Disrupted

Organized religion plays an important in many Americans lives. But the Christian church isn't always a welcoming place. This week, one woman’s journey of connecting with God in and outside the confines of organized religion. And how she's on a mission to make faith more accessible to everyone. GUESTS: Candice Marie Benbow: Theologian , Essayist, Columnist, and Educator. She is the author of...

American theater companies were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. And as we’ve all been getting back to a “new normal”, so are theater companies. For some, that means finding ways to be more representative and more responsive to their communities. This week, we explore the changing landscape of American theater. GUESTS: Diep Tran: Theater Journalist and Critic. Her reporting h...

Video Game revenue reached nearly 180 billion dollars in 2020. The industry’s continued growth and impact is being seen across our society. This week, we take a second look at the future of pro gaming. And how gaming’s growth is affecting our climate. GUESTS: Jason Chung: Assistant Professor and Executive Director of Esport Business Programs at the University of New Haven Corey Parks:...

History is littered with promising innovations that failed to live up to their hype. This week on Disrupted, a look at three revolutionary but doomed disruptions and their legacy on our world today. What became of the made-up language Esperanto, the music streaming platform Napster, and the once-popular treatment for mental illness, the lobotomy? GUESTS: Andrew Scull: Distinguished Professor of So...

This week marks the end of the state legislative session in Connecticut. After 10 weeks of debate, lawmakers have made progress on everything from climate change to solitary confinement. This hour, we bring back an esteemed panel of state house experts to help us digest what happened this session and what to expect in the November midterms. GUESTS: Christine Stuart: Editor/Owner of CT News Junkie...

From Jesse Owens to Colin Kaepernick, some of the most iconic moments in sports history have been political. But some fans say there’s no place for political activism in athletics. This hour on Disrupted, we revisit a conversation about sports activism and how it can be a platform for change. Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson talks about why she uses her platform to demand justice. Pl...

Civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Justice Thurgood Marshall have become household names. But the historic work of New Haven native Constance Baker Motley is still unknown to many Americans. This week, a look into the life and legacy of the first Black woman appointed to a federal court in American history. Guests: Connie Royster: retired New Haven attorney, former director of...

For over a century, the NAACP has fought to protect civil rights for all Americans. Their work helped overturn Jim Crow Laws in the south, was the catalyst for the desegregation of public schools, and instrumental in securing voting rights. But now, after the rise of the BlackLivesMatter movement, what role does the NAACP play in our modern society? Plus, a look at how some are fighting the studen...

For more than 50 years, PBS’s Sesame Street has brought quality educational programming to children around the globe. And while we may take it for granted now, Sesame Street upended the conventional ideas of kids television. This week, a look inside the creation of children educational TV. Guests: Sonia Manzano: Actress, best known for work as Maria on Sesame Street. She’s also the cre...

The American working world has been flipped upside down. Since 2020, many employees have adapted to working from home, managing hybrid schedules and countless remote meetings. But as we look to a future with, hopefully, fewer pandemic disruptions, what temporary work practices will become permanent? And what can we expect for the future of work? GUESTS: Emma Goldberg: Future of Work Reporter for t...

The way countries fight wars has changed significantly in the 21st century. And those changes can make visualizing the impact of war difficult. This week on Disrupted, what can we expect from the future of war and international diplomacy? We’ll hear what Russia's Invasion could mean for their relationship with China. And, why K-Pop bands like BTS are important for the South Korean government...

The feminist movement has led to groundbreaking legislation like the 19th Amendment, Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act. But when did the movement start? And whose voices are still missing from the conversation? This hour, we revisit conversations on the history and present of feminism. And we hear from an activist creating public art to spread information about women’s issues. GUES...

Social media has played an important role in activism in the 21st century. From the Arab spring protests in the Middle East, to calls against police violence in the U.S., sites like Facebook and Twitter have helped activists communicate with one another and spread awareness to an international audience. On today’s show, we examine what organizing and activism looks like in America today. And...

Author Tanisha Ford grew up obsessed with fashion. But it wasn't until she left home for school, when she realized the power of creating community through style. This week on Disrupted, we talk to Ford about her new book and what fashion means to her. Plus, as fast fashion businesses make clothing cheaper than ever, how are our consumption habits changing? GUESTS: Tanisha C. Ford - Professor of Hi...

The cost of living has risen for many Americans over the last two years. According to a report from Realtor.com , in the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, median rentals grew by over 19% in the last year. This week on Disrupted, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro talks about how he thinks we can better address America's housing crisis and what this year's midterms mean for...

The US Women's Hockey team are perennial favorites to win a gold medal every 4 years. Since 1998, the US squad has finished among the top 3 in every Winter Olympics. That’s in part thanks to retired American forward Julie Chu. This week on Disrupted, a conversation with the Connecticut native on breaking barriers and competing for gold at the Winter Games. Plus, a look at the biggest story l...

2022 is a big year for politics across the United States. And this week marks the start of a new legislative session for Connecticut’s General Assembly. Today, we preview the upcoming session with a roundtable of experts. Plus a look at the upcoming midterm elections. GUESTS: Christine Stuart - Editor-Owner of CT News Junkie , and reporter for NBC Connecticut Ebong Udoma - Senior Reporter co...

This Episode Originally Aired on June 9th, 2021 February is Black History Month in America. To celebrate, we revisit an episode on Black history from last year. It may not be well known that by the American Revolution, Connecticut had the largest number of slaves of all the New England states. In fact, slavery in Connecticut did not officially end until 1848 – the last state in New England t...

(Update 1/29/22: This show has been updated from it's original broadcast to reflect the recent events surrounding the r/antiwork subreddit and Doreen Ford's removal as a moderator. We've added new context to our conversation with Doreen and linked to coverage below on the subreddit's changes.) In recent years, self-care has become a multi-billion dollar industry and a focal point of the pandemic....

Over the past decade, Connecticut has averaged nearly 200 gun deaths each year. How are community members responding? This week, two New Haven initiatives that are trying to prevent gun violence before it even happens. Plus, a new report on the staggering number of evictions in our state. GUESTS: Marlene Pratt - Co-founder of The New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Vi...

2021 was a year of unprecedented moments. From an insurrection at our nation’s capital, to the end of the longest war in American history. We’ve struggled to make sense of all that has happened. This week, we’re joined by three political experts to help sift through the events of the last year, and look ahead to 2022. GUESTS: Brian O’ Donovan - Washington Correspondent for...

In 2020, following calls for racial justice, U.S. businesses committed over 35 billion dollars toward racial equity in the workplace. But still, corporate offices remain overwhelmingly white. According to a recent study by Mckinsey , less than 30% of corporate managers are people of color. This week on Disrupted, we’ll hear from individuals pushing for greater equity in the workplace. GUESTS...

From a shocking insurrection at the Capitol, to the rise of cryptocurrency, and the continuing fight for voting rights, 2021 brought more disruptions – and our show has attempted to make sense of this complicated world. This week on Disrupted, we’re wrapping up the year listening back to a few of our favorite conversations of 2021. GUESTS: Nancy Yao Maasbach – President of the Mu...

This episode originally aired on March 31st, 2021 This moment in American history can feel unprecedented. But white supremacist violence and debates over whose rights really matter are hardly new. This hour on Disrupted, we re-air conversations with two authors who provide crucial historical and theoretical context to this moment. Keisha N. Blain co-edited Four Hundred Souls, A Community History o...

Materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez has made it her mission to tell the stories of little known inventors. She shines a light on the women and people of color that have helped create everything from the ice cream scoop to the GPS. This week on Disrupted, a conversation with Ainissa Ramirez. GUESTS: Ainissa Ramirez - Materials scientist, science evangelist, author of The Alchemy of Us: How humans a...