Shows / Connections Podcast
Connections Podcast
Evan Dawson talks about what matters to you on Connections. Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections. For transcripts, please email our Move to Include team with a link to the episode.
Episodes
Connections PodcastRochester Reads turns its sights to Gaza
Rochester Reads is celebrating 25 years of asking the community to read one book – and then come together to discuss it. This year, Writers & Books has…
Connections PodcastRoadblock: High prices, fewer techs
Car prices and servicing costs have both surged due to industry shifts, regulatory requirements, and rising ownership expenses. All that makes affordability a…
Connections PodcastTraffic cameras in Rochester? A plan to make city streets safer
What tools and technologies should be used to make Rochester's streets safer? Rochester leaders cite a new report that includes a survey of city residents. In…
Connections PodcastAfter 2024 gains, Republicans lose ground with Muslim voters
Why are Muslim voters leaving the GOP? Many American Muslims express culturally conservative views and would seem to be a natural constituency for Republicans…
Connections PodcastThe election winners
Democrats expected a big night, and we discuss how it panned out. This hour, we talk to winners of races at various levels — local, state, and federal. It's a…
Connections PodcastCornell sexual assault allegations spark hard questions
What can we learn from the allegations of sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity? The legal case could take a long time, but the ripples of the allegations are…
Connections PodcastRochester is getting all the lasers
Rochester is becoming a national hub for laser science, thanks to the National Science Foundation and New York State. As reported by WXXI's Brian Sharp, the…
Connections PodcastJournalist Greg O'Brien on living with Alzheimer's
What does it feel like to live with Alzheimer's? It's a question journalist Greg O'Brien has been answering for nearly two decades. O'Brien was diagnosed with…
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Rochester's hotel desert; celebrating 'Open Turnings' host Scott Regan; 'You Can See Everything'
It's our weekly news roundup. The city of Rochester is short hotel rooms. That's according to Deputy Mayor Michael Burns. As reported by WXXI's Brian Sharp…
Connections PodcastSuffering in silence: Why healthcare providers hide addiction
What if the doctor treating your addiction is also in recovery from a substance use disorder? Research shows approximately 10% to 15% of physicians and 15% to…
Connections PodcastSarah Clark and Clianda Florence, candidates for NYS Assembly District 136
WXXI News is your source for election coverage. In this episode, we sit down with the candidates for New York State Assembly District 136. Democratic incumbent…
Connections PodcastAnswering your questions about enrolling in Medicare Advantage
What do you want to know about signing up for Medicare Advantage? Open enrollment is in full swing, and if you or someone you know has questions about the…
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Kurt VanWuyckhuyse and Josh Jensen, candidates for NYS Assembly District 134
WXXI News is your source for election coverage. This hour, we bring you a conversation with the candidates for New York State Assembly District 134. Republican…
Connections Podcast'Connections on the Road': Mental health on campus
We welcome a live audience at The Little Theatre for a conversation about student mental health on college and university campuses. Are colleges doing enough…
Connections PodcastJen Lunsford and Kalinda Washington, candidates for NYS Assembly District 135
We continue our series of conversations with candidates running for office. This hour, we talk with the candidates for New York State Assembly District 135…
Connections PodcastIs Rochester's hot housing market starting to cool?
It's a buyer's market! According to Realtor.com, the U.S. housing market currently stands in favor of buyers. The platform still lists Rochester as a seller's…
Connections PodcastVirginia McIntyre, candidate for New York's 25th Congressional District
WXXI News is your source for election coverage, including the race for New York's 25th Congressional District. Last week, we talked with Democratic incumbent…
Connections PodcastAlissa Ellman, candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District
We're joined by Alissa Ellman. The Democrat is challenging Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney in the 24th Congressional District. Ellman discusses her…
Connections PodcastHarry Bronson, candidate for NYS Assembly District 138ict
We sit down with Harry Bronson. The Democrat is running for re-election in the 138th Assembly District. The Assemblymember discusses his priorities for the…
Connections PodcastNY gubernatorial debate; Peace Village moves forward; 'Bea Arthur: The Documentary'
It's our weekly news roundup. We begin this week's episode with a look at New York's gubernatorial race. In a televised debate Tuesday night, Democratic…
Connections PodcastA tale of two (climate) migrations
The phrase "climate migration" most often refers to people relocating due to concerns about their homes becoming unlivable as a result of climate change. But…
Connections PodcastJoe Morelle, candidate for New York's 25th Congressional District
Rep. Joe Morelle is our guest. The Democratic incumbent is running for re-election in New York's 25th Congressional District. He joins us to discuss a range of…
Connections PodcastHow new tech and treatments are helping breast cancer patients survive and thrive
"It's not a death sentence like in years past." That's according to a local woman living with metastatic breast cancer. She's sharing her story with the hope…
Connections PodcastMeasles spreads across the state; ICE detention facility set to expand; ImageOut returns
What do you need to know about the spread of measles in New York? On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency due to the increase in…
Connections PodcastData center debate comes to Western New York
Rural communities in Western New York are debating proposed data centers. One site is located on Seneca Lake, in a facility currently being used for…
Connections PodcastJeremy Cooney and Orlando Rivera, candidates for NYS Senate District 56
We welcome the candidates for New York State Senate District 56. Democratic incumbent Jeremy Cooney and Republican challenger Orlando Rivera join us in the…
Connections PodcastAn astrobiologist doubts AI’s capacity to think
Adam Frank has spent his career examining the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Now he turns his gaze to the question of just how…
Connections PodcastDSA gains influence: What you need to know about the Democratic Socialists of America
According to an NBC News poll, 47 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 hold a negative view of capitalism. Meanwhile, a growing number of political candidates…
Connections PodcastNational debt, bond market chaos, and the stickiness of food prices
The U.S. national debt recently crossed the $40 trillion mark. The bond market is experiencing turbulence. Meanwhile, many of the prices that consumers pay…
Connections PodcastTim Wu on the growing power of big tech
Our guest is the man who coined the phrase “net neutrality,” and was invited to work in the Biden White House because of his scholarship on the tech sector…
Connections PodcastMaking Rochester more pedestrian friendly, one street at a time
How can we make Rochester's streets safer? The team at Reconnect Rochester has spent the summer working on street safety projects, and this hour, we hear about…
Connections PodcastValery Perry went on the road in search of democracy
Where is democracy backsliding? It’s a question we discuss with democratization policy expert Valery Perry. Perry recently took a road trip on Route 66. She…
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Bruce Blakeman, candidate for NYS governor
This election season, “Connections” brings you long form conversations with candidates. It’s your chance to hear directly from them about their priorities for…
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Michael Mills, candidate for NYS Senate District 54
This election season, “Connections” brings you long form conversations with candidates. It’s your chance to hear directly from them about their priorities for…
Connections PodcastWXXI at 60: Celebrating the past while looking to the future
WXXI is celebrating its 60th anniversary. We've been asking the community, "What do you want from your public media in the future?" We share some of the…
Connections PodcastPreparing Ukrainians for life after war
How can Ukrainians best prepare for a post-war future? It's a question we address in the first half of the hour with guests from the Open World Program. The…
Connections PodcastNew report addresses chronic absenteeism in Monroe County schools
A deeply honest personal story from Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times has a lot of people talking about what children need in their K-12 education. Now…
Connections PodcastThe dangers of AI partisanship
A significant majority of Americans have negative views about artificial intelligence. And yet in elite circles, the conversation about AI is quickly…
Connections PodcastChanges to the Rochester music scene
Abilene Bar and Lounge will close after nearly two decades of hosting live music in Rochester. And the Hi Fi Lounge in Brighton is up for sale after 40 years…
Connections PodcastState scraps Regents exam requirement. What does it mean for students?
The New York State Board of Regents voted this week to eliminate Regents exams as a graduation requirement. The move has stirred debate, with some leaders in…
Connections PodcastSUNY Brockport's new president on preparing students for the future
How can educators best prepare this current generation of college students for the working world of the future? We welcome the new president of SUNY Brockport…
Connections PodcastBills fans shell out for new stadium. Is it worth it?
The Buffalo Bills officially open their new stadium Thursday night. By some measures, it is the most expensive fan experience in the entire league. Is it worth…
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AI models go rogue: Should we be worried?
Concerns about AI safety have exploded in recent weeks. The hacking of Hugging Face by AI agents from OpenAI has caught the attention of Congress. Several…
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Inspired to serve by 9/11
25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, how do veterans who enlisted as a result of 9/11 feel about their decision to serve? We discuss the question with local…
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Multinational corporations: for good or for ill?
Multinational corporations have had tremendous power for decades, helping shape American foreign and domestic policy. The University of Rochester’s Randy…
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How advancements in blood cancer research are saving lives
Local clinicians say new research and treatments for blood cancers are helping people live longer, better lives. They say progress made in Rochester has helped…
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Julio Sáenz, the 2026 Rochester Hispanic Business Person of the Year
The Rochester Hispanic Business Association has named WXXI Chief Content Officer Julio Sáenz its 2026 Hispanic Business Person of the Year. The award…
- Connections Podcast
A 'life-changing' trip: Local teens discuss their experiences in Ghana
A group of local teenagers recently returned from a birthright trip to Ghana. The young men are part of a program called the Talented Tenth. Leaders say the…
- Connections Podcast
Training future leaders to navigate Rochester's challenges
Who are Rochester's future leaders? And how can we train future leaders to guide the community through recent challenges? The question comes at a time when…
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How teachers are preparing to test and assess students in the age of AI
Across the country, high school teachers are rethinking how to assess students – and make sure those students aren’t cheating. Artificial intelligence programs…
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The Rochester Fringe Festival returns
The Rochester Fringe Festival kicks off in just over two weeks. This year's event includes more than 700 performances, including everything from theater and…
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Perspective on the new assisted suicide law
Medically assisted suicide is now legally available in New York state. New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act — which allows terminally ill patients with fewer…
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What can we learn from Dolly Parton?
This hour, we remember Dolly Parton. The music superstar, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist died Tuesday. Parton was beloved by many — perhaps almost…
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What's working ... and what isn't? Examining models for treating substance abuse
Last year, nearly 45 million Americans were diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. That’s according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services…
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Pacing our lives to avoid burnout
Many people feel like they can never complete their to-do lists, and yet they spend hours each week scrolling social media. We are struggling with how to…
- Connections Podcast
New York levels up funding for mental health 'clubhouses'
New York State recently announced a multimillion-dollar investment in the expansion of clubhouses, which are community hubs for mental health support. As…
- Connections Podcast
Assemblymember Demond Meeks on the 2026-2027 NYS budget
We continue our series of conversations with local state representatives about New York's 2026-2027 budget. This hour, we're joined by Assemblymember Demond…
- Connections Podcast
How our schools are dealing with special education staffing shortages
Special education teachers provide instruction tailored to the needs of students with disabilities to help them realize their full potential, keeping many of…
- Connections Podcast
Writing, reading, and talking about grief: Two authors share their experiences
At some point or another, we all grieve over the loss of a loved one. Guest host Julie Philipp talks with two authors about how books can help us work through…
- Connections Podcast
The state of public health and what it means for our community
Until the COVID -19 pandemic, public health was nearly invisible. Most of us did not think about the people who keep an eye on restaurants, public water…