Connections Podcast

We continue a conversation from Wednesday about the staffing crisis in the child-care industry. According to the Washington Post, child-care providers are down more than 126,000 positions as workers leave for higher-paying jobs and better benefits. This hour, we talk with current and former child-care workers who share their insights about the industry. Our guests: Bev Bauman, teacher in a child-care center Julie Williams, former child-care worker Jenn Beideman, expectant mother who is seeking

Facebook Marketplace has become one of the most popular places to buy and sell just about any item or service. But, as ProPublica reports, it has become almost too large to regulate. As a result, a growing number of scams are putting a dark tinge on what had been a relatively simple system. We discuss selling online -- whether it's through Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or otherwise -- and how to recognize and avoid scams. Our guests: Craig Silverman , reporter at ProPublica Jonathan Weissman

The child-care industry is down more than 126,000 workers. That's according to the Washington Post. Staff members are leaving the industry for higher-paying jobs and better benefits. This has economic impacts -- with fewer workers, fewer children can be cared for, and more parents must leave the workforce to stay home with them. The staffing crisis is impacting the Rochester region. We discuss it with our guests: Pete Nabozny , director of policy for The Children's Agenda Rosa Marie Curtis,

Canada just had an election, which might come as a shock to Americans who assume that all national elections last two years. Canada does it in about two months. It appears that Justin Trudeau will keep his job, but his rather early call for an election was a risky bet that nearly blew up. We discuss how the Canadian system works; what this election means; and how the Canadian system differs from the American system. Our guests: Craig Needles , reporter and podcast host with Blackburn News in

Do you know if you have money invested in fossil fuels? The idea of "divesting" is a popular one among climate activists. But what does that mean, and how does someone do it? We examine how to determine where your money is tied up, and we explore just how easy -- or not -- it is to have more control over where your investments are located. Our guests: Andrew Brady , co-founder of the Rochester chapter of Conscious Capitalism Jack McGowan , CEO and founder of Two Point Capital Management

The "flOUR CITY Interactive ROCgarden” introduces audience members to local historical figures -- people who you may not have learned about in the history books. This hour, we talk with the performance's creators and the actors about Anna Murray Douglass, Leah Fox Fish, and "Rattlesnake Pete", and their impact on Rochester's history. Our guests: Kate Sweeney, co-creator of the "flOUR CITY Interactive ROCgarden," and theatre coordinator at MCC Heather Chang, co-creator of the "flOUR CITY

Restaurants and a number of retail establishments continue to be short staffed. Many managers had predicted that workers would return to their old jobs in September, following the winding down of federal benefits. In some places, that has been true, but plenty of other businesses are struggling to fill out their workforces. Our guests discuss why: Amorette Miller , co-owner of ShiftDiff , a local job search engine in Rochester Kristina Dinino, owner of the Mad Hatter Restaurant and Bakery Dan

A local OB/GYN is accused of using his own sperm to artificially inseminate multiple women. Dr. Morris Wortman is now being sued by a former patient – a woman who says he is her biological father. A second adult has come forward, saying Wortman is also his father. The story has led to questions surrounding donor conception. What does the law state? What rights do patients – and their children – have? Our guests this hour discuss a range of issues. Our guests: Tyler Brown , reporter with 13 WHAM

Local youth climate leaders are gearing up for the Green Games. It’s an initiative where they’ll challenge their peers across the Rochester/Finger Lakes region to take action when it comes to combating climate change. They join us to talk about Meatless Mondays, fossil fuel divestment, an art challenge and more. Our guests: Bridget Mousaw, junior at Brighton High School, leader of the Brighton High School Climate Club, and Rochester field organizer for the New York Youth Climate Leaders Poppy

University of Rochester alumnus Xandr Brown says her environmental humanities studies pointed her to her career in journalism. She's pursuing that work in her home of Flint, Michigan. Brown grew up in a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian home, where she says her religious instruction taught her that the earth existed for human use. Her coursework changed that view. Now, her work focuses on environmental justice journalism and advocacy. She joins us to discuss her background, her studies, and