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 from Warm 101.3 brings you the heart of the community one conversation at a time.
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Dr. Melvin Cross Jr. on Church Hurt, Finding the Right Community and What Rochester's Faith Scene Is Missing
<p>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.</p><p>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...
Before You Buy Something Pink This October, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester Has Something to Say
<p>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.</p><p>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...
From Fake Listings to Stolen Land. How AI Is Changing Real Estate Fraud in Rochester.
<p>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.</p><p>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...
Bee a Hero Day Returns Friday with a $25,000 Match. Ronald McDonald House Rochester Needs Your Help.
<p>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.</p><p>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...
Annual Enrollment Opens October 15th. Barry Howard and Barb Baldwin of RocEnroll Health Explain What to Do.
<p>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.</p><p>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...
Sheriff Todd Baxter and Ron Billitier on the Monroe County Sheriff's Foundation Pig Roast Coming October 18th
<p>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.</p><p>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...
Four Saturday Screening Opportunities This Fall. The Cancer Services Program Wants You to Know About Them.
<p>Katlyn Newberry, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes, returns to Rochester Speaks during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to talk about four upcoming Saturday screening opportunities and why getting a mammogram this fall could be one of the most important things you do all year.</p><p>Katlyn shares why early detection changes everything, what to watch for between appointments, and why the anxiety around going is almost always worse than the appointment itself. She also explains how the Cancer Services Program covers the full cost of breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings for...
Boop! Opens the RBTL Season October 3rd Through 10th at West Herr Auditorium Theatre
<p>Albert Nocciolino, producer and presenter for the Rochester Broadway Theater League, joins the show to talk about Boop!, the brand new Broadway musical making its national touring debut right here in Rochester October 3rd through 10th at West Herr Auditorium Theatre.</p><p>Albert shares why Rochester was chosen to open the tour, what the economic impact looks like when 100 cast and crew members spend four weeks in the city, and what improvements to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre mean for the patron experience this season. He also walks through all seven shows in the 2026 to 2027 M&T Bank...
Celebrating 20 Years: Embrace Your Sisters & The Positively Pink in Pittsford Walk Is Back October 4th
<p>Krista Jackson, board member of Embrace Your Sisters, joins the show to celebrate the organization's 20th anniversary and talk about the 15th annual Positively Pink in Pittsford Walk happening Sunday October 4th at Pittsford Sutherland High School.</p><p>Krista shares how Embrace Your Sisters has quietly given away nearly $1 million in emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients across 13 counties, all through a 100% volunteer board with no overhead, so every dollar donated goes directly to people in the community. She also shares her own experience as a breast cancer survivor and what it means to be able to...
The House of Mercy on How New York State Is Using Medicaid to Keep People Housed, Fed and Out of the ER
<p>Brian Keene, Director of Facilities and Special Projects, and Whitney Snead, Director of Development at the House of Mercy, join the show to talk about a major new Medicaid program that is quietly changing the way Rochester's most vulnerable residents get help and why eligible people need to act now.</p><p>Brian explains how the New York State Social Care Network came to be, why the House of Mercy was one of the first organizations the state approached to participate and what nearly $2 million in direct financial assistance distributed in just two years has looked like on the...
