Connections Podcast

What have we learned from celebrities who have been outspoken about their choices about battling breast cancer? Dr. Avice O’Connell recently spoke on the impact on the wider culture when breast care become a subject for the tabloids. We talk about that, and we discuss the range of issues related to breast care, screening, and more. In studio: Dr. Avice O’Connell , M.D., section chief of breast imaging, and professor in the Department of Imaging Sciences at the University of Rochester Medical

We continue our series of interviews with candidates on the ballot next month. Today, we sit down with the two contenders for the Rochester City Council's East District seat. In studio: Mary Lupien , Democratic candidate for Rochester City Council’s East District Dave Sutliff-Atias , Green Party candidate for Rochester City Council’s East District

The new film “Joker” depicts a man suffering from mental illness who turns to violence. Mental health advocates have been split by two themes in the movie: the connection of mental illness to violence, and the need for funding and support services for those who have mental illness. We discuss the concerns that critics have, and we also talk about what the CITY Newspaper critic thinks about the movie as a whole. In studio: Adam Lubitow , film critic for CITY Newspaper Melanie Funchess , director

A group of Libertarian-leaning gun owners are calling for a different approach to gun policy, following calls from some Democrats to ban and confiscate AR-15s and similar weapons. We discuss what kinds of proposals are viable, and why some Libertarians view confiscation as equal to violence. In studio: Sean Phelan , Monroe County representative to the Free Libertarian Party of New York, and co-host of Rochester’s Liberty Talk Hour on Rochester Free Radio Andrew Hollister , small business owner

What does it take to be an artist in 2019? We sit down with artists in a variety of media to discuss their work, how they sell their art, and the other opportunities they take advantage of in order to create the time and space to do their creative work. Our guests: Athesia Benjamin , painter, ceramics artist, professor of art at MCC, and creative consultant Chris Charles , printmaker, graphic designer, and art instructor Kelly Justice , ceramics artist, and studio manager at Flower City Arts

The Town of Pittsford is preparing for an election, and it’s embroiled in a debate over segregation and housing policy. We invited candidates from both parties, as well as town leaders who are on opposing sides of the housing dispute. Our guests are the only ones who replied to our multiples requests for interviews. In studio: Kevin Beckford , member of the Pittsford Town Board Kendra Evans , candidate for Pittsford Town Supervisor

Ellen DeGeneres faced criticism after a photo of her laughing with former President George W. Bush went viral. DeGeneres and Bush sat next to each other at a Dallas Cowboys game over the weekend. As DeGeneres said, critics thought, “Why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican president? A lot of people were mad.” But during a monologue on her show, DeGeneres defended her friendship with President Bush, saying that just because she doesn’t agree with him, doesn’t mean

The ImageOut Film Festival is back. The annual event presents LGBT arts and cultural experiences to promote awareness and foster dialogue. It kicks off this Thursday. We preview this year's lineup, including a film called “For They Know Not What They Do,” which explores the evangelical church’s reaction to LGBTQ issues. We also discuss the film, "Unsettled," which tells the story of LGBTQ refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. after being persecuted in their home countries. Our guests: Michael

“Saturday Night Live” recently aired a sketch parodying farm markets in Upstate New York. The scene poked fun at apple picking, petting zoos, haunted hayrides, and other activities popular during the fall season. The sketch went viral and got a lot of laughs, including from many farmers. We sit down with local farmers to break down the sketch: we discuss their take on the jokes, do a little fact checking, and we talk about the impact the fall season has on their businesses. Our guests: Julie

We continue our series of discussions for candidates for Rochester City Council. This hour, we sit down with candidates for the South District: Alex White, the Green Party candidate; and Marcus Williams, the Republican Party candidate. They discuss their platforms and priorities for the district, and for the City of Rochester. In studio: Alex White , Green Party candidate for Rochester City Council, South District Marcus Williams , Republican Party candidate for Rochester City Council, South