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.

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

It takes a lot of work to help preserve Connecticut's nearly 140 parks and forests. Today, we learn what that looks like across our state.

We hear from the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and learn about their efforts to pass down land stewardship to the next generation.

Plus, Connecticut state parks are a treasure trove of indigenous history. A local author shares their guide on hiking indigenous lands across the state.

GUESTS:
Joey Listro: Executive Director of Connecticut Forest and Park Association
Jay Levy: Author of "Hiking Indigenous Lands of Connecticut and Massachusetts," tribal consultant for the New England Trail and an archeologist for the Mohegan Tribe
Mason Trumble: Deputy Commissioner at Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP)

It takes a lot of work to help preserve&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/NCLI/Parks/All-State-Parks">Connecticut's nearly 140 parks and forests.</a>&nbsp;Today, we learn what that looks like across our state.
We hear from the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and learn about their efforts to pass down land stewardship to the next generation.
Plus, Connecticut state parks are a treasure trove of indigenous history. A local author shares their guide on hiking indigenous lands across the state.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Joey Listro:&nbsp;Executive Director of&nbsp;<a href="https://ctwoodlands.org/">Connecticut Forest and Park Association</a></li>
<li>Jay Levy:&nbsp;Author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hiking-Indigenous-Lands-of-Connecticut-and-Massachusetts/Jay-Levy/9781493092826">"Hiking Indigenous Lands of Connecticut and Massachusetts,"</a>&nbsp;tribal consultant for the New England Trail and an archeologist for the Mohegan Tribe</li>
<li>Mason Trumble:&nbsp;Deputy Commissioner at&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Connecticut-State-Parks-and-Forests">Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection (CT DEEP)</a></li>
</ul>

Exploring Connecticut State Parks: Conservation, Hiking and Indigenous History

The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2026. The US Supreme Court on Thursday backed a Trump administration move to strip deportation protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians living in the United States. The conservative-dominated court, in a 6-3 ruling, said the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants was not subject to judicial review.

In late June, the Supreme Court issued several landmark immigration rulings on birthright citizenship, asylum and temporary protected status (TPS). Today, we hear how these rulings will affect immigrants living in Connecticut.

The court ended protected status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. There are approximately 5,000 Haitians living in Connecticut with TPS.

Although the court upheld birthright citizenship, the decision's dissent outlined a narrower application of birthright citizenship. Experts say the debate over birthright citizenship is far from over.

GUESTS:
Ximena Bustillo: DHS and Immigration policy reporter at NPR
Tabitha Sookdeo: Executive Director of CT Students for a Dream
Wayne Unger: Associate Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law
Maggie Mitchell Salem: Executive Director of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven

The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2026. The US Supreme Court on Thursday backed a Trump administration move to strip deportation protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians living in the United States. The conservative-dominated court, in a 6-3 ruling, said the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants was not subject to judicial review.
In late June, the Supreme Court issued several landmark immigration rulings on birthright citizenship, asylum and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/g-s1-130942/temporary-protected-status-program-explainer-supreme-court">temporary protected status (TPS).</a>&nbsp;Today, we hear how these rulings will affect immigrants living in Connecticut.
The court ended protected status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. There are approximately&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/06/25/supreme-court-temporary-protective-status-tps-haitians-connecticut/">5,000 Haitians living in Connecticut with TPS.</a>
Although the court upheld birthright citizenship, the decision's dissent outlined a narrower application of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-justices-dissent-constitution-6541b7ffa208162f482fd33dfd1798b6">birthright citizenship</a>. Experts say the debate over birthright citizenship is far from over.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1101057193/ximena-bustillo">Ximena Bustillo:</a>&nbsp;DHS and Immigration policy reporter at NPR</li>
<li>Tabitha Sookdeo:&nbsp;Executive Director of&nbsp;<a href="https://ct4adream.org/">CT Students for a Dream</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.qu.edu/faculty-and-staff/wayne-unger/">Wayne Unger:</a>&nbsp;Associate Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law</li>
<li>Maggie Mitchell Salem:&nbsp;Executive Director of&nbsp;<a href="https://irisct.org/">Integrated Refugee &amp; Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven</a></li>
</ul>

Supreme Court's immigration rulings: What they mean for Connecticut

Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the U.S. Poet Laureate.

Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But while studying at MIT, he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.

Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.

Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project “Words Bridging Worlds,” a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.

He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.

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.

Arthur Sze took an non-traditional path to becoming the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poets-laureate/item/n82011115/arthur-sze/">U.S. Poet Laureate.</a>
Born in 1950 to Chinese immigrants, his family wanted him to pursue a safe career path that would assure security and prosperity. But <a href="https://marshhawkpress.org/arthur-sze-interview-revealing-and-reveling-in-complexity/">while studying at MIT,</a> he felt the call to write and study poetry; a call that changed the trajectory of his life.
Sze spent his career translating traditional Chinese poetry. He also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico and is now a professor emeritus of the institute.
Sze is currently traveling the country with his signature Poet Laureate project &ldquo;Words Bridging Worlds,&rdquo; a series of workshops and readings that celebrate poetry in translation.
He joins us for a conversation on poetry, the power of language and the art of translation.
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'

In 1 playlist(s)

Where We Live

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips