Connections Podcast

The Rochester Cocktail Revival is getting ready for another big week. This year, there's a special emphasis on women in the industry: diversity in the workforce, the industry's culture, and the way women are treated behind the bar. Our panelists discuss these issues, along with the current trends in the cocktail world. Our guests: Chuck Cerankosky, founder of the Rochester Cocktail Revival, co-owner and beverage director of Good Luck and Cure, and co-founder of Boomtown Table Evvy Fanning, owner

When police arrested two black men for not ordering a drink at Starbucks, it sparked discussions across the country about bias and discrimination. At Connections, we've heard from many people of color who explain that the Starbucks arrests are not new or unusual. This hour, we have a discussion about how common this type of incident is, and the damage it does. Our guests: Calvin Eaton , founder and executive director of 540WMain Community Learning Academy Shawanda McGee, program coordinator for

This hour, we get an update on the EcoDistrict -- Greentopia's green vision for High Falls and the surrounding area. We discuss a series of new projects designed to increase biodiversity and walkability in the area, as well as the impact environmental education can have in urban design. Our guests: Lisa Baron, board chair for Greentopia Pamela Reed Sanchez, president and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society Rachel Walsh, EcoDistrict program director at Greentopia

How can we teach writing to diverse students? African American students are often pressured to "code switch" in academic settings, but the authors of a new book called Other People's English advocate for what they call "code meshing" -- allowing students to use African American English and other forms of English. We talk to the authors about how to foster inclusion in the classroom. In studio: Vershawn Young and Y'Shanda Rivera, co-authors of Other People's English: Code-Meshing, Code-Switching,

Mary Gauthier is a country musician who recently said that she wasn't sober until she was 27, and couldn't write until she was 30. Twenty-five years later, she's an unlikely voice for veterans. Gauthier's newest album includes songs co-written with veterans. The songs explore a range of subjects, including the service of women in uniform, and the pain of loss. Gauthier will perform in Rochester Tuesday night , but first she's our guest on Connections.

Our series of interviews with the gubernatorial candidates continues with Howie Hawkins . He's running for governor on the Green Party line once again. Hawkins has said that Democrats and Republicans have become far too alike, and have failed the people of New York. He discusses his vision for a single payer health care system, a higher minimum wage, and more.

In 2014, Roger Angell wrote a piece for the New Yorker called "This Old Man," where he explored life in his nineties. He wrote about coping with the loss of friends and family, and what it means to be relevant when you retire. He shared experiences talking with friends in their sixties where he felt invisible: “Honored, respected, even loved, but not quite worth listening to anymore. You’ve had your turn, Pops; now it’s ours.” Our guests discuss how they are staying connected to the community

A new mentoring conference for high school students across Monroe County aims to help young men address recurring issues that impact their lives as they transition into adulthood. The “Young Men’s Symposium: No Excuses” will help students explore topics like character development, healthy relationships, responsible fatherhood, respecting women, coping with loss, and more. Research shows black male students are over-referred for disciplinary action in schools, and in the criminal justice system,

The Rochester Music Hall of Fame is inducting its 2018 class. We talk to three of the inductees — some of the greatest musicians of all time. They discuss their process, their time working with fellow greats in music, and what it means to them to be in the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. In studio: Steve Gadd, drummer of choice of Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Eric Clapton Tony Levin, bassist for Peter Gabriel and King Crimson John Beck, professor emeritus at the Eastman School of Music Tracy

W.J.T. Mitchell is a writer and a professor of English and art history at the University of Chicago. He’s in Rochester as a guest of the University of Rochester , discussing his piece, "American Psychosis: Trumpism and the Nightmare of History.” He joins us to share his perspective on the age of Trump in the context of capitalism and democracy.