Where We Live

The United States' first Food Stamp program began in 1939.

Since then, millions of people have benefited from nutritional assistance. In 2024, one in nine Connecticut residents received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Last week, federal judges ordered the Trump Administration to continue to fund SNAP benefits. The administration initially agreed to cover a fraction of the benefit payments. But later, President Trump announced that SNAP would not be paid until the shutdown ends.

The majority SNAP recipients are children. Today, we talk about the future of SNAP benefits in Connecticut, and how the state could fill in the gaps.

GUESTS:

• Jason Jakubowski: President and CEO, Connecticut Foodshare
• Caitlin Caspi: Associate Professor, Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, and Director of Food Security Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health
• Keith Phaneuf: State Budget Reporter for Connecticut Mirror

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Although there are many barriers that keep young adults from casting their ballot, the data shows that things are changing, and more young voters are participating in elections. In the 2024 presidential election, 47% of young adults age 18-29, voted..

Today is Election Day. We’re going to spend the hour talking about the youth vote.

Social media, artificial intelligence and even podcasting is changing the way candidates reach and influence voters. We learn more about how political advertising and media is evolving.

Looking for the voting location in your town? Find where to vote here.

GUESTS:

• Rudy Garrett: Vice President of Capacity Building at the Alliance for Youth Organizing
• Michael Franz: Co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project and Professor of Government at Bowdoin College
• Alberto Medina: Communications Manager at the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University

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Five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan joins us for a conversation about baking, memory and the joy of sharing something homemade.

Her newest cookbook, "Dorie’s Anytime Cakes," is a love letter to the simple cakes that fill our kitchens and our lives. From the ones we nibble all day long to the ones we bake for people we love, these are cakes meant for every moment.

This hour, we’re celebrating the comfort and connection that come from turning on the oven and gathering around something delicious.

GUESTS:

• Dorie Greenspan: Five-time James Beard Award-winning cookbook author. Her latest is "Dorie’s Anytime Cakes." 

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Connecticut Public staff talk about their favorite Halloween traditions of today and yesterday — including candy, movies, costumes and more.

Later, a local paranormal investigator joins us to talk about their work exploring haunted homes and businesses across Connecticut.

And an author says our fascination with asylums as haunted places is easily explained. We hear about his investigation.

Guests:

• Frankie Graziano: Host and producer of the Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
• Robyn Doyon-Aitken: Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows
• Francesca Fontanez: Connecticut Public’s lead Social Media Editor
• Barry Pirro: paranormal investigator based in Connecticut. His podcast is Haunted Happenings and he is the author of the book “Haunted Happenings: A Ghost Hunter’s Strangest Cases"
• Troy Rondinone: professor of history at Southern Connecticut State University, and the author of the book “Nightmare Factories: The Asylum in the American Imagination”

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Local politicians shape life in Connecticut cities and towns, making decisions on education, housing and business development. But voter turnout is historically low in local elections.

Today, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us to answer our Election Day questions and yours. Later, we hear how her office is preparing for the 2026 midterm elections and increasing voter education.

We'll also hear what's being done to increase voter participation among the more than 4 million U.S. citizens living abroad. Less than 4% of this population voted in the 2022 election.

Looking for the early voting location in your community? Check out this list.

Guests:

• Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas
• Sara Kempner: Director of Creative Campaigns & Collaborations at the U.S. Vote Foundation
• Michayla Savitt: Connecticut Public State Government Reporter

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It’s Halloween week, which means we’re summoning Connecticut’s most chilling stories.

From ghostly apparitions to mysterious happenings that defy explanation, this hour will make you think twice about what lurks in the dark.

Historians, tour guides and a psychic join us to share their strangest encounters. Tune in for a haunting hour of history, folklore and a few goosebumps.

GUESTS:

• Christine Jewell: Director for The Ancient Burying Ground
• Mallory Howard: Assistant Curator for The Mark Twain House & Museum
• Chrystyne McGrath: Psychic, founder and owner of CM Paranormal Services and The Guilford Ghost Tours
• Courtney McInvale: Author, historian and founder of Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours 
• Wesley Broulik: performer, actor in Time’s Fool Company

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When you think of horror fiction what comes to mind for you? Maybe the classics like "Frankenstein," "Dracula," or "The Shining?"

Like many genres, horror has evolved with the times to encompass all things terrifying.

The spooky season is in full swing and we have a great line up of horror fiction to keep you entertained and spooked all season long. Today, we talk about our favorites.

GUESTS:

• AK Nevermore: president of the Connecticut Romance Writers Association and author living in Connecticut
• Andrew Liptak: author of the newsletter, Transfer Orbit, a newsletter about science fiction, writing and the future
• Stephanie Gagnon: host of the Books in the Freezer Podcast
• Jane Frankel: author and librarian at the Warehouse Point Library in East Windsor

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Professional women's sports are having a moment. This hour, we hear from soccer player and Connecticut native Alyssa Naeher ahead of her U.S. Women's National Soccer Team retirement ceremony, and from Quinnipiac University's Women's Head Rugby Coach, Becky Carlson, about the rising status of that sport after one of her former athletes became a global celebrity around the last Olympics.

GUESTS:

• Alyssa Naeher: American professional soccer player and Connecticut native. She currently plays for Chicago Stars FC. She was part of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2014 to 2024, winning a World Cup in 2019 and a Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics
• Becky Carlson: Women's Rugby Head Coach at Quinnipiac University

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Fifty years ago, 20th Century Fox released the iconic cult classic film, Rocky Horror Picture Show. After being launched on the midnight film circuit, it developed a fan following like no other.

Today, we hear from the one and only Barry Bostwick. Fans of the film know him as the original Brad Majors. He says that after fifty years, the film is still bringing people together.

"I think this is necessary, in a way, to bring us back to some kind of humanity," shared Bostwick speaking on Where We Live. "They always say, Don't dream it, be it, that's what our thing is. That’s our Gospel: don't dream it, be it."

Bostwick will be at the Warner Theater in Torrington on October 30 with the The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour.

GUESTS:

• Barry Bostwick: Actor and performer

• Michayla Savitt: Connecticut Public State Government Reporter

Upcoming Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcast performances in Connecticut

• RKO Army: Friday, Oct. 24, 9:00pm at Westbrook Cinemas, in Westbrook, CT

• The Come Again Players: Saturday, Oct. 25, 7:30 pm at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT

Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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In 2018, 33-year-old Ryan Bode Moriarty died of a heroin overdose. He was a musician, artist and T-shirt designer. He created linoleum block carvings, and would print all his shirt designs by hand.

After his death, Ryan's mother, Patricia Bode, found one of his linoleum blocks carved with the words "Remember Love." This discovery inspired the Remember Love Recovery Project and sent Bode on a mission to destigmatize addiction.

It's a mission of vital urgency. After months of steady declines, overdose deaths in America are now on the rise. During National Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month, we hear from those working to destigmatize addiction and get harm reduction tools into the community.

Has addiction impacted you or someone you love? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Patricia Bode: Associate Professor and Coordinator of Art Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She is also the founder and president the Remember Love Recovery Project
• Justin Phillips: Chief Executive Officer of the Overdose Lifeline
• Dr. J Craig Allen: Medical Director at Rushford and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare

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