Connections With Evan Dawson

What does it take for an artist to make a cover song truly their own? CITY Magazine editor Daniel Kushner explores that question with our guest. We also listen to some of the standout cover songs created by the artist.

The Rochester Jewish Book Festival kicks off October 24 with a special event featuring author Mark Oppenheimer. His book, "Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood," highlights a road to healing.

Have you heard of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)? It's a form of mind-body medicine used to treat chronic pain. A documentary called "This Might Hurt" explores the role of the brain in chronic pain and how EAET can be used to manage it. Dr. Howard Schubiner is the director of the Mind Body Medicine Center at Providence Hospital in Michigan. His use of EAET to help patients is explored the film.

The Biden administration recently announced it will be making big changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The news was celebrated by borrowers working in public service who have found the program's requirements to be confusing or too strict. For instance, what is considered "public service"?

We discuss a new campaign at the House of Mercy. The Radical Compassion campaign is "actively working to preserve, promote and restore the dignity, value and independence of every human person without distinction or judgment."

We begin the hour with a conversation about priorities for Rochester with City Council candidate Stanley Martin. Our goal is to talk with all of the Council candidates on the ballot prior to Election Day.

The Ibero-American Action League and Rochester Latinx leaders have released a 53-page document outlining their recommendations for how to address issues that impact Rochester’s Latinx community.

Local breast cancer experts say there's misinformation being circulated about when to have mammograms. We talk about the latest in screening, treatment, and research for breast cancer -- especially during the pandemic.

We continue our conversations with candidates for Rochester City Council. We've invited every candidate on the ballot to talk about their priorities for the city.

Local children's health advocates say they are increasingly concerned about the mental and behavioral health needs among the community's kids. They say the pandemic, violence in schools and the community, and the stressors of living in poverty have left many children -- especially those from disadvantaged communities -- with unmet needs.

Voters in New York will see five proposals on the ballot this Election Day. Two relate to voting rights and one pertains to clean air and water. What do voters need to know? And what impact would the proposals have, if passed?

Election Day is less than a month away. This year, there are five proposals on the ballot -- four of which will directly impact voters in Western New York. This hour, we discuss the first proposal: Amend the process for determining congressional and state legislative districts. Our guests weigh in on the process of redistricting at the state/federal and county/local levels. The County Legislature and the Independent Redistricting Commission are hosting public hearings about proposed state maps.

A local production about sexual identity and religion is back by popular demand. We talk with cast members of OFC Creations' production of "BARE". The pop opera tells the story of a Catholic school boy who is in love with his roommate, and both of their struggles with coming out.

What can Harriet Tubman, Martha Coffin Wright, and Frances Seward teach modern day Americans about social justice? Dorothy Wickenden explores their remarkable lives and work in her book, “The Agitators.”

New York has passed one of the most ambitious pieces of parole reform in the country, and police leaders are not happy about it. The law is called the Less is More Act. It prohibits re-incarceration of people on parole for "technical violations" of parole. In other words, if a parolee misses a meeting, or flunks a drug test, they wouldn't automatically go back to jail.

The CDC recently published a list of ideas about how to prepare for safe holiday celebrations. But most Americans are not going to consider another Zoom Christmas. So how can we transition into a rhythm of life that reduces risk while also acknowledging that COVID is here to stay?

Would hiring more women reduce incidents of police violence? Some data indicates the answer is yes. Recently, a Rochester forum aimed to answer questions about the lack of women in law enforcement, and what might change that.

Today is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. In Rochester, a committee formed by Italian Americans has been working to determine the best way to honor Indigenous peoples while maintaining a day of celebration for Italian heritage.

We continue our series of conversations with candidates for Rochester City Council. Our goal is to talk with all interested candidates on the ballot prior to Election Day. This hour, we hear from Jasmin Reggler and Kim Smith about their backgrounds, platforms, and priorities for Rochester.

Shannon Stirone is a science writer who says that lately, we've been looking at space all wrong. Whether it's space tourism led by billionaires or the recent obsession with aliens and UFOs, Stirone is asking us to refocus how we think about the stars.