Monthly Archives: April, 2025

Plant People: Decay Is an Ally

Published - April 12, 2025

New to WCNY is Plant People from the New York Botanical Garden. NYBG’s CEO & President, Jennifer Bernstein, connects the dots between nature and humanity through lively conversations with plant scientists and curators, gardeners and naturalists, and other experts. In this episode, we sit down with Merlin Sheldrake, biologist and author of Entangled Life: how Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures, to talk fungi. Mushrooms are a culinary sensation, but they’re also lifeforms that we’re still trying to understand. Join in as we learn how the grim work of fungi—death, decay, and “the end” of

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WoodSongs Kids Episode 9: The Hodnett Family Band & The Road Street Ramblers

Published - April 12, 2025

New to WCNY’s kids’ hour on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. is WoodSongs Kids. The series features young musicians and performers. It’s recorded in front of a theatre audience at the historic Lyric Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky. Featured in this episode: The Hodnett Family Band from North Carolina, with 9-year-old Even on dobro, 15-year-old Grayson on banjo, 17-year-old Brooke on fiddle, and their dad Jamie on guitar. And: The Road Street Ramblers, a family band from Johnson City, Tennessee; with 9-year-old Sawyer on mandolin, 12-year-old River on banjo, 13-year-old Lucy on fiddle, and their mom Leslie on guitar.  

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Check It Out: Spring Break!

Published - April 12, 2025

Spring Break week is upon the Check It Out crew, and they have come prepared with events going on at over 17 libraries in the county. Plus, Tom and Maggie will tell you about an event where you can help stock Green Lakes with fish AND get a library card! All on this week’s Check It Out.

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“The D.O.T. P.O.D.”: Upstate Airports

Published - April 12, 2025

Airports are critical to the well-being of the communities in upstate New York. They are gateways to local economies and make lasting impressions. In September, $230 million was awarded to nine upstate airports as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. On this episode, Josh and Anya sit down with Deputy Chief Engineer Carlos Rivera and Aviation Director Lowell Lingo to discuss the projects as well as the importance of these facilities.  The D.O.T. P.O.D. shares stories from the agency that keeps you moving, the New York State Department of Transportation.

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S09 Ep33: Room with a View

Published - April 12, 2025

“Night after night, in solitude, staring into vast, soundless space.” – Diedre McKay   The world outside the window can inspire some amazing music.  This week, works inspired from a room with a view.   Room with a View   Judith Lang Zaimont:  Falling Raindrops (from “Pure, Cool (Water)) Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra; Niels Muus, conductor “Judith Lang Zaimont” Sorel Classics Diedre Gribbin:  Before the Moon Shattered and Shone Again Musici Ireland “Earthrise” Métier 77133 Lawren Brianna Ware:  Moonlit Waters Corbus du Toit, flute; Doreen Lee, piano “From the Rooftop” Neuma 202 Monica Houghton:  Wilderness Portraits Argenta Trio “Of Time &

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April 10, 2025: OCC Music Festival Blazing Forward

Published - April 10, 2025

  Onondaga Community College is hosting a 2-day New Music Festival, and we had a chance to talk to Prof. Chris Cresswell, along with guest artists Jacob Swanson and Michael Hernandez.  Find out about the music, the growth of the composition studio at OCC, and the art of balancing acoustic and electronic media.    

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April 9, 2025: Syracuse Vocal Ensemble Gatherings

Published - April 9, 2025

  The Syracuse Vocal Ensemble celebrates the music that is so often a part of “Gatherings.”  SVE Artistic Director Julie Pretzat stopped into the studios to talk about the two performances coming up this weekend, how she found the music they’ll be singing, and the two beautiful venues.   More about this concert and the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble is available at their website.

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Talk CNY – Building The Largest Entrepreneurship HUB In NY

Published - April 9, 2025

As each month passes in 2025, CenterState CEO gets closer and closer to opening the new innovation hub in downtown Syracuse. If you pass the building on Harrison Street these days, you’ll see glass is now in the windows and exterior siding is going up. Inside, the elevators are now installed and crews are painting and renovating the new rooms. We know there are still a lot of questions about how the new innovation hub will fit into our community and when people will be able to get inside. And we still have a lot to share about this project—including

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April 8, 2025: Syracuse City Ballet Our Voices

Published - April 9, 2025

  The Syracuse City Ballet has opened their doors – and the stage – to showcase works from three women choreographers this weekend.  Two of those choreographers, Ava Desiderio and Sarah Klock, along with SCB Artistic Director Jayson Douglas, stopped into the WCNY studios to chat about the works, the connections, and the vision for “Our Voices” in the future.   Information about the Syracuse City Ballet is available here.

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‘Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s’ Free Community Screenings

Published - April 7, 2025

WCNY, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY, invites you to attend two free community screenings of “Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s.” “Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s” offers an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how this progressive neurodegenerative disease transforms roles and relationships. Whether it’s a partner becoming a caregiver or an adult child shifting into being their parent’s caretaker, these stories show how families evolve when a loved one is diagnosed. Two screenings will be held for this film: Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. at the Cinemapolis Theater, Ithaca – Includes

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April 7, 2025: Society for New Music Prizewinners

Published - April 7, 2025

  The Society for New Music has been awarding the Brian Israel Prize (now the Israel/Pellman Prize) to promising young composers for 40 years.  This weekend is their annual concert featuring prizewinners and honorable mentions, and we heard from Society president Heather Buchman and honorable mention awardee Rolando Gomez when they stopped into the studio.  They talked about the concert, the music, and the value of these kinds of opportunities.   More about the Society for New Music is available here.

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WCNY’s Entertainment Academy Honors Winter Session Graduates

Published - April 7, 2025

WCNY, Central New York’s public communications organization, is proud to host the graduation ceremony for the Winter Session of WCNY’s Entertainment Academy. Join us on Thursday, April 10 at 4 p.m. at the WCNY-TV Studios as we celebrate the achievements of 19 talented graduates from the Academy’s fifth cohort. WCNY’s Entertainment Academy provides training for the next generation of television and film production engineers, electricians, set designers, sound mixers, and camera operators to help support the growing entertainment industry in Central New York. The program also creates a pathway for job placements through local unions, including I.A.T.S.E. Local 52 Motion

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Innovate to Educate, Episode 31 – “Behind the Picture” The Official Podcast of Big Picture High School

Published - April 7, 2025

On this edition of Innovate to Educate, Jody Manning is joined by Ian Alexander, Dredin Thomas, and Ti Gibson who are currently enrolled in Big Picture High School in LaFayette. These students host and produce the official podcast of the Big Picture High School “Behind the Picture” that brings you a mix of school news, fun banter, and interviews from students, teachers, and people from the community.    

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Zestful Aging – Three Extraordinary Women Climb Kilimanjaro

Published - April 5, 2025

Nicole met Pearlette Ramos when she invited her to the screening of her first feature documentary: Three (Extra)Ordinary Women, held at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The documentary tells the story of three women of color who were brought together through friendship and a desire to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Each woman experienced childhood trauma, abuse and oppression—yet, went on to find the path to their power. They use the imposing mountain as both a metaphor for overcoming personal adversity and an opportunity to challenge insurmountable odds–like ending violence against women, undoing racism and overcoming fear. Find out more

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