Connections Podcast

Author Leslie C. Youngblood joins us in studio to discuss her debut novel, “Love Like Sky.” It's a remarkable book for young adults about blended families, Black Lives Matter, and the power of love.

According to several recent reports, hate crimes and violent incidents motivated by bigotry are on the rise. In November, the FBI released a report that showed hate crimes in the U.S. increased 17 percent in 2017, with anti-Semitic crimes spiking at 37 percent. This hour, we have a conversation about the impact of hate and intolerance with local professors who have studied the subject . We discuss recent incidents of hate, lessons from history, and the psychology of stereotypes and intolerance.

It has been another vertiginous week on Wall Street, with wild swings happening daily. Our guests recap the year in markets, finance, and economic development. What have we learned in 2018? Unemployment levels are low, but how are the other fundamentals? What should we be looking for in 2019? Our guests: Ana Liss , managing director of Greater Rochester Enterprise Amit Batabyal , professor of economics at RIT George Conboy , chairman of Brighton Securities

Facebook deleted a photo of a starving Yemeni child, saying that the photo was inappropriate content. The photo came from a column written by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. Kristof criticized Facebook, saying that as a media gatekeeper, they were preventing the world from seeing how dire and tragic the situation has become for thousands of children. Twenty four hours later, Facebook relented, saying that the deletion was a mistake. That has kicked off fresh debate on a number of levels.

Pastor Matthew Martin Nickoloff from the South Wedge Mission joins us to discuss what he calls "lifestyle liberalism." It's a pet peeve of sorts for the pastor, who leads a church committed to social justice. Nickoloff is concerned that many progressive-minded Americans are not willing to do the hard work to change their country and communities. We'll discuss the challenge of lifting up oppressed populations, and how he works with his congregation to change hearts and minds.

Writing for The Atlantic , Caitlin Flanagan asks, "How can a process meant to democratize an institution still valorize the children of wealth and privilege?" She's talking about higher education admissions, which still tend to favor so-called "legacy" students -- and the students of wealthy potential donors. Flanagan contends that the Harvards of the world can give advantages to wealthy and legacy families, or it can strive to create a truly egalitarian campus -- but it can't do both. What do

A committee of Greater Rochester residents is trying to create a new plan to make sure the hours after the Puerto Rican Festival are peaceful and enjoyable for everyone. Rochester City Councilwoman Jackie Ortiz is helping commission a survey designed to generate ideas to allow the community to come together, celebrate, have fun, while keeping the neighborhoods safe. Our guests discuss their ideas and goals. In studio: Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa , founder of La Cumbre Annette Ramos , executive

How can we balance historic preservation with economic development? This fall, the Landmark Society released its annual "Five to Revive" list. A site in Seneca Falls has generated some debate, and a bit of pushback from area residents who question the mission to save the former National Yeast building. Developers have discussed turning the building into a convenience store; the Landmark Society has visions of mixed use, space for artists, and more -- just not a convenience store. But some

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 parents react when they learn their children are part of the LGBTQ community; A battle between insects: using samurai wasps to kill stink bugs; How atheists feel about the concept of meaning.

What does a truly inclusive sports program look like? We sit down with members of the Unified Sports , an initiative whose teams include players with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their peers. We hear from a Unified Sports athlete and from program organizers about how to create more inclusive schools and communities. In studio: Nathan Johnson, senior director of the Unified Sports program for Special Olympics New York Kyle Washburn, director of fitness for Special Olympics