Connections Podcast

New Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had some explaining to do about old tweets that he wrote when he was a teenager. The tweets contained racist, homophobic, and misogynistic content. This hour, we talk about the consequences of these kinds of posts, how to shape an online identity, and the lessons learned from this incident and others. Our guests: Jeff DiVeronica , sports writer for the Democrat & Chronicle Scott Malouf , attorney whose practice is focused on the intersection of

Listen to your mother! That's always good advice. And it's the title of an annual production -- a series of real-life stories told by local moms. What happens when a grandmother has to play the role of mother again, but doesn't have the same legal rights? What does a mother say to a child who is learning more about their transgender self? These are just some of the stories we hear with our guests: Kimberly Melvin, community integration specialist for Starbridge Inc. (2018 cast) Nicole Bayly,

ACT Rochester has released its annual community report card , an overview of trends meant to measure the quality of life in the nine county region. Some of the data demonstrates the degree of racial disparities. We discuss it with our guests: Ann Johnson , senior director for ACT Rochester at the Community Foundation Simeon Bannister , interim vice president of community programs at the Community Foundation

The ROC2Change Student Summit on Race is among the most recent examples of youth activism in our community. The summit at Churchville-Chili High School brought together hundreds of students from across Monroe County to address racial disparities and racism in schools. We talk to students who participated in the event about what they learned about implicit bias, and how they plan to address discrimination in their daily lives. We also discuss what it means to be a youth activist in this current

Brighton Town Board Member Robin Wilt calls herself a progressive activist, and she says she’s running for the 25th Congressional District seat to honor the progressive legacy of the late Louise Slaughter. Wilt is a first-generation American, a Brighton resident, and the founder of the local chapter of Progressive Democrats for America. She joins us in studio to discuss her campaign; her positions on healthcare reform, policing and criminal justice reform, and immigration reform; and what she

According to the Economist , the average American funeral with a burial costs about $9,000. Families navigating the process of putting a loved one to rest may not know about their options, and while under emotional stress, may be persuaded into high-cost funerals that can lead to financial ruin. Some say they are even ripped off. But that’s changing. With technology, competition, the decline of religion, and more, families are starting to pursue different, cost-saving options. This hour, we

After being on display for more than 100 years, a panel featuring racial “pickaninny” artwork was removed from the Dentzel Carousel in Charlotte, and now leaders of the campaign behind the removal of that panel are asking members of the community to help design a permanent replacement. The “Take it Down” campaign is calling on local artists to submit designs of a black panther — a symbol of elegance and strength in the black community. Campaign leaders are also sponsoring a series of discussions

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: Getting older and efforts to "stay relevant;" Supporting veterans, with singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier; Racial profiling; Future pandemics; Religion and misogyny.

New York will become the first state to require mental health education in all grades. Currently, health classes in most schools teach students about physical health, food and nutrition, and substance abuse disorders, but teachers say there isn’t enough of a focus on the impact mental health has on overall wellbeing. That will change after new legislation requiring mental health curricula goes into effect in July. Experts say the onset of mental illness often begins at a young age, so helping

The local real estate market favors the sellers, in a big way. We take a look at why buyers are having a hard time finding much supply, and what’s driving that dynamic. Our guests: Linda Wilson , associate broker at Howard Hanna, and president of the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors Tom Schnorr , broker and owner of RE/MAXRealty Group Mark Siwiec , licensed real estate broker with the Mark Siwiec Realty Group at Howard Hanna Abbey Friend , lead listing specialist at the Friend Team at