Edwidge Danticat’s new book Dèyopens at a mall. A Haitian American real estate agent named Magnolia is there to buy a phone for her daughter. But before she has the chance, a mass shooting breaks out. Magnolia survives, but she doesn’t tell anyone what she’s experienced.

Dèyis a book about grief— the titlecomes from a Haitian Kreyòl word for mourning. But grief is only one of the complex ideas that the book explores.

GUEST:


Edwidge Danticat: Wun Tsun Tam Mellon Professor of the Humanities in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University. Her book Breath, Eyes, Memory was an Oprah’s Book Club selection, and she’s had two books chosen as National Book Award Finalists. Her latest book is Dèy.

Photo courtesy of Knopf

<a href="https://edwidgedanticat.com/">Edwidge Danticat</a>&rsquo;s new book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768725/dey-by-edwidge-danticat/">D&egrave;y</a> opens at a mall. A Haitian American real estate agent named Magnolia is there to buy a phone for her daughter. But before she has the chance, a mass shooting breaks out. Magnolia survives, but she doesn&rsquo;t tell anyone what she&rsquo;s experienced.
<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768725/dey-by-edwidge-danticat/">D&egrave;y</a> is a book about grief&mdash; the title comes from a Haitian Krey&ograve;l word for mourning. But grief is only one of the complex ideas that the book explores.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://edwidgedanticat.com/">Edwidge Danticat</a>: Wun Tsun Tam Mellon Professor of the Humanities in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University. Her book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/642830/breath-eyes-memory-by-edwidge-danticat/">Breath, Eyes, Memory</a> was an Oprah&rsquo;s Book Club selection, and she&rsquo;s had two books chosen as National Book Award Finalists. Her latest book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768725/dey-by-edwidge-danticat/">D&egrave;y</a>.
</li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of Knopf

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

Edwidge Danticat’s new novel ‘Dèy’ explores motherhood, grief and the concept of home

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.

This episode originally aired on May 8, 2026.

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>
This episode originally aired on May 8, 2026.

Curated failures, plus young people define success for themselves

According to the CDC, there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths in the United States every year and around 850 of those are for people younger than 18.

And the numbers look different across various demographics. For instance, Black children ages 10-14 are nearly 4 times more likely to die from accidental drowning than white children of the same age.

And in 2017, researchers at Columbia University found that children with autism were 160 times more likely than the rest of the population to die from drowning.

This hour, we’re talking about how water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities.

 

Photo Credit: Brian Bates

Photo Source: Diversity in Aquatics

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/data-research/index.html">According to the CDC</a>, there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths in the United States every year and <a href="https://wisqars.cdc.gov/infographics/?it=national&amp;i=UNINTENTIONAL&amp;m=DROWNING&amp;st=01&amp;ag=1&amp;d=chart&amp;yr=5&amp;y1=2020&amp;y2=2024">around 850 of those are for people younger than 18</a>.
And the numbers look different across various demographics. For instance, Black children ages 10-14 are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/health-equity/index.html">nearly 4 times</a> more likely to die from accidental drowning than white children of the same age.
And in 2017, researchers at Columbia University found that children with autism were <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/individuals-autism-substantially-heightened-risk-injury-death">160 times more likely</a> than the rest of the population to die from drowning.
This hour, we&rsquo;re talking about how water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities.
&nbsp;
Photo Credit: Brian Bates
Photo Source: Diversity in Aquatics

Water safety can save lives, especially in underrepresented communities

There was a lot of discussion surrounding the United States’ recent July 4th celebrations. There were festivities, like New York's parade of tall ships, and controversies, such as when musicians like Martina McBride and The Commodores canceled concert appearances due to an organizing group's affiliation with the president.

With so much being said— and felt— about these celebrations, it’s important to take a deeper look into what national anniversaries represent and the broader history behind them.

Joining us for the conversation is professor and political commentator Eddie Glaude Jr. His latest book is America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries.

GUEST:


Eddie S. Glaude Jr.: James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and a frequent contributor to MS NOW. He is also the bestselling author of Begin Again. His latest book is America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries.

There was a lot of discussion surrounding the United States&rsquo; recent July 4th celebrations. There were festivities, like New York's <a href="https://youtu.be/blkYut_cvXg?si=dAg_-ODIB1AlrZGT">parade of tall ships</a>, and controversies, such as when musicians like Martina McBride and The Commodores <a href="https://youtu.be/cGyZa8kMT6Y?si=_70gD4QoEu5-76BW">canceled concert appearances</a> due to an organizing group's affiliation with the president.
With so much being said&mdash; and felt&mdash; about these celebrations, it&rsquo;s important to take a deeper look into what national anniversaries represent and the broader history behind them.
Joining us for the conversation is professor and political commentator Eddie Glaude Jr. His latest book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673832/america-usa-by-eddie-s-glaude-jr/">America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation&rsquo;s Anniversaries</a>.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Eddie S. Glaude Jr.: James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and a frequent contributor to MS NOW. He is also the bestselling author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575725/begin-again-by-eddie-s-glaude-jr/">Begin Again</a>. His latest book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673832/america-usa-by-eddie-s-glaude-jr/">America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation&rsquo;s Anniversaries</a>.
</li>
</ul>

Edwidge Danticat’s new novel ‘Dèy’ explores motherhood, grief and the concept of home

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