'Listen to Your Mother' returns with stories of love, loss, and lessons

By Evan Dawson,

Published May 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM EDT

Eight smiling people stand next to each other in a radio talk studio. A print of the Rochester skyline in the evening is behind them. From left to right: a woman with long dark hair, wearing a white headband, a green top, a blue and gray shawl, and jeans; a woman with black curly hair, wearing a black top under a pink blazer, and jeans; a woman with her black hair tied back, wearing a black top under a pink blazers, jeans, and a bracelet; a woman with her dark hair tied back, wearing a brown top; a woman with short gray hair, wearing glasses, and a black top under a white blazer; a bald man with a gray beard and mustache, wearing glasses, a gray button-down shirt, jeans, and brown shoes; a woman with long brown hair, wearing a black top under a white sweater, green pants, and black sandals; a man with very short dark hair, wearing glasses, a dark blue button-down shirt, jeans, and brown shoes

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(from left to right) Leah McGuire, Erin Waller, Fonda Abdoch, Amanda Kernahan, Emily Benson, Kyle Semmel, and Meagan Zdepwith host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, May 4, 2026

Mari Tsuchiya / WXXI News

Four people sit at a table filled with water, flowers, candy, and papers. From left to right: a woman with short brown hair, wearing glasses and a floral top; a woman with long brown hair, wearing glasses and a blue pullover; a woman with her black hair pulled into a bun, wearing a leopard print headband, and a black t-shirt under a black and green paid shirt; a man with short gray hair, wearing a gray t-shirt

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"Listen to Your Mother" table read

Renee Veniskey / Flower City Writers Collective

A smiling woman with long, curly black hair, wearing a knitted white sweater with flowers

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"Listen to Your Mother" table read

Renee Veniskey / Flower City Writers Collective

Three smiling people sit at a table filled with water, flowers, candy, and papers. From left to right: a woman with her black hair tied in a bun, wearing a leopard print headband, a pink watch, and a black shirt under a black and green plaid shirt; a man with short gray hair, wearing a gray t-shirt; a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white top

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"Listen to Your Mother" table read

Renee Veniskey / Flower City Writers Collective

An annual event is back, and it calls on all of us to consider our mothers: biological mothers; adoptive mothers; mother figures; and more.

“Listen to Your Mother” is a nationwide storytelling production that shines a light on the influence of maternal figures. The local performance is set for May 9.

We preview the event with our guests, and we invite you to share your own stories.

In studio:

Erin Waller, executive producer of "Listen to Your Mother"
Fonda Abdoch, author and cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"
Emily Benson, cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"
Amanda Kernahan, cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"
Leah McGuire, cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"
Kyle Semmel, author and cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"
Meagan Zdep, cast member of "Listen to Your Mother"