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: Gentrification in Rochester's neighborhoods; The future of marijuana in the United States; How current generations can achieve a long-term future for Earth, with astrobiologist David Grinspoon; Comedian Paula Poundstone's thoughts about Kim Kardashian's performance on "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!"

It's been a long week; anyone need a drink? We preview the upcoming Rochester Cocktail Revival , which has grown into a full-fledged regional attraction since its inception. We also put the art into the concept of cocktail making by previewing the "Art of the Mix" at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. Our guests: Cameron Phelps, owner of The Daily Refresher Bleu Cease, executive director/curator of the Rochester Contemporary Art Center Chuck Cerankosky, founder of the Rochester Cocktail

The College at Brockport is hosting 175 students and faculty from schools across Europe and America, in the world’s biggest European Union policy simulation, or " EuroSim ." We invited some of the participants to discuss European politics and populism (i.e., Brexit/Dutch, French, German elections). Our guests: Rob Shum , professor in the department of political science at the College at Brockport Oskar Gstrein , University of Saarland in Germany Eleftherios Petropoulos, University of Saarland in

The trouble with running the earth is that we don't get to do it twice. In his new book, Earth in Human Hands , astrobiologist David Grinspoon lays out the scientific evidence for the human impact on our planet... as well as an idea for what we can do to protect it going forward. It's a book layered with data, humor, storytelling, and a scientifically informed set of ideas about what comes next. Grinspoon is not a doomsayer , even though he presents all kinds of troubling possibilities. He views

What does the word "gentrification" mean to you? Journalist Tianna Manon of Open Mic Rochester did a deep dive into the subject, exploring why gentrification is not inherently positive or negative. Her work looks at how Rochester is impacted by gentrification in various places -- and how gentrification is about more than just new residents and their incomes. It includes the displacement of culture and tradition. Our guests discuss how to evaluate the impact of gentrification, and how to preserve

We talk with Joann Lublin , the management news editor for The Wall Street Journal . While her work at The Journal has earned numerous accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize, Lublin's ascent to the newspaper’s highest ranks did not come without challenges. As one of the paper's first female reporters, she says she experienced sexual harassment, unequal pay, and a number of other obstacles. Lublin decided to share her experiences — along with those of more than 50 other high ranking female

How and where we build housing, streets, and stores can have major effects the health of our communities. That’s the focus of the next Reshaping Rochester event, which explores how to create equitable and healthy neighborhoods. We discuss the rising popularity of Health Impact Assessments (HIAs), which analyze how public health can be impacted by proposed plans and policies. In San Francisco, for instance, developers building an affordable housing complex near an area with high traffic pollution

We sit down with Rochester's Mike Ingham, the U.S. Sailing 2017 Coach of the Year. He coached the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team to a silver medal at the games in Rio last summer, and coached the team to a world championship title in Holland. His athletes have remarkable stories of coming back from tragedy. Ingham is also the head of GRAAF, the Greater Rochester Amateur Athletic Foundation, which is already looking ahead to the next Olympic games.

She was so good when she came to Rochester for "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" that we're inviting her back. Paula Poundstone is coming to Rochester for a show of her own. We discuss her comedy: her style, her willingness to riff on her own personal issues, and more.

Do we have the "right to be forgotten?" Parts of Europe have adopted a law bearing that name, essentially saying that search engines like Google can be limited from linking to embarrassing stories about our past. Did you get caught going cow tipping on a drunken college night? That can be erased, so a future employer won't find it. Were you charged with a crime? Did you give an interview that you wish you hadn't? New York State had a bill that would give you the right to be forgotten. But is