We hear a lot about politically engaged college students, but we don’t always hear about politically engaged high school students.

This hour, we learn how high school students past and present have fought for change in their communities. We talk to two current students at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford about testifying before lawmakers to increase their access to transportation. We'll also hear about high school activism of the 1960s and 1970s, including how the FBI monitored students.

GUESTS:


Nariyah Lindsay: High School Senior and President of the Social Justice League at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford


Oluwaseyi Oluborode: High School Junior and Vice President of the Social Justice League at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford


Aaron G. Fountain Jr.: Historian who researches high school protests. His book High School Students Unite! Teen Activism, Education Reform, & FBI Surveillance in Postwar America comes out in December.

We hear a lot about politically engaged college students, but we don&rsquo;t always hear about politically engaged high school students.
This hour, we learn how high school students past and present have fought for change in their communities. We talk to two current students at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford about testifying before lawmakers to increase their access to transportation. We'll also hear about high school activism of the 1960s and 1970s, including how the FBI monitored students.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Nariyah Lindsay: High School Senior and President of the Social Justice League at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford
</li>
<li>
Oluwaseyi Oluborode: High School Junior and Vice President of the Social Justice League at University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford
</li>
<li>
Aaron G. Fountain Jr.: Historian who researches high school protests. His book <a href="https://uncpress.org/book/9781469691824/high-school-students-unite/">High School Students Unite! Teen Activism, Education Reform, &amp; FBI Surveillance in Postwar America</a> comes out in December.
</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

How high school student activists push for change, from present to past

Studying oysters can help us understand how Connecticut’s shoreline is changing. Studying lizards can help us understand the history of life on our planet. Biologists research living organisms. And in doing so, they help us understand not only ourselves, but also the way our lives are intertwined with those of every other species.

This hour— Connecticut biologists tell us how their work helps us see what’s going on in the world around us. We'll discuss everything from how someone growing up in New York City could become fascinated by nature to the impact of federal funding cuts on research.

GUESTS:


Martha Muñoz: Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Yale Peabody Museum and recipient of a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship.


Maria Rosa: Assistant Professor of Biology at Connecticut College.

This episode originally aired on July 25, 2025.

Studying oysters can help us understand how Connecticut&rsquo;s shoreline is changing. Studying lizards can help us understand the history of life on our planet. Biologists research living organisms. And in doing so, they help us understand not only ourselves, but also the way our lives are intertwined with those of every other species.
This hour&mdash; Connecticut biologists tell us how their work helps us see what&rsquo;s going on in the world around us. We'll discuss everything from how someone growing up in New York City could become fascinated by nature to the impact of federal funding cuts on research.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.marthamunoz.com/">Martha Mu&ntilde;oz</a>: Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, <a href="https://peabody.yale.edu/news/munoz_award">Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology</a> at the Yale Peabody Museum and recipient of a <a href="https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-2024/martha-munoz">2024 MacArthur Fellowship</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.conncoll.edu/directories/faculty-profiles/maria-rosa/">Maria Rosa</a>: Assistant Professor of Biology at Connecticut College.
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on July 25, 2025.

Lizards, scallops and funding cuts: Connecticut biologists talk about our ever-changing world

For students and families, navigating the world of higher education isn’t easy. Some of the challenges, like student loan debt, have been going on for years. Other challenges come from more recent changes in how the federal government approaches universities.

To explore these challenges, we're talking to John Maduko, who was appointed Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system in June. We'll also hear from Jamal Watson, whose new book is The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency.

GUESTS:


Jamal Watson: Journalist covering higher education. He’s also Associate Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies and Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University. His new book is The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency.


John Maduko: Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.

If you want to learn more about higher education, you can listen to our recent interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum. You can also listen to our 2022 interview with John Maduko.

For students and families, navigating the world of higher education isn&rsquo;t easy. Some of the challenges, like student loan debt, have been going on for years. Other challenges come from more recent changes in how the federal government approaches universities.
To explore these challenges, we're talking to <a href="https://www.ct.edu/chancellor/bio">John Maduko</a>, who was appointed Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system in June. We'll also hear from <a href="https://www.jamalwatson.com/">Jamal Watson</a>, whose new book is <a href="https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506495163/The-Student-Debt-Crisis">The Student Debt Crisis: America&rsquo;s Moral Urgency</a>.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.jamalwatson.com/">Jamal Watson</a>: Journalist covering higher education. He&rsquo;s also Associate Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies and Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University. His new book is <a href="https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506495163/The-Student-Debt-Crisis">The Student Debt Crisis: America&rsquo;s Moral Urgency</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.ct.edu/chancellor/bio">John Maduko</a>: Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.
</li>
</ul>
If you want to learn more about higher education, you can listen to our recent <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2025-10-10/dr-beverly-daniel-tatum-reflects-on-the-peril-and-promise-of-being-a-college-leader-today">interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum</a>. You can also listen to our <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2022-12-14/from-12-community-colleges-to-1-a-new-connecticut-state-community-college">2022 interview with John Maduko</a>.

John Maduko on CT’s state college system and Jamal Watson on the student debt crisis

Being the first person to do something isn’t easy. There’s no blueprint for what you are doing, no conventional wisdom to fall back on when all else fails. There is also the pressure of expectations and all the people who are counting on your success. But it’s a way to show people what is possible. Being first means being a pioneer. And here in Connecticut, people are pioneering a wide range of fields every day.

GUESTS:


Shelly Carter: Fire Chief at the Hamden Fire Department. She is the first woman and first person of color to serve in that role.


Dawn Leaks Ragsdale: Inaugural Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Growth, a group created through a partnership between Yale and the city of New Haven that seeks to build opportunities for economic growth for allNew Haven residents.


Shiang-Kwei Wang: Campus President at CT State Gateway. She’s the first person to hold the title of “Campus President” and the first Asian American leader of Gateway.

This episode originally aired on September 26, 2025. 

Being the first person to do something isn&rsquo;t easy. There&rsquo;s no blueprint for what you are doing, no conventional wisdom to fall back on when all else fails. There is also the pressure of expectations and all the people who are counting on your success. But it&rsquo;s a way to show people what is possible. Being first means being a pioneer. And here in Connecticut, people are pioneering a wide range of fields every day.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Shelly Carter: Fire Chief at the Hamden Fire Department. She is the first woman and first person of color to serve in that role.
</li>
<li>
Dawn Leaks Ragsdale: Inaugural Executive Director of the <a href="https://www.ignewhaven.org/">Center for Inclusive Growth</a>, a group created through a partnership between Yale and the city of New Haven that seeks to build opportunities for economic growth for all New Haven residents.
</li>
<li>
Shiang-Kwei Wang: Campus President at CT State Gateway. She&rsquo;s the first person to hold the title of &ldquo;Campus President&rdquo; and the first Asian American leader of Gateway.
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on September 26, 2025.

How high school student activists push for change, from present to past

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