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 and follow her on Twitter at @catshenwnpr.
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We learn from financial experts what financial literacy looks like among adults, the importance of getting a financial education during tough times, and the changing nature of retirement. -
Chef Pyet DeSpain is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. She also has Mexican-American roots and is bringing fresh flavors to the table. This hour, she shares her culinary journey with us – from homelessness to winning the reality TV competition, Next Level Chef. -
Fall can be a great time to enjoy the natural wonders of Connecticut. Today, we hear from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection about ways to make the most of this season. -
We examine how the government shutdown could impact government programs and services in Connecticut. Later, two local church leaders talk about the future of American Christianity. -
This hour, we’re joined by Ashley Bouder, former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet and newly appointed executive director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet. -
Cancer among young adults, specifically those age 18-45, is on the rise. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today, we hear from a local breast cancer survivor and how they are navigating life after diagnosis. -
We’re talking about parental stress, burnout and anxiety. We'll ask what it's like to raise kids in a world of uncertainty, and what you can do to remain calm in difficult times. -
Changing federal health recommendations have left doctors and patients confused. Questions are swirling about vaccines, including what’s available and who will pay. Today, Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health joins us. -
Did you know that Connecticut is home to some pretty rare sheep? Today, we explore the world of wool farming, and hear what some local farmers are doing to preserve endangered livestock. -
Samin Nosrat, author of the James-Beard-award-winning cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” has a lot to share about food .. and community. She joins Connecticut Public talk show "Where We Live" to talk about her new book “Good Things, Recipes and Rituals to share with people you love.”
