Connections Podcast

How can small and medium-sized cities in this country build a job base that will last well into the future? It’s a question the city of Ithaca is exploring. We’re joined by representatives from a new initiative called “ Live in Ithaca .” They discuss strategies for recruiting new employees and building and attracting new businesses in a region where the population is declining. In studio: Jennifer Tavares , president and CEO of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Dominick Recckio , director

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: How to negotiate a salary; Challenges faced by graduate students of color in STEM fields; What it feels like to be the only person of color in a room.

We have a conversation about Parkinson’s disease – specifically, how women experience the disease differently from men. The Parkinson’s Foundation has created a new woman-focused agenda , which addresses gender disparities in research and treatment. This hour, we discuss women’s health priorities when it comes to Parkinson’s, and our guests help us understand the unique symptoms and challenges faced by female Parkinson’s patients. Our guests: Dr. Ruth Schneider, M.D. , assistant professor in the

Senator Elizabeth Warren is proposing student loan debt forgiveness that could wipe out 95 percent of loan debt in this country. Her critics say the plan is too expensive, too beneficial to the financially comfortable, and unfair to others who have had to pay off their loans in the past. Her supporters say the plan is the first to fully address the loan debt crisis, and could spark new economic growth. We discuss the plan with our guest and our listeners. In studio: Patrick Coyle , graduate

At long last, Marvel will cap off nearly a decade in movie-making with the release of "Endgame." It's the story of how the remaining superheroes respond to the loss of half of all life in the universe. Big baddie Thanos pulled off the mass genocide at the end of the last film. Our super-fan panel discusses the politics of Thanos and "The Avengers," and they explain why the series has been so compelling. In studio: Jackie McGriff , owner of Jackie Photography Adam Frank , professor of

Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley is running for reelection. Earlier this month, we sat down with the Democratic challenger. This hour, we discuss the issues and record with the incumbent. We talk about prominent cases; prosecutorial philosophy; drugs laws; and more.

We often hear that science and tech would benefit from arts and the humanities. But how? Start with this: the CEO of a tech company says his firm was about to lose one of their most important clients – but a bartender saved the day. That bartender was a philosophy dropout who offered his services in talking to the client, and was able to build bridges that no one in the firm could build. We discuss whether this could possibly become the norm, and we preview an upcoming event focusing on STEM and

When historic buildings and spaces are successfully preserved, they help tell the stories of the communities that used and cared about them. But what happens when the majority of preservation professionals are white? Diversity and inclusion in the preservation profession is the focus of an upcoming conference hosted by the Landmark Society of Western New York. This year’s keynote speaker is Lee Bey, a photographer, writer, lecturer, and consultant whose work centers on the interpretation of the

We're joined by a coach who helps our guests walk through the process of a salary negotiation. It's a mock negotiation where our guests ask for a raise, and we learn tips for how have the most effective conversation possible. We also discuss structural issues that lead to pay disparities in this country. In studio: Rachel Roberts , associate professor of music leadership, and graduate degree program director at the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music Irene Kannyo ,

We sit down with members of the Incremental Development Alliance . It's a national group that helps small developers pursue projects in communities they care about. We discuss the current landscape for small developers in Western New York, and how to take an incremental approach to development. In studio: Glenn Kellogg, principal with Urban Advisors Jim Kumon, executive director of the Incremental Development Alliance Matthew Denker, developer with LBLD Living Bernice Radle, CEO and founder of