Connections Podcast

Monroe County’s daily COVID-19 update for Monday indicated that 17 of the 29 new confirmed cases of the virus are people between the ages of 20 and 30. The data is in line with a national trend in which, according to the New York Times, people in their 20s and 30s “are making up a growing percentage of new coronavirus cases in cities and states where the virus is now surging.” The Times goes on to report that the increases could be due to young people getting together in reopened bars and

Does de-escalation training work? More police departments are engaging in this kind of training, which can help officers defuse volatile situations. It’s also billed as the kind of training that helps officers avoid becoming overheated themselves. So what is de-escalation all about? Our guest is Brendan King, the CEO and founder of the Crisis Consultant Group. His organization trains companies, individuals, and police departments. He joins us for the hour. Our guest: Brendan King , the CEO and

A number of area colleges and universities have announced they plan to reopen in the fall. Their plans come with modifications to the academic calendar, online courses, and policies that address physical distancing and safety guidelines. Meanwhile, students, faculty, and parents have questions and concerns about what to anticipate. We talk with the presidents of three local colleges about what they’re expecting for their institutions. Our guests: Deana L. Porterfield , president of Roberts

Will capitalism survive the pandemic? We talk with Raj Sisodia, author of "The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscious of Business to Help Save the World." Sisodia is a founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement. We talk about his work and his thoughts on the current and future state of capitalism during the pandemic. Our guests: Raj Sisodia , author of "The Healing Organization," and founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement Andrew Brady , co-founder of the Rochester

Last week, Rochester City Council passed the city budget, and the subject of defunding police was a hot button issue. We're joined by members of Council who discuss their votes and their perspectives on the best ways to address police reform from a government level. Our guests: Jackie Ortiz , member of Rochester City Council Willie Lightfoot , vice president of Rochester City Council Mary Lupien , member of Rochester City Council Stanley Martin, member of Free the People Roc

When will it be safe to sing together again? It’s a question the New York Times asked earlier this month when reporting on how choirs have been linked to several coronavirus outbreaks. Scientific research shows that COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets. When singers project in performance settings, they may unwittingly spread the virus, if infected. There have been conflicting messages across the globe about the risk of singing during the pandemic. This hour, we discuss

Why have some countries been so effective at crushing the coronavirus, while the United States has plateaued? We get perspective from guests with roots in New Zealand, which has been perhaps the most successful country in the world during the pandemic. They discuss cultural differences that have played into responses to COVID-19. Our guests: Mike Johansson , New Zealand native, social media strategist, and senior lecturer of communication at RIT Chris Thomas , partner with Nixon Peabody whose

We talk with local servers about their experiences with restaurants reopening. Many establishments opened for outdoor seating in Phase 2, and now, in Phase 3, customers are also back to dining indoors. What are the safety guidelines for customers and for staff? Are people following those rules? Our guests share their experiences and observations: Ian Criticos, server and wine director at AVVINO Aimee Rock, manager of Union Tavern

During Tuesday's primary, WXXI News heard from voters across Monroe County about issues at the polls: they expressed confusion over polling locations changing, multiple ballots, challenges with technology, and more. Some candidates have shared concerns about possible voter suppression. So what happened? This hour, our guests talk about what they saw on Primary Day, and what needs to change heading into November's election. We hear from local voters as well. Our guests: Dana Cieslinski, site

Long lines and malfunctioning voting machines in Georgia's primary election renewed conversations about voting rights, especially those for disenfranchised voters. The New York Times called the issues a "full-scale meltdown of new voting systems." Those systems were put in place after claims of voter suppression in 2018. Discussions about voter suppression are happening throughout the country, with concerns about what could happen in November. This hour, we're joined by RIT professor Donathan