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.

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 <a href="https://museumoffailure.com/">Museum of Failure</a>. It recognizes products like <a href="https://museumoffailure.com/exhibition/nintendo-virtual-boy">Nintendo's early attempt at 3-D gaming</a> and a clear soda called <a href="https://museumoffailure.com/exhibition/crystal-pepsi">Crystal Pepsi</a>. There's also the <a href="https://museumoffailure.com/exhibition/hawaii-chair">Hawaii Chair</a>, 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&rsquo;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:
<ul>
<li>
Dr. Samuel West: Organizational psychologist who founded the <a href="https://museumoffailure.com/">Museum of Failure</a> in Sweden in 2017. The museum now travels around the globe. It&rsquo;s in Paris until May 17, 2026.
</li>
<li>
Melina Floyd: Community organizer in Bristol
</li>
<li>
Ella Nicastro: Paraprofessional at Duffy Elementary School in West Hartford.
</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

Curated failures, plus young people define success for themselves

Tayari Jones has had quite the literary career. Her 2018 novel An American Marriage was a New York Times bestseller and an Oprah’s Book Club Pick. Her latest novel, Kin came out earlier this year, and once again it was a bestseller and an Oprah’s Book Club Pick.

Kin tells the story of two Black girls— best friends who grow up in the Jim Crow era in a town called Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Neither one of them knows their mom, a fact that looms large in their lives. They both leave Honeysuckle— one for college and the other in search of her mom. They go on very different, sometimes heartbreaking journeys. But their shared childhood always binds them together.

GUEST:


Tayari Jones: Bestselling author of five novels, including An American Marriage and Kin, both of which were selected for Oprah's Book Club. She is Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University and the Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. She was recently named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2026.

<a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/">Tayari Jones</a> has had quite the literary career. Her 2018 novel <a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/books/an-american-marriage/">An American Marriage</a> was a New York Times bestseller and an Oprah&rsquo;s Book Club Pick. Her latest novel, <a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/books2/kin/">Kin</a> came out earlier this year, and once again it was a bestseller and an Oprah&rsquo;s Book Club Pick.
<a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/books2/kin/">Kin</a> tells the story of two Black girls&mdash; best friends who grow up in the Jim Crow era in a town called Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Neither one of them knows their mom, a fact that looms large in their lives. They both leave Honeysuckle&mdash; one for college and the other in search of her mom. They go on very different, sometimes heartbreaking journeys. But their shared childhood always binds them together.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/">Tayari Jones</a>: Bestselling author of five novels, including <a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/books/an-american-marriage/">An American Marriage</a> and <a href="https://www.tayarijones.com/books2/kin/">Kin</a>, both of which were selected for Oprah's Book Club. She is Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University and the Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. She was recently named one of Time Magazine&rsquo;s 100 most influential people of 2026.
</li>
</ul>

Tayari Jones’ book ‘Kin’ challenges readers’ assumptions about novels centering women

When Tara Pringle Jefferson was 26, she was a freelance consultant and writer. She says she often worked 18 hour days. After some time, she started feeling pain in her neck and shoulder. When she went to the doctor, the doctor prescribed a treatment that she didn’t expect— rest. Tara writes, “I was only 26 but I was already working myself to death.”

A lot changed after that appointment. Tara started thinking about how hard she worked and how hard the other Black women she knew worked. Eventually, Tara shifted careers. Today, she is a wellness advocate who wants to break down the barriers to self-care that Black women face.

GUEST:


Tara Pringle Jefferson: Author of Bloom How You Must: A Black Woman’s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing. She’s also Founder of The Self Care Suite, a wellness community for Black women.

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.

When <a href="https://www.tarapringlejefferson.com/">Tara Pringle Jefferson</a> was 26, she was a freelance consultant and writer. She says she often worked 18 hour days. After some time, she started feeling pain in her neck and shoulder. When she went to the doctor, the doctor prescribed a treatment that she didn&rsquo;t expect&mdash; rest. Tara writes, &ldquo;I was only 26 but I was already working myself to death.&rdquo;
A lot changed after that appointment. Tara started thinking about how hard she worked and how hard the other Black women she knew worked. Eventually, Tara shifted careers. Today, she is a wellness advocate who wants to break down the barriers to self-care that Black women face.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.tarapringlejefferson.com/">Tara Pringle Jefferson</a>: Author of <a href="https://www.tarapringlejefferson.com/books">Bloom How You Must: A Black Woman&rsquo;s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing</a>. She&rsquo;s also Founder of <a href="https://www.theselfcaresuite.com/">The Self Care Suite</a>, a wellness community for Black women.
</li>
</ul>
Disrupted&nbsp;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.

Despite barriers to self-care, Black women can still find ways to bloom

When Tracy K. Smith served as Poet Laureate of the United States, she used her platform to bring people together. In 2018, she traveled the country for a series called American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities. At these events, she encouraged people to share their thoughts, regardless of their background. While Tracy’s two terms as poet laureate ended in 2019, she is still using poetry to build connections. Her new book is Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times.

GUEST:


Tracy K. Smith: Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019. Her 2011 collection Life on Mars won the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times.

You can find both of the poems Tracy reads on this episode, "Everybody's Autobiography" and "Charity," online.

Special thanks to our former interns Vy Duong and Talei Ricketson.

This episode originally aired on November 14, 2025.

When <a href="https://tracyksmithpoet.com/">Tracy K. Smith</a> served as Poet Laureate of the United States, she used her platform to bring people together. In 2018, she traveled the country for a series called American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities. At these events, she encouraged people to share their thoughts, regardless of their background. While Tracy&rsquo;s two terms as poet laureate ended in 2019, she is still using poetry to build connections. Her new book is <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324050988">Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times</a>.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://tracyksmithpoet.com/">Tracy K. Smith</a>: Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019. Her 2011 collection Life on Mars won the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324050988">Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times</a>.
</li>
</ul>
You can find both of the poems Tracy reads on this episode, "<a href="https://poets.org/poem/everybodys-autobiography">Everybody's Autobiography</a>" and "<a href="https://onbeing.org/poetry/charity/">Charity</a>," online.
Special thanks to our former interns Vy Duong and Talei Ricketson.
This episode originally aired on November 14, 2025.

Curated failures, plus young people define success for themselves

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