Wellness is a multi-trillion dollar industry, but it's not “one size fits all.” For some people of color, Eurocentric beauty standards can be harmful, and trying to achieve an arbitrary wellness goal can actually cause stress. We talk with registered dietician, Dalia Kinsey about the book, Decolonizing Wellness: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation. We also talk with and highlight the expertise of two local women in the industry working to make beauty and wellness accessible to all.

GUESTS:


Dalia Kinsey: Registered Dietician, creator of the Body Liberation for all Podcast, and Author of Decolonizing Wellness: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation


Maryah Gonzalez: Owner of Haus of Vanity in Cheshire, Conn.


Seryna Simmons: Owner of skin and hair care boutique, Seryna’s Holistiq in Middletown, Conn.

Wellness is a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/1263527059/its-been-a-minute-wellness-spirituality-religion">multi-trillion dollar industry</a>, but it's not &ldquo;one size fits all.&rdquo; For some people of color, Eurocentric beauty standards can be harmful, and trying to achieve an arbitrary wellness goal can actually cause stress. We talk with registered dietician, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daliakinsey.rd/">Dalia Kinsey</a> about the book, Decolonizing Wellness: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation. We also talk with and highlight the expertise of two local women in the industry working to make beauty and wellness accessible to all.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Dalia Kinsey: Registered Dietician, creator of the Body Liberation for all Podcast, and Author of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Decolonizing-Wellness/Dalia-Kinsey/9781637740309">Decolonizing Wellness</a>: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation
</li>
<li>
Maryah Gonzalez: Owner of <a href="https://www.vagaro.com/hausofvanity">Haus of Vanity</a> in Cheshire, Conn.
</li>
<li>
Seryna Simmons: Owner of skin and hair care boutique, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/holistiqbeauty/">Seryna&rsquo;s Holistiq</a> in Middletown, Conn.
</li>
</ul>

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

What does it mean to decolonize wellness?

At the start of May, Khalilah sat down for a conversation with historians Jill Lepore and Jon Meacham.

The conversation was titled “Lessons from History,” and it came at a time when a lot was going on in U.S. politics. In just the past week there had been gunshots fired outside the ballroom where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held, a Supreme Court ruling that impacted the Voting Rights Act and developments that continued to shape the Iran war. It also came at a notable time for Jill Lepore: just three days after the conversation, she was announced as this year's winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History. Jon Meacham also won a Pulitzer Prize back in 2009.

The event was the final discussion of The Connecticut Forum’s 34th season.

We enjoyed hearing from these award-winning historians so much that we decided to extend the conversation to two episodes. If you like what you hear today, you can hear more next week.

GUESTS:


Jill Lepore: the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at The New Yorker and bestselling author. Her books include These Truths: A History of the United States and We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.


Jon Meacham: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University. His bestselling books include And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle and the Pulitzer prize-winning American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

At the start of May, Khalilah sat down for a conversation with historians Jill Lepore and Jon Meacham.
The conversation was titled &ldquo;Lessons from History,&rdquo; and it came at a time when a lot was going on in U.S. politics. In just the past week there had been gunshots fired outside the ballroom where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held, a Supreme Court ruling that impacted the Voting Rights Act and developments that continued to shape the Iran war. It also came at a notable time for Jill Lepore: just three days after the conversation, she was announced as this year's winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History. Jon Meacham also won a Pulitzer Prize back in 2009.
The event was the final discussion of <a href="https://www.ctforum.org/">The Connecticut Forum</a>&rsquo;s 34th season.
We enjoyed hearing from these award-winning historians so much that we decided to extend the conversation to two episodes. If you like what you hear today, you can hear more next week.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Jill Lepore: the David Woods Kemper &rsquo;41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jill-lepore">The New Yorker</a> and bestselling author. Her books include <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324130765">These Truths: A History of the United States</a> and <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631496080">We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://jonmeacham.com/">Jon Meacham</a>: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University. His bestselling books include <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/241155/and-there-was-light-by-jon-meacham/">And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle</a> and the Pulitzer prize-winning <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/112695/american-lion-by-jon-meacham/">American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House</a>.
</li>
</ul>
Disrupted&nbsp;is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrupted/id1534163465">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f8967bbf-ebf9-4abe-a31f-9363adaa2383/disrupted">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0zWn3s3Wpj3CRbYg6WnHDc">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Disrupted-p1371247/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/disrupted-connecticut-public-radio-Mcm2UfSKxuq/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Jill Lepore and Jon Meacham on Lessons from History (Part I)

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.

This episode originally aired on January 9, 2026.

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>
This episode originally aired on January 9, 2026.

After #MeToo, what has changed?

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.

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>

What does it mean to decolonize wellness?

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