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Disrupted

News & Politics Podcasts

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on Disrupted, host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives. From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on Disrupted, host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives. From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?
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United States

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Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on Disrupted, host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives. From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Language:

English

Episodes

Consumerism and inequality are shaping our relationship with technology

8/10/2022
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 merger means for consumers. GUESTS: Karen Hao:MIT Technology ReviewDr. Nicol Turner Lee:Center for...

Duration:00:48:59

How astronaut Leland Melvin is using the lessons he learned in space back here at home

8/3/2022
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 MelvinChasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second ChancesGreg Robinson This program was produced...

Duration:00:49:00

The forgotten and the powerful: A look at First Ladies and their influence

7/27/2022
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 Associate ProfessorNational Portrait GalleryJennifer Piscopo: Associate Professor of Politics...

Duration:00:49:00

For U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, community engagement is critical

7/20/2022
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 accessible to historically marginalized students. GUESTS: Vanessa Roberts Avery: U.S....

Duration:00:48:59

After a landmark court ruling, major sportsbooks are hitting the jackpot

7/13/2022
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. And later, Indian casinos are major players in the gambling market. How are tribes responding to...

Duration:00:48:59

Barriers to the beach: access to coastal New England past and present

7/6/2022
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: Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America's Most Exclusive ShorelineLee Jackson Van Allen: The Inn at...

Duration:00:49:00

How the climate crisis is affecting Connecticut’s future

6/29/2022
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. StaffordConnecticut Agricultural Experiment StationJim O’Donnell: Connecticut Institute of Resilience and Climate AdaptationJ.D. Allen Disrupted is produced by James...

Duration:00:49:14

After another year with COVID and gun violence, teachers are struggling

6/22/2022
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: Connecticut Association of Public School SuperintendentsEdward Singleton: Jennifer Dineen: UCONN ARMS center Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski. Our show is also...

Duration:00:49:58

The podcasting market is bigger than ever. Where does it go from here?

6/15/2022
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 spreading fake news ahead of the January 6th insurrection. GUESTS: Nick Quah: Vulture and New York...

Duration:00:49:58

Reality TV might seem vain, but it also reveals what we really believe

6/8/2022
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 : True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski. Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by...

Duration:00:41:43

Theologian Candice Marie Benbow on creating her own relationship with God

6/1/2022
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: TheologianRed Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who've Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn't Enough Disrupted is produced by James...

Duration:00:49:30

American theater is changing and reinventing itself to be more inclusive

5/25/2022
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: Her reportingSnehal Desai: East West PlayersJacob Padron:Long Wharf Theatre Our show is also available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google...

Duration:00:49:30

How Esports and Gaming are changing the world of college athletics

5/18/2022
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: Esport Business Programs at the University of New HavenCorey Parks:University of New Haven Esports teamGary Cook:Stand.Earth Special thanks to Meg Fitzgerald for her help this week. This episode originally aired on...

Duration:00:49:00

Failed innovations and their impact on our world today

5/11/2022
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: Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness Arika Okrent: In the Land of Invented Languages:...

Duration:00:49:00

The CT legislative session ends this week. What progress did lawmakers make?

5/4/2022
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:CT News JunkieEbong Udoma: Senior ReporterJonathan Wharton: Associate professor of political science and urban affairs at...

Duration:00:48:09

Brittney Griner's detention in Russia, and the enduring legacy of sports activism

4/27/2022
From Jesse Owens to Colin Kaepernick, some of the most iconic moments in sports history have been political. But some fans says 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. Plus, the latest on the WNBA’s Brittney Griner and her detention in Russia. GUESTS: Tamryn Spruill : Court...

Duration:00:48:59

Constance Baker Motley is a civil rights icon. Why don't more people know her name?

4/20/2022
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:Tomiko Brown-Nagin: Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff,...

Duration:00:39:00

How the NAACP is connecting with the next generation of social activists

4/13/2022
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 student loan debt crisis. Guests: Scot X Esdaile: Connecticut State Conference of the NAACPAnne...

Duration:00:38:59

Sesame Street's Sonia Manzano, and the birth of educational kids TV

4/6/2022
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: Alma’s Way Coming Up Cuban: Rising Past Castro’s Shadow.Daniel R. Anderson: Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are...

Duration:00:49:00

The pandemic changed how we work. But are those practices here to stay?

3/30/2022
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 ReporterSarita Gupta: Vice President of US ProgramsThe Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in...

Duration:00:48:59

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