12:00: Europe in times of strategic threat
1:00: Why 'Severance' is a cultural phenomenon
This weekend, Trump administration officials disputed the idea that Vladimir Putin might want to conquer more than Ukraine. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said that Putin is not a bad guy, and the Trump administration trusts Putin. Meanwhile, Trump has dismissed a security proposal for Ukraine that originated in the UK. Our guests discuss how the invasion of Ukraine is reshaping European defense alliances, as the Trump administration grows ever closer with Putin. Our guests:
- Piotr Klodkowski, Ph.D., professor at the Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilizations at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, and visiting professor at the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies at the University of Rochester
- Randy Stone, Ph.D., director of the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies at the University of Rochester
Then in our second hour, "how far would your innie go for your outie?" If you're not watching the show "Severance," you might think that recent NPR headline is asking about belly buttons. But fans of the show know the question refers to the different versions of the characters featured in it: the people they are at work and the people they are outside of work. The show has taken the streaming landscape by storm. According to NPR, it's Apple TV+'s most-watched series globally, and the service has already ordered a third season. Plus, there's a New York State connection: parts of the show were filmed in Utica. This hour, we discuss why the series has become so popular, if it's a worthwhile goal to separate your work life from your personal life, and what it would mean to scrub any negative memories or experiences from your life. Our guests:
- Scott Pukos, communications director for The Little Theatre
- Mona Isler, executive office administrator at WXXI
- Paul Buckley, film commissioner for Film Utica
*Note: "Connections" is livestreamed each day on the WXXI News YouTube channel. Watch here.
