Connections Podcast

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 first pop album created by NPR theme music composer, BJ Leiderman; The stigma of mental illness and the hope of recovery; Settlement houses and why Rochester is a divided community; Having pride in -- rather than hating on -- your hometown.

We continue our interview series with the candidates for Rochester mayor. Our guest is retired city school teacher Lori Thomas, who believes her experience and ideas will shake up the race.

Chidike Okeem is a writer, and an outspoken black conservative. He argues that mainstream American conservatism often traffics in anti-black rhetoric, and it forces black conservatives to join that refrain. But Okeem also argues that liberal policies have been destructive, and he finds a distinct home for black conservatism that is solution-oriented. Okeem is critical of popular black conservative figures like Sheriff Clarke and Jason Riley, but says that there is a natural conservative fit for

When you hear theme music for NPR shows, there's a good chance those tunes were composed by our guest, BJ Leiderman . Leiderman has released his first…and last… album . While some songs have a strong message, others are silly and quirky, like the track “Mom’s Telephone Messages,” which is exactly what you’d think it is. We have some fun talking about his music and what it's like to compose for public radio.

It's Unleashed the Pet Show, and this month, we’re talking all about cats. We visit Lollypop Farm to learn about the cat adoption process, and Dr. Eileen Adamo from The Cat Doctors in Penfield is in studio to answer your questions.

It has been almost two weeks since President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. What will it mean for our country? Our guests weigh in on how the decision will affect the environment, the economy, diplomacy, and the future of alternative energy. In studio: Lawrence Torcello , associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at RIT Kevin Schulte, CEO of SunCommon NY

In an interview last month, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson made some comments about poverty that have led to intense backlash. Carson called poverty “a state of mind,” saying some people are poor because they have the wrong attitude. But that wasn’t all. He continued to say that efforts to help people in need may backfire if those people don’t have the right outlook on life. His comments ignited debate about grit theory and what people in poverty truly need. Our guests

How can we combat the stigma of mental illness? Negative perceptions of mental health issues can have deleterious effects for patients: the stigma often inhibits them from seeking treatment and can create barriers in the workplace, social circles, and the legal system. Healthcare is evolving to better serve the mental health population and reduce this stigma. We discuss new practices, a film series aimed at improving perceptions of mental health, and an art project that’s putting a “human face”

We continue our series of conversations with candidates for Rochester mayor. Former journalist Rachel Barnhart is in studio to kick off round two of these discussions. Barnhart recently filed an ethics complaint against Mayor Lovely Warren and her former chief of staff for an Uber job fair held at City Hall. We discuss her position, along with several of her priority issues: property taxes, a citywide fiber internet network, and more.

You've probably heard the term "settlement house," but do you know what it really means? Three Rochester settlement houses have teamed up to create a foundation , aimed at making their work stronger and more effective. They are central in the fight against poverty, but that's only the start. Baden Street Settlement , Charles Settlement House , and Community Place of Rochester are working together, and our guests explain how they're trying to improve the city. In studio: Rod Cox-Cooper, CEO of