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 development at the Yale Divinity School, and niece of Constance Baker Motley
• Tomiko Brown-Nagin: Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and professor of Constitutional Law and History. She’s also the author of the book Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.

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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: President of the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP, National criminal justice chair, and 2022 NAACP Image Awards Activist of The Year
• Anne Watkins: Founder of The Student Loan Fund Borrowers’ Collective
• Cristher Estrada Perez: Executive Director of The Student Loan Fund Borrowers’ Collective

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Special thanks this week to Diane Orson and Meg Fitzgerald. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate. 

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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 creator of the animated kids show Alma’s Way and author of the forthcoming book, Coming Up Cuban: Rising Past Castro’s Shadow.
• Daniel R. Anderson: Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a former consultant for Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the New York Times
• Sarita Gupta: Vice President of US Programs at the Ford Foundation, and Co-Author of The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century
• Erica Smiley: Executive Director of Jobs with Justice and Co-Author of The Future We Need: Organizing for a Better Democracy in the Twenty-First Century
• Richard Florida: Urbanist, professor at the University of Toronto, and author of The New Urban Crisis

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

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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.

GUESTS:

• Michael Horowitz: Director of Perry World House and Richard Perry Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics.
• Anton Troianovski: Russian Bureau Chief for the New York Times
• Jenna Gibson: PHD Candidate in Political Science at the University of Chicago.

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

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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.

GUESTS:

• Brittney Cooper: Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University and co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective
• Karen Buenavista Hanna: Assistant Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies at Connecticut College
• Camille Gallay: Founder of the New York based intersectional feminist collective Feminist Collages NYC

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

This Episode Originally Aired on August 25th, 2021

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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 the future of solitary confinement in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Alicia Garza: Principal of Black Futures Lab and Author of The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart
• Barbara Ford : Licensed clinical social worker, activist, and lead organizer for Stop Solitary CT

This week's episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski, Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

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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 History at The Graduate Center, CUNY and author of Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girls Love Letter to Fashion
• Dr. Sheng Lu - Associate Professor of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware

This week's episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski. Special thanks to our interns, Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

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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 Democrats in Texas. Plus, a look at free public transit and how it can make cities safer for people of color.

GUESTS:

• Julian Castro - Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama, 2020 Presidential Candidate, and former mayor of San Antonio. He’s now a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News
• Rosalie Ray - Assistant Professor of Geography at the Texas State University. She was also a featured author in the book Free Public Transit: And Why We Don't Pay to Ride Elevators

Julian Castro will be part of a Connecticut Forum panel “The Fight for Racial Justice” on February 25th. Click here to learn more about his appearance.

This week's episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski.

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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 lines coming out of Beijing.

GUESTS:

• Julie Chu - 4-time Olympian and former captain for the US Women’s Ice Hockey Team. She’s now the head women’s ice hockey coach at Concordia University
• Stephanie Apstein - Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated, covering the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing

This week's episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski.

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