Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. But it’s been a rough winter for those growing crops and raising livestock.

Today, we hear how this winter season has impacted Connecticut agriculture and farms.

More Connecticut farmers are working to bring new products to market and maybe inspire your tastebuds along the way. We hear from one farm doing just that.

Find your local farm by visiting www.ctgrown.org.

GUESTS:
Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Mackenzie White: Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources
Spencer Lord: Owner of Oracle Mushrooms Company in Kent, Connecticut
Matt Went: president of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. But it&rsquo;s been a rough winter for those growing crops and raising livestock.
Today, we hear how this winter season has impacted Connecticut agriculture and farms.
More&nbsp;<a href="https://www.grownconnected.org/findfarms">Connecticut farmers</a>&nbsp;are working to bring new products to market and maybe inspire your tastebuds along the way. We hear from one farm doing just that.
Find your local farm by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://ctgrown.org/">www.ctgrown.org.</a>
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt:&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/doag">Connecticut Department of Agriculture</a></li>
<li><a href="https://extension.uconn.edu/2024/11/07/meet-mackenzie-white/">Mackenzie White:</a>&nbsp;Diversified Livestock Extension Field Based Specialist at the UConn Extension College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources</li>
<li>Spencer Lord:&nbsp;Owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oraclemushrooms.com/">Oracle Mushrooms Company</a>&nbsp;in Kent, Connecticut</li>
<li>Matt Went:&nbsp;president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newctfarmers.com/">New Connecticut Farmer Alliance</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.

CT farms are bringing some unique crops to the table

The “sandwich generation” is made up of people balancing the demands of raising children while caring for aging loved ones.

This hour, we learn about the emotional, professional and financial realities facing this population of caregivers.

Journalist Kelli María Korducki discusses her reporting on caregiving and career sacrifice, while University of Connecticut professor Laura Mauldin offers insight into the gender dynamics of care.

And later, we hear from a Connecticut resident and member of the "sandwich generation.” We learn what it's like to navigate these responsibilities in everyday life and what policies could provide some relief.

Guests:
Kelli María Korducki: independent, New York City-based journalist and author
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."
Natalie Shurtleff: Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP Connecticut

The &ldquo;sandwich generation&rdquo; is made up of people balancing the demands of raising children while caring for aging loved ones.
This hour, we learn about the emotional, professional and financial realities facing this population of caregivers.
Journalist Kelli Mar&iacute;a Korducki discusses her reporting on caregiving and career sacrifice, while University of Connecticut professor Laura Mauldin offers insight into the gender dynamics of care.
And later, we hear from a Connecticut resident and member of the "sandwich generation.&rdquo; We learn what it's like to navigate these responsibilities in everyday life and what policies could provide some relief.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kelli-korducki.com/">Kelli Mar&iacute;a Korducki</a>:&nbsp;independent, New York City-based journalist and author</li>
<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>Natalie Shurtleff:&nbsp;Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/states/connecticut/">AARP Connecticut</a></li>
</ul>

'Sandwich generation' caregivers balance stress of being caught in the middle

Advanced degrees are increasingly out of reach for many. Receiving financial aid has gotten more difficult too.

Many schools are already rethinking how they support their graduate students.

We'll get an update on financial aid and hear what some Connecticut institutions are doing to make their graduate programming more affordable and accessible.

Guests:
Emily Roberts: Financial Educator and Owner of Personal Finance for Ph.Ds
Kymberly Pinder: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Dean of the Yale School of Art
Jessica Blake: Federal policy reporter for Inside Higher Ed, based in Washington, D.C.

Advanced degrees are increasingly out of reach for many. Receiving financial aid has gotten more difficult too.
Many schools are already rethinking how they support their graduate students.
We'll get an update on financial aid and hear what some Connecticut institutions are doing to make their graduate programming more affordable and accessible.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Emily Roberts:&nbsp;Financial Educator and Owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://pfforphds.com/">Personal Finance for Ph.Ds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.art.yale.edu/kymberly-pinder">Kymberly Pinder:</a>&nbsp;Stavros Niarchos Foundation Dean of the Yale School of Art</li>
<li><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/author/jessica-blake">Jessica Blake:</a>&nbsp;Federal policy reporter for Inside Higher Ed, based in Washington, D.C.</li>
</ul>

Are graduate degrees worth the cost in 2026?

A recent study found that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline may have contributed to a decline in suicide deaths among young people.

This hour, we learn what the research tells us and what questions remain.

We also hear from Connecticut advocates working to connect people with mental health resources and reduce stigma.

Later, two residents share their personal experiences navigating mental health challenges and how speaking openly about those struggles can help others find support.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and offers support 24 hours a day.

Guests:
Anupam B. Jena: Professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital 
Kai Belton:state representative for the 100th district, Middletown
Jacquilyn Davis: Director of Learning Workforce Development, Mental Health Connecticut
Rob Santos: Comedian and Connecticut resident 
Rachael Perillo: Connecticut resident 

<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2848066?guestAccessKey=e44e29be-7891-45b3-a22d-128a80e60dad&amp;utm_source=for_the_media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=042226#google_vignette">A recent study</a>&nbsp;found that the<a href="https://988lifeline.org/">&nbsp;988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline</a>&nbsp;may have contributed to a decline in suicide deaths among young people.
This hour, we learn what the research tells us and what questions remain.
We also hear from Connecticut advocates working to connect people with mental health resources and reduce stigma.
Later, two residents share their personal experiences navigating mental health challenges and how speaking openly about those struggles can help others find support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text&nbsp;<a href="https://988lifeline.org/">988, the Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline</a>. It&rsquo;s free, confidential, and offers support 24 hours a day.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://hcp.hms.harvard.edu/people/anupam-b-jena">Anupam B. Jena</a>:&nbsp;Professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://housedems.ct.gov/Belton">Kai Belton</a>:state representative for the 100th district, Middletown</li>
<li>Jacquilyn Davis:&nbsp;Director of Learning Workforce Development,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mhconn.org/">Mental Health Connecticut</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.robsantoscomedy.com/">Rob Santos</a>:&nbsp;Comedian and Connecticut resident&nbsp;</li>
<li>Rachael Perillo:&nbsp;Connecticut resident&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

CT farms are bringing some unique crops to the table

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