Podcast artwork thumbnail for Connections Podcast

Connections Podcast

Evan Dawson

Booking Overview

This weekday public-affairs interview show covers Rochester- and New York-focused education, politics, community issues, culture, and regional developments, typically featuring multiple relevant local or regional guests. Credible candidates include academics, public officials, nonprofit leaders, educators, and business or cultural operators with direct expertise or a strong local connection; booking difficulty is generally low.

Metrics

Episodes: 50

Frequency: Daily

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Estimated listeners: 1,000 - 10,000

Gender skew: Neutral

Listener location: USA

YouTube: 11.9k subscribers

Instagram: 21.0k followers

Page updated: Nov 4, 2026 · How we check this data

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

connections@wxxi.org

vvolk@wxxi.org

newsroom@wxxi.org

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Host

Evan Dawson - Journalist and public-radio host known for leading WXXI's Connections, a Rochester-focused public-affairs program.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

low
Typical Credentials:  
Local or regional public officials, higher-education leaders, academics, nonprofit executives, educators, advocates, and business or cultural leaders with direct expertise on a timely Rochester- or New York-focused issue.
Required Achievements:  
Leadership of a relevant public, nonprofit, educational, business, or cultural organization, Academic or professional expertise on a current policy or community issue, Direct involvement in a significant regional development or public debate

Recent Guest Discussions

Qutisha Britt - Family Experiences With Chronic Absenteeism And Barriers Affecting Student Attendance.

Isabel Rosa - Student Absenteeism, Parent Perspectives, And Education Advocacy In Monroe County.

Eamonn Scanlon - Chronic Absenteeism Among Monroe County Students And Findings From The Children's Agenda's Report.

James D. Miller, Ph.D., J.D. - Artificial Intelligence Policy, Partisan Divisions In The AI Debate, And Conservative Perspectives On AI Governance.

Hannah Maier - Changes In Rochester's Music Scene And The Evolving Live-music Ecosystem.

Recent Topics

News, Public Affairs, Education, Local Politics, Art

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Connections Podcast
:

Cornell sexual assault allegations spark hard questions

November 03, 2026

What can we learn from the allegations of sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity? The legal case could take a long time, but the ripples of the allegations are already forcing new conversations about consent and assault across the country. We discuss how the varying claims could affect the legal investigation. We also talk about why inviting dozens of strangers to join a sexual conquest of a woman has its own ethical problems, regardless of how the legal side plays out.Our guests: Meredith O...

Rochester is getting all the lasers

November 02, 2026

Rochester is becoming a national hub for laser science, thanks to the National Science Foundation and New York State. As reported by WXXI's Brian Sharp, the University of Rochester will take the initial lead on a laser program that's part of a nationwide project called the NSF STELLAR Engine. The work will be based in downtown Rochester's Sibley Square and is expected to expand to the Lake Avenue photonics hub. And speaking of photonics, there has been a slow buildup on jobs and activity. It’...

Journalist Greg O'Brien on living with Alzheimer's

October 30, 2026

What does it feel like to live with Alzheimer's? It's a question journalist Greg O'Brien has been answering for nearly two decades. O'Brien was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009 at age 59. In his book, “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s,” he chronicles his own disease. O'Brien will be in Rochester for an event at St. John's, but first, he joins us on "Connections" to tell his story and to share what he wants the public to know about living with the disease. We also talk with local neu...

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Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
Connections Podcast
:

How do I get in touch with Connections Podcast?

Connections Podcast is hosted by Evan Dawson. Its publicly listed emails are connections@wxxi.org, vvolk@wxxi.org, and newsroom@wxxi.org. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for Connections Podcast?

The publicly listed emails for Connections Podcast: connections@wxxi.org, vvolk@wxxi.org, and newsroom@wxxi.org.

How many listeners does Connections Podcast have?

Podseeker estimates Connections Podcast reaches 1,000 to 10,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for Connections Podcast?

Connections Podcast typically books working professionals with real expertise. Typical guest background: Local or regional public officials, higher-education leaders, academics, nonprofit executives, educators, advocates, and business or cultural leaders with direct expertise on a timely Rochester- or New York-focused issue. Common among recent guests: Leadership of a relevant public, nonprofit, educational, business, or cultural organization; Academic or professional expertise on a current policy or community issue; Direct involvement in a significant regional development or public debate. Recent guests include Qutisha Britt, Isabel Rosa, and Eamonn Scanlon.

How hard is it to get booked on Connections Podcast?

Low. A guest with relevant expertise and a clear angle for its audience has a realistic chance.

What topics does Connections Podcast cover?

Recent episodes cover News, Public Affairs, Education, Local Politics, and Art. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

How does Podseeker get this information?

From public sources and our own research: podcast websites, social profiles, podcast feeds, and our data team. Podcast feeds and episodes are checked daily, and details like contacts, recent guests, and booking difficulty are refreshed regularly.

I host Connections Podcast. How do I correct this page?

If something here is out of date, ask us to correct it through Podseeker's contact form at podseeker.co/contact. Our research team reviews every request and updates the listing.

Publicly listed emails

connections@wxxi.org

vvolk@wxxi.org

newsroom@wxxi.org

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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