Audacious with Chion Wolf

A robot Christmas ornament. A clay golem from Prague. A piece of JFK's inauguration cake that's been around for more than six decades.

No, this isn't the inventory of a particularly eccentric museum. It's what people brought to our fifth Audacious LIVE Show & Tell!

Back at Dead Language Beer Project in Hartford, we invited CT Public listeners and audience members to speak about meaningful objects in their lives. And once again, the stories behind those objects took us places we never could have predicted.

Suggested episodes:

• Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Stamford 
• Audacious Live! Show & Tell birthday bash in Hartford 
• Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Willimantic: From rare computers to hand grenades 
• Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Winsted: From movie props to prophylactics

 

GUESTS: 

• Chris DeGasero: Co-owner of Dead Language Beer Project in Hartford, who brought a Billy Baloney ventriloquist dummy of Pee-wee’s PlayhouseBrittney Mihalich: Avon resident, who brought a clay golem from Prague
• Krystaline Gregory: New Britain resident, who brought a robot Christmas ornament made of glass
• Brenda Kestenbaum: West Hartford resident, who brought her late sister’s coffee can
• Maggie Róisín: New Britain resident, who brought a family heirloom: a glass jar with a piece of JFK’s inauguration cake
• Nora Pasco: New Britain resident, who brought a labradorite ‘dragon egg’ necklace 
• Pamela Morrison-Wolf: West Hartford resident (and Chion’s mother!), who brought a statue of Saint Francis and the wolf of Gubbio 
• Amy LaBossière: Hartford resident, who brought two multi-colored fabric dolls inspired by Peter Max that hook together
• Suzanne Hopgood: Longtime Audacious supporter, who brought a wall plaque saying ‘Love you to the moon and back,’ reminding her of her late husband, Frank Lord

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can a harp be both one of the most intimate - and one of the most enormous - instruments in the world? 

Tony Pederson plays his harp at the bedsides of people who are dying, listening closely to their breathing and responding with music created specifically for those delicate moments. 

William Close invented the Earth Harp, attaching enormous strings to canyons, buildings and skyscrapers, and once stretching them more than 957 feet for a Guinness World Record.

Two musicians, two radically different harps, and a shared belief that music can take all of us somewhere extraordinary. 

 

Suggested episodes:

• Aftershocks: Life after getting struck by lightning
• Life After Live From Here: A Conversation With Chris Thile
• Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments 
• A drummer, a rapper, and a violinist on disability and the art of adapting 

 

GUESTS: 

• Tony Pederson: Music-thanatologist and past president of the Music-Thanatology Association International who has spent more than 30 years playing harp at the bedsides of people approaching death. On social media, his “Today at Death’s Door” posts share stories and reflections from his work.
• William Close: Musician and instrument inventor best known for creating the Earth Harp, which uses buildings and landscapes as part of the instrument itself. He’s  installed Earth Harps at Rome’s Colosseum, Seattle’s Space Needle, Shanghai’s Grand Theater and many more places around the world.In 2014, Close set a Guinness World Record with an installation where the strings stretched more than 957 feet. 

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most people, mini golf is casual. A little windmill, a little ice cream, maybe some light family trash talk. 

But in this episode, you'll meet competitive players who practice for tournaments, a Guinness World Record holder who played 4,941 holes in 24 hours, and a British enthusiast who has visited more than 1,100 mini golf courses. 

Along the way: specialized balls, sore backs, and the surprising life lessons hiding behind fake mountains and tiny castles.

 

Suggested episodes:

• A coffee-fueled celebration of passion, purpose, and pursuing an impossible goal 
• Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records 
• Extreme ironing, cheese rolling, and shin kicking: The world of weird sports
• The minds, hearts (and stomachs) of competitive eaters

 

GUESTS: 

• Pat Sheridan: Competitive miniature golfer, tournament organizer, co-founder of The Putting Penguin miniature-golf review site, and part of the organizing team of the American Mini Golf Alliance
• Anna and Justin Seymour: married couple from Manchester, CT who both compete in miniature golf tournaments
• Mick Cullen: Professor and a former clinical social worker, author, DJ, marathoner, and Guinness World Record-holding miniature golfer who played 4,941 holes in 24 hours 
• Richard Gottfried: miniature golfer and Guinness World Record holder who has visited more than 1,100 miniature golf courses across the world over roughly two decades 

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people go to the mall to shop or meet up with friends at the food court or get a good walk in. Some people work there.

Michael Townsend secretly lived in a mall.

For four years, Townsend and fellow artists co-opted a hidden apartment inside Providence Place Mall, complete with furniture, dishes, a PlayStation and even a waffle maker, all while trying to stay invisible to mall security.

Then, join Chion as she gets to know the manager of Westfarms Mall. After that, she meanders through Buckland Hills Mall, meeting stuffed-animal builders, a carousel operator, and a candy-store owner whose shelves are stocked with exotic treats from around the world. 

 

Suggested episodes:

• What Happens When You Act Like You Belong
• I snuck my incarcerated boyfriend out of prison in a dog crate
• The art of the prank with the directors of 'Jury Duty' and 'Bad Trip' 

 

GUESTS: 

• Michael Townsend: Rhode Island-based artist and driving force behind the Secret Mall Apartment, a 750-square-foot space hidden inside Providence Place Mall. He and fellow artists used the space undetected from 2003 until mall security discovered it in 2007. Their story is told in the 2024 documentary Secret Mall Apartment

Carolyn Edwards: General manager of Westfarms Mall. She has worked in the shopping-center industry for more than 30 years, overseeing everything from retail and marketing to safety and the day-to-day life of the mall

• The Shoppes at Buckland Hills: Alex Cabrera and Aleks Wichowski of Build-A-Bear Workshop; Carousel operator, Silas Carlson; Jessica Holbrook, owner of Passport Candies

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet two men who survived suicide attempts, and built lives around helping others imagine a future beyond despair.

Kevin Hines, one of the few to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, reflects on the instant regret, the long recovery, and the tools he uses when “brain pain” returns - recorded just days before the 25th anniversary of his attempt.

Then, Connecticut therapist Steve MacHattie shares what it means to live with chronic suicidal urges, after his first attempt at six years old, and how reaching for connection can change the outcome.

This episode originally aired on January 17, 2026.

Resources:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline  
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
• Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board
• In an emergency, please call or text 911

Suggested episodes:

• 911, What's Your Emergency? Tales From Dispatch
• Finding purpose in life after accidentally killing someone
• What it's like surviving a plane crash

GUESTS: 

• Kevin Hines: suicide attempt survivor, author, film producer, and mental health advocate. At 19, he survived a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the past 25 years, he has dedicated himself to suicide prevention, sharing his story to reduce stigma and help people through moments of crisis. Kevin is the author of Cracked, Not Broken, The Art of Being Broken, and The Art of Wellness, hosts the HINESIGHTS podcast, and was a leading voice in the effort to install safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge. His latest documentary, Death Bridge, is set to be released in 2027
• Steve MacHattie: a suicide attempt survivor, clinical social worker (LCSW), and founder of the Charter Oak Family Center in Manchester, Connecticut. He first attempted suicide at six years old, and today he supports clients ages 5 to 105 and serves as co-chair of the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board’s Lived Experience Committee. He also writes poetry used in clinical trainings to help care providers see the humanity and strength in the people they serve

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wander with the Audacious crew through 175 acres of wonder and delight to meet the people who bring The Big E to life!   

From a Lost & Found sage, to a fairy from the Florence Griswold Museum, to a hot tub ace, to Amber, the bathroom attendant/joy DJ.  

President & CEO Gene Cassidy shares the soul of the Exposition, then we follow our heads, hearts, and (especially) stomachs through cream puffs, Pepe’s pizza, and cookie dough-on-a-stick.

This episode originally aired on October 4, 2025.

Suggested episodes:

• Scenes from the Big E: A fair filled with food, animals, music – and heart

 

GUESTS: 

• Mary Naughton and Cyndy Penner: mother and daughter duo behind Cyndy’s Bears, selling embroidered teddy bears and other personalized items
• Andrea Anderson and Sabrina Gagnon: at The Big E with their Clydesdale horses from Hobby Knoll Stable in Duxbury, MA
• Susan Rotondo and Bill Motyl: longtime fair regulars from Southwick, MA
• Tammi Flynn: Director of Communications at The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT
• Rita Rivera: a fairy for the day, advertising the Wee Faerie Village at The Florence Griswold Museum
• Amber Stone: bathroom attendant at The Big E and recovery coach from Springfield, MA
• Ed Ame: a Chicago native, who spends most of the year traveling and works at the Lost & Found booth at The Big E
• James Tackett: a man from Madison, IN, who runs the mini ball booth at The Big E
• Darryl Wilson: sales representative for MAAX Swim Spas and Hot Tubs
• Melissa Russell: fife player from Bristol, CT, who performs with a fife and drum corps, and spent Connecticut Day with her family at The Big E
• John Barrows: printer at Eastern States Exposition
• Eugene Cassidy: President and CEO at Eastern States Exposition
• Greg: a Faribault, MN, native, who sells blooming onions at The Big E
• Kevin Gagliard: Operations Manager at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana 
• Lynn Lischke: Newburyport, MA, resident, who sells cream puffs at The Big E
• Josh Virkler: owner of Luann’s Bakery in Ellington, Stafford, and soon Hartford, CT 
• Jackson Panek-Henderson: nine-year-old fairgoer from Newington, CT
• Joseph Haag: owner of Kora and Mila’s Cookie Dough from Plymouth, WI, serving cookie dough on a stick at The Big E
• Josh, John, and Henry Pupa: repeat fairgoers from Griswold, CT

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Charles Wolf’s wife, Katherine, was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he found himself taking on an unlikely new role: activist. 

Wolf became a tireless advocate for victims’ families, challenging the federal compensation system and successfully pushing for reform. His efforts later became part of the movie Worth, with Stanley Tucci playing him. 

Twenty-five years later, Wolf looks back at what grief made him do, what justice can and cannot accomplish, and the life he built without the woman he still loves. 

Suggested episode:

• Life after Parkland: A victim’s dad turns to art and activism

GUEST: 

• Charles G. Wolf: After his wife, Katherine, was killed in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he became a prominent advocate for victims’ families, pushing for changes to the federal compensation system and working to preserve the legacy of those lost

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Brimfield Antique Flea Market!

Thousands of buyers and sellers descend on a small Massachusetts town three times a year, filling fields with furniture, vintage clothes, tools, art, oddities and things you didn’t know existed five minutes ago. 

We spend the day roaming the country’s largest outdoor antiques show, meeting serious collectors, first-timers, lifelong dealers and shoppers operating almost entirely on instinct. 

Along the way: haggling advice, the difference between an oar and a paddle, clown art, a singing bowl sound bath and one important lesson: if you love it, somebody else probably does too. So grab it (preferably using cash). 

Suggested episodes:

• The Big E: What it takes to create 17 days of magic
• Audacious at sea: Wisdom from strangers on a cruise ship
• Audacious Scotland: CT’s Highland Festival & Games, plus quarrelsome dames seek justice for witches
• The minds, hearts (and stomachs) of competitive eaters
• Welcome to the Punderdome! We're entering NYC's punniest pun competition
• It’s A Brand Nude Day!

 

GUESTS: 

• First segment: Lois Shelton, Jacey Bradshaw, Mike Vojnich, Monica Pedroso, Sarah Gray, and Emily Cahill, Ram Limbu, Bruce Baier, Sam Sutner
• Second segment: Jen Davidson, Jen Weckbacher, Deborah Baird, Mary Smith, Collin and Kari McCaffery, Robert Simas, Kate Corriveau
• Third segment: James Enders, Shiree Cole, Tonya Cameron, Mo Benzriouil, Sarah Baroud, Luke Davis, Ross and Laura Bonner, Garett Eisele

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of Dolly Parton, we’re rebroadcasting a conversation with her niece, singer/songwriter Jada Star. 

Jada shares what it was like growing up with Aunt Dolly, watching the rest of the world fall in love with her, and learning from her example of kindness, faith, hard work, and generosity.

For a transcription of this episode, click here.

Original air date: January 6, 2024.

GUEST: 

• Jada Star: Singer-songwriter whose debut album is called Tell Me I'm Your Angel. She also starred in the ABC reality series Claim To Fame.

You will also hear the voice of Heather Ream, author of "Lunchladies Bought My Prom Dress," East Tennessee native, and Dolly Parton fan. She was a guest on the Audacious episodes about super smellers and nostalgic childhood scents.

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Playboy Bunny is one of America’s most recognizable symbols, but it never represented a single experience. 

Candace Jordan was both a Bunny and a Playmate in the ‘70s, and remembers Playboy as a source of sisterhood, ambition, opportunity and lifelong belonging. 

Victoria Valentino was Miss September 1963, and for her, becoming a Playmate became tied to family rejection and an identity she never wanted. 

Decades later, both women look back on the same famous institution, and reveal two profoundly different truths about power, choice, survival and what lived on beyond the photographs. 

 

Suggested episodes:

• Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women’s Post-Mastectomy Stories
• Models On Beauty 
• Behind The Screens: Hollywood Hairstyling, Coordinating Intimacy, And Illustrating The Great British Bake Off

 

GUESTS: 

• Candace Jordan: Former Playboy Bunny, Chicago’s 1976 Bunny of the Year and Playmate who appeared on nine Playboy covers. She later became a prominent Chicago writer, social chronicler and nonprofit supporter through her long-running Candid Candace brand 
• Victoria Valentino: Was Playboy’s Miss September 1963. A former hospice nurse and author of Dirty Diamonds, she became a prominent Bill Cosby accuser and has spent decades advocating for sexual assault survivors and legal reform

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.