Oh my gourd, do we want you to meet a man who set a world record for riding his giant pumpkin down the Missouri River! And hold your breath as you hear from two women who won an underwater pumpkin carving contest! And since it’s officially decorative gourd season, meet the author of that McSweeney's essay whose enthusiastic profanity somehow brings us all together every single autumn. This episode originally aired on October 21, 2023. GUESTS:  Duane Hansen: Set a world record for traveling the longest distance in a pumpkin boat in August 2022. His pumpkin, Berta, was 846 pounds and together they sailed for 37.5 miles down the Missouri River. It took 12 hours Josephine Walker & Stephanie McClary: Mother/daughter duo who won the Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in October of 2019. Their design was of moray eels embracing a heart Colin Nissan: Author of It's Decorative Gourd Season, Mother*@&!s, originally published in McSweeney’s in 2009 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entertainment industry includes all kinds of people, but let’s be honest: There is a Hollywood type. So where does that leave actors who don’t fit the mold? Actor Adam Pearson has neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors to grow on his face and upper body. His latest movie is called A Different Man and it’s centered around the power of his condition. Crystal Marshall has loved acting since she was a little kid. But when she developed cancer in her face at 18 years old, requiring multiple surgeries to rebuild her face, teeth, and upper jaw, that didn't stop her from applying to and graduating from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with a degree in Professional Acting. Hear how both of them have become powerful advocates for expanding representation of all kinds of faces in the entertainment industry. Resources: myFace - US-based non-profit support organization for people with craniofacial differences Changing Faces - UK-based charity advocating for individuals with a visible difference to the face, hands, or body Suggested episodes: Facing the world with visible facial differences Actors with facial differences discuss what it means to be seen The Story Of The First African American Face Transplant GUESTS:  Adam Pearson: actor, speaker, and disability rights campaigner. His latest film, A Different Man, was released on September 20, 2024. Besides his roles in movies, he made many documentaries, among them The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crimes and Freak Show. His TEDx talks have covered topics like fear and the stigma of disability Crystal Marshall: an actress and facial equality advocate who graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2024 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Missing the Olympics? Well, listen to our show about weird sports! Including extreme ironing, where people press their clothes at the top of volcanoes, in caves, even while hanging upside down in trees! And there's cheese rolling, where people chase a cheese wheel which is barrelling down a steep hill. And then there's the oh, so British sport of shin kicking! This is a centuries-old wrestling sport where opponents grab each other by the shoulders and kick the shin out of each other. This episode originally aired on September 27, 2023. GUESTS:  Florence Early: Four-time women’s cheese rolling champion, and star of the Netflix Documentary, "We Are The Champions: Episode 1" Pete "Buzzsaw" Holland: Shin Kicking referee or “stickler”. Shin kicking is a 400 year-old British wrestling sport in which players try to get each other to fall down by kicking each other in the shin Matthew Battley: New Zealand astrophysicist and extreme ironer. He has ironed on places such as mountains, active volcanoes and in lakes and caves Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in the day — with your Walter Cronkites and David Brinkleys — it felt kind of inappropriate for an interviewer to bring their full selves to the conversation. It was all about the guest, after all, so why bother bringing their own distinctive flairs? But now, people tune in as much for the interviewer as the one being interviewed. And because of that, the experience feels much more authentic! So today, you'll get to know three masters of the craft who each have their own distinct, but oh so compelling styles of asking tough, thought-provoking questions. EXTENDED INTERVIEWS: Mehdi Hasan Ziwe Gayle King This episode originally aired on October 14th, 2023. GUESTS:  Mehdi Hasan: Editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo. His latest book is called Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking Ziwe: Comedian, writer, actor, executive producer and star of ZIWE on Showtime. She is also known for her web series, Baited. Her book is called Black Friend: Essays Gayle King: Co-host of CBS This Morning, and editor-at-large of O, the Oprah Magazine. She is also the curator of the book, Note to Self: Inspiring Words From Inspiring People Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the movies, cyborgs often don't have a soul or a conscience. But in real life, some people become cyborgs in order to enhance the human experience and to be more connected with nature. Like Neil Harbisson. He was born colorblind, but now, thanks to an antenna implanted into the base of his skull, he can hear colors! And choreographer, Moon Ribas, had implants embedded in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of at least 1.0 on the Richter scale. They are co-founders of the Transpecies Society and the Cyborg Foundation. This episode originally aired on September 16, 2023. GUESTS:  Neil Harbisson: For almost 20 years, has had an antenna implanted into the back of his skull that translates color into sound Moon Ribas: A choreographer who, for seven years, had implants in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of 1.0 on the Richter scale Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When people imagine becoming parents, they don’t often envision their child being born with a condition that requires lifetime care. Hear reflections and wisdom from “forever parents” whose children have autism with anxiety and OCD; a disorder that caused 100 seizures a day; and Down Syndrome. GUESTS:  Carrie Cariello: Mother of five children, including 18 year-old Jack, who has Autism, OCD, and anxiety. She’s the author of two books, and writes regularly for the Huffington Post Adriana Piltz: Mother of three, including 24 year-old Nicky, who was born with tuberous sclerosis. He is non-verbal, has violent outbursts, and needs 24/7 care. She is the founder of Nicky’s Gardens of Hope, which raises money to create a more supported living situation for people with disabilities Cathy Carmode Lim, Marcelino Lim, and Marissa Lim: Cathy and Marcelino are parents to four daughters, including Marissa, a 24 year-old woman with Down Syndrome. Cathy writes about her experiences in parenting and more at lifeandlims.com Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you imagine an emotional support animal, what comes to mind? A dog? Well how about a pigeon? A sugar glider? Or an emotional support pig? Meet people who’ve paired up with these animals to make their lives - and mental health conditions - better. This episode originally aired on May 26, 2023. GUESTS:  Cynthia Zhou: Miu was her emotional support pigeon from 2016 to 2021. She is an advocate for Palomacy Pigeon and Dove Adoptions based out of San Francisco Arianna Preuss: Zaboo is her emotional support sugar glider, who also helps Arianna’s brother, who has Autism Megan Peabody: Hamlet is her 70 pound emotional support pig Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you define forgiveness? Turns out, the definition tends to be as different as every person. And that definition changes depending on where you are in the process, too! On this episode of Audacious, Chion talks about it with a best friend, a pastor, a philosopher, and a man who lost his face after getting hit by a drunk driver. You’ll also hear ponderings on forgiveness from some of our Audacious listeners! And since this is a rebroadcast of an episode from two years ago, Chion offers a few new personal reflections on forgiveness after all this time. This show originally aired on March 25, 2022 and was updated on March 15, 2024. Hear the extended interview with David Whyte. Listen to our previous episodes with Robert Chelsea about his face transplant and his experience as part of the “disabled diaspora”. GUESTS:  Sarah Eyre: A Willimantic-based textile artist Rev. Dr. Shelley Best: CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council Robert Chelsea: The first African-American full-face transplant recipient Everick Brown: Robert Chelsea’s godson and the spokesperson for the Robert Chelsea Foundation David Whyte: Poet, philosopher, speaker, and author of Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment, and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear a lot about the harm of social media. But what about the good? Meet two artists who started off on social media by showing their artwork… But once they revealed the hope and kindness and positivity in their hearts? The views, shares and likes piled up in ways they never expected. Hear how they both are grappling with the newfound pressure of inspiring hundreds of thousands of fans, and find out what Chion's favorite clips from their channels reveal about her. Listen to the first installment of this series, featuring Joel Cross, Scott Tatum, and Daníel Colón. GUESTS:  LaNia Roberts: Internationally renowned artist, speaker, and positive social media influencer Bruce W Brackett: Artist and the author of How to Breathe While Suffocating: A Story Of Overcoming Addiction, Recovering From Trauma, and Healing My Soul Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot can happen in a year, you know? And if you’re anything like these folks, you’ve read over 365 books, you’ve become fluent in English by watching American t.v. shows, and you’ve gotten over a hundred rejections. GUESTS:  Kelsey Weekman: Culture reporter for Buzzfeed who read 390 books in a year Mathias Barra: French writer who became fluent in English in a year by watching 3 hours of American and British television every day Emily Winter: Comedy writer who strived to get 100 rejections in one year. She ended up getting 101 rejections and 39 acceptances Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our social media news feeds curate us as much as we curate our newsfeeds. So what if, instead of subscribing to the same old fear-mongering, belittling, judgmental soundbites… We subscribe to accounts that peddle in love? Today, meet three people who use social media to lift all tides. GUESTS:  Joel Cross: Grammy-nominated musician, poet, meditator, and traveler who asks his half-a-million followers to pause and ask, "How's your heart?", on the handle, @asoulcalledjoel Scott Tatum: A hiker and "self-care savage", he's best known by his one million followers for his "Friendly Reminders" on the handle, @ucanoutdoors Daníel Colón: Their social media handle, @thisiscolormecrazy, combines meditations, encouraging pep talks, and lip-synching motivational messages from Abraham Hicks Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of the word, "Psychopath", what do you picture? A serial killer? A dictator? A cut-throat CEO? Your ex? Sure, a few of those folks may be psychopaths. But many people with this mental health condition would argue that the usual stereotypes are way off. They are incapable of feeling empathy or developing any attachments, but that doesn't mean they are compelled to cause harm. Today, two people who are psychopaths talk about how they've learned to adapt to a world full of feelings. Listen to the extended version of our conversation with Athena Walker. GUESTS:  Athena Walker: Writes about her experiences with psychopathy on her substack and Quora, where she has over 40,000 followers Dr. James H. Fallon: A neuroscientist who discovered after a brain scan that he is a psychopath. He writes about it in his book, The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist's Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mehdi Hasan is the host of The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC and Peacock. His latest book is called Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Ziwe and Gayle King.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ziwe is a comedian, writer, actor, executive producer and star of ZIWE on Showtime. She is also known for her web series, Baited. Her book is called Black Friend: Essays. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Mehdi Hasan and Gayle King.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gayle King is the co-host of CBS This Morning, and editor-at-large of O, the Oprah Magazine. Curator of the book, Note to Self: Inspiring Words From Inspiring People. Listen to our extended conversations with interviewers Mehdi Hasan and Ziwe.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us would think that feelings of arousal would always be welcome! And maybe we would even want more of it. But for our guests on this episode, persistent genital arousal disorder has made life very difficult. One woman copes with more than 100 orgasms a day, another searches for peace as her body is stimulated by emotions of all kinds, and another has undergone surgeries and treatments to find relief. We also hear from one of the world experts on this rare condition on what we know about it, and what can be done to help. GUESTS:  Dr. Robert Echenberg: Founder of the Echenberg Institute for Pelvic and Sexual Pain in Bethlehem, PA Kathrine Snyder: Author of Shimmering Around the Edges: A Memoir of OCD, Reality, and Finding God in Uncertainty Christine Hazel Decker: Author of Stripped: When Dignity Disappears: A Life Bared by PGAD and Transgenderism Lior Ofir: Blogs about having PGAD at her blog, My Vagina, My Life Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you know you’re months, maybe weeks away from your own death, what do you most want people to know? As the first in a series of conversations with people near the end of their lives, we get to know David Meyers. He was a physician who was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2018. He died on June 2nd, 2023. Hear his reflections on life, love, and what really matters. An extended version of this conversation is available in your podcast feed. GUEST:  Dr. David Meyers: A physician from the Washington, DC area. He died on June 2, 2023 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2018 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey there! This is the VERY much extended conversation that Chion had with the writer Athena Walker. She's got over 40,000 followers on Quora, where she talks about what it's like being a clinically diagnosed psychopath. Please do check out the original episode posted just before this one, which also includes our conversation with Dr. James H Fallon. He's a neuroscientist studying psychopathic killers, who found out via a brain scan that he IS one. Well not a killer, but a psychopath. And that's something that comes up a lot in these conversations! The idea that just because you're a psychopath, that you are violent - this is not necessarily true. And it is one of so many things we often get wrong about psychopaths, and Athena is here to lovingly - well maybe not lovingly, but willingly - correct us.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 1000 people have won Nobel Prizes. But only 300 have won IG Nobel Prizes! That’s the award honoring achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.In this episode, meet the creator of the prize, and three people who’ve won it!GUESTS:  Marc Abrahams: Founder of the Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony in 1991, celebrating achievements that “make you laugh and then think”. He is also the co-founder and editor of the magazine, Annals of Improbable Research Kees Moeliker: Dutch biologist, ornithologist, and director of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam. He won an Ig Nobel Prize in Biology for his study of homosexual necrophilia in male mallards in 2003. He is also the founder of Dead Duck Day, which is held annually on June 5th Pavlo Blavatskyy: Professor of economics at Montpellier Business School. He won an Ig Nobel Prize for Economics in 2021 for his study correlating the perceived corruption of politicians and their body weight Patricia Yang: A two-time Ig Nobel Prize winner in Physics. The first was in 2015 for testing the biological principle that nearly all mammals empty their bladders in about 21 seconds (plus or minus 13 seconds). She won again in 2019 for studying how wombats make cubed poo Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nietzsche once said, “It is what one takes into solitude that grows there, the beast within included.” This episode features three people who experienced solitude: by choice and not. There’s a winter caretaker at Yellowstone, a runner-up from the History Channel show, Alone, and you'll hear from a Connecticut man who spent almost 30 years in solitary confinement. GUESTS:  Callie Russell: Contestant on Season 7 (aired in 2020) of Alone on the History Channel. She lasted 89 days in the Northwest Territories of Canada before being medically evacuated due to frostbite of the toes Steve Fuller: One of the last winter caretakers at Yellowstone National Park, a job he’s done for 50 years Ray Boyd: After serving 29.5 years incarcerated for a murder he committed at the age of 17, he became a spokesperson for Stop Solitary CT, which successfully rallied for changes in Connecticut's solitary confinement protocol. He is the author of Mind Over Matter: How I Became the Model Inmate Jessica Severin de Martinez and Catie Talarski contributed to this show, which originally aired on September 22, 2022. For more about Audacious with Chion Wolf, visit ctpublic.org/audacious.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, Craigslist’s Missed Connections. Where else can you find that attractive guy you saw at that concert? Or the lady in the laundromat who held your gaze? Or reconnect with your long lost hairstylist?  Hear those stories, plus what a researcher learned from studying over 10,000 posts. And what does it sound like when two Tony-nominated songwriters take Missed Connection posts and turn them into songs? GUESTS:  Ilia Blinderman is a Sr. Journalist-Engineer at The Pudding. In 2015, he studied data from over 10,000 Craigslist Missed Connections ads Anthony King is a Tony- and Emmy-nominated writer, producer and performer Scott Brown is a WGA-award-winning, Emmy-, Tony- and Drama Desk-nominated writer of theater, television and criticism Vinz Clortho (a pseudonym) is a Colchester resident who posted on Missed Connections after an encounter at a laundromat  Allison Holst-Grubbe is a Manchester resident who found a long-lost beloved hairstylist via Missed Connections Alex Ferrante (a pseudonym) lives in the Washington, DC metro area, and posted to Missed Connections after an encounter in an Aldi grocery store Erin and Dan Kottke from MN, re-met through missed connections. They are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in March, and have two children Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you’re at the beach, taking in the scenery, breathing in the fresh ocean air, when the sun hits something floating in the water just right… It’s a bottle! With a message inside that looks totally intact!Meet people who’ve found - and gotten back - their messages in bottles, and hear about one that was thrown from the Titanic. GUESTS:  Stefanie Marco Lantz, Lana & Tommy Simmons: The Simmons family received a message in a bottle as a donation at their thrift store in Statesville, NC. They tracked down its owner, Stefanie, in West Hartford, Connecticut. She had tossed her message in a bottle into the water near Martha’s Vineyard, MA back in 1982 when she was nine years old Eric and Melanie Dahl: Parents of Brian Dahl, who sent off a message in a bottle when he was 12 years old in 1989. He died in 2007, and his bottle was found in 2022 Jack Walsh: General Manager at Cobh Heritage Centre in County Cork, Ireland. In their collection, they have a message in a bottle written by Jeremiah Burke that was thrown from the Titanic on its doomed voyage Jessica Severin de Martinez and Catie Talarski contributed to this show, with help from our interns, Jacob Gannon and Taylor Doyle. This episode originally aired October 28, 2022. Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a special extended version of my conversation with Dr. David Meyers. After five years of living with glioblastoma, a brain tumor, he is nearing the end of his life. He talks about what matters most to him, gives advice for those of us who aren't so willing to ponder death deeply, and shares how he wants to be remembered.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you hear the words, “cuddle party”, what do you picture? Something playful? Something salacious? Something… else? When your culture equates affection with attraction, how does it feel to challenge that connection? And to what degree can affection be healing when it isn't necessarily connected with sex? Join Chion as she ponders all this during her experience one-on-one with a professional cuddlist, and then as she attends a 25-person-strong cuddle party. GUESTS:  Amanda Ananda: Professional cuddlist and cuddle party facilitator Isaac Paulman: Cuddle party facilitator-in-training  Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an extended conversation about hoarding disorder with Dr. David Tolin. Listen to the original podcast for a conversation with one woman who uses her YouTube channel to make progress coping with her hoarding disorder. Another woman gives Chion a her a tour of her home, and describes her relationship with clutter. For more information, visit NAMI - the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Their helpline is is 800-950-6264. GUEST:  Dr. David Tolin: Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center and the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at The Institute of Living. He was also the original psychologist on the A&E series, “Hoarders”Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode, "Social media, the algorithm, and the state of our hearts", we met social media uplifters, Joel Cross, Scott Tatum, Daníel Colón, and via, Daníel, Abraham Hicks! To prepare for that episode, we gathered a ton of clips from their newsfeeds! Since we couldn't fit them all into the show, treat yourself to this macrodose of love. GUESTS:  Joel Cross: Grammy-nominated musician, poet, meditator, and traveler who asks his half-a-million followers to pause and ask, "How's your heart?", on the handle, @asoulcalledjoel Scott Tatum: A hiker and "self-care savage", he's best known by his one million followers for his "Friendly Reminders" on the handle, @ucanoutdoors Daníel Colón: Their social media handle, @ColorMeCrazy, combines meditations, encouraging pep talks, and lip-synching motivational messages from Abraham Hicks Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, you love The Price Is Right, Wheel Of Fortune, and Jeopardy! But what does it take to go through the audition process and get on those shows? On this show, meet three people who did just that and get some life advice from those iconic soundstages. GUESTS:  Bob Knych of Pawtuket, RI, was on The Price Is Right in 2006 and 2019 Ash Colwell of Charlotte, NC, appeared on Wheel Of Fortune, which was broadcasted on August 3, 2020 Terry Wolfisch Cole of West Simsbury, CT, was on JEOPARDY. Her appearance aired on January 6th, 2022 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consider all the stuff in your kitchen. There’s at least ONE thing in there with a story behind it, right? Today’s episode features conversations with eleven people about the stories behind their special kitchen utensil or appliance. GUESTS:  Susan Jane Bigelow of Enfield, Connecticut, has a very special spoon Emily and Kevin Tracy of Windsor, Connecticut, have a utensil set that Emily borrowed long-term from an airline Joy Braddock from West Hartford loves her spatulas Debra Walsh from West Hartford, Connecticut, inherited a rolling pin that does more than flatten dough Amanda Delaura of Manchester, Connecticut, walked a mile in heels with her KitchenAid mixer Josh Lewis of New York, New York, cherishes his coveted veggie peeler Cureen Blake of Hartford, Connecticut inherited tools to make Bammies  James Hines is the Co-Owner of Cookshop Plus in West Hartford. He has a hand-me-down that is much loved, yet rarely used Lois Lee is the Director of the Chinese American Planning Council in Flushing, NY, whose double boiler is in the Tenement Museum  Susan Jacobsen of Tyler, Minnesota, has a rare Rullepølse Press Raquel V. Reyes of Miami, Florida, is the author of The Caribbean Kitchen Mystery Series. She has a precious cookbook that is simultaneously lost and found Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans of New York is a photo-slash-storytelling-slash-fundraising powerhouse with 30 million followers on social media. You read narratives about overcoming adversity, personal revelations, or just flat-out great stories. Just that combination alone - the photos and their captions - have been enough to launch Humans of New York into worldwide popularity. But its creator, Brandon Stanton, has taken it one step further. When a subject of his tells a story about a specific need, he shares their GoFundMe page, and it explodes with contributions from HONY fans. On today’s show, you’ll hear my conversation with Brandon at The Connecticut Forum recently, as he talks about his process, overcoming rejection, and the new era of Humans of New York as a philanthropic powerhouse. GUEST:  Brandon Stanton: The creator of Humans of New York, where he features photographs and captions of his subjects.  Jessica Severin de Martinez and Catie Talarski contributed to this show. Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and email.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this rebroadcast, you'll hear a seasoned pro taking Chion into the depths of a dumpster in West Springfield, Massachusetts, plus a tik tok star talks about how she got hooked on dumpster diving. You’ll also get some do’s and don’ts from a guy who wrote a book about it! GUESTS:  Robert Vadas is the author of A Beginner's Guide to Dumpster Diving and the creator of the Facebook group, Dumpster Diving Tips and Finds Tiffany Butler from Denton, Texas, is also known on Tiktok as “The Dumpster Diving Mama”. She has 2.4 million followers. Deirdre lives in Longmeadow, MA. She goes dumpster diving regularly Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do auctioneers do what they do? Meet some of the best in the business, including a 102 year-old auctioneer - America’s oldest. Plus, hear what it was like for the guy who auctioned off that $28 million seat on the rocket ship, New Shepard. And find out what happens when a lead charity auctioneer for Christie’s teams up with Bruce Springsteen. Finally, find out how Chion did when she tried her hand at auctioneering for the first time! GUESTS: Steve Little has been an auctioneer for 31 years, most notably as the man with the gavel for the $28 million auction for a seat on “New Shepard”, the space shuttle created by Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin Lydia Fenet is an auctioneer and International Director of Strategic Partnerships at Christie’s. She’s also the author of The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is YOU Bertram Boyum, 102 of Rushford, MN, is the oldest active auctioneer in America Ralph Labazzo of Golden Gavel Auctions in East Windsor, CT, has been an auctioneer and appraiser for over 20 years Photo: Rafiq Maqbool/APSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a bonus track from the first time Chion Wolf spoke after a week-long vow of silence. It was for an episode of Audacious featuring two people who've had their own vows of silence, including an environmental activist who didn't speak for 17 years (with the exception of one time), and a Trappist monk, whose lifestyle defaults to silence. This video of this moment is also available here: ctpublic.org/audacious.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most common name in the United States is Smith, and if that's your surname, you'll have around 4.5 million others in the world to share it with. But just because you have a popular name like, say, Pat Smith, that doesn’t mean that you’re common! The four Pat Smiths you’ll meet are unique: an environmental activist, an adventurous videographer, an African-American kindergarten teacher in Japan, and a beloved mentor who taught me in 3rd and 5th grade. Enjoy the Pat Smith Show!Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s one thing to have a hard time with parenthood. But what if you wholeheartedly regret it? On this Gracie Award-winning episode, hear from two parents who feel this way, and find out how they balance feeling full of regret while wanting to make sure their kids are well taken care of. And is it really possible to love someone whom they regret bringing into existence? You’ll also meet a woman who knew she was regretted, and find out why she thinks we should be more open about it. GUESTS:  "Anna": The mother to a 1 year-old and a 4-year old, from Iowa "Tracy": The mother of a 9 year-old, from Maryland Sarah K. Brandis: The author of The Musings of an Elective Orphan. She also writes for Medium and The Virago Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the most recent episode of Audacious, we talked about the definition of forgiveness. It seems like every person has their own interpretation of it, and how we define it often defines us.  David Whyte is a philosopher, poet, speaker, and author of Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment, and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. He begins our conversation by reading the passage on forgiveness in that book. You can experience more of his work at davidwhyte.com Go ahead and check out the full episode on forgiveness, featuring perspectives from our Audacious listeners. You’ll hear from a pastor whose brother spent her entire million dollar inheritance, and a conversation about forgiveness with a man who needed a full face transplant after getting hit by a drunk driver.  That’s right here in your podcast feed, or at ctpublic.org/audacious.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on forgiveness for another installment of this show! Send a voice memo or video on the social medias @chionwolf, or email [email protected]. Audacious is produced at Connecticut Public Radio in Hartford by Chion Wolf, Jessica Severin de Martinez, and Catie Talarski, with help from our interns, Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto. Photo: Bodi HallettSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a BONUS track of Audacious, from our episode about Antiques Roadshow! Eric Hanks recently made his first appearance on the PBS show. He specializes in African American art, and he’s the owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery. He’s also the host of the podcast, Eric’s Perspective. It’s his conversations with people about the past, present and future of African American art  You can listen to Eric’s podcast at Eric’s Perspective.com  And check out the full show that this bonus feature is a companion to! You’re already in the podcast feed, so scroll on over to the episode about antiques roadshow.  Photo: Katherine Nelson Hall for WBGH, (c) WGBH 2022)Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What kind of person works in Antarctica? Meet a chef, a supply technician, a physician, and a man who has worked on the continent for over 25 years, including at the world’s most southerly post office and convenience store. GUESTS: Toni Traub is a Supply Technician & “Wastie” at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Lisa Minelli is a sous chef at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Ted Lee is the station physician at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Tudor Morgan is the Expedition Team Leader with Hurtigruten Expeditions. He has also worked with the Antarctic Heritage Trust, and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids see things differently. Solutions to problems are one big idea away. “What if” is an enthusiastic refrain! And expressing yourself means making art, and asking ALL of the questions! If you’re an older kid who’s forgotten what that drive, that passion, that confidence feels like, all you have to do is keep listening! Today, you’re gonna meet eight young people who think and act BIG in this swirling, chaotic, beautiful, beastly world. GUESTS: Chelsea Phaire of Danbury, CT, is an 11-year-old philanthropist and founder of Chelsea’s Charity where she creates art kits for children in foster care, shelters, hospitals and overall in need Alex Doyle 8.5, Lillian Anderson 8, Rory Rundquist 8, from Lockwood Elementary in Bothell, WA, won first place in the National Exploravision Science Project for their design of the Toothbrush of the Future Mark Leschinsky, a 15-year-old from Mahwah, NJ, developed a  Self-Disinfecting Hazmat Suit when he was 8 years old, to help medical workers during the Ebola crisis of 2014. He’s also the Founder and Global Chair of The Lighthouse Initiative Josey Gorman is an 8-year-old from Farmington, CT, whose Lemonade 4 Change project provides books about racial diversity to schools and libraries. She is joined by her mother, Amanda Gorman Tyler Gordon is a 14-year-old painter based in San Jose, CA, whose work has graced the cover of TIME magazine. His book, “We Can: Portraits of Power” comes out on September 28th Arwen Gladis Perez-Sauquillo is a 9-year-old student living in Madrid, Spain. She is also Chion's niece Photo: rawpixel.com via freepik.comSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of Audacious, I spoke with Maryann Gray, and author Darin Strauss, about what it is like living with the aftermath of accidentally killing someone. You can visit Maryann’s website at AccidentalImpacts.org.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re superstitious or, as Michael Scott from The Office says, “a little stitious”, on today’s show about superstitions, you’ll learn a lot about humanity. The author of a book about superstitions from around the world joins us, as well as an expert about anxiety on the difference between superstitious beliefs and OCD or trauma responses. You’ll hear superstitions from Lauren Komrosky, Katy Tierney, Benn Grippo, Hassan Hodges, Tracy Mind Evolution Caldwell, Caroline Finnegan, Christina Solem, Eileen Ruiz, Mike Ferguson, Cynthia Rojas, Dawn Ennis, Wendy Allerton, and Shawn Lang. Finally, what happened when a filmmaker broke as many superstitions as he could in one day? GUESTS: Dr. David Tolin is the Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center & Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at The Institute of Living in Hartford D.R. McElroy is the author of Superstitions: A Handbook of Folklore, Myths, and Legends from around the World Oobah Butler is a filmmaker and the author of the best-selling book, How To Bullshit Your Way To Number 1 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veterans Day was November 11th. Unlike Memorial Day, when we remember those who’ve died while serving in the military, and unlike Armed Services day, when we honor those who are currently serving, Veterans Day recognizes all people - living and dead - who have served in the military. The VA estimates that 134,000 U.S. Veterans are transgender, and over 15,000 trans people are currently serving in the U.S. military. It wasn’t until 2016 that the Obama administration announced that trans people were allowed to serve openly. Almost exactly one year later, President Trump announced - by tweet - that he was going to reverse that policy. This hour, hear from an Army National Guard veteran about what it was like for him to experience that political whiplash. Then, hear from a 99 year-old record-breaking pilot and WW2 Navy veteran who took on the Social Security Administration’s denial of survivor benefits for trans spouses and won. She went on to set world records for being the oldest pilot and flight instructor, and begin a foundation that helps seniors who are LGBTQIA+. GUESTS: Jacob Eleazer is a veteran of the Army National Guard, and Director of Advocacy for SPARTA Robina Asti was a 99 year-old transgender, policy-changing, record-breaking pilot and WW2 Navy veteran whose foundation, Cloud Dancers, grants wishes to seniors who experience discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. She died in March at age 99 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Courtney Webb is just a few months into life with her doll, Dahlia Muriel Hollifield. Find out what this relationship means to her, and check out more conversations about being an "idollator" on the latest episode of Audacious!Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear about the 5000 year history of billboards, and meet the man behind the “I LOVE YOU JESUS” billboards on I-84 and I-91 here in Connecticut.  And hear about a technology that focuses the audio of a billboard directly to you and only you.  Plus, why one Baltimore resident chose to propose to his girlfriend with a billboard (and how it went). GUESTS: Gino Sesto is the founder of Dash Two, a Digital and Outdoor Advertising Agency based out of Culver City, CA Juan Carlos Puga & Allison Haley of Baltimore, MD, became engaged after Juan’s billboard proposal Dr. Joseph Pompei is the Founder, President, and CEO of Holosonics, and inventor of Audio Spotlight technology Father Edmund Nadolny has been putting up his positive religious billboards in Connecticut for over 40 years Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The art of tattooing has been traced back 7,000 years. While the significance or reason behind the oldest-known tattoos are total speculation, we do know that often, they were applied as sacred rites, and awarded as a signifier of adulthood. In Ancient Egypt, it’s likely they were used as a means of safeguarding women during pregnancy and birth. And in the ancient Greco-Roman world, they were applied on enslaved people who got caught trying to escape. But today, the reasons for getting a tattoo are as distinct as the person getting them. Sometimes, it’s a memorial to a person or an experience or an idea. Sometimes, it’s nothing more than something that just looks really cool! Now and then, though, the meaning changes, and the artwork needs to be covered up. So today, you’ll hear stories about how people have used tattoos to allow their skin to, shall we say, evolve. GUESTS: Chris Gladis is a high school teacher living in Osaka, Japan. He has yet to be tattooed Jim Bonaldo is a father, husband, improv comic, storyteller, and tattoo canvas, living in Wethersfield Tracy Wu Fastenberg is a fundraiser for a nonprofit, and babywearing enthusiast of her two children in West Hartford Addy Irizarry was a professional boxer, and is now a school safety officer and boxing trainer living in Tolland Michael Kalinowski is a 37 year-old from Baltic, with a wife and 3 daughters Jessica Pain lives in Bristol with her wife, 3 children, 4 cats, 2 dogs, and a ball python named Ozzy. After working as an Emergency Room Nurse for over a decade she now has a career in the life-saving world of organ donation Mikaela is a firefighter and EMT living in Vermont Alex Lawrence is the owner of Mountainside Tattoo in Bellows Falls, Vermont Dickie Marcum is a 34 year-old husband and father of three, living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s the founder of the “Erase The Hate Project”, a non-profit helping people remove or cover up racist tattoos PHOTO: TOONMAN_blchin / WikipediaSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fill in the blank: Love is… Patient. Kind. Love is Work. Hard to find. But if you wanna put your finger on what makes up “long-lasting love”, you’re gonna need some wisdom to fill in those blanks. So today, meet three couples who’ve been together for over 50 years. GUESTS: Angela and Grant Loavenbruck of Rockport, Maine, have been married for 55 years Emery Austin Smith and Vivian Ashton Smith of the Blue Hills neighborhood in Hartford have been married for 65 years Shirley and Seymour Reitman of Bloomfield, Connecticut, have been married for over 70 years Photo: Harli Marten - UnsplashSupport the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***This show originally aired on June 20, 2020*** Speech disfluencies are mysterious. They are defined as breaks or disruptions that occur in the flow of speech. For over 10 years, I was the midday host at Connecticut Public Radio, telling you the weather, the time, what show was coming up next — And at the top of every hour, the call letters. Our listeners had opinions - lots of opinions - about the way I said the letter “W”, which I had to say dozens of times a day. Most of the opinions came in the form of praise, but now and then an email would come through from someone saying that they had to turn the radio off every time I came on. That I was saying “W” wrong. This intense positive and negative feedback, repeated for years, and caused anxiety and, after time, I was diagnosed with a speech disfluency. This hour, you’ll hear audio from my 2013 sessions at the Speech & Hearing Clinic at UConn. And we’ll hear from people who struggle with the most common speech disfluency: stuttering. It affects more than 70 million people in the world —  about 5% of children go through a period of stuttering. It hasn’t stopped some people from expressing themselves in creative ways. GUESTS: Erin O'Brien Wilson is a Speech-Language Pathologist who is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo. She is also a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency Disorders Alida Engel has been a Speech and Language Pathologist for over 50 years. She runs The Center for Speech and Learning in New Haven Ari Cobb is an 8 year-old New Haven resident who is working with Alida Engel on his stutter Drew Lynch finished second on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent with his Golden Buzzer performance. Since then, he has been seen on Conan, Maron, and on his worldwide tours Chris Harshaw is a PhD candidate at Yale, who is a self-described "Proud Stutterer" Illustration by Chion Wolf.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.