Flannel and blue jeans - these staples are the backbone of American fashion and the textile industry. Are they part of your wardrobe?
Textiles, fabrics and clothing is a dying industry here in the U.S. But author Steven Kurutz says that some makers and creators are trying to change that.
New York Times reporter and author Steven Kurutz joins us today to talk about his new book American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs are bringing the art and business of making clothes back home.
We hear about the rise and decline of this industry. We’ll also learn about the history of mills right here in Connecticut, and local artisan joins us to talk about their efforts to bring back the American mill.
GUESTS:

Steven Kurutz: author of American Flannel and a reporter for New York Times covering cultural trends and the world of design
Jacob Harrison Long: President and CEO of American Woolen Company in Stafford, Springs, Connecticut

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, 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.

Flannel is always in fashion

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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More workers than ever are working a hybrid work schedule - part time in the office and part time at home. According to a Gallup Poll, nearly 40% of hybrid workers can set their own schedule.
Yet burnout feels more apparent than ever before.
Many offices are searching to find solutions to provide better work-life balance including the four day work week. Today, we revisit this topic and explore others that claim to give employees more of their time back.
And we want to hear from you. What’s your schedule like in the office these days? Would you rather work a four day week?
GUESTS:

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang: Director of Research and Innovation at 4-Day Week Global
Lynne C Vincent: Associate Professor of Management, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University
Robert C. Bird: Professor of Business Law, School of Business at University of Connecticut

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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The four-day work week might be here sooner than you think

The Venice Biennale is the art world's most prestigious exhibition. It’s sometimes even called the "Olympics of Art," held annually in Italy. Right now, Pablo Delano, a Puerto Rico-born, Hartford-based artist, has an installation called “The Museum of the Old Colony” located in its central pavilion.
The installation collection is comprised largely of photographs and artifacts, all of which raise questions around America’s relationship with Puerto Rico, and the island's status as the world’s oldest colony. The “museum” also raises questions about the politics and institution of museums.
This hour, we hear from Delano.
Plus, Faisal Saleh with Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge discusses their unofficial collateral exhibit in Venice, "Foreigners without a Homeland," featuring 27 artists.
1 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh2 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh3 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh4 of 4An exhibit named “Foreigners in Their Homeland,” proposed by the Palestine Museum U.S., was not included in the 60th Venice Biennale. It is now an unofficial collateral event at Venice’s Palazzo Mora opening April 20.Provided / Faisal Saleh
GUESTS:

Pablo Delano: Visual Artist and Photographer; Professor of Fine Arts, Trinity College
Faisal Saleh: Founder and Executive director, Palestine Museum US in Woodbridge

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, 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.

Artist Pablo Delano's 'Museum of the Old Colony' lands at Venice Biennale

For this gardening hour, we’re talking about ecological gardening and gardening for the environment.
We’ll be touching on planting natives, using rain barrels, preparing your compost pile and more. We’ll also learn what plants can make your garden a pollinator oasis.
And we want to hear from you: what are you planting this year?
GUESTS:

Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal on Connecticut Public
Dawn Pettinelli: Associate Extension Educator at Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture with UConn

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/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, we're gardening with climate change in mind

You’re never too young to learn about climate change. Younger Americans are more likely to engage with the issue, according to research on Gen Z and Millennials from Pew.
This hour, we hear from the authors of three children’s books about climate change, and taking action, including UConn sociologist Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, meteorologist Paul Douglas, environmental scientist Lena Champlin, and resident in psychiatry Jeremy Wortzel.
GUESTS:

Dr. Phoebe Godfrey: Professor in Residence of Sociology, University of Connecticut
Dr. Jeremy Wortzel: Co-Author, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
Dr. Lena Champlin: Co-Author and Illustrator, Coco’s Fire: Changing Climate Anxiety Into Climate Action
Paul Douglas: Meteorologist; Author, A Kid's Guide to Saving the Planet: It's not Hopeless and We're Not Helpless

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, 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.

'Not hopeless or helpless': How children's book authors take on climate change

This week, reporters from the New England News Collaborative are recognizing Earth Day and focusing their reporting on the intersection of climate change and housing.
34% of the housing stock across New England is rented. Many solutions to making homes more climate friendly are mostly geared toward homeowners. But investing in energy efficient appliances and installing solar panels isn’t that feasible for renters. We learn what you can do to make your home more energy efficient as a renter. 
Most homes are built with a few central materials: mainly steel and concrete. But as new buildings are constructed from homes to office spaces, a new material has been introduced to make buildings stronger, more energy efficient and more sustainable: wood. We learn more.
And later, we hear how one organization is working to create more green spaces in New Haven.
To learn more about the NENC and view more of their Earth Week reporting visit: https://www.nenc.news/earth-week
GUESTS:


Abigail Brone: Housing Reporter at Connecticut Public


Jonathón Savage: Executive Director of Gather New Haven


Abagael Giles: Climate and Environment Reporter at Vermont 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flannel is always in fashion

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