Connections Podcast

Wonder Woman and feminism in film The newest superhero film from the DC universe has generated a slew of controversy. Even before Wonder Woman opened in theatres on June 2, it sparked conversations about feminism in film, the role of female superheroes, and yes, even debates over armpit hair. Wonder Woman dates back to 1941, and the origins of the character may surprise you. We talk about Wonder Woman's history, how she has evolved, if she's a feminist icon, and the roles of women on screen and

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: What life is like in a refugee camp; The Champion Academy and how to help students living in poverty*; Pride month and efforts to build a more inclusive movement; Music and activism, with singer Bethany Yarrow.

The annual Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival kicks off Friday. Festival founder John Nugent joins us in studio to preview the acts, share some behind-the-scenes stories, and talk about how the festival has grown over the last 16 years. We also hear from two of this year’s performers: Laura Dubin and Mike Cottone .

June is Pride month, and celebrations, marches, and solidarity events are being held in cities across the country. Some of these events have been interrupted by protests from members of the LGBTQ community who feel the movement marginalizes minorities. A group called No Justice No Pride staged a protest at the recent Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C. Members issued a list of demands, which included adding more transgender women of color and indigenous people to leadership positions, more

Super Bowl Champion and Rochester native Roland Williams says he’s seen the effects poverty, gangs, drugs, and violence can have on teens living in poverty, and he’s made it his mission to set local students on a path to success. That’s why he founded the Champion Academy , which offers “extreme mentoring” to students in middle and high school. We get an inside look at how the Academy works from leaders and participants, and we hear Williams’ vision for its future. Our guests: Roland Williams,

A recent production of "Julius Caesar" at New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park has caused uproar within right-wing circles. Some conservatives say the Caesar character -- who is styled after President Trump and assassinated -- normalizes political violence against the right. But do these critics miss the point of the play? The work has long been used as a vehicle for political commentary, and Shakespeare scholars cite its role as a cautionary tale of the dangers of political assassination.

Can you stand your neighbors? Increasingly, the answer depends on what their politics are. We are moving away from people who disagree with us, and National Review writer David French says we're headed for a "national divorce." French says, "Americans tend to belong to their political tribe not so much because they love its ideas but rather because they despise their opponents." So we've decided to bring in guests who are close friends and political opposites. How do they maintain friendships?

Amazon is bidding to swallow up Whole Foods, which has already inspired a slew of commentary about how the world is changing. Are we going to order all of our food online? Is this good for customers? Is it bad for the minimum wage? Progressive writer Matt Stoller says that "this merger should frighten all of us." He says that concentrated corporate power can become a political weapon, and consumers -- and workers -- lose. Our guests: Matt Stoller , fellow at the Open Markets program of the New

We continue our series of conversations with candidates for Rochester mayor. Former Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard has released his full platform since the last time he was in studio, and he lists public safety as his top priority. We discuss his vision for the city, and ask our questions and yours.

From the One Love Peace concert in Jamaica, to the Concert for Bangladesh in New York City, to the song, "We Are the World," music has played a role in uniting people from different backgrounds and raising awareness and funds to support a variety of causes. The upcoming United with Music concert in Rochester aims to do the same. Local musicians with ties to the international community will perform traditional and contemporary music to benefit Refugees Helping Refugees, a non-profit that assists