Rochester Speaks

Chris Bull, member of the Penfield Rotary Club, joins the show to talk about Chasing Chains for Charity, a disc golf tournament he organized at Shadow Pines Park in Penfield that raised over $6,500 split between the Dream Factory of Rochester and the Rotary Club of Penfield.

Chris shares why disc golf made such a natural fit for a charity fundraiser, what the Dream Factory does for critically and chronically ill children in our community and what his own connection to Rotary has meant to him personally. The event is coming back next year and sponsorship opportunities are...

Show Notes:

Chris Bull, Principal Consultant at Toro Solutions, joins the show to cut through the fear around AI and talk about what change management actually looks like for Rochester businesses navigating new technology.

Chris shares what AI agents are and why they are different from the chatbot tools most people think of, what the real opportunity looks like for small and mid-sized businesses, and why he believes the companies and leaders who treat stagnation as the real threat are the ones who will come out ahead.

Learn more and start a conversation...

Jennifer Sisson, life coach and founder of Focused on the Future Life Coaching, joins the show to talk about something most people underestimate, how common stalking actually is, what it really looks like in everyday life and how to keep moving forward when it feels impossible.

Jennifer shares her own experience as a stalking victim, what the process of documenting and protecting yourself looks like over time, and why she believes coaching and community support are just as important as legal action. She also addresses what most people get wrong about how stalking starts, who it happens...

Megan Gaul, weight loss coach and founder of Partake Meal Planning, joins the show to talk about losing 100 pounds naturally, keeping it off for seven years and what she has learned about helping others do the same.

Megan shares what actually moved the needle for her, why most people overlook the real habits that are keeping their weight up, what she thinks about GLP-1s, and why the relationship with food matters more than any plan you can download. She also makes a compelling case for why you probably do not have to give up dessert entirely.<...

Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and Susan Tripp, founder and owner of SMT Mobile Notary, join the show to celebrate Susan's recognition as the Webster Chamber June Business of the Month.

Susan shares the personal story that led her to start SMT Mobile Notary, what the business actually looks like day to day, where she goes and who she serves, and how being an active Webster Chamber member has shaped her success. Barry explains what sets Susan apart and why the chamber recognized her this month.

Reach Susan at...

Debi Carlin Boyle, certified health and nutrition coach and personal trainer, joins the show to cut through the noise around healthy living, from what is actually in the foods being marketed as healthy to what you should know before going on a GLP-1.

Debi shares her philosophy on bio-individuality, why she never puts clients on a dramatic diet overhaul, what she looks for when reading a food label, her honest and nuanced take on GLP-1 medications and what most people get wrong about them, and simple ways to stay active even when Rochester weather has other ideas.<...

Tonya McBride Robles, incoming President and CEO of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, joins the show ahead of her August 17th start date to talk about her background, what drew her to the RPO and what she hopes to build here in Rochester.

Tonya shares her path from the Peabody Conservatory to senior executive roles at orchestras around the country, what two decades of following a naval officer around the world taught her about music and community, and why arriving at the RPO feels like the culmination of her life's work. She also talks about what she sees...

Diane McClure, mother of Meredith, and Katie Hout from the American Red Cross join the show to talk about the 15th annual Fairport Angels Blood Drive, held this Thursday June 18th from 1 to 7pm in the gym at St. John of Rochester in Fairport.

Diane shares the story behind the drive, what these 15 years of gathering have meant to the families of Hannah, Bailey, Meredith, Sarah and Katie, and why this particular way of honoring them has resonated so deeply with the community. Katie explains the very real and urgent need for blood donations heading into the...

Chris Widmaier, Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners, joins the show to talk about getting outside this summer, where to go and what his organization has planned for kids, families and educators across the region.

Chris shares some of his favorite underrated spots across Monroe County, from the west side to the east side, talks about what makes Rochester's parks and waterways genuinely special compared to other cities he has lived in, and offers a simple way to connect with nature even if you only have a few minutes to spare.

Coming up this summer...

Pam Ayers, founder of the Spencerport Free Food Pantry and principal at Impromptu Consulting, joins the show to talk about food insecurity in the suburbs, why it looks different than most people expect and what five years of running a no barrier, no questions asked pantry in the village of Spencerport has taught her about community.

Pam talks about the misconceptions around suburban hunger, what is happening with SNAP benefits and why she believes food is the most basic way to show love to another person. She also shares the story behind one of her most loyal...

Nathaniel Mich, Executive Director of Taproot Collective, joins the show to talk about community gardens, youth employment and what his organization is quietly building across Rochester's neighborhoods.

Nathaniel shares why Rochester is uniquely positioned for this kind of work, what Taproot Collective actually does for the 120 plus community gardens in the city, and how 40 to 45 young people from Monroe County households get their first real work experience every summer through the program. He also talks about what the recent changes to SNAP benefits mean for food insecurity in Rochester and why community gardens matter more right now...

Amanda Miller, licensed mental health counselor and Director of Programs and Support Services at Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club Rochester, joins the show during Mental Health Awareness Month to talk about what it really looks like to support someone through one of the most isolating experiences a person can face.

Amanda shares what CSC Rochester offers its members, why the mental health challenges of cancer do not end when treatment does, and what she tells people who resist seeking help because they do not have an official diagnosis. She also talks about food insecurity among cancer...

On Memorial Day weekend, Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and Cheri Wood, local coordinator for Wreaths Across America in Webster, join the show to talk about honoring those who served, what that looks like in our community and how you can be part of it.

Cheri shares the heart behind Wreaths Across America, what the December 19th wreath laying ceremony at Webster Union Cemetery means to Gold Star families and veterans alike, and how the Webster Garlic Festival on September 12th and 13th helps make it all possible. Barry explains why...

Laurie Valentine, CEO of the Society for the Protection and Care of Children, returns for part two of our conversation about SPCC's work in Rochester, this time focusing on what drives the mission forward, how the community can get involved and what the next chapter looks like for the country's oldest nonprofit agency.

Laurie shares what she believes is the true catalyst for change in the families SPCC serves, a caring adult who believes in the potential of both the child and the parent, and explains why nurturing parents so they can nurture their children is at...

Laurie Valentine, CEO of the Society for the Protection and Care of Children, joins the show to share the remarkable 150 year history of one of Rochester's most important nonprofits and to walk through the eight programs SPCC currently runs to support children and families across our region.

Discover how SPCC was founded in 1875 following the case of a young girl named Mary Ellen, whose story sparked a national movement and led to the creation of the country's first and then second Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with Rochester's chapter becoming the second in the...

Joan Margaret, artist, art teacher at the Memorial Art Gallery and founder of Billboard Art ROCs, joins the show to talk about what happens when you combine a love of color, a commitment to community and a drive down a gray stretch of 490 after COVID.

Discover how Billboard Art ROCs got its start when Joan noticed how dismal the messaging around her felt on her daily commute and decided to do something about it, eventually placing her vibrant floral paintings on digital billboards around Rochester and receiving emails from strangers whose days were turned around by what...

Maria Sommerville, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach, and Bethany Creager, Sales and Marketing Assistant, join the show to share what life looks like at the Highlands at Pittsford, an affiliate of the University of Rochester set on 52 beautiful acres just outside the village with a short walk to the Erie Canal.

Discover how the Highlands serves residents from age 62 to 104 across cottage homes, independent living apartments, assisted living and a brand new memory care wing, offering a true continuum of care so residents can age in place without uprooting their lives. With over 300 activities available every...

Dr. Sara Calus, Director of Educational and Clinical Services at Rochester Hearing and Speech Center, joins the show to talk about the work happening every day with Rochester's youngest and most vulnerable children, and why the first five years of life are the most important window to pay attention to.

Discover what early intervention really means, a state funded play based program that sends physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and special educators into homes to coach parents and support children ages zero to five with developmental delays, communication challenges, sensory processing differences and motor development. Rochester...

Just in time for Earth Day, Chris Widmaier, Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners, joins the show to talk about what it means to help all people find nature where they live, work and play across the nine county greater Rochester region, and why that mission has never felt more urgent.

Discover the Nature Rx movement, a growing practice where doctors and mental health practitioners prescribe time in nature as a medical intervention, with 70% of participants completing their prescriptions and reporting measurable improvements in wellbeing. Chris shares how Rochester Ecology Partners partnered with the Harley School and...

When Julianne Groff was asked to apply for the Executive Director role at Webster Comfort Care Home in 2021, her first reaction was that she was a social worker, not a business person. Today she is the Webster Chamber of Commerce 2026 Business Person of the Year, and her story is a reminder that leading with your heart is its own kind of business strategy.

Discover how Julianne went from making referrals to Webster Comfort Care as a hospice social worker to running the organization, and why she believes that if your heart is truly in the work, the...

Most people picture addiction as something that happens to someone else. Jennifer Faringer, Director at DePaul's National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Rochester Area, joins the show to explain why prescription medications have made that assumption more dangerous than ever, and what every Rochester family can do right now to reduce the risk.

Discover how the opioid crisis was fueled not by street drugs but by overprescribed pain medications, and how a legitimate post-surgery prescription can quietly become a pathway to dependence for everyday people with no history of substance use. Learn the critical difference between...

Founded in 1946, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Rochester Area is one of the three oldest addiction councils in the country, and this May it is celebrating 80 years of uninterrupted service to Monroe County. Jennifer Faringer, Director at DePaul NCADD-RA, joins the show to reflect on that history and look ahead at the work still to be done.

Discover how the face of addiction has shifted dramatically over eight decades, from single substance dependence to polysubstance use, from the opioid crisis and the trajectory from prescription painkillers to heroin to fentanyl, to the return of...

Just in time for Earth Day, Lindsay Kremers, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Lindsay Kaya, Youth Engagement Coordinator at the Smoking and Health Action Coalition of Livingston and Monroe Counties, join the show to talk about something most people never connect to environmental health, tobacco waste.

Cigarette butts are the single most littered item worldwide and the filters inside them are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic that does not biodegrade under normal conditions. When they end up in soil and waterways, they leach toxic chemicals that harm wildlife and ecosystems. Add to that the staggering statistic that...

Peter Soufleris, founder of IngenID and University of Rochester alum, pulls back the curtain on one of the most quietly important technologies being developed right here in Rochester, voice biometrics and deep fake detection that protects millions of people from identity fraud every day.

Discover what voice biometrics actually is, how companies like Spectrum use the sound characteristics of your voice to verify your identity during a call, and why the rise of deep fake audio technology has made that process both more urgent and more complex. Learn why Peter believes the battle between AI fraud and...

Albert Nocciolino, producer and presenter for the Rochester Broadway Theater League, joins the show fresh off the big reveal of the 2026 to 2027 M&T Bank Broadway Season at West Herr Auditorium Theater, and the crowd reaction said everything.

Discover the full lineup for next season, including four Rochester premieres. Boop the Musical, the brand new Betty Boop stage production directed by Jerry Mitchell, launches its entire national tour right here in Rochester, with over 100 cast and crew members spending four weeks in the city, generating thousands of hotel nights and meals and significant economic impact before the...

Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in working age Americans, and most people do not notice vision problems until something significant has already happened. Dr. Connolly and Margaret Whelehan from Retina Associates of Western New York join the show to talk about why early screening changes everything, and how Rochester is getting its very own free diabetic eye screening event on Saturday April 25th.

Discover how diabetes affects the blood vessels that supply the retina, what diabetic retinopathy actually looks like and why catching it early can mean the difference between a simple treatment...

In the 1940s a woman named Sylvia Lawry placed a two line classified ad in the New York Times because her brother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and she had no idea what to do next. That ad became the National MS Society, and Rochester was one of its founding chapters. Andy Yates, Executive Director of the Upstate New York chapter, tells that story and brings it forward 80 years to what the society is doing for the roughly one million Americans living with MS today.

Discover what MS actually is, how damage to the myelin sheath...

Dr. Junior Dillion, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Upstate New York, brings a personal and urgent perspective to the challenges facing Rochester's most vulnerable residents, and explains why the work of VOA has never mattered more than it does right now.

Discover how VOA connects housing, health and human services into a unified continuum of care serving over 10,000 people across Monroe, Broome and Tompkins Counties. Programs range from one of Monroe County's largest family shelters and permanent supportive housing to a children's center, reentry services for people coming out of the criminal justice system, universal...

Nearly 6,500 businesses in Monroe County alone are owned by someone over the age of 55. If even a third of those close without a succession plan, Rochester loses 2,000 businesses, 25,000 jobs and over a billion dollars in payroll. Chloe Handelman and Bruce Peters, co-founders of Beyond Ownership, are doing something about it.

Discover what Beyond Ownership actually does for second and third stage businesses, the ones that have survived the startup phase but have not yet figured out what comes next, including leadership development, operations consulting, succession planning and CEO peer groups designed to help business owners make decisions...

Most people hear the name Holy Childhood and think school or church. In reality it is an 80 year old Rochester organization serving over 400 individuals with developmental disabilities, from kindergarten all the way through retirement age, and it is one of the most quietly powerful nonprofits in our community.

Nate Zelesnikar, Director of Programs and Services, and Jillian Nalivyko, Public Relations Manager, share what Holy Childhood actually does, including a K through 12 school, adult habilitative and vocational programs, clinical services, respite care and supported employment partnerships with local businesses. Every individual has a personalized plan, every staff member...

When true economic independence for women was still a radical idea, a group of Rochester women showed up through a blizzard in 1978 to change that. Nearly 50 years later Rochester Women's Network has over 200 members and is still growing, and Kristi Mitchell, board member and Marketing Committee co-chair, is one of the people making sure it stays that way.

Discover what makes RWN different from every other networking group in the city, including a deep lineup of Special Interest Groups spanning everything from wine and hiking to book club, motherhood and the Geek Squad, designed to help members...

Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce and RocEnroll, joins the show with an urgent reminder that Medicare Advantage enrollees have until March 31st to make a one time plan change for 2026, and what you do not know could cost you.

Discover why thousands of Monroe County residents needed to switch plans this year after major carriers including UnitedHealthcare discontinued their local offerings, and how changes to formularies, hospital network coverage and benefits can quietly make the plan you selected in November the wrong plan by January. Learn how to spot the difference...

Ann Marie Stephan, Executive Director, and Mike Hoskins, Director of Development and Marketing at Rochester Child First Network, pull back the curtain on one of Rochester's most quietly impactful organizations, one that has been serving children and families since 1857 and is approaching its 170th year.

Discover how RCN provides a full continuum of care for children ages six weeks through 12, including childcare, Universal Pre-K, preschool special education services and a full kitchen serving fresh meals and snacks daily. Learn why RCN is one of only four community based organizations in Monroe County offering integrated preschool special education...

Dr. Cait Loury, Chief Education Officer at Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts in Greece, pulls back the curtain on one of Rochester's most distinctive public schools, where arts integration isn't an elective, it's the engine of academic achievement.

Discover how teaching artists co-teach alongside classroom teachers every single day, weaving music, dance, drama, and visual arts into core subjects like math, helping students understand fractions through musical scores and composition. Learn why research shows arts activities regulate the nervous system and unlock higher-order thinking, especially for students who've experienced trauma, and how Renaissance Academy's New...

Dr. Ryan Kimmet, Head of School at the Harley School in Rochester, makes a compelling case that academic rigor and student wellbeing are not opposites and that the century old progressive education model pioneered by John Dewey might be exactly what kids need right now.

Discover what progressive education actually means at Harley, where students from age three through 12th grade learn by doing, collaborate on hands on projects, take creative risks and are assessed in ways that go far beyond memorizing for a test. Learn why small class sizes of around 12 students create the kind of...

Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce and RocEnroll, joins the show with an urgent reminder that Medicare Advantage enrollees have until March 31st to make a one time plan change for 2026, and what you do not know could cost you.

Discover why thousands of Monroe County residents needed to switch plans this year after major carriers including UnitedHealthcare discontinued their local offerings, and how changes to formularies, hospital network coverage and benefits can quietly make the plan you selected in November the wrong plan by January. Learn how to spot the difference...

Veronica Ryan, creator of the blog Borderline Babe, shares her deeply personal journey with borderline personality disorder, diagnosed at age 21, and how treatment, vulnerability, and radical honesty became the foundation of her recovery and her mission.

Discover what BPD actually is at a neurological level, including the physical processing deficits in the frontal lobe that affect emotional regulation, and learn about dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy, the intensive treatment developed at Upstate's psychiatry high risk program that helped bring Veronica's symptoms into remission.

Hear why Veronica believes mental health is physical health, why listening without trying to...

Miranda Grazioplene, Hunter Johnson and Connor McKenna, co-chairs of the Cancer Support Community Rochester bachelor auction, are back for the 16th year of one of the most beloved and high energy fundraising traditions in Rochester.

Discover what Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club actually does for cancer patients and their families beyond the doctor's office, including support groups, music and art therapy, yoga, meditation, jewelry making and educational talks with oncologists, all offered free to the community and funded entirely through events like this one. Learn why having a room full of people who truly understand wh...

Mike McOrmond, Executive Director of Flower City Outreach, shares the remarkable four decade story of a mission rooted in faith, neighbor love and the belief that serving your community is serving God. Flower City Outreach is a Christ centered nonprofit that exists to mobilize the Church into service that the city might see Jesus. Learn more at flowercityoutreach.org.

Discover how Flower City Work Camp at flowercityworkcamp.org has been the flagship ministry for 40 years, sending hundreds of youth and adults into Rochester every spring break. Worksites put volunteers to work repairing the homes of neighbors in...

Michael Solis, Executive Director of Writers and Books, makes the case that reading and writing are not school assignments to survive but lifelong creative practices that build confidence, community and civic connection in a city that badly needs all three.

Discover how Writers and Books has served Rochester since 1981 through programming that spans every age group, from eight year olds writing their first stories at Summer Write camps to seniors capturing a lifetime of memories through the Legacy Writing program. Learn how summer camps built around topics like magic, Percy Jackson, Dungeons and Dragons and graphic novels...