Disrupted

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 Sociology and Science Studies at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of the upcoming book, Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness 
• Arika Okrent: Linguist and author of the book In the Land of Invented Languages: Adventures in Linguistic Creativity, Madness, and Genius

• Joseph Menn: Technology reporter at the Washington Post and author of All the Rave: The Rise and Fall of Shawn Fanning's Napster

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski.

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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, and the Editorial Director of American Business Media
• Ebong Udoma: Senior Reporter covering state politics for WSHU

• Jonathan Wharton: Associate professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski.

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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. Plus, the latest on the WNBA’s Brittney Griner and her detention in Russia. 

GUESTS:

• Tamryn Spruill: Sports Journalist and author of forthcoming book Court Queens: The Story of the WNBA's Power, Passion and Perseverance On and Off the Court
• Amira Rose Davis: Assistant Professor of History and African-American Studies at Penn State University and author of the forthcoming book Can’t Eat a Medal: Black Women Athletes Under Jim Crow.
• A’ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces forward, Olympic gold medalist and 3-time WNBA All-Star

This episode was originally produced by Daniela Luna and Catie Talarski. The rest of our team includes James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

Portions of this episode originally aired on December 9th, 2020.

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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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.