Connections Podcast

Last week, New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa sent a letter to the State Department of Health asking Commissioner Howard Zucker to consider the department’s responsibilities as school officials prepare for the upcoming academic year. In a statement, Rosa’s office said, “The circumstances enveloping the Executive Chamber this week should not prevent the Department of Health from the execution of its responsibilities to the public, as has been promised by the Governor’s office for

Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged everyone not to rush to judgment... and instead, wait for the investigation regarding his behavior to play out. That investigation from State Attorney General Letitia James found that the governor harassed multiple women, including some young staffers, and appeared to have broken the laws that his government helped create. Now he faces calls for resignation and an impeachment proceeding. Did the process work? Is this the model for future investigations? Some prominent

Have you heard of fast fashion? According to Vox, the concept came about in the 1990s, when the retailer Zara abandoned fashion seasons for "the thrill of constant novelty." Now, hundreds to thousands of new styles are available from different retailers at low prices every week or even every day. Members of Gen Z were born during the height of fast fashion, and many depend on the availability of trendy clothes at low prices. But, experts say they also care about worker rights, sustainability,

When Simone Biles decided to withdraw from most of her Olympic competitions, the move was met with both praise and criticism. It reopened discussions about mental health, athletes, and the kinds of standards to which they are held. Are they unrealistic? Unfair? What's a healthy balance? The experts weigh in: Khadijah Tillman, LCSW-R , owner of Sankofa Family Counseling Services, PLLC Katie Rizzone, M.D. , primary care sports medicine physician at UR Medicine Craig Cypher, Psy.D. , clinical and

Vulture published a list of 25 notable new releases over the next two weeks. It includes movies, art, books, music, theater, and TV shows. The last category is the focus of this hour: what's new and hot in TV? We talk about a number of popular shows that are making their return, as well as new series that could become favorites. Experts say competition among streaming services is fierce. What about cable? Is appointment viewing still a thing? Our guests take a look at the current TV landscape

California will soon see the vast majority of its pork supply disappear. That's because voters overwhelmingly passed a law in 2018 calling for better standards for animals raised for slaughter. Most pigs are still kept in cramped cages that won't comply with the new rules. The impact will go beyond the pigs; bacon is big business, and restauranteurs are concerned with narrowing menus. Meanwhile, states like New York are considering their own animal welfare laws. Our guests discuss it: Chris

Some high-profile athletes are not only turning down the COVID vaccine; they’re using social media to spread their opposition. For sports fans, it can be a difficult spot. Shaun Nelms is one of the biggest Buffalo Bills fans around; he’s also the superintendent of East High School, and he’s worked to dispel misinformation about vaccines. So when some of his favorite Bills players are boasting about being unvaccinated, what does he do? The American public turns to a wide range of people for ideas

We’re joined by members of the local state delegation who discuss the findings from Attorney General Tish James’ investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The report found that Cuomo violated multiple state and federal laws by sexually harassing 11 women, including current and former staffers. Cuomo responded to the report by saying he did nothing wrong, and said that some of his actions may have been misconstrued. Local, state, and federal leaders – including President Biden – have called for Cuomo

This hour, we remember Jeremy Tjhung, a local activist, volunteer, creator, and friend of Connections. Tjhung died last week after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We first met him in 2018 when he joined us to talk about his activism, which was set in motion after the 2016 shooting at Pulse nightclub. In this special rebroadcast, we remember Jeremy Tjhung’s life, legacy, and spirit.

State Senator Samra Brouk is co-hosting a public hearing on elections administration and voting rights. She and fellow senators want to hear from the public about how the state election process can be improved. We talk with Senator Brouk and Senator Zellnor Myrie about voting reform, including legislation that has already been passed this year. Our guests: Samra Brouk (D, WF), New York State Senator for the 55th District, and member of the State Senate’s Committee on Elections Zellnor Myrie (D),