Passing down Puerto Rican history and culture to the next generation

Nearly 300,000 Connecticut residents are of Puerto Rican heritage. That’s according to Census Bureau data. Today, we take a look at what’s being done to raise the next generation of Puerto Ricans here in the diaspora. From getting children books on Puerto Rican history, to celebrating holidays li…

Highlighting the caregiving crisis in CT and beyond

One out of every four Americans is a caregiver, caring for partners, parents, grandparents or children. They juggle living their own lives while taking loved ones to the doctor, dispensing medication and even managing insurance. The struggles of these caregivers are often invisible. Many face nega…

Take a hike on CT's 52.2 miles of Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail spans 52.2 miles in Connecticut and climbs over Bear Mountain, the tallest point in the state. Today, we listen to an episode of "Common Land" podcast, which follows producer Matt Podolsky’s hike of the trail with his mother. We’ll hear about the history of the trail here in …

Medical research's future remains precarious in CT and beyond

Last year, the National Institutes of Health drastically cut funding for medical research. This disrupted the work of academics and researchers across the country. Clinical trials and scientific projects were cancelled, and funding for ongoing research was revoked. This meant big cuts in funding …

This Dry January, local dry spots celebrate the joy of sobriety

This episode originally aired in 2025. Dry January is a month-long campaign that revolves around cutting out alcohol or reducing alcohol intake for the month of January. Today’s guests say that life without alcohol can be joyous, and they’re creating spaces for the sober and sober curious to try …

The mass appeal of black holes, plus local astronomical societies on connecting through the cosmos

Black holes aren’t just the stuff of science fiction; they’re real astronomical objects so dense, so massive, that nothing, not even light, escapes from them. Today, we’re getting lost in the void. Yale Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan joins us for an hour to talk about her research on these extraor…

Americans aren't sleeping well. We explore why rest feels so hard to find

If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling wondering why sleep won’t come, you’re not alone. In fact, six out of 10 adults in the United States don’t get enough sleep. That’s according to the National Sleep Foundation. This hour, we hear from someone diagnosed with insomnia and a sleep expert. They'll …

Katherine May on 'Wintering' in challenging times

When tough times hit, do you hit the pause button, or do you just barrel through? Nearly six years ago, amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, author Katherine May released “Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.” Her memoir explores her own experience finding peace in tim…

Clarifying cannabis: CT doctors break down misunderstandings

It’s been nearly five years since recreational cannabis was legalized in Connecticut. Since then dozens of dispensaries have opened across the state, making purchasing products easier than ever. But new research says cannabis use among teens is rising, and that evidence doesn't support using canna…

The cheese stands alone: Exploring the world of CT cheese

The U.S. produces over a billion pounds of cheese monthly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Connecticut is a small, but mighty, part of that. Today, we’ll hear about all steps of the cheesemaking process from nationally-recognized experts producing Connecticut cheese. They’ll shar…