Disrupted

Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public
  • 4.7 (26)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together. Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

  1. 3d ago

    In divided times, how do we build an inclusive future?

    The U.S. feels divided. That division is backed up by data. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2025 Stress in America Survey, 62 percent of adults said societal division was a significant source of stress in their lives. So how can we move forward with inclusion rather than division? This hour, we’re talking about building an inclusive future. We'll learn about an effort to bring people together through civic engagement in New Haven. And we’ll from hear legal scholars who explain how to advance DEI in the current political moment. GUESTS: Caroline Tanbee Smith: Executive Director of Civic Works, a new organization that brings people together through civic participation. Kenji Yoshino: Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law and the Faculty Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. David Glasgow:Executive Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at New York University School of Law. Book cover image courtesy of Simon & Schuster See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    In divided times, how do we build an inclusive future?

  2. Sep 25

    Senator Chris Murphy on the ‘Crisis of the Common Good’

    In 2012, Connecticut voters chose Chris Murphy as a replacement for retiring senator Joe Lieberman. He was the youngest U.S. senator serving at the time. And in the years since, his national profile has grown. He's been a vocal advocate for gun reform and become a high-profile critic of the Trump administration. But most recently he’s been talking about a different kind of crisis. It's the subject of his new book Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America. GUEST: Chris Murphy: Junior U.S. Senator from Connecticut. His new book is Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America. This episode originally aired on July 10, 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Sep 18

    Princess Joy L. Perry’s award-winning novel ‘This Here is Love’ continues Harriet Beecher Stowe’s legacy of literary activism

    Princess Joy L. Perry’s novel This Here is Love tells the interlocking stories of an array of characters in Tidewater Virginia. It’s a complex narrative that takes place in the 1690s as the hierarchies of slavery are still developing. Those hierarchies are complicated by further hierarchies— indentured servitude and gender also shape the way characters are perceived. This Here is Love is a book that isn’t afraid to delve into the messiest questions around how discrimination developed in the U.S. It’s a book about human nature and the moral questions we continue to face today. And above all it’s a gripping debut from an author whose assured voice guides us through a world where cruelty and love seem to coexist. This hour, we’re talking to Princess Joy L. Perry about This Here is Love. We’ll also speak with Casey Grambo from the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. They've awarded the novel with their annual Stowe Prize for Literary Activism. GUESTS: Princess Joy L. Perry: Master Lecturer at Old Dominion University. Her debut novel, This Here is Love is the 2026 winner of the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism. Casey Grambo: Director of Development at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. You can find more information about the celebration of the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism in Hartford at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism's website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Princess Joy L. Perry’s award-winning novel ‘This Here is Love’ continues Harriet Beecher Stowe’s legacy of literary activism

  4. Sep 10

    Reflecting on what new generations can carry forward as we remember 25 years since 9/11

    Many Americans can tell you exactly what they were doing 25 years ago when they learned the United States had been attacked. But for a younger generation, the attacks are something they’ve only learned about in history class. With that in mind, it’s time to think about what we want future generations to remember. GUESTS: Jay Winuk: Co-Founder of 9/11 Day, an organization that started in 2002 with the goal of turning 9/11 into a day of service. The group began after Jay's brother Glenn, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, died at the World Trade Center. Jeremy Stoddard: Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His work connects education, democracy, media and controversial issues. Mary Fetchet: Founding Director and President of the Voices Center for Resilience, an organization she helped create after her son Brad died at the World Trade Center. The group helps individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from traumatic events. Image provided by 9/11 Day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Reflecting on what new generations can carry forward as we remember 25 years since 9/11

  5. Sep 4

    Edwidge Danticat’s new novel ‘Dèy’ explores motherhood, grief and the concept of home

    Edwidge Danticat’s new book Dèy opens at a mall. A Haitian American real estate agent named Magnolia is there to buy a phone for her daughter. But before she has the chance, a mass shooting breaks out. Magnolia survives, but she doesn’t tell anyone what she’s experienced. Dèy is a book about grief— the title comes from a Haitian Kreyòl word for mourning. But grief is only one of the complex ideas that the book explores. GUEST: Edwidge Danticat: Wun Tsun Tam Mellon Professor of the Humanities in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University. Her book Breath, Eyes, Memory was an Oprah’s Book Club selection, and she’s had two books chosen as National Book Award Finalists. Her latest book is Dèy. Photo courtesy of Knopf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Edwidge Danticat’s new novel ‘Dèy’ explores motherhood, grief and the concept of home

  6. Aug 28

    Curated failures, plus young people define success for themselves

    Some inventions change the way we see the world. Others fail to meet the lofty expectations set for them. Those are the ones that make it into a traveling museum called the Museum of Failure. It recognizes products like Nintendo's early attempt at 3-D gaming and a clear soda called Crystal Pepsi. There's also the Hawaii Chair, a chair whose cushion gyrates in a way that will supposedly help you get in shape. None of those products became everyday household items, but the Museum of Failure still honors them. After all, innovation is only possible when we try things that might not work. This hour, we’re reframing failure and celebrating people who take risks. In addition to talking about the Museum of Failure, we'll hear a from panel of young people whose educational journeys didn't go the way they expected. But rather than feel like failures, they've embraced their new paths as a way to redefine success. GUESTS: Dr. Samuel West: Organizational psychologist who founded the Museum of Failure in Sweden in 2017. The museum now travels around the globe. It’s in Paris until May 17, 2026. Melina Floyd: Community organizer in Bristol Ella Nicastro: Paraprofessional at Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford. This episode originally aired on May 8, 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Aug 21

    Water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities

    According to the CDC, there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths in the United States every year and around 850 of those are for people younger than 18. And the numbers look different across various demographics. For instance, Black children ages 10-14 are nearly 4 times more likely to die from accidental drowning than white children of the same age. And in 2017, researchers at Columbia University found that children with autism were 160 times more likely than the rest of the population to die from drowning. This hour, we’re talking about how water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities.   Photo Credit: Brian Bates Photo Source: Diversity in Aquatics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities

  8. Aug 14

    Eddie Glaude Jr. on the contradictions inherent in celebrating the United States

    There was a lot of discussion surrounding the United States’ recent July 4th celebrations. There were festivities, like New York's parade of tall ships, and controversies, such as when musicians like Martina McBride and The Commodores canceled concert appearances due to an organizing group's affiliation with the president. With so much being said— and felt— about these celebrations, it’s important to take a deeper look into what national anniversaries represent and the broader history behind them. Joining us for the conversation is professor and political commentator Eddie Glaude Jr. His latest book is America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries. GUEST: Eddie S. Glaude Jr.: James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and a frequent contributor to MS NOW. He is also the bestselling author of Begin Again. His latest book is America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See All (310)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together. Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Information

  • Channel
    Connecticut Public
  • Creator
    Connecticut Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    311
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Connecticut Public Radio
  • Show Website
    Disrupted

More From Connecticut Public

You Might Also Like