Connections Podcast

An upcoming symposium seeks to address many issues related to homelessness, including housing as a human right. The Homeless Services Network of Rochester will present the 14th HSN Symposium on Wednesday, September 27 at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Our guests preview the symposium and discuss homelessness in Rochester. In studio: Nick Coulter, co-founder of Person Centered Housing Options (PCHO) Rev. Peter Peters, retired Episcopal priest and founding member of the Rochester Emergency

The Summer of Food takes a journey half an hour east of Rochester to the site of the historic Pultneyville Grill. When the restaurant closed in the past year, locals worried about what might replace it. The answer has been twofold: Swilly's, a fast casual joint that offers lobster rolls and other sea-based fare at a walk-up window, and The Owl House, which has a home in Rochester and a new home in the old PG. These kinds of establishments can offer new life for communities, and we talk to long

The new film The Big Sick explores the challenges when Muslims decide to date outside of their own culture and religion. Based on the real-life relationship of writer and star Kumail Nanjiani, the film centers on a Pakistani-American and his white, non-Muslim girlfriend. We discuss the themes of the film and the occasionally uncomfortable issues that can arise. Our guests: Ilhan Ali, intersectional feminist, activist, and stand-up comedian Imad Abid , 25-year-old Muslim American Sareer Fazili ,

NPR recently released its list of the top 150 music albums by women of all time. Joni Mitchell's Blue topped the list, inspiring the Smith Opera House in Geneva to celebrate with a tribute concert . One of the themes of Blue is women's reaction to the issues of the countercultural 1960s. We discuss those themes and debate which albums deserved higher billing with our guests: Connie Deming , singer-songwriter Maria Gillard , singer-songwriter-educator Lauren Faggiano , singer-songwriter

The debate over Google's decision to fire an engineer has served as a kind of Rorschach Test. James Damore posted a memo criticizing Google's hiring practices based on race and gender. The reaction to Google's decision to fire Damore ranges from outrage -- Damore's supporters say he was only discussing basic differences between genders -- and strong approval. We discuss the issue from a legal perspective, and from the perspective of modern feminism. Our guests: Justin Cordello , employment law

What is the future of Catholic education? We’ve seen some schools shift and close, but the evolution of Catholic education shows some resilience. Nazareth Elementary, for example, is moving to the old Sacred Heart School. Interestingly, 70 percent of the students at Nazareth are not Catholic. Our guests discuss modern challenges and how they’re adapting. In studio: Sr. Margaret Mancuso, principal of Nazareth Elementary Deborah Hanmer, parent of two children in Catholic elementary school Mary

We continue our series of interviews with the candidates for Rochester City School Board. We discuss the candidates’ priorities, and we discuss hot issues in the election. In studio: Cecilia Golden Van White

New York's SAFE Act has been hotly debated ever since it passed. Now, Republican Congressman Chris Collins has proposed SAGA, or the Second Amendment Guarantee Act. Collins says he doesn't think local or state governments should be able to supersede federal law when it comes to gun rights. We discuss the proposed bill and what's next for New York's SAFE Act. Our guests: Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY23) Paul Ciminelli , Second Amendment expert and attorney at Ciminelli & Ciminelli Gary Pudup,

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: The impact of ride-hailing services in Rochester; The Strong's proposed Neighborhood of Play on the old Inner Loop site, and the future of parking garages; The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program; The value of travel and cultural immersion.

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Rochester City School Board, and they all say it’s time for change. We sit down with the candidates in groups of three to learn why they are running, to hear their platforms, and to explore their ideas for improving struggling schools and increasing the ranks of teachers of color in the district. It’s your chance to meet the candidates and ask your questions. In studio: Cynthia Elliott Beatriz LeBron Natalie Sheppard