Connections Podcast

Governor Cuomo has come out swinging on Amazon, defending the incentives offered by New York State, and blasting critics as "extreme conservatives and socialists." But the critics contend that New York State is not creating jobs, it is buying jobs with the kind of sweet deal (a helipad!) that other companies never receive. We discuss in studio with, among others: Kent Gardner , chief economist at the Center for Governmental Research, and opinion editor for the Rochester Beacon David Cay Johnston

A woman raises thousands of dollars crowdfunding, but it turns out, her story is a lie. We talk about the ethics of crowdfunding and what the law says about honesty and dishonesty. In studio: Scott Malouf , attorney whose practice is focused on the intersection of social media and the law Lawrence Torcello , associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at RIT

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: Polarization and its impact on democracy; Sexual assault in the military; Journalist safety in Mexico and the U.S.; Why younger Americans are better than older Americans at discerning fact from opinion.

We discuss a documentary called "The Good Mind.” It explores Native American land rights through a look the Onondaga Nation’s battle with the U.S. government. We discuss treaties, what sovereignty means, and how to preserve Native American culture. Our guests: Ronnie Pollack, member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Eagle Clan, executive director of the Native American Cultural Center , and host of "Two Canoes with Ronnie Pollack" on WYSL 92.1 FM Michael Galban , curator and

What does it mean to devote yourself to a life of activism? We talk to a local activist who uprooted himself from New York City and left everything behind to help promote causes he cares about in Rochester. Jeremy Tjhung grew up on Akron, NY, where he says he was the only gay Asian kid in town. He moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion and retail. In 2016, after the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Tjhung joined Gays Against Guns, a grassroots organization committed to

The Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and the University of Rochester are hosting several speakers as part of Rochester’s inaugural International Education Week. They join us in our studio to discuss a range of issues, including barriers to education and healthcare; factors that affect women’s empowerment across the globe; and how to create more equity in leadership. Our guests: Doris Gray , Ph.D., director of the Hillary Clinton Center for Women’s Empowerment at Al Akhawayn University Dr. Monica

The terms “bubbles,” “silos,” and “echo chambers” are common in our current political dialogue, and they all relate to the broader concept of polarization. Philosopher Robert Talisse says while polarization is commonly acknowledged as detrimental to democracy, its impact stretches beyond partisan politics. This hour, we sit down with Talisse to discuss democracy, belief systems, and what he says is a surprising remedy for political polarization. Talisse is in town as a guest of RIT, but first,

Research finds that American adults under the age of 30 are generous with their money, but more discerning than previous generations when it comes to where to give. We'll examine how to use charitable dollars wisely. Our panel includes young professionals from NextGen Rochester, a giving circle that is holding its annual showcase next week to help young workers see what their donations can do. Our guests: Andrew Brady, Co-founder of Conscious Capital Daphne Pariser, president/founder of Humans

Heath Phillips is a military sexual assault survivor who travels the country to share his story. He joined the military when he was 17. Phillips was repeatedly sexually assaulted and bullied, only to have his story dismissed by superiors. Eventually, Phillips' discharge was upgraded to honorable, after recognition of what he endured. He's a guest of Nazareth College, which is showing the film The Invisible War. The film documents cases of military sexual assault. Our guests: Heath Phillips,

What does it take to run for office? A record number of women ran for office this year, and many were first-time candidates who were part of a grassroots movement. This hour, our guests help us understand how to enter the political arena and gain campaign experience. They share their own experiences developing a volunteer base, financing a campaign, attracting donations, and networking. It's a preview of a forum tonight at Brue Coffee. In studio: Gary Pudup, former candidate for the 134th