Connections Podcast

WXXI News
  • 4.7 (149)
  • News
  • Updated Daily

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.

  1. 16h ago

    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 supplies, air quality, vaccination rates, outbreaks of diseases like measles, and many other measures that contribute to a healthy community. That has changed. Public health is often in the headlines. It has become more political and less trusted. Guest host Julie Philipp discusses the current state of public health and how it affects you. In studio: Anja Bottler, M.D., service line division head for infectious disease at Rochester Regional Health Paul S. Graman, M.D., professor of medicine and senior associate hospital epidemiologist in the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Rochester Medical Center  Michael Mendoza, M.D., MPH, senior medical director for Town Square Health Laura Sugarwala, MBA, RD, director of community health partnerships at the Center for Community Health & Prevention, part of University of Rochester Medicine --- 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 rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.  Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here. --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

  2. 1d ago

    Genesee River Watch: Keeping tabs on this natural resource

    If you have been downtown lately, you’ve seen all the changes underway along Rochester’s riverfront. New and improved parks, public gathering spots, trails, and infrastructure. It’s all part of a multi-year, half-billion dollar investment to expand the use of the Genesee River, which has long been treated as our city’s backyard instead of its front. There’s a lot of excitement around this…but what about the main attraction itself? How healthy is the Genesee River? How is it being affected by climate change? Are pollution problems of the past still an issue? And why does it matter? Guest host Julie Philipp talks with our panelists from Genesee River Watch. Our guests: Caroline Kilmer, assistant director of Genesee River Watch Steve Orr, board president of Genesee River Watch Mike Haugh, board member for Genesee River Watch Don Zelazny, board member for Genesee River Watch --- 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 rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.  Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here. --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

  3. 2d ago

    Local brewers celebrate, despite challenging times

    Brewers from around the state are gathering at the Rochester Public Market on Friday night for the Flour City Brewers Fest, an annual celebration of craft beers. But the festivities are taking place against a backdrop of increasingly tough times for the industry. Hundreds of craft breweries across the country closed over the past year, and many others are struggling. How are surviving brewers adjusting to the new reality of rising costs and shrinking demand? Guest host Julie Philipp talks about that with our panelists and finds out what they think the future holds. In studio: Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association Jeff Ching, managing partner at Strangebird Brewing  Andy Cook, owner and head brewer at Swiftwater Brewing  --- 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 rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.  Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here. --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

  4. 5d ago

    What will help families most when it comes to affording basic necessities?

    Which expense is most difficult for your family to afford? That question was raised during a recent public hearing hosted by New York State's Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. The goal was to hear from the public about the financial challenges they face, while also examining the council's anti-poverty efforts. What's working? What challenges still need to be addressed? And what kinds of support do families say they need? We discuss those questions with our guests, and we talk about how expected cuts at the federal level could affect local families. In studio: Madison Byrne, policy and community advocate at the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative Pete Nabozny, director of policy for The Children's Agenda Tianna Johnson, parent advocate and community organizer

  5. 6d ago

    Understanding patterns of abusers

    Ohio Congressman Max Miller has denied allegations that he abused his ex-wife and their young daughter. Evidence that he has tried to marshal in his own defense has sparked conversations about abuse: specifically, why victims might behave in a certain way and why abusers might behave in a certain way. Our guests explore it: Lisa Nolan, director of prevention education at Willow Domestic Violence Center Jerri Lynn Sparks, former congressional press secretary and author of "Surviving Madmen"

  6. Aug 12

    'Our work...must be brave:' Fashion Week Rochester and supporting local youth in crisis

    Fashion Week Rochester is back this fall, and it's being reimagined a bit this year. What hasn't changed is its mission: the event has always been about serving the Center for Youth. As the center's executive director, Elaine Spaull writes, "With threats from our federal government and the needs growing every day, our work with youth facing homelessness, despair, and abandonment must be brave." This hour, we talk with Spaull about that work. We also hear from local emerging designers who share their remarkable stories. In studio: Elaine Spaull, executive director for the Center for Youth Angela Monique, creative conceptualist, stylist, and owner of Brown Girls Too vintage reseller Julia Sibley, personal stylist and founder of Storied Marcel "¢el" McCollough, designer and owner of NoBlam! NazMeir Lucas, youth leader and clothing designer

  7. Aug 11

    'Connections on the Road:' How to create healthier neighborhoods for everyone

    We welcome a live audience as we bring the show to Ibero-American Action League's Community Resource Center, located in the El Camino neighborhood of Rochester. Residents say they have concerns about poverty, drug use, and homelessness, and some neighborhood children don't like to play outside anymore. We talk to a neighbor and local leaders about what it will take to change that, and about how neighborhoods thrive or suffer based on resources and funding. We welcome comments from the live audience as well. Our guests: Angelica Perez-Delgado, president and CEO of Ibero-American Action League Ramona Colon, resident of the El Camino neighborhood Maria Garcia, marketplace bilingual facilitated enroller for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield --- 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 rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.  Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here. --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

  8. Aug 10

    TikTok star and best-selling author Jonathan Graziano and his dog, Milton

    This hour, we welcome a human guest and his canine co-panelist. You may know TikTok star Jonathan Graziano for his "Bones or No Bones" videos with his late dog, Noodle. The Rochester native is a best-selling author, and his newest book is about his adopted senior pug, Milton. "Milton Makes a Move" follows Milton's story as he finds his forever home. Graziano and Milton are in town for a series of events. We sit down with both of them to hear their story and to discuss animal rescue. In studio: Jonathan Graziano, No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Milton the pug --- 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 rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.  Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here. --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

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4.7
out of 5
149 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    WXXI News
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 WXXI
  • Show Website
    Connections Podcast

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