Podcast thumbnail for The Big Dig

by GBH News

4.8(2,619 reviews)
59 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
68

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality59
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement99

Podcast Overview

<p>A fishing tycoon is arrested in an elaborate sting operation, but claims he’s the real hero fighting back against an overbearing state. So who is Carlos “The Codfather” Rafael really – a folk hero, a crook, a righteous rebel, a selfish conman? </p><p><br></p><p>In Season 3 of The Big Dig podcast, “Catching The Codfather,” we go down to the docks. It’s a place where food, work, nature, money and politics all meet – where dreams are born, fortunes ruined, and where the watchful eye of the government is always present. The series traces the rise of Carlos Rafael and his escalating conflict with the government, because to judge the crimes of The Codfather, you also have to judge the whole system that he chose to break. </p><p><br></p><p>--------------------------------------</p><p><br></p><p>“This is a town where there are three pastimes: politics, sports and revenge.” The town is Boston.</p><p><br></p><p>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 America. </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Season One: "The Big Dig" </strong></p><p>The highway project known as “The Big Dig” is infamous – a shorthand for government failure – but it all started as one engineer’s dream to correct the wrongs of the past, and its legacy is far from simple.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Season Two: "Scratch &amp; Win" </strong></p><p>America’s most successful state lottery – and its greatest innovation, the scratch ticket – all starts with mafia bookmakers and state bureaucrats going toe to toe in a battle to own the future of gambling. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season Three: "Catching The Codfather"</strong></p><p>A fishing tycoon is arrested in an elaborate sting operation, but claims he’s the real hero fighting back against the state.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>--------------</p><p>CREDITS:</p><p>Host &amp; Creator: Ian Coss</p><p>Executive Producer: Devin Maverick Robins</p><p>Producer: Isabel Hibbard</p><p>Story Editor: Lacy Roberts </p><p>Contact us as <a href="mailto:thebigdig@wgbh.org"><strong>thebigdig@wgbh.org</strong></a></p>

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

9/13/2023

Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report

See how your podcast performs across key metrics

68

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality59
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement99
9
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
8
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
38 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
Show Experience
38 episodes over 1.7 years

Recommendations available

Unlock the full report to see detailed tips

needs improvement
Publishing Consistency
Every 16 days

Recommendations available

Unlock the full report to see detailed tips

+16 More Metrics

Unlock comprehensive insights including:

  • • YouTube presence analysis
  • • Social media reach metrics
  • • RSS compliance scoring
  • • Podcast 2.0 features
  • • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report

Detailed Analytics

  • Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
  • Personalized recommendations for each metric
  • Industry benchmarks and comparisons
  • Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring

Growth Strategies

  • Step-by-step action plans for improvement
  • Quick wins to boost your score immediately
  • Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report

See how your show performs across every key metric

Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests

High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.

Secure Sponsorships

Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.

Grow Your Audience

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.

4 verified contact emails on file for The Big Dig

Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.

Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Highway Teardown Tour | 3. Rochester, NY

June 3, 2026

Highway Teardown Tour | 3. Rochester, NY

Erik Frisch and Brian Sharp interview Shawn Dunwoody and Suzanne Mayer about Rochester, NY's efforts to heal community divisions after highway removal.

Episode thumbnail for Highway Teardown Tour | 2. Syracuse, NY

May 27, 2026

Highway Teardown Tour | 2. Syracuse, NY

Host [Host Name] interviews Marie Therese Dominguez, Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, and Joe Driscoll about Syracuse's innovative highway teardown project, offering insights into urban planning and community revitalization.

Episode thumbnail for Highway Teardown Tour | 1. New York, NY

May 20, 2026

Highway Teardown Tour | 1. New York, NY

Polly Trottenberg and Lara Birnback discuss the challenges and potential solutions for repairing New York City's BQE highway in this interview with Stephen Nessen.

59 total episodes available with 24 transcripts

Recent guests on The Big Dig

Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.

Erik Frisch

Guest

Brian Sharp

Guest

Shawn Dunwoody

Guest

Suzanne Mayer

Guest

Marie Therese Dominguez

Guest

Lanessa Owens-Chaplin

Guest

Joe Driscoll

Guest

Polly Trottenberg

Guest

Lara Birnback

Guest

Stephen Nessen

Guest

Deep-dive analytics for The Big Dig

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is The Big Dig?
<p>A fishing tycoon is arrested in an elaborate sting operation, but claims he’s the real hero fighting back against an overbearing state. So who is Carlos “The Codfather” Rafael really – a folk hero, a crook, a righteous rebel, a selfish conman? </p><p><br></p><p>In Season 3 of The Big Dig podcast, “Catching The Codfather,” we go down to the docks. It’s a place where food, work, nature, money and politics all meet – where dreams are born, fortunes ruined, and where the watchful eye of the government is always present. The series traces the rise of Carlos Rafael and his escalating conflict with the government, because to judge the crimes of The Codfather, you also have to judge the whole system that he chose to break. </p><p><br></p><p>--------------------------------------</p><p><br></p><p>“This is a town where there are three pastimes: politics, sports and revenge.” The town is Boston.</p><p><br></p><p>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 America. </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Season One: "The Big Dig" </strong></p><p>The highway project known as “The Big Dig” is infamous – a shorthand for government failure – but it all started as one engineer’s dream to correct the wrongs of the past, and its legacy is far from simple.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Season Two: "Scratch &amp; Win" </strong></p><p>America’s most successful state lottery – and its greatest innovation, the scratch ticket – all starts with mafia bookmakers and state bureaucrats going toe to toe in a battle to own the future of gambling. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season Three: "Catching The Codfather"</strong></p><p>A fishing tycoon is arrested in an elaborate sting operation, but claims he’s the real hero fighting back against the state.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>--------------</p><p>CREDITS:</p><p>Host &amp; Creator: Ian Coss</p><p>Executive Producer: Devin Maverick Robins</p><p>Producer: Isabel Hibbard</p><p>Story Editor: Lacy Roberts </p><p>Contact us as <a href="mailto:thebigdig@wgbh.org"><strong>thebigdig@wgbh.org</strong></a></p>
How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Legal Disclaimer

Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.

All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.

We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.

By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.