Connections Podcast

In a Wall Street Journal interview last week, President Trump made comments about Upstate New York that have led to a debate about the state of the job market and the economy in our region. He said that Upstate New York “just isn’t working,” and its residents should move elsewhere to find jobs. He also suggested people just leave their homes behind, even if they can’t sell them. His comments were related to news surrounding the electronics manufacturer Foxconn , which was considering building a

The Summer of Food on Connections continues with a look at our food system, from the farmers to our plate. Our guest is the founder of the Headwater Food Hub , which is working toward a fully sustainable local system. What would that mean? How are they supporting small farms? We find out. In studio: Chris Hartman, founder of Headwater Food Hub

Only five school districts in New York State do not have full day kindergarten. Pittsford remains one of those districts, despite the efforts of teachers and administrators to convince voters. Brighton recently moved to adopt full day kindergarten. Our guests discuss their views and educating young children: Mike Pero , superintendent of the Pittsford Central School District Kevin McGowan , superintendent of the Brighton Central School District

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is making waves with his new book, offering advice on how to raise children to become responsible adults. One of his ideas is to have kids travel more often, and not necessarily for fun. Sasse says kids need to experience diversity in the world in order to understand that there are other cultures and circumstances. We discuss this with our guests, including Paul Burgett, who travels twice annually, often for a month at a time to immerse in a new place. In studio: Paul

The debate over Parcel 5 in Rochester has heated up, with arts groups calling on City Council to more fully vet the proposal for a Broadway theater. Our guests discuss it: Arnie Rothschild, chairman of the Rochester Broadway Theater League Dana Miller, vice president of Rochester City Council Dawn Lipson, Rochester Arts and Cultural Council

Have you used Uber or Lyft? We take a look at ride-hailing in Rochester since it came to New York State in late June. Thousands of people have used the services; are they delivering? We talk to drivers about their experiences, riders about the quality of service, and business owners about the impact on their customers. What are the most popular destinations? Have Uber and Lyft helped decrease drunk driving? How are they impacting the taxi industry? Our guests: Andrew Muldoon, Uber driver and

The Strong Museum of Play has big plans for expansion; the museum has a vision for an entire neighborhood of play. The plan would include part of the old eastern third of the Inner Loop that has been filled in and is waiting for development. Mayor Lovely Warren has proposed the sale of the land for $2 million as part of the Inner Loop East redevelopment project. If The Strong's project moves forward, it would include an expanded museum, retail, a hotel, residential space, art at the street level

A local organization is helping parents get involved in their communities in various ways. It's called the Parent Leadership Training Institute . Trainees have already tackled a number of local subjects, including opening a spray park in the 19th Ward, and working to smooth the process of Urban-Suburban students joining a local district. We learn what else the organization has planned and how it is growing. In studio: Carolyn Lee-Davis , advisor for the Greater Rochester Parent Leadership

A n international exchange program with big goals is being held in Rochester for the first time. Rochester Global Connections is partnering with Allendale Columbia School to host the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program. It's a cultural immersion experience for high school students from different parts of Iraq, who who learn about leadership development, peace building, and human rights alongside local students. We talk to the students about what they've learned, and how they hope to build

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: How violence and war are not inevitable, nor natural parts of the human condition; The new documentary series, The Vietnam War; Al Gore's new film, An Inconvenient Sequel, and the reality of climate change; Rochester's food culture.