Where We Live

This week, leaders from around the world are gathering to discuss global crises, climate change, pandemic preparedness and artificial intelligence at the UN General Assembly.

Today, we get an update from humanitarian aid organizations based right here in Connecticut. Members of these organizations will take part in the assembly.

Plus, we learn how artists are influencing the dialogue on war, global conflict and humanitari...

More than 7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease . And that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.

To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, we look at the latest developments in Alzheimer’s research, diagnosis, and treatment, and ask what they mean for patients and families.

We also explore the emotional realities of living with the disease, from changes in beh...

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic: Do those words ring any bells? Maybe from that old earth science class? Don’t lose your marbles! Today, we’re talking about rocks.

Did you know that Connecticut now has a new state rock? Housatonic marble has officially received this prestigious title of Connecticut’s state rock. Today, we learn how it all happened.

Later, science educators talk about...

Last month, ICE made over 100 arrests in Connecticut. Communities are not staying silent. After an arrest takes place, it can leave family members shaken and unable to find a way forward. But community members are stepping up to offer their support.

There have been protests against these arrests. There’s also the support that comes with organized meal trains, walking children to the bus stop and helping immigrant fa...

We know football players take some big hits.

Now, new research is giving us a clearer picture of how repeated head impacts can affect the brain, including findings of C.T.E. – a degenerative brain disease – in 215 of 878 former N.F.L. players whose brains were studied.

But the risks aren’t limited to professional football. Young athletes in many sports can suffer concussions and other head injuries, too.

September 11, 2001 fell on a Tuesday. It was the start of the academic year. It was just another day in the classroom for students and teachers.

Today, we talk with teachers and educators about that day. They share how they are teaching the history of this important day to the students.

Guests:

• Jennifer Ladd: Teacher at Darien Public Schools 

• Jack Oehm: a retired FDNY Battalion Commander worki...

AI tools might be able to write a decent email, but can it write a book? Today, we hear how AI is shaking up the book world for publishers, writers and readers alike.

One local rare and vintage bookseller joins us to talk about what this has meant for her company. One author shares her experience after her work was allegedly stolen by AI research company, Anthropic.

Guests:

• Colleen Lynch: Owner of No Other Book Like ...

Third spaces are those social spaces that aren’t your home or your workplace. They’re those great in-between environments where you can come by just to hangout with your community.

They can act as the building block of a healthy, thriving community. Although many of these spaces have disappeared, there’ are efforts to bring them back.

Today, we take a look at third spaces in Connecticut and beyond. Plus, heading i...

Caring for a child takes time, money and flexibility – all things that can be hard to come by when you're also trying to work a full time job.

Connecticut has taken steps to ease that pressure, including a paid family and medical leave program and a new investment in early childhood education.

But families still face high costs, limited availability and childcare schedules that don't always line up with the demands of work.

T...

Over 40% of Connecticut drivers admitted to speeding, at least sometimes. Some say they speed to avoid holding up traffic, while others are simply trying to reach their destination faster. Speeding might be considered the new normal, but it’s still dangerous. Last year, there were over 7,000 speeding-related crashes in the state.

Today, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto joins us...

It’s back-to-school week for many students in Connecticut. Parents — are you ready for the upcoming school year?

The Connecticut State Board of Education is urging all schools to implement cellphone restrictions. We hear how school districts are tackling this and how it will be enforced.

Do you want to see a cellphone ban in your school district? Email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.

Plus, confusion around childhood vac...

School is back in session! That means calendars are filling up, and suddenly there’s always somewhere to be and something to do.

But what if the problem isn’t that there isn’t enough time — it’s that we’ve become a little too good at filling every minute of it?

This hour,we explore what our chronically hurried culture is doing to our minds, bodies, families and children.

We’re joined by a p...

Chris Bohjalian is the author of over twenty books, but his latest novel “The Amateur” pulls on his own lived experience working as a golf caddy.

The story follows Mira, an 18-year-old golf prodigy. One afternoon, while practicing at her prestigious country club, she hits a stray ball right into the temple of her classmate’s head, killing him almost instantly.

Where We Live host Catherine...

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic: Do those words ring any bells? Maybe from that old earth science class? Don’t lose your marbles! Today, we’re talking about rocks.

Did you know that Connecticut now has a new state rock? Housatonic marble has officially received this prestigious title of Connecticut’s state rock. Today, we learn how it all happened.

Later, science educators talk about using the earth...

What makes someone willingly leave the safety of shore and head into the unknown?

Connecticut adventurer, Elizabeth Fry, has swum some of the world’s most challenging open-water routes, while Guilford-native, Brec Morgan, spent four and a half years sailing around the globe alone.

This hour, they talk about the fear, solitude and exhilaration of their journeys – and the emotional experience of finally coming h...

You’ve probably heard of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

But the stages of grief aren’t always linear. The grieving is almost always a little messy.

And when a child dies, navigating grief can become a lifelong journey.

Today, two parents who have experienced the death of a child join us and share their experience, and how they’ve channeled their grief into advocacy and ...

Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability among older adults. For caregivers of people with the disease, the role is filled with a variety of emotions like worry, sadness and grief. But it’s also a role often filled with connection and love.

In June, Connecticut Public’s Daniela Doncel moderated a conversation about dementia caregiving at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield. To...

Summer may be winding down, but there's still plenty of time for ice cream.

We go behind the scenes to learn how one of Connecticut's most beloved frozen treats is made, revisit the nostalgia of the neighborhood ice cream truck, and hear from local experts about what makes a truly great scoop.

We'll also explore creative flavors – including vegan options – and get recommendations for some of the best ice cream destinati...