Connections Podcast

The Democratic primary is less than one week away, and voters in the 25th Congressional District will have a choice between two candidates in that race: current Congressman Joe Morelle, and Brighton Town Board member Robin Wilt. This is Wilt's second run for Congress; Morelle won the seat in 2018 after the passing for long-time Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. This hour, we talk with Wilt about her platform and priorities for the district. Our guest: Robin Wilt *Note: Congressman Morelle was

We continue our conversation with Dr. Tim Wiegand from UR Medicine about the opioid crisis. This hour, Dr. Wiegand discusses an opioid prescription "opt-in" program for patients post-surgery. He says that program has led to a significant reduction in opioid prescriptions. We discuss the impact of the program and the broader opioid crisis. Our guest: Tim Wiegand , M.D., director of toxicology at URMC, and associate director of the UR Medicine Combined Addiction Fellowship Training Program

The YMCA of Greater Rochester has announced a reopening plan that will go into effect next week, assuming our region moves into Phase 4. That plan includes reopening some of the more modern, suburban facilities like Penfield and Pittsford, while keeping most city facilities closed. We discuss how the plan will impact membership and how it fits within in the YMCA's mission. Our guests: Kevin Fitzpatrick , COO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester Pam Cowan , chief marketing and experience officer for

How much do you know about Juneteenth? Our guests say it’s likely the answer is “not enough.” Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, and there have been calls to make June 19th a federal holiday. This hour, we discuss the history of Juneteenth, its importance – especially during this current moment in our country – and the Black Lives Matter movement. Our guests: Gloria Johnson-Hovey, race director for the Roc Juneteenth 5K Run

This hour, we talk with three local friends who share some of the difficult and productive conversations they’ve had about race. A white local racial justice advocate says she’s had humbling discussions with African American friends about the impact of social media posts made by white allies like herself. She says she didn’t realize how certain images or content can be traumatizing, and it’s important for white people to listen and not shy away from uncomfortable conversations. We dive into

We continue our series of conversations about combating racism. This hour, we focus on efforts in local suburbs. Our guests say racism in the suburbs is often not discussed or is overlooked. Earlier this week, two men in Fairport destroyed an art gallery supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the men was an employee of Fairport Brewing Company who has since been removed from his position. The village denounced racism, and beer enthusiasts planned an anti-racism rally in Fairport

The Democratic primary is less than two weeks away. This hour, we talk with the candidates for Monroe County Clerk: former Assembly member Jamie Romeo, who was appointed to the position in February after former clerk Adam Bello took office as Monroe County Executive; and Jennifer Boutte, the current director of development and community engagement for CDS Life Transitions. We talk with the candidates about the office, their goals and priorities, and they answer our questions and yours. Our

Last week, dozens of restaurants in the area opened for outdoor dining. The move comes with restrictions: tables spaced for physical distancing, limited seating, and staff wearing face coverings. Some restaurant owners and diners have called for additional seating in the streets outside those establishments, and local leaders have looked at what would be required for shutting down traffic and opening those streets for businesses. What would that mean for diners? For drivers? For pedestrians? Our

We talk with Rochester City Council member Malik Evans about a number of issues: the city's budget; the impact of the pandemic on the region; and how to support local businesses during the reopening process. Our guest: Malik Evans , member of Rochester City Council

We talk with County Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell, who is running in the upcoming Democratic primary for the 137th Assembly District seat, following the retirement of longtime Assemblyman David Gantt. Flagler-Mitchell was unable to join a conversation with his opponents during a previous broadcast, so this conversation offers him equal time to discuss his platform and priorities for the district. Our guest: Ernest Flagler-Mitchell , candidate for the 137th Assembly District Democratic