Where We Live

The holidays are expected to be a season of joy, but annual traditions can highlight the absence of a loved one. This hour, we talk about grief .

We hear from Connecticut residents about how they approach the holidays after losing a family member, and we hear from a grief counselor, too How should you respond to the people around you who are grieving?

And later: How do you talk to children about grief?

We want to hear from you. How do you deal with the holidays after losing a loved one? 

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Amazon Prime has more than 100 million members. Are you one of them? Many of us have come to expect two-day or even next-day delivery. But what are the unintended consequences of convenience?

This hour:  We hear how Amazon has changed the way we shop and ship forever. 

Author Emily Guendelsberger joins the show to share her experience working in an Amazon warehouse. 

And we want to hear from you, too: Have you worked in an Amazon fulfillment center, or thought about how Amazon shapes your shopping habits? 

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Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales. 

Mystic Aquarium has petitioned the federal government for permission to import five captive belugas to join its wildlife on display. Mystic says the move would help research to aid conservation efforts. But critics say the proposal is not only hazardous for the whales but also against US law. 

And later: as oceans warm due to climate change, what will the future of marine life conservation look like?

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Literacy. It's something many of us take for granted. The ability to read health forms, headlines, or the latest bestsellers. Yet, across the U.S., there are millions of adults who have difficulty reading.

This hour, we find out why. We talk with literacy experts and advocates, and we also hear from you.

Later in the hour, we hear about controversy in Killingly, Connecticut over a school mascot that Native Americans groups in Connecticut say is offensive. Connecticut Public’s Frankie Graziano will join us for more.

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The bed. It’s a central feature of daily life. We rest on it, recharge in it. But rarely do we reflect on our relationship with it. Until now.

This hour, we sit down with Brian Fagan, co-author of the new book What We Did in Bed: A Horizontal History. We talk double beds, pod beds, Murphy beds ... even Mark Twain’s bed. And we also hear from you. 

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How does it feel to be Santa? This hour, we explore Santa’s many identities. We talk with a longtime Santa about how he learned the tricks of the trade and meet Hartford’s newest Black Santa. But you might want to keep an eye over your shoulder: Krampus, the Grinch, and other nastier Christmas figures might show up, too.

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Next summer marks 100 years since the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the United States. This hour, we hear about the Connecticut women who fought for suffrage. And--despite the progress seen over the last century, what barriers remain for women’s full participation in the political process today?

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Sometimes new technology, like the iPhone, comes to us in flashy, attention-grabbing presentations. But other times, it creeps up and changes our world... without us noticing!

One technology that’s made its way into the headlines is artificial intelligence (AI). For some, those two words might stir up images of Ultron or HAL 9000. But AI's role goes well beyond movies or books. In fact, it's been in the real world for decades. And it's becoming more and more prevalent in our daily lives.

This hour, we talk all things AI and we want to hear from you. Do you ever stop to think about how AI might be impacting your life? 

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Salem, Massachusetts has long been a focal point in the history of early New England witch trials. But Windsor, Connecticut also has a place on this dark historical timeline: as the site of the nation's first witch hanging. This hour, author Beth Caruso joins us to shine light this little-known piece of Connecticut's past, and talk about how it inspired her novel One of Windsor.

Later, Connecticut Public Radio’s Patrick Skahill tells us how a disease known as white-nose syndrome has impacted the state’s bats. Patrick recently traveled to Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine in Connecticut to report on a bat survey. We find out what he learned, and we also hear from you. 

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For some kids, the playground is a place of fun and friendship. For others, it is a source of anxiety and fear. The fear of being left out.

Why do some kids struggle to make friends while others do not? And what can grown ups do to help?

We take an in-depth look with Why Will No One Play With Me? author Caroline Maguire. We also talk about the realities of adult friendships with NPR's Julia Furlan. 

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