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What’s Next?

What’s Next?

By: BTPM NPR
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Summary

 What’s Next?  uncovers and discusses the issues and topics pertinent to marginalized and underrepresented populations of Western New York and Southern Ontario.Days after the racist shooting in Buffalo on May 14, 2022, the show tasked itself to be a champion for social equity and justice. "What’s Next?” amplifies voices from all parts of our shared community to celebrate our individuality as well as our commonalities.Listen to the one-hour broadcast Mondays and Wednesdays at 11am on BTPM NPR, with rebroadcasts on Sundays at 6pm. It is also available on-demand through our website, the BTPM Listen app, on our YouTube channel, or wherever you get your podcasts.We encourage our listeners to join the conversation by using the “Talk to Us” feature in the BTPM Listen app. By using this in-app feature, listeners can send audio recordings directly to the newsroom. You can also reach the production staff by emailing us at WhatsNext@btpm.org.Ⓒ Western New York Public Broadcasting Association 2026 Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • What Does the Future of Local Farming Look Like in Western New York

    What Does the Future of Local Farming Look Like in Western New York
    May 6 2026
    Providence Farm Collective is expanding its work across Western New York with new farming initiatives, increased food access efforts, and year round operations in Orchard Park. On this episode of What’s Next?, Executive Director Kristen Heltman-Weiss and Deputy Director Hamadi Ali discuss the organization’s growth, including its expanding farm store, community farming partnerships, and a new DEC grant supporting urban farmers who provide food for local pantries.
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    55 mins
  • How Regina Barber Connects Science, Race, and Storytelling

    How Regina Barber Connects Science, Race, and Storytelling
    Apr 27 2026
    Today on What’s Next?, we speak with Regina Barber, physicist and host of NPR’s Short Wave. Barber shares how her upbringing in a racially divided community and her love of Star Trek helped shape her path into science. She also discusses the importance of representation in media, the role of storytelling in science communication, and why making science more inclusive matters. The conversation also explores the ongoing challenges and progress around racial equity.
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    55 mins
  • What Does NYSDOT’s Queen City Forward Plan Mean for the East Side

    What Does NYSDOT’s Queen City Forward Plan Mean for the East Side
    Apr 23 2026
    Today on What’s Next?, we take a closer look at the future of the Kensington Expressway through the Queen City Forward initiative. The effort is focused on reimagining the corridor by engaging community members in conversations about what comes next. We speak with Taje Jenkins-Jones and Ryan Whalen of the New York State Department of Transportation about how listening sessions are helping shape the process and why input from residents, especially those most impacted, is critical. They also discussed how the project could improve accessibility, neighborhood connections, and overall quality of life.
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    55 mins
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