The Big Dig
By GBH News
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Category: History
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Subscribers: 542
Reviews: 7
Episodes: 28
2bepainted
Aug 24, 2025
28-3 Never Forget
Apr 1, 2025
Another great deep dive into the MA political machines of yesteryear.
Annie
Mar 6, 2025
I loved the Big Dig! wasn't sure about the lotto story but 3 episodes in, it's fascinating so far.
Jan 29, 2025
Swapped feed to a different podcast because they didn't have confidence in their new podcast. Very disrespectful to both subscribers and staff.
Mar 7, 2024
Mischa
Nov 29, 2023
How is a podcast about infrastructure so gripping? What a wild ride and informative true tale.
Annie
Nov 7, 2023
Description
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?
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.
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“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 America.
Season One: "The Big Dig"
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.
Season Two: "Scratch & Win"
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.
Season Three: "Catching The Codfather"
A fishing tycoon is arrested in an elaborate sting operation, but claims he’s the real hero fighting back against the state.
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CREDITS:
Host & Creator: Ian Coss
Executive Producer: Devin Maverick Robins
Producer: Isabel Hibbard
Story Editor: Lacy Roberts
Contact us as thebigdig@wgbh.org
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Catching The Codfather | 1. Red Lobster
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Feb 11, 2026 |
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Introducing Season Three: Catching The Codfather
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Feb 04, 2026 |
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HOV Lane Ahead
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Jan 28, 2026 |
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The Big Dig Returns
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Oct 15, 2025 |
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BONUS: How to sue the government, and win
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Apr 09, 2025 |
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BONUS: Why do some parts of government work better than others?
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Apr 02, 2025 |
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BONUS: Should we be nostalgic for machine politics?
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Mar 26, 2025 |
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BONUS: Why does sports betting feel different?
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Mar 19, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 8. The Other Massachusetts Miracle
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Mar 12, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 7. The Dirtiest Race in the Commonwealth
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Mar 05, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 6. The Game Dreams Are Made Of
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Feb 26, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 5. The Cherry Sheets
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Feb 19, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 4. The Last Mafia Boss of Boston
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Feb 12, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 3. Have You Played Your Number?
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Feb 05, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 2. The Lottery Czar
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Jan 29, 2025 |
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Scratch & Win | 1. The Instant Ticket
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Jan 29, 2025 |
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Introducing Season Two: Scratch & Win
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Jan 22, 2025 |
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BONUS: A note from the team
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Jun 12, 2024 |
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The Big Dig | 9. Hearts and Minds
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Nov 15, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 8. I Want Justice for What Happened
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Nov 08, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 7. The Turnpike Revolt
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Nov 01, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 6. The Up Down Charts
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Oct 25, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 5. Hatchet Man vs. the 800 Pound Gorilla
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Oct 18, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 4. The Double Cross
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Oct 11, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 3. All Politics is Local
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Oct 04, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 2. Unholy Alliance
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Sep 27, 2023 |
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The Big Dig | 1. We Were Wrong
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Sep 27, 2023 |
|
Introducing Season One: The Big Dig
|
Sep 13, 2023 |