Connections Podcast

As the election draws near, we discuss voting rights and disenfranchised voters, particularly people with felony records. Two states, Maine and Vermont, allow someone with a felony conviction to vote from prison. Most states allow people with felony convictions to vote after they've served their sentences and parole. Some states ban voting until ex-offenders have finished probation. But since 1902, felons in Virginia have been permanently banned from voting. In April of this year, Virginia

We still don't know who dropped white supremacist fliers on Pittsford driveways in recent days, but the community has responded vehemently against it. An organization calling itself "PittsFORWARD" put together a walk and rally against racism. They say that the fliers show the opposite of what Pittsford is all about. We talk about the fliers, and about what it means to build an inclusive community. Our guests: Kendra Evans, organizer of PittsFORWARDBradley Hurst, participant in the PittsFORWARD

Ken Burns, the award-winning filmmaker, joins us to discuss a range of subjects. We talk about his latest work, and we preview his visit to the University of Rochester later this week. Burns has been talking a lot about race in America in recent days, and we dig into that. And we ask him why he decided to break with his traditional nonpartisan stance to come out strongly against Donald Trump. Our guests: Ken Burns, award-winning filmmakerPaul Burgett, University of Rochester vice president and

Students in Rochester have followed the national lead set by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has protested recent police shootings of African Americans by taking a knee during the national anthem. Critics have said students don't have the life experience to join such a serious protest; supporters say they're expanding the national conversation. Our guests: Miguel Lopez, soccer player and student at World of Inquiry School No. 58Michael Hunter, soccer player and student at

We sit down with David Moore, the new director of the Office of Public Integrity for Monroe County. Moore was hired after a national search. He's had a long career in policing, but now he becomes a kind of county ethics cop. We discuss how he plans to maintain his independence, how he views recent county events, and more.

Our Monthly Science Roundtable takes a look at why conservatives tend not to accept the science behind climate change. Our guest is perfectly suited to explain: Bob Inglis is a conservative Republican who served in Congress. He admits that when climate science become more prominent, he dismissed it because Al Gore had touted it. He didn't study it. "It was based on ignorance for me," Inglis explains. "All I knew is that if Al Gore was for it, I was against it." But Inglis listened to his

Fashion Week is coming back to Rochester, but the event is about more than just fashion. We talk about the ways the event helps people in need in our community, and we share some remarkable stories from our guests, who come from a range of backgrounds. In studio: Nathaniel Johnson, owner of Nathaniel’s OriginalDemetri “Sunny” Ezell, owner of Cool’Mo CompanyFatima Bayram Sable, owner of Paislee Boutique and Silk Bridal BoutiqueElaine Spaull, executive director for The Center for Youth, and co

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: Increasing diversity in careers related to conservation and nature;The Prison to Entrepreneurship Program and how to support unconventional entrepreneurs;The challenges of living with Parkinson's disease;A proposal for Rochester's Parcel 5;The best movies about politics.Evan Dawson talks about what matters to you on Connections,

We explore the plans behind the final proposal for Rochester's highly sought "Parcel 5." The previous three plans include a performing arts center; a public square that is largely green space; and a plan for ground-floor retail and mixed housing. The final plan calls for a 14-story tower with condominiums, restaurants, retail space, and green space that could be the home for festivals and events. Our guests: Patrick Dutton and Lauren Gallina, developers

President Obama said recently that he'll consider it an "insult" to his legacy if black voters don't turn out in large numbers in November. Right on cue, Colgate Rochester Divinity's fall lecture series includes a discussion on the 2016 African American political vote. We sit down with the man giving that presentation, Colgate President Dr. Marvin McMickle.