Connections With Evan Dawson

Rochester's Strasenburgh Planetarium was one of hundreds of locations around the world to host a watch party for the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. As reported by WXXI's Veronica Volk, the advanced telescope is expected to answer some of the universe's greatest mysteries. This hour, we talk with experts about the galaxies, nebulas, and asteroids they saw and what it all means for the future of science research and our understanding of the universe. In studio: Jim Bader, director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium Becky Borrelli, Ph.D., principal fellow in imaging systems at L3Harris Fred Moolekamp, Ph.D., research scientist at SoZen Inc./Rubin Observatory Segev BenZvi, Ph.D., associate professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

"What if we didn't have to leave home to have a world class experience?" Those are the words of CITY Magazine editor Leah Stacy, writing about the Finger Lakes. The July issue of the magazine is all about the vacation destination right in our own backyard. This hour, we explore some of those world class experiences with the CITY team and with the people creating them. Our guests: Leah Stacy, editor of CITY Magazine Jacob Walsh, art director for CITY Magazine Roberto Lagares, multimedia reporter for CITY Magazine Patrick Hosken, arts reporter for CITY Magazine Rachel Snyder, president of the Wells Legacy Society and Wells College alumna (Class of 2011) Matt Cassavaugh, owner of Hemlock Canoe Jazmine Saunders, soprano performing with Finger Lakes Opera, Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist, alumna of the Eastman School of Music (Class of 2022) and the Julliard School (Class of 2024), and William Warfield Scholarship recipient  Lora Downie, director of food and beverage education programs at New York Kitche

Steven Holden is a Democrat who lost to Republican Claudia Tenney by more than 30 points in 2022. So why does he think he can close that massive gap in 2026? Holden says Republican policies, including the new spending plan, are hugely unpopular. We discuss Democrats’ ideas on retaking the House, and why he’s starting this race so early. In studio:Steven Holden, candidate for New York's 24th Congressional district *Note: We will offer equal time on the program to any candidates running against Holden in this race.Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

Fresh off her run for mayor, Rochester City Councilmember Mary Lupien joins us to discuss the city budget and city business. We talk about how the city is addressing housing and new development, about the future of downtown, and the path to revitalizing neighborhoods. In studio:Mary Lupien, member of Rochester City CouncilTake our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

In 2004, the Science Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) was developed to attract semiconductor manufacturing and other industries to Western New York. The site remains largely empty more than two decades later. This week, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and the Sierra Club filed suit, seeking to halt the development of massive data centers at the tech park. We explore the complaint, the hold-up, and the history of the site. Our guests: Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News Chris Abrams, Beaver Clan, office administrator for the Tonawanda Seneca Nation  Grandell "Bird" Logan, Snipe Clan, media spokesperson for the Tonawanda Seneca Nation  *Note: We reached out to representatives from the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), but they did not respond to multiple invitations to join the conversation.Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

We continue our series of conversations with local state lawmakers about the 2025-2026 state budget. This hour, we're joined by Assemblymember Josh Jensen. He shares his perspectives on the budget, from taxes to child care to economic development and more. In studio:Assemblymember Josh Jensen (R, C), District 134

Andrew Cuomo has had a long and sometimes tumultuous relationship with organized labor. Cuomo might have thought his political name could carry him to victory in the New York City mayoral race, but he was soundly defeated by Zohran Mamdani, a young upstart with more union support. So what's the lesson that labor sees in this election? What will other candidates learn from it? Our guests discuss it: Dan Maloney, president of UAW Local 1097 and the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation  Patrick Coyle, chief of staff for the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation

How can patients and providers work together to improve the health care system? It's a question the Patient Clinician Alliance has been exploring for about five years. Most recently, the coalition of patients, physicians, and other health care professionals has created a survey designed to better understand the challenges patients face. This hour, we sit down with members of the Alliance to discuss their work, what they've learned so far, and what the future of the health care system could look like. Our guests: Mary L. Coan, Ph.D., M.D., lead of the patient survey project; steering committee member for the Patient Clinician Alliance; and physician in private practice, practicing integrative medicine Michael R. Privitera, M.D., founding member and steering committee member of the Patient Clinician Alliance Joel Elliot, steering committee member for the Patient Clinician Alliance Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

A growing number of Iranian students studying in the United States are afraid to voice their opinions publicly. Some want regime change; others are concerned about the possible escalation of war. We discuss the future of Iranian society and the complex dynamics driving public opinion. Our guest:Shahin Monshipour, Iranian AmericanTake our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

Tiki-themed Easy Sailor recently opened in Rochester, with tropical vibes and tiki cocktails. Later this summer, Rochester Tiki Week puts tiki culture in the spotlight. As reported by CITY Magazine's Patrick Hosken, it's a culture that has inspired a lot of fans and plenty of debate over the years. We explore what it's about and what tiki means to our panel. Our guests: Patrick Hosken, arts reporter for CITY Magazine Ken Albala, Tully Knoles Endowed Professor of History at University of the Pacific Dan Herzog, partner/beverage director at Easy Sailor Kelly McDonald, partner/executive chef at Easy Sailor Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

New York State has a budget, and it addresses a range of issues: child care; taxes; economic development; nursing homes; the list is long. Assemblymember Jen Lunsford has said that New York State needs to guard against the Trump administration's policies in some ways. We discuss how, and we talk about what's in the budget and why. Our guest:Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, District 135Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

Veteran activist and Quaker author Eileen Flanagan believes that hope and unity are essential ingredients in any real climate solution. In her forthcoming book, "Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth is Saving Us from Our Illusion of Separation," Flanagan shares stories of unlikely coalitions — from faith leaders and frontline organizers to Indigenous activists and investors — that are making a difference. She joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about fear, burnout, protest, and what it means to build power without losing compassion. Our guest: Eileen Flanagan, author and activist, Earth Quaker Action TeamTake our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

A Senate bill that would have banned the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer on New York farmland passed in the State Senate — but then quietly died in the Assembly. Supporters say the bill was a necessary response to research showing harmful levels of PFAS and other toxic compounds in treated human and industrial waste, which can contaminate crops, waterways and drinking water. Opponents, including the waste processing industry, say the science isn’t settled and that banning sludge could devastate rural economies. We look at how the bill unraveled — and what happens next. Our guests: Jeongyoon Han, Capitol News Bureau reporter for the New York Public News Network Murray McBride, Professor Emeritus of Soil and Crop Sciences, Cornell University Karen Berger, hydrologist and environmental science professor, University of Rochester Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

New studies show cannabis use is rising among older adults. Clinicians have been able to provide medical marijuana to eligible patients since 2016. But the legalization of cannabis in 2021 means increasing numbers of people are using it for a variety of symptoms and conditions including pain, anxiety, cancer symptoms and seizures. Guest host Racquel Stephen talks with local clinicians and a patient about this trend and about what patients should consider when requesting and using cannabis. Our guests: Leonid Vilensky, M.D., medical director of Upstate Pain Clinic Al Bain, patient who uses cannabis Paul Vermilion, M.D., assistant professor of palliative care in the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. Our first hour focuses on the prevalence of mental health issues among men. Men die by suicide at a rate higher than women. But the American Association of Medical Colleges points out that men are diagnosed with depression at far lower rates than women. Guest host Racquel Stephen and our panel discuss why men are underdiagnosed and under supported. Our guests also talk about the stigma surrounding mental health for men and discuss unique ways that local practitioners are meeting men’s mental health needs. Our guests: Bryan Burroughs, psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of RiteDiagnosis Psychiatry Alexis Burgess, owner/operator of One Love, One Way Wilbert “Trey” McCullough III, support group member Kaptah Xi-Amaru, support group member Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

We continue our conversations with winners of Tuesday night’s Democratic primary. This hour, guest host Gino Fanelli sits down with winners of the race for Rochester City School Board: current school board president Camille Simmons; Kareem McCullough; and Heather Fienman. The district is set to welcome a new superintendent — Eric Jay Rosser — in less than a week. It’s one of the reasons the RCSD has made headlines in recent months. We talk with the primary winners about their goals for the district, the culture of the board, and what they hope to help students, families, and the district achieve if they are successful in November’s election. In studio: Kareem McCullough, winner of the Democratic primary for Rochester City School Board Camille Simmons, current president of the Rochester City School Board and winner of the Democratic primary Heather Feinman, winner of the Democratic primary for Rochester City School Board Take our audience survey to help us learn more about you, and make a better show for you.

The results are in from Tuesday night's Democratic primary. Incumbent Rochester Mayor Malik Evans advances to the November general election, as will five candidates for Rochester City Council: LaShunda Leslie-Smith; Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith; and incumbents Stanley Martin; current council president Miguel Melendez; and Mitch Gruber. This hour, we focus on the city council race. Guest host Gino Fanelli talks with the winners about their vision for the future of the city and the work they aim to do if they win in November. Our guests:  Mitch Gruber, current member of Rochester City Council and winner of the Democratic primary LaShunda Leslie-Smith, winner of the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council Miguel Meléndez, Jr., current president of Rochester City Council and winner of the Democratic primary Stanley Martin, current member of Rochester City Council and winner of the Democratic primary Chiara "Kee Kee" Smith, winner of the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council Take our audience survey to hel

The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson died on June 11. He was 82, but as writer Sam Sodomsky wrote in a remembrance for Pitchfork, “‘immortal’ is still the word that comes to mind.” Wilson’s forward-thinking musical compositions helped redefine pop music in the 1960s — as well as what anyone thought was possible at the time. Tributes have poured in, including from local musicians. Submarine School of Music co-founder Ben Morey labeled Wilson “a guiding light to me for most of my life,” while psych-pop tinkerer Alex Northrup called for more Wilson-influenced sunshine “in a world that seems to be growing increasingly darker.” Both join musician and CITY magazine art director Jacob Walsh and guest host and CITY Magazine arts reporter Patrick Hosken to talk about Wilson’s influence on their lives as music makers. Our guests: Ben Morey, musician and co-founder of the Submarine School of Music Alex Northrup, songwriter, producer, and engineer Jacob Walsh, musician in Big Nobody and art director for CITY Magazine

Since its inception in 2002, the Rochester International Jazz Festival has always been, as its name states, international. Performers from Canada, Europe and elsewhere regularly make the trek to play at 18 different venues around town for audiences that can total 200,000. But 2025 feels different, backdropped by the Trump administration’s trade war with Canada and rising fears about border crossings and detainments. Musicians also say the cost of securing work permits in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years. Is it still worth it? And what’s it like for local jazz players, whose gigs don’t require the same logistical red tape? This year's festival is already in full swing and runs through June 28. Guest host Patrick Hosken talks with performers about their experiences. Our guests: Bill Tiberio, music educator and 2025 Jazz Fest performer Claire Voy, musician in SHEBAD and 2025 Jazz Fest performer Allison Au, musician and 2025 Jazz Fest performer

Hollywood loves sequels and remakes. And here they come: "Jurassic World Rebirth;" "M3GAN 2.0;" "28 Years Later;" "Superman;" "Happy Gilmore;" "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Will our panel of cinephiles go for nostalgia, or do they want something new? What’s The Little bringing to screens? Guest host Scott Pukos and fellow film fanatics tell us what's hot and what's not this summer: Jared Case, curator of film exhibitions for the Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum Jackie McGriff, photographer, founder, director, and co-producer for the Our Voices project Meghan Murphy, social media manager and storyteller for the Anomaly Film Festival Matt Passantino, film critic and writer for CITY Magazine and member of the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA)