Catherine Shen
Host, Where We LiveCatherine is the Host of Connecticut Public’s morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live. Catherine and the WWL team focus on going beyond the headlines to bring in meaningful conversations that put Connecticut in context.
Before her current position, Catherine was Connecticut Public’s education reporter for just over a year. She covered a variety of stories like student mental health, childcare shortages, and teacher burnout. She joined Connecticut Public's newsroom in 2021. The Los Angeles native came to CT Public after a decade of print and digital reporting across the country.
She started her journalism career in the Los Angeles fashion scene. While that was an exciting time, Catherine ultimately needed to get back to her news roots. She was soon traipsing all across California’s Central Coast as a freelance news reporter for several newspapers, where she broke stories about local government, law enforcement, and education. She also covered crime, healthcare, business, as well as arts and culture.
After finding herself on the East Coast, she continued reporting in New Jersey, covering a mix of academic news, nonprofit projects, and human feature stories both off and on camera. Then she moved to Connecticut and started reporting for the New Britain Herald, where she won several Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists awards for her coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements, and police accountability.
Catherine received an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. While an undergraduate student, she was a reporter for the university newspaper and its student-run television station, Cable 8 News. She’s also a proud member of the Asian American Journalism Society.
In her downtime, she tries her best to catch up on her reading list but often fails due to a variety of distractions, including reorganizing her bookshelves, scavenging library book sales, and thinking about reading books.
Catherine can be reached at cshen@ctpublic.org.
-
Need a pick-me-up? We’re listening back to a few conversations that have stayed with us. They're interviews that have encouraged optimism, generosity, and kindness. It’s an hour all about hope. -
What was your favorite toy growing up? From toy industry trends to the science of play, we explore what helps a toy stand the test of time. -
Author Abigail Savitch-Lew’s debut novel, “Livonia Chow-Mein,” opens up doors to a Brooklyn world that most of us will never see. Today, she joins us to talk about the interconnectedness among immigrant cultures, and the historical and contemporary complications that come with them. -
Grab a flannel, find a scenic road and make room for cider donuts – fall has arrived in Connecticut. From classic autumn traditions to lesser-known ways to enjoy the season, we’re rounding up some of the best things to do before the leaves are gone. -
This week, leaders from across the globe gather for the UN General Assembly. Some Connecticut based humanitarian aid organizations will also be in attendance. Today, we get an update from them, and hear how the assembly is influencing human rights around the world. -
An Alzheimer’s diagnosis affects more than just the person with the disease. It can change an entire family’s life. We talk about recognizing the early signs, navigating the emotional challenges of caregiving, and finding support along the way. -
We’re talking about the state rock, which is, you guessed it: marble! Housatonic marble, specifically. We learn more about how this special solid substance earned its honorary title. -
Last month, ICE conducted over 100 arrests in Connecticut. From protests to organizing meal trains, volunteers are working to organize and support immigrant communities. We learn what this looks like across the state. -
New research is giving us a clearer picture of CTE – a degenerative brain disease – and what repeated hits can do to the brain. We look at what that means for young athletes and how parents, coaches, and schools can make sports safer. -
Do you remember where you were during the Sept. 11 attacks? Teachers join us to discuss how they’re talking about this historic day in their classrooms, 25 years later.
