What’s Next?-logo

What’s Next?

Music Podcasts

What’s Next? is a program that uncovers and discusses the issues and topics pertinent to marginalized and underrepresented populations of Western New York and Southern Ontario. From inception, days after the racist May 14, 2022 shooting in Buffalo, the show has tasked itself to be a champion for social equity and justice. Moving forward we will continue to feature voices from all parts of our shared community to celebrate our individual differences as well as the commonalities.The show is broadcast live on the air from 10am to 11am Monday through Thursday. It is also available digitally through WBFO’s website, apps, and as a podcast.Listeners can participate by using the "Talk to Us" feature in the WBFO mobile app, available on Apple and Android devices. Open the app and scroll to the bottom bar where the "Talk to Us" button allows listeners to send audio recordings straight to the newsroom. You can also reach the production staff by e-mailing WhatsNext@wbfo.org.

Location:

United States

Description:

What’s Next? is a program that uncovers and discusses the issues and topics pertinent to marginalized and underrepresented populations of Western New York and Southern Ontario. From inception, days after the racist May 14, 2022 shooting in Buffalo, the show has tasked itself to be a champion for social equity and justice. Moving forward we will continue to feature voices from all parts of our shared community to celebrate our individual differences as well as the commonalities.The show is broadcast live on the air from 10am to 11am Monday through Thursday. It is also available digitally through WBFO’s website, apps, and as a podcast.Listeners can participate by using the "Talk to Us" feature in the WBFO mobile app, available on Apple and Android devices. Open the app and scroll to the bottom bar where the "Talk to Us" button allows listeners to send audio recordings straight to the newsroom. You can also reach the production staff by e-mailing WhatsNext@wbfo.org.

Twitter:

@WBFO

Language:

English

Contact:

716-845-7000


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Breaking New Ground: A Conversation with Dr. Adiam Tsegai, SUNY Erie's First African American and Female President

10/31/2024
What's Next? welcomes the newly appointed 13th President of SUNY Erie, Dr. Adiam Tsegai. Her appointment marks both the first African American and Woman President of SUNY Erie.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Community Voices: From Local Bakers to Civic Duty

10/30/2024
We sit with the owners of black-owned Black Rock bakery Radah Baked Goods to discuss their business & community efforts. Then, we welcome Howard Johnson to discuss the importance of voting.

Duration:00:56:35

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Project 2025 Series Ep. 3: Overall Impact of the Project and Impact on Media

10/29/2024
Jay Moran, Thomas O'Neil-White, and Dr. Michael Niman discuss the overall goals of the project, the historical significance of the movement, and the impact the project could have through the lens of media.

Duration:00:59:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Resilience in Buffalo Schools

10/29/2024
On today's episode, we welcome back Duncan Kirkwood, a renowned national resilience trainer and the visionary behind the “Unleash Your Greatness” program, an initiative designed to empower students in Buffalo Public Schools. He’s joined by Katie Schuta, Principal of the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, where this transformative program is being piloted. Together with host Jay Moran, they delve into the profound impact of resilience training on young minds, the unique challenges facing Buffalo schools, and the broader potential of fostering resilience as a core skill in education.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | An End of an Era

10/17/2024
Today, we say farewell to our friend and host Thomas O’Neil-White. For his final interview he sits with Jay Moran to discuss his time as host of What’s Next? his career as a black journalist, and his best moments from his time at WBFO.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Healing Through Food and Community: Conversations on “Food as Medicine” and Black Business Success

10/10/2024
On today’s show, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Beth Machnica, the Director of Health and Well-Being at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The two discuss the upcoming 4th annual “Food as Medicine” symposium, which aims to empower organizations and communities to promote wellness and close the disproportionate health gap in communities of color. For our second conversation, we go back to August when the “What’s Next?” crew attended the Black Business Block Party at the Exchange at Beverly Gray. The team collected interviews with various organizations in attendance and got their insight on the importance of the event.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Producers’ Pick with Lindsey Lauren Visser and Cheney Brockington

10/9/2024
We revisit two standout conversations. First Thomas O’Neil-White conversation with Buffalo’s first female historian Lindsey Lauren Visser. The two discuss the anniversary of the 19 amendment which gave women the right to vote, and the significant role Buffalo played in the suffragist movement. Then Jay Moran conversation with Licensed Master Social Worker Cheney Brockington. The two discuss generational patterns of trauma in Buffalo, along with the systemic barriers to education that results from them.

Duration:00:47:07

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Shaping the Future: DEI and Project 2025 with Clementine Gold Group

10/8/2024
We continue our Project 2025 series as Jay Moran is joined by Ekua Mends-Aidoo and Kim LaVare from Clementine Gold Group. Together, they dive into a compelling discussion on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the context of Project 2025. From fostering inclusive leadership to dismantling systemic barriers, the three sheds light on the role of DEI in shaping a more equitable and forward-thinking future.

Duration:00:59:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Connecting Roots: The Niagara Falls High School Native American Youth Club

10/7/2024
On today’s show, we welcome Jessica Forgette, an English teacher at Niagara Falls High School. Jessica recently started the Native American Youth Club, a program meant to connect students at Niagara Falls High School to their Indigenous backgrounds by fostering an environment of education and cultural understanding. Alex Simone sat down with her to discuss the club’s mission, her journey with her own Indigenous roots, as well as dive into the world of Native American education in Western New York.

Duration:00:48:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

10/3/2024
Today, on What’s Next? we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. First, Jay Moran speaks with Dinorah Baines from the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY Inc. about the rich heritage of Hispanic culture in Western New York and the various celebrations happening throughout the month. Later, Jay Moran is joined by Valerie Cruz and Mykia Gibson from the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network to discuss the critical work of the organization and its impact on the Hispanic community.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Access for All: The Arts Access Initiative| Unmasking Bias: Exploring AI's Impact with the UB Center for Information Integrity

10/2/2024
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Liv Duke, the Programs & Services Coordinator at Arts Services Inc., and Tracy Synder, the Executive Director of The Theatre of Youth. The three discuss the Arts Access Initiative, a program designed to create wider access to arts and cultural events through transportation, language, and financial assistance. For our second segment, we welcome three members of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran is joined by David Castillo, the Co-Director of the Center, along with E. Bruce Pitman and Jasmina Tacheva, who are two speakers for the center's upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses the pitfalls of generative AI.

Duration:00:55:29

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Project 2025 Series Ep.1: Impact on Education | UB CII on Tackling Misinformation and AI Bias

10/1/2024
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, we begin with the first episode of our Project 2025 series. The series aims to go in-depth as to what the impact of the Project would look like if implemented. For the first episode of the series, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by returning guest Wil Green, the Assistant Dean of Outreach and Community Engagement at the Graduate School of Education at UB. The two discuss the potential impact of Project 2025 on education. For our second conversation, we welcome David Castillo, E. Bruce Pitman, and Jasmina Tacheva of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran joins the three in a conversation about how misinformation and generative AI can affect access to reputable information on elections, as well as an upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses how certain facial recognition programs are not programmed to analyze dark-skinned faces accurately.

Duration:00:59:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Addressing Parkinson's Disease and Health Inequities in African American Communities

9/30/2024
Today, we speak with two influential voices in the fight against Parkinson's disease. Nancy Nealon, Director of Education and Outreach for the Northeast Region of the National Parkinson’s Foundation, and Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram, President of the Uncrowned Queens Institute and National Parkinson’s Foundation volunteer. They discuss with Jay Moran the critical challenges facing African American communities. And they also discuss the historical exclusion from healthcare and research, and how it affects our understanding of Parkinson’s within these communities.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Building Support: Veterinary Care on Buffalo's East Side & Women’s Advocacy in WNY

9/26/2024
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by Kelly Wolfe and Stephanie Pepper of the SCPA serving Erie County, as well as Racheal Tarapacki of the Resource Council of WNY. The four discuss a $100,000 incubator grant awarded to the SPCA, and how both groups plan on creating better access to veterinary resources in the East Side of Buffalo. For our second segment, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Sheri Scavone, the CEO of the Western New York Women’s Foundation. The two analyze a report from the foundation that details some of the issues that women in WNY are facing through data-driven metrics.

Duration:00:55:30

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Shining a Light: The 6th Annual Refugee Film Festival and the Power of Storytelling

9/25/2024
The 6th Annual Refugee Film Festival is more than just a series of screenings—it's a powerful platform that highlights the voices, stories, and resilience of refugees from across the globe. Running from this month through April 2025, the festival brings the lived experiences of displaced people into focus, sparking conversation and understanding. On today’s show, host Jay Moran sits down with two incredible guests: Theresa DeLuca, Chief Advancement Officer at Journey’s End Refugee Services, and Andy Cammarata, Director of Outreach and Volunteers at the organization. Together, they discuss the impact of the festival, and the mission behind their work.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | FIG Fashion Festival: Dame Powell on Blending Urban Edge with Luxury and Empowering Buffalo

9/24/2024
The second annual FIG Fashion Festival is this Saturday at the iconic Seneca One Tower. The event looks to build off the promising launch of the event last year. On today’s show, we welcome back Dame Powell owner of DAME, a luxury leather goods brand in Buffalo. His mission “To empower & inspire our community by creating timeless pieces that blend urban edge with sophisticated elegance. We strive to bring a touch of luxury to the everyday, and to be a beacon of pride for our city and our culture. He sits with Jay Moran to discuss his thoughts his involvement in the first show and his return to for the second event.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | PATH to Restoration: Julie Palmer on Ending Human Trafficking and Empowering Survivors

9/23/2024
People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through education, prevention, and restoration. On today’s show, we’re joined by Julie Palmer, the Executive Director of PATH. Under her leadership, the organization has built a dedicated staff, established a survivor support fund, and increased public awareness of trafficking issues. Julie sits down with Jay Moran to discuss PATH’s work and the Enrichment Center, a safe space where survivors receive therapeutic support services, fostering healing and hope.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Exploring the Impact of a School Cell Phone Ban: Pros, Cons, and Student Well-being

9/19/2024
Recently, the Lackwanna School District implemented a cell phone ban for all its students. The ban aims to create fewer distractions and improve academic performance. On today’s show, we welcome Dr. Katheryne Leigh-Osroosh, an assistant professor of counseling, school and educational psychology at the University at Buffalo. She joins Jay Moran to talk about the pros and cons of the ban, including the psychological and social impact of the ban, particularly for students who rely on their phones or social media as key aspects of their identity.

Duration:00:55:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Roadblocks to Opportunity: Fighting Transportation Inequality

9/18/2024
Transportation inequality restricts access to jobs and key services for community members. Go Bike and the Coalition of Economic Justice are two groups that aim to change the system through their transit initiatives and legislative recommendations. On today’s show, we welcome Justin Booth, the executive director of Go Bike, Kevin Heffernan, the communications director of Go Bike, and Jamal Davis, a transit rider organizer for the Coalition of Economic Justice. The three sit down with Thomas O-Neil-White to discuss what better transportation safety looks like, and how better access to transportation can be achieved.

Duration:00:56:00

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

What's Next? | Health for All: Bridging Gaps in Buffalo's Healthcare

9/17/2024
The Neighborhood Health Center is a vital healthcare provider in Buffalo dedicated to ensuring that every community member has access to quality medical services, regardless of their financial situation. Today we welcome Merlyn Hammer, the Senior Director of Public Health at Neighborhood Health Center. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the state of health equity in Buffalo, the challenges some residents face, and the solutions Neighborhood Health Center has developed to make healthcare accessible to all.

Duration:00:55:59