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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.

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All Episodes

50:54

A $10,000 bet on conspiracy theories

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Zach Mack is a public radio producer whose father became obsessed with conspiracy theories. And then Zach’s dad made him a bet: $10,000 — $1,000 for each of 10 predictions. His dad said that Obama would be arrested for treason, that Trump would be reinstated as president before the 2024 election. Zach took the bet, hoping it would break his father from his conspiracy theories. Zach’s family, including his dad, agreed to regular interviews throughout 2024, leading up to the bet’s conclusion

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50:55

Democrats make a case for centrism

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Move to the middle! That's the plea from many Democrats who feel that the rightward shift by the Republican Party has left a big opening. We discuss the case for steady centrism at a time when bolder ideas are getting attention. Our guests:John Baynes, Monroe County legislator for District 11 Howard Maffucci, Monroe County legislator for District 10 ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us

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50:22

How could free genetic testing change medicine?

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/12

If you could find out that you are predisposed to certain health conditions — like cancer or heart disease — would you want to know? As reported by WXXI's Racquel Stephen, a new program at Rochester Regional Health offers no-cost genetic testing for people 18 and older. Our guests this hour discuss how it works and what it could mean for the future of personalized care in medicine. Our guests:Racquel Stephen, health, equity and community reporter at WXXI News Heather Bacchetta, MBA,

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50:58

How Gen Z women are shaping U.S. politics

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Gen Z women are the most liberal group in America. That's according to the nonprofit newsroom, The 19th. Polls show young women are fueling the Democratic advantage in the U.S. It played out in real time during last week's elections. In recent episodes of this program, we've discussed how an increasing number of young men are moving to the political right. This hour, we discuss why young women are moving to the political left and how they helped fuel recent Democratic victories. In

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51:17

Shortage in firefighters puts public safety at risk

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Volunteering is at its lowest level in decades in the United States. In some communities, this marks a possible crisis: rural hospitals are struggling and could close, and emergency relief dollars are harder to come by. Volunteer firefighting is a lifeline for many small towns. We check in on the efforts to increase volunteerism — especially where it's needed most. Our guests:Bill DiFabio, 3rd assistant chief of the Branchport Keuka Park Fire Department Matt Kelly, EMS captain of the

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50:33

Muslims celebrate Zohran Mamdani's historic win

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/11

The former president of the Islamic Center of Rochester says New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's victory is a seismic event for the Muslim community. Some of the ads late in the campaign depicted Mamdani as anti-American, and one ad declared that electing Mamdani would bring the next 9/11. We discuss the significance of Mamdani's victory and the themes that surfaced in the campaign. Our guest:Sareer A. Fazili, past president of the Islamic Center of Rochester and the Monroe County

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51:45

Nightlife without alcohol: Rochester welcomes new...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/10

The number of American adults consuming alcohol fell recently to 54% — the lowest number Gallup has ever recorded since it began tracking alcohol consumption in 1939. Driving the shift away from alcohol is the 18-34 group. As a result, more restaurants and bars are offering alcohol-free drink options. And there are more "third places" that feature menus without alcohol. In a recent piece for CITY Magazine, arts reporter Patrick Hosken wrote about how third places are emerging in Rochester

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50:49

“I read online…”: doctors respond to medical myths

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/10

A new survey finds that more than six in ten American physicians reported that their patients have been influenced by misinformation or disinformation in the past year. The problem is particularly acute in rural health care settings, according to the Physicians Foundation. The Rochester Academy of Medicine is launching a new series of public presentations called "Demystifying Misinformation." We talk to some of the people involved in crafting a program meant to provide clarity and

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51:30

Actress Mimi Kennedy reflects on her Rochester roots

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/07

You may know her from her work on the CBS sitcom "Mom" and films like "Midnight in Paris," but you may not know that actress Mimi Kennedy got her start in Rochester. Kennedy is a Rochester native who performed with the Rochester Community Players (RCP) in Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web" when she was 12 years old. She'll be back in her hometown this weekend for an event marking 100 years of the RCP, but first, she joins us to discuss her path from home to Hollywood. Our guests:Mimi

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51:04

What happened to environmental justice in the White...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/07

The Trump administration ended the White House Department of Environmental Justice, which was launched under the Biden administration. The new administration said that the concept of “environmental justice” falls under the umbrella of DEI initiatives, which it seeks to abolish. The former chief environmental justice officer for the Biden White House is in Rochester on Friday. We’re joined by Jalonne White-Newsome to discuss her views on what environmental justice is — and is not — and why

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51:08

Can books compete with the Internet?

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/06

Research shows young people are reading less — both in their English classes and for pleasure. According to a study from the University of Florida and University College London, daily reading for pleasure among kids is down 40% over the last 20 years. Experts point to an increase in screen time, overscheduling, and poor literacy education as some of the reasons. So how can we get kids interested in reading again? We discuss it with our guests, and we preview the upcoming Rochester Children

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50:40

Machine learning meets the campaign trail

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/06

AI political videos are already here — as Pittsford residents saw over the last month. An anti-Democrats ad featured AI "actors” warning against losing the character of Pittsford if Democrats won the election. So why not use real people? And how common will AI “actors” be in the future? What should be done about it?Jeffrey Allan, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Responsible Technology at Nazareth University Timothy Kneeland, Ph.D., professor and director of history, politics, and law

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51:20

What does it take to become a scientist?

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Astrophysicist Adam Frank is known as one of the best science communicators in the country. He joins us with some of his students, who are learning what it takes to become a scientist. They talk about the scientific method and why they think everyone can benefit from learning about it. Our guests:Adam Frank, Ph.D., author and Helen F. and Fred H. Gowen Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester Kyla de Villa, Ph.D. candidate in the Earth and

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50:47

Election results: a big night for Democrats

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Running a slate of moderate candidates in the Monroe County suburbs and rural areas, Democrats won in places where they previously hadn’t won in decades or even longer. It reflects a big night for the party in other states as well. Our WXXI News team breaks down the results and discusses what they mean. Our guests: Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News Jeremy Moule, deputy editor for WXXI News Brian Sharp, investigations and enterprise editor for WXXI

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51:05

AI, propaganda, and the future of democracy

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Authoritarian governments are harnessing artificial intelligence to undermine democracies. That's according to Bret Schafer, head of the Alliance for Securing Democracy’s information manipulation team. Schafer studies how state and non-state actors use AI to create and spread propaganda, and how those efforts affect public opinion. He's in Rochester as a guest of the World Affairs Council, but first, he joins us on "Connections" to discuss how to recognize AI-generated disinformation and

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51:18

Avoiding end-of-life scams and pitfalls

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Have you thought about planning for your future — especially when it comes to aging? While 63% of adults say they have had conversations with loved ones about end-of-life issues, fewer than half have translated those thoughts into actions or even plan to make those preparations. That's according to a 2024 survey from AARP. Too often, older adults feel unprepared for these issues until there’s a crisis. Assemblymember Sarah Clark is helping to lead the upcoming Empowered Aging Forum. The

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51:07

From indie films to genre films — what's attracting...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/03

Recently on this program, we discussed what can save moviegoing, as studios and theaters struggle to attract audiences. In the first segment of this hour, we discuss what all of that means at the independent level. Rochester natives Devin Lawrence and Matthew Mourgides will screen their new film, "The Disinvited," at the Little Theatre on November 11. They join us to discuss the challenges — and benefits — of independent filmmaking in the current environment. Then in our second half hour,

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51:22

CITY explores what’s hot in local food and bev

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/03

Wondering what's hot in the food and beverage scene in Rochester and the Finger Lakes? The team at CITY Magazine has you covered. The November issue explores the latest from downtown bars and restaurants and the Finger Lakes wine scene, a grassroots movement to feed the hungry, and...cabbage and donuts (don't worry; those are two separate stories). The CITY team joins us for the hour. Our guests:Leah Stacy, editor of CITY Magazine Patrick Hosken, arts reporter for CITY Magazine Roberto

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51:19

Rochester teachers demand faster, permanent fix to...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/10/31

For months, Rochester teachers have had to wonder whether their next paycheck would be the full amount — or if it would contain mistakes. They say the district's new system has been a disaster. According to members of the teachers union, some teachers have had to sell plasma to pay their bills because their checks have been so small. They say that teachers are struggling to pay their rent. We talk about the issues with the system and what can be done about it. In studio:Doriy Jackson, vice

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51:16

Young Republicans react to racist group chats

Connections Podcast ·

2025/10/31

Local college Republicans are reacting to a highly publicized national group chat. Politico broke the story about a text thread that included numerous leaders of Young Republican groups in multiple states; the thread featured hundreds of racist and bigoted comments. Vice President JD Vance has downplayed the significance of the chat. Our guests talk about what it means within the culture of young conservative politics. Our guests: Austin DeLorme, vice president of the University of

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