As kids get back to school, the political debate around who should get shots for COVID other illnesses is once again bubbling up.

But another debate has risen as well. Last week, President Trump urged pregnant women to “tough it out” and use Tylenol sparingly during pregnancy. The administration claimed an unproven link between the painkiller acetaminophen and autism. It’s a statement that has been widely discredited by medical experts.

Today, Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani joins us to answer your questions on vaccines, Tylenol use and more. We also hear from the Autism Self Advocacy Network.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health

• Colin Killick: executive director of the Washington-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network

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When you think of farm animals, the term “endangered species” probably doesn’t come to mind.

In Scotland, Connecticut, Iris Creek Farm is working to raise and preserve a rare, endangered breed of sheep.

Today, we hear what local farmers are doing to raise more rare livestock and how this is impacting agriculture everywhere.

GUESTS:

• Tess Terrible: Senior Producer for Where We Live
• Jeanette Beranger: Senior Program Manager at the Livestock Conservancy
• Mackenzie White: Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources

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Samin Nosrat's 2017 debut “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” was a breakout hit in the cooking world — teaching people of all skill levels the building blocks of flavor.

Nosrat won a James Beard award and the book was adapted into a Netflix documentary.

After her massive success, Nosrat found herself in a low. She was diagnosed with clinical depression, and said the joy she once found with cooking, stopped being attainable.

But it was cooking for community, and for her found family, that brought her back. Nosrat's new book focuses on bringing families of all types to the table, and building community through great food. 

Nosrat recently joined us to talk about her book, and what's inspiring her today.

GUEST:

• Samin Nosrat: cook, teacher and author of “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” and “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love"

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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Spotted lanternflies are showing up across Connecticut, but they might not be as catastrophic as you think.

This hour, we talk with an expert about the real threat these insects pose and what you can do if you spot one.

Meanwhile, Connecticut’s push toward clean energy is being put to the test, and mental health professionals are seeing an uptick in climate-related anxiety.

We hear how therapists are helping people stay grounded and how students are leading the way on environmental action.

GUESTS:

• Gale Ridge: associate scientist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
• Ricky Jordan: manager of energy efficiency, Eversource
• Doug Geoffrey: participant in the first Summer Green STEP cohort
• Áine Pennello: Report for America environmental and climate change reporter, CT Public

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When Crystal Emery started to fall down, without tripping, everyone said she was just clumsy. But in 1981, Crystal Emery was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

For some people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the symptoms can be limited to body weakness and muscle atrophy. But for the Emery, the disease progressed. She lost the use of her legs and hands. Today, she uses a wheelchair and sometimes needs a breathing machine.

But despite her circumstances, she is anything but limited. Emery remained committed to her artistic craft, working as an artist, author, filmmaker, activist and comedian. Today, she joins us to talk about her work.

Later, we get an update on the future of disability services in Connecticut, and beyond. Advocates fear that decades of advocacy for better disability services, and more inclusivity, could be walked back among federal funding cuts.

Learn more about Emery's performance in New Haven here.

GUESTS:

• Crystal Emery: filmmaker, author and comedian
• Joy Houlder: Art Director at the Art Connection Studio in Hartford
• Tobey Partch-Davies: Executive Director of Disability Rights Connecticut

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Best-selling author Wally Lamb spent nine years working on his newest book, "The River Is Waiting."

In this time, he wrestled with self-doubt, navigated his own sobriety journey and worked as a teacher at York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only women’s prison.

His new book explores addiction, reckoning and forgiveness, and the injustice that exists in prison today. It follows one man’s experience in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of his son.

GUEST:

Wally Lamb: author of "The River Is Waiting." He is also the author of "She’s Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True."

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.

This episode originally aired August 19, 2025.

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Step into the Renaissance Faire and you’ll be greeted with a scene out of time — dueling knights, vendors hawking their wares and royal proclamations.

 

Today, we'll take you to a faire and bring you voices from a realm filled with magic and whimsy. We'll also hear from the organizers of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.

 

We learn what goes into organizing these festivals, what it is like to perform there, and what keeps people coming back year after year.

 

GUESTS:

• Isaac Moss: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and recent graduate of Wesleyan University

• Coco Cooley: Summer intern at Connecticut Public and student at Wesleyan University

• Eric Tetreault: Co-Founder and Marketing Director at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire

• Daniel Greenwolf: Co-Owner of the Connecticut Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Fair

This episode originally aired on July 29, 2025.

 

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.

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Connecticut native and bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir All the Way to the River tells the story of her late partner, Rayya Elias.

The two began as fast friends, then fell in love. But as they faced tragedy together, their shared struggles with addiction put them on a collision course with catastrophe.

This hour, Gilbert joins us to talk about Rayya – “the love of her life” – and what she discovered about herself, about love, and about the sanctity of truth in writing this deeply personal memoir.

GUESTS:

• Elizabeth Gilbert: author of the new memoir, All the Way to the River. She is also the author of several other bestselling novels including Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls.

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When you think of creativity, you might think of aha moments, sudden bursts of inspiration, and perhaps the dreaded writer’s block!

But creativity isn’t a skill limited to those working in the arts.

Author and researcher Zorona Ivecvic Pringle says that creativity is a trait that can build slowly and steadily over time.

Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Author of The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action.

Today, she joins us for the hour to talk about the science behind creativity and innovation and ways to explore these skills in everyday life.

GUEST:

• Zorana Ivecevic Pringle: Research Center at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action

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.

This episode originally aired June 26, 2025.

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Sunday marked National Grandparents Day, which is a reminder of how deeply grandparents shape our lives.

But not every grandparent fits the traditional mold.

This hour, we explore unconventional grandparenting in our region, from neighborhoods built on intergenerational living to programs connecting older adults with children in need of guidance.

GUESTS:

• Erika Keuster: CEO of Treehouse Foundation 
• Holly Handfield: honorary grandparent, Treehouse Easthampton
• Margarita Laboy: Foster Grandparent Lead Program Specialist, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut
• Classie Sanders: Grandparent volunteer, Foster Grandparent Program

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