Best CommonWealth Magazine Podcasts (2025)

1
UMass Pres. Meehan on higher ed crisis response 33:50

4d ago33:50

33:50

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Marty Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts system, to discuss UMass's work in climate technology and its response to the federal government's attacks on higher education.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
The stakes of Western Mass. transit gaps 32:47

12d ago32:47

32:47

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa of the First Hampshire district and Laura Sylvester, public policy manager at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, to discuss transportation challenges in Western Massachusetts and how they connect with other policy areas.…

1
Managed retreat: not if, but when? 31:03

19d ago31:03

31:03

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Kristin Uiterwyk, director of the Urban Harbors Institute at UMass Boston, and Chris Krahforst, Director of Climate Adaptation and Conservation for the town of Hull, to discuss managed retreat in Massachusetts coastal communities threatened by rising waters and shrinking sands.…

1
Sec. Santiago on improving veterans services 28:15

26d ago28:15

28:15

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Jon Santiago, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services, to discuss how the now two-year-old office is progressing, advances at the Commonwealth's Veterans Homes, how it is responding to threats from Washington, and what work he's excited about for the future.…

1
Primary care physicians organizing union at Mass General Brigham 27:25

1M ago27:25

27:25

This week on the Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute talk to Michael Barnett, who is both a primary care physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a professor of health policy at the T.H. Chan School, about the ongoing effort to unionize PCPs across the Mass General Brig…

1
Sec. Augustus on housing policy base hits 31:25

1M ago31:25

31:25

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith sits down with Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, to discuss how federal policy changes threaten state housing goals, the Commonwealth's response, the tools it is using to meet those goals, and much more.…

1
The data purge domino effect 27:32

2M ago27:32

27:32

CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Ariel Beccia, an instructor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to discuss the Trump administration's purges of health-related government data, how these and other data purges ripple through society, and researchers' efforts to respond.…

1
The front lines of immigration policy fights 27:54

2M ago27:54

27:54

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Sarang Sekhavat, Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), to discuss threats to immigration policies such as Temporary Protected Status and sanctuary cities, and how officials in Massachusetts and nationally are responding.…

1
Sen. Ed Markey and the chainsaw to democracy 29:03

2M ago29:03

29:03

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith interviews US Senator Ed Markey on the fight against Trump's actions, his stance on running again, and the future of the Democratic party.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Tackling the primary care crisis in Massachusetts 33:55

2M ago33:55

33:55

John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Dr. Wayne Altman, Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, to discuss the growing primary care crisis in Massachusetts. They explore the causes behind the physician shortage, and the 'Primary Care for You' bill aime…

1
The case for banning smart phones in schools 27:16

2M ago27:16

27:16

CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso sits down with state Senator John Velis to discuss the growing issue of smart phone addiction among youth, its impact on mental health, and a new bill aimed at addressing these concerns.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Josh Kraft enters Boston mayoral race 20:24

3M ago20:24

20:24

CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso is joined by fellow reporter Gin Dumcius to discuss Josh Kraft's candidacy, Mayor Wu's response, and top issues in this race.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Legislating care and cost: the health insurers' perspective 26:40

3M ago26:40

26:40

John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute interview Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, to discuss healthcare affordability, regulation, and legislative efforts in Massachusetts. They cover prescription drug pricing, hospital accountability, and the future …

1
Safeguarding diversity, access, and quality in Massachusetts' higher education 31:35

3M ago31:35

31:35

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with Noe Ortega, Commissioner for Higher Education, to discuss how Massachusetts public colleges and universities are tackling challenges to diversity, affordability, and access amid shifting national policies.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Reckoning with Trump's inauguration on MLK day 28:07

3M ago28:07

28:07

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Nicole Obi, president and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and Imari K. Paris Jeffries, executive director of Embrace Boston. They discuss how organizations dedicated to racial justice and equity are responding to the challenges of this political era.…

1
SJC lays down the law on MBTA Communities 30:20

4M ago30:20

30:20

Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith chats with Greg Reibman, president of the Charles River Regional Chamber, and Luc Schuster, executive director of Boston Indicators at the Boston Foundation. They discuss how the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's ruling on the MBTA Communities Act impacts the state's power to mandate zoning reform in cities…

1
Massachusetts roundtable: a look at 2025 legislative priorities 27:15

4M ago27:15

27:15

Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, and Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western MA to discuss key statehouse priorities. They reflect on past achievements and look ahead to future efforts in education, cl…

1
Massachusetts health care concerns under Trump 2.0 29:06

4M ago29:06

29:06

John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Amy Rosenthal, executive director of Health Care for All, to discuss the potential impacts of a second Trump term on Medicaid and Medicare in Massachusetts.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Outgoing Rep. Bill Straus considers the fate of Mass. transportation 31:55

4M ago31:55

31:55

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith interviews Rep. Bill Straus of the 10th Bristol district on past, present, and future transportation issues in Massachusetts.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Parking minimums are out in Somerville 27:39

5M ago27:39

27:39

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith chats with Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen on Somerville’s zoning amendment to eliminate parking minimums for new development.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Does AI interfere in our democracy? 31:49

5M ago31:49

31:49

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Bruce Schneier, fellow and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Nathan Sanders, fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. They discuss how AI has the power to strengthen civic engagement in elections and policymaking, the importance …

1
How accountable care organizations serve MassHealth patients 27:40

5M ago27:40

27:40

This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute chat with Christina Severin, president of Community Care Cooperative (C3). They discuss the role of accountable care organizations in coordinating high quality care for MassHealth patients, the transformation of Neighborhood Healt…

1
The next battle over abortion rights 23:35

5M ago23:35

23:35

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, to discuss how abortion advocates are gearing up for a second Trump term. They dig into Project 2025 plans to dismantle reproductive rights, the need for state action, and strategic messaging for the next four yea…

1
Introducing CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso 28:18

6M ago28:18

28:18

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith introduces CWB's new editor, Laura Colarusso. They discuss her background in journalism, motivation for public service, and the challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing field.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
AG Campbell readies for Trump return 18:58

6M ago18:58

18:58

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with attorney general of Massachusetts Andrea Campbell to discuss the hurdles and opportunities that lay ahead under a second Trump term.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Latino voters lead rightward shift in Mass. 30:56

6M ago30:56

30:56

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Mayor of Holyoke Joshua Garcia to reflect on the rightward trend of Latino voters in the 2024 presidential election. They discuss potential mechanisms behind the shift, and lessons learned for both political parties.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
The workforce ripple effects of Mass. ballot questions 37:50

6M ago37:50

37:50

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith and Gintautas Dumcius sit down with CWB editor Bruce Mohl, executive editor Michael Jonas, and reporter Bhaamati Borkhetaria, to discuss how the five questions on the Massachusetts ballot may impact the workforce. They also summarize arguments for and against the questions and reveal ke…

1
Balancing profit and care in Massachusetts health reform 25:32

6M ago25:32

25:32

This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Sen. Cindy Friedman of Middlesex to discuss how the state Legislature is tackling health care reform. They unpack the fragility of Massachusetts' health care following Steward hospital closures, holding insurers, pha…

1
Striving for fairness in spending the fair share funds 25:02

6M ago25:02

25:02

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's editor Bruce Mohl sits down with Phineas Baxandall, Policy Director for the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, and Pete Wilson, Senior Policy Director for Transportation for Massachusetts. They discuss the recent controversy between the Healey-Driscoll administration and state Legislature over di…

1
Milton's dilemma in the face of housing reform 30:11

7M ago30:11

30:11

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by state Sen. Brendan Crighton of Lynn, along with zoning expert and consultant Amy Dain. They discuss the MBTA Communities Act in light of recent arguments before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Milton's failure to comply. This episode examines the necessity of mu…

1
Rising waters: navigating flooding in Mass. 29:30

7M ago29:30

29:30

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith sits down with Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization and Resilience, to share how the state plans to tackle sea level rise, coastal storms, and flooding exacerbated by climate change. They discuss long vs. short-term mitigation, financing climate resiliency, and the Resilie…

1
A new leader is changing Merrimack Valley health care 33:38

7M ago33:38

33:38

This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute are joined by Dr. Abha Agrawal, CEO of Lawrence General Hospital. They discuss her vision for a community-based health system, barriers to advancing equity in Merrimack Valley health care, and the hospital 'safety net' amidst a tr…

1
Ballot questions and battles royale 24:29

7M ago24:29

24:29

In a special live edition of the Codcast, Gintautas Dumcius chats about the Massachusetts ballot question wars with political consultants Lynda Tocci of Dewey Square Group and Conor Yunits of Issues Management Group. They discuss what makes a successful ballot campaign, the past and present challenges of galvanizing votes, and compare pre- and post…

1
Warren's challenger on what it means to be a Republican in Massachusetts 26:24

8M ago26:24

26:24

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's Gintautas Dumcius interviews John Deaton, the GOP nominee running against US Senator Elizabeth Warren. They discuss his campaign, crypto currency, who he plans to caucus with if he makes it down to Washington, and who may get his vote for president in November.…

1
Chugging towards West-East Rail 24:53

8M ago24:53

24:53

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith speaks with Andy Koziol, Director of West-East Rail, and Meredith Slesinger, MassDOT's Rail and Transit Division Administrator. They delve into the challenges and opportunities of expanding intercity passenger rail between Boston, New York, and western Massachusetts.…

1
Engagements: the business of the state? 28:12

8M ago28:12

28:12

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Meredith Goldstein, love advice columnist for the Boston Globe. They discuss the meaning of relationships, gender roles, and marriage in the context of upcoming arguments before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on what happens to engagement rings after a broken enga…

1
Teachers unions and the Democratic Party 30:48

8M ago30:48

30:48

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith catches up with Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts and recently a DNC delegate, after her return from the convention. They discuss the place of education unions in national and state politics, the MCAS ballot measure here in Massachusetts, and w…

1
The long road to topless equality 23:09

9M ago23:09

23:09

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith talks to Nadine Gary and Kasyo Perrier of Go Topless about the case for changing the law to allow women to be topless anywhere a man can be. She also visits a topless equality rally on Beacon Hill.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
What's next for Steward's hospitals? 31:06

9M ago31:06

31:06

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute and John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to discuss the current state of the Steward Health Care bankruptcy, as well as what healthcare policy measures did and didn't make it through the end of the legislat…

1
Minding the wage gaps 26:48

9M ago26:48

26:48

This week on The Codcast, Jennifer Smith of CommonWealth Beacon is joined by Kim Borman, executive editor of the Boston Women's Workforce Council, to discuss trends in gender and racial wage gaps in Boston, why they persist, and how to address them.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Doubling down on higher education 30:56

9M ago30:56

30:56

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Massachusetts Sen. Jo Comerford to discuss higher education policy, including the free community college measure in the state budget, as well as the full range of programs that support students, and the role of higher education in economic development and public life.…

1
Vineyard Offshore CEO: Time to go big 23:56

9M ago23:56

23:56

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Bruce Mohl is joined by Alicia Barton, CEO of Vineyard Offshore, to discuss the Vineyard Wind 1 and 2 projects, and the challenges facing offshore wind development more broadly.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Reconsidering happy hour 27:44

10M ago27:44

27:44

This week on The Codcast, Sen. Julian Cyr joins CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith to discuss a provision in the Mass. Senate's economic development bill that would allow cities and towns more control over whether and what kinds of drinks specials they allow, in place of the current statewide ban. In addition to the pros and cons of the provision…

1
Environmental justice in climate legislation 30:23

10M ago30:23

30:23

This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Rusty Polsgrove, an organizer with Arise for Social Justice, and by John Walkey, Director of Climate Justice and Waterfront Initiatives at Greenroots, to discuss the role of environmental justice in climate legislation. They focus especially on the environmental justice com…

1
Aging in community 25:57

10M ago25:57

25:57

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith talks to Amy Schectman, President and CEO of 2Life Communities, about the challenges of providing supportive and community-based housing for low-income elders.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Moulton explains "transformative" Rail Link 23:22

10M ago23:22

23:22

This week on the Codcast, Congressman Seth Moulton talks to CommonWealth Beacon's Bruce Mohl about his support for the proposed Rail Link that would allow trains to run between Boston's North and South Stations, and why he believes it would revolutionize travel across all of Massachusetts.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Massachusetts health care by the numbers 22:33

11M ago22:33

22:33

This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the TH Chan School and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute are joined by Lauren Peters, executive director of the MA Center for Health Information and Analysis. They discuss the center's role in informing public policy discussions, its involvement in the Steward saga, and a variety of significant trends in …

1
Microtransit and rural accessibility 29:21

11M ago29:21

29:21

This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Jen Healy, Rural Transit Program Manager for the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation, to talk about the place of microtransit in Massachusetts's transportation systems. They discuss different models of microtransit service, how it's funded, how it connects with…

1
Community-centered equitable development 27:43

11M ago27:43

27:43

This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Moddie Turay, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, to discuss the Equitable Developers Fund, and how to build enough housing to supply the current shortage while addressing community needs.By CommonWealth Beacon

1
Decarbonizing New England's power grid 26:16

11M ago26:16

26:16

This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Bruce Mohl is joined by Gordon van Welie, president and CEO of ISO New England, to discuss the challenges of moving to a decarbonized grid while maintaining an adequate and affordable electricity supply.By CommonWealth Beacon

Podcasts Worth a Listen

CommonWealth Magazine Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen