The Disrupted team is welcoming the new year by choosing a couple of the episodes we loved from 2025. We have so many favorites that we couldn't reair all of them, but these are some of the ones that we wanted to listen back to. This week, producer Kevin Chang Barnum chose our episode on student journalism.

Student journalists have been in the spotlight in recent years. In 2024, amidst massive on-campus protests, people turned to student outlets like Columbia University’s WKCR for the most up to date reporting. But practicing journalism as a student comes with risks.

Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk was detained in March after the Trump administration revoked her visa. U.S. District Judge William Sessions ordered her release on May 9th, saying the only evidence given for her detention was an op-ed she had written for her school paper.

This hour, we’re talking about the role student journalists play in covering campuses and the communities around them. We discuss the risks student journalists face and they way their role is sometimes overlooked.

GUESTS:


Gary Green: Executive Director of The Student Press Law Center, an organization that supports first amendment rights for student journalists


Anika Arora Seth: Editor in Chief of the Yale Daily News from spring 2023 to spring 2024


Maria Shaikh: Managing Editor at The Retrograde, an independent student newspaper at the University of Texas at Dallas


Macy Hanzlik-Barend: News & Arts director at WKCR, Columbia University’s independent student-run radio station

This episode originally aired on May 16, 2025.

The Disrupted&nbsp;team is welcoming the new year by choosing a couple of the episodes we loved from 2025. We have so many favorites that we couldn't reair all of them, but these are some of the ones that we wanted to listen back to. This week, producer Kevin Chang Barnum chose our episode on student journalism.
Student journalists have been in the spotlight in recent years. In 2024, amidst massive on-campus protests, people turned to student outlets like Columbia University&rsquo;s WKCR for the most up to date reporting. But practicing journalism as a student comes with risks.
Tufts University graduate student R&uuml;meysa &Ouml;zt&uuml;rk was detained in March after the Trump administration revoked her visa. U.S. District Judge William Sessions ordered her release on May 9th, saying the only evidence given for her detention was an op-ed she had written for her school paper.
This hour, we&rsquo;re talking about the role student journalists play in covering campuses and the communities around them. We discuss the risks student journalists face and they way their role is sometimes overlooked.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://splc.org/gary-green/">Gary Green</a>: Executive Director of <a href="https://splc.org/">The Student Press Law Center</a>, an organization that supports first amendment rights for student journalists
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://yaledailynews.com/blog/author/anikaseth/">Anika Arora Seth</a>: Editor in Chief of the <a href="https://yaledailynews.com/">Yale Daily News</a> from spring 2023 to spring 2024
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://retrogradenews.com/tag/maria-shaikh/">Maria Shaikh</a>: Managing Editor at <a href="https://retrogradenews.com/">The Retrograde</a>, an independent student newspaper at the University of Texas at Dallas
</li>
<li>
Macy Hanzlik-Barend: News &amp; Arts director at <a href="https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/">WKCR</a>, Columbia University&rsquo;s independent student-run radio station
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on May 16, 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

Our 2025 favorites: Often undervalued, student journalists play a vital role in our communities

Many people remember #MeToo from when it went viral in 2017. And before the hashtag, there was the Me Too movement, started by activist Tarana Burke 20 years ago as a way to support survivors of sexual violence, especially Black women and girls.

This hour, we’re reflecting on what has changed since the height of the Me Too movement. We'll discuss everything from policy to social media.

GUESTS:


Nicole Bedera: Sociologist who studies sexual violence and author of On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence.


Kat Tenbarge: Award-winning independent journalist who covers internet culture, politics and sexual violence and co-founder of Spitfire News.

Many people remember #MeToo from when it went viral in 2017. And before the hashtag, there was the Me Too movement, started by activist Tarana Burke 20 years ago as a way to support survivors of sexual violence, especially Black women and girls.
This hour, we&rsquo;re reflecting on what has changed since the height of the Me Too movement. We'll discuss everything from policy to social media.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nicolebedera.com/">Nicole Bedera</a>: Sociologist who studies sexual violence and author of <a href="https://www.nicolebedera.com/about-1">On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://spitfirenews.com/c/about">Kat Tenbarge</a>: Award-winning independent journalist who covers internet culture, politics and sexual violence and co-founder of <a href="https://spitfirenews.com/">Spitfire News</a>.
</li>
</ul>

After #MeToo, what has changed?

The Disrupted team is welcoming the new year by choosing a couple of the episodes we loved from 2025. We have so many favorites that we couldn't reair all of them, but these are some of the ones that we wanted to listen back to. This week, host Khalilah-Brown Dean chose our interview with journalist and author Megan Greenwell.

Megan Greenwell's book, Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, tells the story of four people whose lives were upended by private equity. This hour, we learn about the business of private equity, and how companies that many people don't understand play a big role in our lives.

GUEST: 


Megan Greenwell: Freelance journalist and author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream.

This episode originally aired on June 27, 2025.

The Disrupted&nbsp;team is welcoming the new year by choosing a couple of the episodes we loved from 2025. We have so many favorites that we couldn't reair all of them, but these are some of the ones that we wanted to listen back to. This week, host Khalilah-Brown Dean chose our interview with journalist and author Megan Greenwell.
Megan Greenwell's book, Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, tells the story of four people whose lives were upended by private equity. This hour, we learn about the business of private equity, and how companies that many people don't understand play a big role in our lives.
GUEST: 
<ul>
<li>
Megan Greenwell: Freelance journalist and author of <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bad-company-megan-greenwell?variant=43151012757538">Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream</a>.
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on June 27, 2025.

Our 2025 favorites: Megan Greenwell on the ways private equity upends the lives of everyday people 

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>.

Our 2025 favorites: Often undervalued, student journalists play a vital role in our communities

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