Connections Podcast

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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:

Addiction specialists across the country say they are concerned about a Trump administration plan to end a Narcan program. As reported by the New York Times on Friday, the administration's draft budget would terminate a $56 million annual grant program that provides the life-saving drug and training for emergency responders in how to administer it. The plan would not affect how state and local governments obtain Narcan. Meanwhile, in New York, lawmakers, advocates, and families are putting pressure on state officials to invest more resources in combatting the overdose crisis. In Monroe County alone, there were 95 opioid overdoses within the past month. Robert Kent is a national drug policy expert and former Biden administration official. He's in Rochester this week for an event at Huther Doyle, but first, he and his fellow guests join us on "Connections" to discuss their recommendations for how to better address the crisis at the local, national, and federal levels. In studio:

We turn to offshore wind — once the centerpiece of New York’s clean energy plan. With a mandate of 9 gigawatts by 2030, the state has invested heavily in offshore wind projects. But political pushback, cost overruns, and a sudden halt to Empire Wind 1 by the Trump administration have put the future of the entire sector in doubt. What’s behind the delays? What are the legal and ecological stakes? And can New York still lead the way on offshore wind? Our expert panel dives into the debate. In studio: renewable energy policy, NRDCNew York League of Conservation VotersNew York Offshore Wind Alliance

As federal support for clean energy faces new political headwinds, Rochester is stepping up. We explore how the nonprofit NextCorps is helping make Rochester a national climate tech contender through startup accelerators, clean manufacturing support and green job programs. But even as programs like Venture For ClimateTech build momentum, looming federal cuts could threaten local progress. Our guests break down the risks, the solutions and the opportunities ahead. In studio: RETRN Bioworks

We're joined by Rochester Mayor Malik Evans. Following up on the last State of the City address of his first term in office, the mayor sits down with guest host Gino Fanelli to discuss his administration's accomplishments and the challenges the city still faces — from public safety, to the economy, housing, and more. Our guest:

The Rochester Real Beer Expo has a new curator this year in Rob Richenberg. Richenberg aims to narrow the focus of the festival to New York breweries. That move comes at a time when the craft brewing industry has seen some turbulence, with both major players in the local scene and small breweries struggling to keep doors open and taps flowing. This hour, guest host Gino Fanelli explores it all with his guests:

How does play shape our minds and our bodies? And why do the experts say it's just as important for adults as it is for kids? Most importantly, how do we integrate it into our everyday lives? This hour, guest host Noelle Evans explores those questions. She talks about the science and joy of play with a panel of researchers and facilitators who say fun is serious business.

What does it take to preserve a language? It's a question Jamie Jacobs, a member of the Seneca Nation, has worked to answer over years. He has teamed up with university researchers to use technology to revive the Seneca language from historical texts written by Jesuit priests. Guest host Noelle Evans has reported extensively on his work. This hour, she and her guests explore the process of cultural preservation. In studio:

Kayjona Rogers is the 28-year-old executive chef at Studio Lounge. It all began when a run-in with the law offered Rogers the opportunity to attend a Foodlink program. That program changed the course of her life. Her passion for the culinary arts reignited, Rogers started her own catering business, Taste of Kaye. From there, she made the move to Studio Lounge. As executive chef, she has increased kitchen revenue by 200%. This hour, guest host Racquel Stephen talks with Rogers about her path to running a kitchen, her philosophy on food, and her take on making her mark in the culinary arts. Our guests:

Moe Jackson's football coaching career made headlines after he parted ways with Aquinas Institute in early March. Jackson led the football team to a Section V championship, but alleges that racial bias played a role in his termination. Less than a month later, he was hired by Vertus High School, a predominantly Black all-boys charter school, to lead their young football program. While his role at Aquinas was bringing the storied program to victory, at Vertus, it's also about nurturing young Black men. This hour guest host Racquel Stephen sits down with Coach Jackson to talk about his coaching philosophy, the value of mentorship, and what those relationships mean for both young people and the adults who support them. Our guests:

Then in our second hour, a Pittsford couple is seeing their work on the big screen...and so is the rest of the country. The film "Drop" from Universal Pictures is in theaters across the nation. Its screenwriters are Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach, who moved from Los Angeles to Pittsford in 2021. The thriller tells the story of a widowed mother named Violet whose date turns into a living nightmare. The title refers to digi-drops — or memes — that an unknown user is sending to Violet. Those drops become more and more threatening. Guest host Matt DeTurck sits down with Jacobs and Roach this hour to discuss their film, working with Hollywood, and what drew them to Rochester. Our guests: Jillian Jacobs, screenwriter for "Drop" Chris Roach, screenwriter for "Drop"

While LGBTQ+ arts and culture have received more mainstream visibility in recent years, the rapidly changing political climate has often shown a lack of support and, in some cases, outright aggression, towards individuals in these communities. As the ImageOut LGBTQ+ Film Festival prepares to present its annual spring screening of films and events from April 24-29, how is the festival pivoting its programming and mission in response to the current cultural landscape? From showcasing informative, visible, and representative stories, to also providing an entertaining escape, the organizers say the mission to present queer and trans stories, art, and culture is critically important to inform, educate, celebrate, and bring people together. Guest host Matt DeTurck leads this conversation with his guests: Michele Thornton, board chair for ImageOut Rick Porlier, programming co-chair for ImageOut Jennifer Tiexiera, co-director of "Speak" Guy Mossman, co-director of "Speak"