Disrupted

By Connecticut Public Radio

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Category: Society & Culture

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Subscribers: 21
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Episodes: 290

Description

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 


Episode Date
Curated failures, plus young people define success for themselves
May 08, 2026
Tayari Jones’ book ‘Kin’ challenges readers’ assumptions about novels centering women
May 01, 2026
Despite barriers to self-care, Black women can still find ways to bloom
Apr 24, 2026
Poet Tracy K. Smith on how poems get us through ‘Perilous Times’
Apr 17, 2026
8 years after a major Supreme Court decision, where we are with gambling today
Apr 10, 2026
A look at housing, from current legislation to a wave of arson in the 1970s
Apr 03, 2026
What does it mean to decolonize wellness?
Mar 27, 2026
The power of craft, from activism to connecting with ancestors
Mar 20, 2026
From strikes to boycotts: A look at consumer and worker power
Mar 13, 2026
Jay Williams on evolving the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
Mar 06, 2026
Krystal Marquis’ book series ‘The Davenports’ offers a portrait of Black wealth in 1910
Feb 27, 2026
What Black History Month means in today’s political climate
Feb 20, 2026
Karen Walrond on the joys of dabbling
Feb 12, 2026
Finding joy and purpose in turbulent times
Feb 06, 2026
Connecticut’s Clean Slate law and a look at predatory criminal justice practices
Jan 30, 2026
Pushing for peace: A look at the past and future of the United Nations
Jan 23, 2026
Elizabeth Bruenig on witnessing executions and opposing capital punishment
Jan 16, 2026
After #MeToo, what has changed?
Jan 08, 2026
Our 2025 favorites: Often undervalued, student journalists play a vital role in our communities
Jan 02, 2026
Our 2025 favorites: Megan Greenwell on the ways private equity upends the lives of everyday people
Dec 26, 2025
Authors like Angeline Boulley and Ainissa Ramirez help young readers see a wider range of representation
Dec 19, 2025
Lizards, scallops and funding cuts: Connecticut biologists talk about our ever-changing world
Dec 12, 2025
John Maduko on CT’s state college system and Jamal Watson on the student debt crisis
Dec 05, 2025
Connecticut leaders breaking barriers with historic firsts
Nov 21, 2025
Poet Tracy K. Smith on how poems get us through ‘Perilous Times’
Nov 14, 2025
Vanessa Priya Daniel on the three superpowers women of color bring to their leadership
Nov 07, 2025
Pushing for peace: A look at the past and future of the United Nations as it marks 80 years
Oct 31, 2025
Barrier-breaking former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre talks about our current political moment
Oct 23, 2025
As he approaches 90, Chef Jacques Pépin is still spreading joy through food
Oct 17, 2025
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum reflects on the 'Peril and Promise' of being a college leader today
Oct 10, 2025
From woodworking to summer camp, there are endless ways to spread Black Joy
Oct 03, 2025
Connecticut leaders breaking barriers with historic firsts
Sep 26, 2025
Oral histories preserve the stories of communities that might otherwise be lost
Sep 19, 2025
The cultural forces that shape gun violence with Dr. Jonathan Metzl
Sep 12, 2025
Elizabeth Bruenig on witnessing executions and opposing capital punishment
Sep 05, 2025
Why 'natural' disasters aren't as natural as their name suggests
Aug 29, 2025
The power of craft, from activism to connecting with ancestors
Aug 22, 2025
Local Black entrepreneurs on building a business and the power of representation
Aug 15, 2025
80 years ago, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan. Connecticut’s Shizuko Tomoda still feels the impact
Aug 08, 2025
Innovations in the care and treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Jul 31, 2025
Lizards, scallops and funding cuts: Connecticut biologists talk about our ever-changing world
Jul 25, 2025
Connecticut artists reflect on the power of art in community
Jul 18, 2025
From 'Sinners' to 50 years of 'Jaws': What we can learn from the year in film
Jul 11, 2025
Megan Greenwell on the ways private equity upends the lives of everyday people
Jun 26, 2025
Peniel E. Joseph on the legacy and impact of 1963
Jun 20, 2025
The history — and joy — of Juneteenth
Jun 13, 2025
Martha S. Jones explores racial identity by looking at her own family history
Jun 06, 2025
How high school student activists push for change, from present to past
May 29, 2025
The protests of 2020 were historic, but how much has actually changed?
May 23, 2025
Often undervalued, student journalists play a vital role in our communities
May 16, 2025
Bestselling cartoonist Thi Bui reflects on leaving Vietnam as a child
May 09, 2025
The surprising history of sex and sexuality in America
May 02, 2025
Oral histories preserve the stories of communities that might otherwise be lost
Apr 25, 2025
Representation on television from 'Julia' to 'City of Ghosts'
Apr 18, 2025
Julia Bullock and Terence Blanchard are changing how we understand opera
Apr 11, 2025
The legacy of the Harlem Renaissance
Apr 04, 2025
Martha S. Jones explores racial identity by looking at her own family history
Mar 28, 2025
COVID has exacerbated existing inequities in race and disability
Mar 21, 2025
Why mothering is 'Essential Labor' with Angela Garbes
Mar 14, 2025
To understand homeownership inequities today, Bernadette Atuahene takes us back generations
Mar 07, 2025
What Black History Month means in today’s political climate
Feb 28, 2025
The power of books in prison with poet Reginald Dwayne Betts
Feb 21, 2025
From romance to organizing, a look at how love can be political
Feb 14, 2025
Actor and director Brandon J. Dirden says art is about problem solving
Feb 07, 2025
How the legacies of James Baldwin and Martin Luther King Jr. resonate today
Jan 31, 2025
How young politicians are working toward change
Jan 24, 2025
New Haven nonprofit leader Erik Clemons on community, hope and love
Jan 17, 2025
Untangling the complexities of U.S. history in the classroom
Jan 10, 2025
Our 2024 favorites: Through birding, Amy Tan finds the value of stillness
Jan 03, 2025
Our 2024 favorites: Rethinking mass incarceration with James Forman Jr.
Dec 27, 2024
The legacy of the Harlem Renaissance 100 years later
Dec 20, 2024
The surprising history of sex and sexuality in America
Dec 13, 2024
The power of books in prison with poet Reginald Dwayne Betts
Dec 06, 2024
Poet Crystal Wilkinson connects to kitchen ghosts through cooking
Nov 29, 2024
Playwright and actress Anna Deavere Smith on the politics of art
Nov 22, 2024
New Haven’s historian Michael Morand on bringing the city's past to the present
Nov 15, 2024
How young politicians are working toward change
Nov 08, 2024
Examining inequities in education with Dr. Bettina Love and Anthony Abraham Jack
Nov 01, 2024
Disrupted Trailer
Oct 29, 2024
Rethinking mass incarceration with James Forman Jr.
Oct 25, 2024
Exploring Appalachia beyond ‘Hillbilly Elegy’
Oct 18, 2024
Exploring connections between fascism and attacks on education with Jason Stanley
Oct 11, 2024
The cultural forces that shape gun violence with Dr. Jonathan Metzl
Oct 04, 2024
Through birding, Amy Tan finds the value of stillness
Sep 27, 2024
Representation on television from 'Julia' to 'City of Ghosts'
Sep 18, 2024
New Haven’s historian Michael Morand on bringing the city's past to the present
Sep 11, 2024
Why 'natural' disasters aren't as natural as their name suggests
Sep 04, 2024
Civics 101: Why Vote, And How To Do It
Aug 28, 2024
Civics 101: Are We A Democracy Or A Republic?
Aug 14, 2024
What this wild election cycle could mean for November
Aug 07, 2024
The way Americans are practicing religion is changing
Jul 31, 2024
Connecticut music disruptors: From a jazz violinist to a DJ challenging stereotypes
Jul 24, 2024
Beauty pageants are changing: 'It's about the whole person'
Jul 17, 2024
Preview Paris 2024, from a Paralympic shark attack survivor to an Olympic sport rooted in hip-hop
Jul 10, 2024
Rethinking the summer blockbuster
Jul 03, 2024
LGBTQ+ moments of resilience: From Stonewall to trans joy
Jun 26, 2024
The history — and joy — of Juneteenth
Jun 19, 2024
Understanding mental health as a parent
Jun 12, 2024
Friendships that challenge norms: Intergenerational friends and platonic life partners
Jun 05, 2024
Immigration policies that have shaped the U.S. from 1924 to 2024
May 29, 2024
BIPOC voters face difficult questions and barriers to access in 2024
May 22, 2024
Education inequities still exist 70 years after Brown v. Board
May 15, 2024
Libraries are building community through identity and cultural change
May 08, 2024
Debates over the 1st Amendment on college campuses
May 01, 2024
Black Americans are reclaiming their relationship with nature
Apr 24, 2024
Rethinking how we approach leadership with Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
Apr 17, 2024
Songwriter Alice Randall is part of a long tradition of Black country music
Apr 10, 2024
The way Americans are practicing religion is changing
Apr 03, 2024
Why mothering is 'Essential Labor' with Angela Garbes
Mar 27, 2024
The women who shaped the Civil Rights Movement haven't always been recognized
Mar 20, 2024
The forgotten and the powerful: A look at First Ladies and their influence
Mar 13, 2024
What we've learned and what we haven't since the start of the pandemic
Mar 06, 2024
Black creators disrupting the arts and building community
Feb 28, 2024
Representation on television from 'Julia' to 'City of Ghosts'
Feb 21, 2024
Friendships that challenge norms: Intergenerational friends and platonic life partners
Feb 14, 2024
Debates over the 1st Amendment on college campuses
Feb 07, 2024
NPR host Ayesha Rascoe celebrates what it means to be 'HBCU Made'
Jan 31, 2024
The Black press has been shaping media in the United States since 1827
Jan 24, 2024
Connecticut music disruptors: From a jazz violinist to a DJ challenging stereotypes
Jan 17, 2024
Our 2023 favorites: The long history of Chinese American exclusion and resistance
Jan 10, 2024
Our 2023 favorites: From Cronkite to TikTok, media literacy is evolving across generations
Jan 03, 2024
Our 2023 favorites: Black Americans are reclaiming their relationship with nature
Dec 27, 2023
Connecticut’s young people on the state’s 'Unspoken Crisis'
Dec 20, 2023
Mr. Chazz is breaking generational patterns by helping parents rethink how we raise kids
Dec 13, 2023
‘Tis the season for holiday movies, etiquette tips and traditions around the world
Dec 06, 2023
The search for innovative solutions to women’s economic insecurity in Connecticut
Nov 29, 2023
National Book Award winner Ned Blackhawk on how Native peoples have shaped U.S. history
Nov 21, 2023
Documentaries that disrupt stories we thought we knew with Ken Burns
Nov 15, 2023
Why 'natural' disasters aren't as natural as their name suggests
Nov 08, 2023
How Gen Z is changing politics
Nov 01, 2023
Horror books and movies and the real-life horrors of racism that they depict
Oct 25, 2023
Rethinking narratives around death and dying
Oct 18, 2023
Ari Berman on defending democracy and voting rights
Oct 11, 2023
'America Outdoors' host Baratunde Thurston on names, nature and 'How to Citizen'
Oct 04, 2023
Athletes are changing the game, and the stigma, around mental health
Sep 27, 2023
60 years after the March on Washington, the fight for equity continues
Sep 20, 2023
The long history of Chinese American exclusion and resistance
Sep 13, 2023
Examining diversity and inclusion in the world of dance
Sep 06, 2023
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decisions
Aug 30, 2023
Food innovations that are changing the way people eat
Aug 23, 2023
Changing Gears: Meet the women expanding representation in cycling
Aug 16, 2023
A candid conversation with comedian Roy Wood Jr.
Aug 09, 2023
What the ocean is telling us about our impact on the planet
Aug 01, 2023
Black Americans are reclaiming their relationship with nature
Jul 26, 2023
A look at the film industry, from strikes to summer blockbusters
Jul 19, 2023
Defending democracy and our voting rights with Ari Berman
Jul 12, 2023
Ned Blackhawk on how Native peoples have shaped U.S. history
Jul 05, 2023
From Stonewall to today: LGBTQ+ moments of resilience
Jun 28, 2023
Leveling up representation in video games
Jun 20, 2023
How Black Americans have shaped Connecticut history
Jun 14, 2023
The Black press has been shaping media in the United States since 1827
Jun 07, 2023
How parenting and caregiving are shaped by identity with Angela Garbes
May 31, 2023
Celebrating unity and navigating uncertainty with the Class of 2023
May 24, 2023
Jerry Craft and Barbara Brandon-Croft are cartoonists who broke out of the boxes drawn around them
May 17, 2023
Transgender people face growing discrimination, but still find joy
May 10, 2023
Beyond the headlines in gun violence and cable news
May 03, 2023
Black Americans are reclaiming their relationship with nature
Apr 26, 2023
Leveling up representation in video games
Apr 19, 2023
Healing from complex trauma and the need for culturally responsive mental health care with Stephanie Foo
Apr 12, 2023
From Cronkite to TikTok: How media literacy is evolving across generations
Apr 05, 2023
Rethinking narratives around death and dying
Mar 29, 2023
What the ocean is telling us about our impact on the planet
Mar 22, 2023
Rewriting the narrative: Storytelling for social change
Mar 15, 2023
The future is female: The next generation of women leaders
Mar 08, 2023
Cartoonists Jerry Craft and Barbara Brandon-Croft are drawing outside of the color lines
Mar 01, 2023
The state of Connecticut's cannabis industry from 'Clean Slate' to equity joint ventures
Feb 22, 2023
Why mothering is 'Essential Labor' with Angela Garbes
Feb 15, 2023
State Treasurer Erick Russell talks CT Baby Bonds and policy priorities
Feb 08, 2023
Stephanie Foo talks about healing from complex trauma and the need for culturally responsive mental health care
Feb 01, 2023
Exploring revitalization projects in Hartford and New Haven
Jan 25, 2023
Beyond her novels, Zora Neale Hurston was a pioneering anthropologist
Jan 18, 2023
The context of Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and UConn women’s basketball’s challenging season
Jan 11, 2023
Clint Smith traces U.S. history through sites of slavery in 'How the Word is Passed'
Jan 04, 2023
The conversation around long COVID and other chronic conditions is changing
Dec 21, 2022
From 12 community colleges to 1: A new Connecticut State Community College
Dec 14, 2022
NXTHVN and poet Antoinette Brim-Bell talk about community and collaboration through art
Dec 07, 2022
Understanding the impact of Nazi racism and American Jim Crow laws
Nov 30, 2022
Theologian Candice Marie Benbow on creating her own relationship with God
Nov 23, 2022
Failed innovations and their impact on our world today
Nov 16, 2022
The historical forces impacting wrongful convictions, as witnessed in New Haven
Nov 09, 2022
Understanding gender roles and bias in early childhood development
Nov 02, 2022
Can the pandemic help employers understand the needs of today's workforce?
Oct 26, 2022
The forgotten and the powerful: A look at First Ladies and their influence
Oct 19, 2022
Navigating politics at school and at home during 'dangerously divided times'
Oct 12, 2022
New Haven judge Constance Baker Motley is a civil rights icon
Oct 05, 2022
Community and collaboration through art with NXTHVN and poet Antoinette Brim-Bell
Sep 28, 2022
Clint Smith traces U.S. history through sites of slavery in 'How the Word is Passed'
Sep 20, 2022
How children's television has evolved since 'Sesame Street'
Sep 14, 2022
Reclaiming spiritual traditions like Hoodoo and Brujeria is connecting people to their heritage
Sep 07, 2022
As 'Disrupted' nears its 100th episode, we look to its past and future
Aug 31, 2022
How fashion influences what we wear and who we are
Aug 24, 2022
Recapping the wins, losses, and surprises of the Conn. primary election
Aug 17, 2022
Consumerism and inequality are shaping our relationship with technology
Aug 10, 2022
How astronaut Leland Melvin is using the lessons he learned in space back here at home
Aug 03, 2022
The forgotten and the powerful: A look at First Ladies and their influence
Jul 27, 2022
For U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, community engagement is critical
Jul 20, 2022
After a landmark court ruling, major sportsbooks are hitting the jackpot
Jul 13, 2022
Barriers to the beach: access to coastal New England past and present
Jul 06, 2022
How the climate crisis is affecting Connecticut’s future
Jun 29, 2022
After another year with COVID and gun violence, teachers are struggling
Jun 22, 2022
The podcasting market is bigger than ever. Where does it go from here?
Jun 15, 2022
Reality TV might seem vain, but it also reveals what we really believe
Jun 08, 2022
Theologian Candice Marie Benbow on creating her own relationship with God
Jun 01, 2022
American theater is changing and reinventing itself to be more inclusive
May 25, 2022
How Esports and Gaming are changing the world of college athletics
May 18, 2022
Failed innovations and their impact on our world today
May 11, 2022
The CT legislative session ends this week. What progress did lawmakers make?
May 04, 2022
Brittney Griner's detention in Russia, and the enduring legacy of sports activism
Apr 27, 2022
Constance Baker Motley is a civil rights icon. Why don't more people know her name?
Apr 20, 2022
How the NAACP is connecting with the next generation of social activists
Apr 13, 2022
Sesame Street's Sonia Manzano, and the birth of educational kids TV
Apr 06, 2022
The pandemic changed how we work. But are those practices here to stay?
Mar 30, 2022
War is ravaging Ukraine. What's the future of warfare and diplomacy look like?
Mar 23, 2022
Feminism hasn't always been inclusive, but activists are working to change that
Mar 16, 2022
Alicia Garza understands how activism has changed in the social media era
Mar 09, 2022
The rich culture of Black fashion and the growth of clothing brand Shein
Mar 02, 2022
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro says better public housing could help fight the housing crisis
Feb 23, 2022
Team USA's Julie Chu on her journey to 4 Olympic Medals, and a look inside the Beijing Games
Feb 16, 2022
Previewing the Connecticut legislative session and the 2022 midterms
Feb 09, 2022
Remembering Bridgeport’s “Little Libera,” and the impact of Conn.'s tobacco industry on the great migration
Feb 02, 2022
Radical self-care is empowering people and helping fight burnout
Jan 26, 2022
Community members take action in the fight against gun violence
Jan 19, 2022
Disrupted Roundtable: COVID-19, Biden's first year and Climate Change
Jan 12, 2022
Diversity and wage transparency are key to a modern, equitable workplace
Jan 05, 2022
Looking back on 2021 and a year of Disruptions
Dec 29, 2021
How understanding the history of African America helps put our present moment in context
Dec 22, 2021
Author and Scientist Ainissa Ramirez is teaching science through stories
Dec 15, 2021
How astronaut Leland Melvin is using the lessons he learned in space back here at home
Dec 08, 2021
Art Disruptors: Kwadwo Adae, Alisha Crutchfield-McLean, Jacob Padrón
Dec 01, 2021
Urban forests provide important resources, but redlining has made them inaccessible for some city dwellers
Nov 24, 2021
It may sound gross, but dumpster diving shines a light on the future of our food systems
Nov 17, 2021
Once deemed evil, Brujeria and Hoodoo are surging in popularity with young people
Nov 10, 2021
TikTok is changing how we interact with media. Here's how.
Nov 03, 2021
Margaret Levi reimagines an economy that works for everyone
Oct 27, 2021
Making a better home for Afghan refugees in Connecticut
Oct 20, 2021
Gun ownership surged during the pandemic, but who has 'the right to bear arms'?
Oct 13, 2021
Reflecting on one year of disruptions with Eddie Glaude Jr.
Oct 06, 2021
Disruptors: Teresa Younger And Phoebe Robinson
Sep 29, 2021
Cryptocurrency's Push Into The Mainstream
Sep 22, 2021
Disrupted Roundtable: Afghanistan, Reproductive Rights And Michael K. Williams
Sep 15, 2021
Back To School During A Global Pandemic
Sep 08, 2021
NASCAR’s Reckoning On Race And Culture
Aug 31, 2021
The History And Future Of The Feminist Movement
Aug 25, 2021
The Growth of Gaming And How It's Impacting Our World
Aug 18, 2021
Branching Out: How Trees Are Key To New England's Environmental Future
Aug 11, 2021
A Look At A History Of Activism, Leadership, And The Future Of HBCUs
Aug 04, 2021
Disruptors: Quavon Newton, The Galal Sisters, And Melvin Chen
Jul 28, 2021
Fighting for Beach Access in Connecticut; Historic Black Summer Enclaves Of Sag Harbor, Martha's Vineyard
Jul 21, 2021
Professors on Politics: Tenure, Critical Race Theory, Voting Rights, and the Olympics
Jul 14, 2021
NASCAR's Reckoning On Race And Culture
Jul 07, 2021
Connecticut Actors Michael Jai White And Chase W. Dillon
Jun 30, 2021
Health Equity In The Wake Of COVID
Jun 23, 2021
How The Climate Crisis is Affecting Connecticut's Future
Jun 16, 2021
The Hidden Black History of Connecticut
Jun 09, 2021
Bringing New Voices To YA Literature
Jun 02, 2021
Beyond Virtue Signaling: The Real Work Of DEI In The Workplace
May 26, 2021
The Changing Landscape Of Organized Labor In America
May 19, 2021
Black Maternal Health And Access To Doula Support
May 12, 2021
Appreciating The Beauty And Culture Of Black Hair
May 05, 2021
Expanding Vaccine Access and Combating Hesitancy; Talking Justice, Equity, And Healing On A College Campus
Apr 28, 2021
CNN's Don Lemon Talks To His Friends About Racism ; Changing Perceptions Of Asians In America
Apr 21, 2021
Rethinking Theater In A Post-Pandemic World
Apr 14, 2021
Disruptors: Young Connecticut Activists Speak Out
Apr 07, 2021
A New History Of African America; Untangling The Complexities Of Rights In America
Mar 31, 2021
How Athletes Are Speaking Out For Justice
Mar 24, 2021
The Role of Equity in Cannabis Legalization
Mar 17, 2021
Erik Clemons Reflects On Ten Years Leading ConnCAT; Community College Enrollment On The Decline
Mar 10, 2021
2020 Was A Record Year For Gun Sales
Mar 03, 2021
Rep. Jahana Hayes On Why Representation Matters; Future of CT GOP
Feb 24, 2021
How A History Of Activism And Leadership Drive The Future Of HBCUs
Feb 17, 2021
Promo (Impeachment Coverage)
Feb 10, 2021
Melissa Harris-Perry on Politics, Maya Angelou, And The Role of TV News
Feb 03, 2021
Big Tech And The Social Media "Free Speech Wars"
Jan 27, 2021
Working Towards An Equitable Healthcare System
Jan 20, 2021
What The Georgia Election and Capitol Insurrection Tell Us About America
Jan 13, 2021
Sen. Winfield Previews Legislative Session; Poetry and Prison Reform with Dwayne Betts
Jan 06, 2021
Promo (September 2021)
Jan 01, 2021
Women, Art and Social Change
Dec 30, 2020
Bringing New Voices To YA Literature
Dec 23, 2020
Finding Moments Of Joy In A Challenging Year
Dec 16, 2020
How Athletes Are Speaking Out For Justice
Dec 09, 2020
Women Balancing Family And Work During COVID-19
Dec 02, 2020
Policing in 2020: What It Means To Be Black In Blue
Nov 25, 2020
The Unstoppable Political Power of Black Women
Nov 18, 2020
Remembering CT’s 29th Black Infantry; Supporting Vets During A Pandemic
Nov 11, 2020
Women, Art and Social Change
Nov 04, 2020
2020 Is a "Mental Health Tsunami"
Oct 28, 2020
The Legacy of Elijah Cummings; Paul Butler on Policing Black Men
Oct 21, 2020
Policing in 2020: What It Means To Be Black In Blue
Oct 14, 2020
Creating An America As A "Better Steward Of Its Ideal"
Oct 07, 2020