Connections Podcast

The Memorial Art Gallery is exploring new ways to create provocative portraits of subjects, and in its current exhibition, it’s using video. The MAG is partnering with renowned video artist Charles Atlas on a video installation called “Here she is...v1,” featuring iconic drag performer Lady Bunny. We discuss the exhibit and talk about the impact of the moving image. Our guests: Charles Atlas, film and video artist Jonathan Binstock , director of the Memorial Art Gallery John Hanhardt, consulting

What is all this buzz about "clean meat?" The idea is to eat meat that is grown in a lab, from stem cells -- no animal slaughter; no animal confinement; no carbon footprint associated with animal-based agriculture. Memphis Meats showed off a meatball made from cultured meat, and they have Bill Gates and Richard Branson investing millions. So if this is the future of meat, why are so many people pushing back? Our guests explain: Kevin McCann, owner of McCann’s Local Meats Marty O’Sullivan, owner

Heather Ann Thompson won the Pulitzer Prize for her book, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy . Thompson uncovered stories, documents, and information that the state kept suppressed for decades. We talk to her about the years she spent researching the true stories of what happened at Attica -- before, during, and after the uprising.

Ambassador Thomas Pickering joins us in studio. He was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for part of the 1990s, and he's in Rochester as a guest of the World Affairs Council. Ambassador Pickering discusses a number of subjects with us, chief among them: his thoughts on the future of the Iran nuclear deal and the actions of the Trump White House.

As city leaders and community members continue to debate the future of downtown development, some are looking to Rochester’s waterways as an asset in that revitalization. This hour, we discuss urban waterfront development with Mark Johnson, president and leading designer for Civitas. The landscape architecture firm is internationally known for its nature-in-the-city projects — designs that merge waterfronts, green spaces, and city living. What could Rochester learn from Civitas’ success? Johnson

Voting reform remains a challenge to overcome in the U.S. and in individual states. According to the League of Women Voters, New York ranked 41st in voter turnout in 2016, with just more than 57 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots. While many people choose not to go to the polls, systemic barriers prevent others from voting. The League of Women voters is holding a forum on the topic next week. We preview that forum and discuss a number of issues related to electoral reform. Our

Amazon announced last week that it's looking for a home for its second headquarters. Could Rochester be in the running? Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy says yes, and he has already written two letters to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, touting Rochester's qualifications. Amazon says it will invest $5 billion in "HQ2" and create 50,000 new jobs over the next two decades. Its requirements for a new home include a metropolitan area with at least a million people, a skilled

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: Mental illness and the case of Holly Colino; Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with author Kurt Andersen; Films that don't hold up; Fashion Week of Rochester, and how it benefits mothers and children at the Crisis Nursery.

When Mayor Warren's health caused the cancellation of the Voice of the Voter televised debate, Connections reached out to all three Democratic campaigns to seek some time before the primary. Two of the three candidates agreed to come back on the program; the mayor's staff told us (almost two weeks ago now) that she won't have any time. This hour, we're joined by Rachel Barnhart .

When Mayor Warren's health caused the cancellation of the Voice of the Voter televised debate, Connections reached out to all three Democratic campaigns to seek some time before the primary. Two of the three candidates agreed to come back on the program; the mayor's staff told us (almost two weeks ago now) that she won't have any time. This hour, we're joined by James Sheppard .