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episodes

How should Rhode Island spend $1.1 Billion? (with Michael DiBiase and Linda Katz)

Michael DiBiase, President and CEO of the RI Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) and Linda Katz, Co-Founder and Policy Director of the Economic Progress Institute

How would you spend $1.1 billion? The question sounds like something that most of us only dream about, but it’s a very real question with real implications that Rhode Island faces as leaders decide how to spend the $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Guest co-hosts Jonathan Womer and Lisa Vura-Weis spoke with Michael DiBiase, President and CEO of the RI Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) and Linda Katz, Co-Founder and Policy Director of the Economic Progress Institute, who helped author a Rhode Island Foundation report called “Make it Happen: Investing for Rhode Island’s Future”. This episode dives into the report, which is a combination of policy analysis and public stakeholder input, and presents a set of spending recommendations including housing, behavioral health, workforce development, and more. About our guest co-hosts: Jonathan Womer is a Senior Advisor and Head of Budgeting at The Policy Lab, and Lisa Vura-Weis is a Partner and Associate Director at Boston Consulting Group.

How can data shape your approach to parenting? (with Emily Oster)

Emily Oster, Brown professor of economics and New York Times bestselling author

What's the right kind of school and at what age should a particular kid start? How can you best manage TV and social media time? In this episode, we take a deep dive into a data-driven approach to parenting with Emily Oster as we discuss her latest New York Times bestselling book, The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years. In 'The Family Firm', Emily offers a classic business school framework for data-driven parents to think more deliberately about the key issues of the elementary years: school, health, extracurricular activities, and more.

How effective is the Year Up workforce development program? (with David Fein)

David Fein, Principal Associate at Abt Associates

Year Up is a workforce development program that aims to bridge the opportunity divide and help young low-income adults who don't have a college degree find meaningful work. But how effective is it? Join us for a conversation with David Fein of Abt Associates about his newly-released five-year results from a major randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of Year Up.

Special Edition: A Deep Dive with Governor Dan McKee

Governor Daniel J. McKee

Governor Dan McKee became the 76th Governor of Rhode Island in unique circumstances, but he is no stranger to governing. In this episode, David Yokum sits down with Governor McKee to discuss how his experience as Mayor and Lt. Governor prepared him to lead, policy priorities for Rhode Island, and the role of science in government. Take a deep dive with us and get to know Rhode Island's new Governor.

Why Are We Bored? (with John Eastwood)

John Eastwood, co-author ofOut of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom.

You're mindlessly scrolling through your phone, holding the entirety of the internet in your hand, but you're still bored. Why? And what can you do about it? John Eastwood joins us to discuss his research on boredom and its association with the unengaged mind.

Rhode Island's plan for re-opening our communities (with Dr. James McDonald)

Dr. James McDonald, Medical Director, RI Department of Health

Dr. McDonald joins us to talk about Rhode Island's framework for re-opening the state, giving us a picture of what life might look like over the coming weeks and months, depending on how Covid-19 evolves.

Does cash bail increase mass incarceration? (with Robin Steinberg)

Robin Steinberg, CEO and founder of The Bail Project

Robin Steinberg, a US attourney and social justice advocate, talks with us about how the United State's cash bail system keeps hundreds of thousands of legally innocent Americans locked away.

Special Edition | What we know about coronavirus (with Dr. Philip Chan)

Dr. Philip Chan, Associate Professor, Brown University Department of Medicine and School of Public Health

Dr. Chan is an infectious disease expert and part of the coronavirus response team in Rhode Island. He joins us this morning to explain the science behind COVID-19 and how we should respond during this moment.

Does anybody really know how a pen works? (with Steve Sloman)

Steve Sloman, author of The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone.

Steve Sloman, Professor of Psychology at Brown University joins us for a conversation about how little we know, and how maybe that's okay

When does advertising become manipulation? (with Mark Bartholomew)

Mark Bartholomew, author of Adcreep: The Case Against Modern Marketing.

Advertising is everywhere these days, but how much do we really know about it? Join us for a conversation with Mark Bartholomew, a Professor in the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Can money buy you happiness? (with Mike Norton)

Mike Norton, Professor, Harvard Business School

Thoughts on the age-old questions, "Can money make you happy?" and "Is mo' money really mo' problems?" from the author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending.

What is the future of the energy grid? (with Macky McCleary)

Macky McCleary, former Administrator of the RI Division of Public Utilities, current Partner at Innogy Consulting, and a Senior Fellow at The Policy Lab

Listen in to hear about the impact of the changing energy grid on the climate and your everyday life.

How do you raise a three-year old? (with Emily Oster)

Emily Oster, Bestselling author of Cribsheet and Expecting Better

Dr. Oster joins us for a conversation about how data can help us become better, more relaxed parents.

How can government data be leveraged for public good? (with Amy O'Hara)

Amy O'Hara, Research Professor, Georgetown Massive Data Institute

A conversation about the messy intersection of data governance, evidence building, and privacy in pursuit of leveraging our administrative data for the public good.