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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

51:22

Pajamas on planes? U.S. Transportation Secretary says...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/05

When you fly, what is your airplane attire? U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently told Fox Business that he wants Americans to "dress up a little bit" for air travel. It's part of his broader push to "bring civility back" to flights and return to what he calls the "golden age of travel." Would a dress code lead to less fighting, better manners, and a more pleasurable flying experience overall? We discuss it with our guests:Zoë Kuehn, comedy writer, performer, and visual

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51:00

W. Kamau Bell

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/05

We sit down with W. Kamau Bell. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning TV host, comedian, filmmaker, and author is in Rochester for an event at Nazareth University. His upcoming stand-up performance brings silliness to the sociopolitical issues of the current moment. We talk with him about a range of issues — from politics to public service to family life and more. In studio:W. Kamau Bell, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning TV host, comedian, filmmaker, and author---Connections is supported by

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51:22

Immigration advocates on the human toll of ICE raids

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/04

New data reported by CBS News on Wednesday shows most people detained by the federal government during some recent high-profile ICE raids do not have criminal records. The Trump administration has said the crackdowns are aimed at unauthorized immigrants with criminal backgrounds. But according to data from early September to mid-October, the number of people without criminal histories who were detained after raids in Chicago, for example, increased by more than 1,400%. Local advocates who

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50:38

Pardon me, do we have too many presidential pardons?

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/04

After several more controversial pardons from President Trump, legal scholars are debating how to reform the pardon process. Trump's pardons come on the heels of a wave of pardons from President Biden, shielding family and close associates from possible future legal consequences. What changes should be made to the process, if any? Our guests discuss it. In studio: John Ark, retired New York State Supreme Court justice Richard Dollinger, retired New York Court of Claims judge Thomas

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51:23

CITY Magazine's winter guide

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/03

Snow now covers the ground, and the holidays are approaching. What's on your radar as you settle in for winter in Rochester and the Finger Lakes? This month's edition of CITY Magazine is its Winter Guide. The annual exploration of things to do includes books to read, classes to take, sports to try, art to experience, and more. We're joined by the CITY team for the hour. Our guests: Leah Stacy, editor of CITY Magazine Roberto Lagares, multimedia reporter for CITY Magazine Jacob Walsh, art

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50:43

Sounding the alarm on youth self-harm

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/03

A local organization is sounding the alarm over an issue that is affecting an increasing number of young people. As reported by WXXI's Noelle Evans, a new report from Common Ground Health shows that in 2023, self-harm was the leading behavioral reason that young people ages 6 to 21 in Monroe County visited the emergency room. How can families, caregivers, and schools help support students' mental and emotional well-being? Our guests share their expertise. In studio: Noelle E.C. Evans,

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47:49

Writers at risk: what to do when free expression is...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/02

We sit down with Karin Deutsch Karlekar of PEN America. The organization's Writers at Risk programs advocate for journalists, advocates, and academics who face threats around the world. A recent crackdown on free speech has affected American writers and their work. We discuss the state of free speech and what organizations like PEN America are doing to help protect it. In studio:Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Ph.D., director of Writers at Risk at PEN America---Connections is supported by listeners

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50:56

The rise of predictive AI and its effects on your life

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/02

Predictive AI is becoming more advanced, and big companies are already using it daily. For instance, UPS uses predictive AI to map out the most efficient routes for drivers. What does it all mean for you and your life? We talk about it with our guest:John C.S. Loury, co-founder and president of Cause + Effect Strategy---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the

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51:18

Lessons from a walkable city

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/01

How can we make downtown Rochester more walkable — and how could that transform the area? We explore those questions with guests from Reconnect Rochester in advance of the group's Rochester Street Films event. This year's film, "Walkable USA," tells the story of Hammond, Indiana, which is working to transition from a city that most people drive through to one that becomes a destination. The team at Reconnect Rochester says Hammond can teach us lessons about how to develop an adaptable

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50:30

Should you be screened for lung cancer?

Connections Podcast ·

2025/12/01

Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. That's according to experts at the University of Rochester Medical Center. They say screening has been underutilized due to the stigma of the disease. This hour, we discuss their efforts to change that. They also explain what they call a "soup to nuts" approach to addressing the disease, which includes prevention and screening, early diagnosis, and advanced treatment options. Our guests:Racquel Stephen,

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51:02

From stage to screen: reviewing 'Hamilton' and...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/26

Broadway seems to be everywhere you look these days. A touring production of "Hamilton" was recently on stage in Rochester. Despite the show being ten years old, it still drew a packed house. Meanwhile, the "Wicked" sequel, "Wicked: For Good," hit theaters last week. Two local critics — David Andreatta and Johanna Lester — reviewed those performances for CITY Magazine. This hour, we explore why audiences keep flocking to these popular stories, how they are holding up, and the idea of

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50:22

Amid SNAP gaps, communities step up to help feed...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/26

With all of the recent confusion about SNAP and the concern for families who have lost benefits, community members and local organizations are stepping up. In advance of Thanksgiving, we talk about some of those efforts, how you can access food if you need it, and how you can help. Our guests:Noelle Evans, education reporter and producer for WXXI News Mitch Gruber, senior vice president and chief impact officer at Foodlink, and member of Rochester City Council Chris Lavin, nonprofit

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50:51

Everyone deserves home health care; not everyone gets it

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/25

Research shows that people of color are less likely to access health care services and resources in their homes when compared to white patients. While there are numerous causes for the issue, there is one overall effect: greater health disparities. HCR Home Care has launched an initiative to address the inequities. Its team is working with faith-based organizations to help reach African American families. We discuss that work and what culturally relevant care looks like. Our guests:Deanna

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51:03

How to end wars: learning from peace agreements of...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/25

What can world leaders embroiled in war and armed conflict today learn from history? 2025 marks 30 years since the Bosnian peace agreement was reached. Signed in December 1995, the Dayton Accords ended the three-year, ethnically fueled conflict and established peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some experts call it an "ugly peace" since there were significant obstacles to rebuilding areas. Valery Perry is a democratization policy expert based in Sarajevo. She joins us to discuss how the

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50:59

Zombie shopping malls: a look at modern retail

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/24

Boscov’s recently opened at Greece Ridge Mall, prompting all kinds of fascination and even some confusion. How is a chain store opening in the year 2025, when so many other stores are closing? Black Friday used to include long lines of people waiting out in the cold, rushing in when the doors opened at 4 a.m. Things have changed. This hour, we run down the list of the many stores that have closed in our region, and we talk to the CEO of Boscov's to find out how his chain is bucking the

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50:38

The book that was written to prevent Parkinson’s Disease

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/24

In their new book, “The Parkinson’s Plan,” Dr. Ray Dorsey and his co-author, Dr. Michael Okun, present Parkinson's disease as utterly preventable. A diagnosis of the disease, they explain, is not an unlucky break, but rather the result of environmental and chemical factors. The doctors argue that we can prevent Parkinson’s by making changes in our lives, and we can build a world where no one in the future gets the disease. They’re calling on the federal government to support the kinds of

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51:12

"Nuremberg:" film vs. history

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/21

"Nuremberg" hit the big screen earlier this month. The film follows a U.S. Army psychologist and his showdown with an accused Nazi war criminal as the Nuremberg trials are about to begin. Friday marks 80 years since Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson gave his opening statement at the trials. Experts say that statement still informs how we talk about justice. This hour, we're joined by experts from the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown to discuss the enduring influence of Jackson's

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50:59

AI song tops the charts; what does that mean for the...

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/21

A song that recently topped a country music chart is sparking debate. "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust was the number one song on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart last week. If you haven't heard of Breaking Rust, you're not alone. It's an AI act, and "Walk My Walk" is an AI-generated song. Billboard has acknowledged that Breaking Rust is one of seven AI-driven acts to chart over the past two months. What does this mean for human artists and human-created songs? Should AI music be

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51:24

In Rochester, a plan to make home ownership possible

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/20

As WXXI's Brian Sharp recently reported, the city’s ongoing mission of providing more housing at truly affordable prices is moving to the JOSANA neighborhood. We discuss the plan for new homes that will sell for $127,000 — far below what most home buyers are seeing on the market. Our guests:Brian Sharp, investigations and enterprise editor for WXXI News Scott Benjamin, CEO of Charles Settlement House & Community Place of Greater Rochester Ryan Brandt, vice president of development for

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51:22

Fighting veterans' loneliness epidemic

Connections Podcast ·

2025/11/20

American veterans often say in surveys that they feel invisible. That goes for how society views them, but it’s also a reflection of a major problem with loneliness and mental health. ROC Veterans is a collaboration of Rochester and Finger Lakes-area organizations that support veterans. We discuss what veterans need and how the group's work is helping to address the loneliness epidemic. In studio: Zachary Collins, Ph.D., clinical psychologist with Veterans Nature-Based Therapy, part of

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