Connections Podcast

A recent piece in the Washington Post is examining the heroes in romantic comedies in a new light. It argues that now, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, the persistence and grand gestures of men in films like Sixteen Candles and Say Anything are not romantic, but harassment. Critics say they're just films and we should watch them with that in mind, but others say the media we create can reinforce or warn against certain behaviors in our society. We break it all down with our guests: Monica

Advocates for ending solitary confinement say long-term confinement is a form of torture, and they are pushing for legislative reform. Some correctional officers say that recent reforms in the system are to blame for an increased number of assaults on officers by inmates because inmates don't feel the threat of solitary confinement. We examine both sides of the issue with our guests: Jeremy Wright, activist and solitary confinement survivor Pastor Matthew Martin Nickoloff, South Wedge Mission

Last month, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced awarded $50 million in state funding to redeveloping Rochester's riverway. The "ROC the Riverway" initiative aims to reestablish the Genesee River as the centerpiece of downtown Rochester. The city already has a number of proposed projects on the docket. We discuss them this hour, and we talk about what it would take to revitalize Rochester's waterfront areas. In studio: Bob Duffy , co-chair of the ROC the Riverway Advisory Panel Anne Kress , co-chair

The RPO's 96th season will include music from the classic repertoire, as well as programming aimed at the family. We sit down with music director Ward Stare and Curt Long, the new CEO. Our conversation includes the criticism that some orchestras have received for not featuring enough music by women and people of color -- something the RPO says it is addressing this season. Our guests: Ward Stare , music director for the RPO Curt Long, president and CEO of the RPO Brenda Tremblay , host and

The campaign to "End the R-Word" marches into 2018. It's the tenth year for the effort that began as a way to highlight the pejorative and common use of the word "retard." This year's campaign has a special focus on recognizing the disparities faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially in the fields of health care, housing, employment, and access to social opportunities. Our guests: Ann Costello, director of the Golisano Foundation Dr. Tiffany Pulcino , M.D.,

One of the barriers for drivers who are considering electric vehicles is that they don't find many places to plug in and charge up. What if that changed in a big way? That's the theme for the upcoming Passport to Workplace Charging and Electric Vehicle Showcase . We discuss the state of electric vehicle usage; the increasing adoption of plug-in capacity; environmental impact; and more. Our guests: Carolyn Levine, program lead for Rochester EV Accelerator Shannon Ealy, manager of the Office of

Dueling publication weighed in recently on the question: who has been tougher on Russia, Trump or Obama? We discuss U.S. policy in regards to Russia, and how the ongoing Mueller investigation is affecting that relationship. Our guest has many years of experience in evaluating, teaching about, and contributing to this subject: Randy Stone , director of the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies at the University of Rochester

Cornell is getting ready to host its annual Business, Enology and Viticulture Symposium . We have a conversation about the state of winemaking in a region that is dealing with everything from climate change to tightening resources. What is the future of winemaking for the region? Our guests weigh in: Anna Katharine Mansfield , associate professor of enology for Cornell AgriTech at the NY State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva Hans Walter-Peterson , team leader and viticulture extension

How can urban design help alleviate poverty? It’s a question that informs the work of Katie Swenson, the vice president of National Design Initiatives at Enterprise Community Partners in Boston. Swenson is a national leader in sustainable design for low-income communities. She and her team work with architects dedicated to social activism. This hour, we discuss the history of urban development, its roots in segregation, and how to incorporate community planning models that emphasize dignity for

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: If the voting age should be changed to 16; What it means to be Christian; Modern feminism; The challenges faced by LGBTQ youth who are homeless.