Connections Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Getting a job – and keeping a job – is not what it used to be Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Unexpected job loss. Chaos in the workforce. Changing rules. The work environment for teens and 20-somethings looks a lot different than it did for previous generations. Fewer than half of Americans age 17-19 have held a job. That can lead to friction with their first employers. Chitra Nawbatt writes often on how the youngest adults can navigate a much more difficult space than their parents found. Her book, "The CodeBreaker Mindset," explores how to turn problems into advantages. She’s a guest this week at the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship, and this hour, she joins us on "Connections." In studio:

Chitra Nawbatt, investor, growth advisor, podcast host, and author of "The CodeBreaker Mindset"
Ian Mortimer, D.B.A., president of the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Assemblymember Josh Jensen on the 2026-2027 NYS budget Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

The new state budget was nearly two months late when it was passed, and New York lawmakers are sharing their perspectives on the process, what's included, and what they think is missing. This hour, we're joined by Assemblymember Josh Jensen. He discusses his take on healthcare spending, the statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers, and more. You can join the discussion and ask Assemblymember Jensen your questions about state business. In studio:

Assemblymember Josh Jensen, District 134

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Why do conspiracy theories spread so quickly? Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

When we recently learned that Senator Lindsey Graham had died and that Senator Mitch McConnell was having health problems, conspiracy theories flourished online: Maybe Senator Graham had been targeted by the Kremlin; maybe Senator McConnell had died, and his death was being hidden. Why do conspiracy theories spread so quickly in modern culture? We explore that question with our guest:

Kyle Green, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Sociology at SUNY Brockport and host of the "Give Theory a Chance" podcast

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

A new book tells the story of immigration, assimilation, and the personal stories of American Jews Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

"The Settlement Cook Book" was published in 1901 and quickly became a kind of guidebook for Jews who had come to America. In her new book, "Recipes for the Melting Pot: The Lives of The Settlement Cook Book," author Nora Rubel delivers a story of immigration, culture, and assimilation — all themes deeply relevant today. She tells stories of food, noting that foods tied to Jewish culture (bagels, pickles) were not necessarily Jewish foods in other parts of the world. We discuss the lessons that come from a cookbook that is now 125 years old. In studio:

Nora L. Rubel, Ph.D., author of "Recipes for the Melting Pot: The Lives of The Settlement Cook Book," and Elizabeth Denio Professor in the Department of Religion and Classics at the University of Rochester

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Assemblymember Andrea Bailey on the 2026-2027 NYS budget Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

We continue our series of conversations about the New York State budget with Assemblymember Andrea Bailey. She joins us in the studio to discuss the size of the budget, the process that led to the latest budget in two decades, and more. You can join the discussion and ask her your questions about state business. Our guest:

Assemblymember Andrea Bailey, District 133

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

What is patriotism in 2026? Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

What does American patriotism look like in 2026? According to a recent Gallup poll, patriotism hit a 25-year record low this year, with one-third of respondents saying they have extreme pride in their national identity. What does it mean to be a patriot? Are Americans are living up to the country's ideals 250 years since its founding? Our guests explore these questions and more. In studio:

Mark Assini, retired, former Gates town supervisor, and former Monroe County legislator
Eve Elzenga, Rochester resident, humanist, and life-long activist
Adrian Hale, New York State Regent, civic leader, and U.S. Marine and combat veteran
Nate Salzman, member of Brighton Town Council and Democratic nominee for Brighton town supervisor

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Is Congress too old? Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Is Congress too old? Some are asking that following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and the health questions surrounding Sen. Mitch McConnell. The average member of the United States Senate is significantly older than the average American. Elected leaders commonly serve for decades. Our guests discuss whether this is a benefit or a problem, and whether anything could be done to change it. In studio:

Patrick Coyle, chief of staff of the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation
Mark Johns, Monroe County Legislator for District 8

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford on the 2026-2027 NYS budget Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

We kick off our series of conversations about the New York State budget with Assemblymember Jen Lunsford. She shares her takeaways regarding auto insurance, utilities, and childcare, among other budget items. You can join the discussion and ask her your questions about state business. In studio:

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, District 135

---

Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

---

Connectionsairs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

---

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected