Connections Podcast

We continue our conversations with candidates for Rochester City Court Judge. There are six candidates in the race. This hour, we’re joined by Barbara Farrell and Van White to discuss why they’re running and how they view various issues pertaining to justice in the law. In studio: Barbara Farrell Van White * Melissa Barrett was unable to participate in any of the dates and times we offered for a discussion due to conflicts on the bench.

We have a conversation about the wellness industry. Writing for the "New York Times," novelist Jessica Knoll compared the wellness industry to the diet industry, calling it "a dangerous con that seduces smart women with pseudoscientific claims of increasing energy, reducing inflammation, lowering the risk of cancer and healing skin, gut and fertility problems." Critics who agree with Knoll say the wellness industry over-promises and sometimes exploits participants. But some people in the

Property owners along the shores of Lake Ontario are dealing with devastating flooding. Soon, many will be faced with decisions related to how much to replant or rebuild. We discuss the situation on the lakeshore and what it means for future development and home ownership. Our guests: Jim Howe , director of the Nature Conservancy in Central and Western New York Frank Bevacqua , public information officer for the International Joint Commission Frank Sciremammano Jr., mechanical engineer and

A national convention on hearing loss is being held in Rochester this month, and organizers say they chose Rochester as the host site due to its reputation for creating inclusive environments for people with hearing loss at various stages. This hour, we’re joined by representatives from the Hearing Loss Association of America to discuss advances in adaptive technology, social and cultural opportunities for people with hearing loss, and how to combat the stigma and isolation often associated with

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo is running for reelection. She and her opponent, Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello, are challenging each other on the Independence Party line in the upcoming primary. We sit down with Dinolfo to discuss a number of issues, including taxes, economic development, and her views on the so-called Green Light bill, which would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. This is our second in a series of interviews with Dinolfo and Bello as we cover the

How does music capture a culture, or a political moment, or a time of change? One of the great musical historians is a WXXI host and contributor, and his new book looks at what he calls “City Songs.” We sit down with Michael Lasser to discuss how music shaped public perspectives as America developed, and we talk about how to recognize when a song goes from just a song to something more culturally powerful.

Where have all the geniuses gone? Many of the brightest R&D minds at Kodak took buyouts and retired. But for those who were too young to stop working, has Rochester provided a new economy for them to thrive? We discuss the future of technology, research, and Rochester. And our guests discuss an upcoming conference aimed at highlighting Rochester’s strengths. Our guests: Julie Gerstenberger , founder and CEO of Moondog Labs Sujatha Ramanujan , managing director of Luminate Terry Clas ,

Weekend Connections is a collection of some of the most noteworthy moments from the week on Connections with Evan Dawson. This episode includes conversations about: Being gay in the United Methodist Church, with activist J.J. Warren; The sexualization of young black girls; How a nonprofit organization called Humans for Education saved the life of a young boy in Kenya.

When the Democrat and Chronicle launched its Time to Educate project one year ago, its reporters and editors could not foresee the current debate waged over a possible state takeover of the Rochester City School District. Time to Educate was designed to help the community find solutions to improve Rochester’s failing schools. Throughout a year of reporting, the team learned that solutions won’t be sustainable without deep, systemic change. Could that be a state takeover? We’re joined by D&C

Our series of conversations with candidates for Rochester City Council continues with candidates for the Northwest District – the seat being vacated by current Councilwoman Molly Clifford. In our first half hour, we’re joined by Jose Peo , a veteran, mortgage loan officer, and vice president of the Charlotte Community Association. Then in our second half hour, former judge Leticia Astacio discusses her campaign and why she has decided to run. The candidates answer our questions and yours.