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 

“An Arcane Inheritance," the latest novel of author Kamilah Cole, weaves dark academia with occult secrets at a fictional Ivy League school based in Hartford.

The story follows the ambitious, determined Ellory Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in political science. A lavish scholarship allows her to begin her college education at Warren University, but soon after arriving on campus, things start to unravel into the paranormal.

We'll explore Cole's latest book, ask what drew her to Hartford and explain "dark academia" — a popular genre where brooding and blazers meet ivory towers and sinister secrets.

GUEST:
Kamilah Cole: author of several books including “An Arcane Inheritance"

&ldquo;<a href="https://www.kamilah-cole.com/anarcaneinheritance">An Arcane Inheritance</a>," the latest novel of author Kamilah Cole, weaves dark academia with occult secrets at a fictional Ivy League school based in Hartford.
The story follows the ambitious, determined Ellory Morgan, a Jamaican immigrant and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in political science. A lavish scholarship allows her to begin her college education at Warren University, but soon after arriving on campus, things start to unravel into the paranormal.
We'll explore Cole's latest book, ask what drew her to Hartford and explain "dark academia" &mdash; a popular genre where brooding and blazers meet ivory towers and sinister secrets.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Kamilah Cole:&nbsp;author of several books including &ldquo;An Arcane Inheritance"</li>
</ul>

Author Kamilah Cole explores Hartford and Jamaican-American experience in latest novel

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"

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 &mdash; giving up sex.
She embarked on a year-long journey of abstinence from romantic and sexual relationships, documenting what she discovered about herself in &ldquo;The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex.&rdquo;
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.melissafebos.com/">Melissa Febos:</a>&nbsp;author of five books, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725681/the-dry-season-by-melissa-febos/">"The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex"</a></li>
</ul>

Author Melissa Febos explores sex, celibacy and healing in 'The Dry Season'

This show either exists or doesn't exist. It's possible you won't know until you listen to it.

Today, we're getting quarky, exploring the weird — and mind-boggingly small — world of quantum mechanics. What is it? Should we be excited? Scared? Some superposition of both?

We’ll also hear about new state and federal investments into quantum technology, and learn how Connecticut colleges are making quantum more accessible.

Guests:
Chad Orzel: chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College and author of the book “How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog.”
Christine Broadbridge: founding director of CSCU’s Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology and the executive director of research and innovation at SCSU.
Emily Edwards: associate research professor at Duke University and co-leader of the National Q-12 Education Partnership.

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 show either exists or doesn't exist. It's possible you won't know until you listen to it.
Today, we're getting quarky, exploring the weird &mdash; and mind-boggingly small &mdash; world of quantum mechanics. What is it? Should we be excited? Scared? Some superposition of both?
We&rsquo;ll also hear about new state and federal investments into quantum technology, and learn how Connecticut colleges are making quantum more accessible.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Chad Orzel:&nbsp;chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College and author of the book &ldquo;<a href="https://dogphysics.com/">How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog</a>.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Christine Broadbridge:&nbsp;founding director of CSCU&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://nano.southernct.edu/">Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology</a>&nbsp;and the executive director of research and innovation at SCSU.</li>
<li>Emily Edwards:&nbsp;associate research professor at Duke University and co-leader of the&nbsp;<a href="https://q12education.org/">National Q-12 Education Partnership</a>.</li>
</ul>
Where We Live&nbsp;is available on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a>&nbsp;or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Connecticut authors reflect on food’s power to connect us

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