Disrupted

This hour, we talk to documentary filmmakers whose work disrupts the way we view the world. Ken Burns joins us in a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from his distinctive style to why we may be in the most difficult crisis in U.S. history. Then, we talk to Su Kim, one of the producers of the film ' Free Chol Soo Lee .' The film tells the story of a man who is convicted of a murder h...

Listening to the news, it feels like there are more natural disasters than ever. This hour, we talk about why flooding and droughts are becoming so common and discuss how the word "disaster" affects the way we view an event. First, Connecticut State Historian Andy Horowitz explains why understanding disasters involves looking at the decisions people made before the devastation, sometimes decades b...

As you prepare to cast your vote in this upcoming election, you may have questions about how campaigns work in Connecticut. This hour on Disrupted, we learn about the State Elections Enforcement Commission which oversees voter fraud allegations and campaign finance. We'll also examine America's youngest voters, Gen Z. Ruby Belle Booth will provide insight on Gen Z's voting impact followed by an al...

As Halloween approaches, we are exploring America's history of racism through horror books and films. Mark H. Harris, one of the co-authors of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar , talks about different eras of Black horror cinema and the origins of the famous racist horror trope referenced in his book's title. Author and academic historian P. Djèlí Clark discusses h...

This hour on Disrupted, we hear from three women who are rewriting narratives around death and dying in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to confront death head-on. At the same time, we’re also seeing major changes in the death care industry — from the emergence of things like green burials and human composting to the diversification of funeral directors. GUESTS: Cole Imperi : Found...

This hour, we listen back to a conversation with author and journalist Ari Berman on democracy and voting rights. He’ll talk about the decision the Supreme Court made 10 years ago in Shelby County v. Holder that removed key provisions from the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He'll also explain what Democrats need to do differently if they want to ensure people have access to the polls. This conversatio...

Baratunde Thurston is a bestselling author , has been nominated for an Emmy and gave a TED Talk that now has over a million views on YouTube. He's also the host of the PBS series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston . This hour, Baratunde opens up about everything from from doubting himself while attending an elite private school to the need for a rebirth of democracy. And he explains how Amer...

This hour on Disrupted, we explore sports and mental health. The Fall sport season has begun. For some families, this will be their child’s first experience in competition. For others, their student athlete will continue competing in high school or college sports. As the competition level increases, the performance, academic and even social expectations can impact an athlete’s physical and mental...

This hour, we’re exploring the history of civil rights for Black Americans and how people can create change now. Professor Adriane Lentz-Smith gives us some context around the 60th anniversary celebration of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which happened on the same day as the shooting in Jacksonville. And Professor Ruha Benjamin, who is being recognized with this year's Stowe Prize,...

This hour, we take a look at anti-Chinese racism, anti-Asian racism and how government policy plays a role in both. Ava Chin discusses how the Chinese Exclusion Act continues to impact people today as we interview her about her book ' Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming .' And Russell Jeung, one of the co-founders of Stop AAPI Hate , talks about the historica...

This hour, we look at how dance has excluded people based on race and ability and how some people are fighting to change that. India Harville, a Disability Justice Consultant, talks about the need to shift attitudes in order to make dance more accessible. Jennifer Wiesner explains how she promotes racial diversity in her Norwalk dance studio, Studio Arte. And Anna Jayne Kimmel, an Assistant Profes...

On June 29th, the Supreme Court ruled that colleges and universities can no longer use race as a factor in admissions, with an exception for military academies. The decisions came in 2 separate affirmative action cases, one against Harvard College and the other against the University of North Carolina. This hour, we discuss the impact of those decisions. Jin Hee Lee , who, as part of the Legal Def...

This hour, we explore disruptions in our food landscape, from consumption to distribution and food waste management. Brian Paganini, Vice President of Quantum Biopower in Connecticut, explains how the company transforms food scraps into energy. Joshua Tetrick, CEO and Co-Founder of GOOD Meat, talks about growing meat from cells. And Katie Martin, CEO of More Than Food Consulting, discusses how to...

This hour, we take a look at representation in the cycling world. Connecticut-based bike instructor Leta Highsmith talks about being the first Black woman to become a League Cycling Coach with The League of American Bicyclists. Hannah Ross discusses her book REVOLUTIONS: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels . And Katie Walker, who just finished racing in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championshi...

Comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. has been entertaining audiences with political satire for more than 25 years. He is best known for his role as correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show . In April, Roy joined the list of notable comedians such as Jay Leno, Seth Meyers and Trevor Noah to headline the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This hour, Roy Wood Jr. talks about his upbringing in th...

This hour, we listen back to a panel discussion that Khalilah hosted for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut ’s annual Nature Talks series. The discussion was called “Oceans: Our Global Watchdog.” It was recorded in front of a live audience at Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT. The panelists talked about topics like how some communities are disproportionately affected by climate change and why we ne...

This hour, we are taking a look at how race has impacted agriculture and the environmental movement. Leah Penniman, Co-Executive Director and Farm Director at Soul Fire Farm , talks about her new book Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists . The discussion touches on everything from Leah's childhood to how the creation of some of the most prominent national parks in...

This hour on  Disrupted , we talk about the ways the film industry is changing— including the recent strikes and their potential impact beyond the entertainment world. We look at diverse representation in film and TV that goes beyond casting choices. And we also hear about the summer’s biggest films, including  Barbie  and  Oppenheimer . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we hear a conversation with author and journalist Ari Berman on democracy and voting rights. He’ll talk about the decision the Supreme Court made 10 years ago in Shelby Country v. Holder that removed key provisions from the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He'll also explain what Democrats need to do differently if they want to ensure people have access to the polls. This conversation was rec...

This hour, we are exploring the central role that Native peoples have played in the development of the United States, while facing legal discrimination that goes all the way back to the country's founding documents. Professor of Law Matthew L.M. Fletcher gives us the context around the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Indian Child Welfare Act. And Ned Blackhawk discusses his new book, The Redi...

This hour, we take a deep dive into LGBTQ+ Pride and history. We’ll talk about Stonewall, but also other moments in the LGBTQ+ rights movement that don’t get as much attention. Historian Marc Stein describes LGBTQ+ movements that happened before the Stonewall Uprising and two protests that occurred in Bridgeport. Archivist, Frank Perez and documentarian Sheri Wright tell the tragic story of The Up...

Video games have a history of racist and sexist stereotypes, from damsels in distress to Asian martial artists. With the recent releases of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and HBO's television adaptation of The Last of Us , we wanted to take a closer look at representation in the video game industry. Sheri Graner Ray , CEO of Zombie Cat Studios and author of Gender Inclusive Game Design: Expanding the...

This hour, we’re celebrating the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth with a look back at how Black Americans have helped shape Connecticut History. Maisa Tisdale has dedicated much of her career to uncovering the rich history of a planned neighborhood for Black and Indigenous Americans in Bridgeport in the 1800s. When she came on the show two years ago, she shared her work as the president and CEO of...

This hour, we look at how the Black press has shaped the United States. Professor Trevy A. McDonald tells us about the role the Black press played during important moments in history such as the civil rights movement. Akoto Ofori-Atta of Capital B explains her goals in helping to create a non-profit newsroom dedicated to centering Black voices. And Sasha Allen Walton and Endera Allen Stevens talk...

This hour on Disrupted , we're challenging long-held assumptions about parents and caregivers. First, Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change , explains how care workers are undervalued. She touches on the way the early days of the pandemic spotlighted issues in caregiving and why the legacy of American colonialism in the Philippines influenced both her family history...