Where We Live

Social Security is one of the most widely-used government programs in the country, but how much does the average American know about how it works?

From eligibility and benefit amounts to how the trust fund is structured, this hour we’re offering a crash course on Social Security and how the federal program's uncertain future is impacting the retirement plans of people here in Connecticut.

We’ll ask what’s driving ...

There seems to be no limit to what artificial intelligence can produce and create. So how will artificial intelligence impact the way we make and critique art?

Today, we hear how artists are using artificial intelligence in their work. We ask a Connecticut professor, and artists of all disciplines, if AI is good or bad for the creative process.

We also explore a question: If AI is the author, can what it made really ...

University of Connecticut professor and artist Minnie Negoro first learned ceramics while imprisoned at a Japanese concentration camp in Wyoming.

There, she produced tableware for the U.S. army and other incarceration camps. Despite the repression, Negoro discovered a lifelong love for pottery, which she shared with generations of students.

Now, UConn is curating an exhibit to honor Negoro's work and legacy.

Today, we hea...

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 mentorsh...

Foreign aid accounts for 1% of the U.S. federal budget.

These funds are used to fight famine and disease worldwide. This week, the Senate will debate cutting $7.9 billion earmarked for these efforts.

In July, the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale had federal funds rescinded. They are currently operating by with the help of individual donors.

Today, we get an update on humanitarian crises and international confli...

Farmers in Connecticut and beyond are being impacted by federal funding cuts. In May, the USDA made cuts to programs that help fund farms and food banks.

More recently, the USDA recently cut DEI programming. This included programs on urban forestry, equitable land access and environmental justice. But we could see increased spending for other farm programs in the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Today, we ...

Shakespeare’s plays have been performed for over 400 years, but artists are still finding bold new ways to bring them to life.

This hour, we’re joined by creatives behind two inventive productions hitting Connecticut stages this summer: one blends breakdancing with Hamlet, the other infuses A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the vibrant energy of Bollywood.

We explore why these centuries-old stories con...

Today, we hear from the founder of ConnectiCon, a Connecticut-based convention that’s been bringing together fans for over 20 years. Like many conventions, it’s changed to evolve with the times.

If you have ever attended a comic convention, you probably saw a lot of people dressed as their favorite characters.

The act of cosplaying has exploded in recent years. We hear from cosplayers attending this year's conventi...

Author and poet Ocean Vuong grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. It's a city he describes as having beautiful, vibrant life.

His mother worked in a nail salon and his stepfather worked in manufacturing. Speaking about his mother and aunts, who immigrated from Vietnam, Vuong says he was raised by storytellers.

Today, Vuong is one of the nation's most celebrated storytellers. He's winner of a prestigious MacArt...

As more and more of our daily life moves online, digital access has become essential.

But not everyone has the skills, or the tools, needed to keep up in a digital age.

The Digital Equity Act was designed to help close the gap. But recent funding cuts by President Trump have stalled that progress.

This hour, we explore how those cuts are affecting communities in Connecticut and beyond. We’ll hear how local institutions &ndash...

When you think of foods that give you a sense of home, what comes to mind?

Culturally connected foods are those ingredients, dishes and tastes that connect you back to your heritage and cultural identity.

For the AAPI community, finding those foods can be challenging.

In May, Where We Live host Catherine Shen hosted a panel discussion called “Cultural Food Systems Through the AAPI Lens” at the ...

Nearly 4 million college students have experienced food insecurity.

Here in Connecticut, several colleges have food pantries and programs working to address food insecurity on campus.

But addressing this issue goes beyond giving out canned goods. It’s about giving students access to quality foods, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

Today, we hear from students and those working build better food security ...

What role can poetry play in times of political and social turmoil?

This hour, we’re joined by Connecticut-based poets who will share how their work challenges dominant narratives and amplifies voices from the margins.

They’re part of a Ridgefield, Connecticut-based festival called “Poetry in the Garden.” This year, the festival will mark its fifth year with a series of poetry-filled evenings featuring the w...

When you think of creativity, you might think of aha moments, sudden bursts of inspiration, and perhaps the dreaded writer’s block!

But creativity isn’t a skill limited to those working in the arts.

Author and researcher Zorona Ivecvic Pringle says that creativity is a trait that can build slowly and steadily over time.

Provided by AuthorZorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center fo...

What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it’s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories. 

This hour, two local children’s authors share their belief in food’s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex ...

Born in Pittsburgh, Michael 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,&...

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...

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 wh...

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 ast...