What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it’s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories. 

This hour, two local children’s authors share their belief in food’s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.

GUESTS:
Debbi Michiko Florence: author of children’s and middle grade books including her latest, Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets
Caela Collins: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of Food Is Love

This episode originally aired on May 5, 2025.

What meal instantly takes you back to childhood? Whether it&rsquo;s a dish made with grandparents or a recipe passed down through generations, food has the power to unlock memories.&nbsp;
This hour, two local children&rsquo;s authors share their belief in food&rsquo;s ability to connect us. They discuss their latest novels, the challenges they face in an industry that often pigeonholes writers of color, and how they tackle complex emotions in stories for young readers.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://debbimichikoflorence.com/">Debbi Michiko Florence</a>: author of children&rsquo;s and middle grade books including her latest, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-study-in-secrets-debbi-michiko-florence/21523123?ean=9781665950473&amp;next=t">Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.caela.org/">Caela Collins</a>: owner of Caela Enterprises, LLC, and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/food-is-love-caela-collins/10719946?ean=9781545661758&amp;next=t">Food Is Love</a></li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2025-05-05/connecticut-authors-reflect-on-foods-power-to-connect-us">May 5, 2025.</a>

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

Connecticut Public's 'Where We Live' has curated a list of conversations featuring talks with your favorite authors and deep dives into literary themes and news from across Connecticut Public's talk shows.  

Connecticut Public's 'Where We Live' has curated a list of conversations featuring talks with your favorite authors and deep dives into literary themes and news from across Connecticut Public's talk shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Where We Read

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.

Connecticut authors reflect on food’s power to connect us 

One out of every four Americans is a caregiver, caring for partners, parents, grandparents or children. They juggle living their own lives while taking loved ones to the doctor, dispensing medication and even managing insurance.

The struggles of these caregivers are often invisible. Many face negative financial impacts, isolation and anxiety.

On this episode, we'll hear from caregivers as they share their hardships and hopes. We'll also discuss why America’s caregiving crisis is an urgent public health problem.

GUESTS:
Laura Mauldin: associate professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut and author of "In Sickness and Health: Love Stories from the Front Line of America’s Caregiving Crisis."
Cindy Eastman: author of "True Confessions of An Ambivalent Caregiver"
Sue Lloyd-Davies: author of "Pinkie's Turnabout"

<a href="https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-the-us-2025/">One out of every four Americans is a caregiver</a>, caring for partners, parents, grandparents or children. They juggle living their own lives while taking loved ones to the doctor, dispensing medication and even managing insurance.
The struggles of these caregivers are often invisible. Many face negative financial impacts, isolation and anxiety.
On this episode, we'll hear from caregivers as they share their hardships and hopes. We'll also discuss why America&rsquo;s caregiving crisis is an urgent public health problem.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Laura Mauldin:&nbsp;associate professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut and author of "<a href="https://lauramauldin.com/in-sickness-and-in-health/">In Sickness and Health: Love Stories from the Front Line of America&rsquo;s Caregiving Crisis</a>."</li>
<li>Cindy Eastman:&nbsp;author of "<a href="https://cindyeastman.com/index.html">True Confessions of An Ambivalent Caregiver</a>"</li>
<li>Sue Lloyd-Davies:&nbsp;author of "<a href="https://www.suelloyddavies.com/">Pinkie's Turnabout</a>"</li>
</ul>

Highlighting the caregiving crisis in CT and beyond

Marker 02

The Appalachian Trail spans 52.2 miles in Connecticut and climbs over Bear Mountain, the tallest point in the state.

Today, we listen to an episode of "Common Land" podcast, which follows producer Matt Podolsky’s hike of the trail with his mother. We’ll hear about the history of the trail here in Connecticut, along with some major obstacles that he encountered.

Podolsky will join us later to give more insight on the experience and tell us more about the trail.

GUEST:


Matt Podolsky: Host and producer of "Common Land" podcast

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.

The <a href="https://appalachiantrail.org/experience/hike-the-trail/explore-by-state/connecticut/">Appalachian Trail spans 52.2 miles in Connecticut</a> and climbs over Bear Mountain, the tallest point in the state.
Today, we listen to an episode of "Common Land" podcast, which follows producer Matt Podolsky&rsquo;s hike of the trail with his mother. We&rsquo;ll hear about the history of the trail here in Connecticut, along with some major obstacles that he encountered.
Podolsky will join us later to give more insight on the experience and tell us more about the trail.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.matthewpodolsky.com/">Matt Podolsky:</a> Host and producer of "<a href="https://commonland.wildlensinc.org/">Common Land" podcast</a>
</li>
</ul>
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.

Take a hike on CT's 52.2 miles of Appalachian Trail

Last year, the National Institutes of Health drastically cut funding for medical research. This disrupted the work of academics and researchers across the country.

Clinical trials and scientific projects were cancelled, and funding for ongoing research was revoked.

This meant big cuts in funding to research institutions here in Connecticut.

UConn lost $41 million from research grant terminations and unexpected non-renewals.

Today, we hear how these cuts are impacting research institutions in our state and the future of science.

GUESTS:
Rob Stein: Correspondent and Senior Editor, on NPR’s Science Desk
Evan Morris: Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering at Yale School of Medicine
Diane Owens: mother of a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis

Last year, the National Institutes of Health drastically cut funding for medical research.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/31/nx-s1-5647420/science-research-funding-cuts-health">This disrupted the work of academics and researchers across the country.</a>
Clinical trials and scientific projects were cancelled, and funding for ongoing research was revoked.
This meant big cuts in funding to research institutions here in Connecticut.
UConn lost $41 million from research grant terminations and unexpected non-renewals.
Today, we hear how these cuts are impacting research institutions in our state and the future of science.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/146944972/rob-stein">Rob Stein:</a>&nbsp;Correspondent and Senior Editor, on NPR&rsquo;s Science Desk</li>
<li><a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/evan-morris/">Evan Morris:</a>&nbsp;Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and of Biomedical Engineering at Yale School of Medicine</li>
<li>Diane Owens:&nbsp;mother of a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis</li>
</ul>

Connecticut authors reflect on food’s power to connect us

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