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

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 tal…

Connecticut leaders breaking barriers with historic firsts

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.…

Poet Tracy K. Smith on how poems get us through ‘Perilous Times’

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, reg…

Vanessa Priya Daniel on the three superpowers women of color bring to their leadership

In Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning, author Vanessa Priya Daniel writes about the challenges that women of color face. She includes a satirical section formatted like a job description, where she details the duties of women of color leaders. They include “Be lika…

Pushing for peace: A look at the past and future of the United Nations as it marks 80 years

The United Nations General Assembly is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding this month. This hour we look at the status of the organization today, and the challenges it faces. Plus, historian Thant Myint-U has a new book out about his grandfather, U Thant, who was the UN’s first non-Eu…

Barrier-breaking former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre talks about our current political moment

This hour, we’re talking to a journalist and a member of the Biden administration to try to understand both sides of the press briefing podium. CNN Senior Writer Matthew Vann tells us about how D.C. journalists are covering the current presidential administration. And former White House Press Secr…

As he approaches 90, Chef Jacques Pépin is still spreading joy through food

For decades, legendary author, TV host, instructor and chef Jacques Pépin has spread his love for cooking across the world. He’s cooked for heads of state and on numerous public television shows, appearing alongside Julia Child in Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home. He’s also Executive Chairman of T…

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum reflects on the 'Peril and Promise' of being a college leader today

From COVID-19 to protests to legal battles with the federal government, college and university leaders have been in the spotlight a lot in the last five years. Because of that attention, if we want to understand the news, we need to understand higher education. Disrupted first aired five years ago…

From woodworking to summer camp, there are endless ways to spread Black Joy

For Black Americans, following the news can be a psychological challenge. 4 in 5 Black adults say they see or hear racist or racially insensitive coverage about Black people at least sometimes. That’s according to a 2023 Pew Research survey. And coverage can be hard to watch even if it isn’t insen…

Connecticut leaders breaking barriers with historic firsts

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.…