Big problems require big solutions. Columnist and former journalist Josh Durso talks with people on the front lines of solving communities’ biggest challenges.
Working still isn't enough for millions of New Yorkers
Nearly half of New York households are struggling to make ends meet — including millions of people who are working, earning above the federal poverty line, and still falling short of what it actually costs to live.
On this episode of In Focus, Josh Durso sits down with Therese Daly, president and CEO of United Way of New York State, to break down the newly released 2026 ALICE report and what it says about the growing financial pressure facing families across the state.
They discuss why traditional measures of poverty often fail to capture the true cost of living, how housing, child care, food, transportation and health care are squeezing working households, and why rural communities face a different set of challenges than their urban counterparts. Daly also explains why so many essential workers fall below the ALICE threshold, the widening gap between wages and basic expenses, and how programs like 211 are helping families who may earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but still cannot cover their basic needs.
The conversation builds on Durso’s recent column about growing demand at Harmony Food Pantry in Waterloo, where volunteers say families who were getting by just months ago are now being forced to choose between groceries, rent, utilities, medication and transportation.
The central takeaway is difficult to ignore: Financial hardship is no longer confined to the margins. Increasingly, it looks like the people living and working right next door.
7 Aug 2026
Do something about it
Environmental activism can evoke strong reactions — concern, frustration and anger for some; pride, hope and excitement for others. But beyond the politics, what can we learn from the people who decide an issue matters enough to act on it every day?
On this episode of In Focus, Josh Durso sits down with Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of Gas Free Seneca and vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian. For more than a decade, Taylor has been one of the most recognizable voices in environmental activism across the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York, organizing around issues including gas storage, landfills, incinerators, data centers and other environmental concerns.
The conversation goes beyond individual environmental battles to explore what sustained activism actually requires. Taylor discusses the day-to-day work, the victories and setbacks, and what keeps her going after years of advocacy.
At its core, the episode asks a broader question that applies well beyond environmental policy: What does it look like to care enough about a problem to consistently fight for the outcome you want to see?
31 Jul 2026
What is the AquaDiary?
This week on In Focus Ally Berry joins Josh Durso to discuss the growing demand for credible environmental science communication and why water quality has become one of the defining public issues of the decade.
Berry (https://www.youtube.com/@AquaDiaryPodcast), an environmental scientist and host of the AquaDiary podcast (https://www.fingerlakes1.com/tag/aquadiary/), explains how she translates complex research into accessible conversations about harmful algal blooms, PFAS, microplastics, drinking water and watershed management. She also discusses the process behind building a rapidly growing educational platform while working full time in environmental consulting.
The conversation explores the science behind some of the region's biggest environmental stories, including harmful algal blooms in the Finger Lakes, Rochester's drinking water system, Micron's potential impact on Central New York and the increasing need for good environmental information.
3 Jul 2026
Why did Wolcott's only grocery store close?
In this episode of In Focus, Josh Durso sits down with Grace Rice, the 19-year-old former manager of the Wolcott grocery store that recently closed after serving the community for decades.Grace talks about starting as a cashier, moving into management, and helping run the store through ownership challenges, supply issues, customer frustration, and the difficult final weeks before the doors closed. The conversation goes beyond one business shutting down and looks at what a grocery store means in a rural community where many people don’t have easy access to fresh food, reliable transportation, or another full-service option nearby.
23 Jun 2026
Power and Housing Can't be Solved Separately
For Episode 2 of In Focus, I sat down with Ryan Davis and Matt Horn to talk about a challenge hiding in plain sight across the Finger Lakes: power. We dug into why housing, economic development, and energy infrastructure are more connected than most people realize — and why solving one problem may require solving all three at the same time.
17 Jun 2026
Place and Zoning Reform
On this episode of In Focus, I sit down with Bill Fulton and Edward Erfurt to discuss the challenges facing communities across Upstate New York and beyond.
Fulton is a career urban planner, author, former mayor of Ventura California, and Auburn, New York native. His book "Place and Prosperity" talks about the importance of place in building community and economic success.
Erfurt is Chief Technical Advisor at Strong Towns, an organization dedicated to helping community leaders find solutions to society's biggest problems.
The conversations were initially recorded separately. However, together they offer a really important perspective: There's the theory of what drives community success. The basis for which policy should be built. Then, the actual policies required to put the vision in motion.
2 Jun 2026
Why Mental Health Matters More Than Politics
What do mental health, housing, economic development, addiction, poverty, and political polarization have in common?
More than most people realize.
In the first episode of In Focus, I sit down with Margaret Morse, director of community services for Seneca County, for a conversation about the role mental health plays in nearly every challenge communities face today. We discuss how unmet basic needs shape public policy outcomes, why rural communities face unique challenges, and what local governments are doing to respond to growing demand for services.
Margaret also shares her perspective on changing funding realities, the evolving role of county governments, and what the future may hold for communities across New York and beyond.
This conversation serves as the foundation for everything I hope to explore through this podcast: the idea that the issues we debate most often aren't isolated from one another—they're deeply connected.
Mental health and public policy
Housing and economic development
Rural communities and local government
Human services and community support systems
Poverty, addiction, and social challenges
The future of county government
Contact In Focus
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of In Focus?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
