The Big Dig, produced by GBH News in partnership with PRX, is a serial history podcast examining Boston's massive highway tunneling project and why its public narrative turned so negative. The show has 23 episodes released roughly weekly, typically 35 to 45 minutes long. Estimated downloads per episode are 5,000 to 25,000, with a rate of $90 to $625 per episode.
Investigative Boston history series with a loyal, highly engaged listener base
- Apple Podcasts shows 178 ratings with a 4.9 average, 172 of them five stars.
- Public broadcaster production from GBH News with a PRX partnership and high production values.
- Serial format with a weekly cadence keeps listeners through a full season and a follow-up tour.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, serial documentary, interview
- Tone
- investigative, measured
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 35 to 45 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- GBH NewsPRX
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the description credits production by GBH News in partnership with PRX.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Explicit flag is 0, and episode titles such as 'All Politics is Local' and 'The Turnpike Revolt' cover political and legal disputes without graphic content.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.wgbh.org/thebigdig |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1790716228 |
| RSS feed | publicfeeds.net/f/4614/the-big-dig/feed-rss.xml |
Benchmark score: 8 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Teardown Tour | 10. Providence, RI | 2026-07-22 | 38 min |
| Highway Teardown Tour | 11. Boston, MA | 2026-07-22 | 41 min |
| Highway Teardown Tour | 9. Philadelphia, PA | 2026-07-15 | 43 min |
| Highway Teardown Tour | 8. Baltimore, MD | 2026-07-08 | 43 min |
| Highway Teardown Tour | 7. Louisville, KY | 2026-07-01 | 31 min |
| Highway Teardown Tour | 6. Portland, OR | 2026-06-24 | 45 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 89 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
There is a cynicism that hangs over the topic of American infrastructure – whether it’s high-speed rail or off-shore wind – it feels like this country can’t build big things anymore. No one project embodies that cynicism quite like what Bostonians call ‘The Big Dig.’ Infamous for its ever-increasing price tag, this massive highway tunneling effort was once ridiculed as the Big Mess, the Big Hole,…
About The Big Dig
The Big Dig is a serial history podcast produced by GBH News in partnership with PRX. It examines the Boston highway tunneling project, once ridiculed as the Big Mess and the Big Pig, and asks how its public narrative went so wrong. Its nine-episode first season was followed by a Highway Teardown Tour series, and the feed lists 23 episodes with a roughly weekly cadence, typically 35 to 45 minutes long.
The show is hosted under GBH News, as stated on the show's website at wgbh.org and in the Apple Podcasts listing. Its Apple Podcasts page shows 178 ratings with a 4.9 average. Estimated downloads per episode range from 5,000 to 25,000, based on those ratings and the show's age. These are estimates, not published figures.
The feed shows no sponsor mentions, so the show runs without visible advertising. At an estimated $18 to $25 per 1,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll would cost roughly $90 to $625 per episode. This suits infrastructure, engineering and regional New England brands seeking a serious, engaged audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. The Big Dig can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about The Big Dig
How much does The Big Dig charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll would cost roughly $90 to $625 per episode at $18 to $25 per 1,000 downloads. Final pricing depends on placement and the show's terms.
What is The Big Dig about?
The Big Dig is a serial history podcast from GBH News and PRX. It covers Boston's costly highway tunneling project and why its public reputation turned negative, with 23 episodes so far.
How do I contact The Big Dig about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked directly.
Similar creators
Podcast and other creators in history, ranked by score.
| Creator | Niches | Est. downloads | Median views | Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Uncommon Knowledgepodcast · US | politicshistory | 17k | – | $140–620 | 79 |
| economicsgeopolitics | 15k | – | $90–620 | 75 | |
Ridiculous Historypodcast · US | historytrivia and oddities | 40k | – | $360–1500 | 100 |
| historytrue stories | 53k | – | $450–2000 | 100 | |
Black True Crime Podcastpodcast | true crimeunsolved cases | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 100 |
The Ancientspodcast | ancient historyhistory | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 100 |