Best WXXI News Podcasts (2025)

1
The Language of War 1:30

12h ago1:30

1:30

Watch enough news — left, right or somewhere in between — and you’ll hear it. “Culture war.” “War on truth.” “We’re fighting for the soul of the nation.” Every disagreement becomes a battlefield. Every opponent, an enemy. Every policy, a test of loyalty. But here’s the danger: If we keep telling ourselves we’re at war, eventually we’ll start acting…

1
From Combat to Conversation: A Call for Listening 1:30

12h ago1:30

1:30

The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around the pervasive language of war that permeates contemporary discourse, particularly in the realms of politics and culture. I elucidate how every disagreement is framed as a battlefield, transforming opponents into adversaries and fostering a climate of hostility. This rhetoric not only complic…

1
Rochester City Council candidates in the Democratic primary, part 3 51:24

22h ago51:24

51:24

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council. Each discussion is an opportunity for the candidates to share their platforms and priorities for office, and to answer questions from community members. This is part three of five in our series. Our guests: Victor Sanchez, candidate…

1
Book bans, policy change, and where we go next 50:46

23h ago50:46

50:46

Over the past several decades, progressives and conservatives have sought to ban books for very different reasons. In recent years, conservatives are more actively trying to get books pulled from libraries. The ten most challenged books from 2024 were all targeted from the political right. The local organization Our Local History is hosting a commu…

1
Ray Dalio 1:29

1d ago1:29

1:29

The principal theme of this podcast episode revolves around the notion that one must delve beyond superficial narratives to grasp the underlying forces that shape various phenomena. I draw inspiration from Ray Dalio's assertion that understanding requires us to inquire not merely into the events themselves, but rather to interrogate the reasons beh…

1
The Force Behind the Thing 1:29

1d ago1:29

1:29

Ray Dalio said something that keeps echoing in my head: “Remember the force behind the thing.” Most headlines are symptoms. So are most arguments. If you want real understanding, don’t stop at what’s happening. Ask why it’s happening. Social media didn’t cause division. It monetized it. Politics didn’t get loud for fun. The incentives changed. Even…

1
Can mushrooms save the world? 51:18

4d ago51:18

51:18

Fungi are among the most powerful yet overlooked climate allies. From storing vast amounts of carbon underground to breaking down pollutants and replacing plastic, fungi could be key to restoring ecological balance in a warming world. This episode of "Environmental Connections" explores how mushrooms and mycelium are contributing to climate solutio…

1
Why aren't more people driving electric vehicles? 50:56

4d ago50:56

50:56

Despite increased gas prices and lower costs associated with buying an electric vehicle, drivers are still hesitant to make the switch. That’s due, in part, to charging anxiety: even though most daily trips are short, people still worry, 'what happens when you can’t find a plug?' A mandate from New York State that aims to have all new cars sold run…

1
Be Still 2:17

4d ago2:17

2:17

The salient point articulated by the speaker centers on the imperative notion of stillness, a concept deeply intertwined with the complexities of human restlessness and introspection. He reflects on the profound wisdom imparted by his mother, encapsulated in the directive to "be still," which evolves from a childhood admonition against fidgeting in…

1
The Command of Stillness: Embracing Calm in Chaos 2:17

4d ago2:17

2:17

The central theme of this podcast revolves around the imperative call to "be still," a directive that transcends mere physical stillness and embodies a profound surrender to the present moment. I reflect upon the wisdom imparted by my mother, highlighting how this command not only addressed my childhood restlessness but also takes on a deeper signi…

1
RG&E responds to audit 50:59

5d ago50:59

50:59

A recent independent audit offered a scathing assessment of how RG&E has conducted its business. The audit concluded that the company puts corporate profits above customer service and demonstrates very little investment in the local community. But RG&E claims that the audit is out of date and ignores their efforts to make serious improvements over …

1
Restorative justice and how local youth leaders are re-engaging their peers 51:14

5d ago51:14

51:14

Local youth leaders are sharing their stories in an effort to help their peers. The Center for Youth has embarked on a new “Restoring Justice, Re-Engaging Youth” initiative in response to violence and other issues affecting young people in Rochester. The goal is to use restorative practices to connect youth back to school and community. This hour, …

1
When Bad Baseball Gets Blamed – A Fan's Wild Lawsuit! 1:29

5d ago1:29

1:29

Let’s dive into a wild ride of blame and baseball as we tackle the outrageous lawsuit against the Colorado Rockies! A fan is actually suing the team because he claims their abysmal performance made him not pay attention to the game—leading to a foul ball smacking him right in the head. Now, I mean, talk about a creative excuse! We're all for a litt…

1
Foul Balls and Faulty Logic: The Wildest Excuse for a Head Hit! 1:29

5d ago1:29

1:29

We’re diving into the wild world of blame culture in this episode, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy! Imagine this: a fan is suing the Colorado Rockies because their awful play supposedly made him lose focus and get hit by a foul ball. Yep, you heard that right! Now, we’re not just shaking our heads at this bizarre lawsuit; we’re also unpacking how…

1
Separating the art from the artist 51:16

6d ago51:16

51:16

Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone shocked the theater world with a series of incendiary remarks in an interview with the New Yorker. Some of LuPone's fans have responded with ambivalence, saying they love her work, even if they don't love... her. So how should art consumers consider the creator of the art? Where should the line be drawn? Is…

1
Artificial intelligence in higher ed 50:02

6d ago50:02

50:02

Five years ago, AI was hardly a priority on higher ed campuses. Now it's becoming mandatory coursework. At the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Rochester, students now take 12 credits of coding, analytics, and AI. And the institute will be launching a new AI and Business program. For students who don't want to learn AI, will th…

1
Ownership 2:09

6d ago2:09

2:09

The discourse presented by the speaker elucidates the profound transformation in consumer behavior, epitomized by the prevailing ethos of "buy me," which underscores a paradigm shift from ownership to temporary possession within a myriad of digital ecosystems. He articulates that the contemporary commercial landscape has evolved from a straightforw…

1
Understanding the Fine Print: Ownership in the Digital Age 2:09

6d ago2:09

2:09

The prevailing notion explored in this discourse centers on the contemporary paradigm of ownership, which has been markedly supplanted by a model wherein consumers increasingly find themselves ensnared in a web of subscriptions and licenses rather than possessing tangible assets. We elucidate how the simplicity of past transactions—wherein one coul…

1
Disconnected from nature; how do we find ourselves? 51:11

7d ago51:11

51:11

Shoes have obvious benefits — but how would our thinking change if we walked barefoot in the woods? Lyanda Lynn Haupt is the author of "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit." She's coming to Rochester as a guest of the Western New York Land Conservancy. We discuss her feelings about the disconnect that many people feel: dis…

1
Rochester City Council candidates in the Democratic primary, part 2 50:10

7d ago50:10

50:10

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council. We've invited all of the candidates in that race to join us on the talk show to discuss their platforms and priorities and to answer questions from community members. This is part two in our series. In studio: Clifford Florence Jr.,…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

WXXI News Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Connections Podcast

WXXI News

1
Degrees of Diversity

Evan Dawson

1
Backstage Pass

WXXI

1
All of the Above with James Brown

James A. Brown

1
The James Brown Commentary

James A. Brown

1
The Language of War 1:30

1
From Combat to Conversation: A Call for Listening 1:30

1
Rochester City Council candidates in the Democratic primary, part 3 51:24

1
Book bans, policy change, and where we go next 50:46

1
Ray Dalio 1:29

1
The Force Behind the Thing 1:29

1
Can mushrooms save the world? 51:18

1
Why aren't more people driving electric vehicles? 50:56

1
Be Still 2:17

1
The Command of Stillness: Embracing Calm in Chaos 2:17

1
RG&E responds to audit 50:59

1
Restorative justice and how local youth leaders are re-engaging their peers 51:14

1
When Bad Baseball Gets Blamed – A Fan's Wild Lawsuit! 1:29

1
Foul Balls and Faulty Logic: The Wildest Excuse for a Head Hit! 1:29

1
Separating the art from the artist 51:16

1
Artificial intelligence in higher ed 50:02

1
Ownership 2:09

1
Understanding the Fine Print: Ownership in the Digital Age 2:09

1
Disconnected from nature; how do we find ourselves? 51:11

1
Rochester City Council candidates in the Democratic primary, part 2 50:10

Quick Reference Guide