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At America's founding, who was entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? This was the topic of discussion at a recent event at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Connecticut Public special correspondent Diane Orson led a panel discussion with several Native American historians. Today, we listen back to that conversation. It's an extension of Still Here: Native American Resilience in New England — a special series from Connecticut Public, featuring radio storytelling, in-depth videos, digital stories, pictures and a community conversation. Guests: Lorén Spears: Executive Director of the Indigenous-led Tomaquag Museum in Rhode Island Nakai Clearwater Northup: Manager of Public Programs and Outreach at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center Ned Blackhawk: Professor of History at Yale University and author of "The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History" 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We live in an age of convenience. From one device, millions of books can be accessed and stored. E-readers have become so ubiquitous that even if you don't personally own one, you probably know someone who does. But, have you ever stopped to think about how we get our e-books? And once you do get it, do you actually own it? Today, we will be digging through these questions as we explore e-books and the technology that supports them. Guests: Deborah Schander: Connecticut State Librarian Nicholas Engert: public librarian of over 20 years Lon Seidman: Connecticut resident and tech reporter at Lon.TV Connecticut Public's Megan Rodriguez-Hawkins contributed to this show. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, the Westport Library hosts a series of author conversations bringing the community together to bond over a book and a shared love of reading. This year, Where We Live host Catherine Shen hosted one of these conversations and spoke to award-winning author Eiren Caffall. Today, we will listen back to that conversation. Caffall is the author of “All the Water in the World.” It's the story of one family living in a nearly deserted New York City in the years after the glaciers melt. Guest: Eiren Caffall: author of the memoir "The Mourner’s Bestiary" and the novel "All the Water in the World" 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death is not something that a lot of us like to think about. But making plans about end-of-life doesn’t need to be scary. Our experts today say it could be empowering. Today, we hear from the Connecticut Death Collective, and hear new approaches to end-of-life care, and memorialization. Later this month, the Mattatuck Museum and Riverside Cemetery, will host the first ever CT Death and Dying Symposium. We hear more. Guests: Sarah Sparen: registered nurse offering death education and guidance in Waterford area Chris Grosso: writer, speaker, musician, and the author of four books, including "Indie Spiritualist" and "Necessary Death." He also hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast Becca Allen: a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in end-of-life planning and end of life doula Cheryl Guertin: vice president sexton and funeral director at Riverside Cemetery Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data centers come in all shapes and sizes,from a few shelves in the basement of a university building, to a warehouse the size of nearly two hundred football fields. But what do data centers actually do? Do we have any here in Connecticut? Towns across the state have expressed their trepidation about what a large data center might mean for the quality of life of their residents, with others looking to data centers as a way to create new jobs. Today, we’ll be covering data centers: from how they work, to their impacts on energy and water infrastructure. Guests: Reid Blackman: founder and CEO of Virtue, an AI ethical risk consulting business, and the author of the upcoming “The Ethical Nightmare Challenge” Jordan Fenster: Reporter for Hearst Connecticut covering artificial intelligence John Moritz: Reporter for CTMirror covering energy and the environment Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breathe deep and think: What do you smell right now? The sweetness of the spring air? The smoky smells of the highway? Our noses give us key clues about the environment and provide a critical daily link to some of our most cherished memories. But smell, and its control over culture and politics, is often undervalued and misunderstood. Today, we take a nose dive into the olfactory, exploring how humanity has used smell to communicate and control. Guests: Ally Louks: Supervisor at the University of Cambridge and author of "Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose" Alexandra Segal: Wesleyan University anthropology graduate and winner of the school's "GLASS Prize in Queer Studies" for her 2025 paper, "On the Nose: What to Learn from Funk and Fragheads" Brittany Koziara: Owner of Forêline Parfumerie Hsuan Hsu: Professor of English at UC Davis, and author of "The Smell of Risk" and "Olfactory Worldmaking" Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At a time where we are feeling increasingly disconnected, poetry has a powerful way of fostering community. Today, during National Poetry Month, we hear from poets and educators. We'll also check in with some students competing in the Poetry Out Loud competition. It's a competition where students dedicate time to study, memorize and then recite their chosen poem outloud. And as the kids will tell us, it’s not as easy as you might think. Guests: Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate Jenny Heikkila Diaz: Project Coordinator, The Word and Community Activator, CT Poetry Out Loud Christian Herron: high school student who was one of the winners of the 2026 CT Youth Slam Emma Frisbie: 11th Grade student at East Lyme High School competing in the National Poetry Out Loud Melanie Faranello: local author and Founder of Poetry on the Streets If you want to hear more conversations about books and poetry, sign up for our Where We Read newsletter. It’s a monthly rundown of what the Where We Live team is reading and highlights of some of the best author interviews on Connecticut Public. 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring has sprung! And with it comes plant sales, fresh flowers and a whole lot of weeds. But what goes into starting a garden? And how do you create sustainable, productive and beautiful landscapes? Today, we’ll be feeling the buzz as we answer all your gardening questions. Later, we’ll hear all about how you can create a way station for travelling pollinators in your backyard! Guests: Charlie Nardozzi: horticulturist and "All Things Gardening" host on Vermont Public Radio Tom Christopher: horticulturist and "Growing Greener" host on WESU Donna Merrill: President of Pollinator Pathway Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to take a break? Going on a walk or doodling during a meeting? Maybe turning off your phone and reading a book? For author Melissa Febos, years of destructive relationships left her in need of a different kind of break — giving up sex. She embarked on a year-long journey of abstinence from romantic and sexual relationships, documenting what she discovered about herself in “The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex.” Guests: Melissa Febos: author of five books, including "The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex" Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef and restaurateur Eduardo Garcia, better known as “Lalo,” started his cooking journey in his mother’s kitchen. His mother didn’t have any formal training, but prepared food through her own instincts and deep knowledge of flavors. As a child, Garcia picked fruits and vegetables on the migrant route from Florida to Michigan. It gave him firsthand experience of the work that it takes to harvest the produce that ends up on our plate. Today, Lalo Garcia is one of the most celebrated chefs in Latin America. Today, we talk about his journey. His immigrant story is one familiar to those who have crossed the border. Guests: Laura Tillman: Connecticut Mirror’s Human Services Reporter and author of “The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia" Megan Baker: Lead Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Policy Analyst with the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next time you’re driving, take a look around and you might notice you’re being watched. From cameras atop traffic lights to license plate readers, surveillance technology has quietly crept into cities and towns across the state. Today, we’re taking a look at surveillance in Connecticut and asking why organizations are worried about how these devices are used. Can mass surveillance and civil liberties co-exist? Guests: Matthew Guariglia: Senior Policy Analyst for the Electronic Frontier Foundation Ojala Naeem: Town Councilor for Windsor, Connecticut Arman Haidari: Citizen activist and resident of West Hartford, Connecticut Eric Weiner: Citizen activist and resident of Windsor, Connecticut Connecticut Public's divina cordeiro contributed to this show. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beavers are known as a "keystone species" contributing to biodiversity wherever they set up their habitats. Today, Connecticut author and journalist Leila Philip joins us to talk about her book "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America." We’ll also hear from one student working to map beaver habitats throughout Connecticut. Have you seen beavers where you live? Guests: Leila Philip: Author of "Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America" Evan Zocco: PhD Student at UConn Natural Resources and the Environment Akiebia Hicks: Wildlife Biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Postmaster General David Steiner recently told lawmakers that the U.S. Postal Service is in peril. Speaking at a House Oversight subcommittee hearing, he said that the agency would be out of cash within 12 months and might have to cease deliveries. Today, we talk about the future of the postal service in Connecticut and across the nation, and ask what can be done to keep it afloat. Later, does your town have multiple zip codes? Though not uncommon, it can be a disruptive nuisance for rural towns with small populations. We hear why. Guests: Daniel Piazza: Chief Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum Sarah Anderson: Global Economy Director, Institute for Policy Studies Vince Mase: Director of Retirees for the Connecticut State Association of Letter Carriers Abby Brone: Housing Reporter for Connecticut Public 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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 12th, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would land a man on the moon within the decade. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the American flag on the lunar surface. Now, NASA and space agencies around the globe are planning on going back. So what is it about the moon that continues to capture humanity’s heart and imagination? This hour, we learn all about the philosophy and religion behind our pursuit of the moon—and explore the possibility of reciprocal relationships with the moon. Guests: Mary-Jane Rubenstein: Dean of Social Sciences at Wesleyan University and author of "Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race." Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason: author of "Grandmother Moon" and Assistant Director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Brown University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit author and educator, believes everyone's life is a spiritual journey. "We're all on this spiritual journey to understand ourselves, to understand how God loves us, to experience God's love and to give that love back to God and to other people," he said. Martin is the author of the new book, “Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.” The book explores the many professional experiences he had before becoming a priest. Martin reflects on his early life and the formative time he spent in Connecticut, where he worked as an employee at General Electric and made a decision that would forever change the course of his life. "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. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.