Author Amy Tan is best known for popular novels like The Joy Luck Club and its 1993 film adaptation. The book and movie explore several mother-daughter relationships — some of which were shaped by Amy’s own experiences.

Amy’s latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, hits close to home in a different way. In it, she brings the birds in her backyard to life with humor and tragedy through observations and drawings from her nature journals. But the book isn’t just a recounting of wildlife. Amy vividly imagines the birds’ inner thoughts and comes away with piercing observations about wildlife, humanity and the relationship between them.

This hour, Amy talks to us about that book and offers her insights on a wide range of topics including how birds have led her to reflect on mortality, her changing experience of racism and overcoming her fear of sharks.

A note to our radio listeners: Starting the week of September 23, Disrupted moves from Wednesdays at 2:00 PM to Fridays at 9:00 AM and a rebroadcast at 8:00 PM, plus our Sunday at 2:00 PM rebroadcast.

Author Amy Tan is best known for popular novels like <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/300526/the-joy-luck-club-by-amy-tan/">The Joy Luck Club</a> and its <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107282/">1993 film adaptation</a>. The book and movie explore several mother-daughter relationships — some of which were shaped by Amy’s own experiences.
Amy’s latest book, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717452/the-backyard-bird-chronicles-by-amy-tan/">The Backyard Bird Chronicles</a>, hits close to home in a different way. In it, she brings the birds in her backyard to life with humor and tragedy through observations and drawings from her nature journals. But the book isn’t just a recounting of wildlife. Amy vividly imagines the birds’ inner thoughts and comes away with piercing observations about wildlife, humanity and the relationship between them.
This hour, Amy talks to us about that book and offers her insights on a wide range of topics including how birds have led her to reflect on mortality, her changing experience of racism and overcoming her fear of sharks.
A note to our radio listeners: Starting the week of September 23, Disrupted moves from Wednesdays at 2:00 PM to Fridays at 9:00 AM and a rebroadcast at 8:00 PM, plus our Sunday at 2:00 PM rebroadcast.

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

Disrupted has been highlighting changes and changemakers for more than 200 episodes. With so many hours of disruptions, it might be hard to know where to start. The truth is, it doesn’t matter where you start— if any episode from over the years catches your eye, you can always start there! But if you can’t decide, we made this playlist to help you out.

Disrupted has been highlighting changes and changemakers for more than 200 episodes. With so many hours of disruptions, it might be hard to know where to start. The truth is, it doesn’t matter where you start— if any episode from over the years catches your eye, you can always start there! But if you can’t decide, we made this playlist to help you out.

Where to start if you’re new to Disrupted

Through birding, Amy Tan finds the value of stillness

This year, Michael Morand, director of community engagement for Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, was appointed New Haven's official city historian. We return to our conversation with him about bringing New Haven’s history to life and the exhibit he collaborated on at the New Haven Museum. The exhibit includes years of Michael's research as part of The Yale and Slavery Research Project documenting Yale’s historical ties to slavery. The exhibit, which is on view until March, 2025, is called Shining Light on Truth: New Haven, Yale, and Slavery.

Guest: 


Michael Morand: Director of community engagement for Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and New Haven's official city historian.

You can read about Michael Morand's role as New Haven's official city historian on CT Public's website.

Special thanks to our intern Frankie Devevo.

This episode originally aired on September 11, 2024. 

This year, Michael Morand, director of community engagement for Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, was appointed New Haven's official city historian. We return to our conversation with him about bringing New Haven’s history to life and the exhibit he collaborated on at the <a href="https://www.newhavenmuseum.org/">New Haven Museum</a>. The exhibit includes years of Michael's research as part of <a href="https://yaleandslavery.yale.edu/">The Yale and Slavery Research Project</a> documenting Yale’s historical ties to slavery. The exhibit, which is on view until March, 2025, is called <a href="https://www.newhavenmuseum.org/48546-2/">Shining Light on Truth: New Haven, Yale, and Slavery</a>.
Guest: 
<ul>
<li>
Michael Morand: Director of community engagement for Yale's <a href="https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/">Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library</a> and New Haven's <a href="https://library.yale.edu/news/new-haven-mayor-appoints-librarys-michael-morand-city-historian">official city historian</a>.
</li>
</ul>
You can read about Michael Morand's role as New Haven's official city historian on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-11-01/new-haven-city-historian-michael-morand">CT Public's website</a>.
Special thanks to our intern Frankie Devevo.
This episode originally aired on September 11, 2024.

New Haven’s historian Michael Morand on bringing the city's past to the present

This hour, we learn about some of the ways that millennial and gen z politicians are making their mark on the U.S.

Up first, Brandon Scott is the youngest mayor of Baltimore in more than 100 years. A new documentary film called The Body Politic follows Mayor Scott during his first term in office, focusing on his campaign to reduce gun violence. We are joined by that film's director and producer, Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough.

Then, Layla Zaidane is President and CEO of Future Caucus, an organization that brings together young lawmakers to collaborate across party lines. She reframes the idea of civility in politics and tells young people they can have an impact on government.

GUESTS:


Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough: Director and Producer of the documentary film The Body Politic, which follows Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s efforts to reduce gun violence in the city.The film will be broadcast as part of PBS's POV series on November 25th.


Layla Zaidane: President and CEO of Future Caucus, an organization that brings together young lawmakers to collaborate across party lines.

This hour, we learn about some of the ways that millennial and gen z politicians are making their mark on the U.S.
Up first, Brandon Scott is the youngest mayor of Baltimore in more than 100 years. A new documentary film called <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/bodypolitic/">The Body Politic</a> follows Mayor Scott during his first term in office, focusing on his campaign to reduce gun violence. We are joined by that film's director and producer, Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough.
Then, <a href="https://futurecaucus.org/our-team/layla-zaidane/">Layla Zaidane</a> is President and CEO of <a href="https://futurecaucus.org/">Future Caucus</a>, an organization that brings together young lawmakers to collaborate across party lines. She reframes the idea of civility in politics and tells young people they can have an impact on government.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough: Director and Producer of the documentary film <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/bodypolitic/">The Body Politic</a>, which follows Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s efforts to reduce gun violence in the city. The film will be broadcast as part of PBS's POV series on November 25th.
</li>
<li>
Layla Zaidane: President and CEO of <a href="https://futurecaucus.org/">Future Caucus</a>, an organization that brings together young lawmakers to collaborate across party lines.
</li>
</ul>

How young politicians are working toward change

In her new book Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, Dr. Bettina Love says that Black public school students like her in the 1980s and 1990s were "labeled disposable because of our zip code, test scores, and Black skin." Dr. Love is this year's winner of the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism. She joins us to explain how she sees anti-Black racism baked into U.S. education policy.

And Professor Anthony Abraham Jack, author of Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality & Students Pay the Price says there is more to making college campuses inclusive than admitting a diverse student body.

GUESTS:


Dr. Bettina Love: William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. She’s winner of the 2024 Stowe Prize for Literary Activism and author of Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal.


Anthony Abraham Jack: Inaugural Faculty Director of the Boston University Newbury Center and Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. His new book is Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality & Students Pay the Price.

In her new book <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280381/punishedfordreaming">Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal</a>, <a href="https://bettinalove.com/">Dr. Bettina Love</a> says that Black public school students like her in the 1980s and 1990s were "labeled disposable because of our zip code, test scores, and Black skin." Dr. Love is this year's winner of the <a href="https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/stowe-prize-for-literary-activism-2024/">Stowe Prize for Literary Activism.</a> She joins us to explain how she sees anti-Black racism baked into U.S. education policy.
And <a href="https://anthonyabrahamjack.com/">Professor Anthony Abraham Jack</a>, author of <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691237466/class-dismissed?srsltid=AfmBOooRXZXHSTqu2kOQfxbMre6TLnX75gGf1NCSlGak3wukuamLrRzH">Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality &amp; Students Pay the Price</a> says there is more to making college campuses inclusive than admitting a diverse student body.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Dr. Bettina Love: William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. She’s winner of the <a href="https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/stowe-prize-for-literary-activism-2024/">2024 Stowe Prize for Literary Activism</a> and author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280381/punishedfordreaming">Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal</a>. 
</li>
<li>
Anthony Abraham Jack: Inaugural Faculty Director of the Boston University Newbury Center and Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. His new book is <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691237466/class-dismissed?srsltid=AfmBOooRXZXHSTqu2kOQfxbMre6TLnX75gGf1NCSlGak3wukuamLrRzH">Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality &amp; Students Pay the Price</a>.
</li>
</ul>

Through birding, Amy Tan finds the value of stillness

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