Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

In a digital world, what makes a toy worth picking up?

How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?

Today, we’ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we’ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.

Guests:


Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History


Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"


Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for “My Story, Our Future.”


Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project

This episode originally aired March 10, 2026.

How will you preserve your family history? Maybe through journaling or family movies? What about grabbing an audio recorder?
Today, we&rsquo;ll hear all about oral history projects in Connecticut that are recording stories for posterity. Later on, we&rsquo;ll also hear how the Yiddish language and its dialects are being preserved.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Katie Heidsiek: Director of Exhibitions for the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
</li>
<li>
Jamil Ragland: writer for the New Haven Independent, Hartford community member and Hartford bureau chief for "Midbrow"
</li>
<li>
Elizabeth George: Doctoral student at the University of Connecticut and an instructor for &ldquo;My Story, Our Future.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Christa Whitney: Director of the Yiddish Book Center's Wexler Oral History Project
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired <a href="This%20episode%20originally%20aired%20March%2010,%202026.">March 10, 2026.</a>

Preserving stories and languages one oral history at a time

When you look around your room, what do you see? More specifically, what do you see that you love? Is it a cool souvenir? Maybe a seashell? Or a family photo that always brings back good memories?

Connecticut-based interior designer and textile artist Sophie von Oertzen Williamson uses tension, textiles and lots of color to make living spaces warm and inviting.

She is the author of the new book “The Art of the Clash: A Manifesto Against Mundane Design.” We’ll talk about ways to blow away the beige and highlight the objects you love with a few simple tips.

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.

When you look around your room, what do you see? More specifically, what do you see that you love? Is it a cool souvenir? Maybe a seashell? Or a family photo that always brings back good memories?
Connecticut-based interior designer and textile artist Sophie von Oertzen Williamson uses tension, textiles and lots of color to make living spaces warm and inviting.
She is the author of the new book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Art-of-the-Clash/Sophie-von-Oertzen-Williamson/9781423668565">&ldquo;The Art of the Clash: A Manifesto Against Mundane Design.&rdquo;</a> We&rsquo;ll talk about ways to blow away the beige and highlight the objects you love with a few simple tips.
Where We Live&nbsp;is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

CT interior designer Sophie von Oertzen Williamson is team 'never beige'

Marker 01

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.

This episode originally aired on March 23, 2026.

The Rev. <a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/thespirituallife/">James Martin</a>, 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, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin">&ldquo;Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.&rdquo;</a>
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 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on March 23, 2026.

In a digital world, what makes a toy worth picking up?

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