Evan Dawson

Does de-escalation training work? More police departments are engaging in this kind of training, which can help officers defuse volatile situations. It’s also billed as the kind of training that helps officers avoid becoming overheated themselves. So what is de-escalation all about?

Our guest is Brendan King, the CEO and founder of the Crisis Consultant Group. His organization trains companies, individuals, and police departments. He joins us for the hour.

Our guest:

• Brendan King, the CEO and founder of the Crisis Consultant Group

A number of area colleges and universities have announced they plan to reopen in the fall. Their plans come with modifications to the academic calendar, online courses, and policies that address physical distancing and safety guidelines. Meanwhile, students, faculty, and parents have questions and concerns about what to anticipate.

We talk with the presidents of three local colleges about what they’re expecting for their institutions. Our guests:

• Deana L. Porterfield, president of Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary
• Gerard J. Rooney, president of St. John Fisher College
• Katherine P. Douglas, interim president of Monroe Community College
  

Will capitalism survive the pandemic? We talk with Raj Sisodia, author of "The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscious of Business to Help Save the World."

Sisodia is a founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement. We talk about his work and his thoughts on the current and future state of capitalism during the pandemic. Our guests:

• Raj Sisodia, author of "The Healing Organization," and founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement
• Andrew Brady, co-founder of the Rochester chapter of Conscious Capitalism, and president and chief evolutionary officer for the XLR8 Team
  

Last week, Rochester City Council passed the city budget, and the subject of defunding police was a hot button issue. We're joined by members of Council who discuss their votes and their perspectives on the best ways to address police reform from a government level.

Our guests:

• Jackie Ortiz, member of Rochester City Council
• Willie Lightfoot, vice president of Rochester City Council
• Mary Lupien, member of Rochester City Council
• Stanley Martin, member of Free the People Roc
  

When will it be safe to sing together again? It’s a question the New York Times asked earlier this month when reporting on how choirs have been linked to several coronavirus outbreaks. Scientific research shows that COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets. When singers project in performance settings, they may unwittingly spread the virus, if infected. There have been conflicting messages across the globe about the risk of singing during the pandemic.

This hour, we discuss what the data shows and how local and national groups are adapting, both in the short and long term. Our guests:

• Lee Wright, director of music ministry at Downtown United Presbyterian Church, and founder artistic director of First Inversion choral ensemble
• Janet Galván, professor of performance studies, and director of choral activities and conducting at Ithaca College
• Dr. Scott Stratton-Smith, family medicine specialist with Rochester Regional Health
• Brenda Tremblay, host for WXXI's Classical 91.5, and member of a local choir
  

Why have some countries been so effective at crushing the coronavirus, while the United States has plateaued? We get perspective from guests with roots in New Zealand, which has been perhaps the most successful country in the world during the pandemic. They discuss cultural differences that have played into responses to COVID-19.

Our guests:

• Mike Johansson, New Zealand native, social media strategist, and senior lecturer of communication at RIT
• Chris Thomas, partner with Nixon Peabody whose family has roots in New Zealand