Connections Podcast

Hunt Country Vineyards is one of the pioneering wineries of the Finger Lakes, and come 2026, it will cease to exist as a wine producer. The new generation of owners have made the painful decision to end the winery. Dozens of other Finger Lakes wineries will soon face similar decisions, as owners age out of the grinding work demands. Hunt Country will transition into other sustainable farming and business endeavors, and we discuss it with our guests:

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported in error, and now is housed in a brutal prison in El Salvador. The Trump administration says it can't do anything to help him. Vice President JD Vance says that critics calling for Abrego Garcia's return will not be satisfied no matter what the administration does; Vance says the administration has to move quickly to facilitate the mass deportation that they promised voters. We discuss it with our guests:

Can you name the 2025 "Dirty Dozen?" In the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (DES), the term refers to the 12 items that cannot be thrown in your curbside recycling. While county recycling leaders say Monroe County has been ranked among the best municipalities for recycling in the U.S., one in 10 items placed in residents' recycling bins shouldn't be there. This hour, we're joined by the DES team to explore the state of county recycling efforts and what you need to know. Our guests:

Trump administration policies have left about 40,000 Afghan refugees who served the U.S. military in limbo. The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program has been paused under Trump's executive order, leaving Afghan allies as targets of the Taliban. In Rochester, the nonprofit Keeping Our Promise has expedited its work to resettle refugees, but that work grows more difficult by the day. This hour, we discuss the state of the SIV program and how it's affecting Afghan refugees who were approved to come to Rochester. Our guests:

Documentary producer Lynn Novick is known for her work on a number of projects that have aired on PBS. In 2017, she and filmmaker Ken Burns were guests on "Connections" discussing their series, "The Vietnam War." This hour, she returns to the program to talk about "The U.S. and the Holocaust" series. Novick will be in Rochester for an event with Monroe Community College, but first, she joins us on "Connections" to explore the power of visual storytelling. Our guest: Lynn Novick, director and producer of "The U.S. and the Holocaust"

The measles outbreak in the southern United States has caused multiple deaths, marking the first measles fatalities in this country in years. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sent mixed messages on vaccination and preventive care. In addition, Kennedy has been wrong about how vaccines are tested in children. We talk to local doctors about the best way to care for kids and keep them safe. Our guests:

When President Trump installed himself at the head of the Kennedy Center board, he promised less “wokeness” on stage. Musicians and artists have debated whether to keep their 2025 bookings, knowing they won’t be invited back next year. Our colleagues from Classical 91.5 look at the history of government control of the arts.

It’s spring break, and we’ve invited local teachers to come in and discuss how they’re approaching issues related to politics and current events in the classroom. Are classes more politically charged? Are students more engaged? Or more tuned out?

A new play at Geva Theatre asks whether Pure Native is a clever name for new bottled water with Haudenosaunee connections...or if it's purely exploitative. The show could push audiences to examine what they stand for, and what selling out really means. And for populations who have been abused, where is the line? Is it different? Our guests discuss it with Evan and co-host Eric Grode. In studio:

How would the Rochester region have developed differently without the Erie Canal? This year marks the canal's bicentennial, and a number of events are planned. Modern life has changed the canal from economic engine to a multi-use resource. Enthusiasts say more New Yorkers should use it. This hour, Evan and co-host Eric Grode explore the history of the canal, its significance to the region, and how it helped Rochester become the city it is today. Our guests:

Then in our second hour, after the markets plunged over multiple days, President Trump announced Wednesday that he is pausing some of his administration's tariffs. The pause for most countries is expected to last 90 days, but the tariffs on China remain. As reported by NPR, most countries will be left with 10% tariffs on their exports; China will face 125% tariffs. We check in with small business owners from a variety of sectors to hear how the tariffs will — or could — affect their businesses in a positive or negative way.

The Rochester City School District will welcome a new superintendent in July. Eric Jay Rosser was elected to the job by a four to two vote by the board of education. We've invited all seven commissioners to join the program to share their perspectives on the hire. This hour, we sit down with RCSD Board President Camille Simmons. The new superintendent is just one of the reasons the district has been in the headlines in recent weeks. We talk with Simmons about a number of issues, including school safety, student mental health, the district's proposed budget, and more.

"The houses, offices and businesses that might one day populate what is today the Inner Loop highway could tap into a massive geothermal field rivaling the largest systems of its type in New York." That's according to reporting by WXXI's Gino Fanelli. Geothermal energy uses heat from the earth's crust as a source of heating and cooling; it's more climate-friendly than fossil fuels. Rochester City Council has approved funding to study the potential project. This hour, we talk through what the work would entail, the costs and benefits, and — if approved — what the project would mean for developing the area. Our guests:

In an age where attention spans are decreasing and reliance on digital media is becoming increasingly prevalent, how do scholars make historic sources accessible to audiences today? Sarah Ruden is a leading translator of ancient literature. Her work includes translations of the Gospels, the "Aeneid," and more. She'll be a guest of SUNY Brockport on Wednesday, but first, she joins us on "Connections" to discuss her process and its significance. Our guest:

Bald eagles and peregrine falcons in New York State are in danger. As reported by WXXI's Veronica Volk, both species were pushed to the brink of extinction by habitat loss and the pesticide DDT. Thanks to conservation efforts in recent years, their populations have grown, but eagles and falcons are still at risk. Some of the birds could be in your own backyard. This hour, our guests help us understand the threats facing local birds of prey and how humans are helping or hindering their survival. Our guests:

Prison reform is back in the headlines in New York State, following a massive strike by corrections officers. The wildcat strike began on February 17, with thousands of corrections officers at more than forty state prisons walking off the job. Officers protested working conditions for nearly a month before more than 2,000 were fired for not returning to work. As reported by Capitol News Bureau reporter Jeongyoon Han, the strike exacerbated staffing shortages in prisons and has ignited debate over the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement — or HALT — Act. Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed new reforms; the ideas have been met with mixed reviews. This hour, we explore the state of prison reform in New York. Our guests:

On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that last week's market dive is an aberration, and there's no reason to expect a recession is coming. But the reality is that U.S. stocks are coming off one of the worst weeks in market history, and the president is determined to press forward with tariffs. The White House says the tariffs might inspire some temporary pain while sparking a manufacturing Renaissance. Our guests discuss it: Amit Batabyal, Ph.D., distinguished professor and the Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics at RIT George Conboy, chairman of Brighton Securities

"Hands Off" protest organizers expected maybe a thousand people in Rochester; they got more than 3,000. In the Finger Lakes, roadside rallies expected to draw a dozen, attracted hundreds. The nation's capital saw an estimated 30,000 demonstrators — triple the expected turnout. But even some of the demonstrators disagreed on what the purpose was: galvanize a movement? Attract Trump voters? Persuade fence sitters? Our guests attended the local events this weekend and discuss them.

In the second hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 4/4/25, co-host Patrick Hosken joins Evan for a preview of the Gateways Music Festival and a discussion about diversity in classical music.

In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 4/4/25, co-host Leah Stacy joins Evan for a discussion about this month's edition of CITY Magazine, the "Earth Issue."