In 1983, the threat of nuclear war was imminent and looming over the world. To voice their anxieties and fight against both nuclear armament and the patriarchy, the Women’s Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice formed between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Combining feminism and anti-militarism, the women in the encampment created a safe space to peacefully protest the sending of weapons of mass-destruction to Europe and the United States’ increasing nuclear stockpile.

This episode was produced by:

Producer - Bethany Foreman

Lead Researcher - Ellie Thompson

Audio Engineer - Zane Sears

Editor - Lilly Zullow

Coordinating Producers of Season 7 are Anthony Alvarez-Silva, Chloe Milliman, and Alexa Rosenbloom

Executive Producers of Hear UR are Thomas Fleischman and Stephen Roessner

Watkins Glen, New York is a small town at the tip of Seneca lake that, despite its small size, brings in millions of visitors each year to its two major tourist attractions. The first is the Watkins Glen State Park, a longstanding beautiful gorge that the town was originally built around, and the second is the Watkins Glen International Racetrack, a more recent addition to the region that brought with it new opportunities, new dangers, and new crowds of people.

In this episode, we analyze the ever changing relationship between these three entities – the Town of Watkins Glen, the State Park, and the Racetrack – and how they have supported, affected, and at times conflicted with each other over the past century.

Tristan Mayock

Dane Yoder

Elek Yuhas

Caleb McCree

Additional music for this episode composed by Dane Yoder

What if the water you trust most carried a secret? In this episode of Hear UR, we dive into Rochester’s water system after a shocking discovery sparks fear across the city. From hidden history and environmental protection to the real risks behind drinking water safety, this episode explores how Rochester built and protects its water supply. Through expert interviews and local stories, Water Works: Fears & Risk asks a bigger question: are we more afraid of dramatic headlines than the everyday public health systems that keep us safe?

This episode was produced by:

Producer - Kai Kelsey

Lead Researcher - Amelia Frechette

Audio Engineer - JingZhi Cao

Editor - Natalie Opdahl

Coordinating Producers of Season 7 are Anthony Alvarez-Silva, Chloe Milliman, and Alexa Rosenbloom

Executive Producers of Hear UR are Thomas Fleischman and Stephen Roessner

In this episode of Hear UR, “The Suffrage Crusade of the Finger Lakes,” we trace the bold, unlawful actions of Susan B. Anthony and the movement she helped lead in 19th-century New York. Centered on Anthony’s role as an influential leader in the fight for women’s rights, the podcast follows her landmark trial that took place in Canandaigua, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. There, Anthony and other so-called “radical” women risked their reputations, freedom, and livelihoods to challenge an unjust system. Their courage came at great personal and legal cost, yet their actions helped spark lasting change. This episode not only reflects on their sacrifices but also is a timely reminder about voting apathy.

This episode was produced by:

Producer - Meili Shepard

Lead Researcher - Phong Nguyen

Audio Engineer - Kayla Mann

Coordinating Producers of Season 7 are Anthony Alvarez-Silva, Chloe Milliman, and Alexa Rosenbloom

Executive Producers of Hear UR are Thomas Fleischman and Stephen Roessner

Where did the name the “Finger Lakes” come from? Their shape may resemble fingers – but could there be more to it than that? Through an exploration of indigenous and settler history, this episode aims to answer this question. In our conversations with local storytellers, researchers, and teachers, we investigate why place names hold so much significance. We discuss why it’s important that we remember the stories behind these names, and learn about the actions being taken to preserve the history of the Finger Lakes. 

This episode was produced by:

Producer - Emma Loiacono

Lead Researcher - Caden Cohan

Audio Engineer - Oli Walters

Coordinating Producers of Season 7 are Anthony Alvarez-Silva, Chloe Milliman, and Alexa Rosenbloom

Executive Producers of Hear UR are Thomas Fleischman and Stephen Roessner

The narrative of Seneca Lake’s folklore has vastly shifted over time. Today, via a quick Google Search, curious researchers may find information surrounding the Lake Guns, the rumored Seneca Lake Sea Monster, and the tale of Agayentah. Many of these stories claim inspiration from the native Seneca people. However, much of this is a fabrication, erasing the real history of the region.  This episode covers the evolution of Seneca Lake’s folklore and the history of the Seneca people and the ethnic cleansing carried out by American settlers. Additionally, we discuss modern links between mythos and science and contemporary initiatives to restore and preserve Seneca history.

This episode was produced by:

Producer - Alex Holly

Lead Researcher - Miller Gentry-Sharp

Audio Engineer - Sasha Danilov

Editor - Troy Macie

Coordinating Producers of Season 7 are Anthony Alvarez-Silva, Chloe Milliman, and Alexa Rosenbloom

Executive Producers of Hear UR are Thomas Fleischman and Stephen Roessner

The lake sturgeon is the oldest and largest native fish species in the Great Lakes for more than 10,000 years. Prior to European contact, indigenous tribes like the Haudenosaunee revered the lake sturgeon and hunted them responsibly. With the establishment of fisheries and the industrial revolution, European immigrants caught lake sturgeons in excess. In the late 1980s, New York State evaluated that lake sturgeons were regionally extinct in the Genesee River.

The Genesee River has experienced pollution since its first settlers arrived, but how has pollution changed over time? Through the lens of Eastman Kodak and the Genesee River, this episode will follow how chemical pollution can become a permanent member of the river’s chemistry, and how we can remediate that damage.

In the Summer of 1972, the Mount Morris Dam stood between Rochester and Hurricane Agnes, one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the United States. The storm threatened to flood the Genesee River and send thousands of cubic yards of degree hurtling into the city. Despite the water almost overtopping the dam, the city was protected.

We examine the history of the Mount Morris Dam, Hurricane Agne’s impact on upstate New York, and questions surrounding the continued efficacy of dams in light of climate change.

Rochester was no stranger to the flooding of the Genesee River. Four devastating floods of note wreaked havoc in the first half of the 19th century alone. We will explore the historic floods that shattered Rochester and examine how disaster can bring a community together — or not.