Both seasons are awesome, they sound so arcane at face value, but then you listen and it’s wild! Case-in-point, I sent this show to a friend in NY who has never even been to Mass, she is not too interested in either infrastructure or the lottery, and yet she is binge listening to the seasons as we speak. Excellent show, can’t wait for the next season. Last thing I’ll say- this show is actually how I found and developed a love for WGBH and all their other shows. I had no idea how much great content they make until I discovered season 1: the big dig.

Loved the Big Dig podcast this team did, and this one was just as good. Entertaining, educational and interesting. I grew up in Boston and still live here but I feel like I don’t know enough about its history. Thank you!!

I learned a lot from the Big Dig podcast and again now from Scratch & Win. There was so much I did not know about recent-ish Massachusetts history and how things (like the Big Dig, and now state-run gambling) happened in this state. It helps to explain some of the current dynamics with the statehouse, prop 2.5, and local government as well. I’m looking forward to the next season!

Loved the Big Dig season also.

This series is interesting in local history that isn’t well told, but is immensely interesting and entertaining

Scratch & Win is absolutely amazing. Such a great listen. You won’t be disappointed!

Tremendous reporting detail, telling the history of Massachusettts

This podcast tells interesting stories in a nuanced way. I live on the West Coast and am still fascinated by every story they tell!

Great job

Just finished the Big Dig Season 1 and my goodness, just amazing coverage & context. Was always so curious about the Central Artery Project & the subsequent Big Dig details having grown up observing from afar. Can’t wait to listen to Season 2 and following seasons. YOU ROCK WGBH! It’s Kevin from Boston Light & Sound. I and we always love working events with you all!! You are a wonderful pillar for the city of Boston.

This podcast is a masterclass in journalism and storytelling. The combination of in-depth reporting, compelling interviews, and well-curated archival media makes for an incredibly engaging experience. Despite having no personal connection to the area, I found myself fully immersed in the powerful stories being told. The effort put into tracking down and interviewing key individuals is truly impressive. On top of that, the narration is thoughtful, and the music and sound design are tastefully done—enhancing the story rather than distracting from it. A must-listen for anyone who appreciates top-tier investigative storytelling. Thank you from Chicago!

This is terrific journalism! Ian tracked down and talked to many people and got them to open up. Great storytelling!

So fun to learn about the history of the place I live in. This has been a well researched podcast, and I love the original historical audio

Two fantastic seasons, can’t wait to hear the next topic! I’ve sent this podcast to family and friends - in my opinion, it’s a must-listen show. The storytelling is so compelling, and the historical context and interviews make for such a fascinating and high quality program. Appreciate what the team does!

First, amazing story and reporting from the team. I’m a lifelong Massachusetts resident and had no idea about this history. Second, huge fan of Ian’s storytelling style. Particularly enjoyed the last episode with the exploration of morality in addition to the more straightforward historical reporting. Lastly, that inquisitive, vaudeville-esque piano melody throughout the show was absolute perfection and supported the content splendidly. Looking forward to season three!

I love all the detail and nuance. Really great storytelling!

I love diving into these bits of history. The stories are so interesting and the way they’re structured feels like a you’re unraveling one piece of a mystery with each episode. Very creative, good interviews, background music and clips that add to the story, host is great…truly a lovely show and one I’ve listened to multiple times and shared multiple times. Please keep it up! Can’t wait to see what is covered next!

I have no ties to Boston save a few positive tourist visits, but this podcast tells a really good story with plenty of factual context without getting too dry. It really captured my interest with season one’s Big Dig exploration. Season two felt like there was less of a story to tell and tried to pull more out, hence the 4 stars instead of 5, but I’m looking forward to seeing what else they dig into! Definitely worth a Follow!

Ian and the team do such amazing work! If you grew up in or around New England, these topics affected your life (or your parents!) If you live here now, this is a great way to learn more about things that shaped our lives today. I love how each episode unfolds. The work that went into each one is apparent. I feel the same about the Big Dig series too! I would rate this higher than 5 stars if I could. Looking forward to the next series from this team!

I grew up in the Boston area in the 80s and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this podcast delving into so many interesting facets of Massachusetts history, culture and politics. Really fun to listen to and I learned a lot! Highly recommend.

I love these deep dives into politics and bureaucracy making seemingly boring subjects very fascinating. The host’s voice is also pleasant to listen to.

I don’t live in Massachusetts and I never play the lottery in my home state, but I found Scratch & Win fascinating and hung on every episode. The profiles of the people involved in creating and maintaining the lottery are well drawn - what a cast of real-life characters. The pod does a great job of presenting a facet of contemporary American history. Highly recommended!

One of my favorite shows of all time. Amazing reporting and excellent storytelling.

Was delighted to find this after having thoroughly enjoyed The Big Dig series. This team does a fantastic job of weaving together history, color commentary, old clips with new interviews, great context setting. Just can’t say enough. I was born in Massachusetts in 1971. Raised in the suburbs but my father was born and raised in Cambridge so he made sure we were always connected to Boston. Hope this team can continue making great podcasts about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Well done!

My friends and family are probably sick of me talking about Scratch & Win and the Big Dig podcast at this point. But as long as Ian Coss and the GBH team keep telling me cool facts about MA/Boston, I’ll keep spreading the good word!

my friend told me to listen to this, and since then, i’ve told nearly every person who will listen to check it out. funny, well-researched, engaging, and nuanced. for real, just listen.

These deep dives are absolutely excellent. I LOVE this podcast. Hope to see many more seasons.

Ian and the team’s ability to craft compelling episodic narratives is truly unmatched. I came into The Big Dig looking for a surface level retelling of the story of Boston’s mid-century infrastructure era. I was immediately hooked by the narration and storytelling. At the end, I left with a thorough understanding of the myriad characters, challenges, and hidden forces that accompany any public works project. Scratch & Win has been more of the same. The wheeling and dealing in the background of any government agency is to be expected, but the level of money involved makes every surprise that much more astounding. I truly cannot wait for what these folks have in store for us next.

I learned a tremendous amount about our culture, and I don’t even live in Massachusetts.

Loved the Big Dig, but Scratch & Win takes the cake for me. Please keep making podcasts!

Such a unique show! Down to the outro song ! Amazing work !

I thoroughly enjoyed the big dig podcast and was surprised to find a follow up in the feed. Didn’t think that scratching wind was going to hold my attention but I couldn’t wait every week for new episodes. The team does an amazing job at storytelling. Thanks for a great listen.

Both this and the Big Dig were very entertaining and in depth and behind the scenes analyses of both policy and politics.

As a Massachusetts native it was very interesting to hear the stories behind the lottery and previously the Big dig which for me growing up were very ubiquitous and just…there. The links to national politics while delving in at an extremely local level makes for a seriously ear perking listen.

Interesting topic I knew nothing about but this podcast is really interesting!

Both seasons have been super interesting.

I stumbled on “The Big Dig” and found it the best journalism I’ve heard or read in years. Now “Scratch & Win” has hit the same high bar. What the GBH podcast team has done is to look deeply at something big that we take for granted: The Big Dig? The Lottery? They just happened. But they didn’t just happen. The details are important, and — most of all — fascinating.

I have been a listener of this series since “The Big Dig” and “Scratch & Win” is an excellent second season. These podcast serials are wonderfully produced with some amazing research and interviews packed in every episode. Ian Coss is a fantastic narrator host and his delivery makes this a great listen. The in-depth histories of both the Big Dig and the Lottery are absolutely fascinating and I can’t wait to hear the coming seasons ahead.

Highly recommend, not from Mass but found it fascinating and amazingly well told.

I loved season 1 about the Big Dig and I was skeptical when they announced season 2 about the Mass Lottery. I was quickly proven wrong and this podcast was a great show and a welcome companion while shoveling my driveway and the other day to day of a New England life. Looking forward to what magic they cook up for season 3.

Excellent podcast. Very interesting and entertaining history of Massachusetts politics and patronage using the very successful lottery. I never play but husband feels lost if he hasn’t played his number.

This podcast provides an incredibly well told history of the MA state lottery while contextualizing the events with national trends that recently culminated in the legalization of sports betting. More than just a history podcast, it does detailed reporting to bring to your ears the voices of the people involved. Growing up in MA, scratch tickets and lotteries were a huge part of the culture if daily life; after listening to this podcast I have a much deeper and richer appreciation of why that was the case, helping me better understand the larger forces that shaped my daily life and what makes MA a unique place in our country. I feel the podcast host takes an evenhanded and serious approach to explaining the ethical complexity of establishing, operating, and marketing a state lottery given the risks of problem gambling that some people are susceptible to. This makes it a great resource for those who are curious, unsure of their opinions, or even people who are firmly pro or anti lottery. So I think this is really required listening for anyone who wants to think more deeply about what role gambling and betting have in our society, which should really mean anyone of us who gets bombarded with ads for betting across the internet, radio, and tv.

This show is super well done. Thanks

This is the first time I’ve ever subscribed to a podcast that I look forward to its actual release on Wednesdays the level of research reporting and entertainment, and humor in this podcast is outstanding

Hands down, GBH has the best podcasts! Pacing, quality and content can’t be beat. Even topics I have no interest in are still fascinating!

I’ve loved this season and season 1 about the big dig. This is one of my favorite podcasts. The host is informative speaks well and gives interesting insights on politics. Also, I love Massachusetts, so it’s cool to hear podcasts that dive into its history on really specific topics.

The Big Dig was already my favorite podcast miniseries with its perfect blend narrative elements. Archival tape, interviews, and narration combined seamlessly then to tell a grand story. I was cautiously optimistic about Scratch & Win, because while they were getting back the same team there wasn’t any guarantee it would be good. But Lightning has struck twice, this new series is The Big Dig’s equal in every regard, telling a story of the practically the same scope. Absolutely amazing work.

I’ve always been vaguely curious about how governments have gotten into the lottery game, but this podcast was super informative, and I really appreciate all the backstory.

Give this guy a Pulitzer or something. The big dig series really captured the history in great depth. The new scratch and win series is on track to being a great documentary exposing a social phenomenon that is not convenient to criticize but very necessary to question. Hard hitting without sensationalism. Absolutely top quality.

So fun to listen to-plus Sociology, true crime, with a touch of computer science & math-something for everyone