Where We Live

Walt Woodward held the position of Connecticut State Historian for nearly twenty years. He retired in 2022 to make way for the next Connecticut State Historian. 

Although our state is small, it’s got a big history. From the Connecticut Witch Trials of the 1600s to some more recent history, like the Sandy Hook Shootings and even the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut is not short on history.

Andy Horowitz is the next Connecticut State Historian. He says that history doesn't gain validity depending overtime. Even modern history is still history.

Listeners might be surprised to learn that not all of his research and work has been focused on Connecticut. In studying disasters and environmental events, he centered much of his research around Hurricane Katrina.

He joins us in studio to talk about his role as the new Connecticut State Historian and how he plans to spend his term serving the state.

GUEST:

Andy Horowitz: Connecticut State Historian and Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut

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Before the well-known witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, Connecticut had its own spate of trials and executions. In mid-1600s colonial Connecticut, dozens of women, and some men connected to them, were accused of witchcraft. Eleven people were executed.

Earlier this year, the state moved to clear the names of all those accused of witchcraft in the state, and issued an apology. The resolution followed panel discussions and hearings with state lawmakers, descendants of the accused, and local historians.

This hour, we listen back to some of those discussions, and check in with the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project. Plus, Dr. Katherine Hermes discovered evidence that accusations of witchcraft continued well into the 1700s where we live.

GUESTS:

• Sarah Jack: Co-Founder, Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project; Co-Host, “Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast"
• Dr. Katherine Hermes: Publisher and Executive Director, Connecticut Explored Magazine

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Church attendance is on the decline. And the pandemic might not be to blame. Church attendance was falling even before 2020 among every major religion and subgroup.

Coming up this weekend, the United Church on the Green is welcoming Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr. This historic church in New Haven played a key part of the abolitionist movement.

Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr. is going to be the church's first black minister. Today, he joins us to talk about his hopes for this historic church, and welcoming a new generation of parishioners.

And later, we hear from the Yale Divinity School and learn about their involvement in an exciting project called the Living Village Project which broke ground last week. The Living Village is going to be a net-positive-energy building that will provide affordable housing to students.

GUESTS:

• Reverend Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr: United Church on the Green in New Haven
• Dean Gregory Sterling: Dean of Yale Divinity School; The Reverend Henry L. Slack Dean and Lillian Claus Professor of New Testament

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Graphic novels and comic books sales in the U.S. have grown in recent years, but the format is still a "prime target" for book ban lists.

Maia Kobabe's award-winning graphic memoir Gender Queer was named the top challenged book of 2022 and 2021 by the American Library Association. Jerry Craft, Connecticut native and the author of graphic novel New Kid, also found his book on ban lists.

RELATED LISTEN: Earlier this year, Jerry Craft spoke on Connecticut Public's Disrupted. He "talks about his banned, award-winning graphic novel New Kid, in addition to his latest book, School Trip."

This hour, we hear from the national and state Library Association about this important and often-undervalued format. Newtown recently saw challenges to two graphic novels. We hear from local librarian and Immediate Past President of the Connecticut Library Association, Douglas Booth.

Plus, one youth librarian describes the explosion of interest in graphic novels she’s seeing in Simsbury.

GUESTS:

• Samantha Lee: Chair, Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee; Head of Reference Services at Enfield Public Library
• Douglas Lord: Director, C.H. Booth Library in Newtown; Immediate Past President, Connecticut Library Association
• Deborah Caldwell Stone: Director, American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom
• Mary Richardson: Teen Services Librarian, Simsbury Public Library; Co-Host, "The Book Jam"Podcast

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.

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Connecticut's winemaking community is vibrant and growing. This hour, we explore the flavors of New England with food journalist Leeanne Griffin, and wine expert and writer Alice Feiring. Some 45 licensed farm wineries comprise Connecticut's very own "Wine Country."

We also hear from local vineyards, and discuss the role of "agritourism" in Connecticut. We preview the state's Passport to Wine Country program, putting 30-plus farm wineries on the map. Farm wineries use at least one-quarter Connecticut-grown fruits in their product.

GUESTS:

• Alice Feiring: Journalist and Writer; Author, The Feiring Line

• Leeanne Griffin: Food and Consumer Reporter, Hearst Connecticut

• Ryan Winiarski: Owner, Priam Vineyards

• Patty Rowan: Winery Manager, Hopkins Vineyard

• Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture

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.

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Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for decades, putting much of the focus squarely and rightly on cardiovascular disease. But what about congenital heart conditions, something affecting your heart since birth?

There are 13 million adults living with congenital heart disease, and that number has grown as treatments advance; survival rates have improved by 75% since the 1940s. But those diagnoses can come later in life, and even with sure signs, the need for specialized, lifelong care is often unmet.

This hour, we're joined by the co-authors of Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease.

Plus, we hear from one of 50 clinics accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association in the U.S., right here in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Tracy Livecchi: Social Worker; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds: A holistic approach to coping well with congenital heart disease
• Liza Morton: Psychologist; Co-Author, Healing Hearts and Minds
• Dr. Robert Elder: Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology

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.

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Last week, homelessness was officially declared a public health crisis in Connecticut. And the lack of affordable housing remains a major issue here in Connecticut. Today, we get an update on affordable housing and hear how some towns are addressing it.

We hear about a housing model known as cohousing, and hear from a co-housing collective based in Massachusetts.

Later, New York Times global health reporter Stephanie Nolen joins us to discuss her year long trip around the globe to investigate how the world’s most vulnerable communities are addressing mosquito -borne diseases. 

GUESTS:

• Ginny Monk: Housing and Children’s Issues for the Connecticut Mirror
• Yochai Gal: resident at Rocky Hill Cohousing in North Hampton, Massachusetts
• Stephanie Nolen: Global Health reporter for The New York Times

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.

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Where do our clothes come from? According to the Textile Exchange, 52% of our clothes are made from polyester.

Fast fashion is an enormous industry, allowing us to purchase low cost clothing quickly and efficiently. But the toll these companies take on the environment is significant, and the workplace conditions for the factories that create these products are questionable at best.

Building sustainable, ethical practices into the fashion industry will be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle, and build better quality fabrics. Today, we talk about these solutions and what fashion brands can do to build sustainability.

We learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and author of the new book Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion joins us. We’ll also hear from Reboot Eco, a zero waste and swap shop in Middletown, Connecticut.

What does shopping look like for you? Do you thrift for your clothes, or prefer the convenience of shopping online?

GUESTS:

• Miriah Kelly: Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Southern Connecticut State University

• Lucianne Tonti - consultant for sustainable designers and author of Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion

• Yasemin Ugurlu - Founder and Owner of Reboot Eco

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired March 14, 2023.

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During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.

With an all volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.

Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.

Later, we hear how someextremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at theJohns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studiesand a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
• Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command
• Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran

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New COVID boosters are available and recommended for everyone over six months of age, but pharmacies and providers in the state are slammed. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) says that more than 46,000 residents have gotten the latest COVID-19 vaccine. They also acknowledged delays, which the Hartford Courant has attributed to "supply chain disruptions, insurance issues and workforce woes."

This hour, DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us with all the latest guidance, from COVID-19 testing to flu shots. Have you ordered your free COVID-19 tests yet? Or are you eligible for free vaccines through the CDC's Bridge Access Program?

Plus, Fran Rabinowitz provides an update on continued staffing shortages in public schools. Paraprofessional support is short thousands of positions, and Rabinowitz stresses the need for support staffers as well. Bus drivers in Meriden and Coventryhave already gone on strike this fall.

GUESTS:

• Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
• Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents

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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.