Where We Live

Connecticut residents have the highest average credit card in the nation. Although personal finance courses are offered in high schools, they aren’t mandated to graduate. And often, these courses don’t address the complex financial challenges of their students. Today, on Where We Live, we talk about giving more students access to financial literacy, and making that curriculum more inclusive. We want to hear from you. Did you learn about credit cards, budgeting or taxes in school? How were you taught to manage your money? GUESTS: Dana Miranda: Healthy RichDr. Monette Ferguson: Alliance for Community EmpowermentNan J. Morrison: Council for Economic Education Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired May 9, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Capalbo is the lead singer of Connecticut local band DaniProbably. She recently recorded her song "Cowboy" with Grammy-winning producer Peter Katis. But she didn't lay down tracks at at a recording studio. She recorded at a library. The Westport Library in Connecticut is the first library to record, produce and release a vinyl record. Today, we talk to members of this library and how they are rethinking the changing and emerging role of libraries. We’ll hear how the library has created spaces to nurture and resource local artists. We'll also hear from some of the bands featured on the album join us to talk about this process. We want to hear from you. What do you use your local library for? GUESTS: Travis Bell: Verso Studios at the Westport LibraryDanielle Capalbo:DaniProbablyDylan Hundley: Lulu Lewis Dooley O: artist and DJ based out of New HavenBill Harmer: Westport Library Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world. But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods. This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic. GUESTS: Rachel Kauder Nalebuff: Our Red BookMichelle Memran:Kica Matos:Axel Gay: Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 10, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to a lot of interesting people on the show. Today, we’re revisiting three memorable conversations we’ve had this year. Eric Jacobsen just completed his final season as the conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. We spoke with Eric about his work as a conductor and also heard about the search for the next orchestra leader. The State Department of Education and Connecticut’s five sovereign tribal nations are working together to develop Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes which will be rolled out next year. We’ll hear from a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation about how local tribes worked with the state on this curriculum. For Earth Day 2023, the New England News Collaborative highlighted innovative solutions to mitigating climate change, including a renewed interest in green burials. We talk to a Vermont Public Radio reporter about how they’re having a resurgence in New England. GUESTS: Eric Jacobsen: Darlene Kascak: Lexi Krupp: You can listen back to the full interviews below: Conductor Eric Jacobsen says goodbye to the Greater Bridgeport SymphonyConnecticut tribes co-create state social studies curriculum, centering 'our culture and our ways'Small solutions to climate change that make a big impact Check out the NENC 2023 Earth Week coverage here. Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, Republicans and Democrats have clashed over the national debt limit. But over the weekend, President Joe Biden and House Republicans reached a deal. Now, it goes to both the House and Senate before the June 5th deadline. This hour, we break down what debt negotiations in Washington D.C. mean up here in Connecticut. Plus, according to a new report, Connecticut has aggressive probation practices. We’ll explain what that means for residents of the state. We'll also look at efforts to curtail the state’s Freedom of Information Act. GUESTS: Lisa Hagen: Alex Putterman: Mark PazniokasSeth Stern: Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With so many outdoor spaces to explore in New England, we forget that some of the best hikes, and parks are right here in our backyard. Today, we’re talking about trails and efforts to conserve Connecticut’s state parks. We hear from the couple behind efforts to refurbish Batterson Park and officially make it a state park. We also hear about some efforts to make parks and greenspaces more inclusive for all residents. We want to hear from you. What’s your favorite park, trail or hike here in Connecticut? GUESTS: Neil Connors and Allison Cappuccio: Batterson Park ConservancyAmy Hernandez: Latino OutdoorsClare Cain: Connecticut Forest & Park AssociationPhil Birge-Liberman: Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congressman Jim Himes has been serving in Congress since 2009 when he was elected to represent Connecticut's 4th district. Since then, he’s become a democratic leader focused on national security and intelligence concerns. This hour on Where We Live, he joins us to look ahead to the 2024 election and talk through his priorities. We also talk about what he thinks of the debt limit deal reached this weekend between the White House and GOP house speaker Kevin McCarthy. We’ll reflect back on how things in Washington and across the nation have changed since January 6th and what to expect for the 2024 presidential election. GUESTS: Congressman Jim Himes:Lisa Hagen: Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Pew survey from 2018 estimated 13% of adults consult tarot card readers, astrologers or "fortune-tellers." But more recent market research shows sales for tarot card decks and psychic services are growing. This hour, we explore the art of divination and "card-pulling" in Connecticut. Hear from professional tarot reader Afton Jacobs-Williams, AKA Monty's Tarot Child. Plus, Chelsea Granger is a multidisciplinary artist who co-created Dirt Gems, a plant-themed oracle deck. RELATED: Seasoned visited Tea & Tarot in Madison. Listen here... But first, hear more about the origins of tarot or "tarrochi." We preview some of the research going on at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, home to some of the oldest existing tarot cards. GUESTS: Timothy Young:Afton Williams-Jacobs:Chelsea Granger:Dirt GemsSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s currently a debate in America about what students should be learning about U.S. history. Some say we don’t revere American exceptionalism enough. Others say we're giving ourselves an A+ by excluding the tests we failed. Humorist Alexandra Petri says both sides are wrong. We just don’t know enough about the things we need to know, such as how inventor Nikola Tesla fell in love with his pigeon or about the secret tapes of Nixon yelling at his dog Checkers. This hour, an irreverent look at how we teach, learn and remember U.S. history. GUESTS: Alexandra PetriNothing Is Wrong and Here is Why,Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American DocumentsMike PescaThe Gist, Pesca ProfunditiesUpon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs In Sports HistorySupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In one episode of the docu-series Reciprocity Project, Connecticut-based educator and member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe Chris Newell teaches acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma a pow-wow song. Together, they play at sunrise, "singing up the sun" in the tradition of the Wabanaki or People of the Dawnland, a confederation of four tribes in Maine including Passamaquoddy. This hour, we hear about this film series from Newell and executive producer Tracy Rector, and about the increasing urgency of centering Indigenous perspectives on our planet and the climate. The series is intended to inspire conversation and action on climate; "to create a paradigm shift that reframes our relationships to the Earth, other living beings, and one another." Plus, a conversation on the Native food movement with Navajo journalist and podcaster Andi Murphy. GUESTS: Chris Newell:Akowmawt Educational InitiativeTracy Rector:Nia TeroReciprocity ProjectJennifer Kreisberg:Andi Murphy: Toasted Sister Podcast Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 10, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 92% of American households reported owning at least one vehicle in a recent five-year 2021 census report. Connecticut falls just below that national average. A recent Forbes study found that the average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance in Connecticut is $1,730. Plus, the report ranks Connecticut as the most expensive state for car repairs, averaging around $400 for check engine light-related car fixes. This hour, we talk about car culture in America, and how car dependency can translate into policies that prioritize roads over sidewalks, highways over public transit. Hear from UConn Professor Emeritus Dr. Norman Garrick, a luminary in the field of transportation and civil engineering. Plus, his former student Adam Weber is now a civil engineer working for the city of New Haven, who also shares insights on transportation infrastructure with millions on social media. GUESTS: Adam Weber:@EverydayEngineeringDr. Norman Garrick: Professor Emeritus Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 6, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether they’ve been written by a loved one or a local newsroom, obituaries are an earnest attempt at the impossible: distilling one person's life into a couple of pages or paragraphs. This hour, we explore the delicate art of obituary-writing with two experts: Tampa Bay Times and Poynter writer Kristen Hare, and Lucy Gellman, an editor with New Haven's Arts Paper. Plus, Epilogg co-founder Mary McGreevy shares "Tips from Dead People" on TikTok. GUESTS: Kristen Hare:Tampa Bay TimesPoynterLucy Gellman:The Arts PaperMary McGreevy:EpiloggTips from Dead People Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired April 27, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23% of the adult U.S. population cannot read above a third-grade level. Literacy isn’t limited to reading and writing, it can also refer to basic math, comprehension and critical thinking skills. There is no part of the U.S. population that isn’t touched by low literacy. And many people suffer from shame around the struggle to read and write. According to ProLiteracy, bringing reading levels up “would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income. Today, we get a deeper understanding of adult literacy in our country and across our state. GUESTS: Haleigh Guerrera: Literacy Volunteers of Greater HartfordAliyya Swaby: Mark Vineis: ProLiteracy Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired April 7, 2023. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

R.F. Kuang's works of historical fantasy, including The Poppy War series, have been racking up awards since she began publishing in 2018. Her novel Babel won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writers this week. The same day, her latest book Yellowface debuted. It is Kuang's fifth novel, and a shift from fantasy to literary fiction. The satirical thriller takes on the commercial publishing world, and through it, "questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation." Not to mention, "the terrifying alienation of social media." This hour, R.F. Kuang joins us. Minor spoilers lie ahead... GUESTS: R.F. Kuang: Yellowface; Babel; The Poppy War Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are over 4,000 foster children living in Connecticut. May is Foster Care Month. From what's seen on TV and the media, foster care looks like a selfless, philanthropic act; willing foster parents open up their homes to children in need. But being a foster parent is a complicated job that requires many layers of kindness and sensitivity. Laura is a foster parent based out of California. She received a lot of attention sharing a video about her experience as a foster mom and continues to share her experience and advice on social media. The topics range from navigating relationships between foster parents and biological parents, to preparing your home before you become a foster parent. We talk about this complex system involving caretakers, lawmakers, and of course, the children placed in the state's care. If you have direct experience with the foster care, we want to hear from you. GUESTS: Laura: Foster Parent PartnerCommissioner Vannessa Dorantes: Connecticut Department of Children and FamiliesJosiah Brown:Connecticut CASATricia Goldburn:Court Appointed Special Advocate, Connecticut CASASupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proposed bill would set limits on how warehouses track worker productivity where we live. Amazon – which currently employs more than 15,000 Connecticut residents across its 14 locations – was the focus of a recent hearing on the bill. This hour, an Amazon spokesperson responds to the legislation. Kelly Nantel says they support the "goal of the bill" and look forward to working with state lawmakers, but clarifies that Amazon does not have "set quotas" for workers. "We assess our performance based on what we believe are safe and achievable expectations for all employees." Plus, State Sen. Julie Kushner, Business Insider tech correspondent Katherine Long, and CBIA's Eric Gjede join the conversation. GUESTS: Kelly Nantel:Julie Kushner:Katherine Long:Eric Gjede: Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring is here and it’s time for our annual spring gardening hour and we are going back to basics. What’s a zone? How do you choose the right kind of soil? How to keep your succulents alive all year round? If you’re a new or inspiring gardener, Charlie Nardozzi is joining us to answer our questions and yours about getting comfortable with the soil. We want to hear from you, what questions do you have about making the most of your garden? GUEST: Charlie Nardozzi: Connecticut Garden Journal Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

the ripple, the wave that carried me home is a new play running at the Yale Repertory Theater, following a family of “aquatic activists” across decades, as they push for equity in access to pools.This hour, we hear from playwright Christina Anderson and director Tamilla Woodard, and we learn more about the history of racism at beaches and pool clubs where we live. GUESTS: Christina Anderson:the ripple, the wave that carried me homeTamilla Woodard:the ripple, the wave that carried me homeAndrew Kahrl: Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America's Most Exclusive ShorelineHenry Fernandez:LEAP for KidsRyan Rooks:LEAP for Kids Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut residents have the highest average credit card in the nation. Although personal finance courses are offered in high schools, they aren’t mandated to graduate. And often, these courses don’t address the complex financial challenges of their students. Today, on Where We Live, we talk about giving more students access to financial literacy, and making that curriculum more inclusive. We want to hear from you. Did you learn about credit cards, budgeting or taxes in school? How were you taught to manage your money? GUESTS: Dana Miranda: Healthy RichDr. Monette Ferguson: Alliance for Community EmpowermentNan J. Morrison: Council for Economic Education Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of the millions of people working in STEM fields in the U.S., only 9% are Black, according to the Pew Research Center. Those numbers are "unchanged" since 2016.How can efforts around “inclusivity” in these fields go farther? Environmental scientist Dr. Nyeema Harris has written about the importance of Blackology.“Blackologists are not simply scholars that are Black but, rather, are scholars who deliberately leverage and intersect Blackness into advancing knowledge production," she writes.Dr. Harris joins us to discuss how this approach is applied to environmental science and so many other disciplines.Plus, public health professor Dr. Ijeoma Opara discusses her work to reduce racial health disparities, and to "strengthen the pipeline of Black youth to the field of public health research."GUESTS: Dr. Ijeoma Opara:Dr. Nyeema Harris:Yale School of the Environment Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired February 24. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.