Death is not something that a lot of us like to think about. But making plans about end-of-life doesn’t need to be scary. Our experts today say it could be empowering.

Today, we hear from the Connecticut Death Collective, and hear new approaches to end-of-life care, and memorialization.

Later this month, the Mattatuck Museum and Riverside Cemetery, will host the first ever CT Death and Dying Symposium. We hear more.

Guests:
Sarah Sparen: registered nurse offering death education and guidance in Waterford area
Chris Grosso: writer, speaker, musician, and the author of four books, including "Indie Spiritualist" and "Necessary Death." He also hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast
Becca Allen: a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in end-of-life planning and end of life doula
Cheryl Guertin: vice president sexton and funeral director at Riverside Cemetery

Death is not something that a lot of us like to think about. But making plans about end-of-life doesn&rsquo;t need to be scary. Our experts today say it could be empowering.
Today, we hear from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ctdeathcollective.weebly.com/#/">Connecticut Death Collective,</a>&nbsp;and hear new approaches to end-of-life care, and memorialization.
Later this month, the Mattatuck Museum and Riverside Cemetery, will host the first ever <a href="https://www.mattmuseum.org/symposium/">CT Death and Dying Symposium.</a>&nbsp;We hear more.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/good_death_nurse/">Sarah Sparen</a>:&nbsp;registered nurse offering death education and guidance in Waterford area</li>
<li><a href="https://www.actioncreateschange.com/chrisgrossocoaching">Chris Grosso:</a>&nbsp;writer, speaker, musician, and the author of four books, including "Indie Spiritualist" and "Necessary Death." He also hosts The Indie Spiritualist Podcast</li>
<li><a href="https://www.beccaallen.net/">Becca Allen:</a>&nbsp;a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in end-of-life planning and end of life doula</li>
<li>Cheryl Guertin: vice president sexton and funeral director at <a href="https://riversidecemeteryct.org/">Riverside Cemetery</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.

Having a "good death" is possible; we learn what this means

“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

The postpartum period can be one of the most vulnerable and challenging times in a parent’s life.

It's also one of the least talked about. That's despite mental health disorders being the leading complication of childbirth in the United States of America, affecting 1 in 5 women.

The postpartum period can bring depression, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. And too often, parents are left wondering what’s normal and where to turn for help.

This hour, we explore postpartum mental health and what support is available in Connecticut.

We’re joined by a doctor from St. Mary's Hospital, where a new unit, designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum patients, recently opened. We also hear from Postpartum Support International’s Connecticut chapter about why this period is so high-risk and how they’re working to connect families with care.

And later, we’ll hear one mother’s story of navigating postpartum depression, and how she’s processed that experience through a new collection of poetry.

Guests:
Kassondra Mangione, author of "Coffee Mug Rings"
Dr. Irina Magidina, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Mary’s Hospital
Jennifer Vendetti, co-chair, Board of Directors, Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter
Samantha Smalls, Board of Directors, Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter

The postpartum period can be one of the most vulnerable and challenging times in a parent&rsquo;s life.
It's also one of the least talked about. That's despite mental health disorders being the leading complication of childbirth in the United States of America,&nbsp;<a href="https://policycentermmh.org/maternal-mental-health-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Prevalence%20&amp;%20Range%20of%20Disorders,26.5%25%20onset%20before%20pregnancy">affecting 1 in 5 women</a>.<a href="https://policycentermmh.org/maternal-mental-health-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Prevalence%20&amp;%20Range%20of%20Disorders,26.5%25%20onset%20before%20pregnancy"></a>
The postpartum period can bring depression, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. And too often, parents are left wondering what&rsquo;s normal and where to turn for help.
This hour, we explore postpartum mental health and what support is available in Connecticut.
We&rsquo;re joined by a doctor from St. Mary's Hospital, where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trinityhealthofne.org/newsroom/press-releases/trinity-health-new-england-launches-obstetric-emergency-department-pregnant">a new unit, designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum patients</a>, recently opened. We also hear from Postpartum Support International&rsquo;s Connecticut chapter about why this period is so high-risk and how they&rsquo;re working to connect families with care.
And later, we&rsquo;ll hear one mother&rsquo;s story of navigating postpartum depression, and how she&rsquo;s processed that experience through a new collection of poetry.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/poemspartum-pregnancy-postpartum-motherhood-seasons/dp/B0D56WDTP8">Kassondra Mangione</a>, author of "<a href="https://keepitkassual.com/coffee-mug-rings/">Coffee Mug Rings</a>"</li>
<li>Dr. Irina Magidina, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.trinityhealthofne.org/location/saint-marys-hospital">Saint Mary&rsquo;s Hospital</a></li>
<li>Jennifer Vendetti, co-chair, Board of Directors,&nbsp;<a href="https://psichapters.com/ct/">Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.newchapterservices.com/team-4">Samantha Smalls</a>, Board of Directors, Postpartum Support International Connecticut Chapter</li>
</ul>

Navigating the throes of postpartum depression

It takes a village to raise a child.

Today, we're exploring what it means to be an aunt and the many ways these important figures provide mentorship, guidance and care.

Whether you are a biological or surrogate aunt, these role models are instrumental in our life. But what does it mean to be an aunt in 2026?

It takes a village to raise a child.
Today, we're exploring what it means to be an aunt and the many ways these important figures provide mentorship, guidance and care.
Whether you are a biological or surrogate aunt, these role models are instrumental in our life. But what does it mean to be an aunt in 2026?

Having a "good death" is possible; we learn what this means

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