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.

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

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

The way people approach children’s books in the U.S. has changed a lot over time.

Philosopher John Locke helped popularize the idea that learning to read should be fun with his 1693 treatise Some Thoughts Concerning Education.

Fast forward 300 years and television series continued Locke’s legacy. Today's adults might remember the joy of reading being touted to young people through shows like Arthur and Reading Rainbow. 

The subjects of books for young people continue to change as well. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin—Madison tracks diversity statistics on the books they receive. 2024 was the first time since they started tracking that over half of the books had “significant BIPOC Content.” That designation takes into account the characters, settings and topics of books.

This hour, we’re talking to authors about representation in young people’s literature.

GUESTS:


Ainissa Ramirez: Award-winning scientist and science communicator. She has worked at Bell Laboratories. Her latest book is a picture book called Spark: Jim West’s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone.


Angeline Boulley: bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter. Her new book is Sisters in the Wind.

If you want to learn more about the Indian Child Welfare Act, you can listen to our interview with Matthew L.M. Fletcher. To hear more from Ainissa Ramirez, you can listen to our 2021 conversation.

The way people approach children&rsquo;s books in the U.S. has changed a lot over time.
Philosopher John Locke helped popularize the idea that learning to read should be fun with his 1693 treatise Some Thoughts Concerning Education.
Fast forward 300 years and television series continued Locke&rsquo;s legacy. Today's adults might remember the joy of reading being touted to young people through shows like Arthur and Reading Rainbow.&nbsp;
The subjects of books for young people continue to change as well. The Cooperative Children&rsquo;s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin&mdash;Madison tracks <a href="https://uwmadison.app.box.com/s/rn4ccrdx8f8a2nbbqb6spx16kxcy52r1/file/1802253109720">diversity statistics</a> on the books they receive. 2024 was the first time since they started tracking that over half of the books had &ldquo;significant BIPOC Content.&rdquo; That designation takes into account the characters, settings and topics of books.
This hour, we&rsquo;re talking to authors about representation in young people&rsquo;s literature.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Ainissa Ramirez: Award-winning scientist and science communicator. She has worked at Bell Laboratories. Her latest book is a picture book called <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/787550/spark-jim-wests-electrifying-adventures-in-creating-the-microphone-by-ainissa-ramirez-illustrated-by-setor-fiadzigbey/">Spark: Jim West&rsquo;s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone</a>.
</li>
<li>
Angeline Boulley: bestselling author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250766571/firekeepersdaughter/">Firekeeper&rsquo;s Daughter</a>. Her new book is <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250328533/sistersinthewind/">Sisters in the Wind</a>.
</li>
</ul>
If you want to learn more about the Indian Child Welfare Act, you can listen to our <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2023-07-05/ned-blackhawk-on-how-native-peoples-have-shaped-u-s-history">interview with Matthew L.M. Fletcher</a>. To hear more from Ainissa Ramirez, you can listen to our <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2021-12-15/author-and-scientist-ainissa-ramirez-is-teaching-science-through-stories">2021 conversation</a>.

Authors like Angeline Boulley and Ainissa Ramirez help young readers see a wider range of representation

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.

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

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