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Artwork for The Big Dig

The Big Dig

GBH News
Massachusetts Lottery
The Big Dig
Scratch Tickets
Scratch & Win
Gambling Industry
Carlos Rafael
Boston
Bob Crane
Gambling
Proposition 2.5
John Coza
Sports Betting
Organized Crime
Peabody Awards
World War II
Antiques Roadshow
Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Cambridge Savings Bank
Local Government Funding
Property Taxes

“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 Americ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes48Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Big Dig

Latest Episodes

The Big Dig in Boston was a fluke, a unicorn, something we may never see again. But there are simpler and cheaper ways to rethink our urban highways – Providence, RI tried one.

Guests: Edward Fitzpatrick, Zack Cunha, Mike Lewis

Recorded live with G... more

Even as cities try to heal the damage of the interstate era, we are also continuing to expand our urban highways, continuing to turn parks and neighborhoods into new lanes and new off-ramps. So why is it so hard to stop?

Guests: Inga Saffron, Daniel... more

This episode is about a very different kind of teardown – one that came suddenly, tragically, and without warning. But within this utterly unique story there are some universal questions about how we build for the present and the future.

Guests: Joh... more

In the stories we tell about public works, there is a constant bias towards the projects that actually happened, but it’s the apparently ‘failed’ projects that can often teach us the most. 

Guests: Marcus Green, Tyler Allen, Ken Herndon

Recorded li... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ken Herndon
Former 8664 activist and Louisville Metro Council member
Louisville Metro Council (District 4)
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 7. Louisville, KY
Marcus Green
Long-time local reporter
WDRB and the Courier Journal
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 7. Louisville, KY
Tyler Allen
Co-founder of 8664
8664 movement
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 7. Louisville, KY
Shawn Granton
Iterative volunteer active in Portland organizations, leads Dead Freeways Bike Ride
Oregon Historical Society, Dead Freeways Bike Ride (activist group)
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR
Chris Smith
Citizen activist and leader of the I-5 opposition group No More Freeways; involved in Portland Streetcar, Planning Commissioner, TPAC
No More Freeways; Albina Vision Trust (dialogue participant)
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR
Sharon Gary-Smith
Portland resident, displaced by I-5 expansion in North Portland
Albina Vision Trust (advocacy group)
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR
Lillian Karabaic
Transportation reporter with Oregon Public Broadcasting
OPB
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR
Greg Nickels
Former Mayor of Seattle (2002-2010)
City of Seattle
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA
Nathan Bernier
KUT journalist covering Austin and the cap debate
KUT
Episode: Highway Teardown Tour | 4. Austin, TX

Host

Ian Coss
Host and Creator of The Big Dig, GBH News

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • Infrastructure

    I’m really enjoying the expansion on season one with the tour around the United States. I hope Ian sticks to the subject of infrastructure in future seasons if he’s interested.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jrsnbarn
    Canadaa month ago
  • Great podcast

    This is a great podcast about the struggle between communities, government, and economic forces told through the lens of infrastructure podcasts. Even if you think you don’t care about the stories of highways, you’ll be fascinated by these stories. If you like 99% Invisible, Planet Money, Endless Thread, or This American Life, you’ll dig this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tanosaurus
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing

    Love this podcast and series!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DaddyBob7777
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Road Trip Material

    I was listening to The Wild by Chris Morgan, and an ad came up for this podcast. I was so intrigued I had to start listening to it and I could not stop. It was so good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lizzard Hernandez
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent Podcast!

    The Big Dig is a fascinating look at a massive public infrastructure project that transformed downtown Boston.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoveGlobeHateTheEpaper
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are deeply reported and human-focused, not just technical.
The show is described as top-tier reporting with strong storytelling and historical context.
The host weaves archival audio with on-the-ground voices to create immersive infrastructure storytelling.
Listeners praise the series for clear narrative and civic relevance.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#99
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#163
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#236
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR
Q: What is Harbor Drive and why was it removed?
Harbor Drive was a downtown highway that activists and city leaders decided to remove to restore waterfront access, improve quality of life, and reimagine urban space around the river, aided by coalition-building and leadership from figures like Tom McCall.
Highway Teardown Tour | 4. Austin, TX
Q: Mike, what's wrong with the vision that Chito laid out for us?
The guest argues the costs are too high, the benefits too speculative, and that public funds should prioritize direct, tangible community needs over a grand park over a highway.
Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA
Q: Why was tunneling ruled out early in the South Park project compared to Seattle's viaduct decision?
Feasibility studies showed significant soil contamination risks and underground utility conflicts that made tunneling non-viable, shifting focus to removal, boulevard, or mitigation instead.
Highway Teardown Tour | 5. Seattle, WA
Q: What were the options considered for the highway through South Park once it was clear I-5 would take over as the main north-south corridor?
The city evaluated removal, conversion to a boulevard, underground tunneling, and various mitigation strategies such as sound walls, with removal and boulevard options being the most seriously considered.
Highway Teardown Tour | Enter Here
Q: Could you just tell me your name?
Margaret introduces herself as a resident being interviewed.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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 show explores large-scale public projects and policy through deeply reported, narrative storytelling. Recent episodes center on urban highway removal, caps and covers, and transportation equity, with on-the-ground voices from activists, journalists, and municipal officials. Across seasons, the host threads together historical context, civic decision-making, and human impact, turning technical infrastructure topics into gripping human stories. Notable is the approach of weaving archival material, local perspectives, and broader national patterns to illuminate how cities rethink mobility, climate concerns, and community resilience. A standout trait is its veteran storytelling voice, strong investigative rigor, and a clear focus on how pol... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Big Dig?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Big Dig:

1. This American Life
2. On the Media
3. Decoder Ring
4. Throughline
5. Reveal

How many episodes of The Big Dig are there?

The Big Dig launched 3 years ago and published 48 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Big Dig?

Recent guests on The Big Dig include:

1. Ken Herndon
2. Marcus Green
3. Tyler Allen
4. Shawn Granton
5. Chris Smith
6. Sharon Gary-Smith
7. Lillian Karabaic
8. Greg Nickels

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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