This week on Disrupted, we dive deep into one of the wildest election cycles in recent history. Journalist and editorial director for Mother Jones, Jamilah King, offers her take on some of the latest political developments.

We also discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy with Higher Heights for America, an organization that supports Black women in politics.

You can also watch Disrupted host Khalilah Brown-Dean's interview with C-Span's Washington Journal about the role of black sororities and fraternities and why they could play a huge role in the election.

Guests: 


Jamilah King: Editorial Director at Mother Jones


Glynda C. Carr: President and CEO of Higher Heights for America

This week on Disrupted, we dive deep into one of the wildest election cycles in recent history. Journalist and editorial director for Mother Jones, Jamilah King, offers her take on some of the latest political developments.
We also discuss Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy with Higher Heights for America, an organization that supports Black women in politics.
You can also watch Disrupted host Khalilah Brown-Dean's <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?537556-4/khalilah-brown-dean-role-black-sororities-fraternities-campaign-2024">interview with C-Span's Washington Journal</a> about the role of black sororities and fraternities and <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/kamala-harris-history-aka-play-crucial-role-election-rcna163116">why they could play a huge role in the election</a>.
Guests: 
<ul>
<li>
Jamilah King: Editorial Director at <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/">Mother Jones</a>
</li>
<li>
Glynda C. Carr: President and CEO of <a href="https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/">Higher Heights for America</a>
</li>
</ul>

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! 

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 <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!

Disrupted

Connecticut Public's Talk shows help you navigate all the issues and candidates during election season.

From your weekly dose of politics on The Wheelhouse to deep dives on the issues on shows like The Colin McEnroe Show and Disrupted we've got you covered. 

Connecticut Public's Talk shows help you navigate all the issues and candidates during election season.
From your weekly dose of politics on The Wheelhouse to deep dives on the issues on shows like The Colin McEnroe Show and Disrupted we've got you covered.

Election 2024 playlist that HITS...on the issues

What this wild election cycle could mean for November

We hear a lot of of debate around sex and sexuality from our political leaders these days. Proposed legislation in areas like reproductive rights and education are constantly in the news. And while that debate may seem intense today, it isn’t new. Americans have long argued over which kinds of sex are, and aren’t “acceptable.”

You need to understand the past to understand the present, as the saying goes. And according to historian Rebecca L. Davis, there are a lot of misconceptions about the past. She joins us today to talk about her new book Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America. She’ll explain the surprising ways Americans have understood intimate relations and even share a touching story that took place right here in Connecticut.

GUEST:


Rebecca L. Davis: Miller Family Endowed Early Career Professor of History at the University of Delaware and Professor of Women and Gender Studies. Her latest book is Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America.

You can listen to the interview with Jason Stanley that Professor Davis mentioned in this episode on our website.

We hear a lot of of debate around sex and sexuality from our political leaders these days. Proposed legislation in areas like reproductive rights and education are constantly in the news. And while that debate may seem intense today, it isn&rsquo;t new. Americans have long argued over which kinds of sex are, and aren&rsquo;t &ldquo;acceptable.&rdquo;
You need to understand the past to understand the present, as the saying goes. And according to historian <a href="https://www.rebeccaldavis.com/">Rebecca L. Davis</a>, there are a lot of misconceptions about the past. She joins us today to talk about her new book <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631496578">Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America</a>. She&rsquo;ll explain the surprising ways Americans have understood intimate relations and even share a touching story that took place right here in Connecticut.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Rebecca L. Davis: Miller Family Endowed Early Career Professor of History at the University of Delaware and Professor of Women and Gender Studies. Her latest book is <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631496578">Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America</a>.
</li>
</ul>
You can listen to the interview with Jason Stanley that Professor Davis mentioned in this episode <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2024-10-11/exploring-connections-between-fascism-and-attacks-on-education-with-jason-stanley">on our website</a>.

The surprising history of sex and sexuality in America

Poet Reginald Dwayne Betts was part of a carjacking in a Virginia mall parking lot when he was 16 years old. He was charged as an adult and sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Dwayne was released in 2005. Today, he’s a lawyer and award-winning poet. He’s also the founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization called Freedom Reads. It provides handcrafted bookcases full of brand new books to prisons.

For Dwayne, and other incarcerated people, those books can be a lifeline— a connection to the rest of the world.

This hour, we have a candid conversation with Dwayne as he reflects on his poetry, the power of books, and life after prison.

We also take a visit to the Freedom Reads workshop and hear from some of the formerly incarcerated people who build the bookcases and bring them to prisons. You can see photos of the Freedom Reads workshop on our website.

GUEST:


Reginald Dwayne Betts: Award-winning poet, whose books include Felon and the upcoming Doggerel. He's also a lawyer and the Founder and CEO of Freedom Reads


Michael Byrd: Library Production Assistant at Freedom Reads


Steven Parkhurst: Communications Manager at Freedom Reads


James Flynn: Library Production Assistant at Freedom Reads

Special thanks to Kevin Baker and Ivan Dominguez at Freedom Reads.

Poet <a href="https://www.dwaynebetts.com/">Reginald Dwayne Betts</a> was part of a carjacking in a Virginia mall parking lot when he was 16 years old. He was charged as an adult and sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Dwayne was released in 2005. Today, he’s a lawyer and award-winning poet. He’s also the founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization called <a href="https://freedomreads.org/">Freedom Reads</a>. It provides handcrafted bookcases full of brand new books to prisons.
For Dwayne, and other incarcerated people, those books can be a lifeline— a connection to the rest of the world.
This hour, we have a candid conversation with Dwayne as he reflects on his poetry, the power of books, and life after prison.
We also take a visit to the Freedom Reads workshop and hear from some of the formerly incarcerated people who build the bookcases and bring them to prisons. You can see photos of the Freedom Reads workshop on our <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2024-12-06/the-power-of-books-in-prison-with-poet-reginald-dwayne-betts">website</a>.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Reginald Dwayne Betts: Award-winning poet, whose books include <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393652147">Felon</a> and the upcoming <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324089261">Doggerel</a>. He's also a lawyer and the Founder and CEO of <a href="https://freedomreads.org/">Freedom Reads</a> 
</li>
<li>
Michael Byrd: Library Production Assistant at Freedom Reads
</li>
<li>
Steven Parkhurst: Communications Manager at Freedom Reads
</li>
<li>
James Flynn: Library Production Assistant at Freedom Reads
</li>
</ul>
Special thanks to Kevin Baker and Ivan Dominguez at Freedom Reads.

The power of books in prison with poet Reginald Dwayne Betts

Poet Crystal Wilkinson says people are always surprised to hear that there are Black people in Appalachia. That’s despite the fact that two million Black people live in the region. The Black presence in Appalachia goes all the way back to the time of enslavement. And Crystal’s own family is a part of that history— her relatives Aggy and Tarlton Wilkinson were an interracial couple there in the early 1800s.

She talks about all of that in her book Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks. It’s a culinary memoir about how she connects with her Appalachian ancestors through cooking.

This hour, hear our extended interview with Crystal. She joins us to talk about food, family and her relationship to the past. She discusses her appreciation for traditions like Thanksgiving cooking, while learning through her children how those traditions evolve.

GUEST:


Crystal Wilkinson: Writer and former Poet Laureate of Kentucky. She teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky and is author of Perfect Black. Her latest book is Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks.

This is an extended version of the interview that originally aired on October 18, 2024

Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Poet <a href="https://www.crystalewilkinson.net/">Crystal Wilkinson</a> says people are always surprised to hear that there are Black people in Appalachia. That’s despite the fact that two million Black people live in the region. The Black presence in Appalachia goes all the way back to the time of enslavement. And Crystal’s own family is a part of that history— her relatives Aggy and Tarlton Wilkinson were an interracial couple there in the early 1800s.
She talks about all of that in her book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704948/praisesong-for-the-kitchen-ghosts-by-crystal-wilkinson/">Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks</a>. It’s a culinary memoir about how she connects with her Appalachian ancestors through cooking.
This hour, hear our extended interview with Crystal. She joins us to talk about food, family and her relationship to the past. She discusses her appreciation for traditions like Thanksgiving cooking, while learning through her children how those traditions evolve.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Crystal Wilkinson: Writer and former Poet Laureate of Kentucky. She teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky and is author of <a href="https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813151151/perfect-black/">Perfect Black</a>. Her latest book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704948/praisesong-for-the-kitchen-ghosts-by-crystal-wilkinson/">Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks</a>. 
</li>
</ul>
This is an extended version of the interview that originally aired on October 18, 2024
Disrupted is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrupted/id1534163465">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f8967bbf-ebf9-4abe-a31f-9363adaa2383/disrupted">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0zWn3s3Wpj3CRbYg6WnHDc">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Disrupted-p1371247/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/disrupted-connecticut-public-radio-Mcm2UfSKxuq/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

What this wild election cycle could mean for November

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