Connections Podcast

A number of elite athletes have come forward in recent months to share their struggles with eating disorders. They say the pressure to win and maintain a specific body weight and shape put them on a dangerous path. We talk about the symptoms of eating disorders in athletes, and the most effective ways to recognize and treat them. Our guests: Dr. Katie Rizzone , M.D., sports medicine physician at URMC Gina Giannetti , sports dietitian for URMC Sports Medicine Ali Wilkosz, clinical director of The

Students at Monroe Community College are expressing outrage after the college launched an active shooter drill on its Brighton campus this week without telling them the lockdown was planned. The college has since apologized for error and said it would ensure all future drills are identified. Many students took to social media, saying they feared for their lives. They say in today’s climate, all drills should come with a warning. But some critics say such drills are not effective if those

In the wake of the Parkland school shooting, police and prosecutors are trying to determine what constitutes a credible threat. In a video posted to YouTube called "School Shooter," a local rapper insulted police and referred to recent mass casualty events. Now he's facing a legal battle and a potential long prison sentence. But many local attorneys argue that police and prosecutors are overstepping, and infringing on protected speech. Who's right? Our guests: Mark Foti , chair of the Monroe

President Trump promised tariffs when he was a candidate. Now that he's delivering, some business leaders are expressing shock and concern. But why is this president being treated differently than previous presidents who also deployed tariffs? And what, exactly, would a trade war look like? Our guests discuss it. Kent Gardner , chief economist with the Center for Governmental Research Rob Shum , professor in the Department of Political Science at the College at Brockport Amit Batabyal ,

The Oscars buzz continues, with this year’s winners changing how we view certain genres of film. Many people say the nods to The Shape of Water and Get Out have helped bring sci-fi and horror, respectively, back to the mainstream. We talk about this year’s Oscar winners, and how the film landscape is changing. Our guests: Linda Moroney , director and programmer for the One Take Film Festival Chris Thompson , comedian and activist

“What’s the Matter with Venezuela?” That’s the title of an upcoming lecture by Alexander Main, the senior associate for international policy at the Center for Economic Policy Research in Washington, D.C. Main says the mainstream media mischaracterize the economic and political crises in Venezuela; and his work focuses on debunking those narratives and showing how the crises are the result of multiple causes and the actions of external players, like the United States. Main is in Rochester for a

This past weekend, the NBA announced it is considering going back on a plan it has had in play for years: the so-called “one-and-done” age-limit rule. Right now, NBA players have to be at least 19 years old or one year removed from their high school graduations in order to be drafted. But NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants to slash that rule and start talking to elite players in high school. He is apparently sick of the scandals in college basketball, where top programs are accused of paying

When we talk about DACA, building a wall, and immigration policy, what are we really talking about? Will Wilkinson from the Niskanen Center in Washington has an idea. He says the immigration debate is actually about whether Latinos are considered “real Americans.” He says that liberal pluralists in this country have sort of dithered, while white nationalism is on the move; nativism, as far as the White House, is helping to set policy. Wilkinson says it’s time for liberal pluralists to get off

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: What we know about the Mueller investigation, and U.S.-Russia relations; Electric vehicles; Solitary confinement and incarceration in America; Women in classical music.

Rochester native Aesha Ash danced with the New York City Ballet and performed all over the world, and now she's using her success to inspire and empower young African American girls. The Swan Dreams Project features photographs of Ash dressed in ballet attire, posing in different neighborhoods in the City of Rochester. She says she wants young people in lower income neighborhoods to see that ballet – and all professions – are open to them, just as they were to her. We discuss the project, and