Connections Podcast

The Fast Forward Film Festival is back, bringing a series of short films with an environmental bent. The entries tackle subjects ranging from a future without nature, to energy efficiency in homes. We talk about not only the films, but the very latest in climate news. Several sources report that the EPA has sent a memo to staff, encouraging them to use misleading statements about climate change. Our guests: Dr Andy Stern, founder of the Fast Forward Film Festival Ben Mills, director of Chimera ,

Danielle Bainbridge never thought she would be a YouTube star -- in fact, she never thought she'd even like YouTube. But now, the Yale doctoral student is the host of "The Origin of Everything," a popular series from PBS Digital Studios. The show traces the roots of different traditions, methods of communication, historical myths, and more. Bainbridge joins us to discuss her show, education in American schools, the importance of diversity in media, and more.

After every mass school shooting, reports show an increase in calls and interest in homeschooling. The number of families choosing to homeschool has doubled since 1999, when Columbine happened. Today roughly 3.4% of American children are homeschooled. Are mass school shootings the reason for this increase? The data isn't clear, but some parents say they've made the switch because they have concerns about their children's safety. We discuss the issue with our guests: Rosa Marie, educator for

Are sitcoms dying? As TV habits continue to change, viewers are moving further away from appointment viewing and the days of “Must-See TV.” But with the return of shows like Will & Grace , Roseanne , and others, could the sitcom be making a comeback? Or is the format back, but are we watching it in different ways? We discuss the future of TV viewing with our guests: Todd Sodano , associate professor of media and communication, and director of the Film and Television Studies Program at St.

A new play at Geva Theatre tackles war, immigration, the refugee experience, and the gray area between right and wrong. “Heartland” is the story of an Afghan refugee and an American professor who form an unexpected friendship. It’s a production that speaks to the value theater can have in helping audiences understand the human stories behind political issues. Our guests discuss the play, and how the arts can help us understand our world. We also preview Geva’s 46th season. In studio: Chris

Does Rochester have to consider climate change or environmental sustainability when designing its urban spaces? That question has a more obvious answer in places like Miami Beach, where climate change is already impacting where people can live, and how. But what about Rochester? What does sustainability mean here, especially when we think about our urban spaces? The Community Design Center of Rochester is getting ready for their next event in the Reshaping Rochester series , and they have a

The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang are now in the books, and like after many Olympics, a number of think pieces have cropped up online asking the question, “Do the Games still matter?” Between the inflated costs of bidding to become a host city, to constructing venues that often become white elephants after competition, to dwindling ratings on television, many people say the Olympics are more trouble than they're worth. But others point to more positive effects: the surge of

Author Reyna Grande says there are voices missing from the conversation about immigration reform -- those of undocumented children. Grande crossed the border into the U.S. from Mexico when she was nine years old. In her new memoir, The Distance Between Us , she writes about the extreme poverty she and her siblings experienced in Mexico, and why a chance at a better life in the U.S. ripped her family apart. It's a true story of trauma, struggle, and hope - one that Grande says she hopes will help

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, and more than 800 similar demonstrations were held in cities around the world. The movement pushing for gun control legislation, led by young people, joins a series of other recent movements, including the Women's March, Black Lives Matter, and more. Have these demonstrations brought change? Some critics say protests can lack focus, and just because thousands of people are hitting the streets, that

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: Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's life and legacy, with Congressman John Lewis; The death of Trevyan Rowe; Gunsplaining; Women who lived under Nazi rule.