This hour on Disrupted, we talk to three members of the theater community in Connecticut about how the industry moves forward, and what lessons they’ve learned over the last year.

This hour on Disrupted, we talk to three members of the theater community in Connecticut about how the industry moves forward, and what lessons they&rsquo;ve learned over the last year.

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

Rethinking Theater In A Post-Pandemic World

Many Americans can tell you exactly what they were doing 25 years ago when they learned the United States had been attacked. But for a younger generation, the attacks are something they’ve only learned about in history class.

With that in mind, it’s time to think about what we want future generations to remember.

GUESTS:


Jay Winuk: Co-Founder of 9/11 Day, an organization that started in 2002 with the goal of turning 9/11 into a day of service. The group began after Jay's brother Glenn, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, died at the World Trade Center.


Jeremy Stoddard: Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His work connects education, democracy, media and controversial issues.


Mary Fetchet: Founding Director and President of the Voices Center for Resilience, an organization she helped create after her son Brad died at the World Trade Center. The group helps individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from traumatic events.

Image provided by 9/11 Day.

Many Americans can tell you exactly what they were doing 25 years ago when they learned the United States had been attacked. But for a younger generation, the attacks are something they&rsquo;ve only learned about in history class.
With that in mind, it&rsquo;s time to think about what we want future generations to remember.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.911day.org/leaders/jay-winuk/">Jay Winuk</a>: Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.911day.org/">9/11 Day</a>, an organization that started in 2002 with the goal of turning 9/11 into a day of service. The group began after Jay's brother Glenn, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, died at the World Trade Center.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://ci.education.wisc.edu/fac-staff/stoddard-jeremy/">Jeremy Stoddard</a>: Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His work connects education, democracy, media and controversial issues.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://voicescenter.org/mary-fetchet">Mary Fetchet</a>: Founding Director and President of the <a href="https://voicescenter.org/">Voices Center for Resilience</a>, an organization she helped create after her son Brad died at the World Trade Center. The group helps individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from traumatic events.
</li>
</ul>
Image provided by 9/11 Day.

Reflecting on what new generations can carry forward as we remember 25 years since 9/11

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

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.

Rethinking Theater In A Post-Pandemic World

In 1 playlist(s)

Disrupted

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips