Connections With Evan Dawson

Dementia affects nearly six million Americans and causes more than 100,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. For caregivers, that can mean myriad challenges: providing the right kind of support; understanding disease progression; financial difficulties; and more. In this special edition of "Connections," we discuss what the experts say, and we hear from a local caregiver. In studio: Carol Podgorski, Ph.D., director of the Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease, clinic director of the UR Medicine Memory Care Program, and director of Alzheimer’s Disease Support Programs for the University of Rochester Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program Barbara Smith, caregiver for her husband  Jennifer Lesinski, vice president of marketing for St. John's Senior Living Katy Allen, division leader for caregiver services at Lifespan

In this special edition of "Connections" with a live audience, we discuss the Medical Aid in Dying Act and other legislation that can affect the disability community. How often are people with disabilities — and caregivers — brought into the discussion? What are the risks of legislating without that input, whether it's Medical Aid in Dying or other proposals? Who should be helping guide policy? Our guests discuss it. In studio: Chris Hilderbrant, executive director of the Rochester Spinal Association Heather Burroughs, caregiver and director of advocacy for AutismUp Brian Weber, member of the disability community and assistant football coach

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council. Each discussion is an opportunity for the candidates to share their platforms and priorities for office, and to answer questions from community members. This is part three of five in our series. Our guests: Victor Sanchez, candidate for Rochester City Council Kelly Cheatle, candidate for Rochester City Council Luis Aponte, candidate for Rochester City Council

Over the past several decades, progressives and conservatives have sought to ban books for very different reasons. In recent years, conservatives are more actively trying to get books pulled from libraries. The ten most challenged books from 2024 were all targeted from the political right. The local organization Our Local History is hosting a community forum about children's freedom to read. They explore challenged books and book bans on "Connections." Our guests: Justin Murphy, research and communications coordinator at Our Local History Henry "Cody" Miller, Ph.D., associate professor of English education at SUNY Brockport, and recipient of National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) National Intellectual Freedom Award Tamara Wall, member of the West Irondequoit School Board Noelle Evans, education reporter/producer for WXXI News

Fungi are among the most powerful yet overlooked climate allies. From storing vast amounts of carbon underground to breaking down pollutants and replacing plastic, fungi could be key to restoring ecological balance in a warming world. This episode of "Environmental Connections" explores how mushrooms and mycelium are contributing to climate solutions — and what’s at stake if they disappear. Our guests: Stacey Estabrook, founder of FLX Mushrooms Kimberlie Le, co-founder of Prime Roots, a sustainable protein company Aishwarya Veerabahu, Ph.D. student in the Pringle Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Despite increased gas prices and lower costs associated with buying an electric vehicle, drivers are still hesitant to make the switch. That’s due, in part, to charging anxiety: even though most daily trips are short, people still worry, 'what happens when you can’t find a plug?' A mandate from New York State that aims to have all new cars sold run on electric by 2035 has also exposed some of the communities’ more complex problems: utility limitations; lack of support from the federal government; and the problems presented by modern EV batteries. Our guests break it down: Senator Jeremy Cooney, District 56, and chair of the NYS Transportation Committee Brian Sharp, investigations editor for WXXI News Eric Hittinger, professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology

A recent independent audit offered a scathing assessment of how RG&E has conducted its business. The audit concluded that the company puts corporate profits above customer service and demonstrates very little investment in the local community. But RG&E claims that the audit is out of date and ignores their efforts to make serious improvements over the past two years. We discuss the company’s response to the audit and its plans to improve service in our region. Our guests: Kim Harriman, senior vice president of public and regulatory affairs for RG&E and NYSEG Christine Alexander, vice president of customer service for RG&E and NYSEG

Local youth leaders are sharing their stories in an effort to help their peers. The Center for Youth has embarked on a new “Restoring Justice, Re-Engaging Youth” initiative in response to violence and other issues affecting young people in Rochester. The goal is to use restorative practices to connect youth back to school and community. This hour, we talk with initiative organizers and youth leaders about what it takes to breakthrough to other young people facing different challenges. In studio: Elaine Spaull, executive director of the Center for Youth Nolica Murray Fields, director of restorative practices and equity at the Center for Youth Eli Cotton, program director for the Restoring Justice, Re-engaging Youth initiative at the Center for Youth Amy Sadler, photographer and creative producer 

Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone shocked the theater world with a series of incendiary remarks in an interview with the New Yorker. Some of LuPone's fans have responded with ambivalence, saying they love her work, even if they don't love... her. So how should art consumers consider the creator of the art? Where should the line be drawn? Is there a difference between consuming art created by a deceased artists, versus a living artist? Our guests discuss it: Mona Seghatoleslami, music director, host, and producer for WXXI Classical 91.5 FM, and music coordinator for the Little Cafe Matt Passantino, film critic for CITY Magazine Thomas Warfield, director of dance at RIT and inaugural professor of practice at NTID

Five years ago, AI was hardly a priority on higher ed campuses. Now it's becoming mandatory coursework. At the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Rochester, students now take 12 credits of coding, analytics, and AI. And the institute will be launching a new AI and Business program. For students who don't want to learn AI, will they be left behind in the future job market? Our guests discuss the challenge of preparing students for a very different world. In studio: Ian Mortimer, president of Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship Max Post, student at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence engineer for New Vision Development Group

Shoes have obvious benefits — but how would our thinking change if we walked barefoot in the woods? Lyanda Lynn Haupt is the author of "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit." She's coming to Rochester as a guest of the Western New York Land Conservancy. We discuss her feelings about the disconnect that many people feel: disconnected from nature, from the planet, from anything other than a screen. And we explore ways to get reconnected, even in small ways. Our guests: Lyanda Lynn Haupt, naturalist and author of "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit," among others Marisa Riggi, executive director of Western New York Land Conservancy

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council. We've invited all of the candidates in that race to join us on the talk show to discuss their platforms and priorities and to answer questions from community members. This is part two in our series. In studio: Clifford Florence Jr., candidate for Rochester City Council LaShunda Leslie-Smith, D.S.W., candidate for Rochester City Council Josie McClary, candidate for Rochester City Council

Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone shocked the theater world with a series of incendiary remarks in an interview with the New Yorker. Some of LuPone's fans have responded with ambivalence, saying they love her work, even if they don't love... her. So how should art consumers consider the creator of the art? Where should the line be drawn? Is there a difference between consuming art created by a deceased artists, versus a living artist? Our guests discuss it: Mona Seghatoleslami, music director, host, and producer for WXXI Classical 91.5 FM, and music coordinator for the Little Cafe Matt Passantino, film critic for CITY Magazine Thomas Warfield, director of dance at RIT and inaugural professor of practice at NTID

Local advocates with the Healthi Kids Initiative and Common Ground Health and New York State United Teachers went to Albany to rally for what they call the Right to Recess.While many school districts in the state require 20 minutes of recess for K–6 students, enforcement varies — and access to play is often shaped by race, income, and neighborhood. Experts and families say 20 minutes isn't enough, and that playful learning should extend from pre-K through 12th grade.With the pandemic underscoring the need for movement and connection, guest host Noelle Evans asks: why is recess essential, and how can schools make it more equitable and effective?Our guests:  Mike Bulger, director of Whole Child Health Advocacy with the Healthi Kids Coalition Sharon Peck, parent advocate and associate professor of literacy at SUNY Geneseo

School board is an elected office that regularly flies under the radar, but boards are crucial: deciding district policies, allocation of taxpayer money, and so much of what shapes the environment where children learn.Newly elected school board members are stepping into one of the most high-pressure roles in local government and facing political fights, public backlash, and deeply personal debates over what kids should learn and how schools should run.This hour, guest host Noelle Evans pulls back the curtain on your local school board and explores more about the ins and outs of one of the most powerful — and overlooked — elected offices in the community. Annamaria Falzarano, member-elect of the Greece Central School Board and retired coordinator of world languages at the Greece Central School District Amy Thomas, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association

How can the arts help us heal? Experts say music therapy can help people cope with anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. A program called Music for Veterans aims to leverage the therapeutic qualities of music to support and enrich the lives of military veterans. The head of that national program has ties to Rochester. He's in town this week to help support the local chapter. This hour, we talk with him and with local program organizers and veterans about the healing power of music. Our guests: Roy Ernst, Ph.D., founder of Music for Veterans National Association and professor emeritus of music education at the Eastman School of Music Mike Doolin, president of Music for Veterans-Rochester, U.S. Navy veteran, and trumpeter in the New Horizons band, among others Judy Rose, executive director of Music for Veterans-Rochester, bass clarinetist in the New Horizons Band, and vice president of Datrose Inc. Laura Heltz, executive director of Veterans Outreach Center, U.S. Army veteran, and author

Some members of Rochester City Council contend that last year’s budget allocated funds that could have been used to study a potential public utility. For those who don’t love the service from RG&E, this has been a big issue for years. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said last week on "Connections" that he is not trying to block a public utility, but he wants the county to share the cost of a study. Our guests explain why they think the timeline should speed up. In studio: Mary Lupien, member of Rochester City Council  Michi Cole Wenderlich, campaign and policy coordinator for Metro Justice

The town of Penfield has to decide what to do with the Clark Road Barn — a local historic structure. A number of other local towns have moved to preserve old barns, and a group of residents in Penfield want the same approach. But the town is considering several options, including demolition. So how do our local towns decide what is worth saving? When is a structure deemed essential because of its historic character, and when is it a burden? Our guests discuss why they want towns to slow down and prioritize preservation over demolition. In studio: Katie Andres, co-producer of the documentary, "Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells & Sons" Larry Francer, assistant director of the Landmark Society of Western New York Michael Jarvis, Ph.D., professor of history and archaeology at the University of Rochester

President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis has sparked a wave of concern, as well as questions about the disease. Who tends to get it? When should men get screened? What causes it? What are the myths, and what are the realities? Our guests answer questions from listeners about prostate cancer: Supriya Mohile, M.D., geriatric oncologist and professor in the Departments of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology; Surgery, Cancer Control; and the Cancer Center; and vice chair for academic affairs in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center Thomas Osinski, M.D., assistant professor of urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center Matthew Truong, M.D., urologist who practices general urology and urologic oncology at the Center for Urology, which is associated with Rochester Regional Health

The Seneca Park Zoo recently welcomed the first-ever North American river otters to be born at its facility. Leaders say it's a conservation success story that has been decades in the making. It comes at a time when a shift in federal priorities has affected environmental and wildlife protections: funding cuts to USAID and a funding freeze for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have halted projects centered on animals facing various threats, including extinction. Can the local project serve as a model for continued conservation work, despite changes at the federal level? Our guests discuss it. In studio: David Hamilton, general curator at the Seneca Park Zoo Larry Buckley, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the College of Science at RIT Laura Gaenzler, community science coordinator for the Seneca Park Zoo Society Tom Snyder, director of programming and conservation action for the Seneca Park Zoo Society