Connections Podcast

Do you know someone who has left Facebook out of concerns about privacy? Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress over how his company handled user data and privacy, and the company's role in Russia's influence in the presidential election. We talk about what we learned from the testimony, the role of social media platforms when it comes to user data, and who owns and is responsible for content posted to social media sites. Our guests: Scott Malouf , attorney whose

Is a trash incinerator in the Finger Lakes a good idea for economic reasons or is it a bad idea to keep more garbage in a tourism-centered place? The debate focuses on a proposed project that some say is a necessary jobs creator, while others call it a potential disaster for a region focused on agriculture and tourism. Our guests debate the project. Michael Warren Thomas, talk show host and advocate for the Finger Lakes region Alan Knauf, lawyer representing Circular enerG

Are TV ad boycotts an effective way to protest speech? The question comes after a survivor of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida called on advertisers to boycott Laura Ingraham's show on Fox News because Inghram mocked him on Twitter. Student David Hogg put pressure on a number of advertisers to pull their ads; about half of them did. Ingraham called the approach a "Stalinist" approach to change society, while other critics said the best way to counter speech is with more speech. So what

WXXI News partnered with ideastream in Cleveland and Oregon Public Broadcasting to bring you special coverage of the opioid epidemic in America. In this broadcast, Evan Dawson hosts a panel discussing pain management, prescription policy, and disparities in care related to the opioid crisis. Our guests: Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia , M.D., executive director of the Avel Gordly Center for Healing, and assistant professor in psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science

A recent piece in the Atlantic Monthly explores the efforts parents of color are making to shield their children from negative stereotypes. It highlights how many parents curate books, entertainment, and toys -- either eliminating or adding certain types of media -- with the goal of empowering their children and exposing them to positive images of characters that look like them. Parents say it's a challenge, and the results are mixed. We hear from local parents who share their experiences and

Can games be effective tools for learning and education? Think of board games like Monopoly, card games that teach math or vocabulary, and video games, which are popping up in classrooms across the country. Our guests share their insight on educational games, examples of what works (or doesn't), and if more games should be incorporated into classrooms. In studio: Alex White, managing partner of Boldo's Armory Rabbi Owen Gottlieb , assistant professor of interactive games and media at RIT

Puerto Rico's Department of Education announced last week that it will close nearly 300 schools due to a decline in enrollment. The news comes as more families leave the island, seeking better lives. Rebuilding efforts continue in Puerto Rico, and local students have helped with the cleanup. We discuss what they've learned after working with communities on the island, how the media has covered Puerto Rico, and we get an update on Puerto Rican families who have moved to Rochester. Our guests:

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 new film, Chappaquiddick ; Incivility in American politics; The legacy of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, with Kenneth Morris.

A new report by the Women's Media Center documents the systemic racism and gender bias in the U.S. News Media. The report, "The Status of Women of Color in the U.S. News Media 2018," shows that women of color are severely underrepresented in all news media. We discuss the report, and the challenges the female journalists of color face in the industry. Our guests: Tianna Manon , reporter at WXXI News, and editor-in-chief of Open Mic Rochester Kaci Jones , reporter at WHEC-TV Teej Jenkins, manager

Brinton Lykes is a psychologist who has spent her career living and working with people in Central America who have survived war and genocidal violence. In her work, she uses the creative arts and local cultural traditions to understand and document the effects of trauma on communities. Lykes is in Rochester as guest of the Rochester Committee on Latin America to receive the International White Dove Award. She joins us in studio to discuss her work, and the United States' role in Latin American