Connections Podcast

Would you ride in a driverless car? GM says its driverless car could be in fleets by next year. But some polls show Americans are still skeptical about the idea of this technology. Are driverless cars safe? Who would be liable in an accident? Advocates of driverless cars say they could benefit the environment and improve everyday lifestyles. We talk about our future as drivers…or riders. Our guests: Arian Horbovetz , creator of The Urban Phoenix Howard Decker, board member for the Community

On Friday, Reverend Denise Donato – the founding pastor at Mary Magdalene Parish in East Rochester – will become the first ordained female bishop of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC). The ECC broke off from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of the pope’s infallibility in the late 19th century. In 1994, Pope John Paul II wrote, “I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the

Every day, thousands of New York residents stay in jail because they don't have the money for bail. Critics have railed against the system on numerous levels. First, they claim it's classist and racist. Second, they point to abuses that happen in jail. Third, they call for better rehabilitation as opposed to a purely punitive system. The League of Women Voters is hosting a public forum on the issue, and we preview it with some of their panelists: Precious Bedell, founder and director of Turning

Eddie Money is one of the biggest rock stars in American history, and he's still doing it. Only now, he's taking his act to Rochester in a new musical . Money fell in love with the stage at the performing arts center on Ridge Road when he was in town for the Lilac Festival, and now he's here to launch a world premier. We discuss Money's career, his successful battle with addiction, the new show, and more. Our guests: Eddie Money, yep, that Eddie Money Dresden Engle, actor who plays Eddie Money's

A new art series called "At the Crossroads: Activating the Intersection of Art and Justice" is exploring themes of racial justice. One of the installations is called "Black Magic Slays the Magical Negro." What is the Magical Negro? The concept, largely credited to Spike Lee, describes one black character in art or film that is designed as a savior – saving white people or the white race. The concept shows up in politics too; recent calls for Oprah and Michelle Obama are examples. This hour, we

The Doomsday Clock has just moved forward; we are now two minutes to midnight. Scientists created the clock in the 1940s as a way or demonstrating how close they think we are to the possible extinction of the mankind. Their predictions are based on threats of nuclear war, climate change, and more. So why are we the closest to midnight since 1953? Our experts share their insight. Our guests: Tom Weber , assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester Wes

One hundred years ago, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that the 19th Amendment would survive. It came down to Tennessee, which became a kind of battleground. Some of the biggest figures of the time fought for and against suffrage. Author Elaine Weiss details the struggle in her new book The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote . Weiss will be the keynote speaker for the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Luncheon in Rochester. She joins us to discuss her book, and we address other issues related

Why are women occasionally abused on movie sets, ostensibly for the sake of genuine art? The question was raised this past weekend, when Uma Thurman told the New York Times about abuses she has suffered. She says director Quentin Tarantino spit in her face and choked her with a chain on the set of Kill Bill . Maria Schneider famously felt "a little raped" during filming for Last Tango in Paris when she was not warned about a scene in which her character was assaulted. Director Bernardo

Leaders in Upstate New York say they need more attention – and more funding – to bolster transit options. For most cities that are not New York City, that means bus lines. RTS chief Bill Carpenter says the money has remained steady, but the needs have increased, and Rochesterians want better options. So what could RTS do with a big increase in funding? What should they do? And what about other cities that are considering not just buses, but other ideas? Our guests discuss it: Bill Carpenter,

What will be the future of the Cadillac Hotel? The historic building in downtown Rochester was acquired by developer DHD Ventures in October, but the company has yet to release plans detailing the property’s future. Many people are wondering what will happen to members of Rochester’s homeless population who are often housed there when shelters run out of available beds. The living conditions in the hotel have been criticized by local shelter leaders, and the county stopped housing people there