To mark the passing of Pope Francis, WXXI presents an encore broadcast of this In Their Own Words episode.

In Their Own Words “Pope Francis” airs Monday, April 21 9 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Learn what experiences led Jorge Bergoglio to the highest office in the Catholic Church. Taking the name Francis, he was the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European and first Jesuit priest to be named pope.

Please note: Due to this program change, Single-Use Planet, which was originally slated for this time slot will debut at a later date, To Be Determined.

Explore the wealth of stories nestled along the world’s iconic waterways.

World’s Most Scenic River Journeys airs Sundays, March 30-May 4 at 7 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Narrated by Bill Nighy, explore the wealth of stories nestled along the world’s iconic waterways – from the Niagara and the Potomac, to Scotland’s River Spey and France’s River Dordogne.

Episodes include:
“Guadalquivir, Spain” – Sunday, March 30 Follow in the footsteps of explorers down Spain’s Guadalquivir River.
“The Potomac, USA” – Sunday, April 6 The Potomac River winds through America’s capital, passing a number of historic sites on its way.
“Dordogne River , France” – Sunday, April 13 France’s Dordogne River weaves past castles and greenery in the heart of Southwest France.
“River Spey, Scotland” – Sunday, April 20 The breathtaking River Spey in Scotland is home to world-famous whiskey and salmon fishing.
“The Hudson River, USA” – Sunday, April 27 The Hudson River winds through much of New York State’s most beautiful natural scenery.
“Niagara River, Canada & the US” – Sunday, May 4 Home to the iconic falls, the Niagara River boasts a storied history and scenic landscape.

A beloved American institution, the public library’s founding principle is simple: build a place where anyone can enter, free of charge, and encounter a universe of ideas.

Independent Lens Free for All: The Public Library airs Tuesday, April 29 at 10 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

This film chronicles the fascinating evolution of the American public library’s trajectory, from the original “Free Library Movement” that began in the late 19th century to the present, when many libraries find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the culture wars and struggling to survive amid budget cuts and closures.

By the time she was 12, director Dawn Logsdon had visited over 100 libraries in almost every state as she and her teacher-parents road-tripped across America during their summer vacations. In “Free for All,” she and co-director Faulknor embark on a new journey — a fun and eye-opening jaunt from Louisiana to California, Massachusetts to Wisconsin, New York to Oregon, and more, visiting landmark sites in library history and uncovering the stories of the colorful personalities who shaped our libraries and the communities they serve. 

The film highlights inspiring librarians, past and present, mostly women dedicated to upholding the library’s integral position within our democracy, spreading literacy, offering solace and refuge, and uplifting their communities.

Plastic is vital in so many ways to our modern way of life and well-being—but not all forms of it.

Single-Use Planet airs Monday, April 21 at 9 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI & PBS apps.

In search of why evermore single-use plastic debris enters the ocean despite all efforts to recycle, Single-Use Planet goes upstream to where millions of tons of raw plastic are being made amidst the ruins of America’s bygone steel industry in Pennsylvania. The special also looks at the economic and political realities that have boosted the new industry—realities reaching all the way to rural Louisiana where plans are laid to build the biggest plastic plant in the world. Can the powerful industry be persuaded to temper their production of single-use plastic? Our search leads to Washington D.C. and finally to France.

In honor of Earth Day, WXXI presents a week of Environmental Connection episodes with host Jasmin Singer who discusses what matters — and what should — when it comes to environmental preservation.

Environmental Connections airs Monday, April 21-Friday, April 25 at 3 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

From the impact of food choices and electrification to the future of rainfall and the choice of whether to have children, Environmental Connections explores the climate-related topics affecting people in Rochester and beyond.

Host Jasmin Singer is also host of Weekend Edition, as well as a guest host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She’s the author of the books “The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan” (Hachette, 2020) and “Always Too Much and Never Enough” (Berkley, 2016). Jasmin is the co-host of the Webby-recognized podcast, “Our Hen House,” and “The VegNews Podcast.” 

A small coastal town in England, close-to-home murders, and an engaging crime-solving duo make for the latest mystery series to charm U.S. viewers.

Whitstable Pearl airs Thursday, April 17 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Pearl (Kerry Godliman, After Life) is a single mother with a caring nature and a small family restaurant — the perfect draw for locals facing all kinds of problems.  Pearl’s lifelong dream of running a private detective agency gets a boost when she discovers the body of her friend and oyster supplier chained to the anchor of his ship.  

Adding to the intrigue is the arrival of a new cop in town, DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles, The Musketeers), who disapproves of Pearl’s interference. Challenges arise all over Whitstable, including leaky boats, questionable suicide notes, and mysterious piles of cash. As Pearl and Mike hash out a way to work together, they come to an understanding that might lead to more than just a working relationship.  

Photo: Kerry Godliman as Pearl. Credit: Provided by APT