticut Public. And if you’re a Dad, or want to give your Dad a shoutout this hour, we want to hear from you! GUESTS: Frankie Graziano: Host and producer of the Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public John Henry Smith: Host of All Things Considered on Connecticut Public Eric Aasen: Executive Editor at Connecticut Public Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. Whether you're eight or 80, there's something about the paddle, the court, and the community that's bringing people together. This hour, we talk with a coach, enthusiasts, and business owners about why pickleball is booming across Connecticut and the country. We’ll learn why, from staying active to finding friends, pickleball has become more than just a game – it’s a lifestyle. Guests: Will Meng: Professional Pickleball Coach at Pickleville CT Young Le: Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Elevate Pickleball Academy Trish Jennings: Co-Owner of Camp Pickleball Ruth Martin: pickleball player Louis Martin: pickleball player Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts say Connecticut's annual average temperature has increased incrementally every decade since 1895. According to the National Weather Service, New England summer temperature is going to be 50-60% warmer this season. Heat can have a major impact on our health: this goes beyond heat stroke or exhaustion. Today, we’re exploring the many ways heat can impact both our physical and mental health, and what you can do to prepare. Got a question about staying cool for the summer? Join the conversation! GUESTS: Garett Argianas: Chief Meteorologist at Connecticut Public Dr. Cynthia Laverne Price: Emergency Medicine Physician at Hartford Healthcare Dr. Rebecca Andrews: Professor of Medicine and Associate Program Director for Categorical Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut Dr. Joshua Wortzel: Psychiatrist at Hartford Healthcare Institute of Living and Assistant Professor Adjunct at Yale School of Medicine Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year. Graduation! Commencement! These events mark the end of a student’s academic journey, and hopefully the start of something new. These rites of passage serve as important celebrations in a young person's life. Today, we talk to those responsible for making sure these ceremonies go off without a hitch! Social media, AI and other technologies have transformed how these milestones are captured and organized. Attitudes around all this pomp and circumstance are changing too. We’ll also hear about Connecticut’s Queer Prom. GUESTS: Kristen Record: Physics teacher at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut and Senior Class Advisor Patrick Dilger: Director of Integrated Communications and Marketing Southern Connecticut State University Brayden Ransom: Community Impact Manager, The Health Collective Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you remember a teacher who changed the course of your life? Maybe it was someone who helped you find your voice? Or someone who challenged you to think differently? This hour, we’re exploring the impact of great mentors – those who shape us both in and beyond the classroom. Sarah Ruhl, author of the new book, “Lessons from My Teachers” shares personal stories and reflects on the lasting power of mentorship. GUESTS: Sarah Ruhl: Author of “Lessons from My Teachers.” Sarah is also a playwright, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee, and the recipient of the MacArthur Genius Fellowship.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might sound like a cliche, but men in the U.S. are not going to the doctor, and their physical and mental health is suffering. A recent survey from the Cleveland Clinic found that nearly 40% of Gen Z men didn’t have a primary care doctor. And the life expectancy gap between men and women is widening. That’s according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Today, we talk with physicians about the state of men’s health and what they’re learning from their male patients. GUESTS: Dr. David Inyangetor: Primary Care Physician at Trinity Health George Gogas: LCSW at Charter Oak Therapeutic Services, LLC Dr. Harrell Jordan: Executive Dean of Chamberlain University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we’ll explore climate change’s impact on many whale populations – from Belugas in the Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic right whales off the coast of New England. We’ll hear how studies conducted on Beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium are helping scientists better understand what factors threaten their survival in the wild. And later, scientists working on a research initiative called “Project CETI” are using AI technology to learn the language of Connecticut’s state animal: the sperm whale. GUESTS: Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter, CAI Tracy Romano: Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist of Marine Sciences, Mystic Aquarium Gašper Beguš: Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics, UC Berkeley Kathryn Hulick: Science Journalist, Science News Explores Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. This episode originally aired on February 24, 2025.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The average cost of a wedding in Connecticut is nearly $35,000. Many couples are changing the way they get married, some opting for a small or “micro” wedding with only a few close friends and family members. And others are deciding to elope. But the decision to elope isn’t always tied to wanting to avoid the price tag of a big wedding. This hour, we hear from one couple who recently eloped at the start of the year. GUESTS: Kim Moran: artist and postal worker Rachel Moran: Graduate Intern of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing Pride Center at Eastern Connecticut State University Emma Thurgood: Elopement photographer, videographer and planner Additional voices featured in this hour: Janice Favreau: Connecticut Justice of the Peace George Gross: Your Queer Plants Shop Michayla Savitt: State Government Reporter for Connecticut Public Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. This episode originally aired February 18, 2025.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born in Pittsburgh, Micahel Luo is the son of Chinese immigrants. He attended Harvard, and later became a reporter at the New York Times and today he is the Executive Editor at The New Yorker. One rainy afternoon in 2016, he was standing on the sidewalk with his family and some friends after church, trying to decide where to go to lunch when a stranger accosted him and his family. “Go back to China,” she said. Today, he joins us for the hour to talk about his new book on the hidden history of brutality and violence that so many Chinese Americans faced at the turn of the century. Learn more about Michael Luo's upcoming event at the Mark Twain House here. GUEST: Michael Luo: Executive Editor for the New Yorker, and author of the book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.