Connections Podcast

Two surprise hits at the box office this summer are documentaries, and the stars behind them are being lauded for their quiet voices and powerful messages. Screenings of “RBG,” a documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” a film about children’s television icon Fred Rogers, have been selling out around the country. Theater owners and critics say Ginsburg and Rogers’ voices appeal to people across the political spectrum and have the power to heal

A group pushing for anti-racism training in the Rochester City School District says one of the big problems with American public schools is a Euro-centric approach to teaching history. They say it’s racist and that there’s much more beyond the borders of Europe to teach. So what do they think a non-racist approach to teaching history looks like? We discuss it with our guests: Howard Eagle, member of the steering committee for the Movement for Anti-Racist Ministry and Action (MAMA) Jason Willis,

When she was in Rochester last month, State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the Rochester City School District needs to do a better job mentoring new teachers. The surprised teacher-mentors from the district, who say the RCSD Career in Teaching program has provided intense mentor support to new teachers throughout the last 30 years. We talk to teacher-mentors and new teachers in the program about their work, teacher turnover, and teaching as a career. In studio: Christopher

Pope Francis is calling for a worldwide abolition of the death penalty. This represents a shift in Catholic teaching on the issue. Our panel discusses the impact of the Pope’s new direction on the death penalty, both from a Catholic and general Christian perspective. We also discuss the meaning of life in that context. Our guests: Nancy Rourke , professor of religious studies and theology at Canisius College, and former director of the College's Catholic Studies program Harry Murray , professor

We have a conversation about the challenges of bringing the arts to rural areas. Shake on the Lake is a professional Shakespeare touring company based in Silver Lake. The founders created the organization after observing the disparity in arts and cultural opportunities in rural communities. They’re one of a few local organizations that bring theater and the arts to underserved rural groups, including the prison population. We discuss their work and how it impacts cultural and economic

We discuss the push-pull mothers feel when it comes to making decisions about breastfeeding. Some mothers who opt not to breastfeed say they are judged for choosing to bottle feed. And some breastfeeding women say they face challenges with nursing or encounter other issues like the stigma surrounding feeding their babies in public. While research supports mother’s milk as the healthiest for children, not all women are able to or want to breastfeed. This hour, we discuss a range of issues related

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: The intersection of religion and violence; Why some young voters say they won't head to the polls in November; What a post-Roe v. Wade world might look like in New York State.

Our Summer of Food series continues with a conversation about food trucks. Data shows the industry is booming, and it’s expected to continue to grow in the coming years. We talk about trends in the industry and the state of the local food truck scene – what’s new, what’s next, and what’s on the menu. In studio: Nick Imburgia, co- owner of East Coast Toast Truck Anthony Imburgia, co- owner of East Coast Toast Truck Veronica “Ronnie” McClive, co-owner of Le Petit Poutine Marty O’Sullivan, owner of

Will 2018 be the year of young voters? November’s election season is projected to be the first in which millennials will outnumber baby boomers as the largest voter-eligible age group. But will young voters go to the polls? A new survey shows that only 28 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 say they are “absolutely certain” they’ll vote in the midterms. Why? We sit down with young voters to discuss it. Patrick Coyle, graduate assistant at SUNY Brockport Tom Hebert, communications director for Dr.

Parking is a hot button issue in Rochester, especially in recent days after the City of Rochester increased the enforcement hours for parking meters to 8 p.m. The goal was to reduce a $47.6 million budget gap. When some residents expressed concerns about the move, the City changed the policy; on Tuesday, City Hall announced that the mayor was increasing the daytime hourly rate so parking could remain free after 6 p.m. This hour, we discuss a range of issues related to parking in Rochester – from