Connections Podcast

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 selected two titles — one being Omar El Akkad’s “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.” El Akkad has described the book as a kind of breakup letter with the West. He writes of the devastation in Gaza and the plight of the Palest...

Car prices and servicing costs have both surged due to industry shifts, regulatory requirements, and rising ownership expenses. All that makes affordability a major challenge for many households. There's also an automotive technician shortage nationwide. What's being done in the Rochester region to train the workers needed to keep today's more sophisticated vehicles on the road? We sit down with l...

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 that survey, residents said they want action to make streets safer. And a majority of respondents support speed cameras and red-light cameras “in specific circumstances.” It’s not the return of the same red-light cameras from a decade ago....

Why are Muslim voters leaving the GOP? Many American Muslims express culturally conservative views and would seem to be a natural constituency for Republicans. But the GOP saw its Muslim support collapse.  The founder of Arab Americans for Trump in 2024 said that he was disappointed with how President Trump has governed. The slurs hurled at Muslim candidates like Abdul El-Sayed have also contribut...

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 fast-moving hour to examine what happened and why voters made the decisions they did. Our guests:  Rep. Joe Morelle (D, WF), projected winner in New York's 25th Congressional District Assemblymember Jen Lunsford (D, WF), projected winner in...

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 already forcing new conversations about consent and assault across the country.  We discuss how the varying claims could affect the legal investigation. We also talk about why inviting dozens of strangers to join a sexual conquest of a wom...

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 University of Rochester will take the initial lead on a laser program that's part of a nationwide project called the NSF STELLAR Engine. The work will be based in downtown Rochester's Sibley Square and is expected to expand to the Lake Avenu...

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 Alzheimer's in 2009 at age 59.  In his book, “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s,” he chronicles his own disease. O'Brien will be in Rochester for an event at St. John's , but first, he joins us on "Connections" to tell his story and...

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 , the 2020 closure of the Rochester Riverside hotel and the more recent shutdown of the Wyndham has left a dearth of rooms. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency is slated for a $16 million renovation — a "positive note" amid the other hotels' uncertain...

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 20% of nurses struggle with addiction — a rate similar to that of the general population. This hour, we're joined by healthcare providers in recovery who say their experiences give them a unique perspective when it comes to helping their pat...

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 Sarah Clark and Republican challenger Clianda Florence discuss their platforms, their perspectives on state issues, and what they'd prioritize for the district, if elected. They also answer your questions throughout the hour. Our guests: Sa...

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 process, we have answers. During this annual discussion, we're joined by experts who discuss how it works. We also hear from a local woman who shares her enrollment experience. In studio: Dave Kamholz , lead licensed Medicare agent for AAA Weste...

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 incumbent Josh Jensen and Democratic challenger Kurt VanWuyckhuyse discuss their policy ideas, their priorities for the district, where they agree, and where they differ. We also welcome your questions throughout the hour.  In studio: Kurt...

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 to support students? The issue is a growing concern, leading higher education institutions to establish new programs, services, and — in some cases — new grading and evaluation criteria to meet students' needs. WXXI has gathered data from mor...

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. Democratic incumbent Jen Lunsford and Republican challenger Kalinda Washington join us in the studio to discuss their priorities for the district, if elected. We ask them your questions throughout the hour. In studio: Jen Lunsford (D, WF), can...

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 market, but as one that's losing momentum. Homes that would previously sell in days are now staying on the market for weeks or even a month at a time. What has changed? Are high interest rates affecting purchasing power? What should both buy...

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 Joe Morelle. This hour, we sit down with Republican challenger Virginia McIntyre. McIntyre is a Monroe County legislator. She shares her priorities for office and her perspective on affordability, foreign policy, AI, and more. We ask her your...

We're joined by Alissa Ellman. The Democrat is challenging Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney in the 24th Congressional District. Ellman discusses her background and experience and explains how she differs from her opponent. Our guest: Alissa Ellman (D, WF), candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District *Note: Rep. Tenney did not respond to our invitations to join the program. --- Connecti...

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 district, while answering our questions and yours. Our guest: Harry Bronson (D, WF), candidate for New York State Assembly District 138 *Note: Bronson's opponent, Republican challenger Tracy DiFlorio, did not respond to our invitation to partic...

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 incumbent Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman sparred over affordability issues and immigration. NYPNN correspondent Jon Campbell shares his takeaways . Then, plans to revive Rochester’s only sanctioned homeless encampment have b...

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 according to American University professor Claire Brunel, Ph. D., it can also refer to firms and factories making cross-border moves due to climate regulation. According to Brunel's research, fears of companies fleeing are largely unfounded....

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 issues, including election protection, inflation, jobs, AI, and more. We ask him your questions throughout the hour as we continue our coverage of the 2026 general election. In studio: Joe Morelle (D, WF), candidate for New York's 25th Cong...

"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 of helping others thrive as they navigate a diagnosis. Advancements in screening and treatment for breast cancer have improved outcomes for patients, and as the technology continues to evolve, one question has become of particular focus: Can...

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 cases. In the first segment of the return of our weekly news roundup, we're joined by Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown. She explains the latest with the outbreak, how the disease spreads, and what you need...

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 cryptomining. Opponents are concerned about noise, pollution, and the rapid move toward artificial intelligence. Local governments want to keep debates grounded in facts. Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order putting a moratorium on new hype...