Disrupted

This week on Disrupted, we look at how technology influences us and how we influence technology. We speak with journalist Karen Hao about the ways artificial intelligence is mirroring historical European colonial practices. Policy expert Dr. Nicol Turner Lee joins us to talk about the state of digital privacy in post-Roe America. And, PC Mag's Sascha Segan talks about what the T-Mobile/Sprint merg...

This week on Disrupted, we hear from two Black Americans who helped pave the way for the next generation of NASA astronauts and administrators. We’ll speak to NASA director Greg Robinson about the revolutionary James Webb space telescope. And a conversation with Astronaut Leland Melvin, which recently won an award from the Public Media Journalists Association . GUESTS: Leland Melvin - Engineer, fo...

The First Lady of the United States is not an elected position. But even so, the office plays an important role in our government. This week on Disrupted, an Art Historian talks about the powerful First Ladies of American history who don't get the recognition they deserve. Also, how gender quotas are changing politics in Latin America. GUESTS: Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw: Class of 1940 Bicentennial Term...

Vanessa Roberts Avery became the U.S. Attorney for the district of Connecticut just two months ago. But she’s already changing the way her office connects with the public. This week, we talk with Avery about what it's like being the first African American woman in the role and her goals for her tenure. And we hear from the executive director of a new Yale program that is making law school more acc...

For decades, the American sports betting industry was only accessible via seedy back rooms and offshore banking accounts. But after a 2018 supreme court ruling , betting on your favorite team is as easy as pressing a button on your phone. This hour, an exploration of the bustling legal world of sports betting. We’ll speak to a gambling researcher on the impact of sport betting on problem gaming. A...

As summer heats up, people across New England are flocking to the beach. But there’s been a long battle in CT, for access to the shoreline. This week on Disrupted, we look back at an episode about the history of exclusion on the Long Island sound. And we hear from descendants of the historically Black communities of Oak Bluffs and Sag Harbor. GUESTS: Andrew Kahrl: Professor of African-American Stu...

In a year dominated by gun control debates and the midterm elections, the climate crisis has taken a back seat. But we’re seeing its impact across the country and here in Connecticut. This week, we look at the ways climate change has impacted our state, from an explosion of ticks to flooding on our shorelines. GUESTS: Kirby C. Stafford : Chief Entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experime...

This week, we talk about how teachers, parents, and students are holding up after a year of violence, COVID-19 and mental health struggles. And later, we'll hear from a political scientist who’s leading a new research center at UCONN, looking at solutions to gun violence. GUESTS: Fran Rabinowitz: Executive Director of Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Edward Singleton: Inter...

Podcasting used to be a niche hobby for internet bloggers. Now, companies like Spotify, Amazon and Sirius XM dominate the industry. This week, we look at the rapid growth and commercialization of podcasting and how it’s shaping our culture. We’ll hear about a podcast studio that centers its work on diverse and undeserved communities. And a look at the role podcasters played in spreadin...

Reality TV shows rank among some of the most popular in America. And often people don’t even realize they’re favorite program is reality TV. This week, the hidden ways we shape reality TV and it shapes us. GUESTS: Danielle J. Lindemann : Associate Professor of Sociology at Lehigh University. She is the author of the new book True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us Disrupted is produc...

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...