National Hobbit Day is this week. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the great forests of Mirkwood, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical worlds have inspired generations of illustrators to bring imagined concepts to life through art.

This hour, we sit down with three local fantasy and science-fiction illustrators, including David Wenzel, who created a graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit.

GUESTS:
David Thorn Wenzel, Illustrator and children's book artist best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Michael Whelan, Fine artist of Imaginative Realism, Illustrator of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Tom Kidd, Science fiction and fantasy illustrator

National Hobbit Day is this week. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the great forests of Mirkwood, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastical worlds have inspired generations of illustrators to bring imagined concepts to life through art.
This hour, we sit down with three local fantasy and science-fiction illustrators, including David Wenzel, who created a graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://davidwenzel.com/">David Thorn Wenzel</a>, Illustrator and children's book artist best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit</li>
<li><a href="https://www.michaelwhelan.com/">Michael Whelan</a>, Fine artist of Imaginative Realism, Illustrator of Science Fiction and Fantasy</li>
<li><a href="https://tomkidd.myportfolio.com/">Tom Kidd</a>, Science fiction and fantasy illustrator</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.

How illustrators bring fantastical worlds to life

Election Day is less than six weeks away. Are you planning to vote in person this year? For those with disabilities, going to polling stations can be a real challenge.

People with disabilities are less likely to vote than people without disabilities. Disabled voters can face many barriers to voting, from inaccessible polling places to restrictions on absentee ballots.

This November, Connecticut voters could approve a ballot initiative that could create a pathway to give everyone access to absentee ballots, without needing an excuse making voting easier for voters with disabilities.

Today, we hear about what access this looks like in our state and what can be done to improve it. If you are a voter with a disability, we want to hear from you. What have your experiences been like at the polls?

GUESTS:
Sara Kempner: Director of Creative Campaigns & Collaborations at the U.S. Vote Foundation
Ellen Telker: Retired attorney and President of Connecticut Council of the Blind, an affiliate of American Council of the Blind
Ben Hovland: Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

To report problems at the polls, you can call the Election Day Hotline 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463).

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Election Day is less than six weeks away. Are you planning to vote in person this year? For those with disabilities, g<a href="https://vote.gov/guide-to-voting/disability" data-cms-ai="0">oing to polling stations can be a real challenge.</a>
<a href="https://www.business.rutgers.edu/news/us-election-assistance-commission-releases-report-conducted-partnership-rutgers" data-cms-ai="0">People with disabilities are less likely to vote than people without disabilities.</a> Disabled voters can face many<a href="https://disabilityjusticeproject.org/news/barriers-to-the-ballot/" data-cms-ai="0"> barriers to voting, from inaccessible polling places to restrictions on absentee ballots.</a>
This November, Connecticut voters could approve a ballot initiative that could <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2024/09/18/ct-no-excuse-absentee-voting-inclusivity/" data-cms-ai="0">create a pathway to give everyone access to absentee ballots, without needing an excuse</a> making voting easier for <a href="https://www.disrightsct.org/voting-rights" data-cms-ai="0">voters with disabilities.</a>
Today, we hear about <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/accessible-voting" data-cms-ai="0">what access this looks like in our state</a> and what can be done to improve it. If you are a voter with a disability, we want to hear from you. What have your experiences been like at the polls?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Sara Kempner: Director of Creative Campaigns &amp; Collaborations at the U.S. Vote Foundation</li>
<li>Ellen Telker: Retired attorney and President of Connecticut Council of the Blind, an affiliate of American Council of the Blind</li>
<li>Ben Hovland: Chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission</li>
</ul>
To report problems at the polls, you can call the Election Day Hotline 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463).
Where We Live is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099" data-cms-ai="0">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP" data-cms-ai="0">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live" data-cms-ai="0">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/" data-cms-ai="0">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/" data-cms-ai="0">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Voters with disabilities continue to face barriers at the ballot box

Architect and attorney Sara Bronin spent seven years as the chair of the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with the organization DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform across in our state.

Her new book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World goes beyond Hartford, and looks at how zoning molds cities and communities across the nation.

And zoning isn’t just about housing, it touches every aspect of our lives including our physical and emotional health. Better zoning starts with getting better data about zoning. There are thousands of different zoning codes, and Sara is working to log them all through the National Zoning Atlas.

She is also currently serving as 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

GUEST:
Sara Bronin: Founder of DeSegregateCT and author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World

<a href="https://www.sarabronin.com/">Architect and attorney Sara Bronin</a> spent seven years as the chair of the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission. Connecticut listeners might know her from her work with the organization <a href="https://www.desegregatect.org/">DesegregateCT, a statewide coalition pushing for zoning reform across in our state.</a>
Her new book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World goes beyond Hartford, and looks at how zoning molds cities and communities across the nation.
And zoning isn’t just about housing, it touches every aspect of our lives including our physical and emotional health. Better zoning starts with getting better data about zoning. There are thousands of different zoning codes, and Sara is working to log them all through the <a href="https://www.zoningatlas.org/">National Zoning Atlas.</a>
She is also currently serving as 12th chair of the <a href="https://www.achp.gov/about/council-members/hon-sara-c-bronin">Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.</a>
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Sara Bronin: Founder of DeSegregateCT and author of <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/key-to-the-city">Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World</a></li>
</ul>

How zoning shapes our world with Sara Bronin

Today on Where We Live, a Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus.

Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to Disabled World, an independent Health and Disability news source.

This hour, we talk about why invisible illnesses are difficult to diagnose and how scientists are trying to change that.

GUESTS:
Michayla Savitt, State Government Reporter, CT Public
Jennifer Crystal, Author of “One Tick Stopped the Clock”
Kelsi Carolan, Assistant Professor and licensed clinical social worker, University of Connecticut

Today on Where We Live, a Connecticut lab is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to study endometriosis, a painful condition that impacts people with a uterus.
Endometriosis is just one of the many invisible illnesses that impact an estimated 10% of the American population, according to <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/">Disabled World</a>, an independent Health and Disability news source.
This hour, we talk about why invisible illnesses are difficult to diagnose and how scientists are trying to change that.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/michayla-savitt">Michayla Savitt</a>, State Government Reporter, CT Public</li>
<li><a href="https://www.jennifercrystal.com/home">Jennifer Crystal</a>, Author of “One Tick Stopped the Clock”</li>
<li><a href="https://socialwork.uconn.edu/person/kelsi-carolan-phd/">Kelsi Carolan</a>, Assistant Professor and licensed clinical social worker, University of Connecticut</li>
</ul>

How illustrators bring fantastical worlds to life

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