Audacious with Chion Wolf

Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public
  • 4.7 (85)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

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. 2d ago

    I saw it coming! When premonitions come true

    For the past two years, at the end of interviews for Audacious, host Chion Wolf has been asking guests one question: have you ever had a dream or premonition that came true? Twenty-three guests describe vivid dreams, sudden urges, eerie intuitions, and moments of certainty that later proved accurate in ways they can’t explain. Some sensed love before it arrived. Some saw danger coming. Some felt loss before they knew what they were losing. Take a personal look at intuition, mystery, and the possibility that the world may be stranger and much more connected than we realize. This episode originally aired on May 15, 2026. Suggested episodes: Life advice, one Audacious guest at a time  Forgiveness: How we define it and how it defines us   Why you so salty?  What smells remind you of childhood? Kitchen objects with a story. Listen at your own whisk   Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments  How regret teaches us to live  Stories of everyday courage, from getting a needle in the eye to tackling a purse thief  The surprising ways we ritual  Are you superstitious or just a little 'stitious'?  GUESTS (in order of appearance):  First segment: Caroline Mandaro, Casper ter Kuile, Timothy Schultz, Christine Ha, Achivai Sofer, Tom Burgoyne, Kerry Kennedy, and Joe Stone Second segment: Dr. Gale Ridge, Katina DeJarnett, Rachel Lithgow, Andy Corren, Bill Edgar, Lindsay Childress-Beatty, RoseMarie Wallace, and Dr. Kruti Parekh Third segment: Bettina Hunt, Joy Brooker, Paperboy Love Prince, Rebekah Spicuglia, Leslie Wharton, Sarah Napoli, and Harriet Newman Cohen   Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    I saw it coming! When premonitions come true

  2. Oct 23

    Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Hartford: From dragon eggs to JFK’s cake

    A robot Christmas ornament. A clay golem from Prague. A piece of JFK's inauguration cake that's been around for more than six decades. No, this isn't the inventory of a particularly eccentric museum. It's what people brought to our fifth Audacious LIVE Show & Tell! Back at Dead Language Beer Project in Hartford, we invited CT Public listeners and audience members to speak about meaningful objects in their lives. And once again, the stories behind those objects took us places we never could have predicted. Suggested episodes: Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Stamford  Audacious Live! Show & Tell birthday bash in Hartford  Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Willimantic: From rare computers to hand grenades  Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Winsted: From movie props to prophylactics   GUESTS:  Chris DeGasero: Co-owner of Dead Language Beer Project in Hartford, who brought a Billy Baloney ventriloquist dummy of Pee-wee’s PlayhouseBrittney Mihalich: Avon resident, who brought a clay golem from Prague Krystaline Gregory: New Britain resident, who brought a robot Christmas ornament made of glass Brenda Kestenbaum: West Hartford resident, who brought her late sister’s coffee can Maggie Róisín: New Britain resident, who brought a family heirloom: a glass jar with a piece of JFK’s inauguration cake Nora Pasco: New Britain resident, who brought a labradorite ‘dragon egg’ necklace  Pamela Morrison-Wolf: West Hartford resident (and Chion’s mother!), who brought a statue of Saint Francis and the wolf of Gubbio  Amy LaBossière: Hartford resident, who brought two multi-colored fabric dolls inspired by Peter Max that hook together Suzanne Hopgood: Longtime Audacious supporter, who brought a wall plaque saying ‘Love you to the moon and back,’ reminding her of her late husband, Frank Lord Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Audacious Live! Show & Tell in Hartford: From dragon eggs to JFK’s cake

  3. Oct 16

    From deathbeds to skyscrapers: The extraordinary power of the harp

    How can a harp be both one of the most intimate - and one of the most enormous - instruments in the world?  Tony Pederson plays his harp at the bedsides of people who are dying, listening closely to their breathing and responding with music created specifically for those delicate moments.  William Close invented the Earth Harp, attaching enormous strings to canyons, buildings and skyscrapers, and once stretching them more than 957 feet for a Guinness World Record. Two musicians, two radically different harps, and a shared belief that music can take all of us somewhere extraordinary.    Suggested episodes: Aftershocks: Life after getting struck by lightning Life After Live From Here: A Conversation With Chris Thile Awe yeah! Exploring the magic of mind-blowing moments  A drummer, a rapper, and a violinist on disability and the art of adapting    GUESTS:  Tony Pederson: Music-thanatologist and past president of the Music-Thanatology Association International who has spent more than 30 years playing harp at the bedsides of people approaching death. On social media, his “Today at Death’s Door” posts share stories and reflections from his work. William Close: Musician and instrument inventor best known for creating the Earth Harp, which uses buildings and landscapes as part of the instrument itself. He’s  installed Earth Harps at Rome’s Colosseum, Seattle’s Space Needle, Shanghai’s Grand Theater and many more places around the world.In 2014, Close set a Guinness World Record with an installation where the strings stretched more than 957 feet.  Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    From deathbeds to skyscrapers: The extraordinary power of the harp

  4. Oct 9

    Discover a hole lot of life lessons hiding within a mini golf course

    For most people, mini golf is casual. A little windmill, a little ice cream, maybe some light family trash talk.  But in this episode, you'll meet competitive players who practice for tournaments, a Guinness World Record holder who played 4,941 holes in 24 hours, and a British enthusiast who has visited more than 1,100 mini golf courses.  Along the way: specialized balls, sore backs, and the surprising life lessons hiding behind fake mountains and tiny castles.   Suggested episodes: A coffee-fueled celebration of passion, purpose, and pursuing an impossible goal  Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records  Extreme ironing, cheese rolling, and shin kicking: The world of weird sports The minds, hearts (and stomachs) of competitive eaters   GUESTS:  Pat Sheridan: Competitive miniature golfer, tournament organizer, co-founder of The Putting Penguin miniature-golf review site, and part of the organizing team of the American Mini Golf Alliance Anna and Justin Seymour: married couple from Manchester, CT who both compete in miniature golf tournaments Mick Cullen: Professor and a former clinical social worker, author, DJ, marathoner, and Guinness World Record-holding miniature golfer who played 4,941 holes in 24 hours  Richard Gottfried: miniature golfer and Guinness World Record holder who has visited more than 1,100 miniature golf courses across the world over roughly two decades  Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Discover a hole lot of life lessons hiding within a mini golf course

  5. Oct 2

    Secret Mall Apartment: The story behind four years of hiding in plain sight

    Some people go to the mall to shop or meet up with friends at the food court or get a good walk in. Some people work there. Michael Townsend secretly lived in a mall. For four years, Townsend and fellow artists co-opted a hidden apartment inside Providence Place Mall, complete with furniture, dishes, a PlayStation and even a waffle maker, all while trying to stay invisible to mall security. Then, join Chion as she gets to know the manager of Westfarms Mall. After that, she meanders through Buckland Hills Mall, meeting stuffed-animal builders, a carousel operator, and a candy-store owner whose shelves are stocked with exotic treats from around the world.    Suggested episodes: What Happens When You Act Like You Belong I snuck my incarcerated boyfriend out of prison in a dog crate The art of the prank with the directors of 'Jury Duty' and 'Bad Trip'    GUESTS:  Michael Townsend: Rhode Island-based artist and driving force behind the Secret Mall Apartment, a 750-square-foot space hidden inside Providence Place Mall. He and fellow artists used the space undetected from 2003 until mall security discovered it in 2007. Their story is told in the 2024 documentary Secret Mall Apartment Carolyn Edwards: General manager of Westfarms Mall. She has worked in the shopping-center industry for more than 30 years, overseeing everything from retail and marketing to safety and the day-to-day life of the mall The Shoppes at Buckland Hills: Alex Cabrera and Aleks Wichowski of Build-A-Bear Workshop; Carousel operator, Silas Carlson; Jessica Holbrook, owner of Passport Candies Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Secret Mall Apartment: The story behind four years of hiding in plain sight

  6. Sep 25

    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. This episode originally aired on January 17, 2026. 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 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.

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

  7. Sep 18

    The Big E: What it takes to create 17 days of magic

    Wander with the Audacious crew through 175 acres of wonder and delight to meet the people who bring The Big E to life!    From a Lost & Found sage, to a fairy from the Florence Griswold Museum, to a hot tub ace, to Amber, the bathroom attendant/joy DJ.   President & CEO Gene Cassidy shares the soul of the Exposition, then we follow our heads, hearts, and (especially) stomachs through cream puffs, Pepe’s pizza, and cookie dough-on-a-stick. This episode originally aired on October 4, 2025. Suggested episodes: Scenes from the Big E: A fair filled with food, animals, music – and heart   GUESTS:  Mary Naughton and Cyndy Penner: mother and daughter duo behind Cyndy’s Bears, selling embroidered teddy bears and other personalized items Andrea Anderson and Sabrina Gagnon: at The Big E with their Clydesdale horses from Hobby Knoll Stable in Duxbury, MA Susan Rotondo and Bill Motyl: longtime fair regulars from Southwick, MA Tammi Flynn: Director of Communications at The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT Rita Rivera: a fairy for the day, advertising the Wee Faerie Village at The Florence Griswold Museum Amber Stone: bathroom attendant at The Big E and recovery coach from Springfield, MA Ed Ame: a Chicago native, who spends most of the year traveling and works at the Lost & Found booth at The Big E James Tackett: a man from Madison, IN, who runs the mini ball booth at The Big E Darryl Wilson: sales representative for MAAX Swim Spas and Hot Tubs Melissa Russell: fife player from Bristol, CT, who performs with a fife and drum corps, and spent Connecticut Day with her family at The Big E John Barrows: printer at Eastern States Exposition Eugene Cassidy: President and CEO at Eastern States Exposition Greg: a Faribault, MN, native, who sells blooming onions at The Big E Kevin Gagliard: Operations Manager at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana  Lynn Lischke: Newburyport, MA, resident, who sells cream puffs at The Big E Josh Virkler: owner of Luann’s Bakery in Ellington, Stafford, and soon Hartford, CT  Jackson Panek-Henderson: nine-year-old fairgoer from Newington, CT Joseph Haag: owner of Kora and Mila’s Cookie Dough from Plymouth, WI, serving cookie dough on a stick at The Big E Josh, John, and Henry Pupa: repeat fairgoers from Griswold, CT Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Big E: What it takes to create 17 days of magic

  8. Sep 11

    What is a life worth? One 9/11 widower’s fight for fairness

    After Charles Wolf’s wife, Katherine, was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he found himself taking on an unlikely new role: activist.  Wolf became a tireless advocate for victims’ families, challenging the federal compensation system and successfully pushing for reform. His efforts later became part of the movie Worth, with Stanley Tucci playing him.  Twenty-five years later, Wolf looks back at what grief made him do, what justice can and cannot accomplish, and the life he built without the woman he still loves.  Suggested episode: Life after Parkland: A victim’s dad turns to art and activism GUEST:  Charles G. Wolf: After his wife, Katherine, was killed in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he became a prominent advocate for victims’ families, pushing for changes to the federal compensation system and working to preserve the legacy of those lost Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    What is a life worth? One 9/11 widower’s fight for fairness
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4.7
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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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