Connections With Evan Dawson

Real estate broker Mark Siwiec says the newest data is stark, and tells a story of two Rochesters. For luxury homeowners, it’s the best of times: soaring numbers of homes sold for more than a million bucks. For first-time buyers, it’s the worst of times: tiny inventory, high pressure. But Siwiec says there’s reason to think that change is coming. He joins us to discuss it.In studio:Mark Siwiec, broker and owner of Elysian Homes by Mark Siwiec and Associates

New data finds that teenagers want more freedom and autonomy. Give them those things, and they say they’ll spend less time on their phones. Here’s the problem: modern parents are giving kids freedom in the wrong places. They’re giving kids more freedom online, where kids are getting addicted to social media and discovering violence and porn earlier than they used to. Meanwhile, parents are giving kids less freedom in the real world. So how can that be flipped?Our guests: Michael Scharf, M.D., Mark and Maureen Davitt distinguished professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center Hawa Ali, Edison Tech student

Six months ago, Senator Chuck Schumer persuaded his fellow Democrats to vote for a funding bill that President Trump and Elon Musk wanted. It averted a government shutdown. Some Democrats argued against funding a government acting in ways that betrayed their values. Schumer said he realized many colleagues would disagree with him, but he acted in courage and conviction. He doesn't think the government can be allowed to shut down, even if the party in power is acting in repugnant ways. Shut down the government, and you might shut down the courts, Schumer argued. And then what? In a few weeks, Democrats could face the same choice. Once again, there is a growing wave of anger at the way that the government is acting — including a president tweeting a photoshopped picture of him bombing the city of Chicago. Our guest leads the local Democratic party and will discuss the choices ahead.In studio:Avi Presberg, executive director of the Monroe County Democratic Committee

Kevin Surace is an RIT grad who has spent decades piling up patents and helping lead the field of technological innovation. He is much more optimistic about artificial intelligence than the doomsayers. Surace believes that AI will not devastate the job market, but he says it can certainly transform the nature of work in many ways. He says that can be a good thing if we know how to use AI. We sit down to discuss the future of work, and why he wants us to see the sunny side of technology.In studio:Kevin Surace, chief technology officer of Appvance and Silicon Valley pioneer

The Little Theatre's One Take Documentary series will feature "Remaining Native" on Wednesday and Saturday this week. The film is a coming-of-age documentary told from the perspective of a 17-year-old Native American runner. Ku Stevens has a dream of becoming a high-level collegiate athlete, but as Ku ages, he confronts his own great-grandfather's escape from Indian boarding school. We'll talk to the filmmaker, who is originally from Rochester and attended Ithaca College.In studio: Paige Bethmann, director and producer of "Remaining Native" Ansley Jemison, Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan and cultural liaison for Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site

How well do you know the story of Thurgood Marshall? For many Americans, Marshall was a Supreme Court Justice. But as noted in a new documentary about Marshall's life and impact, Marshall is the rare case of a Supreme Court Justice who is now known even more for his work before joining the court. Marshall was a Black lawyer at a time when predominantly white courtrooms, particularly in the south, meant that Black lawyers couldn't win. Instead, Marshall won 29 of his 32 civil rights cases that went all the way to the Supreme Court — including Brown v Board of Education. His rise through HBCUs, law firms, and eventually the high court are all center stage in Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect. The documentary airs on WXXI-TV on Tuesday night, but first, our guests discuss the impact of Thurgood Marshall today.In studio: Shaun Nelms, vice president of community partnerships and special advisor to the president at the University of Rochester Van Henri White, Rochester City Court Judge Note: This episod

Perhaps the single most successful marketing experiment in the last 10 years in this country is an independent baseball team that features dance parties at home plate and a player who bats while standing on stilts. The Savannah Bananas are often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters, but owner Jesse Cole says there are key differences. He wants to build a fanbase of one billion people, and so Cole says he keeps the team affordable: jerseys, hats, even tickets to games. Cole has turned down mega-million-dollar offers to sell the team. So we wondered: is this an example of conscious capitalism? Or is it something else? The founder of the Rochester chapter of Conscious Capitalism examines the case for us.Our guest:  Andrew Brady, founder of the Rochester chapter of Conscious Capitalism

Maybe it's the intrigue surrounding the nasty and expensive legal battle within Oak Hill Country Club; maybe it's the court reporting that made Gary Craig a legend in Rochester journalism. (He says it's Oak Hill.) But whatever the reason, Gary Craig just can't quit doing the work. He retired from the Democrat & Chronicle earlier this year. This summer, he launched his own Substack, which already has hundreds of followers. Craig joins us to dig into the juicy Oak Hill news, along with plenty of other work that is keeping him typing away. Our guest:Gary Craig, Substack-based journalist and former Democrat & Chronicle reporter

The Trump administration is downsizing NASA, with thousands of NASA employees leaving their careers behind. The White House's proposed budget would have eliminated some of our most ambitious missions in space, including the search to discover intelligent alien life. Astrophysicist Adam Frank says we are in danger of losing the next space race, with China aggressively moving ahead on plans to search for alien civilizations. Frank's popular new newsletter covers this and a lot more, and we'll discuss where space exploration is going — or not going — next. 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

One in three elections around the world is being contested. Turnout is dropping. By many indicators, democracy is backsliding. So what can reverse this trend? Valery Perry, Ph.D., is a senior associate for the Democratization Policy Council. She's concerned with trends abroad ... and with trends in the United States, including, as she puts it, the "hacking of the federal civil service." Perry, a western New York native, joins us in studio before she returns to Europe. Our guest:Valery Perry, Ph.D., senior associate for the Democratization Policy Council 

Nearly 2.5 million Americans could lose their SNAP benefits as part of the recently passed federal budget. Republicans in Congress have argued that these are not actual cuts to food benefits; rather, they represent an adjustment in benefits. At Foodlink, the message is clear: These are cuts, and the people who will bear the brunt tend to be older, including many veterans. We'll discuss what's actually happening with the Foodlink team: Mitch Gruber, Foodlink Chief Impact Officer Julia Tedesco, Foodlink CEO Whitley Hasty, Foodlink benefits navigation manager

The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft was formed six years ago as a kind of gathering place for anyone who wants more diplomacy, less war. In 2025, that means advocating for peace in Ukraine through a kind of land concession — and a concession that Ukraine will never join NATO. Critics call that capitulation to Putin, and a guarantee that Ukraine will be vulnerable to future attacks. But the Quincy Institute is calling for radical realism, and a plan to stop the destruction. Quincy's director of grand strategy is visiting Rochester to talk to the local chapter of the World Affairs Council, but first, he joins us in studio.Our guest:George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute

The political left has been engaged in a heated debate about who's to blame for the high cost of living in blue states and cities. In the new book Abundance, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson take their fellow progressives to task for making it too difficult to build... well, almost anything. New housing. High speed rail. Clean energy projects. If thousands of Californians are moving to Texas, what does it mean for the effectiveness of Democratic governance? Our guests have strong views on how Democrats can accomplish more on the state and local levels.In studio: Senator Jeremy Cooney, District 56 Nate Salzman, Brighton Town Councilmember

Evan Dawson is back, and he has big plans for Connections in the coming weeks.He's diving into public policy, the free range kid movement, and... aliens?He sat down with Senior Producer Veronica Volk to talk about what audiences can expect.

We’re continuing our summer tour of the Finger Lakes with a stop in Ithaca, a city where natural wonder meets vibrant culture. Nestled at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is home to more than 100 waterfalls, two major universities, and a rich history that has shaped its creative spirit. We’ll explore its gorges and wineries, its stories and legends, and why this small city makes such a big impression. Our guests: Jose Molina, travel show host and filmmaker Peggy Coleman, president, Tompkins Chamber Carol Kammen, Tompkins County historian

The ESL Rochester Fringe Festival is back with hundreds of performances across theater, music, dance, and more. But beyond the spectacle, why are audiences drawn to experimental art, and what drives artists to take creative risks? We explore Rochester Fringe as part of a global movement that gives performers a platform to experiment, connect, and rebel against the algorithm.Our guests: Erica Fee, CEO of the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival Martin Dockery, writer/performer of "1 SMALL LIE" Cat D. Olson, director of dance theater company CAT + THE COYOTE Dr. Jefferson Svengsouk, musician in Cobbs Hill Consort

Short films are having a moment. For student filmmakers, the short film is a space to experiment, take risks, and share stories that might not otherwise be told. They can capture a single emotion, a fleeting moment, or a bold new idea — and offer a glimpse into the next generation of storytellers. We talk with students from RIT’s School of Film and Animation about their work, the changing role of short films, and what audiences can expect from the latest installment of RIT Shorts, airing August 28 on WXXI-TV.Our guests: Christine Banna, assistant professor in the School of Film and Animation at RIT Deanna Moorehead, 3D artist Vinh Nguyen, 2D/experimental animator Colin O’Brien, composer and sound designer

Trust in the American justice system is at a historic low, and even many judges acknowledge systemic racism exists within the courts. In Rochester, the Judicial Observation Project is working to change that by training community members to observe court proceedings and provide feedback directly to volunteer judges. Our guests tell us about how the program was built, what it’s accomplished so far, and how it could be a model.In studio: Hon. Melissa Barrett, Rochester City Court judge and the supervising judge of City Courts in the 7th Judicial District Dr. Rashid Muhammad, director of community partnerships at JustCause

Jane Austen was born 250 years ago, but her work continues to entertain, delight, and inspire generations of readers. WXXI News' Beth Adams and WXXI's Classical Brenda Tremblay guest host this hour. Our hosts and their guests will celebrate her timeless works, remarkable life, and enduring legacy.Our guests: Dawn Kellogg, superfan Cherie Messore, superfan Mary Mintz, president of the Jane Austen Society of North America Lindsay Warren Baker, co-writer of "Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice"

For parents of children with disabilities, back to school time can be a mix of excitement and anxiety. They may be navigating complex education plans, arranging for specialized transportation, or making sure the right support staff are in place. For some families, it’s a matter of making sure their child has access to therapies; for others, it’s about fighting for accommodations they’re legally entitled to but don’t always get. And behind those hurdles is concern for whether their child will feel included, safe, and understood in a new school year. Our guests discuss their experiences and what resources are available.Our guests: Shenee Elzey, mother of a child who has Holoprosencephaly Kara Georgi, family education specialist at Starbridge Brentaysia Johnson, parent of a child with disabilities Kristen Lopez, communications manager at Starbridge and parent of a child with disabilities