Disrupted

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 health. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ralph Dodd will discuss how the role of a sports psychologist has changed. It used to focus only on an athlete’s physical performance. Tess Atkinson, who played soccer at CCSU, shares her experience with the stress of athletics. Then we'll hear from two people who are providing mental health support. Bella Nadeau, a softball player in her senior year at UMass Boston, created a non-profit called Lets Get Real About Athlete Mental Health. Former college basketball player and entrepreneur Ivan Tchatchouwo talks about The Zone mobile app he helped create that evaluates and provides mental wellness for student-athletes. GUESTS: Dr. Ralph Dodd: Clinical Psychologist practicing out of West Hartford. Tess Atkinson: Former Central Connecticut State University soccer player. Bella Nadeau: Senior softball player at UMass Boston and creator of non-profit website Lets Get Real About Athlete Mental Health. Ivan Tchatchouwo: Former college basketball player and CEO of The Zone mobile app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, talks about her book Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want. She discusses the small things around us that produce both problems and solutions, and she explains why racism hurts even those it supposedly benefits. Ruha Benjamin will be recognized for winning the Stowe Prize at events in Hartford on September 21st and 22nd. You can learn more about those events at this website: https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/stowe-prize/2023-stowe-prize/ GUESTS: Adriane Lentz-SmithFreedom Struggles: African Americans and World War IRuha BenjaminIda B. Wells Just Data LabViral Justice: How We Grow the World We WantSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 historical precedent for the current wave of anti-Asian racism and how people who oppose it can take action. GUESTS: Ava ChinMott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and HomecomingRussell JeungStop AAPI HateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Professor of Dance at George Washington University, tells us how we can learn about law by understanding dance. GUESTS: India HarvilleEmbraced BodyJennifer WiesnerStudio ArteAnna Jayne KimmelAssistant Professor of Dance at George Washington UniversityPerformance Research Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Elizabeth Van Arnam who helped produce this episode. Special thanks to our intern Stacey Addo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Defense Fund, led representation of 25 Harvard student and alumni groups in the Harvard case, offers her take on what the decisions mean. We'll also learn about the impact on community college from Dr. John Maduko, President of Connecticut State Community College. And, finally, we talk to U.S. Secretary of Education and former Connecticut elementary school student and teacher Dr. Miguel Cardona about how the Biden Administration plans to make college classrooms more diverse in the wake of the decisions. GUESTS: Jin Hee LeeNAACP Legal Defense FundDr. John MadukoConnecticut State Community CollegeDr. Miguel Cardona Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo, who helped produce this episode. Special thanks to Priya Sagar, Celeste Petrowsky and Wena Teng. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 make food pantry operations better for those they serve. GUESTS: Brian PaganiniQuantum BiopowerJoshua TetrickGOOD MeatEat Just, Inc.Katie MartinMore Than Food ConsultingReinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo who helped produce this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Championships, explains what it's like competing at the highest level as she prepares for the Paralympic Games next summer. GUESTS: Leta HighsmithHannah RossREVOLUTIONS: How Women Changed the World on Two WheelsKatie Walker Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo.Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the south, his rise in comedy and his future on The Daily Show. NOTE: This conversation was recorded during Writer's Guild of America strike and before the SAG-AFTRA walkout. GUESTS: The Daily Show Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 need to act now to protect the planet. Connecticut Public’s talk shows have teamed up to bring you stories exploring Connecticut's shoreline for the first ever Nautiweek, short for Nautical Week. You can find all of our NautiWeek show coverage at ctpublic.org/nautiweek. To learn more about the impact of climate change on our state, watch Cutline: Climate Change Along Connecticut's Coast. GUESTS: Dr. Sylvia Earle:the National Geographic SocietyNOAAMission BlueDeep Ocean Exploration and ResearchDr. Camille GaynusBlack in Marine ScienceA WOC SpaceDr. Lizzie McLeodThe Nature ConservancyDr. Tiara MooreBlack in Marine ScienceThe Nature ConservancyA WOC Space Special thanks to our interns Melody Rivera, Elizabeth Van Arnam, Carol Chen and Stacey Addo. This episode originally aired on March 22, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the U.S. is linked to the eugenics movement. And Dr. Dorceta Taylor, a professor at the Yale School of the Environment, explains what environmental justice is, and why we need to think about marginalized communities when we think about the environment.For more information on Soul Fire Farm, you can visit their website.You can read Dorceta Taylor's research on disparities in environmental grantmakng through ResearchGate. GUESTS: Leah PennimanSoul Fire FarmBlack Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black EnvironmentalistsDorceta TaylorBlack Earth Wisdom The Rise of the American Conservation Movement: Power, Privilege, and Environmental Protection Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo. This episode originally aired on April 26, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 recorded at a live event as part of New Haven’s 2023 International Festival of Arts & Ideas. GUESTS: Ari BermanMother JonesGive Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History, which tells the history of the United States, emphasizing how Native Americans have been essential to determining that history. GUESTS: Matthew L. M. FletcherNed BlackhawkThe Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Upstairs Lounge, a popular New Orleans gay bar in the 1970’s. Beau Lancaster is an LGBTQ+ historian currently working on a documentary about Blues Bar - a popular New York City bar among the Black LGBTQ+ community.GUESTS: Marc SteinOutHistoryQueer PastsFrank PerezLGBT+ Archives ProjectSheri WrightTracking Fire: Finding Hope in the Aftermath of HateBeau Lancaster:Gay, Black, and Blue: The Raid on Blues Bar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Market, explains what it's like to be a woman game designer pushing for the industry to broaden its perspective. And Professor Edmond Y. Chang talks about queerness and racial stereotypes in video games. GUESTS: Sheri Graner RayZombie Cat StudiosGender Inclusive Game Design: Expanding the MarketEdmond Y. Chang. Special thanks to our intern Melody Rivera, who helped produce this episode. Special thanks also go to our intern Elizabeth Van Arnam. This episode originally aired on April 19, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community and her efforts to renovate the historic Bridgeport homes of the Freeman sisters. The National Park Service recently awarded the Freeman Center a $750,000 grant as part of the Historic Preservation Fund’s African American Civil Rights Grant Program. The 29th Infantry was a Black Civil War volunteer regiment in Connecticut. Private Orrin Benjamin Hawley was a member of that infantry as discovered by his great-great-grandson Charles “Ben” Hawley. Ben shares what he learned about his ancestors and how he’s doing his part to educate younger generations on their contributions. Did you know that in 1831, New Haven had the opportunity to be the home of the first HBCU in the Northeast? We revisit our conversation with Dr. Jelani M. Favors about the history of HBCUs and how they disrupted the notions of leadership and excellence to elevate Black communities. Looking for ways to celebrate Juneteenth? Find a list of events happening across Connecticut here. Guests: Maisa L. TisdaleMary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and CommunityCharles Benjamin HawleyDr. Jelani M. FavorsShelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism To learn more about New Haven’s 1831 failed HBCU proposal, listen to “A People’s History of Dixwell” walking tour, voiced by Metropolitan Business Academy students in New Haven. This episode was produced with support from: Kevin Chang Barnum, Catie Talarski, Wayne Edwards, Meg Dalton, James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, Daniela Luna and Meg Fitzgerald. Excerpts from our conversation with Ben Hawley originally aired on November 11, 2020. Excerpts from our conversation with Dr. Jelani Favors aired on August 4, 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 about working at Connecticut's largest and longest-published Black newspaper. You can learn more about Capital B at their website: https://capitalbnews.org/ or sign up for their newsletter here: https://hype.co/@capitalb/y587mxyx. You can learn more about Northend Agent's at their website: :https://www.northendagents.com/. GUESTS: Trevy A. McDonald:Akoto Ofori-Atta: Capital BSasha Allen Walton: Northend Agent’sEndera Allen Stevens: Endera Allen Stevens: Northend Agent’s Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 and the disproportionate number of Filipinx nurses who died from COVID. Then, UConn professor Kari Adamsons talks about her research on fathers and the problem with the way many people think about "traditional families." GUESTS: Angela Garbes:Essential Labor: Mothering as Social ChangeKari Adamsons: Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences This episode originally aired on February 15, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's college commencement season for the class of 2023. This hour, we'll explore the history, benefits and questions surrounding Affinity-based celebrations with Dr. Crystal Garcia. And local graduates discuss their challenges in finding a job with Economist, Harry Holzer. GUESTS: Dr. Crystal GarciaHarry HolzerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour on Disrupted, we are listening back to our interviews with Black cartoonists who pushed their medium forward despite the reluctance of newspapers outside of the Black press to nationally syndicate their work. Jerry Craft talks about his banned, award-winning graphic novel New Kid, in addition to his latest book, School Trip. Barbara Brandon-Croft discusses her pioneering comic strip Where I'm Coming From and her new book, a collection of her comic strips. That book is also titled Where I'm Coming From. GUESTS: Jerry Craft:New KidClass Act School TripMama's BoyzBarbara Brandon-Croft: Where I'm Coming FromWhere I'm Coming From This episode originally aired on March 1, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.