Audacious with Chion Wolf

Connecticut Public

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human. For more: ctpublic.org/audacious

  1. Multiple sclerosis tried to bench her. Karen Smith won gold instead

    1D AGO

    Multiple sclerosis tried to bench her. Karen Smith won gold instead

    At 74, Karen Smith is still chasing the feeling she fell in love with as a kid: the freedom and aliveness of playing sports. After years of sudden pain and uncertainty, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - news that could have ended her life in athletics. Instead, adaptive equipment helped her keep skiing, and it reshaped how she carried the diagnosis.  Through the Gaylord Sports Association, she helped expand a program now offering 17 adaptive sports, and she became a gold medal-winning goalie on Team USA’s women’s sled hockey team.  At Choate Ice Rink, she and veteran player Anthony Kuntz introduce Chion to sled hockey, and to Karen’s fierce belief in inclusion and the “dignity of risk.”   Suggested episodes: A marathon swimmer and ultrarunner: surviving cancer, breaking records  Revealing Our Blind Spots About Blindness   GUESTS:  Karen Smith: Team manager of the Gaylord Wolfpack sled hockey team and a longtime leader in Connecticut’s adaptive sports community. In her early 60s, she earned the starting goalie position on Team USA’s Women’s Sled Hockey squad at the first IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in 2014, winning gold alongside teammates decades younger Anthony Kuntz: Gaylord Wolfpack sled hockey player from Colchester, Connecticut, who has spina bifida. He has 22 years of experience in the sport, including four on the U.S. Junior National Team, competing internationally in Vancouver during the 2010 Paralympic Games Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  2. Audacious Scotland: CT’s Highland Festival & Games, plus quarrelsome dames seek justice for witches

    FEB 27

    Audacious Scotland: CT’s Highland Festival & Games, plus quarrelsome dames seek justice for witches

    Two Scotlands, one episode.  Scotland One: kilts, haggis, bagpipes, and that irresistible fairground mix of music and muscle at Connecticut’s Scottish Highland Festival & Games! Plus swordplay and the oddly soothing chaos and grunts of Weight Over Bar.  Scotland Two: centuries of witch trials, powered by rumor, rubber-stamped by law. Meet Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi of Witches of Scotland, a campaign and podcast working to restore names and dignity to the accused from 1563 to 1736.    Suggested episodes: Where We Live - 'Before there was Salem, there was Connecticut': State formally pardons accused witches  Where We Live - Are witch hunts truly a thing of the past?  Dress to unrepress: Women who dressed like men, broke rules and made history  Are you very superstitious or just a little 'stitious'? Big E ep? (similar vibe)   GUESTS:  Benjamin Elzerman: flute player from East Hartford, CT Haley Hewitt: harpist from Manchester, CT John Morahn: instructor at Western Swordsmanship Technique and Research (WSTR) from Ashford, CT Eric Lewis: weight over bar competitor at The Scottish Highland Festival and Games from Woburn, MA  Christopher Annino: weight over bar competitor at The Scottish Highland Festival and Games from Groton, CT John H Spencer: the only living founding member of The Scottish Highland Festival and Games Reggie Patchell: Co-Chairman and Vice President of Scotland Connecticut Highland Festival Committee Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi: founders of Witches of Scotland, a campaign seeking justice for the roughly 4,000 people - mostly women - accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736, many of whom were executed Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  3. What death investigators can tell you about life

    FEB 20

    What death investigators can tell you about life

    An unexpected death leaves survivors with a single relentless question: what happened?  Three forensic experts share how they investigate the dead to bring clarity to the living. Dr. Cori Breslauer, an associate medical examiner in Connecticut, describes the realities of autopsies, trauma, and truth-telling. Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, who pioneered forensic genetic genealogy, explains how investigators use DNA and family history to put a name to unidentified remains, and bring long-delayed answers to families. And retired forensic pathologist Dr. Cindy Hoeflinger shares what it was like to spend a career giving families answers… until she needed answers herself. Suggested episodes: Look For The Helpers: The Anatomy Of A Death  Views from the end: David Meyers The Quest For A Good Death GUESTS:  Dr. Cori Breslauer: Associate Medical Examiner at Connecticut's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, specializing in forensic pathology Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick: Forensic genetic genealogist, founder of Identifinders International; she pioneered the use of genetic genealogy to solve cold cases Dr. Cindy Hoeflinger: Retired forensic pathologist who investigated sudden and unexplained deaths; she lost her 18-year-old son Brian in a drunk driving crash in 2013 Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  4. Forget meet-cutes: How lasting love can blossom in unexpected places

    FEB 13

    Forget meet-cutes: How lasting love can blossom in unexpected places

    Forget the typical meet-cute; this episode features individuals whose paths crossed in extraordinarily unique circumstances. Alex and Sue Tatham met each other on the globally televised dating show "Blind Date" in the UK, leading to a wedding watched by millions. Heather and Tony are Disney enthusiasts who found love across continents thanks to a dating site for fellow fans, MouseMingle.com And after three years of chatting online, Robbie Romu and Avichai Sofer finally met… Only to have their relationship immediately tested by the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war during their first in-person meeting. Suggested episodes: Audacious Love Playlist GUESTS:  Alex & Sue Tatham: a couple who met on the British dating show Blind Date in 1988. Their wedding in 1991 was watched by 17 million people Heather & Tony Lash: Heather from Australia and Tony from Florida met through Mousemingle.com, a dating site for Disney fans, in 2015. They got married at Walt Disney World in 2018 Robbie Romu & Avichai Sofer: Robbie from Canada and Avichai from Israel met on a dating site in 2020. Robbie traveled to Israel to meet Avichai in person for the first time on October 6, 2023, a day before the Israel-Hamas war began Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  5. ARFID makes food feel dangerous. A woman found relief after a psilocybin trip

    FEB 6

    ARFID makes food feel dangerous. A woman found relief after a psilocybin trip

    Imagine being afraid of a pickle. Or a banana. Or a nub of bread. That’s daily life for people with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). It's an eating disorder not driven by weight or body image, but by fear, sensory overwhelm, or low appetite. People with this condition experience real terror and powerful aversions to certain foods - far beyond picky eating.  Clinical psychologist Dr. Evelyna Kambanis explains ARFID, who it affects, and how treatment helps people reclaim their lives. Andrew Luber (aka “ARFID Andrew”) shares his funny, blunt, and vulnerable attempts at food exposures online. And Danielle Meinert tells the story of carrying ARFID since toddlerhood, and the startling change she says came after a high-dose psilocybin experience.    Resources: National Eating Disorders Association - ARFIDAssociation of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated DisordersFamilies Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders Suggested episodes: The hidden hunger of Pica: Stories from people who eat objects  Anorexia is complex. Two people talk frankly about their decades-long journeys    GUESTS:  Dr. Evelyna Kambanis: Licensed clinical psychologist in the Eating Disorders Clinical & Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. She is involved in clinical care and research on ARFID Andrew Luber, aka ARFID Andrew: Los Angeles filmmaker and social media creator who documents food exposures with humor under the tagline, “Conquering my fear of food one laugh at a time” Danielle Meinert: Lived with ARFID for 27 years after a major shift in her relationship with food following ear surgery as a toddler. After years of trying traditional approaches, she described experiencing a dramatic change after a session using psilocybin Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  6. Lola leaves home: Following a nine-year-old exchange student’s adventure

    JAN 30

    Lola leaves home: Following a nine-year-old exchange student’s adventure

    How brave can a nine-year-old be? We follow Lola Fraisse from Kidderminster, England, as she leaves home for six months to live with a host family in Lüneburg, Germany. She learns a new language, new rules, and new ways to see herself. Along the way, Lola grows her confidence, builds friendships, and even picks up a slight German accent! We also hear from Lola’s mom, Jennie, who did a childhood exchange herself and knows exactly what this kind of leap can set in motion for a life. And we meet Sylvie, Lola’s host mom, on welcoming a child into your family, and then saying goodbye.  After Lola returns to England, the story flips: her exchange sister Hanna comes to stay, and the girls describe what it’s like to become sisters on purpose.   Suggested episodes: Francesca Abroad: Following an American high school student’s year in Sarajevo  Salaar Stateside! Following a Pakistani high school student’s year in the US    GUESTS:  Lola Fraisse: a girl from Worcestershire, England, who embarked on a student exchange in Germany for six months when she was nine years old through the ALLEF program Jennie Fraisse: Lola’s mother, who was an exchange student herself at a young age. Her family hosted Lola’s exchange partner, Hanna Hanna Michaelis: a girl from Northern Germany and Lola’s exchange partner. Hanna’s family hosted Lola for six months, and Hanna spent six months in England with Lola’s family  Sylvie Michaelis: Hanna’s mother and Lola’s host mom Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  7. A marathon swimmer and ultrarunner: surviving cancer, breaking records

    JAN 23

    A marathon swimmer and ultrarunner: surviving cancer, breaking records

    After cancer, one woman swam farther than anyone ever had in a lake. Another ran 104 marathons in 104 days on a carbon-fiber running blade. Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas returned to the water following aggressive breast cancer and went on to complete multiple record-setting open-water swims.  And Jacky Hunt-Broersma lost her leg to bone cancer, then redefined endurance one marathon at a time. Their stories are about ambition, adaptation, and the audacity to ask the body for more.   Suggested episodes: From wingsuit BASE jumping to record-breaking South Pole expeditions with Ellen Brennan Frat and Liv Arnesen What a runner’s high feels like when you’re 105 years old What it’s like to be allergic to water Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records    GUESTS:  Sarah Thomas: marathon swimmer who holds multiple world records for the longest current-neutral swims ever completed, including a 104.6-mile swim in Lake Champlain. After aggressive breast cancer treatment, she returned to the water and became the first person to complete four consecutive crossings of the English Channel Jacky Hunt-Broersma: an ultrarunner and amputee who lost her left leg to bone cancer at age 26. In 2022, she ran 104 marathons in 104 consecutive days on a carbon-fiber running blade, setting a Guinness World Record and raising nearly $200,000 to help other amputees access running prosthetics. Her memoir, Duct Tape and Determination: A True Story of Turning Devastation into Grit, is coming out in August 2026  Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
  8. What two suicide attempt survivors want you to know about staying alive

    JAN 16

    What two suicide attempt survivors want you to know about staying alive

    Meet two men who survived suicide attempts, and built lives around helping others imagine a future beyond despair.  Kevin Hines, one of the few to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, reflects on the instant regret, the long recovery, and the tools he uses when “brain pain” returns - recorded just days before the 25th anniversary of his attempt.  Then, Connecticut therapist Steve MacHattie shares what it means to live with chronic suicidal urges, after his first attempt at six years old, and how reaching for connection can change the outcome.  Resources: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline   Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board In an emergency, please call or text 911   Suggested episodes: 911, What's Your Emergency? Tales From Dispatch Finding purpose in life after accidentally killing someone What it's like surviving a plane crash Equine therapy   GUESTS:  Kevin Hines: suicide attempt survivor, author, film producer, and mental health advocate. At 19, he survived a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the past 25 years, he has dedicated himself to suicide prevention, sharing his story to reduce stigma and help people through moments of crisis. Kevin is the author of Cracked, Not Broken, The Art of Being Broken, and The Art of Wellness, hosts the HINESIGHTS podcast, and was a leading voice in the effort to install safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge. His latest documentary, Death Bridge, is set to be released in 2027 Steve MacHattie: a suicide attempt survivor, clinical social worker (LCSW), and founder of the Charter Oak Family Center in Manchester, Connecticut. He first attempted suicide at six years old, and today he supports clients ages 5 to 105 and serves as co-chair of the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board’s Lived Experience Committee. He also writes poetry used in clinical trainings to help care providers see the humanity and strength in the people they serve Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
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About

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human. For more: ctpublic.org/audacious

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