Where We Live

Many wine tastings are about evaluating the aroma, balance and tannin. But for some people, wine is about so much more than that. It’s about history, community, and memory.

Less than 1% of wineries in the United States are owned by Black connoisseurs. But that is starting to change. And with more makers, lovers and sellers of color coming into this industry, who consumes and enjoys wine is evolving too.

Today, we hear from Black and brown winemakers and enthusiasts in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Donna Moore: Winemaker at Sunset Hill Vineyard in Lyme, Connecticut

• Marissa Ocasio: Director of Education at Center Wine and Spirits in Glastonbury

• Jennifer Regan Lefebvre: Professor of History at Trinity College, Connecticut and author of the book Imperial Wine: How the British Empire Made Wine’s New World

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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It might not feel like it today, but cooler weather is coming. This often means more time spent indoors, and an uptick in contagious diseases such as the flu, the common cold, and yes, COVID-19.

Today, we’ll talk about what you need to know to protect yourself and your family this year. The new COVID-19 booster is available. But deciding when you should vaccinate - that’s a case by case basis.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness that is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Just this week, more mosquitoes tested positive for EEE in Farmington and Manchester. A New Hampshire resident died from this virus in late August. We hear what you need to know about protecting yourself and your family.

An estimated 17 million adults in the nation have long COVID. We’ll get updates on Long COVID and hear from a patient.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Ulysses Wu: Chief Epidemiologist at Hartford Healthcare
• Emily Taylor: President & CEO of Solve M.E./CFS Initiative
• Professor Richard Gard: Retired Professor of Yale School of Music retired and St Thomas More chapel at Yale

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It can be hard for many adults to self-regulate their screen time. For kids, it can be nearly impossible.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Children ages 8-12 are spending 4 to 6 hours in front of screens a day. Teens are spending up to 9 hours in front of screens.

According to a report by Pew Research Center, 72% of teachers say cellphone distraction is a major problem in classrooms. Instead of asking teachers to police cellphone use, some schools are choosing to do an outright ban on cellphones. That means absolutely no cellphone use during school hours whether students are in the classroom or in the lunchroom.

Today, we hear what this looks like in practice.

In addition to limiting or banning cellphone use in school, some are calling for more conversations around media literacy, and recognizing the signs of technology addiction and dependence.

If you’re a parent, an educator or maybe even a student, we want to hear from you. What do you think of cellphone bans in school? Is it necessary, and would it actually work?

GUESTS:

• Natasha Singer: technology reporter for the New York Times
• Melissa Whitson: Professor of Psychology at the University of New Haven. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist.
• Rachel Besharat Mann: Associate Professor at the Practice at Wesleyan University.

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Summer camp and after-school care provide kids with a safe place to learn, grow and also give working parents some peace of mind. But they’re not accessible for all kids.

This hour, we look at the impact on families when out-of-classroom programs are out of reach.

GUESTS:

• Corrianne Chipello, Executive Director & CEO, Hartford’s Camp Courant
• Michelle Doucette Cunningham, Executive Director, Connecticut Network for Children and Youth 
• James Jones, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of New Britain

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This hour is bound to make you very hungry because we’re talking about New Haven pizza. This year, U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro officially declared New Haven, the Pizza Capital of America.

Today, we talk to some pizza lovers. We'll also hear about a new documentary that follows pizza lovers beyond Connecticut. New Haven pizza is so legendary that pizza makers are now trying to duplicate it across the country.

But up first, Connecticut doesn’t just have great pizza. Many food influencers are bringing a lot of attention to local restaurants and food makers. We hear from one content creator exploring "the best culinary delights in Connecticut."

GUESTS:

• David Milton: Hartford based content creator and foodie (@DamGram and @DamTok)
• Colin M. Caplan: Founder of the Taste of New Haven, and pizza historian and guru.
• Gorman Bechard: Director of "Pizza, A Love Story" and the new film “A Slice of America: Charred in the Florida Sun”
• Jimmy Fantin: owner of Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza in Stuart, Florida

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Here in Connecticut and across the country, a growing number of obstetric units are closing, creating “maternity care deserts.”

Today on Where We Live, we explore the long-term impact of quality medical care on maternal health.

And later, we hear from local author, Kassondra Mangione, about her new book: Poemspartum.

GUESTS:

• Katy Golvala, Health Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Alecia McGregor, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Politics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Kassondra Mangione, Author of Poemspartum

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Do two people need to be aligned politically to have a deep connection and strong romantic bond? Can one truly be considered liberal if they habitually swipe left on conservatives?

Today, we're sharing an episode from the podcast "Dating While Gray." Host Laura Stassi talks to older Americans and experts about ideological differences and their role in making and maintaining romantic connections. 

To hear more from "Dating While Gray" visit: www.datingwhilegray.com/

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Last week, floodwaters devastated several communities in Connecticut washing out over two dozen state roads. There have been nearly 200 people killed on Connecticut roads this year alone.

Labor Day weekend is coming up. According to the National Safety Council, there were 455 traffic fatalities nationally over the holiday weekend in 2023.

Today, we’re talking about all things roads, highway and transit, and how you can stay safe when driving throughout our state. Joining us this morning is Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

And if you have a question or comment about highways, buses and all things transit, we want to hear from you! What the roads look like where you live?

GUESTS:

• Garrett Eucalitto: Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner
• Jim Cameron: commuter advocate and author of the weekly opinion column "Talking Transportation" in the Connecticut Mirror

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It’s been a summer with all sorts of weather. We’ve seen flooding, and high heat putting our gardens through all sorts of chaos. Today, horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi join us to talk about this hot, cold, wet, dry, stormy, sunny chaotic gardening year!

It’s not too late to start planting your fall crops. We hear what plants could thrive this season as autumn rapidly approaches.

August is Tree Check Month. We learn what you can do to preserve the trees where you live. Although spring gardening might feel ages away, it’s also a good time to think about starting a community garden!

GUESTS:

• Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and host of the Connecticut Garden Journal

• Cordalie Benoit: member of the Connecticut Community Gardening Association and Board Member and VP of the American Community Gardening Association

• Cameron Pierce: Arborist and District Manager for Davey Tree Expert Company

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.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every presidential election, campaigns flood our TVs with political ads. Back in 1952, “Ike for President” became the very first political advertisement on TV. Dwight Eisenhower's campaign may have been the first to use television like this. But it’s certainly not the last.

Today, more than 70 years later, political ads are everywhere. In recent weeks, both the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns have ramped up their advertising. And it’s no longer just on our TV screens; it’s on social media platforms, too.

This hour, we’re looking at political advertising during the 2024 election cycle from the messages we’re seeing to how that impacts what we do at the ballot box.

What kinds of messages are you seeing?

GUEST:

• Erika Franklin Fowler: Professor of Government at Wesleyan University and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project

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.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.