Connections Podcast

The 2018 Seneca Falls Revisited: Women’s Equality Conference kicks off this week. It will include presentations on Frederick Douglass as a suffragist, intersectionality in the women’s movement, and more. We talk to the conference organizers about what progress in the movement means. Our guests: Rachel DeGuzman , president and CEO of 21 st Century Arts , and co-chair of the Women’s Equality Conference Irma McClaurin , Ph.D., author, anthropologist, and co-chair of the Women’s Equality Conference

The Seneca Park Zoo Society is honoring organizations and community members for their conservation and environmental efforts. The Zoo will host its inaugural Environmental Innovation Awards & Symposium in October. We get a preview of that event, and we discuss how leaders in our community are finding innovative solutions to environmental problems – from zero waste practices to green technology and more. Our guests: Pamela Reed Sanchez , executive director of the Seneca Park Zoo Bill Browning

Following the death of University of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair, several current players and people close to the football program are speaking out about what they describe as a toxic coaching culture led by head coach DJ Durkin. They say Durkin runs a program based on fear and intimidation, humiliation, and verbal abuse meant to mock their masculinity. This hour, we discuss football culture, toxic masculinity, and how to create healthy environments. Our guests: Andre Fontenette ,

A recent article in the New York Times is touting creativity as a new "cure" for the midlife crisis. The Times reports that creativity has emerged as a popular antidote for boredom and a way to find meaning and purpose. Many people in their 40s and 50s are picking up their paintbrushes, learning to sing for the first time, or revisiting passions from their youth. The moves have helped these emerging or re-emerging artists combat anxiety and depression, reinvent themselves, or even breathe new

It has been almost four years since the First Fill Ceremony for the Inner Loop. Significant portions of the Inner Loop East Project have been completed, and Rochester residents are now seeing at-grade, complete streets at the old sites. Along those sites are a number of new buildings, and there are plans for more residential and retail development. This hour, we talk about development along the former Inner Loop and what it means for our community. Our guests discuss housing, transportation,

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: Pope Francis calling for a worldwide abolition of the death penalty; The Violence Against Women Act, and how to recognize signs of abuse; LGBTQ representation in television and film; The legacy of Fred Rogers.

Our Summer of Food series continues with a conversation about...food! If you've ever taken a trip on the New York State Thruway, you know your dining options are rather limited at those Thruway rest stops. Our well-traveled guests have explored cities and towns along the Thruway from Albany to Buffalo, looking for the best places to grab a bite, within minutes from the road. They say some cities are entering a period of revitalization, with new restaurants, coffee shops, and more. Will they be

Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Rochester City School Board. Mental health expert Melanie Funchess and health worker Beatriz LeBron were appointed to the board in January, following the departure of Malik Evans and Mary Adams. Now, they must run again to fill the remainder of the terms, and they have some competition. Reverend Judith Davis is also on the primary ballot. This hour, we hear from the three candidates about their platforms and their priorities for the Rochester City

Disney recently announced that its new film, "Jungle Cruise," will feature the company's first openly gay character. The role will be played by Jack Whitehall, a British comedian who is straight. The casting decision has led to backlash by some members of the LGBTQ community, who say Disney should have cast a gay actor, and that the decision to hire Whitehall will promote stereotypes of gay men. However, there's pushback against the pushback. Other members of the LGBTQ community say actors are

Residents in the Finger Lakes have been frustrated this summer by harmful blue-green algal blooms in the area's lakes. Beaches have been closed for swimming as scientists study the chemistry of the algae, which may cause toxins to be released into the water. It has been a problem in the Finger Lakes for many years, and with the impact of climate change, it could get worse. This hour, our guests discuss the science behind the algae, the types of regulations and watershed plans they'd like to see