Children's programming has evolved significantly since Sesame Street first debuted on PBS in 1969. On this week's Disrupted, we revisit our conversation with actor Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on Sesame Street for more than 40 years. And we talk to a child psychologist who consulted on the creation of kids shows like Bear in the Big Blue House and Gullah Gullah Island. 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 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 J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski. This episode of Disrupted was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode originally aired on November 10, 2021 Spiritual practices such as Brujeria and Hoodoo have long been portrayed by colonial powers as deviant or even evil. On this week's episode of Disrupted, we learn more about the history of these religions. And, take a look at the growing popularity of tarot through the art and legacy of Pamela Colman Smith. GUESTS: Yvonne Chireau: Professor of Religion at Swarthmore College and author of Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition. Lorraine Monteagut: practicing Bruja and author of Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color Elizabeth Foley O'Connor: Associate Professor of English, Director of the Gender Studies Program at Washington College in Maryland, author of Pamela Colman Smith: Artist, Feminist & Mystic Disrupted is produced by J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski. This episode was originally produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Disrupted debuted on Connecticut Public on October 7, 2020. At the time, the 2020 general election was still weeks away. The world was less than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. And, the United States was grappling with the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. As we near our 100th episode, we invite three prominent former guests back to the program to take a look at the last two years. GUESTS: Eddie Glaude Jr.: James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor of African American Studies and Chair of the department of African American studies at Princeton University, author of Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. Melissa Harris-Perry: Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University and founder of the Anna Julia Cooper Center. Host of PRI's The Takeaway. Amira Rose Davis – Historian and Assistant Professor of Black Studies at UT Austin and Cohost of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down. To listen to Disrupted's first episode, click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Historian Tanisha C. Ford says she was always obsessed with style, but it wasn't until she became a college student that she saw fashion as both being deeply connected to her fellow Black students and a site of appropriation by the mainstream. On this week's Disrupted, we revisit our conversation with Ford from this spring. We also look at the economic and environmental ramifications of the fast fashion industry. GUESTS: Tanisha C. Ford : Professor of History at The Graduate Center, CUNY and author of Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl's Love Letter to Fashion Dr. Sheng Lu : Associate Professor of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware The original broadcast of this episode was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier. Disrupted is produced by J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski. Special thanks to our summer interns Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Democratic and Republican voters cast their ballots last Tuesday during Connecticut's primary elections. On this week's episode of Disrupted, we take a look at the outcomes of local, state, and federal races. We also learn more about how shifting demographics, class, and low voter turnout could impact state politics in the coming years. GUESTS: Dan Haar: Columnist and Associate Editor at Hearst Connecticut Media Steven T. Moore: Assistant Professor of Government at Wesleyan University Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter for the Connecticut Mirror and Connecticut Public This program was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski. Thanks to our summer interns, Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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: China Tech Reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the former Senior AI Editor at MIT Technology Review. Dr. Nicol Turner Lee: Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and the Director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. She’s author of the new book Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass. Sascha Segan: Lead Mobile Analyst at PC Mag This program was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski. Thanks to our interns, Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 Melvin - Engineer, former NFL Wide Receiver, and retired NASA Astronaut. He’s also the author of Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances Greg Robinson - Director for the James Webb Space Telescope Program in the NASA Science Mission Directorate This program was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski Thanks to our interns, Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju. This episode originally aired on December 8th, 2021See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 Professor of Art History at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she was the Senior Historian and Director of History, Research, and Scholarly Programs at the National Portrait Gallery Jennifer Piscopo: Associate Professor of Politics and Affiliate Faculty of Latin American and Latino/Latina Studies at Occidental College Click here to see more images from the First Lady Exhibition. Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen and Kevin Chang Barnum, and Catie Talarski Special thanks to our summer interns, Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Kayla Vinson: Executive Director of the Law and Racial Justice Center at Yale Law School and co-leads the ‘Access to Law School’ program Akia Callum: Fellow in Yale's ‘Access to Law School’ program and an incoming student at the University of Connecticut School of Law This program was produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen, Kevin Chang Barnum and Catie Talarski. Thanks to our summer interns, Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 the introduction of sports betting? GUESTS: Doug Kezirian: Sports Betting Analyst for ESPN, and host of the sports betting show “Daily Wager” Lia Nower: Professor and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. She’s also a co-director of the University’s Addiction Counselor Training Program Derrick Beetso: Director of Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. He is also a member of the Navajo nation. This program was also produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, J. Carlisle Larsen, and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Anya Grondalski and Mira Raju.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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: Professor of African-American Studies and History at The Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia and author of Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America's Most Exclusive Shoreline Lee Jackson Van Allen: Innkeeper at The Inn at Shearer Cottage in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. Erica Stanley-Dottin: 3rd generation resident of the Azurest Neighborhood in Sag Harbor. Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski.This episode originally aired on June 21st, 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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. Stafford: Chief Entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) Jim O’Donnell: Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut and Executive Director of Connecticut Institute of Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) J.D. Allen: Assistant news director and reporter for WSHU Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski. This episode originally aired on June 16th, 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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: Executive Director of Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Edward Singleton: Interim Principal of the Roton Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut Jennifer Dineen: Assistant Professor in Residence of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut. She's also the associate director of the UCONN ARMS center Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski. Our show is also 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.
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: Podcast Critic for Vulture and New York Magazine. He's also the founder of Hot Pod, a trade publication about the industry Paulina Velasco: Managing Producer at LWC Studios Valerie Wirtschafter: Senior data analyst in the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Initiative at the Brookings Institution Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff and Catie TalarskiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 : Associate Professor of Sociology at Lehigh University. She is the author of the new book 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 visiting ctpublic.org/donate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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: Theologian, Essayist, Columnist, and Educator. She is the author of the new book Red 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 Szkobel-Wolff and Catie Talarski.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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: Theater Journalist and Critic. Her reporting has appeared in Playbill, American Theatre and The New York Times Snehal Desai: Producing Artistic Director at East West Players Jacob Padron: Artistic Director at Long Wharf Theatre Our show is also 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.
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: Assistant Professor and Executive Director of Esport Business Programs at the University of New Haven Corey Parks: Director of E-sports and Head Coach of the University of New Haven Esports team and a former pro E-sports player Gary Cook: Global Climate Campaigns Director for the climate change advocacy organization Stand.Earth Special thanks to Meg Fitzgerald for her help this week. This episode originally aired on August 18th, 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.