Where We Live

Aisha Harris is a cultural critic and co-host for NPR’s Pop Culture Hour, and she’s out with a new book, titled Wannabe: Reckonings With The Pop Culture That Shapes Me.

Today, she joins us for the hour, discussing the ways early influences shape her role today as critic, including her upbringing in Connecticut.

What popular song, movie or TV show marks a moment in your life, or stuck with you?

GUESTS:

• Aisha Harris: Co-Host, NPR's Pop Culture Hour; Author, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me

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We’ve done this show every year (except 2012) since 2011. (We maybe even did it in 2010. We probably did. I just can’t prove it.)

So it’s a bit of a tradition. It’s a tradition that… makes some people angry, we realize.

And that has a lot to do with how we define the term ‘song of the summer.’ We use the Amanda Dobbins definition:

Let’s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a ‘personal’ song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea what rhymes with ‘hug me’ and won’t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.

So it’s our job here to figure out what song from 2023 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like “Party Rock Anthem,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Despacito,” and “Blurred Lines.”

And if we’re wrong, well, it really just won’t matter at all.

GUESTS:

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Earlier this spring, horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi joined us on Where We Live to answer all your gardening questions and we got this comment from listener on Facebook saying “loving this episode! You should do it weekly or monthly!” We hear you listeners, so we are back with another hour on Connecticut gardening. But today, we’re exploring some of the state’s most remarkable public and historic gardens.

Caryn B Davis is an architectural and landscape design photographer, and she is also the author of a new book entitled Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens. Today, she joins us to talk about the gardens around the state you’ll want to explore.

Connecticut Historic Gardens Day is coming up on June 25th. Many of Connecticut historic houses will be opening their gardens up to the public. We'll hear about what it takes to maintain the grounds of these places. And later, we hear what it takes to become a master gardener.

It’s a gardening hour like no other!

GUESTS:

• Caryn B Davis: architectural, and landscape design photographer and author of Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens
• Chris Lawrie: Landscape designer, consultant and writer of Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens
• Jodi Debruine: Beatrice Fox Auerbach Director of Collections, Mark Twain House
• Jill Hogan: Connecticut Gardens Day
• Sandi Wilson: Fairfield County Master Gardener Coordinator for the University of Connecticut Extension Master Gardener Program

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Anticoagulant rodenticide, a quick fix for controlling the rat and mice population, is now having an effect on birds of prey.

Today, we talk to A Place Called Hope, a local raptor rehabilitator here in Connecticut, about how it’s impacting birds across our state. After ingesting this poison, there is little that can be done to save the life of these birds.

We’ll hear about legislation to limit the use of these poisons and alternatives to rodenticide. The traditional snap traps aren’t the only way to keep out the mice!

Later, we hear about efforts to eliminate construction waste, an innovative way to mitigate climate change.

GUESTS:

• Christine Cummings: Executive Director of A Place Called Hope
• Tom Andersen: Director of Communications, the Connecticut Audubon Society
• Eve Zuckoff: Climate and Environment Reporter CAI

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.

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Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing.

The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.

Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.

Plus, one California-based slime-maker is raking in millions from children and adults alike. There's even one slime product called "Clay-Doh."What toy from your childhood still sparks joy? Connecticut Public staffers and listeners respond.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek: Professor of Psychology, Temple University; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
• Olivya Soth: Co-Owner, OG Slimes

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 3, 2023.

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Connecticut residents have the highest average credit card in the nation.

Although personal finance courses are offered in high schools, they aren’t mandated to graduate. And often, these courses don’t address the complex financial challenges of their students.

Today, on Where We Live, we talk about giving more students access to financial literacy, and making that curriculum more inclusive.

We want to hear from you. Did you learn about credit cards, budgeting or taxes in school? How were you taught to manage your money?

GUESTS:

• Dana Miranda: Founder and Financial Educator of Healthy Rich
• Dr. Monette Ferguson: Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Empowerment in Bridgeport
• Nan J. Morrison: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Economic Education

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 May 9, 2023.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Capalbo is the lead singer of Connecticut local band DaniProbably. She recently recorded her song "Cowboy" with Grammy-winning producer Peter Katis. But she didn't lay down tracks at at a recording studio. She recorded at a library.

The Westport Library in Connecticut is the first library to record, produce and release a vinyl record. Today, we talk to members of this library and how they are rethinking the changing and emerging role of libraries. We’ll hear how the library has created spaces to nurture and resource local artists.

We'll also hear from some of the bands featured on the album join us to talk about this process.

We want to hear from you. What do you use your local library for?

GUESTS:

• Travis Bell: Audio Studios Manager at the Verso Studios at the Westport Library
• Danielle Capalbo: band member of DaniProbably
• Dylan Hundley: cofounder and lead singer of Lulu Lewis 
• Dooley O: artist and DJ based out of New Haven
• Bill Harmer: Executive Director at the Westport Library

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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book, an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world.

But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods.

This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking down this bloody topic.

GUESTS:

• Rachel Kauder Nalebuff: Editor, Our Red Book
• Michelle Memran: Documentary Filmmaker
• Kica Matos: New Haven-based Immigration Rights Activist and Organizer
• Axel Gay: Teen Writer

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 10, 2023.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to a lot of interesting people on the show. Today, we’re revisiting three memorable conversations we’ve had this year.

Eric Jacobsen just completed his final season as the conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. We spoke with Eric about his work as a conductor and also heard about the search for the next orchestra leader.

The State Department of Education and Connecticut’s five sovereign tribal nations are working together to develop Native American curriculum for K-12 social studies classes which will be rolled out next year. We’ll hear from a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation about how local tribes worked with the state on this curriculum.

For Earth Day 2023, the New England News Collaborative highlighted innovative solutions to mitigating climate change, including a renewed interest in green burials. We talk to a Vermont Public Radio reporter about how they’re having a resurgence in New England.

GUESTS:

• Eric Jacobsen: Former conductor at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony orchestra. He is also a cellist and a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project
• Darlene Kascak: Education Coordinator, Institute of American Indian Studies; Traditional Native American Storyteller, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation
• Lexi Krupp: Science and Health Reporter for Vermont Public

You can listen back to the full interviews below:

• Conductor Eric Jacobsen says goodbye to the Greater Bridgeport Symphony
• Connecticut tribes co-create state social studies curriculum, centering 'our culture and our ways'
• Small solutions to climate change that make a big impact

Check out the NENC 2023 Earth Week coverage here.

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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, Republicans and Democrats have clashed over the national debt limit. But over the weekend, President Joe Biden and House Republicans reached a deal. Now, it goes to both the House and Senate before the June 5th deadline. This hour, we break down what debt negotiations in Washington D.C. mean up here in Connecticut.

Plus, according to a new report, Connecticut has aggressive probation practices. We’ll explain what that means for residents of the state. We'll also look at efforts to curtail the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Alex Putterman: Reporter, CT Insider and Hearst Connecticut Media
• Mark Pazniokas: Capitol Bureau Chief, CT Mirror
• Seth Stern: Director of Advocacy, Freedom of the Press Foundation

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.