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by Rochester Speaks
Rochester Speaks is Rochester, NY’s go to podcast spotlighting the people, nonprofits, events, and local history shaping the Greater Rochester community. From Rochester NY community events and local nonprofits in Monroe County to inspiring stories, volunteer opportunities, and good causes across Western New York, we connect you with what’s happening right here at home. If you’re looking for ways to get involved, support Rochester charities, or stay informed about positive local impact, Rochester Speaks brings you the heart of the community one conversation at a time.
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Brian Piper, founder of Airflow Solutions, Deborah Ross of kidsoutandabout.com and Nick Koziol from the Center of Excellence in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Rochester join the show to talk about the Main Street AI Summit coming to the U of R on Friday November 13th.Brian walks through what the all-day summit will actually do for attendees, from hands-on workshops and a Microsoft keynote to a 90-day implementation plan and ongoing community meetups. Deborah shares how she uses AI as a thought partner rather than a ghostwriter, cutting her weekly column writing time nearly in half without losing her voice. Nick explains why the U of R signed on as cornerstone sponsor and what connecting small businesses to student talent has already produced.A free introductory webinar runs the week before for anyone who wants to get comfortable with the basics before the event. Bring your laptop. In-person attendance is at the Fellen Ballroom at the University of Rochester. Virtual attendance is also available.Register and sign up for the free webinar at mainstreetevent.com.
JonAvery Worrell, who plays Knuck in the national touring production of Hell's Kitchen, joins the show ahead of the show's run at West Herr Auditorium Theatre to talk about the production, the character and what Rochester audiences are in for.JonAvery shares how he built Knuck from a combination of his own experiences and his father's, what it is like to have performed the role nearly 400 times and still find something new in it, and why this cast in particular feels like something special from top to bottom. He also talks about what makes Hell's Kitchen's reimagined Alicia Keys catalog feel fresh even for listeners who know every song by heart, and why he believes no matter who you are or where you come from you will find yourself somewhere in this story.Hell's Kitchen runs Tuesday through Sunday at West Herr Auditorium Theatre. Eight performances. Tickets at rbtl.org.
Dr. Melvin Cross Jr., pastor of Amplify Church in downtown Rochester, joins the show for a wide ranging conversation about faith, community and the role the local church plays in the health of our city.Dr. Cross shares why he believes healthy churches build healthy communities, what the data actually shows about Gen Alpha returning to church and what they are looking for when they get there, and why Rochester's faith community, despite doing significant work, is operating about a decade behind cities of similar size. He also talks about the Care Portal, a technology that connects local churches directly to the Department of Human Services to meet real time family needs, and makes the case for why faith based organizations across denominational and even religious lines can collaborate around a common cause without compromising their own beliefs.For anyone who has experienced church hurt or simply drifted away, Dr. Cross has something honest and direct to say about trying again, and how to find a community that will actually meet you where you are.Find Dr. Cross on all social media platforms at Melvin Cross Jr. and find Amplify Church at Amplifyny.org. Sunday services are at 10:30am at 111 North Chestnut Street in Rochester.
Christina Thompson, Executive Director, and Shawn Futch, board member and breast cancer survivor, join the show during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to talk about what the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester does, why local giving matters more than most people realize and what the organization means to the people it serves.Christina shares something every consumer should know before buying a pink product this month, why 100% of every dollar donated to BCCR stays in the community, how the coalition funds two local research grants every year and what is changing in December when gynecologic cancer research gets added to the mix. Shawn shares what it felt like to walk through those doors at the beginning of her diagnosis and why she has never left.The single most valuable thing you can do before October ends does not have to cost a thing. Visit bccr.org or breastcancercoalition.org, share it with your network, or call 585.473.8177 to learn about volunteering, programs or how to support someone you know who may need them.
Jeremias Maneiro, associate broker at RE/MAX, joins the show to talk about one of the fastest growing threats facing Rochester renters and property owners, AI powered real estate scams, and how he accidentally became the local expert on stopping them.Jeremias walks through how rental scams have evolved from simple listing grabs to fully fabricated properties with AI generated photos and addresses, shares a jaw dropping local case where a scammer moved tenants into a vacant home for months without the owner knowing, and explains how vacant land is now being fraudulently listed and sold. He also shares the strategy he used to trace 380 fake rental accounts back to a single overseas scam operation using AI itself to find the pattern.The biggest takeaways: if a deal looks too good to be true in Rochester's low inventory market it almost certainly is, never wire money or send a deposit through Venmo or PayPal without verifying in person, and always find contact information yourself rather than trusting what someone sends you.Learn more at jmanai.com.
JoAnne Ryan, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Rochester, joins the show ahead of Bee a Hero Day this Friday to share what the day is all about and how the community can get involved.JoAnne shares what it looks like when a family arrives at the house, sometimes with nothing but the clothes on their back after a child has been mercy flighted to the hospital, and how Ronald McDonald House clears every logistical barrier so parents can focus entirely on their child. With 80% of funding coming from community generosity, events like Be a Hero Day are what keep those doors open for the 3,000 families the house serves every year.This year's goal is $165,000. You can call in, donate online or give via Venmo throughout the day from 5:30am to 7:00pm on BE 92.5 and News10 NBC. Tim and Susan Fournier and the Fournier Family Foundation will match every gift up to $25,000 between 4:00 and 7:00pm. Every pizza sold at Salvatore's on Friday October 16th will also return 10% to the house thanks to Soccer Sam.Visit ronaldmcdonaldhouserochester.org to donate or learn more.
Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and Barb Baldwin join the show to walk through everything changing for 2027 during annual enrollment season, and remind Rochester area residents that expert guidance is available at no cost through RocEnroll Health.Barry explains which major carriers are leaving the Monroe County Medicare market for 2027, what the new $2,400 drug out of pocket maximum means for Medicare Advantage members, why working with a broker gives you a view of the full market that going direct to a carrier never will, and why anyone turning 65 in 2027 should be making a call right now. Barb walks through open enrollment for those under 65, running November 16th through December 15th, and what early retirees need to know before their coverage ends.Medicare annual enrollment runs October 15th through December 7th. Call 585.265.3851, visit rocenrollhealth.com or stop by the Webster Chamber office to schedule your free consultation with Barry or Barb.
Sheriff Todd Baxter and Ron Billitier, board member and pig roast chair of the Monroe County Sheriff's Foundation, join the show to talk about the annual pig roast coming up October 18th from noon to 4pm at Tony D's, and why the foundation's work matters more than most people realize.Sheriff Baxter shares what the foundation actually funds that taxpayers do not cover, including mental health and wellness staff embedded in the department, state of the art gym facilities at zone stations and the new Regional Investigation Operations Center, a first of its kind technology fusion center in Upstate New York that helped solve a homicide in four hours. He also shares his honest take on speed cameras and what good culture looks like inside a 1,200 person organization.Ron explains how the pig roast has grown into one of the community's most beloved events, with bagpipes, live entertainment from Claudia Heuser and a crowd that keeps asking to come back.Tickets are close to sold out. Register and learn more at monroecountysheriffsfoundation.org/events.
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Rochester Speaks is Rochester, NY’s go to podcast spotlighting the people, nonprofits, events, and local history shaping the Greater Rochester community. From Rochester NY community events and local nonprofits in Monroe County to inspiring stories, volunteer opportunities, and good causes across Western New York, we connect you with what’s happening right here at home. If you’re looking for ways to get involved, support Rochester charities, or stay informed about positive local impact, Rochester Speaks brings you the heart of the community one conversation at a time.
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