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)

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&rsquo;ll also hear from one student&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/ct-beaver-uconn-ai-forest-history-dams-20242540.php">working to map beaver habitats throughout Connecticut.</a>
Have you seen beavers where you live?
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Leila Philip:&nbsp;Author of&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/beaverland-how-one-weird-rodent-made-america-leila-philip/b8a4320450f59041?ean=9781538755204&amp;next=t">"Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America"</a></li>
<li>Evan Zocco:&nbsp;PhD Student at UConn Natural Resources and the Environment</li>
<li>Akiebia Hicks:&nbsp;Wildlife Biologist with the&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Beaver">Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)</a></li>
</ul>

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.

'Beaverland' author Leila Philip shares the wonders of this unusual rodent

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"

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:
<ul>
<li>Ally Louks:&nbsp;Supervisor at the University of Cambridge and author of "<a href="https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/528f479f-fd3c-43fd-9463-7c2923560573">Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose</a>"</li>
<li>Alexandra Segal:&nbsp;Wesleyan University anthropology graduate and winner of the school's "<a href="https://www.wesleyan.edu/queerstudies/glass.html">GLASS Prize in Queer Studies</a>" for her 2025 paper,&nbsp;<a href="https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/turnstile-challenge?destination=%2Fislandora%2Fnose-what-learn-funk-and-fragheads">"On the Nose: What to Learn from Funk and Fragheads"</a></li>
<li>Brittany Koziara:&nbsp;Owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/forelineparfumerie/">For&ecirc;line Parfumerie</a></li>
<li><a href="https://english.ucdavis.edu/people/hsuan-l-hsu-xuxuan">Hsuan Hsu:</a>&nbsp;Professor of English at UC Davis, and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nyupress.org/9781479810093/the-smell-of-risk/">"The Smell of Risk"</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517921231/olfactory-worldmaking/">"Olfactory Worldmaking"</a></li>
</ul>

Smell defines our world in hidden and powerful ways

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.

At a time where we are feeling increasingly disconnected, poetry has a powerful way of fostering community. Today, during <a href="https://poets.org/national-poetry-month-30th-anniversary">National Poetry Month</a>, we hear from poets and educators.
We'll also check in with some students competing in the <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/decdartsportal/knowledge-base/articles/programs-and-services/poetry-out-loud/poetry-out-loud-program">Poetry Out Loud competition.</a>
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&rsquo;s not as easy as you might think.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate
</li>
<li>
Jenny Heikkila Diaz: Project Coordinator, <a href="https://www.thewordpoetry.org/">The Word</a> and Community Activator, CT Poetry Out Loud
</li>
<li>
Christian Herron: high school student who was one of the winners of the <a href="https://nmsnewhaven.org/event/the-word-youth-poetry-slam-2026">2026 CT Youth Slam</a>
</li>
<li>
Emma Frisbie: 11th Grade student at East Lyme High School competing in the National Poetry Out Loud
</li>
<li>
Melanie Faranello: local author and Founder of <a href="https://www.poetryonthestreets.com/">Poetry on the Streets</a>
</li>
</ul>
If you want to hear more conversations about books and poetry, sign up for our <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters/where-we-read">Where We Read newsletter.</a> It&rsquo;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&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.

Exploring poetry's power to connect CT communities

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

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&rsquo;ll be feeling the buzz as we answer all your gardening questions.
Later, we&rsquo;ll hear all about how you can create a way station for travelling pollinators in your backyard!
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gardeningwithcharlie.com/">Charlie Nardozzi</a>:&nbsp;horticulturist and "All Things Gardening" host on Vermont Public Radio</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thomaschristophergardens.com/">Tom Christopher</a>:&nbsp;horticulturist and "Growing Greener" host on WESU</li>
<li>Donna Merrill:&nbsp;President of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/">Pollinator Pathway</a></li>
</ul>

'Beaverland' author Leila Philip shares the wonders of this unusual rodent

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