Connections With Evan Dawson

Astronomers recently detected a signature of life on a distant planet. This does not mean that we have discovered aliens, but it's reasonable to wonder what is giving off this signal. We discuss the mission to find planets that are brimming with life — or are at least habitable. We also talk about why the search for life remains so intriguing to so many scientists. Our guest: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

America is in what some industry experts are referring to as a kind of alcohol recession. Beer and wine sales have been hit hardest, but even some premium spirit brands are seeing significant declines. An annual event seeks to breathe some light into the scene. With that in mind, this week's final episode feels like happy hour: it's all about the twelfth annual Rochester Cocktail Revival (RCR), which returns June 2-8. RCR is the only weeklong festival of its kind in New York State, made possible by 30+ Rochester bars and arts venues that host 70+ events across downtown Rochester. This hour, Evan, co-host Leah Stacy, and our guests talk about new events, the ongoing tiki trend, immersive cocktail theater and more. Our guests: Chuck Cerankosky, director of Rochester Cocktail Revival Flo Cardella, head bartender at Leonore's Cat D. Olson, artistic director of CAT + THE COYOTE Patrick Stetzel, owner and operator of Ziggy's

The Trump administration has begun canceling grant funding for arts organizations across the country. As word of the funding cuts hit different communities — Oklahoma City; Pittsburgh; New Orleans; Rochester among the first — a group of senior officials at the National Endowment for the Arts announced their resignations. For some local organizations, the funding cuts are coming almost immediately, after they had planned for the money. Evan and co-host Leah Stacy welcome guests to discuss what's cut, and what could be lost as a result. Our guests: Peter Conners, publisher and executive director of BOA Editions, Ltd. Jessica Johnston, executive director of Visual Studies Workshop, Inc. Chad W. Post, publisher of Open Letter Books Sherry Vile, executive director of A Magical Journey Thru Stages

Self-driving cars are now regularly showing up on the streets of San Francisco. The man who leads the team that developed them says technology is speeding up the pace of human life. He has his eyes on even bigger accomplishments, in the fields of climate change, health care, and more. Astro Teller is the “Captain of Moonshots” at X Google’s Factory and Innovation Lab. He's in Rochester for an event at RIT, but first, he joins us on "Connections." In studio: Astro Teller, “Captain of Moonshots” at X, the Moonshot Factory for Alphabet Bob Finnerty, associate vice president of communications at RIT Lisa Chase, vice president and secretary of the university for RIT

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the June Democratic primary. This hour, we sit down with Mary Lupien, candidate for Rochester Mayor. Lupien is a current member of Rochester City Council whose priorities for office include guaranteed basic income, access to safe and affordable housing, community responder programs, and funding for youth programs. She joins us in the studio to discuss her background and her platform, and she answers our questions and yours. In studio:Mary Lupien, candidate for Rochester mayor

Research shows the use of e-bikes is on the rise. What would it take for you to switch from your car or public transportation to an e-bike or a bicycle? Our guests this hour say there are both benefits and challenges to e-biking or biking, but they make this case for it this hour as they preview the upcoming Bike Week in Rochester. In studio: Jesse Peers, cycling manager for Reconnect Rochester Steve Roll, board member for Reconnect Rochester and cargo e-bike rider

How can people who want to become more involved in developing public policy do so in tangible ways? Two national organizations say their approach to that question is unique. Civic Genius and YOUnify have teamed up to develop what they call citizen assemblies, where participants engage in deep, long-form discussions; develop solutions to common problems; and then give their recommendations to decision-makers. The model is meant to be different from traditional town halls, where the loudest voices often dominate meetings. The organizations are bringing their model to the University of Rochester Democracy Center, and they are inviting local residents to participate. This hour, our guests explain how the process works, how it has brought about change in other cities, and how you can get involved. Our guests: Jillian Youngblood, executive director of Civic Genius at the National Civic League Stu Jordan, Ph.D., associate professor of political science and associate director of the University of Rochester Democracy

The International Plaza opened this past weekend. Our guest this hour discusses ways the event space and marketplace will celebrate Latino art and culture this season, amid anxiety and uncertainty related to national conversations. In studio:Jason Barber, International Plaza site manager for Ibero-American Development Corporation 

A recent state Supreme Court ruling stripped the Rochester Police Accountability Board (PAB) of its investigatory power. The decision was made following a complaint by the Rochester Police Locust Club. The PAB was already lacking disciplinary power. As reported by WXXI's Gino Fanelli, "The ruling allows for the PAB to do two things: it can exist, and it can review and recommend changes to department policy." The board can appeal, but there are still questions about what it will be able to accomplish in the future. We discuss that future with PAB Executive Director Lesli Myers-Small and Gino Fanelli. In studio: Lesli Myers-Small, Ed.D., executive director of the Rochester Police Accountability Board Larry Knox, chair of the Rochester Police Accountability Board Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News

Reuters recently reported that relocation firms have seen a surge of inquiries from Americans who are looking to move to Europe. The UK is seeing soaring passport applications, and some are looking into citizenship options based on varying ancestry rules. Our guests discuss their own experiences abroad. Our guests: Kristin Vanden Brul, co proprietor of Spino Secco in Northern Tuscany Marietta Nollen, co proprietor of Spino Secco in Northern Tuscany Ruby Lockhart, Rochester resident who lives in Italy for part of the year, co-owner of All Day Sunday, retired labor specialist for NYS United Teachers, and retired executive director of Garth Fagan Dance

Leaders from NPR and PBS said Sunday that the president's executive order eliminating funding for public broadcasting could have devastating effects across the country — especially for small and mid-size markets. President Trump said that he doesn't trust public broadcasting and he wants Americans to rely on other outlets. Our guests include WXXI CEO Chris Hastings and Congressman Joe Morelle, who can speak to the mission and impact of public media for everyone. We welcome audience feedback as well. Our guests: Chris Hastings, president and CEO of WXXI Public Media Rep. Joe Morelle, 25th Congressional District  Tom Proietti, resident media scholar at St. John Fisher University and longtime WXXI member

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. recently made a series of remarks about autism. RFK spoke about “severe autism” and said he lamented the difficult lives that people with severe autism have to lead. He even talked about creating a “national autism registry,” although his office later walked back that idea. Meanwhile, researchers — including those within his own agency — are pushing back on a number of claims RFK has made about some of the facts surrounding the condition. This hour, Evan and co-host Sarah Murphy Abbamonte sit down with a local clinician and autism awareness advocates to discuss the facts, their experiences, and the ways that autism has affected them. In studio: Dylan Dailor, autistic self-advocate Jerri Lynn Sparks, autism acceptance, appreciation, awareness, and inclusion advocate for nearly 30 years, and proud mother of a son with autism (and his three siblings) Laura Silverman, Ph.D., associate professor and clinical child psychologist in the Division of Developmenta

Many students with disabilities will face challenges after graduating high school. The term "disability cliff" refers to the loss of resources and support young adults experience after leaving the school system. Finding employment, accessing housing, and achieving self-directed independence can all be difficult. A local program is working to fill the gap. This hour, Evan and co-host Sarah Murphy Abbamonte welcome guests from Starbridge's Creating a Life After High School program. We explore how the program works and how it has benefited young adults. Our guests: Jacob Weishaar, recent graduate of the Creating a Life After High School program at Starbridge Kelly Weishaar, parent of Jacob Weishaar and school psychologist Maggie McCrumb, graduate of the Creating a Life After High School program at Starbridge Jean McCrumb, parent of Maggie McCrumb Kristen Lopez, director of marketing and communications for Starbridge

We begin our series of conversations with candidates running in the June Democratic primary. This hour, we sit down with Shashi Sinha, candidate for Rochester mayor. Sinha is an IT executive, real estate investor, and first-time candidate whose priorities for office include lowering taxes and increasing the availability of housing. Earlier this year, he told WXXI's Gino Fanelli, "I'm living a happy life; beside my family, nobody knows me. But if that kind of individual, average people like me don't stand up, who will?” Sinha joins us in the studio to discuss his background and his platform, and he answers our questions and yours. In studio:Shashi Sinha, candidate for Rochester mayor

Canadians were an absolute lock to elect a new conservative government just three months ago. Then came the second Trump administration, the tariffs, and the “51st state” comments. That's when Canadians rallied back to the liberal party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump himself acknowledges that he seems to have swung an entire country almost 40 points. Our guests discuss what it means for Canada, and for Canada’s relationship with the United States. Our guests: Craig Needles, radio and podcast host from London, Ontario Earl Dunbar, dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada and retired software and network engineer

A local town is putting cannabis tax revenue to work. Since the opening of two adult-use dispensaries, the town of Henrietta has generated more than $750,000 in tax revenue. The money has covered the cost of a law enforcement official dedicated to quality-of-life issues in the town, and Henrietta has also been able to roll back a recent tax increase. Our guests say legal cannabis has worked for the community, and this hour, they explain what they’ve learned from the experience. Our guests: Felicia Reid, deputy executive director and acting executive director of the NYS Office of Cannabis Management Stephen Schultz, Henrietta town supervisor Ryan Martin, owner of MJ Dispensary 

Nurse Josephine Ensign was homeless herself before she became a leading voice in the national conversation on homelessness. She writes about the visceral experience of being homeless, while examining which policies work — and which don't. She has written several books on the subject, including “Way Home: Journeys Through Homelessness.” It's a plea to keep all members of society in focus and in the conversation. Ensign is in Rochester as a guest of SUNY Brockport, and this hour, she joins us on “Connections.” In studio:Josephine Ensign, DrPH, ARNP, professor of nursing at the University of Washington School of Nursing and author of multiple books, including "Way Home: Journeys Through Homelessness"

More than 50 years ago, a group of Native Americans chose to leave the reservations where they lived to form a new community near Plattsburgh. Frustrated with the overcrowding, drugs, and alcoholism they had just fled, they built their new settlement, called Ganienkeh, with the goal of following a traditional way of life. A land dispute between the group, a nearby town, and the state led to state troopers policing the area for three years until the Mohawks and the state reached an agreement, moving Ganienkeh to its permanent home. The story is told through the documentary, "This Land," which will be screened at the Rochester International Film Festival. This hour, we talk with the team behind the film and residents of Ganienkeh about their remarkable story of reclaiming their land and their culture. Our guests: Raiewate Herne, Ganienkeh community member Tyler Hemlock, Ganienkeh community member Darryl Martin, Ganienkeh community member Mike Bradley, documentary filmmaker and director, producer, and editor of

Pope Francis is being remembered as a progressive-minded leader… but what is his legacy? His words were often more progressive than the church’s policies, and doctrine barely budged under Francis. Our guests discuss his impact. Damian Zynda, Th.D., director of mission and ministry at McQuaid Jesuit, adjunct professor of theology at Creighton University in Omaha, and author of "Archbishop Oscar Romero, A Disciple Who Revealed the Glory of God" Nora Bradbury-Haehl, author of "The Freshman Survival Guide" and "The Twentysomething Handbook," and pastoral associate at Queen of Peace and St. Thomas More Churches

Why are more young adults getting cancer? It's a question researchers are racing to answer. In January, the American Cancer Society released a report detailing how despite the cancer mortality rate in the U.S. decreasing by 34% from 1991 to 2022, the progress is jeopardized by an increase in diagnoses of many types of cancer, especially in younger adults. As our guests this hour explain, navigating cancer diagnosis and treatment as a young person has unique challenges. We talk with them about the state of research and how to support young adults living with the disease. Our guests: Lauren Spiker, founder and executive director of 13thirty Cancer Connect Jamie Flerlage, M.D., chief, academic director, and associate professor of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at Golisano Children's Hospital and assistant director of clinical research at the Wilmot Cancer Institute Ashley Chittenden, survivor of acute myeloid leukemia and nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at Golisano Ch