Where We Live

Sharks. They’re among the apex predators of the ocean, swimming with stealth and agility across our blue planet. But more than that, they’re sources of myth and fear, stirring imaginations with their serrated jaws and cutting dorsal fins.

So what, then, does it take to photograph these -- and other -- awe-inspiring marine creatures? This hour, we talk with underwater photojournalist Brian Skerry and preview his upcoming appearance at The Connecticut Forum.

Plus, with Memorial Day just around the corner, what should New Englanders keep in mind as they hit the region’s beaches and dip into its shark-inhabited waters? We find out and we also hear from you. 

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Tens of thousands have died in Yemen as a Saudi-led bombing campaign continues to fuel a devastating civil war. And the U.S. has been fueling military efforts by Saudi Arabia in this four year conflict.

This hour, we ask Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy what are the next steps to address this humanitarian crisis, now that the senate has failed to override the president’s veto of a resolution to end American involvement in the war?

We also talk with a former ambassador to Yemen about the roots of the conflict. And we hear from the president of Save the Children about the physical and mental toll of the war on a generation of children in Yemen—where an estimated 85 thousand children may have died of starvation.

And we also get the latest from Wethersfield, Connecticut where dashcam footage from a fatal police shooting was released in early May.

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Searching for a majestic waterfall? There's no need to travel very far. Many are right here in Connecticut.

There's gushers like Great Falls along the Housatonic River at Fall Village in the town of Canaan on the western side of the state. In the spring when it's at full power, it's been touted as the "Niagara of New England."

Others, like Sages Ravine in Salisbury, are more pristine, but a little harder to get to. For those willing to trek through the woods a bit, they may have it all to themselves.

Today we take a tour of the best cascading waters the state has to offer.

How did these marvelous feats of nature take shape?

There's new research challenging the longstanding premise that waterfalls only formed through external forces, such as techonic and glacial activity. We talk to the lead author of a newly published study on self-forming waterfalls.

We also are joined by a hiking expert to get safety tips ahead of the nation's largest "Trails Day" celebration coming up in Connecticut in early June. 

And we want to hear from listeners. What waterfalls do you plan to explore as we head into warmer weather?

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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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Two recent officer-involved shootings have shaken communities across Connecticut. This hour, we take a look at these two stories. We hear from Connecticut Public Radio reporters who’ve been on the ground in New Haven and Wethersfield.

We ask a lawmaker: Does Connecticut have in place strong enough laws for police accountability? And we take a look at de-escalation training for police. How can this training serve officers in the heat of the moment?

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Have you ever watched footage of Usain Bolt with a stupefied look on your face, wondering how one man could run... so fast? You're not alone.

This hour, we consider the science behind high-speed running with a researcher at Southern Methodist University.

We also check in with a couple of local runners, including Kiran Majmudar, who ran his first Hartford Marathon at... get this... age 65. 

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With the change in season, many birds that headed south over the winter are coming back to the northeast. This hour, we sit down with Connecticut’s state ornithologist. 

We also learn about a citizen science project happening in the state: the Connecticut Bird Atlas.

And we take your calls, tweets, and emails. What birds are you on the lookout for this spring?

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Spring has arrived, transforming Connecticut’s landscape into a vibrant canvas of yellows, pinks, whites, and greens. For gardeners, the season signals a return to the outdoors; a new opportunity to cultivate the soil and tend to rows of berries, herbs, and flowering trees.

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Bulimia. Anorexia. Binge-eating. You have likely heard of these eating disorders before. But what are they, really? And who do they affect?

This hour, we talk with advocates and experts in the field, and we also hear from you. Have you or has someone close to you suffered from an eating disorder? Where did you turn for help? 

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

GUESTS:

• Claire Mysko - CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association (@clairemysko)
• Anahi Ortega - Latina who has recovered from an eating disorder; she resides in Portland, Oregon
• Dr. Sara Niego - Psychiatrist and Service Chief of the Eating Disorders Program at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut (866-542-4455)

READING LIST:

NPR: When It Comes To Race, Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate - "Mysko says 30 million Americans have struggled with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. And, that number's probably higher, because the stereotype of who has an eating disorder affects how we talk about them, who seeks treatment, who gets treatment and how they're treated."

Silver Hill: Let's Get Real About Eating Disorders - "When you think about eating disorders, you probably have an image in your head of a severely underweight young woman. However, eating disorders don’t discriminate; they can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age or socioeconomic status."

Catie Talarski contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 7, 2019.

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After a terrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the world is mourning damage to an architectural marvel and a holy space. This hour, we look at the interplay of religion and art. How can a physical structure like the cathedral carry such spiritual weight?

And we hear from a master artist of Sephardic music, a Jewish cultural tradition that was nearly wiped out during the Holocaust.

Does art shape your religious experience, or the way you think about your cultural traditions? 

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