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Artwork for The Big Dig

The Big Dig

GBH News
Massachusetts Lottery
Scratch Tickets
The Big Dig
Gambling Industry
Scratch & Win
Bob Crane
Proposition 2.5
Gambling
John Coza
Sports Betting
Organized Crime
Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Cambridge Savings Bank
Peabody Awards
Joe's Market
Instant Lottery Tickets
Local Government Funding
Property Taxes
Patronage
Barney Frank

“This is a town where there are three pastimes: politics, sports and revenge.” The town is Boston.

Seemingly dry topics become gripping political dramas in this Peabody Award winning show from creator Ian Coss and GBH News. Each season of “The Big Dig” uncovers a different facet of society – infrastructure, gambling, food, healthcare – together the pieces connect to tell the story of modern Ameri... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes26Founded2 years ago
Category
History

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Artwork for The Big Dig

Latest Episodes

American Experience Presents stops by to share the fascinating story of Joseph McCarthy. From humble beginnings on a Wisconsin farm, to leveraging his military service after World War II to launch a successful Senate bid, McCarthy's story is one of a... more

The team from Antiques Roadshow Detours stops by to share a historical fact that they just can’t seem to get right. This is one for the architecture and urban design enthusiasts. 

You can find all episodes of Antiques Roadshow Detours wherever you l... more

Last week, we heard about a movement to challenge the authority of government agencies and push power down to the people. This week, the story of a central figure in that movement: Ralph Nader. 

This episode comes from NPR’s Throughline, co-hosted b... more

This podcast has featured two stories about government endeavors: the much-criticized infrastructure project known as ‘The Big Dig,’ and of course the wildly successful state lottery. So why do these two stories play out so differently?

In the final... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Ralph Nader
Consumer advocate and activist known for his role in consumer protection and auto safety legislation.
Episode: BONUS: How to sue the government, and win
Joan Claybrook
Former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and advocate for consumer safety.
Episode: BONUS: How to sue the government, and win
Marc Dunkelman
A fellow at Brown University and author of 'Why Nothing Works'.
Brown University
Episode: BONUS: Why do some parts of government work better than others?
Lily Geismer
Professor of History at Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College
Episode: BONUS: Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
Barney Frank
Former Congressman and supporter of legalized gambling
Episode: Scratch & Win | 8. The Other Massachusetts Miracle
Dawn Hayes
Lottery host for Massachusetts, previously an assistant at AM radio
Episode: Scratch & Win | 6. The Game Dreams Are Made Of
Jack Connors
Ad executive, co-founder of Hill Holiday
Hill Holiday
Episode: Scratch & Win | 6. The Game Dreams Are Made Of
Tony Winch
Creative director at Hill Holiday
Hill Holiday
Episode: Scratch & Win | 6. The Game Dreams Are Made Of
Andy Solari
Telecommunications technician for the lottery
Episode: Scratch & Win | 6. The Game Dreams Are Made Of

Host

Ian Coss
Host and scriptwriter who has been pivotal in shaping the narrative and direction of the episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • A Great Telling of the Big Dig

    I really enjoyed the story and the sound design, as well as the personal reflections.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    memocoder
    United States4 months ago
  • Welcome to Lottery Live

    Well done with good archival material. Interesting how Pat Sajak later had no problem cozying up to casino bankrupted Trump. The cherry sheets episode was a bit confusing but entertaining nonetheless

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    crdply
    United States4 months ago
  • Entertaining and Thought Provoking

    One of the best series I’ve heard in a long time! Reframes an underplayed story to today’s America. Excellent interviews and reporting :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _AB11
    United States4 months ago
  • A history of the lottery? Yes please

    I was tickled by the preview of this series and decided to listen to the first episode. Cut to a few hours later I was already in full binge mode. The narrative arc, sound design and archival content make each character of this saga come to life and take full form even for me who's never been to Boston and who is not familiar with the protagonists. This is an excellent second project from the big dig team. It feels more confident in its tone and choices building on the experience of the previous... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KasperInOrbit
    Canada4 months ago
  • Boston ❤️ story

    It’s so well done interweaving the interesting history with modern take. The characters introduced with that authentic accent was perfection. You can’t get that from the fake influencers trying to mimic it. It was a delight to listen to as well as learn from. Looking forward to the next season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    totshmot
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the exceptional storytelling and thorough research that bring historical topics to life.
Many find the blend of personal anecdotes and scholarly insights engaging and enriching.
The sound design and production quality are often applauded, enhancing the overall listening experience.
A prevalent sentiment is that the podcast makes complex political and social issues accessible and relatable to a broader audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#189
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#118
Canada/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BONUS: How to sue the government, and win
Q: Do you feel like the results of the elections we've seen ever since, where we are today, validates your run, or further gives way to the people who criticized you?
Scapegoating by the two parties is a form of political bigotry that says to reform-minded third-party candidates, no, we're not going to let you appeal to the voters.
BONUS: Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
Q: I'm curious, do you permit yourself some nostalgia for the days of patronage in smoke-filled rooms?
I am nostalgic for the idea of the deep connections that came from that vision of politics.
BONUS: Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
Q: Could you talk about how does Tip O'Neill get into politics?
He built connections through local party structures and close ties to his constituency.
BONUS: Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
Q: So, tell me about the culture of the Democratic Party in the 1960s and 70s.
The Democratic Party during that time was a dominant coalition, largely working-class, with ties to labor and various other demographic groups.
BONUS: Why does sports betting feel different?
Q: Do you feel like PASPA ultimately caused just a lot of harm and chaos?
Yes, it put a stopper on the inevitable growth of sports betting which had clearly been building over decades.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Dig

What is The Big Dig about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast offers an in-depth exploration of the evolution and societal implications of state lotteries in America, focusing specifically on the rise of the Massachusetts lottery and the introduction of scratch tickets. It covers the historical context beginning in the 1970s, detailing the challenges faced by state officials as they navigated between government regulations and organized crime to create a legal gambling environment. Through a mix of storytelling, interviews, and archival material, the podcast interrogates the shifting perceptions of gambling in American culture, the role of state involvement in gambling, and raises questions about the ethical implications of state-sponsored lotteries. It is likely to appeal to listeners int... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Big Dig?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Big Dig. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Big Dig and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Big Dig get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Big Dig, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Big Dig?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Big Dig, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Big Dig have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Big Dig has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Big Dig?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Big Dig:

1. 99% Invisible
2. Embedded
3. This American Life
4. Decoder Ring
5. Antiques Roadshow Detours

How many episodes of The Big Dig are there?

The Big Dig launched 2 years ago and published 26 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Big Dig?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Big Dig?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Big Dig from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Big Dig?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Big Dig. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Big Dig?

Recent guests on The Big Dig include:

1. Ralph Nader
2. Joan Claybrook
3. Marc Dunkelman
4. Lily Geismer
5. Barney Frank
6. Dawn Hayes
7. Jack Connors
8. Tony Winch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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