When you think of Hartford, Connecticut, what comes to mind? Maybe Elizabeth Park, good eats, and our state capitol? Odds are, you’re probably not thinking of Hartford as a destination for making movies! But some creatives are trying to change that.

After graduating from the Yale, Connecticut native TJ Noel-Sullivan lived in Los Angeles for a short while, but he found himself drawn back to Hartford. His first feature film is called Midas, it follows three best friends as they attempt to pull off a giant insurance fraud scheme and the entire film was set and shot in Hartford.

He joins us today to talk about the film, and his work to educate the next generation of filmmakers.

GUEST:

• TJ Noel-Sullivan: writer and director of Midas

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Stamford-based nonprofit Keep America Beautiful found almost 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. road- and waterways in 2020.

This hour, we’re spotlighting some of the small-but-mighty efforts to clean litter and protect wildlife in Connecticut. New Haven river keeper Peter Davis and his assistant David Burgess have been clearing parks and rivers in the Elm City for decades, one trash bag at a time. He joins us.

Local osprey nest monitor Nancy Ellen Harrigan James will also join, along with ecologist and Homegrown National Park co-founder Dr. Douglas Tallamy.

GUESTS:

• Peter Davis: New Haven River Keeper

• Nancy Ellen Harrigan James: Osprey Nest Monitor

• Aaron Goode: Environmental Advocate; Secretary, New Haven Bioregional Group

• Dr. Douglas Tallamy: Entomologist and Ecologist; Author; Co-Founder, Homegrown National Park

 

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Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more!

But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond.

Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range, and we’ll even get to hear some love stories that will put "The Notebook" to shame.

And if you are dating or have fallen in love, at any age, we want to hear from you!

GUESTS:

• Dr. Kristina Zdanys: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Division Chief for Geriatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at UConn Health

• Chip Conley: Founder & CEO of the Modern Elder Academy

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.

Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired February 16, 2024.

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Finding long-term resources and programs for young people with autism can be challenging, and in some cases, incredibly disheartening.

The needs of autistic youth can vary. As a spectrum disorder, some diagnosed with high functioning autism can live relatively normal lives pursuing college, careers and relationships.

But others require more support. Those with intellectual disabilities and communication challenges often require lifelong support to assist with tasks of daily living.

One school that claimed to fulfill that need was Shrub Oak International School in New York. This school takes students from across the country, including Connecticut. But a recent investigation by ProPublica showed that this institution that costs nearly $600,000 a year is failing its students. This investigation uncovered several accusations of neglect and abuse.

Today, we hear about the investigation by ProPublica. The Office of the Child Advocate weighs in and hear about a recent complaint against High Road Schools in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Sarah Eagan: Connecticut Child Advocate

• Jennifer Smith Richards: reporter for ProPublica

• Jodi Cohen: Reporter for ProPublica

• Dr. Mary Doherty: founder of Autistic Doctors International and anesthesiologist

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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Historian and scholar Deb Harkness was studying the intersection of science and magic in history and the humanities, when she was struck by the trend of "vampire boyfriend" stories in books and popular culture. She asked herself, "What if there really are these creatures living around us? What do they do for a living? Why have I never met any of them? And would it really be a great thing to have a supernatural significant other? I don't think so... I thought, right now people can't handle the idea of two women or two men getting married, and yet we think we want a vampire boyfriend. What is going on?"

These questions yielded the acclaimed historical fantasy series, "All Souls." The latest installment, titled "The Black Bird Oracle," is due out July 16. With ancestral ties to accused witches in New England, Harkness says she considers the book a "love letter to my Connecticut and New England ancestors."

This hour, Harkness joins us to discuss.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Deborah Harkness: Historian; Author, "All Souls" series and "The Black Bird Oracle"; Professor, University of Southern California

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Even before the pandemic, half of all adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In 2023, a report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and isolation has physical consequences like increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.

Murthy stressed how social connection is the key to individual and community health and well being. This idea of social connection is something that today’s guest has spent a lot of time focused on.

Deb Bibbins is the Founder and CEO of For All Ages, an organization uniting older adults and younger generations, and its statewide initiative; the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness.

We spoke to her at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven. She talks about how social connection is the foundation of our health.

GUESTS:

• Deb Bibbins: Founder and CEO of For All Ages and the Connecticut Collaborative to End Loneliness

Listen back to our additional coverage on loneliness:

• What’s going on with loneliness?

• 'What's eating at America': Addressing the loneliness and isolation epidemic

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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Education budget cuts from this legislative session are slamming schools at all levels, from early education to higher education.

This hour, we hear from Connecticut Mirror budget reporter Keith Phaneuf, and education reporter Jessika Harkay.

Plus, we check in with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, and Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system Terrence Cheng.

GUESTS:

• Keith Phaneuf: Budget Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Jessika Harkay: Education Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
• Terrence Cheng: Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

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Housing in Connecticut has not only gotten more expensive, it’s much harder to find. The state vacancy rate is only 3.5% and the median rent is $2,000.

Housing touches every aspect of our life. From health to education to community, where you live, makes a difference.

So why is housing so hard to find? There’s no easy answer, but our guests say that in order to create a better future where housing is both accessible and affordable, you have to look at the housing systems that have been set up in the past.

This week, Connecticut Public will premiere the documentary Fighting For Home: How Housing Policy Keeps Connecticut Segregated. Today, we’ll hear documentary producer Sabrina Buckwalter and those featured in the film.

But before we get to that, we just had the first major heatwave of the summer. If you are hoping to cool down at a local pool, your options might be a bit limited this season. We learn why.

GUESTS:

• Oscar Rodriguez: the Director of Aquatics, at the Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP) in New Haven
• Sabrina Buckwalter: producer of Fighting For Home: How Housing Policy Keeps Connecticut Segregated
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group or CT Insider
• Shanay Fulton:Commissioner of Planning and Zoning in Middletown

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A recent UConn study found that three-quarters of Black households with cars in the U.S. spend over 15% of their monthly income on car-related expenses. For these researchers, transportation shouldn’t have to mean car ownership.

This hour, we spotlight "walkability" and public transportation alternatives. Hear from city planners and civil engineers who are driving the conversation forward to deprioritize drivers and "stroads."

"Our mistake over the years is that we have allowed streets to become half roads and roads to become half streets," writes city planner Jeff Speck. "On one, commerce has been sacrificed to speed. On the other, speed has been sacrificed to commerce."

GUESTS:

• Dr. Norman Garrick: Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut

• Jeff Speck: City Planner and Author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time

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June is Infertility Awareness Month.

According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people are now affected by infertility. A new study suggests that microplastics might be impacting male infertility.

And while technological advances offer opportunities and hope for many would-be parents, treatments like IVF are expensive, and they’re not available for everyone. Plus, they don’t always work.

Navigating infertility can be an emotional for all those seeking parenthood. Today, we'll hear one local's couple journey. And we want to hear yours too. What's your infertility story?

GUESTS:

• Dr. Maya Barsky: Lead Physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and Assistant Professor in the Department of OB/GYN at UCONN School of Medicine
• Anthony Edwards and Yaneeke Calderon: a couple living in Connecticut.

If you need support, you can call the Resolve Helpline at 866.668.2566 or visit www.resolve.org.

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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