Connections Podcast

It’s our weekly news roundup. Jon Campbell of WNYC and the New York Public News Network explores a proposal to bring down the cost of auto insurance rates in New York State. Then, WXXI’s Brian Sharp has the latest with possible investments in and around the Red Wings’ stadium. We end the week with Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo, who explains what you need to know regarding changes and updates at the county clerk’s office. Our guests: Jon Campbell, Albany correspondent for WNYC, Gothamist, and the New York Public News Network Brian Sharp, investigations and enterprise editor for WXXI News Jamie Romeo, Monroe County Clerk ---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.

Is the U.S. ready for a woman in the White House? Former first lady Michelle Obama is clarifying comments she recently made, where she said the country wasn’t ready. Now she says America is moving in the right direction. Several women could compete for the Democratic nomination for president. We discuss the great – and still unbroken – glass ceiling. Our guests: Lystra Bartholomew McCoy, Monroe County legislator, District 18 Kelly Cheatle, artist and community organizer Jerri Lynn Sparks, former congressional press secretary ---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.

About eight million people attended this past weekend's "No Kings" protests, organizers say. They predicted the day's thousands of demonstrations would be the "single-largest non-violent day of action" in U.S. history. Has the nonviolence movement changed in recent years? How has it been affected by tragedies like the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis? Our guests join us from the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence to discuss the state of nonviolence education and resistance, especially during a time of war. In studio: Erin Thompson, executive director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence Isaiah Santiago, commissioner of the Rochester City School District Board of Education and keynote speaker for the Gandhi Institute's "Soulforce" gala Ashwin Shah, community member and former board member of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence ---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.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. will hit Iran "extremely hard" over the next two to three weeks. Trump made the remarks during an address to the nation Wednesday night. He claimed success in the war, saying the U.S. has nearly completed its objectives, while also saying upcoming American military strikes will send Iran "back to the Stone Age." We sit down with local Iranian Americans to discuss the state of the war, the effect of U.S. involvement, and what's next for Iranians and their leadership. Our guests: Shahin Monshipour, Iranian American Pouya Seifzadeh, Ph.D., associate professor of strategy in the School of Business at SUNY Geneseo and local business owner of Funtastic Adventure Park, Bounce Hopper, and Ontario Play & Cafe ---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.

We're joined by astrophysicist Adam Frank, who reviews the hottest movie in the country, "Project Hail Mary." Did the writers get the science right? How about the alien representation? We go to the movies for a little break from reality. 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---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.

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse say the Epstein case has led to more awareness of the issue. We talk with local abuse survivors who say they have found peace through art. They discuss the "Survivor's Art Project" and how healing from trauma can come in different forms. In studio: Kim Brumber, owner of Conava Consulting and co-leader of the Survivor's Art Project Beth Bloom, retired peer support specialist Rebecca Phelps, trauma therapist with the Survivor's Art Project, survivor of interpersonal violence, and master's level clinical intern at Sustainable Wellness ---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.

Surveillance pricing is the practice of using shoppers' personal data to set prices. It can be carried out in various ways, and in many cases, it’s legal. But governments at many different levels are working to outlaw the practice — or at least severely restrict it. Our guests explain how it works and what they think should be done about it. Our guests: Rachel Barnhart, Monroe County legislator, District 17 Jonathan S. Weissman, principal lecturer in the Department of Cybersecurity at RIT Pat Garofalo, director of state and local policy at the American Economic Liberties Project ---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.

Hearing loss is a growing public health crisis. That's according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. The organization reports that more than 50 million Americans are affected by hearing loss, and there are many more people at risk. This hour, our guests discuss what they want the public to know about navigating the condition, treating it, addressing some of the mental health and social factors tied to it. Our guests also share their personal experiences living with hearing loss. This story is reported from WXXI's Inclusion Desk. Our guests: Ira Rubenstein, board chair for the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and chief digital and marketing officer for PBS Peter Fackler, board member for the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and the NY State Association of HLAA, past chair of HLAA and the NY State Association of HLAA, and long-time activist and member with HLAA, Rochester chapter Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America ---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.

The emerging conventional wisdom is that artificial intelligence cannot be stopped, so we should try to shape it to our benefit. An organization called PauseAI has a different view. Its leaders believe that we should listen to what the tech companies are telling us, and act accordingly. Those companies say that we are on the precipice of major job loss, and we could eventually see a risk to the survival of the human species. We discuss strategies that PauseAI is using to try to alert the public and change course.Holly Elmore, founder and executive director of PauseAI US ---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.

WXXI is celebrating Women’s History Month, and this hour, guest host Racquel Stephen highlights two Rochester women whose work may have gone unnoticed, but who are making a historical impact in the community. Hani Ali is the founder of Mental Health Education & Legal Code for Refugee Rights, Inc. (MELCORR). The nonprofit organization offers mental health counseling and various resources to more than 200 local refugee families. Brittany Rumph is the co-founder of Innova Girls Academy, Monroe County’s first all-girls elementary charter school. They join us in the studio to discuss their remarkable work. Our guests: Hani Ali, founder of Mental Health Education and Legal Code for Refugee Rights, Inc. (MELCORR) Julie Cosner, volunteer in programming at MELCORR Kaylee Ziegler, office administrator at MELCORR Brittany M. Rumph, co-founder and head of school academics at Innova Girls Academy LaShonda Robinson, lower school director of curriculum and instruction at Innova Girls Academy WXXI is celebrating Women’s History Month, and this hour, guest host Racquel Stephen highlights two Rochester women whose work may have gone unnoticed, but who are making a historical impact in the community. Hani Ali is the founder of Mental Health Education & Legal Code for Refugee Rights, Inc. (MELCORR). The nonprofit organization offers mental health counseling and various resources to more than 200 local refugee families. Brittany Rumph is the co-founder of Innova Girls Academy, Monroe County’s first all-girls elementary charter school. They join us in the studio to discuss their remarkable work. Our guests: Hani Ali, founder of Mental Health Education and Legal Code for Refugee Rights, Inc. (MELCORR) Julie Cosner, volunteer in programming at MELCORR Kaylee Ziegler, office administrator at MELCORR Brittany M. Rumph, co-founder and head of school academics at Innova Girls Academy LaShonda Robinson, lower school director of curriculum and instruction at Innova Girls Academy

Only 18% of four-year colleges require a foundational course in U.S. history or government. That could help explain why American students fare so poorly on history exams. With the country turning 250 years old, Geneseo history professor Michael Oberg is helping launch a new project: it pairs college students with historians to study both New York State history and the meaning of American independence. Can it work? More ominously, what are the costs of a poorly educated society? We discuss it. Our guests: Michael Oberg, Ph.D., distinguished professor in the Department of History at SUNY Geneseo Beth Thomas, historian for the town of Bristol Myah LaFave, recipient of the 2026 Robert Gardiner Fellowship Liam DeBono, undergraduate at SUNY Geneseo and recipient of the 2024 Robert Gardiner Fellowship ---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.

"It's been cold out. Your bill may reflect that with increased energy use and higher market supply costs. We're here to help you understand why and what you can do next." That's the language from a recent text many local RG&E customers received. We sit down with RG&E leaders this hour. They can't answer questions about your specific bill, but they can talk about billing practices. They also address how the energy crisis is affecting what they do. Our guests: Trish Nilsen, CEO of NYSEG and RG&E Chris Knospe, regional manager of NYSEG and RG&E municipal, community, and business relations ---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.

Industry experts say the demand for workers in the skilled trades is at an all-time high. And there's an increasing push for women to fill those gaps. As part of our celebration of Women's History Month, we talk with local women welders and welding students about how they view careers in the trades. Our guests: Stacey Mrva, artist/instructor at Ironwood Studios Lilly Hugi, student in the Metal Trades Program at Genesee Valley BOCES in Mt. Morris Honesty Harmon, student at Edison Career and Technology High School James Putnam, welding teacher at Edison Career and Technology High School Mary Guldenschuh, deputy director of the Livingston County Workforce Development and Youth Bureau ---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.

Doctors across the nation are burned out, studies say. But according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the total number of students who want to become doctors reached a new high last year. A film featuring local medical students explores the process of becoming a doctor and that challenges that come with it. "The Healer's Journey" will be screened at Writers & Books next week and on WXXI-TV next month. We sit down with local clinicians behind the film to discuss the state of the health care system and what it means for doctors and patients. In studio: Mick Krasner, M.D., professor emeritus of medicine at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, co-chief medical officer and vice president of education for EmPRO Insurance Company, and executive producer of "The Healer's Journey" Abe Choe, M.D., psychiatry resident at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, who is featured in "The Healer's Journey" Trisha K. Paul, M.D., MFA, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Care, and Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics at the University of Rochester Medical Center ---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.